Anglesea Riverbank Market: A Summer Tradition for Locals and Visitors
Jenna Crawford and Julie Martin
Every summer and holiday season, the peaceful Anglesea River Walk transforms into one of the town’s liveliest attractions – the Anglesea Riverbank Market. For more than forty years, this market has been at the heart of our community, drawing both locals and tourists to enjoy a day of shopping, food and fun while supporting important local groups.
The market began in the aftermath of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, when the community rallied to raise funds for families who had lost their homes. From that act of generosity, the event has grown into a beloved tradition. Today, the markets continue to thrive thanks to five local organisations – Anglesea Primary School, Anglesea Lions Club, Anglesea Football Netball Club, Anglesea Cricket Club, and Anglesea Community House. Each group runs one or more of the markets each year, using the funds raised to support their programs and services.
For visitors travelling along the Great Ocean Road, the markets have become a highlight of the tourist season. They offer a chance to slow down, stroll along the riverbank and
explore stalls packed with handmade crafts, clothing, books, plants, fresh produce and unique gifts. The smell of delicious food fills the air, with plenty of options for a picnic by the river or a quick bite while browsing. It’s the perfect way to experience Anglesea’s charm and connect with the community that makes this seaside town so welcoming.
Powered by Volunteers
While tourists and day-trippers enjoy the vibrant stalls and festive atmosphere, it’s important to remember that the markets only exist because of the dedication of local volunteers. No wages are paid—every market is powered by community spirit.
Each group is responsible for providing its own First Aid Officer, Market Warden, and a team of volunteers, who assist with the essential ‘bump in’ and ‘bump out;’ setting up in the early hours and packing down once the last stall closes. Volunteers also support stallholders, manage traffic, and keep the event running safely and smoothly.
Continued on page 4
The Anglesea Community House Works Closely Within Our Community
Deb Elliot, Anglesea Community House Committee
The Angair Arts and Craft Show is part of the Annual Angair Wildflower and Arts weekend held on the third weekend of September every year.
For many years the Angair Art Show was held at the Anglesea Senior Citizens building but unfortunately three years ago the building was permanently closed due to a termite problem. This meant that the Angair Arts and Craft show had to find a new home. Many venues were considered and a decision was made to approach the Anglesea Community House to see if the show could be held there. The decision to host the show at ‘the house’ was made due to the close proximity to the Anglesea Memorial Hall where the Wildflower Show is held, which enables visitors to go easily between the two venues.
The Anglesea Snappers Photography Club with assistance from members of the Anglesea Art House are responsible for organising and managing the art show on behalf of Angair. The show starts with artists dropping off their artwork on the Thursday afternoon and ends on Sunday after all works have been collected and the space cleaned ready for the normal activities of Anglesea Community House to commence on Monday morning.
It is a pleasure to watch Angair work with Snappers and Anglesea Art House members but it couldn’t be done without the support of the staff, committee and volunteers of Anglesea Community House who are welcoming and supportive as the organising group walk in for those three days and ostensibly take over.
Editorial
If you have feedback or comments about articles, or would like to make a suggestion for future articles please contact the editor at newsangle@anglesea.org.au or leave news items/notices for the editor at the Anglesea Community House.
Distribution
NewsAngle is offered free to the community. You can read a digital version online at anglesea.org.au/newsangle
There are many other individuals and groups who use Anglesea Community House including: Sewing for a Purpose, knitting, Mahjong, fitness classes, bingo, book clubs, a playgroup, Jammers and Talking Points and many more for their meetings, classes or get togethers. If you have a need to hire space please consider ‘the house’ as an option.
Hard copies can be found at local cafes/shops in Anglesea and Aireys Inlet
Deadlines for next Edition: Issue 164 Summer 2025/26
Casual ad bookings 6 Nov 2025
Community Corner contributions 6 Nov 2025
Distribution 16 Dec 2025
If you would like to book an annual or casual advertisement, please email Julie at advertising@anglesea.org.au
Anglesea Community House 5 McMillan Street, Anglesea PO Box 43, Anglesea, VIC, 3230
Ph: 5263 2116
Hours: 9am–2.30pm, Monday–Friday Email admin@anglesea.org.au
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Community House.
Anglesea Community House is located on the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung people. We acknowledge them as Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their elders, past, present and future.
A special thank you goes to Colleen Perkins, Business Manager at Anglesea Primary School, who undertakes the enormous task of coordinating stallholder bookings, layouts, and signage for all six markets each year.
Supporting the Town they Visit
For visitors, it’s easy to see the market as just a fun day out, but the impact goes much deeper. Stallholder fees directly support Anglesea’s school, sporting clubs, Lions, and Community House - groups that provide vital services and activities for locals of all ages. While expenses like site fees paid to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority and waste collection must be covered, the majority of funds flow straight back into strengthening the community.
A Market of Resilience and Renewal
The Riverbank Market is also a story of resilience. Like many events, it faced challenges during the pandemic with some stallholders unable to return. Yet new vendors continue to step in and bring fresh energy and products to every market. This constant renewal means no two markets are ever the same—tourists often return for a second or third visit during their holiday to discover something new. Locals also enjoy checking out what’s new and the chance to stock up on favourite products from small producers.
Whether you’re a local making a day of it with friends or a visitor exploring the Great Ocean Road, the Anglesea
Riverbank Market is not to be missed. Come for the shopping, stay for the atmosphere, and know that every purchase helps keep the community strong.
So mark the dates in your diary, wander down the riverbank and experience a market that is as much about people as it is about produce. The Anglesea Riverbank Market is proof that when a community comes togetherlocals, volunteers and visitors alike - something truly special happens.
Market Dates 2025-26
Sunday 2 November 2025 (Melbourne Cup long weekend) Run by Anglesea Primary School
• Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) Run by Anglesea Primary School, with a BBQ run by the Anglesea Cricket Club
• Sunday 4 January 2026 Run by Anglesea Lions Club
• Sunday 11 January 2026 Run by Anglesea Primary School
• Sunday 8 March 2026 (Labour Day weekend) Run by Anglesea Football Netball Club
• Sunday 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday) Run by Anglesea Community House
With over 40 years of connection to the Anglesea community and more than a decade of real estate experience, Paula Fowler is more than just a property expert — she’s a trusted local who truly understands the lifestyle, the people, and what makes this coastal town so special.
Paula’s passion lies in helping people move into their next chapter with confidence. Her calm, empathetic approach, paired with expert knowledge and sharp attention to detail, ensures a smooth and rewarding real estate journey from start to finish.
As a proud supporter of local clubs, schools, and events — from the Auskick program to the Anglesea Football & Netball Club — Paula is deeply woven into the fabric of our town.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or just after a friendly chat about the market or the area, Paula’s always happy to help.
Known for her strong community involvement and invaluable local connections, Anna is well equipped to help clients achieve their investment property goals and to guide them every step of the way. With a diverse background spanning hospitality, tourism, immigration law, and Property Management, Anna brings a wealth of experience, local knowledge, and a passion for building lasting relationships to her role as Property Manager at Great Ocean Road Real Estate Anglesea.
Anglesea and the Community Bank: A Winning Team On and Off the Field
If you’ve been around Anglesea on a Saturday, you know there’s nothing quite like the buzz at the Anglesea Football Netball Club. The cheers from the sidelines, the smell of hot chips in the air and the pride that comes from wearing the ‘Roo’ colours. It’s part of who we are. For us at the Community Bank Anglesea, it’s more than just turning up to watch a game. It’s about being part of the club’s journey: every win, every loss, and every step forward.
We’ve been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Anglesea Football Netball Club for years. From match day support to big-ticket projects like the $50,000 electronic scoreboard, we’ve invested heavily because we believe in what the club brings to our town: unity, camaraderie, and a place where generations come together. That scoreboard isn’t just a way to track goals, it’s a symbol of a community moving forward, proudly displaying the names of local sponsors and lighting up the oval for our Juniors, Seniors, Men’s & Women’s.
Game days like the Community Bank Cup have shown just how much heart this club has. Whether it’s the Seniors storming home for a memorable win, the netballers holding their own in fierce match-ups or the reserves pulling off a one point thriller, we’ve been there, cheering with you. And we haven’t just been cheering, we’ve been contributing. There are three Community Cups a season, which collectively puts $1,500 into the hands of the club so they can reinvest in what matters most. This is in addition to the grants we have issued!
We know the club’s impact doesn’t stop when the siren sounds. A passionate and volunteer-led club like Anglesea Football Netball Club feeds into the strength of the town via improved physical and mental health and youth development and retention. It builds the volunteer culture and builds our town’s local identity. That’s why we’re asking
you, the people who love this town as much as we do, to think about where you bank. When you choose to bank with us you’re not just making a transaction, you’re making an investment into retaining a bank that supports your community.
The Anglesea Football Netball Club and the Community Bank are proof of what happens when we work together: we get results, on and off the field.
We love the community.
Wonderful Reads with Great Escape Books
Eden by Mark Brandi
After serving nine years for his part in helping a mate cover up a gruesome murder, Tom Blackburn finds himself ‘free’ on the streets of Melbourne. But without friends or family on the outside he’s not sure how long he’ll last.
Things definitely aren’t going his way, but after he’s caught sleeping rough at the Carlton Cemetery his luck seems to change and suddenly he has a bed and a job and maybe even some new friends. Tom is keen to make a new start, save some money, go and visit an old friend who’s moved to Queensland, but the past is not that easy to escape. Not when you’re just trying to survive and certainly not when someone appears to be trying to track you down.
Chilling, poignant and (once you realise what has happened to Tom to lead to these events) heartbreaking, Eden shows a side of Australian life not often explored in crime fiction.
Review by Andi @ Great Escape Books
An Ill Wind by Margaret Hickey
Margaret Hickey knows how to craft a gripping Aussie crime novel, and after setting a high bar with Broken Bay and The Creeper, she continues to deliver.
In rural Victoria, a small country town lies in the shadow of 300 wind turbines. A topic that divides the local community; with multi-generational farming families, wary of change and technology, standing at odds with those who support renewable energy and job opportunities. Tensions reach a breaking point when the body of wind farm owner and local philanthropist Geordie Pritchard is found hanging from one of the huge turbine blades.
Hickey has a remarkable talent for bringing characters to life with depth and authenticity even withina stand-alone novel. She masterfully captures the personalities, atmosphere, and tensions of rural Australian towns to create a crime novel that’s both compelling and rich in its descriptions of the landscape. I highly recommend this novel!
Review by Jess L @ Great Escape Books
The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler (Translated by Katy Derbyshire)
In the summer of 1966, amidst the lingering shadows of World War two, near the bustling market, in the historic Jewish district of picturesque Vienna a dilapidated corner café on Karmelitermarkt is brought back to life by market runner and itinerant workerRobert Simon.
The café is long-held dream of Robert’s, who strives for more meaning in his life when he gives up doing odd jobs around the market to set up what is an initially poorly frequented café. When Mila, a textile maid, faints from hunger out the front of Robert’s café, he comes to her aid offering her food and she convinces him to take her on as a waitress. Soon regulars—the butcher, the widow upstairs and many normal working-class men and women find this little corner café a haven, where they swap stories, share laughter and forget their troubles.
This novel moves with grace and tenderness, it follows the seasons and is quite beautiful. Simple and down to earth, it is a quiet book, perfect as a balm to the soul.
Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books
Fairy Beach by Sheila Knaggs & Jennifer Falkner
In our beautiful part of the world, we are lucky enough to be familiar with hot days spent building sandcastles, boogie boarding the waves and enjoying hot chips on the beach. But after the sun sets and the crowds disappear, the secret inhabitants of our sandy shores come out to play.
Join the sand sprites as they skip through the dunes, swim in the rockpools and ride cuttlefish surfboards in the waves. In the glow of the moonlight, they frolic all night to the tunes of the fairy beach band and play in the sandcastles that were built during the day.
A unique Australian fairy story, featuring beautiful, imaginative illustrations paired with lyrical rhymes. This is a delightful book reminiscent of days spent on our beautiful beaches. Review by Jess L @ Great Escape Books
Allen Noble Sanctuary
Helen Thomas
The Friends of the Allen Noble Sanctuary (FANS) are a dedicated group of Aireys Inlet residents who have, over many years, met at the place now known as the Allen Noble Sanctuary (the sanctuary). The sanctuary is located near the Bark Hut in Aireys Inlet and is bordered by Inlet Crescent and Sanctuary Court. Once a month, on a Sunday morning, they diligently meet to weed, prune, plant, mulch, and tend to the indigenous flora and fauna that inhabits this beautiful area.
The weeding and eradication of introduced species of plants, which damage this unique, delicately balanced and naturally occurring freshwater marsh, is an ongoing challenge. This work conducted over the past quarter century has enabled the transformation, restoration and enrichment of the area. The bird life, small mammal species and plants that now thrive here are evidence of the concerted work of FANS. This work includes the ongoing study of the natural habitat as it existed prior to European settlement.
Three key aims inform the work of the group:
1. Nature/Habitat Conservation: to improve the habitat for the indigenous plant and animal life.
2. Water Quality: to maintain and enhance water quality in the sanctuary.
3. Social/Community Amenity: to encourage the use of the sanctuary as a place for all to enjoy.
In October 2024 FANS launched a survey at the Painkalac Valley Network Forum. Phase 1 of the plan involved collecting and documenting the history of the sanctuary including sourcing aerial photographs, undertaking an extensive bird and plant survey, a camera tracking survey for mammals and seeking information on visiting patterns and uses of the sanctuary and suggested improvements for the sanctuary.
As part of the 2024/2025 survey cameras were placed at seven locations around the sanctuary to track small mammals and other wildlife, including predators. This revealed six native mammal species: Swamp Antechinus, Swamp Rat, Bush Rat, Brushtail Possum, Ringtail Possum and Swamp Wallaby. In addition, the identification of native bird species (including Superb Fairy Wren, White Browed Scrub Wren and Lewin’s Rail) indicates the area is acting as an important wildlife sanctuary.
At the beginning of 2025 a working group was established to develop a Draft Management Plan (DMP) using the survey results. This information will be used to inform the ongoing work of FANS for the next 25 years. The plan builds on the 2000 Landscape Concept Plan, and a detailed report of the survey results can be found on the FANS page of the Angair website.
In July 2025 the Draft Management Plan became public and FANS are now patiently waiting for a Surf Coast Council Aireys Inlet/Fairhaven Drainage Study due in December 2024 which will contain important information about the hydrology of the area and have implications for the sanctuary and surrounds.
Ways to Engage with the Allen Noble Sanctuary
Bird Watching: As you walk along the paths and boardwalks you might be lucky enough to see a range of birds on the water, nestled among the reeds, in the marshes and perched in the trees. A recent survey, conducted by local bird watchers and undertaken as part of a planning process for the sanctuary, identified 105 bird species. Use the eBird App to assist with your identification.
Guided Walks: Join a ramble with local legend Ellinor Campbell. Her extensive knowledge of the area and the plant and animal life that inhabit it makes this a most rewarding and educational experience.
Self-Guided Walks: If you’d prefer to wander the sanctuary solo, Ellinor Campbell’s short video Take a Walk in the Allen Noble Sanctuary (https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=t25RVq4tzzE) is a fabulous resource to guide you along the way. Ellinor also produces flora notes and recordings of bird song.
Sculpture & Tree Climbing: Bring the kids and meet the Bunyip, the Owl and the gigantic cypress pine just waiting to be climbed.
Become a Wetland Detective: Ecologic education and environment services offer ‘Wetland Detectives’ orientation programs for children and adults where small groups are introduced to the wetlands. Native plants are used to provide opportunities to sample bush tucker and interesting taxidermy models provide a ‘show and tell’ to identify the range of birds and mammals that inhabit the area.
Since the restoration of the sanctuary, Angair and FANS have produced several resources for adults and children about the plants, animals and artwork in the sanctuary. If you are interested in being involved in the rehabilitation work at the sanctuary, the working bee meets monthly at the Bunyip sculpture on Inlet Crescent on the 4th Sunday of the month between 9.30am-11am.
For further details contact Barry Whelan barrywhelan@bigpond.com (m) 0466 895 254
For further information about the Allen Noble Sanctuary including its history and uses prior to European settlement by the Wadawurrung people and its current cultural significance to them, the following resources are very helpful:
• Davies, Anne. Planning for the Allen Noble Sanctuary Aireys Inlet and District Association (AIDA) Newsletter December 2024
• Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna) www.angair.org.au Friends of the Allen Noble Sanctuary (FANS) page.
• Campbell, Ellinor. Take a Walk in the Allen Noble Sanctuary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t25RVq4tzzE
• Ecologic www.ecologic.net.au
• The Painkalac Valley Network—an ongoing coalition of community groups that meet regularly to collaborate on and advocate for the Painkalac estuary and its valley environs. Information about the network can be found on the Angair (https://angair.org.au/) and the AIDA (https://aireys-inlet.org/) websites.
Changing Lives
Penny Edmanson
Picture this. You are forced to leave the homeland you love to make a life in a country on the other side of the world where sights, smells and sounds are unfamiliar and you don’t speak the language.
Abdul arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2012. He has waited 12 years for his family to be allowed to join him from Pakistan where they have been sheltering.
Yaritza and her two young children fled Venezuela by boat under cover of darkness and finally found sanctuary in Australia in 2023.
After eight years in a refugee camp in Kenya, Burundians Antoine and Janine arrived in Australia in 2023.
Zahraa fled Iraq in 2015. She joined her husband (a student) on a dependent visa and eventually they were accepted as asylum seekers.
From diverse backgrounds, cultures and religions, these refugees all have a common goal – to settle into a new and foreign country. However pretty much every action we take for granted—visiting the doctor, reading road signs, shopping, filling out forms—is daunting.
This became obvious to Fran Coker through her volunteer work with the Wesley Asylum Seeker Welcome Place Food Bank in Geelong. A long-time Aireys resident, Fran realised that becoming literate in English was the pathway to feeling safe, joining in socially, finding a job and eventual citizenship. A woman of strong moral conscience and action, Fran raised the idea of English classes for refugees in Geelong at an AIRAR (Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees) meeting in 2019. The idea was taken up and fourteen volunteers came forward, five of them were experienced teachers. Cloverdale Community House in Corio welcomed the idea and made a room available. The first classes were attended by women from Afghanistan. From there word spread with classes averaging ten students and with 24 volunteers on the roster. Despite the impact of COVID, classes continued in stop/start fashion during lockdown. Post COVID, classes have continued every Monday and Friday morning during school term times.
Students come from many backgrounds, with a wide range of language skills. Many have had long term difficulty achieving permanent visa status and some have been separated from family for years, so it is not surprising that they often battle sadness and depression. However, class is a happy place with much laughter, eagerness to learn and sharing of tea and cake.
As Zahraa says, “My English was quite primitive, however with the help of friends and the volunteers at Cloverdale, my language started to progress as they gave me the confidence to speak regardless of the number of mistakes I make in terms of grammar and pronunciation so long as I convey the ideas I am trying to express. The friendly culture at
Cloverdale allowed me to form friendships and connections with my community.”
Classes couldn’t happen without volunteers. Currently there are 30 volunteers, with a team leader and at least two assistants rostered for each class. Ideally one on one assistance works best, as levels of understanding and ability are varied, so new volunteers are welcomed with great enthusiasm. Many volunteers come from Aireys Inlet and Anglesea. Their commitment, goodwill and generosity contribute to the wellbeing of the students and their ability to navigate life in a new land.
When asked to reflect on the classes, volunteers, without exception, emphasise that they get as much out of them as the students. Susan Funder of Aireys Inlet explains: “For me, being a volunteer means getting to know people from many cultures and having fun with English, that difficult language that I love. It’s great to see the students make progress in the very safe environment of Cloverdale and see their confidence grow. It’s an absolute privilege to work with them.”
Another more recent recruit, Jess Garvin, also of Aireys, says “It’s so rewarding. I love hearing about people’s experiences from other countries and I am in awe of their efforts to learn a new language. It’s hard work for us but doubly hard for them.” Jess had no background in teaching
or ESL but feels very supported by the other volunteers.
The introduction of excursions was greeted with great enthusiasm and the students have visited Erskine Falls, The Geelong Botanic Gardens, the National Wool Museum and the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. Being out of the classroom, students are able to experience hands on what Geelong and its surrounds have to offer, see the relevance of the vocabulary they are learning and, much to the delight of the volunteers, share signature dishes from their home countries during the lunch break!
If you are interested in volunteering or would just like to know more, please contact Celia Meehan on 0438 686 968 There is no set expectation of commitment – some volunteers like to go weekly, others less often. A term roster is drawn up well in advance which allows for amendments due to changed circumstances. Car-pooling is often arranged, with volunteers drawn from all over the Surf Coast.
Stories, Soup and Sourdough
Helen Booth
Wouldn’t you love a hundred dollar note for every time you hear a local ask, “How lucky are we to live here, in such a beautiful place and such a wonderful community?” These are always words of celebration, never hollow platitudes. We saw the truth of them at the Stories, Soup and Sourdough Literary Lunch at the Anglesea Bowling Club on 10 August. Over 100 people attended the sold-out event run by Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees (AIRAR) which raised $6,000 for Afghan women and girls who’ve fled their homeland and those struggling to live connected, meaningful lives in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
On 8 July this year, The Pre-trial Chamber II of The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders for the crime of persecution against humanity against women and girls. The ICC press release states that Taliban decrees and edicts severely “deprived girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life, and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion.”†
Literary Lunch guest speaker, Hamida Samar, described the impact of this persecution on women and girls, and explained how her own profession in Afghanistan prior to the 2021 regime change was putting her life at risk. She had no choice but to leave her home. Hamida acknowledged Marie Sellstrom, a former chair of Rural Australians for Refugees, who sponsored her move to Australia. “I am so grateful to Marie for the financial and emotional support that enabled me to build a new life here,” she said.
Hamida now volunteers as a member of Women for Change to raise awareness and funds. “Money makes a difference,” she said. “There is so much suffering in the world today, but please do not forget the plight of woman and girls in Afghanistan. Providing money for education and employment leads to active citizenship, connection and empowerment.”
From inception to delivery and throughout the literary panel’s discussion, this event demonstrated the strengths gained through place and community. Authors Kate Mildenhall, Alli Parker, Lucy Treloar and Clare Strahan donated their time for the day and spoke in depth about how these themes are central to their recent novels.
An AIRAR team of around 25 took on roles to liaise with guest speakers, set up the venue, greet audience members, sell raffle tickets and cook and serve meals. Seven AIRAR cooks, guided by Nerida Milsom (aka ‘The Chef’) catered for various dietary requirements with a gourmet lunch of cheese platters, fresh sourdough, crispy garlic bread, and a bowl of broccoli, leek and potato or roast pumpkin and coconut soup, followed by flourless orange and almond cake.
Coordinator, Kate Long said, “It was a fine-tuned project bigger than Ben Hur where everyone played their part to make the lunch a huge success.”
Emcee Liz Steele outlined the work of AIRAR in her opening address, “Our advocacy team provides advice and action to address issues that affect refugees and supports the wonderful legal work done by the Queenscliff branch. Our community awareness team provides information and runs large fundraisers like today to tell people about the difficulties refugees face. We make monthly donations of $900 and purchase appropriate food items to support the Wesley Asylum Seeker Welcome Place Food Bank in Geelong. We also run English language classes for refugees living in Geelong and with the community’s help, we’ve sponsored a refugee family living in Aireys Inlet.”
Hamida Samar
Liz thanked community sponsors for their generosity. Nicole Maher from Great Escape Books donated profits from the sale of all books sold at the event and the 17 books purchased by AIRAR members for raffle prizes. The Anglesea Bowling Club donated money and provided the venue free of charge. Anglesea IGA donated food and two local businesses, Surfcoast Hair and Makeup and Winespeake Cellar & Deli donated door prizes.
Following the lunch, Kate Mildenhall facilitated the literary conversation with Lucy Treloar and Alli Parker, focusing on how female characters in their novels transcend trauma and alienation after finding the places and communities that enable them to discover and express their true selves.
Author and creative writing teacher, Clare Strahan, then joined the panel and the conversation shifted to the importance of education, resilience and a supportive writing community to the success of their writing careers.
At the top of American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs sits self-actualisation, fed by a strong sense of belonging to a place and community. Shelter, food, safety, education and employment are critical precursors. For those of us lucky enough to have landed in this place, it is a heart-warming gesture to contribute money that helps secure safety and opportunities for women and girls who are struggling against oppression.
To make a donation to Women for Change:
• Write an email to women2019.forchange@gmail.com with ‘Education for Girls Donation’ in the subject line and details of your donation in the body
• Transfer your donation into:
Account name: Women for Change Inc (CBA)
BSB: 063-619 Account: 11156923
For more information, visit www.womenforchange.com.au
To join AIRAR, email aireysinletrar@gmail.com
†Fadi El Abdallah, Situation in Afghanistan: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II issues arrest warrants for Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, press release, International Criminal Court, 8 July 2025 https:// www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-afghanistan-icc-pre-trial-chamber-iiissues-arrest-warrants-haibatullah-akhundzada
Power Saving Bonus 5
We are pleased to share that our Community House is once again able to assist locals with applications for the Power Saving Bonus – Round 5. Many community members have benefited from this program in the past, and we are delighted to continue offering this support.
Eligible households can receive a $100 payment to help with rising energy costs. To qualify, applicants must:
• have a recent residential electricity bill
• hold one of the following concession cards: Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card, or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card
• not have previously applied for the $100 Bonus in this round.
To submit an application, you’ll need to bring:
• a recent residential electricity bill
• your concession card
• your driver’s licence or Medicare card. Our team can process your application quickly and securely. To book an appointment, please contact us on 5263 2116.
Anglesea Twilight Market
The much-loved Anglesea Twilight Market is back, and this season promises to be bigger and better than ever. The first market on Friday, November 21 will feature not only the launch of the season but also the grand opening of our new Container Stage, providing an exciting new platform for local musicians to entertain the crowd. It’s the perfect way to kick off the summer with community, music, food, and fun.
To help make the markets run smoothly, we are currently looking for extra help. There are both paid and volunteer roles available this season. A Market Assistant position is open, supporting with set up, pack down, and general duties across selected market dates. We are also seeking members for the Bump Out Crew, a casual paid role assisting with pack down at the end of each market night.
If volunteering is more your style, we’d love to welcome Donation Collectors who will greet visitors at the entrances and accept donations. Volunteers will receive a meal voucher to enjoy while soaking up the market atmosphere.
Be part of this vibrant community tradition and help us celebrate an exciting new season. To apply, contact Ange Collins on 5263 2116 or email ange@anglesea.org.au.
Council Update
Cr Leon Walker, Otway Range Ward
This is my first column for NewsAngle and I appreciate the opportunity to share updates with readers.
I’m now almost a year into my first term on Council and have enjoyed the opportunity to meet and connect with many members of the community across our Otway Range Ward.
Council Plan
The Council Plan is a major piece of work for any new Council and sets the strategic direction for the four-year term. We are nearing the end of an extensive process to develop our new plan. It has been heavily shaped by the community through a survey generating more than 1,000 responses and a 43-member community panel which spent three days developing a set of principles for councillors to consider.
A draft of the plan was released for feedback in June and the responses we received are now being considered before we adopt a final plan at an upcoming meeting.
While it’s no longer available for feedback, the draft plan can still be viewed via yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/OurFocusOurFuture.
The plan achieves a good balance between recognising the importance of delivering Council’s ‘core’ everyday services, while also looking to the future with action to protect the unique features of our shire (including the natural environment) and support the ongoing wellbeing of the community.
Our Places and Spaces
We’re also working on a Social Infrastructure Plan that will guide our investment in community facilities and open spaces over the next decade. This includes playgrounds, sport and recreation facilities, arts and culture venues and shared trails. There’s a town-based survey open until the end of September at yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/PlacesandSpaces.
Your input will help shape the final plan, which will be crucial for future budgets and our advocacy efforts to other levels of government.
Alcoa Groundwater Extraction Application
During our July meeting, Council voted to make a submission to Southern Rural Water expressing our concerns about Alcoa’s application for a new groundwater extraction licence at Anglesea.
The local community is clearly very worried about the condition of the Anglesea River and the risk that continuing groundwater extraction will impact its health. In our submission, we reaffirmed that we don’t support extraction unless it can be absolutely proven not to have a negative impact on the river or its catchment.
We asked Southern Rural Water to consider the risks to the environment and apply precautionary principles in deciding if the intended benefit would outweigh the risks to local ecosystems and the river catchment.
New EV Charger in Anglesea
Electric Vehicle owners in Anglesea and visitors to the town now have access to a public EV charger at the community hub.
Funded through the Victorian Government’s Destination Charging across Victoria program, this charger is one of four being rolled out across the shire. It has a 20kW capacity and is priced at $0.20/kWh. It’s connected to the Chargefox network.
Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/EVChargers for more information
Spring 2025 Alcoa Anglesea Update
It’s hard to believe it’s spring already, but we are pleased to report we have had a productive and safe year, as we continue with rehabilitation activities across our former mine and power station sites.
While there is still progress to be made, our work to date has seen some great achievements realised. Below is an update on our 2025 focus areas:
Maintaining our track record
Consistent with our values and actions both during operation and since closure, critically we’ve maintained our track record of achieving zero injuries and maintaining full environmental compliance.
Completing the power station remediation
After undertaking a variety of remediation activities over several years under the oversight of an EPA-appointed auditor, we are pleased to report that we have now finally completed environmental remediation works on the power station site, bringing an end to this important strategic activity.
The last step in the process is obtaining the EPA-appointed auditor Site Audit Statement confirming satisfactory completion of works and suitability of the site for potential future land uses.
Delivering our mine maintenance and monitoring program
We continued to implement our robust mine maintenance and monitoring program – an integral component to achieving our objective of a safe, stable and sustainable landform.
This program includes ongoing weed management, erosion repairs, stability monitoring, water monitoring, and regular geotechnical and vegetation expert inspections – activities that are expected to continue for the next five to 10 years.
Recently, we engaged a new earthworks contractor to undertake mine area erosion repair and additional drain construction and are also implementing a vegetation cover on the mine lower slopes to minimise long term erosion based on trial works undertaken in 2024.
Finalising the mine water filling strategy
Southern Rural Water invited the community to share their thoughts on our formal groundwater licence amendment application, which was submitted to the regulator in July 2024.
This process included opportunity for community members to share their views through a public comment period during June and July, a community information session and a public submission hearing in August, providing opportunity for individuals to talk to their submission – including Alcoa and our expert hydrogeologist.
Alcoa recognises the high level of community and stakeholder interest, and we welcome the rigour involved in the regulatory processes to help decision makers reach an informed decision that takes environmental, social, technical and cultural factors into consideration. As a long-time member of the community, we continue to engage with stakeholders regarding current and future plans.
This application is a significant step towards achieving our rehabilitation objectives to return a safe and sustainable site that ensures long-term environmental and community outcomes for the Anglesea region.
Following the outcome of the application process, whatever the outcome, we will then be in a position to deliver a final Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan, bringing us closer to returning the site to the community.
The current draft Plan is viewable on our website, and we will review this further seeking additional community feedback after the groundwater licence decision, as we work to finalise it.
Read more about the strategy and FAQs by visiting www.alcoa. com/australia/en/anglesea/mine-water-filling-strategy
Exploring land use opportunities
We continue to investigate options for Alcoa freehold land use in line with the Alcoa Freehold Master Plan, which included significant community feedback, and the Anglesea Futures Land Use Framework.
Involving the community
A number of groups have joined us onsite this year to witness the extensive amount of remediation work undertaken to date and learn firsthand about our proposed plans.
Visitors included students from Damascus College, Bellarine Wanders and members from Angair Inc.
If you have any feedback or questions for Alcoa, or would like a tour of the site, please do not hesitate to contact the team via angleseaps@alcoa.com.au
To read more about our activities including previous updates, visit our website www.alcoa.com/australia/en/anglesea.
Phone: 5521 5484 | Email: angleseaps@alcoa.com.au www.alcoa.com/australia/en/anglesea
Alcoa acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where we operate, the Wadawurrung People, and pay respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
Alcoa acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where we operate, the Wadawurrung People, and pay respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
Coogoorah Park Celebrates 40th Birthday
Jane Shennan
FROM THIS: The peat under what is now Coogoorah Park continued to burn for weeks after the Ash Wednesday bushfire in February 1983.
Coogoorah Park, Anglesea’s island park and wetland, celebrates its 40th anniversary at the end of September.
On 16 February 1983 the Ash Wednesday bushfire devastated coastal towns and swathes of the Otway Ranges. When the fire was finally fought to a standstill, a large patch of peat in Anglesea continued to burn. The fire cast a pall of toxic, smelly smoke over the town for weeks and defied all conventional attempts to douse it.
Flooding was the final option and opening up channels from the Anglesea River to let in sufficient water ultimately drowned the fire. It also drastically reduced the chances of the peat catching alight in the event of a future inferno.
The problem of what to do with the newly created islands and channels which criss-crossed the area was resolved by developing a permanent wetland park with walking trails, bike tracks, quirky wooden bridges and a state-of-the-art playground. The park was officially opened on 29 September 1985 by Cr Pat Denham, Shire President of the then Shire of Barrabool.
In the following years two ceremonies named the chain of bridges which connect the east bank of the Anglesea River to the west side of town. The names recall the first five families whose children made up the first enrolment of the
TO THIS: The tranquil waters of Coogoorah Park today with a network of islands, waterways and bridges providing a flora and fauna haven.
Anglesea Primary School in 1927 – Russell, Davidson, Evans, Mousley and Smythe, and their teacher Miss D’Helin.
Despite the current and sad acid event afflicting the river, Coogoorah Park is a haven for flora and fauna of many descriptions and a drawcard for nature lovers and bird photographers, some of whom are international visitors and part of enthusiastic twitcher groups.
Today the park is managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) following a transfer of governance from the Surf Coast Shire in June 2024.
The Anglesea & District Historical Society has planned several activities to mark Coogoorah’s 40th birthday:
• Visit our storyboards during the Angair Wildflower Weekend 20-21 September, 10am-4pm both days. You will see photos of the river as it was in the early 1900s and images of the burning peat in 1983, the original 1984 plans for evolving Coogoorah Park, and the naming of the bridges ceremonies.
• At the Anglesea Hotel on Sunday 5 October, Bill Bubb will tell you how the CFA finally stopped the fire, Angair experts will discuss the plants and animals living in the park today and GORCAPA will outline future plans.
Gerang Gardenalia
Lina Libroaperto
Nestled in the Surf Coast hinterland, 20km inland from Anglesea, Gherang Gardenalia is the creation of Karen and Geoff Voss. This unique garden will be open to the public through Open Gardens Victoria on the weekend of 29 and 30 November 2025.
Over the past 25 years, Geoff, a conveyancer, and Karen, an artist and qualified horticulturist, have poured their time, energy and creativity into developing a garden that reflects sustainability, ingenuity and hard work. With Geoff’s practical thinking and Karen’s eye for design and deep horticultural knowledge, they’ve created a garden that is both functional and beautiful. Geoff often jokes, “I’m the labourer - I do the heavy lifting and the digging of holes.”
Karen’s passion for gardening began in the early 1990s when she left her job as a bank teller and became a mature-age horticulture student at The Gordon. She then worked in both retail and wholesale nurseries, cementing her love of plants and garden design. As well as working in the garden, Karen also paints in her studio, drawing inspiration from the garden and vice versa. Her designs focus on the interplay of colour, texture and form, both in plants and in art.
For Geoff, the garden is a peaceful retreat from a busy job in Geelong. Mowing the lawns is a welcome chance to unwind. “At work, I look forward to getting home to see what Karen has been up to in the garden that day,” he says.
Gherang Gardenalia is not a formal or rigidly planned garden, nor is it a quaint cottage garden overflowing with flowers. It has evolved organically, shaped by the local climate, soil and landscape. Some areas remain a little wild, offering habitat for birds and small reptiles, while others are quiet, contemplative spaces for rest and reflection. Gravel paths encourage visitors to explore further into garden beds planted with natives, succulents and drought-tolerant perennials. Plant structure, foliage texture and colour are key elements, offering year-round visual interest.
The garden is also entirely water wise. Without access to town water the Vosses rely on rainwater, which informs their plant choices, favouring species that thrive in dry summers and can adapt to local conditions. Additional irrigation from rainwater tanks is used selectively, particularly in the vegetable garden, on fruit trees and for a few ornamental beds.
In addition to the ornamental garden, the property includes two vegetable gardens, a citrus grove, various other fruit trees, a glasshouse, a pool and grassed areas planted with gums, sheoaks, wattles and deciduous trees. In recent years, Geoff and Karen have focused on expanding the vegetable garden. Timber-framed structures covered with netting now protect the beds from birds and wildlife. “It’s so satisfying picking fruit and veg you’ve grown from seed,” says Karen. “I like to grow varieties that you can’t find in shops.”
Upcycling is another defining feature of the garden. Discarded objects find new purpose: a cement mixer drum and wine barrel rings have become garden sculptures; an iron bedhead has been repurposed as a gate; a rusty roof rack acts as a dividing wall; and an old exhaust canopy from a commercial kitchen now serves as a trough planter.
To see the garden throughout the seasons, visit their Instagram page: @gheranggardenalia
During the open weekend, the Surfcoast CWA will be providing morning and afternoon teas, plants will be available for sale, and there will be a pop-up art gallery featuring works by local artists. Karen will also exhibit her own paintings and pen-and-watercolour pencil drawings, inspired by her garden design.
Also open that weekend is Greenfield, the garden of Denise and Russ Murfitt in Moriac. Full details for both gardens can be found at www.opengardensvictoria.org.au
What’s happening at ACH
October, November and December 2025
Health and Wellbeing
Life in Balance Fitness Pilates Classes
With Lina Libroaperto
The Pilates method is a safe and effective approach to building your functional fitness. The low impact exercises help strengthen the body with an emphasis on the abdominal and back muscles. Improvements in strength, balance, flexibility, posture and overall wellbeing can be achieved through Pilates. These classes cater for beginners through to those experienced with the Pilates methodology.
When Wednesdays 9.30–10.30am
Cost $15 per session
Active Adults
This class is open to all adults over 55. We use hand weights, bands and gym equiptment to build strength, flexibility and balance.
When Mondays 9–10 am &10-11am
Cost $10 per session
Personal training also available. Bookings essential
For more information about these classes and bookings, call Lina on 0403 797 973.
NicFIT
with personal trainer Nicky Friel
Cardio Blast Combo
This class is a combo of Tabata, powerbar ,body combat, muscle conditioning and abdominal exercises.
When Saturdays @ 8.30 am at Anglesea Hall
Powerbar Classes
The ultimate fat burning workout, focusing on all the major muscle groups using barbells and dumbbells all set to motivational music that will leave you wanting to come back for more!
When Mondays @ 9 am Wednesdays @ 6.30 pm at Anglesea Hall
Cost All classes are $16 or $150 for 10 sessions.
Sessions are suitable for any level of fitness. Bookings required for all classes. BYO mat.
For further information about each class call Nicky on 0403 779 084. Personal training available at reasonable rates.
Accredited training
Blended CPR (HLTAID009) and Provide First Aid (HLTAID011)
With Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), every minute counts. People who collapse with SCA only have a short 10minute window of survival. With every passing minute, the chance of survival reduces by 10%.
When Contact Kel for current dates or for group bookings 9–10 am (CPR only), 9 am–12 pm (First Aid) Where Online/face-to-face combination
Cost CPR only : $70; First aid inc CPR : $175 (inc. GST)
Contact Kel at: 0458 701 482.
Anglesea Community House
Entrance 4, 5 McMillan Street, Anglesea (PO Box 43, Anglesea VIC 3230)
Unless otherwise indicated, all courses can be booked via Anglesea Community House and are held at the Community House.
Call us for more details on 52632116 or email info@anglesea.org.au
Keep up to date with upcoming events and courses via our website: www.anglesea.org.au Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: angleseacommunityhouse
Maintenance and Lifestyle
Liz Clark
It is fairly rare these days to find a person who believes he is living a perfect life – or almost.
John Peric, local carpenter and maintenance tradesman can’t believe how fortunate he is to live in this beautiful place, have enough work to keep him busy and provide well for his family and have sufficient leisure time to do the things he loves. He is one who counts his blessings with gratitude.
John has a great outlook on life – he is happy for things to be simple and uncomplicated, doesn’t have huge expectations or needs. His laid-back attitude is about simplicity, family life, hard and honest work and discovering and enjoying more about the place he lives.
He was born in Geelong and spent the earlier years of his life, until he turned 12, travelling around Queensland and the Northern Territory with his parents. Then it was time to settle down and complete his schooling in St Kilda, Middle Park and South Melbourne.
He left school and took on an apprenticeship as a nursery man under the wise guidance of Peter McGain. He developed a passion for plants, and a deep love of the outdoors. In time, John moved to Mallacoota and spent five years there managing the local nursery.
When it was time to move on, John headed to the Surf Coast, deciding that Anglesea was a great place to find some work and think about settling down. He began working here as a carpenter in 1997, meeting his future wife Megan in the local hairdresser’s shop when he popped in there for a haircut. He worked for a number of local builders, at one stage being employed in the construction of our local supermarket.
Carpentry really attracted John’s interest. He completed a mature-age carpentry apprenticeship and opened his own business locally. He enjoys the precision the work demands, the diversity of tasks from small to quite large, and the sense of freedom he has in being able to work on his own.
John offers a range of maintenance and carpentry services from decking and cladding, home improvements, window repairs, fencing and home maintenance, building projects and general carpentry. All services offered with a smile and very good craftsmanship. He works in the boundaries between Anglesea and Moggs Creek and has a growing list of satisfied clientele who are happy to spread his fame by word of mouth. His only advertising is through NewsAngle and a small sign on his truck. John says his work comes through lots of repeat business, by developing rapport and trust with clients, and getting things done well.
The Perics are grateful for a very happy family life spent in Anglesea. John and Megan’s two children attended Anglesea Primary School and went to secondary school in Geelong. His son recently completed his Bachelor of Architecture and his daughter works here as a myotherapist while studying Sports Science. They have done very well and John is proud of their hard work.
The family has been involved in the football and netball clubs. They love the beach, the mountain bike tracks in the bush and spending a lot of time outdoors. John has a small boat which he enjoys using for fishing, especially in summer. He also fishes quite successfully off the beach.
Gardening is his favourite hobby. He says if you want to find him, just look out in the back garden. Here he grows lots of vegetables, plants seeds and cuttings, propagates plants from all around the place and enjoys the backyard as his own little castle. John loves to watch the birds in the bird bath and wastes a lot of time doing this. Other than coping with possums and rats he enjoys many hours both working and idling out the back.
John is also a good cook, though he admits he always needs to use a recipe, he measures everything precisely and needs to keep his kitchen area very tidy – and this runs over into his working life as well. John enjoys cooking dinner a few nights a week and preserving and freezing the produce from his garden.
In some ways, like many other locals, John mourns the changes around the town – the crowds, the ongoing busyness, the big houses that are frequently empty, traffic and road changes. Most of us agree with him. However he is immensely grateful for the happy and fulfilling life he has had here. He says the town has been good to him and he is not planning on going anywhere in the near future.
If you need odd jobs done, a bit of maintenance around your house, or few ideas about how to update your deck, John is the man for you. He is available to chat about your needs on 0418 312 066 and can be found on facebook under Anglesea Carpentry and Maintenance. He comes highly recommended by many clients.
Meet Kate MacNeill
Helen Thomas
Kate MacNeill’s long connection to the coast began when she and partner Bin Dixon-Ward had a caravan in the caravan park from the early 90s and enjoyed weekends and holidays in Aireys Inlet. The duo bought a house here in 2000, and when Kate retired in 2024 from her position as Associate Dean of Education and Students in the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne she relocated full-time to Aireys Inlet.
Melbourne still holds many attractions for Kate with her interest in the cultural life of the city through art and film and her ongoing commitment to a range of political activities. She also continues to be engaged in academic research related to gender and the visual arts, and supervision of Phd students.
Kate has had an eclectic and interesting career with a background in law, economics, art history and art practise.
She has worked with organisations such as the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS), the Brotherhood of St Laurence, (BSL), the Victorian State Public Service and the Working Women’s Centre, Darwin (WWC) in various roles.
Kate studied law and while she never practised as a lawyer, she attributes her capacity to work across these diverse roles to the foundation gained in her legal training. Her personal and professional skills have enabled her to make many successful transitions over her career, including her most recent change from a life in Melbourne and work in academia to full-time residency in Aireys Inlet.
Like many who have relocated to the Surf Coast, Kate is excited by the challenge of developing a new relationship to the area. “Whereas once Aireys may have represented a respite from city life and work pressures, life as a ‘local’ offers the potential for new and different experiences, challenges and decisions.” Some of these new experiences include new social activities, bush walking, volunteering and political work. Her commitment to social justice through both her political activism and art remain integral in her transition to full-time life on the Surf Coast.
Kate uses her art as a way of processing issues, engaging with the world and as a creative outlet for her thoughts and ideas. She believes that when people see art outside a traditional context they can engage with it in a new way. She explains how this can be a different experience from attending galleries and exhibitions in more formal settings and creates an opportunity to view art in context of everyday life. “Through seeing art in an unusual space or in an unusual context, a moment of disorientation may occur,” she says, “and the viewer may come to a different understanding of things, perhaps even an unease or discomfort.”
Kate’s strong sense of social justice and human rights has informed her professional and personal life, and her political
Kate MacNeill at a Melbourne rally in support of the Palestinian people
Examples of Kate’s art: (left to right) From the River to the Sea - Palestine pre 1948 to now, Catastrophe - conveying the impact of the UN resolution on the partition of Palestine, Gabion - Gabion are restraining walls containing rocks. This piece represents the dehumanisation of the Palestinian people as they are confined to enclosed zones.
activism. In the 70s, while studying at the University of Melbourne, she met students whose parents were Palestinian refugees from the 1948 Nakba. “I also met members of a group called Jews Against Zionism and Anti-Semitism, so Palestine was already part of my education,” Kate says. “It was then that I came to understand that support for Palestine and opposing the actions of Israel is not being anti-semitic.”
That education continues to this day. Kate has attended weekly rallies in support of the Palestinian people, while working and living in Melbourne and has continued to support this action as she moved to Aireys Inlet. While driving through Geelong, she became aware of the ‘Toot For Palestine’ action organised by a Geelong based group advocating for a free Palestine. This small, simple action resonated strongly with her and she asked herself: “What can we do here on the Surf Coast?” This led her to seek out friends and members of the Aireys Inlet community who might also be concerned about the situation in Palestine.
A group of friends in Aireys Inlet (who call themselves Eyes on Palestine) have reached out to the community to provide opportunities to learn more about the history of Palestine and raise awareness about the current conflict, a struggle that has been going for over 70 years.
They screened the film Where Olive Trees Weep at the Aireys Inlet Community Hall. The film examines themes of
intergenerational trauma experienced by the Palestinian people and over 100 people attended.
This response led the group to show a second film, No Other Land. This film is about the destruction of a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank. It won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Feature). Attendendees travelled from Torquay, Lorne and Grovedale to learn more about the complex nature of the issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Like Kate, members of the community are clearly concerned about the situation in Palestine. This is evidenced by other local action which has emerged in response to recent media reports of the starvation of children in Gaza and the blockade of aid to Palestinians. A recent fundraiser for a mobile children’s hospital in Gaza, held at the Aireys Inlet Hotel, was packed out with locals and more than $4,000 was raised. “The Palestinian work makes a big difference to me,” Kate says. “It is a different way of connecting with the community and being engaged. It makes me feel at home here.”
Eyes on Palestine will screen a third film in November. The documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which attracted a huge amount of attention when it premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and is currently part of the Melbourne International Film Festival. Please check the Arts Scene page in this edition of NewsAngle for details.
Mazz Cole: Earth into Ocean
Liz Clark
Like so many other residents of Anglesea, Mazz Cole remembers her earliest holidays by the rock pools at Roadknight beach and a love for the sea, the beach and this part of the world. She believes that she was always meant to spend a much larger part of her life in Anglesea. Her husband Paul and their three children have the happiest
memories of holidays here too and over the years they spent many hours involved at the Surf Club and in the Nippers and Starfish Nippers programs.
Four years ago, with their kids moving toward adulthood, they moved here permanently from Gnarwarre, a move Mazz considers blessed and totally meant to be. She cannot believe that at the same time the new building at Anglesea Physio was completed and there was a perfect opportunity for her to continue using her physiotherapy skills right on her doorstep. Mazz is highly sought after as her speciality is in treating necks and jaws and there are very few others who do this. She speaks highly of the team she works with and has found a great deal of support from people there who share their expertise and friendship.
For her 50th birthday, Mazz was given a wine, cheese and clay experience and, a little reluctantly, headed up into the busy Melbourne traffic. She received a fine on the way, for driving through a red arrow, and decided the day was doomed. Despite the inauspicious start this experience would be incredibly important. This was the first time she had held clay and Mazz was surprised to see how much she loved the feel and how tactile it was. As a hands-on physio, she resonated with moulding clay. She ignored the wine and cheese and lost herself in the joy of making something. “The results were awful,” she said, but she relished the whole experience—the feel of the clay, the opportunity to be creative—something she denies having felt before.
Mazz decided to pursue ceramics further but had an unsuccessful experience with a wheel class. She felt she didn’t have the finesse required due to years of strengthening her hands in her job. After a few enquiries she found Anglesea Art House had classes in pottery. It was there she met Alda Hubbard, a brilliant tutor, who was highly encouraging, and a great personality who encouraged her to ‘go for it’. Mazz loved the Art House, the atmosphere, the people and all the new things she was learning. It didn’t matter if she was good or not, she could just relax and enjoy it all.
Years ago, when Mazz was at Uni in Melbourne, she had a job at Taco Bill and spent all her money purchasing books about whales. She found them
fascinating. Then she started listening to recordings of whales singing – she was hooked. Her first job as a physio was in Warrnambool and this led to hours of sitting on the beach, watching out for whales – the obsession had begun. She thought she might have a go at making a pottery whale. It turned out okay, though a bit lopsided and bumpy, so she made another and someone asked if they could buy it. She was amazed. Ceramicist Melinda Solly gave her lots of helpful tips about attaching clay so it would stay together strongly and in time her whales became more lifelike and more durable.
Jennifer O’Sullivan at the Art House encouraged Mazz to submit three pieces for the annual Art Show. Mazz was unsure if they would be good enough. She needed to write something about her art and so began the bios – wonderful stories where Mazz names each whale, gives them a personality and describes their characteristics and backgrounds. She is amazingly imaginative and brings each of her creations to life, always with a sense of fun and joy. Writing the bios and naming the whales is now just as important to her as the end product.
When Mazz’s father died in 2023 he left her some money to buy something significant just for herself. This encouraged her to buy her own kiln and set up her studio ‘Earth into Ocean’. It has been such an extraordinary gift to her as she is now able to make her own space for her creativity and hold a few small classes with Shoshona Hoffman as the tutor. Mazz has enjoyed learning from Shoshona, sculpting and honing her skills in happy groups of likeminded people. In 2024 Mazz won the highly commended prize for beginners at the Art Show, and in 2025 she was highly
commended for general ceramics. She frequently thinks of her dad and how proud he would be of her success. She has sold her creations at Salt and Pepper gallery in Bellbrae and at Frangipanis in Anglesea and received many commissions. Her whales have travelled to Germany, England, Singapore and around Australia.
The Arts Trail in August this year was highly successful for Mazz. She opened her studio and there was a constant swarm of people coming to meet her whales and purchase almost all the stock she had available. Each whale left with its story and happy new owner.
Mazz believes she is improving at her craft each day and has found a new level of expertise in shaping bodies and eyes, making the whales more lifelike and relatable. She continues to experiment with various glazes so that each whale is unique.
For the future, Mazz is taking part in the All About Art exhibition in Torquay to raise money for brain cancer. Together with her daughter Georgie and her friends, she will be making and selling small dishes to raise funds for Foodlink in Anglesea during November. The girls have chosen Foodlink as a charity to support as part of a project for their International Baccalaureate studies this year.
Her greatest upcoming excitement is a trip to Tonga to swim with the humpback whales. This was a very special gift to her for her 52nd birthday and she can hardly wait for the experience of being up close to them and observing so much. She is expecting to learn a great deal during this time.
This is a woman who loves her life, rejoices in so many things including her early morning swim each day, and continually counts her blessings. Now she has given herself permission to sit down and make things, who knows what her future will reveal? Now she has found her artistic talents, who knows where they will lead her?
Winespeake Anglesea
Helen Booth
Nestled between cafés and eateries near the Four Kings corner you’ll find a popular, cosy haunt known affectionately among locals as “the wine bar”. Customers gather outside under the warmth of heaters or inside on bar stools or at a shared table, sampling wine and food from small sustainable Australian and overseas producers. Some customers will also select bottles of wine, dry goods or items from the deli to take home. Owner, Jen Latta runs a similar business in Daylesford established in 2020, after combining the cellar and adjacent café she’d operated since 2013 under a new name, Winespeake. The name deliberately echoes the name of her husband Owen’s family vineyard and winery Eastern Peake, situated north-east of Ballarat at
Coghill’s Creek. Jen opened the doors of Winespeake Anglesea on the long weekend in March this year, realising a long-held dream to become part of the Anglesea community.
“I grew up in Grovedale and spent many wonderful holidays with friends at Point Roadknight,” Jen says. “I wanted our children to have the opportunity to form similar connections and memories here. Opening Winespeake Anglesea was a perfect way for us to do that.”
While Jen says Daylesford and the family vineyard will always be home, Anglesea is a second home for her family and business. “The business community here is so welcoming and supportive, and our customers are very similar to the people we serve in Daylesford—they are warm, sociable and enjoy our unique offerings of wine and food from small, conscientious producers.”
The shelves of Winespeake are stocked with colourful packages of tinned fish from Spain, Norway, Denmark and France. You’ll find mussels, anchovies, sardines, calamari, salmon, octopus - some in olive oil, some with chilli. There are large cans of Spanish potato crisps, bottles of pickled vegetables and an array of chillies and spicy sauces. You’ll find fresh artisan sourdough loaves and a variety of biscuits to accompany the large selection of cheeses displayed in the
The wonderful Winespeake Anglesea Team
Happy Winespeake customers enjoying the hospitality
cabinet. And there are olives, caperberries and raisins on the vine. The food menu has toasties and platters featuring items displayed on shelves and in the deli fridge. And, of course, there are shelves and fridges full of wine.
You will not find many of these displayed items in large food and wine outlets. Jen and her wine director, sommelier Jeremy Shiell, work hard to find small suppliers with biologically healthy, sustainable production that involves minimal intervention. That is why the wine menu includes wines termed ‘natural’, ‘orange’, ‘unfiltered’ or ‘sulphur free’. Winespeake Anglesea Manager, Lolo Hanser is Jen’s righthand woman, charged with running the Anglesea business while Jen steers the Daylesford mothership. You may remember Lolo from her time as manager at La Cantina in Freshwater Creek and assistant manager at Captain Moonlite, the former hatted restaurant located at Anglesea Surf Club. Lolo spent 12 years working in hospitality in London, including managing the River Café and had a twoyear stint in New York. Her love of and expertise in food, wine and hospitality began in her home country, France. Now the mother of four is guiding customers through the wine menu at Winespeake Anglesea and assembling matching platters or single plate food offerings that tour your taste buds through parts of regional Australia or places overseas that you may never visit in person.
Lolo is excited to have found some new offerings to add to the Anglesea wine list from small local producers, Eleven
Sons and Circulus Wines. “I think our wine list is very interesting and celebrates the culture of small producers.”
Jen agrees, “We specialise in simple and unique hospitality that brings people together and connects them to producers who are passionate about the places where they live and the foods or wines they produce.”
The women are full of admiration for each other and delight in working together.
“I have the best job, doing what I love, working with highquality food and wine without the pressure of full restaurant service.” Lolo says. “Jen is a wonderful boss.”
“I was so lucky Lolo was available when I decided to open Winespeake Anglesea,” Jen says. “She helped bring our dream to life.”
There is certainly something in the air at Winespeake Anglesea. A softly played background soundtrack, making conversation relaxed and easy. New tastes to share with friends or experience solo as you read a book. Customers say they love the wine selection, the cheese selection, the calm, friendly attention of staff. One says, “It’s a little slice of South Yarra right here in Anglesea.”
But Jen says Winespeake is unlike anything you’ll find in the city. “Our roots are regional, inspired by and celebrating county hospitality, creative producers and our beautiful locations.”
Clinic Update: Arrivals & Departures
Dr Skye Hueneke
There have been some changes recently at Anglesea Medical, so we thought we’d do a little clinic update. Firstly, we have said thanks and goodbye to Dr Kaye Ellis who has retired from the clinic to spend more time with her growing brood of grandchildren. Dr Ellis continues to work as a GP in aged care so some of you may still see her caring for patients at Cordelia Grove.
Dr Lucy Dobson is about to go on maternity leave and will be returning sometime in 2026. We wish Dr Dobson all the best in welcoming a new member to her family.
Luckily we have had Dr Ralphine Wall join us in the last 12 months. Dr Wall is an experienced GP who was practising in
Melbourne for many years. She moved to Anglesea but was not quite ready to retire and has been a very welcome addition to our community.
The newest doctor at Anglesea Medical is Dr Louise Brinkmann. Dr Brinkmann completed her medical degree at Flinders University in Adelaide in 2022, spending her clinical years in Mt Gambier followed by her Internship in Warrnambool. She then made the move to the Surf Coast, working as a resident doctor at University Hospital Geelong, and is now continuing her journey as a GP registrar here in beautiful Anglesea.
Louise enjoys the variety that General Practice brings and loves working alongside patients of all ages to support their health goals in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Before becoming a doctor, Louise spent over 20 years as a graphic designer, sparking a deep passion for the Arts.
Outside of work you will find her scratching her creative itch on a variety of artistic pursuits, running the Surf Coast trails and practising her pop-up in the big deep blue.
Dr James Majer started at Anglesea Medical in the final year of his GP training. He has since completed his training and has continued to work at Anglesea Medical. Dr Majer also tutors medical students at Deakin University and GP Registrars as they complete their training. If he is not at work he’ll be in the surf.
We are also very lucky to continue to have Dr Skye Hueneke, Dr Deb Heng, Dr David Corbet, Dr Stuart Jones and occasionally Dr Brigette Agnostelli providing care through Anglesea Medical. The doctors are supported invaluably by our Practice Manager, Sam, a team of fabulous nurses; Sally, Sophie, Patrice, Lara and Jen, and admin staff; Andrew, Jemma, Charli, James, Alice, Deb and Hayley.
Welcome Dr Louise Brinkmann to Anglesea Medical
Prepare for Fire Season
Tony Revell - Anglesea CFA Community Safety
With warmer weather approaching and a drier than usual 2025, the Anglesea CFA is preparing for an earlier fire season. Pre-summer activities are commencing within our Brigade and include equipment testing and upgrades, as well as reviewing and practicing firefighting procedures.
Whilst we are doing all we can to make our town as safe as possible, we also encourage residents to take the time to reduce the risk to their property. Now is the right time to start your own preparations. There are three main reasons houses burn down during fires: embers, heat and flame.
Many of the trees around Anglesea have bark that is prone to extensive spotting in the event of a fire, so even if the fire front is some distance from the town, significant ember attack is possible. There are several things you can do to lessen the impact of ember attack, reduce the risk of fire getting inside your house and reduce flame and heat near your house.
• Keep grass cut to less than 10cm.
• Keep woodpiles away from house.
• Remove flammable items from decks and verandas, such as boxes, furniture and doormats.
• Store flammable liquids away from house.
• Keep gutters clear of leaf litter.
• Get rid of dry grass, leaves, twigs and loose bark.
• Cut back overhanging branches near buildings.
• Do not have large shrubs next to or under windows.
• Prune lower branches of shrubs to separate from surface fuels underneath.
More information on preparing your property is available at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare
Would you like us to visit your property and provide advice regarding fire preparation?
Anglesea CFA is providing a service where we will visit your property to provide advice regarding bushfire preparedness and give you the information you need to reduce bushfire risk.
The inspection takes around 30 minutes and will be conducted by an Anglesea Brigade member. The focus is on preparing your property to better withstand ember attack.
To arrange a visit, contact Anglesea Community House on (03) 5263 2116, info@anglesea.org.au or call in at Entrance 4, 5
McMillan St Anglesea, Monday – Friday: 9am – 2.30pm
Fire Danger Rating System
Fire Danger Ratings provide information so people in affected areas can take action to protect themselves and others. The Fire Danger Rating system for the approaching fire season has four levels. Actions that people should take are associated with each level, so you’ll know what to do to protect your life, family and property.
Twitchers’ Corner
Written and illustrated by
Kaye Traynor
Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
Other Names: English
Blackbird, European Blackbird, Merle, Golden-bill
Wing: 120-130mm
Bill: 23-29.5mm
Weight: 81-98g
Blackbirds were brought from Europe to Australia by settlers in 1863 and released around Melbourne and Adelaide. Their range has rapidly expanded across south-east Australia and Tasmania. They were also introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s and are now established in both the North and South Islands.
Identification:
Male: Entirely dull black. Eyes are brown with orange-yellow bill and eye-ring. Legs, brown-black.
Female: Upper-parts dark brown, throat and underparts grey-brown, indistinctly streaked and somewhat mottled; bill and legs brown.
Juveniles: Similar to female, but more rufousbrown with less distinct mottling on underparts.
Blackbirds are commonly found in parks and wellwatered gardens, and present in orchards, forests, woodlands and riverine vegetation. Their diet consists of earthworms, spiders, millipedes, molluscs and numerous insects and larvae. They will eat fruit and can be considered a pest in orchards.
The male sings conspicuously during winter and spring from an exposed perch; a loud, melodious, complex series of notes, rich, fluent and mellow. Alarm call is a distinctive, loud, chattering rattle before flight. They flick wings and tail when alarmed and will usually dash for cover.
Nesting season occurs between September and January. The nest is a large, deep cup made from dried grasses and other vegetation, bound together with mud and lined with fine grasses, usually placed in low, dense foliage of a shrub or tree.
Eggs: Three to five, green-blue, liberally freckled and marked with red-brown and grey.
Reference: The Australian Bird Guide. - Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers, Rohan Clarke, Jeff Davies, Peter Marsack, Kim Franklin
Aireys Inlet Playgroup
Michele Meehan
SurfCoast CWA’s mission to help women and children in rural areas has led to the development of a group we call HOME: Helping Our Mothers Engage. Anecdotally we had heard many mothers have felt isolated, due to the need to drive to get to any services for their preschooler. A playgroup had run in the past, but spasmodic attendance and the cost of the hall rental meant the group had dwindled away.
Playgroups are usually run by the members themselves, fostering a sense of community and support. They offer a space for children to learn through play and for parents to connect and share experiences. With the help of the Surf Coast Council Children Services’ Staff, we have registered a new playgroup, holding it in the Aireys Inlet Hall on Mondays during school time.
The Council also put us in touch with MELI, a Victorian not-for-profit organisation committed to strengthening communities through supporting people. They offer a unique combination of services to support members of our community throughout their lifetime, from early childhood through to adolescence and adulthood. Through them we have a regular Playgroup Coordinator, who runs a structured program – Small Talk playgroup, that helps enhance knowledge of children’s learning for parents/carers and provides strategies to assist learning.
On our first day we had 16 children and ten parents, including five dads, so it was a great start. The population of Aireys Inlet is growing and included in this is a huge increase in the numbers of babies born in the area. The playgroup has received donations of beautiful handmade quilts for floor play, and toys from the Anglesea Toy Library to help equip our room. The CWA is keen for families to feel it is not something that they have to organise, but just to turn up feeling welcome. It’s free and open to all, especially in Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek area.
The playgroup runs Mondays in School Term, 10am to 12pm at Aireys Inlet Hall, Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet. For more information contact surfcoastcwa@gmail.com
Aireys Inlet Primary School: Where Learning Meets the Coast
A message from Principal Simon Pocervina
At Aireys Inlet Primary School we are proud to be a small school where big learning happens. Our unique setting between the coast and the bush gives students a childhood rich in nature, community, and connection.
Here, every student is known by name and celebrated for their individual growth – in the classroom, in the yard, and beyond. We work together as a community of staff, families, and students to create a focused, well-managed school environment where learning, wellbeing, and high expectations go hand in hand.
Our teaching is grounded in evidence-based approaches like Explicit Direct Instruction and the Writing Revolution, ensuring strong academic foundations in literacy and numeracy. We match this with a commitment to wellbeing through programs like Morning Circle, SWPBS, and our Green Chronicles, which promote kindness, respect, and personal growth.
We also love to celebrate! From weekly Friday assemblies (all welcome!) to whole-school events, excursions, and
coastal adventures, our calendar is filled with opportunities for connection and joy.
If you’re looking for a school where your child will be seen, heard, and supported every day, I invite you to visit, take a tour, and see our classrooms in action.
Anglesea Primary School Update
Ross Dullard
Thank You to Murray Surkitt – and Hello from the New Principal
As I begin my role as principal of Anglesea Primary School, I would like to first acknowledge and thank Mr Murray Surkitt for his many years of dedicated leadership. Murray has been more than just a principal - he has been a passionate advocate for the school, a steady guide for students and families, and a driving force behind many initiatives that have shaped the culture and spirit of Anglesea Primary.
His commitment to fostering a strong sense of community, supporting high-quality teaching, and ensuring that every child is known, valued, and supported has left a lasting legacy. Murray’s leadership has built deep connections between the school and the broader Anglesea community, and his impact will be felt for many years to come. On behalf of the staff, students, and families, I extend a heartfelt thank you to Murray for his passion, dedication, and service.
It is both an honour and a privilege to now step into this role. My name is Ross Dullard, and I have joined Anglesea Primary School this term as the substantive principal, with a deep belief in the power of collaborative leadership, strong community partnerships, and high-quality, evidence-based teaching and learning. I am committed to building on the solid foundations already in place, while working closely with staff, families, and the wider community to explore new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Over the past decade, I have held principal positions at Alvie Primary School, Northern Bay College, and Yalingbu Yirramboi School (formerly The Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute), as well as educational leadership roles across the UK and Northern Territory. I bring with me a passion for connecting learning with the local environment and bringing the outside world into the classroom.
In the coming months, I look forward to meeting as many families and community members as possible. Whether at school drop-off, during community events, or in conversations around town, I welcome your ideas, feedback, and hopes for the future of our school. Together, we will ensure Anglesea Primary remains a place where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally – and where our community feels proud and connected.
Ross Dullard
Murray Surkitt
Lions Club of Anglesea Update
Betsy Newman
Induction of new members: (L-R)
Susan Menz, Tom Fitzgerald, Keith Hornibrook, Coral Fitzgerald, Heather Hornibrook
The members of the Lions Club had a quiet winter with many escaping to our northern parts for rest in preparation for the busy season ahead of us. There are many community activities coming up and we look forward to supporting our community by being part of them.
August saw our celebration of the Charter of the Lions Club in 1968 – 57 years of service and the Lioness Club in 1979 – 47 years of support and service. The second vice District Governor, Lion Shirley Menz was the guest speaker at our lunch held in the Anglesea Bowling Club rooms and she had the pleasure of inducting two new members into the club. Coral Fitzgerald, sponsored by Heather Hornibrook and Tom Fitzgerald, sponsored by Keith Hornibrook were welcomed into the club and we look forward to their participation in the community.
The Lionettes were rostered on at the Resale Shed in August and had the busiest sales day in memory. September will be the Annual General Meeting and Changeover of Office Bearers for the 25/26 year. The Lions club will welcome Adrian Hunter as President, Ian Spencer as Secretary, John Roberts as Treasurer.
I used to sit in on religious instruction lesson with grades Prep, 1 and 2 at Anglesea Primary School many years ago. The teacher decided to tell the students what the three wise men brought to baby Jesus at Christmas time. At the end of the lesson she asked if anyone could remember the gifts they brought for baby Jesus. One little girl answered by
Mary Taylor is incoming President of the Lionettes Club, Betsy Newman is Secretary and Heather Hornibrook is Treasurer. Outgoing Lions secretary Des Clancy and Lionettes President Carmen Koster are sincerely thanked for their dedication to their roles over several years.
BBQs seem to be part of the Lions visible presence, and we will be part of the annual Angair Wildflower weekend, celebrations at Coogoorah Park, Camp Quality and even at Bunnings in Torquay. The Lionettes will host the Friends of Lionettes afternoon tea in September and our main fundraising event will be the Pink Ribbon Lunch in October. These are all enjoyable activities for our members as well as raising much needed funds for worthy charities. The Lionettes were very proud to disperse $11,000 to various organisiations in our end of year program. The breast cancer charities, Anam Cara House, All Aboard Disability Group (Torquay), Florey Institute for Dementia research, and local junior sporting clubs were all recipients.
Over the last 12 months, Anglesea Lions and Lionettes have donated over $55,000, raised through pub raffles every Friday night, markets, BBQs, Christmas cakes, lunches, and other activities, and donations from our Community Bank and the Bowling Club.
Proceeds were distributed to many local, Australian and international causes, including bursaries for Anglesea and Aireys students, Lions Disaster Relief, Foodlink, the RSL, the Historical Society, the CFA, the Surf Life Saving Club, Aireys Refugees, Lions Eye Health, Red Cross, Parkinsons Victoria, Diabetes Victoria, Cancer Research, Camp Quality, Good Friday and Mother’s Day Appeals, support for local families, upgrades to the public defibrillators, and funds for Lions District and Lions Australia activities.
If you would like to join us, contact anglesealions@gmail. com or anglesealionessclub@gmail.com
saying “Gold, Frankenstein and Murder”. Rev Sophie was quite taken aback.
I thought I would ask a group what they were getting for Christmas. One grade 2 student said he was getting a shark. I asked what type of a shark it would be and he replied it was an epilep (epaulette) shark. With that a Prep student jumped to his feet and said “No they are effin sharks. I go fishing with Dad and he says he hopes that we don’t see any effin sharks while we are at sea.”
Jenna Crawford
Repair Cafe
Upcoming Dates:
5 Oct • 9 Nov • 7 Dec
10am – 2pm (last repairs 1.30pm)
Aireys Inlet Hall
Bring your: electrical & mechanical items
small furniture (portable) jewellery clothing & textiles garden tools & knives (sharpening).
If we can’t fix it, we’ll give you advice!
Recycling Station – We accept: plastic bottle tops (milk, soft drink, water) plastic bread tags
oral care products (no electric handles) disposable razors corks
textile waste (curtains, linen, worn-out clothes – no underwear/wired bras) rubber-soled shoes & wetsuits.
For kids:
Tinkering Zone – pull things apart, put them back together, explore how they work!
Reduce waste • Save money • Build community
Angair’s Wildflower & Arts Weekend: 20-21 September at the Community Precinct
Sally White
Spring means flowers and flowers mean butterflies so this year’s Angair Wildflower & Arts Weekend in late September has a butterfly theme. The young artists from the Anglesea and Airey’s Inlet primary schools are painting butterflies for display and the event will see the launch of another in Angair’s popular nature identification brochures – this time Butterflies and Moths.
The annual event will also feature all the usual offerings: guided bush walks, orchid displays, natural history books and masses of indigenous Surf Coast plants from the abundant wattles to the tiny mosses.
There’ll be information booths from local environmental organisations such as Parks Victoria, Barwon Water, Eco-logic, the Conservation Ecology Centre, the Country Fire Authority, Alcoa and the Anglesea and District Historical Centre with its display marking Coogoorah Park’s 40th anniversary.
The show runs from 10am to 4pm on the weekend of 20-21 September in the Anglesea Community Precinct. Multiple entry tickets cost $10 for adults and are free for children.
Compiled by Deborah Elliot
Art abounds in Anglesea and surrounds. Below you will find a summary of the Art Scene in Anglesea for the next couple of months. Please go to each organisation’s website to confirm the details of the events listed below.
EAGLES NEST ART GALLERY
48 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet www.eaglesnestgallery.com.au
Susan O’Brien Retrospective: 4 October - 30 November
A retrospective celebrating the extraordinary art legacy of artist Susan O’Brien. With heartfelt reverence, and in collaboration with her family, Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery is honoured to present a special exhibition celebrating Susan’s life and extraordinary artistic legacy. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of Susan’s creative journey.
ANGLESEA ART SPACE
Shop 2, 103 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea @angleseaartspace www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/angleseaartspace
Thu 18 Sep-Sun 5 Oct: Smith & Hubbard, Artful Intersections
Marion Smith (Torquay), Alda Palejs Hubbard (Anglesea)
Sat 11 – Sat 25 Oct: Community Arts Calendar Exhibition Submissions close Sun 21 September
Thu 30 Oct – Sun 16 Nov: The Potter, The Painters, The Jewllers and The Candlestick Makers
Virginia Harding, Andrew Sutton, Bin Dixon-Ward, Liz Wood
ANGLESEA SNAPPERS
The Anglesea Snappers Photography Club is a group of Surf Coast locals who are passionate about photography and the natural environment. They organise regular excursions, share their photographs for viewing at the first meeting of the month and aim to have a dedicated speaker for the second meeting of the month. When: 7.30pm, 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at Anglesea Community House, 5 McMillan Street, Anglesea. Contact: Deb Elliott – 0439 686 585.
ANGLESEA ART HOUSE
23 Cameron Road, Anglesea www.angleseaarthouse.com.au
The Anglesea Art House continues to run new and interesting classes and workshops. To keep up to date with what is being offered please see their website.
THE SOUND DOCTOR
The Sound Doctor closes out 2025 with four huge shows.
Fri 3 Oct: Eddy Current Suppression Ring + Dragnet –SOLD OUT
Sat 4 Oct: Sonny & The Sunsets – Tickets just released Fri 15 Nov: The Maes – Selling quickly Sat 16 Nov: Liz Stringer – Will sell out soon
FILM SCREENING
Eyes on Palestine will screen Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk at the Aireys Inlet Community Hall on November 2nd at 7pm.
The documentary follows the daily life of a photographer and poet in Gaza. A light supper will be served afterwards. Tickets from https://www.trybooking.com/DEUGK
CINNAMON STEPHENS
66 Niblick Street, Anglesea @cinnamons_art.consultant www.cinnamonsart.au
Sun 7 Dec: Open Studio & Stockroom
All welcome to browse artwork currently on show in the stockroom: metalwork, jewellery, printmaking, painting, sculpture and more great arty gift ideas 11am-3pm
Call 0400 436 308 for enquiries.
CURATED SANDS
The Sands Resort
2 Sands Blvd, Torquay
1 Sept – 5 Nov: Common Threads
Textile art with a twist: artwork by Maria Cook, Barbara Roe Hebb, Roe Clapham and Pattie Beerens
Artist Talk Sunday 28 September: 1-3pm
6 Nov - 5 Jan: Lines in the Sands
Celebrating line making: artwork by Linda Hunter and Robyn Mackay
Artist Talk Sunday in late November- details to be confirmed.
ANGLESEA ENSEMBLE’S WOMEN OF TROY: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BATTLEFIELD FALLS SILENT?
In June, APA Ensemble premiered Women of Troy – a powerful new adaptation of Euripides’ classic, directed by Janine McKenzie – to a sold-out season in Anglesea. If you missed it, don’t worry: Women of Troy comes to Lorne Community Connect this October for two special performances.
Set the morning after Troy’s fall, this evocative production blurs myth, history and the modern world, immersing audiences in the raw aftermath of war and the fate of those left behind. When the dust settles and the so-called heroes sail off into the sunset, what becomes of those left in the ruins? Women of Troy asks how survivors—particularly women and children—pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and go on.
What still stuns 21st-century audiences about Women of Troy is how timeless it feels. Written 2,500 years ago, Euripides broke new ground by turning the spotlight away from warrior glory and toward the true cost of conquest. His focus is on the survivors – captives, mothers, widows – left to bear the consequences of decisions made by powerful men in pursuit of dominance, pride and revenge.
The war wasn’t just about Helen. It was about ego, entitlement, and the brutal games of power disguised as
honour. And while the world may call itself ‘civilised,’ Euripides challenges the idea that violence can ever be justified.
Queen Hecuba, prophet Cassandra, and famed beauty Helen of Sparta rise from the ashes not only to mourn, but to speak out. Their voices echo across time, revealing war’s human cost and the enduring strength of those written out of its history. In this adaptation, director Janine McKenzie honours the original’s wisdom and compassion, while offering a glimmer of hope—a plea for empathy, resilience, and better ways to live together in peace.
APA Ensemble features a local cast with global credentials –fresh from the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe with Shadows of Angels. The ensemble includes Lina Libroaperto (Hecuba), Stacey Carmichael (Cassandra), Sarah Crowe (Helen), Libby Stapleton (Andromache), Philip Besancon (Menelaus), and Steven Georgiadis (Talthybius).
Performed in the round, the cast shift between chorus and character, using live music and movement to channel the emotional shockwaves of war. The Lorne season will feature original music performed live on stage, and costumes by Nikki Watson, created from upcycled fabrics and natural dyes.
APA Ensemble is thrilled to return to Lorne.
Women of Troy plays Saturday 25 October at 2pm and 7.30pm.
Tickets are on TryBooking: https:// www.trybooking.com/DCWRE or scan the QR code here.
WRITE ANGLES
Kangaroos
I had a kangaroo that kept my nature strip trimmed; and during the school holidays people were stopping to photograph it. But sadly, someone couldn’t stop in time and it was killed.
Some new residents may wonder why dead kangaroos are marked before they’re removed. The marking means that the pouch has been checked and joeys removed (and unofficially says: We know it's here, so don’t phone to tell us).
Half a century of Deakin
Deakin University is looking back on 50 years in Geelong, and seeking to hear the stories of people who have been associated with it.
My memories began when my husband, Stan, was a senior member of the ground staff during construction. He planted and maintained the trees, and learned the ancient art of dry-rock walling whilst working on the oval. He later used this skill to build all the dry-rock walls at the Lions Village in Anglesea.
Back in the 1970s when people discovered that Stan was working at Deakin, some presumed he was a professor because I was a teacher!
Although my alma mater was Geelong Teachers’ College back in the days of Len Whiteoak, Deakin University later claimed me and my colleagues as alumni; and supported our reunions over the next 40 years.
Living to 130
7 News reported that people can live until 130! If you want to give it a go, keep working for as long as possible, then
keep active, keep your mind active, and eat good foods, especially vegetables.
Aging well
Since the last edition of NewsAngle Betty Butterworth has turned 98 ... and there are some of us who are still following in her footsteps.
Help is at hand
Our local Op Shop raises funds to support people in our community. But it also helps our older citizens who no longer find it easy to shop out of town. They stock a very wide range of goods and older residents, or people leaving town, can donate to the Op Shop to keep the good deeds going around.
Local Helping Hands
I have been confined to the house recently and couldn’t go outside, but passersby have been tossing my newspaper in, and bringing my bins in. I wouldn’t live anywhere else!
In conclusion
In case you’re wondering - my family tree is full of nuts.
Keep smiling!
Melva Stott
