Community Corner

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD The (wildflower) show must go on!

The ANGAIR Wildflower & Art Weekend has unfortunately been cancelled for the second year in a row due to the pandemic, however the digital show will ensure no-one is denied a glimpse of the natural delights of the Surf Coast.

The ANGAIR Nature Show website features a raft of new material and can be enjoyed from 9 September at: www.angairnatureshow.org.au

New items include a gallery of nature photographs from local photographers, including members of the newly-formed Anglesea Snappers, who had planned to exhibit in the physical show. There are also six new jigsaws featuring local scenes, bugs and beasties, which have been added to last year's four jigsaws.

With a large and diverse range of content embedded online across different themes, there is something on the website to suit most interests and ages.

Viewers are encouraged to go back again and again to explore the various items and look for what’s new. This includes an exhibition in which local school students present creative works aimed at persuading people to protect the Surf Coast’s endangered and vulnerable plant and animal species. The popular online walks segment will feature the recently opened Yan Wirring Mirr walk on the Anglesea Heath. The ANGAIR Nature Show themes include:

 WONDER Discover, explore and wonder at the amazing fauna and flora found in the Anglesea/Aireys region.  EXPLORE Take a self-guided walk along backroads recommended by our ANGAIR specialists.  LEARN Learn more about ANGAIR activities, local fauna and flora, and other environment-related activities in our community.  CREATE AND PLAY Enter the photogr aphy competition; view the artwork of Anglesea Primary School students; test your creativity with nature related projects. Play jigsaws, quizzes, crosswords with a nature theme to while away the time in lock down.  PROTECT Learn how you can take better care of our precious environment.

Leading playwright announced inaugural patron of AIRAR

Acclaimed multi-award-winning playwright and leading figure in Australian dramatic arts, Hannie Rayson, has become the inaugural patron of Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees (AIRAR).

Well known to local residents through holidaying and writing at her husband’s family holiday house in Aireys Inlet and her collaboration with the Lighthouse Literary festivals and lunches over the past decade, Hannie says it is an honour to be named as patron.

A long-term supporter of refugees, Hannie’s initial connection began in 2001 amid general outrage and shame over the Tampa affair, where 433 people seeking asylum in Australia, were instead diverted to the hurriedly established offshore detention centre on Nauru.

These feelings intensified with the SIEV X controversy and cover-up of the tragic drowning of 353 refugees in international waters while en route to Australia.

In 2005, provoked by her rage at government refugee policy, Hannie wrote a play T wo Brothers, which premiered at the Melbourne Theatre Company. This ground-breaking play about politics and refugees has been performed throughout Australia, and internationally, and has featured on the VCE curriculum.

‘Australia is a country capable of great tolerance and acceptance. We need to bring our best selves to the way we respond to those who seek our welcome and turn to us for hope,’ Hannie observed.

As a co-founder of St Kilda’s Theatre Works in 1980, Hannie was pivotal in the development of community theatre, a place for innovative and independent plays. Her first major success was Hotel Sorrento, which won several prizes. Her more recent works include Falling from Grace, Scenes from a Separation (written with Andrew Bovell), Competitive T enderness, Life After George, Inheritance, The Glass Soldier, The Swimming Club and Extinction. In 2015, she wrote a memoir Hello, Beautiful!

Hannie Rayson, the AIRAR inaugural patron. Photo credit: Tiffany Pilcher

After 40 years in the theatre, Hannie’s career highlights include attending opening nights of her plays in the West End and other theatres in London, Paris, Tokyo, Montreal and New Zealand.

She has been nominated for the Miles Franklin Award – the only playwright ever to be nominated for a play, and had T wo Brothers read at the prestigious (George Bernard) Shaw Festival in Canada.

Hannie’s first collaboration with AIRAR is spearheading its major fundraiser this year – One Perfect Day with internationally renowned performer Bernadette Robinson –occurring in early October. Tickets sold out in just over 24 hours.

‘We feel privileged and proud to have Hannie as our first patron,’ said Mary Bremner, AIRAR convenor.

‘With her strong local connection, long association with the refugee issue and high public profile, she is the perfect ambassador for our group.’

Cardio Tennis coming to Anglesea

With a mix of cardio workouts and modified fun tennis drills, Cardio Tennis is all about quick fitness and great tunes. Every session is open to players of all ages and abilities. You don’t even have to be good at tennis to get involved. It’s all about having fun while staying fit. Cardio Tennis really is a workout that doesn’t feel like work and still gets a result.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played before. Anglesea Cardio Tennis is a combination of fun, fitness, coaching and match play. Our coach, Peter Hubacek, will mix up the activities to cater for all skill levels, so while it’s great for beginners, more experienced tennis players will also have a good time.

Sessions run for 60 minutes. Cost per session $15. Equipment to play – a tennis racquet (we have racquets available to borrow ), your favourite workout gear, runners (or acceptable footwear), water bottle or sports drink. Running two sessions weekly: Tuesday 7.00pm to 8.00pm Thursday 9.30am to 10.30am Commencing Tuesday 5 October and Thursday 7 October Enquiries: Phone Peter Hubacek 0428 399 973

COMMUNITY CORNER U3A Surf Coast news

Despite a series of sudden lockdowns in 2021 and unexpected cancellation of courses, U3A Surf Coast put together a program of 27 classes and activities, the most ambitious program in its seven-year history.

In a world made uncertain by COVID, U3A sees social connection as crucial, especially for the 65-plus age group. Activities range from the educational to the entertaining and informative.

A highlight of the recent program was a series of lectures on the Geelong Football Club from Col Hutchinson, Geelong Cats Life Member and specialist in AFL statistics and a football historian.

He is the author of several books including Cats’ tales: the Geelong Football Club, 1897–1983.

Col Hutchison Counsellor Louise Day (from Dementia Australia) presented a session on Understanding Dementia, an introduction to the different types of dementia, diagnosis, planning ahead and how to support someone living with dementia. It is estimated that around 472,000 Australians live with dementia.

Popular tutor Tim Robinson returned with ‘I Contain Multitudes’, which looked at the depth and variety of both American music as a whole, and Bob Dylan in particular, starting with the multitudes of ‘old music’, including Appalachian, Blues, Cajan, Jazz, Country, Rock and more.

More information and enrolment at www.u3asurfcoast.org.au/coursesactivities

Mobile: 0435 374 139

Email: info@u3asurfcoast.org.au For many years, the Anglesea Lions and Lioness Clubs have operated as separate organisations, providing financial and inkind support to a range of community organisations.

But things change, and the Lions and Lioness clubs have amalgamated. This provides us with the opportunity to review our community support activities.

As part of this review, we are approaching community organisations to seek information about activities that the Lions Club might support.

Some examples of our support include:

 singlets for Anglesea Basketball

Juniors

 scholarships for students from

Aireys and Anglesea

 care packages for seniors during lockdowns

 Anglesea RSL

 Red Cross for Bushfire Appeal

 Anglesea Historical Society building refurbishment

 public defibrillators

 Memorial Hall upgrade

 mosaic boat

 Camp Quality

Unfortunately, fundraising activities have been curtailed during lockdowns, including our Friday night pub raffles and the Lioness Pink Ribbon luncheon.

Last year we successfully ran an online Xmas Stocking Raffle, and we would be happy to support similar initiatives from local organisations.

Share your ideas. Join us.

David Morris President, Lions Club of Anglesea Inc anglesealions@gmail.com

www.anglesea.vic.lions.org.au

www.facebook.com/ groups/1863893030593819

Waste refor ms deliver 74% landfill diversion

Surf Coast Shire Council is diverting 74 per cent of waste and recyclables from landfill following introduction of the food organics collection and a fourth bin for glass.

Initially trialled in Anglesea, the new food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection was rolled out shire-wide in February.

The 74 per cent diversion rate is about 20 per cent up on the same period last year, and puts Surf Coast Shire up with the best among Victorian councils.

From February to June, the FOGO collection accumulated 3121 tonnes for transforming into compost, up 37 per cent on previous garden organics-only collection.

The new purple lid fourth bins collected 694 tonnes of glass for recycling into a sand replacement product reducing the need for quarried sand.

As a result of the expanded recycling and waste program, the life of the Anglesea landfill has been extended by several years.

SCRRApp app proves a winner

In a recent Council survey, the new Surf Coast Rubbish and Recycling App, SCRRApp, received a 4.5-star rating from users.

The app has been downloaded more than 6800 times, and can be downloaded free from the iTunes or Google Play app stores.

The survey also revealed that 80 per cent of respondents were using supplied kitchen caddies for collecting food organics, with 77 per cent using supplied liner bags.

The bags are optional because food organics can go into bins loose. Only Council-supplied or approved bags can be used.

In line with community requests reflected through the survey, Council will complete extra kerbside general waste and mixed recycling collections across the shire during the weeks following Christmas and New Year.

The collections will be included in the new waste and recycling calendar and on the SCRRApp app once details are finalised.

Need more information or more caddy liners?

Visit www.surfcoast.vic,gov.au/Property/Waste-andrecycling for more information about waste services, approved caddy liners and Council’s recycling and waste enewsletter. Anglesea Surf Club memberships open

Memberships for the 21/22 season are open at the Anglesea Surf Lifesaving Club The club has activities for the whole family and provides skills for young people that will be valuable their whole life. Pop in to the club and chat with the staff about joining – you won’t regret getting involved.

COMMUNITY CORNER Anglesea Men’s Shed members keep busy

By Ross Davey, Convenor The Anglesea and District Men’s Shed has been a part of the Surf Coast community for about 12 years. For the last 10 years we have been located at the western end of the Anglesea Bowling Club.

Like everyone else, for the past 18 months or so we have been living in an Alice in Wonderland world not knowing what is coming next. Despite all the confusion, drama and mayhem, we have been able to continue operating with good numbers rolling up to the shed every Tuesday and Thursday morning (when open) to be with their mates.

We have continued to make toys, home wares, Christmas decorations and more serious stuff like large coffee tables made from recycled fence palings, boxes for memorabilia for the RSL and Historical House and many other projects for the community. The restoration of the Inverlochy memorial at Loveridge Lookout has been another successful project.

Recently we conducted a women’s woodworking class over three weeks. Eight local women were instructed in use of woodworking machinery and tools. They were all delighted with their newfound skills and everyone took home two completed projects – a table and a jewellery box. All are looking forward to further advanced classes next year.

Due to the restrictions of this year and last, we were unable to display our wares at the Riverbank markets at

Women’s woodworking classes at the Anglesea Men’s Shed have been a great success.

The Men’s Shed will open its doors on Thursdays for the community to buy handmade wooden gifts and more.

Easter and Cup weekend. To help us overcome these issues, we have decided to open the Shed to the wider community on Thursday mornings (COVID restrictions permitting) from 9.30 – 11.30am, starting 7 October.

You are welcome to visit and have a look at what we do and perhaps purchase some of the gifts and goods the members have made, which may be suitable for your home, children and grandchildren.

Please feel free to drop in.

COMMUNITY CORNER Anglesea War Memorial update

Some exciting plans are being made for the official opening of the Anglesea and District War Memorial Wall.

The event will take place on Sunday 14 November at 1.30 pm, when the flags will be raised for the first time. All are welcome to attend.

An exhibition titled ‘Know My Name’, celebrating some of the 395 people listed on the Memorial Wall plaques, will run over three days at the Anglesea Hall early in 2022.

This event is about people from all walks of life from Anglesea to Bellbrae and Eastern View, and it tells the stories of people either caught up in war or who served in peacetime before, during or after living in our region.

Some tales are told in themes such as the fun days at the Anglesea Regatta before WW1 broke out, or about district pioneers, from farmers to lighthouse keepers whose sons enlisted. And we learn about the men and women who later became successful Anglesea business and community leaders.

The parade includes colourful characters, war artists and poets, military surveyors and engineers, heroes and leaders and people for whom streets were named. All of these are supported by a wonderful collection of photographs, books, paintings, medals and uniforms, evocative songs and some unusual memorabilia.

Research for the exhibition has thrown up some interesting puzzles. One is the 1920 Avenue of Honour, when 72 trees, mostly flowering gums, were planted along the old main road (now Murch Crescent) and up Noble Street (then the road to Aireys Inlet).

Each tree was surrounded by a low picket fence with a plaque commemorating the deceased soldier. But these disappeared when the trees were cleared by a power company decades later. Does anyone know the names of the 72 who did not return from WW1? Or the fate of the plaques?

We have some photos of working bees in the early days of building the Memorial Hall and we would love pictures of the walls going up or the building taking its final shape. We are still seeking names – the hardest to find are those who enlisted in the Army, Navy or Air Force from the mid-1970s to current times.

Did you go to one of our local primary schools with someone who later joined any of these services?

If you have a photo of a veteran tucked away in an album or some memorabilia you would be able to share for the exhibition, please let us know.

Contact exhibition organiser Jane Shennan on 0429 675 717, or email jane.shennan@bigpond.com for a copy of the 395 names that have so far been accepted for our plaques.

More details about both of these events will be announced in coming weeks.