Newsangle Issue 141 by Anglesea Community House

PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLESEA COMMUNITY HOUSE

ISSUE 141 AUTUMN 2020

Photo by Patrick Callow The Green Living Festival returns to Anglesea in April following its great success last year. Photo: John Lenegan

Green Living Festival Returns By Sarah Bolus

The Anglesea Community Garden is once again hosting its Green Living Festival, the biggest sustainability festival on the Surf Coast, on Saturday 4 April. Celebrate the amazing things that are happening around sustainability in the local community, by joining in the festival from 10am to 4pm at the Anglesea Community Hub. The festival aims to encourage all of us to think seasonally, grow locally and live sustainably, and most of all have fun along the way doing it. It all started with four women sitting Community Houses are for Everyone

around a kitchen table with an idea to host talks and workshops around recycling projects in the garden. It didnâ€™t take long for the idea to take hold and for others to jump on board ... and the concept for a more ambitious festival to come about. So, in just under 10 weeks (and many

Highlights 60 Summers in Aireys

On the Buses

Lana Backwell profile

Anglesea War Memorial

Sandra Mitchell profile

In Search of the Lost Ark

Don Diamond Memorial

History Spot

Community Corner

Continued on page 4 > 1

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Hello! … 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 Beth Davidson OAM Secretary, Anglesea Community House, Committee of Management

I was pretty chuffed to be awarded an OAM in this year’s Australia Day Honours. In my view, the award is about the work, and I feel privileged to have always worked over the past 40 years in areas I care about – creating a fairer and more just society, and creating opportunities that have a positive impact on people’s daily lives.

With this philosophy, it is no accident that my work has been with local democracy and with neighbourhood houses. Local government roles have enabled me to influence issues like the preservation of Anglesea’s unique attributes, through championing special studies and planning controls specific to us, and creating systems like ‘community planning’, which provided safe spaces for all voices to be heard. Working in local government, I also championed the continuation of important local services, such as maternal and child health, libraries, neighbourhood houses, sporting clubs and others. There are 400 Neighbourhood/ Community Houses across the state of Victoria and they hold a special role as a welcoming place where people can

connect, learn and belong – adding meaning to people’s daily lives. Anglesea Community House is continuing the exciting journey of renewal, with new activities such as the recent Twilight Markets, while at the same time remaining focused on our core business: providing learning and connecting spaces as well as supporting our busy community groups – the Men’s Shed, Anglesea Community Garden, Choir, Anglesea Community Network, the Resale Shed, Foodlink and providing quality early childhood education and care. Check out the latest events and courses in this issue. The ACH Committee is a group of committed, highly skilled and experienced people who bring their expertise to help shape governance and strategic direction, as well as guide and support the work of our great staff.

I would like to give a warm welcome to our newest member, Keith Perkin, an experienced accountant, to the role of Treasurer. There are challenges, as well as delights, as our small village continues to evolve, and I feel privileged to have been able to contribute in so many ways over the past 40 or more years.

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

Deadlines Issue:

142

Casual ad bookings:

11 May

Articles/Contributions:

11 May

Subject to availability of space Distribution:

23 June

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

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Green Living Festival > continued from page 1

cups of coffee later) the festival was planned and executed. ‘Never again,’ was the cry from the Green Team, but due to extremely positive feedback from everyone who attended, including presenters, demonstrators and visitors – who all said they wanted to return the following year – the festival is up and running again.

More than 100 leading eco-experts will grace the Green Living Festival this year, sharing green living ideas, recycling in the garden, sustainable building tips and much more. There will also be plenty of opportunities to be hands-on, with many free workshops offered throughout the day. Foodies will be spoilt for choice with a huge range of vegan, street food and gluten-free options on offer, all in compostable packaging. There is even the opportunity to mix your own smoothie with pedal power!

Bea Lipson paints one of the Green Living bikes in preparation for this year’s festival.

The region’s best artisans are joining the festival in a pop-up market, with crafty homemade goodies that are 100 percent locally made. Patrons are encouraged to bring a few essentials to the festival to ensure a good day out – so don’t forget your hat, reusable water bottle, reusable coffee cup, your MyKi card for public transport or a lock for your bike. “There will be plenty to do for the whole family, with heaps of kids’

activities to keep the little ones active,” said festival convenor, Winsome Coutts.

“From cardboard cubby building, nature play activities and face painting, to making your own bug hotel and more. “The community garden will also have some special visitors, so keep an eye out,” she added.

The ‘vanishing trades and lost crafts alley’ will be popular with those wanting to experience and watch craftsmen and women who work at traditional crafts and trades, using old methods and tools. Watch in awe as these people share their skills and interest: from blacksmithing to bee skep making. Entertainment from a wide range of artists and local musicians, including swing dancers, drumming and local singers will also help set the tone for the day. Keynote speakers include world renowned permaculturist, Rick Coleman, and comedian Rod Quantock. Local coffee vans will also be operating on the day, so if you’re planning to start

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Smiles are expected all round at this year’s Green Living Festival, with children’s activities, pedal power for a smoothie, and more.

the day with a coffee fix, don’t forget to BYO a reusable cup for a discount. The Green Living Festival runs from 10am to 4pm at the Anglesea

Community Hub, 5 McMillan St. Entry is $5 per adult with children free. Attendees are encouraged to travel by bus, bike or walk to the festival.

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For more event information, visit the festival’s website at greenlivingfestival.com.au

It’s a whole fun day out.

60 Summers at Aireys Inlet By Penny Morison

Whether you’re a permanent resident, a summer holidaymaker or something in between, Aireys Inlet is a special place for many of us. Sixty years ago, my aunt bought a small fibro-cement shack on Eagle Rock Parade, metres from Sandy Gully beach. Five generations of her family have now slept here … and each year we keep coming back.

Our family was introduced to Aireys Inlet in the summer of 1960 through a family friend. The friend's house was a white weatherboard with a green roof and green window trim. At mealtimes we squeezed into a narrow dining alcove. It had the best view in the house; over the tops of the young Cyprus hedge, across Sandy Gully, past the burnt-orange cliffs to Eagle Rock and the lighthouse. Every day we headed down the hill to the beach, down the rough steps carved into the cliff-face eager to tackle the waves, explore the rock pools or accompany Dad to his favourite fishing spots – ‘High Rock’ around to the left or ‘Flat Rock’ to the right. At lunchtime we trudged back up the hill, seemingly much steeper than a few hours earlier. We were brown, lithe and very fit.

Penny and family heading down Eagle Rock Parade to Sandy Gully Beach in Aireys Inlet during the 1960s

Our big adventure was to navigate our way to ‘The Lagoon’ (our name for the Inlet) which could only be done at low tide. Our overweight pet dog, Goldie, would struggle to keep up with her four young charges as we dashed from rock to rock between the choppy waves. We would clamber around the boulder-strewn cove between Eagle Rock and the

lighthouse before tackling the really tricky section where the cliffs rose directly from the sea. Finally, we reached the firm soft sand, triumphant in the face of grave danger. A ‘Kids Own Adventure’ all of our own. Dad’s sister, Noel, joined us for one of these holidays. Aunt Noel was particularly smitten with Aireys, so much so that she, a single woman who

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boarded in Melbourne, decided to buy a holiday house. “A good way to ensure I always had somewhere to holiday with friends.”

In those days, women were not legally allowed to borrow money and so her father had to provide surety. Soon after New Year in 1963, she became the owner of a quintessential fibro-cement house on a dirt road to the beach with the sound of the waves and the smell of ozone ever present. She christened it W yanawah, an aboriginal word for ‘hut’. Our family had the privilege of spending the first night there. We sent her a thank you letter from the small post office next to the general store on the hill. Water usage was closely watched. We relied on rainwater from two tanks and by midsummer the water levels were usually very low. Dad and Noel, experts at saving water after growing up on a drought prone farm in the NSW Riverina, taught us how to get by. Washing up was done in a plastic basin smaller than the sink and afterwards the water tipped onto the garden. Baths were shallow and shared, and, after swimming, sand and salt were briskly hosed off. In the middle of the back yard, directly in view of the kitchen window, stood the toilet. We christened it ‘Geranium Cottage’ after the hardy plant that twined around its fibro walls, flowering profusely.

Summer days at the fibro shack on Eagle Rock Parade, January 1963.

The most onerous household task was, without a doubt, emptying the smelly pan toilet. It always fell to Dad to dig the hole way down the backyard. Momentously, in 1966, a septic tank system was installed and a white porcelain toilet added to the back porch behind a sliding door. The eyesore that was Geranium Cottage was demolished. My aunt’s decision to come here 60 summers ago was a precious gift to us all. Five generations of family and friends have visited and fallen in love with this place. Family photographs on the front deck have been an essential part of our get-togethers – and Wyanawah has borne witness to our transition from adolescence to adulthood, from parent to grandparent. Aireys Inlet is the gold standard against

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which all other beach holidays are compared. Visiting here has opened our eyes to the richness of the natural world as it changes from one season to the next. Soft grey clouds blanket the autumn sky, subduing the waves and spreading calmness across the sea. The cold winter sea lures you to its edge where the waves churn and dare you to dip in a toe. As the days lengthen into spring, the sun’s warmth tempts you into having a quick dip in the still too-chilly water. When the summer heat finally arrives and the soft, yellow sand beckons, you share it once more with the bared bodies and boogie boards. Year after year, generation after generation.

On The Buses By Sam Gault

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, it’s not going to get better. It’s not.” [Dr Seuss] Sometimes, it seems too hard to change our circumstances. Sometimes, the odds seem insurmountable in achieving even the most simple of things. Fortunately, at other times, someone comes along, whose passion, commitment and perseverance makes a difference and inspires others. This is a story (and a bit of an update) about the efforts of one such person, Lynn Bunning and her group Anglesea public Transport Action Group = ApTAG. In 2014, Lynn came into the Anglesea Community House looking for help in ‘starting up’ a community bus service to Waurn Ponds – for shopping and to the ‘new’ Waurn Ponds train station. Lynn wanted to overcome the lack of genuine public transport options for the local community, so had turned her mind to getting something going at a grass-roots level.

citizens bus, the Lorne hospital bus and the Surf Coast Shire community bus.

driver option), competing demand and cost.

At first, Lynn looked at using existing community bus services – the Anglesea Community Bank bus, the senior

Each option had major challenges with it – generally around logistics, licence requirements (impacting volunteer

For a long time, the preferred option was to hire a community bus, however, before she could do that, Lynn needed to ensure that there was sufficient community demand to cover the cost associated with running the service.

Lynn Bunning (front) and local residents ready to board the V/Line service to Waurn Ponds, which Lynn advocated for tirelessly to improve amenity for the local community.

The first community feasibility surveys were published in NewsA ngle in 2015. Council hosted a survey for us and we put posters up around town. Lynn presented to Anglesea Probus, the Men’s Shed, Lions Club, Senior Citizens and the Cancer Council groups. On the strength of the surveys, which were very positive, not only was interest sparked, but Lynn was fortified to tap into as many networks as possible to push her dream. Lynn set up petitions, wrote to government bodies, attended forums and established the group ApTAG. The Anglesea Community House, and later the Anglesea Community Network (an auspice group of the Community 8

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House), as well as advocacy from Surf Coast Shire Council, continued to support Lynn, by helping to get support and bringing key stakeholders onboard, as well as publicising the initiative. Through Lynn’s unwavering commitment in keeping this matter on the political and community agenda, in March 2019 V/Line added Waurn Ponds to its bus routes. More services were also added, and there are now four services per day in both directions, instead of only two on weekends. Anglesea also has two new bus shelters, which may not have happened without ApTAG’s work. Much better to wait at a proper shelter than sitting on a rock! The next step in Lynn’s campaign is for all interested community members to demonstrate their support by using the new service. With an increase in patronage, it is hoped that another inbound service may be added for around 9.30am. To this end, ApTAG is running a social/community event of sorts, to

A concession/seniors card holder would pay $3.50 each way from Anglesea to Waurn Ponds or Geelong ($7.00 return). The 11.18am bus arrives at Waurn Ponds shopping centre at 12 noon.

demonstrate community commitment to the service and have a bit of fun. The idea is that interested folk would travel together with a member of the ApTAG group to Waurn Ponds (or anywhere en-route):  WHERE: Anglesea’s Stop #2 (the new shelter at Motor Inn/Surf Shop)  TIME: 11.10am, for 11.18am departure  WHEN: the first Wednesday of each month (so next one is Wed 1 Apr il) V/Line services cater for prams, wheelchairs, walking frames and such.

Whilst MyKi is not available, tickets can be purchased on the bus (correct money is much appreciated though not necessary).

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A pedestrian ramp enables all passengers to walk/ride to cross the narrow car park near ANZ Bank (turn left to Reading Cinema or right to shopping centre). Return travellers would meet outside the Waurn Ponds Cobblers Shop at 2.50pm, walk across Pioneer Road (crossing at the pedestrian lights) and wait at the bus shelter, outside LeisureLink, for the 3.05pm return bus, to arrive back in Anglesea at 3.42pm. Contact Lynn Bunning on mobile 0400 936 555 if more details are required.

Once again, Anglesea Community House and the Anglesea Community Network are proud to support ApTAG and the community in making our town more accessible, more liveable and even more wonderful.

LOCAL PROFILE: LANA BACKWELL, ARTIST

Capturing our Environment By Jenna Crawford

Lana Backwell has been interested in drawing and painting from about the age of four. She was encouraged and supported by her parents and various teachers at all stages of her schooling. She studied Art at a VCE level and also studied Studio Art – a subject that is based on the art industry. Lana has never been to any other art classes but, after looking at her work, I really don't think she needs to attend any. Lana now works as a nurse and finds her art work a really relaxing hobby. She gains motivation and relaxation from her time spent drawing and painting. She has a room set up as a studio in her shared house and spends a couple of hours per week doing what she really enjoys. To have a room permanently set up allows her to indulge in her art without having to do the preparation every time she feels the motivation to paint or draw. It is not ‘off limits’ to her house mates and she welcomes them to watch and chat whilst she is drawing or painting. Lana is quite versatile in her selection of the medium she uses. Watercolour is her favourite, followed by oil paints. She also uses acrylic paints and waterproof fine liners to add detail to some of her painted works.

Her work has encapsulated the beauty of the Surf Coast area. She loves painting beach scenes with their magnificent colours and variation in settings. Different times of the day and

Roadknight Sunset’ by Lana Backwell.

tidal changes require various colour arrangements. Lana describes the painting of beach scenes as “putting memories on paper”. She herself, has many happy memories of coming to the Surf Coast beaches with her family as a youngster. In addition to beach landscapes, Lana loves painting native flowers. She can embellish a photograph by using it as a guide. This area has such beautiful flora that she has been able to capture on paper and canvas. Getting native fauna to sit still long enough is a problem, but recently a

kookaburra obliged and she has drawn a most beautiful pastel image of this unique bird. Lana says that she really enjoys everything about painting and drawing because it allows her to be creative and just focus on the subject of the art work. This can be a great release if you are feeling stressed or anxious about something.

Many of Lana's paintings have been reproduced as cards, serving many different occasions. People who live around the Anglesea/Aireys Inlet area or have visited the area can identify with the subjects and scenes. Producing the cards has also provided an opportunity to have her art work recognised. One day she would like to be as much in demand as her auntie who illustrates children's books. The wide range of Lana's artwork can be viewed and purchased at the Aireys Inlet Market, when she next attends on 5 July.

‘The Gap’ by Lana Backwell. She aims to capture the beauty of the Surf Coast. 10

Local artist Lana Backwell enjoys doing her art work as a relaxing hobby.

Alternatively, contact Lana by email at lanabackwell@gmail.com. If you wish to view the comprehensive range of cards available go to www.instragram.com/lanacreates. You will not be disappointed.

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Lest We Forget

Set in Stone — Anglesea’s New War Memorial

By Liz Clark

The last edition of NewsA ngle reported the formation of the Anglesea and District War Memorial Committee (ADWMC), mandated to develop a permanent War Memorial in Anglesea to honour those from the area who have served their country. The committee’s task includes the planning of the actual structure, fundraising and collaboration with Anglesea Historical Society to research information pertaining to those whose names are put forward for inclusion on the memorial. After World War One, it was impossible to bring the bodies of those who died in battle back home, so towns and hamlets all over Australia began to erect memorials to both honour those who had given their lives for their country and to give families a tangible place to mourn their losses. There was a lot of controversy during this time about what should make suitable memorials – honour boards, stone walls, bronze statues, avenues of honour, or more useful things like hospitals and halls.

Much depended on the size of the town and the wealth of the district.

lighting, signage and some seating are included in the overall plan.

Modern war memorials tend to be erected to honour not only those who have died but for all who have served in all conflicts and peacekeeping forces.

In a bid to be inclusive, an invitation was issued to the wider community to put forward names of local people from the area who have served in the Australian Defence Forces.

The ADWMC has been working with local landscaper, Peter Shaw, to design and engineer a suitable stone memorial in Cameron Road Park. With the support of the Surf Coast Shire Council, VicRoads, the Lions Club and community members, approval has been given for the construction of the memorial and use of the site as a small event area. Suitable

This exercise has led to interesting discussions about how people assume/ consider they are ‘local’. One would imagine it should mean permanent residents of the district but there are many people who consider themselves ‘local’ if they own a property here, have holidayed in the area, or have family connections in other ways. Fortunately, ADWMC has been able to be quite flexible and to date has recorded around 370 people who would be eligible for inclusion in the honour roll. Much of the information they have gathered to date has come through the Sport and Recreation Club, which maintained very good records over the years, and the Historical Society, with its wide-ranging information on the whole district.

The committee’s next task is to find out more than mere names and dates – they need stories that make these people come alive. Stories like … Private Alfred John Evans, 58th Bn. A.I.F. Born Anglesea River, Victoria. January 20, 1893, killed in action Villesur-Ancre, France, July 4, 1918. Eldest of 11 children, Alfred was the first son of John and Mary Kate Evans. Alfred’s father lived in Anglesea River 12

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for several years, earning a living as a coach driver for Henry Bubb. His mother, Mary Kate Symons, known to her friends as Polly, worked at Mrs Murray’s boarding house. Prior to marrying Mary Kate on February 18, 1892, John bought Bubb’s coach business and his 100-acre farm. Ten of their children were born at this farm. On 23 October, 1916, Alfred accompanied his father and several brothers to Belmont Hotel to deliver a wagon-load of firewood. While in Geelong, he took the Oath to be taken by Person Being Enlisted, had his medical examination and was considered fit for active service. He reported to Royal Park on 1st November and was assigned to the 8th reinforcement for the 58th Battalion, also known as the Essendon Rifles. On 24 November, the ‘Anglesea News of the Week’ in the Geelong Advertiser reported that ‘Private Alf Evans of Anglesea was home on final leave this week’ and ‘News of the Week from Jan Juc’ on 7 December advised: ‘Pte Alfred Evans (son of Mr J Evans of Anglesea), who was home on final leave last week, was the recipient of a nice silver wristlet watch from the residents of Jan Juc and Torquay. Cr G Imer made the presentation on behalf of the subscribers and wished Pte Evans Godspeed and a safe return. Pte Evans responded.’

Jan Marsh from the Anglesea RSL and Keith Hornibrook from the Anglesea & District Historical Society inspect a preliminary design for the Anglesea & District War Memorial near the proposed site in Cameron Park, Anglesea.

Alfred departed Port Melbourne on the A.7 Medic on 16 December, 1916, and disembarked at Plymouth on 18 February, 1917. He joined the 15th Training Batallion at Hurdcott and, in April, was hospitalised with pneumonia for over two months. He finally went to France at the end of August. Between September 1917 and July 1918, the 58th Battalion fought at Polygon Wood (September 1917 – January 1918), Villers-Bretonneux (February – May 1918), and what is known as the Defence of Amiens (June – August 1918) including Heilly, Derrnancourt, and Ville-sur-Ancre, where Alfred was killed in action on 4 July, aged 25 years. He was buried 300 yards from Ville-sur-Ancre. His personal effects, received by his parents in March 1919, were simply two discs, two wallets, a testament, two notebooks, a book of postcards, a letter and two photos. There is no known grave for Alfred.

This type of information allows us to see so much more than just a name on a list with a few dates attached.

Private Alfred John Evans

We can imagine a young man, with a full life ahead of him; a large, involved family; perhaps a simple rural life; and then a glimpse at the loss of all the hope and potential that the eldest son would bring to his family.

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Vivid stories hold our interest, and the RSL and ADWMC are hoping that, with more information becoming available about those to be recorded on this memorial, an opportunity for an educational offshoot of the memorial could be included to enhance the many activities Anglesea provides for school camps and groups. The addition and ongoing possibilities of an electronic kiosk, to be included with the memorial, could provide a wide range of interpretive information for families, students and visitors.

The possibilities are endless – but, of course, this will be a matter of funding, successful grant applications and the ongoing generosity of the local community. It is still possible to make a contribution to the War Memorial Fund through the Anglesea Community Bank – the more generous supporters are, the wider the scope for expanding this new memorial. ADWMC is still happy to receive names and stories for inclusion on the memorial through the website www.angleseawarmemorial.com.au. (Thanks to RSL, Keith Hornibrook and the Anglesea Historical Society for collaboration on this article.) 13

LOCAL PROFILE: SANDRA MITCHELL

A Welcome Start with the Community House By Moreen Dainty

It’s not every day someone with Sandra Mitchell’s background comes knocking at the door of Anglesea Community House. There’s not much about the world of childcare that Sandra doesn’t know. When she explained she was keen to pass on her knowledge and skills, it didn’t take long for someone to realise they had struck gold.

basis. They have recently built a new house and, last year, went off on a long caravan trip to explore the centre and east coast of Australia.

Sandra Mitchell soon found herself filling out an application form to join Anglesea Community House (ACH) and take a seat on the committee of management .

As I listen to her laugh and chat about these adventures, I catch myself wondering why society doesn’t come up with a better word for retirees?

Sandra joins a dedicated team of people who volunteer their time to help build and grow a sense of community spirit in Anglesea and Aireys Inlet. She was formally welcomed into her new role at the AGM late last year. Sandra and her husband Chris have owned a holiday home here in Anglesea for over 10 years. It has always been a welcome retreat from their busy lives in Melbourne. As I settle into our interview, Sandra explains she and Chris are now retired and living in Angelsea on a full-time

One that encapsulates the type of person sitting opposite me – experienced, competent, full of life and energy. I ask Sandra what lay behind her decision to approach the folk at Community House? “Well, I like to keep busy and find ways to connect with people. I like meeting new people, getting involved Sandra Mitchell recently joined the committee of management at Anglesea Community House after moving to the area.

and seeing if my knowledge and skills might be of use to others,” she said. In the latter part of her career, Sandra headed up a team that oversaw the regulation and quality assessment of childcare provision in the Western Region for the Department of Education and Training. She started life as a childcare worker and kindergarten teacher, then moved into more administrative roles, giving her experience in managing many different types of childcare. Her husband, Chris, also has a background in education and, once upon a time, was an AFL umpire. He then moved into telecommunications, holding positions at Telstra and CBUS. 14

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Sandra’s expertise in childcare and management skills will be put to good use, as the ACH committee looks at ways to build and develop its services in that area.

“I think we need to remember that the elderly still want to connect with others in the community. They want to have fun, take part in activities and contribute,” said Sandra.

them will be like me and want to retire here!

At present, the Community House has around 12 occasional childcare places. She wants to know if that number should and can grow.

“There’s the chance to do more in this area, particularly helping those who are more isolated. I’m looking forward to that.”

She points to the recent success of the Twilight Farmers’ Markets in Anglesea.

Sandra is also passionate about finding ways to enrich the lives of the elderly. Having her parents in care in their final years, brought a heightened awareness of the need to bring joy into people’s lives as they age.

Being more inclusive is something Sandra views as important.

Her mother had Alzheimer’s disease and it was heart-breaking to see her unable to care for herself as she once did.

“This is a small community that includes people who range from being semi-permanent to permanent residents. How do we communicate and reach out to these different groups? “When you stop and think about it, over the course of a year, some people based in Melbourne may actually end up spending more time here than in the city. “They generate a lot of business and they can contribute in lots of other ways as well. And, one day, a lot of

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“I think we need to reach out to all who live here – whether or not it is your permanent home.”

“It’s a great way to get the community together. Not only were local growers and small businesses getting our support, it was also a social occasion. It’s clear there is an appetite for this kind of thing.

“It was also a way for Community House to get the message across that we provide a range of services. We are here and wanting to help.” There will be lots of challenges in the year ahead but Sandra is looking forward to working alongside her colleagues on the committee to explore more ways the House can connect with the community.

In Search of the Lost Ark in Ethiopia By Mary Bremner

“Why Ethiopia?” people asked. It started with hearing about Lalibela, the mountain-top location of 13 ancient monasteries, hewn into solid rock in the 12th century. The construction was achieved in 23 years, allegedly with the help of angels working at night. We investigated what it would take to visit this place, often described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Our research revealed that Ethiopia is a destination with a lot to offer the curious tourist. Who couldn’t love a country that has a lively Christian community dating back to the 4th Century, that claims to be home to the Ark of the Covenant and offers the opportunity to visit tribal people who stretch their bottom lips around ceramic plates as a sign of beauty? We learned that Ethiopia is the only African country that was never colonised, although it was occupied by Italy for a short time. The last monarch, Haile Selassie, traced his line back to the Queen of Sheba.

Aireys Inlet local Mary Bremner on her own quest for‘The Lost Ark’ in Ethiopa.

for our group of two couples, booked the accommodation, a 4WD vehicle and driver. Guides greeted us at each point of interest.

The Great African Rift Valley cuts through Ethiopia, giving rise to peaks as high as 4,500 metres, active volcanoes and a chain of beautiful lakes.

Progress on the roads was slow, due mainly to the need to negotiate herds of goats, sheep and cattle. The animals were often herded by children – some of them looked as young as three or four.

For a time, the government travel warning read ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ but when the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea settled down, we saw our opportunity.

Hard-working little donkeys pulled handmade wooden carts, laden with farm produce, building materials, containers of water or the family on a day out.

Using a tour company based in Ethiopia, we planned a 26-day itinerary

People walk everywhere along the sides of the roads – children en route to school, worshippers on their way to church or mosque, and women (always women) carrying enormous loads of firewood on their backs.

Children walking to school in Ethiopia. 16

Through the mountains, the narrow roads skirted hair-raising drops, but provided views of

breathtakingly beautiful gorges and escarpments. Much of the natural vegetation has been replaced with Australian blue-gums, planted to provide timber for fuel and building materials and valued for their fast growth. The pressure of population means you won’t see the same variety of wildlife as in other African countries but we had some delightful animal encounters.

The Simien Mountains are home to troops of shaggy gelada baboons, with distinctive red, heart-shaped patches on their chests. A breathless climb to 4,230 metres in altitude was rewarded with a sighting of the elegant, but rare, walia ibex. We also enjoyed spotting and photographing some of the country’s beautiful birds – the place is a mecca for twitchers from around the world. Eighty percent of Ethiopia’s population is occupied in agriculture and most of this involves cultivating small allotments, using single-furrowed ploughs, pulled by oxen. Grain is strewn by hand to plant crops, which are harvested using a scythe. The tribal people who eke out a marginal existence farming in the Lower Omo River valley had a

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Women were often seen carrying enormous loads of firewood.

Women dancing at the bull-jump ‘coming-of-age’ ceremony.

particular fascination for us. Now aware of the supplementary income to be provided by the tourist dollar, the villagers invite visitors. The people follow their cultural traditions much as they have for centuries. We found some of these dumbfounding and disturbing to witness and quickly concluded that women are usually the ones undergoing the most suffering.

This was one of a number of confronting experiences during our time in this region and we were left wondering what would result from the tension between the desire of the people to preserve their traditional customs and the pressures from the modern world.

We were lucky enough that our visit to the Hamer people coincided with a coming-of-age ceremony. This requires the youth to prove his manhood by leaping naked, four times, across the backs of a row of up to 15 cattle. To prove their love and admiration for the initiate, female family members beg their young male relations to whip them with birch branches. The ceremony took place in a clearing near a dry river bed. The air was thick with dust and noise and the pungent smell of the butter and mud the women used to smear their bodies and cake their hair into ringlets. They danced about with bells tied to their legs, blowing on cow horns and ululating enthusiastically. Hopes that the whipping might be a thing of the past were erased at our first sight of the blood seeping from the fresh welts across a young girl’s back. The more pain the women suffer, the greater their loyalty to the young man at the centre of the occasion. Some of the women bore rows of old scars amongst the fresh ones. One girl was sitting glumly on the sidelines with bloody welts across her back and a mobile phone in her hand. Later she wandered off and sat a distance from the crowd – we could only guess at what was going on in her mind.

Travelling in the north of Ethiopia brought us in touch with the country’s long and proud religious traditions. Some areas are Muslim, dating back to the time of Mohammed. The predominant religion is Christianity of the Ethiopian Orthodox variety and the people are very devout. Most days, women wearing headscarves and robed men would be seen walking to and from church, with crowds flowing out the gates, listening to the amplified services. Our guides were well versed in the mixture of legends, magical stories and Hebrew traditions that make up their faith. Familiar with the Old Testament account of the Ark of the Covenant – the golden casket built by Moses to house the tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments – we couldn’t wait to go on our own quest for its current location. Ask any Ethiopian and they will tell you about King Menelik who, claiming his heritage as son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, stole it from Jerusalem and brought it back to Ethiopia, where it eventually wound up in the ‘holy of holies’ within an out-building at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum. Its presence is difficult to verify because no one is allowed within a cooee of it, except a special guardian who lives in the building, and even he’s not allowed to look at it. We gazed through the wire fence that keeps out anyone with ideas of conducting their own investigations. In answer to the second-most asked question – yes, Ethiopia is safe to visit. The machine-gun toting guards that accompanied us on our mountain hikes were just provided to create employment, we were assured.

One word of warning though – don’t go to Ethiopia for the food. At first, the sour, yeasty, pancake-like injera bread that accompanies every meal is a novelty, but one that soon wears off.

Hard-working donkeys pulled handmade wooden carts.

Sheep and goats that are bleating on the footpath outside a restaurant in the morning are soon hanging on hooks in the kitchen. Slices carved off the carcass and thrown onto a grill are called ‘tibs’ on the menu. Sharp teeth and dental floss are essential.

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LOCAL MEMORIAL SEATS: DON DIAMOND 1927—2003 By June Laurie

Don Diamond’s memorial seat is tucked into a quiet spot behind the bottom shops in Aireys Inlet. It is a fitting location for a man who liked to be busy and industrious but unassuming in the public domain. It was here – in the River Road estate – that Don left his mark on the community by supporting the development of this area. Don’s wife, Dawn, often sits on the seat dedicated to her generous and loved husband, and remembers him, and all the adventures they had together. Don Diamond had a big life, beginning in inner-city Brunswick, and moving house numerous times, before finally settling in Fairhaven in his retirement years. In between, Don and his wife Dawn lived various lifestyles, driven in part by adversity and by Don’s drive for improving his family’s life. Don and Dawn met when they were very young. He was 15 years of age, and Dawn only 13. She claims that she knew she’d marry him, right from that time. He was handsome and charismatic, and according to Dawn, her Donny had ‘personality plus’. “Everybody loved him throughout his life,” she explained. “He was a funloving person, who loved life.”

Continuing her research into the history of local memorial seats, June Laurie learnt about the life of the late Don Diamond, whose seat sits on the river bank behind the bottom shops in Aireys Inlet.

This passion, it seemed was infectious to others. Don’s eldest son, Wayne, believes it was Don’s kindness that drew people to him. He found time to give to everyone he met, from all walks of life.

Adversity first struck Don at 10 years of age when his father died, leaving behind his wife and two small boys. Don could see that his mother was struggling financially and he wanted to contribute.

It was both this generosity and Don’s ability to dust himself off after a setback that were continuing themes throughout his life.

At 14, without consulting his mum, Don left Brunswick Technical School and began work in a nuts and bolts factory. Soon after, he gained a fulltime job at Millers Ropeworks in Brunswick, working as a fitter and turner. By 19 years of age, Don had opened his own backyard foundry designing the inside core of water taps and engine products. He employed some local lads that he’d been apprenticed with earlier, to help cast these metal parts. Throughout these years, Don was courting Dawn, who was working herself, and helping to raise her two younger siblings. Finally, in 1950, when they were 23 and 21 respectively, they were married at Christ Church in Brunswick. Their first house was in Shore Grove, Coburg, and it was here, in 1951, that they welcomed their first child, Wayne. Wayne remembers the menagerie of animals his dad cared for. “We had so many animals in that first house; chooks, pigeons and always dogs.” Don, it seemed, loved people and animals equally.

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In 1957, Don presented Dawn with the idea of a completely different lifestyle. With three children now (Wayne, Ron and Kerrie) they would escape the ratrace and become farmers.

Diamond always wanted to give back in some way; to share some of his prosperity with others in gratitude. For this reason, the Diamond family hosted a child from a children’s home each Christmas holidays, and they would live with them for this time.

Six-year-old Wayne was fascinated and a little confused by the term ‘rat-race’ but explained that much later he’d learned that Don had been conned by his accountant who’d stolen most of the foundry’s profits.

Don and Dawn escaped the rat-race again, when they moved to Gisborne East. At that time, they were winding down their final commercial enterprise, ‘The Shoe Factory’.

Not to be defeated, Don moved the family to a rustic property near Warrnambool (at Naringal East). Here Don and Dawn had a crash-course in how to milk their 20 or so cows, all by hand. Their youngest child, Roderick, was born during this time. Money was tight in those years, so Don picked up odd jobs on other farms, and began working as a real estate agent. A more attractive opportunity presented itself – to buy a different farm nearby, which would allow Don and Dawn to also run the Post Office at Paaratte. And so, another busy phase of life unfolded for the Diamond family. Again, fate intervened when Don’s eyesight began failing him, caused by retinal detachment. Dawn remembers this as a major set-back for them and for a short time, she was running the post office with her youngest child, Roderick, still a baby. Luckily though, a neighbouring farmer stepped in and very kindly milked the family’s cows as well as his own. To this day, Dawn is full of gratitude for this generosity.

Don Diamond as a younger man

then moved to Gladstone Park, East Keilor and Moonee Ponds. It was throughout these 20-plus years that Don became involved with the Lions Club, and delighted in providing activities, like lawn bowls, to those less fortunate. Don was Governor of the Carlton Lions Club during 1975 and 1976 and thrived in helping to fundraise for the Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Dawn assisted with a scheme to provide every child in hospital with a showbag of goodies, including toys, writing materials and lollies, which she and Don organised to be donated. Perhaps it was his humble roots in Brunswick, or maybe his innate kindness that his son spoke of, but Don

Throughout these years, they also became regular weekenders on the Surf Coast, building a house on their block in Fairhaven. Finally, when Don was in his late 60s, they became permanent residents. This was the beginning of a long and happy period of helping-out and enjoying the social activities with their many friends at Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club. Don Diamond was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in 2002 and within 12 months this disease sadly claimed his life. Dawn believes that it was Don’s time working at the Miller’s Ropeworks that exposed Don to the asbestos; a whole lifetime before, when they were just youngsters. Mesothelioma was a very painful and invasive disease, but Don faced up to the prognosis with bravery and his characteristic strength. He is remembered by Dawn, his family and the many others that he touched throughout his eventful and very full life.

In the meantime, Don was in Melbourne having complicated surgery on both eyes. This challenged Don enormously, as he was unsure what long-term effect it would have on his life. Luckily, his sight in one eye returned but he had limited sight in his other eye for the rest of his life. Recovering from these surgeries gave Don plenty of time to contemplate what he’d do next. ‘Shoes,’ he told Dawn, when they finally met up, ‘Even the most hard-up of people need shoes!’ And so it was that the Diamonds returned to north-west Melbourne to establish the first of a chain of shoe stores in Merlynston. The family initially lived behind that shoe store, NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Don and Dawn Diamond 19

In the House … By Marcelle Renkin, Program Coordinator

able to accept plastic lids as the program that was taking these has reached capacity and has put a halt on receiving them. We are, however, pleased to let you know that we are now accepting some new items: toothbrushes (including electric ones); contact lenses and cases; and all writing instruments (pens, textas, markers); so please come down and see us to drop off your recyclables.

Courses and Activities Anglesea Twilight Farmers’ Market Here at the Community House, we were very pleased to start off 2020 with a new initiative, the Anglesea Twilight Farmers’ Market.

market. We were so happy to see so many locals and visitors come along to connect with local producers/farmers and also to connect with one another.

The Farmers’ Market aims to support local farmers, growers and producers using local ingredients, and to provide an avenue for our local community to access local, seasonal and sustainably produced food.

We are working hard to gather feedback on our community event and to develop a proposal, in conjunction with the Surf Coast Shire Council for a 2020-2021 market season. Keep an eye out for updates. A special thanks to those who volunteered their time to make this a great community event.

We have been working with Grassroots Sustainability to implement a fantastic Towards Zero Waste community event in Anglesea. Our pilot season was a big hit, many thanks to those that came down to the

Anglesea Green Hub We have had a great response to our new recycle station at the Community House. Unfortunately, we are no longer

We have lots of fun and interesting activities coming up at the house over the next few months ... something for everyone! In April, we have acclaimed artist, Donna Meyer, returning to Anglesea due to popular demand for her drawing classes, while local artist Colleen Miller is excited to share her needle-felting expertise.

We have some workshops for kids run by Grassroots Sustainability, a Wiser Driver Course and Intro To Computers. We have also teamed up with the Surf Coast Shire Council to help promote This Girl Can Week by running some ‘come and try’ exercise activity sessions for women. Other groups like Talking Points, Book Club, CWA, Stichery, Quilters and more, continue to meet regularly and are open to new members.

Contact us if you would like more information and/or to get involved. Check out our Course Guide in this edition of NewsA ngle to find out more details about the courses and activities we have on offer.

Green Living Festival On 4 April, the Anglesea Community Garden will once again run the fantastic Green Living Festival. Come down to the Community House precinct and learn more about thinking seasonally, growing locally, living sustainably and having fun along the way!

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The Check Up By Dr Skye Hueneke, Anglesea Medical

Vaccination

Summer has ended and the flu season is approaching, which means it's almost flu vaccine time. Vaccination was a hot topic in 2019 with the World Health Organisation (WHO) listing vaccine hesitancy in the top 10 threats to global health. The WHO identified the three main reasons for vaccine hesitancy as being complacency, inconvenience and lack of confidence.

Did you know? Vaccination prevents 2-3 million deaths per year worldwide.

At Anglesea Medical, we encourage anyone with questions about vaccination to come and discuss their concerns with us. It is easy to see why we could become complacent in Australia, as we have a very high immunisation rate. 94 per cent of all five-year-olds are fully immunised. This means we don't see many vaccine-preventable diseases. The doctors at Anglesea Medical are too young to have had to treat the diphtheria epidemics of the past. Australia was declared rubella-free in 2018. Polio has almost been eradicated worldwide. Chicken pox is less common and not as severe. Lack of confidence or fear of vaccines can lead to a reduction in vaccine rates, which can have devastating consequences.

Last year in Samoa, due to fear, measles vaccination rates dropped from around 74 per cent to 34 per cent, allowing measles to spread rapidly

Another important thing to remember is that babies, before six weeks, and people with certain health reasons, can't be vaccinated, and some people are living with a compromised immune system. through the unvaccinated population, resulting in 81 deaths, mostly of babies and young children. Misinformation around vaccines is very common, however, we know that the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases far outweigh those of vaccines. Vaccines are tested rigorously and undergo ongoing monitoring for safety. The most common side-effects are soreness and redness at the site of injection and low-grade fever. Inconvenience, we hope, is less of a factor here in Australia, where the national immunisation schedule is promoted and offered through GP practices, community health centres and schools.

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These people rely on healthy people around them being vaccinated. This â€˜herd immunityâ€™ is important in preventing outbreaks of disease in the most vulnerable people in our community. Flu Vac clinics for eligible people usually start in May. Please call Anglesea Medical around this time for further information. Statistics and information sources: www.health.gov.au, https:// www.health.gov.au/health-topics/ immunisation/immunisation-throughout -life/national-immunisation-programschedule https://www.who.int/emergencies/tenthreats-to-global-health-in-2019

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

The Last Train to London

The Mercies

by Meg Waite Clayton

by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

For readers of All The Light You Cannot See and The Lace Weaver, this is perfect. The sudden invasion of Austria by Hitler and the escalation of Nazi Germany sent shock waves around the world. The Kindertransport was the last-minute rescue of Jewish children to England by train and ship. This would not have been possible without Tante Truus and the network of characters who helped bring 10,000 children to be fostered. She boldly engaged with Eichmann, playing on his vanity to allow her 2000 children rail passage and identification. Seemingly impossible, but she pulled it off and the journey is heart-wrenching and the network of allies incredible. Several stories are woven through this novel that put the real human perspective on what is was like to be in civilised Vienna one minute, and hell the next. Loved the cast of characters and this beautifully crafted story. Review by Sue @ Great Escape Books

Set on the remote island of Vardo in 1617, this Norwegian story has become the stuff of legend and history. A freak, violent storm kills almost all the men as they set off for the day to fish, their bodies washing up for days. Mostly widows and children are left to carry on without their men … fishing, hunting and doing the work needed. These women are strong and independent and not easily ruled by the gruelling religious regime of the time. A new leader is sent from Scotland to quell this rebellious behaviour by torture and burning witches. His long-suffering wife sees it for what it is, the enormous need for power over women by any means, and sides with them. Based on the true story of the witch hunts and the need for religion to crush any freethinking and independence without men. Wonderfully told with real characters, I could not put it down and the message is just as strong today. Review by Sue @ Great Escape Books

American Dirt

In the Clearing

by Jeanine Cummins

by JP Pomare

Bullets tear through her family, as everything she knows to be true is shattered into a million small pieces. Lydia’s comfortable middle-class existence explodes when her family is targeted, due to her unknowing friendship with the charismatic Javier Crespo Fuentes. ‘Toda mi familia esta muerta por mi culpa: my whole family is dead because of me’. Fleeing with her young son, Luca, she has little time to grieve as she casts off her old life. Assuming a new identity, she dodges the many unsavoury characters who seek to inflict collateral damage as she attempts to get closer to the dubious security of the American border. Written in the time of Trump border security, American Dirt is a sharply defined critique that rips apart the conventional notion of what is a poor, displaced immigrant. A mesmerising and important read that will resonate with you for the longest time. Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

In The Clearing is a riveting psychological thriller by JP Pomare, the author of one of last year's favourite books Call Me Evie. The ‘Clearing’ is a residential community of secrecy and isolation, filled with rules and regulations and completely shut off from the outside world. This life is the only one that Amy has known and she is deeply immersed into the deep underworld of control. When a new girl joins the group, things begin to unravel for Amy as she wrestles with her own identity and her future. Freya, has carefully constructed a life that is the epitome of normal to the onlooker. Just another school Mum going through the motions of everyday life, until someone from Freya's past returns, and gloriously crashes into her haven. In The Clearing is unstoppable. The book is a magnificent mystery of smashing secrets, power and mastery. It’s frantic, and enchanting and had me completely sucked in! Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

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LOCAL PROFILE: MELISSA O’DRISCOLL, HAYDEN’S REAL ESTATE

To Sell, Buy, Lease or Rent By Jenna Crawford

It is not every employee or employer who would say their job satisfaction comes from working with people and seeing them realise their full potential, but when I interviewed Melissa O'Driscoll from Hayden's Real Estate in Anglesea, this was very evident. Melissa was born into the building industry, with her father being the former CEO of Victoria's governmentrun Housing Guarantee Fund Ltd, and she grew up in Woodend.

Anglesea. She loves living and working here because it allows her two boys, Ollie and Ben, a sense of independence and security.

The boys are actively involved in the community, playing football, basketball, soccer and skateboarding.

Her leadership qualities were evident from and early age, winning the Caltex All-Rounder Award in her VCE year. This award acknowledged balanced perspectives and contributions made to others, rather than concentrating on academic results alone. She went on to become President of Rotoract, a junior Rotary club that gives back to the community. Melissa worked at the ANZ Bank in South Yarra at the conclusion of year 12, before enrolling in Media Studies at Latrobe University in Bundoora. After university, she spent 12 months working for the Housing Guarantee Fund, dealing with licensing builders and owner-builders. She met her husband, Mark, who was British and went to live in the United Kingdom for two years. Mark decided to emigrate to Australia to be with

Melissa feels the community has an inbuilt safety net and allows residents to prosper in the environment. Melissa O’Driscoll enjoys her role overseeing the office at Hayden’s Real Estate agency in Anglesea.

Melissa and they set up home in Parkville. Melissa went to work with her father in the privatised Builder's Warranty Insurance Scheme, which dealt with all aspects of the building industry, but primarily involved Builder's Warranty Insurance and assessing applications for eligibility. After 13 years, the business was sold to Wesfarmers. Melissa had always had a lot to do with coastal Victoria, with parents, grandparents and other relatives owning properties in various locations and times along the coast from Peterborough to Anglesea. In 2006, she and Mark moved from Parkville to

She has worked at several different real estates agencies, from Geelong to Lorne, in many different capacities. In overseeing the office in Anglesea, she has been able to help people realise their real estate goals, whether they be vendors, purchasers, leasers or renters, as well as supporting fellow staff members. Melissa acknowledges that it is nice to work close to home, but her highlights of her three-and-a-half years with Hayden's have been witnessing firsthand the satisfaction of helping people achieve positive outcomes. When I asked Melissa if she had a preference for a sale of a property or an auction, her response was that she had no preference as it was dependent on personal circumstances, the reason for their decision to sell and the property itself. The relationship between the vendor and the real estate agent is really important to her. “The right fit for them will get a positive result.”

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TWITCHERS’ CORNER Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Banking on our Community By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank ®

Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta Other names: Scissors Grinder, Dishlick, Crested Wagtail Size: 16-21 cm The Restless Flycatcher can be confused with a Willy Wagtail. It is black and white and similar in appearance. The difference is mainly that it has a white throat and no white marks on the black head plumage. In appearance, it is a neat and tidy bird. Back, including wings and tail, is glossy black with a steel-blue or bottlegreen sheen. Head, sides of neck and a patch in front of the eyes, bluish-black. The whole under-surface from the chin downwards and under tail-coverts is clear white. Eyes dark brown, bill and legs black. The female is not as glossy as the male and has a rust coloured throat. They tend to prefer open forests and lightly wooded pastures, parks and orchards. Though resident throughout the area of distribution, they appear more conspicuous in the spring and summer as it is then that the characteristic grinding notes are heard, while it hovers a few feet above the ground in search of insects and, at the same time, frequently erecting a semicrest.

The Anglesea and District Bendigo Community Bank has made some more significant contributions to the area in the first month of 2020, pushing the total funding for community projects in the region to more than $1 million. A recent funding grant of $10,000 to the Anglesea Surf Lifesaving Club will assist in the construction of a new firstaid room to help keep beach-goers safe while enjoying the sun and surf. This is part of a major development that will continue to make the region’s beach experience more pleasurable for locals and visitors alike. The Roo Run organised by the Anglesea Motor Yacht Club was a huge success again, and the Community Bank sponsored the ‘Grommet Gallop’ with $4000 towards the event. This is one of many similar attractions for the country’s best athletes to come to the Surf Coast and compete for prizes, but it also allows all-ability participants of any age to have a go, and help make for a happier and healthier lifestyle for all. The Community Bank also continued the ongoing support of the ‘Triples for Triers’ barefoot bowls tournament, played over five weeks through January and February, bringing teams from local businesses, friends and clubs together. It’s all in the name of fun, but also gives the club much-needed access to funds and introduces prospective new players to the game.

The main diet consists of a variety of insects, spiders, moths, butterflies and caterpillars. Apart from their better known call, they also have a sweet double whistle and, at times, a harsh, bleat-like call. The nest is generally found at the extremity of a limb, usually in a eucalypt. and is composed of strips of bark bound and consolidated with spider webs and decorated with lichen. Fur and hair is used to line the nest.

Breeding season is from July to January. Three or four eggs are laid, are oval in shape and white to buffy-white, with purple or chestnut spots in an irregular band at the larger end. The chicks hatch after about 14 days. Ref: The Australian Bird Guide – Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers, Rohan Clarke, Jeff Davies, Peter Marsack, Kim Franklin.

Triples for Triers winners with bank manager Jeremy Morris

The Community Bank would like to encourage community groups to look into the possibility of receiving funding for projects that may be planned during 2020. If you have any questions regarding the way grants are distributed, drop into the Community Bank branch, or call Rob Cameron on 0435 528 850 for further assistance.

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HISTORY SPOT

Netherby Plaque to be Erected at Point Roadknight By Jan Morris, Anglesea & District Historical Society

It was July 1866, when four men beached an old whaling boat on our coast and gave an old man, caring for a herd of sheep, the fright of his life. They were four young men who had rowed and sailed the boat from King Island. They needed to alert authorities that the immigrant ship, the Netherby, had been wrecked on King Island. This left 413 passengers and 38 crew stranded, without food or shelter. All on board had managed to get to shore. There were no lives lost. But they were almost at the opposite end of the island from the Cape Wickham lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper, his assistants and his family were the only inhabitants of King Island at that time. Food and shelter were major logistical problems for the Captain and crew of the Netherby. The lighthouse was their only hope of survival. So, six strong young men, led by second officer John B.H. Parry, set off to walk over 48 kilometres of rough country, to alert the lighthouse keeper of their peril. It took them three and half days to walk to the lighthouse. When they arrived, they discovered the cable to the mainland had been broken for several years. The only food the family had was enough for themselves. Any idea of feeding nearly 450 people was

totally out of the question. The lighthouse keeper gave Parry an old open whaling boat with oars and a small sail. Parry took three passengers Attwood, Bluett and Springett, and they set out for Port Phillip rowing and sailing. During the night, they were blown off course. All they had to plot their course by was a small compass that Painting by Jason Roberts of the Netherby wrecked on rocks. they read by striking a Did he think it was Roadknight Point match every few hours. At daylight because it was close to Roadknight’s they were relieved to see land. It took home? Was it Point Roadknight that some time before they saw a small bay had been named after William where they were able to beach their Roadknight, father of Thomas boat. Their luck was in, they saw an old Roadknight? Historians have tried shepherd caring for a flock of sheep. unsuccessfully to identify the exact spot. As no one lived close by, he was terrified before he understood what they wanted. The shepherd directed them to a survey party from Louttit Bay (Lorne). The surveyor in charge, Mr Allan, loaned Parry a horse and guide, which enabled him to ride to Queenscliff to give the alarm. He then went to Geelong and took the train to Melbourne. The other three men were taken to the home of Thomas Roadknight. Immediately the alarm had been raised, the boat ‘Victoria’ was loaded with food and basic necessities and started out towards King Island. It was closely followed by the ‘Pharos’.

Second Officer John B.G. Parry (credit: Netherby website netherby.homestead.com) 26

The mystery is, just where did Parry beach that whaling boat? In 1866, Thomas Roadknight was leasing the Aire station west of Angahook. Parry said the place he landed was at Roadknight Point.

The Netherby Association, made up of descendants of those wrecked at King Island in 1866, wish to erect a memorial to Parry and his crew to commemorate their bravery. They want to place it at Point Roadknight. What Parry and the others did was indeed brave and deserves to be remembered. Where they landed cannot be identified specifically, but it was certainly somewhere along our coast that they landed. The wording on the memorial will not specify the exact landing spot. The Netherby Association has asked the Anglesea & District Historical Society to assist them in having a commemorative plaque erected. We will keep you posted on our progress. Reference: The Netherby Shipwreck Website

netherby.homestead.com

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Tech Angle By Chris Dos

A WORD ABOUT ...

Although it has been around for a few years already, TikTok is currently the world’s fastest-growing social media platform. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a bit of a cross between Instagram and youtube – featuring ultrashort video clips to share, imitate and judge. You simply select a few types of content you like and follow particular users, then the AI does the rest, presenting a never-ending stream of clips that are in line with your interests. Among the most popular are lip-synching and dancing, animals doing cute things, various ‘challenges’ (people doing stupid/dangerous things) and ‘science’ (see previous description). Like some kind of digital ‘patient zero’, it has become THE place from where things ‘go viral’. The owners of TikTok know they are on a winner in terms of user engagement (with mostly 13-24 year olds) and its greatest influencers will be able to monetise their popularity. Music also plays a prominent role. Unknowns, up to the Justin Bieber’s of the world, are using it as a launching pad into the mainstream. Dance crazes like the ‘renegade’ are saturating the schoolyards. Any person wanting their 15 seconds of fame* can have unlimited attempts at it here. And if you’re not satisfied with simply giving someone's post the ‘thumbs up’, you can paste your own ‘react’ clip over the original. Having explored the inexhaustible volume of content available in the name of ‘research’, I think it’s the very fleeting yet infinite nature of the content that not only makes it vaguely unsatisfying but also distorts your perception of time. Ironically, you watch longer because they are so short. Critics are worried about its passive nature and fear that it is eroding young people’s attention spans. With privacy being another concern, parental engagement is required. Those of us who supervise young users need to be involved and have an awareness of the potential drawbacks of this platform and the controls available to make sure the experience is both fun and safe. *apologies to Andy Warhol NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Community Corner NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

Fire Lines By Tony Revell Anglesea CFA

Have You Considered Becoming an Anglesea Operational CFA Volunteer?

ANGLESEA SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB REDEVELOPMENT PROGRESSES Since works commenced in July 2019, progress has continually exceeded the contractor’s program and, barring any unforeseen issues, will be finished around end of June. When completed, the building will provide the club with a training and operations facility consistent with today’s needs, as well as a facility available for wider community use outside the core lifesaving period.

Readers can keep abreast of progress by hooking into the time-lapse camera that updates several times each day. Go to https://www.littlesnitch.io/209j1005/ to get a birds-eye view, or walk past and see how the building is taking place.

The Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club is excited to see how this facility can assist the wider Anglesea community groups, schools and individuals.

The plans are available at www.angleseaslsc.org.au, along with an animation that takes you on a tour through the new building.

The Anglesea Fire Brigade is currently seeking new members who are interested in a challenge, with the reward of helping the community. We are a volunteer organisation that relies on Anglesea people who want to create a safer community, protect people, property and our environment. Without volunteers, your brigade wouldn’t exist. Our members are a diverse group of men and women of all ages and come with varied backgrounds, interests and skills. The common thread is that we all seek to make a difference and contribute to the Anglesea community. Volunteers can make a difference in more ways than one and may become involved in a variety of activities. Operationally, we responded to 100 incidents within our region last year, including fires, motor vehicle accidents and support to other emergency services. We have also contributed significantly to the firefighting efforts in Gippsland. In addition to operational responses, we are active in fire prevention, community education, brigade admin and fundraising. It is not necessary to have experience to join our brigade. We will provide you with the skills needed for operational roles. CFA volunteers receive nationally recognised and accredited training courses that can be beneficial in both personal and employment environments. Interested in finding out more? An information session will be held at the Anglesea Fire Station on Thursday, 30 April, at 7pm. You’ll have the opportunity to meet other volunteers, ask questions and tour the station. Volunteering information is also available from CFA at www.cfa.vic.gov.au

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

Caroline Lathamâ€™s snipe sculpture was inspired by the coast.

Coastal Sculpture Exhibition Set for Anglesea Art Space The Greater Geelong Sculptors Inc will be holding an exhibition of sculpture inspired by the coast, at the Anglesea Art Space over Easter this year. Open daily from Friday, 3 April, to Sunday, 19 April, from 10am â€“ 5pm, visitors will discover artworks in bronze, ceramics, metals, natural fibres, mixed media, stone, glass, jewellery and more.

The group has been exhibiting around the greater Geelong region for close to 20 years. It has over 70 members, and is currently working on a number of exciting proposals for its members. Come along and chat with the exhibiting artists who will be gallery-sitting during the exhibition. ALL WELCOME to the grand opening on Friday, 3 April, from 6-8pm. Art Space is located at 203 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea. Enquiries to geelongsculptorsinc@gmail.com

Photo by John Lenegan NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

COMMUNITY CORNER

The Sound Doctor Presents … The Sound Doctor crew will be warming up your winter with two very different shows in June. On Friday, 19 June, much-loved Melbourne garage group Eddy Current Suppression Ring will be strutting its stuff in a show that is guaranteed to be a sell out! Then, on Saturday 20 June, Mama Kin Spender returns to play – but this time they’ll be working with Anglesea and Aireys Inlet choir members who’ll provide the backing vocals for the show.

Mama Kin Spender’s ‘Sound of Your Town’ is a fantastic project that offers some of our talented locals a chance to work and perform with a professional group. And the results are sure to be beautiful! The 2020 Sound Doctor Presents season kicks off with a long weekend of three huge shows featuring two all-female supergroups – Dyson Stringer Cloher (Thu 26 & Fri 27 March) and Seeker Lover Keeper (Sat 28 March).

Eddy Current Suppression Ring is set to perform in Anglesea this June, presented by The Sound Doctor.

The Sound Doctor Presents first hit Anglesea back in May 2017 and this

volunteer-run group has been bringing incredible music to town ever since. 2019 was a bumper year, with four music-filled weekends, featuring the likes of Australian icon Archie Roach, New York star Joan A s Police W oman and the beautiful voices of Alice Skye, Emily Wurramara, Didirri and New Zealand’s Tiny Ruins. Our local hall even turned into a rock venue for the Milk! Records Goes Coastal, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks and Olympia shows. With the first shows for 2020 locked in, there is no sign that the Doctor is easing up on the good times. Tickets to The Sound Doctor Presents June shows will be on sale very soon, with more music to come in August and October. Be the first in the know by signing up to the mailing list at thesounddoctor.info.

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COMMUNITY CORNER

AIREYS INLET COMMUNITY GARDEN CELEBRATES 10 YEARS This year, the Aireys Inlet Community Garden is celebrating 10 years of growing food, friendships and community. We have both communal garden beds, from which all members can harvest and help maintain, as well as privately rented plots. Herb beds and a citrus grove, outside the fence, link us to our community and make produce available to all. There is something for everyone to do, and new members and visitors are always welcome. More information, including monthly newsletters, is available from our website (aireyscommunitygarden.weebly.com) or you can email us at communitygarden3231@gmail.com. Working bees are held fortnightly, and alternate between Saturdays and Sundays. Dates for the first half of this year are: Saturday 4 April, Sunday 19 April, Saturday 2 May, Sunday 17 May, Saturday 6 June, Sunday 21 June. Come along to find out more about what we do, any time between 9am and 12.30pm on our working bee days. Youâ€™ll find us at 2 Fraser Drive, Aireys Inlet.

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Doing it for the Kids (and the Bigger Kids!) Kangaroo Tours at the Anglesea Golf Club have become a great outing for locals and their families, as much as for visitors. Each day, from 10am to 4pm, our volunteer Tour Guides take you on a guided nature tour for 25 minutes to be up close with our beloved Australian Grey Kangaroos.

You’ll learn about Melbourne University’s research program, kangaroo life cycles, local bird life and more. Our recent ‘Kangaroo Pop Up’ at the top of the 18th fairway has attracted much attention for a ‘photo’ stop after a meal or a tour. Locals and their guests can also enjoy 10 percent off at the bistro when they take a tour.

Lioness Club Raises $4000 for Breast Cancer The Lioness Club of Anglesea has been very busy during the past few months with numerous fundraising activities and community events. We are always grateful to the community, the Lions Club, the Bendigo Bank and local businesses for their wonderful support. The Pink Ribbon Lunch held at the Bowling Club in October was a sea of pink outfits. The amazing raffles, beautiful lunch and interesting speaker raised $4000, which was shared between the Breast Cancer Foundation, McGrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Network.

Riverside Market Day, Street Stall and BBQ and Australia Day breakfast. The seafood raffle at the Riverside Market is always a very desirable prize. The funds raised from these events are distributed to local junior sporting groups, Anglesea Primary School and other Lions Clubsponsored activities, such as bushfire relief.

The Lioness Club members enjoy being part of the fabric of our community and welcome any ladies who may be interested in participating in our activities, where we share friendship and fun, while supporting our community. Contact can be made by email to anglesealionessclub@gmail.com or mail to 32 Murray Street, Anglesea, 3230.

The Torquay Bookshop was asked by the Lioness Club to present a Book Event at the Community House. Many Christmas gift ideas were shown and available for purchase. A lovely supper provided by the Lioness Club was enjoyed after the presentation. Spending time with families living with a child who is ill with cancer is always humbling. The camp, run by Camp Quality for these families, held at Anglesea Caravan Park, and catered for by the Lions and Lioness Clubs, is a special time for them and us. The weather was very kind to them and they enjoyed time on the beach. January is always a busy time with so many interesting visitors to our town and we enjoy their company at our NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

COMMUNITY CORNER

Anglesea Cricket Club Launches ‘Deck Drive’ By Trenton Little

The Anglesea Cricket Club has a long history, having first played games down at the foreshore caravan park before moving up to Ellimatta Reserve in the late 1970s. The club prides itself on being a hardworking, family club, which relies on the help of wonderful volunteers who spend countless hours making the club what it is today.

the Surf Coast Shire Council to build new change rooms, which we completed in 2018. However, there is one last bit we need to complete the project. This is to build a deck out the front of the clubrooms, to enhance match-day viewing.

With a big focus on junior cricket, we encourage players through the junior age groups to make a smooth transition into the senior teams. This has proven successful in recent times, with our recent A-Grade premierships consisting mostly of home-grown young talent. Due to the small size of the club, it’s been hard to attract funding when needed and so we, as a committee, have had to use our money wisely. Over the years, the club has saved and paid for the following:  Clubrooms, constructed in 1977/78  Extension to the rooms to create a small kitchen and storeroom in 1985  Expansion of the kitchen as the club grew in size  Extension of the rooms in 1994  Recycled water, including 500m of pipeline from sewerage plant  Ground drainage  Sprinkler system

 The building of a retaining wall around the ground

Anglesea’s cricket premiership team from 2015/16 boasted 10 home-grown locals from the 12 players.

The work that the club puts in doesn’t stop at Ellimatta Reserve ... it also branches out to the community, as shown by the club installing a cricket pitch at the Anglesea Primary School. All this hard work – maintaining a good club culture; a healthy junior cricket program (starting from Woolworths ‘cricket blast’, through to U17); and onfield success throughout all the grades; has seen us ranked top three for cricket ovals in the Geelong region. With a lot of persistence and hard work, we managed to get a little bit of funding from the Cricket Victoria Grants and

For this to happen, we are looking to raise $20,000, and so we are asking the community, players, families and the members of the club for donations to help us reach this target and get the project completed. The ‘Deck Drive’ has three categories for donations: Bronze $200 / Silver $500 / Gold $700 If you, your business, or someone you know, would like to make a donation to the Anglesea Cricket Club’s Deck Drive, please contact Trenton Little on 0421 473 460. Everyone that donates to the Deck Drive will have their name on the Deck’s honour board to recognise their contribution.

 Laying the original pitch, resurfacing the pitch and all the up-keeping of the pitches  Installing the pitch on the football oval, and also at Anglesea Primary School  Building of sight screens  Recent renovations to the sight screens

 Laying of turf  Updating nets  Building the picket fence  Mowing and up-keep of the ground, including the equipment needed to do it … from the beginning in 1970s, to early 2000, when the Surf Coast Shire Council took over this responsibility.

Anglesea Cricket Club has evolved from its original construction in the 1970s, with the committee now fundraising in the hope they can add a deck to the rooms.

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Police Beat By Sergeant John Digby Station Commander Anglesea Police Station Well, we have just been through the busy December/January period and, from a police perspective, there were generally no major issues. There were a couple of Total Fire Ban Days where we assisted CFA and Parks Vic to ensure maximum preparedness. Crime has been minimal in Anglesea over the last few months. I would encourage members of the community to report any incidents or suspicious behaviour as it occurs. This can be done in a number of ways:

Is it true that weâ€™ll soon see a new (old) police car cruising the streets of Anglesea? Not according to Sergeant John Digby. This was a replica driven through town over summer by a visitor from South Australia, whoâ€™d spent many hours (and much money) doing it up to replicate the original police vehicles from England in the early days.

Call 000 If you require police to attend. It does not matter what time of day or night, we have coverage 24 hours on the Surf Coast.

Call 131 444 The Police Assistance Line (PAL). The PAL can send emails to the appropriate police/area, do reports for lost property or crime, which can be followed up in the following days. I find this works well with lost property and non-urgent crime.

Victoria Police website police.vic.gov.au You can lodge reports online for lost property or property-related crime.

Call Anglesea Police Station T: 5263 3468 If we are working, we are normally out and about patrolling and not sitting in at the police station, unless we have correspondence to complete. We divert the landline phone to our mobile phone. If we are not working and you leave a message, then we will retrieve it when working next, which could be up to a couple of days.

Crimestoppers Vic 1800 333 000 You can report anonymously any information about a crime or drug trafficking. With reported crime, I find in a lot of cases that houses and vehicles are left unlocked, making it easier for offenders. You should get in to the habit of locking doors and vehicles. NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

Surf Coast Shire News

By Margot Smith, Councillor, Anglesea Ward

I’m sure many agree that a more significant and urgent climate change response is required at local, national and global level. This summer has been extraordinary with drought and fires, followed by saturating and storms. The warming climate is already increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events and this is expected to worsen. The advice from leading climate scientists is that we need an emergency response to rapidly slow the rate of global warming and adapt to the impacts we are already experiencing. In August last year, the Surf Coast Shire accepted a community petition seeking leadership on climate change and agreed to declare a climate emergency. This declaration commits

Council to developing a Climate Emergency Response and to establish and pursue environmental targets for energy, emissions, waste, water, land use and biodiversity.

what can be done around landfill – our waste. There is a regional/metro divide on many matters, but on climate it is even starker, with metro Councils often in a position to fund emission reduction projects, but not having the physical capacity to undertake such projects.

I was fortunate to attend the National Climate Emergency Summit in Melbourne in February and hear from many that lead the debate and action on climate in this country.

Some of the summit sessions were uplifting, telling the stories of grass roots action, and others just darn right scary – what sort of world will our kids, and their kids inherit if we don’t live a more sustainable life?

Local government was well represented with many looking at how they can help communities transition to renewable energy; how transport, particularly public transport can be improved to reduce emissions; and

So my thoughts continue to be about how I can reduce my footprint – use less, waste less, recycle more, and grow vegetables. It might seem to be an insurmountable problem but we have to start somewhere.

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Write Angles By Melva Stott

Long-term Reunion I met with a group of Anglesea friends for an 80th birthday. We enjoyed it so much, reminiscing over 40 years of past escapades, we decided to meet every month. Before I left, I gave them a bit of a shock by saying, “Now I have a lot of interesting stuff to put in NewsA ngle”. (But I will use a small amount of decorum and taste.)

More on Plastic A NewsA ngle reader suggested, to avoid plastic newspaper wrap, I should collect my papers from the shop. I'm nearly 80 and don't drive, so I'm not signing up to climb the hill every day, in all weathers. When Stan was not well, and after he died, having the papers delivered at 4am helped me to survive, as I could escape into them for a while. This isn't just my problem; one person walking isn't going to solve anything. What the town doesn't need is hundreds of cars driven to the newsagent each day causing problems with parking and pollution.

Brexit Down Under My son suggested finding an English-style pub somewhere in Victoria for a Brexit dinner (we do crazy stuff like that). I said to Google the Shakespeare Hotel in Stratford, Gippsland. He couldn't find the pub, but he found his mother! He unearthed photos of me in Elizabethan town-crier costume from the days

when Stan and I were the faces of their Shakespeare Festival … it seems we still are.

Selling Poppies Before Remembrance Day, I sat-in for a friend on the Poppy table. The weather was a tad iffy, but we were given hot coffee. I got to know my friend's friend as we chatted together, and traded comments with passers-by. It was like street theatre, except that we remained in place and the audience wandered around. It was so good, I'm going to volunteer for Anzac Day.

Anglesea birds The peaceful atmosphere was shattered when about 40 garrolous sulpha-crested cockatoos swarmed out of nowhere in a panic-stricken aerial stampede off to the north-east. The last time I'd seen something like that it came just before a cyclone swept across the Otways. This time it was followed by a wedgetail eagle desperately flapping away to the northwest, pursued by a dozen, unrelenting, plucky ravens determined to see it off their patch, and make it think twice about coming back. But those squawking, chaotic cockies had done nothing to help – they were only interested in saving their own feathers … I suppose it does take all sorts to weave the rich fabric of life. Keep smiling! Melva Stott

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Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at the YMCA

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