NewsAngle Issue142 Winter, 2020

PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLESEA COMMUNITY HOUSE

ISSUE 142 WINTER 2020

Photo by Patrick Callow In the ‘graveyard for icebergs' off the Lemaire Channel, during Barbara Evans’ recent cruise to Antarctica.

A Voyage to Remember

By Barbara Evans

I had been wanting to go to Antarctica for some years, so when friends returned in late January and spoke about their spectacular trip, I went home, got online and within 24 hours had impulsively booked both the next Antarctic trip on the Greg Mortimer cruise ship and the necessary air flights to get to the tip of South America!

Most other passengers had booked two years earlier to get on that trip.

I flew out of Melbourne on 14 March, arriving in Ushuaia, Argentina, after about 30 hours of exhausting travel – on the morning the ship departed. I had made it!

Community Houses are for Everyone

Highlights The Mermaids

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Love in the time of Corona

8

Hoodies … why bother?

12

Anglesea Rock Choir

14

All the passengers – about 120 of us (the majority Australian) – had our temperature taken and we boarded the ship.

Repair Café

16

Prue Blackney profile

18

The Check Up

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My cabin was spacious and lovely – with a sliding door to the balcony and

Book Reviews

25

Community Corner

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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

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By the Committee of Management, Anglesea Community House

There have been a number of changes in everyone’s lives over the past couple of months ... changes in all households, including having to work from home, not being able to work, still having to go to work, not being able to play sport, remote schooling, being separated from family and friends and many other challenges.

We have seen so many amazing acts of kindness during this time and also many calls for help.

There have been numerous people in our community working to ensure that, as a community, we look after each other in these times of need.

Community members have come together to help support people, offering food relief, housing, basic needs, supporting businesses and generally looking out for each other.

Anglesea Community House continues to work behind the scenes, alongside generous individuals, community groups, local businesses and the Surf Coast Shire Council, to help rebuild the social fabric and connections that have been impacted by this pandemic.

We know that some people are chomping at the bit to return to a more interactive social life, while others have increased anxiety about risks to their safety.

Recovery requires the rebuilding of social connections and relationships, and the single most important contributing factor is self-organising community groups.

In Anglesea, this highlights the roles of the Community House with its many activities and programs, and its very active subsidiary groups , including the Men’s Shed, Community Garden and Community Choir.

Such groups can be the touchpoints for informal engagement, for they’re welcoming places that encourage informal exchanges, where we can let people talk, while making sure that we are LISTENING. We look forward to playing an integral part in the recovery phase of the pandemic by continuing to bring people together, albeit under our ‘new normal’ and continuing to build and grow community spirit.

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

Deadlines Issue:

143

Casual ad bookings:

3 Aug

Articles/Contributions:

5 Aug

Subject to availability of space Distribution:

15 Sept

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

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A Voyage to Remember > continued from page 1

an ocean view. Two days crossing the Drake Passage wasn’t too rough and only a few got seasick – not me.

Lots of sea birds and different albatrosses accompanied us.

We made many landings by zodiac on the Antarctic Peninsula – Neko and Paradise Harbours, Danco Island and Portal Point, Port de Charcot – and sailed through the Lemaire Channel and the ‘graveyard for icebergs’. Stunning – absolutely beautiful!

Then, just over a week into our trip, a passenger became ‘unwell’ with a high temperature and was confined to a medical isolation room. (Throughout our trip, I should say that the ship had been scrupulous in its hygiene requirements.) In a few days, more passengers developed fevers and there was some concern about coronavirus.

Ten days into the trip, at one of our daily briefings, we were ALL confined to our cabins ...

The crew and expedition team were wonderful – they provided food to our

The Greg Mortimer ship. Image: www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com

cabins (and endless awful movies – which I watched) but we were not allowed out and our temperatures were measured daily.

While this was happening, ports and airports around the world began closing, and the captain then began to find a way to get us home. Argentina, where we were supposed to disembark, had closed its ports, so we headed for the Falklands.

Being British, we thought it should be okay – but by the time we got there, they too had closed their ports. Most flights across the Pacific had also now

been cancelled. Some suggested sailing directly back to Australia, but the captain wisely decided that if he had seriously ill passengers (and crew also by this stage) he didn’t want to be in the middle of the Pacific.

We then headed north to wonderful Uruguay where the authorities at Montevideo had agreed to help us. We arrived at anchor about 12km outside the port. The Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires and the Uruguay government organised for medical teams to bring on board COVID-19 testing kits – and then we got the awful news that almost 70 percent of the passengers and crew tested positive!!

By supreme good fortune (and my normal germ-phobic behaviour) I tested negative throughout. Temperatures began to be taken twice a day.

Several particularly ill passengers were transported to an excellent hospital in Montevideo. Some crew members were also taken to hospital, one of whom very tragically died sometime later.

Two passengers still remained in hospital in Montevideo at the beginning of May – very unwell, but recovering slowly.

We remained at anchor, outside Montevideo, for the next three weeks or so, still confined to our cabins, which was by now getting rather boring. I am now very good at Sudoku. I had some electronic books to read, and had tried and failed miserably to keep up with any exercise. We had been given free 4

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internet, but reception in the middle of the Atlantic wasn't great.

police escorts, sirens and crowds waving to us with flags and torches from balconies all along the route.

Wonderful!

Then, with the help of the ‘local’ Australian Embassy, the passengers began chatting through a ‘WhatsApp’ group.

Arriving back in Melbourne on the morning of 12 April, we were transported to the Rydges Hotel in Carlton for our obligatory fortnight of quarantine.

I must say this kept everyone largely sane, most of the time, and I came to know the other passengers very well.

With many being COVID positive, we managed the stresses of being isolated for so long in very different ways.

Barbara Evans flying home from her cruise in Antarctica after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Some were always humorous, some angry, some helpful, some wanting someone to blame, some looking forward, some flipped between being positive and then highly anxious.

Meanwhile, the ship’s company (Aurora) and the governments of Uruguay and Australia negotiated with various airlines to find a way to get us home. Unlike the many other stranded travellers, we were a particular problem since so many passengers were COVID -19 positive. In the end, they were successful in arranging for our medical evacuation on 10 April.

Indeed, our WhatsApp chat would make a good book about the different ways that people manage in stressful situations.

We left the ship under extreme quarantine (and segregated into four ‘state-of-health’ groups) and travelled through the city of Montevideo with

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At last we were home. We could speak with our families and begin to plan ahead but, of course, it was another two weeks’ isolation, with guards outside our doors. In some ways this was the hardest because we were so close. I did find some daily online Pilates classes to get my body working again.

At last, I was let out on Sunday, 26 April, and headed quickly down to my Fairhaven home. I collected my wonderful Border Collie dog en route and have now uncovered my completely overgrown vegetable garden and started planting again.

What an adventure!

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Mermaids Take the Plunge

By Moreen Dainty

Winter has arrived but that doesn’t seem to dissuade a small band of women who, most days of the year, make their way to Anglesea beach for an early morning swim.

Locally they are known as ‘The Mermaids’ and they have been meeting like this for more than 10 years. I spoke to one of the founding members, Marg Sheehan, to find out more.

We catch up over the internet using Zoom. It’s early May and the State is still in lockdown. I ask what affect this situation, and the recent cold wintry blasts of weather, have had on her resolve to get down to the surf by 7.30 each day?

“I don’t even think about it. Getting up and going for a swim are just part of my routine,” says Marg. “And it’s been the most wonderful release during the coronavirus restrictions.”

She explains that the beach stayed open to locals who wanted to exercise, provided they were well spread out.

They’ve had to adapt – staggering their start times, leaving their bags spaced out at the fence, not hanging about afterwards like they used to do.

Marg is in her early 70s, a retired special-needs teacher. She and her husband made a sea-change more than 14 years ago, exchanging a sheep and

The Mermaids (pre-social distancing!) L-R: Chris, Jeannie, Judy, Gabe, Lynne, Jane, Alannah, Jill & Marg (missing are regulars: Sue, Sheryll, Donna, Jayne, Yvonne & Caroline)

wheat farm in the Wimmera, for a house close to the sea.

“When we moved here, I enjoyed walking on the front beach of Anglesea every morning. I was joined by a friend of mine, Alanna Boston,” says Marg.

“I often found myself looking out at the ocean, wondering what it would feel like to be out there. I told her of this

pull I felt to jump in. Not long after, she rang and announced she would collect me the next day.

“Together, we were going to ‘Take The Plunge’. I tried to resist, but she insisted.

“The first three mornings were very challenging! I complained and said it was too cold, too hard and I’d rather be out of the water! And then I was HOOKED. Soon it became addictive.

“We swam through the winter months.

We were ‘living the dream’ and felt sorry for all those people sitting at home in front of their fires, missing out.”

Afterwards, another friend, Judy Nancarrow, joined them and the idea of creating the Mermaid group began.

“Over the years, beachgoers have seen us chatting and laughing and have asked if they can join in. Nowadays, in summer, there can be as many as 14 of us body-surfing to the shore.”

“We don’t go out far. We just walk to about upper waist height and then we have a chat. You can feel the sea currents move and pick up speed around you and then, when a wave comes, you break off and leap forward.

“Really, it’s wonderful. Such a thrill.

Then we just go back and do it all over again.

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A magnificent sunrise at Anglesea beach is enjoyed by the ‘Mermaids’, who swim every morning of the year.

“We attract all kinds of different people, from all walks of life. What we share is a love of the sea. The braver stalwarts amongst us – Judy Nancarrow, Helen Kingston, Chris Flannery and Sue Pescott – rarely miss a day and they swim through the winter months.”

As she chats, I notice how healthy her skin is, how happy she looks when she talks about her many Mermaid friends.

They keep in contact via ‘WhatsApp’ and, in better times, sometimes over coffee at the Surf Club after their swim.

They celebrate each other’s birthdays and, when it is a very special, once-adecade-type occasion, some are willing to really pull out all the stops.

Mermaids have been known to swing their suits above their heads in celebration and enjoy a few moments swimming around starkers. Clearly age has no barrier when it comes to enjoying the feeling of water flowing unfettered around one’s body!

And cold-water swimming, it turns out, activates temperature receptors under the skin that release hormones such as endorphins, adrenalin and cortisol.

In addition to the social side, however, there are clear mental and physical health benefits to such frolics in the sea.

“There is nothing quite like the anticipation of walking on the beach, seeing and hearing the waves and watching the sun rise.

Exercising in a natural environment like this can be hugely restorative, calming our breathing and our minds.

Today, there is a growing body of medical research to suggest sea minerals can help treat a variety of skin and respiratory conditions.

The Mermaids enjoy their regular morning swim at Anglesea beach, with some of them keeping it up every day of the year.

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Which takes me back to Marg and the exhilaration she feels when she takes the plunge.

“The feeling of freedom, diving into the surf, fighting the pull of the undertow and back pull and getting ready for your next powerful ride.”

“It’s such an energising, refreshing way to celebrate the start of each new day.”

Founding member Marg Sheehan (left) with fellow Mermaid Judy Nancarrow.

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Love in the Time of Corona

By Mary Bremner

As we sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to bring in 2020, who would have believed anyone who said that, within three months, we would be banned from leaving our homes, except for certain approved purposes, that police would be patrolling our towns and fining anyone who couldn’t explain themselves, and that schools would be closed?

It would have been impossible to imagine that we would go into Autumn with the AFL competition suspended.

The idea that we would be asked to work and do school from home would have been laughable and the suggestion that many of us would lose our jobs, too bad to be true.

The impact of COVID-19 (standing for COrona VIrus Disease of 2019) dawned on us gradually. The Great Ocean Road fell quiet after flights from China were blocked. We enjoyed having the road to ourselves until we realised the impact on local businesses that rely on this flow of visitors.

There was a lot of confusion initially as the restrictions were placed on large gatherings. The organisers of the Aireys Inlet Open Mic Festival found themselves in a no-win situation – criticised for being fool-hardy if they went ahead and criticised for overreacting if they cancelled. Music lovers enjoyed a modified version of the festival, which turned out to be the last public entertainment to take place in our towns for some time.

It’s been said that the threat of COVID brought out the best and the worst in people. Before long, our feelings of confusion were tinged with fear. While knowing there was no logic to it, many fell victim to the panic buying that swept the nation. Within days, the shelves of IGA in Anglesea were stripped of toilet paper, flour, pasta and tinned vegetables.

The media brought news from Italy and other parts of Europe and we knew this virus wasn’t going to be confined to China. We saw terrifying images of hospitals that were completely overloaded and felt the anguish of doctors forced to choose who to save and who to leave to die. We realised that this could be us, if we didn’t play our part.

Our state government acted decisively to stop the spread of the virus and the term ‘social distancing’ entered our vernacular. The message at Easter was clear – people were asked to stay home.

We saw our Mayor, Cr Rose Hodge, on television reinforcing this message.

Beaches were ‘closed’ but locals could still enjoy a walk, swim and surf.

Posts appeared on the towns’ community Facebook pages telling our seasonal visitors they weren’t welcome.

There was concern about a growing division between locals and holiday house owners.

The Surf Coast Shire Council moved early, closing all public buildings and recreational facilities before it was a requirement. The ‘closure’ of beaches meant groups could no longer gather there, but locals could still walk their dogs, surf and swim. There was relief that shire officers were sympathetic to the needs of coastal residents and that our governments were doing their best to keep us safe.

Anxiety of a different kind gripped parents of school-aged children.

Aireys Inlet residents smiled as billboards popped up around town such as ‘Love (heart) Iso in Aireys’ and ‘Keep Calm and Isolate’.

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Lisa, at the Aireys Inlet post office, dealt cheerfully with customers collecting armloads of parcels ordered online.

“Once it was announced that, at the beginning of Term 2, students were to engage in flexible remote learning from home, I think many parents were anxious, especially those parents who were juggling working from home themselves,” reported Principal of Aireys Inlet Primary School, Jen Abel.

The uncertainty of the situation was

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Visitors were asked to ‘Stay Home’ during the peak of lockdown.

difficult for the children, parents and teachers. Anglesea Primary School principal Murray Surkitt commented, “Maybe they were thinking what I was thinking – when will we see each other again?”

Our business owners showed resilience and resourcefulness in the face of enormous challenges. Pharmacies and supermarkets felt the brunt of panic buying and set about methodically introducing the measures that would keep everyone safe.

“We were concerned about our staff and wanted to be sure they were comfortable,” said co-owner of the Aireys Inlet General Store, Vayia Kambouris.

Hand-washing and sanitising and following the arrows became part of shoppers’ routines as we kept our distance from staff and fellow customers.

Anglesea IGA was the first to erect the

Aireys Pharmacy supported locals in-store and with home deliveries.

Perspex screen to halt the path of virusbearing sprays between customers and staff. At first confronting, it was amazing how quickly we came to accept it.

Confined to home, self-sufficiency became the challenge, with bread baking, vegetable gardens flourishing and DIY projects taken off the backburner.

Forced to close to the public, many of our cafés and restaurants developed take-away menus. We started to see an up-side to our confinement, enjoying restaurant dinners in the comforts of home and having pizzas and frozen meals delivered to the door.

The video-conferencing site Zoom became our friend as community groups, churches and families turned to technology to replace face-to-face communication.

Some of us old enough to remember when home delivery was the norm, reveled in the nostalgia of having everything from hardware to books, bread to DVDs, dropped at our doors.

Post Office staff dealt cheerfully with drones of customers collecting armloads of parcels ordered online.

The Surf Coast Shire established Community Support groups in each town, with the aim of disseminating information from Council and receiving feedback from the community about our needs. The ability to communicate directly with our shire councillors and receive accurate information about avenues of support helped calm the initial feelings of fear and anxiety.

A phase of compliance and acceptance arrived, as Surf Coast residents settled into this new way of being. Many started to admit they were enjoying the slower pace of life.

At one meeting, it was observed that there was a large number of rather intimidating signs about our towns.

‘Avoid COVID-19, Stay Home’ greeted motorists on arrival.

The Aireys Inlet General Store was one of many local businesses that went to great lengths to help ensure safety and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic, with signs, screens and an external handwashing facility for customers.

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Playgrounds were closed (above left) and members of the Community Garden were reminded to wash hands and practice social distancing.

‘Beach closed’ signs guarded steps to the shoreline. “Could we come up with some more positive messaging?” someone asked. Aireys Inlet residents smiled as billboards popped up around town with messages such as ‘Love (heart) Iso in Aireys’ and ‘Keep Calm and Isolate’.

The Facebook Pages ‘Anglesea Life’ and ‘Aireys In Touch’ – later re-named ‘3231 Surf Coast Connection’ to include Aireys Inlet and its neighbouring beachside hamlets – proved a wonderful way of connecting our communities when we went into lock-down. Businesses have been able to share changes to their operations.

Items needed and to give away are advertised. People seeking a roof over their heads have been given accommodation.

We have also been conscious of an outpouring of generosity and kindness in our community. With the virus having a particular appetite for seniors and people with medical conditions, many of us confined ourselves to home.

We will all have our own stories of neighbours helping out with shopping, young people offering to run errands for older folk living on their own, meals made and delivered, and many random acts of kindness.

Recognising that many people in our community are or would soon be under financial and social pressure, Pastor Michael Varney from the Anglesea Baptist Church, pulled together the many acts of kindness already happening under the banner ‘loveanglesea’. A number of Anglesea restaurants and cafés took payment for

a pizza or meal to be paid forward to someone in need. A coalition of caring people set up ‘Feed Me Surf Coast’, offering groceries and cooked meals to anyone experiencing hardship. In addition to Foodlink, which already ran an emergency relief program, Anglesea residents made up ‘care boxes’ for the elderly … first collected through the Post Office and then delivered through the Baptist Church.

A group of young mums dubbed the ‘Surf Coast Angels’ spread their wings to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, offering to deliver food, walk dogs or do odd jobs for anyone who needs a hand.

There have been many examples of helping hands offered.

No matter how the pandemic has affected our lives, expressions of gratitude have characterised many of our actions and conversations. Photos of ocean landscapes and orange sunsets have abounded on social media. It’s as though we’ve all been able to pause and really drink in the beauty around us. Our freedom to walk in the bush or on the beach has felt precious, knowing that so many isolated people across the world have been lucky to have a balcony on which to step out.

The COVID-19 epidemic has forced us all to take stock of the things that really matter in our lives and heightened our awareness of what a privilege it is to live in this beautiful coastal region.

Footnote: As I write, Premier Daniel Andrews has just announced the first stage of the relaxation of our restrictions and the timetable for students to return to school. Surf Coast residents are emerging warily from their dens, but with uncertainty about the future, and the feeling that our lives will never be quite the same again.

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Why Bother?

By Bron Ives

“There are so many magpies and foxes after these birds, why bother?” one man grumbled as he passed me watching the Hooded Plovers one morning.

Mmmm, his question got me thinking – why do I bother?

call was made to Dr Grainne Maguire, Program Leader, Coastal Birds at Birdlife Australia.

The next day, I asked Moggs Creek local, Margaret MacDonald, why she bothered “… because I admire these brave little birds so much, particularly after a male bird raised two chicks on his own when his partner was taken by a fox the night before the eggs hatched”.

By late January, I was feeling a little bothered … things were looking grim for the local hoodies. The two breeding pairs at Moggs and Fairhaven had lost seven nests between them, and the normally productive Point Roadknight site was quiet.

Over the next few months, things started to look up – the birds laid new eggs at Fairhaven, two chicks hatched, five weeks on they started flying, the signs on the beach came down, dog walking resumed and everyone had a spring in their step. Life went on – but not all went according to plan.

This triggered their rescue response protocols and close up photos were taken. They showed that the young bird’s toes and leg were seriously entangled in a fibre and the toe was starting to change colour. Having its movement hampered put it at risk of predation so Birdlife Australia decided to take further action.

Fairhaven Hoodie, March 2020.

Photo: Graham Lee

As the week was ending, an unsettling text arrived: 3 Apr 2020, 1:44pm Something w rong with Fairhaven juvenile, hopping, tumbling, not using left leg!

Over the next few days, we monitored the bird, but when it didn’t improve, a

On the morning of the rescue, the family was spotted near the Fairhaven Surf Club. The Birdlife team gently herded the injured bird into the area where the traps had been laid, and the rest of the family flew towards the Inlet! A team member phoned Liz Brown, the local Aireys Vet on standby, and Land Managers – Hamilton (GORCC) and Scott (Parks), who helped to keep beach walkers away from the area.

Minutes later, Liz came sprinting along the beach in her green scrubs, clutching scissors and medicines!

Aireys Inlet Vet Liz Brown and Dr Grainne Maguire, Birdlife Australia, tend the entangled Hooded Plover.

Photo: Birdlife Australia 2020 12

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seen these empty territories re-occupied and new sites established, is an amazing conservation success story!”

Volunteer Margaret MacDonald observes, “The successful fledging of a Hooded Plover chick is such a worthwhile experience that somehow the frustrations and disappointments of losing eggs or chicks become less significant.

“Staying positive and accepting that there will be many setbacks along the way, goes hand-inhand with the increase in numbers along the coast.”

Rescued Fairhaven Hoodie ‘XT’. Photo: Birdlife Australia 2020

She dropped to the sand and immediately started snipping off the entanglement, then applied a topical treatment followed by an antibiotic injection. Afterwards she commented,

“It was an absolute honour to treat this bird, it was otherwise in great condition.”

The bird was swiftly banded and flagged (XT) so its progress could be monitored and it could be distinguished from its sibling.

The team took a hike up the beach to find the rest of the family and when the chick was taken out of the cloth bag it called out and flew straight to its parents. It began preening and using its sore foot straight away!

It’s not too hard to understand why these little birds keep coming back to this sought-after real estate – it’s a high energy coastal area, there are interesting rocky reefs, the food is tasty and there are great views.

Dr Grainne Maguire explains, “Fairhaven, Moggs Creek and Point Roadknight have just the right habitat for breeding.”

“We ran a large study in 2016 with

Deakin University, to find out more about the features that are important to breeding Hooded Plovers. We compared sites across the Victorian coast, where the birds have never been recorded, with known breeding territories. We found that the amount of unvegetated dune and foredune, and the amount of intertidal and sub-tidal reef, are positively associated with the presence of breeding territories.”

Dr Maguire added, “We know that Moggs was historically occupied by Hooded Plovers, but when the population fell to such low numbers in the 1990s and early 2000s, there were no new birds to colonise unoccupied sites.

“The fact that our recovery efforts, which began only in 2006, have already doubled the local Bellarine-Surf Coast population, and that we have

A decade ago, numbers in Victoria plummeted to just 400 birds. Yet recovery programs that involve all of us – locals, visitors, dogs, volunteers, local vets, Birdlife Australia and their donors, and the staff of GORCC, Parks Victoria, and Councils, have resulted in these little battlers bouncing back.

We now have 739 birds.

Our job isn’t done yet, but each fledged chick is a winner.

Yes, it is worth bothering!

Margaret MacDonald and Terry. Photo: Bron Ives 2020

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Singing Away the COVID Blues

By Penny Edmanson

Anglesea Community Rock Choir is one of the most popular groups in the community. With around 45 active members, we are one of the larger community organisations in town, with only the multi-team sports clubs exceeding our numbers.

The choir draws members from Aireys Inlet, Deans Marsh, Bellbrae and Torquay, as well as Anglesea. Currently one member even travels from Geelong, such is the enjoyment to be had!

No auditions are required, nor an ability to read music. The only prerequisite is a love of singing.

A diverse group of community members meets each Monday night for lots of laughs, music and connectivity to the group.

To steal a quote from Time Magazine 2013, “Group singing is cheaper than therapy, healthier than drinking, and certainly more fun than a workout. It is the one thing in life where feeling better is pretty much guaranteed”.

In 2014, a small group of local music lovers got together for their first

Did you know?

Singing strengthens your immune system.

Singing improves breathing, posture and muscle tension.

Singing is a natural anti-depressant.

Singing is a workout.

Singing improves mental alertness.

Singing boosts your confidence.

Group singing can widen your circle of friends.

Group singing forges social bonds particularly quickly, acting as an excellent ice-breaker.

(University of Oxford research) performance. They joined with singers from Lorne, Deans Marsh and Birregurra, under the banner of OMM (Orchestral Manouevres in the Marsh) at Lorne Performing Arts Festival.

Who could have imagined that, by 2020, the numbers would have increased to 45, with three gigs a year, regular rehearsals, their own group of accompanying musicians and a supremely talented choir leader?

Anglesea Community Rock Choir was

the brain child of Sonya Ivetac. Sonya saw a choir as a great way for community members to join together in a neutral place and in a positive and uplifting way. She met Louise Brown at an International Women’s Day event in 2014, where Louise received an award in the Arts and Culture Category, for her efforts leading the Deans Marshbased choir (OMM).

Inspired by Louise’s leadership and strong community focus, Sonya approached her to lead the Anglesea Community Rock Choir.

Sonya has much praise for Louise, who hung in there in the early days, holding the choir together with her generosity – navigating wildlife in the weekly evening drive from Deans Marsh to rehearsal, putting in many hours of preparation and leadership, and buoying the group with her enthusiasm.

Six years later, she continues with the

Performing at Anglesea Memorial Hall.

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same warmth, humour, patience and passion.

Such was the progress of the choir, that it had been invited to perform with ARIA-nominated Mama-Kin at the Sound Doctor concert in June. Alas, COVID-19 decided to teach us all a lesson in self-reliance. Easier for some than others.

At a time when the mental, physical and spiritual advantages of singing were more important than ever, the question was how to continue to bring music and its joy to the choir members in this time of isolation and with the government rules prohibiting gatherings.

The choir’s last public performance was at the Aireys Open Mic Festival in early March. Already the Surf Coast Shire Council was monitoring the situation on a daily basis and adjustments were made to various events at the festival.

Anglesea Rock Choir attracts a growing number of members who have discovered the joy and benefits of community singing.. the shower, serenading the dog, competing with the magpies or amazing their neighbours with their vocal range.

technological skills (with a little help from her daughter, Julia) and invited us to Zoom.

Mark Huglin, our resident musician and songwriter extraordinaire, stepped into the breach leading us with a mix of music from our back catalogue, some well-known favourites and some originals.

Our first meeting was entertainment in itself, with lots of laughs to be had from observing views of the ceiling, unwanted dogs and attempts to find the mute button, as 25 choir members learned to navigate the intricacies of web-based conferencing.

With warnings of the dangers of group gatherings, audience numbers were down and indeed many choir members erred on the side of caution. With less than half the normal number of soprano singers on stage, those that soldiered on produced a surprisingly good sound.

The idea of an interactive Zoom choir was a bit technologically challenging at that stage, so it was live streamed using Facebook, with Mark playing guitar and leading vocals. We all sang along in our own homes and felt surprisingly connected by the use of the ‘chat’ function, where we could see each other’s comments and to which Mark referred frequently during the performance.

By April, choir members adjusting to the ‘new normal’ had tired of singing in

Taking up the challenge, our indomitable leader Louise advanced her

Most of all, it was a wonderful way to connect. The genuine delight in greeting each other and seeing faces for the first time in months, epitomised how special our community is and how indeed ‘group singing forges social bonds’.

At the time of writing, there is a feeling that restrictions will be eased gradually.

How that impacts the choir remains to be seen. However, whether or not we are back in the Anglesea Hall by the time this edition is published, rest assured we will still be singing!!

As Ella Fitzgerald said, “The only thing better than singing is more singing”.

Newcomers welcome. Postcoronavirus, rehearsals will resume on Monday evenings at 6.30 pm in the Anglesea Community Hall (rear).

Anglesea Rock Choir entertains crowds at the Birregurra Festival.

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15

Repair Café — Expertise at Hand

By Liz Clark

It’s surprising to realise that the local Repair Café has been in operation since July 2017 – obviously time flies when you are working at saving the world from being swamped with the excesses of modern society.

From its inception, the Café grabbed the interest both of those who have concerns about our environment and keeping rubbish out of landfill, and those who had furniture, electrical goods, toys and precious objects that no longer worked but were too good to just throw away.

Talent abounds at the Repair Café. The wide range of skills amongst the volunteers allows all sorts of solutions to customers’ problems. There are those who are able to mend and sew, potter and tinker, test and tag electrical goods, and explain how things work.

They enjoy the challenges they are offered each month, never sure what the public may bring along to be repaired. Few things faze them – basic knowledge as both professional and amateur engineers, craftspeople, teachers and handy people, and a natural inquisitiveness, means they can look at a problem, pull it apart and remake it, or when all else fails, at least point people in the right direction for more skilled assistance.

Jo Murray, founder of the local Repair Café, is very proud to report on the ongoing success of this venture and to introduce some of the team members who offer their skills and knowledge each month as they endeavour to solve

Ashley had VR glasses repaired by Paul.

local people’s problems with things that are broken, not working or needing some expertise to return them to good repair.

Of course, the past few months have meant that all these activities have been on hold, but the volunteers, being inventive and creative people, have been doing a wide range of tasks to keep themselves busy during the shutdown. They were very happy to discuss their skills, what they love about the Repair Café and what they have been doing recently.

Anglesea locals Rosemarie and Andrew attended with a broken microwave and, guess what, Repair Café’s resident ‘fixer’ Barry fixed it!

so much over the years. He is also qualified to test and tag electrical equipment so that every item with a power plug is tested before it is pulled apart, and when it is fixed, to ensure utmost safety for customers.

During the past few months, he has been building a chook shed, mending some coffee machines (although apparently this is quite difficult) and

Rod Tucker, an electrical engineer with a particular interest in electronics, commented that, these days, manufacturers don’t supply manuals with goods, so customers faced with putting things together themselves or mending something, often have little idea where to start.

That’s what he loves – explaining and discussing, directing and teaching so that customers can follow what are really logical processes to solve problems.

After an object is mended, the customers almost believe they have done the repair themselves.

Bin Dixon-Ward – a volunteer at Repair Cafe Surf Coast with her 3D Printer.

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Rod particularly enjoys fixing old toys, noticing how technology has changed

Curt had his wooden car park toy repaired by Rod Tucker.

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and hats for nurses, happy to clear out her stash of fabric for such a good cause. Knitting for her grandchildren takes up much of her time at the moment.

Paul Hermecz is another electrical engineer who loves tinkering and is willing to try anything. He is self-taught and his skills range from sharpening knives and garden tools to mending all sorts of equipment. He says that lots of machinery is like a jigsaw puzzle – you just have to work out how it all fits together.

Jenny Searle, a Repair Cafe Surf Coast Volunteer (and expert sewer).

has completed a history of exploration of the area around Lake Torrens in South Australia in the 1800s, which is now ready for publication. He certainly hasn’t been sitting around doing nothing!

Bin Dixon-Ward is a jeweller by trade, as well as teaching 3D printing at RMIT. She can be called on for lots of fiddly fixing tasks and also enjoys spending time with the kids in the ‘Tinkering Zone’, helping them pull apart a toaster, playstation or a blood pressure monitor. She does admit the kids are not so good at putting these back together.

In 2009, her imagination was stirred when she saw some information on 3D printing. There was nowhere much to learn about how or what to do, so she taught herself 3D printing via YouTube. Now with her own printer installed at home, she has been able to make face shields, and plastic headbands for frontline workers, both in Melbourne and Brisbane, as her contribution to keeping Australia moving forward.

Over the past months, he has built six wicking beds and constructed a ringtail possum nesting box, as well as French polishing some coffee tables.

What an amazing group of volunteers!

It will be good to see them back at work at the Repair Café before long. Now they have had the opportunity to hone their skills and practise new ones, nothing should be too demanding for them to fix. They look forward to seeing lots of local people and solving their problems.

Repair Café opens one Sunday a month, at Anglesea Memorial Hall. Watch for their opening date on public notice boards, shop windows or check Facebook (repaircafesurfcoast).

Email: repaircafesurfcoast@gmail.com

New members are always welcome.

Pauline Forde has a background in fashion and textiles, loves sewing, knitting and crafts. Her many skills are put to good use at the Café, though she strongly made the point that they only mend things, not taking on tasks that are normally part of someone else’s income.

She brings a sewing machine, iron and overlocker to the Café and is happy to fix curtains, blinds and soft toys.

She has been making scrub hats and bags for nurses in our hospitals in recent months, and is busy knitting for the arrival of her first grandchild.

Jen Searle is another volunteer with great sewing skills, who loves the social aspect of the Café, as well as saving goods from ending up in landfill.

Happy to sew on buttons, make boomerang bags, or stitch something torn or broken, she is also keen to show people how to do these simple tasks, if they’re not sure themselves.

During the shutdown, Jen has joined the local project instigated by Deb Elliott, to make surgical caps and bags for hospitals.

Diane O’Dwyer, kindergarten teacher, is very keen about recycling and loves to discuss with younger people the issues relating to sustainability. She finds kids are very receptive to ideas about saving the world, but did wisely suggest that those who attend the Café are usually from families who already have this ethos. She too has been making headbands NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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LOCAL PROFILE: PRUE BLACKNEY, OFFSHORE CAFÉ & CATERING

A Local Treasure

By Penny Edmanson

Although Prue was raised in Freshwater Creek, she is about as local as you can get, having worked at the Anglesea IGA from the age of 14, as well as at the pub, the resort and also the Surfing Albatross (now Morgans).

Prue bought Offshore Café and Catering in 2003. Since then, she has steadily built the business, with locals and visitors alike stopping in to enjoy a meal or enlisting her skills to cater for social gatherings.

would just get our heads around one change and another would happen, and of course the future was a big unknown.”

Fortunately, the business was able to keep trading in a restricted capacity, however a huge financial burden was felt with the cancellation of all catering jobs and clients needing to be refunded.

A keen sport, Prue is obviously not afraid of a challenge. She played a lot of netball around the Geelong area, State League and representative netball, before finishing her career at Anglesea when, post-kids, she felt she was a bit slow for A-Grade.

Prue also enjoyed competitive horseriding, even eventing a horse that she had bred. Little did she know that this inner drive would become so essential for her in 2020.

While many of us dragged out the jigsaws, dived for the knitting needles or dusted off grandma’s cookbooks, Prue Blackney had a much greater adjustment to make. How to transform

Prue Blackney, Offshore Café and Catering

a successful café/catering business into something that would survive the fallout from COVID-19?

Being flexible was an essential trait in the early days of COVID, as rules were changing daily. As Prue says, “We

In an effort to offset this in some way, Prue had to change the focus of her business, with an increase in take-home meals. After following strict protocols to ensure the protection of her staff (even stepping in herself as second chef) they started by stripping the fridges, using up all the perishables and focusing on food people could take home and heat up easily.

In addition, Prue had to ramp up social media posts. It was very hectic at the start, trying to reply to public posts and private messages on Facebook. In the midst of her other roles as sole trader, she managed to update the website and that has allowed her to streamline the order process.

Prue has always worked in hospitality, working evenings and nights at the Waurn Ponds Hotel so she could go to university and ride her horses during the day. She is a people person and loves the community nature of Anglesea, where people greet each other in the street.

As a longtime acquaintance says, “Prue is very forward-thinking and community minded. When she sees something that she thinks is needed, she works out how it can be achieved.”

This community spirit has actively come to the fore during COVID-19, with the implementation of ‘Pay It Forward’.

When a couple of customers wanted to ‘Pay it Forward’, Prue thought it was a fabulous idea to run with. She started with a post on Facebook and it just grew.

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She works closely with John Russell from the Lutheran Church and the ladies from Anglesea Red Cross, who visit her once a week to go through some names.

In addition, Prue follows up on messages from the public who suggest people who might appreciate a meal or two.

Prue said it is truly indicative of the generous nature of the community that many recipients come in the next day and ‘Pay It Forward’ again, ensuring the cycle continues.

Boundless energy would have to be another of Prue’s essential qualities.

With government restrictions and the reduction of staff, Prue was already working six days a week when home schooling was added to the mix. As a single mum of two young boys, there is very little ‘me time.’ The family rises early so Prue can try and get all the

Like many local businesses, Offshore Café has had to be creative to survive COVID-19.

schooling done before she goes to work. She says her mum has been a godsend, moving in with them and being able to keep an eye on the kids.

The final ingredient in the ‘mix’ that makes up Prue Blackney would have to be positivity.

In times when she would be justified in

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having a bit of a grumble, she remains upbeat – making light of the hardships, the little time she has for enjoying her horses or the loss of her catch-up with friends for a general de-brief at kids’ footy training.

She is definitely a glass-half-full type of person and a treasure, for which the community can be thankful.

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In the House …

By Marcelle Renkin, Program Coordinator

It has been interesting times here at ACH over this term.

Just as the Autumn edition of NewsAngle was delivered to our door, the reality of the impact of COVID-19 had just begun to set in.

Getting used to this new normal meant that we were not able to run any programs out of the Community House during Term 2.

Julie and I have, however, been working hard behind the scenes and, whilst our physical doors have been closed, we have been working to help people remember that keeping safe during these times means physical distancing rather than social distancing.

We find ourselves in what is being referred to as the ‘recovery phase’ for this pandemic, and now more than ever we feel the work we do, our core business of connecting people and building community, is really an essential service.

Courses and Programs We are still not exactly sure how Term 3 will look, but we are offering a couple of new courses and working on building up a return to the many ongoing weekly activities, visitors and groups that are the heart of the Community House.

We are developing a Community Resilience Rug as a memento of these unusual times, as well continuing to offer COVID Safe tech support, a rerun of the Felting Class and many

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more. Please check out the Course and Program Guide in this edition of NewsA ngle for more details and information.

We are also working hard to lobby for the return of our Friday Twilight Market. We see this as a light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully a space where people can reconnect with community.

Street Library

The new ‘Street Library’ outside Community House.

We are happy to announce the addition of our new street library. This project was an intiative of the House and turned out to be a combined community effort, proudly supported by ACH, Men’s Shed and the Resale Shed.

Many thanks to Simon Clarke and Jim Tutt who were able to repurpose a used cabinet to make our beautiful street library.

Come and check it out at the Community House … borrow, take or leave a book. We are currently able to

offer sanitiser if you are accessing it during our opening hours.

Occasional Care Our service has continued to run throughout the year and we have seen a recent increase in numbers. We are proud to have been able to continue to offer this service to community members during these difficult times. If you have any enquiries about using the service please get in touch with us.

We look forward to seeing more of you as restrictions ease.

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The Check Up

By Dr David Corbet, Anglesea Medical

It’s hard to consider writing an article at the moment that doesn’t address the coronavirus pandemic in some way.

Around the world, we have been consumed with managing individual, community, national and international approaches to containment and treatment, all while considering the implications of health and economic impacts more broadly.

Dr Victor Tseng, a critical care physician in the USA made this graph to illustrate the different health footprints created by the pandemic. The image has gathered traction for providing a visualisation of the noninfectious related impacts of COVID19 on health and wellbeing. The third and fourth waves shown are becoming more apparent in Australia now, and by the time you read this we will have a better idea of where things are at.

The mental health aspect of the fourth

Did you know?

The first recorded transfer of an electronic prescription actually occurred in 1983 in Sweden!

wave has been highlighted a number of times by our clinic but also by health organisations around the world. It is vital that people don’t delay seeing their doctor for ongoing care and management of chronic or new conditions. In terms of mental health, there is a lot of distress and stress that has impacted on people’s mood and behaviours, coupled with fear and uncertainty, this can cause things to deteriorate. The information overload and often negative all-pervasive social media stream can contribute.

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Scheduling time away from screens every day is vital. Continuing to exercise daily, even if just going for a walk, and eating a balanced healthy diet can go a long way to improving your wellbeing. However, if you or someone you know is struggling, please encourage them to see their GP.

ePrescribing In other more exciting news, we have been the first clinic in Australia to successfully provide eScripts to our patients.

As a test site, working with Anglesea Pharmacy, there have been a few teething issues. But, by the time you read this, you should confidently be able to ask your GP for an eScript token. This token, in its current format, can be sent to your phone, emailed or printed onto plain paper. You then take this to the pharmacy who scan the token and provide your medication. A future iteration will see the tokens disappear and all you will need to do is attend a pharmacy and formally identify yourself to access your script from a nationwide Active Script List.

We’re proud to be leading the way in our little coastal town!

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LOCAL PROFILE: KEITH PERKIN

New Treasurer for Anglesea Community House

By Liz Clark

Keith Perkin says he is a baby boomer who has had some lucky hits at life, largely through being in the right place at the right time.

So where was he in December 2019?

Was it the right place and the right time?

This was a very solid start to his career.

After five years, he completed a business studies degree at Swinburne and continued his employment with BP.

Having recently completed a six-year term as voluntary Treasurer at the Anglesea Art House, he was looking for a new challenge in his life, one where he could continue to serve the local community and maybe put his considerable accounting/management skills to good use.

As chance would have it, the Anglesea Community House was urgently seeking just such professional help. He was part of a very quick and welcoming nomination process, and is now the Treasurer for the Community House.

Here is a chance for you to get to know Keith a little better.

He was born in Bendigo but spent his schooling years in Mount Waverley. He enjoyed accounting at HSC level and

Highlights of his working life included finding strategies to cope with the long tanker driver strike, setting up the first convenience stores attached to BP service stations, and a stint at Group Headquarters in London, where he moved in the mid 80s.

Keith Perkin, new Treasurer for the Anglesea Community House.

was very excited to receive a traineeship with BP, where he studied part-time and moved around different departments for three years ‘learning the ropes’.

His job there was as Area Coordinator of the South-East Asia region, where BP was setting up new investment opportunities in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Keith learnt a great deal about politics, economics and personnel management over these years. He spent time in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta and then returned to England to set up a chain of convenience stores similar to the ones he had been involved with in Australia.

After 25 years at BP, a tempting offer led Keith to accept the position of MD of Dymocks Group, well known as a bookstore chain but also involved in investments in property and farming.

In later years, his business career included time as a consultant, CEO of Retravision, Chief Operating Officer at the Starlight Children’s Foundation, CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

In 1992, Keith completed the year-long Williamson Community Leadership Program, where he gained valuable experience with community life and projects.

Keith says this changed his life, making him more aware of the needs of community, and of opportunities to use his skills to the greater good. It led to a valued association on the Board of Autism Association of Sydney (now Autism Spectrum Australia) and a

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strong and firm commitment to supporting community activities – hence his involvement locally and his willingness to accept this new challenge at the Community House.

ageing and associated health problems.

He felt well equipped to represent local people on such a committee, and after an application and interview process, was welcomed to join the committee.

Keith is married to Nicky, lives at Fairhaven, has two children and three very precious grandchildren. He enjoys reading, walking on the beach, scuba diving (not in our chilly waters), has been a keen snow skier, and is the immediate past-President of Surf Coast Probus Club.

He is contributing his personal experience, as well as learning as he goes, from both the professional and handson involvement of others.

An article in the local paper a couple of years ago, inviting interested members of the community to be involved in the establishment of an advisory committee for positive aging through Surf Coast Shire, caught Keith’s attention.

He had been involved with helping his parents find the assistance they needed to stay in their home amid health problems and growing frailty, working through My Aged Care with them. As well, he had lived experience of some members of the local Probus group who were facing challenges of coping with

Important personal achievements for Keith included having the honour to carry the Olympic flame during the torch relay prior to the Greek Olympics in 2004; walking the Kokoda Trail; and completing the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker with his son in 30 hours and 22 minutes.

Believing that all work and no play makes one dull, he has become an enthusiastic, interesting, generous and community-spirited man, willing to be involved, to use his precious time for others, and prepared to take on new

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challenges that will enhance his local community.

So, back to which right place and which right time brought Keith to the Anglesea Community House?

He was invited to become the new Treasurer for the Men’s Shed last year and was happy to use his professional skills to keep their accounting systems in line. As the Shed is auspiced by the Community House, he found he was liaising with the Community House to arrange financial payments and interact in regard to the accounting system.

A chance word from a member of the Men’s Shed invited him to consider becoming the Treasurer for the Community House, and his awareness that this would mean greater efficiency for both bodies led him to agree to take on this new challenge.

He is now enjoying membership of the Community House committee and assisting them to connect, enable and facilitate new ideas in the post-virus community.

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Banking on our Community

By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank ÂŽ

The Anglesea and District Community Bank has continued to show a strong commitment to the region, with the announcement of a long-term investment in the town.

Corangamite Financial Services, the company which owns and operates the three Community Bank branches at Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea, has purchased the former Roses Restaurant building at the eastern end of Anglesea shopping centre.

Bendigo Bank staff outside their new Anglesea premises (former Roses Restaurant) opening next year.

The building will eventually become the Bendigo Bank in the town of Anglesea, after the lease on the current rented facility expires. Over the next few months, visitors to the shopping centre will notice changes slowly taking place to the building as transformation eases towards an opening of the new banking premises in 2021.

This shows a long-term commitment to supporting the financial service needs of the region and ensures a continuation of funding to local community groups. More than $1 million has already been returned to schools, sporting clubs, service groups and emergency services along the Surf Coast and surrounds. These funds have become available from the profits made when local people bank with the Community Bank.

Another recent example of the support the Community Bank gives to our region, came in the form of $1,500 committed to each of the local primary schools, to assist with the online home schooling expenses. Locally, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne and Bellbrae, are part of the nine primary schools to have received the funding. This has provided a massive boost to support costs for both the schools and parents, to help make these difficult times that little bit easier.

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Great Reads

Apeirogon, A Novel

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

Colum McCann delivers a novel that bends the mind. It is epic in its scope, and breathtaking in the way it blends memory and sorrow beautifully with the international migratory flight paths of birds, art, science, biblical allusions and much more. At its core, Apeirogon is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary friendship between two men. Bassam Aramin is Palestinian, Rami Elhanan is Israeli.

Both men have been raised to hate the other, and both have senselessly lost a daughter at the hands of each other's allied forces. This is a world of bordered-off streets, of harrowing checkpoints, of ruined buildings, where everyone is touched by randomised death. But at its core, it is a novel of hope. The structure of Apeirogon is exquisite – like an apeirogon, a polygon of infinite sides, everything is connected, boundless.

Colum McCann's writing, while at times not for the fainthearted, even at its darkest points is a joy. I found this novel both important and fulfilling – it made me completely reconsider my place in time and space, as well as my position of privilege.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

Code Name Hélène

by Ariel Lawhon

Hélène is just one of four code names used

by Nancy Wake. Refreshingly warm and immediate, this historical novel is a vivid portrait of the life of the Australian journalist who was so outraged at the atrocities she was reporting from Paris, that she turned initially into a resistance agent, and then a fullyfledged allied spy. An irreverent, unapologetic, feminine, utterly brave woman, who took no rubbish from her male counterparts, she earned the grudging admiration of almost all she encountered. Nancy Wake's war was glamorous and exciting, but there are also tracts reporting her suffering at the hands of Germans, the bravery and tragedy that befell her. Her war was not for the faint-hearted, and she became one of the most highly decorated women of WW11, as well as a respected military leader. Highly recommended as a fabulous read.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

by Colum McCann

The End of October

Redhead by the Side of the Road

by Laurence Wright

by Anne Tyler

Was there ever a thriller more relevant for our times? At an international auditorium in Geneva, world health officials have gathered for one of the final sessions on infectious contagions. A slick Dutch presenter talks dismissively about an outbreak in a refugee camp in Indonesia. The disease is unidentified, indiscriminate and kills within a few days, with the medium age being 29.

The report is glibly wrapped up as being unimportant – as the disease is reported by local authorities as disappearing without a trace. However, not all the scientists are easily placated by the neat solution. Dr Henry Parsons, a microbiologist and epidemiologist, small in stature but big on intellect and zeal travels to Indonesia. What he finds there horrifies him. As international authorities scramble into lockdown, Henry tries to locate the source of the contagion and hopefully find a cure – sound familiar? With fast rollicking action and whip smart dialogue, this thriller is a treat.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

Micah Mortimer likes life to be ordered, tidy.

Living in a tidy, bland basement apartment in the suburbs, he's not boring exactly – he likes to keep fit and, over the years, has had a steady stream of lady friends. He has his own business as a Tech Hermit – a computer guy and is quietly funny and wry in his own nerdy way ... but he generally likes his own company and, in his wildest dreams, he cannot imagine upsetting his existence by living with anyone.

So, when the son of his high-school sweetheart barrels into his life, claiming Micah is his father and also claiming the sofa as his bed, Micah's life gets both interesting and quite chaotic. Anne Tyler, with a Pulitzer prize and over 30 novels to her credit, has a way with her wry observations and stripped down dialogue, that makes for fascinating reading. I dropped everything, and became completely embroiled in this delightfully amusing and heart-warming novel. Read it and smile ever so widely.

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

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Tales of a ‘Nasho’ and a ‘Chalkie’ Local reader Paul Taylor shares some of his memories of National Service.

Let’s go back to 7 February, 1968. Why? Because it was the first day of my National Service, the day I became a ‘Nasho’ – the first day of the next two years of my life – the start of 10 weeks of basic training and a step into the unknown.

There were many nervous Nashos on that bus trip to Puckapunyal but, as soon as we realised that we were all in the same boat, some of the more gungho characters started cracking jokes to ease the tension.

But it was no joke when we got off the bus and the yelling and screaming started.

Comments such as “You’ll wish you never met me!” or “I’m going to make your life miserable!” and comments from regular army guys, many of whom had completed tours in Vietnam and were not that keen to have to babysit (train) a bunch of guys who really didn’t want to be in the army.

Upon our arrival, we were organised

into platoons of 27 conscripts, issued with our gear and marched off to the medical centre for a full medical examination, including numerous injections to both arms.

So began our basic training – lots of marching and field training, lots of boot polishing, lots of weapons handling and lots of saluting. But as the weeks rolled on, the yelling and screaming subsided, and we were subtly moulded into soldiers with training based on discipline, skills, fitness and mateship.

Towards the end of our basic training, I became aware that suitably qualified Nashos were being sought to teach soldiers of the Papua New Guinea

Army. Much to my surprise, my application was successful.

During the period 1966 to 1973, about 300 Nashos were sent to various parts of PNG as teachers (colloquially known as ‘Chalkies’) in an effort to raise the educational levels of the PNG Army prior to independence.

Prior to leaving for PNG, I and about 40 other Chalkies spent two weeks at the Australian School of Pacific Administration, learning about the country (22 provinces), the people (then approximately four million), the culture (more than 700 distinct languages), the geography (extremely rugged terrain) and coming to grips with a tribal-based, subsistence economy. We also learned

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The whole village helped to build a small airstrip, where Paul Taylor was deployed as a ’Chalkie’ in Papua New Guinea.

Paul Taylor (lying down) taking a break on the Kokoda Track during his time as a ‘Chalkie’ with the Australian Army in PNG.

the basics of pidgin English, which was universally used throughout PNG.

days helping the locals build a small airstrip.

And then my big adventure began. The last image I had as I departed from Essendon Airport was my mother standing at the departure gate in a purple overcoat crying her eyes out.

Funnily enough, the first image I had as I returned to Melbourne some 14 months later, was my mother standing at the arrival gate in the same purple coat and still crying her eyes out!

(Bless you Mum)

The whole village was involved with picks and shovels (no bulldozers there!). Each shovel-load of earth was placed on a banana frond and hauled away by the ladies of the village, with a rope tied onto the stalk of the frond and the other end secured around their head – a real community effort.

I and four other Nashos, were posted to the recruit training depot at Goldie River, approximately 30kms from Port Moresby.

So this was my life for 14 months, trying to make a positive impact on the lives of young army recruits in a developing nation. I consider myself very lucky and am forever grateful that I had the opportunity of experiencing

the unique culture of Papua New Guinea, an experience that I would not have had if I had not been conscripted.

This tale is dedicated to the 63,735 national servicemen conscripted into the Australian Army from 1965 to 1972, to the 15,381 who served in Vietnam, to the 1,279 who were wounded, and especially to the 202 who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We should not forget those members of the armed forces who served their country overseas, so please support the fundraising for the proposed Anglesea War Memorial.

Lest we forget.

The posting carried with it the rank of Temporary Sergeant and with it a relatively high pay grade. Accordingly, our arrival in the Sergeants Mess was a little testy as some of the other guys had been in the army for years, before they had earned their third stripe, but here we were, having been in the army for about five minutes, waltzing into the Mess with three stripes on our arms! However, after a few beers, their feelings towards us soon improved and we became accepted as part of the landscape.

At Goldie River, our role was to teach English, Arithmetic, Science and Social Studies to the young Papuan/New Guineans who had just joined the army.

During my posting, I was lucky enough to be part of a 28-man civic action patrol along the Kokoda Track, where we stayed in one village for about 10 NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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HISTORY SPOT

Bailey Bridge Over Hutt Gully

By Jan Morris, Anglesea & District Historical Society

Today, one drives over Hutt Gully without a second thought, but it wasn’t always like that. It was this steep gully that prevented horse-drawn vehicles being driven along the coast between Anglesea and Aireys Inlet.

The old road to Aireys Inlet went up Harvey Street and then followed, what we now know as the power line track, to the back of Aireys.

This road was so bad Cobb & Co. refused to send their coaches on it. As Cobb & Co. would not travel it, James Hasty, from Aireys, had a wagonette in which he met Cobb & Co. in Anglesea and drove the Aireys’ passengers the remainder of the way.

This original road that serviced the area was over a kilometre inland from the bluff. It was undulating, unreliable and unpopular.

A scenic private coastal road, including a bridge over Hutt Gully, was constructed by a local landowner CJ Lane. It became popular and therefore expensive to maintain. To defray maintenance costs, Lane introduced a toll on his road from 1924 to 1930. The Great Ocean Road Trust took over the road in 1930 and removed the toll.

The Great Ocean Road has continually been damaged by rain and wind. In the extreme rains of December 1952, over 114mm of rain fell in a few hours. The

Workmen erecting the Bailey bridge at Hutt Gully in February 1953.

water completely washed away the Hutt Gully bridge, gouging an impassable gap 18 metres deep and 48 metres wide.

By 1952, the Great Ocean Road had become a vital link along the south west coast. Following the flood, the road had to be closed and a solution needed to be found quickly. The answer was a temporary Bailey bridge.

This consisted of portable sections that were assembled on to heavy rollers and pushed bit by bit across the gap.

Reference: Braden Lindsay, Jottings No1.

Gratefully acknowledge information supplied by Bill Bubb.

Photos from Lindsay Braden collection.

Many locals worked at installing this bridge. One of them, Arthur Bubb, was helping his brother Toby Bubb, when he had both his feet crushed by a section of the bridge rolling off a truck onto his legs.

He eventually had to have his toes amputated as a result of this accident.

Hutt Gully after the bridge had gone.

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He spent many months in hospital and was never able to walk easily again.

The Bailey bridge was a one-way bridge, only wide enough to take one vehicle at a time. It served for over a year before being replaced by a large culvert.

Hutt Gully Calvert installed February 1954

Completed Bailey bridge.

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Tech Angle TWITCHERS’ CORNER

By Chris Dos Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Tech Angle

By Chris Dos

Of all the disruptions to our lives caused by this viral shennana-biz (unprecedented version), it’s arguably the loss of our little daily interactions that has hurt the most.

We can regularly get to the end of the day and say with honesty “I have not seen another person”.

More people than ever are using technology to work from home, stay in touch with loved ones and entertain each other during this physical separation.

WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE Aquila audax Wedge-tailed Eagles are one of our best known raptors and are easily recognisable. They are the largest bird of prey in Australia, with a wingspan of 2 to 2.5 metres in most cases.

The name, Aquila audax in Latin, means bold, audacious.

A large black or dark brown eagle with a long tail tapering to a point or wedge. Younger birds are brownish but become darker with age. Adults over five years of age are glossy black with a tawny nape.

They occur throughout most areas of the continent, ranging in habitat from mountain forests, wooded grasslands and open plains. Generally sedentary, they may become nomadic in drought conditions. At times throughout the year, it is not uncommon in this part of the world to see Wedge-tails either singly or in pairs, flying overhead, with slow, powerful wingbeats and soaring on upturned wings.

Wedge-tails can glide up to 2000m. They have extremely acute eyesight, which enables them to see small animals many miles away. Their prey consists chiefly of rabbits and other mammals, particularly small kangaroos and wallabies, birds and reptiles. Carrion is an important part of their diet.

Nesting occurs from June to November. The nest is a huge structure of large, dead sticks usually placed in the fork of a tree, but occasionally on cliffs. Lined with green leaves, it can be re-used for many years, becoming larger over time.

Two eggs normally form a clutch, but occasionally three eggs are laid. Both sexes share incubating the eggs and feeding the young. Chicks fledge when they are 80-90 days old. In a good season, two chicks can be reared but mostly only one survives.

The demand for tools to enable these connections has been answered by a swag of applications designed for both personal and work use. And how we have embraced them, but also such a huge shift in our habits, has of course resulted in both opportunity and risk.

Working from home started as a bit of a novelty for us newbies (“Second biscuit with that cuppa? Don’t mind if I do!”) but after a while, it’s clear there’s something missing.

A recent survey of remote employees identified ‘Loneliness’ as being the biggest struggle people face, along with the not being able to disconnect from their work. As much of a concern is the rise in online scams and the real possibility of a massive privacy breach with all of this data freely flying around the ether.

One of the biggest new video conferencing apps, Zoom, is experiencing legal troubles due to security and privacy flaws.

And for passing your data to companies like Facebook, which seems to be developing quite an unhealthy interest in everything we do.

So it’s great to have all these tools at our fingertips but it’s not all sunshine and lollipops.

In this age of technology, which encourages passive and solitary activities, it’s been a timely reminder of the importance of human interaction.

So, when this is all over, don’t forget to keep Face Timing Grandma.

In the past, it was believed that Wedge-tailed eagles were responsible for killing lambs and sheep and this led to the destruction of many eagles by farmers and hunters.

However, later studies revealed that mainly dead or sickly lambs were taken by eagles. Fortunately, now, these magnificent birds are protected by law and their population numbers are slowly increasing.

Ref: Hawks in Focus – Jack Cupper and Lindsay Cupper, Aquila the Eagle – Pauline Reilly.

Reader’s Digest – Compete Book of Australian Birds.

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Community Corner NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

Aireys Keeps Giving

By Jules Rolfe, Publicity Officer, AIRAR

As the reality of the pandemic set in, initial thoughts were that the work of the Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees (AIRAR) would come to a grinding halt. With wings clipped and confined to home, how would it be possible to embark on 2020 plans?

Of course, the world settles to a new pattern, a modified rhythm, a different way of doing things. And also, the tough times that people are facing become all too real. This is no more so than for those asylum seekers and refugees on temporary visas. Without access to the hastily introduced social security measures, stories were mounting about the hardship Geelong refugees were facing as their hours of work decreased or stopped altogether, and difficulties buying food and paying rent and utility bills became common.

Immediate thoughts turned to how AIRAR could assist. Prior to the pandemic, a ‘Top-up’ club had been established, where community members make a regular monthly donation, which is used to buy groceries for the Wesley Asylum Seeker Welcome Place’s ‘Foodbank’ in Geelong. For over 18 months, this has been a vital source of support for refugees living in that area.

A public appeal was launched through The Surf Coast Times to bolster the donations during these dire times.

Through this and the generosity of Top-

up members, close to $5,000 has been given.

Attention then turned to the other forgotten people during this crisis – those refugees still incarcerated offshore. AIRAR decided that, even within the confines of lockdown, it would work to free one of these refugees by raising $18,500 to help Leaders of the AIRAR Fundraising Campaign, Jules Rolfe (left) and resettle a refugee Kathryn Feather with the $18,500 cheque to help resettle a refugee. from Nauru in Canada, and give them chance of a new The generosity of the community in start in life. supporting both these initiatives, especially during these straitened times, Under the Canadian Government’s has been overwhelming. It shows how private sponsorship scheme, an keen people are to do something application through the Refugee positive to improve the lives of those Council of Australia can only proceed refugees who, through no fault of their once the money has been paid. The own, have been left in despair for the funds are then used to support the future. refugee’s living costs for the first year Those wishing to set up a regular after arriving in Canada. Volunteer monthly payment or make a one-off teams across Canada are assisting all donation to the Top-up club, please new arrivals. AIRAR set about this make an electronic transfer to: challenge by first establishing a Account name: Aireys Inlet Rural ‘Golden Pledge’ program where people Australians for Refugees pledge $500 to the campaign, and then BSB: 633 000. Acc No: 153 942 958 opening it up to $50+ pledges.

Please email AIRAR to inform them of your donation or if you have any Inspiringly, the total sum was raised in enquiries (aireysinletrar@gmail.com). less than three weeks.

Anglesea SLSC Appoints new General Manager

Work continues steadily on the Anglesea SLSC and they look forward to inviting the community into the Club in the next few months.

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Plans are underway for the new centre, with plans to engage with community businesses and organisations to ensure that the Club is utilised to its maximum capacity – of course ensuring that its major purpose of saving lives and keeping people safe on the beach is upheld.

Jennifer will be responsible for ensuring the Club is inviting and inclusive of all members of the community, encouraging more locals to get involved to complement the current membership, and a thriving hospitality venue, as well as delivering exceptional lifesaving services.

The Club has recently appointed Jennifer Mclntyre as General Manager to lead this process.

The new restaurateurs are expected to commence trading towards the end of the year, taking into consideration COVID-19.

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Lioness Club of Anglesea What a change of circumstance for all of us in coping with COVID-19!

The Lioness Club was very fortunate to be able to hold its Irish Bush Dance the night before our enforced social distancing restrictions came into effect.

The Memorial Hall was a sea of green decorations, table cloths and lovely yellow roses on the tables. Many people went to the trouble of dressing in green, which added to the atmosphere of the night.

waiters and bar staff for helping to make this a most successful evening. A produce hamper was raffled and games held during the evening, adding to the funds raised. A donation of $2000 from the profits of the evening and $55 community donation has been made to the Brain Cancer Research Foundation from the funds raised.

ONE-ACT-PLAY FESTIVAL CANCELLED Anglesea Performing Arts has cancelled its annual One-ActPlay Festival, which was scheduled for Sat 15th — Sun16th August 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

APA looks forward to seeing you again next year.

Details of future productions will be published on its website at www.angleseaperformers.org.au

U3A SURFCOAST

Carol Jones (left) and Margaret Sheehan.

Our involvement in the Green Living Festival and our Car Boot Sale are either cancelled or postponed until a time in the future when we return to what will be our new normal.

Betty Butterworth at the Irish Bush Dance.

The beef and Guinness pies, followed by trifle with green jelly were a feast for all. We offer sincere thanks of the Club members to the kitchen hands,

At the time of writing, our Lioness Club is in recess due to the social distancing rules and the need for us to stay safe and at home. We look forward to the time when we can be active in our community, raising funds and supporting any one in need. If you are in need of support, please contact us through the email or postal address below.

Betsy Newman, Secretary; email anglesealionessclub@gmail.com 32 Murray Street, Anglesea 3230

U3A Surfcoast ran a wonderful fiveweek course at the Anglesea Community House during February and March. ‘Awesome Artists of the Surfcoast’ featured five amazing local artists who shared their stories about their journeys into art and also displayed their artwork. All were inspired by their creativity and ongoing passion for their work.

Participants were extremely fortunate to complete the course just days before U3A took the decision to suspend all classes due to COVID-19.

The U3A Committee is working extremely hard in the hope that, later in the year, it may be able to offer some classes online. Please stay in touch by visiting the website www.u3asurfcoast.org.au Keep well and stay connected.

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

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Flexible Learning at Aireys Primary School

By Jennifer Abel, Principal, Aireys Inlet Primary School

We are very proud of our whole school community, which successfully transitioned to Flexible Remote Learning at home at the end of term one.

The classroom teachers were able to meet all their students in a virtual classroom to teach small groups and individual students. The students enjoyed these sessions, being able to touch base with their teacher and see and communicate with their classmates.

The school community was able to connect and have fun together every week via Webex (like Zoom) with ‘live’ Bluearth sessions and family Health and Wellbeing exercise sessions, facilitated by our School Captains. House Captains organised a ‘Virtual Disco’ with all our families dancing to favourites like the ‘Chicken Dance’, YMCA and others.

Finn learning from home.

Arkhi and Jarli writing letters and sounds.

The 4/5 Warri students were excited to have local MP Libby Coker join them in one of their virtual classroom sessions.

Students discussed with Libby the challenges of home learning and some of the things that they’ve been enjoying.

Luella creating!

Libby Coker joined Aireys Inlet Primary students for a virtual classroom lesson.

Libby answered lots of the students’ questions and explained how our government works. She also shared some valuable tips for persuasive writing with the class. These included using personal examples, emotive

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language and discounting the opposition’s arguments. The students are looking forward to putting these tips into practice. Libby’s team made a short video.

Here’s some of the students’ feedback from the session: "It was really nice that Libby came into our class out of all the other classes on the coast. I really enjoyed Libby coming to our class it was a great

Flynn testing his shadow puppet.

Nika listening to a story read by her teacher.

experience to speak to a politician. I would like to say thanks again Libby!”

Quincy "It was fun because she was from Parliament House, plus we got some tips to write persuasive texts." Luca "It was fun because we got to get some tips for persuasive writing!" Amelia "It was a great experience." Molly "It was exciting because we got to talk to a federal member." Eric

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Whose Great Ocean Road?

By Peter McPhee, Aireys Inlet & District Association (AIDA)

The Great Ocean Road attracts an average of 11,000 visitors per day across the year, two-thirds of them day-trippers.

There are more visitors than to the Great Barrier Reef or Uluru. No fewer than 14 different entities have responsibilities over different sections of the road, its marine parks and hinterland. Planning and protection have been a mess.

So, in October 2018, the State Government launched its ‘Great Ocean Road Action Plan’ with a view to establishing a single authority with overarching responsibility to meet the challenges of ‘increasing visitor numbers, forces of nature and the impacts of climate change’. If these were ignored, it argued, ‘these threats could destroy this precious part of our state – and impact on the liveability of local communities’.

A Bill establishing the Authority was passed by the Victorian Legislative Assembly in November 2019. It will now be debated in the Legislative Council.

The Action Plan sets out five objectives that will provide direction on governance and decision-making for the coastline and its hinterland:

tourism planning, Indigenous and heritage issues, architecture and landscape design.

The Committee will have extensive powers to advise on any planning applications ranging from projects on airports and golf courses, to marinas and zoos.

The membership of the Advisory Committee, which will provide advice to the Authority and the Minister for Planning has recently been announced – by the Minister himself.

The seven appointed members of GORSAC are highly experienced and credentialled planners but they are all full or part-time planners within the same Department of Planning to which they are asked to give independent advice.

AIDA is concerned by the stark lack of alignment between the range of expertise GORSAC is required to provide and the specific skills of its members. Where is the external expertise? Where is the community involvement?

It seems the only central expertise and experience to be called upon is planning – ignoring the complexities of the design of developments, the physical, cultural and social attributes of community resilience, the preservation of ecological systems and much more.

While GORSAC is required to take into account all relevant legislation and protections, it will consult individuals and groups only as it sees fit; its meetings need not be open to the public; and it may report to ministers formally or orally. The minister will decide whether to release its findings.

It is true that the current multiplicity of planning and regulatory entities for the Great Ocean Road has led to duplication and incoherence in protecting a national treasure. But it is AIDA’s opinion that the new powers of the Authority and its advisers have narrowed the focus to privilege projects, which profit from tourism at the expense of the coastline and its human and environmental communities that the Authority was set up to protect.

a. Protect the ecological and landscape integrity of coastal and marine environments.

b. Increase Traditional Owner involvement. c. Protect distinctive areas and landscapes. d. Grow the local, state and national visitor economies. e. Modernise governance.

From the outset, local communities along the Road were perplexed at how the Authority – appointed by the Government – would manage to protect the environment and their liveability while boosting tourism still further.

The Government has also established a Great Ocean Road Standing Advisory Committee (GORSAC) to provide independent expert advice. The members of GORSAC are to have expertise ranging from planning matters to environmental science, NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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Surf Coast Shire News

By Margot Smith, Councillor, Anglesea Ward

As I write this, our ability to engage with our friends and community is changing – still with an eye to being careful with touching and continuing to wash our hands.

It has been a very different time for us all and perhaps an opportunity to press pause on the busy lives we live.

will have gone through a very difficult time, so let’s continue to #buylocal as much as we possibly can.

Families have spent more time together and, here in Anglesea, it has been great to see the many family groups enjoying a walk through the bush or along the beach, or a bike ride together.

Council has implemented a number of different initiatives to support businesses, the community and rate payers, through the lockdown and as we emerge to a new normal.

Information on all of these can be found on the Council website www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

I’m sure the many who have been able to work and school from homes here in our town, have an even greater appreciation of the beautiful environment in which we live.

#buylocal It has also been a time of appreciating the businesses that have continued to open their doors and provide us with the goods and services we need.

More businesses will be open and some

Our New Normal?

As times passes, I am wondering what our new normal will be. I know many were initially very fearful as COVID cases started to rise but, at the same time, the community has been kinder.

Making sure our neighbours are okay, checking in on people who might need

help, and generally being friendlier when out exercising and shopping.

We have had more time to consider others – not having to rush to the next appointment, sporting events or social activity. And, as time has gone on, I have certainly felt more rested and relaxed and I’m probably not the only one.

So, the question is, how to incorporate that into the new normal?

Perhaps it is also worth thinking about how we emerge into a world where, rather than the economy driving social outcomes, why not social needs driving the economic outcomes?

Thanks to all those who have worked through, supporting the community at this time, and thank you to everyone for being careful, considerate and kind.

Police Beat

By Sergeant John Digby Station Commander, Anglesea Police Station

Thank You

conditions, then call 131444 the Police Assistance Line.

Firstly, I would like to thank the Anglesea community for the overwhelming support compassion and thoughts they have shown after the death of our four colleagues in the tragic circumstances at Kew.

This centralises all COVID-19 reports and is given to the nearest police unit to investigate. There are police units dedicated to enforcing compliance. We still get people ringing the police station and, if we are not working, we do not get the message until the next day, which is too late.

The flowers, cards, drawings from children and the ANZAC cookies (yes, they were very nice) dropped at the station were greatly appreciated by all of us at Anglesea Police and we say a very big thank you. It does mean a lot to us … more than you know.

COVID-19 It has impacted us all. We have all had to make some adjustments to the way we operate, but be assured that we provide the same response to the 34

Crime

Anglesea Police are grateful for the overwhelming support received after the tragic death of their colleagues in Kew.

community as we always have. If you want to report a breach of COVID-19

We have had some burglaries on holiday homes over the last two months. We have charged an offender for these burglaries. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, call 000. That way the closest police unit can be notified and check it out. It is information from members of the community that assist us in solving these crimes.

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Fire Lines

By Tony Revell Anglesea CFA

Is Your Home Fire Safe?

Firefighters attend more than 3,000 house fires in Victoria each year.

Many could be prevented by taking simple precautions to reduce the risk of fire.

In the Kitchen: Never leave cooking unattended, keep tea-towels and flammable items away from the stove and keep grills, fans and cooking surfaces free from grease.

In Living Areas: Have gas heaters and chimneys checked, make sure heaters are off before going to bed or going out,

always use a fire-screen in front of an open fire and keep clothing, curtains or toys at least one metre away from heaters. Keep candles, incense, and oil burners away from anything flammable and matches out of children’s reach.

more than 30 minutes; never put weight on the bed while the electric blanket is switched on. Never smoke in bed.

Smoke Alarms:

Never overload power boards, and replace faulty appliances immediately.

Check power leads for damage or kinks. Clean the lint filter on your clothes dryer after each load.

Working smoke alarms save lives. It is law in Victoria to have at least one smoke alarm on each level of every home. Extra smoke alarms are recommended to ensure every sleeping zone is protected and in bedrooms where the door is closed when sleeping. Change smoke alarm batteries every year and test regularly.

In Bedrooms:

More Information?

Don't leave electric blankets on for

Visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au

Power and Appliances:

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Write Angles

By Melva Stott

Identified flying objects When I walk to the shops I need a few rests on the way, which are very good for observing the bird life. One day, the most dominant species in the sky were a few pairs of black cockatoos, and three motorised hang gliders.

Australia Day This was the first time in 33 years that I haven't had a gig on Australia Day, and that was my choice. Originally I was involved with the Anglesea Entertainers for the Bi-Centennial re-enactments, which were initiated by Lion Brian Butterworth. Then I wrote and produced the entertainment for many years. I missed one year when my play ‘A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Australia’ was presented at Eaglehawk, and Stan and I were performing in it. Overlapping this were 27 years of ringing the crier's bell and shouting the virtues of fair Australia!

Brexit in Aus Alister and I had our Brexit lunch at the North Britain Hotel in Ballarat, where the wall between the dining room and the bar is a facade of a Tudor inn with thatched roof. Our bangers

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and mash was delicious, and dessert was accompanied by port. By the time we left, there were only two people remaining in the bar – the publican and a drinker. Alister told the publican that I was writing it up for an English newspaper and he asked me my name. Then a voice from the other side of the bar said, ‘Melva Stott from Anglesea?’. So I've been famous for five minutes in Ballarat!

Read All About It! Having to write for NewsA ngle so far in advance means that when it finally comes out I have to read W riteAngles like everyone else to see what I've written.

Good News I'd had lots of tests and scans and was sent to a specialist for assessment … he said, “It's 21 years until your 100th birthday”. So I've told the kids they won't be getting their inheritance any time soon. They want me to write my memoirs – that could take about 21 years.

And in conclusion I have a nice relationship with the newsagent – I call him Cheeky, and he calls me the Old Chook.

Keep smiling!

Melva Stott

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Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at the YMCA

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