NewsAngle Issue 144 Summer 2020

PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLESEA COMMUNITY HOUSE

ISSUE 144 SUMMER 2020

Photo by Patrick Callow ‘Hope-Speranza’ is a life-size sculpture by Anglesea artist Minerva Lamorgese, signifying the responsibility we hold in our hands.

Artists Draw on Hope From COVID

By Moreen Dainty

The artistic community in Victoria has had to dig deep to survive under COVID-19 restrictions. Down on the Surf Coast, regular exhibitions, markets and events were cancelled, disrupting the usual ways artists showcase and sell their work.

Many of our local artists have shown resilience and ingenuity in the face of these challenges. We talked to some to find out how they have fared.

The enormously popular Surf Coast Arts Trail went online this year. Instead of opening the doors of their homes, artists posted short videos showing Community Houses are for Everyone

where they work and what they do.

They were uploaded onto #Portal – an online space created by the Surf Coast Shire to help ‘capture the work of creative folk in the region and how they are adapting to change’.

It also provided an online forum for

Highlights A Tale of Two Rivers

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Profile: Olivia Klein

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Anglesea Perimeter Walk 10 ANGAIR Nature Show

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Fire Unplanned

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Profile: Jason Chichocki

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The Check Up

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Book Reviews

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Community Corner

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Continued on page 4 > 1

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

Hello! … from the House

NewsAngle NewsAngle is a free, quarterly magazine published by the Anglesea Community House for the communities of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek.

Its purpose is to strengthen connections across our community by writing about the diverse people, businesses and activities that make us who we are.

NewsAngle aims to inform, entertain and educate readers, and to provide a voice for local groups and individuals to share information about events, activities and achievements.

Editorial If you have feedback or comments about articles in this issue, or would like to make a suggestion, please contact the editor, Libby Stapleton, at newsangle@anglesea.org.au or leave news items / notices for the editor at the Community House.

Distribution NewsAngle is offered free to the community. You can download a copy online at www.anglesea.org.

Hard copies are distributed via Australia Post, using home delivery in Anglesea and PO Boxes in Aireys Inlet. NewsAngle can also be found at local shops/ cafes in both towns.

Deadlines for Next Edition Issue:

Autumn, 145

Casual ad bookings:

22 February 2021

Articles/Contributions:

22 February 2021

Distribution:

31 March 2021

Advertisers If you would like to book an annual or casual advertisement, please email Julie at advertising@anglesea.org.au

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

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

By Sandra Mitchell, Committee of Management Anglesea Community House (ACH)

BELONGING, BEING, BECOMING I have been volunteering with ACH Committee of Management and was recently appointed the Vice President.

I have really enjoyed being able to support the work the ACH does in Early Childhood education, applying skills and knowledge from my many years of working in the sector.

Reflecting on this, I wanted to share some thoughts on concepts lifted from the Early Years Learning Framework that are really applicable to all ages.

Belonging -To understand that you are part of a group, feeling that you are part of a family. Having a feeling that you are linked with others and experience important relationships.

All people, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or social circumstance, need to feel part of a group, to feel comfortable and accepted and connected deeply with others. What contributes to a sense of belonging will be different for each individual, but a need for it is universal. In smaller communities like ours, that sense of belonging can be strong, however, we need to be ever mindful of ensuring that we continue to be inclusive and provide opportunities for others to Belong here, whether they have lived here all their lives, are new residents or live part-time in this community.

Being - To experience what is happening now, life in the present.

Living in the present (Being) can be a hard task for many of us with busy lives and competing priorities often consuming us. Taking time to enjoy our wonderful, natural surroundings and engaging with our interests can help to embed a sense of being. Providing a friend, neighbour or colleague with a reason to escape from their busyness, even for a short time, can help to enhance their sense of being. Inviting someone for coffee and a chat or distracting them with a fun activity can provide some much-needed balance in some people’s lives, including the ‘giver’ of the experience.

Becoming - To experience change through different events and circumstances in one’s life.

During 2020, we have experienced more change than we thought possible. Changes to our work, home life and social experiences have been forced upon us by COVID-19. It has been difficult, but we have changed, adapted and become forever altered as a result. Change is not to be feared, but embraced. It provides an opportunity for learning, so that we may become more than we were yesterday and wiser to the effects of change in the future.

The Community House provides opportunities for people to engage, to enhance their sense of ‘belonging’ in our community, to forget about life for a while and be present in the moment, while enjoying some great activities. It is also here to support this community as we navigate changes that affect us all, and we hope that this will continue for a long time to come. We urge everyone to think about these concepts when dealing with others and how we, as individuals, can support others’ sense of Belonging, Being and Becoming.

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Artists Draw on Hope from COVID > continued from page 1

workshops, stories and events including panel-led discussions about the arts.

Minerva Lamorgese, Anglesea

Harriet Gaffney, the Council’s Arts Development Officer, and the brains behind the initiative says, “It’s proven so successful, we’ve kept the site running and more funding has been secured, so watch this space for #Portal Phase 2!”

Italian-born Anglesea artist, Minerva Lamorgese White, made her debut on the Surf Coast Arts Trail in 2019 – an event that helped introduce her to the wider artistic community on the Surf Coast.

These connections have stood her in good stead in recent months, as she worked to transition her fledgling business, Mivart Creations, online.

Sue Corbet, Fairhaven For renowned local sculptor, Sue Corbet, “The outbreak of the pandemic meant we couldn’t go to Italy to work.

We almost pressed the button and then COVID happened.”

“From a commercial perspective, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for me and other artists. On the other hand, I finally found the time to work on those big ideas I’ve always wanted to tackle. I was freed up during lockdown and could focus my creative energies on more complex projects.”

Instead, she and her husband, John, found themselves spending the winter in Fairhaven.

They decided to make the most of this difficult time by working together on a new sculpture called 'Keeping the Balance’.

“COVID did us a favour in a way. If I had been in Italy, I might not have come up with this idea or worked with John.”

It’s clearly a very special piece.

“I have tried to get the woman’s body physically balanced, but also communicate through her expression what was going on in her head,” says Sue. “She’s not happy or sad, she's just concentrating on being balanced, in that moment.”

The sculpture was accepted into the prestigious outdoor exhibition ‘Sculpture by the Sea’, which was due

‘Keeping the Balance’ by Sue Corbet

to open in NSW in November. Each year, the spectacular 2km coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach becomes a sculpture park, featuring major pieces of work by Australian and international artists.

Minerva has made a seamless transition from children’s book illustrator to paper mâché sculptor. The shift in technique was sparked by the birth of her daughter and the desire to make art with her little one involved, and also to stimulate her creativity.

“It’s very difficult to get into”, says Sue. “The Panel choose 100 pieces from a field of 400 applicants. I’ve been lucky enough to exhibit three years in a row. It attracts over 500,000 visitors each year, so it’s wonderful exposure.”

For example, one of Minerva’s most recent works is called ‘Hope- Speranza’.

It’s a life size sculpture based on one of her watercolour illustrations. A little girl holds a string tied to a balloon sized world. Says Minerva, “it's about the

Unfortunately, in late October, the organisers announced the exhibition would be delayed until April (or even, November) 2021.

“All that work has ended up at the foundry and is now being made into bronze. Normally, I would have been up in Melbourne overseeing this process. Instead, I have had to watch it being made into bronze using progress photos. I will just have to hold onto it and enjoy it until it goes to Bondi in April Sue and John Corbet working from home together. next year!”

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Anglesea artist Minerva Lamorgese

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environment and the responsibility we have in our hands.”

She has plans to develop the idea further and to create a public art installation, which she hopes, one day, will travel the different continents of the world. It is of seven people engaged in a multi-cultural hug, as a response to the worldwide pandemic.

In a way I was saying, “Okay, if I can’t travel and hug, I will make my art do this for me.”

Illustration by Minerva Lamorgese

Another project, The Book of Metamorphosis, is an exquisitely illustrated storyline about the miracle and circle of life.

She now has limited print editions of the illustrations on her website and is working on developing the concertina style book.

“If not for COVID, I would have been in Italy in September.

It’s been very difficult to be on the phone to family and friends, hearing ambulance sirens going on in the background. My art has helped me enormously, kept me in a happier place.”

Artist Pat McKenzie is renowned for her local landscapes

contact some of her students had with the outside world.

“They looked forward to connecting with each other during their Tuesday or Thursday classes…it also gave them a project for the rest of the week. The Zoom classes filled a real need in the community.”

However, it hasn’t all been one way!

“My students motivated me to keep going. I realised I also needed them to stimulate me, to keep working, to find new ideas and techniques to pass on. I didn’t have time to get depressed. I had too much still to learn, paintings to create and classes to teach!”

Pat McKenzie, Fairhaven Pat McKenzie was meant to be a judge at this year's Lorne Easter Art Show - the first of many events cancelled, including the annual Anglesea Art & Craft Show of which she is the co-ordinator.

“It was a real blow at the time”, says Pat. “None of us realised just how difficult things would become.”

Pat is an award-winning artist who lives on a 750acre farm tucked behind Fairhaven, surrounded by native bushland and animals. There is no shortage of material to paint. PreCOVID, the issue was finding the time.

“When the restrictions came along, I thought, ‘Great! I can get stuck into all those unfinished projects’. That lasted about 10 days and then my enthusiasm waned.

“I used to teach 40-50 students each week. Many were seniors who were now feeling very isolated at home. One of them asked if I could do something to help. My stepson, in Sydney, suggested I use Zoom, and he got me started.

“It was a huge learning curve. Suddenly I was in my studio, trying to use unfamiliar technology to teach painting online.

Zoom is great for meetings – but it’s much harder to teach someone how to paint! Water colour was particularly difficult because I normally work on the flat. I had to create a mechanical holding device for my iPad and raise it horizontally above the painting, to demonstrate how I work.”

Pat quickly realised her weekly Zoom class was the only NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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A Tale of Two Rivers – Part 1

By Mary Bremner

As the shovel of the digger bites into the sandbank, word spreads around town faster than a glass eel projects itself up the Painkalac Creek. “They’re opening the mouth!”

This heralds an Aireys Inlet tradition, where children (and some of their parents) race to the inlet with boards, to ride the undulating waves of the creek as it rushes through the freshly excavated opening.

This event took place twice this year and the creek broke through the berm by its own power at least once. The artificial opening of the creek is the source of much commentary in the town, with stories told of days of old and a variety of opinions on its benefits to the waterway and the town.

The village of Aireys Inlet grew up around the estuary of the small stream that flows from the foothills of the Otway Ranges.

Some locals race to the Inlet to ride the rushing waves when the Painkalac Creek is opened.

scenic vistas of ocean, bush, mountains and stream.

pronounced when water levels rise while the mouth is closed.

The creek formed the boundary between the tribal lands of the Wadawurrung people to the east and the Gadubanud people to the west. The name is derived from the Wadawurrung word “yaluk”, meaning creek or river.

The remains of stone fish traps, that have on rare occasions been visible when the creek was reduced to its channel, are evidence of the first human intervention in the natural flow of the creek.

This lovely stream is home to a population of southern shortfin eels whose reproductive cycle is one of the wonders of nature. The adult eels spend up to 20 years in the creek, before making the 3,000 km-long migration to the Coral Sea to breed and die. The young eels then find their way back to the Western Victorian waterways from which their parents originated. The town’s junior football team, ‘The Eels’, is named after these tenacious creatures.

In its natural state, the water levels would gradually build up over winter, and after heavy spring rains, would flood the valley floor. With the right conditions – a combination of the force of the water flowing down the stream and the tides and ocean swells – it would breach the blockade of sand at the mouth, sometimes gently, sometimes with a rush.

The Painkalac Creek is the habitat for an abundance of aquatic, bird, animal and plant life. It provides recreational activities such as bird-watching, canoeing, fishing, paddle-boarding and swimming. It completes the town’s

The mouth of the creek is closed for much of the year by a sand berm pushed up by the ocean currents. An oxygen-rich layer of fresh water sits over a layer of oxygen-poor saline water. This stratification is at its most

It is in the nature of estuarine systems that they will be both open and closed throughout the seasons, and there is no preferred state. Different groups of plants and animals are adapted to thrive in open and closed conditions., Residents, such as David Quin, have memories of the creek that reach back as far as the 1950s and 60s. David recalls that the natural breaches were normally quite wide, skirting the western edge of the Inlet, naturally keeping the dunes in check.

“I can recall waves flowing up the Inlet and breaking in front of what is now the carpark in Inlet Crescent. Eventually it would close and then fill, sometimes only partially, for summer,” said David.

The digger is occasionally called in to artificially open the mouth of the Painkalac Creek.

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David recalled, “In a dry year, the water would get so brackish and unsavoury no-one would swim in it. If you did, it was not uncommon to be bitten by what we used to term ‘nippers’ – some sort of microscopic

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bug which thrived in stagnant water.

Slowly over summer the water would evaporate and all that was left was a narrow channel.”

Town resident Peter McPhee’s memories also go back to these early days. He recalls a time when the opening resulted in a deep channel at the mouth, and schools of fish rushed in and out with the tides. There was clear sea-water up to River Road.

Local business owner Dave Jones remembers that the creek was always “boom or bust”. In the wet winters, which were the norm in those times, McKenzie’s farm would have a moat around it and the floods would “top dress” the paddock.

There are many stories about a time when the usual thing was for townsfolk to decide when the river should be opened. Local folklore has it that when Jack Richardson’s washing machine backed up (he lived where Onda is now) he would contact a townsperson with a digger or some men with shovels and the bank would be broken.

Many Aireys residents claim to have had a hand in these unauthorised excavations, which often silted up quickly.

Peter McPhee remembers when some visitors decided the inlet would be a good place for water-skiing, but this was a step too far for the locals and some shovel work soon ended their fun.

Dave Jones recalls an occasion when the opening resulted in fish and eel deaths. The fish come up to feed in the shallow flood water and can be trapped when the water drops quickly – Dave was able to pick up fish caught in the reeds.

The reservoir, now managed by Barwon Water, was decommissioned as a water supply in 2016, but environmental flows that mimic the seasonal flushes have been maintained.

This, together with the installation of sewerage infrastructure and the fencing of farming land away from the edge of the creek, have resulted in what is generally agreed to be a very healthy waterway.

Management of the stream is a busy space. The major players are the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), the Surf Coast Shire Council, Barwon Water and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

The CCMA is the caretaker of the health of the waterway, and it assesses the risks of opening. Local Council has the permit to conduct the openings and, under emergency provisions, may mobilise the digger if damage to property is imminent.

Where possible, Barwon Water is requested to synchronise a release of water with an artificial opening to minimise the chance of fish deaths, by topping up the creek with oxygenated water.

Scientific reports on the creek and its estuary abound, including studies of the impact of artificial openings– some of them as part of broader studies of the waterways on our southern coast.

Estuary Watch community volunteers regularly feed in information on the salinity, pH, oxygen levels, turbidity and temperature of the creek.

The CCMA and the Surf Coast Shire Council are very concerned about the risks associated with artificial openings and approach them reluctantly. The depletion of the creek and its fringing wetlands can impact on the many water birds that call it home. The mouthopening might drain off the oxygenated surface water, meaning death to fish left in the oxygen-poor saltier water.

On the positive side, an artificial opening sees the freshwater top layer drain off, followed by a flush of sea water on the high tide, resulting in the break down on the stratification and a re-oxygenation of the water.

The movement of sand by the prevailing currents and tides ensures that the mouth rarely stays open for more than a few weeks.

Jayden Woolley, the Estuaries and Environmental Water Manager at the CCMA, says that an artificial opening will only occur if a risk-based assessment, which considers impacts on the environmental, social and economic values of the estuary, determines it is appropriate; and when weather and physical conditions allow for a safe and effective opening.

They use a tool, developed through extensive research of estuarine systems, known as the Estuary Entrance Management Support System.

The combined effect of the berm length, estuary water level and tidal elevation are taken into account. This meets community demand for a consistent and scientific approach to the artificial openings. continued on page 8 >

But even in these days of derring-do, there were always debates about whether the mouth should be opened, when and by whom.

In 1978, the Aireys Inlet Water Board constructed a reservoir three kilometres upstream to supply potable water to the town and nearby Fairhaven. This allowed for the flow of the stream to be artificially controlled and since that time maintained at more desirable levels all year round.

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The Painkalac Valley in flood, 2001.

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A Tale of Two Rivers > continued from page 7

Pressure from local residents such as Liz has led to an improvement in communication between the Council and responsible bodies, and the sharing of information with the broader community.

Inlet Crescent resident Liz Wood keeps a close eye on estuary openings.

There is one matter on which the authorities and the locals all seem to agree – that, whether opened artificially or naturally, the creek has a mind of its own.

Inlet Crescent resident James Bell recalled events in 2007 when the creek flooded after heavy rain, and broke through naturally with an almighty boom, followed by a spectacular gush of water out to the sea.

“One year it gouged out a huge chunk of the dune, creating a massive sand cliff. I guess that’s one of the

fascinating things about the river going out. Each time is a bit different and, beyond the initial act of breaking the river out, what happens next is entirely up to the river currents, the tides and the wind. It is fascinating,” said James.

Inlet Crescent resident, Liz Wood, takes a keen interest in the management of the waterway. Liz prefers to see the mouth of the creek open naturally.

There are, however, other schools of thought in the town. Dave Jones thinks the artificial openings are great for the health of the creek and that it needs a good flush on a regular basis to clear out debris and stop it from silting up where it shouldn’t. In Dave's view, it's not opened enough. He pointed to a recent opening, which he said resulted in the return of ducks and wading birds.

There was even a sighting of a pelican on the estuary.

According to Dave, the bream fishing was always much better after a clean out – a fact borne out when a couple of Aireys children landed some beauties from the landing on Bambra Road a short while after one of this year’s openings.

After an opening late one spring, Liz was horrified by the muddy puddle that remained over summer and linked it directly with an ill-timed opening.

Beautiful blinds & curtains designed for your lifestyle Aireys Inlet children, Zoe (left) and Tay, caught these beauties from the landing on Bambra Road after one of this year’s river mouth openings.

The Painkalac Creek and its beautiful valley are prized attractions for both residents and visitors. The strongly held opinions about the management of the waterway are evidence of its valued place in our community.

This story will be followed, in the next edition of NewsAngle, by The Tale of Two Rivers – Part 2, about the Anglesea River.

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LOCAL PROFILE: OLIVIA KLEIN

From the River to the Sea

By Jenna Crawford

Me permite pre-sentarle la Senora Olivia Klein. I cannot speak Spanish, but my interviewee is bi-lingual. Olivia's parents came to Australia separately after the Spanish authorities were recommending Australia as a possible immigration haven.

Olivia has lived in Anglesea since 1992 and claims it was a move “from the river to the sea”. She loves the friendliness of Anglesea residents and the unique character of the town.

They both came independently by ship and later met in Brisbane, where they were both working.

Olivia's father was working as a canecutter and her mother was working as a nurse's aid. They were both in their late 20s and neither of them spoke any English. And they both came from Navarra, which is well known to those who visit northern Spain to participate in the running of the bulls in nearby Pamplona.

With the support of her family, she now fills the role of manager at the familyowned Anglesea Hotel.

Every day at work is different from the previous day, and she enjoys the variety of challenges her job has to offer. She enjoys meeting patrons for all different reasons, whether that be serving a beer or a meal or a bet at the TAB. She takes it all in her stride.

After they married, they moved to Echuca where her father worked at Hume Pipes and her mother became a cook at the Caledonia Hotel.

Olivia and her brother were born in Echuca and always spoke Spanish at home. When she was six years old, the family returned to Spain for a threemonth holiday and Olivia became even more proficient in the Spanish language, so much so that she had forgotten a lot of English.

Olivia Klein with husband Peter, daughter Talia and son Jack.

communication skills, whether writing to or speaking to relatives in Spain. It is fabulous that she has retained these invaluable connections, even after the death of her mother.

The Anglesea Hotel is presently undergoing a refurbishment, which will see a new kitchen area, a changed dining area and an enlarged outdoor dining facility. When it re-opens, be sure to take the opportunity to enjoy the new, upgraded facilities.

When she returned to school, back in Echuca, both she and her brother were forced to repeat their previous year's education. Olivia didn't mind having to repeat a year as it was a small price to pay for the opportunity she had to make unique connections with her relatives in Spain, which she still holds dear to this day.

She has returned several times to Spain over the years, with her last visit gifted to her by her family for her 50th birthday. She said it was lovely to go back, but things had changed a little.

Some of her family members had passed away and she had not had the chance to say ‘adios’ to them.

Olivia loves being bi-lingual and regrets not having taught her children, Talia and Jack, to speak Spanish when they were growing up. She has a large Spanish dictionary, to which she constantly refers to enhance her NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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A Walk for All of Anglesea

By Dot Hutton

The Anglesea Perimeter Walk was established in recognition of the unusually high quality of natural heathland and woodlands surrounding Anglesea.

Much of this is now included in the Great Otway National Park. Don Hutton, a well-known environmentalist and bushwalker, saw the value in having car-free access to a continuous walking track that showcased some of the biodiversity and beauty so close to Anglesea.

After Don’s death in 2007, Waverley Bushwalking Club members, ANGAIR members, university colleagues and friends contributed funds to enable the establishment of this route as a walk.

Don had identified possible ways in which existing tracks could be linked to make a circuit around Anglesea township.

In 2008, a team of ANGAIR members continued the track-finding work. They decided not to pass through some of the more sensitive areas, such as the large stands of grass tree, fearing the introduction of Phytophthora cinnamomi (Cinnamon fungus), an exotic fungal organism that the attacks the roots, thereby dehydrating the plants. This organism can become as rampant as COVID.

Seats at Demon Bluff Lookout on the Anglesea Perimeter Walk.

Once a feasible map was drawn up, negotiations began with Surf Coast Shire Council (SCS), the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC), Parks Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Alcoa.

This was no small undertaking. The global financial crisis was already beginning to bite. Government organisations were experiencing staff cut backs and many organisational restructuring changes were underway.

The person we spoke to one week could be replaced by someone struggling to come up to speed with their new job, and without access to the history of negotiations. Progress was slow.

Don Hutton, a well-known environmentalist and bushwalker, had the vision for a continuous walking track that showcased some of the biodiversity and beauty so close to Anglesea.

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At the time, Parks Victoria was underresourced to cope with the task of managing the recently declared (2004) Great Otway National Park (GONP) that now stretched from near Bells Beach to Cape Otway. They were not at all ready to see the development of new tracks, especially one that was not already drawn on the official maps.

While it is possible to be very sympathetic with this position, it was

extremely frustrating at the time. After many months, the final negotiation with Parks Victoria meant that the Anglesea Perimeter Walk followed more closed 4WD tracks than was originally proposed. However, this concession did mean that a continuous walk became possible.

Since the establishment of the walk, Parks Victoria has promptly replaced damaged signs in the national park.

They gave permission for two seats to be placed on Demon’s Lookout, above Demon’s Bluff, a point shown on old maps under the Eumerella Scout Camp.

These seats were made at the Anglesea Men’s Shed and installed by Parks Victoria.

A strange situation arose in the discussion with DELWP, Alcoa and the Surf Coast Shire Council. At the time, it was not at all certain who had responsibility for particular areas of land bordering the Alcoa Leasehold and that section of the leasehold called the Anglesea Heath.

Once it was established that DELWP cared for the riparian forest between the Anglesea River and Coalmine Road, permission was refused for the walk to

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pass through this area, as riparian forests are considered rare and endangered in Victoria. This felt strange at the time because the Anglesea Pony Club is right in the middle of this forest.

As a consequence of the refusal, the walk is diverted from Coalmine Road, along the east of the Anglesea River to meet Bingley Parade. It crosses the Anglesea River using the three small bridges to Coogoorah Park.

Through the whole history of the walk, the SCS staff have continued to be very supportive, seeing its value to the local community and to tourism. Staff have gone out of their way to assist at critical points. Alcoa was also helpful, suggesting possible routes and allowing the use of their existing square aluminium posts to carry track signs.

Dot Hutton (right) with Les Lyons, who was instrumental in installing new signage on the Anglesea Perimeter Walk, making it easier for walkers to follow and enjoy.

from the Hutton family and a community grant from the Anglesea and Winchelsea Community Bank.

Signage was quite an adventure. The aim was to have a track that could be followed without a map or a description. Consequently, signage took our entire initial $6,000 budget. Few walks of this length and diversity have been established on such a lean budget.

Descriptions of the Eastern and Western loops of the APW can be found at bushwalkingvictoria.org.au.

The APW can be accessed at a number of locations in and around Anglesea. It is a great way to view spectacular and varied scenery and vegetation including beaches, wetlands, woodlands and heathlands.

The Anglesea Perimeter Walk (APW) was finally established in October 2010.

It links with the Surf Coast Walk established in 2012. The APW is on varied tracks, some gravel paths, some closed four-wheel drive roads, and some narrow, single file bush tracks.

It is possible for families to complete short loops of the track of 3 to 5km, walk 12km loops that follow half the track, or for the really fit, complete the whole 22km in the one day. The full walk starts and finishes near the Anglesea Information Centre by the Anglesea River.

Thank you to the following people for their substantial contribution to the success of the Anglesea Perimeter Walk: Nicky Angus, Justin Conn, Pauline and Maurie Dean, Peter Forster, Jill and Geoff Giles, Don Hutton (died 2007), Les Lyons, Bill McKellar, Eathorne Mitchell, Helen Tutt (died 2018), Jim Tutt and family and friends.

Thanks also to the Anglesea and Winchelsea Community Bank for a grant for the renewed signage.

Minor route changes have occurred in the last decade due to cliff erosion and the closing of the Alcoa Anglesea mine and power station. The track itself is not challenging, generally rated as easy/ medium depending on distance walked.

It ranges in height from sea level to 126 meters at the euphemistically named Mount Ingoldsby. The Anglesea Perimeter Walk is through some very sensitive vegetation, so walkers are requested to remain on track.

The logo on the signs represents a star chart because Don’s final years at Monash University were spent teaching astronomy. Navigating by the stars was a passion of his. Many of the original signs directing users have deteriorated in the difficult coastal conditions.

To reduce future maintenance requirements, new signs are made of marine-grade aluminium. ANGAIR members have been busy replacing worn signage on the walk. The new signs were purchased with contributions NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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ANGAIR Nature Show 2020

By Liz Clark

Members of ANGAIR were feeling quite deflated and disappointed earlier in the year when they realised that they would be unable to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their annual wildflower and art exhibition.

Many members had already been planning and seeking ways to make sure that they could outdo the efforts of all the previous years, but it was not to be. They almost decided to give the show a miss.

different ways to look at problems and solutions.

It was a fast learning experience for everyone – in only a matter of a few months – and they are delighted that they have now discovered how to use new technologies smartly. They have found that technology enables and supports communication and collaboration, and despite the fact that so many ANGAIR members are retired and feel they are not really tech-savvy, they have found new ways to both enjoy and use some very up-to-date technology.

Olivia and Bill Clarke brought forward the idea of using digital technology to present a different type of show online, to be called ‘ANGAIR Nature Show 2020’.

Having already begun work on a digital asset management system for ANGAIR, with the valuable assistance of another Anglesea local Karl Jacklin, Bill and Olivia knew that there was a wealth of history, photos, documents and stories available to use. So they began an enormous task, strongly supported by the committee and many experienced and knowledgeable members, to create the show website.

The main goal of the nature show was to share knowledge and encourage members of the public to enjoy and

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discover as much as possible of our beautiful environment, its flora and fauna and local conservation efforts.

The nature show team commenced a new learning experience, using what they already knew, but constantly having to find exciting, innovative and

An amazing collection of records were the basis of the website – drawings and paintings, photos, scientific data, the experience of members over many years, stories, newsletter, as well as the support of members who were both willing and able to find information that was not already available.

Five themes were chosen to present information to the public: Wonder, Explore, Learn, Create and Play.

Wonder – the photos and information invited participants to marvel at the biodiversity and beauty of the fauna and flora in the Anglesea/Aireys Inlet area. It included heathlands and forests, unique plant species, coastal, marine and riverine life; diverse kinds of birds, insects and fungi. Sub-themes of little birds, history of Anglesea, native fish and frogs, wildlife photography, Eagle Rock and Point Addis, were filled with hundreds of photos and a vast amount of information – at one’s fingertips!

Explore – filmed walks and self-guided walking tours, including maps, commentaries, photos and descriptions of plants and birds. It was suggested that people take their guided walk ‘flip booklet’ on their tablet or phone.

(Many members of the public were out and about during October, walking, checking out the plants and enjoying the beautiful spring weather.)

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Tracks included Ted’s Ridge Track at Aireys Inlet, Great Otway National Park (Harvey Street), Allen Noble Sanctuary, Anglesea Bushland Reserve and Anglesea Lookout Reserve.

Learn – not just for kids, this section provided information on flora and fauna, environmental-related activities, the hooded plover, environmental weeds and how to remove and replace them, gardens for local plants and birds, and advice for the fire season.

Create – a digitised exhibition of artwork from Anglesea Primary School, poetry share, photo competition for the public to submit photos of the environment, making ephemeral art, making things out of paper, and colouring activities.

Play – not just for the kids either, this included jigsaws, quizzes and games.

ANGAIR is delighted to report more than 3000 unique users of the website and more than 20,000 ‘looks’ at pages during the exhibition time in October.

Despite visitors being generally unable to come here they were able to enjoy this unique environment and find valuable information about the widest range of natural assets in the area, as well as seeing some outstanding photos and drawings from very experienced and enthusiastic members, past and present.

to the Clarke’s and thought they had paid a good tribute to ANGAIR’s big anniversary.

However, when I was shown how interactive the site actually is, the vast amount of information available, the amazing photos, those fantastic guided walks, and how to work my way around all that data, I was thrilled and very happily surprised.

I could literally have spent many more hours in a journey of discovery through this site. I recommend readers take time to visit www.angairnatureshow.org.au to see just what this unique area has to offer. The site is still available, although no new information is to be added for the time being.

Warmest congratulations to ANGAIR members and their sponsors, and thanks from a grateful public.

After an amazingly successful event, with thousands of viewers and participants, President of ANGAIR Wendy Crebbin was full of praise for Olivia and Bill, as well as for the committee and the everyday members of ANGAIR who had collaborated so well together to produce this novel and exciting show.

She said that with so many members feeling out of their depth with technology, they mostly ‘just went along for the ride and contributed where they could.’

She paid tribute to the many who were so willing and keen to donate their time freely to ensure that this important 50th anniversary would not go unmarked.

As an older person, not very technically adept, I was a bit sceptical about how good a digital show like this could be. I looked through the site prior to my visit NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

13

Fire Webinar Series Provides Timely Insights

by Suzanne Cavanagh, Member of AIDA, Aireys Inlet & District Association

“Fires are burning in Siberia.” This comment by Mary Lush from Friends of Lorne [FoL] ushered in the start of a recent webinar series by FoL and Aireys Inlet & District Association [AIDA], setting the scene for a powerful webinar on the increasing volatility of wildfire activity, framing the series with the question, What’s the future of living in bushfire prone regions?

An eminent speaker line-up graphically sketched what is becoming increasingly a lived-experience for communities – changeable fires patterns, escalating threats, more hazardous and frequent fires, fire incidents in previously unimagined places – much of which is linked to climate change and human behaviour.

tendency to view crises in this way, in an endeavour to return quickly to ‘lifeas-it-was’. The problem however, as amply being shown with COVID-19, is that these are not simply discrete events, but are interconnected events that to a large degree, are reflective of our increasingly volatile, uncertain and complex world.

normal and that we will need to become more expert at proactively managing change, and that mitigation, often where most energy is placed, will not be sufficient to manage our future.

Too often fires are thought of as ‘freakevents’. There is a natural human

The big-picture message from this fire series was that ‘change’ is our new

However, the exceptional nature of the series lay in the eminent expert speaker line-up, and their diverse professional backgrounds – yet their near-consensus views arrived at on key issues.

Six speakers, six panelists, three online events and 1,095 registrations … such was the scope of the webinar series designed by Friends of Lorne.

David Lindenmayer [ANU] spoke of the long-term insights into the impacts of and responses to wildfire in Victoria.

He highlighted the depressingly large losses in our biodiversity and provided transparency to our actions in how we are making our forests more fire-prone.

He stressed the importance of growing and retaining older forest.

Steven Farrell, founding partner of Spatial Vision, joined David in session one. He addressed climate, in particular the increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall and explained what these changes may mean for unplanned fire. His simulation models sketched a fascinating scenario for Aireys Inlet.

The second session took us on another part of the journey, an understanding of human contribution to fire occurrences, with Janet Stanley (University of 14

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Melbourne). Janet shared the confronting statistic that 85 per cent of wildfires are ignited directly or indirectly by human activity, such as through the malicious lighting of a bushfire, or through accident or reckless behaviour.

Kevin Tolhurst (University of Melbourne) then brought us closer to home, sharing case studies from the Otway Ranges. His statistics on wildfire history were compelling in understanding the special nature of our region, with 1,131 unplanned fires in the Otway District since 1972, with a loss of 89,273ha burnt by unplanned fire. He provided a nuanced explanation of ‘Fire Energy’ – the sources of energy that are captured by a fire. Often public discussions centre on the ‘available fuel’, but he enumerated five key sources; available fuel, weather, terrain, environmental moisture and atmospheric mobility in determining fire energy, highlighting the trap of what are often single-issue discussions.

Armed with this newly acquired knowledge (new at least for most of

us), we were better placed to understand some of the practical issues and challenges around community resilience and planning for our future.

Barbara Norman (University of Canberra) shared her learnings from studies that grapple with risk, governance and management. In talking about skills Barbara said, “There is a capacity gap both in the professions and in community groups around the knowledge and skills that we need ...”.

She underlined the importance of tools such as ‘scenario planning’ with the community – a point well made for future planning locally.

Justin Leonard (CSIRO), finished the program by talking about what it’s like on the ground. He spoke of the urban interface context – the hazard itself, the design of the urban landscape and also the weather – before, during and after the event. Justin bravely tackled the subject of trees and their role in the bush, a subject that can be quite an emotive local issue! He sketched out the arguments for them and against

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them … and we learnt that there’s more to that subject than you would think!

Unplanned fire is a critical issue for our community, and the community proved highly engaged, fielding an enormous number of questions to not only the speakers, but to our local fire managers and practitioners who were invited as panelists for the sessions.

Unplanned fire is also a complex subject. It can become a highly emotive subject, with siloed and reductionist thinking and occasionally even … little thinking! This series provided our community with greater strategic insight into fire planning and practice and a better understanding of some of the interconnecting elements.

Charlotte Allen, President of AIDA said, “The FIRE. UNPLANNED. webinar series was an exceptional example of ‘community collaboration in action. Thank you all”.

The video recordings of the webinars are available on YouTube via the AIDA website: www.aireys-inlet.org/fireunplanned-webinar

15

LOCAL PROFILE: JASON CICHOCKI

All Creatures Great and Small

By Penny Edmanson

A fledgling magpie lies in an Anglesea driveway with an apparent broken leg. A distressed young kangaroo, separated from its mother, is hopping the streets of Torquay.

A homeowner, alerted by his dog’s barking, finds a baby tawny frogmouth no more than a ball of fluff and not yet able to fly. A Lorne resident is concerned about a koala that has been down on the ground for a couple of days unable to return to the treetops for essential nutrients.

available to help wildlife whenever required.

Often having to drop everything to respond to a call, Jason fortunately is his own boss. He relies on his loyal employees to keep his business, South West Automotive Services, running when he has to head out to help an animal in distress.

What is the common denominator in the sparing of these creatures from an untimely death?

Although Jason is the main man for receiving calls, it is not unusual to receive upward of 10 to 15 requests for rescues in a day, and this is only achievable with the help of his dedicated team.

Jason Cichocki – our very own ‘Wildlife Warrior’.

Jason has always loved animals, having a strong connection with them from childhood. Growing up in Central Victoria, he and his twin brother would sit in the bush watching all the creatures that would gradually emerge from their surroundings.

As part of a family that loved and looked after animals, he grew up on a horse-rescue property and even at a young age would save money from his paper round to buy the horses that were destined for the knackery.

However, it was a particular incident 10 years ago that drew his attention to the urgent need for help locally. As fate would have it that day, Jason witnessed

Jason Chichocki, wildlife rescuer

David Burrell from Leopold Wildlife Services tending a large kangaroo that had been hit by a car and broken its leg.

When David needed assistance, Jason stepped up. David was so impressed with Jason’s natural ability that he was keen to take him under his wing and teach him all he knew of wildlife rescue.

This was a pivotal moment in Jason’s life. Rather than being one of the many saying ‘someone needs to do something’, Jason decided to lead by example and dedicate the rest of his time on the planet to helping as many animals as possible.

For many years, Jason was a sole operator, but about three years ago he and his partner Remedios started a group simply known as Surf Coast Wildlife Rescue.

The group has grown to be an effective wildlife rescue operation with more than 70 individuals dedicating their time to helping the wildlife of this region.

Native wildlife are supported by Jason.

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Most of the volunteers have busy lives with jobs and families to attend to, however they are united in their willingness to make themselves

Based in Torquay, Surf Coast Wildlife Rescue services an area that stretches around the coast from Apollo Bay to Geelong, and inland to places such as Lara, Meredith, Bannockburn, Dean’s Marsh and Forrest.

Due to the diversity of animals around us, wildlife rescue in this region sees Jason and his team rescuing animals of all shapes and sizes: from little fairywrens and honey-eaters to wedgetails and seabirds, from bats, echidnas and possums, to koalas, wallabies and kangaroos.

Jason believes that our planet belongs to all creatures great and small, and sees our role is to co-exist rather than dominate. It disturbs him to see the increasing dislocation that is a result of urban development. Sadly, by far the greatest number of call-outs is for kangaroos hit by cars and sadly they often cannot be saved.

Jason is heartened by the fact that the majority of people care about animals.

“Vigilance by the community is the crucial first step in the chain,” he says.

“The rescue process starts when a person sees an animal, realises it needs help and takes the action to call us.

“Without people doing that, we couldn’t do what we do”.

His goal is for every resident to have his number in their phone.

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With the ever-growing number of rescues, Jason is always looking for volunteers. No experience is required, just a love of animals and Jason will provide the rest. Just give him a call.

Already, knowledge of Jason’s work is widespread throughout the community, with ‘Call Jason’ commonly heard when a distressed animal is found, be it in the bush, beach or backyard.

What few would realise, however, is that Surf Coast Wildlife Rescue relies solely on donations, and the volunteers often resort to their own pockets. With the huge area serviced, thousands of kilometres can be covered and petrol is one of the group’s greatest expenses.

Somewhat bewildered by his near celebrity status in the community, Jason remains humble.

“My main focus is the animals. I don’t do this for recognition of any sort. The only acknowledgement I need is to know people have my number in their phones and will be proactive when they see an animal who needs help.”

Many of us have already called on Jason for help and many more will in the future.

Let’s support him now with a donation. It could be cash or a fuel card. Even old blankets and sheets are gratefully received, and be sure to put his number in your phone!

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17

LOCAL PROFILE: SARAH MEDLAND

Caring for Community Near and Far

By Liz Clark

Years of involvement in sporting activities have given Sarah Medland a sense of community, a desire to do things well, strong team spirit and a commitment to achieving her dreams.

Topped with natural exuberance and a caring nature, Sarah is brilliantly equipped to take on her job as a teacher, to pursue her artistic activities and to accept the challenges of volunteering and offering financial support to a small community in Kenya.

Growing up in Melbourne with two sisters and a brother, school and sport kept life full and busy for Sarah. Since she was quite small, the family rented a house in Anglesea for the holidays, and she became involved in the Surf Club here, joined Nippers, and spent most of her summers on the beach, hence her love for this beautiful place.

Her parents purchased a property in Anglesea about 18 years ago, and the family spent every available holiday and weekend here, at least as much as a busy sporting life allowed.

Netball and rowing became her favourite sports, although ongoing injuries have meant a number of serious surgeries and consequent time out.

During her teens, she accepted a rowing scholarship to Miami which offered her many amazing opportunities, and allowed her to finish her schooling and then a teaching degree in the US. Now in her eighth year of teaching, Sarah really loves her chosen career.

The demands of this year have offered lots of challenges, and her Year 2 class has benefitted from her specific involvement with Mama Cynthia project in Mumias, rural Kenya.

This project provides health care and education for disabled children from age 0 -18 years, and was named in honour of a woman who carried her granddaughter Cynthia (who suffered from cerebral palsy) for miles each week for her therapy.

Sarah Medland has holidayed in Anglesea most of her life.

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Sarah’s sister Jess was completing an Occupational Therapy final placement in this village in 2009, and was so touched by both the plight of the children and the strength and determination of their mothers and grandmothers, that she wanted to continue to do all she could to help

Sarah supports children as part of the Mama Cynthia project in Kenya.

them on an ongoing basis. She easily recruited the support of her family.

The Mama Cynthia project aims to educate the local community about disability awareness and burns prevention, to assist the children with their education, make aids and equipment, upskill local professionals and provide opportunities for corrective surgery for children with a diverse range of disabilities.

Sarah and her family and friends offer their support to the project through various types of fund raising on an ongoing basis, and through visits to the village to provide teaching and medical assistance. Sarah commented that money can go a long way there, as

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many everyday things are not so expensive as they are in Melbourne.

They have been able to provide muchneeded medical equipment, while her sisters Jess and Jenni managed to obtain some vital medical machinery, no longer used in hospitals here, that would otherwise be totally out of reach for this small community.

Their fundraising also supports a monthly food drop to six families, supplies rent to cover the cost of a classroom for a small school starting in the village, and assists with vocational training costs for the teacher. For more information see their website mamacynthia.wixsite.com/mamacynthia Being so closely in touch and involved with this project has infused Sarah with enthusiasm for helping others. She endeavours to instil into her Melbourne students a sense of gratitude for the wonderful everyday opportunities they have living in Australia, and she links her class curriculum to other issues around the world so that the children

actually realise that not everyone has opportunities as they do.

Majoring in elementary education and studio art for her degree has allowed Sarah to follow her teaching career and to begin a small part-time business as a creative artist.

Big Bear and Little Birdie was born after Sarah was recuperating from hip surgery and needed an outlet for her energy and busy mind. After discussing both creative and business ideas in depth with her dad, she decided to begin her small business making baby teething rings and dummy clips, polymer lanyards, necklaces and keyrings, and sustainable beeswax wraps – at least to start with.

She is well known and her beautiful handcrafts are very well accepted at the Aireys Inlet Market as well as online.

See Sarah’s website www.bigbearandlittlebirdie.com for the full range of beautiful crafts available.

Continual reconnection with the coast, especially through the market, has brought Sarah back more and more

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Baby teething rings made by Sarah.

frequently to her old stomping ground and she has a dream for the future that certainly involves living in the area and continuing her work and many projects in a less hectic atmosphere than Melbourne offers. She also hopes to return to Kenya sometime next year to continue her work with the people in Mumias.

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In the House …

By Marcelle Renkin, Program Coordinator

Community House Reopens its Doors We officially reopened the House to visitors on 23 November, and we are very excited to have people back through the door – and to hear the sound of chitter-chatter as people come and leave classes, or drop in for a visit and a chat.

Coming up over the next few months, we have a return to the House of our regular interest/meet-up groups, including Talking Points, CWA meetings, Stitchery and Bookclub.

local community groups to fundraise by running the BBQ. Please get in touch with us if your community group is keen to go on the BBQ roster for future markets.

We also have a few new courses on offer, teaming up with the Bellarine Training and Community Hub, to offer a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, First Aid, Beeswax-wrap making, Ayurveda Yoga, Inamojo for kids, and Movement and Mindfulness for young adults.

Anglesea Farmers Market Returns While the doors were officially ‘closed’, Julie and I were busy working on preparing for our Farmers’ Market season and are excited to be able to bring the market back, and to have seen people coming together in a COVID-safe way.

Our markets will run the first and third Friday of each month in the ACH carpark up until the end of March 2021.

As part of our market, we are providing the opportunity for The Anglesea Farmers Market will operate on the first and third Fridays of the month outside the Anglesea Community House.

Resale Shed Reopens We have also been working very hard to reopen the Resale Shed at the Anglesea Transfer Station, aka the Tip Shop, and are happy to announce that it is reopening on 12 December.

We are putting a shout-out to people to send us a ‘before’ and ‘after’ photo of something you have repurposed or upcycled from the Tip Shop.

New Website ACH is looking forward to the launch of its new website, so keep a look out in February for our launch date. A new feature of our website, an online directory for Anglesea, will help people become more connected with existing local groups, clubs and events, and navigate their way around all the wonderful things that happen in our communities.

The development of this feature on the new website is an example of the way in which we work collaboratively with community leaders, organisations and individuals to support initiatives that align with Community House strategic objectives.

The idea for an interactive online directory – a one-stop-shop where you can learn how to join a group, get connected and find out what’s on in Anglesea – grew out of our participation in the Community Leaders online forums, which were an initiative of the Community Bank Anglesea & District and Anglesea Community Network, during COVID-19 lockdown.

These forums have provided a fantastic opportunity to better understand how we can collaborate and work together, to create a connected vibrant community.

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The Check Up

By Dr Skye Hueneke, Anglesea Medical

Cancer screening during COVID19 The end of 2020 is fast approaching and what a strange and difficult year it's been. The Anglesea Medical team would like to thank the community for working with us to maintain a safe working environment for our staff and all our patients.

The pandemic continues around the world, but in Victoria we are celebrating the end of lockdown.

What a relief!

However, through the Summer, we will continue to maintain our vigilance so that, despite the pandemic, we can continue to provide safe, compassionate and comprehensive care to the community.

We know from data collected through the pandemic that there has been a drop in breast, bowel and skin cancer diagnosis and referrals to specialists in Victoria. This has the potential to lead to a delay in treatment and potentially worse outcomes.

BreastScreen Victoria is now back screening women. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women, with 17,000 diagnosis a year. All women between 50 and 74 can contact BreastScreen to arrange their free mammogram.

Women outside that age bracket are recommended to talk to their GP to determine if screening is appropriate for them.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) for people 50 to 74 years old has continued to operate throughout the pandemic.

Luckily the initial screening is done by patients at home and the test is mailed off for testing. Bowel Cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in Australia with 15,250 diagnosed per year.

The NBSCP has the potential to save 83,800 lives by 2040 if we can increase participation rates from the current 40% to 60%. The more people who participate, the more lives will be saved, so if you have a testing kit sitting on a bench or in a cupboard somewhere then please get it out and do the test.

The National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) has also continued to operate this year. About 850 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year but this figure is falling.

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The NCSP along with the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine program have the amazing aim of eliminating cervical cancer altogether. If you have a cervix and are 25 to 74 years old, you can call the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800627701 to check if you are due for a test.

Lastly, as we come into Summer, we would like to remind everyone to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek shade and Slide on the sunnies.

Skin cancers ar e our most common cancer with 777,000 diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma every year, and 12,000 Melanomas diagnosed.

A screening full skin check detects abnormalities, then biopsies may be taken and skin cancers that are diagnosed can be treated with surgical, topical or ablative therapies. With skin cancers it is important to catch things early, so we encourage people to have any worrying skin spots checked.

Be kind Anglesea, and keep up the hand washing, it saves lives.

References: breastscreen.org.au, health.gov.au, can cervic.org.au

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Banking on our Community

By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank ÂŽ

Like all communities around the country and particularly Victoria, our region has had to make many changes and sacrifices in 2020. Some people’s lives and livelihoods have been turned upside down and some of the changes may never be reversed.

It is during these times that the true community sense comes to the fore. We have many volunteer service groups that have always been working behind the scenes, but we should acknowledge the efforts of many giving people who continue to make a substantial contribution to help ease the burden on many of our residents who are suffering the most during these times.

The volunteers at FoodLink in Anglesea have been making a huge difference to the lives of the elderly, who are finding the restriction of movement around their normal everyday lives an extra difficulty.

The little surprise packs delivered to some couples and individuals has been a blessing to the isolation that COVID has created.

The Anglesea Lions Club have also been providing support packages for those in isolation, despite their inability to source funds with community activities like sausage sizzles and Friday night pub raffles being closed down.

The famous Lions Christmas Raffle will still take place, despite the different circumstances, so please look out for the volunteer ticket sellers and help make it the big success it always is.

The Anglesea Community Network was able to create an important community gathering due the wonders of modern communication.

A virtual Zoom meeting was conducted with more than 60 people attending the online function to help gather a feel for how the community was coping with the forced changes. It certainly proved to be a very successful venture and highlighted again how the many community groups are coming together to share ideas and resources to make this an even better place to be.

It has been a huge thrill for the Anglesea and District Community Bank to be involved with all these activities by providing a small financial contribution. Have a safe festive season and keep looking out for those around us who may still be struggling in these difficult times.

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

Trust

by Chris Hammer

Letters from Berlin

Trust by award-winning journalist and author Chris Hammer, is the third novel in the enthralling crime series featuring Martin Scarsden, but easily a read-alone as well.

For once, life is just blissful for Martin Scarsden and Mandalay Blonde, until a terrified scream on the other end of the line sets into motion a thrilling quest for the truth. Where is she and why would anyone want to harm her? Thankfully, Mandalay is found, but many secrets from her past are unearthed in the process and when Martin’s best friend, a journalist, is found murdered on the eve of a highly secretive breaking story, the mystery deepens. Who is behind the murder and how is it connected to Mandalay’s past? A riveting roller-coaster examining the hierarchy of corporate power and police corruption by one of Australia’s best crime writers.

by Tanya Blanchard

Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

An epic tale of strength, bravery, and the healing power of love, amidst some of the most incredibly devastating events in history.

For 18-year-old Susanna Gottmann, life in Berlin in 1943 is a precarious battle of survival as the allied forces encroach.

Presented with an opportunity to help her family by accepting the help of a man of influence ... a senior Nazi official, Susanna forgoes any sense of a happy future with her beloved Leo and pays a great personal cost few can imagine.

An incredible World War II novel based on a true story.

Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

The Cat and The City The Happiest Man on Earth

by Nick Bradley

by Eddie Jaku

At 100 years of age, Eddie has been through more than most can comprehend.

From a young boy, needing to assume a secret identity and being sent away from his family to study, and as a young man to face the unimaginable horrors of the concentration camps; losing his identity, his family and his country and fighting to survive every day of his life. It is in the darkest times of his life that Eddie made the decision to be thankful for everyday he was alive, and to make a commitment to smile every day. Even if the day was an unhappy one.

This quirky little novel will appeal to all lovers of Japan and Japanese based literature.

It begins with a tattooist in Tokyo who receives a most unusual commission from a young woman. The design she desires is intriguing – a recreation of the city that will cover her entire back.

Despite her insistence on the city being uninhabited, the tattooist adds a small cat outside famous Shibuya station.

However, when she returns for future sessions, to his astonishment he sees that the cat is wandering around the inked cityscape.

A complete treasure of a book, that is the perfect read to put life in perspective.

Bradley takes us on a tour of Tokyo's heart and the lives of its people though this little calico cat, a uniquely beautiful little novel, perfect for our times.

Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

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23

HISTORY SPOT

‘Reel’ Stories from our Surf Life Saving Clubs EARLY HISTORY OF ANGLESEA SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

By Jan Morris, Anglesea & District Historical Society

Anglesea should be rightly proud of its Surf Club. It provides an excellent service to the community and now has a ‘state-of-the-art’ building, but it wasn’t always like that.

On 25 March, 1875, The Geelong Advertiser reported a near drowning at Anglesea, and again in December a similar near drowning.

A youth was swept off the rocks while fishing. A friend stripped and jumped into the water. The only equipment he had was a pole used for cray fishing.

On Christmas Day, a similar accident occurred. There was no equipment on the beach and no one was trained in any method of life saving. Over the years there were several drownings and many near misses. This situation continued until 1920.

Following yet another drowning at Anglesea on Monday 27 December 1920, members of the Brighton Beach Life Saving Club visited Anglesea and gave a display of life-saving methods in the river and in the ocean. This prompted Mr Lloyd Brind, of Ballarat, to present a surf reel for Anglesea beach. It was housed in a shed in the middle beach area.

During the 1920s and 30s the river was the preferred swimming spot for many people. The shire was requested to supply a similar life reel for the river.

The Reel Shed 24

However, the request was refused.

The McMillan family helped the situation by providing a life ring from the Inverlochy that had been wrecked at Anglesea in 1902. Each summer the McMillan’s hung it on the outside wall of the change rooms on the river bank.

In November 1951, June Baker executed a dramatic surf ski rescue of three people in rough seas.

June was a young teacher who had fortunately brought her ski along for the day and was able to use it to rescue the people in trouble.

This stirred local residents to realise the need for a Surf Life Saving Club. A public meeting, called on 20 January 1952, formed the Anglesea Surf LifeSaving Club (SLSC) with June's father, David Baker, as the first president.

They built a club shed in front of the dunes. It was soon washed away. A second shed was built half way up the dunes. This was abandoned during WW2.

In 1952, the S.L.S.C. was re-formed.

The pre-war shed was found buried in sand to within three feet of its roof, and dug out. This was replaced by a threeroomed Clubhouse opened in 1962. In 1968, a 73-berth clubhouse with kitchen and boatshed was erected. Other extensions were added over the years, including the Alcoa lookout tower and restaurant.

Shed built in sand dunes

With better facilities year by year, Anglesea Surf Club grew in both membership and activities. Their skills and equipment continually improved and they started training a young age group, with the introduction of Nippers.

Now with the completion of the new $5,000,000+ clubhouse, excellent training and modern equipment, Anglesea S.L.S.C. is recognised as not only a premier club in Australia, but also worldwide.

Let us show our appreciation for the service they provide to our community and visitors by supporting their annual door knock appeal.

The new Anglesea SLSC Clubhouse

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EARLY HISTORY OF FAIRHAVEN SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

By Keith West, Historian, Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club

Who could have predicted that a beach tragedy in 1937 was to become closely linked to the formation and growth of a successful community organisation in future years?

Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club is an integral part of the network of similar community clubs along the Victorian Surf Coast. It was officially formed in 1957, following a lengthy period of community meetings and local consultation, and joined the Australiawide surf life saving movement.

The club began beach patrol operations at Fairhaven, and has proudly contributed to the community for more than 60 years.

However, there is more to the Fairhaven story.

While 1957 is recognised as the year that Fairhaven SLSC started, it is of historical interest to relate an incident that occurred 20 years earlier.

In 1937, a tragic event happened at Fairhaven beach that will always remain a significant part of the club’s history. Fairhaven, at that time, was a beautiful, rugged, sparsely populated place on the south-west Victorian coastline.

Amy Patterson was a young school teacher at Korowa Church of England Girl’s Grammar School. In the summer of 1937, Amy and some friends rented accommodation at Fairhaven for a holiday weekend.

Coastal weather was poor and the sea very rough. However, Amy, who was a fit and competent swimmer, decided to try the surf. In a short time she began to struggle and could not cope with the big seas and strong currents.

Amy was swept out beyond the breaking waves and was unable to return to the beach.

distressed Amy to be brought to shore.

Tragically, the ordeal was too great, and despite all efforts, Amy Patterson died on the Fairhaven beach.

Following Amy’s tragic death, her devastated family and friends purchased a life saving reel and line from the West St Kilda Life Saving The first life savers of Fairhaven. The reel in the shed can be seen Club and placed it in in the dunes behind (1957). a small shed in the Local meetings were held and the dunes at Fairhaven in memory of their decision to form the Fairhaven Surf loved one.

Life Saving Club was eventually made The reel and line has been recognised in 1957. as a traditional and iconic item of surf rescue equipment since the early 1900s.

Young men who had restored the reel in the shed began training and gained The reel was regarded by Amy their Bronze Medallion. David Carr Patterson’s family as a fitting tribute became the first Club Captain joining and a potential lifesaving aid for beach Michael Devonport, Norman Luff, users in future years. A small iron shed Chris Holland, Russell Hughes and in the Fairhaven dunes hosted the life Euan Pollock as the first active saving reel and line for many years, patrolling members at Fairhaven beach, including the passage of the Second early in 1958.

World War and its aftermath.

Time, weather and the harsh beach environment took their toll over the years and the reel fell into a state of disrepair. By the mid 1950s, Fairhaven and Aireys Inlet, were small, quiet coastal communities on the Great Ocean Road that were growing in population and as holiday destinations.

The alarm was raised and rescue efforts were mounted. Attempts to save the young teacher from the heavy surf were long and arduous with Mr Marwick and Mr Cowan, from the nearby boarding house ‘Fairhaven’, being involved.

There was significant local interest in the formation of a life saving club.

Some beach-loving young men, led by local David Carr, also became interested in surf life saving and starting a club. They restored the dilapidated reel in the shed and returned the family tribute to full working order.

A clothes line and some strong, courageous swimming by Mr Marwick eventually enabled an exhausted and

The life saving ambitions of the Fairhaven - Aireys Inlet community continued to develop.

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From those early beginnings Fairhaven club experienced continual growth and development. Through the ensuing years, beach life saving services, a widely acclaimed nipper program, training of many young lifesavers and a strong social focus continue to be among the many features of a popular and successful volunteer community organisation.

The reel in the shed, affectionately known as “The Amy Patterson”, was used by early patrols at Fairhaven and is now, fully restored and proudly displayed in the clubhouse.

The story of the early tragedy and reel in the shed should be remembered as an important prelude to the history of the Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club.

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Tech Angle TWITCHERS’ CORNER

By Chris Dos Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Tech Angle

By Chris Dos Let’s look back at the developments in technology that have enhanced and occasionally infuriated us in the past 12 months.

In a year that has at times felt like falling down the stairs in slow motion, nothing seemed more abrupt than the drastic changes brought to our lives by the pandemic.

With our human-ness severely restricted, we found apps and resources to enable us to maintain our connection with family and friends and to get our work done while still wearing pyjamas. We also found a renewed appreciation for that indefinable something we get from sharing the company of others.

Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sancta Three kingfisher species are present in this region.

Laughing Kookaburra, and two smaller species, the Azure and Sacred. Members of the family are easily recognisable.

Their bodies are plump, heads large, with long, heavy straight bills; legs very short and feet small. Posture is upright as they sit motionless on a vantage point ready to plunge to the ground or water to take their prey. Flight is swift, direct and usually low for a short distance.

The Sacred Kingfisher is widespread and common. It is a land kingfisher and inhabits a wide range of wooded and open forest country, rivers, lakes, seashores, mangroves and golf courses. It is found throughout Australia, in suitable habitat, but absent in most arid regions. Also occurs in New Zealand.

An attractive bird. Upperparts turquoise; bright turquoiseblue on lower back and rump, deeper blue on shoulder and tail. Underparts and collar whitish, variable, in winter plumage becoming buff on the breast, this fading almost to white by late summer.

There is a broad, black band from the base of the bill through eye to nape of neck, and a pale-buff to cinnamonbuff spot in front of each eye.

Female: Larger, duller and greener above, with collar and underparts whiter.

Immature: duller with buff feather-margins.

Diet consists mainly of small lizards, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and their larvae. When close to water, they will take fish and both freshwater and saltwater crustaceans, The Sacred Kingfisher spends much of its time perched on a small, fairly low, bare branch; it sits very still, occasionally bobbing its head as it watches for prey.

There’s been the usual array of warnings regarding emerging technology. TikTok was just about banned in the US as foreign government spyware, but the idea ran out of steam and didn’t eventuate. 5G towers were burned due to their perceived health risks (and other towers, can’t be too careful).

One theory even linked 5G to the spread of COVID-19.

Traditional media continued its decline as an influencer of public opinion. A recent survey in the US reported 60 percent of respondents had ‘not very much trust’ to ‘no trust at all’ in newspapers, television and radio. People are more often tuning in to news sources with which we already agree.

Group public shaming on social media or ‘cancel culture’ has claimed many scalps, some for the betterment of humanity and some not.

Watching a documentary called “The Social Dilemma” provided an epiphany of sorts.

It followed an ex-employee of Google who developed serious reservations about the way its technology was intruding in people’s lives.

I’ve expressed concern before about the amount of personal information we give up in order to use these ‘free’ platforms, but there are also more manipulative processes aimed at keeping you engaged for the benefit of their sponsors.

Describing the relationship between the social media provider, advertiser and user, they summed it up well: If you’re not paying for the product – you ARE the product.

Breeding season occurs from September to March. The nest site is usually a small hollow in a tree trunk or limb. In some cases drilled into a termite nest in a tree or an earth bank.

Both sexes excavate the nesting burrow, both incubate the eggs, rear the young and defend the nest. Three to five glossy white eggs are laid.

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Community Corner NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

Aireys Inlet Students Learn About Plant Life in the Mangowak Sanctuary In October, Margaret MacDonald visited us with Alison and Kaye from ‘Friends of the Eastern Otways’.

We all spent time in Mangowak Sanctuary, behind the school, identifying the rare plant species popping up after the spring rain and sunshine.

They told us about all of the features of

the beautiful orchids. We then had an ‘orchid hunt’.

We identified each orchid by type and marked where they were, so that we could observe them over time. Most of them were in bud, so we went back to check on them when the sun finally came out, to see them in bloom.

We found Sun Orchids, Onion Orchids,

Spider Orchids, Mosquito Orchids, Greenhood and Nodding Greenhood Orchids.

We are so lucky to have Margaret and her friends. They are always so generous with their time and their expertise. We thank them very much.

By Charlie, Mitch, Grace, Annie, Paige and Zara

Spider Orchid

A Sun Orchid – waiting for the sun!

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Marg MacDonald teaches students at Aireys Inlet Primary School about orchids in their local ‘Mangowak Sanctuary’.

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ANGLESEA ART HOUSE KIDS ART BASH 2021

By Jennifer O’Sullivan, President, Anglesea Art House

As with everyone in our community, it has been a challenging year for the Art House.

We would like to say a big thank you to our members for their ongoing support .

Looking ahead to 2021, we will be holding our ‘Kids Art Bash’ in January – at this stage from 1-23 January. Follow us on our Facebook page to stay updated.

This is an important fundraiser for us, after not being able to hold any events during 2020. The Art Bash has been happening for 35 years and we will adapt to COVID ‘normal’ procedures so we can operate.

This is so much fun and we are looking forward to it.

The activities cater for children up to 16 years of age, and parents are welcome to participate.

Chanelle Jenkins has been goingto the Art Bash for the past four years

Our plan is to have gazebos set up in our front carpark to provide work stations that can be used with a group of family and friends, as well as the Gallery, Courtyard and the Studio for the ever popular mosaics.

Creativity for children is so important and with our volunteer members onboard they are sure to learn something new from what is offered.

Plenty of space for all.

Jennifer O’Sullivan on 0417 588 906.

For further information you can contact our President

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Serving the Community Anglesea Baptist, through Seaside Seconds, has a long history of serving the community through the provision of grants to community projects and welfare support.

We are now delighted to be able to offer affordable counselling in Anglesea through Alison Henry Counselling.

Ali is a highly experienced counsellor with an MA in Counselling and a background in nursing. She is a Clinical member of CCAA and a Level 4 member of the peak body Australian Counselling Association.

Alison (Ali) has worked for over a decade in the Geelong and Surf Coast region, across a variety of workplaces including schools, churches, community agencies, and in private practice.

She is currently furthering her qualifications by studying Art Therapy.

As well as working with such general

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issues as grief and loss, anxiety, depression, body image, self-care and navigating change, Ali is also experienced in providing mental health support for businesses.

She uses a person-centred approach and an eclectic mix of strategies to suit the client.

Ali Henry is now available for face-toface counselling appointments on Monday and Tuesday mornings in the Community Space next to Seaside Seconds, at 71 Great Ocean Road in Anglesea.

Ali can be contacted on 0411 624 289 or alison.henry.counselling@gmail.com FB: www.facebook.com/Alison-HenryCounselling

Eagles Nest Gallery Exhibitions Head to Eagles Nest Gallery in Aireys Inlet this January, to catch these wonderful exhibitions: Sharryn Jenkinson – Cloudscape Canvases Vivi Palegeorge – Impressionist Coast Anita Barrett – Paintings in the Round Brittany March - Graphite Illustrations There will be a ‘progressive opening’ for the four new exhibitions, to be held over three hours on Saturday, 9 January, 2021.

January will also see Eagles Nest Gallery adding a new branch to its space, with a special ‘Pop-Up’ gallery space to promote an upcoming solo exhibition ‘PETER SMALES PAINTS OUR COAST’ in January-February.

Instagram @alison_henry_counselling

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Anglesea cancer patient calls for support to step up research With Surf Coast residents spending countless hours trekking their local streets and paths this year, a new event is now challenging us to put our lockdown fitness to the test to help fight cancer.

Anglesea resident Janet Jones is encouraging Victorians to put on their runners for the inaugural ‘Lighthouse Classic’, which will raise funds for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.

raise funds so we can find out why people get cancer, how we can stop it and how we can improve the treatment.”

“The Institute is doing some fantastic work to identify causes for cancer, effective treatments and why some cells become cancerous.”

Janet Jones has established the

Lighthouse Classic to

Leading the research at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is Professor George Kannourakis.

shed new light on what causes cancer and how it can be treated more effectively.

As someone who has faced three separate battles with cancer over a period of 33 years, Janet is passionate about identifying causes for cancer.

“I’ve managed to conquer two different cancers on two different occasions and will fight it again a third time,” she said.

“Our research is focused on the role of the immune system and how it relates and can be used to treat cancer,” he said.

Janet Jones has initiated the Lighthouse Classic to raise funds for cancer research.

“But the Lighthouse Classic is not just about my cancer, it’s about trying to

“It is hoped that druggable targets can be developed to allow the immune system to attack the cancer, without chemotherapy and radiation.”

Participants can walk or run anywhere they like to complete the Lighthouse Classic challenge any time during the month of January.

Janet and George plan to complete their 12km challenge by starting at Urquhart Bluff, touching the Aireys Inlet lighthouse, and returning.

To learn more about the event, or register to take part, go to www.fecri.org.au.

Participants can also share their achievement on Instagram with #lighthouseclassic21 All funds will go to the Ballarat-based, Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, which is Australia’s only regionallybased cancer research centre.

The research aims to help patients with a broad range of cancers – from Leukemia, Bowel, Ovarian, Breast, Renal, Lung, Melanoma and PancreatoBiliary cancers, as well as haematological cancers.

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Point Roadknight – an exhibition Local artists Elaine d’Esterre and Deborah Elliott will be holding a joint exhibition, ‘Point Roadknight’ from 9-28 December, at the Anglesea Art Space, Shop 2/103 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea.

Elaine and Deb are both Anglesea residents.

Elaine has a Ph D. in Fine Arts and is a well-renowned artist.

Deb has been Elaine’s student for the past three years. Both of them share a passion for their local environment and, in particular, Point Roadknight.

In this exhibition, the artists have produced a homage to Point Roadknight and an exploration and witness to many different forces of nature that surround and interact with this site.

Deb Elliott’s artwork will feature at the Anglesea Art Space in the ‘Point Roadknight’ exhibition in late December.

By walking along the rocky promontory and beach, and photographing water, wind, tides, clouds and atmosphere, and the position of the sun as it 'moves' along the horizon from Point Addis towards Point Roadknight as the year progresses, they have produced a diary and record of change and transition.

The body of work includes aspects and elements of various oil painting styles and techniques as a way to reveal and discover means of self-expression and different ways to interpret natural phenomenon.

Their techniques vary from contemporary semi-abstraction, textural and gestural passages and strokes of paint (cf. G. Richter), expressionist and surreal figuration and some elements drawn from naturalism.

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Names Finalised for Anglesea War Memorial Names of those who are going to be included on the wall of the new Anglesea War Memorial have been finalised, and include troops from wars that Australian Defence Forces have been engaged in, as well as those who have served as an Australian Peacekeeper.

Planning for the memorial is progressing with the recently erected wire fence around the perimeter.

It will be a permanent memorial to honour those from the area who have served their country.

As NewsAngle went to print, we were waiting for the structure engineer to sign off so the project can start, which may be before Christmas.

The Memorial will be a constant visual reminder to both the Anglesea district locals and visitors to our region, of the sacrifices made by our service men and women.

Never Too Old to Learn!

By Mary Taylor

Term 4 saw Surfcoast U3A continue to offer 14 courses online, with our members showing a great enthusiasm to engage with Zoom.

We congratulate all our members on their willingness to adapt to our new format.

Courses this term have ranged from poetry and Italian/French conversation, to crosswords and computers. Write your memoir, take up yoga, or study mindfulness and meditation. There’s been history, nonfiction reading, trivia, art, cinema studies and a short course on First Nations.

Learning something new within a supportive and keen group is both enjoyable and empowering.

The 2021 year is shaping up to be a continuation of online learning with the hope that some face-to-face classes may be possible.

Our new timetable and course options should be available by the end of December, along with our 2021 enrolment procedures.

We are always seeking new tutors and new course ideas.

Courses can be of any duration and there is always plenty of help to get these underway.

A huge thankyou to all our members who have supported us throughout this very challenging year .

We are never too old to learn!

Stay well and stay positive.

All information can be found on our website www.u3asurfcoast.org.au or Phone: 0435 374 139 Email: info@u3asurfcoast.org.au

It will also provide a larger open space for special commemorative occasions and quiet reflection, while also creating an educational place for younger members of the community.

If you have been considering donating to the War Memorial fundraising appeal, it’s NOT too late.

You can donate online at www.angleseawarmemorial.com.au or in person at the Anglesea Community Bank.

For further information, please visit the website or contact Keith Hornibrook 0425 893 230.

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COMMUNITY CORNER

Anglesea Lions Keep Up Much-Needed Community Support Whilst the past year has been difficult for many, the Anglesea Lions Club has continued to support our community.

Although many of our fundraising activities have been curtailed by COVID-19, we have provided Care Packs to support people within the community.

The packs included masks, confectionary, magazines and a $15 meal voucher from local cafes.

This provided support to not only individuals, but also for our local cafes.

We thank them for their support and also the Community Bank, which assisted in the funding of this project.

Christmas Raffle We have commenced our Christmas Stocking Raffle, but this year tickets are available online. See details in our poster on this page.

All the raffle proceeds go to bursaries for six students starting their secondary school education: three students from each of our local primary schools in Anglesea and Aireys Inlet.

The Anglesea Lions Club wishes all in our community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Surf Coast Shire News

By Mike Bodsworth, Councillor, Anglesea Ward

In the second week of November, Libby Stapleton and I were sworn in as Surf Coast Shire Councillors for the Anglesea Ward. Libby was then voted in as Mayor. We’re both thrilled to have been elected and excited to be getting started.

The swearing-in ceremony was more ‘Global Pandemic’ in style than ‘Grand Tradition’, taking place in the foyer of an empty Council building, all masked up, but it was still moving.

To the Anglesea Ward candidates who weren’t elected: Tony, Raylene and Liz, thanks for the high quality and positive vibe of your campaigning.

A few consistent themes came through in the election campaign, including planning issues, transparency, accountability, responsiveness to community and the importance of our natural environment and unspoiled character. Helping businesses with COVID recovery and gearing up for a busy summer will be an early priority.

Our first weeks were dominated by inductions, the election of a Mayor and our first Council meetings. For the last two weeks of December and first two weeks of January, we’re in summer recess.

Always Was, Always Will Be Our first week in the role was also special because it was NAIDOC week, which acknowledges the fact that Australia’s history didn’t start with European settlement.

This year’s theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ (Aboriginal land), is self explanatory. Aboriginal culture dates back over a thousand generations in Australia, pre-dating Ancient Egypt by 60,000 years.

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I’d like to close this column by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this area, the Wadawurrung people.

It’s great to see that traditional land management is alive and well. In a recent community forum on wildfire, Parks Victoria staff explained how planned burns in Great Otway National Park were influenced by traditional burning principles.

Love Where We Live One thing that came through above all else during the election campaign was people’s love of this coast and hinterland. We can all help care for it and keep it healthy and unspoiled for future generations.

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Write Angles

By Melva Stott

Times Past Once upon a time there was a small-town intelligence network here in Anglesea. It consisted of a brains-trust of old blokes who would wander down to Maid Marion's to pick up their newspapers every morning. Then they'd all sit around outside and solve the problems of the world ... and the local community. It kept them out of the house, letting their wives get on with things unhindered each morning.

If you found your ears were burning, you may have been the subject of their discussion.

Now all these fellows are pontificating in a higher realm.

I wonder what they would make of the situation we have been living under for most of this year. I think they might have had a few colourful suggestions for those in charge. However I don't think it would have kept them from their daily meetings.

Times Present (A) I took up a new interest during the lockdown – I’ve become a footy tipper in a competition with my youngest grandson who is 20. He's been tipping for four years and is very good at it. He knows all the stats for all the teams – I only know the teams I like. However, I picked the first 10

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correctly and continued really well with it. It meant not being a one-eyed Geelong supporter, which I've been for nearly 70 years as I need to keep up with all the games.

I also became adept at listening to the footy on the radio, whilst watching shows on TV, and texting with two or three family members all at the same time … so I have been multimedia-ing.

(B) It hasn't been all doom and gloom. I've been enjoying the meerkats on TV, and love the bit where they dive into the car with Dame Edna and she says, “Hello Possums!” with a big smile and a little shrug. I hope Barry was well-paid for frocking-up for a two-second gig.

I also know what it's like to be chased by an emu; when I was five I was chased by one at Healesville Sanctuary – luckily I didn't go over a cliff, but managed to duck under a barrier.

They've provided a welcome sparkle during these dull days.

Future Times Tis Christmas! Let's hope we can rejoice again, with friendships renewed, family reunions, laughter resonating around us, memories recounted, and hopes revealed. May peace be with you all!

Fare thee well! Keep smiling!

Melva Stott

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Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at the YMCA

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