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PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLESEA COMMUNITY HOUSE

ISSUE 145 AUTUMN 2021

Photo: Peter Cecil

A Tale of Two Rivers

A digger artificially opens the Anglesea River.

(part 2: Anglesea) Photo by Patrick Callow

By Mary Bremner

The name Swampy Creek – given by the first European settlers to the town that became Anglesea – gives you some idea of the natural state of the Anglesea River. The Wadawurrung people called the stream Kuarka Dorla, place of the yellow mullet. In times of low rainfall, the river stopped flowing and became a string of waterholes, with an expanse of mudflats near the mouth. The river is just over 20 kilometres long and fed by tributaries, Salt Creek and Marshy Creek. The first holiday-makers, attracted to the region after the construction of the Great Ocean Road, found plenty to enjoy in the river and its natural environment. Community Houses are for Everyone

Mandy Mitchell is one of many Anglesea residents with happy childhood memories of holidays spent in and around the river. Mandy recalls the muddy smell of the track past the boatsheds that graced the bank in front of where the motel is today. The state of the mouth varied – when it was blocked, the river was great for swimming. In the 1950s, children splashed along for 25 metres to get their Herald ‘Learn to Swim’ certificates.

Highlights Surf Coast Creatives

Anglesea Futures

Foodlink/Lorna Botham

A New Mayor

Local Profile: Frank Paton 14 Rubbish Rangers 3231

Surviving COVID

In the House

The Check Up

Community Forums

Book Reviews

Community Corner

Continued on page 4 > 1

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 anglesea.org.au 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:

Winter, 146

Casual ad bookings:

3 May 2021

Articles/Contributions:

7 May 2021

Distribution:

22 June 2021

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

Anglesea Community House 9.00am - 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 Wendy Clark, Committee of Management Anglesea Community House (ACH)

CREATING A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD It feels like being connected is important to everyone … being connected brings a sense of belonging. A feeling of belonging to something brings with it a sense of ownership, and feeling an ownership of something makes people proud and encourages participation and sparks enjoyment. The more you look around, talk to people and share experiences, the more you discover in our fabulous towns of Anglesea, Aireys and surrounds. I moved here from Melbourne three years ago with my husband and two children. We had a beach house here before our permanent move and began wondering on a Sunday night, driving back up to Melbourne, why we didn't spend more time in the place that made us happiest. Upon relocating the family, I was searching for how best to connect with this community. My first, and ongoing town connection, came from the welcoming daily “good morning…” from fellow dog walkers on the beach, which over time has grown into conversations with locals like Macca, Mike, Bridget and Jeneane about the quality of the river system, fishing conditions, local council considerations, teenage dramas and managing elderly parents. I then decided to put my hand up to volunteer at the Anglesea Community House (ACH). Listening to Marcelle and Julie (and their colleagues in the House) articulate the ACH goals and the vision they were trying to create, the clear need for an updated ACH website, which incorporated a community notice board, soon became apparent. We have been working on gathering website content and improving design and navigational elements to enable us to launch the new-look website this month. However, what is becoming more and more apparent is that we really need the community’s help (you) to bring the website pages to life. We would like the pages to reflect our community, be informative and up-to-date – to be a place that brings people together, as well as a platform that reaches out to the community with information, what’s on and what’s news. The ACH would also love to hear if you have an idea that we could help you bring to life. If you have an interest in getting involved in the ACH, there are a plethora of projects that could do with a helping hand. The importance of connection cannot be underestimated. Now more than ever, reaching out to others around you is vital. We are hoping this new website will be just one piece of the puzzle that keeps us connected and adds to our enjoyment of our precious time here in Anglesea, Aireys and surrounds.

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

A Tale of Two Rivers (Part 2—Anglesea) > continued from page 1

A swimming platform and a diving tower at the bridge completed the town’s natural swimming pool. When it flowed out, the river provided the opportunity for antics, as seen on the day a daring local sailed his yacht out through the mouth and then back on the high tide. For many years, the estuary offered good fishing for black bream and numerous other species such as mullet, estuary perch, King George whiting and juvenile snapper.

As the town grew, human intervention progressively impacted on the natural state of the waterway. In 1969, Alcoa opened its coal mine and power station and started pumping water from the Upper Eastern View Aquifer for use in the power generator. After processing, the water was discharged into the river, artificially creating high water levels all year round. During the following decades, with abundant rainfall, the river broke through the sand berm at the mouth regularly, allowing in seawater and fish. The river was healthy and continued to be a delightful attraction in the town for residents and visitors, with swimming, canoeing, fishing, walking and birdwatching all popular activities. The 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires set fire to the peat swamp at what is now Coogoorah Park. Peat fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and the solution at the time was to flood the smouldering earth from the river. The

beautiful wetland, thus created, was seen as a happy outcome.

risk to the health of the river and the estuary.

The disturbance of acid sulphate soils and the slowing of the river flow were both unforeseen consequences that did not create a problem at the time, due to the inflows into the river from Alcoa.

The sight of the river in shades of swimming pool aqua also occurs intermittently. The CCMA’s Jayden Woolley explained that this is caused by flocculation – when the acidic river water mixes with the more alkaline sea water, it causes fine particles of trace elements to clump together, reflecting blue light.

The first sign of real trouble came in 2010, when thousands of fish turned belly-up in the river. This raised alarm bells in the community, and at local and state government levels. Anglesea made the metropolitan daily newspapers and the TV news – not for a good reason. The Surf Coast Shire Council coordinated the formation of the Anglesea River Working Group, which included fisher people, business owners, environmental and community groups. Barwon Water, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), the state government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), and Alcoa were also involved. Studies revealed the cause of the problem. The string of dry years between 1997 and 2010, known as the ‘Millennium Drought’, saw the swamps in the river’s catchment areas dry out, causing oxidation of the acid sulphate soils. When the drought broke, these acids washed into the river. The acid water mobilised naturally occurring metals, poisoning the fish. Since that time, it has been recognised that a long dry spell, followed by heavy rain, will result in the acidification of the river. This is a natural occurrence, but has been identified as the highest

Enjoying the Anglesea River, circa 1905 4

A further blow for the river came with the closure of Alcoa’s coal mine and power station in 2015. Without the 4.5 megalitres of water Alcoa released into the river each day, the danger of the river reverting to its former status as a ‘swampy creek’ loomed. Even more alarming, if the water drained from the Coogoorah Park wetland, the consequent exposure of the acid soils would result in an environmental disaster.

Alcoa retained a permit that allowed it to pump water from the aquifer, and the corporation agreed to continue releases into the river for a year. Council, the CCMA, and DELWP, have since formulated a plan, whereby water is pumped from the river into Alcoa’s Ash Pond No 2 during winter, when the levels are high, to be returned to the waterway during the summer. By this means, the river remains at an acceptable level all year round and the exposure of acid sulphate soils is prevented. How long this arrangement with Alcoa can continue is uncertain. There are also natural causes for the

The Anglesea River before Ash Wednesday … or Coogoorah Park.

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

Early holiday-makers found plenty to enjoy in the Anglesea River.

river’s plight, with research showing a 30 percent reduction in the flows from the waterways in the upper catchment since the ‘Millennium Drought’.

With less water flowing down the river, the sand berm at the mouth builds up and spontaneous openings are less frequent. When heavy rains bring a flush of water down the river, there is a danger of flooding of roads and properties, at which time Council, in consultation with the CCMA, opens the river mouth artificially. This was carried out once last year, in September, and then the estuary mouth also opened naturally after heavy rainfall in October. Some Anglesea residents have called for more regular openings of the river mouth – some even suggesting the digging of a deep permanent channel, allowing the river to run with the tides.

Anglesea River remains one of the town’s natural treasures.

point out that the La Niña summer, with increased rainfall and fewer hot days, has provided the favourable conditions for the mosquito larvae. Furthermore, Ross River outbreaks have occurred throughout the Surf Coast, as well as the Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong. So where does this leave the river? According to Anglesea River Working Group member, Christine Forster:

“Given its tiny catchment and short length, this stream has had the most intense research activities of any river in the state.” The CCMA has commissioned an expert panel, along with GHD – a company specialising in water

sustainability solutions – to study water flows. The brief is to identify the shortterm and long-term options to reduce the activation of acid sulphate soils and its impact on the river. The preliminary findings of this study have pointed to climate change, urban infrastructure, and the development of Coogoorah Park, as all contributing to the decrease in natural flows in the river. This can only be remedied by bringing water back into the river, but where to source that water remains a problem. In the meantime, townsfolk are left wondering if their river will ever regain its status as ‘Place of Yellow Mullet’. My thanks go to Christine Forster, who has contributed substantially to this story.

Responding to this, CCMA’s Jayden Woolley referred to a study carried out in 2014, which found the proposal not feasible or desirable for several reasons. Permanent structures and regular dredging would be the only way to prevent the inevitable blockage of the mouth. A deep artificial opening would also lower the water level in the estuary, risking further exposure of the acid sulphate soils, and subsidence of the river banks. The current outbreak of Ross River virus in the town has many residents looking accusingly at the still river waters and wondering if it has become a breeding ground for virus-bearing mosquitoes. This seems possible, and the Surf Coast Shire Council has completed extensive treatments at known breeding habitats. They do NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

The Surf Coast Gets Creative By Moreen Dainty

It was an unlikely setting in which to hear a world-class string quartet perform Mozart, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich, but I’m learning not to be surprised by cultural life down here on the Surf Coast. In mid-February, I sat in Aireys Inlet's community hall listening to a stunning performance by four of Australia's top chamber musicians.

It's fair to say the Surf Coast attracts a broad range of creative types – not just those in the visual arts, but also actors, musicians, writers and publishers.

Affinity Quartet was performing live for the first time in over a year as part of a fundraising event for the community group, Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees (AIRAR).

Pre-COVID, Great Escape Books, in conjunction with Little Feast restaurant in Aireys, often hosted book launches and authors' nights, with tickets selling fast to these events. Great Escape Books makes a point of supporting local authors, some of whom are very well known, such as Greg Day, who won the Patrick White Literary Award last November in recognition of his achievements as a novelist, poet, short story and nature writer.

These talented, young musicians gave their small, socially-distanced, maskwearing audience an incredible experience that night. Even now, the thought of it gives me goose bumps. Later, I would learn they had enjoyed the evening as much as we had. They were just so pleased to perform in front of a live audience after a tough year of lockdowns and restrictions. This month, Aireys has hosted a very different event with the annual Open Mic Music Festival, which attracted many up and coming musicians to the town. Now in its 14th year, the Festival takes place over a weekend every March, with live bands performing at nine separate venues, starting at the iconic Aireys Pub on a Friday evening.

The Surf Coast is an increasingly popular place for artists to live and work. A nationwide, government research study into Australian culture and the creative arts published last year, identified Geelong and the Surf Coast region as a 'creative hot spot' with the number of people earning a living from creative industries steadily increasing each year. Harriet Gaffney, the Arts Development Officer at Surf Coast Shire Council, understands the value a vibrant,

thriving artistic community can bring to an area – including the local economy.

She also understands how precarious it can be to earn a living from one's creative endeavours alone. In June last year, in response to the COVID pandemic, Council launched a digital space called PORTA L – a virtual platform where local artists could connect, collaborate and showcase their work during lockdown. “We knew how hard lockdown would be for our local artists and so we wanted to find virtual ways to bring people together, to keep them connected and motivated,” says Harriett. PORTAL offered free online professional development workshops via Zoom, for all Surf Coast artists. The workshops were put together 'by creatives, for creatives', and covered a range of practical topics, such as applying for an arts grant, how to photograph and write about your artwork, and promote it using social media. Stacie Bobele, PORTAL's Program

The Affinity Quartet delighted audiences with a COVID-Safe performance at the Aireys Inlet Community Hall earlier this year. 6

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Manager, says “Registrations were capped at 100 and many sold out. Others tuned in via Facebook Live. These sessions have been viewed many times since via Facebook and our website, and they continue to be a great resource.” PORTAL also hosted weekly panel discussions online about art on the Surf Coast. One of these was about the history of the Surf Coast Arts Trail, a well-known event on Council’s arts calendar. Since its inception eight years ago, the event has grown to involve 67 venues and more than 200 artists across the Shire. Held over a weekend in August each year, it generated some $77,000 in sales in 2018. Rather than lose the event, and after consulting with organisers, the decision was made to take the whole event online and create a Virtual Arts Trail. A virtual workshop was offered on how to put together a short video showing artists at work in their own creative space – whether this was a home studio, in the back of a garden shed, or out in the open, in the hinterland, or at the beach. The studio tours were programmed via Facebook Live over the weekend of 8-9 August to coincide with the original date planned for the event. (The tours can still be seen via their Facebook page under Videos.) “PORTAL helped chart the creativity that exists on the Surf Coast and broadcast this to a far wider audience – both national and international,” says

PORTAL Street will feature three local photographers, including Shaun Viljoen of Passerby Photography, who captured this Tawny Frogmouth.

Harriet. “It captured stories of artists across all different kinds of disciplines, adapting to and leading change, as well as recording some amazing stories of recovery.” Due to its success, the next phase – PORTAL 3.0– is about to begin, which will include two programs: PORTA L Street and Creative Coalitions. As the COVID vaccination program is rolled out, Council’s focus is very much on helping communities and businesses recover. Grants have been allocated from Council’s COVIDrecovery fund to encourage more collaboration between artists and the business sector, through a program called Creative Coalitions. “Many artists on the coast have adapted and shifted their artistic and business focus in the wake of COVID,” says Stacie. “We want to continue to bring artists together to discuss alternative ways of making a living from their creative endeavours.” To this end, Harriet and her team will organise a panel discussion with artists and businesses who have already embarked on partnerships.

Pacific Gull by Passerby Photography, one of the artists to feature in PORTAL Street.

“They’ll discuss how the arrangements have been mutually beneficial, offer tips on the kind of projects that might work for both parties, how to negotiate a deal and approvals that may be needed. We’ll be inviting both artists and interested businesses to attend,” she says.

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This Easter, PORTAL Street will work with selected artists to find alternative, outdoor options for their exhibitions. It features three local photographers: Torquay's Shaun Viljoen (Passerby Photography), Fairhaven's Rebecca Hosking and Deans Marsh’s Renee Wigley. Their works will be printed on high quality adhesive decals and displayed on footpaths in Torquay, Lorne and Deans Marsh until 18 April. Inspired by multiple lockdown initiatives that have used paste-ups, adhesive vinyl and projections as a way of showcasing artist’s work outside the gallery space, the works chosen will offer a highly engaging visual interpretation of the unique environment and identity of the Surf Coast. A QR code attached to these artworks will also offer the opportunity for people to digitally connect with the artists to find out more about them and their work. It's clear that under Harriet Gaffney's direction, artists on the Surf Coast have someone who is keen to create more dialogue between artists and local businesses. “Art isn't just an add-on. It can be the main reason people visit places and spend money doing so,” says Harriet. “We have a level of artistic expertise in the community. It makes sense to harness this in ways that are mutually beneficial to both parties and our community as a whole.” 7

Anglesea’s Future By Mary Bremner

Concerned Anglesea residents believe the document produced by the State Government, outlining future possibilities for the closed Alcoa mine site, is at odds with the community’s feedback. Following the closure of Alcoa’s power station and coal mine in August 2015, the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), together with the Surf Coast Shire and Parks Victoria, commenced consulting with the Anglesea community on the future use of the site. This was titled A nglesea Futures Community Conversation Series (Anglesea Futures). The vast majority of the 7,000 hectares under discussion was leased land (the Anglesea Heath) that has been surrendered by Alcoa and incorporated into the Great Otway National Park.

In early 2018, DELWP undertook a second community survey based around the 10 proposed areas. This extensive survey received 370 responses from a broad representation of interested parties including the resident population (60%), along with holiday home owners, local businesses, community groups and visitors. Alcoa’s power station and coal mine closed in 2015, but the chimney stack remains.

They were surprised to see that the way was being left open for residential land, and commercial tourist and retail operators, despite the clear opposition to these land uses in the survey.

The culmination of the process came in October 2018 with the publication of the final document, The A nglesea Futures Land Use Framework. Considering the report, the areas reserved for conservation are uncontentious and consistent with the

There remained a mixture of freehold land held by the Crown, Alcoa and other small private landowners. Between 2015 and 2018, DELWP conducted a series of meetings and workshops, and concerned citizens contributed to two extensive online surveys. The results of the first community survey were published in a discussion paper by DELWP (see Survey 1 graph on right). The survey results showed strong opposition to the rezoning of land for residential, retail, commercial and industrial use, tourism accommodation and licenced tour operators. DELWP published the Anglesea Futures Draft Land Use Plan in December 2017. This proposed a range of land uses for each of 10 areas. It was at this point that some Anglesea community members who had been involved in the discussions from the beginning, started to feel that there seemed to be a chasm opening up between the community feedback and what was being presented back to them via the Anglesea Futures draft plan. 8

Survey 1 graph shows results from the first community survey (taken from Anglesea Futures Land Use Scenarios Discussion Paper, August 2017). NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

community feedback. Alcoa had already given up its Crown land lease. Community concerns surround the DELWP recommendations for private land: Area 3 (former mining land on the eastern side of the pit) where the Eden Project is now proposed, in keeping with the stated main land use of “eco and adventure-based tourism”. Alcoa and the UK-based educational and environmental enterprise, Eden Project International, presented a concept for a “world-class attraction” to the Anglesea community in May 2019. Complementary land uses that are recommended include retail, renewable energy, community / visitor facilities, camping and active recreation. Area 6 (the former power station site) where the document also proposes “eco and adventure-based tourism” with similar complementary land uses to Area 3. Area 10 (22 hectares on the northern side of the town boundary, encompassing bushland, the Primary School, the Bike Park and the DELWP office) is listed for “conservation, active recreation, rural living, and community and visitor facilities”. Some disbelieving Anglesea residents saw these recommendations as being contrary to the feedback that had come from the community. Their concern was exacerbated on realising that the A nglesea Futures Land Use Framework only contains a summary of the spread of opinion, rather than tabulated responses to the survey questions, which would show the percentages in favour of the various options for land use. Calls were made for DELWP to release the data, but they refused to do so, citing privacy concerns. The data was ultimately obtained, through a yearlong Freedom of Information process, and confirmed the community members’ suspicions. In relation to Areas 3 and 6, the data, obtained under FOI and summarised in the following graphs, reveals that 79.2% (Area 3) and 76.8% (Area 6) either did “not support” or “generally

The above graphs were created by concerned community members, to summarise survey data they had obtained from DELWP under FOI.

not support” the land uses proposed in the Frameworks document. Regarding Area 10, some residents are suspicious of the term “rural living”, and believe that, contrary to the majority of community opinion expressed in the survey, the recommendations leave the way open for housing development in this area. The data shows that the desire of the

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

majority of the respondents is for conservation of the natural environment for low impact recreation. An overwhelming 80.5% of those surveyed opposed the use of the land for commercial tourist operations, retail, accommodation and housing development. Continued on page 10 > 9

Anglesea’s Future > continued from page 9

Asked to respond to the issues raised, DELWP Regional Director, Colleen White said, “DELWP is confident that the Plan reflects the variety of views, and balances the, at times, competing preferences for future land use in the area. A key consideration in finalising the plan was to ensure feedback heard across all 12 rounds of engagement was incorporated fairly.” DELWP has always said that community feedback was not the only consideration in the decision-making process. “The Framework has been informed by community/stakeholder feedback, site attributes and policy legislation and data,” explained Colleen White. “Community/stakeholder feedback has influenced the plan, including the change from residential land uses that were proposed in the Draft Land Use Plan.” Keen to allay any alarm in the Anglesea community, Colleen White added, “Critically, the plan does not approve any new housing, accommodation, retail or tourism development. Any future proposal, if it were to occur, would still need to go through the normal planning assessment process that would include further community engagement.”

“In fact, the plan supports significant areas for conservation and only identifies the potential for new rural living in Area 10, which is reflective of existing properties in this area.” “DELWP is happy to meet with individuals or groups to discuss the Framework, including the consultation process during its development and role going forward,” Colleen White added. How concerned should Anglesea and district residents be about this issue? Very – according to Michael Collins, a local resident who was prepared to go on record for this story. He doesn’t buy DELWP’s reassurances, stating that state government policy overrides local government. 10

Rehabilitation work is well underway at the former Alcoa mine site.

The raw survey results have still not been published, but interested readers can obtain a copy by emailing saveanglesea@gmail.com using the subject ‘survey’. “I believe most people would like to see the site retained as a public asset, including the publicly-funded water body, rather than a commercial development,” Michael Collins said. (The proposal is for the government to fund the filling of the mine pit to form a lake.) “It could be a show case for rehabilitation of a mine site around the world. We just need to get transparency back and have a really constructive community engagement.” Michael Collins is also concerned about the possible domino effect, if development is allowed to take place in Anglesea, contrary to the wishes of the people.

“There’s a much broader picture here. We have joined in with the Great Ocean Road Community Network and we’re starting to hear similar stories along the coast.” There seems little doubt that the tension

between conservation and development is being felt right along the Great Ocean Road. This is being further tested with the influx of new residents joining the post-COVID exodus from Melbourne. The consequent demand for housing is putting pressure on the bushland environment that makes our coastal towns so desirable. For further information and background material, please see links below: 1. DELWP Survey 2: Summary https://sixthinking.s3-ap-southeast2.amazonaws.com/DELWP-summarydata.pdf 2. DELWP 2nd Survey Results secured through Freedom Of Information https://sixthinking.s3-ap-southeast2.amazonaws.com/DELWP-rawdata.xlsx 3. Anglesea Structure Plan 2012 https://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/files/ assets/public/02-property/building-andplanning/planning/reference-docs/ anglesea-structure-plan-2012.pdf 4. Anglesea Futures Land Use Framework 2018 https://engage.vic.gov.au/ angleseafutures

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Foodlink – Locals Helping Locals By Jenna Crawford

Food insecurity in Australia is a very real concern, but fortunately, thanks to the excellent work done by Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Foodlink, people in our community should not go hungry. During the 1970s, the parishioners of the combined Anglesea and Aireys Inlet churches formed a ‘floating committee’ to provide soup and casseroles for those in need.

Seconds. During COVID, we saw more people volunteering their time. The services are not available from late December until early February. However, Christmas hampers are provided for those who have accessed Foodlink throughout the year.

The group has gone from strength-tostrength since those early days, and now operates as Foodlink under the auspice of the Anglesea Community House. Foodlink provides emergency food relief for those requiring assistance in Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Moggs Creek areas. The recipients range from single parents who are struggling, victims of domestic violence, and people with ongoing illnesses, to families suffering hardship due to the loss of income caused by redundancies, COVID or unforeseen debts, or simply people who are homeless. Referrals come from many different sources, including medical centres, schools, kindergartens, churches, social workers and word-of-mouth. People report to the Community House, which refers them to the Foodlink Assessor Lorna Botham, for a confidential interview.

Lorna Botham, local Foodlink Assessor

scheduled for the packing and delivery of the parcels. As well as delivering parcels, the volunteers can be a ‘listening ear’ for those in need. There are also two people scheduled for the preparation of emergency parcels, which are available from the Community House, and Seaside

None of the work done by Foodlink would be possible without the generosity of people in the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet communities, who have contributed in good faith: including individuals, businesses and organisations. We are all in this together and no-one wants to see people going without basic essentials. If you wish to donate non-perishable food, place it in the trolley outside IGA, or if you know someone who is in need, please contact the Anglesea Community House on 5263 2116.

Once a fortnight, Foodlink recipients receive parcels that include nonperishable foodstuff, vouchers and products for personal and household cleaning and hygiene. They also provide for people who have gluten or lactose-free dietary needs. Vouchers included are for fruit and vegetables from Anglesea Fruitz and for meat from Stabbs (when it is open). After every quarter (six fortnightly parcels) individual circumstances are reviewed and needs assessed. There are 12 volunteers at Foodlink, and each fortnight two volunteers are NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

A New Councillor and New Mayor By Moreen Dainty

The Surf Coast Shire Council elections last November resulted in some big changes, with seven new councillors voted in. One of Anglesea Ward's newly elected was Libby Stapleton, who was also voted in as Mayor a few days later. I interviewed Libby to find out how all this came about, her plans for the future, and what the first few months have been like. When we meet, I sense something is bothering her. She bites her lip, pauses and then leans forward ever so slightly. “By the way, you'll have to work this into your piece somewhere.” “Okay.” I wait. “This interview wasn't my idea. I felt quite awkward when they suggested it.” “Who?” “The NewsAngle editorial committee. They insisted … and I eventually agreed – so long as the focus wasn't on me.”

As I write, it strikes me this is just the kind of thing that the Libby Stapleton I know, would say and do. I first met Libby through Aireys Book Club. Hers is one of several intelligent voices I have listened to over the years. Others know Libby through her management of the Aireys Inlet Market, or through her communications consultancy and editorship of NewsAngle, or just through her involvement in local life on the coast with her family for the past 18 years. When she decided to stand for Council, many of us encouraged her to 'go for it'. When 'Our Libby' won, folk felt they had voted in someone who knew and understood them, someone they could rely on and trust. I don't say this lightly. Such qualities seem hard to find these days. And it turns out the other newly elected councillors must have felt the same way. “It wasn't my intention to put my hand up for Mayor,” said Libby. “Rose Hodge had very ably filled this position for the past couple of years, but she and 12

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Libby Stapleton (second from left) in one of her first official duties, opening the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club last December, alongside Senator Sarah Henderson, local member for South Barwon, Darren Cheeseman, and young surf life savers.

other councillors felt it was time for someone new. “I was also in a position to adjust my work commitments and give the role the time that's required.” It’s been a steep learning curve for the new councillors. The Surf Coast Shire Council is the eighth largest in Victoria and one of the fastest growing. Home to 10 distinct townships, the Shire has a population of around 34,000 people and a local economy estimated (pre-COVID) to be worth over $1.3 billion. The administrative arm of Council oversees the provision of more than 100 services, from public health, roads, planning and land use, to tourism economic development and events. The councillors attend weekly briefings about the core activities of Council, and have undertaken training on decisionmaking processes, as well as their roles and responsibilities as elected officials. “It's been pretty hectic. Some days it feels like we haven't even scratched the surface. There are roughly 450 staff managing the day-to-day operations of council in our community, so there is a lot to get our heads around,” Libby said.

The role of the elected council officials is to help set the overall direction for the municipality, through long-term planning and decision making. It adopts a strategic view of the future and makes plans and policies to achieve this. The local councillors are a bit like a Board of Directors, except the key shareholders are the residents and ratepayers of the Surf Coast community. The Council organisation is headed by a CEO and a senior team of General Managers. “As Mayor, I oversee the relationship between Councillors and the CEO. We help set the vision and strategic direction for Council and are much less involved in the day-to-day operations. “In the early days, I had quite a lot of people get in touch with individual issues they wanted me to fix. I understand why, but it's hard for Councillors to be across everything. “The best way is to go online and use the Council's Customer Request System. It's actually much more efficient because the issue is logged and sent to the right Council staff who aim to respond within 48 hours. I’m not usually that quick! “You can also request if you want me or your local Councillor to be kept in

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the loop and updated. In my experience, this system works extremely well.

community groups, to help them get back on their feet.

“It's interesting for us as councillors to learn to navigate the space between the strategic and the more day-to-day operations, understanding where we need to put our energies and focus. Front of mind is the question 'How can we make best use of the four years we have here and really make a difference?'.

“The outdoor dining program was well received, and the latest economic data shows expenditure in the shire was up by more than 20 percent compared to last summer.”

“One of the best things we’ve done was a two-day workshop, to discuss key priorities for our community and develop a framework that will help guide us and keep us focussed on achieving the best outcomes.” At the start of the year, Council launched an engagement project called People Place Future, which was designed to get residents' ideas for the future, and to find out what they really value about their local community. The first phase involved a general online survey that everyone was encouraged to complete. Libby actively promoted the survey on social media and it was advertised in the local newspapers. Councillors and officers also attended markets and shops in each town to gain direct input from community. “I want people to get involved in shaping our strategies. I took on this job because I really feel it's time for us as a community to draw a line in the sand and answer the question 'How do we want to live?'

Surf Coast Shire Councillors

affordability and how to maintain ageing infrastructure, through to land use and how to reduce emissions. The findings from the engagement project will create a 10-year community vision, and feed into the development of the Council's new four-year plan. “I am confident that by the end of this process, we will have a really great plan to use, which will form the basis of our strategic direction and help ensure our energy and focus is put into the right things.” As Libby talks, she becomes more passionate about the issues many residents have raised with her. “COVID recovery is still the number one priority for many at the moment. Council has a significant grants program to support local businesses and

Libby is keenly aware that Councillors have to approach every decision put before them with an open mind. “You can't have a pre-existing bias when you go into the Chamber to hear a debate. You have to listen to all sides of the argument and well-researched facts. You have to make evidence-based decisions. “You can't go in and say 'I have a particular agenda and that is how I will vote.' I represent a community, not a political party. I need to try to be as objective as I can, thinking about the whole community and its needs.” I wind up our interview knowing Libby is only getting started. I admire her courage in standing for public office, for translating the frustration she once felt about what was going on around her into community action. I have no doubt she will inspire many more to take a leaf out of her book.

“How do we want the Surf Coast to look in 10, or even 15, 20 years time? I do think we are at risk of creeping change that is not always welcome. I don't want us to wake up one day and ask 'How on earth did we get here?' I want us to wake up and still feel grateful that we have such a beautiful natural environment and amazing community around us.” The second phase of the People Place Future project involved setting up a community panel comprised of 35 diverse community members, randomly selected from a pool of nominations. They are attending expert-led sessions, managed by a facilitator, which look at the various dilemmas the Council currently faces – from housing NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

LOCAL PROFILE: FRANK PATON

A Step Back in Time By Liz Clark

Recently I spent some time with Frank Paton from Anglesea, to talk about his memories of earlier days and his family’s association with the town. Frank’s Anglesea home is high up on Parker Street with a magnificent view – the best in town, according to his grandfather. (Strange that, as I believe where I live at the top of Noble Street has the best view in town – according to my father). Frank’s grandfather purchased a huge allotment at what was then the outskirts of town at the end of Parker Street, and built ‘The Hut’ there 115 years ago. The land was later subdivided into three large blocks, all still held by the family. A remarkably solid pine building with eucalyptus stumps is still standing today, having been used for many years as a holiday house. It is one of the five oldest houses in Anglesea. Frank remembers stories of his grandparents and parents coming to Anglesea from Melbourne – by boat to Queenscliff, then the Cobb and Co. coach to Anglesea. When he was a youngster, he would travel with the family in their car – a Minerva – three children squashed into

the dicky seat, and parents and a fourth child in the car with all their holiday necessities packed firmly around them. Particular care needed to be taken so that no one stood on the eggs on the floor! Of course, in those days safety issues were less to the fore than they are today – Frank once fell from his mother’s lap out the door of the car after fiddling with the handle. Apparently he was little the worse for wear after this incident. One of the first chores, after arriving for a month’s holiday each January, was to visit the dairy in town to purchase a large block of ice for the ice chest, the modern refrigeration system which replaced their original Coolgardie safe. Frank was fascinated to watch the iceman cut the ice from an enormous block and wrap it in a hessian bag to take home to keep all the food fresh and cold. Since their timber house was quite

Frank Paton at home in Anglesea.

small, the children all slept on small stretcher beds on the front veranda, vulnerable to attack from mosquitoes, any other buzzing insects that infested the night air, large spiders and of course the elements. Things that would now seem almost like child neglect were the norm in those days – no one carried water bottles as they do now, so if you were thirsty you basically had to wait until you got home to have a drink. Sunscreen was rarely used, more likely coconut oil or a lotion that would encourage a strong tan to show what a wonderful time you had spent over the summer on the beach. Holiday life was free and easy, especially for kids. They were allowed to roam freely, and walk to the beach on their own. Frank’s grandmother would blow a conch shell so loudly that it could be heard at the surf beach and the children knew it was time to head home for lunch. Days were spent rambling on the beach – perhaps a swim, walking to Point Addis, picnics, tossing stones and fossicking for shells, surfing, playing endless games of cricket, and arriving home from the beach with skin glowing from perhaps a little too much sun.

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There was no delivery of mail to homes in Anglesea in the 1950s and 60s, and Frank took his turn to line up at the Post Office to wait and see if the family had received any mail.

Underneath the house, Frank showed me a huge red surfboard that had once been his pride and joy. It was so heavy that he had to negotiate with owners of Debonair Guest House to leave it under their house so he wouldn’t have to lug it up the big hill each time he used it. The Guest House was sold, and Frank feared that his board was gone, but investigation proved that it was still safely stored, without the new owners’ knowledge. He managed to remove it and reclaim ownership – no negotiations required! On those few days that were unsuitable for beach life, the children would set out for adventurous walks with their father across the Anglesea marsh, coming home tired, muddy or dusty depending on the season. Rock climbing on the cliffs and diving off the rocks into the pool near Urquhart Bluff, picnics and late night walks filled idyllic, simple holidays, somewhat like the adventures children read in the Famous Five books of the time.

The original house built by Frank’s grandfather - still standing today, and now one of the five oldest in Anglesea.

There were few expectations of doing anything particularly exciting and few places to go for treats or dining out. He remembers Christmas lunch in the shed at the rear of Marion’s shop – a musty, dusty room that was rarely used – and the high expectation of the yearly visit to the Four Kings café as a birthday treat for their mother. Frank recalls that for mothers in those times, this was not really a holiday. It was merely a transfer of their ongoing chores to a less convenient house, with a tiny kitchen and more and more meals having to be supplied to hungrier children. So, his mum really deserved her birthday dinner!

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Today, Frank spends about half of his time in Anglesea and half in Melbourne. The family still enjoys the simplicity of their old house, with bookcases crammed with old Penguin crime stories, but a redesign to make the most of the views, and various other changes, make it much more comfortable than its original beginnings offered. Frank has embarked on a 20-year project to remove all the environmental weeds that have made their home on his bush block, and to introduce indigenous plants to replace them – a very challenging and demanding enterprise. He enjoys the simplicity of pottering, clearing and transforming his overgrown garden, and relishes the many reminders of happy childhood holidays in this beautiful part of the world.

Rubbish Rangers of Aireys Inlet By Jenna Crawford

Whether it be empty beer bottles, used disposable nappies, condoms, dog-poo bags, men's underwear, cigarette butts, polystyrene or, more recently, used facial masks, the 3231 Rubbish Rangers are winning their fight against litter in Aireys Inlet. The community Facebook page ‘3231 Surfcoast Connection’ alerted Aireys Inlet residents to the need to do something about the increasing amount of rubbish littering their beautiful seaside town.

Aireys Inlet District Association (AIDA) donated $1000 to the Rubbish Rangers, enabling them to purchase some essential items, including high-vis vests for better safety, pick-up sticks to reach otherwise unreachable rubbish, safety signs, carry bags and gloves for personal hygiene.

The initiative was the brainwave of Glenys Drayton, and started with four or five locals. It has now grown to an average of 20 committed volunteers who turn up each Saturday morning for 90 minutes, weather permitting, to clean up the local area. Rubbish Rangers are allocated certain areas around town, which could be the sides of the Great Ocean Road, the shopping precincts, along the cliff walk and bush or beach areas. This group is not only made up of retirees who love to contribute to their community, but also includes fully employed people such as doctors, journalists, teachers, councillors and artists. At the completion of their weekly ‘clean-up’, they meet at a local coffee shop where the conversation is always lively.

They also had a logo designed and printed . With just the change of a postcode number, this logo can be adapted to suit any other town.

local or state government funding to cover waste disposal fees. The Rangers take as much of the rubbish home with them as they can, and dispose of it in their own waste bins to be collected by the Surf Coast Shire Council’s kerbside service. Aireys Inlet Big 4 Holiday Park generously offered the group the opportunity to use their skip bin outside of peak season, which was gratefully accepted.

Some people in neighbouring Anglesea have been so impressed with the work undertaken by the 3231 Rubbish Rangers that they would like to see a similar group established in their town. Anyone wanting further information can contact Glenys by email: glenys.drayton@gmail.com There is a strong parallel between litter and higher incidences of graffiti and crime. One small step may help in the latter two cases. We live in a beautiful part of our country, so let's try and keep it that way.

A camaraderie has developed between the group and they highly value and respect the contribution each one makes. Based on the type of litter collected, sadly, much of the dumped rubbish cannot be attributed to tourists only. Some of it comes from tradies utes, overflowing rubbish bins, cyclists and, unfortunately, deliberately thrown litter from cars. VicRoads is responsible for the maintenance and tidiness along the Great Ocean Road, but this does not translate to the cleaning up of litter, so the Rubbish Rangers have taken on the cause. It is not unusual for the Rangers to have collected enough dumped rubbish on a Saturday to fill a trailer. Unfortunately, a trailer is not available, and there is no 16

The Rubbish Rangers gather each Saturday morning in Aireys Inlet and surrounds to clean up the local area — followed by coffee and plenty of conversation afterwards. NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

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How to Survive COVID without Really Trying! By Liz Clark

What did you achieve during the lockdowns in 2020? Did you take up belly dancing, study Russian or Chinese, discover felting, paint a portrait, explore your family’s history or install a water feature in the garden? Maybe, like many other residents, you finally got round to painting the house, remodelling the garden, finished some craft projects that had been sitting around for a while, or you sorted out your pantry? Perhaps music consoled you, or a new hobby, or just time to stop for awhile was therapeutic. People will give you a funny little smile when they talk about how much sourdough bread they baked, how much chutney they manufactured or how many scarves they knitted to help them fill in time during the COVID lockdowns, but it is so interesting to hear how people managed those long

and difficult days through the winter that never seemed to end. At my house, Simon used some of the many skills he has been honing at the Men’s Shed by renovating two very old and tired garden benches we had in the garden. He dismantled them, removed old paint and dirt and rust, sanded and scraped, then painted and varnished them until he produced something not only as good as new, but vastly improved models of their former glory. As COVID began, I was recovering from a knee replacement and happy to be less active than normal. I found

YouTube and subsequent new skills that showed me how to enhance my old hobby of card-making with some very interesting and innovative ideas – cards that twist and fold and move and surprise and become three dimensional and alive in their own way. I had such fun. I played the piano a lot. I exercised the knee. I also kept a daily diary to record not only the ongoing reports that kept us all in touch with daily events (or non events), but also allowed me to write down how I felt, my opinions about life, how I appreciated kindnesses from others, how I could still make a

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difference in other people’s lives too. Reading it back now it proves that I didn’t nearly die from boredom. It provides anecdotal evidence of an important time in our history and has lead me to begin this article on what to do when you have nothing to do. A short survey has produced an interesting range of other people’s activities. Elizabeth revealed that she was finally able to give herself permission to read a book all day if she felt like it – and admits to doing so fairly often. She also loved spending hours in the garden, growing flowers and produce to eat, as well as reorganising her studio and learning new card-making skills. Marion’s dear friend called in almost every day to take her for a walk and she became much steadier on her feet. She particularly enjoyed the day they went to the mouth of the river and walked out to hear and see the ocean – she hadn’t done this for a long time. Friends unpacked all their old photos, sorted them so they could make some photo books, but packed them all up again – it was too hard. Many of the crafty women in town made gowns, masks and hats for medical staff in the local hospitals. Well done, all of you. Judith spent lots of time putting jigsaws together, and also made clothes to send to her grandchildren overseas.

Zoom and Whats App proved to be wonderful resources for chatting with family and friends, sharing photos and recipes, and staying in touch. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all positive for many people. Those with family members in Nursing Homes had their hearts broken as they were unable to see them, be with them, or check how they were going. Many had to get used to being on their own all day, every day, and to find the resources to keep busy and sane. And we all wept over the TV reports coming in from overseas of emergency wards, sick people, mass graves, dire predictions for the future. Didn’t we miss the library bus, having coffee with friends, being able to go shopping, the Men’s Shed and the Art House, book clubs and birthday celebrations, weddings, ‘normal’ football and just the freedom to go where we wanted to, when we wanted to. Didn’t we hate wearing masks on the beach, Zoom meetings, daily reports from the government, the sense of hopelessness that overwhelmed us ever so often? Didn’t we just want it all to go away? So many of us would normally pack

up vans or travel north for winter, but there was none of that either. I know a couple of people who slept in their vans for a night or two, just to get the feeling of being elsewhere. Others spent hours trying to get refunds on planned trips and holidays, and although the weekend newspapers continued to try to lure us to take holidays in beautiful places, we read their ads and stories with heavy hearts, knowing that this wouldn’t happen any time in the near future. There was a very popular move to home cooking, and innovative chefs learnt to cook a wider variety of meals, chutneys, jams, preserves – often from YouTube. Unfortunately, this, along with the bread people shared with each other, lead to slight increases in waist lines. One good thing about this was that we were no longer able to have face-toface appointments with the local doctors, so they couldn’t remind us of our broadening beams or those few extra kilos that crept up on us. COVID is still with us but hopefully we have learned new skills, gained new insights, and found new ways to make the most of each day, support one another, and find something to do when there is nothing to do.

Many people reported how much they enjoyed walking each day, talking to people they passed, observing nature and the wonderful flower display in the bush. One day, a frog serenade greeted Sue and Rick along the river. Others commented on the bird life around them, their new attention to little things, and walking time that allowed them to contemplate and think and just be – quietly. Of course, there were many families who were forced to undertake home schooling or to work from home, and so many of them learned new computer skills, were able to push themselves to be more creative, lots reported enjoying time with their kids (or not), playing games with them, and getting to know them better. NewsAngle | Publication of the Anglesea Community House | Community Houses are for Everyone

In the House … By Marcelle Renkin, Program Coordinator

Farmers’ Market Season a Great Success March saw the wrap up of a very successful inaugural Anglesea Twilight Farmers Market season. With over 8000 visitors to our market over the season, we are inspired by such great support for this community event. Special thanks go to our Market Manager, James McLennan, for all his hard work getting a full season up and running, as well as our Committee of Management and other volunteers who have made it possible for us to bring a COVID-Safe event to our local community. We were excited to collaborate with James, who approached the Community House with the idea for a local Farmers Market, to get the event up and running, and to secure a license to run the market for three seasons. Keep a look out for the confirmation of 20212022 season dates.

Choose to Challenge Our first in-house event was held in March to celebrate the International Women’s Day theme Choose to Challenge. It was fantastic to have almost 30 inspiring women come

together to share stories and celebrate achievements.

courses, we are now trialling the dropin model.

This event has also shown how we can socialise and celebrate safely in a postCOVID world.

We hope to be able to support people on an individual basis to better understand and access digital technology in a way that fits in with individual lifestyles and needs.

Workshops & Courses This term we are excited to bring some new workshops and courses to you right here in our local community, including technology support, meditation and mindfulness, Eco Craft school holiday workshops for kids ... and more! With the support of volunteers, the Community House is also offering a ‘Digital Device Help’ weekly drop-in session. Due to the difficulty in getting sufficient numbers for ongoing Computer and Technology support

Starting from 20 April (running during school terms), from 1-3pm you can come down to the Community House and get the help you need. Whether it be downloading/uploading photos, setting up an email account, help to make a spreadsheet, or anything else that you require, we’ll have expert advice on hand to assist. You can find out more information about a course, workshop or volunteering opportunity that might interest you in our Events and Activities Guide or on our updated website at www.anglesea.org.au.

Anglesea Snappers Inspired by the wealth of skill, knowledge and passion for photography in the community, local resident, Deb Elliot reached out to the Community House looking for a space for people to come together to share their passion.

We are happy to be able to introduce the Anglesea Snappers Photography Club, which meets on Thursday evenings at the House. The club will provide an opportunity for people to come together to share photos and to learn from each other. Guest speakers will present to the group, and a range of excursions have been organised. New members are always welcome. Check out the information in the enclosed Courses, Activities and Events guide.

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The Check Up COVID-19 Vaccination — Common Questions By Dr Stuart Jones, Anglesea Medical

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved two vaccines; commonly known as the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca COVID vaccines.

One of the main benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine is that it can be stored at 2-8℃ which allows for much easier distribution across the country.

The Pfizer vaccine is already being administered to quarantine/border workers, frontline healthcare workers, and residential aged care and disability care staff and residents.

It is also the only vaccine that will be locally available and manufactured in Australia.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered to the rest of the population in a series of phases beginning in mid to late March. We have put together this guide to help answer some questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccines: When will I get my vaccine? Please see the table available online at The Conversation https:// theconversation.com/5-things-you-need -to-know-about-the-astrazenecavaccine-now-the-tga-has-approved-itfor-use-in-australia-155139 to see where you will fit into the vaccine roll out program. Phase 1B is set to begin in mid to late March 2021. Where can I get my vaccine? This next phase of immunisation (1B) will be with the AstraZeneca vaccine which will be available at GP respiratory clinics, General Practices that meet specific requirements, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and state-run vaccination clinics. This phase is due to commence in mid-March.

How do I get my name on the list? As the vaccination program continues, more locations will be added. When vaccines become more widely available, some workplace vaccination sites and community pharmacies that meet specific requirements are planned to be added. Can I choose which vaccine I get? No. The vast majority of the population are set to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Other vaccines may be added at a later date, but currently there are no active plans for distribution of any other vaccines. We do not recommend waiting for other vaccines to come out at a later date. This may increase the risk of an outbreak, community transmission and another lock down.

Don’t worry. We will strive to inform all of our patients and the local community of when they are eligible and how they can be vaccinated. We want, and will support, everyone to be vaccinated. You do not need to call the clinic to find out when the vaccines are available. We will regularly be providing updates about the vaccines. For local updates and the availability of vaccines at our clinic, please monitor our website angleseamedical.com.au or our Facebook page. Other great resources for vaccine information include: health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines

Can you tell me more about the AstraZeneca Vaccine?

Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre. https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/covid-19/

Yes. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or AZD1222) is a viral vector vaccine that has been approved for people over 18 years old. It requires two doses that are recommended to be given 12 weeks apart, but can be administered a minimum of four weeks apart.

Interesting facts

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Over 410 million COVID vaccine doses have already been administered globally as of 18 March 2021. Over 115 million doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in the USA as of 18 March 2021.

Community Initiatives for COVID Recovery By Caitlin Buckley

What more can be achieved when our local communities work together to address the unmet needs surfacing from the COVID-19 pandemic? The COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions of 2020 and 2021, have affected the wellbeing of many members in our community, either directly or indirectly. Seeking help can be difficult in the best of times – so much information, so many websites to navigate! Finding useful information, resources, and support services can be a challenge for the most able and digitally savvy among us. Knowing where to start, who can help, and what services we are entitled to requires patience, time, and knowledge that not everyone has. The presumption of digital literacy and accessibility, from service groups and government departments, can contribute to an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability, despair and isolation, which many are feeling. With that in mind, I recently spoke with Raylene Fordham – Anglesea and District Community Bank (ADCB) board member – to discover how our local communities are coping with the COVID-19 challenges.

Raylene informed me that the outcome of a 2020 Bendigo Bank survey identified major community concerns about the impact of the global pandemic: income loss, sponsorship and membership reduction, inter-group communication gaps, health deterioration, physical distancing regulations and their implementation, skills and resources shortages, morale and momentum diminishment, and limited knowledge and understanding of Government COVID-19 Recovery Assistance grants. To consider and address these concerns, and how we could all work better together at a local level, a Digital Community Forum was established – a collaboration between ADCB, the Anglesea Community Network (ACN) and the Surf Coast Shire Council (SCSC). The forum would provide an opportunity for local community groups to meet, share and explore existing strategies, build connections, extend networks, and prepare and plan for immediate and long-term issues.

The SCSC saw the potential for a Digital Forum to be an asset across the Shire, and agreed to collaborate with the ADCB to fund a pilot forum, via their COVID-19 Recovery Grant. Given the significant negative impact of the pandemic on our local communities, it was no surprise when representatives from almost 60 local community groups, clubs and businesses, joined the first digital forum held via Zoom in October 2020. Forum attendees were encouraged to recognise and acknowledge the many positive initiatives already established to meet the needs of the community; identify the most urgent concerns for their groups; and consider challenges, opportunities, and issues that may arise in the future. Seven main concerns emerged from the forum, and almost replicated the larger survey results: financial hardship, declining health, changing demographics, waning membership/ sponsorship, volunteer uptake, COVID restriction compliance, and a loss of morale and momentum among groups and individuals alike. Attendees also acknowledged a ‘need to identify those in the community who need help – who are we NOT seeing?’

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In a post-forum survey, respondents identified the need to bridge the perceived divide between permanent and non-permanent residents and create better connection and communication. Of paramount concern was who – or which groups – could identify, reach out, and assist those in need to access recovery assistance programs and grants, and facilitate referrals between individuals and groups. A second forum held in late October expanded on these themes, and considered what more could be done to help our community recover. Many proactive ideas were mooted: an ‘adopt a neighbour’ program, garden and home maintenance help, meal

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provision, encouragement and support for local shopping, music, activities, and events.

By sharing knowledge, information and resources, many significant outcomes were achieved though the forums. An interactive Digital Community Directory – a one-stop online community information resource, to complement the hard copy that Anglesea Community House (ACH) already provides to permanent and nonpermanent residents, will be linked to the recently relaunched Community House website. The Directory will hopefully alleviate the confusion and tedium of trawling the internet to find current and correct local information, contacts and services. Other positive community initiatives

One initiative from the recent community forums, is an online Community Noticeboard and Community Directory on the recently relaunched website for Anglesea Community House.

arising from the forums include: educating and supporting various groups to offer online meetings via a digital platform; the sharing of COVIDSafe plans for clubs and groups; holding an online raffle run by the Lions Club; and the Anglesea ‘Shop Local’ campaign. A social highlight was a vibrant community street party held at Point Roadknight, which provided some much-needed

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relief from the COVID restrictions, for the 80+ attendees! Community leaders have stepped up, reached out, and proactively tackled the many local issues arising from the current pandemic. We are strengthened as a community by their actions. In the face of any future challenges, a clearer road to recovery has been provided for us all.

Banking on our Community By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank ®

The Anglesea Bowling Club played host to the recent Triples for Triers Community Bowling Challenge and, yet again, it was a huge success! They had 24 teams of three players compete in a relaxed, funfilled environment, with DJ Gerard Morrison pumping out some classic rock music to inspire the participants. The delightful aroma of an Aussie barbecue wafted over the rinks, enticing the players to support the fundraising efforts of the club, and the hard-working ladies behind the counter were more than happy to accommodate the hungry horde. The local Anglesea and District Community Bank was again a very proud sponsor of the event, and to play on the recently renovated second rink was another fulfilling moment for the staff and associates of the bank. The rink is named after the Community Bank, as the profits generated by the banking of the Anglesea and District locals allowed for the Community Bank’s $20,000 donation to the project.

A New Home for the Community Bank The Community Bank will be moving into new premises shortly, and some may have noticed a little action at the old Rose’s restaurant building at the opposite end of the shopping strip to where we are currently located. The double-storey space is now undergoing some minor internal renovations, before a major overhaul is completed over the next few months, in preparation for the scheduled opening of our new branch in June. The new premises will have extended office space for customer consultation, and all current services, including the ATM, will be relocated to the new site. The tremendous support the Anglesea and District Community Bank has received from our local customers over its 15 years in business, has allowed for community organisations to share in over $2,800,000 in grants and donations, as well as shareholders receiving over $1,000,000 in return on their investment. We hope to continue to grow our connection with local people and help keep our region one of the most sought-after destinations for visitors and permanent residents alike. 24

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

The Burning Girls by C J Tudor

C.J Tudor is the queen of thrillers and her latest book, The Burning Girls did not disappoint. Jack Brooks is not your usual vicar, she is rough around the edges and doesn’t quite fit the bill. Dedicated nonetheless, Jack and her teenage daughter Flo have taken up a new parish in the English countryside of Chapel Croft. Chapel Croft has a dark and disturbing past, when 500 years ago eight protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake. This was followed by the heartbreakingly mysterious disappearance of two teenage girls, just 30 years ago. Jack has no idea what awaits her as the community’s holy spokesperson. In this town everyone has their secrets and the ghosts of the past threaten to ruin it all. As Jack and Flo begin to settle in, they wonder who is hiding the darkest secret of all, and do they really want to poke the devil and risk their lives. Mesmerising, thrilling and utterly terrifying, this book is fast paced and a real treasure. You’ll love every page. Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion

One hot summer's evening. Rage. Blinding anger so complete, your brain has a complete mind-snap. Libby's mother, in a hot car crammed with squabbling children, pulls up on the verge of an interstate motorway and tosses her middle child out of the car. Aghast, the older and younger siblings settle into tearful silence as she pulls away, leaving little Ellen alone to walk the last five miles home in darkness. This one rash act leads to an unforgettable summer. Narrated by 15-year-old Libby - a contemplative character you will come to love, A Crooked Tree is the beautifully written story of the intense complexities of family - the unconditional love between the children, the failings of the mother, the wonder of small kindnesses and the power of community. A totally superb read, A Crooked Tree by debut Irish writer Una Mannion, is one of my favourite reads for the year so far. Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

The Four Winds

The Second Son

by Kristin Hannah

by Lorraine Peck

Kirstin Hannah is an outstanding author, and such a versatile writer. Delving back in time to the Great Depression era, in The Four Winds Elsa Martinell is the least glamorous daughter, doomed at 25 to be her parents’ keeper … never to marry or have children. A pivotal moment leads to a great turning point in her life, as she breaks free of the cloying confines of her judgemental family. She carves out a wonderful new life for herself and her daughters, but her farm and the land turns on them and everything dies. The Four Winds is a fascinating insight into how tough life was for women, as Elsa moves overland from Texas to California. She is a survivor, picking cotton, fruit, anything to feed her family. Heartbreaking and inspiring, this is a great novel of a woman rising and changing the world in her own small way. I loved it. Review by Sue @ Great Escape Books

Heading into the snap lockdown, I needed a book in which I could immerse myself as a welcome distraction, and The Second Son was exactly that. Set in Sydney's west, Ivan Novak is shot dead, putting his bins out, in a brutal and callous drive-by shooting. Except Ivan wasn't some innocent citizen, he was a member of an illustrious crime family and now they want revenge. Milan, the family patriarch is furious at the injustice and looks to his youngest son Johnny to make everything right. But Johnny is torn between his sweet little family and his criminal gang family. Thrilling, complex and a terrifying depiction of family loyalty, gang violence and blood-soaked rifts, this is truly an action-packed crime debut. I couldn't put it down, and now all I can think is ... please tell me there will be a sequel! Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

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HISTORY SPOT

History of Anglesea’s History House By Jan Morris, Anglesea & District Historical Society

Over 40 years ago a group of local Anglesea people had been talking about the “old days”. It became obvious to them that if someone didn’t preserve the stories of the past, they would be lost forever. Thus, Anglesea and District Historical Society was formed (A&DHS) and held its first meeting in November 1980. Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to celebrate our 40th anniversary last November. The names of the people at the early meetings included many old Anglesea identities. Arthur Bubb, Keith Cecil, Brian Butterworth, Joan CameronMurch, Pat Denham, Tom Rogers, Alan Poigndester, and Gil & Nancy Johnson. Keith Cecil already had been collecting early Anglesea and district photographs. He was fortunate that Charles Herschell, as Managing Director and later Chairman of the Great Ocean Road Trust, was an early film pioneer and the founder of Rose postcards which carried many scenic views of the area. These were made available to the newly formed A&DHS. Many families who had their box brownie and other popular cameras also contributed to the photographic collection.

Rangi Maree, aka History House

Consequently, a comprehensive collection of early Anglesea photos was developed. Keith Cecil had a wellequipped dark room where he was able to copy photos loaned to the society. The society was successful in obtaining a grant to digitise their basic collection. As technology improved, the collection has been expanded and we now have more than 7,000 photos.

current Community House car park. Our museum is ever-extending. It includes the history of the farm that was on Coalmine Road and the history of the Alcoa Coal Mine.

Following the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, the house Rangi Maree, owned by the local council, was used for emergency accommodation. By 1986 this was no longer required, and the Council offered the premises to A&DHS, which they gladly accepted. After removing some internal walls, they made the house into a meeting room and museum.

Continual improvements have been made to History House, including a garden shed and the last remaining bathing box in Anglesea. Once one of a series of bathing boxes in the sand dunes along the beach, it was moved to the Scout Hall (now the Art Centre) before being moved to History House in 2017, restored and used as an adjunct of the museum.

When the museum started, member Alan Poignester gave many interesting items he had collected from his work around the town. The most significant of Alan’s donations was the Inverlochy log, which he had discovered when cleaning out a local shed.

At History House we have maps, photos, artefacts, videos, tools, an extensive library, family files and models. The events of today are tomorrow’s history.

Again A&DHS obtained a grant to have the pages of the Inverlochy log conserved. The pages have now been copied and the copy is available for visitors to see. We also have artefacts salvaged from the Inverlochy ship wreck, including pieces of crockery donated by Eric and Marianne Messer who dived on the wreck before it became a protected site.

Maritime cabinet 26

We have a mantlepiece made from the Inverlochy salvage, that was once in Filkins House, which stood in the

In 2000, the Surf Coast Family History Group began. They became a sub-group of A&DHS and have the use of Rangi Maree, now known as History House.

We need to keep up with the history of Anglesea and district organisations and families. We would appreciate annual reports from all organisations and family notes on any family that has connections with the area. If you have done family research, please consider giving us a copy. We also need people to help us preserve local history. Consider joining A&DHS. Our website can be found at http://home.vicnet.net.au/-angen/. We are also on Facebook. You will be warmly welcomed as we move into the next 40 years.

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Tech Angle TWITCHERS’ CORNER By Chris Dos Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Tech Angle By Chris Dos

In February, Facebook made the decision to ban Australian news along with local users ability to post links to articles. This was in response to the Government proposing legislation to make Facebook pay for the content posted to its platform. The move gave insight into Facebook’s perception of itself and its power, but has only led to greater concern about its monopolisation of social media platforms. The action it took was seen as an experiment by some, just finding out how much it could flex its muscles against our quite small section of its market.

Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris The distinctive notes of the Rufous Whistler are often the first indication that Spring has arrived. This bird, migratory in the southern areas, appears in late August and departs about April. Rufous Whistlers can be found throughout all mainland states of Australia except for the very arid desert areas. It does not reside in Tasmania, but occasionally there are reports of a vagrant bird. Outside Australia, they are found in New Guinea, the Moluccas and New Caledonia. Male Rufous Whistlers are very handsome birds - entirely steel grey above with a jet black broad band from the base of the bill running back through the eye and ear down the side of a pure white throat and neck to join across the breast. Below the white throat and black band the bird is a rich rufous colour. The eye is deep red-brown. Females are much more delicate in appearance – brownish -grey, lightly washed olive above and pale buff below with a white throat fading into the buff chest. Fine, but obvious dark brown streaks mark the throat and chest and upper breast. Immature birds resemble the females but with more olive above and with obvious rufous in the wing and flight feathers. Diet consists mainly of insects found predominantly in tree branches and foliage. They will also fly onto the ground to take prey, particularly grasshoppers. This bird is primarily found in open forests and woodlands, but some will inhabit, and breed in, moister forests. Breeding occurs between September to February. The nest is a sparse cup of dry twiglets, rootlets and grasses well concealed in the upright fork of a well foliaged bush, tree or vine creeper usually up to 5 m above the ground. Two or three eggs are usually laid. They are olive or olive-brown with red and brown markings. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and brood and feed the young. Ref: Reader’s Digest Complete book of Australian Birds

A compromise was very quickly reached with the Government, possibly a sign that Facebook regretted this extreme action, but the ripples have already joined with other concerns held throughout the world and most specifically in the US.

We have laws in this country regarding concentration of media ownership, but like many things they just haven't kept up with the times. As previously mentioned here, fewer folk are getting their news from television or print media these days. Even the number who directly access news sites fall well short of those who view news purely through the window of their Facebook page. The speed at which it backed down suggests that Facebook wants to make its own arrangements with news outlets rather than having to obey possibly complicated laws which would vary from country to country.

It already pays for content in some places, but is very protective of the revenue streams it has developed since its inception. After all, you don’t become a billionaire by giving money away. Speaking of which, it seems ironic that in the agreements it will make with news outlets – publishers making $150,000 per year are considered worthy enough to bargain – the main beneficiaries of any payments made will be the biggest players, some who’ve themselves been scrutinised owing to the belief that they exert too much influence in this sphere. This was just the opening round, but it could present a real opportunity to direct back some of the funds that a diverse media landscape desperately needs to fulfill its role in any healthy democracy.

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Community Corner NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

New Committee for Anglesea Art House

AHOY THERE! By Robyn Lucas, Surf Coast Shire

As keen cabin crew, we wanted to give you a brief update on the status of the playground project at Coogoorah Park. Firstly, thank you to all community members for providing such passionate and informative suggestions for the playground space and equipment. So many treasured memories associated with the space and good times in the park. Imaginative play is an element we would like to maintain.

The new committee at Anglesea Art House.

The Anglesea Art House AGM was finally held in February, with the reelection of President Jennifer O’Sullivan.

from 10am – 2pm to support members. Locals and visitors can take a look in the gallery, which has art, craft and cards for sale.

With 24 members attending and special guest, Councillor Mike Bodsworth, it was an enjoyable afternoon .

Pop in and say hello, and check out your talented local artists and their work.

The new committee is looking forward to getting on with their job that encompasses 200+ members.

Plans are currently underway for the Annual Art Show, with a view to holding it over the long weekend in June. This is something for all members to focus on. As with so many things, it was disappointing not to have had the Show in 2020.

The Art House offers tutored classes in watercolour, oil/acrylic, drawing and pottery, as well as group sessions for printmaking, glass fusing, mosaic, textiles, pottery and painting. We now have an online booking system at www.angleseaarthouse.com.au for classes and membership. The Art House is open each Saturday

The community connectedness is something that the Art House is very proud of and we welcome new members. Further enquiries info@angleseaarthouse.com.au

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Outside of the survey, we have collected views from the Facebook posts, the six listening posts in the park, and direct submissions from both children and adults. It was great to hear from so many age groups and there was a lot of common themes. Taking on all the collective views, the following themes are being considered for the space:  Nautical theme  A flying fox  Educational interpretative signage about the Aboriginal history of the location and the history of the Inverlochy shipwreck  Natural materials as much as possible  Accessible areas and accessible equipment Council officers are considering the information provided and the best way forward for the Asset Renewal Project at Coogoorah Park Playground, and we will keep you all informed of the next steps.

The Aireys Community Speaks ... with an Eye to the Future By Charlotte Allen, Aireys Inlet District Assoication (AIDA)

The Aireys Inlet and District Association’s 2020 Community Survey publication, analyses the sentiments expressed by the 398 survey respondents and their wish to help craft a future for the area between Urquhart Bluff and Eastern View that will put community and the integrity of place at its heart. Some of the principal threads in community opinion that emerged, related to how the people in our area of the coast see the environment … “an untouched, serene ‘coastal village’, highly valued for its environmental assets”. We see ourselves as a cohesive community, comprised of strong, knowledgeable local organisations and businesses, and connected, passionate, caring residents, where support for each other is daily in evidence. Another thread in the respondents’ views was the concern for our ability to truly influence that future, given the wider regulatory, economic and political forces at work. The concerns centred on the effects of climate change already being seen and felt locally, the ‘wrong sort of tourism’ i.e. not reflective of our unique offering, not of a sustainable level and poorly managed, and inappropriate planning and development – inconsistent with the character of our place. Our coastal communities are known as places with a strong local knowledge base across many disciplines. Not surprisingly then, there was strong sentiment around futurethinking with particular emphasis on self-reliance, shared learnings and an effective voice to the Surf Coast Shire Council and to the new Authority (GORCAPA). This year’s publication was designed to make the survey data and comments easily understandable, widely accessible and transparent. With this in mind, the data from the 23 questions, 398 respondents and over 2,600 considered comments were translated into six key overarching themes – Character, Tourism, Development, Key Assets, Community and Future. The 2020 Community Survey results publication is now available at https://aireys-inlet.org/wp-content/uploads/ AIDA_Survey_Results.pdf.

The results can also be accessed via a QR Code on the 2020 Survey Poster, which will be on the AIDA Noticeboard at the Aireys top shops, and at local businesses in the village. Further information via the AIDA website at www.aireys-inlet.org and Facebook @AIDAaireysinlet.

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Lioness Club of Anglesea Stays Strong The Lioness Club of Anglesea was chartered by the Lions Club of Anglesea in 1979, initiating 42 years of service to the local and wider community.

fundraising activities to support our local groups, as in the past. We are very proud of our years of service and welcome service minded people to join us. We thank the Surf Coast Council for recognising us as “Local Legends” at the Australia Day celebrations for 2021 and look forward to a healthy, safe and brighter 2021.

Two members from those beginnings, Betty Butterworth and Doreen Leeman are still active in the club today. The club has 18 active members and a number of Friends who join in our activities and fundraising for various local charities and groups. In December 2020, the District Governor Delwyn Seebeck, presented members with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Multiple District Lioness Committee (see photo). With the advent of COVID, many of our social and fundraising activities have been cancelled or postponed. We are hopeful that 2021 will see us visible and supporting the community again. We have been able to meet as a Club, thanks to the generosity of the RSL allowing us to meet in their rooms. Members of the Lioness Club have many and varied skills that they bring to the planning of events, social activities and fundraising. Members enjoy their involvement in the activities and can respond to unexpected situations as they arise. Planning events such as the Pink Ribbon Lunch, Irish Bush Dance, Car Boot Sale and film days are a co-

Enquiries about the Lioness Club of Anglesea can be made to: Carmen Koster, President 0418 535 580 Betsy Newman, Secretary 0412 769 144

L-R: Betty Butterworth, District Governor Delwyn Seebeck and Doreen Leeman with certificates presented to all the Lioness members at our December meeting.

operative activity, and supporting the Lions Club at Camp Quality and the Australia Day Breakfast are events we look forward to every year. In June 2021, the present Lioness members will become full members of the Lions Club of Anglesea as per the directive of Lions International. The present Lioness members will remain as a committee within the Lions Club and be known as the ‘Lionettes’ committee, meeting as usual on the second Monday of the month at 2pm. We will be active in the Lions Club service to the community, and continue

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Anglesea Friends Of Red Cross (FORC) Please be aware that our popular FORC fundraising events are currently on hold due to COVID restrictions for public meetings. I have a great list of guest speakers who are keen to entertain you with their interesting adventures and achievements. Looking forward to seeing you again for informal conversation, finger food and wine at the charming Melaleuca Gallery, when restrictions allow. If you’d like more information about FORC and local Red Cross fundraising events, please contact Christine Walker, Anglesea FORC Convenor on mobile 0408 444 199 or email walkercchristine@gmail.com

COMMUNITY CORNER

Eagles Nest Exhibitions Check out some of the wonderful exhibitions scheduled at Eagles Nest Gallery in Aireys Inlet in coming months: April 3 – May 30 Main Gallery – FROM MY BRUSH – oil paintings by Pat McKenzie Feature Gallery – HIDDEN WONDERS – oil paintings by Alison McIntosh (see The Garden below) Mini Gallery – DISTORTED SAND – glass art by Jan Verouden and Monica Provan

Foyer Gallery – THINGS OF STEEL, STONE + WOOD – furniture + sculpture by Darren Matthews

Anglesea Performers Return to the Stage

Exhibitions June – July Paintings by Veronica McDonald and Dee Mathison, Mark Noel, Pamela Reid and sculpture by Brendan Merriman.

Anglesea Performing Arts (APA) returns to the stage at Anglesea Memorial Hall this month, with its latest production Shadow of A ngels. With all shows cancelled last year due to COVID, this highly-regarded production group is excited to bring live theatre back to local audiences. Shadow of Angels is written by Fleur Murphy, directed by Iris WalsheHowling, and stars APA actors Stacey Carmichael, Lina Libroaperto, Joanna Lusty and Fred Preston. Original music composed by Kirstin Honey. The Garden by Alison McIntosh

The story is described as “a gritty piece about four Australian femme fatales”. According to Theatre People, “… the writing crackles with dark wit and beauty”. Given APA’s reputation for presenting thought-provoking, contemporary theatre, this is one performance not to be missed. Show times are: 8, 9, 10 April @ 7.30pm 15, 16, 17 April @ 7.30pm Saturday matinees both weeks: 2.30pm Tickets are on sale now via TryBooking, and can be booked directly through APA’s website www.angleseaperformers.org.au/ productions

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Historic Site Receives a Facelift In July 2020, the Anglesea Men’s Shed was asked to quote on repairs to the Loveridge Lookout ‘Inverlochy’ mosaic. After inspection, the mosaic was deemed ‘beyond repair’ and a new life ring was recommended. Apart from the mosaic centrepiece and the mosaic lettering, nothing from the old ring was useable. Our plan was to construct a new life ring from marine ply that would be formed to a lifebuoy shape. On removing the old ring, the mosaic centrepiece split into two parts. Fortunately, it was found that it would fit back together quite closely, but needed new backing board for structural integrity. Extra cement sheeting was glued to the original backing and later screwed to the newly shaped life ring. Sue Ross, from the Anglesea community, was recruited to help with the mosaic repairs. The crack through the large mosaic was re-grouted and the tiles were scraped and polished to remove 11 years of sea salt and dirt accumulated on their surface.

The Inverlochy mosaic at Loveridge Lookout has been restored to its former glory by members of Anglesea Men’s Shed.

three coats of an exterior gloss paint.

Alastair Duke did an amazing job in shaping the five sheets of marine ply, which were glued and screwed together to form a new life ring.

The mosaic lettering was removed from the old ring, then glued, regrouted, cleaned and polished. The newly restored central mosaic was positioned inside the ring and screwed into place. Silicon sealant finished the waterproofing of the whole art piece.

Haydn Rickey and Simon Clark applied multiple coats of a marine water proofing sealant, followed by

On 4 February 2021, the renewed Inverlochy mosaic was reinstalled with stainless bolts, received a final paint

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touch up and trimmed with heavy rope to complete the nautical look. A great restoration by a team of talented and dedicated people from the Anglesea Men’s Shed and local community. The heritage-listed Loveridge Lookout and the Inverlochy mosaic is now a proud part of the amazing view across the water. It’s worth a look!

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Surf Coast Shire Council News

Fire Lines By Tony Revell, Anglesea CFA Community Engagement

Why not become an Anglesea Operational CFA Volunteer? By Mike Bodsworth, Anglesea Ward Councillor

While we love our late-Winter and Spring wildflowers around Anglesea, when it comes to calm, sunny days and mellowness, Autumn really takes some beating! I’m writing this on a cracking day with warm sun, a light breeze and magpies caroling outside my window. What a place to live! The Council has had some big issues to consider recently, including the appointment of a new CEO, budgets for 2021-22, and funding applications for major projects like the proposed aquatic and arts centres in Torquay, and a new netball pavilion in Anglesea. We’ve also been immersed in our strategic planning project People Place Future.

diversity of our communities. We’d like to thank the many people who’ve participated so far – and urge others to get involved. Visit www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Aboutus/Your-Say/People-Place-Future to find out more about the project and community panel, register for project updates or access the discussion paper. You can also phone our (recently reopened) front desk on 5261 0600. Keep an eye out for our draft budgets too, on track for late April, to have your say.

People Place Future is all about the future of our Shire… what’s most important to us? What dilemmas do we face and what can we do about them? What do we want for future generations, for locals and visitors, traditional owners, the natural environment and our unique coastal and hinterland landscapes? We’ll be developing a 10-year Community Vision and four-year Council Plan, as well as an Asset Plan and Health and Wellbeing Plan. The survey phase of the project has closed. The next phase is a community panel, like a citizens’ jury, to consider a range of key issues and dilemmas. The panel was chosen at random by an external facilitator to reflect the

Speaking of dilemmas, what about the balance between our district’s lovely bushy character and the need to minimise risks to lives and properties in a wildfire? The difficulty of that balance is right in front of us now with very confronting changes resulting from mechanical fuel reduction around town and along the roads. Council is a participant in the project, managed by DELWP. In closing, I’d like to thank the various groups and individuals I’ve met and worked with over the past few months as a new councillor – you’re awesome. I’d also like to acknowledge the great work done by my fellow councillors as we’ve found our feet – and the superb backup we get from Council staff.

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

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Police Beat By Sergeant John Digby, Station Commander, Anglesea Police Station

Well, after being at Anglesea Police Station for the last two years, I can say that it is a fabulous area in which to work. I have found it very rewarding in providing a high level of police service to the community. Anglesea Police have been supplemented with First Constable Bengt Carlson over the summer period. Bengt, who is normally stationed at Corio, has been a welcome asset to us at Anglesea and he is enjoying the sea change. Otherwise there has been no change to our staff. Our telephone system has been automated in line with other Victoria Police Stations.

selecting the option to speak to a member of Anglesea Police. If we are not on duty, you can leave a message, which we can reply to when next working.

First Constable Bengt Carlson, participating in the Woorrangalook Victorian Koori Surfing Titles at Urquhart Bluff on 6-7 Feb 21.

If you call the station phone number, it gives an option of reporting non-urgent crime via the Police Assistance Line or

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A reminder to all, if you require police attendance then dial 000. There is a 24/7 police response on the Surf Coast. This is also for reports of noise complaints and suspicious behaviour. It is no good us getting a message the next day, as we need to know when it is happening. Remember to lock your vehicles and do not leave valuables in them. There have been reports of thefts where the thieves target unlocked vehicles.

Write Angles By Melva Stott

COVID Side-Effect

Anglesea, Our Home Town

News has been a bit hard to come by as isolation has closed down the local grapevine.

Anglesea's a place that is unique, Way back in the old days it was Swampy Creek; It's our Home Town -- so we will never roam far, (We're not so crazy!) Though the city life is not so slow, Leave us in this little town that we love so; We're happy night and day, Anglesea makes us that way. Home Town -- you're a patchwork to invite us -- river, beach and hills delight us -- We'll stay right here, because there's no town to compare with you. Home Town -- where we wake up glad each morning, for kookaburras laugh at dawning; We'll stay right here, because there's no town to compare with you. You've laid hist'ry at our door -- coaches, shipwrecks on our shore. Your street names evermore, remind us of our pioneers who've gone before. Home Town -- no-one's ever tried to hurry since the days of Mrs Murray; We'll stay right here, because there's no town to compare with you. All your people are your core, Resident and visitor; Old times we'll not ignore; Regatta's on the river as in days of yore. Home Town -- nothing much has changed (well, maybe) Since Jack Russell was a baby. We'll stay right here, because there's no town to compare with you! Keep smiling! Melva Stott

Bookworms Still Exist My grandson stayed on in Anglesea after my 80th birthday party. He looked through my bookshelves and was reading Charles Dickens ‘Old Curiosity Shop’ - he liked the oldfashioned language in the dialogues. He's borrowed a book on the history of London because he's never read a book with 1300 pages!

Celestial Sights Despite the clouds, I'd managed to see the Star of Bethlehem as Saturn and Jupiter appeared to merge. This hadn't happened for about 800 years and my son asked me if I remembered seeing the last one. Cheeky beggar!

Nostalgia Is there anyone else like me who still misses Betty Butterworth's drapery shop? You could find anything in there, from a new dress to a safety pin. If anyone is looking for a new business opportunity in town, it would be great to have a drapery store again.

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Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at the YMCA

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