In the House

by Marcelle Renkin

ACH Twilight Farmers Markets 2021–22

Our last Twilight Farmers Market for the season was held in mid-March. Thanks to all those who have come out to support this event over the season since November last year. A special thank you to market manager Mic Stapleton who has worked very hard over the last six months to ensure that we are able to bring you a successful community market. We look forward to continuing to bring you the opportunity to shop, grab dinner, catch up with friends new and old, enjoy the tunes from some great local musicians and participate in activities in a family friendly environment when we launch season three in late 2022.

Calling all young people! Become a NewsAngle reporter!

We are looking for some young roving reporters to write an article for our next upcoming issue of NewsAngle. We are celebrating our 150th edition and we would love you to write about what you love about Anglesea or Aireys, your favourite place to visit, the most exciting thing to do in your town, someone interesting you might like to interview or whatever else you think would be a great way to showcase or celebrate your home town. You can find more information on our website about how you can submit an article in our Young Writers Competition or get in touch via email: marcelle@anglesea.org.au.

Reconciliation journey

As part of ACH’s commitment to Reconciliation we are offering the chance to explore First Nations perspectives through our Yarning Sessions Program. In April you can participate in our Discomforting Truths or Walk on Country Sessions to learn more from Traditional Owners about the world’s oldest continuous culture.

Upcoming events and activities

We have some great activities that you can get involved in coming up at the Community House. Our Sewing with a Purpose Group has been a great success and will continue to meet once a month, all welcome to join. We have some great creative and mindful craft workshops with kids and a new course in term two for primary school aged children called Creative Kids. Check out the programs/activities guide to find out more about regular meet-up groups and how you can get involved. If there is something you would like to see happening in our local communities get in touch for a chat and a cuppa.

YarningSession

on Wadawurrung Country W a l k o n C o u n t r y

w i t h W a d a w u r r u n g w o m a n C o r r i n a E c c l e s

Photos by Ferne Millen

Tuesday 19 April 2022

Walk time: Start 12noon till 2pm Meeting place: Point Roadknight Beach (near Boat Ramp - on the sand)

Booking is essental - spaces are limited

Booking online at www.anglesea.org.au Call Marcelle at ACH on 5263 2116 Or simply scan the bar code

Brought to you by:

In partnership with: Wurri-Ki Culture

by Dr Skye Hueneke, Anglesea Medical

Preconception health is so important for every couple trying to make a baby. A check-up with your GP beforehand is a great idea.

Having a baby is not for everyone, but most Australians want to have at least one baby at some stage. Families these days are varied and colourful, but for each baby that is born an egg and a sperm has to get together and develop in a womb. Let’s look at ways to make your sperm and egg the healthiest possible and give them the best chance of getting together to make a baby.

Healthy lifestyle changes

Making healthy lifestyle changes can increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. It is recommended that when you are trying to conceive, both men and women should stop smoking, reduce caffeine, drink minimal alcohol, reduce your exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and not use recreational drugs. For women, taking folic acid (400mcg) and iodine (150mcg) reduces the risk of certain birth defects and, for men, there is some evidence that zinc and selenium supplements improve sperm quality. For both men and women, it’s important to have a healthy diet low in processed foods and high in colourful vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Together with regular exercise such as brisk walking for 30 minutes every day you can help maintain a healthy body weight, which can increase your chance of a pregnancy and healthy baby.

The ‘fertile window’

Making a baby by having sex is all about timing! A woman has one chance a month of getting pregnant –this time in the menstrual cycle is called the ‘fertile window’. The ‘fertile window’ is when the egg is released from the ovary and the five days beforehand. Having sex in the three days leading up to and including ovulation gives you the best chance of getting pregnant. Knowing when you ovulate is key and it depends on the length of your menstrual cycle. Ovulation happens about 14 days before the first day of your period. Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period, so if you have a 28-day cycle then day 14 is your ovulation day. The best times to have sex to make a baby are days 12, 13 and 14. Luckily there are plenty of ovulation tracker apps out there now to help work out your ‘fertile window’ depending on the average length of your cycle.

Planning for baby making

Unfortunately age is a big factor in egg and sperm health. If possible, plan to have kids before your late 30s. Of course this is not always the way life turns out, so it is a good idea to talk to your GP about your options earlier rather than later if you are over 35 years old. On average, one in six couples will experience fertility problems. For women under 35 years, you should talk to your doctor if you have been trying without success for a year. For women over 35 years old, we recommend trying for six months before seeking help. But if you are concerned about your general health or have other medical conditions then it is better to talk to you GP before trying for a baby. For more great information and resources, check out yourfertility.org.au.

Banking on our community

By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank®

Actively supporting locals

The Anglesea and District Community Bank has been active again supporting local groups with funding needs. The 2021 Roo Run was held on the 27 December after a break of nearly two years and was lucky to get off the ground due to uncertainty about public events. ‘Thankfully a team from the Anglesea Motor Yacht Club led by new event director Deb Elliott and with the backing of the Anglesea Community Bank and other community partners made the event a reality,’ club member Mick Collins said. ‘The Roo Run has become one of the “not to be missed” events of the summer and the opportunity to get it back up and running was achieved with a great deal of community support. Given the current climate of uncertainty, the logistics, compliance and insurance costs of such an event have grown exponentially. Without the assistance of partners like the Anglesea Community Bank the event would have had to be cancelled.’ The event benefits not only the yacht club, but also partners with the Anglesea Primary School, Anglesea Lions Club, Anglesea Men’s Shed and Surf Coast Trail Runners who all share in the proceeds. As such, it is truly an all encompassing community event that brings an incredible energy and spirit to the coast for locals and visitors to enjoy together. It is hoped that it will continue to go from strength to strength in the coming years. The Rubbish Rangers have been tidying the coastline for many years, as their band of volunteers collect roadside rubbish on Saturday mornings with a coffee reward at the end. The band of hard working local folk are committed to keeping our pretty seaside locations looking pristine and the Anglesea and District Community Bank was able to provide some funding for new hi-vis tops and pick-up sticks to ensure their work can continue safely. The recent opening of the Anglesea RSL War Memorial in Cameron Park was also a major focus of the Community Bank with $10,000 put toward the project. It was a highly successful day, with the site now an important part of the town’s history and another reason for visitors to stop and take in the surrounds.

Brought to you by Nicole and the team @ Great Escape Books

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

I’ve read almost all of her books and learned from every one. This book stands elevated above the rest for its relevance today and for the unique, hard-hitting reality of the global pandemic that is changing the world forever. Picoult’s meticulous research into real people and the medical frontline workers outlines the heartbreak and horror that is COVID, often lost to the political white noise surrounding it. The story is told through the eyes of Finn, a surgeon thrown into frontline triage and Diana, an art specialist, now unemployed and forced to take her Galapagos Island holiday alone, or is she? There’s a fabulous twist mid-story that will leave you speechless. Everyone should read this –COVID is real and any doubts will evaporate. A riveting story of how everyone is affected personally.

Review by Sue@Great Escape Books

Wandi by Favel Parrett

Wandi is the luminously captivating true story of Wandi, a lost and injured alpine dingo pup. Wandi was just five weeks old when he made international headlines after being snatched by an enormous eagle and dropped into a backyard in Victoria’s High Country. Author Favel Parrett perfectly captures the voice of young Wandi as he moves through confusion and fear at losing his family and right through his incredible adventure to love and safety. Wandi is an uplifting and inspiring story for any age, but perfect for readers 8–12 years. (Favel Parrett works as a volunteer at the Dingo Discovery Centre.)

Review by Nicole@Great Escape Books

Love Stories by Trent Dalton

Trent Dalton is a multi-award winning journalist, author of the splendid Boy Swallows Universe and All the Shimmering Skies and all-round great bloke (yes, I have met him over a wine). He set up his old Olivetti typewriter on a busy Brisbane city street corner and over two months asked complete strangers to tell him a love story. ‘By some miracle, over 100 strangers stopped and told me love stories from the bottom of their pandemic-wearied hearts … You wouldn’t believe the stories people tell you when you take the time to listen,’ he has said. Love stories is uplifting and heartbreaking, funny and whimsical and, at times, brings a tear. Above all, it’s a very humane account of love in all its forms. It would make a terrific gift for yourself or someone close to your heart, especially if they need a lift in these difficult times.

Review by Nicole@Great Escape Books

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

The novel centres around the story of the rough and tumble Tookie, who has run foul of the law and been sentenced to a prison term of 60 years. Tookie knows she can’t survive this term and so escapes into the world of books reading every book in the prison library ‘with murderous attention’. This inadvertently earns her an early pardon for good behaviour. Upon release she is gruff and hard after her time inside, declaring herself an ‘ugly woman’. With few life skills, she applies for a position in a bookshop, finding like-minded souls among the staff and patrons, including a resident ghost. From here, this highly unusual yet totally compelling novel with its wide range of vibrant characters meets head on with the fallout of the George Floyd riots, ‘Our country crept along beneath a pall of sorrow … there was a continual hum of panic’. Totally compelling, a fabulous read.

Review by Nicole@Great Escape Books

continued from page 15

Let’s fix the river (cont.)

FOAR expects that from this examination and modelling, a credible cause of the increased acidity in the estuary will be identified. This research will be useful for developing a rehabilitation plan for the river and estuary and whether or not further extraction licences are issued. If Professor Haese’s theory is correct, any continued extraction from existing wells in the UEV Aquifer will retard the recovery of the underground aquifers and prevent the return of fish life to the estuary. If the aquifers recover, the long-term future of the estuary is good. Unfortunately, we do not know just how long it will take for the system to recover. There are many interim actions that we believe could help the situation during the long period of natural recovery: ▪ direct treatment of estuary water ▪ limestone neutralisation of Salt and Marshy creeks ▪ partial diversion of water from Salt and/or Marshy creeks ▪ harvesting of high pH seawater during spring tides ▪ dredging of river mouth ▪ removal of rock wall remnants ▪ rehabilitation of damaged tracks in the upper catchment ▪ recovery and use of stormwater currently running directly to the ocean ▪ use of groundwater taken from areas which do not affect the catchment e.g. LEV ▪ use of pumped seawater ▪ use of mine pit water to help aquifer recovery ▪ use of recycled water to support estuary, aquifer or mine pit ▪ appointment of a ‘River keeper’ who initiates actions and investigations as required. Most of these options have been considered in the past when the problem was only occasional fish kills. The situation is now far worse and immediate action is required.

The Friends of the Anglesea River (FOAR) want a river and estuary rehabilitation plan to reduce the Anglesea River acidity and guarantee safe water for swimming and estuarine life. An informal get together and information session has been booked for 2–4pm Saturday 30 April at the Anglesea Hotel. All are welcome and email Dick O’Hanlon on mrohanlon@bigpond.com for further information. Guest speaker is Prof. Ralf Haese, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne.

Alcoa Anglesea Update

Autumn 2022

We are pleased to provide our regular update about the rehabilitation of the mine and power station site, as we continue to progress key activities to deliver a safe, stable and sustainable landform.

The year has started off positively and productively onsite, with work focusing on the groundwater pumping test and the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the mine’s rehabilitation.

Alcoa groundwater pumping test

As regular readers of our updates will know, an approved long-term strategy to fill the mine void with water remains a key enabler for both the Anglesea Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan and the Eden Project Anglesea concept.

In May 2021 we commenced a groundwater pumping test to further investigate the use of groundwater to support the mine void water filling strategy.

The test outcomes will determine if a sustainable extraction rate can be established and inform decisions about the potential use of groundwater in the longer term.

The test is being undertaken by expert hydrogeologists, with oversight by a coregulator technical working group comprising representatives from Southern Rural Water, Department of Land Water and Planning, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, EPA Victoria, Earth Resources Regulation; and Barwon Water.

Test results will be independently peerreviewed.

The test is being undertaken in two sixmonth stages. Stage one was successfully completed on 8 December 2021. The test has run in accordance with the licence, and we are pleased with the progress to date.

The pumping is currently paused as specialist consultants collate, analyse and validate the data collected during stage one to determine if there is a sustainable pumping rate.

Analysis of the data so far has not identified any adverse impact on groundwater dependent ecosystems including the Anglesea River.

Stage two will commence when the required analysis and regulatory assessments have been completed.

Importantly, the aquifers and bores continue to be closely monitored and information shared with community and regulators via regular updates emailed to our community database and published on our website: www.alcoa.com.au/anglesea.

Mine rehabilitation monitoring and maintenance

The monitoring and maintenance program in the mine continues for the earthworks and revegetation areas including stability monitoring, erosion repairs and extensive weed management. The heavy rainfall in late January impacted the mine site with some minor erosion damage to surface water drains and the lower slopes. Repairs are underway.

Woody weed removal activities continue in and around the mine site with treatment of a significant area of Sallow Wattle and Boneseed recently completed between the west wall and Bald Hills Roads. Eden Project Anglesea

The next critical step for the progression of the Eden Project Anglesea concept is resolution of the long term mine water filling strategy. Once resolved, the Eden Project team can proceed with next steps including more detailed design work and traffic and infrastructure planning, together with further community engagement. From David Harland, CEO Eden Project International:

Many of us have been eagerly waiting for the results of the pump test in the former mine at Anglesea… none more so than the team at Eden. While we await the final results, the early signs are looking positive. In the meantime, we value our continued engagement with the local community, Alcoa and Invest Victoria to assist in progressing the Eden Project in Anglesea during 2022.

Stay informed, ask questions

We are committed to sharing updates about our activities and engaging with the community to understand your interest areas, feedback, questions or concerns.

While our hopes for a February Community Consultation Network (CCN) meeting were dashed with the reality of the ongoing pandemic, we still hold some hope that we will re-connect in a face to face capacity this year.

As always, we welcome your contact about our activities. To contact the Anglesea team or sign up to our regular Community Updates, please email angleseaps@alcoa.com.au or visit www.alcoa.com.au/anglesea for further information.

Best wishes, Warren Sharp Site Asset Manager, Alcoa Anglesea

Alcoa Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where we operate, the Wadawurrung People, and pay respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.