NewsAngle issue 140

PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLESEA COMMUNITY HOUSE

ISSUE 140 SUMMER 2019

Photo by Patrick Callow Photo: Jesse Stapleton

Secret Surf Society

By Liz Clark

During the winter months, I receive ongoing emails advising me where whales have been spotted along the coast – ‘mother and calf frolicking off Lorne Pier’, ‘humpback sighted 250 metres off shore, Apollo Bay’.

I know where these places are. But some emails tell me they have been glimpsed at Wongarra, East Beach, Reedy Creek, Sugarloaf or Sheoak, and I ask myself ‘should I go out and have a look?’ but am unsure whether I would find them at my doorstep … or in Portland or Torquay or Warrnambool.

These names aren’t readily available on maps, so I decided to make my own Community Houses are for Everyone

map and clarify exactly where some of these lesser-known beaches are located.

I decided the best people to ask would surely be the local surfers. I approached a number of them and was bemused by a common response ‘don’t tell everyone where the good spots are.

They’ll all want to join us’.

Highlights Anglesea Women’s Footy

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Kendra Harding profile

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Seabirds

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Weaving Connections

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Libby Coker in Canberra

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Tony Revell profile

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The Check Up

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Great Reads

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Community Corner

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Continued on page 4 > 1

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News from the House

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

Feedback/Comments 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 via email advertising@anglesea.org.au

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

Distribution NewsAngle is offered for free to the community. If you would like a free subscription, email courses@anglesea.org.au Copies are distributed via Australia Post home delivery in Anglesea and PO Boxes in Aireys Inlet, as well as various shops/cafes in both towns.

Please let us know if you are not receiving your copy in the mail.

By Sam Gault, President, Anglesea Community House Committee of Management

The Annual General Meeting of the Anglesea Community House was held recently at the House, attended by more than 40 members and guests.

Our Coordinators, Mel Brooks (ChildCare), Julie Martin (Operations) and Marcelle Renkin (Programs) shared their achievements and aspirations in each of their areas of focus.

Each of the House Groups – Resale Shed, Foodlink and NewsAngle – presented their achievements for the year, as did the Auspice Groups – Anglesea Community Garden, Anglesea Men’s Shed, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Rock Choir and the Anglesea Community Network.

A time of annual renewal, we warmly thanked retiring committee members, Lyn Elsbury, Margaret Russell and Bienna Chow, for their wonderful contributions to the House, whilst welcoming new committee members, Sandra Mitchell and Michael Varney.

We also expressed our gratitude and appreciation of the contributions by individuals and businesses who made a difference to us this year.

Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the Anglesea Community

Bank and to the Association of Healthcare Supply and Procurement Officers (ASHPO).

The Coordinators expressed their gratitude to Jenna Crawford, Simon Clark and Jim Tutt for their respective contributions to the House and support of them over the year.

We recognised the significant contribution of Annette Dwyer and Martin Coker by awarding them ‘life membership’ for service to the House and the community.

Annette served as Public Officer and Secretary for more than five years and on the Committee for more than 15 years; her passion project for the last eight years being the Resale Shed.

Martin Coker served on the Committee, assisting with Foodlink, the Easter Market and helping out in numerous ways for more than 10 years.

We look forward to a great start to 2020 and continuing to build community.

NewsAngle is available online at www.anglesea.org.au

Deadlines Issue:

141

Casual ad bookings:

10 Feb

Articles/Contributions:

10 Feb

Subject to availability of space Distribution:

24 March

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

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Secret Surf Society > continued from page 1

I hadn’t realised that there were secret locations along the coast that were not for general use/ knowledge. In addition, I wanted to know how each beach got its name. Well, I found out … ask a simple question and you get a range of answers!

With assistance from various people who wish to remain anonymous – and less cagey members of the Historical Society – I can tell you what I have learned.

Please remember that some of these places are named more from folklore than historical importance. I didn’t extend my research to creating a map … I’ll leave it up to readers to go exploring over summer to see which of these beaches they can identify.

Let’s follow the coast along from Point Addis to Aireys Inlet.

Point Addis - named after Lieutenant Edward Brown Addis, an early Crown Lands Commissioner. Also known by some as the Nudie beach – wonder why?

Red Rock – named because the rocks are red.

Critters – lots of little bitey creatures to be found there at times.

Local surf breaks and beaches have acquired some unusual names for a variety of reasons.

Anyone recognise this location? Photo: Jesse Stapleton

Grinders – surf grinds you into the rock (sounds quite nasty to me).

Jetty’s –Anglesea Caravan Park once had a jetty at this point. Ron Evans, a local commercial fisherman, winched his boat in there.

Anglesea Main Beach (or as I always called it, the Surf Beach) – that’s where everyone used to go.

Ding Alley – when your board hits the rocks here, it makes a ‘ding’ sound.

Middles – the beach right in the middle between the main beach and Roadknight.

Soapy – because the rocks there are so slippery.

Point Roadknight – named after William Roadknight, who arrived in Port Phillip District in 1836 bringing sheep from Tasmania. He took up land in the area.

O’Donies/Donies – the beach at the end of O’Donohues Road. O’Donohue was a Melbourne solicitor who purchased all the land along the coast from O’Donohue’s Rd to Boundary Rd (imagine what that might have cost?).

Gaps – there is a gap in-between the sandhills.

Fenceposts – surfers can identify the spot by searching for some old fence posts standing half way up the hill above the Great Ocean Road.

Guvo’s – where old Government Road met Great Ocean Road.

Hutt Gully – no one seems too sure how this area was named, although there was a report that woodcutters had a hut up above the beach, near White’s Track. Maybe they couldn’t spell hut.

The beach was originally called Red Bluff, and was totally washed out in floods in 1952.

Urquhart Bluff – Mr Urquhart was a surveyor who laid out Ballarat and Castlemaine, and was honoured to have

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this part of the Great Ocean Road named after him.

Honeypots – I am left wondering what this might mean, but presume either beekeepers used the area for their hives or someone found something sweet and sticky on the beach one day. Who knows?

Mermaid pools – great rock pools and, if you are really lucky, you might just see such a creature. To date, there are no credible sightings.

Sunnymead(e) – at the end of Boundary Road – best known as the estate of Charles James Lane but he purchased it from E. J. Alston in 1909.

This spot is also often called Nathan’s to recognise the Nathan family who still own a home there, visible from the surf.

For surfers, colloquial names are more about the waves than the beaches.

Photo: Jesse Stapleton

Tubes – where you catch a great lefthanded tube (I had to ask what that meant).

Mini tubes – similar.

Steps – yes – a steep walk down aided by some steps, initially put together by whoever needed them – now much more delicately designed.

Cosy Corner – where this surfer’s mum used tell him to swim because it was so safe there.

Lighthouse Beach – would you believe it – that’s where the lighthouse is?

There are a few small gaps in local knowledge here, but I am always open to further explanations from anyone who would care to offer them.

And, of course, the beach continues for miles, but that sort of mapping needs to wait for another day.

A member of the surfing community who comes from ‘over east’ (of Anglesea) has enlightened me about places and names in the direction heading from Point Addis to Torquay.

More or less in order from Point Addis they are:

Front beach – at the front of the town.

Throughout my discussions with the surfers (not the Historical Society), I heard stories about the ‘old days’, the paths made through scrub and bush so that access would be possible to the best surf spots, the joys of both high and low-tide surfing, a rough backtrack

(Gunders) through the Scout Camp (now closed much to their sorrow), how different waves are called by different names, and hints of shenanigans around fires, staying out in the water longer than was really safe, getting back to civilisation through the dark/wet/mist, and an interesting range of misadventures.

To sum up, I now realise that our surfers are all at sea anyway – they have named the spots mostly from the places where the best waves roll in – it’s far more about the water than the beaches.

Judging by all the tradies’ trucks I see pulled up along the coast when the waves are good, it is obvious when the surf’s up, and that’s all that really matters.

Winkipop – the winkies (small crustaceans) found there, pop out of their shells when you squeeze them.

Bells Beach – owned by the Bell family.

Boobs – no, not what some of you thought. It is named after Bob (Boobs) Johnson, a local solicitor.

Bird Rock – often covered with birds resting and nesting.

Jan Juc Main Surf Beach – at this stage, unclear as to the origins of this name.

Haystacks – because that’s what the rocks there look like.

Dumpers Alley – where you are quite likely to be dumped by the big surf.

Drainos – a large pipe used to drain waste water into the sea at this spot.

Point Danger – surfer beware!

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Kicking Goals for Anglesea Women

By Penny Edmanson

With the AFL 2019 season completed, attention has mostly turned to summer pursuits; however footy training is still very much a part of life for a group of dedicated females keen to put Anglesea on the map in the world of women’s football.

Anglesea Football Netball Club is in the process of registering its first senior women’s team. Training has begun and the club is busy not only recruiting for that team, but also for a future junior squad.

This is a dream come true for a group of friends who love footy.

With the advent of a women’s competition, they joined the Grovedale Tigers, where they were lucky enough to play alongside a fantastic bunch of people, all varying in skills, age and experience.

From the beginning, they fantasised about such an experience being available on their doorstep. The idea of less travel with a team closer to home was appealing, but the greater motivation for forming an Anglesea women’s team was a commitment to community.

As spokesperson and local sportswoman, Loz Bell, put it, “Our commitment is to the community. We

Locals are putting Anglesea on the map with future senior and junior women’s footy teams.

want local girls and women to have access to the sport in a supportive, accessible and fun environment.”

After a walk with friends one sunny day in June, it became a goal rather than a fantasy! Together with Cass Harrison and Kim Prince, Loz approached Jamie Mackenzie (President of the AFC) and Paul Nigro (Senior Coach), and were blown away by their enthusiasm and support.

Jamie and Paul saw it as a great

opportunity not only for the Club but also for the community. The girls were advised to gauge community interest with the view to drawing up a list of players, coach and physiotherapist.

From there, Jamie would submit a plan to the AFL to get approval.

Riding on the wave, Kim Prince contacted Luke Cini who has had a huge involvement in the Anglesea Football Club, coaching junior teams.

With little hesitation he agreed to coach the fledgling squad. They were also able to engage the services of Anglesea local, Holly Lipson, as physiotherapist.

A ‘Come and Meet’ Day was arranged one Saturday in September. Flyers were posted around town and word spread through social media, inviting women of all ages and all levels to attend. The response surpassed all expectations. “We had people of all ages, some as young as seven, keen to see a girls’ football team get underway!

After that day, we ended up with over 50 on the list, and 20 of them juniors, which provides great scope for a junior development program this coming season,” said Loz. With the majority of attendees from Anglesea, but drawing a few from as far away as Lorne and Ocean Grove, Loz described the atmosphere as very, very positive, especially from locals that came along in support. A sense of community and teamwork was already developing.

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Jennifer Lingam, another stalwart of the Club was thrilled to be appointed Team Manager. She has been super excited about the rapid growth of girls’ football, particularly around the Barwon region, and knows that the new Anglesea team will be given every support from the Club and community.

Apart from her involvement with the Club over many years, Jenny is particularly excited about the impact an Anglesea women’s team will have on local girls.

She cites her daughter as an example: “Phoebe played junior footy for three seasons with Anglesea but, at 14 years old, had to find a club elsewhere that offered a girls’ team. Phoebe played one season with Modewarre and then three seasons with Torquay. She is now very excited to represent her home town, training and playing on her own oval and helping to make history.”

Pre-season training commenced on 15 October and, with a solid cohort of 25 players, they continue to train twice a week.

One key focus of the pre-season has been the building of fundamental skills to avoid injury, something the girls and the coach are passionate about.

They feel it is not only a safety issue, but on a personal level it creates a bond that extends beyond the football field. It teaches the girls to work as a team, protecting their teammates as well as playing their own best game. For Loz, it’s a bit of a personal crusade, as she lives with the results of a couple of bad knocks early in her career.

When asked to name some highlights from the journey so far,

Anglesea’s first senior women’s football team at training.

Loz says, “Since that first training session, training has been more and more enjoyable. As we chip away at skills, and get more comfortable with each other, there are plenty of laughs.

Better still is the feedback I’m getting from individuals who are just having so much fun! We live in a beautiful town full of beautiful people! We’re so fortunate.”

Girls’ football is the largest growing sport in Australia, and next year Anglesea will be part of that movement when our women’s side joins the competition for the first time. No doubt the community will be out in force to witness history in the making.

If you are interested in getting involved as a player or volunteer, Jenny can be contacted via mobile 0455 548 941 or Loz by email at lozbell84@gmail.com.

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LOCAL PROFILE: KENDRA HARDING

A Journey North and Beyond

By Moreen Dainty

When she turned 40, Kendra Harding decided she needed to ‘shake things up a bit’. “Well, if you don’t have an epiphany then, when will you?” she laughs.

She and her husband Matt had lived in Aireys Inlet for over 10 years, giving their two kids, Hughie and Lola, the chance to be brought up on the Surf Coast.

But, like many people, they wanted to see and do more. One of their dreams was to show their kids more of Australia, for them to realise how diverse this country actually is.

Kendra also wanted to run her own business. She had an inkling that she wanted to sell something that was totally Australian-made. Something other Australians, as well as visitors to this country, would use and appreciate.

She knew it would have to be something unique, something that could be produced sustainably and, at the end of the day, something that served a wider social purpose.

The answer came to her when the family finally took the plunge and moved, lock stock and barrel up to Darwin for three years.

“My dad and I drove all the way up through Central Australia to Darwin. I remember the day after we arrived, we

happened to park in front of the Nomad Gallery. In the window, there were these striking red and black indigenous fabrics.

“Within minutes, I had bought two metres of this beautiful, handprinted silk screen cloth. I sent it to my cousin in Rockhampton, who’s a saddler, and asked him if he could make up some sample handbags,” said Kendra.

“From that one Kendra Harding has created a unique Australian handbag range. moment, things just to create ‘Ooroo Australia’ back in 2015 seemed to slip into place. It was as though everything that I had been doing … an enterprise that has caught the attention of Mia Freedman and was up to that point, was simply laying the written up in ‘Lady Start Ups’ – her foundation for what was to come.” book about inspiring Australian female I am sipping a coffee at Kendra’s entrepreneurs. kitchen table in Aireys, waiting for her Around us are watercolour paintings of to explain how this impulse buy led her the Australian bush and portraits by Matt’s late father, A. W. Harding. An assortment of richly coloured leather handbags are laid out on the side table, each with their own exquisite aboriginal screen prints on the front.

As she talks me through her start-up journey, two things become clear: Kendra has the ability to listen and learn. Maybe it was all the years spent as a hairdresser or her experience selling at local markets, but Kendra has a knack of finding out what people want. She has an easy, approachable manner, which I suspect, stands her in good stead.

“I felt there was a real market for showcasing aboriginal art in a quality way, using sustainable methods. Not something mass produced, like a fridge magnet or stubbie holder.

“I had some sample handbags made up and took them to the local aboriginal artists at Daly River. I remember that day well. It was surreal, travelling through such remote landscape to see them. At one point, we stopped by the

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roadside and this huge buffalo appeared. As we stared at it, it let out this enormous scream. I was petrified. I felt like Linda Kozlowski on a movie set in Crocodile Dundee.

“I wanted to find out what these artists thought. I didn’t know whether they would agree or want to get involved.

They listened in silence, which was a bit unnerving, but then at the end, they came up to me and said it was exactly what they had been hoping for.”

Since these early days, Kendra has made a point of building strong relationships with art galleries across the top end and the central desert region of the NT and WA. “Trust and communication are all important,” she says. “Art is what holds these communities together. In remote parts of Australia, there isn’t a lot of other work around. I like to think that by buying their fabrics, we are supporting them and helping keep their traditions alive.

“Each of the fabrics we buy, tells an important story about indigenous history and culture. We work with each artist to develop an ‘Artwork Story’ – a beautiful card that informs the buyer about the significance of the design, and the story of the dreaming that it represents.”

We pause the interview as she shows me photographs of the stunning, remote locations she and her family visited in the Top End. There is video footage of aboriginal teenagers teaching her son Hughie how to skin birds and get them ready to barbeque over camp fires. Another shows the kids jumping into vast rock pools with cascading waterfalls in the background.

Since her return to Aireys Inlet a couple of years ago, Kendra has continued to develop the business.

She was shortlisted for the Winston Churchill Fellowship program and has learnt more about how to pitch her business ideas and network. It seems to be working.

In 2018, her work was showcased by Jira Models at the first Aboriginal Runway Show, as part of Melbourne Fashion Week.

Her social media profile shows a QC sporting one of her handbags at a garden party at Buckingham Palace. TV presenter, Lisa Wilkinson, and local politician, Libby Coker, are also great fans.

“One thing I have learnt on this journey with Ooroo is how art has the ability to both inspire and educate. It allows us to feel and express experiences that are sometimes beyond words. It allows us to pay homage to the past and imparts a cultural legacy to future generations.”

Kendra’s unique handbag range ‘Ooroo Australia’ is inspired by indigenous art and culture.

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Out of sight, but not out of mind …

By Bron Ives

I’ve stumbled across some surprises at the beach … a live sea snake, a perfect nautilus shell, a couple behind some rocks, and seabirds – both dead and alive.

On a low-tide walk a few months ago, we came across something, which from a distance, looked like a backpack.

Getting closer, we realised it was an enormous bird – slowly turning its head to watch us.

The bird looked out of place and, thinking it was injured, we kept our distance and called the wildlife rescuer.

After a short wait, it was examined, gently put into a box, taken to a vet and then onwards to Zoos Victoria. We’ll come back to that bird.

On another morning, we came across a huge, dead bird on a beach near Aireys Inlet. This one was banded and the details were passed on to the A ustralian Bird & Bat Banding Scheme. Its story is fascinating.

As a nestling, it was banded by a French team at a black-browed albatross colony on one of the most isolated places on earth, the Kerguelen Islands – mid-way between the Antarctic, Madagascar and Perth – yet here it was at Aireys. The oldest albatrosses live up to 80 years old; this one was only 16.

Seabirds are creatures of extreme latitudes and remote oceans. If you think about it, they are the only animals on the planet that are truly at home in the air, on land and at sea. What sets them apart from shorebirds and coastal birds is that they spend most of their lives at sea and make their living from it.

Their homes might be far away but our histories are entwined. Long before the fishing industry used echo locaters and GPS, seabirds guided boats to fishing grounds and led lost sailors to land.

They continue to inspire artists, writers and poets and have been referred to as souls of the dead.

We have hunted them for their feathers and we have eaten them. We are captivated by their ability to glide on ocean winds with barely a flap, yet to see them where they thrive, we must 10

travel incredible distances – or curl up on the lounge and watch them on TV. Until fairly recently, we knew little about what they got up to at sea. But it’s now possible to fit them with geolocators so tiny and light that we know the most intimate details about their behaviour and travels between hemispheres (or not, if you are a penguin or auk). We know that shearwaters smell their way through a perfumed seascape, which guides them to their fishing grounds. The great frigatebird can stay aloft over open seas for a week or more – and go to sleep while flying.

A wandering albatross with an impressive 3.5m wingspan can circumnavigate the earth four times in its first year at sea. The emperor penguin dives to a staggering 564

metres and stays underwater for almost 22 minutes. These abilities are impressive but there is also clear evidence that seabirds have unanticipated sensitivities to opportunities and dangers in the environment.

Albatrosses eat little pieces of drifting plastic because it gathers algae and smells similar to their food. The level of stress hormone in kittiwakes mirrors fish supply – less fish, more stress.

Gannets hunt for calories and specific nutrients so their chicks have a balanced diet. Penguins rarely venture beyond the southern hemisphere and auks live in the north, maybe because sharks patrol waters closer to the equator and could never swim fast enough to catch them in the icy waters of the poles.

Gannet, Point Addis. © Bron Ives NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

We are coming to understand seabirds just as they are dying – more than two thirds of the world’s seabirds have disappeared over the past 60 years.

There are many reasons. We have introduced cats and rats to the remote homes of these birds and they are devouring their chicks in droves.

Weather patterns and ocean temperatures are changing. The world’s second largest emperor penguin colony, in the Antarctic, has experienced repeated spring storms over the past three breeding seasons and these storms have broken up the sea-ice at a dangerous time – just after the chicks hatched and before they could swim.

Virtually all of the chicks died.

And closer to us here on the Surf Coast?

Well, every year, hundreds of thousands of short-tailed shearwaters fly for two months from Alaska to coastal Victoria to breed. Many of these birds arrive at Griffiths Island, near Port Fairy, with unbelievable accuracy – a day either side of the 22 September.

That’s remarkable.

This year they haven’t arrived and, so far, we don’t know where they are or what might have happened to them.

Massive seabird die-offs, or ‘wrecks’ as they are known, happen from time to time but increased frequency and scale are something different.

In 2013, there was an extensive shearwater wreck along the Surf Coast and many of us can remember the unbelievable number of dead and struggling shearwaters that washed up

on local beaches. As the carcasses piled high, there was a boom in insect numbers, as well as magpies and ravens, previously uncommon visitors to the beach. These birds now regularly visit the beach and pose an increased threat to endangered beach-nesting birds like hooded plovers.

Seabirds face many dangers but their single largest threat is bycatch – the unintentional capture of birds by fishing boats. Attracted by the fish, birds are dragged underwater and drowned in nets and on hooks, and their wings are broken when they collide with trawling cables. Their chicks starve.

Amongst this sadness is some good news. Seabird experts with Birdlife’s Albatross Task Force have been joining fishing vessels on their voyages and have introduced simple and effective ways to stop the deaths.

Birds and boats can share the ocean if fleets throw away unwanted fish remains when their nets and hooks aren’t in the water, if weighted lines are used so that hooks sink before birds can swallow them, if streamers are attached to cables to frighten away diving birds, and if nets are released at night when the birds aren’t feeding.

In the southern hemisphere, seabird bycatch has been cut by an astonishing 90 percent as a result. Australian

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fishers are leading the way in seabird safety by adopting new regulations requiring trawlers, operating in Bass Strait and south of Lakes Entrance, to throw fish scraps overboard only when their fishing gear is not in the water.

Seabirds are intelligent in ways that are different from us – they are also sentinels of the planet’s health. They might spend most of their lives out of sight but if you head out to Point Addis, take some time to scan the ocean and you might just see an albatross or a gannet, or hear a little penguin – if you know what to listen for.

There’s lots we can do to help. You can report sick or dead seabirds to the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) on tel: 0412 044 127.

GORCC is the coastal land manager that looks after much of the beach area around Anglesea and has permits to collect specimens for preservation. It also has biologists who are experienced at handling sick and dead animals.

You might also want to follow #AlbatrossStories on social media, or leave a bequest in your will to a wildlife organisation. … and that enormous bird we came across near Aireys? It was treated for suspected head injuries by the vet team at Zoos Victoria. Sadly, it had to be euthanised. It was the shy albatross below.

In researching this article the following sources provided information: Birdlife Australia, Birdlife International, the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, and an extraordinary book ‘The Seabird’s Cry’ by Adam Nicolson.

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Weaving Connections

By Penny Edmanson

A visitor to the Anglesea Community House one particular Wednesday morning last August might simply have seen a group of women sitting around surrounded by a mess of coloured raffia.

In fact, it was much more powerful than that. Not only were they assisting in the creation of an artwork for a Melbourne exhibition, but they were bonding with other community members and learning traditional methods from a master weaver.

Bronwyn Razem, artist and master weaver, is a Gunditjmara woman of the Kirrae Whurrong clan. She was born in Warrnambool where the lifestyle of her family was primarily transient.

After a little while on Framlingham Mission, the family followed her father wherever he found work.

Aunty Bronwyn’s mother and grandmother passed on the heritage of traditional weaving.

“The traditional knowledge of weaving was passed down from my grandmother to my mother, to myself.

Mum taught me how to recognise different grasses and how to cut and split them. Elders had no names for weaving grasses but knew which grasses to get because they all had different heads. They would walk into the bush and know which ones to get.

They are so recognisable,” says Aunty Bronwyn.

“Weaving has kept us connected to each other, our culture, our community, our country.”

“Most importantly, the continuation of this tradition has given us a strong and independent voice in the modern world,

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Aunty Bronwyn at her exhibition ‘Camping on Country’ at the Koori Heritage Trust, Federation Square, Melbourne. A group of locals joined Aunty Bronwyn at the Anglesea Community House earlier this year to help weave leaves for the trees.

which we’ve used to build bridges, heal broken relationships and make new connections.”

Aunty Bronwyn’s passion for weaving developed relatively late in life. She was in her 40s and had returned from a couple of years in India when she had to give her mother, Zelda Couzens, a hand.

“She made me work … we were cutting the grasses … and just when I thought we were finished she says, ‘Na you’re not finished yet,’ and she’d make me sit down and split the whole lot!”

Even when she took her mother, every fortnight, to the Melbourne Museum where Zelda was a resident artist, Bronwyn was“totally not interested”.

However, the art form wove its magic.

Today she is very thankful to her mother for teaching her how to weave, as she has been able to not only share the traditions through workshops with school, corporate and community groups; but also to carry those skills forward into award-winning contemporary art.

Aunty Bronwyn has played a vital role in the revival of the making of traditional eel traps.

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In 2013, her ‘Eel trap with emu feathers’ granted her the Acquisitive Award in the Victorian Indigenous Arts Awards. Subsequently, the National Museum Australia in Canberra and the Art Gallery of Ballarat have curated her eel traps for their permanent collection.

Aunty Bronwyn’s most recent exhibition ‘Camping on Country’ opened at the Koori Heritage Trust, Federation Square, Melbourne in October. It was in preparation for this that a group of non–indigenous women were to be found sitting in a sea of raffia at the Anglesea Community House.

‘Camping on Country’, an ambitious and immersive solo exhibition, represents families coming together, elders passing down knowledge and old ways and teaching the importance of being on country.

In a very real sense, this is exactly what occurred in the preparation for the exhibition. Aunty Bronwyn needed at least 200 woven leaves for the tree that was part of the installation.

activity that gives healing, friendship and a place to communicate. Certainly, the energy of that circle was palpable and, as one participant said: “She was so sharing and also so very thrilled, so that made us feel good too.”

Aunty Bronwyn was indeed overwhelmed by the response, not only to her call for help but the number who followed through with a visit to the exhibition in Melbourne. She extends her thanks to all.

A group of locals learnt the indigenous art of weaving from local artist Aunty Bronwyn, using raffia to make leaves.

Word spread through the Anglesea/ Aireys Inlet community: white man’s adage ‘many hands make light work’ joined with indigenous tradition of sitting in a circle, while a master weaver passed on the knowledge, and leaves were created.

In keeping with tradition, Aunty Bronwyn insists on working in a circle: a sacred space where everyone is equal and included. This alone is a powerful

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Aunty Bronwyn has been working out of a studio at Ashmore Arts, Bellbrae, since 2017. She sees her art not only as a medium to reconnect aboriginal people to their culture, but a way of bringing awareness of the culture and values of aboriginal people to the general public.

How fortunate we are to have such a generous spirit in our midst.

More information about Bronwyn Razem’s art, workshops or contact details can be found through her website: www.mirrnongminnie.com.au

13

Libby Coker: In the Big Smoke

By Liz Clark

A very tight election result delivered Aireys Inlet local Libby Coker and the Labor Party a win in the Federal seat of Corangamite earlier this year.

A realignment of boundaries in the electorate slightly changed the demographic of voters, with areas like Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove and Torquay North growing by leaps and bounds. Libby was delighted to win with a 1.1% swing to Labor.

Weeks of very hard work, long hours and an almost non-stop schedule of speeches, visits and travelling to all parts of the electorate left her still enthusiastic and positive but just a little weary as she waited to hear the final results.

So, how did it feel to be successful?

Libby says she was emotional, proud, humbled and overwhelmingly aware of the onus on her to do her absolute best to represent the people in this area.

Over the past 11 years, she has been focused on giving to the community through her work at local Council, but now in Canberra and with such a large group of people relying on her to represent their needs, Libby sees the responsibility as vast, diverse and a challenge to live up to. She realises the power of being in federal parliament, of

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Libby Coker presented her maiden speech to Federal Parliament in September this year.

being in a position to make changes, to make a difference in so many ways.

Recent months have seen Libby find somewhere to live in Canberra, discover how things work in Parliament, attend a whole range of caucus meetings (covering topics such as economy and development, sustainability, education, First Nations people – to name a few), in the chamber for question time, and attending meetings with lobby groups.

Along with other new members, she attended ‘MP school’ for a few days of intensive education, to try to understand processes of parliament, rules and procedures, how to get from A to B, and she began to get to know her colleagues a little.

The upside for Libby is that she is now able to represent her constituents at the highest level. She initially felt it was all surreal – after more than a decade, she was finally in the house of national

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decision-making and involved in decisions impacting on all Australian lives. She is aware that she is representing those who voted for her and those who didn’t, and feels responsible to live up to the faith people have shown in her to act on their behalf.

The downside for Libby is, of course, that the Labor Party did not win the election, and all the plans for change and improvement will be so much harder to fight for. Libby sees her role in the party as being part of the group who will pressure the government to keep promises, to make changes, to hold them to account.

She is keen to work in areas around climate, environment, NDIS, women’s issues, education and health. She is already working as Caucus Chair for Education, Science, Technology and the Arts and attends all other caucus meetings she can, so she gains an understanding of the scope of what being in parliament means.

Libby is also a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for NDIS, which is undertaking hearings around the nation on how to improve the scheme.

Life in Canberra is full, with each day beginning at 7.30am and not finishing until at least 8pm. She is becoming used to listening for the bell to ring and making the dash into the chamber during divisions.

Her schedule is divided into two-week blocks, up to Canberra Sunday, home on Thursday, work in the office on Friday, meetings, weekend events. She is away from her family a great deal and, although she was well aware this would be the case, at times it is difficult. It is part of the sacrifice she is prepared to make.

Libby Coker with one of her heroes, Julia Gillard.

A real highlight of her time so far was the presentation of her maiden speech in Parliament in September. Libby says everyone was there – the leader, shadow cabinet, her family and many friends who had flown up to share this important day. She felt a strong sense of team and camaraderie.

The realisation that for one moment in the chamber the world stops and you get to say what you really think is terrifying but powerful. She particularly thought about how proud her father would have been to see her there.

Her speech covered her journey so far, what she has found is important to the people of Corangamite, her personal passions – First Nations people, environment, waste, plastics in the ocean, jobs, reducing carbon emissions, the jobs guarantee and full employment, equal pay for women, education. It was a very big moment.

Libby is aware that ego can be destructive, and as she looks for her next step in this new world and takes on a different rhythm in her life, she wants particularly to remember that she is where she is because she has been elected by the people. They come first. She is extremely grateful.

Libby welcomes all enquiries about constituents’ issues and concerns, and can be contacted through her office at 3A/195 Colac Road, Waurn Ponds, telephone 5243 1444, or via email Libby.Coker.mp@aph.gov.au.

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15

LOCAL PROFILE: MARILYN NUSKE

Back to the Future

By Liz Clark

Memories of a free and happy childhood in Anglesea during the 1950s have brought Marilyn Nuske back to town, after many years, to set up her legal practice and re-establish a home in Anglesea. She retains a second practice in Castlemaine.

She grew up in Melbourne – Pascoe Vale and later in Diamond Creek – but every weekend and all school holidays were spent at Point Roadknight.

Her father was a structural engineer and, after purchasing land in Eleventh Avenue before Marilyn was born, he began to build a small cottage for the family. He constructed the frame on his own and brought some builders down from Melbourne to complete the house, one of the earliest in that area.

Anglesea became like a second home for the family, where days were spent on the beach, playing in the rocks and pools, running, swimming, and enjoying family picnics. At night, it was usual for them to light a bonfire on the beach or join with other families and stay there till late, revelling in beautiful sunsets, playing games of cricket, and exploring the sand dunes.

As they got older, her brothers became

keen skin divers and were instrumental in finding the anchor from the wrecked ship Inverlochy in the bay. Her father was also involved in organising permits for the boat ramp at Point Roadknight and building the Motor Yacht Club building.

She remembers life Marilyn with her dad, Jim Nuske, and brothers Paul and Jeff, out as being idyllic, and the front of their first home on Eleventh Avenue Point Roadknight. nostalgia has been It’s still standing today (but has been extensively renovated!). whispering into her 80s, as new owners were reluctant to ear so that she feels drawn back to the pull down an iconic shack. Marilyn did coast and a more relaxed lifestyle. comment there seems to be so many Over years, the family moved to other more bushes and trees growing in the homes in Melba Parade and Eighth area than there were in those times.

Avenue. The house in Eleventh Avenue After leaving school at MLC, Marilyn was extended and renovated in the late undertook a Fine Arts Degree at RMIT and later became an Art Therapist, after completing postgraduate studies at LaTrobe University. She also began working in a law firm as a legal secretary at age 16, moving to a legal executive position and was encouraged to commence a Law Degree at Monash.

She moved to Noosa for five years, working as an Art Therapist while she completed her degree as a mature-age student.

Returning to Melbourne, she worked as a consultant family lawyer, and ran her own practice. A later move took her to Castlemaine, where she specialised in family law, conveyancing, wills and probate.

The time has come to respond to the little niggle to move to Anglesea, so Marilyn is in the process of establishing her practice here.

As there are few opportunities to find office space locally, Marilyn has been using Anglesea Community House to

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Photos show Marilyn’s memories of Anglesea from when she was young. From left, her father and brother at Anglesea back beach, circa 1950; Marilyn on Point Roadknight beach; and a cousin’s boyfriend riding a motorised go-kart on Eleventh Avenue. No houses, no trees!

meet with clients and will be using serviced offices in Geelong for Family Mediation. She is keen to focus particularly on family mediation and family law supported by conveyancing, wills and probate matters.

She is willing to make herself available to clients in Anglesea during weekends, and offers consultations in people’s homes by arrangement.

As well as being involved in a busy work life, Marilyn has a very strong

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involvement in animal rights activities, with a great concern for how animals are treated. This will be part of her focus as she joins the local community, along with her ongoing love of art and painting.

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LOCAL PROFILE: TONY REVELL

Revelling in Success

By Jenna Crawford

Tony Revell was recently elected Councillor to the Surf Coast Shire, filling the Anglesea Ward vacancy created by the resignation of Libby Coker, as she takes up her role in the Federal Parliament.

Tony brings to this role a wealth of experience in dealing with people from the corporate world. He has had many years as a general manager of companies providing business services, dealing with corporate clients, including banks, telcos and independent utilities.

His job required a great deal of communication and dealings with many management teams. Such negotiations required high levels of IT knowledge and security, all of which Tony brings to his new role.

Tony has owned a house in Anglesea for more than 15 years and is a very active member of the community. He is the manager of the Anglesea Community Rock Choir, where he plays his guitar. The choir performs at community events and entertains at the aged-care home. They all meet on a weekly basis for about 35 weeks of the year.

He is also a member of the Anglesea Cycling Club, whose members cycle twice a week to all different places. He is an operational volunteer firefighter with the Anglesea CFA, where he undergoes further training every Tuesday and is often on-call to respond.

Through his dealings with locals, Tony was encouraged to stand for the council vacancy.

He believed it was necessary for Anglesea to have a councillor who lived in the ward and understood its needs and strengths. He also felt that the person standing for the position should be independent, with no particular political affiliations or vested interests in particular groups.

He was cycling in Europe when the nomination opportunity arose, so he had some good thinking time before committing.

Tony is committed to being a sensibly

Tony Revell, recently-elected Councillor for the Anglesea Ward of Surf Coast Shire Council.

progressive councillor, respecting the intentions of the Anglesea Structure Plan and the Aireys Inlet Development Plan.

He recognises the unique character of the two towns and is concerned about protecting town boundaries, land use and development regarding scale and density.

Anglesea and Aireys Inlet are coastal villages. Lorne is a tourist destination.

Winchelsea is a growth area with rural affiliations and Torquay is a town enjoying substantial growth. The Surf Coast Shire is very diverse and Tony is committed to respecting the uniqueness of all its towns.

The land use and rehabilitation of the now-closed Alcoa Coal Mine are paramount to Tony. He wants to see the best result come from the closure,

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which means benefits for all of Anglesea.

The suggested Eden Project should provide economic value to all of Anglesea, heighten environmental awareness and develop an appreciation of year-round tourism.

Any development of this disused industrial site must consider the traffic management, integration within the town, securing the body of water and making decisions regarding the chimney stack.

Tony believes that public forums are an essential prerequisite to any final decisions.

As our Councillor, Tony is committed to listening to all and ensuring that the Surf Coast Shire Council is accountable and representative of the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet communities.

Tony can be reached on 0427 337 558 or at trevell@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

19

In the House …

By Marcelle Renkin, Program Coordinator

It has been a busy year here at the Community House. All staff – Julie Martin, Mel Brooks, Kate Shugg and the volunteer Committee of Management – have been busy working hard to reach out to the community to listen, hear and better understand how we can work to bring people together and grow community spirit.

Anglesea Green Hub Did you know plastic bread tags are being collected and recycled into other products that are sold to supply wheelchairs to people in Africa? Or that plastic bottle tops can be collected not only to save waste destined for landfill but also to be turned in to filament for 3D printers that can produce prosthetic hands for kids?

Through coordination of the Resale Shed at the Anglesea Landfill Station, the Anglesea Community House (ACH) has been supporting efforts to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle over the past eight years.

Local resident Jen Mundy got in touch with us to find out how she could help promote and support wider community efforts to increase sustainable practices.

Jen has volunteered to help transport recyclables to drop-off points in Geelong on an ongoing basis. We are

currently accepting bread tags, plastic lids, glasses and batteries at our revamped ‘Anglesea Green Hub’ at the Community House.

We look forward to updating you on how much we as a community are able to save from landfill, and expanding our Green Hub during 2020.

Anglesea Twilight Farmers’ Market Another exciting initiative that comes from community member James McLennan, is the possibility for a Twilight Farmers’ Market in Anglesea.

ACH is in the process of consulting with community and liaising with Council to obtain a licence to host a regular Farmers’ Market.

Anglesea Twilight Farmers’ Market will be proudly organised and run by ACH. The market would be located in the carpark of the Anglesea Community Precinct. We will endeavour to support local growers, producers and small

businesses using local ingredients. We see the value in local, seasonal and sustainably produced food and being able to provide an opportunity for community to come together, connect, network and enjoy.

Pending Council approval and community uptake on the initiative, the first market will be held on Friday, 20 December 2019, from 4.30-8pm.

What do you want?

ACH continues to develop its programs, events and courses and we are always seeking input from the community around what you would like to see happening in your community.

We recognise that there are many talented community members and we encourage you to let us know if you have a skill/interest/passion you would like to share, or want to get to know other people with similar interests.

This is how some of our regular ACH groups got started and we welcome anyone to contact us if they are looking to get more involved in the community.

We have some exciting courses and activities coming up in 2020; such as Drama Club for kids, Taekwondo, Learn-to-Draw classes, yoga, pilates, Women at the Men’s Shed, CPR/First Aid, Yoga for Kids, and more!

You can keep up-to-date with our current events and courses by checking out the Course Guide in this issue of NewsAngle or following updates on our website www.anglesea.org.au and via Facebook.

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The Check Up

By Dr Stuart Jones, Anglesea Medical

Can you just have a quick look at this spot for me?

This is one of the most common questions we encounter and for a very good reason.

Approximately, two in every three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70!

Did you know?

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. So best protect it!

Who gets skin cancer?

Any of us can, but you have increased risk if you have:

What next?

-

had a skin cancer in the past and/or have a family history of skin cancer;

-

a large number of moles;

-

a fair complexion;

What should I look for?

-

a history of bad sun burns;

- crusty, non-healing sores;

-

spent lots of time outdoors unprotected;

- small lumps that are red, pale or pearly;

-

used solariums;

-

worked outdoors.

- spots, freckles or moles changing in colour, thickness or shape over a period of weeks to months.

Solariums were banned in Victoria on 1 January, 2015 but many people used them in the past. If you used a solarium, you have a 20 percent greater risk of melanoma than those who haven’t and your risk of melanoma increases to 59 percent if you used solariums before 35 years of age. Solariums also increase your risk of other forms of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by 67 percent and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) by 29 percent. So, if you have used a solarium, it is extra important to get your skin checked.

If you are at risk or have spots that you are concerned about, book in to see your doctor.

How can I protect myself?

When the UV index is 3 or above, slip on sun protective clothing, slop on water resistant SPF 30+ or greater sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and every 2 hours afterwards, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on some sunnies. Check out SunSmart which gives you more information and has an app to tell you what the UV index is: www.sunsmart.com.au

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It is best to book in for a dedicated appointment for a full skin check.

Skin cancers don’t only occur where the sun gets you, so it is important that the doctor has time to examine your entire skin.

The doctor will often use a device called a dermatoscope to look closely at any spots of concern and will discuss your treatment options with you, if required.

Statistics and references from Cancer Council, SunSmart Victoria, Better Health Victoria.

Breaking news!

Anglesea Medical is now taking online bookings.

Go to www.angleseamedical.com.au or ring (03) 4215 6700 to find out more.

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Banking on our Community

By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank ®

Corangamite Financials Services held its AGM at the Anglesea Bowling Club recently and reported another very successful year to the shareholders, community leaders and staff.

The company runs the Bendigo Community Bank branches at Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea and is managed by a board of local volunteers.

NO-MAINTENANCE

DECKING

 No Rot

The board represents local shareholders and franchise products from the Bendigo Adelaide Bank and returns its profits to the community.

Bendigo Bank Manager Jeremy Morris Manager Jeremy (left) presented a cheque to Anglesea Morris announced a Bowling Club President Ian Bruce to profit of $208,000 for help upgrade the club’s B Green. the financial year, after also returning $360,000 into local community projects. This takes the overall investment into local community groups past the $2.5 million mark over the 15-year life of the business.

Part-time local and acclaimed financial journalist, Robert Gottliebsen, was the guest speaker at the event and painted a positive but cautious picture for our future, with the delicate relationships in China and the US dictating our immediate direction.

 No Oiling  Slip-resistant

to Australian Standards  Concealed

fixings  Comparable in price to Merbu

Made from recycled timber fibre and HDPE

Phone: 0417 591 113 Email: huntersales@netspace.net.au www.timberlast.com.au

Garry Fenton from Lorne and Gerard Kelly from Winchelsea were elected as Jeremy Morris (left) with guest new members to the board speaker Robert Gottliebsen. and bring many years of experience in company management and financial expertise to an already skilled and progressive group.

The Bendigo Bank will soon be the only bank operating in Anglesea and, with the positive report of growth in the business, on-hand customer service and the financial return to local community groups at record levels, the Community Bank looks set to continue to play an important role in the region.

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Tech Angle

By Chris Dos

When Phil Collins titled his ponderous* 1982 album ‘Hello, I must be going’, he could have been eerily predicting the lifetrajectory of our much-anticipated NBN. For it seems that, with its paint still drying, it’s already looking like last year’s model.

5G is the latest offering, with rollout announcements by two big telcos as I write.

It’s the current next generation (make sense of that!) in mobile networks and promises a trio of enhancements that, once available to all, could result in the NBN being surpassed almost as soon as it’s hatched.

The publicity says this network will be capable of download speeds approaching a staggering 20 Gigabits per second, with a minimum speed of 100 Megabits per second.

This makes its lowest speed comparable to the highest speed the NBN promised us (which few could actually achieve anyway).

Current trials on the Gold Coast have it reaching speeds around 30 times as fast as NBN. The faster down and upload speeds it offers will be vital to the robots that will eventually rule our lives – don’t want your self-driving car to suddenly go offline!

It will allow more devices to be connected at the same time.

As more and more household appliances (indeed, our whole homes) develop smartness and the number of mobile phones in use keeps increasing, it will hopefully end the overloaded mobile network where you have trouble sending an SMS during summer holidays.

All great news you would think but there are some qualified opinions urging more study of possible adverse health effects if we surround ourselves with the higher frequency electromagnetic waves on which 5G travels.

Or you might just get a hot ear.

As always, the advancement will ramp up through each iteration. Twice the speed at half the cost, on and on until we are all just data existing virtually. * Okay, it had a couple of hits.

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23

TWITCHERS’ CORNER Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis Other names: Southern Yellow Robin, Yellow Bob, Bark Robin.

If you are walking along a bush track you could very well catch sight of an Eastern Yellow Robin. This inquisitive, bold little bird is a familiar and much-loved species found throughout forest and woodland habitats along the east coast of Australia.

In appearance, the bird has grey upperparts, with an olive wash to the lower back and rump. The chin is very pale grey, or whitish, and the remaining underparts are a rich, sulphur yellow. The eye is dark brown, the bill black and the legs dusky brown. Immature birds are duller than adults and have some brown spotting above.

The Yellow Robin often perches sideways on trunks of trees, peering intently downward while hunting. It will also take food in branches of trees and on the ground. Its diet may include spiders, moths, grasshoppers, wasps and flies. In winter it is often found in mixed foraging flocks of small insectivorous birds.

Breeding season occurs between July and January when the territorial chew-chew call is frequently heard during the early and late hours of daylight and sometimes after dark.

This robin builds a cup nest, well camouflaged, consisting of bark pieces, fine twigs and grass bound with spiderweb and lined with fibres of grass and leaves. The nest is usually found in the fork of a slender tree or sapling. Two to three eggs are laid – pale green to pale blue with red-brown and purple-brown markings. Nest building takes about a week, and incubation lasts about 15 days. They will often feign injury to protect their young. Threats can occur from species of cuckoos who will on occasions lay their egg in a yellow robin nest.

The Yellow Robin is one of our most popular bushland birds.

Ref: The Field Guide to the Birds of A ustralia by Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight.

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Great Reads ...

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

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World (short-listed for the Booker Prize)

by Elif Shafak (British/Turkish Fiction)

Elif Shafak is a wonderfully gifted BritishTurkish author, who is the most widely read female author in Turkey. Set in Istanbul and told through the memories of Leila … each minute, 10 minutes in fact, immediately after her death, before the human mind has stopped working, Leila remains in her body. During this time, Leila is taken on a journey back through her life by different triggers; a thought, a scent, a memory or a sensation. Each chapter is a profound marker, and it is through these moments we are given a raw insight into her story. So vivid is the storytelling, one is transported to the streets of Istanbul, completely struck by Leila and the instrumental gaggle of friends she has made along the way. A wonderful story that brings out the power of shared humanity – that gender, race, class, religion and culture are all but barriers in our society, waiting to be broken down.

Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

Wolf Girl: Into the Wild

by Anh Do (Younger Children — Australian Fiction)

If your kids love books packed with lots of non-stop action, then W olf Girl is for them.

It’s really impressive. Anh Do has created such a great female lead character in Gwen who, lost after being separated from her family, is left to fend for herself in the wild.

She’s young and gutsy and when a stray pack of abandoned dogs befriends her, she almost has a new family. W olf Girl is a departure in format for funny-man Anh Do – author of the Weirdo, Hot Dog and Ninja Kid series.

However, Wolf Girl is a terrific step up for his fans, great for reluctant readers with its high-paced action, and perfect for girls and boys alike. The sequel The Great Escape, Wolf Girl Book 2 is due for release 3 December. It would be a great set for Christmas. Suitable for 7-11 years.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

The Place on Dalhousie

by Melina Marchetta (Australian Fiction)

Melina Marchetta, best known for her book and the subsequent movie 'Looking for Alibrandi', has released her latest book. The Place on Dalhousie is a stunning novel, based around four characters, and their drama-filled lives. Two young people, Rosie and Jimmy, are drawn together, both running from their lives to escape and be free. But their lives are then drawn apart, with their spark all but a memory. Martha, the step-mother that has driven Rosie to flee from her late father's home on Dalhousie, wrestles with her own battles.

Both women hold this home dear to their memory, and refuse to give up without a fight, filling their relationship with bitterness and rage. This intensifies when circumstances bring Rosie home, both women under the same roof. Serendipity brings Rosie and Jimmy into each other's lives for a second chance. What does their future hold? Marchetta creates characters that are so vivid, engaging and relatable that you find yourself swept into the story. Your heart will take time to let go, the investment lingering long after you've finished the book. An effortless read, that truly grips you.

Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

Shepherd

by Catherine Jinks (Australian Fiction)

Tom Clay, only 14 years old, has survived on his wits and intuition all his short life.

Transported for poaching from his native home of Suffolk, he is now a shepherd in remote highland country of colonial New South Wales. Seeking to carve out a new life, he works hard, speaks rarely and avoids the menacing world of men. Resilient, all he needs is the company of his trusting sheep and his beloved dog Gyp. But these are perilous times and, even in the mountains alone with the sheep, he needs to be on guard because a hard man, a dangerous man, a man who should have stayed dead is coming for him. Breathtaking in its intensity, you will come to love Tom and his faithful companion Gyp, as this dark and brooding novel brings to life the courage and nerve it takes to survive in the lawless days of early New South Wales. This is an utterly magnificent read – its power and intensity will continue to resonate with you after you have turned the last page.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

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

25

Community Corner NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY BEFORE, DURING & AFTER EMERGENCIES

By Beth Davidson, ACN Fire Resilience ‘Nudger’

Facelift for Anglesea Shopping Precinct

By Jenna Crawford

Anglesea’s ‘Local Action Initiative’ continues to gather energy and build on community strengths. The sessions held last summer ‘What can I do if I haven’t left in time?’ have recommenced, and give us new ways to think about how we might act when inevitably fire revisits our town.

At the most recent meeting, one participant summed up:

support to each other, even in such a chaotic time, can be critical.

“For the first time, I am coming into a summer season in Anglesea without feeling anxious. I’m not lying awake at night worrying. I understand how long I might have and what to do. It’s changed my life.”

This approach allows for emergency services to focus on vital tasks related to the fire, while the community can work together in different ways focusing on people. It sees ‘us the people’ taking action together to keep each other safe, while leaving the fire fighting to the experts.

A very powerful recommendation for the sessions, where attendees ponder dilemmas such as: “What will we do if a fire starts on a beautiful summer’s day in Anglesea?”

“What if the roads are closed or clogged and we’re unable to move around the town?”

“What should I have with me? What will help me to keep calm?”

“How can I stay connected and know what to do as things change?”

These questions and more are explored under the leadership of long-time emergency management career staff and Anglesea Volunteer Fire Brigade members Jamie Mackenzie and Steve Cameron. They know that when people come together to support each other, to connect, to respond, then those communities recover more readily and can continue to survive and thrive.

This is true not only for residents, but visitors and tourists in our town.

While preparation and leaving early are always the safest option before a bushfire, there are also actions people can take, in the first few hours of a bushfire that can make a big difference.

These actions will be tailored to your own family circumstances so that they are right for you. Also, we know that emergency services may be delayed and they cannot provide an appliance for every person and property, so having an understanding of how we might come together and provide active 26

The series of planned workshops support participants to explore the strengths and needs of our community, and to be able to collectively pull together when needed most. This community-based approach does not replace the ‘leave early’ message, but is designed to complement it for those who may inadvertently find themselves caught in town, particularly when it is too late to leave.

In the summer of 2019/2020, the sessions are being run in two parts, and coordinated by the Anglesea Community Network (ACN).

Part 1 (similar to those run last summer) provides easily understood information about fire behaviour and decision-making and is an essential part of the approach.

Part 2 ‘Next Steps’ is for participants who have attended Part 1 (either last summer or this year) and want to learn more about how we can work together before, during and after a fire.

Dates and times for sessions will be advertised locally, or found on the ACN website at www.angleseacommunitynetwork.org.au If you wish to receive the ACN’s regular bulletin containing local news and information, subscribe on the website. This is a community-driven, volunteer initiative in the interests of Anglesea people being ‘Better Informed, Better Connected’.

The Anglesea Shopping Centre has recently undergone a refurbishment with new paving, new non-native trees and revamped seating. The Surf Coast Shire replaced old, uneven tiles with a smoother surface of exposed aggregate concrete.

Six new Chinese Elm trees (Ulmus parvifolia) have been planted along the east-west centre of the precinct.

This species has the capacity to grow to 10 metres high and has small, glossy leaves that remain on the tree year-round. Careful preparation was undertaken to ensure that the roots have sufficient space to spread without surfacing above the ground.

The existing timber seats have been repositioned to flank the trees. New timber bollards have replaced the old metal ones, whilst the bike rack and drinking fountain have been retained.

The highlight of the new streetscape is undoubtedly the inclusion of 10 large-scaled metal artworks arranged on the light posts. Created by Cinnamon and Rowan Stephens from Studio66, these works reflect the beauty of Anglesea's magnificent flora and fauna. Such artwork will no doubt attract interest, curiosity and discussion from visitors and locals.

Most people I have spoken with are very happy with the outcome, although some expressed the opinion that native trees (not necessarily Eucalypts) would have been more appropriate. Taxi users are disappointed there is not a sheltered seat close to the taxi rank, so they could wait in comfort, rather than precariously perching on Hayden's window sill.

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

PROBUS CLUB TURNS 25!

Upcoming Art Shows The Surf Coast Art Space is situated at Shop 2, 103 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea. (opposite the Paddle-Os).

Fourteen of the past Presidents of Probus Surf Coast Anglesea, who are still active members of the club and attended the recent 25th anniversary celebration.

Probus Surf Coast Anglesea recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

In November 1994, 36 founding members met for the first time at the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club. Six of them are still members of the club today, namely Margaret and Ann Drayton, Colin and Joan Arthur, Val Taylor and Audrey Lewis.

Probus exists to provide members with the opportunity to meet regularly to enjoy friendship, fellowship and fun, in a relaxed setting. The club now meets regularly at the Anglesea Golf Club and has close to 120 members. At each monthly meeting, one of the club members speaks about their life and

Proudly supported by the Surf Coast Shire Council, we have a diverse range of exhibitions by local artists coming up.

achievements. Meetings generally include a guest speaker as well, enabling the group to learn more about one another and hear about issues of general interest.

If the flags are flying we are open!

Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration, Councillor Tony Revell underlined the importance of Probus to a healthy and vibrant community. He congratulated the group on achieving its 25-year milestone and wished the club every success for the future.

13-27 January 2020

The Mayor of Surf Coast Shire, Councillor Rose Hodge, presented a certificate commemorating 25 years to current President Keith Perkin and endorsed the words of Cr Revell.

13-23 December 2019 Anglesea to Anthropocene – Linda Judge and the late Cliff Judge

The Weaverbirds – Fibre Artists from Aireys Inlet and Anglesea 30 January - 12 February 2020 Shape Shifting – Lauren and Merryn Tune, Danielle Rowarth, Kirsty Manger, Ellise Roberts For more details, follow Surf Coast Art Space on Facebook. www.facebook.com/SurfCoastArtSpace

SAVE THE DATE Following this year’s great success, Anglesea’s Green Living Festival will run again on Saturday 4 April 2020.

See the next edition of NewsAngle (Autumn) for more details.

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Thanks from Anglesea Netball Club

AIREYS INLET COMMUNITY GARDEN UNMASKS LOCAL CREATIONS

By Maz Caulfield

We are excited about the upcoming 2020 netball season and welcome new members and all interest in the club. The 2019 season went well, with many of our local ladies, mums and children playing sport together.

It brought us great support from the Lions \ Lionesses Club, the Uniting Church and the Bendigo Bank of Anglesea, sponsoring our junior teams and helping us with the finances and raising of those finances, to build our new team shelters. We thank them greatly.

Patrick Dangerfield, Tegan Philip and Andrew Bews, incredible Australian athletes, who have grass-root and family origins at our club, gave us their time and support, as did Ian Cover, helping us raise funds at our sportspersons’ night. A huge thank you to them.

We also thank the community of Anglesea, who attended the night, donated or bought raffle and auction items, and showed great community spirit.

If you or your child would like to play netball in 2020, please contact us for more information. We are a great community club, with fabulous players, parents and juniors, and with an excellent football department and teams as well.

We look forward to having you as part of our great club.

For more enquiries, or to play next season, please contact me 0425 804 358.

Art in the Community Garden in Aireys Inlet will be held on 25 January 2020.

After the great success of last summer’s event, there will again be many local artists and jewellers with works for sale. The children’s art corner will encourage kids to make masks of local birds and flowers. And, of course, there will be a sausage sizzle with the ever-popular veggie burgers made from produce from the garden.

Join in from 10am to 3pm to see what’s growing in the garden and enjoy local masterpieces created over the past year.

More information: Community Garden 3231 Inc 2 Fraser Drive, Aireys Inlet communitygarden3231@gmail.com www.aireyscommunitygarden.weebly.com

BUSINESS AT USUAL AT ANGLESEA SLSC The clubhouse redevelopment for Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club is well underway and it is exciting to watch the building take shape. It is currently on schedule to be finished by September 2020, and will be an incredible facility for the entire community.

Summer activities will continue as normal … just with added logistics, given there is no clubhouse – but with lots of off-season planning, the club is expecting business as usual!

Nippers is on during the Christmas period and the club would love to have as many local children involved as possible, in both Nippers and the more advanced Dolphins sessions.

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Betty Watson, a young 95-year-old, will be there with the fish and jewellery she makes to support the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Anglesea SLSC has a very active competition team representing Anglesea and would love to increase its team numbers.

The SLSC annual door-knock appeal will again take place over summer, collecting much-needed funds to go directly to the club to ensure it can patrol local beaches and keep the community and visitors safe.

The Club appreciates everyone’s support, which helps the volunteer beach patrollers complete this vital community lifesaving service.

The door-knock appeal will run from Thursday 2 to Tuesday 7 January 2020, in various areas around Anglesea.

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WHEELS ARE TURNING FOR ‘BICYCLE RECYCLE’ AT RESALE SHED

A wonderful new initiative has been created by local Anglesea business, Trailhead Bike Co. and Geelong NDIS support provider, Leisure Networks, at the Anglesea Resale Shed, otherwise known as the ‘tip shop’.

Known loosely as the Bicycle Recycle program, the idea was born out of the growing pile of used bicycles discarded at the Anglesea tip. Whilst some of these bikes were resold, many were not resalable and would simply become a sprawling mess.

Ari Lingam, from Trailhead Bike Co., recognised both the problem and the opportunity these used bikes presented.

“Many of these bikes are beyond repair but they may have many usable parts that can be reclaimed and then sold through the tip shop to repair other bikes.”

Bicycles are at least 90 percent recyclable, so any unusable parts go straight to metal recycling. Great idea but who would provide the labour to reclaim the bike parts. Step in Leisure Networks. A fortuitous meeting between Ari and Justin Tingiri from Leisure Networks, led to a plan to involve the wonderful people enrolled in Leisure Networks’ tip shop program to lend a hand.

So, for the past few months, the Leisure Networks’ team, with the help of Ari’s expertise in all things bikes, has been busily pulling apart bikes and creating a solid inventory of used parts.

They have also been able to clean up and organise the complete bikes so would-be buyers can easily find what they are looking for. This has resulted in more used bikes being sold.

“There are a few bikes that are ready to ride away and many more that only need a little work to get them going. If someone is handy and can do the work themselves, they can get into cycling at a very low cost. With the parts we have on hand, you could get a bike going for a few dollars,” says Ari.

Leisure Networks and Trailhead Bike Co. have teamed up to give old bikes a new lease on life thanks to volunteers at the Anglesea Resale Shed.

Whilst solving a mess problem and creating new income streams for all the community groups that staff the tip shop, the Bicycle Recycle program has resulted in opportunities for participants in Leisure Networks’ program to learn new skills. Program participants have varying disabilities but nothing that precludes them from making a valued contribution. In fact, it is because of their enthusiasm that the Bicycle Recycle has been such a success.

So where to from here? The next step is to start repairing bikes so they are ready to ride for either resale or for gifting to people in need. However, a few things have to happen before they get to that stage. They need an undercover storage and work area, so bikes can be worked on and, once fixed, be protected from the elements.

For this, the group hopes the Surf Coast Shire Council can help out.

The vision is to create a community tip shop bike shop, which hopefully one day may provide employment to those who may not have the same opportunities as the broader community … be that through disability, mental and physical health or socio-economic circumstances. The group wants it to be a place of social inclusion and a destination that is fun and interesting to be part of or visit.

They also want as many individuals and groups to be involved as possible, from service providers, clubs, schools, corporates and government.

The future of the Anglesea Bicycle Recycle program is bright, so watch this space. If you want to know more, Ari from Trailhead Bike Co. is happy to talk with you or your group about the program. If you want to see it in action, the Leisure Networks group is at the Anglesea Resale Shed on Tuesdays from 10am.

VACANT ACCOMMODATION Do you have accommodation in Anglesea that might not be used all year round? Are you interested in exploring whether the time when it is vacant could be used, with appropriate support, to help someone in need ? Would you be willing to complete a short survey? No commitment is requested, just an expression of interest.

Access the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/6QWLR9D or call into Seaside Seconds at Anglesea shops for a paper copy.

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Green ‘thumbs up’ for shirewide organics collection Trailblazing Anglesea residents have helped lay the foundations for the Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection to be rolled out across the Surf Coast Shire.

Surf Coast Shire Council has committed to introduce the shire-wide service in the first half of 2020, with the decision guided by the success of the Anglesea pilot launched in December 2018.

Thank you to Anglesea residents for being involved in the pilot, which saw food scraps that were usually put in the landfill bin go into the kerbside green waste bin, along with garden waste.

Your commitment to participate in the initial FOGO trial and your valuable feedback has resulted in the expansion of the program.

Meanwhile, community members from across the shire – including Anglesea and surrounds – have been involved in a recent fourth bin trial. Thirty people used a new 120-litre purple lid bin (the same size as the landfill bin) for collection of glass throughout November. The trial will measure how the separation of glass from other recyclables works in a broad range of households alongside existing waste and recycling bins, test the size of the bin and its storage, and highlight any challenges and benefits.

Keeping glass separate from other recyclables impacts on the quality of other recyclable materials. Smashed glass can contaminate paper, cardboard, plastic and metal, making

them less valuable and harder to recycle.

Like the Anglesea FOGO pilot, the fourth bin trial will help shape the future of the shire’s kerbside bin service. It is planned to be introduced in the first half of next year, with residents to have further opportunities to provide input.

Council is focused on the return of kerbside recycling services. At the time of NewsA ngle going to print, Council was negotiating contracts with recycling providers. It is hoped this will be finalised before Christmas.

Stay informed with regular updates at www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/ recyclingupdate.

It’s encouraging to see that people have been continuing to separate recycling and going a step further by taking their separated paper/ cardboard, glass and metals to local transfer stations. You can continue to do this until kerbside recycling services resume. Different contractors are collecting these materials, so they are able to be recycled.

To read the Anglesea FOGO pilot evaluation report and for tips on managing your waste over summer, including how you can collect more liners, visit www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/ AngleseaOrganics.

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How much do you know about Christmas?

The summer season is upon us and Anglesea is beginning to gear up for the busy Christmas holidays.

The holidays start with the celebration of Christmas; the birth of a baby, named Jesus, to working class Judean parents over 2000 years ago.

It seems a strange event to celebrate … how much do you know about Christmas?

1. Was Jesus born on 25 December?

2. What year was Jesus born?

3. Was there no room at the inn?

4. Was Jesus born in a stable?

5. Why is the season called Christmas if the baby’s name was Jesus?

6. Was the birth of Jesus predicted?

7. Did a star shine overhead when Jesus was born?

8. Were there three wise men?

9. Who was St Nicholas (Santa Claus)?

10. Do Christians have to celebrate Christmas?

What answers did you come up with?

Email your answers to christmas@angleseabaptist.org.au or drop them into Seaside Seconds at Anglesea main shops, with contact details, by 4 January 2020 to go into a prize draw for vouchers to spend at Victoria’s best op shop!

Winners will be announced on our Seaside Seconds Facebook page.

You can hear the story of Christmas at the Christmas Eve Carol Service in Lions Park, Anglesea, on Christmas Eve at 7:30pm.

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COMMUNITY CORNER

War Memorial Appeal The Anglesea and District War Memorial Committee recently launched a fundraiser appeal for a permanent War Memorial, to be built in honour of those who served their country. The committee hopes to raise $65,000 for the project.

The Memorial would be located in Cameron Park Anglesea, opposite the shopping centre. A simple wall is proposed, made of beautiful local Aireys Inlet sandstone, to stand beneath the shady trees and be encased by the park’s peaceful new gardens.

The Memorial will be a testimony to

the service of the ordinary men and women of the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet districts who enlisted in Australian Defence Forces to defend their Country for the life we have today.

Families, friends and members are invited to put forward names for inclusion. Nominations will close on 31 March 2020.

Donations to the appeal can be made in person or online at the Bendigo Community Bank in Anglesea.

Further information about nominations and donations is available at www.angleseawarmemorial.com.au

New members welcome at Platypus Toy Library The Platypus Toy Library has been operating in Anglesea since 1984 and this year celebrated its 36th anniversary. It continues to provide a great service to the community, enabling families to borrow a wide range of quality educational toys for their children.

The library stocks more than 400 toys, including puzzles, games, dress-ups, ride-ons, construction sets and more, and has recently replenished its stock with some new toys, and extended the opening hours. It’s now open four times per fortnight, on a range of days, making it easier for families to access.

New members are very welcome.

Membership is a great way to support kids play, catering for their changing developmental needs and interests. It’s a great way to save money, help the environment and meet new people.

Launching the Anglesea & District War Memorial Appeal at the Bendigo Community Bank in Anglesea are (from left) Jan Marsh and Angie Hunt from the Anglesea RSL Sub-branch, John Russell from the Anglesea Lions Club, Kelly Turner from the Bendigo Community Bank Anglesea, Cr Tony Revell from the Surf Coast Shire, and Keith Hornibrook from the Anglesea & District Historical Society.

The Platypus Toy Library is located in the Community Precinct in McMillan St. Find more details on Facebook or email organisers at platypustoylibrary3230@gmail.com

FOODLINK EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM The Foodlink group thanks the many generous people who have given groceries, made donations and provided general support this year.

We are particularly grateful to those who take the time to read the Foodlink sign at the front door outside the IGA in Anglesea, and deposit the requested items into the box. This gives us an ongoing supply of staple foods for those in need in our community.

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Monetary donations also allow us to provide meat vouchers and to shop for a wider range of goods and more expensive items like shampoo and conditioner, coffee, tea and an occasional treat for kids in the families for which we care.

Christmas donations will be willingly received at the Anglesea Community House, any of the local churches, Seaside Seconds or in the IGA box.

Your ongoing support means that families in our area do not need to be hungry.

If you know of anyone in need, please ask them to contact the Community House (5263 2116) and the request will be dealt with professionally and promptly.

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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF FUN AT THE AIREYS FAIR The Aireys Fair celebrated its 25th anniversary with a funpacked family day out at Aireys Inlet Primary School last month.

For the past 25 years, the school has brought the community together each year on the Saturday before Melbourne Cup, to showcase what the Aireys school community has to offer.

From humble beginnings at the local skate park, the Fair has grown into the school's largest fundraiser and secured its place on the Surf Coast events’ calendar.

“The fantastic Aireys community has supported the Aireys Fair and raised considerable funds for our school over the past 25 years. I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved – parents and friends, students, teachers and the ever-supportive local community – we couldn’t do it without you,” said Principal Jen Abel.

The Fair has built a reputation for bringing great food and entertainment to Aireys and this year didn’t disappoint. A highlight for many were the rides. The school oval was transformed into a carnival with dodgem cars, cha-cha ride and giant slide.

Zara,10, said the Fair was something the school children looked forward to every year.

“We have been talking about the Fair a lot at school,” she said. “It’s great to have everyone visit our school, have lots of fun and enjoy all the rides. My favourite ride was definitely the cha-cha – I think I went on it 16 times!”

The Fair is made possible each year by the school’s dedicated Parent and Friends (P&F) Association and the generous support of local businesses. This year’s P&F Fair coordinators, Karen Jacques and Julia Clarke, said the smiles on the kids’ faces and enthusiasm from people at the Fair made all the hard work worthwhile.

“We were thrilled to reach the milestone of 25 years. The ongoing support from the community has been amazing,” said Julia. Karen added, “The whole Aireys community has supported us – from the parents volunteering their time making and serving food, to the local businesses donating supplies or auction items and, of course, our generous sponsors. Without hesitation, they’ve come on board with great enthusiasm and we’re so thankful.”

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Anglesea Art House Kids’ Art Bash

Police Beat

By Sergeant John Digby Station Commander Anglesea Police Station

During January, the Art House in Cameron Road will be opened for the annual Kids’ Art Bash, from 10am to 4pm on the following days:

We are busy planning and preparing for the upcoming summer season with the expected increase in people/traffic.

Generally, crime has been minimal in Anglesea over the last few months, even so I do encourage members of the public to report suspicious behaviour or crime as it occurs.

There have been occasions where people have waited until the next day before reporting something. The Surf Coast has a nightshift divisional van able to respond to calls for police assistance.

There are now more ways to contact Victoria Police.

You can report some non-urgent crime and events anytime, anywhere by calling our Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or submitting an online report.

Our Police Assistance Line and online reporting service provides you with the ability to call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week to report lost property or property-related crime such as a theft or property damage, or to make general police enquiries.

We have added these new contact options to help improve the response, management and delivery of police services to our community.

You should still call Triple Zero (000) immediately if the incident is life-threatening, needs immediate police attendance, a crime is happening now, or an offender is (or may be) still in the area.

Week 1: Thursday 2 – Saturday 4 January Week 2: Monday 6 – Saturday 11 January Week 3: Monday 13 – Saturday 18 January Week 4: Monday 20 – Friday 24 January Wide range of activities, including painting on canvas and paper, ceramic painting, mosaics and t-shirt painting.

Exciting new activities during special sessions as advertised on Facebook or Art House noticeboard: felting, air-dry clay, craft, knitting, flower crowns, cards and paper crafts.

Reasonable prices.

Parents must accompany children at all times.

Art House activities will be cancelled on days of Extreme or Code Red fire danger.

U3A Classes Expected for Anglesea U3A Surf Coast is a voluntary organisation that offers around 20 classes and activities and covers arts, humanities, languages, exercise, lifestyle and computers.

It is hoped that 2020 will see more classes offered in Anglesea. This year we ran a most successful class at the Anglesea Community House titled ‘Awesome Artists of the Surfcoast’. We had a range of artists speak about their journey into art and to display for us their amazing work. We hope to run this course again early in Term 1 2020, so keep your eye on our website: info@u3asurfcoast.org.au.

If you are interested in becoming a member of U3A, or to volunteer as a tutor, our office is open every Friday during term time from 10am -12noon. It is situated at the Torquay Senior Citizens building in Price Street.

Come in and have a chat or visit us via our website.

FREE CAP Money-Management Course The CAP Money Course is a free money-management course that teaches people budgeting skills and a simple, cash-based system that really works. This course will help anyone to gain more control over their finances so they can save, give and prevent debt.

“In summer 2018, I jumped at the opportunity to attend the free CAP course held at the Community House. I had previously been a budgeter, but slowly became a bit casual with the way I was handling my finances. I was a little frustrated by not having an overall grip of what was coming in and going out.

No matter what your financial situation is, the CAP Money Course can benefit you. The tools taught are vital life skills, so whether you are financially well-off or not, self-employed, on benefits or in debt; this course is for you!

“Through the guidance of the CAP course I was easily able to get a clearer picture of what position I was in financially and could make the adjustments accordingly. The presenters were great, it was a relaxed setting, all the information shared was general in nature and it was comforting

This is what one participant had to say: 34

knowing I didn’t have to reveal my personal information. It’s great that I am able to chat with someone at any time to discuss specific situations if needed. And they don’t sell anything!

That’s refreshing in the sector of finances!”

When: Wed, 8 & 15 January, 7-9pm Where: Anglesea Community House Cost: It’s free!

Registration T: 03 5263 2744 E: admin@angleseabaptist.org.au Or call into Seaside Seconds.

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

Surf Coast Shire News

By Tony Revell, Councillor, Anglesea Ward

THE EDEN PROJECT: TRANSFORMING A DISUSED INDUSTRIAL SITE INTO AN ECO-TOURISM DESTINATION The proposed Eden Project development at the Alcoa coalmine site is perhaps the biggest development proposal that we may face in Anglesea for decades. Understandably, there is considerable interest from our local community around the project and its impact on Anglesea and surrounds.

We were fortunate to have CEO of the Eden Project International, David Harland, in Anglesea recently to address a full-house of interested residents, present an update on where it is at and take questions in relation to the proposal. It was pleasing to hear such a high level of support from the community and have so many people contribute as part of the consultation process. I believe this is an exciting proposal and, although there are still some important hurdles to overcome, I remain positive for its future.

It is important to remember that what we are dealing with here is a disused

industrial site, and it is the view of Council and Alcoa that the Eden Project represents a wonderful opportunity to benefit from the extensive rehabilitation that has been undertaken.

Council may well be called on to fulfil a formal role in relation to this proposal, however I do note that I believe the proposal can be assessed favourably against key criteria:  Contribution to the economic prosperity of our town;  Impact on the environment, both natural environment and constructed environment.

The Eden Project is an eco-tourism attraction that has been described as an intersection of science, art, education and the environment. It is hoped to offer a unique experience where visitors learn about the world in which we live and how, as individuals, we can

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better look after it. Community consultations have identified a number of issues that will need to be addressed should the proposal proceed.

Traffic management and integration of the Eden Project with Anglesea are two significant issues that will need to be considered. The biggest issue to overcome right now is how to fill the lake in an acceptable time to allow the proposal to proceed. If it were left to natural water inflow, the projection is that it would take 50 years! Using recycled water (which is currently pumped to sea) from the Barwon Water plant at Breamlea is one of the considerations. There are ongoing discussions as to how this can be achieved and how it can be paid for.

This is in the hands of the State Government and other authorities. It is hoped that Government will be in a position to decide on this in the near future.

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LOCAL PROFILE: ROBYN GOLDER, DESTINATION ANGLESEA

By Jenna Crawford

If enthusiasm and passion are the prerequisites for business success, then Robyn Golder of Robyn Golder Marketing has ticked all the boxes.

She completed a Diploma of Business Studies at Swinburne Technical College, much to her father's delight, as well as many short-term courses focusing on social media, IT, creative writing and more, to help her in the many roles and challenges she has embraced over the years.

and grandparents. She has an apartment in Melbourne and home offices in both places, and enjoys the balance between work, family, grandparenting and community.

Robyn cut her teeth in the corporate legal world of BHP and National Mutual, then jumped ship to the more creative environment of advertising, joining ad agency J Walter Thompson in Melbourne at the age of 22, and newly married.

Graphics, photography and history are in Robyn's blood, along with gardening and flowers. Her mother was a blueribbon floral artist and an amazing gardener. This impacted her life from an early age in the understanding of composting and recycling, through to arranging flowers and the joy of creating. It has rubbed off on her children and now to her grandsons.

Charlie, five, and Ben, two, are raising sunflowers this season.

With her venture into the corporate world, Robyn admits that her creative soul was given life, working alongside graphic designers, strategic thinkers and marketing gurus. She learned to think outside-the-box, cope with the challenge of tight deadlines, difficult clients and the art of verbal and visual communication.

Originally, the family thought they’d be away from Melbourne for two years, but it ultimately extended to 11.

Robyn is still running her consultancy firm, known as Robyn Golder Marketing, and has loved working in regional Victoria, with a great mix of clients and experiences.

In 2008, Robyn and Bruce bought a home in Anglesea that has been the haven for family life, renovations, work and returning to grass roots.

She started holidaying on the Great Ocean Road as a baby with her parents

Throughout her work, Robyn has a passion for bringing communities together and creatively marrying resources. She has done pro-bono work at the apartments where they live in Melbourne, with the 100-plus residents having developed a rooftop community garden and received funding from their local council to make the garden more sustainable, using composting and recycled water. For the second year, they are running ‘It's in the Bag Christmas Campaign’ for women and girls living on the streets. They have been donating bales of hay to droughtstricken areas and held trivial pursuit auction nights to generate funds for major health organisations.

Robyn also volunteers as a member of the Kangaroo Management Committee at the Anglesea Golf Club. She acknowledges that it is exciting to see how this tourism initiative is emerging, thanks to the visions of Les Cooper and the help of volunteer drivers. She also consults for the Golf Club's Board.

With two daughters, Terri and Claire, Robyn and her husband, Bruce, had an opportunity to move to North-East Victoria so he could pursue his work as a Project Engineer. Robyn thought that would be the end of her marketing work but it was only the beginning to becoming a consultant to industry and small business.

She was appointed marketing manager to develop a new Rutherglen winery and tourist complex. Working together with several event committees, such as ‘Winery Walkabout’ and ‘Tastes of Rutherglen’, the then Chairman of Rutherglen Winemakers, George Sutherland-Smith, from All Saints Estates, recognised Robyn's enthusiasm and marketing knowledge and suggested she start her own consultancy business for the region.

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Write Angles

By Melva Stott

End of an era I have to downsize before I go ... so there I was tossing out my costumes, hats, wigs and props, and remembering that someone once said I was just ‘One Big Act’. Meanwhile my son had sent me the lyrics of a Slim Dusty song: “They say I'm getting older, and my hair is turning grey, They say I should be slowing down, give it all away”.

All my life I had a go, really had a ball. I'd sooner be a ‘has been’ than a 'never was at all’. Well, I'd rather be ‘One Big Act’ than a ‘Never Was At All’.

I could perform solo, but I'd have to re-write all my scripts, and I'd rather turn them into stories now. (A nice sedentary occupation for my twilight years.) I had a very good mentor and learned to act solo from working with Allan Stone, an actor with Channel 9 back in the Black & White Minstrel days.

50 years for that piece of cake. It was a bit like being the mother of the bride. Or maybe it was a dress rehearsal, as a few weeks later I had another role as grandmother of the groom at Luke Chapman's wedding.

Christmas past Christmas was not pleasant here in 1886. A very strange thing happened at Mrs Murray's boarding house. Mary, a diligent serving woman in her 30s, mysteriously disappeared. She was tracked to the river and police suspected suicide by drowning.

The troopers scoured the bush to no avail.

On the fourth day, her boots and hat were discovered in Mrs Murray's garden and the bewildered maid was seen in the dining room. By the time the police arrived, she had gone again. They found her crouching under a ledge on the riverbank.

Mary was borne away to Geelong and charged with lunacy.

The next week she was committed to the Kew Asylum. Ah! Yes, that was life in the good old days!

Half a century

But back to the present

My daughter, Kate, turned 50!! The day before the party, she texted: ‘I'm wearing a little black dress and I hope I don't look 50’. I replied: ‘I'm wearing a long black dress and I hope I don't look 80’! We had a wonderful time at Lorne – I'd waited

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! I wish you happiness on Christmas Day.

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Keep smiling!

Melva Stott

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Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at the YMCA

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