Bridgetown-Greenbushes Star April 2023

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45 years of medical service recognised

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

He’s found looking after successive generations of families and caring for community members over the long term particularly rewarding. In the course of a long career he’s brought quite a few babies into the world, seen them grow up as children into adults, then in turn delivered their babies.

It’s a career that’s posed some challenges in the past and poses new ones today.

While a lot of specialist services are available in Bunbury today, none were available when he started practice.

“Managing difficult problems without access to fancy technology and specialist services was probably the hardest thing.”

He said today the challenge was getting people seen in Perth’s hospitals in an efficient manner.

People have difficulty negotiating the system and getting appointments without multiple trips to Perth, he said, though Telehealth has improved the system a lot, and Bunbury has “terrific services” with an excellent range of specialists.

Student training

Dr Dewing stressed the importance of Bridgetown’s Rural Clinical School in getting medical students trained in the country.

He said it’s been a proven success in getting students interested in country practice and in making a career out of it.

But Dr Dewing and the Bridgetown Medical Group has recently cast its net still wider for GPs with the help of Rural Health West, recruiting Dr Bahareh Varposhti and Dr Saya Marand from Iran.

He said they’ve settled in “superbly” and it’s all gone “super smoothly”.

Bridgetown is now doing well for GPs he thinks, with eight Drs at the Bridgetown Medical Group (the Ruby Medical Clinic also has two), allowing most of the GPs to get their work/life balance right.

“A good work/life balance means you’re much more likely to stay in the country.”

He’s been the chairman of the Geegeelup Village Aged Care committee for 40 years and is one of its inaugural members.

Dr Dewing is an advocate of an active lifestyle who practices what he preaches, participating in the Tour of the Blackwood, which he helped establish,

and competing in the Blackwood Marathon Relay paddling a canoe.

“The paddling leg is relatively easy for an old guy, so I can keep doing that – I’ve got a good few years doing the Blackwood Marathon,” he laughed.

Puppy farm brings cruelty conviction

Labradoodle puppies were bred in disgusting conditions and sold for $5,000 each.

ABridgetown man was found guilty of animal cruelty and fined $112,000 in the Bunbury Magistrates Court on the 22nd of March for keeping 39 dogs in disgusting conditions described as “thick with dirt and faeces”.

William Mangles Carlyle Moyes, 60, was breeding labrador-poodle cross puppies from his property when complaints from members of the public from August 2021 alerted the RSPCA to the case.

Prosecutor Ian Weldon said that when an RSPCA Inspector visited the premises in January 2022 the stench from faeces and urine in the house made her “eyes burn, nose hurt and caused her to gag involuntarily.”

The court heard that dogs were found to be lethargic, hiding in puddles of urine, fighting, and without food or water.

A puppy was drinking from an open sewerage pipe.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the dogs were seized and examined by a vet. They were found to be suffering from a variety of conditions including ear and other infections, conjunctivitis, embedded grass seeds, heavily matted fur, weight issues and dental disease.

Magistrate Benjamin Tyers said their care was “grossly short of what is appropriate for proper care and that’s on Mr Moyes.”

“You failed them miserably,”he said.

Ms Green thanked WA Police, Bridgetown rangers and Boyup Brook rangers for their assistance with the case.

Moyes was convicted under section 19 of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.

He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty

$64,000 of the fine was suspended for two years, but Moyes was also ordered to pay costs and compensation of $28,140.39.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY WA RURAL HEALTH

“A good work/life balance means you’re much more likely to stay in the country.”

DR MICK DEWING

PHOTO: SUPPLIED RSPCA WA

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Chamber of Commerce revived

Business and community concerns with the impact of living next to the world’s biggest lithium mine have sparked the revival of Bridgetown’s Chamber of Commerce which has been dormant for at least seven years.

A meeting of over 20 business owners met in the Shire’s offices on Wednesday the 15th of March to discuss re-forming the Chamber to present a united front and a single point of contact for Bridgetown businesses and the wider community to talk to Talison Lithium.

Geoff Herbert, owner of Sunnyhurst Winery, talked about his experience with the influential Onslow Chamber of Commerce, which was the first point

of contact for the small town’s businesses when massive offshore gas operations moved into town.

He said that while shires were frequently powerless to negotiate with large mining companies they were more than willing to talk to the local Chamber of Commerce.

“We are the community and that’s why they want to talk to us,” Mr Herbert said.

He thinks creating a strong Chamber of Commerce is vital for the future of Bridgetown and Greenbushes.

“If you don’t run this thing now it’s going to get worse for you,” he said.

It was a view shared by Shire President Jenny Mountford, who said that local government was usually powerless “with its hands tied behind its

back” and “at the bottom of the food chain” when it came to dealing with mining companies.

She said the Shire needed the assistance of an active Chamber of Commerce to put forward its position to Talison and strongly supports its development.

Pip Mills, owner of Bridgetown Pottery Restaurant, said that while tourism was seen as a future-proofing industry for Bridgetown, a lack of accommodation was a problem that was being exacerbated by the mine’s demand for accommodation.

The meeting heard that The Blues at Bridgetown has encountered accommodation problems which are holding back the growth of the annual festival.

Concerns about the impact of Talison’s giant Lithium mine have sparked the revival of the Bridgetown Chamber of Commerce.

However, there was a need to accentuate the positive rather than the negatives and run the risk of deterring tourists.

There’s a chronic shortage of rental properties in Bridgetown and many attending shared the view that mining companies have a responsibility to develop housing for its staff to take the pressure off local accommodation.

The meeting was told that the Chamber needed long-term members and a part-time CEO, and that businesses should be approached for money to support its operation.

“We are the community and that’s why they want to talk to us”

- GEOFF HERBERT

INFO SESSION IS A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT HEMP

Hemp is a growing industry worldwide

Australia’s hemp industry has been growing steadily in recent years.

Hemp, also known as industrial hemp, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use. It has a wide range of applications, including textiles, paper, food, and building materials, among others.

In 2017, the Australian government legalised the growing of hemp for industrial purposes, opening up opportunities for farmers and businesses to capitalise on the plant’s potential. Since then, the industry has been expanding, with an increasing number of farmers obtaining licenses to grow the crop.

Currently, there are around 200 hemp farmers in Australia, with most of them located in the eastern states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The industry is still relatively small compared to other crops, but it is gaining momentum.

One of the main challenges facing the industry is the lack of processing facilities in Australia. Most of the hemp grown in the country is exported to other countries for processing, which means that farmers miss out on potential profits. However, there are efforts underway to establish processing facilities in Australia, which would create more jobs and boost the local economy.

Another challenge facing the industry is the confusion surrounding the legality of hemp-derived CBD products. While the production and sale of hemp-derived CBD products are legal in Australia, there are still restrictions in place, and the regulatory framework can be confusing for businesses and consumers alike.

Despite these challenges, the hemp industry is poised for growth in the coming years, as more farmers and businesses realize the potential of this versatile crop. With the right support and infrastructure in place, the industry could become a major player in the country’s agricultural sector.

Iggy Van is keen to demonstrate hemp’s many uses.

People keen to get involved in hemp, or to simply learn more about this most versatile of plants, are invited to an Industrial Hemp Information Session in Bridgetown on Monday the 17th of April at 6pm that’s being hosted by Bridgetown’s own Hemp Squared.

Iggy Van, Managing Director of Hemp Squared, said the hemp industry is growing rapidly, with a lot of movement and many opportunities for newcomers to invest in the industry.

People attending will learn about fibre, food and other hemp products.

“It’s very much about informing people about what the industry is today and where it will be in a couple of years’ time,” Mr Van said.

Mr Van is also the Chairperson of peak industry body iHemp WA, which is developing a five-year strategy for the industry in the state.

He said it was an exciting time for the industry which was now “going to the next level.”

At the time of writing the venue was yet to be determined but it will be a free ticketed event. For further information contact info@hemp-squared. com.au.

PHOTO: MARK SCHNEIDER

Pizza ovens are one of the more unusual uses of hemp.

HIGHLANDS SHEDS CAUSING CONTROVERSY

A recent meeting of Highlands residents raised a number of complaints about the Shire and mobile phone coverage.

Sheds were a major bone of contention at a meeting of Highlands residents on the 23rd of March with many complaining about their size and locations, and allegations that some of them were becoming permanent residences.

Some of the Highlands’ sheds were said to be very elaborate with bathrooms and kitchens.

“A housing estate is not an industrial area,” was one popular view, but it was one not universally held, with others pointing out that “when you buy a block of land you don’t buy the view.”

“You cannot have a shed without a house,” Kay Watson told the meeting, while others said they didn’t know how people had a right to object to their neighbour’s property.

Without the sort of restrictions that govern housing at the Bridgetown Gardens Private Estate, housing is far less regulated at the Highlands.

In the end the meeting agreed to write to the Shire for clarification of its policy towards sheds.

Playground

But sheds weren’t the only topic of concern in a meeting that ranged far and wide. Many were keen to know why a playground promised for the Highlands “10 years ago” had still not been developed.

Speeding motorists were another complaint, as was a lack of speed signs, both of which are problems when pedestrians, children, and even horses are sharing the roads.

In similar vein, the lack of footpaths in the Highlands was a concern.

“I don’t think we have a snowball’s chance in hell of funding a footpath,” was one resident’s comment, though others thought that Federal Government funding was a possibility.

Mobile reception

One point that wasn’t in contention was the Highland’s inadequate mobile phone reception which is frequently reduced to just one bar strength.

Nothing has been done to fix this known mobile phone black spot which affects businesses and lives, and which is a major concern during emergencies.

“They’re taking our money for no service,” summed up everyone’s feelings about Telstra’s inadequate mobile phone coverage in the Highlands.

Shire President Jenny Mountford told the Bridgetown-Grenbushes Star that guidelines around sheds vary in different areas of the Shire, but any shed bigger than 3m x 3m needs planning approval.

Anyone building a shed to live in must meet the requirements, and the distinctions between a house and a fully-fitted out shed are becoming blurred.

Views

She said that shires were not in a position to judge aesthetics and that people should be allowed to put buildings where they want, and that you buy a block and not the view.

Ms Mountford said that the playground was on the Shire’s agenda but the original playground contribution promised by the developer hasn’t been fully received yet due to changes in anticipated timing of land releases in the estate. However, Council is working on plans for the playground.

She added that developing playgrounds was expensive.

“I don’t have a problem at all with people getting together on all of these sort of things because that’s how local government works,” she said.

“If a community has very strong views about something that they want or need that’s the very way it works.

“You bring it to us and we look at it in terms of regulation and budget and we see what we can do.”

Kay Watson and Andre Day aren’t happy with the sheds going up in the Highlands Kay Watson and Andre Day aren’t with the sheds up in the Highlands.

A little taste of Scotland is coming to Bridgetown.

Festival of Small Halls is overjoyed to announce that Scottish folksinger Iona Fyfe (SCO) and song writer Colin Lillie (AUS) will feature on the upcoming Autumn Tour 2023: Western Australia that will perform in Bridgetown’s Centenary Hall on the 22nd of April.

It’s a performance that promises to delight old friends and new.

Iona Fyfe, blends her silky, mesmeric vocals with a passion for traditional Scottish singing.

Her connections to her country fly through her music and life, and in 2021 she became the first singer to win the coveted title of Musician of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

BRIDGETOWNGREENBUSHES HERITAGE FESTIVAL

How much do you know about the rich heritage of Bridgetown and Greenbushes? If “not much” is your answer then the BridgetownGreenbushes Heritage Festival is the perfect way to learn some more by acting like a tourist in the town you call home.

The festival runs from Monday the 17th April to Sunday the 23rd April and features stories from our past, potted history lessons, an Art and Craft Open Day, a Mining Heritage Day at Greenbushes and an Open Day at the world’s biggest Jigsaw Gallery, which is right here at our Visitor Centre.

The popular Bridgetown History Walks are sure to be a crowd favourite, bringing the town’s history to colourful life on a walk through the past.

The walk delves into Bridgetown’s early history and the characters who lived here. The men and women who chose to live in Bridgetown were a diverse group from different backgrounds. How they coped, suffered, thrived and played to become a community is an absorbing story.

The walks start at the Police Station Museum and run from 11am12.30pm, with tickets just $7.50 for adults, and $3.75 for children and students.

The Jigsaw Gallery Open Day is an invitation to celebrate 1970s style while commemorating the opening of the Visitor Centre and the Jigsaw Gallery.

The Bridgetown-Greenbushes Heritage Festival is a part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival, a nationwide event that’s given the community the opportunity to immerse themselves in Australia’s rich and diverse heritage for more than 40 years.

Collin Lillie is a gypsy Scotsman based in Alice Springs, where his songwriting has found home. Colin’s stories thread his life experience through warm folk ballads, holding the audience in a captivated state.

“There is nothing more exciting than to be on the road, and to be offered the opportunity to take part on the Small Halls tour is so thrilling, and I can’t wait to share my songs and stories with so many new faces,” Mr Lillie said Tickets are on sale at www.festivalofsmallhalls.com

You’ll find more information about the Heritage Festival by clicking on the link to the Australian Heritage Festival at Bridgetown. com.au/Bridgetown-news, or by contacting the Visitor Centre.

PHOTO: MARK SCHNEIDER

“The Bridgetown History Walk is just one of the events promising to bring Bridgetown’s and Greenbushes’ rich history alive for local residents during the BridgetownGreenbushes Heritage Festival.”

BLACKWOOD RIVER ARTS TRAIL BIGGER AND BETTER

2023 Arts Trail is not to be missed.

This year’s Blackwood River Arts Trail is going from strength to strength with nearly 70 artists from across Boyup Brook, Nannup, Bridgetown-Greenbushes and Donnybrook-Balingup exhibiting a vast range of art forms over 16 days and many venues.

The Blackwood River Film Festival will be a highlight for many, with the Bridgetown Repertory Theatre having recently demonstrated its credentials as a great little boutique cinema with a showing of Black Cockatoo Crisis

This time the Festival will feature the documentary A Crack In The Mountain, as well as a series of Australian short films.

Among the Arts Trail’s Bridgetown highlights are a collection of street artworks throughout the town’s centre and The Doors of Perception mounted among the trees at historic Ford House on the Blackwood River.

The work of no less than 23 Bridgetown artists will be on display, including ceramicist Vivienne Litson, whose creations reflect her changing environment of rocks, land, sand and sea.

Painter Tamara Aurora uses a variety of media including upcycled and recycled materials to capture the beauty and magic of the natural world.

Painter and printmaker Marguerite Aberle also finds inspiration in nature, using watercolour as her primary material, as well as pastel, geli printing and mixed media.

Many Bridgetown people will be familiar with the quirky and original work of Nic Fabiszak, a selftaught artist whose work can be seen at FATS-Fat Arts. Nic wants everyone to enjoy the work and the laughter it produces.

They’re just some of the artists whose work will be bringing life and colour to this year’s Blackwood River Art Trail, the big event on the local art scene.

LADIES IN BLACK

Bridgetown Repertory Club’s upcoming production, Ladies in Black begins in the summer of 1959, when Lisa, a bookish schoolgirl, takes a summer job in Sydney’s renowned department store, Goode’s. At first she doesn’t fit in with Patty and Fay, the worldly women she works with but her sweetness and charm soon wins them over.

Magda is a European supervisor in the designer dress department and a connoisseur of elegant fashions. She takes Lisa under her wing, and Lisa’s world begins to change in ways she could never have imagined.

She begins to influence those around her. Her open-mindedness allows her to navigate other cultures and appreciate the differences she encounters.

Because of Lisa’s hard work and persistence, her father finally begins to see that women have as much right to an education as men do. Little by little barriers breakdown in the world against change for the ladies in black as they, in their own ways, influence Australia’s future.

Production dates: April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 Evening

Performance—7:30 PM

April 23, 30 Afternoon Matinee Performance— 2.00 PM. Bookings Trybooking

Wheels turning for youth mental health

Numbers were down on last year’s Rotary Tour of the Blackwood but there was no shortage of enthusiasm for the 257 riders who took to the roads over three different course lengths on the 18th of March.

159 of the seriously fit and committed assembled at the riverside for a 7.00am start for the 134 kilometre full tour that went from Bridgetown to Balingup and Nannup.

Riders with more modest ambitions chose either the 65 kilometre Half N Best or the 30 kilometre Not-So-Cozy from Greenbuhes to Bridgetown, which started at the leisurely hour of 10am.

Rotary members were scratching their heads as to why the numbers were down, but there was speculation that last year’s event being the only bike tour on the calendar. and the current economic climate might be the cause.

Nevertheless, this year’s event raised a total of approximately $35,000, which will go a long way to promoting the mental health of the region’s young people through the work of Blackwood Youth Action.

Team Rookie really went the extra mile, raising almost $9,000 for BYA.

Cycling is proving popular with an older age group, with most of this year’s competitors over 50, with a couple of them over 80. It was an early morning start for Rotary’s 50 volunteers who made the event run so smoothly, with most up before the dawn to set things up.

This year was the fifth running of the event which doesn’t just raise funds, it raises awareness of youth mental health and aims to remove the stigma of mental illness in young people.

Our vision: Every young person Our vision: young person is living their best life. is their best life.

lives.

“Cycling is proving popular with an older age group, with most of this year’s competitors over 50, with a couple of them over 80”

PHOTOS: MARK SCHNEIDER

“Team Rookie went the extra mile, raising $9,000 for the cause”

Working in the community to give youth a strong foundation on which to build their

RIDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

“The fifth running of the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood brought riders from far and wide to one of the state’s premier cycling tours.

West Australian cycling legend Steele Bishop was on hand once again to help send the riders off on a 134 kilometre journey taking them through some spectacular scenery. “