Esperance Tide July 2022

ISSUE 87

FREE MONTHLY JULY 2022

CARING FOR CO UNT R Y

W I N T E R WE E K E N D S

H I S T OR Y

Tjaltjraak Rangers

An Albany Adventure

People & Places of the Past

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: ROSIE HENDERSON (Rollands Swamp)

We might be in the thick of winter but with the abundance of gloriously warm and stil l days we were showered with in June, you wouldn’t know it. There’s little doubt the wet and wild weather wil l ramp up this month, so we’re extra grateful for the opportunity to have snuck in a few extra beach days while we could. With school holidays upon us, we’ve got our fingers crossed for a little more sunshine, though we have plenty of rainy day activities tucked up our sleeves just in case.

Catching a movie, perusing the dol l museum, hitting up Toy Station for a new board game, and cosying up in Cloud Eleven with a hot chocolate and a toastie are just the tip of the iceberg!

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BT S Devin's Handy Office Help

Someone who doesn’t let the weather stop him from getting on with the job is Devin from Devin’s Handy Office Help. You’ve probably seen Devin in town - most days you can find him buzzing around Esperance delivering coffees, newspapers, and shopping to anyone who needs a helping hand. Devin has autism, and works alongside a team of supporters to serve the community. Whatever you need, he’ll grab it for you and deliver it directly to your home or business. It’s like UberEats, only with more smiles. We spent a super fun morning with Devin as he ran his errands. You can read about it on page 8.

We also spent time with the Tjaltjraak rangers this month, heading out on Country to see what they’re doing to restore and protect the land. The rangers, supported by their Elders and professionals from a host of fields, do everything from data collection and erosion control, to water quality testing, fencing, tree planting, dune stabilisation, seed collection, cultural mapping, and visiting sites of significance. They are undertaking some inspiring work and we’re thrilled to be able to share this work with you on page 4.

Someone else doing inspiring things in our community is Lesa Blackham, who founded a program to empower young women last year. Now in its third term, FemEmpowered teaches girls aged 10 - 14 the skills and coping strategies they need to overcome the challenges they’re faced with at this age. The program has been a roaring success, with parents noticing a significant shift in the confidence and resilience of their daughters. Read more about the program on page 22 and if you know a girl in this age bracket, why not sign her up?

Whether you’re staying inside by the fire or getting out amongst it this month, have a good one! 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.

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Esperance Tide acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and play, the Kepa Kurl Wudjari people of the Nyungar nation and Ngadju people, and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

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Caring for Country W O R D S & P H O TO G R A P H Y R O S I E H E N D E R S O N

We’re travelling through Wudjari land, with mallee trees flashing by us as we drive inland along a gravel road north of Esperance. Pulling down a little track, we arrive at an old growth swampland that is under pressure from fire, flood, and salinity, and set up below a canopy of mostly dead Yate (Eucalyptus ooccidentalis) with Melaleuca acuminate fringing the wetland area. The ranger team pull out chairs for the Elders to sit on in the shade of some regrowth and set up tables for maps and lunch, before getting a billy on the boil while they discuss the state and significance of this bit of land, and how to create a plan to protect and restore it.

This swampland is an area of important cultural and ecological significance, and this is Tjaltjraak’s (pronounced ‘Dul-u-rak’) first workshop and gathering on Country to discuss it. There’s an anthropologist, two hydrologists, a team of rangers and their project coordinators, cultural coordinators, members of various government departments, and the Elders of this Country. Everyone glances continually upwards at the trees overhead, in awe of this place that we’re in and the heritage it holds.

Covering land from Ravensthorpe to Cape Arid, and up to Salmon Gums, the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC) works to protect the land of the Wudjari (pronounced ‘Woodjah-ree’) language group, located at the southern edge of the Nyungar Nation. The ranger program was founded in 2018 following the creation of ETNTAC’s Healthy Country Plan (HCP), which is a 10-year road map outlining the agreed cultural and biodiversity values and desired outcomes of how Tjaltjraak will manage this Country. A key part of the plan was the creation of an Aboriginal ranger program, which we’re seeing in action today. ⟶

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Healthy Country Plan Coordinator Dave Guilfoyle says that the HCP was developed to help the Elders manage their traditional Country, coming together under ETNTAC to do so. The meaning of Tjaltjraak, which is the Wudjari name of the local blue gum, meaning ‘glow in the dark,’ holds a lot of significance, explains Dave. “There are different varieties of that tree, which represent the different families coming together to develop and then manage their HCP,” he says. “This corporation and work is about enabling and continuing the custodial obligations that the people have to care for their land, a value that is embedded in communities' understandings, life ways, heritage, and spiritualities.

It’s about using those cultural concepts and putting them into a program - the key ingredients and mechanism of which is the rangers. They put the work into action on a practical level, as well as strategical.”

After lunch, we walk through the bush with rangers Lachlan Adamson and Trevor Dimer trailing behind as they explain what they’re looking for. Trevor hollers from behind a bush, raising a rock in his hand that they think is a piece of ‘chert’ – a material that forms in veins on limestone or siltstone that was used to create tools by the traditional owners of the land.

Objects and materials like these help the rangers to map the cultural significance and history of a place – information which is then used to help them in their

efforts to understand the Country we’re standing on.

They are also looking at the state of the land, why it’s struggling, and how they can restore and protect it.

Lachlan Adamson, who has been a ranger for three years after leaving his job in mining, says being a ranger has allowed him to get out on Country and be empowered to look after it. “I was doing things I didn’t like for lots of money,” says Lachlan. “Now I’m doing things I do like for money. This doesn’t really feel like a job to me, it’s far more than that.”

Now in its third year, the program employs and trains Aboriginal men and women of all ages, with a core team of 18 rangers along with a casual crew who jump on board when more hands are needed. On a practical level, the rangers’ work involves everything from data collection, erosion control, water quality testing, fencing, tree planting, dune stabilisation, seed collection, cultural mapping, and visiting sites of significance. Dave says that training is an important part of the program, and while a lot of it is done on the job, there’s a lot of specialised training involved.

“A big part of the program is empowering the rangers and training them for the job, whilst offering them an opportunity to use and share the existing knowledge and skills that have been handed down to them from their families and Elders, and have been learnt by living and breathing their Country,” says Dave.

C AR I N G F O R C O U N T RY

The rangers have been trained in everything from drone operation to heritage studies, data collection to analysis, first aid training to snake handling, and they’ve also completed fire crew member training, enabling the team to work with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to protect these places and projects when there are fires burning.

Xavier Leenders, an anthropologist who is currently completing his PhD in Esperance whilst working alongside Tjaltjraak, summarises the skillset of the team of rangers. “These guys are humble, but they’re kind of everything - archeologist, anthropologist, botanist, hydrologist. All in one,” he says.

This gathering of people in a swampland really demonstrates what the Tjaltjraak rangers are about and how they work collaboratively. “The Elders are providing cultural supervision and guidance and knowledge of that place,” explains Dave. “Then there’s the rangers who are the operational arm, who work with the Elders to get directive and create plans of what needs to be done. Then there’s the project coordinators, who help to put those plans into action. There are also the specialists, today being hydrologists, who come out and give understanding of the places.”

Having recently secured multi-year funding, the rangers are excited about the future of land management, with Lachlan saying that it’s an exciting field to be in. “It’s a great opportunity to get out on Country, create change, inspire other young people, and protect something that has a lot of meaning and importance to so many,” he says.

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Lending a Helpin

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

You’ve probably spotted Devin O’Sullivan around town, either with an armful of newspapers or coffees in hand, busy on the job of delivering daily essentials to those in need. Devin has a diagnosis of autism, and started his own business, Devin’s Handy Office Help, when he left school seven years ago. Working alongside his team of supporters, Devin is flat out serving the Esperance community.

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ng Hand

(One Coffee at a Time) “He also delivers the morning newspaper to a number of Esperance residents who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get one. We have also worked with Home Care to take out the weekly bins, if it is too difficult for older clients to do.”

Michelle says they began looking at setting up a business and what that would look like when Devin was in Year 10. “During Year 11 and 12, Devin did one day work experience learning to do shredding and mail pickups,” she says. “We were then looking at what else we could add to his business to give him more things to do and came up with delivering coffees to businesses, which became delivering anything really, to anyone who gets in contact with us.”

Devin has a busy schedule, with his work day beginning at 9am and usually finishing at 1:30pm, unless they have lots of work on, which isn’t uncommon. “Devin enjoys his work routine and really loves going to so many places around town,” Michelle says. “But his favourite thing to do is relax in the hydropool at the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre after he knocks off.”

Working much like a delivery business, Devin delivers coffees, newspapers, food, lunches, shopping, and mail, and offers shredding services. Many of Devin’s customers are regular customers who rely on him to make their days and lives easier and more efficient. “Devin likes to help people and he has a couple of customers who can’t get out easily to get food, so he drops off shopping to them,” Devin’s mum Michelle says.

Behind Devin and his business stands his family and support team who play a big role in the daily running of his business.

Watching them work together is impressive. They are all very close and have lots of fun, but their efficiency tells you that Devin and his team have been doing this for a while now. “We have been so incredibly lucky since we started with all the support staff we have had,” says Michelle.

“Laurie Maloney really taught Devin so many skills while he was at school; he was our very first team member. Our current support team of Michaela and Travis not only ensure Devin is safe, happy and understanding his work day, but they also run the business. They coordinate the orders and work with customers to get everything done, as well as helping Devin to communicate using his iPad.” Michelle takes care of the paperwork and invoicing. She’s incredibly proud of Devin’s work ethic. “We love seeing him engaging with so many people in the community,” Michelle says. “He cares so much about helping people and everyone is always really happy to see him. He’s a very popular young man.” And Michelle’s right. Many a wave, smile and hello are sent Devin’s way as he spends his days scooting around town picking up and dropping off supplies.

Travis Durbidge has been supporting and working with Devin for three years now and knows ‘Dev’ from their time together at Esperance Senior High School. They were in the same science class, and then he went on to become Devin’s supporter. “It’s been great working with Dev, he’s always in a great mood and it’s just like hanging out with your mate,” says Travis. “The best part of the job is hanging with your mate and spending time in the community. You get to know so many people who you see on a daily basis.” ⟶

Michaela Maynard, Devin O'Sullivan and Travis Durbridge

Devin’s other supporter is Michaela Maynard, who has been working with Dev for a year-and-a-half. Not surprisingly, Michaela says the best part of the job is hanging out with Devin. “Dev and his family are so welcoming and supportive,” says Michaela. “Working in one-on-one support, you build great relationships and it really is just like hanging out with your mate.” Asking Michaela what a typical day in the life working alongside Dev involves, she quickly responds, “Delivering too many coffees and drinking too many coffees!”

Devin is now 25, with a thriving business and amazing support network. He is planning and looking forward to one day being able to live in his own house in Castletown, with support, while he continues to run his business each day. Michelle adds that he’d also love to be able to go back to Bali for a holiday sometime soon. ↓ Devin and his mother, Michelle O’Sullivan

N EED A HAN D? You can support Devin’s business by using his services and by telling your friends about it. If you’d like anything delivered, get in touch by phone or text on 0427 119 200. Devin’s Handy Office Help also has a Facebook and Instagram page that you can follow for updates on Devin’s daily adventures.

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Council Connections Grants boost community Council approved applications from eight community organisations for $230,494 in Annual Grants Over $3,000 at the June Ordinary Council Meeting, as part of the Shire Community Grants Program. The Community Grants Program is the Shire’s principal community investment program, and consists of Small Grants Up To $3,000 and Annual Grants Over $3,000. Some of the projects recently funded are an emergency response and storage facility for the Esperance-Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club, an extension to Esperance Rotary Club’s community storage shed, and a trial of a technology pilot for water management during bushfires by Esperance Zone Innovation.

Contribute to holiday home consultation There are an estimated 150 approved holiday houses in Esperance, with an additional 30 properties estimated to be operating illegally across town. The Shire recognises the increasing demand for short stay properties and the importance of holiday houses to the overall tourist accommodation mix. We want to hear your views on opportunities to better manage the impacts of the short stay accommodation sector on the local community. All the details are available on the Shire website or scan the QR code. Read the Holiday House Briefing Paper and then give your informed opinion through the survey, drop a pin and a comment on the map, or suggest a different option on the ideas wall.

Support for NBL1 games in Esperance Council got behind an exciting event organized by the Esperance Basketball Association (EBA) when they approved the waiver of venue hire fees for the EBA’s upcoming NBL1 Game and associated events in early July. The South West Slammers and Kalgoorlie Giants State Basketball League teams are slated to play two men’s and two women’s games at the Esperance Indoor Stadium between Friday 8 and Sunday 11 July. A fantastic opportunity for basketball enthusiasts of all ages, umpires, and coaches to participate in free player and umpire clinics on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 July is also on offer.

Museum closure planned for after school holidays Council noted that the Museum will be closed for six weeks from July 18, allowing hard working volunteers time for a break. Building maintenance, cleaning, and project work will also be undertaken during this time. Big kudos to the volunteers, who stepped up last summer to keep the Museum open seven days a week during the peak tourist season, a huge effort to help the local community and tourism.

This is even more impressive when considering the drop in volunteer numbers since COVID hit.

Upcoming Council Meetings

Agenda Briefing: 19 July 2022 at 1pm Ordinary Council Meeting: 26 July 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 1 1 / E S P E R A N C E T I D E / J U LY 2 0 2 2

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WI N TER WEEKENDS

Adventures in Albany W O R D S & P H OT O G R A P H Y K A R L I F L O R I S S O N

Albany is Esperance’s older, larger cousin; another seaside town brimming with tourists, pristine beaches, and locals who are passionate about their home. Fast becoming a foodie’s destination, Albany has amazing local beer, wine and spirits on offer, as well as world-class restaurants showcasing local produce. At just under 500 kilometres down the road, it’s close enough for a long weekend away, and is well worth the journey.

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We made a late getaway on Friday for our Albany long weekend, so we hightailed it there, with just a quick stopover in Jerramungup’s excellent playground for the little folk on board.

The scenery on the way is spectacular, with views of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges. If you aren’t in a hurry, we highly recommend the slightly longer route through the Stirling Range National Park (take the road towards Ongerup when you get to Jerramungup). Our weekend in Albany happened to coincide with some terrible weather, and we arrived in town to thunderstorms.

However, that didn’t dampen our enthusiasm and we headed straight to the Supa IGA on North Road, which has an amazing deli section, complete with all the cheeses we could hope for. With our antipasto selection ready to go, we went to check out the beautiful view over King George Sound from Marine Drive.

Stay Albany has an abundance of places to stay, but we opted for a ‘beach shack’ at the Middleton Beach Big 4 Caravan Park. Far from being a shack, it was comfortable and set up with everything we could need, as well as stunning views over Middleton Beach. The caravan park also has good facilities for the kids, including an indoor play area, a pool and spa, and a giant jumping pillow.

The Middleton Beach area is four kilometres to the east of Albany’s city centre. With an abundance of holiday units and a gorgeous beach, we’re already planning to come back again in the summer. There are many places to stay in Albany central as well, including the recently opened waterfront Hilton Garden Inn. We’ll save that one for a trip when we don’t have the littlies!

Eat When it comes to dining out, Albany has an exceptional range of restaurants. Our first choice was Due South, a cavernous building on the waterfront with beautiful views across the bay. We enjoyed chilli mussels and a giant cheeseburger, and were overwhelmed by the vast selection of drinks served from the shipping container bar. You can’t go past Albany’s own Wilson Brewing Co beer. With fast, friendly service, and cute kids’ meals, we’ll certainly be back. For a special birthday dinner, we ate at Garrison, which is located on Mount Clarence, near the ANZAC Centre. The restaurant has incredible views over the bay, and the food was some of the most interesting and memorable we’ve had.

Special mention to the very beautiful Parisianinspired French-Vietnamese restaurant Liberté and to Hybla Tavern in Middleton Beach. ⟶

Play There is so much to see and do in Albany that we didn’t know where to start. York Street has some beautiful historic buildings, and we could spend all day wandering through the interesting shops that line the street. Our favourite shop was Albany’s Gemini Books, a second-hand bookshop with the best range we’ve ever seen. As you’d expect for the historic first settlement in Western Australia, there are also some great museums in Albany.

The National ANZAC Centre has a deeply moving museum and war memorial on Mount Clarence, there is the Museum of the Great Southern, and of course the Historic Whaling Station. If you’re travelling with kids, our tip is to explore the Brig Amity, a historic ship that will make you glad that you didn’t have to travel by sea from England to Australia in the 1800s.

There are several renowned wine regions surrounding Albany, both in the nearby Porongurup and Mt Barker regions, as well as around Denmark. We opted for Denmark, and headed there along the scenic coastal road.

The weather kept us from exploring much, but the main reason we chose Denmark was to marvel at the majestic Karri trees and they didn’t disappoint. We stopped for lunch at the Boston Brewery, which had great food and even better beers, and their popular Tingletop Ginger Beer was the perfect spicy brew for a cold winter’s day. Then it was on to check out a few wineries. Our favourite was the picturesque Singlefile Wines on Walter Road.

There was time for just one more stop before we hit the road back to Albany – the Denmark Gelato Co, where the ice cream is to die for!

A trip to Albany wouldn’t be complete without a walk on the boardwalk that goes up the hill from Middleton Beach. The view is amazing, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot whales in the bay. Back down the hill, we stopped for a drink at the Three Anchors, while the kids played on the pirate ship in the playground. The next morning, we were on the road homeward bound, but not before we stopped in at the Bred Co. Sourdough Bakery on Albany Highway, just after the turnoff to York Street. The little bakery grinds their own Kendenup-grown wheat onsite and bakes bread and a range of delicious pastries. We bought some coffees, a couple of baguettes, and some pastries stuffed with strawberry cream for the road. Delicious, and just what we needed to get us back home to Esperance.

W HERE W E STAY ED Middleton Beach Big 4 Caravan Park. The ‘Beach House’ costs $340 a night, and sleeps up to eight people.

W HAT W E AT E Excellent pub food at Due South, dinner fit for a king (or a special birthday boy) at Garrison, tapas at Hybla, and much more!

W HAT W E L O VED MO ST Tasting wines among the mighty Karri trees in Denmark, by a wood fire, accompanied by chocolate and cheese. The views around Albany were pretty spectacular as well!

O UR B EST T IP Plan in advance. There is so much to do that you won’t get the most out of it without having a plan. It’s also a good idea to make reservations for the restaurants you want to go to, as they can get busy. And take your loosest pants! You’ll need them.

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2022 Esperance ity Anglican Commlun School Bal Friday 24 June at Pink Lake Country Club

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PHOTOGRAPHER ROSIE HENDERSON

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12 1) Richard Henderson 2) Ben Murgatroyd and Harriet Crane 3) Ashton Burnside and Danielle Baker 4) Alicia Ballack and Richard Henderson 5) Harriet Crane, Shelby Daw and Ella Purchase 6) Ella Purchase and Shelby Daw 7) Anna Tobin and Caitlin Brown 8) Bailey Fiegert 9) Grace Butle and Charlie Tate 10) Levi Myer, Rauridh Fraser, Ben Murgatroyd, Josh Holberton, Josh Kinyai and Jandre Viviers 11) Shelby Daw, Mya De grussa and Lauren Ware 12) Charli Brewer, Bella Steinle, Ashleigh Hughes and Nikahla Andrews 13) Charlie Purchase and Mya De Grussa

Our monthly arts & culture guide brought to you by:

Blues & Brews: Ravensthorpe Edition FRI 8 JULY @ 6PM RAVENSTHORPE COMMUNITY CENTRE Tickets from $11 • Humantix

Rowan Donovan FRI 8 JULY @ 5PM LUCKY BAY BREWING ENTERTAINMENT

LIVE MUSIC

Comedy Gold 2022

Bec Shutz

SAT 9 JULY @ 7PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE

FRI 1 JULY @ 5PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Tickets from $17 • The Shire website

Drag Queen Show SAT 9 JULY @ 8PM ESPERANCE BAY TURF CLUB Tickets from $30 • Humantix

Open Mic Night FRI 1 JULY @ 5:30PM CANNERY ARTS CENTRE

Blues & Brews

Scott White and Joe Franzone

SAT 9 JULY @ 4PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

SUN 3 JULY @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Cloud Nine

Tickets $28.50 • TryBooking

A mid-winter celebration of live music and beer, featuring two of WA's finest blues musicians, Lightnin Jack and Tracey Barnett, supported by Mousey and Rowan Donovan.

MON 11 JULY @ 7PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Join the Giovanni Consort, Western Australia’s professional chamber choir, as they escort you through a musical shadowland filled with lullaby, soundscape and dreaming.

Rowan Donovan SUN 10 JULY @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

The Stories of Swing FRI 22 JULY @ 7PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Tickets $25 • The Shire website

Western Australia’s leading jazz musicians, Swinging at the Savoy, have come together to celebrate the untold stories of great swing era performers.

Billy Rufus Stardust + The Mission

FRI 15 JULY @ 5PM & SUN 17 JULY @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

TUE 5 JULY @ 7:30PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Tickets from $15 • The Shire website

Stardust tells the story of Col Brain, a professional trumpet/cornet player and bandmaster.

Campbell Garratt FRI 22 JULY @ 5PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

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

&

Blues Brews LUCKY BAY BREWERY

SAT JULY 9

Lightnin Jack Tracey Barnett Mousey Stewart Rowan Donovan

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4PM

TICKETS: kyzapresents.com

Melody Pool

THE BRIDGE

SUN 24 JULY @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

kids 12-18 $11+BF and under 12s free. Throw in a free bus ride home and you have an all-time mid-winter celebration. Grab your tix from www. kyzapresents.com to join the action.

Travis Green FRI 29 JULY @ 5PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

Club 75 Vol.3 SAT 30 JULY @ 6PM CANNERY ARTS CENTRE Tickets from $19.50 • www.canneryartscentre. com.au

Southern Edge SUN 31 JULY @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING WORKSHOPS

Pre-Production with Robin Bottrell SUN 31 JULY @ 1PM CANNERY ARTS CENTRE Join Robin Bottrell, frontman of The Washing Line Economy, as he discusses the ins and outs of preparing for the recording studio.

EXHIBITIONS

Ngalak Unity: A Wudjari Nyungar Cultural Immersion & Aboriginal Art Exhibition ENDS JULY 26 CANNERY ARTS CENTRE MARKETS

Museum Village Markets SUN 3, 17 & 31 JULY @ 8:30AM ESPERANCE MUSEUM VILLAGE

Esperance Grower’s Market SAT 10 & 24 JULY @ 9AM ESPERANCE SCOUT HALL

Last year, Grand Casual headed across to Margaret River to play Blazing Brews at The Beer Farm. The gig fell in July and it was cold, but man oh man did we have a great time. There’s just something about live music, cold beer, and smoke billowing from a hearty fire that fits so well together. This experience gave rise to Blues & Brews, set to fall Saturday 9 July at Lucky Bay Brewing. I’ve got a feeling that it may become an annual outing. We welcome back two of WA’s great solo artists in Lightnin Jack and Tracey Barnett. It’s been a good while since Jack has been across and if you're yet to catch him live I’d say prepare for a solid boogie - he is a true blues man. At the time of writing, Tracey has been nominated for yet another WA Music Award, her tune ‘Haunted’ up for an Outstanding Regional WAM Song of the Year Award. Tracey writes a mean blues track, there’s no doubt about it. Tracey and Jack are joined by local Mousey Stewart and ex-local Rowan Donovan, both lads exceptional performers in their own right. Tickets are moving fast for this one and with adults $27.50+BF,

/fenwick.cinemas @fenwick3cinemas

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

Dempster St, Esperance

PLEASE NOTE LIMITED SEATING - ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASES ADVISED 1 7 / E S P E R A N C E T I D E / J U LY 2 0 2 2

The Cannery Arts Centre winter music program, presented in partnership with Kyza Presents, is in full swing. Club 75, held on June 18, sold out and was cosy as hell.

July's winter program includes a classic open mic night on Friday 1 July from 5.30pm, a banging Club 75 on Saturday 30 July featuring DJ Senique, Robin Bottrell, Cam Garratt, Travis Green, and Mary Leske, and a free pre-production workshop with Robin on Sunday 31 July from 1pm. Tickets for Club 75 are live and can be purchased from www.canneryartscentre.com. au. Back in April it was difficult to tell exactly what the winter months’ live music program would look like, with the threat of COVID hanging in the wings. I was absolutely wrapped when the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) and The Rotary Club of Esperance Bay (RCEB) committed financial support to 2022’s Cannery winter music program, with both organisations' contributions allowing for financial certainty in uncertain times. The Cannery Arts Centre and Kyza Presents extend our thanks to GEDC and RCEB, whose sponsorship allows us to continue to deliver for the local community.

KYRON SMITHSON - KYZA PRESENTS

ME E T T H E ART I ST

Donna Beach Donna Beach is an Aboriginal artist who shares her Wudjari culture with the community through her vibrant paintings. Donna’s work can be seen on interpretative signage at several natural attractions throughout the local region, as well as at South Regional TAFE’s Esperance campus, where Our Country – Kepa Kurl Nyungar Boodja, a journey of wadarn boodja (sea country), adorns the entrance to the administration building. Led by Jennell Reynolds, Donna was a contributing artist to this striking piece, which reflects the coastline, sky, islands, waterholes, and the many life forms connected to these. When she’s not painting, Donna enjoys spending time with family, and sits on the board of Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation.

Firstly, tell us what you create!

I create artwork to bring awareness and understanding to our environment and my culture.

How old were you when you began to paint?

I learnt to paint as a child. I learnt from watching my parents and siblings. My sisters and brothers were good artists. As I got older, I studied art further at the former Curtin University campus in Esperance.

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

I work in collaboration with a community of artists and together we produce artwork and art statements of our culture through interpretive signage and song lines, to better inform the community of our Wudjari connection to any specific area.

Is art an important aspect of your life?

It is an important aspect of my life because it brings awareness of our culture to the wider community and provides an opportunity to see it through our eyes.

Walich Dreaming is a work you created for interpretive signage at Mandooboornup (Frenchman Peak). Tell us the story behind the piece.

Walich Dreaming is an interpretive artwork about our Dreamtime story of our ancestors’ lifestyle and the creation of landforms off the coast. It is a significant part of the Wudjari culture, and we pass the story down through the younger generations.

Do you have any other public pieces of art?

I have artwork in the lake systems, at Woody Lake and Lake Windabout. I also have collaborative artwork at the new South Regional TAFE campus, which opened last year.

Are there any recurring themes in your paintings?

I paint my ancestral and cultural heritage, where and what is significant to me and my connection. The recurring themes are of my culture and both my parents’ heritage.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from my heritage and culture, as well as ancestral Dreamtime creation stories, songlines and my personal connection to my boodja.

When you’re not painting, what do you enjoy doing?

When I am not painting, I love to spend time with family enjoying various activities and get togethers out on Wudjari boodja.

Lastly, let us in on a secret. What’s something not many people know about you?

Something that people don’t know about me is that I was awarded Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander of the Year for two years in a row and was a state finalist for Art and Design.

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ARTS & CULTURE NG ALAK | U N I T Y An Aboriginal art exhibition opened at the Cannery Arts Centre recently, in celebration of Wudjari Nyungar culture. Opening just in time for NAIDOC Week 2022, NGALAK | UNITY features work by local and visiting artists and runs alongside several cultural events and activities on offer to the whole community.

Opening night of NGALAK | UNITY in the Cannery’s main gallery was held on June 30. The event gave attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in Wudjari Nyungar culture through art, storytelling, film, dance, music, and bush tucker-inspired food. If you missed the opening, you still have plenty of opportunity to immerse yourself this month, with the exhibition, events and activities running right through July.

The NGALAK | UNITY exhibition features artwork by local Wudjari Nyungar artists Atheleen Thomas and Robert Woods, ‘Bush to Sea’ wood carvings by Tim Phoebe, and a collection of works from artists of the Minyma Kutjara Arts Project from the Ngaanyatjarra lands.

Minyma Kutjara Arts Project is in the

Irrunytju community in the Gibson Desert, 10 kilometres from the tri-state border of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.

The project is the central creative hub of Irrunytju, where artists Emu Dreaming by Dianne young and old create Dawson & Alkwari Dawson, Minyma Kutjara Arts Project artworks, share stories, and pass on knowledge.

Working in a diverse are free, but bookings must be made range of mediums, with a strong via the Cannery’s website. connection to culture, Country and As part of NGALAK | UNITY, a number community, artists continue tradition of workshops will also be held at while creating a sustainable business the Cannery for kids aged 5 to 17, model for future generations. focussing on storytelling through In addition to the exhibition, you art. Artists Atheleen and Robert can immerse yourself in Wudjari will explain the different creative Nyungar culture by joining a walk on processes and techniques used to Country with Elder Nanna Annie from create cultural art, with a focus on Dabungool Cultural Experiences. Hear how cultural stories are brought to about Nanna Annie’s life growing up life and what the different symbols and living around the bushland of in Aboriginal art signify. Participants the Cannery and the foods available will paint their own story creating during the season of Makuru, the a unique artwork on canvas to take coldest and wettest time of year, home. The two-hour workshops will before finishing with a bush tuckerbe held on July 7 and 14, and can be inspired morning tea. Two walks booked via the Cannery’s website. are being held as part of NGALAK | HANNAH SIEMER UNITY, on July 5 and 9. These events

IM MERSE Y OU RSEL F I N WU D J A R I NYU NG A R CUL T URE The NGALAK | UNITY exhibition runs at the Cannery Arts Centre from June 30 – July 26. For further information on the exhibition, walk on Country, or kids’ art workshops, visit www.canneryartscentre.com.au. NGALAK | UNITY is a collaboration between Mudjar Aboriginal Corporation and the Cannery Arts Centre, supported by the Shire of Esperance, Regional Arts WA and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.

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5 MI N U T E S WI T H

Tracey Barnett KYRON SMITHSON

Tracey Barnett is a name synonymous with the Western Australian music scene and, in particular, the regional music scene, having played an epic number of shows around the state. Hailing from Bridgetown, it is not surprising that her sound draws hard upon the blues genre, in true hip-shaking and toe-tapping style. Tracey is no stranger to Esperance, having performed multiple times over the past 10 years, developing a solid local following. Phaedra Watts, Festival Director of the Nannup Music Festival, speaks very highly of Tracey.

“It’s always incredible when a woman straddles the blues, whilst allowing her authentic self to shine through and give it her own,” she says. “Tracey has grown into her skin and it makes for a great musical treat.” I couldn't agree more. I’m absolutely wrapped to have Tracey back to Esperance for Blues & Brews at Lucky Bay Brewing on July 9, alongside Lightnin Jack, Mousey Stewart, and Rowan Donovan. I caught up with Tracey for Esperance Tide ahead of her performance.

Growing up, who were your key influences?

Any hints for songwriters with writer's block?

Early in life I remember my dad’s cassette of The Shadows. In my teens it was The Offspring, Tool and John Butler… I’ve always had quite a varied taste in music.

One way is pure discipline. To exercise that creative writing brain every goddamn day, until eventually it welcomes the flow back or you at least start to see some nuggets worth keeping - some good lines or phrases or a topic that gets all your senses firing. I have starved myself of audio, but I’m not sure I recommend it! No podcasts, no listening to music, nothing until my mind is forced to create its own song. If the disciplinary approach isn’t going anywhere though, then I recommend stepping away from it. Go about living life and throwing yourself into experiences. Eventually you’ll find something that speaks to you so loudly you will have to write it down.

At what point did you begin to veer towards blues music?

It was a slow evolution. The seed was planted when my high school attended workshops at the Blues at Bridgetown Festival. It was around the same time I discovered John Butler and that kind of twist on blues music with the roots edge resonated with me. I was playing rhythm guitar in rock and metal bands, but still dabbling with the bluesy roots stuff. Eventually my songwriting style just seemed to evolve that way, particularly once I started performing solo.

How do you get into the head space to write?

Nowadays it’s about giving myself permission to just play and be creative for the freedom and fun of it. I have to take away the pressure that what I create might be shared. I pretty much always have to write from a fairly emotional and exposed place. It’s kind of like journalling, so if my brain thinks someone might get to hear what I let out, it either gets too protective or gets way too critical and shuts down.

How do you find the Esperance audience compared to other regional centres?

The Esperance crew have a way of making me feel like I’m part of the community. The supporters I have gained there are so generous and unwavering in their efforts to support my musical journey. It honestly blows me away.

There’s always someone reaching out to offer a place to stay or rouse up a mob to come to a show. They really do seem to go to more lengths than some other regional places and I’m not sure if it’s because they know it’s a pretty long drive or if it's just because that’s Esperance.

Either way I feel supported and welcomed there and that keeps me coming back.

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Applications Now Open!

Round 5 Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants Goldfields-Esperance Program The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) is seeking applications for the Round 5 Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants Program.

The RED Grants Program is a State Government initiative that development in regional Western Australia. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that their project aligns with one or more of the following RED Grant objectives: • • • • •

Sustainable jobs Developing skills or capabilities Increasing productivity Attracting new investment in the region Expanding or diversifying industry

Eligible applicants including businesses can apply for RED Grants funding of up to $250,000 for individual projects.

Applications close Wednesday 5pm, 24 August 2022.

Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

For guidelines and application forms visit www.gedc.wa.gov.au/ For further information please contact the grants team at the GEDC on grants@gedc.wa.gov.au or call (08) 9080 5000.

The Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants is funded by the State Government, supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: TASHI HALL

Who are you listening to now?

I’m getting keen for the new album from Larkin Poe, so I’m cup filling with the back catalogue at the moment.

Can you relay your fondest memory from your work within the music industry?

There've been some real tear jerking moments through my involvement in mental health, but a lot of those stories aren’t really mine to share. So let’s go with Boyup Brook Country Music Awards in 2018. Although I didn’t win any of my nominations, one of the judges from the songwriting category was so blown away by my song, he begged the committee to introduce him to the songwriter.

SEE T RA C EY L I V E Tracey Barnett will be playing at Lucky Bay Brewing for Blues & Brews on July 9. Tickets available at TryBooking.

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Empowering the Next Generation of Women WORDS HANNAH SIEMER

In Lesa Blackham’s 30 years as a school teacher, she saw it all. However, nothing stood out to Lesa more than the number of young women holding themselves back and not realising their full potential, for fear of rejection, criticism, ridicule, and judgement. Even in 2022, when girls and women are told they can do anything and be anything, Lesa believes girls are still not treated equally to their male peers.

“While the messaging is out there that we can have and do what we want, the reality is we still live in a patriarchal society,” Lesa says. “You can see it in our gender bias, you can see it in our pay gaps, you can see it in the roles that we play.”

Motivated to inspire, encourage, and drive young women to become their best possible selves, Lesa launched FemEmpowered last year. The eight-week after-school program is designed to help pre-teen and teenage girls navigate what Lesa calls ‘teenagerdom,’ a period of childhood that can be challenging for kids, as they detach themselves from their parents’ identities and evolve into their own unique selves. FemEmpowered teaches 10 - 14-year-old girls the coping tools and strategies they need to manage the challenges life throws at them. “The program provides girls with a safe place where they can be themselves, where there’s no judgement, no criticism,” Lesa says. “The whole self is accepted in our groups.”

Retired from teaching, Lesa is now the founder and creative director of Lesa Blackham Coaching, a venture she undertook five years ago after experiencing burnout one too many times. To manage the stress of work, volunteering, and being a parent, Lesa took up yoga and meditation. She found so much relief in the practices that she was soon teaching them herself. Coaching was a natural progression. Lesa recognised her potential to become what renowned parenting author Maggie Dent refers to as a ‘lighthouse,’ someone who shines a light for others to help show them the way. “It’s something I’d been doing my entire life anyway, through my roles as a teacher, a netball coach, and a mentor,” Lesa says. “We need more lighthouses for our young people in places like Esperance where spiritual, emotional, and mental support is limited.”

Lesa is now a lighthouse for people of all ages, coaching adults and children alike. In the early days of FemEmpowered, Lesa targeted the program at older teens, but quickly found demand to cater for the 10 – 14-year-old age bracket. She says running the program for this age group encourages participants to form good habits early on, before bad habits become ingrained in their way of being, making the habits harder to break.

It’s also an age when kids are on the brink of immense physical and social change. “They’re just coming out of childhood and starting to have more autonomy and independence, and people’s expectations of them are changing,” Lesa says. “We’re getting in just as that’s starting to happen and preparing them for what’s to come. I didn’t plan to work with girls so young but now I am, I know this is the right place.”

FemEmpowered sessions provide participants with an opportunity to debrief about things happening in their lives, as well as engage in workshop-style activities based on themes, like self-confidence and self-reflection.

Lesa tailors the activities to suit the girls’ moods, being more physical when they’re restless, and more passive when they’re tired. She also invites guest presenters to the sessions, who Lesa says are local women that can bring something to the program that she can’t. Recent guests have included naturopath Kate Liddle to discuss the importance of sleep and the relationship between mood and food, artist Clare Jamieson to teach bullet

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PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

journaling, and yoga instructor Jess Hudson. Lesa says the girls not only learn skills and strategies from the guests, but form connections, too. “I’m building a network of lighthouses so the girls can meet other women who are doing amazing things in our community and build a support network around them,” she says. “I’m creating a big women’s circle, bringing together women of all different ages, because that’s something that’s missing in a lot of young girls’ lives.”

FemEmpowered has now been running for three terms, and Lesa says feedback from both parents and participants has so far been overwhelmingly supportive and appreciative. The response from the wider community

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has been encouraging too, with two local businesses Smith Shearer and Find Balance Studio - believing in the program so much that they are offering scholarships to girls who might have otherwise been unable to partake.

As FemEmpowered flourishes, Lesa hopes she can grow the timetable and encourage other regional communities to run the program. “Parents say to me within a few weeks, ‘Oh my goodness, my daughter is starting to shine and her confidence is growing,’” Lesa says. “Their demeanour, the way they handle themselves, the way they show up for themselves at school and home, it’s a complete change.”

EMPO W ER Y O UR DAUGHT ER FemEmpowered is open to all female-identifying adolescents aged 10 – 14. The eight-week program runs during school terms, with groups capped at 12 participants to ensure a safe and manageable environment. For further information, visit www.lesablackham.com.au.

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How to Get Organised (and Stay Organised!)

Do you ever look at other people and wonder how they manage to get so much done? Do you sometimes feel as though you wander around in a cloud, trailing lost papers, forgotten tasks, and unanswered emails behind you? Getting organised is hard work, but it’s also a skill that can be learnt, especially if you start to practice it regularly. Dr Steve Florisson is one of the most productive people we know. He’s not only the CEO of Boarding Training Australia, a registered training organisation that trains boarding staff across Australia and internationally, but a board member for several organisations, too, including Esperance Care Services.

We asked Steve for his top tips on how to get organised and stay organised.

Know where you are going When it comes to being organised, it’s important to have clear goals. This will help you know what you are aiming for and what you need to prioritise. Steve suggests spending some time setting long-term goals so that you know what you want to achieve this year. These can be work related goals, home related goals, or personal goals - anything you want to achieve. Then spend some time breaking down those long-term goals into monthly and weekly goals. Manage your progress by reviewing your goals regularly and setting yourself weekly tasks that will help you to achieve them.

Maintain your focus We live in a world that is determined to distract us at every turn. It’s important to learn how to turn off the distractions and keep our focus on the task at hand. As Steve states, research shows that it takes up to 26 minutes to regain our focus after an interruption. If your day is filled with interruptions, this adds up to a lot of wasted time. Steve suggests that you try to minimise interruptions by allocating time when your email and phone notifications are turned off, and you don’t accept visitors. Steve also suggests having a system to manage emails and messages, such as only checking and responding to emails at a certain time of day. It’s also important to take regular short breaks in between tasks, in order to give your mind a chance to rest and refocus.

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Cut down the clutter A cluttered workspace is distracting and wastes time.

Whether your workspace is a desk, a kitchen bench, or another creative space, spend 10 minutes at the start of each day making sure that your workspace is tidy and well-ordered. This includes your devices – get rid of clutter from your computer desktop, and delete unused apps from your phone. Develop a system of storing paperwork that you need, and use it regularly! Get rid of unused items in your home as well, and put things away where they belong regularly. The time that you use in getting rid of clutter will be time that you save in the long run.

Make meetings more efficient We’ve all been in that meeting that feels like it is never going to end. Meetings can take a lot of time out of our day, and distract us from tasks that are more important.

Steve suggests deciding if a meeting is essential before proceeding, and then having a well-planned agenda that is sent out in advance. Of course, sometimes meetings are a great source of generating creativity and support, but a well-planned meeting will certainly waste less time.

There’s an app for that!

While technology can be a distraction, it can also be a great help when it comes to getting organised. Whatever your organisational issue, there’s almost certainly an app that can help. Steve suggests using Asana or Trello at work to help with workflow management and assigning tasks to team members. He also recommends using a calendar app to keep track of appointments, and a task app such as Todoist or TickTick to keep track of tasks that you need to get done. Apps such as AnyList or Out of Milk will help you create grocery shopping lists and share those lists with other household members. There are apps to keep track of your passwords (LastPass) and your contacts (CamCard) as well as apps to help you manage your emails (ActiveInbox) and even to help you plan your day (Jour). Try the ones that suit your needs, and you’ll be feeling more organised in no time.

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5 MI NUTE HIS TOR Y

Highlighting People & Places of the Past KARLI FLORISSON

Esperance has a wealth of fascinating historical heritage. In recent years, the town has begun to recognise and celebrate many of the people and places from our past, with the foreshore development in particular paying tribute to both the Nyungar heritage of our land and other fascinating stories from our past. More recently, signage commemorating Tommy Windich’s life and legacy has been installed, a project developed by Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, supported by Southern Ports. And this month, the Esperance Historical Society, supported by the Shire of Esperance, is installing signage at Observatory Beach to acknowledge the French expedition that Esperance was named after. Here are the stories relating to these projects.

Tommy Windich Tommy was born in 1840 near Mount Stirling, around 200 kilometres east of Perth. His Indigenous name was Kungaitch. He belonged to the Kokar people, and spoke their language Njaggi Njaggi, although he was also fluent in other Indigenous languages.

In the early 1860s, Tommy began to work as a tracker for the police, a native constable, and began to help those seeking new land in the area around York.

In 1866, Tommy accompanied explorer Charles Hunt on an expedition east of York, heading towards the Kalgoorlie area, intent on opening up new grazing land and finding sources of water in the area.

The expedition was cut short as Hunt became ill. Additionally, Tommy was involved in a hunt for Joseph Johns, also known as bushranger Moondyne Joe, a convict who escaped prison multiple times. After one of these escapes, Johns was on the run for a month, and Tommy eventually helped the police track him down 37 kilometres east of York.

In 1869, due to Tommy’s already excellent reputation, John Forrest invited him to join his expedition to search for Ludwig Leichhardt’s missing exploration party. The

expedition, made up of six men, went as far inland as present-day Laverton. In 1870, John and Alexander Forrest undertook an expedition to survey the route from South Australia to Western Australia that the explorer Eyre had undertaken 30 years earlier, taking Tommy Windich with them, along with three other men. Along the way, the party spent a fortnight in Esperance, staying with the Dempsters. They completed the journey from Perth to Adelaide, along the coast, in six months, and arrived in good health, without losing a single horse. The same journey had taken Eyre 12 months.

In 1874, Tommy accompanied John and Alexander Forrest on another expedition, travelling from Geraldton to Adelaide. It was very difficult terrain, and Tommy’s exceptional skills as a hunter and tracker saved the life of the party several times.

They arrived in Adelaide after six months, the first expedition to go through the centre of the state.

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The men arrived back in Perth to a hero’s welcome, with banquets and receptions held in their honour.

Tommy Windich, along with the other Indigenous tracker who was part of the expedition, Tommy Pierre, were both honoured for their roles in the dangerous journey.

In 1876, Tommy began to work as a guide for the construction crew that was building the overland telegraph line in the Esperance area.

He contracted pneumonia, and was nursed by Esperance pioneer Caroline Hannett. Tommy died in Esperance in February 1876, at the age of 36. At the time, explorers were celebrities, and Tommy was particularly famous throughout the state because of his tracking and hunting skills. All three of the Perth newspapers of the time carried the news of his death. John and Alexander Forrest organised for a headstone to be erected over his grave.

John Forrest, who later became Premier of WA, named Windich Springs, located east of Meekatharra, after Tommy. Windich Street in Esperance is also named in his honour. The site of his grave is now known as the Tommy Windich Cultural Precinct.

The Naming of Esperance In 1791, an expedition left France in search of Jean Francoise de La Perouse, an explorer who had disappeared while attempting to circumnavigate the world. The search party, under the command of Admiral Antoine Bruni d’Entrecasteaux, consisted of two ships, the Recherche and the Esperance, captained by Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec. As many will know, Esperance translates to hope, while Recherche means research.

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 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. Prior to the European arrivals, the Wudjari Nyungar people had made their home in this area for many thousands of years. The Wudjari Nyungar people call Esperance ‘Kepa Kurl’, meaning ‘the place where the water lies like a boomerang.’

After sheltering from the storm, Admiral Bruni d’Entrecasteaux and his crew spent some time anchored in Esperance Bay, making some minor repairs to the Esperance. They sent some men in one of the small boats 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.

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 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.’ 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.

Sadly, 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.

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CA N C E R

JU N 2 1 - J U L 2 2

Love is on your mind this month. If you’re in a relationship, expect to be brought closer to your partner.

Milk it! Plan a romantic activity, like a sunset walk along West Beach on a still winter’s afternoon, or a glass of mulled wine on the veranda accompanied by a playlist you both enjoy. If you’re single, be open to new opportunities. Don't be hell-bent on finding your soul mate but rather on having fun. Let things flow naturally.

LE O

JUL 2 3 - A U G 2 2

Health is front of mind this month.

With flu season upon us, it’s important you take extra care to stay fit and healthy. Wet and wild weather is no excuse to skip the gym and order pizza instead. Getting your activewear on is going to take extra determination throughout July, but you’ll feel so much better for it when you do. Pull out the slow cooker and throw on a veg-packed soup before work. This will make maintaining your health that little bit easier.

VI RGO

AU G 2 3 - S E P 2 2

Generosity abounds this month, but whether you will be the one to give or to receive remains to be seen. It’s better to give than receive, so be on the front foot with your friends and family.

Surprise someone with a delivery from Bob & Jim’s or a spa date at B Naturally You. If you’re strapped for cash, homemade brownies or homegrown veggies are just as thoughtful. Then sit back as you watch them pay it back or, better yet, pay it forward.

LI BRA

S EP 2 3 - O CT 2 2

You’ve been very strict on yourself lately and although your self-discipline is admirable, you need to take a break from competing with yourself every now and then. You place unreasonable expectations upon yourself, and those expectations sit on your shoulders 24/7. It’s likely you’ve forgotten how to relax, so retrain yourself to do just that this month. Allow yourself an hour or two to do something mindless, like whale watching, going to the movies, or reading the Tide cover to cover.

SCORPI O

O CT 2 3 - N O V 2 1

P IS CES

FE B 18 - MA R 1 9

Sometimes life lets you down. You look after your health, work hard, and make an effort with family and friends, but every now and then, you feel like you’re being kicked in the guts. Unfortunately, you won’t be rewarded as much as you deserve to be this month. Now is a good time to start a gratitude journal. Dwell on what is going right, rather than what is going wrong, and you might discover things aren’t as bad as they NOV 22 - DEC 21 seem.

The weather has you wanting to curl up with a chai latte and a juicy podcast, but your friends are ready to party.

Don’t knock back too many invites this month. It might be cold outside, but this isn’t an excuse to go into hibernation. Your zest for life depends on variety. If your uggies are fused to your feet, invite some friends over for a movie night so you can be both a sloth and a social butterfly at the same time.

SAGITTARIUS

You’re not usually one to make a mountain out of a molehill but recently, it feels like every small inconvenience is the end of the earth. It’s okay to be a drama queen once in a while. You’re particularly sensitive to events around you at the moment and this will pass, but in the meantime practice the art of relaxation in whatever form works for you. Whether that’s sound healing or yelling at the footy on the TV, do more of it this month.

CA PRI COR N DE C

2 2 - JAN 2 0

Money is on your mind this month and you find yourself coming up with ways to make more of it. Don’t be fooled by get quick rich or MLM schemes. You’re not going to become a millionaire from the comfort of your own home. Why do you want to inflate your bank balance?

Is it to get ahead on the mortgage, take a well-earned holiday or finally upgrade your car? Or is it to keep up with the Jones’? The answer will determine how motivated you are.

AQUA RIUS

JAN 2 0 - FE B 17

You’re in for a wild month. Everything will happen at once, and you’ll find yourself muttering, “When it rains, it pours!” Remember, you don’t have to say yes to everything.

Take time to make decisions, even small ones. Where you can, say no.

This will provide you with muchneeded breathing space to focus on what’s most important. Piling too much on your plate will leave you uncomfortably full, but carefully choosing from the buffet will leave you much more satisfied.

2 8 / E S P E R A N C E T I D E / J U LY 2 0 2 2

AR IES

MAR 2 0 - A PR IL 1 9

It’s no secret you’re a hard worker.

But your efforts, whether they be as a paid employee, volunteer, parent or carer, are not often recognised.

While this doesn’t make you any less motivated, it would be nice to receive a pat on the back once in a while.

This month, tell your boss about your recent overtime or be honest with a friend when they ask how you are.

There is nothing wrong with seeking praise once in a blue moon.

TAUR US

AP R 2 0 - MAY 20

Spend as much time as you can outdoors this month. It might be the middle of winter, but the time is ripe for disconnecting from the rat race and reconnecting with nature.

You probably need it more than you realise. Skip the gym in favour of a run or a hike outside, and have a coldie with your friends overlooking the ocean, instead of at the pub. Feel the sand between your toes and the wind in your hair at every opportunity.

GEM INI

MAY 2 1 - J UN 20

If you’re in need of self-imposed selfisolation, go for it this month. Make time to be alone and work through your issues or on a personal project.

You don’t need to give anyone a reason as to why you’re not up to socialising; this is your business and your business alone. Spending this time with yourself will allow you to reflect on where you are and where you want to be. Use your time wisely and you’ll find yourself ahead of the pack.

T ID E KI T CH EN

Potato Focaccia Bread When someone says, “Don’t bring anything!” bring this. There’s a little bit of waiting involved but overall, it’s quite simple and extremely crowd pleasing.

Ingredients 1 large red potato (about 150-180g), peeled and quartered 500g plain flour 7g dry yeast 3g sugar 7g salt Olive oil Fresh rosemary 1 royal blue potato, thinly sliced

Method 1.

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2.

Boil the potato until soft. Add to a measuring jug and blend with a stick blender until smooth. Fill the jug with cold water up to the 500ml line.

3.

In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, yeast, sugar and salt, and whisk until combined.

4.

Once the potato mixture has cooled (it needs to be less than 45°C), add it to the flour mixture. Knead with your hands until mixed through, there are no lumps, and the mixture pulls away from the bowl. You might need to add more flour.

5.

6.

Prepare a 20cm pan by rubbing it first with butter, and then oiling it with olive oil (about a tablespoon).

Once ready, add the dough and spread to fit across the pan.

7.

Top the mixture with thin slices of potato, rosemary leaves, a good pinch of salt, and a decent drizzle of olive oil. Make sure the edges of the dough are lined with olive oil.

8.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the focaccia is nice and golden. Can be served warm or cold.

Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling wrap. Let it sit for at least one hour, or until it has doubled in size.

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

Phone (08) 9071 0500

Email enquiries@freightlinesgroup.com.au

www.freightlinesgroup.com.au 2 9 / E S P E R A N C E T I D E / J U LY 2 0 2 2

BUSH BANTER a lot of garden plants, such as roses and citrus, that are also affected.

Low shrubland infested with dieback

Be Aware of Dieback Well, winter’s arrival has been every bit as abrupt as the shock of stepping out the door and into wind coming straight off Antarctica. I look forward to the bush in winter.

The leaves soften, there’s less crunch underfoot, everything smells sweet and the moss and greenery seems to take over. However, being in the bush in winter also stresses me out. It’s the wetter months that we’re at much greater risk of spreading Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback. Dieback is a water mould

that attacks the roots of a range of plant species. This basically causes mass plant deaths. A few common plant species affected are Banksias, Grevilleas and Leucopogons. If you’ve driven into the Alexander Bay campsite recently and seen on the track the dying Showy Banksias, this is caused by dieback. Obviously this has devastating effects on biodiversity, but it also reduces the amenity and values of why we spend time in the bush. Alexander Bay would be a lot less appealing if the beautiful Banksias around the camp bays suddenly died. There are also

You can reduce the spread of dieback by doing a few easy things, like cleaning all dirt and mud off the things you take into the bush.

Think the bottom of your shoes and car tyres, anywhere collecting dirt or mud. When cleaning down, mix solutions with 30 per cent methylated spirits. If you’re more likely to be getting muddy, think about going another time when it’s drier. Always stick to the existing tracks, as every step into the bush has the potential to spread diseases and making new tracks only increases this risk.

Whilst dieback is particularly prevalent and of concern in Esperance, it’s certainly not the only plant pathogen. As COVID has shown us, the world of pathogens (and yes, that applies to plants) is ever-evolving and the next threat is unknown. We should really therefore be thinking more broadly of biosecurity hygiene, because if it’s not dieback, it may be some other nasty disease that is being carried or spread.

K AT I E W H I T E - C A L A D E N I A C O .

B U S H B A NT E R I S K I NDLY 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”

Last month's 01

It was announced a 12-month town bus service trial will begin in Esperance on July 4, with three new bus routes promising to improve access around town and nearby suburbs. The State Government, in partnership with the Shire of Esperance, is introducing a trial town bus service, which will run between town centre and Castletown, Nulsen, and West Beach. Passenger numbers will be reviewed regularly and at the end of the trial, an analysis of consistent patronage will determine whether the service continues.

02 A company that will undertake exploration for rare

earth resources in the Esperance area made its ASX debut on June 22. OD6 Metals is based in West Perth, but its operations will focus on exploration programs at Splinter Rock, 150 kilometres north-east of Esperance, and Grass Patch, 80 kilometres north of Esperance. The ASX listing followed an $8 million initial public offering.

Rare earth elements are used in advanced electronics, permanent magnets in electric motors, wind turbines and battery technologies.

3 0 / E S P E R A N C E T I D E / J U LY 2 0 2 2

Book your classifieds advert online esperancetide.com/classifieds Or email hello@esperancetide.com PUBLIC NOTICES Locals 65+ are invited to provide their views on ageing at the WA Seniors Strategy Forum.

July 26 at 12pm, Noel White Centre. Light lunch provided. RSVP

by July 18 to 9072 1786 or shelley.payne@ mp.wa.gov.au.

TABLE TENNIS PLAYED AT THE SCOUT HALL Thursday Mornings 9am - 11.00am & Friday Night 7.00pm - 9.30pm. $5.00 each session.

PUBLIC NOTICES

TRADES & SERVICES

ESPERANCE COMMUNITY SINGERS Tuesday Nights from 7pm. at Esperance Senior Citizens Centre. $2pp new members welcome. More info Martin 0403 567 079.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIDE Get The Tide delivered to your door for only $5 per month!

Head to esperancetide.com/ subscribe to sign up.

www.southernsuspension4x4.com Mechanical & Electrical Repairs for 4WD’s, Cars & Camper Trailers Supplier of 4x4 Off Road & Travel Acessories 53 Norseman Rd, Esperance

Ph. 9072 0917

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?

sales@southernsuspension.com

The classies are a lowcost advertising option for community groups and members. Head to: esperancetide.com/classifieds

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.

Over 25 years of Plumbing & Gas Fitting in Esperance & surrounds

0429 996 577

Can you help find Sammy the Seal?

He is hiding on one of our pages.

Advertise with Esperance’s favourite local mag!

To find out about your advertising options, email hello@esperancetide.com

03

Two local emergency services volunteers were named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours on June 13. Harold Moir from Esperance VFRS received an Australian Fire Service Medal for his 47 years of service to the community as a firefighter, during which time he has fulfilled various roles, including Brigade Captain.

Chris Brien received an Emergency Services Medal for 30 years of service to Surf Life Saving WA, recognising the pivotal role he has played in the Esperance region in both frontline operations and club management.

04

Esperance took out third place in the Top Tourism Town category at the 2022 GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards on June 22. Mandurah claimed first place, winning a $25,000 airtime package to promote the town on GWN7. Geraldton came in second. The awards are a highlight of the WA’s tourism calendar.

Visitor Centres enter the awards on behalf of their destination, and entrants are required to submit a short video, itinerary and editorial article before voting opens to the public.

3 1 / E S P E R A N C E T I D E / J U LY 2 0 2 2

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