The GEM - 15 March 2024 - Edition 96

Bairnsdale parkrun celebrates 8 year milestone NATURERUNFITFORALL

IF you haven’t yet discovered the joy of parkrun, it’s not too late! parkrun is a free, weekly community event where you can walk, jog, run a 5km course. It’s held every Saturday morning all over Australia and you can also volunteer or spectate if you don’t wish to do the course.

parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive. There is no time limit and no

one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along. Trent Howell is the Event Director at Bairnsdale parkrun. “I went to my first parkrun on the 1st January in 2018, because it was part of a six-week fitness challenge I was doing. All volunteers were great; they made me feel very welcome at something that I was not familiar with.”

“About five years ago, I became a Run Director, and then two years later I took over the reins as Event Director for Bairnsdale parkrun.”

It is so great to see so many locals and visiting tourists come to our country parkrun. We, proudly, average around 75 participants most weekends now and are continuously growing.”

On the weekend of 9 March,

Bairnsdale parkrun celebrated their 8th anniversary. “We had 119 runners / walkers and a lot of supporters come along for the celebration. A local coffee van was onsite making yummy coffee, milkshakes and biscuits. We also had a local charity group cooking egg and bacon rolls, and a smoothie bike (where you pedal to blend your own

smoothie), which was a big hit.”

“We welcomed guests from NSW and QLD, as well as from many different Victorian towns. It was a great morning for Bairnsdale parkrun and like our Run Director Grant said in his briefing, one word to explain parkrun is ‘YOU!’ You are parkrun.”

THE lack of repairs on our damaged roads infrastructure, and general maintenance of our roadways, has been raised in State Parliament by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.

He gave an example of how things have been let go, by highlighting the number of trees growing in the centre of the road barriers between Stratford and Bairnsdale.

“In October, 2020 Labor Upper House Member, Harriet Shing, promised a native plant nursery for Nowa Nowa — for the loss of the timber mill in that town.

“Of course, it never eventuated, however, what we didn’t now know was this Government would oversee somewhat of a native tree nursery in its centre of the road barriers between Stratford and Bairnsdale,” he told Parliament.

“Eucalypts well over a metre in height, and a host of other native plants — around 150 at last count — as well as grass growing across the road, is a sign things are not being maintained.

“These are just one example of our roads not being maintained, with infrastructure that has been damaged for several months, remaining unrepaired.

“If they are there for safety and have been destroyed, should they not be repaired quickly?” he queried.

Mr Bull said it was a symptom of a state that was broke, suffering from cost overruns and not being able to manage money.

“As a result of mismanagement they cut budgets, like the road maintenance budget that has been reduced by 40 per cent over the past three years, and this is what we see on the ground as the result.”

Councillors invited to Metung resort site

Cto the planning consultation meeting, where all objectors — of which there are 90 so far — will be invited to attend.

“We decided to invite Councillors prior to the meeting, so we can show them first-hand the impact and inappropriateness of the proposal,” explains Metung homeowner Simon Arch. “This includes the potential danger in the street with the blind corners, the narrowness of the road itself, the lack of capacity to accommodate traffic and carparking, etc. This decision was made unanimously at a ‘town hall meeting’ which was attended by around 45 community members at St John's Church Hall on 2 March.”

Another local named Simon (aged 10), who lives and plays

in Wood Street with his 4-yearold sister Lily, is among one of many local families with serious concerns. Simon says, “My little sister and I wouldn’t be allowed to ride our bikes to the shop anymore. It would be too dangerous with all the extra cars that would be coming down this street because the hill is really steep and so you don’t see cars until they’re right in front of you. All the extra traffic and visitors would also scare away a lot of the wildlife, so we probably wouldn’t be able to see as many beautiful birds and animals as we do now.”

To learn more follow ‘Preserve Metung’ on Facebook.

Simon

Tim Bull pictured with a sapling growing in the middle of the Princes Highway.

AT

“I think parkrun is so popular

“parkrun is for absolutely anyone; all fitness levels, ages and abilities. And no one ever comes last because there is a Tailwalker (volunteer) who is always the last person to cross

though the finish line!”

“parkrun is awesome because you can get a PB (personal best time), or enjoy a nice run or walk with friends; or you can volunteer, which is always fun and leaves you with that great feeling knowing that you’ve helped out.”

Bairnsdale parkrun have a great crew of Run Directors in Grant, Clare, Dave, Alisha, Ethan, Jacinta, John, Mali and Trent; all of whom have different backgrounds and experiences.

“They’re a great group of people and without our Run Directors and volunteers, parkrun simply would not happen. We hope to see you there soon!”

THE ongoing collaborative work between East Gippsland Shire Council and Telstra continued this week, with a visit from CEO Vicki Brady and her team, and representatives from NBNCo.

The thought-provoking update and discussions included an overview of some of the changes that have been made to the delivery of telecommunication services in the region since the 2019-20 fires, including infrastructure upgrades to facilitate 3G to 4G/5G, and the delivery of a further 18 new mobile sites coming online in East Gippsland, thanks in part to our advocacy efforts.

Importantly the discussion also focused on some of recent learnings from the recent storm event where power failures led to extensive telecommunications outages and

the information isolation of many communities.

Telstra was able to indicate a strong understanding of the needs of the community and shared some of the work they are trialling to improve services to East Gippslanders.

Mayor Cr Tom Crook thanked Ms Brady and Telstra and NBNCo teams for their ongoing commitment to work with Council to improve outcomes for East Gippsland residents, businesses and visitors and stressed our desire to see:

• Voice and data telecommunications recognised formally as an essential service.

• Emergency roaming mandated for all carriers.

• Mandatory infrastructure reliability standards.

• Investigation into the widespread telecommunications infrastructure

failures in the February 2024 storm event with a clear improvement plan for Gippsland to enhance system resilience.

• Investment to enhance the resilience of infrastructure in the context of climate change.

• Reliable back-up infrastructure for remote areas, improving reliability.

“Telecommunications are essential to how we communicate and do business, but also support one another and our communities in times of natural disasters. Ensuring our mix of telecommunications options are supported by resilient energy infrastructure is critical for East Gippsland,” Cr Crook said.

“It was great to be able to host Vicki and her team and we look forward to continuing to work proactively and productively with Telstra,” Cr Crook said.

FROM FRONT PAGE

parkrun Event Director, Trent Howell.

Councillors Mendy Urie, Tom Crook (Mayor), Arthur Allen, Jane Greacen (Deputy Mayor) and Trevor Stow with Telstra CEO Vicki Brady (third from left) and Council’s Acting CEO Fiona Weigall (second from right) during the visit from Telstra on Tuesday, March 12.

The A-Team’s ‘Attitude of Excellence’

JUST as I start to like and familiarise myself with the ‘picture-of-the-month’ on the wall calendar, then whoosh it’s time to turn over to the next month!

It only seems like yesterday that we were waiting for the big guy from the North to come and deliver gifts to those on the ‘good’ list.

This Chinese New Year marked the beginning of the ‘Year of the Dragon’ which is associated with the element of wood. The combination of the animal sign (Dragon) and the element (wood) designates the year as the ‘Year of the Wood Dragon’. (I asked Google for all this!)

Does this mean we may have an abundance of wood related work coming our way?

Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale have marked 2024 has the ‘Year of Excellence’.

We have cleaned our house!

Now that we have the A-Team, we have improved our skills, have a new look uniform, have upgraded our staff-all in the name of excellence.

The year began with a massive full house RENO. The boys completely revamped our home with a generous lick of paint throughout.

Then came the bathrooms:

Bathroom 1: new tiles, beautiful modern shower with a custom built bench (as seen in the block) and a generous niche, new vanity, mirror and a 3-way light.

Bathroom 2: new tiles, vanity, mirror, 3-way light and the pièce de résistance... a beautiful deep free standing bath. We also attended to plastering, fencing, gates, doors, locks... and much much more!

A certain motel in the district is receiving the Hire a Hubby treatment at the moment, and from the start of January to now in March we have:

• Constructed steps and two barn doors

• Replaced architraves, skirting boards and fascia boards

• Installed skylights, grab rails, TV’s, dryers on walls

• Lined a garden shed

• Constructed a security barrier

• Installed numerous gutters, flashings

• Installed all types of doors: internal, external, security and cat doors

• Cleaned a school

• Finished a full external paint of a home

• A wet room was constructed. Plus, the HAH boys dropped everything one week earlier this month to help with temporary fencing after a nasty bit of wind caused untold destruction.

Plus, there’s more... what’s coming up? Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale are about to undertake a major project with GEGAC. We have a drivewaywidening project, a large 30m concrete path, more fencing and a kitchen revamp.

Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale not only work in East Gippsland we also support the community as well. Last weekend Bairnsdale Campdraft was held in Johnsonville. Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale were honoured to sponsor the children’s corner. A big shout out to Mia, a special friend who helped with the prizes and organisation.

Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale also provides an education scholarship at Wild Cherry Steiner School, in which we are very proud sponsors. There will be a community catchup at REG FM, and The Royal Flying Doctor service receives a monthly donation from us. Plus $2 from every invoice created at every franchise around Australia (which adds up to a 6 figure amount) goes to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

And we are proud members of BNI Bairnsdale, a fantastic group supporting business in our area.

Call Rose at Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale to arrange a free no obligation quote 0466 412 323.

Hire a Hubby

New Sale College remains highest priority

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says securing up to $40 million for a new Sale College is the highest education infrastructure priority in his electorate.

Mr Chester said he was supporting Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien in his efforts to fund the new school which would be established on a greenfields site, east of town on Cobains Rd.

Both MPs have met with concerned parents and senior staff members who have been committed to establishing a new school on a single campus for more than five years.

“Danny did some great work to secure $3 million to develop the master plan and secure the site across the road from the regional indoor sports centre but we need to see progress with capital funding in this year’s budget,” Mr Chester said.

“Across my electorate from Morwell to Mallacoota, this is the number one public school infrastructure project because of the poor conditions students and staff are currently experiencing.

“As a former student at the school, I don’t believe a split junior and senior campus is desirable and establishing a brand new school would

deliver significant long-term cost savings and provide better educational outcomes.

“Moving the school would also provide opportunities to re-use significant parcels of land on York St and in Guthridge Pde for housing and other activities.”

Mr Chester toured the junior campus in Guthridge Parade this week and was critical of the conditions on offer for students.

“It’s a 50 year old school which is beyond its useful life and there’s no point attempting to refurbish those facilities when an entirely new school is required,” he said.

“There’s structural damage to some rooms, safety risks associated with asbestos building materials, and it can’t

be repaired with a few coats of paint and a maintenance program.

“Joining the junior and senior campuses together on a single site will also deliver benefits for students to see first hand how young leaders are developed with role models an important part of their education journey.

“I don’t understand how the State Government can tell students they should all work hard and value education, and then demonstrate such a complete lack of respect for the facilities on offer at Sale College.”

Mr Chester said funding the new school was a State Government responsibility and he would continue to support his state parliamentary colleagues.

“While the Federal Government gives money directly to the states for education, it’s up to the State Minister to decide the spending priorities in the budget and we need to get Sale College to the top of the list,” Mr Chester said.

“There are plenty of schools which need work across the Gippsland electorate but Danny O’Brien has my full support in lobbying for Sale College to receive a major grant as soon as possible.”

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester (right) with Sale College principal Brendan Staple.

Nagle students embark on epic journey:

Traversing the length of the Mitchell River under their own steam

THE intrepid adventurers of Unit 3/4 Outdoor and Environmental Studies have successfully completed the ninth annual Source to Sea Expedition along the Mitchell River. This year's expedition saw 21 Year 12 students and 4 support staff embark on a challenging journey, showcasing exemplary teamwork, resilience, and environmental stewardship.

The expedition commenced at Angus Vale with an informative session led by Parks Victoria, enlightening the participants about their role as land managers and the importance of mitigating risks to the river and surrounding environment. From there, the students embarked on a two-day hike covering approximately 27 kilometres along narrow and treacherous goat tracks to Echo Bend.

As the journey continued, the adventurers rose at

dawn to hike to the Old Weir at Glenaladale before transitioning to bikes for the journey through Lindenow to Nagle.

After a night camping on the banks of the Mitchell on school grounds and exploring our Rainforest Project at night, students launched their canoes for a serene twohour canoe paddle to Picnic Point, where a farm tour and locally-sourced produce awaited. They then mounted their bikes once again to cycle through Bairnsdale, exploring the Port of Bairnsdale, Howitt Park, and following the Paynesville Road to The Bluff. Here they relaunched their canoes for a scenic journey past The Cut and Silt Jetties along the shores of Lake King to Eagle Point Caravan Park.

On the final leg of their journey, the students paddled to the Silt Jetties Boat Ramp to engage with the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority,

learning first-hand about land management practices along the Mitchell River. The day concluded with a celebratory swim at the mouth of the river and a well-earned lunch at Paynesville.

"This expedition exemplifies the values of respect, teamwork, and resilience," said Mr Jake Morgan, Outdoor

Education Teacher. "Our students have not only completed a remarkable physical challenge but have also deepened their understanding of environmental conservation and stewardship." Year 12 student Alivia Chila shared that “This camp has been one of the most fun and eye-opening experiences I

have had. It has really made me recognise our areas history, appreciate its beauty, my education and classmates. I know there will be many times in my life where I look back to these camps to give me reassurance that I, as quoted by Mr Morgan at the end of the camp, can do hard things".

The Source to Sea

Expedition along the Mitchell River serves as a testament to the dedication and adventurous spirit of the Unit 3/4 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students. As they return from their journey, they carry with them invaluable experiences and lessons that will shape their futures as responsible global citizens.

Arecent facebook post on a community noticeboard proved highly rewarding for the Lakes Entrance CFA, who became the recipients of some rare vintage fire and rescue equipment.

Captain Phil Loukes says he’s proud and excited for the station to become the new and forever custodian of these vintage pieces that Cameron Matthews has collected and proudly taken care of for almost two decades.

“Cam’s extensive background and his contribution to rescue services, along with his personal story and the history behind these items — is as important as the pieces themselves,” says Phil, who extended an invitation to Cam to return to the brigade, specifically to share his unique rescue experiences in underground coal mines in remote Queensland.

“I started collecting these items, which most people thought to be junk. When I got them, they were often in pretty poor condition. So I’ve spent a lot of time polishing the brass and getting them up to scratch; that bought me a lot of joy so I’m really happy to be able to have them in a place where they’ll continue to be proudly retained. Some of the pieces, people — especially the younger ones — wouldn’t ever have seen. The brass fire nozzles, for example; they’re so heavy so you can imagine how much weight they’d add to the end of a fire hose back in the day.”

In addition to vintage fire-fighting pieces, Cam’s collection included equipment used by underground miners, much of which has now been replaced by digital equivalents, such as humidity readers, gas specimen pumps, and

Vintage equipment finds home in local CFA State Government must support Neighbourhood Houses

self-contained rescue packs that provided 20 minutes of breathable air in an emergency situation. One of the most engaging items was a mask with an inbuilt internal windscreen wiper system, which was designed to remove the condensation that forms inside masks during temperature changes,

THE Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says the Allan Labor Government must act to secure the future of Victoria’s neighbourhood houses.

Mr O’Brien said he had been contacted by a number of concerned community members and volunteers on behalf of neighbourhood houses across Gippsland South who are desperately seeking a commitment from the Labor Government for increased recurrent funding so that they can continue to deliver their vital community services.

“I have written to the Minister for Carers and Volunteers asking her to ensure that this year’s State Budget guarantees increased

and recurrent funding to allow our local community houses to continue to provide the invaluable services that they do,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We have seen the role of our neighbourhood houses grow over recent years with many services moving online and people needing more assistance to navigate the increasing changes and inevitable challenges that comes with that.

“I am also aware that many neighbourhood houses, such as those at Gormandale and Wurruk, are now also providing food relief services as households continue to battle with the cost-of-living crisis.

“What our neighbourhood houses really need is funding and security that funding will

be ongoing so they can not only continue to operate, but to allow them to grow and expand the ways in which they are able to assist our communities.”

Mr O’Brien said our neighbourhood houses are currently fighting an uphill battle when it comes to funding and now face having to cut programs.

“Neighbourhood houses provide invaluable services to our communities, yet local coordinators are forced to spend their valuable time applying for grants just to keep their doors open.

“At a time when community members are looking to their neighbourhood houses more than ever, the Allan Labor Government must ensure that they are properly funded.”

that typically blocks visibility

“We are in the process of securing a new station location,” Phil explains. “And when we do, we’ll be sure to have sufficient room to display these and other important items that contribute to the rich history that the Lakes Entrance Fire Brigade has.”

Labor couldn’t run a bath

THE deplorable state of East Gippsland’s roads will be back on the agenda when State Parliament resumes in February.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it was alarming the number of road warning and traffic hazard signs that had been situated on our roadsides for an extended period of time, without repairs being done.

“What is also alarming is that just prior to Christmas a number of potholes were filled, but with Christmas traffic and without the permanent fix that was required, they are now, in many cases, just as bad as they originally were, if not worse.

“I met with Roads Minister Melissa Horne, pre-Christmas with Federal member, Darren Chester, and we outlined the dire need for significant investment.

“It is not a problem unique to East Gippsland, and those who have travelled around the state will notice a similar circumstance in other areas,” he said.

Mr Bull said the deterioration of the roads was the worst he could remember.

“The underlying problem is this Government has cut roads funding by 40 per cent over the past two years and the end result can only be one thing — worse roads.

“This Government fines motorists for not having roadworthy cars, but it is not providing car worthy roads.

“Because of the massive cost overruns on city projects, this Government has slashed our roads maintenance funding in the country, so we suffer from Labor not being able to manage money or major projects.”

Mr Bull said the only way to rectify the problem was a massive increase in roads funding in this year’s May Budget, however, with the State facing a $175 billion debt due to Labor’s mismanagement, he was concerned the investment required would not be made but would continue to take up the cause.

The

Vacant:

opinion

It takes a village to raise a child

Susan Fordham

IF this Nigerian Igbo saying is true for children, it’s probably true for adolescents and adults as well. It’s probably also true for the welfare of the environment, including climate, and for species survival.

A strong community pursuing common goals is a powerful thing. ABC

Television’s Back Roads, tells heroic stories of people working together to make changes for community survival. But how to get community consensus on the big issues is the question.

A community buying the pub to save the town is admirable. It’s a specific goal that everyone can embrace for the sake of mutual survival.

The big issues remain intractable because selfinterest and sometimes ignorance (and occasionally malice) get in the way.

Despite the scientific evidence supporting the existence of global warming and the human role played in accelerating it, there is still denial.

The perceived threat to jobs and the viability of towns central to coal mining, electricity generation and gas production, create a significant community group that wants a different answer to the problem.

And who can blame them? Transitioning to renewables is a threat to present livelihoods unless good government policy also has plans to transition people and towns. Ad hoc retraining schemes as an answer will no longer wash. Retraining for what and to what community end? It will take first vision and then skill to re-imagine old communities and transition them into new ones.

But it’s not just selfinterest at play. There is also the vested interest of mining, petroleum and gas producers who exploit the insecurities of workforce and communities to lobby governments.

“Clean coal; renewables are unreliable; now’s not the time for change; wind turbines and solar farms are unsightly.” We’ve heard all these arguments and more.

The worst recent

example of naked selfinterest is the response to the Albanese government’s plan to set pollution limits on new vehicles.

A proposed ‘fuel efficiency standard’ for new vehicles aims to reduce vehicle emissions by 60 per cent by 2030.

The Opposition response: a ute tax. Nothing more than a populist ploy to woo tradies who value their V8 diesel powered work cars.

Interestingly, when the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) claimed that the government’s new ‘fuel efficiency standard’ would drive up the price of cars, Tesla announced that it would quit FCAI because its claims were ‘demonstrably false’. But self-interest isn’t the only impediment to change. There is also ignorance and the wilful peddling of half-truths and misinformation.

We are living in strange times when scientific evidence is dismissed out of hand when it is ‘inconvenient’, or when whacky populist, life endangering sloganeering holds sway with a significant minority of people.

Remember thenPresident Donald Trump claiming in 2020 that injecting disinfectant might effectively treat Covid? Remember the Trump tweets in the same year, promoting unproven therapies like hydroxychloroquine and therapies like heat and light, none of which had medical endorsement?

Remember the resurgence of the anti-vax movement fighting Covid vaccination?

Vaccination is not without potential side effects, but the side effects of NOT vaccinating during the pandemic were criminally high.

What is the solution to getting a critical mass of people onside for changes that are vital to our survival? Education, certainly, but that is a longterm solution.

In the meantime, if exNew South Wales Premier Jack Lang was right when he said, “Always back the horse named self-interest son. It’ll be the only one trying”, then we are in real trouble. How can the village be won over when trust in our current state of adversarial politics is the lowest it has ever been?

Q: Hi there, my teen is addicted to the phone. The school has called several times now with complaints about them using it in class. When my teen comes home, they are on it all the time and often get rude at me when I take it off them. I try to implement usage rules, but they are just ignored. I feel like not just their moods are changing but their whole personality too. Can you help? I’m a desperate mum!

A: I understand that dealing with a teenager's phone addiction can be challenging. It's important to approach this situation with empathy and open communication. It’s a big challenge facing many parents, so do know that you are not alone. It’s a daunting part of parenting that has not had to be navigated by previous generations to the same extent.

Well done for trying to establish some boundaries — that would have been my first piece of advice, but you are already doing that! I’d simply add to try and collaborate with your teen to create these boundaries, so they feel a sense of ownership in the process. And then be consistent in enforcing these rules.

So, let's begin by acknowledging the undeniable benefits that technology and screen time have brought into our lives. From connecting with loved ones across the globe to accessing a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, screens have revolutionised the way we interact and learn. Digital platforms have expanded access to support and resources, allowing many to seek guidance, join communities, and find connections in the virtual world.

However, the allure of screens can also lead to excessive usage, which can have detrimental effects on our mental well-being. It's no secret that spending excessive time glued to screens can lead to decreased physical activity,

advice - ask Emma

Tech addict

Living in a digital world

disrupted sleep patterns, and a sense of disconnection from the real world. The constant exposure to digital stimuli can overstimulate our senses and contribute to feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and even depression.

Excessive phone use can contribute to what is often described as a "dopamine addiction." Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward in the brain. When teens engage in activities like scrolling through social media, playing games, or receiving notifications on their phones, the brain releases dopamine, creating a sense of pleasure and reinforcement.

Over time, this can lead to a cycle of seeking more screen time to experience the pleasurable effects of dopamine release. For teenagers, who are particularly vulnerable to the allure of social validation and immediate gratification, the constant stimulation from smart-phones can intensify this cycle.

I describe this concept by drawing a parallel to fast food for our bodies; it provides a temporary fill but doesn't bring lasting satisfaction and, in the long run, isn't healthy. Similarly, with our phones and dopamine, occasional small doses are acceptable. However, promoting alternative activities that also elicit dopamine release is much healthier. Engaging in hobbies, sports, or face-to-face social interactions serves as a positive redirection of rewardseeking behaviours towards a more wholesome dopamine pathway.

free zones or activities in your teen's daily routine.

• Mindful Engagement: Be intentional about how you and your teen engage with technology. Focus on quality interactions rather than mindless scrolling. Seek out content that inspires, educates, or uplifts them. I call this curating your feed.

• Digital Detox: Take regular breaks from screens and social media. Designate techfree days or weekends to allow you both to recharge, reconnect with loved ones, and engage in offline activities that bring you both joy.

But perhaps the biggest aspect of screen time that warrants special attention is the impact of social media. While social platforms offer incredible opportunities for self-expression, communitybuilding, and information sharing, they also come with unique challenges. The curated nature of social media often leads to comparisons, negative self-perception, and a relentless pursuit of validation through likes and comments.

The carefully crafted online persona’s can create a distorted reality, where everyone seems to be living their best lives, exacerbating feelings of inadequacy and FOMO (fear of missing out).

Additionally, the constant exposure to others' highlight reels can fuel self-esteem issues, as individuals compare their behind-the-scenes with someone else's highly filtered and edited presentation.

Instead of banning or punishing your teen, approach with open communication and curiosity to cultivate a healthy relationship with screens and social media. Here are some strategies to help you find balance in the digital age:

• Self-Awareness: Reflect on your screen habits and how they make you feel. Pay attention to any negative emotions or physical symptoms that arise from excessive screen time or social media use. How we use our phones is a model to our kids.

• Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries around screen time. Define specific periods for device usage and carve out dedicated tech-

• Foster Real Connections: Help your teen prioritise face-to-face interactions and cultivate meaningful relationships in the physical world. Engaging in activities that promote genuine connection and belonging can counteract the sense of isolation that excessive screen time can foster.

• Practice Self-Compassion: Remember that social media often presents an unrealistic depiction of reality. Be kind to your teen, celebrate their accomplishments, and remind them that everyone experiences ups and downs, regardless of what they portray online.

As technology continues to evolve, our relationship with screens and social media must also evolve. By developing selfawareness, setting boundaries, and fostering meaningful connections, we can navigate the digital with healthy parameters.

Addressing phone addiction is a gradual process, and it's essential to maintain a supportive and understanding approach throughout. If the issues persist, consider seeking professional guidance that can provide additional strategies tailored to your specific situation for both you and your teen.

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

Buchan facelift good for business

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland

Darren Chester says the Buchan streetscape project will be good for local businesses and the visitor economy in the aftermath of a severe storm which damaged the Buchan Caves Reserve infrastructure. Mr Chester said local contracting crews had been working hard on the project in recent months thanks to funding from the Federal-State Local

Economic Recovery grant program.

The improvements to the Buchan township managed by East Gippsland Shire, include enhancing the streetscape with new pathways, linking the main street to the Buchan Caves Reserve and the sporting facilities.

“Investing in better facilities on public land is good for the liveability of our local communities and tourism,” Mr Chester said.

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

Emma Woodcock Counsellor

INGImage Stock

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

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

Riverside Swan Reach is the perfect place to downsize, offering cleverly designed homes with minimal maintenance and exceptional facilities just a short stroll from your doorstep.

Embrace the spirit of community living in beautiful East Gippsland. Contact us or pop in today and explore the possibilities. A new lifestyle awaits.

Delighting with baked goods since 2006

SINCE 2006, Matthew Stephenson has owned the Bakers Delight franchise in the Gippsland Centre, Sale.

“What makes our Baker’s Delight unique is our people and our commitment to offering our most popular breads all day every day! We do our best to make sure we can meet people's needs... and hopefully delight them!”

“What I love most about this business is the connections we can make with people in the community,” Matthew explains. “Sale is a great community, as are our surrounding communities such as Maffra, Rosedale, Heyfield, Stratford, Longford... and the list goes on! In regional communities, relationships are longlasting and can run deep... what you get out of a regional community is generally what you invest into it; in whatever way that is.”

“We sponsor local sporting clubs, we donate to local foodbanks, charities and even weekly BBQs; and we employ local people. So, ultimately, it's a circle — like the symbiotic evolution of life all wrapped up in Bakers’ Delight Sale wrapper!”

Drop in and see Matthew and his team at Bakers Delight Sale, and try the limited edition Sticky Date flavoured hot cross buns.

“Closer to Easter we will have crowd favourites available such as Mocha and Fruitless hot cross buns, but in the meantime from open to close our amazing customers can grab the all-time varieties including: Traditional from the 80s (with no mixed peel!); Choc Chip from the 90s; and Apple Cinnamon from the 00s! We hope to see you all soon”

Educate, engage, celebrate: James joins pride initiative

BAIRNSDALE’S own James Bush has been appointed to the committee of local advocacy group, the Gippsland Pride Initiative (GPI).

A Gippsland Lakes Complete Health staff member and Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) Project facilitator, James is already hard at work representing and consulting with LGBTQIA+ people in East Gippsland, identifying the community’s needs, interests and making connections between East Gippslanders and the GPI.

James also offers a youth perspective both through his own experiences and around his role in GLCH’s HEY Project.

“This is achieved by participating in events, sharing information via social media, attending meetings and providing consultations along with being a visible/identifiable safe person that the community can reach out to,” he said.

“I’m thrilled to be part of such an incredible team of people who are making a massive difference to the Gippsland community.”

James replaces GLCH Reconnect youth worker, Brydie Bourke, as East Gippsland’s representative on the GPI committee.

GPI chair and co-founder, Caitlin Grigsby, said she was thrilled to have James join the committee.

“In a short space of time, James has established himself as a formidable ambassador for queer youth and community,” she said.

“His lived experience of health inequities, his vibrancy and expert local knowledge make him a welcome and important voice on the Gippsland Pride team.

“We’re looking forward to working with James and leveraging the existing networks he brings from his work at GLCH, the HEY Project and beyond.”

The Gippsland Pride Initiative works to connect, celebrate and represent LGBTQIA+ Gippslanders, to tackle barriers to inclusion and create spaces

of welcome and positive change through advocacy, awareness and education.

Growing up with a farming background at Flaggy Creek and now a Bairnsdale resident, James learned to value the land and hard work, but quickly saw the barriers and stigma that came with seeking support and healthcare.

He now uses his own lived experience of mental illness, LGBTQIA+ identities, neurodiversity and disability to advocate for the importance of health and wellbeing literacy and seeking support, especially for people in rural and regional areas.

James has been involved in the community services sector for nine years (and counting) and has been a volunteer since he was 16.

“I feel I have the privilege of being at the forefront of creating positive change and seeing the incredible growth in the community, and I feel a strong sense of pride and gratitude,” he said.

Caitlin has also just been named as Victoria’s Volunteer of the Year for her work in Gippsland’s LGBTQIA+ community

Helping small businesses close the gender pay gap

THE Allan Labor Government marked International Women’s Day with the release of a new toolkit to help small businesses close the gender pay gap.

The Pay Equality Toolkit, developed by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission with funding from the Labor Government, will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve pay equality in their workplace.

The toolkit gives business owners and leaders the resources they need to take action on the gender pay gap, including a Pay Equality Compass to help assess the strengths and opportunities for businesses, guides and templates for creating an equal pay policy.

Minister for Industrial Relations Tim Pallas said “Closing the gender pay gap is a win for everyone. Equitable workplaces are more productive, have less staff turnover, higher morale and are more profitable.

“This toolkit will support small and medium-sized businesses to close the gender pay gap.”

The toolkit also provides a model for handling pay complaints and conducting a gender pay audit, and other practical tools for SMEs to meet their legal obligations, improve staff satisfaction and

become an employer of choice.

The Equal pay matters: Achieving gender pay equality in small-tomedium enterprises report noted that smaller organisations have a limited understanding about the concept of equal pay and how it applies to them –that’s why developing this toolkit was so important.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allan said “This toolkit is the first of its kind in Australia — a comprehensive suite of practical tools tailored to the needs of small and medium enterprises, to help them address their gender pay gap and create workplaces where every employee is paid fairly.

“The business owners we spoke to told us that small businesses need practical advice about achieving pay equality that is tailored to their specific needs. We have worked with experts in gender equality as well as numerous small to medium enterprises throughout Victoria to produce this practical toolkit.”

As part of the Victorian Budget 2023/24, the Labor Government invested $1 million to promote gender pay equity workplace initiatives and the functions of the Equal Workplaces Advisory Council. To access the toolkit, go to humanrights.vic.gov.au

James (left) says he is thrilled to be the Gippsland Pride Initiative’s representative for East Gippsland.

viewpoint

Supermarkets on the way to being political footballs

Robert Gottliebsen

John Dahlsen

THE sharemarket believes the competing Coalition and Greens cost-of-living and supermarket Senate inquires will be a walk in the park of Woolworths and Coles.

My political advisers say when there are two competing committees looking at the biggest political issue in the land, the supermarkets better change their strategies or they will become a political weapon.

Although the situations are different, people watched the Brittany Higgins-Bruce Lehrmann saga being mobilised as a political weapon and were taught there are no rules in Canberra’s political games.

After January 26, an experienced Coalition politician confided that Woolworths, by taking foolish political decisions on the referendum and Australia Day, was going to be used as a political weapon, albeit not as lethal as the Higgins-Lehrmann saga.

The likely Woolworths (and Coles) verbal mauling over supermarkets’ contributions to the cost-of-living crisis and their alleged price gouging will not be a pleasant experience, but it may only be the start, because harsh actions potentially will be on the table.

Outgoing Woolworths CEO, Brad Banducci, will need to perform a lot better than he did under interrogation by the ABC.

Coles boss, Leah Weckert, can handle interrogation, and in the company’s latest interim report she made perfectly logical and truthful statements from a shareholders’ and Coles review.

But simple margin calculations will be trashed because my old friend John Dahlsen, a former chairman of Woolworths, has revealed to both committees those simple margin calculations can be misleading. If Weckert repeats them before either Senate inquiry, she will be minced.

The long Dahlsen submission also sets out the complexity of the supermarket game and the dangers for any Senate committee that makes unilateral decisions to

reduce prices.

But, he also gives the Senate committees a hint as to how they can achieve their objectives of lowering supermarket prices without Woolworths and Coles political weapons.

Before we look at ways to cut prices permanently, here are a few extracts from the former Woolies chairman’s submission to the Senate committees:

“One of the traps (in supermarket analysis) is the tyranny and danger if percentages, which can mislead. A rising percentage margin or gross profit does not of itself make the retailer more profitable.”

“Profitability comes from measuring the gross profit dollars from a combination of volume and margin percentage. You can have high margin products that deliver low returns because of a lack of volume, and conversely you can compensate low margins with high volume which generate more gross profit dollars. In other words, you cannot look at margin percentage alone, but need to consider the volume of sales and stock involved to achieve the profit”.

Coles and Woolworths have vast databases, and AI has exploded the power and value of this data. The databases provide information that has become insightful on customer behaviour, including: consumer’s attitude to prices on individual products; what products are more likely to be sold than another product; where products should be placed on the shelves; and what products will respond to volume marketing and pricing.

Dahlsen also says that the government’s industrial relations reform will drive down supermarket productivity and lift costs.

In addition, government support for significant pay increases at the Fair Work Commission — albeit substantially justified — but without any corresponding

productivity gains will also lift costs.

“Through (Employment and Workplace Relations) Minister Tony Burke (a one-time union delegate) there has been one-sided reform without productivity gains. This translates into increased prices and a lower standard of living. Unlike the Hawke years, there has been no exchange of employee benefits for productivity gains,” he says.

It’s possible the senators will ask one of the CEO’s how supermarket staff could be organised flexibly to provide substantial cost reductions, which would be passed onto consumers via prices.

Theoretically, the Greens and/ or the Coalition could agree, after an election, those changes will be legislated on the firm commitment they will be translated into lower prices. It’s a long shot, but it is the way Bob Hawke curbed inflation.

But there is a second way. One or both of the Senate committees can force substantial supermarket cost reductions, which can be passed on to prices without damaging the fabric of the supermarket operations.

Dahlsen tells the committees:

“Retailers are required to value their stock at the lower of cost or net realisable value. So, if a short life product (days) does not sell, the retailer has devalue this stock immediately.

“This is critical with fresh meat and seafood, where the life of the product is measured in days or even hours. So, if a short life product fails to sell quickly, it will mean heavy discounting or writing-off the product.

Sometimes products are marked up to cover the markdowns so that reasonable dollars are earned.”

What if the Senate demanded supermarkets invest in the modern technologies now available overseas to safely lengthen the life of fresh products, substantially cutting waste and slashing costs. The Senate would require all these costs to be passed on after allowing for the cost of the capital investment.

I suspect if either of the above two strategic alternatives, or others that might be raised, are cast aside by the supermarkets, Draconian measures could be imposed that would reduce prices but slash profitability in the process.

Fight the good fight

IF there was one thing that I could change in our political system, it would be to demand of all participants that they agree to disagree. So much of the political discourse in our parliaments, state and federal, is little more than a sledging campaign for no other purpose than 'having the fight'.

There are many reasons for this and, although I have no doubt that one such is that some of us are represented by individuals who never had the phrase,'Plays well with others' entered on their school reports, the one that stands out from the rest is having little or nothing to offer but conflict.

The recent Dunkley by-election was a good example of the worst aspects of our electoral system. For month upon month we have been bombarded with the phrase, 'the cost-of-living crisis'. If there was anything at all the people of Dunkley would surely have largely agreed upon, it would be the difficulties posed by rocketing mortgage payments, rents, the cost of food and fuel prices. These issues have been front and centre for so long now that you'd need to be made of stone not to have noticed.

A competent opposition to the status quo, and we desperately need counterbalance in government regardless of who is running the show, would have centred on these matters and would have had suggestions for how they would deal with these basic concerns of the majority. What did we get: a scare campaign about 'detainees' whose presence in the community has come about because the High Court found their continued detention illegal. Our politicians are bound by the findings of our legal system, and rightly so, but those whose priority is 'the fight' don't let that get in the way of calling for some kind of round up; conveniently forgetting whose side of the chamber drafted the failed legislation that brought the whole

thing about in the first place. How far does this take us from the concerns of the average voter; several streets, the next suburb or, more likely, off the planet?

Now the dust has settled on Dunkley, those in relentless pursuit of the next 'blue' have dropped the detainees as a trigger point in favour of something offering far more ‘bang for their buck': the nuclear option.

We're now told the previous lack of any alternative policy offering is going to be fixed in short order by building nuclear reactors on the site of decommissioned coal-fired power stations. This billing of the next election's championship bout should be of great interest to all Australians but especially so to those of us living in Gippsland. This clash of ideas, if such it is, has some major consequences if a serious proposal for a nuclear reactor in the Latrobe valley is coming in the next few months. You'd expect our elected representatives would be in possession of all the facts prior to any announcement of policy yet any questions as to this likelihood are met with a rather non-committal, "Thank you for your enquiry..."

If there is any chance at all of a nuclear power station being built in the stated time frame of the next decade, the odds must surely be of the magnitude of the proverbial 'snowball in Hell'. It's only five years ago that we had a federal government promising four station car parks in Melbourne at a cost of $65million. Having won the election, and spending millions on planning and design, the car parks were quietly shelved as being of little value and largely against the wishes of the communities in which they were to be sited.

So here is today's question: if it costs $65million and five years to not build four car parks, how likely is it that the same crew can knock up a nuclear reactor in ten? There really is no thinking time required to conclude that there is no realistic prospect of any such development. What it will provide, however, is the opening bell for round one of the 'My Dad’s bigger than your dad’s election next year.

THE first annual NAPLAN tests officially begin today, with more than 300,000 students at 2,350 Victorian schools set to participate.

Minister for Education Ben Carroll today wished students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 the best of luck with the assessments, which aim to assess how each child is tracking on a national scale.

In 2023, students across Victoria topped the nation’s NAPLAN results — ranking first or second in 16 of the 20 NAPLAN categories — which was one of the state’s best-ever results.

The recent NAPLAN results

was a resounding endorsement of Victorian students’ hard work, our world class teachers and the profound effect of the Allan Labor Government’s investment in schools.

Last year, the Government introduced changes to improve and modernise NAPLAN, which included moving the tests forward so that the results and data could better support students earlier in the year.

New proficiency standards with four levels of achievement replaced the old national standard and 10-band structure which was set in 2008 when tests

were on paper. The updated NAPLAN reports now show how each child is tracking against their peers using four easy-to-understand standards: exceeding, strong, developing and needs additional support. The Labor Government has made major investments in supporting student learning and wellbeing, including almost $740 million to employ thousands of tutors across government and non-government schools since 2021, to assist students to fulfil their academic potential and improve their social skills.

John Crowe

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, presented Paynesville Primary School Leadership Team with achievement certificates at the school assembly. Mr Chester is pictured with school captains Grace Hall and Lexie Fordham.

Grief in the Western world

GRIEF is a universal emotion. And because humans form close relationships with others, it’s impossible to avoid. People of all cultures grieve. We all feel sorrow, loss and despair, but we grieve in different ways.

In most other cultures, the grief processes remain the same, generation after generation. However, in the Western world, over the years we have managed to stifle our grief. We once lived in smaller communities, towns or neighbourhoods and when someone became ill, they were nursed in the home. The doctor came to the home. Neighbours, relatives and friends all visited and brought food to share. Once a person passed away, the body was placed in the front room known as the ‘parlour’. You may have noticed on old homes that doors were wider then, to allow room for the coffin to be brought in and out. Again, as the body lay there for a number of days, people came and paid their respects, brought food to share, told stories and mourned together.

Then slowly as medical intervention increased, when people became ill, they were taken to the hospital. Funeral ‘parlours’ were introduced. The body was taken directly from the hospital to the funeral parlour. The ‘parlours’ in our homes were turned into ‘living rooms’ and grief was taken out of our homes

and into hospitals and funeral parlours. People didn’t visit and we didn’t get the days of having the person laid out in the parlour, for everyone to come and pay their respects and say their goodbyes. Many neighbours today don’t even know there has been a death in the street and children don’t see these facts of death anymore. After the ceremony, there would be long rows of cars following the funeral cortège and people in the street would pause and show their respect. Men took off their hats. Traffic would stop and allow the procession to pass.

Because the rituals of grief have been taken away from us, slowly, over time, we have lost our ability to allow our grief to flow freely. We feel the need to ‘keep a stiff upper lip’, ‘keep ourselves together’, ‘be strong’, and avoid crying in front of others in case we upset them.

In turn, the others now wait for the grieving person to emerge fixed and whole again, within a timeframe that we have decided is acceptable. It has become easier to hide the depth of our emotions rather than reveal our vulnerability and risk judgement. When asked how we are doing, it’s easier to say ‘fine’ and fake a smile than it is to show genuine emotion.

Judgement, timeframes and neat little grief boxes have no place in the reality that surround loss. We are asked to

Love and Loss Grief Counselling

Talking helps. I'm here to listen to and witness your grief.

opinion - across the table

'Jacinta Allan, the basket weaver'

suppress our pain, ignore our emotions and hold back our tears. Western society doesn’t want to hear that grief stays with us, in some form, for the rest of our lives. We prefer to believe there is a quick fix, a cure-all, a pill that will deal with it discreetly and quietly. But the reality is that you will grieve in some capacity for the rest of your life. You are forever changed once you have been touched by loss.

As humans, we need to grieve. We need ritual and memorials and to treasure our memories. We need to talk. We need to talk about our loved ones and acknowledge our feelings. We need to stop looking outwards to our emotionally numbed society and look inward into our hearts that know the truth about loss. And this can start by listening and talking about grief.

Karen Ellingsen is a Bairnsdale-based counsellor who specialises in working with people with grief, loss and trauma. To find out more visit www.loveandloss.com.au

Generally speaking, with Will

Bedggood

Awell known think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs, recently compiled a review of each Australian state across ten key economic measures.

Using the most recently available economic date from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, they found that Victoria was the worst overall performing state in the country, and it ranked last in three key metrics: the highest tax burden, the highest debt burden and the greatest energy price increases.

In case this wasn’t bad enough, Victorian ranked second last in per capita state economic growth, wages growth, retail trade activity and productivity growth.

Victoria is a basket case. All that’s keeping our state afloat is migration and university education of foreign students. No-one is investing here except for the State government but even the Victorian Labor Government is coming to a screeching halt.

The famous level crossing removal program has frozen. That’s a big pity for the Upfield railway line serving multiple Labour electorates to

Melbourne’s north west. They were last in the level crossing queue because they vote Labor no matter what and their reward is now they won’t get anything because they never do.

The numbers are just awful.

The real measure of economic prosperity is per capita economic growth. Victoria is 0.4 per cent compared with NSW at 1.9 per cent. That’s worse than a quarter the rate of the state we compare ourselves with.

Our tax burden is the most onerous of the Federation. We pay 7.3 per cent of gross state product — that’s the measure of economic activity in each state — WA pays half of that. NSW pays 18 per cent less tax than we do.

The doozy is state debt. Ours is 21.8 per cent of gross state product — that is, an amount equivalent to 21.8 per cent of Victoria’s annual economic activity. NSW is half that at 10.2 per cent. Queensland is 1.3 per cent!

When Premier Jacinta Allan goes on about completing her mentor, Daniel Andrew’s legacy and building his Suburban Rail Loop, she’s missing that vital piece of context, which is that there’s no money for it at all. There won’t be for a generation.

Then there’s energy costs.

They are rising in all states, because all state governments are lying when they say that renewables are cheaper than coal or gas or nuclear. Victoria’s energy costs have risen 12.3 per cent over 2023. That beats every other state, even though most of them don’t care either.

There are two interesting, apparent anomalies. Victoria’s job growth is the best of any state; and Victoria’s rental cost rises are second lowest. Job growth is a substitute for productivity, and Victoria’s growth is worse than any other state except for Tasmania, Australia’s traditional economic basket case.

Yes, rental cost rises in Victoria are lower, but the expectation is that rents in Victoria will explode because Victoria has nothing left in its economic armoury beyond cheap jobs and the flood of immigrant labour greater than anywhere-else in the country will ultimate inflate the rental market.

Speaking of which, Victoria’s job growth at 4.2 per cent is completely out of line with the rest of the country. This tells us that once the federal government’s crackdown on low skill immigration becomes effective, Victoria will lose its single economic positive. Daniel Andrews got out at exactly the right time.

boating and fishing East Gippsland Fishing Report

Lakes Entrance

Along the rock wall for leatherjacket, using pipis. On the incoming tide for tailor, which are heading up towards Metung and around the islands, chasing metal lures. Surf beaches have salmon and tailor, offshore at the Pipeline has snapper, flathead, gummies, and the odd Striped marlin.

Lake Tyers

Mill Point and Fisherman’s Landing has garfish, some King Fish are also about. Over at the surf beach for tailor and salmon.

Mitchell River

The Cut on the Mitchell River as it enters Lake King is a prime spot to catch bream, perch and the odd mullet, also try Eagle Point using softshell, cut crab and plastics.

Tambo River

For bream give The Cliffs, Burns Flat down to Punt House Point all the way to the river mouth and The Snags a go with local prawn, shrimp, glassy’s and lures.

Nicholson Club day was a big success. Bream, mullet and perch are about, best results on local or drifting prawn and soft plastics.

Metung

Tailor are around Chinamans Creek, Shaving Point and into Lake King, preferred baits being soft plastics, local

prawn, worm and softshell.

Paynesville

Town jetties and Newlands

Arm for bream, Sunset Flats on the lake has tailor taking silver lures. Wollaston Bay for whiting on pipis, mussels and worm.

Holland's Landing

Whiting may be found around Blonde Bay; bream are in the Straits.

Marlo

Bream are around the islands and the odd perch taking local prawn. Salmon and tailor are being landed on the incoming tide chasing metal lures.

Bemm River

The entrance is still closed.

In the lake and channel for

flathead and bream, biting on local prawn and soft plastics.

Tamboon Inlet

Salmon and tailor can be found at Pelican Point. Best bait for flathead is pilchards and the entrance is open.

Mallacoota

Best spots for flathead and bream are around the top and bottom lakes and Harrisons Channel using soft plastics and local prawn. Offshore has a mixed bag.

Omeo High Country Fishing has returned to normal, for best results use dry fly, patterns, spinners, wobblers and drifting baits.

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS WE WISH YOU ALL A SAFE AND

TOP 500 – 5000 Trusted Taxpayers Status

John Dahlsen

Read Part Two — Read Part One in our last publication, Edition 95 www.greateasternmail.com.au

AT the moment our standard of living is falling and will continue to fall unless we do not address the issue of falling productivity. Productivity means producing more outputs for the same inputs or producing the same outputs for less inputs. This drive for efficiency rests with all of us even public servants and the ATO yet we see no information on this productivity.

The ATO boasts in its 2021/22 Annual Report that the tax gap that is the estimate of tax that should be paid but is not stands at a 0.58 per cent of tax revenue. This looks impressive but the admin cost of the ATO is $3.98 billion against tax collected of $516.6 billion with $20,375 employees.

Clearly some taxpayers are incurring great expense, yet this is not leading to the payment of a dollar more in tax or changing the way it approaches its tax affairs. It seems the ATO are obsessed with a process not outcomes and this is where there is a considerable disconnect. This subject should be a matter for public debate and scrutiny.

The ATO annual report also reveals plenty of information about ATO performance against its objectives and what these objectives cost. It is curious however, that there are only several lines about the cost incurred by individual taxpayers in filing their returns which appears to be relatively stable.

There is absolutely no information on the cost of the TTS to the taxpayer. This should be subject of a major review as the cost to the taxpayer should be considered

in analysing the ATO’s cost and productivity.

Sot the ATO report has virtually nothing on productivity what are acceptable benchmarks either for itself or for any group of clients.

It is noteworthy that many smaller members of the top 5000 will not have any internal tax advice and will rely entirely on external tax advisers. The ATO’s answer is that the ATO needs to see the adviser’s engagement letter and satisfies the ATO. The external adviser will de-risk the situation by requiring a lot more information than the adviser would hitherto collect. Again, this is a huge boost to the tax advisory industry working for smaller taxpayers but in fairness to the tax advisers there is a significant insurance cost. ATO assurance letters will increase the insurance.

If the ATO wanted to become outcome based not processed based the ATO would encourage whistleblowers where in the US whistleblowers can be paid up to 10 per cent of the tax gain. In Australia this would probably require legislative change.

The US experience is whistleblowers increase the payment of taxes considerably and in Australia the ATO could cut back on its process driver ways and increase productivity considerably for both the ATO and taxpayer.

It is very difficult in Australia to have an open conversation with the ATO about subjects like this and the importance of productivity.

Some would argue particularly for the top 500 that it would be cheaper if a tax officer was resident in your business checking everything rather than the massive process and nonoutcome-based cost.

How do you get change?

The ATO reports to the Treasurer through the Treasury. It is understood that there is a unit in the Treasury which deals with the ATO. The Treasurer is a very narrow funnel. Little is known about this group of their qualifications and experience except that the rumour is these people are all former tax officials and likely to be biased in their attitudes and have a tax collector mentality without considering taxpayers issues.

The reality is that it is extraordinary difficult to get the ATO or Treasury to take an interest in this subject particularly where the Government is desperate for more tax revenue to fund ever growing Government programs.

The ATO has a strong point of view about the Governance of tax affairs and there is a tendency that one size fits all. It requires extraordinary amount of process and the documentation of transactions and the definition of the process itself and the persons within an organisation dealing with the various issues.

This suits the ATO because the ATO is trying to pin the responsibilities of tax issues on individuals including Directors. Where individuals gain no benefit why they should be held responsible. What this means for the larger taxpayer is that the people effected seek insurances from all the tax professionals to cover their backs. Is it fair that the Directors or Executives should be targeted in this way when they are not professionally trained particularly in an area which is incredibly detailed, complex and time consuming. The only beneficiaries are the tax professionals who derive another major field of profitable activities.

Striking the balance to save threatened dingo population

THE Allan Labor Government is helping protect a vulnerable population of dingoes in Victoria’s north west while ensuring farmers are able to protect their livestock.

Effective from 14 March, the dingo unprotection order will conclude in north west Victoria — this decision follows new research, strong advice and the effectiveness of non-lethal dingo control methods to protect livestock.

Farmers in this area will be supported by a $550,000 investment to adopt alternate non-lethal control methods via a pilot of measures, such as exclusion fencing and guardian animals. This funding will also support the management of other pests including feral goats, wild pigs and foxes.

In other parts of Victoria, dingo control measures will remain unchanged - giving stability to farmers in need of protecting their livestock.

The Government’s review into its wild dog management policies will be finalised in the next six months and consider the new research alongside the impacts on livestock.

Dingoes play an important role in the ecosystem and the latest Arthur Rylah Institute data shows the dingo population in the north west is at risk of extinction, with as few as 40 dingoes left.

Whilst dingo numbers are much greater in other parts of the state, they remain a threatened species and are protected under the Wildlife Act.

Where livestock are being significantly impacted and there are no other control options available, all farmers — including those in north west Victoria — can apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife permit to use lethal control methods.

In light of these changes, the wild dog component of the current Fox and Wild Dog Bounty Program

THE Orbost Show, Sustainability and Landcare Expo was held on Labour Day, Monday, March 11, and Mayor Cr Tom Crook has praised event organisers, volunteers and showgoers for making it another great event.

East Gippsland Shire Council partnered with Landcare for the delivery of the sustainability element of the fair as it has done over the past five years. The event helps Council reach the Orbost community, informing locals on programs around sustainability, waste management, agriculture supports, funding opportunities and library services.

“As anticipated, the day was a success despite the high temperatures, and drew in crowds eager to celebrate the region's rich agricultural heritage and vibrant community spirit,” Cr Crook said.

“Given the temperature, it was somewhat fitting — or ironic — that the guest presenter at the event was meteorologist and Channel 7 weather presenter Jane Bunn! Event organisers go to great lengths to secure such interesting guest speakers, and all involved should be congratulated.”

Among other attractions at the show were food stalls from local businesses, displays and competitions across a range of categories from fresh produce,

photography, craft, flora and fauna.

“Our stand was a focal point within the Landcare section of the show, offering an engaging showcase of initiatives, services and educational materials across agriculture, community laws, waste minimisation and sustainability and well as children’s activities,” Cr Crook said.

“The recycling display was also well received by show visitors, who found it to be engaging for both children and adults. The display’s primary purpose was to help raise awareness about waste management practices and promote sustainable living habits. Children enjoyed the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of recycling and correct usage of bins.

“Feedback from the event has been positive, with show-goers remarking that Council’s investment of time and resources into this year’s display shows dedication and commitment to the Orbost region.

“It is an effective way to raise awareness of Council’s services and programs while engaging with community members in a relaxed, informal setting. We were proud to once again participate in the Orbost Show; this occasion is one of the many ways we are involved in the community.

“And of course, these events always provide a fantastic opportunity to reconnect as a community.”

will not continue in the north west. There will be no changes to the Fox Bounty in the north west.

The dingo unprotection order for eastern Victoria remains in place until 1 October 2024.

Charlie and Ella Priestley, Harvey and Henry Fenley with our local laws team.

EASTER HATS

Make the kids hoppy with a sweet bunny party hat! They’re easy enough for children to make and decorate on their own, too.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Card (pink, white, green and yellow)

• Fine-liner pen

• Elastic

• Glue (or double-sided tape)

STEP 1

Use a compass to draw a 260mm circle onto some card and cut out. Measure and trim away one-third of the circle.

Use the remainder of the circle to make a cone, using doublesided tape to stick the ends in place.

STEP 2

Trace the large bunny face template, onto the front of the

hat in pencil (or go freestyle and draw your own). Paper piece the nose using some coloured card, and use a black pen to draw on the eyes, mouth and whiskers.

STEP 3

Trace the sections of the ears template onto two shades of coloured card, cut out and attach to the back of the hat. Pierce a hole on both sides of the hat using a piercing tool and craft mat (a needle or other sharp object will also work, or if the kids would like to do it themselves, we recommend using an office hole punch). Thread through some elastic cord, secure with a knot and dot of glue. Add flowers to the sides, to finish.

BOTTLE BRUSH CARROTS

Turn basic bottle brush trees into cute carrot decor you can reuse year after year. They’ll look adorable hanging from a simple boxwood wreath, set on a place setting or inside an Easter basket.

STEPS:

Spray paint bottle brush trees with orange spray paint (you may need a few coats), and let dry completely. ▶

KIDSEASTER CRAFTIDEAS

GETTHEKIDSREADYFORAFANTASTIC EASTERCELEBRATIONWITHTHESE FUN,FAMILY-FRIENDLYIDEAS!

New electric vehicle for Sale Botanic Gardens

WELLINGTON Shire Council is charging ahead with its transition of petrol-powered equipment, following the purchase of a new electric utility vehicle.

At the end of its usable life, Sale Botanic Gardens’ ageing ride-on wheelbarrow has been replaced by an environmentally-friendly electric grounds and turf vehicle.

Similar to a modified golf cart, the vehicle plugs into a normal power point and can hold charge for up to three days, eliminating fumes, the need to buy fuel or complete extensive servicing. Its quiet motor means less engine noise in the gardens, improving amenity for visitors and wildlife.

The vehicle has an in-built tipper for mulch and soil, extra capacity to carry two staff at once, and its trailer has already proven handy for lugging off-cuts and tools.

After a month behind the wheel, Council’s Natural Environment and Parks team is happy to report the new vehicle is meeting all expectations, having improved day-today operations. Staff are now able to stay out in the field for longer, instead of frequenting the Gardens’ maintenance shed for petrol, and can navigate the Gardens’ narrower paths while transporting multiple tools — an advantage over a ute or truck.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said the

decision to replace outdated equipment with an electric vehicle follows last year’s swap to a suite of battery-powered tools at Sale Botanic Gardens.

“Council has been looking for ways to improve efficiencies across the board, and lead when it comes to implementing sustainable practices that will take us into the future — and this is a great example,” Cr Bye said.

“The transition supports our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and reach net zero by 2040. We’ll continue to electrify our operations over the next five years, in line with priorities set out in our Council Plan.”

For more information, please contact Council’s Natural Environment and Parks team on 1300 366 244.

▶ Cut off the tree’s wooden base with wire cutters.

Cut equal lengths of green raffia string and glue to the remaining wire stem of the tree. Wrap another piece of raffia around the base and glue into place.

BUNNY EARS HEADBAND

Make your kid the perfect Easter Sunday accessory: floral bunny ears! If you want to cover the headband with ribbon, attach one end of the ribbon to the bottom of the headband with hot glue and wrap the headband until it’s completely covered, adding small dots of hot glue as you go. To make the bunny ears, cut two lengths of pipe cleaner, about 20” and gently fold each in half. Twist the ends together

and use hot glue to attach the twisted ends to the headband. Fill out the crown with an arrangement of faux flowers, hot gluing them in place.

BUNNY BAGS

Pack their leftovers or egg hunt finds in these adorable bunny bags, so they can bring the holiday cheer back home with them. Cut paper bags to make bunny-ear shapes, then draw on a bunny face with a black marker. Finish it off with a pom-pom tail.

Lease awarded for popular tourist parks in Sale and Stratford

THE successful tenderer for the lease of Sale and Stratford caravan parks have been announced following a comprehensive tender process.

As land manager for several caravan parks located on Crown Land, Wellington Shire Council oversees commercial leases on behalf of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Council engaged an independent caravan park management company to coordinate the public tender process.

The tender for the lease, development and management of both parks was advertised locally, through an agency and further afield over a six-week period. Tenderers were required to address a range of criteria including previous experience, capital investment, and consider how the business will promote sustainability, and work with the local community.

Both Sale Motor Village, located on the Princes Highway in Sale and Stratford on the River Tourist Park located at 2-16 McMillan Street in Stratford will be operated by new leaseholders and experienced park operators, Michael Harris and Paul Hangan from Camp Crusty.

Camp Crusty will commence operations in April and July 2024, subject to finalising all necessary approvals.

Both Michael and Paul are directors and shareholders of the Camp Crusty Group, employing approximately 100 people. Together, they own several tourist accommodation and hospitality businesses in

Victoria's north-east including the Bright Cabin and Caravan Park and Camp Crusty Eldorado.

Their track record includes acquiring tourism assets and businesses, revitalising properties and significantly increasing visitation, such as at the Bright Accommodation Park, which saw a 50 per cent increase in visitor nights within their first 12 months of operation.

A key competitive edge lies in their family business' ability to create visitor experiences, including offering novel accommodation options such as eco-pods, glamping tents and more.

When asked about the future of both parks, new operator Michael Harris said the pair are very excited to be the new leaseholders of the parks and wanted to leverage the goodwill and hard work put in by the previous park operators.

“We look forward to getting busy, setting the parks up for the next generation of visitors to this beautiful region. Our families would like to thank Wellington Shire Council for entrusting us with this important responsibility, and we look forward to immersing ourselves into the community”.

Furthermore, when asked about the origin of their business name, they explained, “The very first park

we purchased in Bright was in desperate need of improvements, and as such had earned an unflattering nickname from the locals. We thought the nickname was memorable and quirky, so we just embraced it and Camp Crusty was born”.

Shortly after finalising the lease, the new operators will commence refurbishing and renovating the facilities. This will include upgrading the camp kitchen and the old Visitor Information Centre at Sale Motor Village. Additionally, new accommodation options, such as cabins and glamping setups will be added to increase capacity and accessibility to improve the visitor experience.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye expressed excitement about the appointment, highlighting its potential to modernise and increase visitation to The Middle of Everywhere.

“We see both caravan parks as drivers for expanding tourism in the region and are excited to see how the Camp Crusty team will enhance these parks over the coming years,” he said.

The Mayor also thanked outgoing tenants, Floyde and Leanne Murphy at Sale Motor Village, and Shaun and Louise Perrett at Stratford on the River Tourist Park.

“The long-term tenants at both parks have provided significant contribution to their respective communities, and tourism within the region over a long period of time. We would like to thank them for their hard work and wish them all the best for what comes next,” Cr Bye said.

GEM movie review

Movie Reviewer

Jason Cherry

RICKY STANICKY

STREAMING NOW ON PRIME

PETER Farrelly's "Ricky Stanicky" is a comedy that hinges on a simple premise: three childhood friends invent a fake alibi named Ricky Stanicky to get out of trouble. This silly lie balloons over two decades, eventually forcing them to confront the consequences of their immaturity. The film boasts a charismatic cast and some genuinely funny moments, but it struggles with tonal inconsistencies and humour that lands with uneven results.

John Cena shines as Rod, a down-on-his-luck actor hired to impersonate the nonexistent Ricky Stanicky. Cena sheds his usual tough-guy persona and embraces the role with surprising comedic timing. His commitment to the bit, including a hilarious rendition of a drunken karaoke performance, provides a significant portion

Movie Reviewer

Jason Cherry

DUNE: PART TWO

IN CINEMAS NOW

DENIS Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two" arrives with the daunting task of following up on the visually stunning and narratively intricate first film. Thankfully, it delivers an experience that is both familiar and refreshingly expansive. Where the first part focused on introducing the complex world of Arrakis and its various factions, "Part Two" dives head-first into the heart of Frank Herbert's epic saga, exploring themes of power, fanaticism, and the burden of prophecy.

The film retains the breathtaking visuals that captivated audiences in the

of the film's entertainment value. Zac Efron and Jermaine Fowler are a likeable duo as the friends desperately trying to contain the Ricky Stanicky fallout. Their chemistry is solid, and they manage to convey the exasperation and camaraderie that comes with a long-lasting friendship.

Farrelly, known for his brand of gross-out humour in films like "There's Something About Mary," leans heavily on that style in "Ricky Stanicky."

Jokes involving bodily fluids and crude sexual references pepper the script, landing with varying degrees of success. Some will find them laugh-out-loud funny, while others might find them juvenile and off-putting. The film also stumbles with a few racial and sexist gags that feel outdated and insensitive in a modern comedic landscape.

Beyond the humour, "Ricky Stanicky" attempts to explore themes of friendship and growing up. It delves into the characters' emotional baggage and highlights the ways their childhood prank continues to affect their adult lives. These moments are surprisingly heartfelt, offering a layer of unexpected depth. However, the film doesn't quite commit to its emotional core, leaving these themes underdeveloped and overshadowed by the broader comedic elements.

The supporting cast is a mixed bag. William H. Macy's performance as the oblivious boss borders on caricature, and some of the one-off gag characters feel underdeveloped. However, there are some bright spots. There's a delightfully absurd

first instalment. The vast deserts of Arrakis come alive with even greater detail, while the imposing sandworm creatures continue to inspire awe and terror. The technological marvels of the Fremen culture are further explored, with their still suits and fighting techniques showcased in stunning action sequences. Notably, Villeneuve utilizes a striking black and white fight scene that stands out for its stark beauty and brutal choreography.

This visual splendour is complemented by a compelling narrative that delves deeper into the characters' motivations and struggles. Timothée Chalamet reprises his role as Paul Atreides, who now grapples with his messianic destiny and the potential for a brutal jihad in his name. Zendaya's Chani emerges as a more prominent figure, showcasing her fierce loyalty to the Fremen way of life. The supporting cast shines as well, with Javier Bardem delivering a delightfully sinister performance as the conniving Emperor, and Stellan Skarsgård adding a layer of tragic desperation as the deposed Baron Harkonnen.

While the film stays true to the spirit of Herbert's novel,

TRICKY RICKY

cameo by Jeff Ross as a rabbi who accidentally takes ketamine, and a surprisingly sweet turn by Lex Scott Davis as Efron's supportive girlfriend.

The film's pacing is another area of concern. The first half feels brisk and engaging, balancing humour with character development. However, the middle section drags

as the friends scramble to contain the Ricky Stanicky situation. The resolution, while predictable, manages to tie up the loose ends in a relatively satisfying way.

Overall, "Ricky Stanicky" is a film with a split personality. It's a silly comedy that delivers laughs, particularly thanks to John Cena's energetic performance. However, the

humour can be hit-or-miss, and the emotional core feels underdeveloped. If you're looking for a mindless laugh riot with a dash of sentimentality, "Ricky Stanicky" might satisfy your needs. But for those seeking a more nuanced comedic experience, this film might not quite hit the mark.

1. WHO SINGS THE SONG "SHINY" FROM MOANA?

2. WHAT IS THE PRINCESS'S NAME IN THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG?

3. WHAT TYPE OF FISH IS NEMO?

4. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL IS ABU IN ALADDIN?

5. WHO WAS THE FIRST DISNEY PRINCESS?

6. WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF CINDERELLA'S EVIL STEPSISTERS?

7. WHAT ANIMAL DOES MERIDA'S MOM TURN INTO IN BRAVE?

8. WHICH DISNEY PRINCESS IS INSPIRED BY A REAL PERSON?

9. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE LITTLE TEACUP IN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST?

10. WHAT IS MIRABEL'S LAST NAME IN ENCANTO?

A BREATHTAKING WONDER

it does take some liberties with the plot. This might alienate purists, but the changes generally serve the purpose of streamlining the story for a cinematic format. The focus here is on Paul's internal conflict and the Fremen's fight for survival, building towards a satisfying yet open-ended conclusion.

"Dune: Part Two" isn't without its flaws. The pacing can feel uneven at times, with long stretches of character development interspersed with moments of intense action. The emotional connection between Paul and Chani, crucial to the story, could have been further developed to create a

more impactful dynamic. Additionally, some viewers might find Chalamet's stoic portrayal of Paul a bit monotonous in comparison with the more vibrant performances surrounding him.

However, these shortcomings pale in comparison to the film's strengths. The worldbuilding is masterful, drawing viewers deeper into the complex political landscape and rich mythology of Arrakis. The action sequences, though limited, are visceral and expertly crafted. Moreover, the film tackles complex themes without resorting to simplistic solutions. It asks viewers to ponder the

dangers of blind faith and the terrifying consequences of unchecked power.

Ultimately, "Dune: Part Two" is a worthy successor to its predecessor. It provides a visually stunning and thought-provoking exploration of a classic science fiction saga. While the film concludes definitively enough to be a satisfying experience on its own, it leaves viewers eager to see whether Villeneuve will get the chance to complete his vision with a third instalment. This is a grand epic for the big screen, a film that demands to be seen in all its visual and thematic glory.

The film retains the breathtaking visuals that captivated audiences in the first instalment. The vast deserts of Arrakis come alive with even greater detail, while the imposing sandworm creatures continue to inspire awe and terror.

1. WHAT TIME IS IT WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13? TIME TO GET A NEW CLOCK.

2. HOW DOES A CUCUMBER BECOME A PICKLE? IT GOES THROUGH A JARRING EXPERIENCE.

3. WHAT DID ONE TOILET SAY TO THE OTHER? YOU LOOK A BIT FLUSHED.

4. WHY CAN’T ELSA FROM FROZEN HAVE A BALLOON? BECAUSE SHE WILL “LET IT GO.”

5. WHAT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IS FOUND IN THE BATHROOM? A

PACE

6. WHAT DO YOU CALL A FAKE NOODLE? AN IM-PASTA.

7. HOW DO YOU MAKE AN ARTICHOKE? YOU STRANGLE IT.

8. WHY DID THE TOMATO BLUSH? BECAUSE IT SAW THE SALAD DRESSING.

9. WHY DO MUSHROOMS GET INVITED TO ALL THE PARTIES? BECAUSE THEY’RE SUCH FUNGIS! (FUN GUYS, GET IT?)

10. WHAT DID ONE PLATE WHISPER TO THE OTHER PLATE? DINNER IS ON ME.

March 15th: 1877: The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) formed the first Australian cricket team to tour England. This tour marked the beginning of international cricket for Australia.

March 16th: 1922: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia was founded by Reverend John Flynn. It aimed to provide medical services to people in remote areas of Australia.

March 17th: 1902: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was established as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to Australia's population and economy.

March 18th: 1988: The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was granted self-government, allowing its residents to elect their own legislative assembly and chief minister.

March 19th: 1942: During World War II, the Japanese bombed Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory. It was the first direct attack on Australian soil by a foreign power.

March 20th: 1852: The Victorian Gold Rush began with the discovery of gold near Bathurst, New South Wales. This event triggered a massive influx of migrants to Victoria, transforming its economy and society.

March 21st: 1966: The Australian dollar was introduced, replacing the Australian pound. The switch to decimal currency was part of broader economic reforms aimed at modernizing Australia's financial system.

March 22nd: 1768: British explorer Captain James Cook set sail from Plymouth, England, on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean. This journey eventually led to the discovery and mapping of the eastern coast of Australia.

March 23rd: 1983: Australia's first mobile phone call was made by then-Communications Minister, Michael Duffy. The call was placed from a car phone in Melbourne.

March 24th: 1989: The Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, causing one of the worst oil spills in history. The spill had significant environmental impacts globally, including on Australian coastlines.

March 25th: 1942: Australian troops fought in the Battle of the Java Sea during World War II. It was a naval battle between Allied and Japanese forces, resulting in a significant defeat for the Allies.

March 26th: 1973: The Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the Opera House has become an iconic symbol of Australia.

March 27th: 1918: The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was formed as an independent branch of the Australian Defense Force. It is responsible for aerial warfare and air defense.

March 28th: 1854: The Eureka Rebellion occurred in Ballarat, Victoria. Miners rebelled against the colonial authority over issues of taxation and representation, leading to a significant event in Australian history towards democracy and workers' rights.

CHARACTER AND WHY?

B12. I LIKE HOW HE HAS ABILITIES TO HELP HIS FRIEND.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS GAME?

YES.

WHAT RATING WOULD YOU GIVE IT OUT OF 10?

I WOULD GIVE IT AN 8 OUT OF 10.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE GAME?

MY TWO FAVOURITE CHARACTERS.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER AND WHY?

MARIO.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS GAME?

YES.

WHAT RATING WOULD YOU GIVE IT OUT OF 10?

I WOULD GIVE IT A 9 OUT OF 10.

GOTHAM KNIGHTS

[PLAYED ON XBOX SERIES X]

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE GAME?

THIS GAME IS OPEN WORLD GIVING YOU THE

FREEDOM TO DO ANYTHING YOU LIKE.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER AND WHY?

I LIKE PLAYING AS ROBIN.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS GAME?

YES, IT'S SO DIFFERENT.

WHAT RATING WOULD YOU GIVE IT OUT OF 10?

I WOULD GIVE IT 8 OUT OF 10.

food & wine

PREP: 30 MINS | COOK: 2 HRS | SERVES: 6-8

PREP: 45 MINS | COOK: 15 MINS | MAKES: 12

One-pan lamb with Hasselback potatoes Hot Cross Buns

Enhance the flavour of roast lamb with herbs and garlic, or you could try slices of anchovy, slivers of chilli or nuggets of feta pushed into the slits

ingredients

• 1 leg of lamb, about 2kg

• 2 garlic bulbs

• 15 sprigs rosemary

• 15 sprigs thyme

1. Use a small, sharp knife to make at least 30 small, deep, incisions all over the lamb. Halve the garlic bulbs, so at the top the cloves fall away and at the bottom, they remain attached. Peel and slice the tops that have fallen away and keep the other halves for later. Use your fingers to push the slices into each slit. Next, pull off small sprigs of rosemary and thyme, keeping the stalks on, and poke them into the slits, too. Can be done a day ahead, then cover the lamb and chill. Remove from the fridge 1 hr before roasting.

• 1.7kg medium-sized potatoes, unpeeled

• 14 bay leaves

• 4 tbsp olive oil

• 1 lemon, juiced

2. Heat oven to 210°C/fan 190°C. Sit each potato between the handles of two wooden spoons and cut width-ways at 3mm intervals — the spoon handles will stop you slicing all the way through. Slot a bay leaf into the middle slit of each potato. Tip the potatoes into a large roasting tin with the halved garlic bulb and the rest of the rosemary and thyme. Drizzle with half the oil and season, then toss to coat and turn the potatoes so they’re all cut-side up.

3. Nestle the lamb in the middle of the tin, pushing

the potatoes to the outside, then rub the lamb with the rest of the oil and the lemon juice and season generously.

4. Roast for 1 hr 30 mins, basting the potatoes and shaking the tin occasionally, until the lamb is dark brown and the potatoes are crisp and golden. The lamb will be pink in the middle but cooked. For rare, cook for 10 mins less, and for well done, 15 mins more. Remove the lamb from the tin and leave to rest for 15 mins, putting the potatoes back in the oven if you need to. Serve while still hot.

Soft, doughy hot cross buns, still slightly warm from the oven, are a classic Easter treat

ingredients

• 625g white flour

• 45g chilled butter

• 45g caster sugar, plus 2 extra tbsp

• 1 tsp each salt

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp ground allspice

method method method

1. Sift 500g of the flour into a large glass or ceramic bowl. Cut up the butter and rub in with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the caster sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and yeast. Beat the egg in another bowl, then mix it into the dry ingredients with the milk, until you have a soft, pliable dough. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Gradually work in the raisins and peel. Return to the bowl and cover loosely

• ¼ tsp grated nutmeg

• 1½ tsp fast-action dried yeast

• 1 egg

• 275ml milk, plus 4 extra tbsp

• 100g raisins

• 25g chopped mixed peel

with cling wrap. Leave in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size.

2. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead well, then cut into 12 pieces. With a lightly floured hand, pick up one piece of dough, then rotate your hand in a circular motion, pressing down on the dough to create a neat ball. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Put on 2 greased trays, spaced apart. Cover with cling wrap and leave in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to

200°C/fan 180°C. Sift the remaining flour into a bowl and stir in about 125ml tap water to make a smooth wet paste. Spoon into a freezer bag, snip off the corner and pipe a cross over each bun. Bake for 15 minutes until golden.

4. Meanwhile, put the extra milk and extra sugar into a pan. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then boil for 2-3 minutes until syrupy. Brush the glaze over the warm buns. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve split open and toasted with lots of butter.

Dyed Easter Eggs

Preparing these vibrant and colourful Easter eggs will make you realise that it’s Easter time. Discover how to make them to perfection with this easy Easter egg recipe!

ingredients

• 12 eggs

• 1 packet red egg dye powder (or other colours of your choice)

1. To prepare these colourful Easter eggs, start by boiling the eggs. Wash thoroughly the eggs and place them (in one single layer) gently in an empty pot. Add enough cold water to cover the eggs by 3-4 cm.

2. Season the water with a good pinch of salt and bring to the boil. If you like your eggs hard-boiled, but juicy at the same time, boil the

• 6 cups warm water

• 1/3 of a cup vinegar

• olive oil, for shinning

eggs for 6 minutes.

3. Remove the pot from the stove and place the eggs under cold running water for about 1 minute to stop the cooking process.

4. After the eggs cool down, start preparing the dye for your Easter eggs. Place the warm water and the dye powder in a large glass bowl and stir, until dissolved. Add

the vinegar and stir to combine. Place carefully the eggs (comfortably) in the bowl and set aside for 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon on a rack over some kitchen paper and let them dry for about 40 minutes.

5. To give a little shine on your dyed Easter eggs, wipe them with a paper towel with a little olive oil.

Thousands of new and improved radios for CFA brigades

VOLUNTEER firefighters will be able to respond more efficiently to emergencies with the roll out of 18,000 new radios to all Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades across Victoria. Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes recently joined volunteers from Plenty Fire Brigade at the CFA headquarters in Burwood to officially announce the $138 million upgrade of all handheld, vehicle and station base radios. The new radios have Global Positioning System (GPS) functions on all handheld devices, making it easier for crews to locate firefighters on the ground and ensure their

own safety. Minister Jaclyn Symes said “These new radios have undergone a trial by fire — tested by volunteers who know what they need in the face of disaster. It’s really exciting to kickstart the rollout of these important devices for all our brigades.”

“Our CFA volunteers go above and beyond to keep Victorian communities safe from disasters — we’re continuing to back this important work with record funding and support.”

Volunteer firefighters will now also have direct communication access

with all emergency service agencies in Victoria with the radio’s multiband capability, not just other CFA volunteers. They will also be able to speak with crews from New South Wales and South Australia. This function will be particularly valuable during mass fire events where more than one agency is deployed such as Fire Rescue Victoria or VICSES, or where interstate crews are deployed to events such as fires that cross state borders.

Last March, 15 CFA districts across the state participated in a three-

month pilot program with Motorola Solutions to determine the right radios for the replacement program.

Volunteers from all CFA regions were consulted to assess the radios by testing their functions in simulated, real-life scenarios, including hot, smoke filled and noisy environments, and while wearing a breathing apparatus.

The services contract between CFA and Motorola will be for 10 years. The rollout of the radio replacement program is set to begin in mid-2024 and be complete by the end of 2025.

0429 291 723 manplumbingandroofing@gmail.com www.manplumbingandroofing.com.au

ON 1 March 2024, social bike riding group ‘These Girls & Boys Can Ride’ celebrated their 150th ride, which saw them bike around Raymond Island, a picnic in Paynesville, a look at the classic boats and vintage cars, as well as attending the official launch of the ‘End of an Era — the Last Gippsland Lakes Fishermen’ exhibition at the Paynesville Library Breezeway.

We caught up with some of the riders to tell what they enjoy about this all-ages social group.

Sabina from Metung rides her hybrid or eBike with the group.

“I’ve been riding with them for approximately 18 months now. It's fun, the people are interesting, being from different social groups and ages. I love the variety of each week, riding a different trail with no obligation to commit. It's very flexible. Not only do we ride but also have a social lunch after the ride. Again, lunch is optional but for those who stay, it's a great way to socialise and helps to support local businesses.”

Robyn from Nungurner is an original member of the group having started with ride #2 in 2020. Robyn started out on a mountain bike but moved to an eBike in 2022 and agrees with Sabina’s comments as to the

more than just a ride for cycling enthusiasts

this group. She adds, “I have made some wonderful new friends through this bike group and hope that our team leader and coordinator, Cosette will continue to run these rides for many more years.”

Jaime, also from Metung joined the group around two months ago, and also rides an eBike. “I love and enjoy every ride and have met quite a few nice people, I am discovering bike trails I didn't know existed, and I like the safety aspect that if something goes wrong, there is help available.

Chris rides an eBike and after having joined the group 10 months ago says, “they are a wonderful bunch of people and it’s been very good for my mental health.”

Trish from Forge Creek also started riding her eBike with the group around 10 months prior. “I really enjoy the company and getting to see some of the best parts of East Gippsland.”

Colette from Eastwood has been riding her eBike with the group for 10 months. “The friendliness of the

people I've met through this group is first and foremost the reason I continue to keep coming. For me, the exercise and the discovery of cycling in the beautiful area that we live in is also a factor. I also have to make mention of Cosette, who coordinates the group, as her enthusiasm and infectious exuberance is the icing on the cake!”

Vanessa lives in Paynesville. She says, “Unfortunately, not able to do as many as I would like due to work but have discovered some gem places to

ride thanks to this group. And I agree — Cosette is a marvel!”

Sally from The Barrier, who rides her mountain bike or touring bike, echoes Sabina’s thoughts and adds, “Let's not forget the laughter and fun too! Thanks also go to the government’s "This Girl Can" campaign, which was designed to get women active by funding groups to do various activities. We participated in a mountain biking session run by Sarah Carlisle from Venture Out in November 2020, and the group

Discovering the trails in the Colquhoun forest.

formed and grew from there, thanks to Cosette.”

Jen and Greg from Lake Bunga have been riding for roughly 2.5 years as part of the group. “It’s been a bit spasmodic of late, but it's a wonderful event to look forward to, each Friday morning.

Our rides tick all the boxes for physical, mental and social benefits, along with exploring this wonderful part of Victoria from Tinamba to Marlo. Riding at your own pace is particularly great as there is always someone to ride with and is always complete with a tail ender rider — most often Cosette — thank you!”

They add, “We just love knowing where and when to turn up, riding with others, having assistance with bike issues if needed, yummy places to eat, and the camaraderie of good company with a common interest. Other cycling trips to other regions have been positive off-shoots of this group. Thank you to Cosette for her enduring enthusiasm for the group, and for all the extra bits such as her terrific photographic memories posted each week.”

Leonie and Joe from Lakes Entrance joined about three months ago. They say, “The social side of the group and meeting new people is great. Finding and enjoying new spots to ride around the area has been a real benefit along with the health benefits of cycling. We ride eBikes which are great on those hills!”

Paynesville resident, Ann started riding with the group at the beginning of 2021 and although she hasn’t been out with the group for quite a while she’s hoping to get back into riding in the not-too-distant future. “I love Cosette's organisation, meeting new people, discovering

Gippsland EDs on life support

THE Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says immediate intervention is needed from the Allan Labor Government as latest figures show that emergency departments (EDs) right across Gippsland are failing to meet key performance targets.

Mr O’Brien said the 2022-2023 Annual Reports from Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH), Central

“We just love knowing where and when to turn up, riding with others, having assistance with bike issues if needed, yummy places to eat, and the camaraderie of good company with a common interest”

new riding routes and the great meals we have share.”

Founder of the group, Cosette Murphy from Metung, says “The group’s first ride was held on 13 November 2020 — a week after the 'This Girl Can' ride event was held. The benefits are both mental and physical, and we kept our weekly rides up, even during the lockdowns. We support small businesses by eating locally, visiting places of interest such as art galleries, museums, movies, and

Gippsland Health (CGH) and Bass Coast Health (BCH) all clearly demonstrated that their emergency departments are under-resourced and in desperate need of support.

“Only 59 per cent of patients who presented to LRH ED were seen within the clinically recommended timeframe while CGH performed slightly better at 74 percent and BCH managed 78 per cent.

“Local ED nurses and doctors do an outstanding job under pressure EDs and their ability to respond to patients’ needs can quite literally be life or death.

“So, it was extremely alarming to read

we participate in fundraising and community events.”

Reflective of the strong community ties that the group has formed, last year, Venture Out sponsored Cosette to ride an eBike when she volunteered as a Marshall on the Great Victorian bike ride, which went through East Gippsland.

Jennifer from Marlo has been part of the group for around two years. “I drive from Marlo to do these rides. It has been great, socially, for me to meet others, explore the area and get

that more than 250 who presented to LRH last year waited for more than 24 hours in the ED.”

Mr O’Brien said patients presenting to EDs via ambulance were also left waiting with only 70 percent finding their way into the CGH ED within 40 minutes. Alarmingly that figure is as low as 59 per cent at BCH and a startling 42 per cent for LRH.

“It is no wonder ambulance response times have not improved across Gippsland South with these figures clearly demonstrating that ambulances are getting stuck at our local EDs.

fitter. I also want to mention the extra things aside from riding that we do, such as eating out, enjoying movies, visiting galleries, and learning about the history of an area. It really is so much more than just a bike group.”

Dianne from Eastwood has been riding with the group for almost two years. “I've enjoyed finding all the areas that can be ridden in our region, and seeing the art, history and learning other nuggets of information about our very pretty area. I have also liked meeting

“Indeed, the latest reports from Ambulance Victoria show little-to-no improvement in response times across both Shires over the last ten years, with code 1 still averaging over 18-minute response time in both the Wellington and South Gippsland Shires.”

Mr O’Brien said the clear and crucial need for the $10 million emergency department mental health hub at LRH was also evident in the performance figures which showed 72 percent of mental health patients presenting to LRH ED waiting more than four hours for treatment.

This figure was also well below the

people who enjoy this area — some of us have even gone and done other activities together such as walking, kayaking and rowing.”

Carolyn and Gary were newcomers to the group, joining on the 150th ride! “We received a lovely welcome and it was a beautiful ride around the Lakes Entrance area. We had fun meeting others and enjoying the outdoors together. It’s a great group to join as we to get to see new places and meet like-minded people.”

targeted KPI of 19 percent at BCH and CGH where 59 per cent of mental health patients also waited longer than four hours at their respective EDs.

“It is clear that our local emergency departments are in desperate need of help to keep up with growing demand as Victorians put off crucial medical appointments due to the rising cost of living.

“The Labor Government must take immediate action to properly resource and staff our emergency departments and scrap its unfair Health Tax that is driving up GP costs.”

Sally and Cosette the two original girls who attended the first ride.

Ride around Tambo Bluff in Metung.

Ride around Eastwood. The150th ride to Raymond Island.