Esperance Tide February 2022

ISSUE 82

FREE MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2022

EXP LORE

B OOK C L U B

H I S T OR Y

Under Our Sea

Summer’s Hottest Reads

Esperance’s French Connection

PAGE 2 8

PAGE 30

PAGE 14

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: ROSIE HENDERSON

Stage 2, to take effect at the end of 2022, will also include microbeads, polystyrene packaging and single-use plastics in coffee cups and lids

Authorised by S Payne, 92 Dempster Street, Esperance WA 6450.

If y ou s u r v iv e d b l u s t ery ol ’ J a nua ry , c ong rat s! W e l come t o Fe bruary.

Th e w in d s s h o u ld d rop eve r s o s l i g ht l y t hi s mont h, and w e ’ve got ou r f in g e r s c ro s s e d for a f ew pi c t ure- perf ect be ach days ove r t h e com in g w e e k s . Des pi t e t he E s pe ra nc e b re e z e , January was an absolu te r ip p e r. We hope y ou ha d a n oppor t unit y t o ge t out and en joy th e ma n y mar ke t s a nd l i v e m us i c e v ent s he l d ove r t he course of th e mo n th . We c a n’ t wa i t t o d o i t a l l a g ain in Fe b!

Well, we all know what February means... Valentine’s Day. Sure, it’s a date on the calendar that we all love to hate, but this year we’re looking at it as an opportunity to spoil someone who needs it. That might just be you! We chatted with Sarah at B Naturally You about the importance of self-care, something she’s super passionate about [p. 8]. So, don’t get too hung up on the flowers and chocolates – taking care of yourself is the best present you’ll ever receive.

On a recent trip to the South West, we suddenly realised how dog friendly Esperance is. Over there, our furry friends weren’t welcome at many beaches, which came as a surprise. It feels like here, there are very few places you can’t take your pooch. How lucky are we? This inspired us to write a wrap-up of the best places to eat, drink, and explore with your best mate. Have a read on page 10 and then take your doggos on an excursion. Don’t forget a leash, and tag us in all your pics on Insta! #esperancetide This month, we’ve also given you the lowdown on Esperance Playgroup, one of the many playgroups operating in the region. Esperance Playgroup is a local institution, with some of the parents that attend having once attended as kids themselves. It’s a welcoming, accepting group of parents and carers who get as much out of the experience as their kids do. If you’ve got a little one, check out the story on page 4 and get along to their open day on Feb 12. They’d love to see you!

As the kids go back to school and life returns to normal, try to sneak a few holiday pleasures into your daily routine, so you don’t get bogged down in the humdrum of everyday life. Take 30 minutes to put your feet up with a book, go for a quick dip, make a G&T at midday (though maybe not if you’re at work). Anything to keep vacay mode switched on! Until next time...

Established in 2016, Esperance Tide is a free, monthly publication that shares our community’s most uplifting and inspiring stories. We strive to support small business and community events, and champion the heroes that reside within our region. Esperance Tide is 100 per cent locally and independently owned.

Thank you to our advertisers who make this possible and the 4,000 people who pick up a copy every month. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and play, the Nyungar and Ngadju people, and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

SP O T LI GH T ON

4

Esperance Playgroup

10

Where to Take Your Furry Friends

24

Checking in with Touring Band, Ratsalad

37

Loaded Potatoes

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Gentle Dentistry with Your Comfort in Mind Customised solutions for all your dental needs.

8 Dempster St, Esperance 9071 5888

• General Dental and Hygienist appointments • Gas sedation available • Implants and oral surgery 3 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

Spotlight On

Esperance Playgroup WORDS KARLI FLORISSON

P H OT O G R A P H Y R O S I E H E N D E R S O N

Esperance Playgroup is a kid’s paradise. The well-secured yard is filled with playground equipment, from swings and a see-saw, to a cubby house, a sand pit, and ride-on trucks, cars, tractors, and bikes. There’s plenty of space for kids who just want to run around, climb on things, or sit with mum on one of the benches. Inside, there's a fort to climb, a train table, balls to throw, and mats and toys for the youngest kids. There’s tea and coffee for mum or dad, books to read, and a craft area with fun activities. Even with all these great toys, however, the best part about playgroup is the chance to spend time with other parents and kids.

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Esperance mums Em-J, Jimena, and Kate have been attending Esperance Playgroup regularly since their babies were just a few months old. Their children love coming to playgroup, but they love it just as much. “I think it’s mostly for us,” Em-J says. “It’s a great opportunity to share experiences with other mums. It’s also really good to have a definite time every week where you get out of the house and do something fun.” For both Em-J and Jimena, who are originally from the UK and Mexico, the playgroup has provided an opportunity to get to know other mums in town. “It’s also great for the kids to get used to interacting with other kids,” Jimena says. “It’s so nice seeing the children grow together.”

Esperance Playgroup is run by a committee of parents who believe in the importance of providing a safe and inclusive place for parents and kids to play. Members pay a yearly fee, and can choose from a number of different days and times to attend weekly sessions. There is a maximum of 16 children in each group, which means that the groups are small enough for the parents and kids to get to know each other. While the children enjoy unstructured play time, parents can grab a tea or coffee, and get to know the other mums, dads, grandparents, or carers.

Esperance Playgroup has long been a staple of the Esperance community, with many parents having fond memories of attending the playgroup as children themselves. ⟶

Aside from the chance to have fun, there are many benefits to being a part of a playgroup. They give children an opportunity to practice their language and social skills, try new activities, and learn new things.

Children also get the chance to enjoy different toys and equipment, and get to know other kids and adults in a safe and supportive environment. For parents and carers, playgroup is a great opportunity to meet other parents, and develop strong support networks.

Esperance Playgroup also celebrates different events throughout the year, including Christmas activities with a visit from Santa, Grandparent’s Day, and a gift for each child on their birthday.

For Em-J and Jimena, being a part of the playgroup extends beyond the couple of hours per week that they attend. The playgroup mums have become more of a support network, and both mums appreciate the opportunity to share parenting ideas and suggestions.

As Esperance has limited options for places to meet with children indoors, the playgroup parents particularly appreciate the well-equipped indoor area during the winter months. “It gives us a place to meet with other mums without having to clog up the coffee shops with all our prams,” Em-J says. The chance for the mums to share experiences and empathise with each other has been invaluable. As for the kids, they’ve not only gained a whole lot of new friends, but a whole lot of new aunties, too!

Esperance Playgroup will hold an open day on February 12 from 9am to 1pm. Parents, grandparents, carers and kids are invited for a play and a sausage sizzle, and to find out more about joining the group. For more information, email esperanceplaygroup@gmail.com.

Playgroups in Esperance...

ESPERA N C E PL AY G R O U P

ESPERAN C E IN T ERGEN ERAT IO N AL PL AY GRO UP

Corner of Black Street and Jane Street. Various days and times. Email esperanceplaygroup@gmail.com for more information.

Meets at the Esperance Aged Care Facility, as part of the Community Visitors Scheme. Phone Esperance Home Care on 9083 1800 for more information.

OUR LA DY STA R OF T H E S E A P LAYG R O U P

C O N DIN GUP PL AY GRO UP

Facilitated playgroup runs during the school term on Mondays from 9am - 10:30 am. Phone the school for more information on 9079 8500.

Wednesdays 9:30am - 11:30am at the Community Centre.

N UL SE N PRIMA RY S C H O O L P LAYG R O U P Runs during the school term on Wednesdays from 9am 11am. Phone the school for more information on 9076 3800.

C ASC ADE PL AY GRO UP Wednesdays 9am - 11am at the Cascade Recreation Association.

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Council Connections FOGO on the way Council endorsed options that will help with the implementation of a Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service for the community at the January 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM). The options will form the basis of service, processing, and cost assumptions for the FOGO Operational Implementation Plan.

The Communications and Engagement Strategy was also endorsed at the meeting.

So, what’s next? The Shire CEO will pursue grant opportunities to provide financial assistance for the potential introduction of the FOGO Service.

Myrup Waste Management Station The Detailed Concept Design for the Myrup Community Drop Off and Waste Management Transfer Station has been endorsed by Council, with the next step expected to be commencement of related procurement processes such as a Request for Tender for Detailed Construction Drawings, Quantity Survey and associated reports required under legislation. Council also approved a minimum contribution of $6,713,728 towards the Myrup Community Drop Off and Waste Management Transfer Station Project, from the Shire’s Sanitation (Rubbish Removal) Reserve, to satisfy grant application conditions.

Community Grants Program Simplified A significant review of the Community Grants Program has been undertaken this year, to come into effect from the 2022/23 financial year. The changes are intended to simplify the application and approval process and enable a more responsive approach to supporting community groups. The proposed changes were unanimously approved by Councillors at the January OCM, with recurring operational funding for the Esperance Brass Band, Esperance Community Arts and the Cannery Arts Centre also supported. This removes the need for these community organisations to spend time and resources on the same application process each year. The acquittal process will still apply to confirm grants have been used for the approved purpose and any grant conditions have been met.

Beach Wheelchair Grant During the consultation phase of the James Street Beach Enclosure, feedback from the Disability Access and Inclusion Workgroup suggested increasing accessibility to the beach and infrastructure through the inclusion of a beach wheelchair, accessibility matting and a storage facility. This has now come to fruition, with Council voting to accept $10,000 in funding from the WA Department of Communities for the equipment. The Town Beach and Foreshore, along with the all abilities playground, has been designed as an inclusive environment, and accessibility to the beach and swimming pontoon will further enhance the area for all. The equipment has been ordered and it is anticipated that the area will be fully functional by the end of March 2022.

Upcoming Council Meetings

Annual Electors Meeting: 8 February 2022 at 7pm Agenda Briefing: 15 February 2022 at 1pm Ordinary Council Meeting: 22 February 2022 at 4pm

/ShireOfEsperance @shire_esperance @shireofesperance Ph: (08) 9071 0666 • PO Box 507, 77 Windich Street, Esperance, WA 6450 shire @esperance.wa.gov.au • www.esperance.wa.gov.au 7 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

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27/08

Love Thyself

A brief history of Valentine’s Day and why this year, we’re redefining it.

BY HANNAH SIEMER

T h e B a c ks t o r y The origins of Valentine’s Day are a little murky. Rooted in Christianity, the earliest record of Valentine’s Day is in a 14th Century poem honouring the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia, both just 15 years old. Roughly 20 years later, a lavish celebration of love is said to have been held at Mantes-la-Jolie in France on February 14, at which the women in attendance heard and ruled on lovers’ disputes. Sounds juicy.

Fast forward to 19th Century England and Valentine cards with poems and sketches were growing in popularity.

In 1835, 60,000 Valentine cards were popped in the post. Five years down the track, that number exploded to almost half-a-million, after the postage stamp was invented and postal reforms lessened the cost of sending a letter. It became cheaper and easier to send mail anonymously, thus began the as-creepy-as-it-is-sexy tradition of secret admirers.

Valentine’s Day really took off when American Esther Howland received one of those cards from across the pond. Esther began making Valentine cards herself and by the mid-19th Century, lovers across the US were recognising February 14 as Valentine’s Day. Today, the ‘Hallmark Holiday’ is celebrated around the world in varying forms. In the Philippines, some couples choose to marry in free, mass wedding ceremonies with hundreds of other lovebirds; in Japan, women are tasked with giving chocolate to the men in their lives (including their colleagues); and in Finland and Estonia, they celebrate their friends over their lovers.

Red e fi n i n g Va l ent in e’s Da y Wikipedia (not a trustworthy source but bear with me) now classifies Valentine’s Day as a “commercial observance.” It’s a little sad when you think about it.

Not too long ago, handwritten love notes were being delivered by the mailman to unsuspecting recipients.

Today, you’re lucky if your significant other remembers to pick up a box of half-priced Lindt balls on their way home from work.

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: LUCY VINCENT

Perhaps it’s time we redefine Valentine’s Day. Instead of eye-rolling your way through February 14 this year, take it as an opportunity to spoil those who need it. And not just your lovers, either, but your family, your friends and, most importantly, yourself. B Naturally You owner and self-care advocate Sarah Earle says this Valentine’s Day is all about taking time out to relax. After what we’ve been through over the last couple of years, god knows we need it.

“COVID has taught us we need to fill our cup,” Sarah says.

“We need to have nice experiences.”

B Naturally You is all about nice experiences. This month, a host of Valentine’s Day packages have been added to its treatment menu, each one dreamier than the last.

Indulge with your partner, friend, or mum in the couples’ room, or treat yourself to some overdue alone time. You shouldn’t need an excuse to book yourself in for a spa treatment but just in case you’re looking for one, listen to this: Self-care has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety, depression, and stress, improve concentration, minimise frustration and anger, increase happiness, and improve energy.

8 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

Sarah says the younger generation have got it. They understand the importance of self-care and tend to treat themselves more often because of it. Those in their late-30s and beyond, however, feel a sense of guilt when doing something for themselves. “I want to change that,” Sarah says. “I want them to look after themselves. Why should they feel guilty about that?” Sarah believes there are even more benefits to self-care than what clinical studies have shown. “It makes them better parents, better partners, better colleagues,” she says. “Because they’re fulfilled and relaxed.”

While Valentine’s Day is synonymous with roses, chocolates, and teddy bears adorned with ‘I Love You,’ gifting an experience is on the rise. Not only are experiences generally healthier, better received, and more sustainable than material goods, but they create memories that will linger long after the sweet treats are gone. Post-treatment herbal tea and homemade slices are standard at B Naturally You, all part of an experience designed to help you unwind and uplift. You’re guaranteed to be in the zen zone when you exit the building and, better yet, you’re likely to stay there in the days after. “We want people floating out,” Sarah says. “That’s why we make sure it’s an experience from start to finish.”

The Tide’s top tips for Valentine’s Day (whether you’re single or attached) B e k ind to yo u r se lf

Avo id the hyp e

Take the day off from self-criticism. Counter any negative thoughts by reminding yourself of your favourite traits and your achievements.

Rather than buying material goods, opt for experiences that will leave lasting memories, like a sunset picnic, scenic flight, or candlelit dinner at home.

Ge t b a c k to b a sic s Send an anonymous handwritten poem or note in the post, just like in 19th Century England.

Sp o il tho se who ne e d it (hint, it mig ht b e yo u ) Recognise the person in your life who never takes time for themselves and treat them to an hour or two at B Naturally You.

Go lo c a l If you do want to purchase a physical gift, buy it from a local retailer or stallholder. Remember, the best way to avoid shipping fees is not to buy more, it’s to buy local!

Valentine’s Day at B Naturally You

TREAT YOUR LOVED ONE (OR YOURSELF) TO ONE OF OUR SPECIAL LIMITED-TIME TREATMENTS...

Be My Baby

Be My Honey

• Back neck and shoulder massage

• Ultraceuticals signature facial

• Organic iKOU facial

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• Indian head massage

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$189

Be My Sweetheart

Be My Lover

• Foot bath and exfoliation

• Full body massage (2 people)

• Dry body brush • Full body massage • Take home dry body brush

• Champagne and chocolates $198

$159

Don’t forget we have a double treatment room available, perfect for times with a loved one.

book online

(08) 9071 5778 22 Andrew Street, Esperance

bnaturallyyou.com.au

9 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

TIDE GUIDE

Exploring Esperance With Your

Furry Friend W O R D S & P H OTO G R A P H Y R O S I E H E N D E R S O N

Anyone with a dog will know that nothing quite dampens a trip away like having to leave your four-legged mate at home. Luckily, Esperance is a pretty welcoming place for all - great and small, fluffy and furry. We’re a very dog-friendly town, with a heap of places you can go and things you can do with your pooch by your side. We’ve compiled a few for you right here.

Eat Lucky Bay Brewing Pull up for a pint from their long list of local craft beers and one of their amazing wood-fired pizzas. What dog doesn’t love a cheeky crust and a bit of live music, while sitting right beside you?

Taylor Street Quarters Overlooking the water near Taylor Street Jetty, your furry friend can join you at one of the outdoor tables. There’s also a dog hitching post on the lawn, where dogs can lay in the shade of the trees and keep an eye on you as you enjoy a cuppa or cocktail.

Cloud Eleven Coffee + Tea & Downtown Espresso Bar Both cafes have good spots to tie up your dog while you pick up a coffee. Your pooch is guaranteed to be inundated with love and pats by passers-by!

Stay Many accommodation providers in and around Esperance allow pets, which is a great start. Most need to be arranged and approved prior to booking, some locations ask for a pet bond or fee, and some may not allow the dogs inside – all things that are worth checking before booking in! Out of town, most camping (with the exception of national parks) is dog friendly, so you can always find somewhere to camp with dogs if you’re willing to explore! Check out the list of pet-friendly accommodation at www.visitesperance.com.

Bread Local With ample outdoor space for every man and his dog, throw down a picnic blanket and while away your Friday arvo with freshly baked treats.

Esperance Jetty Headland Take your dog for a walk along the foreshore, stopping at the headland for a drink and a snack from Coffee Cat, S’Juice, or Spudlicious along the way. ⟶

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Play There are lots of great spots to stretch the legs, throw the ball and go exploring with the dogs around town. Most of our beaches are dog friendly, however, Esperance has designated areas where dogs are required to be on leash during certain hours of the day.

So the question is - to leash or not to leash?

TO LEASH West Beach allows dogs off leash between 5am - 8am, and 4pm - 8pm, with similar restrictions along the town foreshore and the stretch east of Esperance Jetty, along Castletown Quays. The strip of foreshore between Esperance Jetty and the Port is not a recognised dog exercise area, so dogs must be on a lead at all times.

NOT TO LEASH Dogs are permitted off leash at most beaches and public land outside the townsite boundary, unless there are signs specifically indicating otherwise.

Some of our fave spots for the dogs include: • West Beach (leash requirements at certain hours of the day) • Fourth Beach • Observatory Beach • 11 Mile • Bandy Creek • Wylie Bay (careful not to drive too far as you will hit Cape Le Grand National Park!)

• Great Ocean Trail • Dempster Head and the Rotary Loop Walk (on a leash) • Great Sports Ground on Black Street (so long as the grounds are not being used for sports or other events)

Prohibited areas • Twilight Beach – From the headland at Twilight Beach to the rocks east of the Surf Life Saving Club • Monjingup Lake Nature Reserve • All National Parks and Land Reserves - Even if they’re on a leash or enclosed in a vehicle. If you’re caught, you will be fined and asked to leave, so it’s best just to avoid that all together.

If you do want to sneak in a few days of camping in the National Parks, Abalee Cattery and Kennels (Chadwick) and Country Lane Boarding Kennels (Myrup) will look after your loved ones while you’re away.

A lot of visitors also find private pet sitters through the Facebook community pages, so if you get in a pickle, it’s worth having a look for a dog loving, friendly local.

When out exploring, don’t forget…

• Keep ya mates under control so everyone can have a good time • Always keep a leash on hand and if you can’t control them, keep them on a leash • Pick up behind them • Check for grass seeds and ticks after bush adventures • If the footpath is too hot for your feet, it’s also too hot for theirs • Keep an eye out for 1080 bait signs – they’re a sure sign you probably shouldn’t have your dog there!

• For all your veterinarian needs, Swans Veterinary Services is the go-to • And make sure to keep the canine kids hydrated – those little fold up water bowls are great for beach trips

Escape the wind and join us for an informative and ‘hands on’ farming adventure.

Half Day Tours of Oake Marsh Farm, or full day tours which also include visits to Stonehenge, Yirri Grove and Esperance Distillery Co. Visit our website esperancefarmexperience.com to find out more and book your ‘must do’ Esperance Escapade.

Look for us on Facebook

BANKSIA MEDICAL & HEALTH OPEN WEEKDAYS 8:30AM – 5:00PM & SATURDAYS 9AM – 12PM

Dr Graham Jacobs (Full-time GP & Practice Owner) Dr Aidan Hendry (Full-time GP Registrar & Obstetrics) Dr Reuben Chan (Full-time GP Registrar & Obstetrics) Magdalene Sng (Part-time Psychologist) Danica Burnett (Part-time Nutritionist) Please advise reception if you are unwell with any flu-like symptoms. Call 9071 1511 or book online.

13 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

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Under Our Sea

A Deep Dive into Esperance’s Marine Life WORDS KARLI FLORISSON

PHOTOGRAPHY ROSIE HENDERSON

Humans know more about the moon than we do about the ocean.

In fact, over 80 per cent of the ocean remains undiscovered. This is certainly the case with the Recherche Archipelago, boasting over 100 islands and 1000 reefs, with much of this area still not surveyed. The sea off Esperance contains a huge range of amazing creatures and mysteries to be discovered. We are extremely lucky to have this in our own backyard.

The Southern Ocean, off Esperance’s coastline, is a rich and beautiful place, home to a wealth of algae, coral and sponges, a diverse range of fish, and some of the largest mammals on earth.

While the larger marine mammals like seals, dolphins and migrating whales are a drawcard for nature lovers, many of Esperance’s oceanic wonders go unnoticed, hidden beneath the surface.

The granite islands of the Recherche Archipelago are the jewel in the crown of the Great Southern Reef, a system of temperate rocky reefs that stretches from New South Wales to Kalbarri. The islands provide a unique habitat for sea creatures as underwater outcrops, crevasses, and caves provide shelter, food sources, and places to hide. Coral and sponges also thrive in the water around the islands. There are over 450 sponges, sea grasses, and soft corals that can be found in this area.

Recfishwest’s James Florisson explains that the variety of habitats in the archipelago means there is an abundance of fish species that make their home in this area. For fishers, the iconic Esperance fish is nannygai

or red snapper (officially known as bight redfish), an attractive looking fish that makes for excellent eating.

Nannygai are slow growing fish that can grow up to 70 centimetres in length. They can live for more than 80 years. Another fish common to the area is the enormous western blue groper, which can reach up to 40 kilograms and 1.7 metres in length. Western blue gropers live in family groups, and are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they start off life as females, bright green in colour, and can change into males as they grow, turning blue in colour. They are also slow growing, and can live to 70 years of age. It's not only the islands and reefs that boast amazing fish and fishing opportunities but, as James states, Esperance has some of the best beaches in the world.

With the beaches come another range of fish species, perfect for fishing, including the important herring and salmon. Herring are the lifeblood of fishing in southern Western Australia, usually the first fish someone catches, while salmon are an accessible fish that are great fun to catch.

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Other species of fish found in the Esperance area are breaksea cod (also known as ‘black-arse’ cod due to the distinctive black spot on their bottoms), queen snapper, pink snapper, the huge Samson fish, southern bluefin tuna, silver trevally and sand whiting, and the appropriately named longfin bigeye. For divers or snorkelers, the strangely named old wife fish are an attraction, a striped fish that commonly swims in large schools. These fish get their name from the sound they make when grinding their teeth together, which supposedly sounds like an ‘old wife’. Another popular fish is the stunning harlequin fish, a type of cod with vivid colours and large sharp teeth. As James explains, these fish are commonly orange or deep red, with yellow and blue spots on females and juveniles which, on males, turn to vivid blue spots with no yellow as they mature. Divers in the area often find they are being followed by blue groper, a very inquisitive fish, sometimes affectionately referred to as the ‘puppy dogs of the sea.’ The attractive,

spined scorpionfish, on the other hand, is better off avoided by swimmers, as their spines are coated with a poisonous mucus.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, with many other fascinating sea creatures in our waters.

One that is well known in Esperance is the leafy seadragon, a seahorse-like creature with leafy appendages used for camouflage. Esperance is also home to the ruby seadragon, only described in 2015 by scientists, and the common seadragon.

In fact, there are only three known species of seadragons on earth and Esperance is one of the only places that all three can be found. They are poor swimmers, rely on camouflage for protection, and are currently a protected species. Fur seals and sea lions, a number of shark species, octopus, crustaceans, abalone, squid and cuttlefish, and many, many more call our waters home. The more we learn about what lies just beneath the surface, the more we realise just how lucky we are to share this space.

esperancedistilleryco.com

Check our website for opening hours.

Launched in 2020, Esperance Distillery Co is a small-batch distillery created by a father and son team.

By crafting spirits from native botanicals in a custombuilt copper still, Esperance Distillery Co offers a distinctively Western Australian twist on the classics.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: PETER NICHOLAS

A Brief Guide to the

South Coast Marine Park Proposal Pristine, wild and beautiful... These were just some of the words used by Esperance locals recently when asked to describe the Southern Ocean. With its white beaches, windswept headlands, and waters teeming with marine life, Western Australia’s South Coast certainly makes an impact on all those who experience it.

The State Government is committed to creating a marine park on the South Coast to conserve the environment and manage the area for sustainable use and enjoyment. A South Coast Marine Park proposal has been in the making for almost 30 years now.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are leading the marine park planning process in partnership with traditional owners, with input from a wide range of stakeholder groups and the broader community.

Why is a marine park proposed?

The purpose of marine parks is to conserve the marine environment for people to continue to use and enjoy into the future. While WA’s oceans, rivers and estuaries are some of the healthiest in the world, the pressures on these areas are growing. By maintaining healthy marine ecosystems we can make them more resilient to threats such as pollution, overuse of resources, marine pests and climate change.

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A DV E R TO R IA L

While allowing for ongoing sustainable use, the creation of a South Coast Marine Park will ensure the South Coast and Eucla Bioregions are represented within WA’s network of marine parks and reserves, provide a management framework for important marine habitats and biodiversity, and make a significant contribution to Australia's National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas.

Marine parks are not put in place to manage fisheries.

Instead, marine parks focus on whole-of-ecosystem function to help ensure the environment stays healthy to continue to support fish habitat and other interconnected and species-rich marine life. The area around Esperance has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot with many marine species found nowhere else.

Think of it as creating an insurance policy against future impacts.

Left: Lori-Ann Shibish, Community Engagement and Information Officer (DBCA) Right: Kimberly Jenkins, Community Education Officer (DPIRD)

What areas are being considered?

The marine park will be located within the ‘study area’, which is anywhere from Bremer Bay eastward to the Western Australian/South Australian border, and offshore to the limit of coastal waters of the State (3 nautical miles from the beach and islands). The size and boundary of the marine park will be determined through the planning process of which the community is involved. A map of the study area can be viewed online at www.dbca.wa.gov.au/south-coast-marine-park.

Ministers Sanderson and Punch with Esperance Anglican Community School students, Joane Wilson and Alex Paxton, at a Ministeral forum held in November 2021

Consultation is key The South Coast is special to many people, whether for recreation, business, conservation, culture, research or relaxation. No matter what the South Coast means to you, DBCA and DPIRD want to hear from you. You may have already seen DBCA’s Esperance-based Community Engagement and Information Officer, Lori-Ann Shibish and DPIRD’s Community Education Officer Kimberly Jenkins at the Museum Village Markets, Esperance Agricultural Show, or Edge of the Bay. “Kim and I are here to support the community during the planning process by providing information and listening to concerns,” Lori-Ann says. “Phone, email or drop into our offices to have a chat.”

In October 2021, DBCA, DPIRD, and local traditional owners including the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation held five information sessions where 234 people attended and posed more than 300 questions to the panel.

In November, Ministers Sanderson (former Environment) and Punch (Fisheries) were in Esperance for the official launch of community engagement activities. The event was attended by 61 invited guests and included a

Ministerial forum where 64 questions were posed. All questions and answers from these events are available online at www.dbca.wa.gov.au/south-coast-marine-park.

The community engagement process is guided by a Community Engagement Strategy (CES), which was co-designed by DBCA and DPIRD with input from key stakeholders including Recfishwest, Western Australia Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC), Save Our Marine Life, and community members.

A key component of the CES is the formation of a 12-member Community Reference Committee (CRC) and Sector Advisory Groups (SAGs) to help guide the planning process. CRC members were appointed by the Minister for Environment in November and the CRC and SAGs held their first meeting in Esperance in December.

The CRC is chaired by Hon Francis Logan, former McGowan Government Cabinet Minister. The members of the CRC are Kristy Alexander, Kim Bennett, Ron Chambers, Kim Colero, Manue Daniels, Wayne Daw, Helen McCarthy, Nathan McQuoid, Karen Milligan, Kristen Perks, Ken Richardson, and Rob Stewart. ⟶

17 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

A DV E R TO R IA L

Marine Park Facts: Marine parks are designed to include human use They include opportunities for recreation, economy (including commercial fishing), and cultural activities, as well as research, monitoring and tourism in appropriate zones.

T he m ar ine par k b o u n d a r y h a s n o t b e e n p re-d e te r m ine d Although a study area has been identified, the marine park boundary is yet to be decided. The park or parks may be established in a portion, or the entirety of the study area. The boundaries will be decided with community input through the CRC and SAGs. The public also has opportunities to provide input at various stages of the planning process.

Southen Right whales and dolphins. Credit: Peter Nicholas

T here are no s e t p e rc e n t a g e s o f z o n i n g req uire d Zoning is one of the tools that contributes to marine park management. The zoning scheme will be developed with community engagement. Most marine parks include large areas designated as ‘general use’, where activities such as fishing are allowed.

B ea ch dr iv ing and f i s h i n g a re re c o g n i s e d a s impo r t ant re cre ati o n a l va l u e s o n t h e S o u t h Co a st and wil l con t i n u e Beach driving and fishing will continue, but some limitations may be applied where there are clearly understood safety or environmental concerns or there may be minor seasonal changes if required to conserve representative habitats and biodiversity in some specific areas (for example breeding/nesting wildlife, and erosion control). With your input, the proposed marine park will be carefully designed to minimise impacts to valued recreational activities.

T he m ar ine par k w i l l b e j o i n t l y m a n a g e d w i th t ra d itional owne r s Relevant native title holders, and/or traditional owners have been invited to partner with DBCA to jointly manage the proposed marine park to ensure cultural and traditional ecological knowledge is shared with the community and the new marine park is managed effectively. For the past 10 years, DBCA has been undertaking joint management across the State, and now has over 40 jointly managed parks and reserves. Joint management provides social and economic benefits and helps leverage other funding sources.

Dylan, bream fishing at Stokes National Park

Man fishing at Lucky Bay

Leafy Sea Dragon.

Credit: Peter Nicholas

Will commercial fishing be allowed in the marine park?

How will commercial fishers affected by the marine park be compensated?

Commercial fishing is important to the region’s economy and community. The commercial fishing industry supplies fresh, sustainable, and locally caught fish to local and WA families, as well as restaurants, cafes, fresh fish retailers, and fish and chip shops. The commercial fishing industry is an important employer and supports a wide range of secondary and related businesses such as fuel, ice, bait, and gear suppliers, as well as maritime servicing and maintenance. South Coast commercial fishers also play an important role in responding to at-sea accidents, incidents, and search and rescue efforts.

The Fishing and Related Industries Compensation (Marine Reserves) Act 1997 (the Act) is the legislated mechanism for compensating a commercial fisher where a marine park results in a reduction in the market value of their authorisation. The compensation process is coordinated by DPIRD. The Act is triggered by certain ‘relevant events’. DPIRD will advise fishers when applications for compensation can be made.

The marine park will be multiple use, and the zoning scheme will be carefully designed to minimise impacts to commercial fishers while still conserving representative habitats and biodiversity.

DPIRD recognises that the Act has proven challenging to implement, and is working with WAFIC to identify a more strategic, potential alternative means of compensating fishers than provided by the Act, noting that while the Act remains in force, fishers have the right to apply under this legislation. More information is available at www.fish.wa.gov.au

Get involved The creation of a marine park is a complex undertaking, and community input is vital. There are many ways to get involved such as: • Attending information sessions • Joining a Sector Advisory Group • Participating in surveys • Contacting DBCA or DPIRD with your questions, comments, or concerns • Reviewing and commenting on the draft indicative management plan when it is out for public comment We encourage you to stay informed of these opportunities by subscribing to the Proposed South Coast Marine Park Newsletter at www.dbca.wa.gov.au/south-coast-marine-park

Our monthly arts & culture guide brought to you by:

Bad Neighbours Espi Single Launch SAT 5 FEB @ 9:30PM THE PIER HOTEL Tickets $21 • trybooking.com

A night of raucous tunes as local threepiece The Stunned Mullets launch their latest single ‘Bad Neighbours’ into the Esperance stratosphere. The lads are joined by touring acts Skycave and Ratsalad, as well as fellow locals Gruff and Stung.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Sweet Caroline Tour: A Tribute to Neil Diamond

Sash Seabourne Live @ The Brewery

WED 16 FEB @ 7:30PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE

SUN 6 FEB @ 3:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Tickets from $39.95 • The Shire website

Evan Ayres and The Swing Kings SUN 20 FEB @ 6:00PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Tickets from $15 • The Shire website

CARMEN - Live Simulcast by WA Opera SAT 26 FEB @ 7:30PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE

Chris Edmondson Live @ The Brewery FRI 11 FEB @ 5:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Tickets FREE • The Shire website

Mousey Live @ The Brewery

CHILDREN

Don’t Mess With The Dummies

SUN 13 FEB @ 3:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

SAT 12 FEB @ 5:00PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Tickets from $12 • The Shire website

Mums Gone Wild FRI 25 FEB @ 8:00PM 33 DEGREES Tickets from $31 • humanitix.com

Join The Motherhood for a wild night out. Mum style. Comedians Emma Krause, Simone Springer and Pony get real about life as mums in their award-winning show.

Lions and tigers and Dummies, oh my! Set up camp and stampede into the jungle for an outlandish, circus filled extravaganza that will leave you chuckling like a monkey and roaring for more.

LIVE MUSIC

Steve West Live @ The Brewery

Jade Jackson Live @ The Brewery

FRI 4 FEB @ 5:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

FRI 18 FEB @ 5:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Learn more about what’s on in Esperance by visiting esperancetide.com/whatson

SUN 20 / 2

- ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE PRESENTS -

6 PM

EVAN AYRES

DOORS OPEN 5.30

AND THE

Swing Kings Tickets available from Shire Administration, Esperance Library, Visitor Centre or Online www.esperance.wa.gov.au/civic-centre 20 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

Shmone Live @ The Brewery

THE BRIDGE

SUN 20 FEB @ 3:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Open Mic @ The Brewery FRI 25 FEB @ 5:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Kyza and Friends @ The Brewery SUN 27 FEB @ 3:00PM LUCKY BAY BREWING MARKETS

Esperance Grower’s Market SAT 5 & 19 FEB @ 9:00AM ESPERANCE SCOUT HALL

WORKSHOPS

The Art of Science and Science of Art SAT 12 & SUN 13 FEB @ 5:00PM CANNERY ARTS CENTRE Science and art are blended perfectly in this exciting new workshop with artist Helen Coleman and ecologist Katie White. Over two days, explore the beauty and ecology of the stunning Esperance sandplains and discover how to create art from earth and plant materials, hand gathered, and transformed into forms, used to draw and paint.

EXHIBITIONS

Outside the Box JAN 29 - FEB 13 CANNERY ARTS CENTRE

Museum Village Markets SUN 13 & 27 FEB @ 8:30AM ESPERANCE MUSEUM VILLAGE

The Passecks have always been artists, producing work mainly for enjoyment. Now they have decided to share it with their community. The exhibit includes sculptures, paintings, large prints, pottery, resin art, drawings, furniture, metal and woodworking pieces.

Dr Tasty performing at There Goes The Sun on January 15. Credit: Rosie Henderson

At the time of writing, I’m working through Lucky Bay Brewing’s live program for February. I’m a few bookings down due to the variation in WA’s border opening date, as well as artist vaccination status. An uncertain landscape lies before us all. With that said, I’m feeling optimistic. With the quiet comes the opportunity to focus on some aspects of my work that have been calling for attention, set aside as I worked on an exceptional summer of events. A couple of friends recently dropped by and the conversation turned to There Goes The Sun, and the Cannery Arts Centre. One came out with the brilliant quote, “Cannery gigs feel like you have been transported into a fairytale.” The Cannery Garden space truly has that feel to it. If I can offer a small piece of advice for the next few months, it’s to exercise and eat your vegetables. I’m sure Bob and Jim’s can sort you out with the latter.

On February 5, Stunned Mullets will release their new single ‘Bad Neighbours’, live to the Esperance audience.

The track has a quality backstory that I’m sure Josh, Kyle or Ratty would love to fill you in on. Stunned Mullets played one hell of a set at There Goes The Sun, bringing those old school raucous punk rock vibes, a brand of sound perfectly suited to the Pier Hotel backroom.

Stunned Mullets are joined by locals Gruff and Stung, and two hard hitting acts from regional WA, Ratsalad and Sky Cave. I’m exceptionally excited for Geraldton-based Ratsalad. These guys have been tracking oh so well over the last couple of years, taking out WAM Song of the Year in the Punk/Hardcore category the past two. Couple that with a high energy polished live show and you have one of WA’s best regional acts hands down. Tickets are $20 pre-sale and available at www.kyzapresents.com.

They’re moving fast so dive on in while yah can.

KYRON SMITHSON - KYZA PRESENTS

21 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

ME E T T H E ART I ST

Jennell Reynolds

Jennell Reynolds is a contemporary Aboriginal artist.

Drawing much of her inspiration from her father’s country here in Kepa Kurl (Esperance) Wudjari Nyungar Boodja, Jennell’s art is a form of storytelling, and a way of sharing her culture and passing on her knowledge. In recent years, Jennell has painted several public murals, including Wanju Kepa Kurl Boodja on the side of West End Hair and Beauty, a collaboration with internationally renowned artist Matt Adnate.

How long have you been painting?

I learnt how to paint alongside my cousins as a teenager, taught by my late uncle, a well-known Kalgoorlie artist, Neil Dimer. At that stage I was only painting acrylic on canvas, learning how to use the symbols and colours in telling stories.

Last year’s Esperance Wildflower Festival theme was ‘Plants & Culture: Kaddatji Nyungar Boodja’, focusing on traditional uses for native flora. How were you involved?

As a part of my role at Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Corporation, our Rangers Team and I have been delivering sessions to schools and public events for a few years. It was great to have the Wildflower Festival acknowledge our cultural uses of native flora in and around Kepa Kurl.

The Community Sculpture Project produced some great sculptures as teaching tools, to help share the cultural uses of four native plants and the landscape where they are found. It was amazing working with fellow artists Naomi Stanitzki and Milly van Heijster to see an idea come to fruition, but the real reward was sharing my culture at the workshop. The practice of passing on my knowledge is very important to me. We have the oldest living culture in the world and bringing this to the community helps keep it alive.

You recently completed the Kepa Kurl Maritime Mural, outside the Esperance Bay Yacht Club, in collaboration with Jarrod Pearman. What story does this piece tell?

This mural is a celebration of local connections to, and uses of, the marine environment. It recognises the significant ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to Wadarn Boodja (Sea Country) of the Kepa Kurl Wudjari

Photo credit: Jarrod Pearman

people, alongside more recent connections through recreation, tourism, transport, fishing, and community service.

What was the collaboration process like?

Even though we had our two different styles, the overall design came together relatively quickly. Jarrod is an amazing artist to work with. He brings so much experience and was very generous with his time when I needed advice.

How are you working with the next generation to ensure Nyungar art continues to thrive?

I always jump at the chance to teach my art. I’ve had a number of opportunities over the years to teach the younger generations at schools and community groups.

I’ve had my son assist me on the Kepa Kurl Maritime Mural, and my daughter has recently taken up dot painting, so hopefully they will also pass on what they have learnt.

When you’re not painting, what can we find you doing?

I love spending time out on country practicing my culture with family. Family is very important to me, especially now I’m a grandmother. I feel more of an obligation to pass on as much knowledge about culture as possible while they grow up.

22 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

ARTS & CULTURE February Lineup at the Civic Centre This February, the Esperance Civic Centre will host a range of shows, with something to suit everyone.

Despite the state border closures making it difficult for the venue to book shows from the eastern states, local audiences are not missing out. Civic Centre manager Tim Currie is excited about the quality Western Australian performances that the venue is hosting throughout the month.

On February 12, the Civic Centre is hosting Don’t Mess with the Dummies, an all-female troupe performing a high-energy circus-style show. Don’t Mess with the Dummies won Best Children’s Event at Adelaide Fringe Festival 2021, and has been performed internationally in 13 countries. From the same company that has brought shows such as the acclaimed Splash Test Dummies to Esperance, Tim is excited about this polished, professional show that is sure to delight and entertain young audiences.

For more mature audiences, Evan Ayres and the Swing Kings are coming to Esperance on February 20. This group of WAAPA graduates cover jazz and swing classics from Michael Buble to Frank Sinatra, as well as a touch of country, rock and roll, and their own originals. This is the hottest jazz and swing band in the country right now, and is certainly not one to miss!

Finally, on February 26, the Civic Centre is hosting a live simulcast of Western Australian Opera’s performance of Carmen. This is a free event, but bookings are essential via the Civic Centre’s website. “Carmen is a much-loved traditional opera, supported by the WA

Evan Ayres from Evan Ayres and the Swing Kings

Symphony Orchestra, and featuring some of Australia’s best singers,” Tim says. The show, an iconic masterpiece, complete with the passion, betrayals, and tragedies that opera is known for, will be performed by over 150 singers and musicians at Perth’s iconic WACA grounds, and live streamed to the Esperance audience. The Civic Centre regularly hosts live simulcasts from the WA Opera, and Tim states that these events are always well received by Esperance audiences.

KARLI FLORRISON

B UY TIC K ETS Tickets for all shows are available at www.esperance.wa.gov.au/upcoming-civic-centre-events. Keep up to date with Civic Centre events at this website, or via their Facebook page.

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CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR SESSION DETAILS esperancefenwickcinemas.com.au PHONE 08 9072 1344

Dempster St, Esperance

PLEASE NOTE LIMITED SEATING - ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASES ADVISED 23 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

Five Minutes With

Ratsalad

BY KYRON SMITHSON

Five years ago, a conversation surrounding Geraldton’s original music scene would have been short and with minimal flair. Shoot forward to the present and that conversation becomes exceptionally animated.

Ratsalad have led the way, punching hard within their region and further afield. Punching is a good description for the act, each track they release imbued with a solid hit to the stomach in delicious punk rock form. Don’t just take my word for it - the three piece was awarded their first WAM Song of the Year (Heavy/ Metal) in 2020 with ‘Dead Rat’, then to prove they have the chops, backed it up in 2021 with ‘Bloke’ (Punk/ Hardcore). I’m yet to watch them perform, but I hear their live show matches the quality of their writing and, with a mountain of gigs under their belt, it comes as no surprise. Ratsalad joins Stunned Mullets, Sky Cave, and Gruff and Stung for Stunned Mullets ‘Bad Neighbours’ single launch at the Pier Hotel on February 5. Ahead of that show I thought I’d touch base with the crew for Esperance Tide.

Thanks so bloody much for hitting the road down to Espi! We’re stoked to have yas.

Esperance has been on our list since we began – stoked to come!

How did you meet, and at what point did you decide to start smashing some tunes together?

Jaz and Erica caught a school bus together and reconnected at the pub many years later. Ken and Jaz met in a nightclub. Ken met Erica when she was moshing up front for Ken’s old band. After moving back to Geraldton and becoming bandless for the first time in years, Ken decided to start something. Jaz was keen to join and, having only played keytar in a band before, she wanted to try being in a band playing a “cooler” instrument. Ken and Jaz found out Erica could play drums, and her arm is the most easily twisted in WA.

Key influences on your overall sound?

Absolute beasts we listened to as kids; Grinspoon, RATM, Parkway Drive, Alexisonfire, Karnivool, NOFX. Absolute beasts we listen to as adults; Rufus Du Sol, Amyl and the Sniffers, WAAX.

PHOTO CREDIT: JONTY SCOBLE

Can we have some insight into your writing process?

Erica rides her bike over via the bottleo to Jaz and Ken’s kitchen, AKA the jam room. A few beers, a bit of dinner.

Ken makes some riffs up on the spot. Jaz scrawls through a library of 3am lyrical content to find what fits the vibe and we bash it out.

Being regionally based, how much of an impact do you feel the WAM Song of the Year wins had on becoming an established act within the Perth scene?

The WAM clout has been great for getting a few handy support slots up in Geraldton (Karnivool, Smith St Band).

Establishing ourselves in Perth, I think that came from pestering for opening slots then drinking beers all night with everyone we met in the process and seeking out kick-ons.

Between the three of you are there any artists that one of you absolutely love, and the others cannot stand?

It’s not uncommon for aforementioned kick-ons to end with Erica smashing TOOL top volume while everyone else is trying to sleep. Erica trying to send an Export down your dusty neck at 7am with TOOL soundtracking the whole thing... God. Damn. TOOL!

24 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

Favourite gig of 2021?

The Indian Ocean Hotel in Scarborough drained their pool so they could repaint it back in April. While it was empty this BMX dude Shane organised a tonne of BMX and skaters to skate it from about 10am to 5pm with bands playing all day. It was at capacity the whole time. Our mates Indigo Blaze shared the lineup, and it was sick.

If you could support any current Australian act who would it be?

Ratsalad headed interstate in 2021 with shows in South Australia. How were the tunes received across the border?

It was pretty rad, there are a lot of really cool people in SA. Both gigs were strictly seated only and we didn’t know that going into it.

On your drive to Esperance, what will be your midway pitstop purchase?

Life’s too short to not pull up for a counter meal in a country pub.

Anything else y’all would like to add?

The Stunned Mullets! But we’ve done that already, so Amyl and the Sniffers, or maybe Parkway Drive.

Our hottest selling merch item is an ‘RS’ tattoo from Jaz, so come find us on the night. Thanks again for having us legend, absolutely keen!

C ATC H ‘ EM L IVE Ratsalad will be at the Pier Hotel on February 5, alongside Stunned Mullets, Sky Cave, Stung and Gruff.

Tickets are $20 pre-sale, available at www.kyzapresents.com.

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25 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

A DV E R TO R IA L

Swim, Gym, and So Much More

While there is always a lot happening at the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre, the start of the year is a particularly exciting time, with plenty of events on the calendar. Here are some of the great things coming up this month.

Rottnest Island Swim On February 26, the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre is hosting a Rottnest Island Virtual Swim. Held on the same day as Perth’s popular Rottnest Island Swim, the virtual swim is a 20 kilometre team event that will help raise money for charity. Teams of up to 10 people are invited to enter the event, with each team required to raise a minimum of $350 in sponsorship, which will be donated to local causes Tor Youth Shed and Restore Hope Foundation. Leisure Centre Manager Jaye Jose is looking forward to the upcoming event. “It’s a great opportunity to raise money for a good cause,” she says. “If it works well, we hope to make it an annual event.” There will be plenty of excitement, with the Leisure Centre planning to televise the Rottnest Island Swim, have a live MC for the Esperance swimmers, and a BBQ at the end of the event. There are some great prizes on offer, generously provided by IGO. Every participant will be entered into the draw to win a major prize, and there will also be encouragement awards for junior and senior swimmers, as well as a prize for the highest fundraising team. Registrations for teams of swimmers are now open.

Swim school enrolments Swim school enrolments are currently open for swimming lessons in term one. As Jaye notes, “Esperance being a coastal community, swimming lessons are a really important part of community safety, and they’re always really well attended.” Jaye says that swimming lessons at the Leisure Centre include a ‘survival component’, teaching children about safety in the water.

26 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: LUCY VINCENT

Extended crèche hours Did you know the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre has a crèche available for members? This month, the centre is increasing the hours that the crèche is available. The crèche will still be open during its usual hours of Monday to Friday, 9am - 12pm, and Centre will trial opening the crèche in the afternoons, from 3:15pm - 6:30pm, Tuesday to Thursday. “The reason we’re trialling the extended hours for the crèche is that we want to support working parents who can’t get to the gym in the mornings,” Jaye says. “We also want to support parents who have their kids in swimming lessons. We’ve had a lot of requests for extended crèche hours, so we’ve recognised that this is a need in the community.”

Meta-Cub fitness classes for kids Another exciting initiative that the Leisure Centre is offering is a new class called ‘Meta-Cub’. This is a functional movement class for children aged 5 to 12 years. “We recognise that it’s important to teach our children from a young age about movement and fitness,” Jaye says. Parents can join in with their children who are attending the class. Some of the Meta-Cub classes will be held in the afternoons during the extended crèche hours. See the Leisure Centre website for a full class timetable.

But wait, there’s more!

The Leisure Centre is still offering all the same great activities and classes. You can enjoy the heated pools, spa and sauna, or hydrotherapy pool. There is also a well-equipped gym, a variety of group fitness classes, swimming lessons and access to personal training. The centre can also take bookings for the Indoor Stadium at the Greater Sports Ground.

As Jaye notes, “The Bay of Isles Leisure Centre is here for the use of our community, and we love seeing community members making the most of the facilities.”

27 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

T I D E BOOK CLUB

Hot Summer Reads For many of us, the summer holidays are jam-packed, leaving little time to put your feet up. But as February rolls around and the kids go back to school, house guests head home, the shops quieten down, and the last of the post-harvest jobs are ticked off the list, there’s a little extra time to relax. There’s no better way to do this than with a book in hand. Need a tip? No worries! We spoke to a few literary locals who were kind enough to give us their recommendations.

CA R O L ’ S P I C K Local writer Carol Hoggart recommends the sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, author of bestseller The Martian, which was made into a film starring Matt Damon. Project Hail Mary’s main character, Ryland Grace, is similar to the main character of The Martian, a brilliant scientist who is flippant and wryly hilarious. He is a science teacher-turned-astronaut who wakes up from a coma afflicted with amnesia.

As Grace’s memory returns, he remembers his mission – saving the world. Carol loved great characters and the carefully constructed plot, complete with plenty of solid scientific reasoning. Rumour has it that a film based on the book is in the works, starring Ryan Gosling.

J OZIE ’S P IC K Avid reader and Esperance Care Services employee Jozie Goodfield recommends The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair. This historical mystery is set in post-World War II London and features two very different women who join forces to launch a new business, ‘The Right Sort Marriage Bureau’. Their fledgling business is threatened by the murder of one of their clients, which the women decide to investigate. Jozie enjoyed the well-paced plot with many light-hearted moments in this book, which is the first in a series of mystery novels.

TAM MY ’ S P I CK Owner of The Book Box Tammy Hough recommends Love Stories by Trent Dalton, the much-loved author of bestseller, Boy Swallows Universe. Dalton collected the stories in this book by asking the simple question, “Can you please tell me a love story?” The result is an eclectic collection of stories, including those of a palliative care nurse helping a dying woman, a blind man who longs to see the face of his wife, and a girl writing her last letter to the man she loves. Tammy loved this book for its beautiful, heart-warming stories about true love in all its forms.

28 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

M EG A N ’ S P I C K Esperance writer Megan Warren recommends Devotion by Hannah Kent, an acclaimed Australian author. Devotion starts in 1838, with a group of Old Lutherans fleeing religious persecution by migrating to Australia. On board the ship, lonely Hanne meets a friend, Thea, and a bond grows between the two young women that strengthens into devotion as they settle into their new home. Megan loves the beautiful, evocative writing in this highly original book that celebrates love and the beauty of nature.

K ARL I’S P IC K Esperance Tide contributor Karli Florisson recommends A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. This is the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who avoids execution after the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, but is instead sentenced to house arrest at the luxurious Hotel Metropol Moscow. The Count staves off boredom by making friends with the many interesting characters at the hotel. Both funny and heart-warming, this book looks at the themes of friendship, romance, and the call of ‘home’. Karli loved the clever dialogue, fascinating characters, and the way all of the threads of the story come together so neatly in the end.

B R O N T E ’ S P I CK Esperance Tide creative director Bronte Vincent recommends Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton. Everything I Know About Love is a collection of memoirs that shares the trials and triumphs of becoming a grown-up, from Tinder dates and parties, to friendship, eating disorders, and dealing with heartbreak. Bronte loves how relatable, hilarious and touching this book is, and says it’s the perfect read for anyone who enjoys reflecting on their early adulthood years or is living them at this very moment.

29 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

A painting of the Esperance and the Recherche by François Roux

5 MINUTE HIS TOR Y

Esperance’s French Connection

BY KARLI FLORISSON

In 1791, an expedition left France in search of Jean Françoise de La Pérouse, an explorer who had disappeared while attempting to circumnavigate the world by ship. Under the command of Admiral Antoine Bruni d’Entrecasteaux, the search party consisted of two ships, the Recherche, captained by Bruni d’Entrecasteaux himself, and the Espérance, captained by Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec. Espérance translates to Hope, while Recherche means research. Bruni d’Entrecasteaux followed the same route that La Perouse had taken, exploring many areas of the Australian coast and naming many landmarks, usually after himself and his crew. In December 1792, the two ships encountered a storm while sailing along the south coast of Australia and were forced to take shelter in the lee of Observatory Island. Bruni d’Entrecasteaux named the nearby bay ‘Esperance Bay’ after the first ship in his expedition to enter the bay, and he named the archipelago off the coast the ‘Recherche Archipelago’, after the other ship.

south coast of Western Australia.

Vancouver named many landmarks, including King George Sound, which we now know as Albany, but he cautiously skirted around the islands of the Recherche Archipelago, thus missing the Esperance coastline.

Of course, prior to the European arrivals, the Wudjari Nyungar people had lived in this area for many thousands of years. The Wudjari Nyungar people called Esperance ‘Kepa Kurl’, the place where the water lies like a boomerang’.

After sheltering from the storm, Admiral Bruni d’Entrecasteaux and his crew spent time anchored in Esperance Bay, making minor repairs to the Espérance. They decided to explore the area while they were anchored, and sent men in a small boat to explore the nearby islands, and a party to explore the mainland.

Neither of the groups were able to find a source of fresh water. They did see some of the local Aboriginal people in the distance. While they were anchored in the bay, they also saw several large sharks, and at one point, the ship’s Chaplain fell into the water, and had to be rescued from a shark.

Bruni d’Entrecasteaux and his expedition were not the first Europeans to arrive in the area.

In 1627, a Dutch ship, the Gulden Zeepaerdt (Golden Seahorse), under the command of Pieter Nuyts, travelled along the south coast of Western Australia. He named the area Nuyts Land, after himself, but the name did not stick. The beautiful orange-blossomed trees found along our coastline, commonly known as Native Christmas Trees, are called Nuytsia floribunda, after Nuyts. In 1791, an English expedition led by Captain George Vancouver, with the ships the Discovery and the Chatham, also sailed along the

One of the crew members who went to explore the mainland was the ship’s naturalist, Claude Riche.

Riche got separated from the rest of the group as he was continually stopping to collect plant specimens.

He became lost, and decided to walk in the direction of some small fires that he could see in the distance. He walked over several sand dunes and found a large salt lake, most likely Pink Lake. He also spotted an emu, several kangaroos, and the footprints of a large dog that he thought must be ‘as big as a wolf’. The next day, he found some swamp land, likely near Lake Monjingup. He found just enough fresh water to keep him alive, and eventually made it to high ground, on 6 Mile Hill, where he was able to see the ships in the distance. By this time, Riche had 31 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

been missing for over two days, and Bruni d’Entrecasteaux and the rest of the crew on the two ships had nearly given him up for dead. Riche made it back to the coast just in time to stop the two ships from leaving without him. He was so thirsty and exhausted that for a time he was unable to speak. He was almost certainly the first European to venture so far inland in this area. There was another naturalist who was also a part of the expedition, a man called Jacques Labillardiere, who locals might know as the subject of the recent Cannery exhibition, Peregrinations of a Citizen Botanist. Both Riche and Labillardiere collected and catalogued many plant specimens from the Australian coast, including many from the Esperance area.

Despite this early exploration, the only legacy that the French expedition left on the Esperance coastline were the landmarks that they named. The officer on the ship who had been the lookout during the storm, and who had spotted the safe anchorage where the ships could take shelter, was a man named Citizen Legrand.

Bruni d’Entrecasteaux named the cape that they could see in the distance after him, Cape Le Grand.

Interestingly, Frenchman Peak was not named by Bruni d’Entrecasteaux, but rather by the surveyor Alexander Forrest in 1870, who thought that the peak of the hill resembled the hats worn by French troops. The rest of Bruni d’Entrecasteaux’s expedition was unsuccessful.

Kermadec died of tuberculosis and Bruni d’Entrecasteaux died of scurvy before the end of the journey.

They did not find La Perouse’s lost expedition, which had been wrecked on a reef near the Solomon Islands.

Esperance has maintained this French connection throughout the years, regularly celebrating French Week. In 1988, Esperance became a ‘twin town’ with the town of Saint Martin de Ré in France.

BUSH BANTER

Sand blowout at Duke of Orleans Bay

Coast Care At this time of year, as I am dipping my toes in the rather warm Southern Ocean on an almost daily basis, I can’t help but wonder at the sheer complexity, survival and movement along our dunes.

Coastal environments are absolutely remarkable! The shifting primary dune system, forming the transition between the active push-pull of the tide and sea, and the stable coastal shrubland particularly catches my attention. The primary dune is the area of constant erosion and sand movement, open to the elements and at the mercy of the wind and tide. The balance in this ecological community

is astounding, with the tiniest change triggering drastic and often irreversible change. It’s because of this fragile balance that our immediate coastal dunes are arguably one of the most threatened environments. The smallest disturbance someone walking up the dune for a view, small informal tracks to secret surf spots, a single 4WD riding the dune, a carpark in the wrong spot - can change this balance, accelerating sand movement and erosion, referred to as a blowout. A small 1m x 1m disturbed area, that was previously covered in bush, can become in the blink of an eye a 2m x 2m, 10m x 10m, even 50m x 50m bare area of blowing sand. The next time you’re visiting the beach, have a look around. I bet that close to every beach in Esperance there is some sort of blowout, mini or well developed, where the shifting dune extends well beyond that immediate transition zone. Enjoy and tread lightly on this amazing coast.

K AT I E W H I T E & S A N DY S A LT Y S E A D O G

B U S H B A NT E R I S K I ND LY SPO N SO RED B Y VAL AN N E FO UN DAT IO N “Continuing the family tradition of giving back to the community”

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V Day 1 e d i u G t f i G

2

10

3 9 4 8

5 7

6

1. Who Is Elijah HIS - HER Eau De Parfum 100ml B Naturally You $145.00 2. Apple AirPods Esperance Communications $219.00 3. Dwarf Eureka Lemon Tree - 4L Pot Bunnnings $29.99 4. Rebel Homemaker by Drew Barrymore newsXpress Newsagency $49.99 5. Double Trouble Cup Set in Pink Tide & Co $79.95 6. We Are Feel Good Kakadu Plum Body Milk 400ml Innertube Surf Shop $43 7. Ecology Alto 3pce Cheese Knife Set Retravision Esperance $24.00 8. Leeuwin Estate Siblings Shiraz Liquor Barons Esperance $20.99 9. Fairley Rose Quartz Deco Necklace Woven $239.00 10. Choc Coated Pretzels 130g Luxe Floral & Home Co $9.95 33 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

1 2

3

4

5

6

7 8 9 10

11

12

Down

Across

1

Species of bird residing along the Esperance Foreshore (4, 6, 5)

6

Triple J’s Hottest 100 winning band in 2022 (3, 7)

2

Nyungar name for the town of Esperance (4, 4)

7

Local band Stunned Mullets recently released single (3, 10)

3

Shop residing in Museum Village’s Old Church (9, 9)

8

Herring, First fish you’ll likely catch fishing in Esperance

4

National park in which you would find Shoal Cape

10 Natural wonder named after a household appliance located off the Twilight Beach rock (7, 7)

5 9 11

A purple cocktail, once popular at the Pier Hotel (5, 6) Edible native succulent found at most Esperance beaches

12 Lucky Bay Brewing’s barley pale ale (5, 4)b

Local suburb in which Chaplin Street is located

Esperance Tide is delivered to you BY Main Office Lot 619 Sims St, Esperance

Phone (08) 9071 0500

Email enquiries@freightlinesgroup.com.au

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Which Local Beverage Are You? You’re heading to the beach. What’s the first thing you pack?

A) A beach umbrella, sunscreen, and wide brim hat B) My surfboard C) A good book D) A beach volleyball set E) A speaker

You’ve decided to start a side-hustle. What is it?

A) The word ‘hustle’ is not in my vocabulary B) Something illegal C) Selling essential oils at the Museum Village Markets D) Running bootcamp sessions a few times a week E) Becoming an influencer

You’re stocking the pantry before COVID hits town.

What are you bulk-buying?

The Esperance Cup is looming. Where are you shopping for your outfit?

A) Locally roasted coffee beans and whatever looks good at BJ’s B) Cereal, pasta, and rice – basically all the carbs C) Frozen acai, hemp seeds, and peanut butter – I can’t go without my morning smoothie bowl D) Protein powder – all hell breaks loose if I run out E) Whatever wine is on special – and lots of it

A) Woven B) The races aren’t really my vibe C) Luna & Sage D) I’ll just wear something I’ve already got E) Brodeine & Deine

It’s Valentine’s Day. How are you celebrating?

It’s your birthday and you’re going out for dinner.

Where are you off to?

A) Enjoying a bottle Dom and a charcuterie box from The Deli King B) Sharing a few beers on Dempster Head as the sun goes down C) A full body massage and Indian head rub from B Naturally You D) A sunrise jog with my significant other, followed by a healthy home cooked brekky E) Dinner and drinks at a friend’s house

A) Taylor Street Quarters – what’s a celebration without cocktails?

B) The Pier Hotel – an old faithful C) Siam Thai – the spicier, the better D) Fish Face – grilled fish and salad is just my style E) 33 Degrees – we’ll eat then party into the night

It’s 9am on a Saturday. Where can we find you?

A) At Downtown, sipping a skinny flat white with friends B) Out the back at Westies, or wherever the surf is pumping C) Walking barefoot along the beach, practicing my breathing D) Riding my road bike around the Tourist Loop E) Bidding farewell to my hangover with a cooked brekky at Break Away

You’re going away for the weekend. Where are you headed?

A) Katanning - I’ve been hanging out to stay at the Premier Mill B) Margs - I’m keen to find a few secret surf spots C) Woody Island - It’s paradise on earth D) Albany - I’ll be hitting the Bibbulmun Track for a couple of days E) Perth - Northbridge, baby! Yewww!

Mo s t l y A ’ s

Mostly B’s

Mo stly C ’s

Mo stly D’s

Mo stly E’s

You are Esperance Distillery Co’s Cut & Run Dry Gin

You are a Lucky Bay Brewing The Duke Harvest NEIPA

You are a Cloud Eleven Oat Milk Latte

You are a Sir Juice Calorie Crunch Juice

You are a Taylor St Quarters Grapefruit Margarita

You have great taste in all aspects of life. On the surface, you might seem like one of many. Pop your cork, however, and you’re a complex being, as spicy as you are smooth. You don’t feel the need to impress anybody, though you end up effortlessly impressing everyone you meet. You’re not afraid to treat yourself, and you don’t apologise for it. You know you deserve it.

You cruise through life, unphased by the rat race around you. Vitamin sea keeps you level-headed, so you dive right in at every opportunity. Your fun-loving personality is as vibrant as this beer, and you have a lot of friends for this reason. You always stay true to yourself and would rather be having a drink or a surf with mates than scrolling on Instagram living vicariously through others.

You are a genuine soul. You feel your best when you’re connecting with your inner self, be it through yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature. Looking after your mind, body and spirit is important to you, as is caring for Mother Earth.

Like an oat milk latte, you might seem a little different to outsiders but really, you’re worth knowing, rich in personality and liked by many.

You are an Energiser Bunny, unable to keep still. You love to keep fit and healthy, and don’t feel quite right if you haven’t found your 30. You’re admired for your dedication, never quitting a task until the job is done. You’re incredibly reliable because if you say something will get done, it gets done. Like the ginger in this juice, you’ve got a fiery side, but you know how to keep it under control.

You are the life of the party. You get major FOMO, which is why you’re at every event on Esperance’s social calendar. You never leave the house looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed, even if you’re only popping to Woolies.

Like this cocktail, you win people over with your perfect mix of sweet and sour. With you, what you see is what you get, and everyone loves you for it.

35 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

AQU A R IU S

JA N 2 0 - F E B 17

The January winds did your head in, and you’ve been left feeling frazzled.

Thankfully, a sense of calm washes over you this month, allowing you to finally get into the groove of 2022. Focus on connecting with nature throughout February. Take a long walk in Cape Le Grand National Park or along Great Ocean Drive, while you think about nothing but your surroundings.

Practicing being present will do wonders for your stress levels, bringing you into the coveted zen zone.

PISCES

FE B 18 - M A R 19

G E MI N I

MAY 2 1 - JUN 2 0

You don’t normally like to spend too much time alone, but this month you’ll find yourself enjoying your own company more than usual. Make the most of it and enjoy the stillness while you can. Your friends might be confused as to why you’re passing up a Sunday sesh at 33 Degrees but this longing for solitude is only temporary, so tell them you’ll join them next time. Until then, kick back, relax and enjoy the serenity.

CA N CE R

S C OR P IO

JUN 2 1 - JUL 2 2

ARI E S

M AR 2 0 - A P R I L 19 Awkward tension will soon come to a head. Are you ready to face the You’ve got heaps on your plate right music? Don’t be caught out when a now, but that doesn’t mean life has friend or colleague confronts you to be all go go go. You need to make about an issue. Try to be on the time to stop and smell the roses, otherwise you’ll suffer burnout before front foot - if there’s something that needs addressing, communicate your Easter even rolls around. Scheduling feelings instead of skirting around R&R might seem OTT, but sometimes the issue. Separate the person from it’s necessary to do just that. Whip the issue and when all is said and your diary out and plan one activity done, take them out to the brewery just for you every week, like a for a beer to show there are no hard massage, dinner with friends, or a feelings. leisurely drive out to the Duke.

AP R 2 0 - M AY 2 0

If life’s been ho-hum lately, it’s time to spice things up! You’re susceptible to falling in a rut every now and then, and a looming pothole has you watching your step. You can avoid it by changing up your routine in an effort to keep life interesting. Our time here’s too short to do, eat, drink, watch and wear the same things day in, day out. Every day this month, challenge yourself to do something you normally wouldn’t and watch that pothole disappear.

SE P 2 3 - OC T 22

Friendship is front of mind this month as you become acutely aware of how your relationships with your mates have changed over the last few years.

There’s someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, and now is a great time to reach out, if for no other reason than to say g’day. Use the warm weather to catch up over a grapefruit martini on the verandah at the Quarters, or, if you live apart, enjoy cocktail hour over Zoom.

Butterflies make themselves at You’ve likely indulged in one too many home in your stomach this month.

Prioritise self-care over the next few Emu Exports over the last month or weeks, particularly if you’re feeling so. Now’s the time to take charge of more anxious than usual. Hold off on your health. Whatever you do, make agreeing to new projects until you’re sure it’s sustainable. Eating nothing but carrot sticks won’t last, and you’ll ready, and avoid filling your downtime with jobs that can wait. Now is a be back in the Maccas drive-thru good time to finish that book that’s before you know it. Find enjoyment been collecting dust on your bedside in a healthy lifestyle – walks with table for the last six months, or catch friends, joining a sporting club or up on your Netflix. Relaaax, and learning to cook wholesome and nourishing food. You’ll feel a whole lot watch those butterflies fly away. better for it.

L EO

JUL 2 3 - AUG 2 2

T A U RU S

LIBR A

VI RG O

O CT 2 3 - NOV 21

You’ve felt like a caged animal recently, but opportunities to spread your wings and fly will appear soon. If you’ve got a crazy idea, go for it, even if others doubt you. This will liberate you. Great achievements are usually made by those who break a few rules.

You might get some flack in your professional or personal life for being different, but you’ll prove them wrong and get your revenge with a financial windfall or a new door opening.

SAGITTARIUS NOV

22 - DEC 21

You’ve got a number of tasks requiring your attention this month, and you’re in a pickle about which one to start first. Even if you’re super organised, unexpected disruptions are going to make it tricky for you to make a dent in your list of things to do. You might want to take a day off, but this will only set you back further. Instead, silence your phone and work at twice the pace while no one can interrupt you.

CAP R IC OR N DE C

2 2 - J A N 20

AUG 2 3 - SE P 2 2 The year mightn’t have started how you’d hoped but things will get back ​​You’re always on the go and as a on track in February. Don’t be too result, you probably spend less time hard on yourself if you didn’t tick with your family than you’d like. a lot of boxes in January – there’s Redirect your energy towards your plenty of time to make up for it. loved ones this month. You might You’re a little uptight at the moment, have to make a few adjustments to more so than usual. Try meditating, your schedule, but it’ll be worth it journaling or yoga this month, even for the extra hours with the fam. Do if you’re the type to roll your eyes something you haven’t done in years, at such activities. It will make a like ride the Minatare Railway or play noticeable difference to your mood. a round of mini golf, even if your kids are all grown up!

36 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

PHOTO CREDIT: ROSIE HENDERSON

CA MP KI T CH EN

Serves 3 - 4

Korean Style Loaded Potatoes

Ingredients

Layering a bunch of great flavours is the key here. This throw together meal can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Method 1.

Boil a large pot of salted water and add the potatoes. Cook until soft then drain.

2.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the olive oil.

Add the ginger and garlic, allowing to cook for 1 - 2 minutes before adding the cherry tomatoes.

3.

Cook down the cherry tomatoes until they begin to soften, then add the gochujang paste. You want it to become quite saucey, so add a splash of water if required. Add the edamame beans, giving them enough time to cook before taking off the heat.

1 kg baby potatoes 1 tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 2cm piece of ginger, finely chopped 1 punnet cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp gochujang 100g edamame beans Handful grated cheddar cheese Sriracha mayonnaise 3 spring onions, finely chopped Bunch of coriander leaves, finely chopped

4.

In a large, deep fry pan, add a drizzle of olive oil and the cooked potatoes, pressing each one down with the back of a spoon to smash them without letting them fall apart.

5.

Sprinkle with grated cheese, and then layer on your tomato sauce. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes on a medium heat to allow the cheese to melt and the bottom of the potatoes to become crispy.

6.

Garnish generously with sriracha mayonnaise, spring onions and coriander. Serve as is or divide amongst plates.

T IDE PIC K Gochujang is a savory, sweet, spicy paste made with fermented rice, wheat and red chilli peppers, and is very popular in Korean cooking. It is available from most supermarkets.

SH ORT & SWEET: LAS T M ONTH’S

01

News in Brief

Five swimmers were temporarily stranded on the rock at Twilight Beach on January 20, after a great white shark swam past the popular jumping spot. An alarm was activated via the beach’s shark warning tower, alerting beachgoers to the shark’s presence. Once the coast was clear, some of those on the rock jumped in the water and headed for shore, while the remainder were rescued by Surf Life Saving volunteers.

02

The first 19 standalone power systems to be deployed in the Esperance region were completed on farms east of town, with another 26 expected to be installed by March. Powered by solar panels and battery storage with back-up diesel generation, standalone power systems deliver safer, greener and more reliable power to those in rural areas. The deployment will result in many farms transitioning from Horizon Power’s overhead network to off-grid power.

03

Grey’s Anatomy and Emily in Paris star Kate Walsh holidayed in Esperance, posting shots of herself at Lucky Bay to Instagram. The US actor has lived in Perth since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when she found herself stuck in Western Australia. Filming commitments overseas saw Walsh leave Australia mid-last year, but she returned again after production wrapped, telling a Perth radio station that the city feels like home.

04

The James Street beach enclosure officially opened on January 14. Extending more than 300 metres from the groyne, the enclosure is made from rigid materials, anchored to the ocean floor and attached to surface floats. A free community barbecue was held to celebrate the opening of the enclosure, which was funded by both the State and Federal Governments. Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson and Member for the Agricultural Region Sandra Carr travelled to Esperance for the opening.

ADVERTISEMENT

RICK WILSON

MP

Delivering for O’Connor Unit 11, 75-79 Dempster Street, Esperance WA 6450 9071 4846

rick.wilson.mp@aph.gov.au

rickwilson.com.au

RickWilsonMP

Authorised by Rick Wilson MP, Liberal Party, Unit 11, 75-79 Dempster Street, Esperance WA 6450.

38 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2022

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CONCERNED ABOUT AGED RESIDENTIAL CARE IN ESPERANCE? Join a facilitated workshop to help find solutions to the issues currently facing Esperance Aged Care Facility. Monday 7 February, 5-7pm. Noel White Pavilion, Black Street (Greater Sports Ground). Information: 0428 715 069 DYING TO KNOW EXPO Saturday 26th February 9am - 4pm. at Esperance Senior Citizens Centre. Opposite the Boulevard Forrest St. Join us for lots of information on making the most of your todays and facing your tomorrows. Free entry, refreshments available.

FOR DETAILS CONTACT Sue Starr 0439524111 OLD TIME / NEW VOGUE BALLROOM DANCING We are having a break and will resume on Friday the 28th of January 2022. Held at RAOB Hall starting at 7:30. Contact Daryl on 0419370089 or Jan 0420638851. All welcomed, with or without a partner.

STALL HOLDERS WANTED The Sunset Markets are looking for stallholders for the upcoming markets.

Upcoming Dates: March 18 and April 18 (Our February 18 market has been cancelled). For more info or to download a stallholder form head to esperancesunsetmarkets.

Friday 4th February Saturday 19th February Sunday 6th March www.ebtc.com.au

90713506

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ESPERANCE COMMUNITY SINGERS

53 Norseman Rd, Esperance

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