“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - PAGE 39
Making poverty history THE final Pleasant Sunday Afternoon for the year at Scots Pioneer Church, Mardan South, usually anticipates Christmas with carols and Christmas stories.
This year, the Christmas flavour was delivered by Johanna Haasjes with her emphasis on “making poverty history.” The phrase, and title of her address, derives from an action group formed in 2007: the Leongatha make poverty history action group, though for Johanna the relief of poverty has been a life-long concern. Born Johanna Biersteker in the Netherlands, she came to Australia at age 11, where she completed her formal education, married Albert Haasjes, and spent many years farming, parenting and teaching. For 25 of those years, she was a teacher or interim principal of what is now called the South Coast Christian College in Leongatha. Retiring in 2003, she continued combating poverty where she found it, not only by raising funds and providing goods and services to the poor, but by helping to tackle some of the causes of poverty, such as the lack of education. In all her work Johanna said she was
guidedd by b two main considerations: to treat others as you would want to be treated yourself and to ask whether what you are doing is safe, fair and kind. Johanna’s talk was supported by two scripture readings delivered by Bronwyn Crawford, who did them both complete justice. Christine Hibma at the organ, gave quality support to the hymn singing as well as the musical interludes. The latter were performed by the South Coast Christian College musicians (including many Hibmas) in exemplary fashion. The foregoing, and others, were welcomed at the start by Wendy McIndoe, who after the introductions handed over to the Reverend Arthur Stamp. Arthur, as he has done so many times, presided over the rest of the proceedings, and at the end called people to assemble in the hall for a chat and refreshments. The Pleasant Sunday Afternoon services will resume next year on the last Sunday of April (28th ) with an address by Max Griffiths, who succeeded the Revs Flynn and Mackay as superintendent of the Australian (formerly the Presbyterian) Inland Mission. Make a note in your diary.
Making music: Esther Hibma, Christine Hibma, Len Clark, Johanna Haasjes, Bronwyn Crawford, and in front Natasha Hibma who between them, provided music, singing and the address.
From pages past
Historical snippets from The Star 30 years ago December 21, 1982 SANTA was leaving the Woorayl Golf Club on Thursday evening, when one youngster gave him a pinch on the rump. Maybe he just wanted to find out if Santa was human, or maybe it was a warning that if he didn’t bring the right toy, he would get a whack. ******* PRE-CHRISTMAS shoplifting is giving Leongatha business people a headache. Several shop proprietors told The Star that it is a problem all year, but is accentuated now because there are more people around. They say that young teenagers create the biggest worry.
10 yearss agoo December 24, 2002 VANDALS have run amok in Wonthaggi for the second consecutive week, in a rage that has dampened Christmas spirit around town. A car was stolen and set alight as Christmas lights were damaged and an inflatable Santa was slashed with a knife. “Not even Santa is safe,” commented Wonthaggi Police. ******* THE townships of Leongatha, Korumburra, Inverloch and Wonthaggi will all be in the new federal electorate of McMillan after a major change to electoral boundaries in Gippsland. The redistribution makes both the seats of Gippsland and McMillan into “marginal” electorates.
5 years ago December 18, 2007 THE inaugural Carols in the Drome saw around 1500 people enjoy a Christmas sing-a-long in Leongatha. Sunday night’s carols were hailed a great success, with hundreds of families warming themselves with Christmas spirit despite the chilly conditions. ******* A BUMPER season coupled with high milk prices is pouring millions of dollars into the South Gippsland economy. After years of drought, the farming stars have finally aligned, with furious grass growth, high milk prices, strong demand for cattle and recently announced drought assistance.
1 year ago December 20, 2011 THIS Christmas, Bass Coast residents will have twice as many opportunities to recycle, with weekly recycling collections from Boxing Day until January 27, instead of the usual fortnightly service. ******* CHILDREN at the Meeniyan Dumbalk Football Netball Club Christmas party got a special surprise last Saturday evening, when Santa Claus swapped his usual reindeer for some different four legged friends. While the man in red met with children and handed out lolly bags, guests enjoyed horse and cart rides around the oval
Mayor’s message
Inv Inverloch CWA C PRE PRESIDENT ESID Dorowelthy Riddiford R comed everyone to com the last meeting of the year. We then had the Australian Anthem followed by the Collect. Seeing that it was the last meeting we had our meeting in the morning. We have had our share of sickies this year. Mary Williams is doing well in the Traralgon hospital after her really bad fall.Thelma Dow is also going well after her fall and broke her hip. Marj White is back home after having a knee replacement. Hope you are all feeling a lot better and we hope to see you back at CWA next year. Blooms: first, Phyllis O’Dea; equal second Dorothy Riddiford and Pat Griggs. We all at CWAInverloch hope that everyone has a great Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.
Cr Kieran Kennedy AS FAMILIES converge both here and afar to celebrate Christmas and unwind from a busy year, councillors and staff send you our best wishes for a happy holiday season. It’s a magic time of the year here, with sun, sand, surf, and great walking trails to be enjoyed, plus fascinating markets, galleries and cafes where you can while away the hours. I’m pleased to advise that 26 new recycling bins have been installed in the Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower area to encourage more recycling in public places. This trial is a three month initiative over the holiday period, generously supported by grant funding from Keep Australia Beautiful and the Coca Cola Foundation. As well, Venus Bay real estate agents will assist council to distribute a kit to holidaymakers to educate them about local waste services and facilities. Overflowing street bins have been an eyesore and health hazard in past years. They are not designed to take
excess household waste, so please use the transfer stations for this and use the street bins when you’re out and about. I would hope that locals too, do the right thing to keep their environment attractive and pristine. All our public pools are now open for the summer season, so don’t forget to include them in your leisure options. Thanks to our excellent pool committees, they are a great place to gather friends and families for a picnic or barbecue on long languid evenings, as well as having a dip to cool off. Coal Creek and the Visitor Information Services at Foster and Korumburra will be open every day except Christmas Day. Information on what events are on around the region can be viewed on www.visitvictoria. com.au or you can phone 1800 630 704 between 9am-5pm every day. This year council will remain open on business days throughout the Christmas period so that we can respond appropriately to meet community needs and maintain
services. There are lots of items on the agenda for our last council meeting for the year this Wednesday. Council will be considering, among other things, the Leongatha land supply contributions, the Leongatha CBD Parking Strategy, Venus Bay and Walkerville optional kerbside services, and the Planning Panel Reports on four Planning Scheme Amendments. It’s indicative of the busy year we’ve had, with some major strategic work done in our planning department. A full agenda is available under our weekly Council Noticeboard ad in this issue, and you are welcome to attend the meeting. With thousands of visitors sharing our beautiful region over the next few weeks, let’s be patient and welcoming, and take care on the roads and in our coastal towns that wear the brunt of this summer boom. Merry Christmas and a safe and happy 2013. Cr Kieran Kennedy, mayor.
Meals roster (Leongatha) Rd 1: Reformed Church Ladies (all week); Rd 2: Mr & Mrs Hogan (Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri), Volunteer needed (Thur); Rd 3: St Peter’s Ladies Guild (all week) will be responsible for the delivery of meals on wheels, the week beginning December 24, 2012.
Country COOKING WITH
Meg Viney A VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
CHRISTMAS TURKEY WITH FRENCH FRUIT STUFFING 2 onions 1 peeled, coarsely chopped orange 3 apples, peeled and chopped 14 prunes, soaked, pitted and chopped 2 sprigs each of thyme and marjoram, fresh ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 tablespoon brandy 2 tablespoons Madeira 1 cup breadcrumbs salt and pepper Remove the liver and giblets from the turkey along with the neck, place in a saucepan with some fresh thyme and marjoram, salt and peppercorns, cover with water and cook for about half an hour. Cool, then strain. This is your stock. Give the giblets etc. to the dog! In 3 tablespoons of butter, sauté the chopped onion with a good pinch of salt, lid on, over a low heat for 10 minutes, until golden and aromatic. Add the orange and simmer, covered, for 2 minutes. Add the apples, the prunes, thyme, marjoram, nutmeg, brandy, Madeira and breadcrumbs. Mix well. Place some fresh sage inside the cavity of the turkey then pack loosely with the stuffing (extra can be cooked in a little casserole and be served as a sidedish). Preheat the oven to 200, and roast the turkey for 20 minutes, then turn the heat down to 180. It is probably wise to baste the turkey at this point and to cover loosely with butter paper and foil. Cook for the recommended time, according to the size of the turkey, but it should be well cooked. Remove cover for last 15 minutes to crisp the skin. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then remove to serving platter. To the juices in the pan, add about a tablespoon of flour, mix well, then add the stock, mixing well. Place over a low heat and stir constantly until thickened to a thin gravy. Serve this with the turkey, at room temperature.