ENTRIES are flowing in for the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta, to be held November 1-5, 2024, on Lake King, at Metung, Victoria (Australia).
The Australian championship regatta is being held in November to fit in with the Etchells World
Championship at Brighton in January 2025.
The Notice of Race for the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta is online, at https:// metungyachtclub.com.au/sailingevents/2025-etchells-nationals
An invitational race has been organised for Friday, November 1, with a formal welcome that evening. The
four-day regatta gets underway the following day.
There are plenty of outstanding sailors among the line-up of entrants, including veterans of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and previous champions in various sailing categories including the current Victorian titleholder in the Etchells class.
Michael Bellingham, renowned as a
navigator in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, is bringing Avalon to Metung. The classy yacht will be crewed by Dean Blatchford and Kyle Dodds.
It’s not the first time the trio have sailed Avalon on Lake King. They were among the leaders at the 2022 Australian championship regatta when it was hosted by Metung Yacht Club in March 2022.
Avalon with Bellingham, Blatchford and Dodds on board finished 27th overall at the 2024 Worlds.
Jan Muysken has entered African Queen in the regatta, with Gordon Maguire and Sven Runow, and they’ll be bringing global Worlds’ experience to tackle Metung’s Lake King.
CONTINUES
Jeanette Severs
Free public transport for Veterans across the State
VETERANS will be able to travel for free across Victoria’s entire public transport network during Veterans’ Health Week with the support of the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman this month encouraged all Victorian veterans, war widows and war widowers to access free travel across public transport in Victoria from Sunday 13 October to Sunday 20 October.
Veterans’ Health Week is run each year across Australia focused on the health and
wellbeing of those who have served and their families.
This year’s theme — Keep Connected — aims to promote good health and wellbeing in the everyday lives of veterans and their families and shine a light on the importance of social togetherness.
Veterans, war widows and war widowers will be able to travel free throughout Veterans’ Health Week across all bus, tram and train networks in metro Melbourne and regional Victoria.
To take up the offer,
MORWELL ACTIONDAY
FOLLOWING local feedback about rubbish accumulating in Waterhole Creek in Morwell, the MPs assembled a team to undertake their own community action day.
Despite removing eight bags of rubbish and two shopping trolleys in less than an hour, there’s still more to be done, and they will be approaching local authorities to arrange a bigger effort in the weeks ahead.
veterans need to travel with either a Victorian Veterans Card — Victoria, an ex-service association or returned from active service badge, a Department of Veterans’ Affairs gold or white card or a Category ‘V’ Victorian public transport concession card.
Holders of Veterans Concession myki, EDA/TPI or War Veterans/War Widow Free Travel Pass can touch on and off as usual. Myki fares won’t be charged during this period.
Accessing your veterans card is made easy through the Service Victoria app and
website, and it has already been downloaded by more than 19,000 veterans.
The Labor Government also supports and honours veterans and their families with free public transport travel on ANZAC and Remembrance Day and a range of initiatives such as the Veterans Card — Victoria, Public Sector Veteran Employment Strategy, RSL Active and a range of grant programs.
For more information about the offer of free transport visit ptv.vic.gov.au/ news-and-events.
Traffic lights for Wy Yung intersection, roundabout for McEacharn – finally!
THE Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, recently challenged the VicRoads decision to install traffic lights at the Bullumwaal Road / Howitt Avenue intersection.
“The reason for my query is that back in 2019 I was advised a roundabout was the preferred option, an outcome I know the majority of the Eastwood and Wy Yung community supported,” he said.
“The plan was to have a roundabout with a merging lane before the bridge, so traffic would continue to flow. I was presented with the plans which I shared with the community at the time — which I still have.
“The department has come back to me stating the reason for installing traffic lights relates to land acquisition being needed for a roundabout, native vegetation requirements and public consultation feedback.
“When I questioned the latter and the fact no local residents were advised of, or knew of the public consultation process, I was simply told they were aware the public consultation process needed to be better for future projects, but this project would now not be changed.
“The bottom line is, we now have traffic lights going in on a flood plain, which is not the preferred outcome the
majority of the community sought.
“It must also be remembered this is a Federally funded project and the State has been sitting on
the Commonwealth money secured by my colleague and Federal Member for Gippsland, Mr Chester, for five years.”
Mr Bull said on a brighter
note he had also been advised the McEacharn Street / Princes Highway intersection (also Federally funded) roundabout would also be started soon.
“I’m told the project will remain as initially planned, a roundabout with a lane
to merge onto the highway before the bridge, which is what we wanted at Wy Yung.
“It is another project where the State has been sitting on the money for an extended period and the second time it has been announced, the last time, being four years ago.”
Tim Bull at Howitt Ave Bullumwaal Rd intersection.
Tim Bull at McEacharn Street intersection.
Local Members of Parliament Martin Cameron and Darren Chester with Morwell resident Linda Prendergast.
CURRENT International Etchells Class 2024 Victorian Champion, Jack Abbott, has followed up his performance at the 2024 Worlds, on the helm of Lisa Rose, by entering the regatta at Metung.
Abbott is a born-and-bred sailor at Metung, and brought home the championship with local knowledge, a young crew and the tactical experience of his father, Nigel Abbott, on board Kim McKendrick’s Ireland Girl in January this year.
Metung Yacht Club hosted the International Etchells Class 2024 Victorian Championship, in January this year. It was also sailed on Lake King.
Abbott brought an edge to his racing that was all about local experience and he’ll be using that again in November.
He’ll be sailing Martin Hill’s Lisa Rose at Metung, a boat he has been helming all year, as part of their campaign to contest the 2025 World championship.
Hill also helmed Lisa Rose on Lake King in the Australian championship in 2022.
Hill’s and Abbott’s combined tactical and sailing strength gives Lisa Rose a formidable chance on the water.
Chris Hampton’s Tango is also on the entry list. Tango was a clear leader on Lake King at the 2022 championship regatta.
Hampton will be sailing in spring conditions this time, and will no doubt be hoping his previous experience can benefit him on Lake King.
Peter Robson is bringing Playing Around 3 back to Lake King, after their outings in the 2023 and 2024 Victorian championships, held at Metung. A two-time national champion in the United Kingdom, Robson has been racing Etchells in Australia since 2019.
Christian Boillot is sailing Tamm Ha Tamm with his regular crew of Phillipe Charret and Esteban Franco. The trio competed in the Australian championship regatta in Sydney in January this year followed by the Victorian championship at Metung, then the World Etchells Championships in March.
Boillot has been French National Champion twice in the International Dragon class and has been in the top 10 world status. He purchased Tamm Ha Tamm five years ago. Their best result in Metung was a podium finish at Easter 2022.
After a 35th overall placing at this year’s Worlds, Great White Hunter will be keen to make waves at Metung.
Regular crew Alexander (Sandy) Higgins will be going out strong, alongside Peter Bellingham.
The local fleet will be taking the competition up to the visiting boats.
Stephen Bull (helm), Stuart Loft and Dean Smith will be competing in Come Monday. Bull and Loft both have considerable ocean racing experience, including Sydney to Hobart races, and grew up sailing on the Gippsland Lakes.
Their experience will be added to by Smith, who has been sailing in local races for several years with Bull and earlier this year took up Toby Richardson’s invitation to compete at the 2024 Worlds in Jindivik.
Richardson obviously thought highly of Smith, looking at him to replace Sam King, who had other plans leading up to the Paris Olympics.
Richardson, Smith and Oliver Nicholas helped Jindivik to finish top end of the fleet at the 2024 Worlds, with a 15th place at the end of the regatta.
Richardson will have Nicholas to rely on as usual
GIPPSLAND GRAIN STORE
and is waiting to hear if King is available.
The crew of Peter Wilkinson, Peter Bull and Adrian Seymour in Apres La Mer includes one of the most capable sailors on the Gippsland Lakes and makes this crew very competitive and tactical.
There is at least one allwoman team competing in the championship regatta. Sarah Clough on the helm with Kate Middleton, Pip Moore and Sarah Pearce, will take out New Wave, owned by Kevan Pearce and Stephen Richardson.
Clough and Middleton have been sailing together since they were children.
Clough is a past Australian and Victorian champion in the J24 class and a Victorian champion in the International Dragon class.
Clough and Middleton regularly sail together in women's keelboat regattas and took line honours in Adelaide in 2023, finishing the regatta second on handicap.
Niesje Hees, helming Quandong, will be sailing with her regular crew of Josh Reid and Cliff Gibson.
Second Chance has a very capable and competitive skipper on the helm in Andrew Lethlean, and he is well supported by James Trenberth, Trenberth’s daughter Isabella, and Matt
Waller. Izzy at 13 years old is potentially the youngest competitor on Lake King in this regatta, but brings considerable experience, including helming her father’s boat to second place in the prestigious Betty Dack race a couple of years ago.
Elusive's skipper Jeff Rose will be sailing with his regular team of Rob Conn and Mark Henger. Henger brings qualification as Australian International Flying Dutchman Champion to the team's considerable experience flying kites. Conn and Rose have decades of experience sailing on Lake King.
Elusive (AUS1360), Come Monday (AUS1332) and Jindivik (AUS1487) and three local boats with potential to be on the podium at the end of the regatta. Picture: Jeanette Severs
Protest blockade stops mock coal ship at Paynesville
OVER 70 people gathered with their kayaks at the Paynesville foreshore on Sunday 6th October to protest against government approvals of new coal mines and gas fields. A mock coal ship was prevented from unloading its dirty cargo at the wharf. Organised by Rising Tide Gippsland, the protest day went ahead on the shore, despite rain and strong winds stopping the planned onwater blockade.
Protest leader Ms Ro Gooch said: “It was filthy weather but we still had a great turn-out of people of all ages to demand more urgent action on dangerous climate change. People came here from as far as Sydney, Melbourne, Bendigo and Myrtleford to join locals in voicing their concerns about the government’s failure to stop new coal mines and gas fields.”
Ms Louise Maud, owner of the aluminium cruiser that was dressed up as a mock coal ship explained: “While sceptics may think this was a bit of a joke, the coal ship is symbolic of a very serious issue for everyone, including for us living in Gippsland. So we re-named my boat ‘Climate Disaster’ for the day. We have already seen climate-related disasters here in recent times; and burning more fossil fuels will only make these events more common and much worse for my grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. So I have to act on this now for their sake.”
Louise acted the part of the coal ship captain, resisting the protesters at the wharf and asserting her right to bring ‘Climate Disaster’ to our shore. In that role she claimed that she had a right to make a living from fossil fuels, even if it means that others must suffer ongoing misery and loss as a result.
Rising Tide Gippsland member, Mr Don McPhee from Paynesville told the crowd: “We have a mock coal ship here as a symbol of a deadly threat. It doesn’t matter where coal ships go in the world because, wherever the coal is burned, it all drives dangerous climate change that brings disaster risks right back to our shores. We have to stop that now.”
The scientific consensus is overwhelming that we are rapidly approaching critical climate tipping-points, which could lead to irreversible dangerous changes to our climate, threatening our economy and environment and exceeding the capacity of our civilisation to respond.
Every extra tenth of a degree in global warming is critical now and we have no time to waste to stop burning coal, gas and oil. In spite of this advice from credible world leaders and over 97 per cent of the world’s climate scientists, there is a very strong push-back against this message by the fossil fuel industry and sections of the media under their control.
“The coal and gas lobby has been so effective at protecting its business model that it
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appears to have captured government policy and mainstream media. Instead of acting on scientific advice to protect us all from dangerous climate change, the federal government has approved 28 new coal and gas projects since 2022.” Mr McPhee said.
“The carbon pollution from these projects will lock in a dangerous future for young people alive now and for centuries to come. This is a betrayal of duty of care for this generation, and will become known as Labor’s great climate failure.”
“I know a two-year-old and I am talking for him,”
Mr McPhee continued:
“We can all remember the mega-bushfires of 2019-20 and the horror they brought to eastern Australia. Leading climate scientists now advise that if we keep on burning coal and gas, then by his 21st birthday, summers like that will be normal; and by his 45th birthday a summer like that will feel like a good one. Why would we want to inflict this pain and misery on his generation just to keep on growing the wealth of fossil fuel barons?”
The protest also raised awareness of plans for the national Rising Tide blockade of Newcastle in NSW, the world’s biggest coal port, planned for 22 –24 November. Over 10,000 people are expected at the protest, which will then move on to a peaceful vigil outside Parliament House in Canberra on November 26 – 28.
The Nationals put Gippsland locals first in renewables plan
THE Nationals have moved to ensure Gippsland locals are put first in the transition to renewables.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said Gippslanders have been left without a voice amid the renewables push from the Allan Labor Government and multi-national corporations for too long.
“Gippsland South has been inundated with proposed renewable energy developments creating confusion and angst,” Mr O’Brien said.
“I have been in regular contact with locals who feel steam-rolled and as though their concerns have gone unheard.
“Where the city-centric Allan Labor Government has failed to listen and has actively removed their right to appeal against neighbouring energy developments, The Nationals and Liberals in government will guarantee a voice for those affected most by renewable projects.”
Mr O’Brien said The Nationals and Liberals Regional Energy Development Policy will:
• Reinstate the right of appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, ensuring that community voices are heard in the planning process.
• Revoke planning scheme amendment VC261,
instituted by Labor to strip local communities of planning powers over high voltage transmission lines.
• Institute a default 2km buffer zone around proposed wind towers to minimise the impact on residential properties and local communities.
• Ensure major transmission and large-scale wind and solar generation projects face a rigorous and independent planning panel assessment.
• Develop principles that ensure overhead lines adhere to strict setback requirements to minimise visual and environmental impact.
• Ensure lower emission generators, high voltage transmission lines and large scale battery owners are required to comply with all relevant bushfire overlays.
“The Nationals in government will also reinstate the third-party appeal rights that were unfairly stripped by Labor with no regard to the democratic rights of regional communities.
“As we transition away from coal, it is important that Gippslanders have the opportunity to have their say and have an avenue to stand up against developments that may threaten their way of life.
“Our policy will ensure a balance between the roll-out of renewable energy and the changes that will be needed to transmission networks.
“This plan is not just about giving locals a voice but protecting our regional communities like those in Gippsland South.”
• Advocate to the Commonwealth that any compensation received by landowners for hosting major transmission lines, or for impacts caused by such projects, is exempt from taxation.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says The Nationals in government will ensure a voice for Gippslanders in renewables plan.
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opinion
- across the table
The art of demonstrable demonstrating
Generally speaking, with Will Bedggood
SPARE a thought for the activist students who pitched their tents on Australian university campuses in solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinian cause after the October 7 massacres of Israelis last year. Fresh from the Voice campaign they were about to lose comprehensively, they jumped on to the anti-Israeli bandwagon, where many of them have been ever since. This is a student generation educated on a woke diet of anti-colonial moralism. Until last October their achievements were mainly to deface statues in parks as prominent colonial founders were re-imagined as British monsters.
Sloganeering like this has since encouraged the students and their Green political leaders to compare
Jewish re-occupation of the ancient Middle Eastern homeland with the sins of nineteenth century Western imperialist powers.
Surely it’s all the same? The indigenous and the oppressed; aren’t they victims of the West one and all? Surely they deserve the support of the young, the enlightened and the Green? They may have finally left the tents behind but committed students and activists have been marching on weekends in Sydney and Melbourne ever since.
The trouble is that time has gone on and events have progressed. As the conflict has become ever more intense and wider, formerly shady players are openly siding with the team the activist students are supporting and because of this they are finding it harder and harder to denounce the existence of Israel while pretending that’s neither racist nor anti-semitic.
It’s one thing to wear middle
eastern scarves and wave around a Palestinian flag on behalf of the oppressed. It’s quite another to walk around sporting images of an assassinated Hezbollah leader wanted around the world for decades of terrorism.
Now it’s gone a step further. Iran has come out of the shadows and launched inter-ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv. Where does that place our activist students and their local Green spokespeople?
Are we to see effigies of the Ayatollah, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, popping up on weekends in our CBDs as symbols of progressive AussieLeft enlightenment?
Somehow, ever so slowly, even the ALP seems to be recognising where events are placing Hamas and Palestinian sympathisers.
Prime Minister Albanese is finally coming around to the conclusion that Israel has every right to defend itself. Some of his ministers are edging him on.
But the Greens and the student activists are remaining intransigent. They see no end to the weekend occupations of the CBDs, nor do they see the need. This is despite the demonstrations themselves becoming clearly more immigrant in composition with the stresses on Australian multiculturalism clearly growing. The Iranian regime is playing its siren’s song directly to Australian Muslims. This is why Canberra is increasingly concerned about the Iranian Ambassador’s anti-Jewish tweets. As always, the Greens don’t care about that: they just want to score inner suburban seats from the ALP and they don’t seem to mind about the company they keep. Back to the students and the CBD demonstrations. Before long it will be clearer that Iran is running the anti-Israel show. Let’s see if the students think that matters.
National Carers Week Recognise
NATIONAL Carers Week will run from Sunday 13 to Saturday 19 October 2024. It is a time to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness about the 3 million Australians who provide care to a family member or friend.
Carers Australia and the network of Carers Associations invite all Australians to be part of Carers Week. Carers Week is Australia’s celebration of carers and is held annually in the third week of October.
National Carers Week recognises, celebrates and raises awareness of the 3 million Australians providing unpaid care and support to their family members or friends. The week shines a light on Australian carers’
and celebrate carers across
resilience and sacrifice, and the profound impact they have on our communities.
At some point in every Australian’s life, we will either know, be, or need a carer. It’s this fundamental truth that underscores the importance of National Carers Week, urging us to show support, extend a helping hand or simply be there for those who tirelessly give of themselves, day in and day out.
Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Anyone can become a carer,
Australia
at any time.
National Carers Week is an initiative of Carers Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and coordinated with the assistance and
participation of the National Carer Network.
For more information visit their website: carersweek.com.au
Helping Victorians prepare for Thunderstorm Asthma
THE State Government is encouraging Victorians to prepare for high-risk thunderstorm asthma days and take action to stay safe throughout this year’s grass pollen season.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas this month visited the State Control Centre to encourage Victorians to use the state’s world-leading Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma Risk Forecast System which is set to operate throughout the peak of the season from now until 31 December.
Providing a three-day forecast across Victoria’s nine weather districts, the system will indicate a low (green), moderate (orange) or high (red) risk forecast — alerting those with asthma or hay fever when they should avoid exposure outdoors. Those
most at risk should ensure they take any prescribed medication as directed and develop or follow their asthma action plan or use asthma first aid if they experience symptoms. On high-risk forecast days, people with asthma or hay fever can reduce their risk by avoiding the outdoors, particularly the wind gusts that can begin before storms. These people should remain indoors to reduce the chance of exposure, close all windows and doors, and switch off any air conditioners that bring air in from outside.
The launch of the forecast system in 2017 followed the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne on 21 November 2016, that tragically resulted in 10 deaths and thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short time. Epidemic thunderstorm asthma occurs when many people develop asthma symptoms over a short time caused by high amounts of grass pollen and a certain type of thunderstorm. The epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast is available daily through the VicEmergency website and app — Victorians can set up a watch zone to receive advice and warnings for their area. The forecast is also on health.vic.gov.au and melbournepollen.com.au or the Melbourne Pollen app.
Put the headlights on motorcyclist safety
ROAD safety authorities are urging Victorians to keep motorcyclist safety front of mind following an alarming increase in the number of motorcyclists killed on the state’s roads.
Last week marked the start of Motorcyclist Awareness Month — an annual initiative encouraging both motorists and motorcyclists to share the road.
Now in its third year, the initiative is led by the Motorcycle Community Engagement Panel, in collaboration with the Transport Accident Commission, Victoria Police and the Department of Transport.
So far this year (at the time of publication), 52 motorcyclists have died on Victoria’s roads, close to 50 per cent higher than at the same time last year when 35 motorcyclists had died.
New statistics from the TAC show that more than half of motorcyclist deaths this year have involved another vehicle, and almost twothirds of these deaths have happened at an intersection.
Intersections are highly complex environments where we often see drivers, riders, pedestrians and cyclists interacting to cross a road; highlighting the need for all road users to remain vigilant and obey all road rules, signals and signs to ensure our roads are safe for everyone.
TAC Head of Road Safety Samantha Cockfield said it was devastating to see significant increase in fatal motorcycle crashes and it was a stark reminder of the consequences when something goes wrong.
“Our thoughts go out to all the families and loved ones of people killed by road trauma; the ripple effects of these deaths are far reaching, and we can’t become immune to the increase in lives lost on our roads,” Ms Cockfield said.
“Motorcyclist Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to engage with the Victorian community and educate road users how we can all play a role in keeping each other safe; every road user should feel safe, no
matter how they get around,” she said.
Motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users because they have limited protection, making it crucial for drivers to do their part in ensuring the roads are shared safely.
Drivers can help avoid a crash with a motorcyclist by being aware of their surroundings, looking for motorcycles at intersections and always doing a head check before changing lanes.
Motorcyclists should play their part too, by ensuring they wear the correct protective clothing for every ride and choose safe riding behaviours.
A new TAC digital campaign will encourage motorists to think about the person under the helmet and promote the importance of sharing the road safely, while the ‘Only Protected for a Moment’ campaign will remind motorcyclists to wear protective gear for every ride.
You can also start or join the discussions about things that matter to you at: https://joanneeastman.discourse.group
I’ve identified the actions needed, and a Councillor group that will work with all communities across East Gippsland to:
• Insist on much better financial management
• Insist on significantly improved governance
• Insist on timely and genuine community engagement
• Promote sustainable economic development that does not negatively impact existing industries
• Look after our soils, water and groundwater
• Ensure our infrastructure (including roads, water and sewage) can keep up with new developments.
• Prioritise local issues and needs first
Such a large group of candidates has made the selection task very difficult. I’ve considered candidates from across all the alliances to come up with a group that I believe will deliver the best for East Gippsland now and into the future.
Members of the group have the right mix of skills and experience, business acumen and social responsibility, background, connections and grit.
I expect them to be able to put Councillors back in the driving seat rather than merely acting as rubber stamps for predetermined decisions.
Supporting Swifts Creek to transition to the future
THE Allan Labor Government is backing the Swifts Creeks community by providing more support to develop and progress innovative projects identified through their Local Development Strategy.
Minister for Agriculture
Ros Spence today announced a $500,000 grant from the Forestry Transition Program for the extension of the ‘Swifts Creek Future’ Local Development Strategy.
The Community Development Fund grant is being provided to the East Gippsland Shire Council to support the Swifts Creek Future project for a further two years.
The funding will support the exploration of the priority areas for the town identified through the project including:
1. Candidates who see Councillors as a bridge – not a barrier – between Council and community
2. Councillors’ performance during last term, including responsiveness to, and respect, for local knowledge and needs
3. Previous Councillors’ willingness to vote against the majority
Previous Councillors’ stance and track record on transparency 5. Opinions on rates’ freezes or caps
6. Candidates who don’t confuse the role of local government with that of the State or Federal Governments
7. Candidates who understand the economy and the need to support farms and small businesses to build and keep wealth in our region, 8. Background and experience 9. Candidate statements
‘Gaming the system’ – a big NO from me 11. Feedback from locals
Social media presence
Speech at the Meet the Candidates’ night
• Nature-based recreation and tourism
• Education and Skills Centre
• Primary industry production
• Independent living for local ageing residents. The grant will be used for the employment of staff to manage the implementation of the Local Development Strategy, communications products and sourcing of additional expert advice.
Swifts Creek is one of 11 Victorian towns and communities receiving support to transition and implement new strategies in their local economy. The Forestry Transition Program supports communities affected by the end of native timber harvesting.
For more information visit deeca.vic.gov.au/ forestry.
Authorised by Joanne Eastman, PO Box 1002, Bairnsdale, 3875
Financial incentives for kindergarten teachers and educators.
Giving Victorian children the best start means more qualified teachers and educators are needed across the state.
Get up to $50,000* on top of your salary for positions at a priority service.
Relocation support is also available.
Search for a position with a financial incentive through the Early Childhood Jobs website at vic.gov.au/kinder
Back to Basics: Community engagement and public transparency
Iwould like you, the voters, to elect me to serve you again on Council. I want to continue my quest to support everyone who is disadvantaged by Council’s poor decisions. Certain individuals, groups and communities continue to lose basic rights because of unjust decisions. Just look at the Cann River Transfer Station, the Lakes Entrance Walk, the ferry pass debacle for Raymond Island residents, no home building on infill blocks on Raymond Island and the loss of rights to build on longheld rural properties. These are just a few of Council’s decisions that are inequitable or ill-considered. Then there are the capital works projects that are poorly planned and executed, while not respecting impacted citizens. It has been a pleasure to sit on the Rural Advisory Committee. We have gained funding for the Gippsland Ag Sector Research Farm, along with the Learning Centre pavilion at the airport. This multi-purpose building will also suit other groups and the East Gippsland Field Days.
I have been totally consistent with trying to keep rate rises to a minimum, with little support from the majority of other Councillors. Just recently, it was pleasing to second Sonia Buckley’s motion on transparency and open briefings to the public. This was passed but — astonishingly — not supported by all Councillors. Going forward, most wooden bridges will have been replaced with concrete. Money can be redirected to residential areas with no footpaths and sealing of gravel roads where lifestyle properties are growing, eg Centre Goon Nure Road. As the capital works programme winds back, we should stocktake and dispose
of plant, equipment and vehicles no longer required. Costs to ratepayers from capital works must be reduced so that our community can get more of the basics more of the time. Inflationary pressures have required grant money to be topped up with Council cash to cover tendered prices. Future grant applications must be better thought out to reflect price increases rather than raiding public money to compensate.
With such a large budget, careful analysis of finances can and must find significant savings — just like private enterprise does every day. This would be most welcomed by ratepayers who have been forced, year after year, to pick up the shortfall when good management and a savings mentality should be automatic. Our community is hurting for all sorts of reasons, but mostly financial. An engaged and transparent Council can do its job properly and give the community a break.
Authorised by Sonia Buckley, P.O Box 247, Omeo, VIC 3898
Helping families enrol in kinder
THE Allan Labor Government is making it easier and cheaper for families in 57 council areas to secure a kindergarten place, with extra funding for local council central enrolment systems.
Minister for Children
Lizzie Blandthorn today announced $5.2 million in grants to support local councils to operate Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) services for kindergarten – making it easier, faster and cheaper for families to apply for multiple services in their area.
More than 1,000 kindergartens are being supported to operate a CRES,
making it free for families to apply to kindergarten.
Victorian families are also saving up to $2,500 per child when accessing Free Kinder, giving our kids the very best start in life. More than 70,000 children across Victoria are enrolled through CRES, representing more than half of all enrolments.
For the first time this year the grants include additional funding for councils in growth areas, helping them to meet increased demand on kinder services.
The CRES grants enable councils to provide registration and enrolment services at no cost to families — another way that the Labor Government is working to
support Victorian families with cost-of-living challenges. Centralised systems also allow services to identify families who may be experiencing disadvantage and proactively engage with them, with direct links to other council-run services such as maternal and child health programs.
Under the Labor Government’s nation-leading Best Start, Best Life reforms, funding for centralised kinder enrolment systems has more than quadrupled — growing from $1.6 million to $5.2 million, catering for more enrolments than ever before and making sure every child has access to early education and support.
GIPPSLAND farmers are bearing the brunt of Labor Federal Government policies that are increasing costs, reducing productivity and undermining the financial viability of agriculture, according to Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud.
Mr Littleproud and the Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, conducted a two-day tour across the region and received direct feedback from farmers and industry representative groups.
"Agriculture forms the backbone of Gippsland, a region renowned for highquality agricultural products, but the Labor-Greens vendetta against the region is jeopardising the livelihoods of farming families as they grapple with workforce challenges, food and water security, supermarket behaviour, excessive green tape and anti-agribusiness policies," Mr Littleproud said.
"We need common sense in Canberra and a respect for the critical role our farmers play in feeding the nation and exporting to the world."
Mr Chester said the region's agriculture sector was under threat as the Labor Party continues to enforce policies that carry enormous consequences.
"Gippsland is an agriculture powerhouse, with a $7 billion net worth, employing more than a third of the region's workforce, and proudly
producing 22 per cent of the nation's dairy, 25 per cent of the beef, wool, and prime lamb in Victoria, and 27 per cent of Victoria's vegetables," Mr Chester said.
"But farmers' voices are increasingly being drowned out by activists who want to shut down Australian farms, and our farmers know they aren't getting a fair go from the government."
Since forming Government, the Albanese Government has torn up the Agriculture Visa, despite Australia's top peak food industry bodies warning that agriculture requires an additional 172,000 workers, and made ill-advised changes to the PALM scheme, rendering the scheme unworkable for farmers, compounding widespread workforce shortages.
The Albanese Government has attempted to slug farmers with a new fresh food tax by forcing them to pay for the biosecurity risks of their international competitors, made enormous cuts to regional infrastructure and water, banned the live sheep export industry, introduced a new ute tax and enforced water buybacks.
Mr Littleproud said these Albanese Government policies were hurting farming communities in Gippsland and across the country and were being driven by people who don't understand the sector.
"Our discussions with local farmers were all about
listening to their concerns and helping us to shape policies which value and respect their contribution to the nation," Mr Littleproud said.
"The anger and frustration of farmers is understandable and led to the recent rally in Canberra. All our farmers want is a fair go, and a Coalition Government will always stand up for the agricultural sector."
To fix farming in Gippsland and Australia, The Nationals are demanding 10 key changes by Labor;
• Bring back the Agriculture Visa and fix Labor’s PALM scheme mess.
• Stop Labor’s water buybacks in the MurrayDarling Basin.
• Introduce a container levy (so our own farmers don’t pay for the biosecurity risk created by international competitors).
• Reverse Labor’s cuts to regional infrastructure.
• Stop Labor’s truckie tax and vehicle efficiency standard.
• Create a mix of energy, rather than Labor’s allrenewables approach, with nuclear as well as a lot more gas in the short-term.
• Scrap harmful emissions profiles, or Scope 3.
• Stop Labor’s proposed taxes on superannuation, which will impact family farms.
• Ensure the 88-day backpacker work visa remains in place for the agriculture sector.
• Reinstate the live sheep export trade.
& mind
Sit up straight, my dear!
Catherine Wilks
“Sit up straight, my dear!” These words still ring profoundly in my ears from my year 7 history teacher who told us daily that posture matters. Although at the time not wanting to admit she was right, these old fashioned words are even more relevant to the technologically based society we now live in. Maybe we need to go back to “nagging” kids to sit up straight, or perhaps, a more gentle, educated approach may be more effective.
As I pass though the community, my biggest concern is people’s posture when using a mobile phone. The ‘tech neck” posture, where people are constantly looking down at their phone or device. With the head forward at a 60 degree angle, it is equivalent to having a bowling ball placed or a small child placed on your neck. Adopting this posture can lead to long term problems with the neck and its surrounding soft tissues and nerves, if we do not start to educate everyone on using devices effectively. So why does posture matter?
Is there an ideal posture?
The ideal posture is one where the body can be in comfortably without being in pain, it is different for each individual, but there are ideal positions of the body, that can help maintain less wear and tear on the joints and soft tissues over a long period of time.
One of the main keys to posture is awareness. Many people come to my Pilates sessions already presenting with painful areas in the body such as the lower back, neck or shoulders. Often people are not aware of the positions of their body are in, particularly when sitting or standing, and then add in 8 hours at a desk each day, the body is working hard to counterbalance a position we were perhaps not originally designed to do for long periods of time.
The skeleton is surrounded by connective tissue “fascia” that offers support in the body, in a tensional way, not a compressive way. This allows for various types of movement, shock absorbing when walking, jumping and running. If areas of the body are restricted or tight, (due to
poor posture, injury or scar tissue) it will cause the fascia to dehydrate and dismiss its ability to glide and slide. If areas of the body are over stretched or unsupported, it creates instability in the structure.
We have 10 times more proprioceptors in fascia than in muscle, making it the richest sensory organ in the body. We need to move into all sorts of varied positions daily to keep these sensory proprioceptors aware of where we are in space, in other words to help us prevent a fall or long term postural problems.
Our body is a biotensegral being, it will adapt and remember the posture that it is put into, meaning, the position that you are in at a desk for 8 hours a day is the posture that your body will adapt to, and it will become a “new” normal over the period of about a year, it counter movement and stretches are not occurring on a regular basis.
The good news is that with awareness, stretching and strengthening the body, we can create and adapt a better, more ideal aligned posture with many long-term health benefits.
Milestone mobile coverage for a better connected State
THE Allan Labor Government has improved the resilience of telecommunication across the state, having completed 170 resilience upgrade projects so far.
Minister for Government Services Gabrielle Williams today visited Mount Taylor in East Gippsland where a Telstra mobile tower site has recently been upgraded as part of the resilience upgrade program co-funded with the Commonwealth and Telstra.
The resilience upgrades include fitting 12-hour battery-backups, extending critical power and installing generators.
Through the Connecting Victoria Program over 60 projects are planned to be
delivered in East Gippsland with more than half already completed so far.
East Gippsland and Mount Taylor have been impacted in the recent September storms and these upgrades will enable communities to stay connected should there be future power outages.
The resilience program is also removing vegetation and installing heat-proof shields to protect infrastructure to prepare critical infrastructure as we head into the summer bushfire season.
While the Commonwealth Government is responsible for telecommunications services in Australia, the Victorian Government has stepped in and partnered with telecommunications
providers to invest in resilience mobile towers so communities can stay connected.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom Macintosh said, “These upgrades are ensuring the community can stay connected — even through the toughest of weather conditions and when it matters most.”
The Connecting Victoria program is delivering more than 1,200 mobile projects and 150 broadband projects across the state.
Connecting Victoria projects will be delivered by mid-2026, with many set to be completed much sooner.
Find out more about Connecting Victoria at vic.gov.au/connectingvictoria
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud, Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester with Southern Rural Water Managing Director Cameron FitzGerald.
State MP Tim Bull, Bulmer Farms owner Bill Bulmer, Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud, and Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
State MP Tim Bull, Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG) CEO Trevor Caithness, GAgG member Dave Caldwell, GAgG General Manager Jen Smith, Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud and Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
Rise of the Region Gippsland High-Tech Precinct: A beacon of
Madeline Virant
GIPPSLAND boasts a rapidly growing sector with the successful opening of the Gippsland High-Tech Precinct in Morwell in 2020. Four years on this cutting-edge Innovation Centre signifies a meaningful breakthrough in the region's economic development. The centre was formed through a collaborative effort between government, industry, and academia, as a base for research, business incubation, product development, start up support, and education and training.
The precinct offers a state-of-the-art environment for research, development, and commercialisation of innovative technologies. With its world-class infrastructure, including laboratories, workshops, and office spaces. The facilities provide the ideal setting for entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses to thrive, while accelerating technology adoption in key growth sectors like health, food, advanced manufacturing, and new energy. In creating a vibrant and stimulating work environment, the precinct can foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The design and model considered the needs of the industry, school students,
education providers and community through an integrated approach to skills, education and employment.
Accommodating industry, Federation Uni, Federation Training and the Gippsland Technical School, all colocated on the one site; this approach emphasises the collaborative atmosphere fostered within the centre to encourage knowledge sharing, networking, and the development of new partnerships.
One of the key opportunities presented is the potential to attract and retain skilled talent. The focus on cutting-edge technologies and research can draw in highly qualified individuals from across the country and even internationally.
Through the offering of hands-on learning opportunities, internships, and exposure to real-world challenges, industries in return gain access to a talented, well-prepared workforce, ready to contribute to their growth and success.
Moreover, the precinct has the potential to drive economic growth and diversification in the region. By supporting the development of new industries and businesses, more jobs can be created, investment increased, and the overall quality of life for residents improved.
PUBLIC NOTICE
innovation
This includes contributing to, and addressing local challenges, such as sustainability. East Gippsland is the first destination in Victoria and seventh in Australia to meet global best practice sustainability standards where the precinct will further bolster East Gippsland’s reputation. It is well known that Gippsland's climate is becoming warmer and drier, river flows are dropping and rising sea levels are threatening the beautiful coastline and internationally significant Gippsland Lakes. This was highlighted in the Vulnerability of the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site and its catchment to bushfire and climate change report, released in May 2022. As for our community? Our community takes real, tangible actions to enhance and protect our natural environment.
The establishment of the Gippsland High-Tech Precinct is a testament to the region's commitment to progress and development. By investing in innovation and education, Gippsland is positioning itself as a leader in the emerging technological landscape.
As the precinct continues to grow and evolve, it has the potential to become a catalyst for positive change and a source of inspiration for communities across Australia.
• 1 kg chicken thigh fillets, cut into 2.5cm pieces
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour
• 3/4 cup (180ml) white wine
• 1 cup (250ml) chicken stock
• 1 cup (250ml) milk
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup grated kefalotiri
• 1 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
CHICKEN PIE SPINACH PIE
SERVES: 6-8
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 small leek, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)
• 1 kg baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 bunch fresh dill, chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 400g fetta cheese
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 x 375g packet filo pastry
• 250g butter, melted
• 500g spinach
• 10 sheets filo pastry
• 200g butter, melted
METHOD
Preheat oven to 180˚C. Lightly grease a 23cm round pie dish and line with baking paper. Heat butter and oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add leek and garlic and saute until soft. Add chicken, oregano and 1 teaspoon salt and stir. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat, add flour, stir for 2 minutes then add wine, chicken stock and milk. Season with salt & pepper. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is tender. Remove sauce pan from heat and stir in eggs, cheese, herbs,
mustard and spinach. Layer five sheets of pastry in the pie dish to line it, brushing with melted butter between
each sheet. Pour filling into lined dish, fold over any filo corners and then cover filling with another five sheets of pastry, again
METHOD
Preheat oven to 180˚C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Saute leek and garlic until soft. Add spinach and cook until wilted (about 5 minutes). Remove pan from heat and allow spinach to cool. Squeeze excess moisture from spinach, then return to the pan.
In a bowl, combine dill, parsley, fetta, eggs and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Add leek and spinach mixture and mix well.
On a clean work surface, stack three sheets of filo pastry on top of each other, brushing between each sheet with melted butter. Cut pastry length-ways into three strips.
Place a tablespoonful of mixture at the end of a pastry strip, then fold filo over mixture, tucking in the sides, and continue to roll, brushing pastry with melted butter as you go, to create a log. Repeat with remaining mixture and filo. Place spanakopita on the prepared baking tray and brush each with melted butter. Place in the
SWEET PUMPKIN PIE
SERVES: 8-10
INGREDIENTS
• 3 cups diced sweet pumpkin
• 1/2 cup short grain rice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large red onion
• salt
• 2 tablespoons soft brown sugar
• 1 cup sultanas
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• freshly ground black pepper
• 250g soft goat’s cheese or ricotta cheese
• 1 x 375g packet filo pastry
• 250g butter melted
• icing sugar, for garnish
METHOD
Boil the pumpkin for about 5 minutes, until just tender. Drain. Boil the rice for 1012 minutes. Drain. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Saute the onion and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add pumpkin and cook gently for another 5 minutes. Add cooked rice, sugar, sultanas, cinnamon and cloves. Season with salt and pepper, mix well then remove from heat. Place mixture in a bowl and let cool. Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Remove from fridge
and add goat’s cheeese (or ricotta).
Pre-heat oven to 180˚C. Grease a 35cm (14 inch) round baking dish with melted butter or oil. Place a sheet of filo pastry on a clean surface. Brush with melted butter then place another sheet of filo pastry on top. Put a line of filling along the edge of the pastry closest to you, about 1.5cm in from the edge. Roll up the filling into a cylinder shape tucking the ends in and brushing the pastry with melted butter as you go. Coil the pastry roll into a spiral in the centre of the baking dish. Repeat with
brushing with melted butter between each sheet.
Tuck in pastry around the edges, brush top of pie with extra melted butter,
then score the top into serving size pieces. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot.
preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes until golden and crisp. Serve hot or warm.
This recipe can also be made in a spiral shape. Leave filo pastry sheets whole, place filling along the edge closet to
you, 1 1/2cm from the edge. Fold in the edges, then roll pastry into a log shape, brushing the pastry with melted butter along the edge as you roll. Place log on a lined baking tray and coil it into a spiral. Continue with the remaining filling and pastry, placing each additional log around the spiral on the tray until the tray is filled. Brush the spiral with melted butter, sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
the remaining mixture and pastry sheets, adding the pastry to the outside
of existing spiral to make one big spiral. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve warm or cold.
advice - ask Emma advice - money
Max maximises return
MAX was a diligent office worker living in Melbourne, known for his meticulous nature. As tax season approached, he decided it was time to maximise his tax return. With a mix of excitement and anxiety, he embarked on his quest to navigate the complex world of Australian tax laws.
Max knew that the first step was to get his paperwork in order. He gathered all his receipts, pay slips, and bank statements. With a highlighter in hand, he marked key documents: his annual payment summary, receipts for work-related expenses, and details of his superannuation contributions. Max felt a surge of satisfaction as he placed everything in a labelled folder, ready for the next phase.
Next, Max hit the internet to research what deductions he could claim. He discovered that many expenses related to his job could be written off. This included: Home Office Expenses: With remote work becoming the norm, Max learned he could claim a portion of his utilities, internet costs, and even the depreciation of his home office furniture.
Work-Related Travel: Max
remembered his work trip to Sydney. He carefully noted all travel expenses, including flights, accommodation, and meals.
Self-Education: As a marketing professional, he had taken online courses to upskill. The course fees were also deductible!
Eager to leave no stone unturned, Max explored tax offsets available to him. He discovered the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO), which could provide a nice boost to his return. Knowing his income bracket, he felt a little more at ease, realising that he might qualify for additional offsets. Though confident in his research, Max decided it was wise to consult a tax professional. He made an appointment with a local accountant who specialised in individual tax returns. During their meeting, the accountant not only validated Max's deductions but also shared tips about timing his claims and keeping records for future audits. With all his information sorted and validated, Max prepared to file his return. He opted for the myTax online platform, which made the process straightforward. As he entered his details, he
double-checked each figure, ensuring accuracy. The thrill of seeing his potential refund grow as he entered each deduction was intoxicating.
After submitting his return, Max felt a mix of relief and excitement. He knew he would receive his refund within a few weeks, and he had taken significant steps to ensure he had maximised it. He made a mental note to keep up with tax updates throughout the year, promising himself that next year, he would be even better prepared.
A few weeks later, Max received the good news: his refund was larger than he had anticipated! Feeling accomplished, he treated himself to a weekend getaway, all thanks to his careful planning and research.
As he sat on a beach enjoying the sun, Max couldn’t help but reflect on his tax journey. He realised that with a little organisation, a willingness to learn, and the right guidance, he could turn a typically stressful experience into an opportunity for financial gain. And when tax season rolls around again next year, he knows he will be ready for the adventure once again.
A wake-up call for employers in Australia
IN Australia, the superannuation system is designed to secure the financial future of workers, ensuring they have adequate funds upon retirement. However, a troubling trend has emerged: an alarming number of employers are neglecting their legal obligation to contribute to employees’ superannuation. This disregard not only undermines the financial security of millions of Australians but also exposes employers to significant legal and financial repercussions. Superannuation is not merely an employee benefit; it is a fundamental pillar of Australia’s social security system. The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) requires employers to contribute a percentage of an employee’s earnings to their super fund. As of 2024, this rate stands at 11 per cent. These contributions are vital for workers, particularly those in low-to middle-income brackets, who rely on superannuation as their primary source of retirement savings. Employers who fail to pay the mandated superannuation contributions face severe consequences. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has ramped up enforcement
efforts, targeting noncompliant employers through audits and investigations. The penalties can be hefty, including fines that may reach up to 200 per cent of the unpaid contributions, along with interest on late payments. Additionally, employers may face reputational damage, as news of non-compliance can spread quickly, impacting their ability to attract and retain talent.
Moreover, failing to meet superannuation obligations can lead to legal action from employees. Workers have the right to pursue claims for unpaid super, which not only adds to the financial strain on businesses but can also result in further legal costs.
Beyond the direct consequences for employers and their employees, the systemic issue of unpaid superannuation has wider implications for the Australian economy. Underfunded retirement systems can lead to increased reliance on the Age Pension, straining government resources and potentially leading to higher taxes for all Australians. As more individuals enter retirement without adequate savings, the pressure on social security systems will only grow.
To combat this issue, greater accountability and
You’re not broken for having negative thoughts
transparency in the payment of superannuation are essential. Employers must prioritise compliance and recognise that superannuation is not an optional extra but a legal obligation. The ATO should continue to enhance its oversight mechanisms, ensuring that businesses that exploit loopholes or neglect their responsibilities face swift consequences.
Moreover, workers must be educated about their rights regarding superannuation. Empowering employees to verify their super contributions can create a culture of accountability and encourage compliance among employers. The failure to pay superannuation is not just a breach of legal obligations; it is a breach of trust between employers and employees. As Australia continues to grapple with an aging population and a growing number of individuals at risk of retiring into poverty, it is imperative that employers take their superannuation responsibilities seriously. By doing so, they not only protect their workforce but also contribute to a more sustainable economic future for all Australians. The time for action is now — ensuring that every dollar owed is paid, and every worker is respected.
Q: I’ve been struggling a lot with negative thoughts lately, and it feels like no matter what I do, I can’t stop focusing on the worstcase scenarios or dwelling on things that have gone wrong. It’s really affecting my mood, relationships, and how I feel about myself. I know I should be more positive, but it just doesn’t seem to come naturally to me. Positivity feels so fake. But sometimes I wonder why is it so much easier to focus on the negative instead of the positive? Is there something wrong with me, or is this just how people’s minds work? I feel like it’s holding me back, and I don’t know how to change this habit. Any advice on how to stop letting negative thoughts take-over would be appreciated. Thanks.
A: First off, I want to acknowledge how tough it can feel to be stuck in a loop of negative thoughts. It’s exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes feels like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t shake the negativity. Our brains are wired to think negatively due to a survival mechanism known as negativity bias, which evolved to help our ancestors stay alert to threats and danger. By focusing more on negative experiences, the brain ensured that we remembered and learned from them to avoid future harm.
This bias causes us to pay more attention to negative events, process negative emotions more deeply, and remember criticism or threats
more vividly than positive experiences. It also fuels our tendency toward "loss aversion," where we feel the pain of loss more acutely than the joy of gain. While the bias evolved to protect us, in modern life it often leads to overthinking, stress, and a skewed perspective that makes it harder to focus on the positive aspects of our lives.
So let’s take a different approach to this. Before you replace that negative thought with a positive one, pause and dig deeper. Ask yourself the following questions:
• Is there something this thought is trying to show or teach me? Every negative thought can be a messenger, signalling unresolved issues or unmet needs that require your attention. It's not always about forcing yourself to 'think happy'—sometimes negativity is there to shine a light on something important.
• Can I accept my reality as it is? It's so tempting to mask negative thoughts with positivity, but avoiding them prevents true acceptance of your circumstances, and that only creates more inner conflict in the long run. Think about it: is there space to accept things as they are, even if it’s uncomfortable right now?
• How can you show yourself some compassion in this moment? We often rush to fix our negative thoughts because they make us feel uneasy, but what if you allowed yourself the space to just feel them?
Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel down, worried, or upset. Your emotions are valid, and they’re telling you something important about your experience.
• Have I experienced or processed this emotion? Suppressing those tough feelings just stunts your emotional growth. Let yourself feel what you’re feeling—it’s part of the process of healing.
• Is this something I can be more positive about, or do I need to take action? Sometimes, forcing positivity can be a distraction from the deeper issues or situations that truly need change. Are your negative thoughts pointing you towards something that needs to shift in your life? It’s okay to acknowledge that not everything can be solved with a simple change in perspective. Sometimes, action is necessary. Negativity really isn’t something to be feared or avoided. It’s a powerful tool that can highlight what truly matters to you, reinforce your boundaries, and drive you to fight for what’s right. Without it, we risk losing touch with our inner compass, allowing others to dictate our lives and erode our sense of self. You’re not broken for having negative thoughts. In fact, you’re stronger for being willing to look them in the face and learn from them, helping find the balance between believing them as facts and the fake positivity you mentioned. And that balance, is the path to true peace.
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
Emma Woodcock Counsellor
GEM movie review
Movie Reviewer
Jason Cherry
BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE (BAD BOYS 4)
STREAMING NOW
BAD Boys: Ride or Die, the long-awaited fourth instalment in the Miami- mayhem franchise, reunites the iconic duo of Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence). This time, the detectives find themselves public enemy number one, framed and on the run. While the film delivers the series' signature blend of action and comedy, critical reception has been mixed, leaving audiences to decide if this ride is truly one to remember. BACK IN ACTION, BACK IN TROUBLE Directors Adil & Bilall, returning from the wellreceived "Bad Boys for Life," waste no time re-establishing the frenetic energy and buddy-cop chemistry that's
Movie Reviewer
Jason Cherry
THE GARFIELD MOVIE
STREAMING NOW
GARFIELD, the lasagneloving, naps-obsessed cat, returns to the big screen in "Garfield: A Feline Frenzy." This fully CGI animated film boasts a star-studded cast, including Chris Pratt as the voice of Garfield himself. But does this new iteration capture the grumpy charm of Jim Davis's comic strip icon, or does it leave audiences feeling like they've been dipped in a vat of Mondays?
A FAMILIAR FORMULA
(FOR BETTER OR WORSE)
The plot revolves around Jon Arbuckle (Nicholas Hoult) inheriting a luxurious mansion from a distant relative. The catch? The mansion comes with a pampered Persian cat named Tiberius (Will Forte). Garfield, naturally, is less than thrilled with this new
been the lifeblood of the series. Smith and Lawrence slip back into their roles effortlessly, their banter and comedic timing as sharp as ever. The plot throws Mike and Marcus into a tangled web of betrayal, forcing them to rely on a ragtag group of allies, including Mike's estranged son Armando (played by a charismatic Jacob Scipio).
BIG BUDGET, BIG BOOMS
The action sequences are undeniably impressive. Adil & Bilall showcase their signature
style with elaborate shootouts, balletic car chases, and a physics-defying helicopter hijacking that will leave you both awed and questioning the laws of gravity. The film boasts impressive visuals and a booming soundtrack that keeps the adrenaline pumping.
THE WEIGHT OF AGE (AND SEQUELS)
However, "Ride or Die" struggles to escape the shadow of its predecessors. While the humour remains sharp, some jokes feel
like retreads of gags from earlier films. The plot, while serviceable, lacks the freshness and surprising twists that made "Bad Boys for Life" such a success. The film also grapples with the aging of its central characters. While the script acknowledges the passage of time with some amusing references, it's hard to ignore the limitations it places on the high-octane action sequences that were a hallmark of the earlier films.
A FAMILY AFFAIR (FOR BETTER OR WORSE)
NINE LIVES? MORE LIKE NINE STRIKES
addition to the household.
The film follows a predictable trajectory: Garfield's schemes to oust Tiberius, hilarious (or forced) hijinks ensue, and ultimately, a lesson is learned about friendship and family.
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES (SOMETIMES)
The film's saving grace lies in its comedic moments. Chris Pratt delivers a surprisingly good Garfield, capturing the character's signature sarcasm and dry wit. Jokes about hating Mondays, the allure of lasagne, and the general absurdity of dog ownership land well, eliciting genuine laughter, particularly from those familiar with the source material. The animation is bright and colourful, with a clear nod to the classic comic strip aesthetic.
MISSING THE MARK: BLAND BLAND BLAND
However, the film stumbles in several areas. The supporting characters, including Jon and Odie, feel one-dimensional. Their roles are relegated to basic plot devices rather than offering any real comedic or emotional depth. The human characters lack the expressiveness and charm of their 2D counterparts.
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR MISCHIEF
The narrative, while harmless, feels safe and predictable. The "rival cat" trope has been explored countless times before, and "Garfield: A Feline
Frenzy" offers little in the way of originality. The film misses the opportunity to truly tap into the absurdist humour and witty social commentary that made the Garfield comic strips so successful.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY FLICK, BUT IS IT FUN FOR EVERYONE?
This Garfield is undoubtedly aimed at a younger audience. The slapstick humour and bright visuals will likely keep children entertained. However, for adults who grew up with the comics, the film might feel like a watered-down version of the original.
THE FINAL SCRATCH: A PURRFECTLY FORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
"Garfield: A Feline Frenzy" isn't a terrible film. It has its moments of humour and a decent animation style. However, it fails to capture the full essence of Garfield's grumpy genius. The predictable plot and one-dimensional supporting characters leave the film feeling like a missed opportunity. Ultimately, "Garfield: A Feline Frenzy" is a harmless but forgettable addition to the franchise, a movie that might leave you longing for a simpler time - a time of reruns of "Garfield and Friends" and a good, oldfashioned comic strip.
The introduction of Armando injects new energy into the dynamic, offering a glimpse into Mike's past and a potential future for the franchise. However, some may find the father-son drama underdeveloped, with emotional beats feeling rushed amidst the larger explosions and chases.
THE VERDICT: A FUN, NOSTALGIC RIDE WITH A FEW SPEED BUMPS
"Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is a wild, action-packed thrill ride that delivers exactly what fans expect from the series. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence remain a comedic powerhouse, and the action sequences are undeniably impressive. However, the film struggles to recapture the freshness of its predecessor and may leave some viewers feeling like they've seen it all before. Ultimately, "Ride or Die" is a fun, nostalgic trip down memory lane for long-time fans, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the franchise's best entries.
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures
1. WHY DON'T SKELETONS FIGHT EACH OTHER? THEY DON'T HAVE THE GUTS!
2. WHAT DO YOU CALL A BEAR WITH NO TEETH? A GUMMY BEAR!
3. WHY WAS THE MATH BOOK SAD? BECAUSE IT HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS!
4. WHAT DO YOU CALL A SNOWMAN WITH A SIX-PACK? AN ABDOMINAL SNOWMAN!
5. WHY DID THE SCARECROW WIN AN AWARD?
BECAUSE HE WAS OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD!
GEMSKids PACE
6. WHAT DO YOU CALL A FISH THAT WEARS A CROWN?
7. WHY DID THE TOMATO TURN RED? BECAUSE IT SAW THE SALAD DRESSING!
8. WHAT DID ONE WALL SAY TO THE OTHER WALL? "I'LL MEET YOU AT THE CORNER!"
9. HOW DO
October 11: 1975 – The Whitlam Dismissal crisis escalates when the Liberal Party opposition, led by Malcolm Fraser, blocks the budget bills in the Senate, leading to a constitutional crisis.
October 12: 2002 – The Bali Bombings: A devastating terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia, claims the lives of 202 people, including 88 Australians, leading to national mourning and a major counterterrorism response.
October 13: 1999 – The Australian-led International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) begins peacekeeping operations in East Timor after the region votes for independence from Indonesia.
October 14: 1950 – Australian driver Ken Wharton wins the Australian Grand Prix, held in Nuriootpa, South Australia, marking one of the earliest international racing events in the country.
October 15: 1981 – Australia officially becomes a signatory of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), strengthening women's rights and gender equality in the country.
October 16: 1945 – The Chifley government introduces the Commonwealth Bank Act, expanding the role of the Commonwealth Bank and laying the foundation for post-war economic development.
October 17: 1977 – A historic moment in Australian politics as Neville Wran wins the New South Wales state election, marking a significant victory for the Labor Party in the state.
October 18: 1899 – The Siege of Mafeking, part of the Second Boer War, begins. It was a significant event for Australia, as many Australian soldiers were involved in the British forces.
October 19: 1973 – Sydney Opera House is officially handed over to the New South Wales government, one of the final steps before its grand opening.
October 20: 1975 – Cyclone Joan hits the Pilbara coast of Western Australia, causing widespread damage and becoming one of the most destructive cyclones to affect the region.
October 21: 1916 – The first referendum on conscription is held in Australia, where the public votes against compulsory military service during World War I.
October 22: 1987 – The Australian Stock Market Crash, part of the global Black Monday crash, wipes out a significant portion of market value, leading to economic shockwaves across the country.
October 23: 1942 – The Second Battle of El Alamein begins in Egypt. Australian forces play a key role in this decisive battle during World War II, which turned the tide in favor of the Allies in North Africa.
ATELIER RYZA 3: ALCHEMIST OF THE END & THE
[PLAYED ON NINTENDO
Viv Forbes The Salt Bush Club
AUSTRALIAN camels are well-adapted to thrive in the dry heart of Australia, but landowners have been unable to harvest them profitably for meat, leather, racing or genetics. With no real predators, camel numbers ballooned. They did reduce wildfire risk in parks by consuming excess vegetation, but during drought, starving, thirsty camels become pests, invading neighbouring pastures and water supplies and destroying fences. So, the federal government pays helicopter sharp shooters to shoot hundreds of them, leaving carcasses to rot. A similar fate awaits Kosciusko Park brumbies.
At the same time, nearer to the coast, hungry kangaroos’ trash irrigated pastures and help themselves to dwindling water supplies, but landowners are forbidden to cull them, and red
Pests need Predators
tape and quotas hamper those licensed to harvest them for natural chemical-free meat. Graziers are forced to destock in droughts — kangaroos should also be destocked.
Then there are the hungry rabbits and wallabies often in pestiferous numbers. They love improved pastures. Rabbits get poisoned, shot, trapped and deliberately infected with viruses. But wallabies are widely protected.
Dingoes and wild dogs are a lethal threat to outback sheep, calves and goats and also endanger children on Frazer Island, Uluru and in other “protected” places. Some dogs are protected, some not.
Sharks and crocodiles are increasingly numerous, bold and dangerous in coastal waters and estuaries. They have few predators but hunting them is no longer allowed.
Feral cats, dogs, pigs, foxes and deer infest National Parks and
harass park neighbours, but hunters are locked out and no government sharp shooters are sent. In other places, towns and orchards are besieged by invasions of smelly, noisy, messy, diseasecarrying flying foxes but it is these bats, not the people, who are protected. For example, see how just one Australian town is besieged by untouchable fruit bats: https://www.theguardian.com/ world/2016/jun/11/it-smells-sobad-you-can-taste-it-bats-plagueaustralian-tourist-town
As a kid I remember how locals handled a flying fox invasion. A very large colony of the noisy stinkers took up residence in trees along the Condamine River and ventured out every night to raid orchards, carpet bombing as they left. The landowner (my brother-in-law) invited all neighbours with shotguns to join a shoot. The local sports store owner, Alf Dempster, provided shot gun
shells, and at a signal, the farmers started blazing away. They kept it up until the swirling cloud of flying foxes left, and never came back (not many foxes were killed — it was the rolling thunder of noise that moved them.)
Possum stew was once valued by Aboriginals and early settlers, and this kept numbers down. Now possums are protected and free to make nuisances of themselves in suburban ceilings and veggie gardens. Government nannies say you may relocate them but no further than 25m, so they are back in a day. There is racial discrimination in hunting rights — turtles, dugongs, wombats and other species are “protected” but not from aboriginal hunters — maybe they can put possum back on the menu? Every species needs a predator. Why is it that camels, brumbies, buffalo and wild donkeys are pests to be shot by government
sharpshooters, but many other pests are protected by the same officialdom?
It makes sense if pests can be harvested not just wasted. Governments should remove all obstacles to wild animal mustering, harvesting, hunting or trapping. (Ross Garnaut thinks graziers should replace sheep and cattle with kangaroos to help stop global warming — he should stick to economics).
Landowners should be free to pay bounties or sell licences for hunters, mobile butchers, zoo trappers and tourist safaris on their properties. All national parks, forests and reserves should also be opened to responsible hunters or catchers to reduce the populations of camels, cats, pigs, dogs, brumbies and deer. This would be a lot more effective and less expensive for taxpayers than government-funded aerial sharpshooters. Alternatively, governments should pay for the erection of exclusion fences to: “KEEP THEIR PESTS IN THEIR PARKS”
ATO and Tax Reform - Ombudsman
THE ATO is auditing the top 100 private companies and now the top 5000 to give them Trusted Taxpayers status with questionable benefits on filing tax returns for the ensuing three years. This has morphed into an aggressive assurance program, which is fundamentally an audit where the ATO wants hard evidence with respect to your activities, some random, some definitive. This is causing massive costs to taxpayers. The professionals are not complaining because they are gaining extra revenue. Individuals won’t complain because of a fear of retribution. So, who will protest about the ATO’s abuse of process, and we do not know how many people who have complained to the Ombudsman or the nature of the issues.
A taxpayer must prove to the ATO that it is paying the right amount of tax. It is in direct contrast to the Criminal Code, where you must be proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt before he is guilty. The latter test is very high, whereas for the ATO has an easy ride with all the risk and hard work on the taxpayer. So, the ATO, has massive power, and there are many instances where this process is being abused, and there is very little countervailing power to balance out the ATO.
The only redress for taxpayers is to seek the help of the Inspector General for Taxation (The Ombudsman). The Ombudsman has very little power and is overwhelmed with claims of unfair treatment by the ATO going back about two years. In other words, The Ombudsman is insufficiently funded.
The Ombudsman does not have unrestricted access to the taxpayers’ files, is subject to ATO access approval. This severely frustrates activities. The ATO, even if the taxpayer agrees, can choose to not release files. Further, we have no idea of the review and audit cost to the ATO and to each individual
taxpayer, and so no realistic costbenefit analysis can be undertaken. This prevents an understanding of the ATO's ability to identify risk and potential tax gains and the cost of doing so by the ATO and the taxpayer.
Regarding access, it must be clear that it includes both formal and informal communications within the ATO. That is, the ATO runs parallel internal communication systems that can be gamed, as has been seen with recent FOI applications to the ATO. RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon a complaint by a taxpayer to the Ombudsman (with the taxpayer's approval), the Ombudsman has immediate (up to 30 days) for automatic and unrestricted access to all the taxpayers’ ATO records (formal and informal) to form a view about the ATO’s behaviour.
The Ombudsman to receive adequate funding out of the ATO’s budget to manage the complaints being lodged by taxpayers. The funding to include an additional amount to get all existing complaints up to no longer than 30 days old.
The ATO to publish each year:
• The number of applications and where they can be grouped.
• Applications settled with the ATO.
• Applications not settled and the statement of the reasons why the ATO and The Ombudsman cannot agree.
• The mean and medium number of days taken to close applications.
• Unsettled applications are to be published with the taxpayers’ consent and be identified or, if not, coded to avoid identification.
• The average cost to close applications.
• The Ombudsman has the power to state the cost to the taxpayer and disclose where the ATO does not pay or agree to such an award.
OBSERVATIONS
This change will receive great support from aggrieved taxpayers where there is a complete power imbalance between the ATO and the taxpayer. This does not exist in any other Government Agency. The beneficiaries of this calculated assistance are likely
to be Coalition supporters. Labor has given extra funding to the ATO for its Assurance Program as its impact on its supporters is not likely significant. Further, for Labor it is an excellent message to the workers that employers are paying the right amount of tax, whereas, for employees, the tax is taken out of their pay.
We have little information about disputes with the ATO, but the Ombudsman’s reporting will identify that. It is likely that this will change the behaviour of tax offices that abuse the process because ATO management would no doubt record this and the cost and act on it.
The ATO and the Treasury will fight this tooth and nail. Any attempt to balance out the ATO’s powers to deliver fairness in process to taxpayers will prime the tax section within the treasury into fierce war. It seems hitherto that treasurers have been reluctant to take on the ATO, and adopting this policy would challenge a treasurer to assert his influence on something that can only be fair and reasonable for taxpayers.
Should a Minister for Productivity and Regulation be appointed, and the powers of the Ombudsman increased, it would be a great example of deregulating and taking out cost. Labor is not interested in productivity and regulation, so this is a great differentiator. It is also very timely because of the massive cost pressures imposed by the government and the questionable massive reporting obligations on businesses that suit certain ideological positions.
To include a simple proposition in any election Platform that it wants to strengthen the powers of
The Ombudsman to achieve fairer outcomes for taxpayers would be very appealing and cost little. Deeper reforms are needed for the ATO, which should be adopted over time, but not now. This initial step will go a long way in getting the public's message of your intent to reform.
Interestingly, a House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue report in October 2021 had unanimous cross-party support for significant changes to the Ombudsman. They went further than I am recommending. I am not recommending that tax debt cannot be collected until the debt is proven and that the ownership of proof of a tax debt is with the ATO.
DETAILS OF COMPARISON WITH US
In 1996, the US Congress conducted a significant review of how the IRS administered taxpayers’ taxes. This resulted in a package of reforms to balance the powers of taxpayers with the powers of the IRS. A key was/is the creation of the US Taxpayer Advocate (a Tax Ombudsman) with significant powers to ensure the IRS administers tax law fairly and correctly.
In October 2021 the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue Issued a report recommending substantial adoption of critical aspects of the US/IRS system. The report stated; This report highlights a number of legislative frameworks that the government should change in order to provide taxpayers with better service. Key recommendations in this report are borrowed from observations out of the United States. These include;
1. Upgrading the Inspector General of Taxation to an office modelled on the Taxpayer Advocate developed in the United States.
2. Secondly, changes be made to legislation that gives taxpayers the same protections enjoyed by all other citizens when dealing with debts, namely it is not payable
until it has been proved and cannot be collected until that time.
3. Further, the onus of proof should lie not with the taxpayer but with the ATO. (Pages iii & iv)
The report enjoyed cross-partypolitical support. [Chair Jason Falinski MP (Lib) Deputy Chair Julie Owens MP (Lab) Terry Young MP (LNP)]
RECOMMENDATION FOR COALITION FEDERAL ELECTION POLICY PLATFORM
Adopt the critical recommendations of the Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue;
1. Inspector General of Taxation (Ombudsman) upgrading of powers. (e.g.) IGT has automatic and unrestricted access to all ATO files for individual taxpayers.
2. (An alleged tax debt cannot be collected until the debt is proven.
3. The onus of proof of a tax debt is with the ATO).
It is not recommended to pursue reversing the onus of proof or stopping a debt being collected until it is proven to be very profound and requires greater examination and explanation. For instance, one of the ways the US has been able to deregulate the IRS is because of its Whistleblower's opportunity to report tax evasion and be compensated. The Whistleblower program in the US has considerably expanded tax collections, but it is not the right time to do this now. Further, the IRS admin cost to tax revenue has dropped significantly so the IRS is now a much more efficient agency.
During election time the changes to the Ombudsman’s role would be a small target compared to fundamental reform to the ATO which would attract huge discussion and analysis, a big target.
John Dahlsen
Victoria is number one for building and approving homes
VICTORIA continues to build thousands more homes than any other state, with more than 60,000 home completions over the last 12 months — nearly 15,000 more homes than New South Wales. ABS data released today shows Victoria built 60,606 homes over the year — a 7.5 per cent increase year on year, while New South Wales built 46,573 homes — a 3.9 per cent decline year on year. Earlier this month, the ABS also confirmed Victoria continues to
set the national benchmark for home approvals — approving around 10,000 more homes than New South Wales and 18,000 more homes than Queensland.
These results come following the Allan Labor Government’s landmark housing reforms released last year as part of the Housing Statement, plus a commitment to do even more over the coming months to get more homes built.
The Housing Statement introduced draft housing
targets for councils, supported thousands of homes through new streamlined approval pathways, got 10 activity centres underway, built thousands of social homes, introduced stronger protections for renters, and more.
Since the release of the Housing Statement, the Minister for Planning has also used her powers to intervene or fast-track homes to approve 10,700 homes in the past 12 months, a more than 100 per cent increase on previous years.
The Development Facilitation
Program is an accelerated pathway that has also seen 16 developments approved, unlocking thousands of new homes.
While Victoria is number one for approving and building homes, we can’t slow down.
Over the coming months, the Labor Government will outline new reforms to build even more homes that are well serviced by transport, jobs, schools and services — the types of places Victorians are telling us they want.
Michael Nelson - 0429 291 723 manplumbingandroofing@gmail.com www.manplumbingandroofing.com.au
boating and fishing
TROPHY ATTRIBUTION
THE International Etchells Class Association of Australia (IECAA) has honoured its precedents by naming the Corinthian trophy in honour of the late Alexander Milledge OAM, in time for the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta.
The 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta will be held at Metung, in Victoria (Australia), November 1-5 this year.
There are some great synergies between Milledge, IECAC renaming the trophy in his honour, and Metung.
Metung was home of one of the first Etchells yachts, Brown Sugar, which was owned by Milledge, who lived at nearby Nungurner.
Milledge and Geoff Henke AO AM registered two of the first Etchells class yachts at Metung Yacht Club.
Milledge sailed Brown Sugar at Metung and out of Brighton, with Henke, John Miles, Keith Morcombe,
Stephen Bull, or the late Jim Bull on board.
Milledge and Henke had sailed together from childhood and were also members of Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC).
It was at RBYC that the E22 Class Association of Australia was formed, on February 6, 1973, with Milledge the inaugural secretary.
Milledge was also one of eight guarantors to finance the importation of Skip Etchells’ moulds from Connecticut, USA. The moulds to build hulls arrived in Australia in October 1973.
Etchells now sail in 13 fleets across Australia, and around 50 fleets worldwide.
On October 8, 2024, the Corinthian trophy was renamed the Alexander Milledge Etchells Corinthian Trophy, from a motion put up to IECAA by Metung Yacht Club, with unanimous endorsement from the Etchells fleet captains across Australia.
Metung Yacht Club (MYC) has previously hosted the Australian
Etchells Championship, in March 2022, on Lake King.
MYC also hosted the International Etchells Class 2024 Victorian Championship in January, sailed on Lake King.
This year MYC will again host the Australian Etchells Championship, in a few weeks’ time, and races will again be held on Lake King.
Entry numbers are building for the regatta. The Notice of Race is online and entries are still being accepted, via https://metungyachtclub.com. au/sailing-events/2025-etchellsnationals
Milledge’s widow, Sue, their family, and Henke and Miles will all attend the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta in Metung in November.
The Alexander Milledge Etchells Corinthian Trophy will be presented by Sue Milledge to the yacht, skipper and crew in the World Sailing Classification Category 1, at the end of the regatta on November 5.
Jeanette Severs
The late Alexander Milledge OAM (also known as Alex, Alec or Dexter) has been honoured with a trophy, to be contested in the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship, at Metung in November.
A STATUE FOR SOPHIE
EVER have a morning when you wake up and think you're on another planet?
The world has certainly turned upside down in recent years.
Who would have thought we'd see Sydney coming to Melbourne to play in an Aussie Rules Grand Final and then a week later Melbourne going to Sydney to play in a Rugby League Grand Final?
The world has gone bonkers! What about the pre-game entertainment this year? Katy Perry plays for 15 minutes and picks up a reported 5 million. The two teams who have slogged it out for 24 rounds and four finals play for a lousy 1.2 million. Can't work that one out.
The AFL could save millions just by doubling Uncle Col's fee ... he's already there ... so get him to punch out a few tunes. Maybe Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport and My Boomerang Won't Come Back. Most Aussies would know them better than Katy Perry bubble gum songs. Not sure how Uncle Col gets past security at the Brownlow either with that dead possum on his shoulders as it's strictly black tie. Aren’t possums a protected species? Don't think Uncle Col would have got past Jack Hamilton.
In Sydney the NRL almost got it right with "chart-topping
‘ WHACKER ’ ON THE WING!
global superstar", The Kid Laroi. We got excited when he sounded like a gunslinging, Country singer, but turned out he was more Western Sydney rapper/Justin Bieber clone miming a couple of lukewarm Coldplay covers. It was all smoke and mirrors. At least
The Kid Laroi is an Aussie. Who calls their kid "The"? Ah, remember the good old days when singers wore clothes and had talent? Mr V’landys was there to shake hands with all the winning players. He pretty much runs the State with his CEO roles of both the NRL and Racing NSW. His contract must include the provision of a 44-gallon drum of axle grease to keep his hair slicked back. The only thing Peter hates more than a hair out of place is anything Victorian. Then came the news of the new statues to reward mediocrity and
incompetence. The Matildas got one built in Queensland for, at one stage, kicking a goal in 300 minutes of play and coming fourth in a World Cup. But it is QLD, and they love supporting underachievers; you only have to look at the Broncos and their State politicians.
In Victoria Dan Andrews ran up a debt that was higher than that of NSW, QLD and Tasmania combined. So, what was his reward? Victorians are going to fork out $100,000 to build a statue of the State's greatest failure. Incredible! Only the pigeons are happy. Ask 100 people to name Australia's female break dancer and our pole vault gold medallist at the recent Paris Olympics. Probably 99 will name Raygun and you might be lucky to get one to name Nina Kennedy. We'll probably get a statue of Raygun.
So who should we have a statue or statues of? Well probably the Australian women's cricket team for starters. They have won seven World One Day Championships and six T20 World Championships. That sort of tops a fourth in soccer. Bairnsdale's own Sophie Molineux has been a member of some of those Championship teams. Let's have a statue of Sophie. Now that would be something.
