The GEM - 1 March 2024 - Edition 95

POSITIVEIMPACT

TUnder new leadership, Nagle College teaches students about respect for themselves and others, and the value of making positive impacts in the local community

HIS year, Nagle College in Bairnsdale has welcomed a new Principal in Mr Doug Doherty. His career has seen Doug relocate from Ireland and the UK to Southeast Asia, and now Australia; and to the East Gippsland and Nagle

College communities, Doug brings 26 years’ experience as a Catholic Educator.

“Throughout my global experiences in education leadership — especially in large multicultural and lower socio-economic communities of England — I have

formulated my professional motto: ‘raising aspirations and delivering excellence FOR ALL!’ And this is why I want to lead as a Principal,” he explains. “I firmly believe that every school — whether a large multi-campus secondary or a small two classroom country primary

school — plays an important role as a beacon for the successful development of every individual child.”

As a young boy growing up in Ireland, and having read travel books and being inspired by images of global travel, it was always part

of Doug’s dream to one day visit Australia. As a backpacker, he made his way to Australia, via Papua New Guinea, upon which he immediately fell in love with the country, people and, of course, the warmer weather!

Considering Nagle College?

Year 7 2025

Information Evening

Wednesday 27th March

- Sessions from 4:00pm

All welcome. Bookings are essen al.

Applications for the 2025 Academic Year are due by Friday 3rd May

www.nagle.vic.edu.au/enrolment

VOLUNTEERS and community leaders have been recognised in East Gippsland Shire Council’s fourth and final Bushfire Recovery Progress Report, which charts the region’s journey to recovery since the 2019-20 summer bushfires.

Mayor Cr Tom Crook said the report underlines the importance of putting the recovery process in the hands of locals after a natural disaster such as the 2019-20 bushfires, which burned some 320,000 hectares of the shire.

"Investing in community-centred initiatives has been key to recovery,” he said. “Some $50 million worth of bushfire recovery capital work projects, backed by $39.5 million in government funding, have been rolled out, and major public projects such as Mallacoota Skate Park, Buchan Caves Reserve Linkage, Bruthen Streetscape and the Bemm River footpaths have all been community backed and driven.

“Community Recovery Committees (CRC), other representative groups and volunteers played a vital role in the recovery,” Cr Crook noted. “All 10 CRC groups supported community recovery projects and, backed by bushfire recovery funding, delivered 116 community events and workshops, including 47 delivered through a partnership with the East Gippsland Community Foundation.

“It's important to appreciate the dedication of volunteers and community leaders who have stepped up during challenging times to bring people together. Community events and major public projects have the power to lift people up. I’m pleased that this report reflects the efforts of volunteers,” Cr Crook said.

The progress report also spotlights the contributions and achievements made by local organisations and gives special thanks to the state and federal governments for their support. It incorporates activities and insights from Community Recovery Committees, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Parks Victoria, and Emergency Recovery Victoria – which, among other efforts, created a Strategy for Aboriginal Community-led Recovery and facilitated a Local Aboriginal Bushfire Recovery Planning Workshop.

“The report references five key pillars of any community rebuild, namely our social, economic, built, natural and cultural environments,” Cr Crook said. “These pillars provide the base for future recovery and efforts following any future natural disaster.”

The report lists 16 more private dwellings as having been rebuilt since the previous report in late 2022 and shows a steady growth in building and planning permit numbers. Council is mindful, however, that there is more to do to support rebuilding of homes and that remains a key focus.

Local Economic Recovery (Economic Stimulus) Program-backed projects completed include Tambo Valley Honey in Bruthen, the Mallacoota Abalone Limited Processing Facility rebuild, Metung Hot Springs and boat-charter provider Riviera Nautic. Some 900 businesses have also been assisted over the four years by bushfire recovery programs. Importantly, East Gippsland’s visitor numbers are now back to preBlack Summer and pre-COVID levels.

Funding has been directed to Gippsland Primary Health Network to support trauma counselling, provided via the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Relationships Australia Victoria to support mental health and wellbeing. Mental health clinicians have provided counselling to more than 300 people across bushfire impacted East Gippsland communities through partnerships with 13 local services and organisations.

FUTURE FOCUSED

Looking forward, the report provides an overview of work by Council and communities to be better prepared for future events. Council and communities, supported by state and federal governments, have worked together to:

• Strengthen emergency plans — so the shire is now better placed if it faces another natural disaster.

• Train communities to activate relief centres when needed.

• Upgrade community facilities with ember proofing, generators (with more to come) and satellite telecommunications (through the Federal government-funded Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disaster (STAND) program) and audio-visual equipment.

“While this is the last of Council’s formal progress reports, we’re continuing to support recovery efforts by embedding project delivery and preparedness initiatives into our ongoing programs, and we have support from state and federal governments for our ongoing work,” Cr Crook said.

“For some, the recovery journey is long,” Cr Crook said. “We will continue to support our people and communities.”

THIS last weekend saw the meeting of two groups of car aficionados for a weekend of Fun and activities.

The Riverina Sports car Association came for a drive over the great divide and met up with Bairnsdale's Riviera Lakes Car Club for a drive to the Maffra Car museum followed by a lunch upstairs at

the Maffra Sports club. Over 40 cars and 60 members took part with cars ranging from the 1960's through to the latest Alfa Romeo Guila.

The groups were bought together for their mutual love of cars by two brothers. Co incidentally both Andrew Thompson

(RLCC) and his brother Peter Thompson (RSCA) are both Vice Presidents of their respective clubs and cooked up the idea over a year ago.

Following on from Maffra the next day saw the group drive to the Holden Museum in Trafalgar to continue the fun.

Doug Doherty takes over the top position at Nagle College

WHEN new Nagle Principal Doug Doherty returned home, he could not shake Australia from his mind. He got married and after several years of ‘convincing,’ they made the move to Traralgon, where Doug subsequently served the community of Lavalla Catholic College for 11 years.

“Although it was not Byron Bay or Summer Bay, as my wife may have believed she was moving to, along with our two girls, we became a welcomed part of the local community.”

Doug says Catholic education improved his own life by allowing him to experience success and self-worth. “I am passionate about ensuring that every young person has this same opportunity. As educators, we have a vocation to bring the joy of the gospel to the lives of our students, staff and families. The opportunity to lead and serve a regional community is very appealing.”

“To be able to create and maintain a culture that encourages young people to find their dreams, and help

teach them how to make a positive contribution to local, national and global communities is the catalyst for all educational vocations, and particularly as a Principal.”

“As a parent and educator, I have the highest expectations for all learners regarding their commitment to academic learning. These expectations also require that all students successfully develop their own positive character by showing respect for oneself and others, as well as continuing to make positive impacts to the culture of our College,

and the other communities they engage with.”

“The role of schools and Principals has definitely evolved significantly throughout my 26 years of working within Catholic education,” Doug says.

“There has been changes to society, technology, as well as educational philosophy and pedagogical directions. I believe the biggest challenges need to be embraced, as they will ensure that every student is safe, happy and successful. These include ensuring that Nagle College is a Community of Practice — a place where both students and staff not only know how to improve each and every day, but actually are able to evidence this, thus giving a true sense of success and aspiration.”

“Ensuring that a school is a place of psychological safety is key for all stakeholders within increasingly complex school environments, including diverse student population and changing demographics. Therefore, it is paramount to ensure that our College does not operate

as a silo, but collaborates and engages with a range of supportive organisations for the wellbeing of students and staff, as well as ensuring successful adherence to safeguarding legislation.”

As a faith-based College, challenge is also obvious due to the decreasing numbers of practising Catholic families. However, this now places a greater emphasis on our College and me as a Faith Leader, to ensure that our College is place where students and families can safely have a curiosity around the Christian faith, and are able to be supported to explore the Catholic faith further.”

“OUR GOAL FOR EVERY STUDENT IS THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP THE HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS THAT WILL ASSIST THEM TO CONFIDENTLY APPROACH THE CHALLENGES AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY WILL FACE WHILE AT SCHOOL AND IN THEIR FUTURE LIVES.”

Nagle College is an active and proud Catholic learning community

that continues to provide a rich holistic education to the young East Gippslanders.

Doug adds, “This also means that we recognise and celebrate all areas of learning success, whether academic, applied learning or extracurricular. As a Catholic community we recognise and celebrate the value and dignity of each unique person, and the contributions they can make. This is emphasised in the College motto: ‘Let Your Light Shine’.”

Nagle College is a Catholic community that welcomes, builds strong relationships, evangelises and prepares young people for life. Effectively, if a young person’s dream is to journey with a welcoming family, that will care for their individual needs as best they can, will encourage and challenge each other to be people of hope, as well as engage in an education that will help them reach their best potential — Nagle is the right choice.

“We welcome any student who wishes to engage and wants to achieve personal excellence,” Doug concludes.

FROM FRONT PAGE

GIPPSLAND East Nationals

MP, Tim Bull met with AusNet Services management last week, to discuss system improvements after the recent power outages across the region.

“The reason for the meeting was to make sure we have improvements in place when future events impact our region. It was a forthright, but positive discussion,” said Mr Bull.

“The national Chief Executive, David Smales, has only been in the job for a matter of weeks, but was genuine about trying to make system improvements.

would be rectified.

“The other request I made, that has been taken on board, is that when we have major outages, AusNet provides a person of contact in each Local Government Area, someone who knows the local towns and geography and can answer specific questions or come back to you.

“I have asked for a person in each area to be made a point of contact for business and tourism associations, chambers of commerce, MP’s, councils etc, rather than be talking to a comms team in Melbourne that has no local knowledge.

your home, Hire A Hubby Bairnsdale can safely assure you of a skylight suitable for your property.

Call Rose for a free quote 0466 412 323.

“I raised concern some towns that had issues like Mallacoota, Genoa and Lake Tyers Beach never appeared at any stage on their outage tracker, yet towns like Paynesville and Eagle Point, that never lost power, were listed as without connection for days and in some cases lost accommodation bookings.

“In short, the reason was the regular more accurate system collapsed under weight of enquiry and this was a substitute platform that Mr Smales agreed was inadequate.

“The website that usually provides more specific data was set up to cope with one million hits in a day, but it had 3.5 million in five hours and buckled. Mr Smales guaranteed this

“I am very respectful that in the early days when assessments are being done, few guarantees can be provided, but it is about having that point of contact,” said Mr Bull.

“Another topical point was the vegetation removal criteria. The latest event showed that trees outside the clearance / buffer space caused a lot of the problems. For example, if a buffer of 10 metres is provided and a 20-metre-tall tree, two metres outside the buffer falls, it is going to put the power out.

“This is government regulated, but I advised Mr Smales we would be happy to support changes that would result in a more secure power supply,” Mr Bull said.

AusNet Services workers fixing lines.

Fallen tree causes power outages.

Healthy outlook for GLCH trainees

GIPPSLAND Lakes

Complete Health welcomed its latest intake of trainees recently.

Now in its third year, GLCH’s traineeship program brings together talented young school-leavers and adults seeking a career change to continue to add skills and depth to the local health sector workforce.

Each of the trainees will be undertaking a nationally recognised tertiary qualification and completing on-the-job learning. They will receive paid study time, mentoring and regular group education sessions to set them up for a rewarding and

inspiring career in community health.

GLCH’s General Manager People and Culture, Paul Hopkins, said the trainees showed a tremendous amount of promise and their time with GLCH would be full of learning opportunities and development.

“They will complete their traineeship with a nationally recognised qualification, and we hope they stay on at GLCH, where we can further support them with career development in the health field of their choice,” Mr Hopkins said.

“We are really pleased with this team and wish Ilona, Lucia, Nikita and Hilary every

success in their studies and stay with us during the next 12 months.”

The four trainees will work across GLCH’s Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) and Support, Therapy, Education and Prevention (STEP) units and work towards qualifications in allied health assistance, business, health promotion, and leisure and health over the course of this year.

If you, or someone you know, is keen to pursue a career in health, visit the careers page on the GLCH website or contact the recruitment team on 5155 8300 to learn more.

ALL GENERAL SURGICAL COMPLAINTS

MELANOMA AND SKIN CANCERS

CARPAL TUNNEL UNDER LOCAL GASTROSCOPY AND COLONOSCOPY

GALLSTONE SURGERY

BREAST LUMPS

BREAST CANCER

BOWEL CANCERS

HERNIA REPAIRS HYDROCELES

KEYHOLE SURGERY

LIPOMAS

DUPUYTREN’S

TUMMY TUCKS

THYROID SURGERY

VARICOSE VEINS VASECTOMY

BAIRNSDALE

• LAKES ENTRANCE • METUNG • SALE Where

Delivery throughout:

Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Metung, Lakes

Entrance and surrounds. Includes selected businesses and depot drops. Now in Sale.

Also find us at:

Local newsagents, shops and businesses. You can also view our latest publication

FREE online at:

www.holstadvertising.com/The-Gem along with previous editions.

Publisher:

Holst Advertising

Display Advertising:

Jason: 0428 366 651

Rick: 0413 278 422

Office: (03) 9686 0858

Editorial Material: news@holstadvertising.com rick@holstadvertising.com

Advertising Material: matt@holstadvertising.com

Publisher’s Note:

The views and opinions expressed by advertisers and opinion-writers in this publication are those of the advertiser/writer and do not necessarily reflect that of the publisher and its policies.

Editorial Note:

The Great Eastern Mail encourages readers to send in their opinions and views on any matter relating to the region. If you have a story you would like to put forward, please contact our staff (above), and you may have your own piece published.

Advertising:

Advertising material created by the publisher is not to be reproduced or distributed to third parties unless given written consent by the publisher or author.

Follow us on facebook

S the clean-up from the 13 February storm event continues across East Gippsland, Mayor Cr Tom Crook has praised the collaborative effort of volunteers, emergency services agencies and the work of East Gippsland Shire Council staff and contractors.Cr Crook said the efforts to pull together and help each other during such events means that collectively we were back up and running as quickly as possible.

“We know there were challenges with power and telecommunications and many people were impacted for an extended period. There are lessons to be learnt from this event,” Cr Crook said.

“On that note, to have the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Melissa Horne, reach out directly in the immediate aftermath of the storm was most welcome. We have kept the lines of communication open, and I have emphasised the need to have telecommunications identified as an essential service.

“We will also be raising this more broadly with a delegation of Gippsland Mayors and CEOs going to Canberra this week, in planned Ministerial meetings in early March and with telecommunication service providers directly.

“I have also highlighted our ongoing questioning of why, after directly experiencing the impacts of a changing climate and with the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme events, the electricity transmission network is still evidently lacking the degree of resilience by design our communities expect and need.” Good planning enables quick response Council’s response to the storm was enabled by good planning, including emergency management processes, contractor management and investment in technology.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Fiona Weigall said staff rolled

up their sleeves to support the community quickly, including:

• Teams were out early with many roads and high-traffic public spaces cleared and hazards removed before the start of normal workday.

• Doors were open for normal business hours at most sites on the Wednesday morning, and other sites were able to come online later that morning.

• Completing more than 90 road assessments in quick time.

• • Opening without power at some locations to support community.

• Conducting secondary impact assessments and providing guidance to customers on financial assistance available.

• Organising two-day meal packs to 40 households at Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust during power outage.

• Organising showering, providing safe spaces and charging points.

“This is a just s snapshot of the effort. While we experience natural disasters regularly, the response is a result of good planning and investment. Generator backup and network infrastructure, and a willingness for our people to plan and support their community should not go unnoticed,” Ms Weigall said.

Ms Weigall also highlighted the infrastructure planning at recreation reserves and other facilities that allowed for generators to be plugged in, showers to be made available, and in some cases access to telecommunications.

“Our STAND (Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters) infrastructure, put in place after the Black Summer Bushfires, also supported many communities’ satellite communications when the network was down.

“This is a great example of where investment in critical infrastructure and telecommunications can benefit our communities in times of natural disaster.”

Free waste disposal supports clean-up

Free waste disposal for those impacted by the storm was available immediately after the event, and continues until 30 April, and the number of customers attending our sites has tripled post-storm.

Acting General Manager Assets and Environment, Wayne Richards, said more than 400 customers attended the Bairnsdale Landfill on Friday and Saturday immediately after the storm — triple the usual number.

“Customers across the Bairnsdale, Metung and Lakes Entrance sites continued to be more than double normal levels throughout last week and over the weekend,” Mr Richards said.

“We had a customer every 1.19 minutes at Bairnsdale and 1.47 minutes at Metung. It has been busy and we appreciate the patience shown by people bringing in their waste.”

Council will be attempting to claim the costs associated with the green waste and spoiled food disposal.

“We are not yet clear on what will be reimbursed. Providing the clean-up and waste disposal is a significant financial burden with staff and machinery costs, processing, using additional airspace in our landfill, and no gate fees,” Mr Richards said.

“Our decision to provide free waste disposal (before any government announcement) was to support the community in the clean-up and not place another burden on people. We will be working hard to ensure the costs of the storms do not indirectly impact ratepayers and Government support will be crucial.”

Mr Richards said that people will notice that some debris has not yet been collected from roadsides and public spaces.

“This clean-up will be ongoing for a few weeks as we prioritise the collection of debris, identify further work and get through the backlog of other parks and gardens maintenance tasks (such as mowing) that had to take a back seat during the storm response,” he said.

“Our crews and contractors have provided a great service in cleaning up debris, well into the hundreds of cubic metres. The inspection regime has been well organised to make sure that our crews and contractors are providing an efficient service as we continue the clean-up.”

OPENING HOURS: MON-FRI 8am – 5:30pm | SAT 9am – 2pm AT: 595 Princes HWY, Bairnsdale VIC 3875 | E: sales@goodmanscrt.com.au | PH: (03) 5152 4024 GOODMAN’S SEED, FARM & GARDEN CENTRE GOODMAN’S SEED, FARM & GARDEN CENTRE CAT FOOD SPECIALS WHISKAS DRY FOOD 12KG TUNA OR BEEF FLAVOUR FELIX 36X85GM SACHETS MIXED SELECTION FRISKIES DRY FOOD 10KG MEATY GRILLS & SEAFOOD SENSATIONS $7395 FELI M WHISKAS 24PK TINS MIXED VARIETYS $6495 $2995 G LLS D S $4475 S KG RY

Are you ready?

Local protest emerges over proposed Metung resort development Residents: 'Not in my backyard'

IN a surprising turn of events for the residents of Metung in East Gippsland, a casual walk led to the formation of a passionate group dedicated to preserving the character of their village. The catalyst? A planning application notice for a 16-unit resort that was spotted by a local resident while out strolling with her dog.

The placement of the sign, seemingly knocked over, sparked concerns about the potential impact of the proposed development.

Metung, known for its tranquil and idyllic setting nestled between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, has

captivated residents like Simon and his partner for its quiet village atmosphere and low-density development.

The area, often referred to as Victoria's "riviera," boasts access to lakes and ocean beaches, making it an attractive location for those seeking a serene lifestyle. However, the proposed resort threatens to disrupt this wellpreserved environment.

The residents' objections stem from the lack of consultation by international investors and developers seeking approval for the project, as well as the proposal's unsuitability for the narrow streets and delicate infrastructure of the

village. With concerns about traffic congestion, inadequate parking provisions, and

potential safety hazards for pedestrians, the community has rallied against the

development. Recently, a gathering of concerned residents — numbering 57 individuals — convened at the site to express their worries about the potential challenges associated with the proposed development. Issues of safety, traffic management, bushfire risks, noise, and general amenity were brought to the forefront, emphasising the consensus that such developments should endorse responsible and considerate integration into residential areas.

Simon and his neighbours, echoing the sentiments of many Metung residents, are preparing to methodically

present their objections to the local council. With concerns about the potential detrimental impacts on the village's character and safety, the community is fervently hoping for a fair and balanced resolution.

As the community unites to protect the essence of their cherished village, the looming decision regarding the resort development remains a topic of great concern, drawing attention to the delicate balance between progress and preservation in this picturesque corner of East Gippsland.

To learn more follow

‘Preserve Metung’ on Facebook.

Taking flight in The Middle of Everywhere: Airshow returns to wow crowds at West Sale Airport

SPECTACULAR stunts, phenomenal fly-bys and daredevil displays are guaranteed to thrill spectators when the ANZAC Weekend Air Show tears into West Sale Airport on 27 and 28 April.

Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2022, this year's event will be a two day actionpacked extravaganza that promises to get your heart racing. From aerobatic demonstrations from commercial pilots and the RAAF, to an amazing array of historic and modern aircraft to view up close. For those who don't discriminate between engines, the car and motorcycle display will include classic and modern vehicles, emergency response and Defence

vehicle displays. In a first for the event and for the area, the airshow will also welcome Hot Wheels to the stage.

The Gippsland Armed Forces Museum will be open to all ticket holders, and a range of interesting exhibits from the aviation industry and other local businesses will allow people to chat to experts in their field, and browse the products and services they have to offer. This year’s airshow will also feature an Employment Hub, which will allow industry specific businesses to showcase what’s needed to work with them.

To match the vintage vibe, entrants can enter the Vintage Fashion Show which celebrates classic outfits of yesteryear to win

some fantastic prizes.

The Middle of Everywhere will be on show, with local talent headlining the live music lineup, and an array of food vans and stalls serving up delicious Gippsland produce.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said the biennial event welcomed thousands of people to the area, creating flow-on benefits for local tourism, accommodation, hospitality and retail operators.

“More than 12,000 people attended over the two days in 2022, bringing an estimated $1.36 million into the local economy, according to Visit Victoria,” Cr Bye said.

"As well as providing a welcome boost for our local businesses, it's an opportunity to showcase our scenic mountain ranges, pristine beaches

and outstanding open spaces with visitors and the community.”

“Not to mention, it’s a ripper weekend for the whole family.”

The second ANZAC Weekend

Airshow will run from 10am until 4pm each day on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April, 2024. Visit here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Artists impression

Planning application

Intrusive questions, intimidation, suggestive jokes...

Gendered violence comes in many forms. All are OHS issues. All are unacceptable.

WorkSafe Gendered Violence

It's a bird... It's a plane... No, it's definitely a bird

Come and try bird watching

DO you have plans for the Labor Day public holiday? Wondering what you might do? You could join the BirdLife East Gippsland at one of our regular weekly outings. You will get the chance to see and hear birds and learn more about them.

On Monday 11th March, BirdLife East Gippsland will be hosting a free birdwatching walk at Wattle Point/Blond Bay. This free event is part of the annual birdwatching program for BLEG and is open to the public. BirdLife members will act as guides for visitors. You only need a low level of fitness, as we only amble along with frequent stops to look and listen for birds.

Starting at 9am and ending around 12.30pm, the morning will be broken up into first and second sessions with morning tea around 10.15 and the option to stay for lunch around midday.

Recent visits have turned up a wide variety of water birds — ducks, coot, terns, herons, grebes, cormorants, waders etc. You never know what you will see. A visit in July turned up 53 bird species including an extraordinary 9,000 Eurasian Coot but that number is not likely to be repeated.

At every weekly walk, members record the bird species seen at each site and upload results to Birddata, the BirdLife Australia database which has built up over

the years to be the basis of Australian bird distribution maps, helping us gain insight into our local birds and protect them into the future.

If you would like to participate in this event, please meet members at Wattle Point Road Picnic Area Car Park, Wattle Point Boat Ramp & Jetty, Williamson Rd, Forge Creek.

Bring a hat, sensible walking shoes, water, sunscreen, insect repellent and camera/ binoculars if you have them. Also bring your own supplies — snack, tea, coffee, hot water, chair etc. — for a mid-morning tea break and lunch.

Vaccination is strongly recommended when attending any Birdlife activity.

YOU may have noticed large, noisy flocks of screeching white birds flying over Bairnsdale recently. These are Little Corellas which can form very large flocks, numbering into the thousands. It is an active, social bird with a cheeky personality, well known for their mischievous behaviour. They often engage in acrobatic displays or playful interactions with other birds. They are often heard before being seen, emitting loud, screeching calls that carry for long distances.

Physically quite small, Little Corellas are white, with a blue fleshy eye-ring and pale rose-pink patch between the eye and bill. They have a short, bone coloured bill, dark brown iris and grey legs and feet. Plumage for both sexes and juveniles is the same. The Little Corella has no visible feathers around its eyes, giving it a distinctive, somewhat comical appearance.

Widespread throughout Australia, their habitat ranges from the arid deserts of central Australia to the eastern coastal

plains. They are often found in urban areas, including most major capital cities, on lawns and playing fields. Being strong fliers, they can travel long distances to their preferred habitat of seeding grasses along watercourses.

As they need to drink at least daily, those that live in desert areas must also fly to watering holes twice a day.

Feeding mainly on the ground, Little Corellas are primarily herbivores with a diet that includes seeds, nuts, fruit, and insects. Their strong, hooked beak cracks open seeds and nuts. They often use their feet to hold food while they eat.

During the breeding season, they can engage in elaborate courtship displays, including synchronised flying. Little Corellas are thought to pair for life and begin breeding at the start of a long period of rain. The nest site is a suitable tree hollow, cliff cavity or termite mound, lined with shavings of wood and normally used for several years in a row. They nest in large colonies and several nests may be found

in the same tree. Both sexes incubate the clutch of 2 to 4 eggs and both care for the young. Chicks hatch naked and totally dependent on their parents.

The Little Corella’s range is expanding with land clearing and increased sources of water. The increase in agricultural crops has increased numbers. In some areas they can be regarded as a nuisance. Their adaptable nature and tendency to gather in large flocks, particularly when they gather to roost at night can bring them into conflict with humans. However, they can provide great entertainment with their exuberant playful behaviour such as dangling from overhead wires by the bill or one foot, sliding off the roofs of silos and so on.

BirdLife East Gippsland meet weekly for Monday morning outings. New members are always welcome. Check our Facebook page and Birdlife Australia events page for more information.

Eurasian Coot. Picture: by Ross McKenzie

Raft of Eurasian Coots. Picture: Sue’s Photography

Social connections Maintaining communication

Q: Dear Emma, I wonder if you can help me. I have just finished year 12 and am not off to uni this year. Some of my friends have also taken a gap year. But I feel like I am losing my friendships. My friends seem to regularly cancel our plans, often at the last minute. It’s getting to the point that I don’t ask to do things with them anymore because they will say yes and then pull out, often a day or so before. I always feel disappointed. I often wonder if they even want to be friends anymore. What do I do? Do I keep trying or look to make different friends?

A: Thank you for reaching out, and I appreciate your openness in sharing your concerns. It's understandable that feeling consistently disappointed and uncertain about plans with friends can be quite challenging, especially during a time of transition like completing year 12.

Firstly, many of us lead busy lives and desire to spend time with those we cherish and enjoy being around, for various reasons. When we make plans to hang out or meet up, we often set aside other commitments and rearrange our schedules. This may involve temporarily putting other important aspects of our lives on hold to prioritise spending time with someone who holds significance for us.

For a strong and meaningful relationship to develop, this mutual willingness to prioritise

each other's company must be reciprocated. Both individuals involved should recognise and value the effort and time invested in building and sustaining the friendship.

That said it's important to recognise that individuals cancel plans for various reasons, often from anxiety, or tiredness, and it may not necessarily reflect a lack of interest or commitment to the friendship.

Current research is indicating social anxiety is still increasing in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. This can be due to the lack of recent practice in socialising, meaning that the act of being social can seem unfamiliar, resulting in discomfort in social situations, fears of judgment, and physical symptoms such as heightened heart rate, sweating, or nausea. Consequently, a growing number of people are opting to avoid social outings.

Not to mention that life transitions, such as finishing school and entering a gap year as you are experiencing, can bring about changes in priorities, schedules, and personal circumstances for your friends. They may be navigating their own challenges and uncertainties during this period.

It really is crucial to approach your friendships with empathy and understanding. People may cancel plans for reasons unrelated to you, and personalising their actions can lead to unhelpful conclusions and thinking.

It’s a common human tendency to take an uncomfortable situation and personalise it, that is to make it about ourselves, when we do not have the full perspective. We do this often out of our emotions and low self-esteem. It can hurt and

feel disappointing when friends let us down, but it does not necessarily mean that we are the reason.

Thinking so can be identified as a cognitive distortion (thinking style) called personalisation. This involves attributing external events to oneself without adequate evidence. In your situation, it's therefore essential to challenge the assumption that your friends' cancellations are a direct reflection of their feelings towards you.

Consider having an open and honest conversation with them, expressing how their cancellations make you feel and seeking clarity on the reasons behind their behaviour. It could sound like “Hey, just checking in as we haven’t met up a few times now?”

Another point to be aware of is that low self-esteem can exacerbate the impact of such situations, leading to feelings of unworthiness or an assumption that you are the cause of their cancellations. It's crucial to nurture your self-esteem by recognising your worth and not solely relying on external validation. Apply that same empathy and understanding you give to your friendships, to yourself too!

All that said, moving forward, it might be beneficial to communicate openly with your friends about your feelings and concerns. Express the importance of reliable plans and inquire about any challenges they may be facing. If the cancellations persist and significantly impact your well-being, it could be worth exploring new social connections that align with your current needs and interests.

Remember, friendships should be mutually supportive and understanding. Taking care of your emotional wellbeing is essential, and if a particular dynamic becomes consistently distressing, it's okay to consider alternative connections that contribute positively to your life.

Hope that helps, Emma.

‘Ask Emma’ is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP, mental-health professional, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have. By submitting a question, you are agreeing to let The Great Eastern Mail use it and we may edit it for length and/or clarity. You can find Emma on Instagram @emmawoodcockcounsellor and Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/emmawoodcockcounselling

Notice of Praecipe/ Public Notice

Ashley Keith Gow© of Lakes Entrance, Victoria, is not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and is the irrefutable Holder in Due Course of my properties and all associated copyright protected Trade Names since unrebutted lawful Reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis also known as the Commonwealth of Australia Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 17487 48603, Proclamation Date 5th January 2024 . Thus severing usufruct subjugation ties with the occupying corporate government of Australia in its entirety. Immediately cease and desist any further infringement upon these copyright protected nancial instruments and cease and desist misaddressing Ashley Keith Gow© in fraudulent debased Dog-Latin, GLOSSA.

Chester: Biggest transformation in 50 years

THE redevelopment of Bullock Island is a critical part of the biggest transformation the Lakes Entrance township has seen in the past 50 years, according to local MP Darren Chester.

Mr Chester said the finalisation of the boardwalk around Bullock Island would provide an outstanding outdoor exercise opportunity for locals and visitors.

“Locals have been talking about the need to upgrade Bullock Island for more than 20 years and it’s great to see the project coming together with local contractors undertaking the work,” Mr Chester said.

“So far, we’ve installed a new bridge, pedestrian pathways, sealed roads and car parking, a toilet block, artwork and picnic facilities.

“This week, a crew from Whelan’s Group Investments were on site completing the boardwalk section which will link to the work we’ve already done to upgrade The Esplanade.

“At the same time, LEFCOL’s new ‘Off the Wharf’ seafood restaurant/cafe has been a tourism hit and I’m looking forward to seeing more locals and visitors enjoy this spectacular location on the shores of our beautiful Gippsland Lakes.”

Mr Chester said a combination of funding from all levels of government had made the work possible, including the $5 million he secured from the previous Federal Minister.

“As the former Minister for

Transport, I was able to get the transformation started in 2017 with money for the redevelopment of The Esplanade and we have built on that success in recent years with more than $20 million funding for local projects,” he said.

“Our town is looking magnificent and it’s the envy of many other coastal towns around Australia.

“The Federal Government funding has helped to leverage contributions from other levels of government and we are about to enjoy the completion of upgrades at Bullock Island, the Old Slipway, Apex Park at Jemmy’s Point and tracks linking Kalimna to town.

“There’s always more to be done and we now have $5.8 million for the Krauatunganlung Walk project plus funding for the design of the new indoor sports stadium.

“I’m determined to keep working in partnership with the local community to identify priority projects and seek funding opportunities as we make Lakes Entrance an even better place to live, work and visit.”

Work on Paynesville's Slip Road Maritime Precinct to recommence

CONSTRUCTION of the

Slip Road Maritime Precinct project in Paynesville is set to restart following a comprehensive design update to create a revitalised precinct for boaters that will include a new boat ramp, two pontoon jetties providing additional berthing, and a services jetty for minor works.

East Gippsland Shire

Council Mayor Cr Tom Crook welcomed completion of the new design and recommencement of works.

“The new design is vital to the project’s overall success, and we acknowledge the delay and appreciate the community’s understanding and support for this re-design work,” Cr Crook said.

Council’s engaged contractor, Carter Marine, has been awarded a varied contract for construction of the seawall, jetties and boardwalk. A tender for

construction of the carpark and landscaping will be advertised later this year following the finalisation of the marine based work by Carter Marine.

“We also thank Carter Marine for their patience,” Cr Crook said. “The updated design ensures that the waterfront structures it constructs will be safe, stable, and offer tangible benefits in terms of boating and the local economy for decades to come.”

The Slip Road Maritime Precinct will enhance Paynesville’s appeal as a yearround destination for boaters generating many economic benefits for Paynesville and the broader region.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Australian Government, Victorian Government and Council, each of which provided substantial grant funding for the project.

Emma Woodcock is a Registered Counsellor working with adolescents and adults with a broad range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, self-esteem difficulties, amongst many others. With experience in several evidence-based therapy modalities, Emma utilises skills from CBT, ACT, DBT, motivational interviewing, polyvagal therapy and more. Emma offers a practical approach to therapy, helping clients develop a personal 'toolkit’ of strategies and skills, so that they feel empowered to deal with life’s challenges everyday.

Emma Woodcock Counsellor

INGImage Stock

SEIZURE ASSISTANT DOG FOR ARIA

ARIA'S DREAM A REALITY

ONE of this year’s featured faces of the annual Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal is East Gippsland’s own Aria Harris.

Aria has a rare condition known as ‘Pierre Robin Sequence’ (PRS). This means Aria was born with a very small jaw, cleft palate and club feet (also known as ‘talipes’). Having a small jaw meant that Aria had difficulty breathing due to her airways being constantly obstructed. As such, surgery was required and so, in September 2016 at just 13 weeks of age, Aria underwent mandibular distraction surgery to bring her jaw forward. During the operation, the surgeons found a small hole in Aria’s heart, which contributed to her having a stroke in theatre.

Following her stroke, Aria was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as well as spina bifida.

At around 18 months of age, Aria began to show signs of seizure activity and after many tests, she was diagnosed with focal epilepsy, which means she becomes non-responsive and can convulse during these seizures.

Over the years, Aria and her family have made many trips to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne for surgeries pertaining to hip dysplasia, cleft palate repair,

and to correct her club feet.

Today, at age seven, Aria is learning her capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. She cannot walk farther than 200m without feeling fatigued, so she has a wheelchair to assist on longer journeys. Aria also has ADHD and a condition called 'in-hospital trauma', which is high anxiety caused by being in and out of hospital at such a young age.

The great news is, Aria is currently waiting to receive a Seizure Alert Assistance dog.

“Having a Seizure Alert Assistance dog will bring so many benefits to Aria's day-to-day functioning,” explains Aria’s mum Alisha. “The dog can alert caregivers to seizure events — sometimes even before Aria even realises she’s having one. It can recognise when Aria needs support — for example, the dog will know when Aria is experiencing anxiety and needs comfort. The dog will also help Aria to move around freely by providing support to help her if she falls. It can also allow Aria to participate in activities at home and in the community. The dog will also be trained to retrieve items that Aria will require post-seizure such as her blanket, pillow, water. It will also assist in ensuring Aria is as comfortable as possible.”

to prevent injury; placing its body between Aria and the floor to break her fall at the beginning of a seizure; providing support and comfort; activating a device to alert caregivers that a seizure is occurring.

• Nuzzle (to assist with anxiety): providing support and comfort for Aria when she has a seizure.

• Laps and over-cuddling Aria: to help reduce Aria’s stress and to help her feel supported and comforted.

Alisha has sent Smart Pups clothing that Aria has worn during a seizure event, and clothing she has worn during a non-seizure times, and this will help the dog during training, to determine which scent he/ she can use to recognise seizure activity. We also provide images and videos of Aria having anxiety attacks to help train the dog to become familiar with her symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.

“We really cannot explain just how much this Assistance dog will change and enhance not only Aria's life, but our entire family’s. Aria's new companion will allow her to participate in family activities. And knowing she is safe and supported will enable her to challenge herself because she’ll have the confidence to know that if she has a seizure, her pup will know and act accordingly to support her. The dog means that we know Aria is supported when we are not there with her, for example when she is sleeping. Having this new addition to our family means she will be assisted at all times, and this brings so much comfort to us, as her family.”

“THIS DOG WILL MAKE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO ARIA AND HER ANXIETY, WHO ALSO SUFFERS FROM SEPARATION ANXIETY. KNOWING SHE WILL HAVE HER ASSISTANCE DOG TO COMFORT HER WHEN I AM AT WORK OR WHILE SHE IS AT SCHOOL WILL BE SUCH A RELIEF FOR US.

The Harris family are currently unsure of the exact dog Aria will receive, as all the dogs go through the training process and once graduated, the dog that shows the most strength and compatibility with Aria’s needs will be chosen.

“Smart Pups is an amazing notfor-profit organisation with a training facility in Noosa (QLD).

“During a conversation I had with one of Aria's doctors at the Royal Children’s Hospital we spoke about the benefits of having a seizure alert assistance dog. At the time, Aria was aged five, and was having two to three (sometimes more) seizures per day, and sometimes they lasted longer than five minutes, which meant an ambulance had to be called. This occurred at home and whilst at childcare.”

“Back then, I was lucky enough to be working at the same childcare centre she was at, but I knew that as Aria grew older, I wouldn’t always be there when her seizures occurred; and those around her may not notice them occurring due to being focal epilepsy (where they are not always noticeable, especially ones without convulsions. So, I did some research and found Smart Pups through a Facebook post that MP Darren Chester had posted. I contacted them for further information, explaining Aria's story to see if they could assist us. The team were extremely helpful and put everything in place to help us. We sent Aria's medical information and had an interview with them to ensure we understood

and how thorough they had to be in understanding Aria's unique needs and requirements.”

“My family were so happy but, unfortunately, we were unable to have the funds approved by NDIS, despite many attempts and requests. I had been advised by Smart Pups that fundraising was an option and funds can be directly deposited via a Smart Pups fundraising link. So, with the help from our family and friends, we shared Aria’s story and asked for assistance from our local community.”

“We contacted friends, family, social media and businesses for support. We also hosted a silent auction in February 2022 at the Lucknow Football Club. We were overwhelmed by the support we received. Many businesses got on board to help such as TRFM (who shared Aria’s story); Threedouble8Zero in Paynesville (who generously donated $1 from every drink they sold to Aria's fundraiser); Mount Taylor Fire Brigade (who came to the auction and allowed the kids to see and sit in the firetruck); Shahnaz vocal school (who entertained everyone at the auction); parents and families from our local childcare centre; and over 100 businesses who donated products and items for us to auction off.”

In March 2022, we raised the $20,000 we needed to make our dream for Aria to get her pup, come true! We were so grateful to everyone that shared Aria's story,

Training for Aria's Seizure Alert Assistance dog is a very long and thorough process; and due to the complexity of Aria's health conditions, it will have taken longer than 24 months to complete by the time Aria receives her furry family member. “Thanks to the Smart Pups organisation, we’ve been advised that Aria should have her Assistance Dog by the end of this year”.

Aria's assistance dog will be trained in the following tasks:

• Post-Seizure Support: recognising Aria's scent before she has a seizure; lying next to Aria whist having a seizure

“Aria will be able to participate in day-to-day activities that would usually be too scary for her. Longterm, this pup will live with Aria and assist her as she grows. It will go to school with her and wherever she goes, so too will the dog. We can’t wait to welcome this pup into our family; he/she will be a very pampered pooch!”

the process, timeframes and to confirm that we would love and care for Aria's new best friend forever.”

“We were accepted and advised that a $20,000 donation was required to proceed, and training would take effect once the donation had been paid. We were so grateful and happy to do it, as we understood just how much goes into training the pup

for donating, and for helping us make our auction a success. March 2024 will be two years since this amazing achievement and as the dogs continue to progress through their training we wait patiently to hear news about Aria's new companion.”

To follow Aria’s journey, find ‘Aria’s Journey’ on Facebook.

Is your current home feeling too large for you now that your children have embarked on their own lives?Is too much of your precious leisure time consumed by household chores, gardening and maintenance?

If you’re dreaming of a simpler lifestyle, one that unlocks the equity in your home with the freedom to lead life on your own terms – then look no further.

Riverside Swan Reach is an idyllic residential enclave offering elegantly designed homes with luxurious amenities and minimal maintenance.

Embrace the spirit of community living in beautiful East Gippsland, with convenient access to exceptional facilities just a short stroll from your doorstep.

Contact us today to arrange a visit and explore the possibilities. A new lifestyle awaits.

Paynesville residents plea for action

THE residents of View Street in Paynesville are pleading for action from the East Gippsland Shire Council and Parks Victoria, to slash and maintain the severely overgrown reserve in their street.

“The overgrown space comprises of two parcels of land: one section that the residents say is designated Parks Victoria land, while the other is the responsibility of the East Gippsland Shire Council,” says one frustrated resident.

“The grass is well over a metre tall at the moment. We can’t go over there, the water views (the reason we chose this street to live in) are obstructed, and we have snakes coming out of there and onto our properties; in fact, one resident

actually lost their dog to a snake bite recently — it’s becoming very dangerous.”

The residents, aged in their 50s through to late 70s, are united in their displeasure and sadness around the disrepair that the land has fallen into.

“We can no longer use that area which, previously, we could for recreational activities such as playing with the grandchildren, flying kites, playing cricket, practising our golf chipping, taking a leisurely stroll… but now, it’s so overgrown and fraught with danger that we can’t use any of it; we've probably lost 10 per cent of our original view and 100 per cent use of the middle section of that reserve space.”

THE

TUESDAY 12 March 2024, 6:00pm - Forge Theatre Auditorium.

PERFORMANCE DURATION:

55 Minutes (No Interval)

TICKET PRICES:

F ull: $12

OAR into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (also seen in the TV animation on ABC Kids)

On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can't be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and

zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?

Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up, from the team that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.

We look forward to seeing you there!

POP SQUAD

WEDNESDAY 10 April 2024, 2:00pm - Forge Theatre Auditorium.

PERFORMANCE DURATION:

1 Hour10 Minutes (No Interval)

TICKET PRICES: Adult $20 Student/Child: $15

OP Squad is a brand new, uplifting kids show paying tribute to three of the world's most loved Pop Music icons: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa.

The 70 minute live show brings the hit music, flamboyant performances and outrageous costumes of these global superstars to local stages around the country.

Sydney-based Pop Squad has all the glamour of these chart-dominating popstars, with astonishing live vocal and choreographed performances of their biggest songs, along with an impressive light and visual display.

Katy, Taylor and Dua are well known for their strong positive attitudes and our Squad shares messages of self-respect and confidence in an interactive show that is perfect for kids from 3 to 93. Featured hit singles include Road, Firework, Hot N Cold from Katy; Shake it Off, Blank Space and AntiHero from Taylor; Levitating, Physical and Dance the Night (Barbie the Movie) from Dua in an event to get all ages dancing in their seats.

There might even be some surprise Special Guest appearances....and there will be a chance to meet the girls after the show, to ensure the experience stays with you long after the school holidays have finished!

boating and fishing

Victorian Trailable State Titles Set Sail with Splendor at Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club

IN a spectacular showcase of sailing prowess, the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club recently played host to the Victorian Trailable State Titles, drawing in a remarkable 41 entrants for a weekend of thrilling competition.

The iconic Gippsland Lakes, nestled in the heart of Victoria, provided the perfect backdrop for this highly anticipated event. Sailors from across the state descended upon the picturesque waters, their vessels slicing through the pristine waves as they vied for the coveted

The atmosphere was charged with excitement as participants and spectators alike gathered to witness the display of skill and strategy. The Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club, with its 87-year history and a rich maritime heritage, proved to be an ideal setting for a championship of this calibre.

Over the weekend, sailors navigated the challenging waters, showcasing their expertise in trailable yacht racing. The competition was fierce, with each participant demonstrating not only their sailing prowess but also their strategic acumen.

Commodore Neil Smith expressed

and the high level of competition witnessed throughout the weekend. "It's truly a testament to the sailing community's passion and commitment," remarked Neil, emphasising the prevailing camaraderie and sportsmanship.

The racecourses were strategically designed to test the sailors' abilities, and the conditions were ideal for an exhilarating contest. The absence of swells and massive tides allowed for precise navigation, contributing to the overall enjoyment of both sailors and onlookers.

reverberated through the air. Sailors, volunteers, and organisers alike celebrated the success of the event and the vibrant spirit of the sailing community.

RESULTS

Trailable State results

Division 1

3rd Fat Bottom Girl, Bryan Murphy

2nd Offshore Account, Simon Morris

1st Green Machine, Alex Wright

Division 2

3rd Rook, Glen Scheen

2nd Running Free, David Philipps

1st Pipalini, Mitch Bayliss

Division 3

3rd Almost Too, Andrew Somerville

2nd Dubboat, Simon Dubbin

1st Uptown girl, Adam Erickson

Division 4 - no spinnaker

3rd Kalimna, Tim Morrison

As the sun set on the Gippsland Lakes, winners were crowned, and the sense of accomplishment

The Victorian Trailable State Titles at Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club not only showcased the exceptional sailing talents within the region but also underscored the importance of such events in fostering camaraderie and a love for the sport. As the boats were docked and the sails were lowered, participants left with memories of a weekend filled with wonderful racing and the warm embrace of the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club community.

racing & sport

2nd Tempo, Malcolm Winder

1st Jacana, Mick Floyd

East Gippsland named Gymnastics Club of the Year

THE annual Gymnastics

Victoria Ball and Awards Night was held at San Remo Ballroom in Carlton on 10 February 2024, to celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches, clubs, volunteers, and leaders in gymnastics across Victoria.

The Awards Night are an opportunity to recognise the hard work and extraordinary efforts of all those within the gymnastics community. From the managers, coaches, committees, to the athletes who have filled gyms with unwavering passion for the sport at a local, state, national or international level, the awards night recognises both individual and team excellence.

Among the most anticipated awards is the Club of the Year, and this year, much to the surprise of Club Manager Marie Miles, our very own East Gippsland Gymnastics Club was named ‘Gymnastics Victoria's Large Club of the Year’.

Both Marie and Senior Coach Ray Hawkey, were thrilled to except this award and the praise that went along with it. “To be compared to

the best clubs in the state who we long have looked up to as leaders in our sport, was a real honour,” said Marie.

In September last year, East Gippsland Gymnastics Club marked a transformative milestone with the official opening of its state-of-the-art facility.

“Years of collaborative effort with the East Gippsland Shire resulted in building a facility that will ensure a lasting impact on gymnastics in the region and its participants, for many years to come,” Marie said.

“This facility was designed to be able to teach several different gymnastics sports at the same time (e.g., Artistic Gymnastics, Ninja, Trampolining). On a busy afternoon we will have up to 100 children and 12 coaches all training at the same time in their sport. This facility is actually working even better than we expected.”

This year has already seen the club's enrolment surge to a record 650+ weekly participants, spanning Gymnastics, Trampolining, KinderGym, Adult classes, and Ninja programs. The club now extends its reach

to weekly school groups, as well as dedicated all-abilities weekly sessions.

In addition to its commitment to excellence in gymnastics, East Gippsland Gymnastics Club has demonstrated unwavering community support. The club's dedication to positive impact is evident in its increase in participation, community engagement events, and ongoing efforts to support local employment and youth development.

East Gippsland Gymnastics Club's journey in 2023 reflects a profound commitment to both gymnastics excellence and community enrichment.

Jacqui Crawford

Noelex

East Gippsland Gymnastics Club Manager Marie Miles accepts award.

1. WHY DID THE TEDDY BEAR SAY NO TO DESSERT? BECAUSE IT WAS STUFFED

2. WHY WAS THE SAND WET? BECAUSE THE SEA WEED

3. WHAT DO YOU CALL A BLIND DINOSAUR? A DO-YOU-THINK-HESAURUS

4. WHAT DID THE POLICEMAN SAY TO HIS TUMMY? A. YOU'RE UNDER A VEST

5.

AND A

GEMSKids PACE

6. WHAT DO YOU CALL A SONG THAT YOU SING IN A CAR? A CAR-TUNE

7. WHAT DO DOGS SAY WHEN THEY SIT ON SANDPAPER? ROUGH!

8. HOW DID THE FARMER COUNT ALL OF HIS COWS? WITH A COWCULATOR

9. WHY WAS SIX AFRAID OF SEVEN? BECAUSE SEVEN EIGHT NINE

10. WHAT ARE YOU CALLED WHEN CHEESE

March 1st: 1901: Following the federation of Australian colonies, the control of naval and military forces shifted from individual states to the newly formed Commonwealth government.

March 2nd: 1788: Governor Arthur Phillip sets out to explore Broken Bay, naming Pittwater during the expedition.

March 3rd: 1986: The Australia Act 1986 is officially proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II, formally severing the remaining legal ties between Australia and the United Kingdom, marking complete Australian independence.

March 4th: 1804: The Castle Hill convict rebellion takes place near Sydney. Up to 200 convicts participated in the uprising, but it was ultimately quashed. 51 were punished and 9 were hanged.

March 5th: 1803: The first issue of Australia's first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette and the New South Wales Advertiser, is published by George Howe.

March 6th: 1788: Lieutenant Philip Gidley King takes possession of Norfolk Island, establishing the first British settlement on the island.

March 7th: 1942: The Japanese occupation of Java, Dutch East Indies, is completed.

March 8th: 1828: The first official Australian postage stamps were issued.

March 9: 1942: The leading brigade of the 7th Division of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) arrives in Adelaide after being deployed in the Middle East. However, some elements of the Division had been sent to Java, Indonesia, and were soon captured by the Japanese.

March 10th: 1788: Two French ships, previously encountered at Botany Bay, depart and are later wrecked near the Solomon Islands.

March 11, 1845: British troops based in Australia are sent to New Zealand to suppress the First Maori War, a conflict arising from tensions over land expansion by European settlers.

March 12, 1900: Australian troops, including the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, arrive in Bloemfontein, South Africa, during the Second Boer War.

March 13, 1943: A Japanese reconnaissance flight takes place over Darwin, one of many such flights conducted during World War II.

March 14th: 1942: Japanese forces bomb Horn Island in the Torres Strait, a crucial base for Allied air operations during World War II.

WHAT

WHO

I

YES,

TOP 500 – 5000 Trusted Taxpayers Status

John Dahlsen

THE ATO is the most powerful and independent Government Statutory Agency governed by the Tax Act that gives the ATO unparallel power and little corresponding accountability. It is an impregnable independent agency.

The ATO’s principal power arises from the reality the taxpayer not the ATO has to prove that they are paying an appropriate amount of tax. This is not satisfied by simply filing a tax return with any explanation.

The ATO wants hard evidence of compliance. You can be required to provide a massive amount of information including agreements (which may often not be in writing) banking transactions as evidence.

The reality is you are required to establish you are not guilty. It is noteworthy with Criminal Law the Courts are required to establish in criminal matters that you are guilty beyond reasonable doubt. This is way tougher than the civil requirement of proof or evidence on the balance of probabilities.

The ATO is responsible for administering the Act and as the Act relies upon self-assessment by taxpayers it compensates by being very demanding in respect to evidence supporting selfassessment.

This unique position puts the ATO in a position for calling for evidence beyond reasonable doubt as to what has happened and not reply on commercial reality or practice. The ATO can call for information from others on taxpayers.

So, the ATO can demand information and evidence no matter what it costs to collect and even if no sin is found there is no compensation payable to the taxpayer for satisfying the information demands of the ATO.

There is thus an incredible mismatch and imbalance of power between the ATO and the taxpayer that does not exist with any other statutory agency accept maybe with terrorism.

Where there is so much imbalance of power there should be some countervailing power to avoid abuse.

There is an appeal process against assessment through the Courts, Taxpayer Board of Review, and limited rights to appeal and to appeal to the Ombudsman. The reality is that like most Courts (like due diligence processes) there are strong practical reasons why this is inadequate in dealing with the ATO particularly with the way the ATO administers the Tax Act and engages with taxpayers. This disadvantage is often compounded by the ATO can requiring you to pay the tax assessment and if you are later found to be correct in your position the tax is not refunded until the process in determined. This requirement to pay tax in advance where the ATO is wrong has caused some companies or individuals to fail. Sometimes the delay can be quite punishing.

The ATO is inconsistent with the way it administers the appeal process. Although, there are plenty of taxpayer guidance notes it is sometimes difficult to understand the actions by individual ATO Officers.

For instance, where a smaller taxpayer identifies an issue which might be prevalent in thousands of other tax returns it will sometimes pay the cost of testing the issue in the courts at its expense. Further, where an issue is a genuine dispute

in a grey area it may delay the tax concession or only seek a 50% contribution. Where however, it is an abuse of the tax system and the ATO is very confident in its position it will seek 100% but in fairness to the ATO the Court will award interests and costs against the ATO. But, at the end of the day it is the ATO that makes the decision about how to proceed.

One area where the power of the ATO is highlighted is the top 500 – 5000 Programs where to achieve Trusted Taxpayers’ Status (TTS) you must provide a substantial amount of information some of which is not relevant to the amount of tax you are required to pay and it is collected for a collateral purposes.

The ATO instead of calculating the tax payable as per the taxpayer’s return the ATO obtains information from the taxpayer as to their overall structures and relationship between the various tax paying entities. You also provide massive amounts of information on the sector and your future intentions by way of objectives and strategies where the tax paying event is yet or occur where the ATO’s rights have not crystallised.

Under the 500 program some entities have provided thousands of pages of material yet after 3 to 4 years the ATO has not reached any conclusions.

The process is slow because the ATO has set up a number of specialised units to investigate a particular areas like Payroll, FBT, CGT and GST etc. The sophistication of these units is profound and heavily outweigh the knowledge and experience of the taxpayer in dealing with the specialised issues.

If you are a large Corporate, you can similarly set up specialised units to cope with the ATO, but this is absolutely impossible for the smaller Corporate or individual taxpayer. Their response is to seek advice from costly external tax specialists.

The overall issue of concern is the ATO’s TTS model slows down the process where so many units from the ATO are involved and sometimes information requests are repeated and already exist in past tax returns. Whilst the ATO takes a long time to review the matter when seeking information, the ATO required the taxpayer to respond within limited times.

At the end of 2023 financial year of the top 500:

• 323 are engaged and making progress towards JTT.

• 41 are engaged but unwilling to pursue JTT.

• 38 are not yet assessed.

• 30 have JTT.

• 6 are not engaged. Is this fair?

Some taxpayers have misunderstood the ATO 500 – 5000 program and have enthusiastically sort to obtain TTS which is in reality an ATO audit when in fact they would have been better off not seeking this elusive outcome.

We should remember that when the ATO seeks evidenced OF payment or activity there is usually someone on the other side of that transaction so that the ATO’s vast data matching power comes into play where the other party’s taxpayer position is being checked.

It is even more profound in that the ATO is much better at segmenting the taxpayer population (by geography activity size complexity risk age etc) so that benchmarks and tax payment risks can be established by segment.

With the ATO’s digitisation program the ability to analyse taxpayer data activities and risk is incredible. This combined with artificial intelligence makes the ATO very powerful, but this requires taxpayers to deliver up vast amounts of information that is not relevant to their own tax payments but that of others in the sector or across all taxpayers based on some yet to be formulated analysis.

The reality is that taxpayers are

incurring massive cost to put the ATO in an even more unassailable position and many in the tax advisory sector comment on the huge disruption this can cause the smaller or abiding taxpayer in terms of money, costs and emotions.

The ATO 500 – 5000 programs have a lot of public appeal with the ATO’s mantra that it is important that the wealthy in the community are paying the right amount of tax. The suggestion being that some are not. The ATO often loses sight of the fact that there is this so called wealthy and large Corporates and individuals are creating and generating the activities employing people making profits which enables taxes to be paid so helping the disadvantaged and funding public infrastructure. Taxpayers are taking risks and employing capital to produce profits giving rise to tax. These taxpayers as well as paying individual or corporate tax are paying Payroll Tax for the states GST and CGT and of course collecting for Government the individuals tax payments.

The increasing and unparalleled power of the ATO causes frustration for some but not others. The reality is that the cost of administering your tax affairs is escalating and there is a whole industry of advisers who are making a meal of the activity.

It is well accepted that most accounting firms particularly the larger ones that the margins achieved on tax work are much higher than other parts of the business. Essentially these firms have a conflict in that the profit derived from tax work is so attractive that it is not in their interest to challenge the way the ATO is administering the Act.

A simple example of this is the question of how much resource the ATO are devoting to a taxpayer or a taxpayer group on the one hand and on the other the amount that the taxpayer group is incurring in meeting the ATO’s request.

Read Part Two in our next edition.

Public Notice of Precipe, Tacit Acceptance and Reconveyance

Suzanne Peta Moreland© and Eric Roy Moreland© and Samantha Joy Moreland© of WyYung, Victoria, are not voluntary transactors in commerce, and are the irrefutable Holders in Due Course of our properties and all associated copyright protected Trade Names since unrebutted lawful Reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis also known as the Commonwealth of Australia, Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 19445 52608 and RPP44 63900 05100 19445 51601, and RPP44 63900 05100 19445 50604 with Proclamation Dates 17/11/2023 respectively, thus severing usufruct subjugation ties with the occupying corporate government of Australia in its entirety. The occupying corporate government of Australia is instructed to immediately cease and desist any further infringement upon these copyright protected nancial instruments and cease and desist misaddressing Suzanne Peta Moreland© and Eric Roy Moreland© and Samantha Joy Moreland© in fraudulent debased Dog-Latin, GLOSSA.

Sporting grants up for grab

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is encouraging young athletes in the region to take the opportunity to apply for the latest round of the Local Sporting Champions program and the Local Para Champions Program.

Mr Chester said the grants programs have helped young people between the ages of 12-18 with costs associated with

competing, coaching or officiating at a state, national or international championship.

“Competing at a state, national or international level requires enormous amounts of dedication by young athletes and support from their families, with the main barrier for them reaching their potential being the costs of attending the high-level events.” Mr Chester said.

“These programs are designed to help support young athlete’s endeavours and help them reach their potential as a sportsperson.”

The Local Para Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability.

“This is a fantastic opportunity

and I encourage all eligible young Gippslanders to apply and potentially receive some additional support to continue pursuing their sporting dreams.”

The Local Sporting Champions provide grants of up to $750 to attend official state and national championship events, and international events as a member of an official Australian team. The Local Para Champions Program

provides grants of $750-$1000 towards the costs of attending these championships.

Grant money may be spent on expenses including competition entry fees or levies, transport costs, accommodation, uniforms and sporting equipment.

Applications for this round of both programs close on April 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, visit: www.sportaus.gov.au

Popular yacht race nears

Jeanette Severs

Tyear it is being held on March 9 and 10.

As the race moves into its 56th year in 2024, there are people who have participated every year, and families that have participated as multi-generations.

It’s not unusual to hear, “my dad took me” when people are asked when they first sailed in the race.

The oldest competitors this year are aged in their 80s.

Over the many years, scout groups have used the opportunity to sail under a night sky for navigation training.

The Marlay Point Overnight Race is open to all mono-hull, multihull and sports trailable yachts. Participants travel from interstate each year to participate.

It is the only overnight race for trailer sailors in Australia and is on the must-do bucket list for many.

The race originated with the Lake Wellington Yacht Club and in more recent years has been hosted combined by Gippsland Lakes

Yacht Club and Lake Wellington Yacht Club.

The race originally began at Marlay Point and traversed the lakes to Metung, but in this century the finishing point has been Paynesville.

Since the race began in 1969, about 4000 yachts have participated, and more than 11,000 sailors have sailed in the Marlay Point overnight race.

This year, 100-140 yachts are expected to participate.

It is one of the few races that are started using flares; with the Marlay Point Overnight Race, the flares are fired into the sky at sunset on Saturday, March 9.

The starting line is at Marlay Point at sunset, and the course takes sailors across broad lakes and through narrow straits, all under the cover of darkness, adding its own challenges and excitement.

For many sailors, especially those with multi-generations of family aboard for 12-24 hours, the race is an ideal bonding experience.

The finish time for each class of yacht is always weather and wind dependent.

Boats are expected to begin arriving into Paynesville from dawn on Sunday, March 10. The official finish time is 4pm on Sunday.

As yachts sail past Montague Point and into Paynesville, it is quite a sight. Spinnakers are encouraged, and these sails add to the colour and spectacle of the race.

The shore or boat based audience will be able to observe yachts arriving throughout Sunday.

A cooked breakfast will be available at the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club at Paynesville from 7am. Locals and visitors are all welcome to share a meal with sailors and hear their high tales about sailing the course.

GLYC committee will open the bar from 3pm, with musical entertainment. A presentation evening will be held later in the day.

Amancii skippered by Steve Brajkovich from northern NSW

Pearl skippered by skippered by Ken Barlow from Metung

ANOTHER JEWELL FOR MULETA

the flying FOR ROY BOY doctor

BEEN watching the yearling sales? You know, the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast or the prestigious Karaka sales in New Zealand, where stunters pay up to $2 million for a colt just to be seen. Then they send their purchases to trainers with private training facilities that have manicured tracks, simulated altitude treadmill rooms and even hyperbaric chambers to treat injuries.

As Shania Twain sings in her song: "That don't impress me much".

Muleta's story though is impressive. Here in Bairnsdale, we don't have the luxury of a conga line of billionaires queuing up to buy yearlings. We compensate for that with fine horse people like Johnny Rule who had the foresight to purchase Family Of Man for $4000 or Jack Riches who bought Tesbury Jack's mum, Clear Money, in foal for $2000.

We are now fortunate to have Jackson and Danni Pallot flying the local flag with the bargain purchases of Flying Basil and Shooter McGavin and their home bred star, Highland

Blaze. But Muleta, or Roy as he is known around the stables, and his story could top them all.

It takes a brave man to spend hours studying the Inglis online catalogues before settling on a $600 broken down castoff and then sweet talking your mates in to taking shares for as little as one per cent.

Such is the case of Muleta.

Taylah Hill, or Miss T E Hill as seen in the race book, is part of the backbone of the Pallot stable as trackrider, strapper and educator.

When Roy arrived with a career threatening, badly damaged tendon, Taylah took a little share and set about helping with his rehabilitation with long walks led off the pony, laps of trotting and beach work. It was a long slow patient process, but after more than two years off Roy showed a glimpse of form with a solid third at Bairnsdale. After a few more lacklustre runs he went for a winter spell.

In the spring, at his second run back, Roy finally broke through winning a 1600m Trophy event at Woolamai. Roy had six more

moderate and sometimes unlucky runs before Jackson made the long journey back to the Sapphire Coast, the jewel of the south for NSW racing.

Roy was shuffled back to last on the turn, but Kayla Nisbet drove him through a gap along the rails to see him storm home for a convincing win.

It was not just a victory for Roy in the $27 thousand benchmark 58, but one for our local master horse people.

Storm Boy, valued at up to $50 million, is favourite for the Golden Slipper and will probably win. Ho, hum.

No, give us a resurrected $600 croc, returning with another jewel from the Sapphire Coast any day. That's what racing is all about.

Don't forget if you would like to meet our local horse men and women make sure you come along to the Bairnsdale Racing Club Ball on Saturday, April 6th. All proceeds from the night will be directed to improving the safety of the training facilities at the track. Contact the club on 0429 952 827.

THIS year's Black Caviar Lightning was won in a fighting finish by top mare, Imperatriz. In attendance to watch the race named in her honour was the great World Champion sprinter herself, now 17 years old, Black Caviar.

Down the road a bit on the same day at Woolamai, the real speedsters were hot hoofing it around the Picnic circuit. It was Woolamai Whirlwind day and the quickest horses on turf had "gathered to the fray". The Whirlwind is a very short "blink and you miss it" 888 metres, the shortest race on the calendar.

Rob Gillihan made the long journey from Ensay with his speedster, Doctor Coto. The Doc was coming off a stewards warning for his 58 lengths last at Yea and then his follow up win at Buchan.

Caitlin King, the Doc's winning rider from Buchan, was aboard again and she soon had him kicking up from his inside draw to lead. From there the Doc led them a merry dance to hold on and win the prestigious picnic sprint.

The handsome black 8yo brought up his 9th win and three of them

have been at Woolamai, where he relishes the short distances and firm surfaces.

Doctor Coto pulled up so well that he backed up eight days later and almost pinched the Yarragon Cup, held at Moe. From barrier one again and with a drop of over 12 kgs in weight, he led all the way, but was nabbed right on the line to run second.

Rob Gillahan has the Doc racing in great form and with Hinnomunjie and Swifts Creek picnic meetings and a benchmark 58 sprint at Bairnsdale on Cup Day still to come, he is certainly worth following.

Trainer Rob Gillihan and jockey, Caitlin King. Picture courtesy Woolamai RC

Doctor Coto winning at Sale.Picture: Leonie Grbic/ Racing Photos