Newsangle issue 128

PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLESEA COMMUNITY HOUSE

ISSUE 128 SUMMER 2016

Santa Makes a Splash in Anglesea!

Everywhere else in the world, Santa arrives in a sled pulled by reindeer. Here in Anglesea, he makes more of a splash, arriving by surf boat on the main beach, where he delivers joy - and bags of mixed lollies - to hundreds of eager children waiting on shore.

With the aid of volunteers from the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, the man in the red suit has trawled the ocean by surf boat, from Point Roadknight to Anglesea, since the mid 1960s.

Hundreds of children watch for Santa to cross the waves, hoping he doesn’t wipe out on Christmas Day (there has been big surf some years).

Santa’s red sack is full of treats donated by the Anglesea Surf Club, where Santa’s little helpers spend Community Houses are for Everyone

many hours putting together lolly bags in preparation for the big day.

Some children are lucky enough to also have a photo taken with Santa on the beach before he dashes off to continue spreading joy and delivering presents across the land.

All children are welcome to greet Santa on the Anglesea main beach, where he arrives by surf boat at 10am on Christmas Day.

Highlights Howard Hughes Profile

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New Anglesea Newsagent

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School Site Development

9

Sweethearts of Aireys

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Community Network

12

Aireys Art Exhibition

15

Bellbrae Art & Garden

16

Local Author Profile

18

Art Therapy

20

Great Summer Reads

21

The Captain of Aireys

22

Family Movie Reviews

27

History Spot

28

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Published By Anglesea Community House Inc. 9.15am - 2.30pm Monday - Friday (During school terms) 5 McMillan Street, Anglesea PO Box 43, Anglesea, VIC, 3230 Tel: 5263 2116 Fax: 5263 1077 Email: newsangle@anglesea.org.au

Feedback/Comments To be addressed to the NewsAngle Editorial Committee, c/o Anglesea Community House or by email.

Advertisers If you wish to book an annual or casual advertisement please request an Order Form by email.

Contributors/Writers Please leave news items, order forms or notices at the Community House or send by post or email and the Editor will get in touch with you.

Distribution NewsAngle is free of charge. It is delivered to permanent residents in Anglesea and those with Aireys Inlet Post Boxes. Copies are available from Anglesea IGA Supermarket, Maid's Pantry, Information Centre, Aireys Inlet General Store and Post Office and various other locations.

NewsAngle can also be read online at: anglesea.org.au/news/newsangle

Deadlines Issue: Casual ads:

129 28 February

Articles/Contributions : 28 February Subject to availability of space Distribution:

30 March

Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Community House.

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NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

News from the House

By Alex Leknius, Anglesea Community House Coordinator

Summer is on its way and with it a new fire season. The Wye River fires at Christmas last year caught some people by surprise. Don’t let it happen to you. Be prepared, have a practised plan and know what action you need to take, especially on Code Red and Extreme fire days.

Volunteering when a disaster strikes

Launch of new website – anglesea.org.au

HelpOUT is a new pilot program linking volunteers with disaster affected communities.

The Community House website has received a makeover, with a focus on community information as well as Community House related information.

It’s like a recruitment service for emergency relief and recovery volunteers.

The aim of the website is to develop a one-stop-shop for advertising community events, meetings, providing information on issues of importance and interest to the community, making NewsAngle more accessible online and keeping the community directory updated and accessible.

The program is managed by Volunteering Victoria, which maintains a database of individual volunteers who are ready, willing and able to help.

They record each person’s availability, location, and unique skills or equipment.

Our Facebook page has been integrated with the website to further enhance communication for non-Facebook users.

When a disaster occurs, organisations working in disaster-affected communities can request assistance from HelpOUT volunteers (with the appropriate skills) from Volunteering Victoria.

Gift of donating blood

If you would like to register as a HelpOUT volunteer or get more information about the program, log onto www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au/ emergency-volunteering

Did you know that donating blood can save three lives? There is a constant need for regular blood supply because blood can be stored for only a limited time.

People of all walks of life need blood products. Some need it to get them through a serious event in their lives, like cancer or a dangerous pregnancy.

Others have medical conditions which

mean they need blood products regularly to stay alive or be healthy.

The Anglesea community has recently been touched by the needs of a young child who requires regular blood transfusions to stay healthy. If you are able to give blood - it’s one of the best gifts you can give to someone else.

Community House closure over summer Thanks to the Surf Coast Shire, the Community House is getting new carpet. This means we will be closed from Friday 16 December, with limited office and computer services available from Monday 12 December 2016. The office and childcare will reopen on Tuesday 31 January 2017.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. The team at the Community House would like to thank you for your support during 2016 and we look forward to welcoming you again in 2017.

Come to the Anglesea Uniting Church Fair (just past the pub in Murch Cres.)

Saturday 14th January 8.15am till after lunch Breakfast Lunch Devonshire Teas Plants Books Handcrafts Preserves Cakes Toys Cushions “Trash and Treasure” Sale (Baptist Church initiative)

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LOCAL PROFILE: HOWARD HUGHES

Part of our History of Surfing and Lifesaving

By Terrence Hoffmann

Howard Hughes has grown up and lived in the Aireys Inlet district for much of his life. Best known for his surf shop that he closed when he retired in 2010, Howard now spends his time with his sons and grandchildren, while he plans another trip to indulge his three great loves; surfing, fishing and family.

Howard’s dad built a house overlooking Fairhaven beach in 1947.

His dad was head of dispatch at Carlton and United Brewery. The CUB carpenters helped build the house.

Howard has spent every school holiday and Christmas in the house or in other houses in the Aireys Inlet district over his life.

The Painkalac Creek was where he learned to fish. With his dad and some uncles, he watched as they caught salmon.

He was given a stick with a safety pin on a line and soon caught his own.

Sounds like a fisherman’s story, but Howard does love his fishing.

Howard Hughes has holidayed and lived in the Aireys Inlet district since 1947.

He was given a rubber surf mat when he was a nipper and soon learned to surf at Fairhaven. He started off by pinching his brother’s surfboard when he wanted to learn proper surfing.

In 1959, he got his first surfboard, a small liedown twin-fin that he used to stand up on.

Howard’s brother Russell rescued a fellow lifesaving club member from a shark attack in November 1959 by paddling out to him on his long board.

It was front page news in The Sun newspaper the next day. Fortunately, the club mate survived the attack but spent a time in hospital recovering.

Howard’s mum felt that a bigger board would be a good idea for Howard too, so she bought him an 8’ 6” surfboard.

He soon joined his mates in Lorne becoming a skilled surfer.

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Another early memory was the US Airforce B-57 plane crash out to sea, off the Fairhaven beach on 17 October 1962.

Unfortunately, both crew members were killed. When Howard and his family arrived for their normal weekend stay, they found their view of the ocean filled with rescue and salvage boats, all shining bright lights to aid the search for crew or wreckage.

Over the next few weeks, every boy in town found a small souvenir from the wreckage of the plane.

Howard joined the Fairhaven SLSC in 1961, aged 15. He moved to Lorne SLSC in 1964, where he remained until rejoining Fairhaven to be with his sons when they were in the Nippers program.

Howard must have been a driven competitor as he won 34 Australian Lifesaving Championship medals.

Howard was still living in Melbourne until 1976, where he worked as a carpenter. He was married to Jenny and they already had their first boy Steven when they moved to Aireys Inlet.

Two more boys, Trevor and Peter were soon to follow as the family grew. Howard joined the fire brigade, surfed, fished and worked building houses. He thought it an ideal life balance.

Howard joined the Aireys Inlet CFA in 1977 and remains part of the group. Ash Wednesday in 1983 saw his house burnt down and many others besides. Howard was too busy fighting fires to find out what happened to his wife and boys. He saw a photo of them in the Geelong Advertiser the next day, safe and well away from the danger.

Howard moved quickly following the fire, and had a new house up as well as a shop. The surf shop would open in December 1983, beginning a new chapter in his life.

He did the work in the shop, while Jenny kept the books and ran the home.

It was a wonderful partnership. He made and sold surfboards, as well as equipment for use by surf lifesavers.

The new job lasted for 27 years before Howard decided to call time. He sold the business and premises and now enjoys retirement.

Sadly, Jenny passed away in 2013. However, Howard now has his three boys with whom to share his life. All three have followed their dad into the building trade and build local homes.

His son, Peter, recently married and honeymooned in Bali.

Howard is probably thinking that it won’t be long before he is minding some more grandkids. It’s a task he looks forward to as it brings him together with his boys.

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Revamped Anglesea Newsagency

By Jenna Crawford

Well the pregnancy is over and Corinne and Paul Nigro have given birth to a new-look Anglesea Newsagency.

Nine months ago they purchased the business from well respected stalwarts, Helen and Noel Stephens.

Prior to this latest venture, they owned the Lotto shop in Torquay from 2009 until 2014. They both also had prior experience in newsagencies, having owned a small one in Lower Templestowe 17 years ago.

Paul and Corinne have had quite a long association with Anglesea, as Paul's parents had a holiday home here in the early 70s and lived here permanently from 2002 until 2010.

The Anglesea Newsagency had been in their thoughts for some years before they actually purchased it.

They both wanted to put to good use their customer service skills, which they had acquired whilst working for Ansett Airlines, in their own family business.

The other part of the attraction was the joy of feeling part of the community and servicing the needs of a wide variety of customers.

Local patrons often just come in for a chat, whether that be about family, daily routines, news (both local and international), football or any other sport.

Corinne says she is passionate about promoting the local area, and the newsagancy can help provide that through supplying toys, games, souvenirs, postcards and memorabilia, much of which is created by local artists, thus giving them a commercial outlet.

Clientele at the newsagency varies from local residents, of all ages, to tourists from other parts of Australia to international visitors.

For many, Anglesea is the first stop as they embark on the longer journey down the Great Ocean Road.

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The hours needed to operate a successful newsagancy would bother most of us.

Paul arrives at work at 5.30am to follow on from Shaun who starts at 3.30am, wrapping and delivering the Herald Sun, Geelong Advertiser and The Age to many permanent residents.

During holiday periods, delivery volume almost doubles.

Corinne signs in at 10.30am and works through until closing time at 6.30pm. Both keep these hours seven days per week.

New owners of Anglesea Newsagency, Corinne and Paul Nigro In addition to Corinne, Paul and stationery, giftware, inks, souvenirs and Shaun, the business employs Sue as a has only recently added fishing gear to full-time staff member, plus another the collection, in response to a local five part-time employees, not to need. mention their two beautiful daughters The proprietors are open to suggestions who also help out in the shop. and requests to add to their ever increasing stock list.

Customer service is

paramount, with all staff members respecting the attributes of being pleasant, honest and reliable and sharing in the love of working with people.

New employees are given a list of expectations and values to which they should adhere.

The Anglesea Newsagency is not just about selling newspapers. It stocks a wide variety of magazines, books,

Only recently, local author Mark Smith autographed copies of his recent book, The Road to Winter whilst at the shop, making copies unique to the lucky purchasers.

Both Corinne and Paul are involved in community activities in the little spare time they have.

Corinne, having had five years experience with the Torquay Commerce and Tourism Group, has recently joined BATA (Business and Tourism Anglesea), where she believes it is necessary to be connected to the local

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business community and have input that could enhance enjoyment and improvement for all.

She is also a Team Manager of the Youth Girls Football team in Torquay, where some Anglesea girls are involved.

Paul, despite the demanding hours, has still been able to continue his active involvement in the local Geelong Football League.

For those of us who frequent the Anglesea Newsagency, we cannot fail to be impressed by the new look, upgraded interior. The walls and Lotto area have been painted and revamped.

The front counter has been modernised.

Television and news information screens create a modern outlook, which enhances the presentation and makes for a caring, happy shopping experience for all.

A Winning Streak Anglesea News & Lotto has won some fantastic awards for its effective and enthusiastic promotion of suppliers’ products this year, including its recent The A ge - Good Food Guide best display promotion, winning the NATIONAL NEWSAGENT PRIZE of $1,000.

Thanks to their ‘promo-guru-Sue’, they have also recently won:Nexus ‘Best Magazine Display’ - $500 ‘Magazine Sales Target’ reached - $500 ‘Olympic Games’ promotion – best display - $500 Herald Sun ‘Marvel Comics’ – best display - $250 Last month, some lucky customers were treated to homemade cookies baked by Paul as part of their promotion for the Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Edition value pack.

Instore promotions such as these not only bring a smile to customers’ faces, but also make the shop a happy working environment.

Keep an eye out for more great promotions coming up.

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NewsAngle Survey 2016

FireLines

By Alex Leknius, Anglesea Community House Coordinator

Thank you from the NewsA ngle team at the Community House for the great response to our recent survey. There were 141 surveys returned.

The survey results indicate that NewsAngle is important to readers (87%) and satisfaction with the publication is very high at 90.5%.

Only 4.3% read the publication online, however 54.6% indicated they had already read or would consider reading it online.

We received 41 additional comments, the majority of which were very positive.

A selection of comments include:  I think the volunteers that put the NewsAngle together are awesome.  We enjoy reading about our local community, the people, the history and events.

Survey respondent demographics 

70.9 % female; 29.1% male

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The largest age group of respondents was aged 60-69 (30%)

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15% were 50 to 59

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14.3% were 40 to 49

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28.6 % were over 70

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87.1 % were full-time residents

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65.2 % from Anglesea; 22.7 % Aireys Inlet and almost 12.1% lived outside the Surf Coast Shire

How readers obtain their copy of NewsAngle 

89.4% of those responding to the survey receive a copy of NewsAngle and 80.1% receive it four times per year

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45.4% have NewsA ngle delivered to their mailbox at home, 27% get a copy in their Post Office Box and 11.3% collect it from the Aireys shops.

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59.2% read all of the articles and 31% read selected articles

Main Findings The majority of respondents (83.7%) read NewsA ngle to learn about local events, 80.9% to learn about local news, 80.1% to read about local people.

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 I'm a new local with a young family and love getting the local news delivered to my door. I always find out interesting things about the community and am inspired to take more action. I actually wish it happened more than four times a year. Having an online version may help make it more current.  I've lived/holidayed in Anglesea all my life and have recently started reading NewsA ngle. Amazing what you can find to do in town that I never knew existed.  I can read it online, but I also prefer a hardcopy.  It’s a great way of communicating to a big group. If you only go digital, you will find out that less will read so no communication.  Enjoy reading articles, usually informative, enjoyable and add to one’s feeling of being part of a community by knowing and understanding more.

National ‘Resilient Australia Award’ won

by Anglesea Primary School The Anglesea Primary School has taken out the National School Award at the Attorney General’s 2016 “Resilient Australia Awards” for its Anglesea Fire Education Partnership – ‘Survive and Thrive’ Program.

The project is a partnership between the Anglesea Primary School and our local CFA, to teach students about bushfire behaviour and encourage them to lead community-based bushfire education sessions.

The key aims of the program were to drive generational change and increased community resilience.

Hosted at the Melbourne Museum last month, this year’s award event marked the 17th year the Resilient Australia Awards have been held, with the most amount of entries ever received.

The award was sponsored by the Australian Institute for Disaster Research (AIDR).

Congratulations to all involved in such an outstanding achievement.

 I send NewsA ngle to Tasmania to a friend who lived in Anglesea for many years. She and her husband love reading it as it keeps them up to date with what is going on in Anglesea.  I look forward to each publication.

I keep them - often to re-read articles and to find tradespersons and business info.

Please always feel free to provide additional feedback or comments on the NewsA ngle publication by emailing newsangle@anglesea.org.au

From left: Jamie Mackenzie (CFA), Emma Taunt (CFA), Pamela Sandlant (Anglesea Primary School Principal) and Andrew Rankin (CFA) were delighted to see Anglesea win the national ‘Resilient Australia Award’.

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Old School Site Set for Development

By Jenna Crawford

A is for affordability.

B is for beautiful river views.

C is for centrally located.

No, I'm not teaching the finer points of the alphabet in a classroom at the old primary school, but thinking about the blocks of land that are for sale at 22-28 Camp Road in Anglesea, where the primary school existed for more than 75 years.

Ian Lawless, from Great Ocean Properties, and the land owners, Nautilus, have worked closely with the Surfcoast Shire's planning department personnel to ensure the best possible outcome for all potential buyers.

The guidelines have been clearly enunciated, which should allow for smooth and expedient execution of planning applications.

The precinct plan and building envelope is divided into four distinctive lots. In total, there are 24 lots for sale, ranging from 359m2 to 719m2 in size.

Precinct 1 - ‘Vista Living Lots’ front onto Camp Road at the southern end.

There are four of these lots and they are orientated to take advantage of the proximity to the Anglesea River and Coogoorah Park. A two-storey built form allows for an opportunity to view the river and creates an attractive streetscape.

Precinct 2 - ‘Street Character Lots’, of which there are 12 (three fronting Wray Street, five facing McRorie Street, three facing Camp Road and one on the corner of Camp Road and McRorie Street). This precinct has an objective to be visually attractive and integrate and contribute to the existing neighbourhood character, thus enhancing the streetscape.

Precinct 3 - ‘Town Living Lots’, consists of a total of four blocks and will front the soon-to-be-created Road One. They are all a smaller size and aim to allow for a more effective and economical use of space. These lots will be ideal for those who prefer compact living, whilst maintaining a very high level of amenity.

And finally, Precinct 4 - ‘Landscape Setting Lots’, of which there are four in total, fronting Road One opposite the

Town Living Lots. These blocks will take advantage of existing natural landscape and vegetation, contributing to their attractiveness. The sloping landscape allows for the opportunity to create appealing building forms.

The four precincts have some different restrictions and also some that are the same. For example, maximum site coverage differs quite a bit. Precinct 1Vista Living Lots allows for 40% coverage as does Precinct 2 - Street Character Lots. Precinct 3 - Town Living Lots allows for 50% coverage, whilst Precinct 4 - Landscape Setting Lots allows only 35% site coverage.

Building heights on all building lots allow for a maximum height of 7.5 metres, which would allow potential house builders to build single or double-storey homes.

Fencing throughout all the precincts will be uniform with a height of one metre for the street boundaries and be made of post and rail or vegetation.

Side and rear boundaries can be timber

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paling or battens to a height of 1.8 metres.

Natural colour schemes will be encouraged to allow buildings to blend in with the natural surroundings.

Zincalume and galvanised iron roofing will be strongly discouraged.

All design details have been stipulated to protect residential amenity, maintain privacy and achieve a sharing of views.

At least 50% of the site must be made available for the planting of trees, shrubs and ground cover. Landscape plans should be prepared and lodged with Council prior to any development.

If you are a first home buyer, an investor, a holiday maker or someone wishing to downsize, these lots may provide just what you are looking for.

The starting price will be $299,000 ranging through to $445,000.

Make an appointment with Ian, Jess or Trent at Great Ocean Properties and discuss the opportunity to purchase one of these beautifully located and scarce blocks of land in central Anglesea.

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YOUTH IN ACTION

The Sweethearts of Aireys With Stella Caon, Indy Wylie, Sophie Ashley and Yasmin Hanmer

Many of you will be familiar with The Sweethearts – the allgirl soul band run out of Mathew Flinders Girls’ Secondary College for many years.

What you may not know of is the younger version of that band, Sweethearts A cademy. Any girl from the region can now join in, after an auditioning process, and the band features drummers, guitarists, keyboards, a brass section and of course a rocking vocal group.

In recent years, Aireys Inlet has taken the Sweethearts Academy by storm!

Starting with Stella Caon in 2014, who was quickly joined by Indianna Wylie the following year and now, in 2016, four local girls are involved, with the addition of Yasmin Hanmer and Sophie Ashley.

Stella joined as a guitarist, and has now expanded into backing and lead vocals, as well as the role of co-Band Captain.

Indy, Yasi and Sophie are all very talented lead vocalists and, with Stella, also get a fantastic groove on with synchronised dance moves and backing vocals to support whoever has the lead mic.

The band practises every week, records tracks, and performs live gigs around the region.

What an unprecedented opportunity for young girls! NewsA ngle interviewed these local stars about their experiences.

What do you like most about Sweethearts Academy?

Stella: The thing I most like about Sweethearts Academy is how very different all the girls are in the band.

It’s a great thing to form friendships with girls that are so different from you, but all share the common interest in music. It’s pretty amazing that we get to play soul music and mix with girls we wouldn't normally mix with at such a young age.

Indy: I have been a member of the Academy for two and a half years and 10

Local girls Yasmin, Sophie and Indy perform for The Sweethearts Academy.

seeing the band grow and succeed in lots of ways has been a highlight for me. The Academy is full of fun, music and friendship and I love making music with a bunch of talented girls and having lots of freedom to experiment.

I really enjoy listening to all the individual sounds of the different instruments and singing to the best of my ability. It is so exciting when we do all our gigs and see the smiles we put on people’s faces and fill their souls

with music. I really like the fact we are able to do so many gigs, from music festivals to night gigs with other bands and write our own songs too.

Sophie: The thing I like the most is that I get to perform and dance with a whole group of girls. It's really awesome because we are always having so much fun, but learning from each other at the same time!

Yasi: When I go to Sweethear ts Academy for practice and when I’m standing up on stage, it always takes

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me to that one moment – I let go of all my troubles doing something that I love with people who love it too.

What’s your favourite song and why?

Stella: I r eally enjoy playing Grapevine or This Land because of the strength and power in these songs. I love these songs when I get to do backing vocals because of the sassy moves.

Indy: I have thr ee favour ite songs in Academy, all for different reasons. The first one V alerie is upbeat and fun to sing and a sentimental favourite as it was the first one I ever performed at a gig in Geelong. The second one is Trouble Me because I love the soul and power in this song, which makes it great to sing. My third song is Ain’t Too Proud to Beg which is special as I was able to sing this one for a CD we recorded.

Stella Caon sings with The Sweethearts Academy.

What do you think you’ve gained from being involved?

Sophie: My favour ite song in the Sweethearts is definitely This Land. I really enjoy performing it because it has so much energy and brings the band together.

Stella: Even though this is my last year in the band, and I am not auditioning for the older band, it has been one of the best things I have done for my music. I would not be where I am without this band and definitely wouldn't have explored my hidden love for soul music.

Yasi: I have two favour ite songs – Community Service Announcement where I’m lead singer and This Land, which I sing as backing vocals.

Community Service Announcement is about being strong, opening up and coming out of your shell. The sax solo in Community Service is really long and powerful. I like the lyrics of This Land because it tells a story that has a very strong meaning. They are both strong songs where you can express your personality by singing them the way you feel at the time.

Indy: Ther e is so much I have gained from Sweethearts and I feel lucky to be part of the Academy. I have made some great friends with girls I would not have otherwise met. I have had very talented people to teach me like Janeva Burrill, Bec Goring, Michael Fitzgerald and Evan Jones. I have gained so much experience from all the rehearsing, performing and singing with live music and knowing how to ‘fix things on the run’ when things go wrong on stage.

Singing makes me so happy and

spending loads of time with other musicians every week helps me to gain more confidence in my ability and also helps with confidence in general . One of the other great things I have gained along the way is good friends who love music too.

Sophie: I have gained so much fr om the Sweethearts. From just getting my confidence up a whole other level, to learning how to write songs and sing with a band.

Yasi: Fr iends – a family in a way. I’ve learnt new things – about instruments and how a band fits together. Being patient – the time it takes for me to learn a new song and how to be understanding while others learn too.

The Aireys girls put in a big effort to get into Geelong for rehearsals, and gigs, but it’s worth it, and they’d like to thank Bec Goring, Michael Fitzgerald, Janeva Burrill and Evan Jones - and their predecessors - for the fantastic experience.

JUNIOR FICTION PAX by Sara Pennypacker

This novel is a tale of previously inseparable friends with a deep connection and bond, who are torn apart by betrayal and an unnamed war. It is told through alternating chapters, with one following 12-year-old Peter and the other Pax, a red fox. The novel begins with an act of betrayal, when Peter’s father enlists in the war and then forces Peter to abandon the fox. The story follows the two friends’ struggle to find each other, beginning with Peter’s decision to run away to find Pax. During their separate journeys, Pax learns to negotiate the complications of surviving in the wild and relating to the other foxes, whilst Peter learns to trust again when he is injured. A wonderful read. Review by Jenny @ Great Escape Books NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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Anglesea Community Network ...

CREATING A MORE CONNECTED & RESILIENT COMMUNITY

By Gary Robinson

In response to a growing community desire to have more of a say about what happens in our town, the Anglesea Community Network has been launched, to be facilitated through the Anglesea Community House.

We are a diverse town with many different interest groups, hobby and sporting clubs, weekenders, as well as visitors. At last count, 57 such groups have been identified in Anglesea.

The current situation with the closure of the Alcoa coalmine and, prior to that, the subject of clean air in the township, witnessed attendances at public forums in quite large numbers.

The passion, interest, and chat amongst the community about the Alcoa departure and what may be a good strategy for the future of this site has continued to arouse emotions.

The high attendance at the public meetings organised by SCAA (Surf Coast Air Action) also reflects the interest of a significant portion of people in the community towards having a say in the future of our muchloved town.

A few people felt this passion should be examined further, and like-minded

community members have been meeting over the past year to discuss the idea more widely and to identify some of the issues involved.

communities what they should do to rebuild. The major finding from Steve’s work turns this model on its head.

Recently, this group hosted several leaders of business, service, sports and other interest groups in the town at a meeting at the CFA.

In other words, communities best recover when the community itself has a large slab of the ownership of the plans and actions leading forward.

The topic for the evening was resilient communities and the presentation and discussion was led by Steve Cameron, whose role is the Community Based Emergency Management Facilitator for (EMV) Emergency Management Victoria.

Steve is also a resident of Anglesea and currently works closely with communities still recovering from Black Saturday.

The content was largely discussing how the older models for restoring communities was that of government, and their associated bodies, telling

To be able to successfully influence this bottom up approach, a community needs to be connected. Through connectedness, towns generally find no obstacles are insurmountable.

It was the belief of those gathered at the function that the resilient communities model should be adopted by Anglesea.

At a minimum, this group would ideally like to contribute towards a stronger, more united Anglesea. It is believed that through the process of building community connectedness, we will see serious benefit across many common endeavours.

It was deemed that the first action should be the development of a community web page devoted to our community’s needs, and so the “Anglesea Community Network” was launched!

The features of this website are:

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A calendar of events. Groups are invited to post their events and to select dates that don’t clash with other events on the calendar;

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Updates on issues of interest to the community;

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Adult education courses at the Community House;

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A community forum about issues affecting our town;

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

Members of the community are invited to initiate public discussions via this site on topics of interest to them as individuals or to their particular group.

The website is now available for improved communication in our town.

It now rests with the community to make the best use of this new tool.

We invite you to go to anglesea.org.au and familiarise yourself with the benefits of this site.

What is a Community Network?

By Steve Cameron, Community Based Emergency Management Facilitator The Anglesea Community Network provides an opportunity for people to connect and support each other to collectively discuss, promote and potentially take action, about the things that are important to the Anglesea Community.

With a view toward collaboration at the community level, the network can help by supporting people to connect with each other, and to connect with the many community volunteer/ action groups that already exist in our community, i.e. it provides opportunities to connect with these active groups and may also provide the platform to develop new groups as opportunities arise.

key priorities from a range of different people that make up our community including: > Residents > Community volunteer/groups > Businesses > Absentee landowners > Holiday makers > Visitors and tourists.

It is also important that we connect and work with our future leaders and members of our community who may now be our teenagers and children.

These people are often already connected in different ways and it’s time for us to better connect with them so they can teach us a thing or two.

Therefore we hope that the Anglesea Community Network can provide a platform to invite organisations to 'work with us' rather than 'do to us'.

In all, the opportunity is to build on our combined strengths to support our social, economic and environmental values and support systems that we share and use everyday.

This notion of building on our combined strengths assists to build a safer and more resilient community, so that we can also better connect and support each other by building on combined strengths when we need them most before, during and after emergencies.

We also want to have a say in what happens in our community.

This includes the Community Based Emergency Management (CBEM) approach that we have used to support the conversation so far.

It also provides a key place for the community to connect with a range of government organisations and agencies that also want to connect and work with the community.

This is the art of identifying common problems to collaboratively develop mutual goals and solutions - via collective actions.

As a key initiative supported by the Anglesea Community House, the Anglesea Community Network aims to provide a broader section of the community with opportunities to connect and develop a better understanding of what is important from a range of perspectives.

By embracing online technologies, it is hoped that we can connect and identify NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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Feeling SMUG About Technology

By Di Trewenack

I used to hate computers! Whenever I walked past my husband’s large grey IBM computer, I decided I would NEVER touch one of “those things”. I felt sick thinking about using it.

However, in 1997, when I became widowed, I dreaded facing long winter nights alone on a fairly isolated part of the coast. My family suggested I join the internet.

With a lot of encouragement, I purchased one of the first modern turquoise ‘Bondi Blue’ Apple Macs and, with a dial-up connection, a new world opened up.

I was in love! I loved the bright screen, the coloured icons and the ability to scan and download all the old family photos to see the detail on the large screen.

I was fascinated when, with a press of ‘the mouse’, a new world of images and knowledge was at my fingertips. I began emailing everyone and logged in each morning with excitement to see who had replied.

Then came ‘Skype’ and the amazing ability to not only talk to people but see and converse with them face-to-face.

I didn't have to dine alone, I could have dinner with my cousin ... she in Bellingen, me at Eastern View. Each with our computer in front of us, while we chatted and sipped our wine.

Yes, sometimes I tore my hair out and had sleepless nights trying to work out why things weren't going right, or why the computer had “crashed”. At first I thought a crash meant the whole computer was “broken” but I was lucky that phone help was at hand in the form of my son, Nic, who patiently guided me through.

Sometimes I could hear background pub noise while he would patiently direct me “Go to the Apple menu, go to system preferences, settings”, etc. Nic runs a Mac maintenance business, in Melbourne and on the Surf Coast.

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Jillian Chapman and Margot Shaw learn more about their iPads with SMUG.

It was like learning a foreign language, learning a new vocabulary and using parts of my brain I had never used before.

I realised others were not as lucky as I was, to have help at hand, so I decided to form a group to help other Mac users.

In 2002, six Mac users came to the first meeting at my house, and SMUG (Surfcoast Mac Users Group) was born.

We have had up to 60 active members.

I now believe our members are feeling more competent and can solve many of their problems by searching them online.

For those of us who were born before 1950, you will know that one of the challenges we are being forced to face, is joining the world of technology and iDevices.

It is already the case that some official government records and information is only available online, and if you want to communicate with your children or

grandchildren you need to bridge the generation gap by learning to text, email, FaceTime, and Instagram.

In April 2010, the first iPad was released, and created a wonderful opportunity for the older generation to become computer literate.

In teaching, I learnt that once people get over the fear of failure, they are up and running.

The Surfcoast Mac Users Group meets every second Wednesday of every second month at the Aireys Pub. We are extremely lucky to have help from other user groups who love coming to help at our small friendly meetings.

Dick Brown from Bellarine Mac Users Group and Pam Doughty, Editor of Apple Users Society of Melbourne, and myself, present topics at each meeting and help solve problems.

The first SMUG meeting for 2017 is on 15 February from 4pm to 6pm at the Aireys Pub. Email: info@surfcoastmacusers.com

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Aireys Art Exhibition and Sale Grab Yourself Bargain Art & Support Refugees

By Megan Stoyles

The inaugural Salon des Refusés Art Exhibition & Sale has been organised by Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees (AIRAR) to raise awareness and funds for refugees. (size, provenance, estimated value) to assist in pricing and cataloguing, to Megan Stoyles at megan.stoyles@bigpond.com or 0408 147 829.

Send before 18 January for inclusion in the pre-sale catalogue.

All Welcome The event will be held on Saturday 18th February 2017 from 3 to 5 pm at the Eagles Nest Gallery, on the Great Ocean Road in Aireys Inlet.

Donations wanted In the first of what is hoped to be an annual event, donations of art works (painting, drawing, photograph, sculpture, pottery etc.) that are no longer wanted are being sought from locals and supporters.

These items will be priced keenly - mostly between $50 and $100 to encourage sales - but more for quality works of well-known artists. A catalogue will be available to attract offers and promote presales.

AIRAR invites you to come on 18th February to meet locals who are concerned about the plight of refugees and raise funds to help refugees in practical ways.

A $5 entry donation will cover drinks and nibbles.

A well-known national writer on refugee and asylum seeker politics will also open and speak at the event.

Watch out for more details!

‘In Nature’ - a Japanese-inspired collage on canvas (46x85cm) created by local artist Susan Reilly - is one of the works to be sold.

It is hoped that around 50 works will be included in this first exhibition, which takes its name from the very successful annual ‘Not the Archibald Prize' exhibition of works not included in the final hanging of the Art Gallery of NSW’s historic and popular annual award.

Bring and Buy Everyone is invited to donate works and email a low-resolution photo with details NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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Bellbrae Art & Garden - A Family Connection

By Libby Stapleton

Family and friendship are the driving force behind the newlook Bellbrae A rt and Garden, combining multiple businesses under one umbrella to create a diverse indooroutdoor venue for locals and visitors travelling the Great Ocean Road.

Whether you stop for plants, art, food, coffee, ice-cream, outdoor furniture or gifts, you’re bound to notice a great sense of camaraderie and a positive vibe amongst the staff.

And that’s no accident.

Three families have joined forces to create an ‘empire’ that is as much about lifestyle as it is about turning a penny.

Bellbrae Art and Garden was originally established in 1985 as ‘Torquay Native Nursery’ but in recent years has undergone a significant revamp with new owners, to bring together four businesses on the one site: Bowside Café, Bellbrae Outdoor Living, Salt & Pepper Gallery and Great Ocean Road Nursery.

Owners of Bellbrae Art & Garden - Brian, Pam, Catherine and Wayne make a terrific team.

Bowside Café

member of the Surf Life Saving Association for more than 50 years.

Pam Westendorf started the Bowside Café in June 2011. The name originates from Pam’s love for and career in rowing, which included the Moscow Olympics in 1980. She still rows competitively and is also the coordinator of the girls’ rowing squad at Geelong College.

Pam and Ray made the move to Bellbrae in 2009, with their sons Jack and Angus.

She is great mates with fellow rower Jenni Gratton-Vaughan, and the two of them have shared an enduring friendship since meeting in a Melbourne hospital 18 years ago and giving birth to their first children within days of each other.

Bellbrae Outdoor Living

They lived in nearby suburbs of Melbourne but, like many who call the Surf Coast home, had a burning desire to get out of the rat race.

Both families were already holiday residents in Anglesea, with Pam’s husband Ray Heathcote an active 16

Jenni soon joined her friend on the coast, moving down permanently in 2013, with her husband Wayne and their daughter Mollie.

Just over a year later, the area adjacent to Pam’s café became available, so both families discussed the idea of using the space for a venture to enhance the surrounds of the café and, as a result, ‘Bellbrae Outdoor Living’ was born.

With Pam and Wayne’s retail experience, Jenni’s organisational skills and Ray’s hands-on expertise in fitting out the space, the past two years have been spent putting together an eclectic mix of furniture, indoor and outdoor homewares, and garden art.

Meanwhile, both Pam’s and Wayne’s families relished the opportunity to live and work in close quarters, building on their shared sense of community and desire to connect with people from various walks of life.

Salt & Pepper Gallery Fortunately for artist Catherine Brennan, they were also on the look out for another business partner to share their creative work space.

When she dropped in to the Bowside Café for a coffee in March 2014, Catherine was delighted to learn that the former florist cottage was available for lease.

She had previously established the ‘Salt and Pepper’ gallery in the Bendigo pottery precinct, inviting fellow artists to join her in the spirit of the Montsalvat concept.

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

However, she yearned for a working studio gallery by the sea and had moved to Torquay to find a new space – Bellbrae Art & Garden was it!

Great Ocean Road Nursery With Salt & Pepper Gallery soon re-established in Bellbrae, it was only a few months later that Catherine’s husband Brian took over the garden area and established Great Ocean Road Nursery, to complete the quadrella.

Brian and Catherine were both from the Ballarat/Bendigo region but actually met in PNG as volunteers in 1979.

They married a year later and moved to Terang, where Brian taught and Catherine worked as secretary at the local school.

From there, they headed to Darwin to run a hostel for young Aboriginal men, then back to Charlton before finally settling down in Bendigo to start a family.

Catherine was able to pursue her passion for art, while raising their three children - David, Mark and Lauren - while Brian continued his career in teaching.

Although the nursery was quite a jump from the classroom, Brian had come off a farm, always maintained large gardens, and had created a sustainable garden of his own. With the Great Ocean Road Nursery, he is finally able to pursue his personal passion for horticulture.

The teacher in him can’t help but enjoy the opportunity to educate people about indigenous and native plants, principles of permaculture, composting and how to create the right garden for the environment in which they live, including those with limited space.

Equally, he shares his knowledge of the indoors and how to use plants to freshen the air we breathe, reduce toxins and optimise air quality in our homes. He is happy to advise on how to reduce allergies by choosing the right indoor plants.

Brian’s passion for the nursery mirrors Catherine’s desire to create art, matching Wayne’s vision for a tranquil outdoor living space, and Pam’s commitment to serving homemade, locally-sourced food and a really great coffee.

It all comes together at Bellbrae Art & Garden, where the three families now happily co-exist across the four businesses, with children and partners often involved in making it a success.

Their camaraderie and sense of satisfaction is evident as they make every customer feel welcome, always ready for a chat, and happy for everyone who stops by to treat it like their home away from home.

If you haven’t stopped at Bellbrae Art & Garden in recent years, be sure to pull in next time you’re driving down the Great Ocean Road, and you’ll discover a friendly and peaceful haven waiting behind its bold orange and green walls.

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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LOCAL PROFILE: PETER EDWARDS

Ocean Road Story-Teller

By Terrence Hoffmann

Peter Edwards lives in Torquay but sees himself as someone who lives along the surf coast. His chief occupation is still the one that pays the bills, but this may be gradually changing.

He is a contract administrator for a Geelong building company. This allows him to batch together his work into administration time, when the emails, phone calls and planning can be done in a series of bursts, leaving him time to write, reflect and muse over his stories.

The tales he has imagined preoccupy him, so if he gets a flash of insight, or makes an important connection between his characters, he must then write for half an hour to get it all down.

Meeting Peter, he is continually in the story that he has invented. The characters are the subject of his interest. Were they believable? What did you think of the character of …?

These are the type of questions peppering our time together as we enjoyed some Rogue Wave beers at the Aireys Pub. Quite frankly, I really enjoyed Peter’s first novel “All Mine”.

It’s a crime fiction story with heaps of references to our part of the surf coast.

Surf Coast Author Peter Edwards

Set in a fictional town called St Clair, which could be a cross between Apollo Bay and Lorne, the book is full of action and tension as the three main characters emerge as fully realised people who we share our time with and need to know how they survive their looming confrontations.

Peter commenced his first novel with a character called Lucas, an ending, and some idea of the context.

He then worked for the next six years, re-writing and adapting the story until he had 360,000 words.

He had to learn how to condense a story and get the word count down to under 100,000. The story grew through the characters. Peter doesn’t know what his characters will do until he works with them and they reveal things that lead the story along.

Lucas, the starting character, was a loner. His wife had died.

He needed a new partner. Isabelle was the invention Peter created. However, there are parts of the character that require some explanations. Where does Lucas get his decency and steadiness from? The unseen grandfather, who first built the house in which Lucas lives, provides the key, with a number of memorable insights and anecdotes.

This is an intricately constructed story, with depths of meaning and lots of wonderful moments. It’s also a tale of good versus evil and I’m cheering for the good guys as the tale reaches its climax.

The grandfather character intrigued me as he has some fabulous lines but does not appear in the story, just in Lucas’ memory of him.

Peter reflected that we have grandfathers who may have served in wars, or lived through times we will never 18

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experience. They say and do things we don’t. He used the grandfather to create Lucas’ character and set in train the ways that he was forced to act in difficult circumstances.

The long gestation of the first book must have taught Peter a lot about writing. His second novel “Bushmore’s Dark Secrets” popped out in just a matter of months.

He had to build it up rather than cut it down. Both books have been selfpublished. He said that he submitted the books to literary agents but it’s a very competitive area. Most agents don’t read more than a few pages of what’s written and make a quick judgement.

They can also attempt to push the story in a direction they want it to go, which rather takes away the point of creative writing.

However, Peter tells me he is really enjoying the one-on-one interactions when meeting his customers while selling the books at markets along the Great Ocean Road.

He regularly attends markets at Torquay, Queenscliff, Aireys Inlet, Apollo Bay and Warrnambool.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR A

LOCAL BUS SERVICE

TO

WAURN PONDS

FROM

ANGLESEA

YOU, YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS CAN DO THIS BY

SIGNING THE PETITION to be forwarded to PUBLIC TRANSPORT VICTORIA

Whether a resident, holidaymaker, teenager or unlicensed driver - PLEASE SIGN!

PETITIONS can be found at : Anglesea POST OFFICE  IGA Supermarket, Anglesea  NEWSAGENT, Anglesea (KEPT UNDER COUNTER) Read the argument in support of a bus service on the ‘gopetition.com’ website. and ANGLESEA & DISTRICT COMMUNITY HOUSE website ‘anglesea.org.au’, where you can click on the ‘gopetition’ link to show your support.

While engaging with customers, he keeps a guest book for customers to sign. They can leave their comments about a book they have read when they return to purchase the next one. It’s a great idea.

He’s now half way into the third novel but is taking a break from writing to focus on selling some copies and generating an income.

In the novel “All Mine”, the character Lucas has a wonderful dog, a ridgeback/greyhound cross who is devoted, loyal and loving. Come to the markets and you will meet “Sue”, the inspiration for the fictional dog, who will sidle up for a pat as if she has known you for years.

Want a copy of the book but can’t get to the market?

Go to www.allminestories.com or email allminestories@bigpond.com NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

ART THERAPY, CREATIVITY AND WELLBEING

By Liz Clark

Caz Rieniets is an Art Therapist who moved to Anglesea three years ago from the Macedon Ranges area with her family. She is passionate about helping people understand how creativity can help them achieve a sense of wellbeing. creating a context and giving meaning to distressing and traumatic experiences.

It allows the exploration of difficult feelings without necessarily having to talk about the trauma.

Art therapy is extensively used in hospitals, aged care facilities and schools to assist participants to enjoy life more fully.

Caz trained as a teacher and worked for 10 years before studying mental health, psychology and counselling to become an art therapist. All her placements in training were in schools where she worked with a counsellor and children on a 1:1 basis.

Art Therapist Caz Rieniets

She believes that one's ability to be creative is directly related to self -esteem and is something that can and should be accessible to everyone.

Many people say that they don't have a creative bone in their body, but this is definitely not true.

It's more a matter of finding one's uniqueness, imagination, inventiveness and vision.

Art therapy uses a range of creative methods like painting, drawing or sculpture, and various materials such as clay, natural fibres, playdough and paint to connect internal processes to the external world.

It gently allows a person to express what is going on inside them in a different way and gain insights as they work with a therapist.

It has been proven to be highly effective for people suffering from trauma, 20

She has recently been involved in a resilience program at the Lorne-Aireys P-12 College, dealing with post-bushfire recovery.

Participants learn to express themselves freely through their artworks, and connect with their inner creativity and femininity, with environment and nature, and to learn more about being consciously creative in all aspects of their lives.

Caz also offers 1:1 sessions for children and adults, group sessions for workplaces and team building workshops.

She is keen to link nature with art making, and enjoys seeing improved self-esteem, pride in creativity and self development. Caz is also a practising artist and can offer art lessons with an art therapy twist.

For further information, contact Caz on 0425 850 868 or email her at artsea327@gmail.com

Working with children has proven to be very successful, with the kids themselves exploring unresolved problems through their art, and discovering what is really going on within themselves.

Parents have reported very positive changes in behaviour, and the children have learnt healthy ways to express anger, hurt, pain, fear and a range of other repressed or unnamed feelings.

Caz is currently a tutor at the Anglesea Community House, where she has run a number of ongoing women's workshops on self development and awareness.

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Great Reads from Brought to you by Nicole and the team at Great Escape Books

Commonwealth

by Ann Patchett

Another absolutely superb novel by master storyteller Ann Patchett. Opening with the character of Fix, a rugged Irish Catholic policeman in the LA Police force. He is beloved and celebrated, an established member of the community, so when he throws a christening for his second daughter, everyone comes along - the priest, his fellow policemen, the fire brigade, everyone. The house, the garden, the whole street explodes at the seams and, as the alcohol flows, the party gets merrier. Fascinated, you glimpse into this joyous, messy world, when an uninvited guest arrives. His greed and his desire cast a long shadow. The repercussions are enormous, for Fix, his beautiful wife and especially his young daughter.

The fallout from this single event continues for the next 40 years, affecting all around them. Patchett's masterful character study into people’s loyalties, desires and motivations makes for a mesmerising novel. Highly recommended.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

The Last Painting of Sara De Vos

by Dominic Smith

A cursed painting, a great art heist, a masterful forgery. This wonderful new novel opens with a fundraiser being held in a privileged young lawyer’s apartment. A haunting painting of a young girl painted by a little known 16th century Dutch artist vanishes during the evening.

Switching to the 16th century, we meet Sara de Vos, an artist of some note, who is struggling to cope with the abandonment of her husband and admittance into the prestigious Dutch Artist's Guild - which did in real life admit women.

Another layer is woven into the tale, as we meet Australian Ellie Shipley, who as a struggling art student makes the fatal error of copying the painting years before. It's an inspiring, intelligent read. Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books The Silk Roads: A New History of the World

by Peter Frankopan

The Rules of Backyard Cricket

by Jock Serong

A story of the love and hate within families, of the failures of masculinity and a vivid recreation of boyhood in 1970s Australian suburbia. This is a unique Australian crime novel encompassing the folklore of cricket, both the backyard variety and the international, told from the point of view of Darren Keefe, the younger brother of former Australian Cricket captain, Wally Keefe.

Darren’s life is literally flashing before his eyes as he lies gagged and bound in the boot of a car, recounting his childhood growing up with Wally. The story is told in a technically precise cricket context, that even I could understand and appreciate! Darkness seeps in page by page until you find yourself in the grip of an intense page turning thriller and a ‘can¹t put down’ final chapter.

Review by Jenny @ Great Escape Books

This is the highly readable and objective retelling of the rich history of countries on the old Silk Road. The aim was simple … focus the spotlight of history back on this region instead of the European and American historical version that is spotlighted in the media today. Frankopan stitches together a history of the world, east of the Mediterranean and west of China.

He expertly weaves the histories of the Persian Empire, the rise of Islam, the first silk roads between Central Asia and China, the formation of the colonial-imperial-global economy in the 15th century, the rise of petroleum in Iran, the British and Russian competition over Persia, Afghanistan, and the Indian sub continent, the German push towards the south of the Soviet Union and the 'Hunger Plan' to starve millions, US/ Soviet competition on the Cold War, and the rise of Islamic extremists. It’s beautifully crafted and an engaging historical narrative. Review by Nicole@Great Escape Books

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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The Captain of Aireys - Richard and Johanna Natt begin their new life

By Terrence Hoffmann

Johanna and Richard Natt have moved into Aireys Inlet in a big way. They opened the local woodfired pizza restaurant last year with new plans to expand the business, and have just purchased their first home in town.

They first met when they lived in Melbourne but were both from small towns in different parts of Australia, and felt more comfortable in country communities.

Small towns, as we all know, offer a level of companionship and community involvement that big cities don’t. They lived and worked in Melbourne for a time and then moved to Ballarat to be near some of Richard’s family, where they married.

However, they had a dream to set up their own pizza restaurant somewhere along the coast.

With a sense of adventure, they packed a campervan, and accompanied by their large English Pointer dog, Murphy, drove up through the centre of Australia to Darwin and then all the way down the east coast looking for a suitable place to live out their dream.

Although they found many of Australia’s beautiful coastal towns appealing, their hearts were pulled to the Great Ocean Road.

They had spent a lot of time here and also have family only a short drive away, with Richard’s family in Apollo Bay and Ballarat.

Johanna’s family are farmers in the southern Flinders ranges, so again the Ocean Road is within easy reach of South Australia.

They had even checked out the restaurant online before they left on their trip. All it took was for them to decide.

Richard’s love for pizzas has always been there and he learnt his craft over the years by being involved in other pizza restaurants, although he began a career in hospitality as a 15-year-old working at McDonald’s.

There he gradually worked his way up through their training system to become a manager. This is a very good grounding in the hospitality industry, as it teaches how to work in crews, how to handle food and ensure cleanliness, and at a management level, about costing and managing budgets in order to earn a living.

The Captain of Aireys serves a delicious woodfired pizza

They have both gained experience working in similar businesses in Ballarat and Melbourne.

Having established their pizza restaurant ‘The Captain of Aireys’, Johanna said that they now wanted to put down roots and feel they belonged in this community.

When a house was up for sale in a street not far from a nice little beach, they were quick to have a look. The place did need some work, and the price was, like all prices for property these days, a bit high, but they decided they wanted it.

They have since moved in and their dog Murphy now has a huge yard in which to roam. Although Johanna says he prefers to just find a spot in the sun, and lie there. At least the walks at the nearby beach are fun and he can have a swim as well as chase the seagulls.

Owners of The Captain of Aireys, Johanna and Richard Natt.

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Johanna normally bakes each day at The Captain’s restaurant. Her biscuits, slices and cakes have developed quite a following amongst the regular customers.

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

She tells me that the ginger cake with lemon and pistachio icing seems to have hit the spot with many customers. She loves cooking different things and, with her Dutch/German heritage, may be simply doing what cooks in her family have done for generations.

The locally-sourced Ocean Grind coffee from Torquay and individual pots of tea for tea drinkers, has made The Captain a popular spot for a morning tea break.

The Captain of Aireys is now well and truly established but more is planned for the coming summer.

A new business partner and chef has joined the team and will add breakfasts to the available food.

Grafton, the new chef, will be making modern breakfasts … the sort of thing that you can’t make at home. Then pizza will be on offer from lunchtime on into the evening.

Richard puts a lot of the success of the business down to the start they had. They didn’t know anyone at first but soon gathered a group of regular customers.

They hire local people and take pride in the fact that a lot of their regular customers’ children have become kitchen hands and wait staff.

“We are lucky that after the summer rush, even though some of the staff return to their studies in Melbourne, they want to come back for the busy times. We keep their jobs for them as we are a seasonal business, but it’s important to have some continuity with our staff,” said Richard.

Each year they have a month off for a holiday but living in Aireys means that during the year there are often several days off while living at home.

“We came here because we want to be happy, and living here is a great work-life balance.”

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NEWS FROM THE ANGLESEA RESALE SHED

Support for Woodlands Auctions

By Jim Tutt

A recent initiative by the Anglesea Resale Shed has been to take high value, collectable items to Mark Stone at Woodlands Auctions, Ocean Grove.

We are getting more dollars and a quicker return for our volunteer groups.

Mark does not take a commission from sales when selling for non-profit groups like the Anglesea Community House.

Established in 1987, Woodlands Auction is owned by Mark and Megan Stone, who operate a family business with friendly and helpful staff.

They conduct monthly auctions specialising in antiques and decorative arts, including furniture, contemporary and antique art, prints, modern and antique jewellery, clocks, lighting, ceramics and collectables.

They also offer a valuation service for probate, auction value or insurance. If you wish to buy at Woodlands

Auctions, you will find a wide and varied selection of items. It is a good opportunity to purchase antiques for your house or collection at trade prices.

If you wish to sell at Woodlands Auctions they: * offer a very competitive commission rate. * appraise your items and set a reserve if necessary.

If buying, they can email you a photo of an item and give a condition report on items if you are unable to attend an auction. You then have the option of either using their absentee bidding service by leaving bids with them, or bidding over the phone yourself.

They can arrange carriers for larger items as well as offering a packing and postal service for smaller items.

* will present your items in a way the buyers can view easily.

Purchases can be collected up to a week after the sale. Payment for items purchased can be made with cash, cheque, EFTPOS. Credit cards are accepted but a service fee applies.

You can email photos and they will advise if your item is saleable and give an estimate of its worth.

Contact Mark on 0418553910. He’s supporting our community – so please consider them if you have items to sell.

* give advice on how to realise the best price possible.

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TWITCHERS’ CORNER Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 26 – 28 cm

Other names: ‘Green Thrush’, Cedar bird.

Olive-backed Orioles are found all year round in Northern Australia. In the south, they are less common and migratory and generally found during the warmer months.

Every year, in early Spring here in Anglesea, we can hear their characteristic call at the start of and during the breeding season.

There are two species of Oriole in Australia. The other being the Yellow Oriole, Oriolus flavocinctus which is found in the tropical north. The oriole family includes the Figbird, Sphecotheres viridis, which is also found in northern parts of Australia.

The plumage of the Oriole blends very well with the thicker vegetation in which it feeds. The male has olivegreen above, marked with black streaks, and the wing flight feathers and the uppertail are dark grey. It is white below, prominently streaked with black and with a fine, dark-grey undertail which is tipped white. The long bill is orange-brown and the eye orange-red. The females and immature birds are dull grey above with rufous edging to some wing feathers and about the head, and the bill and eye are dark.

Olive-backed Orioles feed predominantly on native fruits and berries. They also eat insects, which are sought by the birds as they move through the foliage. They are also chased into the open air and snatched in flight. Orioles will take fruit from orchards and gardens.

Breeding season is during September to January. The nest is a rather untidy, deep, cup-shaped nest, which is suspended by the rim from a horizontal fork in outer foliage between 5-20 metres above the ground. It is made from bark, leaves, grasses, wood and spiderweb. Two to four eggs, spotted with grey and brown, are laid in the nest.

Ref: The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight), Reader’s Digest – Complete Book of Australian Birds.

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Enjoy a Family Movie Night at Home

By Sandi Chambers, Lighthouse View

Summer and school holidays are racing toward us. Movies are a big part of our down-time. They can be mindless entertainment, thought-provoking, educational, thrilling, funny, sad, and sometimes all combined.

One question I’m very often asked is “What’s a good movie for the whole family to watch together?”.

Here are our favourite, tried and true, not so famous MUST SEE picks, that we have instore at Lighthouse View in Aireys Inlet.

Flipped (PG)

Endearing, engaging and enchanting coming-of-age ‘rom com’.

Moonrise Kingdom (PG)

Set in summer of 1965, this is the story of two 12-yearolds who fall “in love” and the sweet mayhem that results.

The Belier Family (M - for language)

A French film to make you laugh, think and cry.

The Rocket (M)

A rare and special film, set in the rarely seen tribal mountains of Laos, about a boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him. We follow his journey to the most dangerous competition of the year - the Rocket Festival.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (PG)

From New Zealand, another truly hilarious and heartfelt survival and redemption adventure.

What We did On Our Holiday (PG)

British comedy at its subtle, black best. The Scottish highlands will go on your bucket list, as this beautifully shot movie entertains and rings home.

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HISTORY SPOT

Save the Last Bathing Box

By Jan Morris, President Anglesea and District Historical Society

Bathing Boxes are a rare commodity in Anglesea. In fact, to the best of our knowledge there is only one left. The others have all been destroyed or incorporated into other buildings over the years. The one remaining box is currently behind the Art House.

It was moved there in 1960 when the Barrabool Shire ordered the removal of bathing boxes from the sand dunes. The dunes needed to be stabilised. Three boxes were moved to behind what was then the Scout Hall, now the Art House.

Only one of these three still remains, and it needs to be moved to make way for extensions to the Art House. It is in extremely poor condition.

The Historical Society needs to move the box to behind History House and then restore it to its original condition. It has to be saved NOW. Bathing boxes were popular seaside acquisitions in the early 20th century.

Anglesea, being a seaside resort, had a row of bathing boxes in the sand dunes along the foreshore, where the Surf Club is now.

The bathing boxes are not to be confused with the boat sheds that were situated along the riverbanks. Several families owned both a bathing box and a boat shed.

As the west side of the Anglesea River was originally in the Shire of Winchelsea, the bathing boxes were all in that shire.

According to the Winchelsea Rate book for 1900, rates were paid on bathing boxes in that year by J Donaghy, W & J Hasty, W & W Higgins, AP McMillan, J Parish and the Anglesea Hotel. These people owned the box but not the land on which it was placed. The boxes changed hands over the years and had many different owners.

Anglesea Bathing Boxes were not like those at Brighton or other popular beaches, where each Bathing Box in the row was identical to the others.

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Anglesea Bathing Boxes 1930

At Anglesea the boxes were built by individuals, so each one was different.

The Historical Society is attempting to research who owns the last remaining Bathing Box. In the days when people did not have cars and usually walked to the beach, a bathing box became not only a place to change for swimming but also a place to store beach paraphernalia.

Chairs, shelters, towels and picnic utensils could all be kept in the bathing box and be there ready for use when the family went to the beach.

Some boxes were locked but Harold Little tells us that several were left open for anyone to use as change sheds.

Although Anglesea’s boxes were built by individuals to their own design, Shire permission had to be sought for their erection and rates had to be paid on them.

The Historical Society needs assistance to restore this last box. While some of the work needs to be done by trades

The last bathing box behind the Art House.

people, there are other tasks that can be done by volunteers, including carpentry and painting.

Donations and offers of help with the restoration will be most

welcome.

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Who Built the Memorial Hall?

By Jan Morris

Volunteers built the Anglesea Memorial Hall in the early 1950s. The Anglesea & District Historical Society is putting a storyboard in the foyer.

It will tell the story of the building of the hall … how Anglesea people made bricks on site and then built the hall from those bricks.

Across the Bar

A Publican’s Tales

By Tim Wood, The Aireys Pub When we decided to buy the Aireys Pub in 2011, we knew that it was more than your average pub. We’ve always considered it to be a meeting place to gather with friends and make new ones. It also regularly doubles as the town hall and community space.

This winter we’ve listened to some world class music and encouraged budding new performers to have a go. We’ve laughed at the Melbourne International Comedy Fest, had weddings, CFA meetings, town debates, political rallies, birthdays, family celebrations, baby showers and weddings.

Our chefs have served thousands of meals and our bartenders have welcomed countless tourists and locals to our town and our pub.

But one celebration eclipsed all this. For those who read NewsAngle you will remember we did an article on Rod Bardin, a long-time resident with a history dating back to the keepers of the light at the Split Point.

He celebrated his 80th birthday at the pub earlier in the year and joined us with his family for lunch most Sundays.

Working Bee at the Anglesea Memorial Hall

We want to include a list of all those who worked on the hall.

The list will include the honorary architect, the fundraisers, the brick makers, those who provided afternoon tea and everyone else who worked in a voluntary capacity to erect our hall.

Rod passed away suddenly last month, having been fit and happy and in good health. The family decided that the pub would be a nice place to celebrate his life. So Tuckers came down and set up, and Rod’s friends turned out to the pub to say their goodbyes, pay their respect and support the family.

It’s not something I thought we’d see at the pub, but it was a wonderful turnout and a fitting send off to one of life’s gentlemen. Cheers Rod.

This hall is a wonderful asset to Anglesea and we want to remember those who had the foresight to build it.

Below is the list of people who we know were involved. This is not a complete list.

If you know of others please contact the Historical Society or Jan Morris (the president) on 5263 3085.

NAMES WE HAVE: ADCOCK Cyril & Heather; BALL Ernie; BICKERS Jack & Doris; BUBB Arthur; BUTTERWORTH Brian; CARPENTER Fred; CURRIE Ian; DAVIDSON Cyril, Eric; DENHAM Pat; EVANS Reg, Hazel, John, Frank; FERRIER Steve & Mrs.; FISHER Gery; HARVEY Phil; HEDLEY Les; HUGHES Hory; MCCARTER Roy; MCMAHON Leo; MORTON Jack; MOUSLEY Alf; SHAW Grahame.

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News from our Local Business and Tourism Associations AIREYS INLET TOURISM & TRADERS

Following a highly successful 2016, our group has again managed to achieve its goals: To promote Aireys Inlet as a destination, supporting a range of events driven by the community, which fit into our culture, whilst maintaining the existing and iconic laidback feel that has always been an attraction.

We have helped to fund the Aireys Open Mic Music Festival and the Love Winter in Aireys festival. Each of these events attracted large numbers of locals and visitors and we look forward to an even more successful 2017.

New Website

BUSINESS & TOURISM ANGLESEA

Roundabout Roadworks We've all been through the frustration of the roundabout roadworks so it's great to see it finally finished - Hooray!

The VicRoads Reference Group is working hard with the South Western Alliance group and the Surf Coast Shire to try to ensure there are positive outcomes for the Anglesea community. We are currently developing plans for Cameron Road Reserve (the area where the mosaic horse is) and the Village Green, as well as landscaping of the areas affected by the roadworks. We will keep you posted on developments.

The Aireys Inlet website is currently being updated, to make it is easier to navigate and reflect a more contemporary style.

Take a look at www.aireysinlet.org.au. This is a great resource for visitors and residents, with information on local events, businesses and accommodation.

Anglesea Adventure website

Destination Planning

Check it out at angleseaadventure.com.au

We are currently working with Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORT) to develop a ‘Destination Plan’ for Aireys Inlet.

Christmas By The Sea

This is an important process for the town to become part of the regional marketing program for the Great Ocean Road and to give us access to a wider range of government grants to fund our events. It will bring together various groups within our community to plan for the sort of tourism we want here, now and in the future.

All business operators, regardless of whether or not they pay commercial rates to the Surf Coast Shire, can sign up to the GORT network free of charge (email: info@gort.com.au).

We, as a community group, operate on a volunteer basis, investing many hours to support businesses in town. We welcome new members and our meetings are open to everyone. Further information can be obtained from our Secretary, Gail Weston, at Truffles Restaurant.

Town Christmas Party

BATA and the Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORT) board have been actively working on our digital presence over 2016, including a dedicated Anglesea website.

Christmas by the Sea is a wonderful community initiative, greatly supported by many local businesses, decorating their shop windows in the spirit of the festive season and adding to the Christmas atmosphere in Anglesea.

We hope you’re enjoying all the fabulous window creations again this year!

Watch out for details of the winners, with the ‘People’s Choice Award’ to be announced at the Lions Annual Christmas Carols, 7.30pm on Thursday, 22 December, at the Anglesea Memorial Hall.

Local Events We’ve already had a busy December in Anglesea, with the Great Victorian Bike Ride travelling through town, the Adventurethon, and our fabulous ‘Moonlight & Mistletoe Supper’ earlier this month.

Our next major event will be the ‘Town Christmas Party’, to be held at the Aireys Pub on 18th December from 5pm.

Upcoming events include:

Santa will be attending so come along and help us celebrate the end of a successful year.

Roo Run - Tuesday 27th December

Sue Reilly President

Lions Christmas Carols - Thursday 22nd December Rock to Ramp - Wednesday 28th December Cadel Evans GOR Race - 27th to 29th January

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NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

LORNE-AIREYS INLET P-12 COLLEGE: AIREYS INLET CAMPUS

Camps for Fun and Learning Aireys Inlet students have enjoyed some great camping experiences over the past term. All classes teamed up with the students from Lorne to participate in camps that enhanced their curriculum focus.

Australian history came to life for the 5/6 students when they visited Sovereign Hill. Their focus was the impact of the gold rush on the development of our nation.

The 3/4 students developed their personal and social capabilities with a series of enjoyable outdoor challenges at Camp Cooriemungle, near Princetown.

The 1/2s went to Lorne to learn more about caring for our environment. They even got to feed some slippery reptiles!

Our Foundation students also focused on the environment, learning lots about our amazing marine plants and creatures.

Student Reflections As I walked into the Sovereign Hill Hotel, I could almost feel the gold in the air. As for the hotel, it wasn't your typical hotel with a pool and room service, it was just a wooden building with beds. Very simple. First we dropped our bags off to explore Sovereign Hill. My eyes were drawn to the lolly shop filled with drops of all sorts, and lollypops. It was amazing!

Now the ducks in the lake, each duck had a different name. Ronaldo, Pogba, Cow and Dave. Then it was time for dinner. We had chicken parmigiana (yum).

Later that day we walked to the Sovereign Hill auditorium. We were going to see the amazing Blood on the Southern Cross, a fantastic sound and light show. It was all about the Eureka Stockade where the diggers/miners went against the government. It was a 10/10 show.

The next morning, I woke as tired as a sloth. Our cabin had stayed up so late.

The whole camp went to breakfast. That day we did heaps of activities including gold pouring, mine tours, shopping and more! As for the gold pouring, it was one of the coolest things I have seen in my life. A fully trained blacksmith

heated up a $135,000 gold bar to molten gold, poured it into a mold and then dropped it into a water bath.

Suddenly it became a solid 24-carat gold bar!

For dinner that night we had spaghetti bolognaise - it wasn't too good. Then we had some performances. My favourite was the Year Five boys. They really put on a show! They had water in their mouths and the audience had to make them laugh. Otis got Louie. That night I fell straight to sleep.

In the morning, we had the Red Hill Mine tour. I walked into the mine entrance and there was a sort of tram thing pointing down into the mine. Then the instructor said, "Get in". I was pumped! As we drove down deeper there was no lighting of any sort and the mine was pitch black. Finally, we got to the bottom. It was lit with lanterns. My nose was filled with dust and grit and I was shivering. It was like a maze, twisting and turning. I actually don't know how the instructor knew his way around.

Sadly, it was time to go home after three breath-taking fun days at Sovereign Hill.

Jedi Switajewski, Year 6

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I woke up feeling so excited about camp. It was 12th October and we were going to Camp Cooriemungle.

We went with the Lorne 3/4 students.

My favourite activity was the giant swing. I was so nervous I went red in the face and felt like a dragon was breathing fire on me. When I pulled the rope, I dropped. It felt so cool.

Another one I enjoyed was the commando course. We got straight into it. We went in a puddle that was pretty muddy and smelt terrible. Then I washed off all the mud in the shower and went back to camp.

We had roast for dinner and it was delicious. After dinner we watched a movie called Oddball! We all got to take our sleeping bags and there was a cosy open fire. I fell asleep half way through the movie!

On the way home we stopped off at Loch Ard Gorge and had our lunch there. It was beautiful. We hopped back onto the bus and then drove home.

Hamish Brown, Year 3

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ANGLESEA PRIMARY SCHOOL - EXPERIMENTS AND EXPERIENCES

By Liz Clark

The art curriculum at Anglesea Primary School is stimulating and eclectic, offering the students many activities that allow them to grow artistically and learn many different styles of art.

They study artists and their artworks, gain insights into colour and texture, discover new techniques and skills and seem to have a great deal of fun while they learn.

The Art teacher, Lisa Serong, is very enthusiastic about children trying everything, presenting new ideas that the children can copy, alter, or take

wherever they want. Experience of possibilities rather than outcomes is at the core of her educational philosophy.

She also believes that all endeavours to create are acceptable, because the children are expressing themselves and their unique abilities in their own way.

During the year, art students have studied Andy Goldsworthy, an extraordinary British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who produces sculptures and land art in collaboration with nature. That is, he takes what he sees in nature and recreates it in different (usually natural) settings.

The students have investigated how a simple idea can grow and change, be turned on its head, and new objects/ pictures can be created . They begin to learn that one simple line can lead to a picture, a hand print can become an animal or a tree or a host of different things depending on the child's imagination. At the same time, they are integrating history, geography, maths and science into their artistic expressions.

During the year a wide range of activities have included 2D and 3D creations, weaving, knitting, crochet, felting, tie dying, measuring, drawing, painting, cutting, mosaics, threading, paper machĂŠ. Students are encouraged to develop a diverse range of skills and find inspiration in their surroundings.

They are taught to believe they can do anything, and that everyone has a chance to succeed.

A visit to the Art Room on art day is exciting, noisy and busy, with the children often leaving somewhat less clean than they started, but with their minds stimulated to think broadly, believe in themselves, and enjoy art on an ongoing basis.

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Tech Angle

Police Beat

By Chris Dos

TIME TO DITCH YOUR DEVICE? As both Christmas and the end of another year approaches, it's a time of reflection for many of us. I've lost count of the number of references I've heard to 'mindfulness' this past year - the act of living in the moment and not letting the past or future spoil our appreciation of the 'now'.

It makes me wonder about all those photos on my phone that may never be looked at again, the row of parents at swimming lessons all glued to their devices or people at a concert seemingly watching it through their phones.

As technology marches ever forward, we get many enhancements to our lives, but we need to apply the brakes occasionally to show who is in control.

In one family I know, it's accepted that the devices are put away for the summer’s duration. In another, Dad simply tells his kids he 'lost' the iPads (he thought this was true when he said it).

Some people will hopefully decide they don't need to Instagram every single meal they are served.

Having said all that, technology will no doubt be a big part of a lot of Christmas presents this year. It's up to us to judge how much they will enhance our lives before they ultimately become landfill.

Try to steer clear of exploding personal transport vehicles, melting phones and drone aircraft that fall out of the sky while above the Christmas pav.

I haven't quite decided on everyone's presents but a certain cube invented by Rubik will definitely be making a comeback at our house!

So, without completely dropping out to live in a cave, let's strive to exist in this moment, without an electronic fence between us and reality.

And with nature’s beauty so abundant in our part of the world, there couldn't be a better place to literally switch off.

Life wasn't meant to be viewed through a filter!

Merry Christmas.

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By Sergeant Kevin Warburton Station Commander Anglesea Police Station

The Road Safety Act requires every registered owner of a motor vehicle to renew their registration on or before the expiry date. Past years would see us receive a label to attach to our vehicle to display that the vehicle was registered under the act.

Labels are now not part of the renewal process so we rely on receiving our registration renewal in the mail and then paying it before the expiry date. Over the past 12 months we have issued several infringement notices for expired registrations. In July 2016 this fine increased to $777.

As well as paying the fine you are also required to pay your registration which is about the same fee. It turns out to be a very expensive experience. The most common response we get is that owners have not received their renewal notice or have misplaced it. The act also requires registered owners to notify a change of address within seven days. The reason is to ensure you receive any correspondence from Vic Roads to your current address.

Our real concern is that if you are driving an unregistered vehicle, you have no TAC third-party insurance. The other reason given for expired registration is that owners thought they had a 30-day grace period in which to pay their registration. This is not the case and your registration expires on the date indicated on your renewal notice.

Between the 21st and the 28th October we had several vehicles accessed by offenders in the Anglesea area.

Property was stolen and not recovered. These offences occurred overnight and unfortunately some of these vehicles were unlocked in driveways and open spaces making them easy targets. I’ve mentioned this in previous articles but I will remind everyone again that we can no longer leave our homes and vehicles unlocked.

Anglesea Police 52633468 or if urgent 000.

Regards and have a safe Christmas and summer period.

Kevin Warburton, Sergeant Station Commander, Anglesea Police Station

NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Bike Time

By Simon Williams

So I have been thinking about what riding really means to me, and where it started.

It was a custom-built BMX made from an old Dragster. Red wheels, “Tange" forks, new bars. Built in the back shed with my dad. The forks didn’t fit the frame.

My dad was tired, his life under strain. I was devastated, desperate and pleading, but never told him so. It was dark in the shed, cold and late. But my dad understood. The forks went into the vice and out came the hacksaw. My bike flew. Light, fast, cool. It was soon to be respected around town. Next door we built a jump. My bike and I flew the furthest.

One day after school I was leaving the library with a friend.

His BMX had “Toughs”. We lived in a tough town. Two older kids, scary looking and tough, came up, one on a bike.

They wanted to try out my bike, just see how it rolled. I am 10 years old, they are 15, maybe 16. I remember watching him riding around and around me, hoping and praying.

Feeling dizzy and weak. A coward. They ride off, out of the seat, full power.

My friend Paul, takes off after them, red hair blazing.

Desperate, I run, and - like in a movie - a police car comes around the corner. I get in. The chase is on. I feel warm and safe, but scared for my friend and our bikes. We drive around and around. I am dizzy again. We don’t find them.

Paul had chased them through the streets and onto an overpass, not far from our school. They threw his bike into the creek and rode away. The next day I went down to the creek with Paul’s dad. He stripped down to his Y-fronts, and got in the creek … fast flowing, dirty, full of rusted steel … and searched hours for his son’s bike. The bikes were never recovered.

Throughout my life there has always been a bike. All special, all with special memories.

Simon Williams

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Write Angles

By Melva Stott

Roos in the Noos Driverless cars are being tested in London; and now crash avoidance technology is being devised to recognise large animals such as cows and horses. I'm waiting for the first driverless car tests in the Anglesea area to see how they cope with being bombarded by kangaroos.

Kangaroos may not be as large as farm animals but they are solid, they hurtle along at great speed and they dodge and zig-zag. So there's speed, plus an erratic approach-path towards a vehicle that is not easy to predict.

Me thinks the electronic sensing devices will have a bit of fun trying to figure out all of that, and then react at the speed of light.

Local Driving Circus The recent roadworks allowed us to lawfully drive the wrong way around the roundabout . . . just like a certain little old lady was inclined to do in days of yore; but she did it without the help of stop/slow signs to warn other travellers!

Underneath the Arches There is now one less Cockie in Anglesea. One less unique character; one less cheeky beggar downtown begging us to buy raffle tickets; one less cheery smiling face to brighten our days.

When someone like Len leaves us, it's like a library closing down - a lot of knowledge and personal stories are lost to the community forever. But let us all rejoice that he was here for so long; and treasure all the memories . . . mine include Len and Bob Berrill crooning all those Flanagan & Allen melodies.

Vale Lenny Cockerill!

Media Muses My son, Alister, moved back to Anglesea last year. He works for Searoad Ferries in Queenscliff . . . so he's been on the film set of The Leftovers, with one of the ferries being refitted for the shoot. The cast and crew loved the village atmosphere of Queenscliff and the town has been widely publicised overseas by their personal testimonies and the media.

I'm doing my bit to promote Anglesea and the Surf Coast abroad through my segment on ABC national radio with listeners calling in from America and other countries. I also write for two publications in England, which are circulated around the world and keep our area in the spotlight.

Keep smiling everyone!

Melva Stott 38

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