Popular local soccer coach returns to the club he loves.
Lynden Prince started playing for Riverside Olympic aged 15, after leaving High School, working his way through youth and reserve teams into the seniors who were playing State League at the time.
A few years later Riverside withdrew from the State-wide competition, so Lynden went down to Launceston City for a couple of seasons to continue playing at the highest level in Tasmania.
He later returned to Riverside where he stayed for many years.
‘I’ve been doing soccer for 35 years or so, playing and coaching,’ Lynden said.
When asked how many games he’d played for the club, Lynden said he’d never really thought about it but estimated he’d played around 800 games across all grades for Riverside but couldn’t possibly know for sure, ‘there was a time when we played games all year round, winter and summer, 2 years straight, so we never
The word free gets thrown around a lot nowadays.
Not too long ago it was free COVID tests, free vaccinations and even free bus travel. But nothing is ever free.
Goods and services can be subsidised, or funded through a grant or other funding arrangement, but the money is still being moved around - even if the end user is not the one directly paying for it.
That’s not to say that subsidies and grants should not exist, but perhaps those who market such services as ‘free’ should be more upfront and honest about the costs involved.
Take COVID testing for example, of course this service should be affordable and accessible – however the word ‘free’ diminishes the very real costs involved, and while we’re on that subject, let’s stop calling it ‘Govern-
ment funded’ and start calling it by its more accurate term: taxpayer funded.
In an age of entitlement, where large companies expect million-dollar handouts of taxpayer money, staff at Tasmanian takeaway shops are abused for not having chips amidst a potato shortage, and people in Facebook groups have the audacity to expect that already-free items posted as available for pick-up be delivered to their door (you guessed it, for free), we could all benefit from the reminder that nothing is ever truly free.
Even this very newspaper, which is marketed as free to read, is not free for us to publish. We receive no government funding or grants to offset rising costs, and nor do we charge a subscription in order to read our content.
Instead, as a locally owned
really stopped.’ he said. Lynden played in 2 Senior Men’s Premierships in that time (they’re hard to win!) before the coaching bug hit, coaching his son’s Tom and Will from u12’s to u15’s and Tasmanian Rep teams (NTJSA) including their annual Canberra trip for the National Youth Championships and in that time coaching current Socceroo Nathaniel Atkinson and several other current State league players.
Lynden switched to coaching the senior men’s team in 2017, guiding Riverside to the Premiership in his second season before coaching the senior women at Riverside, where the team won the 2019 title.
Taking a year off due to Covid in 2020, Lynden was then approached by Launceston United where he coached the State League women’s team in a dual coaching role with another former Riverside player and coach, Frank Compton.
In their first year in the Super League Women’s competition (State league) Launceston United finished runners-up in both the league and State cup competition. The next year they
went one better, winning both the league title and State cup or the ‘double’ as it’s commonly known in soccer circles!
‘Second year we won both’ said Lynden ‘we got a couple of very good imports, one from W.A, two from Canada…that helped with coaching and trying to improve the girls and the way they play the game.’
It was a phenomenal effort by Lynden, Frank and the team at Launceston United to achieve that, given the resources and player pool Devonport Strikers and some of the Hobart based clubs have available.
After that success, no doubt Lynden’s coaching ‘stock’ went up exponentially and it’s fair to say that any Tasmanian club would welcome him with open arms, but the lure of coming back to Riverside Olympic to coach the newly formed u21’s team was what got him back at the club he loves.
‘I’m a life member at Riverside, it’s my home club. My youngest boy, Will still plays here, Tom’s teaching in Hobart so he’s now playing at Kingborough in the State-
wide comp. Will stepped up and was thrown in at the deep end at 17-18 to play NPL, but he’s doing well.’
‘At the moment the work rate is double what it’s been in the past, we have a young squad so no big expectations for the first year, but we want to work them hard this first year so we get better results in the second year that’s what it’s going to take with the squad that we’ve got…we’re sticking with the local boys that want to learn, want to train hard and build them up for year 2.’
Good luck coaching the u21’s at Riverside, Lynden and on behalf of many local sports fans, I’m sure, thanks for your contribution to soccer in Northern Tasmania.
Riverside Olympic are on the lookout for more supporters, sponsors, and volunteers for season 2023!
Anyone out there that enjoys soccer and would like to get involved please check the club’s social media page for fixture times or contact the club at: admin@riversideolympic. com.au
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One of the best loved local businesses in the West Tamar is surely At the Feed Shed in Beaconsfield. Leah and Adam Turmine have run the business for almost 9 years, expanding the showroom to become one of the biggest and best pet stores in the region.
It’s a classic, old-school pet store, selling a variety of products from pet and livestock food, accessories, and pets such as rabbits and birds.
‘We did actually have the back section walled off,’ said Leah ‘initially we just used that area for storage of extra products, but now we’ve filled up the whole shed!’
The couple originally operated the business from home for a year before moving into the shop which has expanded over the years to become the business that it is today.
‘We had the business about a year operating from home and that was solely a delivery service, finding
this location allowed us to expand the range a lot more, it’s been awesome!’ Leah said.
The business is also staffed by Suzie, Katie, Meegan and Penny.
Their passion for animals is clear for all to see, just a quick glance on the business’s social media page shows that lost animals have been repatriated with their concerned owners thanks to their community-minded posts!
For anyone who’s dog has ever escaped from a property this can be a very stressful time no doubt! The team here clearly love what they do, and it shows.
With late summer fast approaching, I asked Leah what should pet owners be mindful of going into what is traditionally our hottest time of the year, ‘Flea and tick season, obviously snakes are more prevalent in the hot weather, and have been known to bite dogs,
cats even horses.’ When asked how best to reduce any such threat Leah added ‘keep your property as clean as possible, visibility is key so keep grass down as much as possible, watch your dogs or pets for any unusual behaviour, if they’ve been bitten obviously you have to act very fast. Cats are a little more resilient, but horses and dogs are much more vulnerable.’
One of Leah’s own cats was bitten by a snake but survived thanks to her quick action getting him to a vet.
‘He was in really rough shape he was at the vet for about a week and a half, we still had to feed and orally hydrate him when we got him back, he was on pain relief but was still unwell enough to eat and drink. Dynavyte micro-biome helped a lot, we gave him a dose and by the end of the day he was eating and drinking again and on the road to recovery. It’s a sensational product if I can give it a plug! It targets gut health
As operator of some of Australia’s oldest oil and gas fields, Esso Australia is committed to decommissioning our Bass Strait offshore facilities safely and effectively. We have substantial experience in safely and effectively decommissioning facilities to achieve positive outcomes across the globe, and we are excited to be part of Australia’s growing decommissioning industry.
For our steel piled jackets, we have identified a number of decommissioning options and assessed each one in order to determine which approach balances the needs of other users of the sea by ensuring the safety of navigation and delivers an equal or better environmental outcome by retaining the marine ecosystems which have developed around the jackets.
All of the options for decommissioning the steel piled jackets include full removal of the upper sections of the platform including the accommodation and processing facilities, known as the topsides for disposal onshore. The overall demand for a skilled workforce to support the decommissioning program will vary minimally regardless of which option is pursued for
the cut off depth of the steel piled jackets.
More information on these options and how we are assessing them are available here: https://exxonmobil. co/3R6U8E8.
Prior to commencing and throughout our decommissioning activities, we continue to identify and actively engage with key stakeholders across the Gippsland region. We have also undertaken a national public consultation process facilitated by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Agency. This and our ongoing consultation play an essential role in how we align our approach and ensure the essential work that we are undertaking meets the community’s needs and expectations.
If you would like to learn more about our decommissioning process and the approach we are considering for the removal of steel pile jackets and platform topsides, or feel that you are a relevant person as per the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, we welcome you to reach out via consultation@exxonmobil.com.
which has a lot to do with the immune system.’
In terms of keeping your pets cool in the heat Leah said ‘make sure they have access to clean, cool water if you can, have your water in a shaded location if you can, or if you can’t I do recommend when it’s super-hot, freeze a block of ice and drop that in a bowl or dish.
Keep an eye on your pets in the heat for any unusual behaviour, ticks are quite prevalent and there’s actually a tick anti-serum shortage so keep on top of your tick preventives like flea and tick collars or whether you use something like a spot-on treatment or a tablet. I myself prefer natural products, there’s a spray out there by Amazonia which offers protection without harsh chemicals.’
‘Shade and shelter go a long way towards caring for your animals in summer.’
And birds? ‘Birds love a spray!’ Said Leah ‘Just with a spray bottle they will love you for it! Even when it rains, they all get super-excited, they know it’s a natural time for them to go out and have a bath! If you can provide a shallow dish they’ll go and bathe themselves!’ ‘Birds are so much fun!’ Leah added.
Please check their social media page or ring the store to find out which week they deliver to your area for any of your pet supply requirements.
There is something truly encouraging about seeing people live out their dream and work in an environment that they love.
At the Feed Shed in Beaconsfield is one such place, Leah and the team here clearly love what they do and going the extra mile for their customers is something they clearly cherish.
At the Feed Shed offers a delivery service each Wednesday and Thursday with deliveries to the West Tamar, East Tamar and Launceston area on alternate weeks.
At The Feed Shed are situated at 96 Weld Street, Beaconsfield, Tasmania. For orders and enquiries please call them on 0419 047 235.
attraction to be bigger and better than ever.
Whilst other parties reminisced about the iconic venue, the Labor party was quick to stand up and blame the State Liberal Government for the failing company, stating more should be done to support the company to keep its visitor Centre open.
"News that the Boag’s visitor experience is set to close is extremely disappointing for Launceston, and demonstrates the Liberals’ complete disregard for a Tasmanian icon,” said Member for Bass, Michelle O’Byrne.
“Boag’s Brewery is as Launceston as it gets.”
“The Boag’s Brewery Visitor Centre is not only a local cultural icon but a vital part of the local northern economy attracting thousands of visitors a year,” Premier Rockliff said.
“That’s why it’s so important that not only does the Visitor Centre remain open, but that we work with Lion to make the visitor Centre experience and attract more locals and tourists. The funding will also support a targeted marketing strategy to promote the tour experience nationally.”
support us through a funding package of $1 million.”
“This package will help us continue to provide a great tour experience at the Boag’s Visitor Centre, while we work with the Government and other stakeholders to address some of the long-term cost pressures our manufacturing business continues to face.”
As a thank you to locals, the brewery announced they would be offering anyone with a current Tasmanian Driver’s License free brewery tours for the next 12 months.
renowned for its traditional brewing methods and classic beers, announced on the 19th of January 2023 that its highly-regarded visitor Centre would be closing its doors.
The decision to shutter the beloved tourist attraction, which has been a cornerstone of Launceston’s tourism for decades was met with dismay from both locals and tourists alike.
The brewery, which was established in 1881, has long been a staple of Tasmanian culture and heritage. Its visitor Centre, which offered tours of the brewery and tastings of its famous beers, has become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
However, the brewery's financial difficulties with an overall beer consumption decline and the rising costs and impacts of COVID-19 ultimately led to its decision to close.
Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson expressed his disappointment and said the news was “a significant blow” to Launceston’s visitor economy.
“The visitor Centre and brewery tours are consistently ranked extremely highly by visitors to Launceston through feedback to the Launceston Visitor
Mayor Gibson said the James Boag Brewery Experience was ranked by TripAdvisor visitors as one of Launceston’s top three most popular activities, alongside other iconic destinations such as the Cataract Gorge and City Park.
Lion issued a statement on the day of the announcement and stated that the closure of the visitor Centre would allow them to keep their focus on brewing great-tasting beer for Australia’s pubs, clubs, bars, and liquor retailers.
In the same statement, Nathan Calman, Director of Boag's Brewery, expressed his understanding of the community's disappointment at the news of the closure.
"The reality is that we are facing a number of sharply rising cost and regulatory pressures across our business and here in Tasmania specifically, including the cost of energy increasing by over 50 percent, trade waste treatment costs, and rising transport costs that have led us to make the tough call to simplify our operations and focus on brewing at Boag’s. These all come off the back of a very challenging period for the industry, which is yet to recover to pre-covid levels.”
mitage, commented on the announcement stating every hospitality venue had done it tough over the last three years however, with visitor numbers climbing and tourism turning the corner, things are looking up.
“Tasmania has been a shining light when it comes to COVID recovery, with tourists flocking here, and we simply cannot allow decisions in distant board rooms, with little or no heart, to close a major Launceston tourism experience such as the Boag’s Visitor Centre including the loss of 13 jobs.”
“It is good to see bipartisan support to keep the Centre open and it is imperative that we all show the Boards of both Lion and parent company Kirin Beer that our Launceston community will not stand by and see an iconic brewery founded in 1881 slowly pulled apart piece by piece.”
“Having raised concern regarding rumours of downgrading of Boag’s in 2020 with then Managing Director James Brindley and being assured of its future, I believe it is essential we continue to speak with those in control and strongly reiterate Boag’s importance to our city.”
“Boag’s is part of Launceston’s history, employs a large number of our citizens, and
“Unfortunately, the Liberals seem to have taken Boags’ contribution to the economy and community for granted.”
A week later, Lion issued another statement, rescinding their previous comments around the closure of the visitor Centre, announcing that the brewery tours would continue to operate after receiving in-principle support of a $1 million financial support package from the Tasmanian Government to increase tours and enhance the visitor experience.
After visiting the Centre, Premier Rockliff said that the in-principle agreement for $1 million in funding reached between Lion and the State Government secures jobs and will expand and enhance the tourist
“This investment reinforces the commitment of both Lion and our Government to ensuring this important part of Tasmanian history and community continues now and into the future.”
“I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Lion and James Boags’ Brewery to make one of Launceston’s most loved tourist attractions better than ever.”
Nathan Calman, Boag’s Brewery Director said:
“This outcome is a win-win for the Launceston community, and for Boag’s.”
“We had no expectation that the Tasmanian Government would provide support to keep the tours operating. However, when they approached us, we were pleased to engage positively with them and are delighted the State Government has been able to find a way to
“We hope this provides a great incentive to bring friends and family to visit Launceston, to understand what we do, and enjoy all that our region has to offer.”
A recent study published by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal found that alcohol consumption is estimated to cost Australia over $67 Billion in health and other impacts.
Do you think government support should be offered to alcohol manufacturers carrying on a private business? Share your thoughts by commenting on this article online at www.tamarvalleynews. com.au
we must do all in our power to ensure it is here for many years to come.”
and then when borders opened up again, it was a bit of a stabilising time for us I guess with numbers.’
‘Things are going really well now,’ Julie added ‘we have a lot of interstate visitors and also lots of local people supporting us too which is great. We get a lot of tour groups, consisting of local, interstate, and internationals.’
Despite only operating for a relatively short time so far, Cabbage Tree Hill Wines has won a series of awards.
‘2020 was our first vintage here and at the Tas wine show we picked up Top Gold for our Pinot Rose so that was a nice trophy, then we picked up a trophy as well for our 2020 Sauvignon Blanc!’
By Phillip RaganJulie Finnerty and husband Rohan Hirst established Cabbage Tree Hill Wines in Beaconsfield from scratch, purchasing the land in 2013.
They were living in Darwin at the time, Julie originally from W.A, Rohan from S.A.
The couple moved to Tasmania in December 2015 and got planting, with the vines going in a year later. ‘We had our first berries in April 2019,’ said Julie, ‘but we decided to cut all the fruit off, which is a technique commonly
Improving conduct of councillors?
used to help the younger vines, in 2020 we achieved 50% yield.’
The couple opened the cellar door in March 2019.
‘Prior to our first vintage here in 2020 we were purchasing local fruit and having our contract wine makers make the wine for us. We insisted on using local fruit so when we eventually caught up it would be fairly similar,’ said Julie.
‘In those early days we did a small amount of wholesale in Sydney, over 30 odd small boutique
Role of councils in planning?
bottle shops at one point but we realised it was in our best interests to sell direct. So, all of our sales now are either online or through the cellar door, we do a small amount of wholesale at a couple of the local restaurants but that’s it, we sell direct now.’
‘It’s a distinctly Tamar Valley product.’ Julie added.
The business closed for a while during Covid however Julie and Rohan were fortunate enough to have other income coming in from jobs working remotely interstate and
that income is really what carried them through those challenging times.
‘We probably wouldn’t have managed it without having those 2 incomes coming in,’ said Julie.
‘Once we reopened after Covid it was hard to measure how we were going as we had no historical data.’
‘I think when we opened up and Tassie was closed off to the rest of Australia it was a bit of a false economy because there was a lot of Tasmanians travelling around and sales were really good
‘We are really renown for our Pinot Noir now, it’s been winning a lot of medals! In 2022 we picked up a gold medal at The Royal Hobart wine show for our 2021 Pinot Noir. We also, at the national climate wine show in Bathurst, picked
up top gold in its class and picked up Champion Pinot Noir of the show! We’ve been really lucky; the vineyard is in good condition and our wine makers are awesome.’
‘We will be exhibiting at the Tasmanian wine fest next month at the botanical gardens in Hobart.’ Julie added.
Rohan and Julie are both locals who proudly call Tasmania home. A ‘Freo’ girl originally, for those who know W.A!
Julie is great to have a chat too, extremely laid back despite her success and a big supporter of helping other local businesses. 3 dogs and a pet sheep also keep her busy!
‘Small businesses in town are very supportive of each other which is a great thing. Beauty Point/ Beaconsfield is such an amazing community.’
Here’s to many more great vintages to come for Julie and Rohan over at Cabbage Tree Hill Wines!
As part of its review process, the Local Government Board has published a range of reform options that we think could improve the capability of councils to deliver better outcomes for Tasmanians. Now we want your feedback. You can read the options here www.engage.futurelocal.tas.gov.au and either engage online or turn up to an event in your community to have your say.
Drop by when the team is visiting your area:
Wednesday 15 February Longford Memorial Hall, 55 Wellington St, Longford 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Can't make it? Go to www.engage.futurelocal.tas.gov.au and get involved in the conversation. Be bold and have your say, so we can all help improve the future of local government.
Australia Day is an important event in the calendar, it is the National Day of Australia and marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet of the British ships at Sydney Cove.
Australia Day is a time for all Australians to reflect, respect and celebrate. We’re all part of the story of Australia – from those whose ancestors walked on Country for tens of thousands of years to the newest Australian citizens.
On Australia Day, we reflect on our past, acknowledge the truth of our history, and recognize the contributions of all to the narrative of our nation.
We can celebrate our diversity and multiculturalism, appreciating the unique perspectives and experiences that have shaped our country.
For Australia Day, let us embrace the sentiment of 'Reflect. Respect. Celebrate.' - reflecting on our history, good and bad; respecting the stories of others; and celebrating our nation, its successes, and most of all, its people.
The day is often celebrated
in many ways, including flag-raising ceremonies, official receptions, citizenship ceremonies, concerts, festivals, and fireworks. Australians come together to celebrate the nation’s heritage and achievements, as well as to reflect on the progress made in the past year.
The West Tamar Council held an Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony at the Tailrace Centre on January 26, with approximately 130 guests in attendance.Australia Day Ambassador, Professor Robert Morris-Nunn also attended the ceremony.
Robert is a nationally renowned Tasmanian based architect who has practiced for more than 30 years and won over 50 state and national awards, spoke about what being Australian means to him and the benefits of inclusive multiculturalism.
Australia Day Awards were presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the West Tamar community.
The West Tamar municipality award winners for 2023 are:
Mary Machen – Citizen of the Year:
Mary Machen has been festival director of the Tamar Valley Writers Festival for many years since its debut in 2014.
This biennial festival has welcomed some of Australia’s most famed writers, thinkers, and speakers. Mary has also been a board and committee member of a number of other creative groups in the northern region.
Young Citizen of the Year
– Ella Jayde Clark
Ella-Jayde Clark is an inspiring and dedicated young person living and volunteering within the West Tamar. Ella has been a member of the West Tamar Youth Advisory Council for over 5 years, supporting countless community events and activities. Most notably, she has been involved in the installation of ‘Share the Dignity’ vending machines and community packing days within the West Tamar. Young Sportsperson of the Year – Damon White
Damon White has been successful across little athletics and school sports, partic-
ularly hockey. He has been selected for both regional and state representation in the Tasmanian Team for the National Hockey Championships, Northern Tasmanian Hockey Championships and Indoor teams, as well as being selected in the Hockey Tasmania Tigers Academy in 2020 and 2021.
Community Group of the Year – Launceston Football Club
Launceston Football Club, the oldest football club in Tasmania, was established in 1875.
The club has experienced much success, particularly in 2020 where they won all four senior premierships, followed by the Men’s and Women’s teams also winning both premierships in 2021 and 2022.
The success and determination of the Club extends beyond the field through community partnerships with social enterprise Jude’s Café, local schools and community groups, and JCP Youth working with At Risk Youth.
In addition, the Launceston Football Club have held an annual Pink Day event for almost 10 years, bringing
together club and community members, and guest speakers, to help fundraise and build Breast Cancer awareness.
Mayor’s Award – James Tyson
James Tyson, a stalwart of the West Tamar Rotary Club for more than 15 years, an active member of the Deviot Community Association and a founding member of the Exeter Childcare Centre. James does all of this without the desire to be recognised, he just wants to help out whenever and wherever he can.
Mayor Christina Holmdahl said “The West Tamar Council Australia Day Awards recognise those in our community who have made outstanding contributions. They represent hard work and selflessness, often over a number of years, and reflect true Australian values. On behalf of the West Tamar Council and our community, I thank them most sincerely for their contributions”.
The ceremony included the welcoming of 21 new citizens from United Kingdom, India, Oman, South Africa, England, China, Canada
and Singapore to the municipality, committing them to being active members of Australian society, joining thousands of other Australians who celebrated their citizenship across the nation.
“Citizenship is a life-long commitment to Australia’s shared values, including respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, the rule of law and democracy, and equality of opportunity for all people,” Mayor Holmdahl said.
“Each year we are privileged to welcome new Australians to our growing community and look forward to sharing in their culture and paying tribute to the diversity of experiences which we all bring”.
The George Town Council celebrated Australia Day with a Civic Ceremony, welcoming three new citizens into the municipality, and hosting a family pool party at the George Town Swimming Pool.
Over 400 people took advantage of the beautiful weather to join in pool games, photos, laser tag, live music, lunch and ice creams.
Joining the George Town Ceremony was Australia Day Ambassador, Janelle Kava.
Janelle was born and raised in New Norfolk and worked for the St Vincent de Paul Society for 15 years, where she was the Emergency Relief and Loui’s Van Coordinator.
Janelle’s work for Vinnie’s saw Loui’s Van - an after-hours service providing food, information and support to people in needgrow from one van to three, covering nine different locations in Greater Hobart.
Under the Loui’s Van umbrella, Janelle and another local community worker also established “Dining with Friends”, a monthly three course meal available to any who wished to attend for any reason – be it a good meal, the ability to socialise, or to have a dining experience with family.
In her spare time, Janelle enjoys spending time at the shack with her family, fishing, and playing & coaching netball.
The George Town municipality award winners for 2023 are:
Community Event of the Year – Tamar Sew-Ciety “Christmas in July High Tea Fundraiser”
Patchworks Plus is a local business located in Anne Street, George Town which runs the Tamar Sew-Ciety quilting and sewing group. The group meet on a regular basis and have regularly organised “Christmas in July High Tea Fundraiser” for the last few years, each year donating the funds raised to a local organisation.
The event is very popular, and the 2022 High Tea had over 80 attendees from all over the area. The event helps to promote and encourage community pride as well as the artistic talents of our local quilters.
The event has demonstrated a great team effort from all involved and members of the Sew-Ciety stood outside in freezing weather to sell raffle tickets for a quilt, the making of which all members had contributed to.
They also have the support of local businesses and organisations who donated other prizes for the raffle. In 2022 they raised a total of $4,544 which was donated
Citizen of the Year – John Osborne OAM
John, supported by his wife Beryl, has been an active member of the community since moving to George Town in 1961.
His accolades include being a member of the George Town YMCA, a member of the South George Town Primary School and George Town High School P&F Associations, Club President of the APEX Club (and indeed, State President between 1971 and 1972 and on the National Board of APEX clubs from 19711974) as well as a parent executive of Alanvale College (a feeder school for George Town) and chairman of the Alanvale College Interim Council from 1979 to 1980.
John was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1985.
His interest in assisting the community is shown by his role as an elected member of Council between 1977 and 1994.
He was also a volunteer driver of the George Town Community Car between 1991 and 2008; the liaison
officer of the George Town Chamber of Commerce from 1992 to 1999 and again between 2002 and 2004; and an executive committee member between 2009 and 2010.
Although John is now in his late 80’s, he is still an active member of numerous organisations in Tasmania, including the George Town Rotary Club, in which he is still very active.
At a recent working bee at the Rotary Shed, John walking stick in hand, helped to move rubbish and tidy for hours.
He is always on the Rotary food van or selling raffle tickets.
John and his wife have opened their home in the past to host Rotary exchange students for months on end and often visited them later in their home country.
The fact that these adults now return to Australia to visit John and Beryl is testament to their generosity.
John has supported local students through mock interviews, school presentations and the Rotary Youth
Driver Program.
The local police station recently organised a morning tea to thank John for his volunteer service as a Justice of the Peace. For 45 years, until his compulsory retirement due to age limits, John made himself available to help at any hour – day or night.
John is described as “witty, clever, musical, kind, and holds himself to high ethical standards and professionalism”.
With John’s skills and support transferred to the many avenues of volunteer service he has chosen over the years, the community continues to benefit enormously.
“On behalf of our community, I welcome our new citizens. I also like to congratulate our amazing George Town Council Australia Day Award winners for their outstanding contributions to our community.” Said Mayor Cr Greg Kieser.
“We thank everyone who attended our Australia Day events including our volunteers from the Rotary Club of George Town, Country Women’s Association,
TS York Australian Navy Cadets, Soroptimist International of George Town and Ella Leonard our fantastic Australian Anthem singer, as we reflect, respect and celebrate together – because we’re all part of the Story.” he said.
Australia Day is an important day for all Australians to remember the great things our country has achieved and our unique heritage.
It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come together, celebrate the national spirit, our culture and all the wonderful things that make Australia the amazing place it is.
One of the most elegant Riverbank suburbs surely in the whole of Australia would have to be Rosevears in the West Tamar region.
More of a rural village than a town, Rosevears is best accessed at the C733 route (Rosevears Drive) which runs alongside the shores of the West Tamar.
The area offers majestic views of the East Tamar and beyond, including the beautiful, historic Church at Windermere.
The most prominent building in the area is Rosevears Waterfront Tavern.
Built in 1831, it offers patrons superb river views. The site has a new bakery which is popular among locals and hosts a range of live music events usually
across the warmer summer months.
The hotel was renovated over recent years and offers modern style hotel accommodation, though potential visitors to the area are spoiled for choice, with a wide range of excellent Bed and Breakfast and guest accommodation available.
Rosevears Pontoon is a fantastic area to stop and enjoy lunch amid a beautiful and tranquil setting, in fact, there are plenty of well-positioned picnic tables and chairs to pull over and enjoy the serenity and some interesting jetties and docks to look at and explore too!
Rosevears has a recreation ground with play facilities for the young ones, picnic and BBQ facilities, and a cricket pitch that may not have been used for quite some time. There are
some good restaurants and cellar door wineries nearby, certainly a lot compacted into this relatively small yet beautiful suburb.
Just up from the main road is Brady’s Lookout, named after the infamous bush ranger, which offers majestic panoramic views over the Tamar Valley. The State reserve is well-preserved, with excellent facilities and signposts, making for an ideal place to explore the local history and enjoy a BBQ, picnic, or coffee break.
To summarise, Rosevears is both charming and modern, exclusive yet unpretentious, peaceful and relaxed.
It has a calm, quiet atmosphere with a lively local community. Just the views alone make it a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike!
Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson has welcomed comments from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today regarding the proposed redevelopment of Launceston's sporting facility, University of Tasmania Stadium.
Mr Albanese was speaking with SEN Radio about plans for a Tasmanian AFL team and a request for Federal Government funding to build a new stadium at Macquarie Point on Hobart's waterfront.
Mayor Gibson said he
agreed wholeheartedly with Mr Albanese's opinion that AFL games should continue to be played in both the north and south of the State in future.
"Part of the business case as well has to look at the development of the Launceston ground," Mr Albanese told SEN Radio listeners.
"But you would need, I think, to make sure games are played in the north as well as the south."
Mr Albanese said the AFL needed to "do their bit" for the stadium plans, as the Federal Government would also have to juggle funds for an upgrade at UTAS Stadium should the 19th license bid be successful.
Mayor Gibson said it was the Council's hope that the proposal to upgrade UTAS Stadium would be included in any funding package delivered to the State by the Albanese Government.
"There is already $65 million committed by the State Government to increase the seating capacity of UTAS Stadium to around 22,000 — with that work expected to start later this year,"
Mayor Gibson said.
"Our business case includes a request for Federal Government funding in the vicinity of an additional $65 million to increase the seated capacity well beyond that figure so that we would be in a prime position to host those larger-scale, blockbuster AFL games one day."
Mayor Gibson said that the State Government had indicated its continuing support for more content at UTAS Stadium, including AFL, AFLW, first-class cricket, A League matches and music concerts.
"The Council will also continue to offer event attraction funding to deliver new content to the stadium in the future," Mayor Gibson said.
A memorandum of understanding is currently being negotiated between the Council and the State Government to establish the mutual roles and responsibilities for the Stadium moving forward, Mayor Gibson said.
In December last year, Councillors voted to begin a process to transfer owner-
ship of University of Tasmania Stadium to the State Government through the recently established authority, Stadiums Tasmania.
At the last State election, then-Premier Peter Gutwein announced plans to establish the statutory authority to oversee the management of Tasmania's major sporting facilities, including UTAS Stadium, the Silverdome and Blundstone Arena.
The legislation to establish the authority was passed by Parliament earlier this year. Ultimately, Stadiums Tasmania will be responsible for the ownership, management, and capital development of the State's major public stadiums, under the direction of a skills-based board.
Before a transfer formally takes place, a period for public comment will occur and any objections will be considered by the Council.
UTAS Stadium is commonly regarded as having one of the best AFL playing surfaces in the country, and hosts a wide range of sporting, entertainment and community events.
(Turn page upside down)
A wife asks her husband “how would you describe me?”
Husband: “ABCDEFGHIJK.”
Wife: “What does that mean?”
Husband: “Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant, fashionable, gorgeous, and hot.”
Wife: “Aw, thank you, but what about IJK?”
Husband: “I’m just kidding!”
Three guys are stranded on a desert island when they find a magic lantern containing a genie, who grants them each one wish. The first guy wishes he was off the island and back home. The second guy wishes the same. The third guy says: ‘I’m lonely. I wish my friends were back here.’
It turns out a major new study recently found that humans eat more bananas than monkeys. It’s true! I can’t remember the last time I ate a monkey.
My parents raised me as an only child, which really annoyed my brother.
Where can you find a dog with no legs? Wherever you last left it!
If Government is serious about supporting media diversity and public interest journalism to address the news deserts that have emerged across Australia, it needs to clear a path for locally produced news to build sustainability.
The COVID-19 pandemic and increasing extreme weather events have highlighted the role of localised media services in community safety and resilience.
In 2023, we are at a critical juncture for news and information in Australia and require support to turn the tide on shrinking local news reporting.
Local news publishers are under pressure globally as business models sustained by advertising and user-fees have weakened in all markets, compounded by COVID-19 disruptions, causing concern for media diversity across the world.
Government interventions across the globe have included grants supporting content production and/or journalist employment, tax breaks for public interest news publishers, and operational support for publishers in the form of grants and subsidies.
Here in Australia, we’re ranked as the 10th most concentrated media market in the world (Brevini and
attempted to curb this trend through a variety of policy levers in recent years, including: creating the Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund; developing the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code; the Public Interest News Gathering fund; tax relief measures for the commercial broadcasting sector; and, more recently, a print relief assistance program for print newspapers.
With varying levels of success and engagement, these actions have provided one-off funding injections, predominantly to large news corporations.
But it’s not all bad news, A growing hyperlocal and independent news sector exists and is well placed to address the news and information needs of local communities, strengthen Australia’s democracy, reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation, and build community.
In the wake of local newsroom closures, community members have stepped up, establishing news services to meet a need for locally relevant news.
Around 20% of hyperlocal newsrooms have launched in the past three years (Bones, 2021), demonstrating an encouraging rate of growth in response to an audience shift to digital news consumption over
While community radio and television services are required to be not-for-profit to meet licensing eligibility requirements, community-based digital newsrooms in Australia are disincentivised from establishing themselves as not-for-profits and/or charitable organisations by a lack of recognition for public interest news services as a public good.
By comparison, in the U.S. where journalism is recognised as a public good attracting tax deductibility for donors, the industry has been highly successful in attracting philanthropic support.
For example, the Institute for Non-profit News runs an annual NewsMatch program raising $47 million, with $5.1 million in matched funds from 17 national and regional funders in 2021.
In the Australian market, smaller populations and cost of living pressures will limit the potential scope for donations.
However, an increasing number of people are making donations to support a digital news service, up by +1 to 4% in 2022 (Digital News Report, 2022), and the philanthropic community is indicating a willingness to support newsrooms with DGR status.
All that’s needed is a DGR category for public interest
communicate important information to the public (Wood, Stobart & Griffith, 2022).
However, government appointed media buying agencies consistently preference networked media with advertising campaigns that are hidden behind paywalls, not locally relevant, and/or missing significant audience segments.
Commercial incentives to streamline booking processes are understandable, but do not adequately meet Government’s responsibility to reach all audience groups.
Local news outlets are well placed to keep communities informed of activities such as community consultations, road closures, recruitment, meetings, and events.
These actions increase transparency and engagement with local Council activities.
Again, looking to successful examples in the U.S., New York and Chicago governments have signed Executive Orders to boost advertising spend through community media organisations (including print and digital publications, television, and radio outlets). Both cities have reported significant success from the equity-based policy intervention, and diverse news outlets have increased local reporting.
relevant Local Government Act requires Councils to publish public notices in the local print newspaper – should one exist in the region.
There is a growing number of local government areas where no local newspaper is printed, in which case Councils are generally publishing public notices on their own websites with no obligation to reach a broader audience.
This legislation has become outdated by technology changes, given the trend in audiences seeking information on digital platforms.
The inclusion of digital news publishers in the legislation would mean Councils were obligated to publish notices in local print and/ or digital news publications at a minimum for public engagement.
4. Eligibility for support programs
This one is another simple tweak to some wording. While the Commonwealth has recognised the need to support news media in Australia, policy interventions implemented in recent years have regularly excluded digital publishers in favour of subsidising rising print costs and supporting established media outlets.
The Global Investigative Journalism Network recommends governments provide
Small digital newsrooms, including new entrants to public interest journalism, should be eligible for all government programs supporting news media.
5. Start-up support
Getting a local newsroom off the ground in this challenging environment is no small thing.
A significant barrier to addressing news deserts and increasing media diversity exists in a lack of wage support to allow businesses to launch successfully, with many operators hamstrung by attempting to operate news businesses alongside alternative paid employment.
Correlations between a healthy media sector and a strong democracy are well established in academic literature.
To bolster both, the Commonwealth should provide operational support for news business start-ups. There are a range of capacity building supports required to strengthen public interest journalism around the country.
None of these five policy levers is the silver-bullet to saving news media in Australia alone.
But they would certainly give local news publishers a head-start toward build-
Veteran-led volunteer organisation Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) now has a team in Tasmania and is recruiting new members.
The team has already been busy on the ground in the state and assisted last year’s recovery effort in Northwest Tasmania after the cyclonic wind event.
DRA helps Australian communities rebuild after disasters, such as floods, bushfires, and cyclones.
The organisation unites the skills and experiences of Australian Defence Force veterans, emergency responders and everyday Australians.
It rapidly deploys disaster relief teams locally, nation-
ally and around the globe to assist communities in need.
With more than 2,500 volunteers, DRA has nine Disaster Relief Teams (DRTs) Australia-wide.
The Tasmanian DRT is the latest addition to the network and a welcome addition to Tasmania’s local and national disaster relief efforts.
Volunteers are deployed to communities post-disaster to assist with debris removal, home repairs, maintenance and provide safe, practical, and structured on-the-ground support.
DRA capabilities include incident management, damage and impact assessment, aerial damage assessment
and mapping, work order management, spontaneous volunteer management as well as resilience and capacity building.
To date, DRA has deployed its volunteers to more than 25 disaster relief operations throughout Australia. It continues to grow and 2023 will be its busiest year yet with multiple recovery operations already underway in Victoria, NSW and potentially SA.
Tasmania DRT Manager Scott Whiley said DRA the organisation has never needed people more.
He said: “DRA is a unique proposition. We put the experience, skills, and discipline of veterans and civilian counterparts to
practical use in communities that are experiencing their worst days. Tasmania fights well above its weight when it comes to military history and helping mates in distress.”
He added: “Our veterans work alongside emergency services personnel and civilians and establish connections with people outside of the military and develop rapport with individuals and communities recovering from a disaster. We help communities and we help our volunteers.”
DRA provides full volunteer training as well as training across all areas, including first aid, chainsaw training and 4x4 driving.
If you are keen to assist
when disaster strikes, provide practical help to communities in need, learn new skills and be part of an amazing team, or simply wish to learn more about DRA and the difference you could make as a DRA volunteer visit www.disasterreliefaus.org or contact Scott Whiley at scott.whiley@disasterreliefaus.org
Founded in 2016, Disaster Relief Australia unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams in Australia and around the world.
DRA volunteers support
communities to plan and prepare for disasters and support them with recovery after the emergency services are no longer required in the disaster zone.
Disaster Relief Australia is a charitable organisation offering veterans a chance to continue their service by helping and empowering those afflicted by disasters. The organisation is headquartered in Sydney, with its National Operations Hub based in Adelaide. Each state is home to a Disaster Relief Team, which coordinates training and preparedness for disaster relief in the states
Adults in the Launceston community are now being welcomed at the new purpose-built Launceston Head to Health centre.
The innovative mental health service opened its doors at an interim site on Paterson Street in January 2022, while purpose-built premises were constructed at 62-64 Canning Street.
Head to Health adult mental health centres are funded by the Australian Government to support people in times of distress. The Launceston centre – Tasmania’s firstoffers a visible and accessible ‘no wrong door’ entry point for people who need:
Immediate mental health support
Support to navigate to other suitable mental health services in the local community
Information and advice for family, friends and carers of people in need of mental health support.
Launceston Head to Health is operated by Stride and supported by funding from Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN) through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks program.
Stride CEO Drikus van der Merwe said Launceston Head to Health has proven to be a valuable complement to services already provided in the community by connecting people with the best
options for their ongoing care.
“Almost one year after opening the doors of our interim site in Paterson Street, we have supported over 900 people to access the care they need - as well as helping more than 100 carers,” he said.
“People access the centre to receive immediate mental health support for a range of reasons including stress, anxiety, depression, as well as support in navigating the system so they do not fall through the cracks.”
The Launceston Head to Health team comprises of both clinical staff and non-clinical staff with lived experience to provide holis-
tic, person-centred care.
Mr van der Merwe said the centre’s peer support worker model – which sees visitors offered support from a person with lived experience of mental ill-health – has been very well received.
“One visitor told us that after seeing our peer worker, they felt heard and seen for the first time at a mental health service. They finally felt hope and that things would be okay,” he said.
The new premises were designed, built and decorated based on input from an advisory committee consisting of Launceston community members, consumers and other local stakeholders. Notable features include
local imagery from a recent community photography competition displaying messages conveying calm, hope, and recovery.
The relocation to Canning Street will enable an expansion of services and operating hours. The service will extend its operating hours in the first quarter of this year, with the inclusion of an after-hours space.
The after-hours, drop-in service will be a safe alternative to a hospital emergency department for people experiencing emotional and suicidal distress. This additional service will support people in distress to provide timely and effective care, led by peer support workers.
The relocation to the new centre also provides an opportunity to increase co-location with related services in order to better serve the Launceston community.
The new services will join existing partners including a trauma counsellor, Reconciliation Tasmania, Flourish, Mental Health Family and Friends, Brain Injury Association of Tasmania, the Suicide Prevention Network, Anglicare, The Salvation Army, Wellways, Baptcare and Maxima.
More information is available at www.stride.com.au/whowe-help/adults/head-tohealth
before they could proceed to Sydney. The colonial schooner Estramina arrived on 20 Sept under Capt Oxley with despatches from Sydney and intending to take Wm Paterson, who was second in charge of the Colony of NSW, back to Sydney to sort out the ‘troubles’ with Capt Bligh. But, as Bligh’s successor had now arrived from England and Paterson’s health had declined, the Estramina returned without him.
By Lorraine WoottonThe major obstacle to shipping entering the Tamar Estuary is Hebe Reef, which is situated approximately midway between Low Head and West Head. The channel is deep, but very narrow where it enters the estuary and being much closer to Low Head on the eastern shore, any vessel steering a middle course between the headlands, risks coming to grief on the reef.
To further complicate matters, the reef is submerged, except at very low tide, so in calm seas with no waves breaking, its presence is not obvious. Most of the nine known shipwrecks on the reef occurred in the days of sail and in dead calm weather. Consequently, there has been little loss of life and much of the cargo has been salvageable. Not so with the IronBaron , wrecked in bad weather in July 1995, and while there was no loss of human life, the resultant oil spill was an environmental disaster.
Most people probably know more about later ships like the EdenHolmeand Phillip Oakdenthat were wrecked on Hebe Reef, rather than the first ship that gave its name to the reef in 1808. This was not long after the first 200 or so Europeans arrived to camp at Outer Cove in November 1804, before moving across to build and live at York Town early in 1805.
When HM Sloop Norfolk , with George Bass, Matthew Flinders and eight crew on board, was blown into Port Dalrymple in November 1798, they spent almost three weeks in the estuary. Bass explored on land while Flinders took soundings and mapped the whole area. When they were finally able to exit Port Dalrymple, they were blown back towards the Furneaux Islands, so Flinders missed mapping the full extent of the reef on the western side of the deep channel.
The store ship ‘Hebe’ ‘discovered’ the reef on 15 June 1808! This fully-rigged
ship of 250 tons was built in 1803 in Chittagong - one of the world’s oldest ports on the Bay of Bengal in what was then British India.
Under Captain Joseph Leigh she left Madras on 25 March 1808 with a valuable cargo of Indian goods bound for Sydney. Capt Leigh’s decision to call in to Port Dalrymple resulted in the loss of the ship and most of its cargo and the death of one of the crew - a Lascar seaman.
Details of what happened can only be gleaned from Capt Leigh’s reports to Lt Govr Wm Paterson at Port Dalrymple and Paterson’s letters to others in Sydney and England.
Capt Leigh’s report to Paterson states:
“Thereefonwhichthe Hebestruck...bearsfrom theFlagStaffonPointClarence[ieLowHead]W.¾N. bycompass,about5miles distant,andmayextend farthertosea,asIthinkthe Hebewentoverthemiddle ofit.Itisverydangerous, neverbeingdrythoughat lowwater,springtidesthe
waterisdiscolouredoverit, whichIhaveseenfromthe FlagStaffonPointClarence attheabovebearing.The Hebewasonitatthetop ofhighwaterdrawing13 feet,andhadnolessthan 2½fathoms,theswellbeing ratherhigh...”
There is no mention of a pilot having come on board, but the disaster must have been witnessed by those at the Flagstaff and presumably the pilots and boatmen stationed at Low Head at that time would have been involved in the rescue and salvage operations.
Captain Leigh explains in another letter to Paterson, dated June 27, 1808:
“ThelossoftheShipIcan onlyattributetothereef onwhichshestruckbeing entirelyunknowntome, oranypersononboard,as theonlyChartsoftheCoast
andHarbour,atpresent extant,Ihadonboard(viz. Mr.FLINDERS’S)lays nosuchthingdown,nor doIbelieveit generally, butratherverypartially known.”
Capt Leigh also requested the reef, which claimed the Hebe , be named after her. Later maps of the area have the reef marked much more distinctly than it is on Flinders’ original map. There was one positive outcome though, with Paterson able to purchase the Hebe’s Long Boat with its cable and anchor from Captain Leigh for 65 pounds for the use of the settlement at Port Dalrymple. It would be invaluable in transporting all the stores and provisions forty miles up the river from York Town to Launceston.
The Captain and crew of the Hebehad quite a wait either at York Town or Launceston
On 16 October the Sydney Gazette reported the arrival of the Estraminaand news of the loss of the Hebefour months earlier. On board were Captain LEIGH and his ship’s company and also ‘EnsignMonteithofthe EngineersoftheMadras Establishment,whowasa passengerintheHebefor therecoveryofhishealth’.
On 31 October an advertisement appeared in the Sydney Gazette offering for sale by auction, ‘theremainingpartoftheArticleslately savedfromtheWreckofthe ShipHebe,whichareina stateofhighpreservation.’ They included fabric, items of manchester and clothing, fish sauce, candles, most of the Hebe’s rigging and valuable materials for boat building.
GEORGE TOWN & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.
Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month, starting at 7.30 pm with most meetings held at The Grove in Elizabeth St.
The next meeting will be held on MONDAY, 20th FEBRUARY At the HILLWOOD MEMORIAL HALL, 278 JETTY ROAD, HILLWOOD
Guest Speaker will be Lucille Gee, who will speak about the history of Franklin House and its gardens.
FOR UPDATES SEE: George Town & District Historical Society Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/George-Town-and-District-Historical-Society-1375090549395357/
Email info@gtdhs.com or Phone 6382 4412. While COVID is still around, masks may be advisable.
