The GEM - 20 October 2023 - Edition 86

Playful Paws Training Tips

10 Things To Remember PAGE 5

Most Fun On Two Wheels

Jokes, Gaming And More

MTB Skills Park Opens PAGE 6

THE GREAT EASTERN

GEM Kids Space PAGES 18-19

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BAIRNSDALE • PAYNESVILLE • LAKES ENTRANCE • METUNG • SALE

Where Community Matters 86TH EDITION OCTOBER 20, 2023

THISIS SPARTA

Bairnsdale locals, Mick Gilhooley and Trent Howell are heading to Greece to compete in the Spartan Trifecta World Championships at the start of November

ADVENTURE RACING AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF GREECE

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OUNDED in the US by Joe De Sena in 2007, Spartan racing has grown in popularity all over the world including here in Australia.

Spartan's mission is to help people live without limits, through training and race events that help everyone develop the physical and mental strength to take on all of life's challenges with an unbreakable

spirit.

The Spartan belief is that living ‘the hard way’, based on ancient wisdom and daily training, can make us the people we were born to be.

There are three key events that make up Spartan racing: The Sprint requires competitors to complete 20 obstacles (think: climbing walls and ropes, crawling under barbed wire, traversing

monkey bars, throwing a spear, and more) over 5km of off-road trail featuring mud and water. Typically, people starting out on their Spartan Race journey will commence with this event.

The Super is the next level of challenge in Spartan Racing, which demands completion of 25 obstacles (all more challenging than The Sprint) over a 10km course at

intense elevation.

The third and ultimate Spartan test is The Beast, aptly named because it requires completion of 30 obstacles that require strength, skill, and grit, over 21km (the length of a half-marathon!) of uneven terrain and elevation changes.

The Spartan Trifecta will see Mick — a salesperson at Dwyers Motor Group — and Trent, a farm manager

for Snowy River Angus, compete in all three events over a two-day period.

“We start with The Super on Saturday morning. In the afternoon we do The Sprint, and then on Sunday we do The Beast,” says Mick, who’ll turn 50 on the day before his first race in Greece.

CONTINUES PAGE 3

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OCTOBER 20, 2023 The Great Eastern Mail

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Cuts to small grants hits local community groups

F

EDERAL Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has accused the Albanese Government of abandoning local sporting and community groups with its failure to provide ongoing funding for the Stronger Communities Program (SCP).

Speaking in Federal Parliament, Mr Chester said the former Coalition Government had funded more than 15,000 small projects under the program but the Labor Party was abandoning community organisations in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“The failure to provide a funding commitment, to provide funding certainty, for the Stronger Communities Program gives us a glimpse of what lies at the heart and the soul of this government,” Mr Chester told Parliament.

“Ever since coming to office last year, the government has continued to cut programs in regional areas where the communities had a direct say in their local priorities. It's more of the same with the Stronger Communities Program.

“This is a government that thinks Canberra knows best. It thinks it knows best. It simply doesn't trust local communities to come up with local solutions and local priorities for the expenditure of taxpayers' money.

“At a time when communities,

households and families are dealing with increased cost-ofliving pressures, this government is taking away a funding program which helps the sporting clubs and community organisations fund small infrastructure initiatives that would otherwise

be paid for by the hard work of volunteers. In other words paid for by the mums and dads who pay subscriptions or actually raise money for those clubs and organisations.”

Mr Chester said the SCP was successful because it was evenly distributed across Australia with each electorate allocated $150,000 per year to provide grants of between $2500 and $20,000.

“In reality, the clubs and community groups would leverage these small grants with their own money and in-kind donations to actually deliver much more significant projects than would be possible if Canberra was running the program,” Mr Chester said.

“The SCP delivered value for money and took some of the pressure off community groups at a time when the cost of living is impacting everyone. The Prime Minister should intervene and guarantee ongoing funding for future rounds of SCP because it’s a program that actually works.”

Darren Chester Darren Chester Darren Che Putting Locals First Putting Locals Chester First Darren Putting Locals First #lovegippsland

Putting Locals First #lovegippsland www.darrenchester.com.au #lovegippsland #lovegippsland www.darrenchester.com.au

Authorised by Darren Chester, The National Party of Australia, Level 13, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Authorised by Darren Chester, The National Party of Australia, Level 13, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Authorised by Darren Chester, The National Party of Australia, Level 13, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

www.darrenchester.com.au

Authorised by Darren Chester, The National Party of Australia, Level 13, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

www.darre

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The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

Funding opportunity for Men’s Sheds A

MATES SET TO DUEL WORLD'S TOUGHEST

FROM FRONT PAGE HESE two mates, who met at parkrun Bairnsdale (where Trent is the Event Director), have been competing in Spartan races since 2022, and undertake 99 per cent of their training together, with 60 per cent taking place at Trent’s house (where specific obstacle training facilities have been custom built), 20 per cent at Totally Pumped gym, and then the rest is running training.

“A typical month of training involves around 260km of running, 40 hours of exercise and 3km of running at

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elevation,” explains 44-yearold Trent.

“The obstacles are hard but every time you fail, you have to do 30 burpees so, in theory, you could be doing 900 burpees in one race!”

Originally, Trent got introduced to Spartan racing after a health scare inspired him to lose weight through exercise.

“I’d suffered from itchy skin for years, and a new doctor in town tested me for type 2 diabetes. I was 125kg and she told me if I didn’t lose weight I’d have to go on tablets.

That was in August, and by Christmas Day I’d lost 40kg

through diet changes and giving up alcohol (and I’ve never touched it again since).

“When new year’s day came around and The HIIT Factory Bairnsdale had a special offer, I thought since I’d lost the weight I should start exercising — and I found out I loved it. Later, I moved over to Totally Pumped and that’s where we train now.

“For our Spartan Training we work with a coach, Deanna Blegg, who is a World Champion Spartan and adventure racer. She’s actually quite a celebrity in the adventure racing world!”

“We have to thank all of our

sponsors and supporters — and there are many! Because without them, we would not be able to compete,” Trent said.

You can see all the generous sponsors, and follow their progress on Facebook by searching ‘Trent & Mick’s Spartan World Championship Journey’.

We wish the best of luck to these [crazy?] awesome athletes as they battle it out among the mountains and ancient olive groves in the spiritual home of Spartan. And we look forward to reporting on their success when they return.

PPLICATIONS are now open for the Men's Shed Funding Program 2023-24, providing grants of up to $100,000.

Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said Men’s Sheds are vital community hubs and encourages not-forprofit groups to make an application.

“These facilities create safe and inclusive spaces where men can come together, foster social connections, and actively participate in their communities,” Mr Bull said.

“Visiting the Men’s Sheds across the electorate, I have seen first-hand the great benefit they provide to not only their members, but also to the broader community.

“I am also well aware that many groups have changing circumstances, are looking to expand or require urgent repairs to facilitate their programs.

Funding can be used for the construction of new sheds, including the conversion of non-shed buildings into welcoming spaces, refurbishments, extensions, or upgrades.

The grant program also encourages projects that: • Target a reduction in social isolation among men by offering workshop-based maleonly environments on some days

• Support the inclusion of women on some days • Foster a culturally inclusive atmosphere and encourage multicultural participation • Demonstrate significant value to the social fabric of the local community in proportion to the funds invested.

“There’s tremendous work being done in Men’s Sheds across the region.

They are important pillars in our community, actively contributing to men's health, fostering social inclusion, and facilitating vital connections.

“This funding round is a fantastic opportunity to do that or to foster new and improved programs that will benefit our community,” Mr Bull said.

Applications close December 8, 2023. For more information or to apply, please visit: www. vic.gov.au/mens-shedfunding-program

Tim Bull with Bairnsdale Men's Shed President, Rob Maddern

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IRE A HUBBY Bairnsdale/Lakes Entrance are very excited about a new addition to the team, Michael (Mick) Hogan.

Wayne from Hire a Hubby trained with Mick and has worked alongside him through many projects.

Wayne knows the depths of this man’s talents and qualifications and after completing a year of travel abroad we are delighted to welcome him home to enhance our team.

Mick is a qualified carpenter, cabinet maker, shop fitter and tiler. Under the guidance of a specialised pergola and decking firm in Queensland, Mick has become the craftsman that East Gippsland has been seeking.

Mick will be the senior tradesman on the team, one of his duties will be customer service. No job will be left unfinished, no mess will be left at any job, no customer will be left dissatisfied with the work.

Mick brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team but rest assured we will not rest in our quest for excellence.

Wayne and Rose are constantly searching high and low for the ‘perfect tradesman’ — one with the necessary

qualifications, years of experience, The Hire a Hubby work ethic and the ability to lead a team with confidence.

Michael Hogan is the tradesman Hire a Hubby have been looking for, the tradesman East Gippsland needs.

Whether you’ve been in a trade for decades or are just starting your career, there are always new skills you can learn.

Industries, practices, and technology can change quickly, and those who stay up-to-date on what’s going on won’t fall behind others in the industry.

Consider this — qualifications received in the 1980’s are now 43 years old!

Not defunct but old, tired, and not up to date.

One of the ways Hire a Hubby is the superior multi skilled team is our pursuit of new technology and new materials. Wayne is constantly updating his qualifications with the Master Builders Association of Victoria.

Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale/ Lakes Entrance are constantly evolving, we attend seminars, trade conferences and watch demonstrations from industry experts, we have access to all the new and improved products. Our employees are encouraged to participate in new study courses.

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Wayne from Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale

industry leaders eg: Diablo, Bunnings, AEG power-tools, Kango, British Paints, Sika and Kaboodle (this is just a small sample). These companies provide exclusive training possibilities using the latest methods and materials, for the Hire a Hubby franchises and

Hire a Hubby Bairnsdale has and will continue to take full advantage of this opportunity.

In fact the whole team will be travelling to town next month to be schooled on the use of a new and exciting bathroom product. Watch this space!

HE Victorian Labor Government has refused to extend the domestic firewood collection period despite being aware of the huge shortfall in domestic firewood availability, largely due to its decision to close Victoria’s native timber industry.

In a question to Parliament, Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, asked that consideration be given to allow Victorians broader access to the resource, which not only provides heating and cooking for some, but would also support the cleaning up of our forest floor fuel loads in preparation for the hot and dry summer predicted ahead.

Mr Bull said his approach to the Environment Minister was prompted by the high volume of people who contacted his office who were unable to access affordable firewood through commercial contractors that were having to source wood from interstate due to the timber industry decision.

“The domestic firewood collection season fills the gap in the market and provides public access to designated collection areas for households. Under this program, households can access up to two cubic

firewood collection areas and extending the collection period would assist many householders who rely on this resource.

“There are a large number of East Gippsland households reliant on solid fuel heaters as their primary source of heating.

“We need a guarantee from the Minister that access to firewood will be maintained now and into the future, but judging by the response, they clearly had no idea the timber decision had any impact on firewood.

The Victorian Forest Fire Management website states, ‘The Victorian Government is undertaking a review into the management of firewood collection in public forests for domestic purposes.’

“This review must guarantee Victorian household’s access to free firewood in Victoria, with the view to expand availability when commercial supplies dry up,” Mr Bull said.

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The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

playful paws

Top 10 Training Tips Playful Paws Megs Hopman 1. House Rules Develop a set of rules as a family for your dog to fit in.

Remember to tell your dog what your expectations are by reinforcing the behaviours you like (like rewarding them out of the kitchen) and redirecting them from behaviours you don’t like.

2. Develop a goal Be specific! What exactly do you want your dog to do? Be specific, for example when visitors arrive we would like them to sit calmly to say hello.

3. Be consistent!

Make sure everyone in your family knows what you are working on and all work toward the same goal. It is helpful to write them down.

4. Be confident Your dog reads your body language much more than listening to what you say, so make sure you are sending the message you want. You're cool, calm and confident!

5. Reinforce your dog!

Dogs need to be told when they are doing the RIGHT thing! Just like us! A reinforced behaviour is much more likely to occur again.

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6. Set your dog up to win Have achievable expectations.

Just because your 8 year old can do something does not mean your 12 week old can!

Remember each dog is an individual and treat them as such!

7. Take your dog out and about!

Walking is not just about exercise! It is allowing the dog to experience new things; sniffari, people, noises, smells, traffic, different locations.

8. Every interaction with your dog is a training session!

Set aside at least twice a day for 5 - 10 minutes to spend training your dog. Every time you hang out with your dog

is a chance to support your goals, incidental training is also very important!

9. Be patient!

Remember when dogs are learning something new it can take time until they fully understand what you’re asking. Take the time to teach them and enjoy the process, it’s okay to go back a step — no dog is ever perfect!

10. Most importantly HAVE FUN! Training should be fun and rewarding for you both.

When this happens you have not only developed a good relationship but have a happy, confident dog that is happy to go everywhere with you!!

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OCTOBER 20, 2023 The Great Eastern Mail

MTB skills start here

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Pictures: Gippsland Media

OUNTAIN bike riders of all ages and experience levels will be excited by the official opening of the new skills park at Mt Taylor, which has been designed to help riders progress their skills in a safe, fun and inclusive environment.

The skills park includes three different jumps lines for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders; a junior pump track; beginners’ flow trail; climbing trail; balance zone; and drop zone; as well as more advanced features like the 'hammock' and wallride. It also offers brand-new seating and picnic tables for spectators and other visitors to enjoy.

East Gippsland local and committee member with the Mountain Biking East Gippsland (MTBEG) mountain bike club, Gabe Anderson, is the lead project manager for the skills park development at Mt Taylor.

“My own involvement in the project started in February 2022, when our club received word that our grant was successful [funding for the Mt Taylor Skills Park project was provided by the Australian Government's Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program] but work on the project really began back in mid-2021 when a couple

of our dedicated members began the job of applying for the funding.”

“Working with the five other volunteer members of the project group, we managed all aspects of the project from inception to completion.”

The main steps of the project were: community consultation, developing a project brief, managing the tender process and contractor appointment, securing the necessary approvals and permits, working with the contractors to finalise the park design, and finally, supervising and approving the construction of the park.”

“Throughout the project we worked closely with the land managers at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

The club had previously established a great working relationship with DEECA, and having their trust and support for this project was essential. DEECA's support was invaluable not only in securing the grant initially, but also in navigating the approvals and permits necessary when working on a public site. Collaborating with DEECA on this project has strengthened our relationship further, and we look forward to continuing to work with them as a club in the future.”

On 7-8 October, an official

opening was held at Mt Taylor, as part of the Fox Superflow race event (organised by Rocky Trail Entertainment).

The two-day event attracted over 160 riders along with their families and supporters.

“The opening event was the club's way to acknowledge and thank the funding body, as well as the many businesses, organisations and individuals in the community that supported the project,” Gabe explains.”We celebrated the opening with a ‘chainbreaking’ ceremony (instead of a more traditional ribboncutting), and ended with a rider ‘train' — with dozens of young riders following each other down the new jumps and showing off their skills.”

“It’s been an incredible feeling to stand back and see so many people enjoying the park now that it’s finished,” said Gabe. "The feedback has been great, and we’ve had people traveling from afar just to check it out”.

Even though the park is now open, work to improve the site continues. “We're in the process of engaging an artist to install a mural on one of the new features and have a local contractor

fabricating and installing some bike racks,” Gabe says.

“We’ll also keep making tweaks and improvements to the park itself as things settle in”.

“The skills park is a fantastic place to start your mountain bike riding journey and develop your skills and confidence. It's also a great place to meet other riders.

East Gippsland has a great variety of trails to suit all ages, abilities and tastes, and facilities like this one enable us to continue to build a great, inclusive community.”

For information about places to ride, upcoming events or how to get involved with the Mountain Biking in East Gippsland club, visit www.mtbeg.com.au or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Picture: Gippsland Media

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The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

opinion - across the table

Generally speaking, with Will Bedggood

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HE NSW Government’s decision to project the Israeli flag onto the Sydney Opera House was both principled and bold. Triggered by revulsion at the Hamas incursion into Israel it was an unmistakeable protest in response to terrorism. It was a legitimate Australian defence of the single democracy in the region, clearly standing in solidarity with Israel.

But what did Chris Minns, the new ALP Premier who brushed away objections in the NSW cabinet, think would happen then? Did he imagine that hundreds of thousands of non-Israeli Australians from the Gaza strip, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria for instance would simply see it from the same point of view as a traditional political leader like Minns?

Only a year and half ago as Putin’s forces first marched on Kiev, the Ukraine flag was projected on to the Opera House too. It seemed a natural part of the response of the West everywhere. Following on with the Israeli flag when the time came is what Australians do: we support victims of terrorism in general, and we stand for traditional players in the Western alliance because the values of the

What were they thinking? players the alliance protects are closest to ours, aren’t they?

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to have predicted that there would be an almighty backlash from Australians of Middle Eastern origin to the Opera House projection. The Opera House forecourt demonstration that followed however, led

by Islamic and community leaders, descended into outright antisemitism.

Behind this reaction was a very clear message to Minns and to the Australian cultural mainstream from the demonstrators: what about us? We of non-Israeli Middle Eastern extraction do not agree, and we do not accept the image we see and where you chose to project it. And we have every right to say it how we want to say it.

Of course, it was very Australian to allow this demonstration to proceed,

we do this all the time as one immigrant group after another wave their flags on the steps of state and national parliaments.

So the NSW Police supervised the event, even to the point of denying Israeli counter protesters

rounded in unison on the Opera House forecourt demonstration and framed it as an un-Australian rabble.

Everybody would have known exactly what this meant: that we have a dominant political culture of political toleration,

access to the Opera House precinct in order to avoid civil confrontation. But, inevitably, the NSW Police were to some extent legitimising a platform for genocidal calls that are totally outside the Australian tradition.

In another era a cross party generation of Australian political leaders would have

of liberal and democratic orientation, of respect for each human life, and of individual rights and freedoms.

In a simpler time our political values were clear: one man or woman, one vote. Full stop. No special groups. No interference from churches.

No layered class divides. We thought of ourselves as an

egalitarian bunch where every one of us has the opportunity to get on and make good. We thought this easy liberalism was intuitive, shared and prized.

However, a week after the Opera House demonstration, on behalf of the Yes campaign, Minns himself implored Australians to vote to give indigenous Australians Constitutional special rights as a group. This was a breach of the one man or woman, one vote creed that every generation before now would have clearly recognised as fundamentally unequal and because of that, un-Australian.

In the referendum a crushing majority of the Australian voters agreed.

Our liberalism and egalitarianism are clearly being transmitted to new generations and new arrivals. The Opera House demonstration was a shock because it’s not the general

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rule to see ethnic religious leaders bay for genocidal blood in this country. Against a backdrop of unprecedented rates of immigration these shared values of egalitarianism and tolerance are precious. At present Australia is bringing in somewhere around 300,000 - 400,000 immigrants a year, all this is without a positive, national narrative that is clear about what unites us.

In place of clear pride in who we are, where we have come from, and what we expect of new arrivals, our national discussion about who and what we are instead is besotted by division and guilt over the legacy of settlement and indigenous rights. Unsurprisingly, the total failure of the Yes campaign, and its architects’ subsequent search for scapegoats, has made these divisions worse.

In a time of mass immigration Australia’s fixation with the legitimacy of settlement is dangerously selfindulgent. This is the time to be clear about who we are and what we share.

Unless our political leaders get back to articulating what unites us and return to the egalitarian, liberal values we hold and respect, it won’t be self-evident to anyone what is mainstream enough to get projected on to Sydney Opera House — that’s if the NSW Government wants to try it again.

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The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

advice - ask Emma

New health model cuts waiting times for children’s intervention

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AST Gippsland children are getting quicker access to paediatric early intervention services thanks to a new model of health care.

Implemented by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, the new model manages demand for services such as speech pathology and occupational therapy.

The program’s success was highlighted at the recent Alliance of Rural & Regional Community Health (ARRCH)

by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH) executive manager Support, Therapy, Education and Prevention Unit, Ainsleigh Whelan and paediatric allied health coordinator Kylie Hayes.

Ms Whelan said as early as 2010, GLCH was receiving more referrals for children with issues around language and fine motor development.

In response, the Active Lorikeets program was created to deliver speech and occupational therapy to preschool children facilitated by

Tehseen Zafar, Kylie Hayes, and Ainsleigh Whelan

allied health assistants. This resulted in reduced waiting lists, addressed workforce issues, empowered parents and enabled children to access more services.

A review in 2012 found children’s readiness for school and fine motor skills had improved, but by 2020, after the introduction of the NDIS, GLCH had returned to issues of long waiting lists, increased demand and workforce shortages “We needed to rethink what we were doing,” Ms Whelan said, “so we introduced a

new model of care for early intervention, with multiple doors of access.

“It means children don’t sit on a waitlist in a silo. They are assessed by a key worker and then triaged to where they need, when they need it.

We’ve gone from six months on a waiting list to six weeks.”

The positive outcomes have included parents being more engaged in therapy children achieving their goals and strong partnerships with kindergartens and early years school programs.

“It means we can support those children on their journey into school and as our workforce has changed, we have still been able to deliver the same volume of services while reducing wait lists,” Ms Whelan said.

“Even though we have fewer specialists in some areas, we’re still able to service the children that need support and provide a sustainable model of service delivery during skilled workforce shortages.”

Vaping prevention program highlights risks to young people

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AST Gippsland primary school children are learning about the risks of vaping as part of a new program delivered by the health promotion team at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health.

The Gippsland Lakes Complete Health Prevention of Vaping project was highlighted at the recent Alliance of Rural & Regional Community Health (ARRCH) conference and chair Mandy Hutchinson said she believed all Victorian communities could benefit from the program.

“Vaping continues to be attractive to young people and this is a program that could be rolled out across regional Victoria to make an impact for future generations,” Ms Hutchinson said.

The Gippsland Lakes Complete Health team is also working with regional community health organisations to train their health promoters to facilitate vaping prevention and education sessions in their local schools.

Gippsland Lakes Complete Health Prevention and Population Wellbeing Worker Tehseen Zafar, who presented at the ARRCH conference, said e-cigarette use among young people was a growing concern in East Gippsland and across Australia, but many people didn’t understand the longterm health risks associated

with vaping.

“We conducted surveys through information forums that showed 85 per cent of people weren’t aware of the consequences of vaping and 78 per cent were unaware of the toxic chemicals,” Mr Zafar said. “Most young people thought they have appealing flavours, but they didn’t know about the toxic chemicals. I explained that the outer shells look very attractive and smell nice but when you go inside you find toxic chemicals that are bad for your health.”

The health promotion team at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health created an evidencebased program to inform parents, carers, educators, and health professionals about the dangers of vaping and e-cigarette use.

The program incorporated a prevention of vaping lesson plan in collaboration with Griffith University’s social marketing team to present to primary schools, covering healthy choices, peer pressure and the mental and physical health impacts of vaping.

Evidence was gathered from peer-reviewed articles and other intervention programs, such as those produced by QUIT Victoria, Cancer Council Victoria, and Lung Foundation Australia.

Mr Zafar said the project aimed to prevent further uptake of vaping and provide education relating to harm and risks associated with using vaping products. The

project aims to provide awareness and resources to parents, carers, and educators to support conversations with young people about vaping.

A total of 27 education and awareness sessions were delivered across 10 primary schools with 504 children in Grades 5 and 6 attending, along with 10 sessions delivered to 176 parents, carers, and educators.

A total of 116 people across eight community health organisations attended information sessions and five train the trainer sessions were held with 72 people attending.

As a result of the program, 88% of participants increased their knowledge about the health consequences of vaping and 65% could now identify the warning signs of vaping.

“It is essential that we widely and strongly communicate the prevention of vaping message to our young people to prevent further uptake of this harmful and addictive habit,” Mr Zafar said.

“The aim is to deliver our lesson plan to all grade 5 and 6 students across East Gippsland and we are currently working with secondary schools and hope to introduce programs there as well.”

Gippsland Lakes Complete Health also created a video `The Facts About Vaping’ that can be found at https://glch. org.au/vaping-its-not-cool/

The courage to encourage Emma Woodcock Counsellor Q: Dear Emma, my teenage son is struggling with low moods, low self-esteem, and school. I really want him to speak to someone but both he and his father are resistant to this every time I mention it, he tells me he doesn’t want to talk to strangers and seeing a therapist would make him look weak to his mates.

I don’t know what to do.

I certainly don’t have the answers and I think he just needs to speak to someone. I’m so worried about what could happen, that something has got to change.

A: Thank you for writing in.

I know it can be difficult and vulnerable to speak about your family's well-being and the challenging situation you're currently facing, so thank you for trusting me with it.

I understand the concerns you have about your teenager's mental health and the resistance he's showing toward seeking counselling help due to the associated stigma. This is indeed a difficult and sensitive issue, and I hope I can offer some help to you.

It's not uncommon for teenagers to be resistant to the idea of counselling, and the stigma surrounding mental health can make it even more challenging.

Please know that you are not alone in facing these difficulties, many parents do. We can’t just force our teenagers to do what we want, so respecting their autonomy is important as they navigate the transition to adulthood. Here are my top tips to navigating this situation in your family.

1. Open and Honest Communication: Sit down with your son in a relaxed

and non-confrontational environment. Let him know that your primary concern is his well-being and happiness.

Allow space and time to listen to his thoughts and feelings and validate his concerns.

Sharing your own concerns can also make him feel more comfortable as he can begin to understand why this is important to you.

2. Education About Mental Health: It might be helpful to provide information about mental health, the importance of seeking help, and the fact that many people go through difficult times in their lives. Sharing stories of well-known people, such as celebrities or athletes he admires, who have sought help can help reduce the stigma.

3. Involve Your Teen in the Decision-Making Process: Let your son have a say in selecting a counsellor or therapist. When he feels more in control of the situation, he might be more open to the idea.

4. Confidentiality: Assure your son that counselling is a confidential space where he can freely express his thoughts and feelings without judgment. Emphasize that you won't be privy to the details of his sessions unless he chooses to share them with you.

5. Offer alternate solutions: Are there books, online courses, or movies that could help him think differently? Is there a family friend or mentor who could spend some time with him informally and could share their personal experience with him? Sometimes, hearing from someone else who has had positive experiences with counselling and overcoming adversity can be reassuring.

6. Quality time: Quality time with parents profoundly affects a teens development.

It fosters emotional bonding, communication skills, trust, and respect. Parents serve as role models, imparting values and life skills. This time

aids emotional regulation and resilience, benefiting academic performance and social development. It instils morals and reduces risky behaviours while enhancing confidence and independence. Research shows that teenagers who spend quality time with their parents build healthier relationships, promoting better mental health.

Remember, it's the quality, not the quantity, of time that matters most in shaping your son's life positively. And finally...

7: Challenge Stereotypes: Break some of the mental health stigma your son is carrying by challenging stereotypes and negative beliefs he holds about mental health whenever you encounter them. Correct his misconceptions gently and with humour, and provide accurate information to him when you can. This may mean leading by example and promoting inclusivity in your home.

That said, I do want to emphasise that the decision to seek counselling ultimately lies with your son, and it's important to respect his autonomy and choices while continuing to provide a supportive and loving environment.

Lastly, if your son remains resistant, consider seeking counselling support for yourself. This could be beneficial in helping you navigate the relationship with your son and understanding your family in greater detail.

Hope that helps! Emma ‘Ask Emma’ is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP, mental-health professional, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have. By submitting a question, you are agreeing to let The Great Eastern Mail use it and we may edit it for length and/or clarity.

You can find Emma on Instagram @emmawoodcockcounsellor and Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/emmawoodcockcounselling

Emma Woodcock 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.

10 Happy Halloween is a fun way to connect

OCTOBER 20, 2023 The Great Eastern Mail

S

O what is Halloween’s history? The origins of Halloween date all the way back to the ancient Celtic, some say pagan, festival of Samhain, held in an area that is now known as Ireland.

More than 2000 years ago, people would celebrate this harvest festival by lighting bonfires and dressing up in costumes to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. They’d often wear costumes and disguises so the ghosts would mistake them for other spirits and leave them alone.

Later in the 8th Century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints Day which incorporated some of the traditions which had their origins in Samhain.

The evening before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve, and over time, we came to know it as Halloween.

Halloween in Australia — October 31 Halloween isn’t a new arrival into Australian culture. Irish immigrants brought the tradition with them when they settled here in the 1800s.

It was first celebrated in Australia in Castlemaine, Victoria, in October 1858.

Halloween had its origins in Scotland and Ireland

thousands of years ago as the festival of Samhuinn — marking summer’s end.

When the Scots emigrated to America during the Highland Clearances, they took their Halloween traditions with them. When the Irish left their homes behind because of the potato famine, they carried their Halloween superstitions over the seas.

Scots arrived in Australia with the First Fleet but it wasn’t until the Australian gold rush that newspaper reports appeared as written evidence of the Scots’ Halloween Balls.

On Friday, October 29 in 1858, the ‘puddlers’ of Forest Creek presented the Castlemaine Select Scottish Ball celebrating Halloween at Red Hill Hotel. Tickets

admitted one gentleman and two ladies.

They decorated halls and hotels with black and orange streamers, paper bats, black cats, ghosts and witches’ hats.

They dressed up in kilts and costumes and held dances and dinners. Bagpipes were played. Haggis was served.

Sure, it’s taken us a lot longer to embrace it than the Americans, but more and more people are starting to realise that Halloween is a fun celebration that the whole family can take part in.

They don’t have to be horror themed either ... you can go as a superhero, a TV or movie character or a famous person in history — it’s all about having fun. And ... the lollies too!

Happy Halloween!

Chester and Lindenow Primary students meet in Canberra

Pictured: Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester hosted an impromptu Question Time in Parliament House this week with Lindenow Primary School students. The grade five and six students were in Canberra for their school camp which included visits to other key attractions including the Australian War Memorial.

TAKE IN BEACHES AND COASTS GET INTO NATURE

Point Addis Marine National Park, Wadawurrung Country

11

The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

Access a new you Legislation to allow medicinal cannabis trial W T HE Allan Labor Government will introduce legislation into Parliament today to support a world-leading trial assessing the effects of medicinal cannabis on driving behaviour.

The Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 will enable government to run a closed-circuit trial to investigate if there are conditions under which individuals who are prescribed medicinal cannabis, which contains delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can drive safely.

The proposed trial will be developed and implemented by an independent research organisation, with governance provided by the Department of Transport and Planning, road safety partners and experts and health professionals.

Detailed design work will designate a controlled driving environment for the trial that is physically separated from public roads, with safety considerations for all participants and research staff the priority.

In order for a research trial on the effects of medicinal cannabis on driving impairment to be lawfully conducted, trial participants will need to display driving behaviours which potentially may constitute offences under the Road Safety Act 1986.

Medicinal cannabis is playing

an increasing role as a therapeutic option for individuals with certain health conditions who feel they can drive safely without impairment — with an increase of more than 700 per cent in the number of patients prescribed with medicinal cannabis in Victoria over the past two years.

Significant gaps remain in understanding THC’s potential impairment on driving performance in different driver cohorts, and the relationship between THC concentrations from medicinal cannabis and road safety risk to aid potential regulatory reform.

Work is already underway to develop a Medicinal Cannabis

Clinical Decision Support tool to support health professionals in providing appropriate advice and considering the driving requirements of their patients when prescribing medicinal cannabis.

The Labor Government is also reviewing the road safety outcomes in other countries to ensure Victoria has access to the latest information and data on medicinal cannabis and driving.

A steering committee involving road safety partners will be established to monitor the initiatives, with all data and evidence to be carefully considered before any future recommendations.

OULD you like to open your belief systems and see more choices and opportunities in your life?

One way that people are achieving this is through ‘Access Bars’, which is a form of therapy now available in Australia, and part of the modalities of ‘Access Consciousness Access Bars’.

Gary Douglas, the founder of Access Consciousness, has the mission to facilitate more consciousness for everyone; so they can be more aware and present in their lives, and choose happiness over and over again.

“Everything we think, feel, believe, judge, or decide is just one point of view,” explains Julia Wolfram, co-founder of the Breathing Space in Lakes Entrance, who is also an Access Bars practitioner.

“The truth is that there are so many more possibilities than just the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that we currently hold. The human mind often limits us to see the world from one point of view, and so by changing your perspective, and becoming aware of this fact, we are able to set ourselves free from limitations and see new choices and chances opening up.”

“Access Bars uses energy stimulation to release blockages and limiting beliefs, by activating the so-called ‘Bars’ in your head. Each of the 32 Bars stands for a different area in your life, like money, sexuality, communication, and creativity. “ The practitioner will touch certain spots on the client’s head on either side and activate the Bar

that runs from one side to the other.

By stimulating the Bar, the energy will start running more freely, to reprogram the belief system in that particular area of life.”

“Some Bars will be more dominate and run more actively than others, which means they either need some conscious work and questioning to release specific beliefs, or they may simply remove a blockage within.”

“The client will lay down, relax, and receive the healing. Sometimes clients will feel a shift or start talking about an area of their life the transformation in the Bar is happening, and sometimes a client just feels a deep relaxation.”

Julia says, the poorest result of an Access Bar treatment would be a deep meditation; and the best possible outcome would be a total change in one’s life. “After a treatment, it is important for the client to remain open-minded, and observe any changes in thoughts, behaviours, and emotions.

Enhancing your own consciousness by becoming more aware of your inner world will free you from limiting thoughts and beliefs about life and yourself.

Julia invites anyone who is interested in enhancing their perspectives in life, who wants to thrive in different areas, or who would like to feel more empowered with who they want to be, to try a 60-minute Access Bars treatment in the Breathing Space studio in Lakes Entrance.

Visit www.juliawolfram.com or contact her via welcome@ juliawolfram.com

JOIN OUR TEAM AT THE LAKES ENTRANCE FISHERMEN’S COOPERATIVE! FISH FILLETING, COOKS AND FRONT OF HOUSE POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Are you passionate about Seafood and eager to be part of an exciting new venture? The Lakes Entrance fisherman’s cooperative is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team across various roles. j

FISH FILLETERS

COOKS

If you have experience in fish filleting or a willingness to learn then we want you on our team. You’ll play a vital role in ensuring our seafood is prepared to meet both our wholesale and retail demand.

Are you a culinary expert with a passion for Seafood cusisine?

Join our kitchen team and help us create delicious dishes that showcase the freshest catch from our cooperative.

At Lakes Entrance Fisherman’s cooperative we value teamwork, Dedication, And a shared love of Seafood. If you’re ready to embark on a rewarding journey with us we encourage you to submit your resume and expression of interest to lefcol@lefcol.com.au

FRONT O O OF HOUSE STAFF If you have a knack for making guests feel welcome and ensuring their experience is exceptional, We want you to be part of our front of house team.

Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into a fulfilling career in the heart of Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Apply today and let your passion for seafood shine with us. The lakes entrance fisherman’s cooperative is an equal opportunity employer. Applications close on the 25th October 2023

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13

The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

crossword

Mallacoota units taking shape

ACROSS

1. Flattering remark 6. Region 10. Lightweight timber 11. Gabbling 12. Rustic 14. Sibling's daughter 16. Miami is there 18. Impairs hearing of 20. Biffed 22. Get the wrong message 23. Lag behind 25. Most majestic 28. Childish 29. Poke 31. Carnival 32. Uncontrollably emotional

C

ONSTRUCTION works to upgrade cottages and develop new all-abilities accessible units in Mallacoota are well advanced thanks to a partnership between the local health service and Federal MP Darren Chester (pictured).

Mr Chester supported Mallacoota District Health and Support Service (MDHSS) as it secured a $2.15 million grant from the previous government for the important bushfire recovery project.

“There’s a major housing shortage in Mallacoota which was made worse when more than 100 homes were lost in the Black Summer bushfires,” Mr Chester said.

“The Miva Miva project auspiced by MDHSS will help to address housing affordability and access issues because it targets some of the most vulnerable people in

DOWN

1. Ears of corn 2. Actors Gibson or Brooks 3. Sprang 4. Spanish holiday isle 5. Incapacitated (racehorse) 7. White wine, ... Riesling 8. Hostile parties 9. Ball-filled cushions 13. Beautify 15. Unsettling (3-7) 17. Sniffing 19. Washstand jugs 21. Honour (with) 22. Unkindest 24. Appalling 26. Turkish dish, ... kebab 27. Calf flesh 30. GP

the community including those with chronic health conditions, the aged, or people with disabilities.

“Well done to everyone involved in bringing this important project to fruition.”

HEAT PUMP HOT WATER

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DIFFICULTY: H H H H H

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SOLUTIONS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 19

DIFFICULTY: H H H H H

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sudoku

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

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PUMPKIN COSTUME SPOOKY GHOST

TRICK-OR-TREAT WITCH SKELETON ZOMBIE

CANDY BATS BLACK-CAT HAUNTED

COBWEB SCARY CAULDRON BOO

MASKS BROOMSTICK SCREAM JACK-O-LANTERN

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15

The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

food & wine PREP: 10 MINS | COOK: 10 MINS

Halloween Bark Get creative in the kitchen and make this ghoulish chocolate bark. Kids will love getting involved in the decoration — add icing eyes and Halloween sweets

ingredients

• 200g white chocolate • 1 tsp orange food colouring (oil-based is best) • 75g dark chocolate • 1 tsp black food colouring (oil-based is best)

• 70g orange, yellow and brown sweets, such as sugar-coated chocolate balls, popping candy or chocolate-coated peanuts • 15g shop-bought edible eyes

method 1. Line a 23 x 33cm baking tray with baking parchment. Melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water, or microwave in 5-second bursts until smooth. Stir through the orange food colouring and set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, melt the dark chocolate using the same method, then mix in the black colouring.

3. Pour the melted orange coloured chocolate into the lined tray and spread to the sides to an even layer. Drizzle over the black coloured chocolate and swirl it with the end of a skewer to make a pattern. Evenly sprinkle over the coloured sweets and edible eyes. Chill for 1-2 hrs until set, then break into shards. Will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container.

PREP: 10 MINS, PLUS OVERNIGHT FREEZING

PREP: 25 MINS | COOK: 20 MINS | MAKES 20

What’s in a wine score?

Easy Halloween M Cookies

Ian Hollick Wine Maker

Get the kids excited for Halloween with these spooky bat and spider cookies.

Complete with ‘squashed flies’ made from chocolate chips, they’ll be a big hit ingredients • 150g butter, softened • 50g caster sugar • 100g light brown soft sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 large egg • 250g plain flour • ¼ tsp baking powder • 100g milk or dark chocolate chips To decorate • 60g dark chocolate, melted • 60g royal icing sugar, mixed with 2 tsp water • 20 Maltesers • 5 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (Oreos) • 10 caramel-filled chocolates

method

Halloween Mocktail Serve this ghoulish fruit punch at a Halloween party for kids (or big kids). Stir the purple punch and lychee ‘eyeballs’ and frozen ‘hands’ will be revealed ingredients • 425g can lychees • 225g jar cocktail cherries • 15 raisins • 1 litre carton blueberry, blackberry or purple grape juice, chilled

• 1 litre carton cherry or cranberry juice, chilled • 1litre sparkling water, chilled You’ll also need • 2 pairs powder-free disposable gloves

method 1. Rinse the disposable gloves and fill each with water. Tie a knot in the top of each as you would a balloon, or use a tight bag clip to hold the opening closed. Freeze overnight.

2. Drain the lychees and cocktail cherries, reserving the juices in a jug. Push a raisin into one end of each cherry, then push the cherries into the lychees to make ‘eyeballs’.

3. Tip all of the juices, plus the reserved lychee and cherry juices, into a large bowl with the ‘eyeballs’. Carefully peel the gloves from the ice hands, add to the punch, then top up with the sparkling water.

1. Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C and line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Beat the butter and sugars together with an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg and beat again to combine. Stir in the flour and baking powder with a wooden spoon until you have a stiff dough, then fold in the chocolate chips.

2. Divide the dough into 20 pieces and roll into balls. Arrange on the prepared baking sheets, well spaced out so there’s space for spreading (you may need to bake them in batches). Press the tops of the cookies down very slightly using the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass. Bake the cookies for 10-12 mins until golden around the edges, then leave to cool on the baking sheets for 10 mins. Transfer to wire racks and leave to cool completely.

3. To make the spider cookies, lay 10 of the cooled cookies out in front of you. Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag and the royal icing into another, then snip off the ends using scissors. Pipe a dot of royal icing onto the back of two Maltesers and arrange these onto one of the cookies to create the head and body of the spider. Repeat with the remaining nine cookies and the rest of the Maltesers. Pipe eight spider legs around the bodies of the spiders using the chocolate. Pipe two small dots of royal icing onto the heads to create eyes, then pipe very small dots of chocolate over the eyes to create pupils.

If you like, decorate the bodies with the royal icing.

4. To make the bat cookies, lay the remaining 10 cookies out in front of you. Separate the cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, and carefully scrape the cream filling off the chocolate cookie pieces. Cut the chocolate cookie pieces into semicircles using a small serrated knife. Stick a caramel-filled chocolate onto the middle of each cooled cookie using the royal icing, then use a little more to stick a chocolate cookie semicircle on either side of the chocolates to make the bat wings. Pipe eyes onto the chocolates using the royal icing and melted chocolate.

ANY retailers use a wine scoring system to evaluate wine.

What does this mean for the average consumer? Very little I suggest!

Years ago, the industry used a 20-point system to evaluate wines at wine shows. This was developed from the University of California — Davis wine group, and I believe has been modified somewhat by Australian educators.

— 3 points for colour and condition, (purple to deep red to brown, and cloudy to bright), 7 points for aroma (fruit, rotten eggs, rubbery etc.), and 10 points for flavour and structure (fruity, astringent, tart, smooth, soft, tannic,etc).

Then along came selfproclaimed guru of US Wine Robert Parker, and he started using a 100 point scoring system, which claimed to classify wines into Exceptional (97 to 100 points), Outstanding (91 to 96), Just above average to very good (80 to 89), Average (70 to 79), Below average (60 to 69) and wines deemed to be unacceptable (50-59 points).

Our own James Halliday uses a modified 100-point system as well today, which gives wines of 95 to100 points a gold medal, 90 to 94 a silver and 86 to 89 a bronze.

I suggest that a qualified experienced wine judge may be able to tell the difference between a 94 and a 95-point wine, but 99.99 per cent of people wouldn’t get within a bull’s roar of telling the difference. So, my advice is to use any wine scoring system as a guide only and try to find a wine critic whose palate you agree with, because after all, the rating is only one person’s opinion, and you are the one paying for the wine, so make up your own mind.

I personally prefer the old 20-point system, because when I went to school, 50 per cent was an average pass mark, so why do you never see a 45-point wine? Some do fail, but I think we are kidding ourselves if we start ratings over a 50-point scale.

The best rating is your own.

Do you like it or not? Don’t worry about how many points it has scored.

Santé.

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17

The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

viewpoint

A tale of two sides of the highway: the impact of Indigenous regimes in the Barkly fires Julia Bergin Crikey

On the west of the Stuart Highway is a patchwork burn. To the east is a 1.3M-hectare blanket burn. The difference is largely due to Indigenous fire regimes Bushfire in the eastern Barkly region was downgraded over the weekend to an active blaze, but the 1.3-millionhectare fire scar provides a snapshot into the impact on landscapes with and without Indigenous fire management.

The Barkly blaze is one of many burning in the Northern Territory at the beginning of a fire season projected to be the territory’s worst since 2011. With predictions that as much as 80 per cent of the territory is set to burn, it’s instructive to see the efficacy of Indigenous fire management.

“Compare the eastern side of the highway to the west where fire hasn’t run rampant in the same way,” Indigenous Desert Alliance partnerships manager Gareth Catt told Crikey. “You can see in mapping on NAFI [North Australia Fire Information] a lot of burning done in April, March, May, June on the western Tanami side. That is what’s impeding the spread of some of those fires.”

He pointed to the patchwork “mosaic” burns on the west in comparison to the large blanket burn on the east of the highway and said that while it’s early in summer and fires in the Barkly could prove to be more widespread, the difference in the two was stark.

The alliance has long worked with Land Owners, Indigenous ranger groups and the Central Land Council to burn land throughout the Tanami year-round as part of management of country.

Although these fires have a similar look and feel to typical hazard reduction burns, Catt said the main difference was that they didn’t aim to burn large parts of country in one hit: “Cultural burns are about putting a lot of small fires into country. We look at landscape more broadly — vegetation types which can be enhanced through fire and areas most likely to ignite where we can reduce the

Is the Qantas Business Model flawed?

A large bushfire burning in the Northern Territory (Image: AAP/Bushfires NT)

likelihood of them burning.”

These fires are conducted through ground and aerial operations, with burn locations determined by Traditional Owners.

In the east, Catt said they’ve had no footprint due to pastoral land owners not wanting to engage in (and not providing access to) burns on their properties: “We haven’t been able to work in a constructive way on that side of the highway.”

Central Land Council CEO Les Turner told Crikey that the absence of adequate land care on country with excess fuel loads was to blame for the scale and scope of the blaze: “The Barkly fires are burning in native vegetation that has been subject to near-record rainfall. This is a natural event except that the country is largely unmanaged in the way that it would have when it was occupied with its Indigenous traditional owners.”

Turner said consecutive years of excess rainfall promoted growth of native and non-native vegetation that’s since cured in hot and dry conditions ripe for burning en masse. Many species have infiltrated river corridors and creek lines that previously acted as natural fire breaks.

The NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security told Crikey feedback from weeds officers fighting the fires confirmed fuel loads in the Barkly were “all native vegetation”.

They said buffel grass — the invasive and highly flammable weed burning in the Tjoritja/ West MacDonnell Ranges fires — was not present in the Barkly region and had no impact on the blaze.

Crikey requested an interview with both weed officers and remote operations personnel. The department responded: “Maybe, once they’re done fighting the fires.”

Based on intel from remote land care practitioners and ops workers, Crikey understands fuel loads in the area were 99 per cent native vegetation, although buffel was present in “small amounts” in water systems, along roads and on pastoral leases. The lack of comprehensive buffel mapping in the area and inability to access farms was said to have prevented proper assessment of the scale and scope of buffel growth. The dominant species were spinifex and an acacia shrub called turpentine which, although native, had “overrun the landscape due to many years of overgrazing”.

The native bush thrives in disturbed soils common to pastoral lands. In short: many hoofs churn up the dirt and where other native species die off, turpentine dominates. It’s highly flammable and smells like turpentine.

“On a warm day you can see oils evaporating from the top,” one worker said.

Rohan Fisher from the landscape knowledge visualisation lab at Charles Darwin University, and part of the team that manages mapping inputs and outputs for NAFI, said that Australia’s fire focus was far too “southern centric”, despite 95% of fire events occurring up north.

“If you talk to anyone in southern Australia, the only fires that ever occurred were in 2019-20,” he said, adding that northern Australia is home to “the most amazing ecological success story in Australia over the past 20 years” — the reduced frequency of fires in an area of around 600,000 square kilometres due to Indigenous burning regimes.

“Indigenous people are doing some of the best fire management in the world. But the pyro-ecological literacy of Australia and Australians is just atrocious.”

John Dahlsen

T

HE Qantas balance sheet shows that the decision of the Qantas board to have a share buyout is extraordinarily risky and not in shareholders’ interest, let alone the national interest.

Surely Qantas bankers would have some concern.

The Qantas ratio of current liabilities to current assets is a great test of liquidity, being a negative of 42 percent.

When you add to that debt of $3.9bn it is a worry that equity is only $10m.

The Qantas balance sheet is funded by the customers who have been severely damaged by Qantas behaviour.

It is also curious that former CEO Alan Joyce’s performance payments were aided by the buyback, and he was able to sell a substantial number of shares into that buyback at a time when the shares were likely to be valued at their peak. Qantas has unused facilities of $10bn but if Qantas traded at a loss, would they be able to draw those facilities down without a government guarantee?

Alan Joyce has been brilliant at manipulating demand and capacity with the oligopoly working in his favour. By causing a shortage of aircraft and the rise in demand he has optimised loads and enhanced his profit margins.

Unlike most companies that have hard assets, Qantas in funding its business is incredibly reliant upon customers and their prepayments. It is the customers’ support that creates the brand value.

The board focus must be on brand, which means a focus on staff in delivering value to customers. The current trashing of the brand and its people has a massive effect on equity.

For a board member of

Qantas not to be sensitive to the above issues, not understanding its model and not taking sudden action to control Joyce, represents in my view, is gross neglect of their duties as directors, and especially the chairman.

Qantas goes to great trouble to protect its 70 per cent market share otherwise than by good performance — for instance in resisting Qatar’s decision to be allowed extra slots at the airport.

The ACCC powers to monitor Qantas are limited and the ACCC alone cannot insure a pro-competitive environment. There are a number of remedies: — Passengers need to be compensated for the customer inconvenience factor (CIF) When CIF is caused by factors outside the control of Qantas like weather and safety that is part and parcel of the product and Qantas should not pay, but where CIF is caused by engineering problems or the rescheduling of flights to optimise yield, passengers should have the opportunity to be either paid forthwith or alternatively agreeing with the delayed flight or a new flight.

At present, the delay in repayment for CIF is unacceptable.

— When you have a massive number of transactions involving a massive number of customers consuming different products daily you have a huge issue in monitoring performance.

Further, the issue is made more complex by the many contact points with staff.

In these circumstances you need very targeted and precise policies to assist staff but, at the end of the day, it is the people and systems involved that will deliver performance.

Monitoring performance information is crucial and Qantas should be obliged to make public the very detailed information on its performance. You need this information to induce

change.

Goyder as chairman is in a difficult position. How can someone who, as chairman of a board that has not dealt with systematic failures – but in fact has done the opposite through remuneration arrangements — continue on as chairman to rectify the situation?

Whilst we have to be careful about the chorus of media and unions calling for his resignation, cannot he see the desirability of change and importance of giving others the opportunity to drive cultural change and improvement?

In saying ‘I am the one to fix this’ is he not putting himself above the market and insulting a number of talented people who could potentially become chairman? Is he not doing serious damage to his other chairman-led companies Woodside and AFL? As a flawed chairman is he acting in the interest of those companies?

With the likely litigation that is about to flow, whether it be class actions or direct litigation, is it not in Qantas’ interest for this to be managed by independent directors? If he does not resign some might imply that he is staying, there to protect his own legal position. There is a seismic shift taking place in community attitudes.

There is growing disquiet with the role of capitalism, big business and some of our corporate leaders.

Goyder should understand that his unwillingness to accept any accountability is mind-blowing. Goyder is doing huge damage to large corporates and our corporate leaders.

It is extraordinarily selfishness and shows a lack of concern about anyone other than himself. The difficulty is that cynicism in the community will affect our other business leaders and they will continue to fall in the reputation index.

18

OCTOBER 20, 2023 The Great Eastern Mail

GEM movie review

THE CREATOR

IN CINEMAS NOW

T

HE Creator is a 2023 science fiction film directed by Gareth Edwards and starring John David Washington. The film tells the story of Joshua (Washington), a former soldier who is tasked with hunting down and killing the Creator, an AI architect who has developed a weapon that could destroy humanity.

The film is visually stunning, with Edwards creating a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. The special effects are top-notch, and the film's action sequences are wellchoreographed and exciting.

Washington gives a strong performance as Joshua, and he is well-supported by a cast that includes Gemma Chan, Madeline Yuna Voyles, and Christopher Abbott.

The film's themes are ambitious, exploring the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and the nature of humanity. However, the film's

Movie Reviewer Jason Cherry

TOTALLY KILLER

STREAM NOW ON AMAZON PRIME

T

OTALLY Killer is a 2023 slasher film directed by Nahnatchka Khan and starring Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Rodrigo, and Awkwafina. The film is a love letter to the 1980s slasher genre, and it features a number of callbacks to classic films such as Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The film tells the story of Jamie Hughes (Shipka), a high school student who is forced to travel back in time to 1987 on Halloween night. Jamie must then team up with her teenage mother (Rodrigo) to stop a serial killer who is targeting the students of her high school.

GEM Kids

A TRULY ORIGINAL MAN VERSUS MACHINE SCI-FI SPECTACULAR and concepts in a short period of time, which can be overwhelming for the viewer.

• ENDING: The film's ending is somewhat ambiguous. The film ends with Joshua on a journey to find the Creator, but it is unclear what will happen next. The film's ending is likely to leave some viewers feeling frustrated or unsatisfied.

Overall The Creator is a well-made and thought-provoking science fiction film. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

The film's visuals, action, performances, and themes are all top-notch. However, the film's plot can be a bit convoluted at times, and the film's ending is somewhat ambiguous.

In-depth analysis of the film's themes The Creator explores a number of important themes, including the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, the nature of humanity, and the role that technology plays in our lives.

One of the film's central themes is the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. The film shows how AI can be used to create weapons of mass destruction, and it also explores the possibility that AI could one day become so intelligent that it surpasses human intelligence. The film's depiction of AI is both realistic and unsettling, and it raises important questions about the future of AI and its potential impact on humanity.

Another important theme in the film is the nature of humanity. The film asks what it means to be human, and it explores the difference between humans and machines. The film also explores the question of what makes us human, and it suggests that humanity is more than just our physical bodies.

The film's depiction of humanity is both complex and nuanced, and it challenges the viewer to think about what it means to be human in a world where technology is becoming

increasingly sophisticated.

The film also explores the role that technology plays in our lives. The film shows how technology can be used to create both good and evil, and it asks the viewer to consider the potential consequences of our reliance on technology.

The film also suggests that technology can alienate us from each other, and it explores the importance of human connection.

The film's depiction of technology is both realistic and thought-provoking, and it raises important questions about the role of technology in our lives.

Conclusion The Creator is a well-made and thought-provoking science fiction film. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

The film's visuals, action, performances, and themes are all top-notch. However, the film's plot can be a bit convoluted at times, and the film's ending is somewhat ambiguous.

RATING

A TOTAL SCREAMER The film is well-made and entertaining, and it features a number of memorable characters. Shipka is excellent in the lead role, and she is well-supported by a cast that includes Rodrigo, Awkwafina, and Fred Savage.

The film's humour is on point, and it does a great job of parodying the slasher genre. The film's kills are also creative and gruesome, and they are sure to please fans of horror films.

However, the film is not without its flaws. The film's plot is somewhat predictable,

SPACE

and the film's ending is a bit rushed. Additionally, the film's tone can be inconsistent at times, and it can be difficult to tell if the film is meant to be taken seriously or not.

Overall, Totally Killer is a fun and entertaining slasher film. It is a film that is sure to please fans of the genre. However, the film's predictable plot and inconsistent tone may put off some viewers.

Here is a more in-depth review of the film's strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths: • CAST: The film's cast is excellent. Shipka is particularly good in the lead role, and she is well-supported by a cast that includes Rodrigo, Awkwafina, and Savage.

• HUMOUR: The film's humour is on point, and it does a great job of parodying the slasher genre.

• KILLS: The film's kills are creative and gruesome, and they are sure to please fans of horror films.

Weaknesses: • PLOT: The film's plot is somewhat predictable.

• ENDING: The film's ending is a bit rushed.

• TONE: The film's tone can be inconsistent at times.

Conclusion: Totally Killer is a fun and entertaining slasher film. It is a film that is sure to please fans of the genre. However, the film's predictable plot and inconsistent tone may put off some viewers.

RATING

THE GEM 1970s QUIZ 1.

WHICH 1970s SITCOM FEATURED A CHARACTER NAMED "THE FONZ"?

A) CHEERS B) MAS*H C) HAPPY DAYS D) ALL IN THE FAMILY 2. WHO WAS THE 39TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE LATE 1970s?

A) RICHARD NIXON B) GERALD FORD C) JIMMY CARTER D) RONALD REAGAN 3. WHAT POPULAR TOY, INTRODUCED IN 1974, CONSISTED OF COLOURED PLASTIC INTERLOCKING BRICKS? A) CABBAGE PATCH KIDS B) RUBIK'S CUBE C) ETCH A SKETCH D) LEGO 4. IN 1977, WHICH FILM BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON WITH THE CATCHPHRASE "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU"?

A) STAR WARS B) JAWS C) E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL D) RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 5. WHICH ICONIC ROCK BAND RELEASED THE ALBUM "DARK SIDE OF THE MOON" IN 1973?

A) THE BEATLES B) LED ZEPPELIN C) PINK FLOYD D) THE ROLLING STONES 6. WHAT DISCO SONG BY THE BEE GEES WAS FEATURED ON THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE FILM "SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER"?

A) STAYIN' ALIVE B) I WILL SURVIVE C) SUPER FREAK D) BOOGIE WONDERLAND 7. IN 1972, WHICH VIDEO GAME, OFTEN CONSIDERED THE FIRST COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL ARCADE GAME, WAS RELEASED? A) PAC-MAN B) SPACE INVADERS C) PONG D) DONKEY KONG 8. WHAT FASHION ACCESSORY, POPULARIZED IN THE 1970s, IS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS COLOURFUL PLASTIC LOOPS THAT COULD BE WOVEN INTO VARIOUS PATTERNS? A) MOOD RINGS B) FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS C) SNAP BRACELETS D) FRIENDSHIP PINS 9. WHO WON THE ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR FOR HIS ROLE IN THE FILM "ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST" IN 1976?

A) JACK NICHOLSON B) MARLON BRANDO C) ROBERT DE NIRO D) AL PACINO 10. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SPACE STATION LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT BY THE SOVIET UNION IN THE 1970s?

A) APOLLO 11 B) SKYLAB C) SPUTNIK 1 D) MIR

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. C) HAPPY DAYS. 2. C) JIMMY CARTER. 3. D) LEGO. 4. A) STAR WARS. 5. C) PINK FLOYD. 6. A) STAYIN' ALIVE. 7. C) PONG. 8. C) SNAP BRACELETS. 9. A) JACK NICHOLSON. 10. D) MIR.

Movie Reviewer Jason Cherry

plot can be a bit convoluted at times, and the film's ending is somewhat ambiguous.

What the film does well • VISUALS: The Creator is a visually stunning film.

Edwards creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. The film's use of colour and light is particularly impressive, and the special effects are top-notch.

• ACTION: The film's action sequences are wellchoreographed and exciting.

Edwards does a great job of creating a sense of tension and suspense, and the film's action scenes are some of the best in recent memory.

• PERFORMANCES: Washington gives a strong performance as Joshua, and he is well-supported by a cast that includes Gemma Chan, Madeline Yuna Voyles, and Christopher Abbott. Washington brings a sense of humanity and complexity to the role of Joshua, and Chan, Voyles, and Abbott all deliver memorable performances.

• THEMES: The film's themes are ambitious, exploring the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and the nature of humanity. The film asks important questions about what it means to be human and the role that technology plays in our lives.

What the film could do better • PLOT: The film's plot can be a bit convoluted at times.

There are a lot of moving parts, and it can be difficult to keep track of everything.

The film also introduces a number of new characters

19

The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

GEM Kids

E C A P S

www.facebook.com/TheGreatEasternMail

JOKES 1. WHAT DO YOU CALL A COW WITH TWO LEGS? LEAN BEEF! 2. WHAT DO YOU CALL A LAZY KANGAROO? A POUCH POTATO! 3. WHY DID THE TEACHER WEAR SUNGLASSES TO SCHOOL? BECAUSE HER STUDENTS WERE SO BRIGHT! 4. WHY DID THE BANANA GO TO THE DOCTOR? BECAUSE IT WASN'T PEELING WELL! 5. WHAT DO YOU CALL A COW WITH NO LEGS? GROUND BEEF!

6. WHAT DID ONE WALL SAY TO THE OTHER WALL? "I'LL MEET YOU AT THE CORNER!" 7. WHAT'S ORANGE AND SOUNDS LIKE A PARROT? A CARROT! 8. WHAT DID ONE HAT SAY TO THE OTHER HAT? "YOU STAY HERE; I'LL GO ON AHEAD!" 9. WHAT DO YOU CALL A SLEEPING BULL? A BULLDOZER! 10. WHAT DO YOU CALL A BEAR THAT'S STUCK IN THE RAIN? A DRIZZLY BEAR!

GEM KIDS GA M E R EVIEWS

SUPERSTARS

SUPER MARIO WONDER

[PLAYED ON NINTENDO SWITCH] WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE GAME? IT’S DIFFERENT TO OTHER MARIO GAMES, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER AND WHY?

THIS FORTNIGHT IN AUSSIE HISTORY

MARIO!

20th October: 1786: The First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay, marking the beginning of British colonization in Australia.

21st October 1826: The first Australian newspaper, the Sydney Gazette, is published.

22nd October 1833: The first Melbourne Cup horse race is held.

23rd October 1803: The first convict ship, the HMS Reliance, arrives in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).

24th October 1892: The first Australian woman to vote, Catherine Helen Spence, casts her ballot in the South Australian election.

25th October 1839: The first Australian-built warship, the HMS Rapid, is launched in Sydney.

26th October 1847: The first Australian cricket team tours England.

27th October 1788: The First Fleet leaves Botany Bay and arrives at Port Jackson, where the city of Sydney is now located.

28th October 1901: The first Australian Parliament is opened in Melbourne.

29th October 1993: The High Court of Australia rules that the Mabo decision, which recognised the native title rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, applies to all of Australia.

30th October 1804: The first Australian-born child, Elizabeth Mary Kelly, is baptized in Sydney.

31st October 1901: The first Australian federal election is held. The Labor Party wins the most seats, but it does not form a majority government.

1st November 1942: The Battle of Milne Bay ends in a decisive Allied victory.

Australian forces defeat a Japanese invasion force.

2nd November 2006: The Howard government introduces the WorkChoices industrial relations reforms, which are widely criticized for reducing workers' rights.

WHAT RATING WOULD YOU GIVE IT OUT OF 10?

BLAKE AGED 10

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS GAME? YES I WOULD GIVE IT A 10 OUT OF 10.

DETECTIVE PIKACHU

[PLAYED ON NINTENDO SWITCH] WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE GAME? I LOVE POKÉMON GAMES AND THIS ONE IS A BIT DIFFERENT IN A GOOD WAY. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER AND WHY? PIKACHU, OF COURSE.

JOR DAN AGED 15

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS GAME? YES WHAT RATING WOULD YOU GIVE IT OUT OF 10?

I WOULD GIVE IT A 7 OUT OF 10.

SONIC SUPERSTARS

[PLAYED ON NINTENDO SWITCH] WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE GAME? I ENJOY PLATFORM GAMES AND THIS ONE IS GREAT. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER AND WHY? I LIKE PLAYING AS SONIC.

C HAR LI AGED 12

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS GAME? YES, IT’S SO DIFFERENT AND ENJOYABLE. WHAT RATING WOULD YOU GIVE IT OUT OF 10?

I WOULD GIVE IT 9 OUT OF 10.

puzzle answers SOLUTIONS: FROM PAGE 13

SUDOKU: 3084

3085

Puzzles supplied by Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd www.puzzlexperts.com

172 Main M St, Bairnsdale VIC 3875 Phone: (03) 5152 3369 | www.toyworld.com.au/pages/toyworld-bairnsdale

20

OCTOBER 20, 2023 The Great Eastern Mail

boating and fishing

Where is the water going to come from?

David Warren & Robert Caune GLRFA

R

ECREATIONAL anglers have generally welcomed the recent changes to the Black Bream regulations for the Gippsland Lakes.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has reduced the daily bag limit for Black Bream in the Gippsland Lakes from 10 to 7 fish. The current slot limit of only being able to keep fish between 28cm and 38cm was maintained.

The new regulations were introduced to speed up recovery of the Black Bream population following the end of commercial netting in April 2020. The intent of the strategy is to increase the stocks of Black bream to a level that once again will attract recreational anglers to the Gippsland Lakes and boost the local economy.

In the 1970s and 80s there was a booming fishery for Black bream.

Commercial catches between 1978/79 and 1990 averaged about 233 tonnes, with 446 tonnes being caught in 1983/84. The Lakes were a mecca for commercial and recreational fishers. The fishery provided a plentiful supply of wild caught Fish to the Melbourne and Sydney markets and the local tourist economy boomed with people visiting the Gippsland Lakes to fish for Black bream.

The commercial catch of Black

bream had collapsed to an average of 26 tonnes between 2015/16 and 2019/20. The Gippsland Lakes commercial fishery was closed in April 2020. The number of recreational anglers visiting the Lakes had also greatly declined with an impact on many local businesses.

Why did the Black bream population decline dramatically in the Gippsland Lakes? Only 30 years previously both the commercial and recreational sectors were enjoying good catches. There was a view in the local recreational angling community that the commissioning of Melbourne’s largest water reservoir, the Thomson dam in 1983, was the driving force behind the decline of the Black bream population. It is generally

considered that it takes about 30 years for a major ecological change, such as a dam that causes a major loss of freshwater, to manifest its ecological effects on a river and estuary system.

During this period of time the millennium drought occurred and the artificial entrance to the Gippsland Lakes was deepened, increasing the ingress of salt water into the Lakes. All in all, a perfect storm for Australia’s largest inland waterway.

The Andrews Labour Government responded to the fisheries crisis in the Gippsland Lakes by banning commercial netting. Through the VFA, they introduced a slot limit for Black bream. Only fish between 28cm and 38cm could be kept. This rule was to protect the larger more mature

fish that are considered to be better breeders. The daily bag limit of 10 fish was still permitted for recreational anglers.

The regulations governing Black bream in the Gippsland Lakes have now been further modified to hopefully speed up the recovery.

Are these changes that the Victorian Fisheries Authority made sufficient to resurrect the population of Black bream in the Gippsland Lakes?

The Victorian Government announced in August this year that the Loy Yang brown coal mine in the Latrobe Valley would close by 2035.

The Yallourn mine is scheduled to close in 2028. The Hazelwood mine closed in 2017. To make these mines

stable and safe they need to be filled with fresh water.

It will require up to 3000 gigalitres of fresh water to achieve this. To better understand the huge amount of water required, lets consider the Thomson Dam. The yearly average inflow of water into the Thomson Dam from 1997 to 2022 was 182 gigalitres.

This means that to “rehabilitate” these mines about 16 years of the total inflows to the Thomson Dam are required. This assumes that the average inflows over the past 25 years will be maintained.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that water from the Latrobe River will be used to fill these enormous pits.

A recent statement from the Victorian Government titled “Securing a Future for Latrobe Valley Mine Rehabilitation” claims a positive outcome for the community and region.

It is the view of the Gippsland Lakes Recreational Fishing Alliance the current proposals for rehabilitation of the Latrobe Valley coal mines represents another potentially catastrophic loss of fresh water inflows for the Gippsland Lakes.

It will be interesting to see how the Victorian Fisheries Authority responds with their agenda is to return the “Gippsland Lakes to the fishing mecca” of the past.

In view of what appears to be an impending water crisis for the Gippsland Lakes again, we ask “is the reduction of the bag limit to 7 fish enough?”

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The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

boating and fishing

Deer control concerns East Gippsland Fishing Report at Lake Tyers Lakes Entrance Whiting can be found in Cunningham Arm, around the town jetties, Kalimna Jetty up to Nungurner and around the Islands, using pipis. Surf beaches for salmon, tailor and trevally on pilchards. Offshore at Six Mile Reef has pinkies, flathead and gummies closer to the beach.

Lake Tyers There is bream and flathead to be had mainly at Mill Point and Blackfellows Arm, best results using plastics. Water temperature is sitting around 19 - 20 degrees.

Mitchell River From the Grassy Banks, The Bluff, Two Bells and heading down to the river mouth, using soft shell, prawn and plastics. Also give the back waters a try.

Tambo River The Cliffs, Blue Hole, the Powerlines, onto the Poplars, Clues Bluff, down to the river mouth and The Snags are the best spots for bream, mullet and tailor chasing plastics, soft shell and prawn.

Nicholson For bream try the Strait Six, down to the Two Bridges, Swimming Hole and into the river mouth, preferred baits drifting local prawn (across the weed beds), lazer, raider and slender metal lures, soft shell and cut crab.

I

Metung Town jetties for small bream with prawn. For whiting give Nungurner Jetty a go on pipis.

Paynesville Bream and the odd mullet are around the town jetties. Bream, flathead and garfish can be found on the Southern side of Raymond Island.

Holland's Landing Mullet, bream and flathead are being caught around Blonde Bay, Cameron Point, Storm Point and Emu Bight.

Marlo The Snowy and Brodribb Rivers for luderick and bass. Motts Beach and Frenchs Narrows has bream and flathead, the incoming tide for salmon biting on metal lures.

Surf beaches have salmon, Cape Conran for gummies.

Bemm River The entrance is still closed, bream are in the channel, best baits being sandworm and local prawn.

Tamboon Inlet Bream can be found in the river using cut crab and prawn. On the incoming tide for tailor and salmon. There is still plenty of pinkies to be had, biting on prawn.

Mallacoota Top and bottom lakes, Harrisons Channel, Gipsy Point and The Junction for flathead and bream taking plastics, soft shell and prawn.

Omeo High Country All the rivers are starting to clear up and are producing good sized fish chasing drifting earthworm, fly patents, spinners, plastics and wobblers.

MAGES of euthanised deer laying in waters of Lake Tyers have surfaced, raising environmental and compliance concerns, with administrators of the State Government’s deer culling program, believed to be responsible.

Nationals’ State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said while he supports control efforts of the invasive pest, the fact their bodies are being left to decompose in the pristine waters of our lake system is an absolute blight on contractors and the government department tasked to oversee the program.

“Locals to the area have sent me photos of multiple deer floating in the water as well as laying on the banks of Lake Tyers, which is not good enough,” Mr Bull said.

The Department of Environment’s own guidelines specify that target animals will not be controlled near waterways, walking tracks or public roads. This is further supported by the Parks Victoria website affirming that, shooters will avoid shooting animals in wetlands or waterways.

“I have also been informed that Parks Victoria’s engaged contractors are shooting the feral deer from the water which, while offering a clear line of site for shooters, means they cannot be left where they fall on the water’s edge.

“I’m also advised carcasses are being left to rot on the waterside at Bemm River and on the Snowy River by Parks’ contractors undertaking control activities.

“Lake Tyers is a renowned fishing hot

spot producing trophy quality bream and flathead. Various competitions are held locally attracting fishers to the region and of course there’s a number of popular swimming locations.

“This is not the welcome our visitors should have,” he said.

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22

OCTOBER 20, 2023 The Great Eastern Mail

racing & sport

Racing,Theway it'smeanttobe!

E

VERYONE’S invited to celebrate Melbourne Cup (Tuesday 7 November) at the annual Dahlsens Melbourne Cup Day Races, at the Bairnsdale Racing Club.

“The gates open at 11am,” says Adrian Chila, Branch Manager at Dahlsens Trade Store in Bairnsdale which has been a long-time sponsor of the event.

“We urge anyone and everyone to come and support this community event and enjoy the live racing action.

“Dahlsens is a proud sponsor of the community and events such as the Bairnsdale Racing club, we've had a long standing relationship with the club over a number of years and do so because it's an important part of our community, bringing people together.”

The great news is, whether you have champagne or beer budget tastes, there are both country casual and catered

Picture: Ross Holburt/ Racing Photos

experience packages on offer!

These include: GRANDVIEW DINING: A contemporary experience in the famous Grandview Dining Room. You won’t miss a minute of the racing action with views of the track and big screen in between courses and tunes throughout the day. The Grandview is the perfect place to celebrate and enjoy racing, food, drinks and entertainment.

MARQUEES: A great day of country racing in the exclusive marquee area. There are two packages to choose from: Private marquees in two sizes (3mx3m mini marquee, ideal for up to 10 guests; or 6mx3m party marquee, great for up to 20 guests). Larger marquees are also available upon request, and all marquee packages include your very own courtyard and optional catering.

GENERAL ADMISSION: Ensuring everyone has access, this is your best value day at the races, with access to the

Tuesday 7th November

Lawn Bar. Children aged 17 and under are free.

OTHER OFFERINGS INCLUDE: Umbrella packages (providing you with a market umbrella, picnic table with seating for 8, and optional catering; and return bus services to/from Bairnsdale and surrounding towns, Lakes Entrance/ Metung, Orbost/Nowa Nowa/ Bruthen, Paynesville, and Sale/Lindenow.

For full packages and information visit country.racing.com

Gates Open at: 11:00am

Country Racing at Bairnsdale – It’s OUR racing and it’s YOUR racing the moment you arrive. + Fashions on the Field + Live music + Kids activities + Big screen race action + Free buses

General Admission

15

$

Bairnsdale Racing Club

Dahlsens Melbourne Cup Race Day

Early Bird Pricing

Early Bird Pricing

Umbrella Package

PP

Grandview Dining

100 150

$

BOOKINGS AT COUNTRY.RACING.COM/BAIRNSDALE

$

PP

23

The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 20, 2023

BRINGING COLOUR BACK TO EAST GIPPSLAND C

OLOUR Ya World ran for the third time in as many years, with the event changing locations and this time making Buchan colourful. Almost 300 people attended the family friendly and fun Colour Ya World 3km fun run in Buchan on October 8th.

Brought to the community by the Apex Club of Bairnsdale, the free event has been hailed as a massive success for the third year in a row! This year's event was made possible thanks to a generous grant from both the East Gippsland Community Foundation and The Apex Australia Foundation.

After a fantastic event in 2021 and 2022 the group decided it was the perfect opportunity to host this event once again in bushfire affected Buchan and give back to the town.

The turnout has again been amazing and to see the joy on people's faces is priceless. The

event organisers would like to thank the many businesses and volunteers who assisted them with items to make the event such a success, we really couldn’t do it without their support in the lead up to and on event day.

“Volunteers travelled from near and far to assist with ‘throwing some colour’ and enjoy some time with their families, having almost as much fun as the participants.

“The addition of food vans and a picnic seating area this year enhanced the festival atmosphere and encouraged families to stay and enjoy a bite to eat and drink and chance to mingle. In addition, the BBQ put on by the Buchan Cricket Club will see a portion of the money made from the day go directly back to the Buchan Community.

“Thank you to our participants for joining in and being patient with us, our event could not be successful without you. We would like

to formally thank you all for being a part of a wonderful fun filled family event and hope you all enjoyed it as much as the organisers did”.

If you go by the smiles on all the participants faces, the event has certainly hit its mark in bringing fun and colour into the community and will be looking to make it an annual event on the East Gippsland Calendar.

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Community wellbeing is at the heart of the Apex Club of Bairnsdale; as small group of volunteers who work to hold community events that bring us all together for fun and entertainment and meet monthly. For more details on joining the Apex Club of Bairnsdale where you too can be involved in bringing great fun to your community please get in touch.

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