Community Corner

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

One-Act-Play Festival Celebrates 30 Years

Anglesea Performing Arts (APA) is well known for its award-winning productions and shorter one-act plays. This August, it hosts the 30th One-Act-Play Festival at the Anglesea Memorial Hall.

Each year the One-Act-Play Festival sees many plays being performed over one weekend at the hall in the spirit of friendly competition for prize money. Sponsorship is provided by local businesses including the Anglesea branch of the Bendigo Bank.

“There is an adjudicator who gives feedback to the performers regarding the individual plays, and it is a great way to experience theatre and learn about the craft at the same time,” said APA member Lina Libroaperto.

The festival draws theatre groups and audiences from across Victoria and has only skipped a beat twice in its history; the most recent last year due to the COVID pandemic and the statewide lockdown.

“We are excited to be hosting our 30th

Adjudicator Xan Coleman will judge the One-Act Plays at this year’s Festival. APA Actors are preparing to return for the 30th One-Act-Play Festival in Anglesea.

Festival, so come along and see a wide range of short plays performed by theatre companies from throughout regional Victoria over a pleasant weekend at Anglesea Memorial Hall,” said Christine Walker, APA’s Secretary.

The Festival Café will sustain you with hot food and treats all weekend, and a wine bar is also provided for refreshments.

Anglesea’s 30th One-Act-Play Festival will be held over the weekend of 14–15 August 2021.

Further information: www.angleseaperformers.org.au Christine Walker, Festival Convenor 0408 444 199

Tickets through the Trybooking link on the APA website above. U3A Surf Coast Program Back Underway

After a difficult year in 2020, U3A Surf Coast recommenced its term two program with a variety of courses, both regular and new.

Occasional lectures also returned and a highlight was a lecture in May about Starfish Nippers, an inclusive program created in 2011 by Janet Jones and Naomi Symington to enable children and young adults with a disability to participate in beach and water/surf lifesaving activities.

COVID restrictions and limitations on numbers at some venues have meant waiting lists for courses, but many are returning to normal, with either faceto-face or Zoom, which may be of interest to people isolated or without transport. Zoom classes currently offered are: Poetry, Cinema Studies and W riting Y our Life. Popular classes like yoga, tai-chi, ukulele and computer classes have returned, while Money Matters for the Third Age also makes a comeback.

Flexibility is needed due to the pandemic and we anticipate there may be future changes to venues, classes and the regulations under which we operate as things unfold.

Please check the website for details of all programs and course descriptions, along with online enrolment, at www.u3asurfcoast.org.au/coursesactivities

Enquiries via mobile 0435 374 139 or email info@u3asurfcoast.org.au.

Love Winter retur ns to Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet has come alive with a series of events returning to town to warm the soul over the winter months.

After a year off, the Aireys Inlet Tourism and Traders Association is thrilled to announce that Love W inter in Aireys is back this year with a jam-packed calendar of events to celebrate the town’s food, music and arts scene.

The program is filled with events to help get us out in the fresh air, to soothe our souls with delectable food offerings and superb sounds from of our favourite venues, and to keep us connected to community.

Now in its ninth year, the festival’s program features a range of food, music, arts and literature activities that will run until the end of August.

From mini-golf championships to hearty soups served in the community garden, a poetry competition and sculpture weekends, there will be more than 30 events from which to choose.

To find out what’s in store for the remainder of winter, see the program below or visit www.aireysinlet.org.au for details of all the events.

Sculpture by Brendan Merriman — see Living the Life exhibition at Eagles Nest Gallery this winter.

COMMUNITY CORNER Lioness Club Joins Forces with Anglesea Lions

by Betsy Newman, Anglesea Lioness Club

On Monday 19April, 16 of the 18 members of the Lioness Club were inducted into the Lions Club of Anglesea.

The Anglesea Hotel was the venue for a very happy evening with many guests attending this very important occasion for the Lions Club of Anglesea.

The Lionesses were individually introduced by Lioness June Taylor and the induction was carried out by Lion Trevor Taylor.

June and Trevor have been wonderful members of the Anglesea community and particularly the Lions Club and have recently relocated to Melbourne. We were delighted they were able to be a part of this special occasion as both had an extensive role in preparing the clubs for this transition.

Guests included District Governor Delwyn Seebeck, past District Governor Dennis Grant and his wife Shirley, Membership Chair Biddy Weel and her husband Nick, and past Lioness Presidents Margaret Vise and Beverley Voisey. The Mayor of the Surf Coast Shire, Councillor Libby Stapleton, was to be guest speaker but unfortunately was unwell and unable to attend. Her prepared speech was made available and presented by Margaret Russell on her behalf.

After their induction, each Lioness now a Lion, was presented with their Membership Certificate by District Governor Delwyn and an embroidered Lions badge by Membership Chair Biddy. The badges will be sewn onto our signature yellow shirts which we will continue to wear with pride at community events in the future.

Our years of service will be recognised by the Lions Club and recorded on the Lions members information site. The Lionettes Committee will retain its identity within the Lions Club structure and we look forward to our future involvement in the community as formal members of the Lions Club of Anglesea.

Our activities and service will now be recorded as part of the Lions Club service to the community.

A well supported raffle was held to raise funds for the Australian Lions Foundation Ltd National Disaster Appeal to support communities in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria affected by flood waters.

We welcome enquiries about the Lionettes Committee and the Lions Club of Anglesea via email to anglesealionessclub@gmail.com or you can contact Betsy Newman, Secretary via mobile 0412 769 144.

District Governor Delwyn Seebeck (left) presented a certificate to each Lioness after they were inducted into the Anglesea Lions Club.

Local Nippers Program at SLSC

More than 80 local children participated in a Nippers program earlier this year at the Anglesea Surf Lifesaving Club.

The children were taught invaluable skills for swimming in the ocean, navigating boards and very important lessons regarding safety in the ocean – so important when the ocean is your backyard!

Thank you to Laura Boyer who led the program magnificently and also to the other volunteers from the Club for dedicating their Wednesday and Sunday afternoons to providing instructions and water safety for the children.

Special mention to a couple of dads who took the plunge and completed their Surf Rescue Certificate, which helped the Club to meet water safety ratios, which are of course so important.

One special day during the program was when the summer Nippers and local Nippers joined together for a celebration event over Easter, which was followed up with a BBQ and parent meeting to explain how to join the Club and get further involved.

Thank you to all the wonderful families who have been involved and we hope to see you in Term 4.

Further information:

Jennifer Mclntyre, General Manager, Anglesea SLSC 0437 516 600

COMMUNITY CORNER Surfcoast Bluear th Playgroup at Aireys Inlet Primar y School

Toddlers from 0–3 years and their parents have been welcomed into the Aireys Inlet Primary School, as part of the newly launched Surf Coast Bluearth Playgroup.

Mitch, the Bluearth instructor, uses evidence-based strategies to engage “little people” and provide the building blocks to support active play –physically, mentally and emotionally.

The mums and dads also participate with their children.

School Principal Jennifer Abel said it has been fantastic to see so many youngsters join the program.

After the session with Mitch, toddlers are able to enjoy free play with the many toys borrowed from the Anglesea Toy Library, while the parents connect with each other over a cup of coffee.

The Bluearth Playgroup is conducted at the school on Tuesdays every fortnight during the school term. There is no cost.

For more information and to register your attendance please email the school Principal, Jennifer Abel.

Jennifer.Abel@education.vic.gov.au

Anglesea Lions Club has recommenced its Friday night raffles from 6-7pm at the Anglesea Hotel. $2,400 was raised during March and April, with all proceeds going to the following: Anglesea Memorial Hall upgrade, Aireys/ Anglesea Red Cross for WA bushfire relief, the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday appeal and the Anglesea RSL for Anzac Day. Additional local, Australian and international causes continue be supported. For information: John Roberts, Lions Treasurer 0410 458 907

Anglesea River Management Update

By Dr Greg Woodward, Senior Manager Waterway Health, Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is continuing to investigate longer term management options for the Anglesea River estuary.

A flow study of the Anglesea River funded by DELWP and managed by Corangamite CMA has recently been completed to better understand the timing, duration and amount of water needed by native plants and animals in the Anglesea River system.

The study was undertaken by GHD and was prepared by experts in the fields of natural resource management, freshwater ecology, aquatic vegetation, coastal and estuarine ecology, hydrology and a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner representative.

The project was supported by a working group consisting of members from Corangamite CMA, Surf Coast Shire Council, Barwon Water, DELWP and local community representatives.

The key findings of the study included:

1. The Anglesea River system supports a range of environmental values including fish, vegetation, amphibians and terrestrial vertebrates, particularly in the upper catchment area.

2. The significant reduction in rainfall experienced over the last 20 years as a result of climate change and variability has greatly reduced flow, particularly in the upper catchment area of Salt Creek.

3. Climate change impacts in the lower estuary had been lessened by

Alcoa’s EPA-licenced discharge (~4ML/day), which ceased in March 2016. 4. Under the current conditions, natural estuary openings are likely to occur less often and vegetation in the estuary will transition to include more freshwater dependent species.

The findings from the flow study will help inform waterway managers on how to make the best use of the available water and provide the best possible environmental outcomes.

Climate change and reduction in flow is impacting the current environmental, social, cultural and economic values of the system.

DELWP, with the assistance of stakeholders including Barwon Water, Surf Coast Shire Council and Corangamite CMA has already implemented several of the study recommendations and will continue to work with key stakeholders and the community to support the river during this period of change.

By Melva Stott

A Weir-d Tale

There has always been a sandbar across the Anglesea river mouth, and until the bridge was built, horse-drawn coaches crossed the river on this sandbar, at some peril, due to patches of quicksand.

A sand spit stretched out into the sea from the western side of the sandbar and dunes. This spit would have had some effect on the way the ocean tides related to the stream and to movement of sand.

In 1975, Barrabool Shire gave approval for the construction of a weir across the river to keep it at a constant level. There was local opposition and concerns, but to no avail.

The weir was originally visible above the waterline. A solid rock wall, with an open section in the centre fitted with four removable dropboards that could release water or retain it to form a lagoon.

After the installation of the weir, the long sand spit was washed away. Sand then began building up in the river mouth, eventually covering the weir, then deeply burying it; thus widening the natural sandbar. The next episode in this story comes in the form of a good old country yarn. It is a tale of sabotage, and whispers of a bit of nefarious night work carried out by persons unknown, assisted by a few sticks of something explosive. This account infers that the controversial weir had been well and truly tampered with.

In 2013 Surf Coast Shire Council reported that a section of rock wall was removed. It was not clear if this was the entire man-made structure or whether one side is still buried.

Family River Experience

Beneath our beautiful river is an ugly expanse of black mud, which would be revealed whenever the water level dropped, making it unattractive to visitors.

My children ventured into the river one day when the water was low but still concealing the black mud. They emerged covered in the sticky substance … and were not allowed in the car. They were banished to the open boot and transferred to a hot bath. (Try doing that these days!)

Girls on Wheels

On two occasions recently, I've talked to girls alighting from motorbikes near the Post Office. I told them I used to ride one years ago … and we've all agreed that they're great fun! Keep smiling! Melva Stott

Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at the YMCA