gippsland life summer
OPEN SECRET
Leongatha’s New Attraction
THE RUSTY GURNARD
Port Welshpool Pub is back
EAST GIPPSLAND
Getaway and Enjoy
ERIC MUSGROVE
Jumps Maestro
Embrace the Season of Sunshine and adventure!
As the warm embrace of summer settles over Gippsland, our region comes alive with vibrant colours, exciting events, and endless opportunities for adventure. From the golden sands of our pristine beaches to the lush greenery of our national parks, Gippsland offers a summer escape like no other.
This season, dive into the refreshing waters of the Gippsland Lakes, embark on scenic hikes through our breathtaking landscapes, or simply unwind with a leisurely picnic in one of our many picturesque spots. For the food lovers, summer is the perfect time to indulge in the region's fresh, local produce, whether it's at a bustling farmers’ market or a cosy seaside café.
Gippsland Life Summer is not just about the stunning scenery; it's about the people and the stories that make our community special. In this issue, we'll introduce you to the local artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs who bring their unique flavours and crafts to life. You'll find inspiration for your next adventure and tips on how to make the most of the sunny days ahead.
So, grab your sunnies and sunscreen, and get ready to explore all that Gippsland has to offer this summer. Whether you're a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, we invite you to join us in celebrating the season and creating memories that will last a lifetime and welcome to Summer Gippsland Life Issue 61.
To all our readers and friends, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2025, stay safe and we will see you next year!
Biketoberfest Leongatha – Raising Awareness 66-67 Over 50s Lifestyle at Palm Lake Resort Paynesville
68-71
72-73
74-75
76-79
82-83
Take the East Gippsland Getaway in Summer
Display Villages of Virtue Homes Traralgon are Now Open
Creating Beauty with Stone – Bracken Landscaping & Stonemasonry
A Shining Pearl of Inverloch – Blue Salt Jewellers
A Haven for Growth and Belonging – Newhaven College 84-85
Inverloch Bowls Club 88-89
An Education Alternative at Corner Inlet College
90-91 2024 TBUG Bike Ride – Inverloch & Environs
94-97
Eric Musgrove Jumps Maestro 100-101
Summer Events and Markets in South Gippsland Shire
132-133
Vereker Outlook Walk at The Prom 136-137 Make the Most of Summer with Myli: Fun, Learning + More!
142-144 Pet Corner – Summer Time 138-139 Summer at Phillip Island – Wildlife Coast Cruises 135
Seeing With Stars – Your Summer Horoscope
SOUTH GIPPSLAND PUBLISHING PTY LTD.
Trading as Gippsland Life magazine ABN 81 144 063 089
ADDRESS PO BOX 862 WONTHAGGI VIC 3995
PHONE 0404 301 333 EMAIL gippslandlifestyle@bigpond.com
ONLINE DIGITAL
issuu.com/james448
WEB www.gippslandlifestyle.com
FACEBOOK facebook.com/gippslandlifemagazine
INSTAGRAM gippslandlifestyle
WRITERS
Chris West and Ken Roberts
CONTRIBUTORS
Glenn Curtis – Curtis Australia
Stephanie Johnson – Seeing with Stars Astrology
Greg Nugent – Inverloch Bowling Club
Cherie Pritchett – Biketoberfest Leongatha , Jeff Pitt – TBUG Paul Bracken – Bracken Landscaping & Stonemasonry
PHOTOGRAPHY Doug Pell | Front Cover - Claire Davie
ADVERTISING
Maxine Sando - Sales Manager | Doug Pell - Sales Consultant
EDITOR Doug Pell
SUB EDITOR Maree Bradshaw
CREATIVE media101 | Alex Smirnakos + Tilka
DISTRIBUTION
DETAILS
Our 61st issue ... enjoy your read!
CONTENT COVERAGE AREA
As a responsible printer Printgraphics is actively interested in the environment and the wider community we live in. We are committed to environmental responsibility and are internationally accredited with ISO 14001 – Certified Environmental Management. Printgraphics has the highest environmental policies and certifications in place. In short it means Printgraphics Printgreen is one of only a handful of truly ‘green’ printers. We are committed to our environmental responsibilities, and are regularly audited to ensure compliance.
Printgraphics is accredited with ISO14001 which is an International Standard Organisation Environmental Management System used and recognised throughout the world and requires a major commitment and investment from participating companies. ISO14001 is the first step to a measurable and validated environmentally-friendly print operation.
The major aim of our ISO14001 environmental certification is to reduce our footprint on the environment. The hierarchy of waste management is to: Avoid | Reuse | Recycle.
PRINTERS
Gippsland Life Magazine is published quarterly, usually available at the beginning of each season and distributed to selected newsagents and retail outlets within the Gippsland region and surrounding Melbourne regions and parts of Victoria.
Issues are also available to read online on desktop and mobile devices.
South Gippsland Publishing acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, and to Elders past and present.
Printgraphics Pty Ltd
www.printgraphics.com.au
Printgraphics has established a work group that deal with environmental aspects, objectives and targets and the development and follow-up of subsequent improvement programs.
Partnership to save Plovers from extinction
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (the CMA) is excited to announce a new $1.5 million project aimed at saving one of our region’s much-loved native birds from extinction.
Eastern Hooded Plovers — affectionally known as ‘Hoodies’ — are tiny shorebirds that nest along the Victorian coastline where the adults, their eggs and chicks are highly vulnerable to disturbance by humans, coastal weeds, rough weather, off-lead dogs and their number one predator –foxes.
Together with BirdLife Australia, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Bass Coast Landcare Network, South Gippsland Landcare, Parks Victoria and the community, the CMA is embarking on a four-year project to help the survival of Hoodies.
Toward Zero Extinctions: Protect the Eastern Hooded Plover will involve protecting nests during breeding season, controlling foxes and other introduced pests, and engaging the community about the plight of the plover – and how they can help its survival.
“There are only around 3,000 Hoodies remaining in south-eastern Australia and less than 2.5 percent of Hooded Plover eggs make it to adult stage,” said Shayne Haywood, the CMA’s Manager – Land and Biodiversity.
“The coastline between San Remo and Inverloch is home to the second largest population of Hooded Plovers in Victoria so it’s vital that we work together to protect these vulnerable native species whose survival depends on having safe, protected breeding sites,” said Shayne.
HOODED PLOVER EGGS ARE WELL CAMOUFLAGED AND EASILY DISTURBED
HOODED PLOVERS AND CHICK
HOODED PLOVER CHICKS NEED OUR HELP TO SURVIVE
During breeding season, Hoodies face many threats to survival, from people accidently trampling their nests to off-lead dogs scaring the birds and eating their eggs. Even if the eggs successfully hatch, Hoodie chicks can’t fly for the first five weeks of their life, making them highly vulnerable to predators, particularly foxes.
To reduce this threat, the CMA and partners will undertake a coordinated approach to fox control across public and private land, conducted in partnership with landholders and Parks Victoria.
“By reducing fox numbers, we can help increase the chance of survival for eggs and fledglings and help boost the population of Hoodies overall.”
Enclosing vulnerable breeding sites to protect nests and chicks and signage at beaches are also key activities of the program, supported by BirdLife Australia’s monitoring program and population counts.
“Many people in our community already know about the plight of plovers and are actively involved in their protection by avoiding nesting sites, keeping dogs on leads at the beach and volunteering through BirdLife Australia’s Beachnesting Birds Program.”
“This partnership project is an exciting next step in the protection and recovery of plover populations in West Gippsland. The CMA is thrilled to be involved in this important work as part of our role in catchment health and protecting the region’s unique biodiversity.”
This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by West Gippsland CMA, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
BIRDLIFE AUSTRALIA AND VOLUNTEERS HELP TO MONITOR AND PROTECT THE PLOVERS
WE CAN SHARE THE BEACH WITH PLOVERS BY OBSERVING SIGNS AND KEEPING DOGS ON LEASH
EASTERN HOODED PLOVERS ARE SMALL BEACH NESTING BIRDS, NOT THE LARGER NOISY BIRDS OFTEN FOUND IN BACKYARDS
Eastern Hooded Plovers
With around 3,000 individuals remaining in south-eastern Australia, Eastern Hooded Plovers are listed as vulnerable in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and federally on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
They are also considered as a vulnerable species at the global scale, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
Please help by observing all signage when you enter beaches this summer.
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The Early Watchmaking Industry in Australia and how today's compares
In some respects the 1930s was a Golden Era for Australian Watchmaking with a burgeoning watchmaking industry that was centered in Melbourne.
One of the pivotal players in this industry was the Handley watch company in Abbotsford Melbourne. At the height of its operations, Handley employed over 400 people, as explained in feature article in the Melbourne Argus on 29th July 1939. When you consider Australia's population was just over 7 million, this was a significant workforce for the time.
This reflects both the demand for watches and the strategic importance of the industry within the Australian economy during that era. The Handley watch company was a beacon of innovation and craftsmanship. The presence of such a substantial enterprise also provided numerous jobs, fostering a skilled workforce in the field of horology.
Fast forward to today, the landscape of watchmaking in Australia has transformed dramatically. The large-scale manufacturing plants like Handley have disappeared, giving way to a more niche and specialised industry.
The demand for mass-produced watches has shifted towards international brands, driven by globalisation and technological advancements in mass manufacturing.
Despite these changes, Australia’s watchmaking spirit persists but in a different form. The contemporary industry is characterised by smaller, bespoke watchmakers who focus on craftsmanship and innovation.
One of the notable names in this new wave of Australian watchmaking is Curtis Australia. This transition highlights a growing appreciation for personalised, high-quality craftsmanship in a world that often leans towards uniformity.
Curtis Australia's dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. They have received several international awards for their innovative designs and superior craftsmanship. These accolades serve as a testament to their position as leaders in the industry, continually setting new standards in the art of watchmaking and jewellery.
To see more hand crafted original designs drop in to Curtis Australia, 129 Macleod Street Bairnsdale, Melbourne side of the railway station.
www.curtisaustralia.com
AM Mitchell – Curtis Australia
Top: Aerial view of the Handley Factory in the 1940’s.
Left: Front of the main office, Today.
Bottom: Section of the 'Argus' newspaper article in 1939, features part of the watch assembly team.
Top: Hand drawing of new Curtis Australia gold watch.
Left; Lathing by hand the gold case to fit the sapphire crystal glass.
Left:
Individually hand assembled Curtis watch, fitting the winding crown.
Right: The finished watch undergoing final inspection checks.
Gippsland Gourmet
Get out and treat yourself to some amazing local food & produce
BARREL & BLISS
Maffra Community Sports Club
L1, 122-126 Johnson St, Maffra 3860
Phone: 5147 2670
www.barrelandbliss.com.au
Page 2
BRENT SINCLAIR CATERING
FEAST ON US
& SPACE 47
47 McCartin St, Leongatha 3953
Phone: 0447 728 547
www.brentsinclaircatering.com.au
Page 40
CRAIG YOUNG’S BUTCHERY & SPIT ROAST CATERING
90a Ridgway, Mirboo North 3871
Phone: 5668 1632
www.facebook.com/craigyoung’sbutchery
Page 28
KILCUNDA OCEAN VIEW HOTEL
3531-3533 Bass Highway, Kilcunda 3995
Phone: 5678 7245
www.kilcundaoceanviewhotel.com.au
Page 39
NOOJEE HOTEL
411 Mt Baw Baw Road, Noojee 3833
Phone: 5628 9514
www.noojeehotel.com.au
Page 48
LEONGATHA RSL
SUB-BRANCH
Cnr Smith Street & Michael Place
Leongatha 3953
Phone: 5662 2747
www.leongatha-rsl.com.au
Page 41
MY SEASIDE CAFÉ
1/9 Beach Road, Rhyll 3923
Phone: 5900 0666
www.facebook.com/myseasidecafe
Page 29
OPEN GIPPSLAND
48 Bair Street, Leongatha 3953
Phone: 5662 3116
www.opengippsland.com.au
Pages 24-27
PHILLIP ISLAND RSL
225-243 Thompson Ave, Cowes 3922
Phone: 5952 1004
www.pirsl.com.au
Page 35
PHILLIP ISLAND WINERY
414 Berrys Beach Road, Ventnor 3922
Phone: 8595 2155
www.phillipislandwinery.com.au
Page 31
REDI MILK
2-4 Rimfire Drive, Hallam 3803
Phone: 9702 4262
www.redimilk.com.au
Pages 29
RIVERVIEW HOTEL TARWIN LOWER 11-15 River Drive, Tarwin Lower 3956
Phone: 5663 5211
www.facebook.com/riverviewhotel
Page 18
ROSEDALE BUTCHERS
32 Prince Street, Rosedale 3847
Phone: 5199 2210
www.rosedalebutchers.com.au
Page 103
SAINT JULES SAN REMO
Coffee – Tucker – Larder
117 Marine Parade, San Remo 3925
Instagram @saintjulessanremo
Page 30
SPORTING LEGENDS SALE
233 York Street, Sale 3850
Phone: 5143 2345 www.sportinglegends.com.au
Page 123
THE CAPE TAVERN
Market Place Surf Beach Rd, Cape Paterson 3995
Phone: 5674 8122
www.thecapetavern.com
Page 42
THE GURDIES WINERY
215 Gurdies-St Helier Rd, The Gurdies 3984 Phone: 5997 6208 www.thegurdieswinery.com.au
Page 43
THE MIDDLE KORUMBURRA HOTEL
81 Commercial Street, Korumburra 3950 Phone: 5655 1024
www.korumburrahotel.com.au
Pages 51
THE ROSEY PUB
29-31 Lyons Street, Rosedale 3847
Phone: 0448 782 200 Facebook & Instagram: @theroseypub Page 109
THE RUSTY GURNARD
85 Lewis Street, Port Welshpool 3965
Phone: 0481 200 323 www.therustygurnard.com.au
Page 32-34
THE SEASIDE PROVIDER
Shop 3, 8-10 Forrest Avenue, Newhaven 3925 www.facebook.com/ seasideprovider
Page 49
THE WESTERNPORT HOTEL 161 Marine Parade, San Remo 3925
Phone: 5678 5205 www.thewesternport.com.au
Page 30
THE WOOLI TAVERN 1 Vista Place, Cape Woolamai 3925 Phone 5956 6836 www.thewoolitavern.com.au
Page 19
Gippsland Gourmet
WONTHAGGI COAL MINE CAFÉ
19-37 Garden Street, Wonthaggi 3995
Phone: (03) 8427 2118
www.facebook.com/ wonthaggistatecoalminecafe
Page 28
SUMMER IN SOUTH GIPPSLAND
Eat and Drink in South Gippsland
South Gippsland is fortunate to have a wide array of eateries, wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries dotted throughout our villages which are comfortably nestled between rolling hills and a pristine coastline.
Summer in particular, is a picturesque season that provides a perfect backdrop to any eat and drink experience. Journey with us as we travel through the natural beauty that is South Gippsland.
Choose your starting point. For the sake of this article, we begin in the small but bustling township of Loch. Home to an award-winning winery and distillery, the town will surprise and delight. Indeed, our region is known for its wide variety of vineyards and breweries that produce some of the regions finest beer, spirits and wine. The lush green landscape produces a variety of wines with cool-climate characters and full fruit flavour. From a medium-bodied Pinot Noir to a floral Riesling, there are a number of award winning and notable wineries scattered around the region.
Spirits in South Gippsland are also known for their unique flavours, which often incorporate local botanicals like strawberry gum, juniper and lemon myrtle. A tasting paddle will help you find the perfect drop to take home and share with family and friends.
Travelling toward the heart of the region, you’ll encounter a couple of breweries with big taste. Traditional ales, barrel-aged sours and wild fermented beers are just a sample of what’s on offer here in South Gippsland. The region is ideal for growing the unique produce required for crafting such an iconic taste.
As you travel along the sunny countryside, paddocks of produce line the winding roads of your South Gippsland adventure. Known for highquality meats, the many local pubs, cafes and restaurants dish up all kinds of cuts on beds of mashed potato, fresh greens and roasted root vegetables. The fresh fruit and vegetables also make for tasty plates, snow peas, potatoes, asparagus and pears are just some of the delicious staples to come from the rich soil of the region.
If meat doesn’t take your fancy, keep travelling toward the east where you encounter the elegant flavour and delicate texture of some of the region’s finest fromages. Dairy being the second largest industry in South Gippsland means it’s only fitting that the region is home to unique and flavoursome cheeses. From internationally awarded blues to highly celebrated cheddars, the cheese scene is full of variety. Paired with wine or home-made quince paste, the region’s dairy produce is not to be overlooked.
Finish your journey along the coast where you’ll discover seafood in all its freshness and variety. Make your way to Foster if its shucked oysters you desire or journey the ten extra minutes to Toora for the ultimate seafood plates. Many townships dish up seafood with their own unique spin. Meeniyan serves an authentic Plea Trei (Cambodian smoked salmon) while Venus Bay pulls fresh baked scallop pies from the oven. A little taste of the southern coast can be found in all corners of the region.
Summer in South Gippsland is the perfect time to embark on your next food and drink adventure. From spritzy wines to aromatic flavours, the season tantalises the senses for a whole three months of sunshine and celebration. So, what are you waiting for? The flavour of South Gippsland awaits you.
For more information, please visit www.visitsouthgippsland.com.au or download the latest issue of Eat. Drink.Gippsland at www.visitgippsland.com.au/eat-drink-gippsland-guide
Enjoy nature as you have a bite to eat
■ Roll out a picnic rug at Van Cleef Reserve, Venus Bay.
■ Enjoy a packed cheese plate at Mount Nicoll Lookout
■ Peel prawns along the seaside at Walkerville beach
■ Grab some meats from a local butcher and fire up the BBQ at Sagasser Park, Toora
SEPTEMBER 2024
The Tidal Seafood Festival was recently held in September and once again the festival celebrated the local culinary scene and the community’s fishing industry.
The festival included a blessing of the fleet, cooking demonstrations, fishing clinics, and industry information stalls. There was a large food court area with a bar, wine and craft beer tastings, as well as live music and entertainment.
Plenty of fun for the family with a huge kids’ area with various activities and games, along with market stalls.
The profits from ticket sales will be shared with the local SES and CFA for improvements and new equipment.
by Doug Pell
Photos
MATES AND OCEAN REACH BREWERY
MARIO AND STAFF WITH NICK SAY
PHILLIP ISLAND MEADERY
PHILLIP ISLAND WINERY
Open Secret
It takes a little finding, but when you step inside Open Gippsland through the discreet entrance at the rear of 48 Bair Street in Leongatha, you immediately know that you’ve discovered something different and unique.
David Walsh and co-collaborator Shane Osborne have combined their vision, flair and talents in the quest to create a refined lounge bar experience that celebrates and showcases the rich tapestry of flavours and stories of the Gippsland region.
They have successfully fulfilled that ambition by providing a totally chic new place to enjoy a drink amongst friends or sample delicious local fare where everything is quintessentially Gippsland.
“If we can’t get something locally, we won’t have it,” David insists.
“It’s really important to us to operate with honesty and integrity.”
Since opening its doors at the beginning of winter, the venue has made a striking first impression on customers and already attracted a growing band of devotees predominantly through word-of-mouth and social media recommendations.
Not only is Open Gippsland a very cool spot to unwind in the late afternoon or evening to enjoy the best in local beverages and produce, it also looks amazing.
The venue’s walls are adorned with an assortment of recycled materials from doors and windows to sound speakers and a fascinating collection of old vinyl music albums, photos, posters and other memorabilia items. Patrons can relax in comfortable pre-loved sofas or choose to sit at wooden tables and chairs, high tops or bar stools.
“We hunted high and low through hard rubbish, garage sales and anywhere we could to find the reclaimed materials and discarded items we’ve used here,” David says.
Another distinctive feature is the venue’s magnificently crafted wooden bar top, sourced locally from nearby Mardan, made from aged Cypress close to a century old which has been cut and shaped to size and hand sanded.
Part of the vision behind Open Gippsland, particularly its hidden location, evokes memories of the speakeasys of America’s prohibition era, but this sophisticated lounge for over 18s is much more than that.
“Shane and I wanted it to be a local venue first and foremost. Our aim was that walking inside would provide a window into the region,” David explains.
“When the idea began to develop more than four years ago the starting point was that there were no alternatives to the existing licensed premises here, which traditionally in country towns is pubs. We discussed the prospect of establishing a high-quality bar and what contemplated what extra elements would make it special. In our minds the answer was that it needed to offer an environment that was completely different, and we’d build as much of it as we could from recycled materials. Our point of difference was that we were only going to use Gippsland-sourced products, whether that be our wines, spirits and beers from the bar or the food menu from the kitchen.”
David has travelled thousands of kilometres across all corners of Gippsland seeking out the best quality produce for the venue.
“On every trip I investigate the area and am always finding places I didn’t know existed. It’s incredible what’s available and we love to embrace the stories behind our suppliers,” David states.
The word is out about Leongatha’s unique new hidden bar experience.
Words by Chris West | Photos by Doug Pell
“Gippsland is such a big region, and we haven’t even really scratched the surface yet. It also has so many microclimates which create subtle differences and variety in the wine making which just adds to the choice.”
Open Gippsland is discerning with its food and beverage selections for the venue and has dared to be different with its dining format.
“We decided not to go for the traditional style of ordering a meal and sitting down to eat, but instead opted for more of a progressive dish share plate menu,” David notes.
Finding the perfect location for Open Gippsland was easy. David had previously occupied the premises as the proprietor of Rod Bending’s World kayak store, a business which suffered and became a casualty of the COVID era. The size of the venue allows for further planned extension in the coming months with the exciting addition of a function space and market hall.
One aspect of Open Gippsland that is a throwback to yesteryear is the deliberate absence of television screens in the venue.
“We are always welcoming and inclusive, but his isn’t a place to come to watch sport,” David emphasises.
“Bucking the trend of most venues, we are actually finding that people generally don’t have their mobile phones out here and are instead happily engaging in conversation. We want to foster social interaction without the distractions.”
Music helps set the vibe, with the volume able to be adjusted to suit the mood at any time. Whilst the dress code is neat casual attire, customers and staff are encouraged to show their own individual style.
David is the primary face of Open Gippsland and has been instrumental in attracting a highly skilled and welcoming team of staff to the venue, headed by bar manager Aidan Smart, front-of-house extraordinaire Bonnie Weymouth and chef Shalbe Welsh.
Aidan grew up locally in the Leongatha/Inverloch area before spending a decade in Melbourne working in nightclubs and bars. Returning home he strengthened his local connections as manager of McCartin’s Hotel in Leongatha and now lives nearby in Inverloch.
“We targeted Aidan for a combination of his experience, his ability to be awesomely engaging with customers, and talent for making sensational cocktails,” David comments.
Aidan reveals that people are coming from all around to make Open Gippsland their new meeting place.
“We’re appealing to everyone from young twenty somethings up to retirees,” he observes.
Aidan says the customers he converses with over the bar adore what’s been created at Open Gippsland and recognise the hard work that’s gone into it.
“In reality we’re offering a whole different product to what’s available around the town, but it’s been really well received and we’re developing quite a following amongst our regulars, so it’s been a great start,” he observes.
“We complement rather than compete with the pubs, which cater well for families with kids. That’s a very different market to us. We’ve been given an opportunity to do something unique in our own backyard and I think people will continue to walk through the doors and be absolutely blown away by the space.”
A display cabinet showcases the wines on offer at Open Gippsland, which includes a variety of the finest products from vineyards such as Bellvale Estate, Lightfoot, Narkoojee, Wild Dog, and Gippsland Wine Co. Beers on tap include popular offerings from Sailors Grave, Burra, Maffco and Good Land breweries. Spirits utilised in Open Gippsland’s enticing cocktail list hail from the South Gippsland Gin Co. and Logan’s Micro Distillery.
Visitors to the venue can opt to just enjoy a drink but are equally welcome to feed their appetite with any of the tempting locally sourced delights prepared with skill and devotion by chef Shalbe Walsh.
Shalbe lives in Fish Creek but hails originally from America, where she grew up on the outskirts of Seattle in Washington State. Having arrived in Australia nearly eight years ago, she has been based in South Gippsland for close to four years.
Shalbe has a particularly strong passion for regenerative, organic and sustainable food. Her mother is Native American and the upbringing Shalbe enjoyed as a young girl helped instil in her a deep connection with nature and the ground.
“We were fortunate to be introduced to Shalbe by a group of people who came in here,” David reveals.
“Her philosophies around food ethics tied in perfectly with our own thinking and ambitions for Open Gippsland.”
Shalbe says that through working previously at a café in Fish Creek she has built a lot of great connections and relationships with local farmers all around the area which she has been able to bring to Open Gippsland.
“I had been focussing on starting my own business, but after seeing this venue and hearing the vision I was addicted to it. At first, I thought I’d just come in and work a few hours a night but then the next week I thought it would best if I just committed myself fully to the kitchen,” she states.
Open Gippsland’s food menu alters frequently depending on seasonal availability but one aspect that never changes is that Shalbe prepares everything in house.
“We normally have around eight options on the menu and use what’s fresh and available. Everything is subject to change and can vary day to day,” Shalbe says.
The menu features shared plates, cheeses, desserts and even bite size options, all sourced directly from local famers, artisans and makers including Goshen Farm, Bassine Cheese, Terramirra Venison, Waratah Prime Lamb, Tarago Olives, Flock Stock & Basil, Wattle Bank Farm, Carboor Harvest, Pandesal Bakery and Silverwind Farm.
David outlines the changes currently taking place on the premises within stages 2 and 3 of the development.
“Stage 2 involves the creation of a versatile event space ideal for birthdays and other private functions which we expect to have ready before Christmas. It could also be utlised as overflow space for the bar area,” he says.
“Stage 3 is a larger space which will become a market hall for food and coffee with an outside forecourt and will also potentially include an art wall. We expect to have this operating early in the New Year.”
The arrival of summer will also see other notable changes at Open Gippsland, including a planned extension of trading days and the addition of an outdoor area near the bar’s entrance which will remove some of the element of mystery from its location. The timing of new facilities is perfect to coincide with the annual influx of holidaymakers and day trippers over the main tourism season.
Having run a pub in Melbourne in the late 1980s before making Venus Bay his home for the past 30 years, David says the long and challenging journey in establishing Open Gippsland has taken him to completely new ground.
“Everything was manual back then and it’s a very different world now. The technology has changed and operating a business like this has become much more complex. Shane has incredible expertise in this field, and I couldn’t think of a better partner to have alongside me. His input in getting Open Gippsland off the ground has been invaluable in so many ways,” he comments.
“It’s been a huge task over more than four years to get where we are but it’s great to be up and running and have these next phases of development happening in stages 2 and 3. There is a lot of local pride surrounding this venture. Since day one, all our suppliers have been very enthusiastic with their support, and the response from customers has been tremendous. Everyone’s really excited to have a platform that’s all about local.”
David emphasises that Open Gippsland provides an all-encompassing insight into the region in every aspect.
“We’ve made it a place where you can discover, taste and learn. We encourage our customers to explore their sense of adventure and try new things,” he says.
“A lot of people see history as always looking back, whereas we reckon history starts every day so we’re trying to embrace that in our thinking.”
Drop in to Open Gippsland for a visit this summer and you can create your own new memories with family or friends. It is recommended to refer to the website at opengippsland.com.au or phone the venue on 03 5662 3116 to check current opening times. You can also follow Open Gippsland on social media via Facebook, Instagram and X
WONTHAGGI COAL MINE CAFÉ
BOOKINGS AVAILABLE | OPEN 7 DAYS – 9am to 4pm
GLUTEN FREE, VEGETARIAN / VEGAN OPTIONS OFFERED WE CAN CATER FOR LARGE GROUPS
BREAKFAST: 9am – Noon | LUNCH: 11.30am – 3pm Phone: (03) 8427 2118 | 19-37 Garden Street, Wonthaggi 3995
We’re known for Local Lamb & Aged Beef on the bone • Award winning Italian Sausages • Fresh Fish on Friday • Private Livestock Butchery • Spit Roast Catering for all occasions • Bulk Meat Packs.
35 Years
We offer friendly service Value & Quality
OPEN: Monday to Friday 7.00am & 5.00pm Saturday 7.00am – 12.30pm SPIT HIRE AVAILABLE
CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Craig Young’s Butchery 90a Ridgway, Mirboo North Vic 3871 | Tel: 5668 1632
offers a sumptuous breakfast and lunch and along with their warm friendly service you can enjoy the beautiful views of Westernport Bay, either inside the spacious café or outside under cover.
My Seaside Café in Rhyll
So if you want to have a break or simply appreciate some time out to relax with a perfect coffee, a delicious bite to eat then head to My Seaside Café located on the esplanade at Rhyll – Phillip Island.
1/9 Beach Road , Rhyll Vic 3923
Adam & Michelle Thorn + Christie & Justin Leppitsch
The fearless foursome of Adam and Michelle Thorn, Justin and Christie Leppitsch became the new owners of the previous Pier Port Hotel at Port Welshpool in late 2023 and has been hard at work ever since transforming it into a modern stylish community friendly venue.
With no previous experience running a pub each of the four bring their own expertise to the venture. They have a combination of skills that they used very well to learn the ropes. Adam has a property maintenance business on the Mornington Peninsula and Michelle does the accounts and administration. Justin is an Assistant Coach at Collingwood Football Club, having previously been head coach in the past at Brisbane Lions and has a complex range of skills associated with those roles. Christie works in marketing and will be vital in many aspects of the pub relaunch. They are learning all the aspects of the business as they proceed.
The group has been gratified with the support they have received from the local community. Being a part of a small country town is an important factor in the success of the pub’s revival. People drop in to say hello and just come to lend a hand wherever they can. The original builders of the pub, Bernie and Marlene still live in Port Welshpool and have been watching with great interest the rejuvenation of their former creation and have given it their blessing.
The pub was built in 1993 initially to service the Seacat ferry service that operated from Port Welshpool to Tasmania. This service operated from 1991 to 1993. The Pier Port Hotel was a popular venue for locals and visitors after this time. Following a succession of owners it closed post Covid for several years until Michelle Thorn, on a whim, suggested to her husband and friends Justin and Christie that they could buy it. After much discussion and due diligence, they did just that!
Michelle and Adam have had a holiday house at Port Welshpool for several years, attracted by the environment and the local fishing opportunities. Together with Justin and Christie they could see that the community really needed a hub and meeting point and also the opportunity the now tired pub could offer as a future viable venue once it was refurbished. Since they began the project there has been constant interaction with people through social media as they promote events and happenings. The footy tipping was a popular competition with many more local activities in the pipeline.
Port Welshpool was first used by the whaling industry in the 1830s. It later became an important transport hub with the building of the famous Long Jetty, which was used for loading and unloading fish catches, cattle and timber. The Port Welshpool and District Maritime Museum, housed in one of the original fishermen’s houses, has a collection that showcases the history of the district and its maritime heritage.
A railway link to the town in 1891 enabled local produce to be then transported to Melbourne for sale. Though the train line has long since disappeared the Great Southern Rail Trail follows its path on a 131km trail, one of the longest in Australia, from Yarram to Nyora. The offshoot from the main rail trail at Welshpool actually ends almost in the back yard of the Port Welshpool pub.
Having the rail trail in their backyard is one of many opportunities that these new owners are looking forward to exploring as they revitalise the pub. They are going to provide a much needed hub and meeting place for the surrounding area. In the peak tourist season they will become a destination where people will flock to. Their location on the waterfront with views to Wilsons Promontory is fantastic. The outdoor areas will take advantage of these and provide ideal places to soak up the atmosphere of this charming seaside hamlet.
The recreational fishing fraternity head to Port Welshpool using the boat ramp to launch their boats and often the main street is buzzing with cars and trailers. How ideal will it be that they will be able to enjoy a hot meal and cold drink after a day of fishing?
Professional fishing boats still use the Port and charter boats also leave from the facilities at Port Welshpool. Visitors find pleasure having a walk along the jetties looking at the boats and seeing what is happening around. Even in colder weather a drive to see the windswept seascape is such a joy. The added bonus is to be able to retreat to the warmth of the cosy fire at The Rusty Gurnard to enjoy a great pub meal, especially a traditional serving of fish and chips. The new chef John having trained in and run kitchens across the globe is also an avid fisherman with his seafood creations being a specialty. He sources as much as he can fresh from local fishermen and suppliers. He has been a great “catch” and leads the kitchen team to create fantastic meals.
A major draw card in the town is the famous Long Jetty built in 1938. An extensive renovation was completed in 2018 to make it the fantastic attraction it is today. It’s a haven for people wanting to fish off the jetty, but mostly for people to enjoy a stroll while experiencing Corner Inlet and views of The Prom. In summer families flock to the safe and shallow waters surrounding the entrance to the jetty while others venture further out on paddle boards and kayaks to explore. It’s an ideal destination with the added bonus now of going to The Rusty Gurnard for a coffee, snack or scrumptious meal.
Another new innovation that is increasingly attractive to travellers, especially “Grey Nomads” is pub camping. People with fully selfcontained RVs or Vans can stay on pub grounds and enjoy the pub’s hospitality. The team is hoping they can use the large lawned area at the rear of the pub for this.
The refurbishment of the pub has been done from top to bottom, inside and out. The dated 90’s interior has been given a facelift with a stylish modern coastal theme creating a relaxing and welcoming vibe that invites patrons to relax and enjoy themselves. A new state-of-theart kitchen was installed to provide meals to suit all tastes and dietary requirements.
It’s a real breath of fresh (salty) air to see new life brought back into places where there is a real need for them and where they can grow to become much loved focal points for the local community and visitors alike. Not only do they provide entertainment, meals, laughter and fun but also employment and an important hub for the people of the surrounding area.
The learning curve these hardworking couples embarked upon has already revived the pub and the forecast is for calm seas and fair winds!
The Rusty Gurnard 85 Lewis Street Port Welshpool www.therustygurnard.com.au @therustygurnard Bookings 0481 200 323
New signage enhances the echoes of the 1990’s design of the exterior and the gravelled outdoor seating areas provide the perfect place to enjoy the sea breeze and stunning views. The hard work done by Adam, Michelle, Justin and Christie in transforming the once tired pub into a sparkling new local icon is evident in every corner of the place. All of this topped off by the friendly welcome from the hosts and staff.
Here's a quick rundown of Kilcunda
Scenic Beauty
The village is renowned for its stunning landscapes, including the iconic Kilcunda Trestle Bridge, which spans Bourne Creek. This historic bridge, built in 1910, is a popular spot for photographers and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Beaches
Kilcunda boasts several beautiful beaches, such as Kilcunda Beach and Shelley Beach. Kilcunda Beach features wide stretches of sand with rocky platforms and shallow rock pools, perfect for exploring. Shelley Beach is known for its small shells, providing a unique seaside experience.
Outdoor Activities
The area offers a range of activities, including swimming, fishing, surfing, and kayaking on the Powlett River. The Bass Coast Rail Trail, a 23-kilometer walking and cycling path, passes through Kilcunda and offers scenic coastal views.
Local Attractions
The quirky Kilcunda Lobster Festival, held annually at the end of January, is a local favourite. The village also features boutique retail pods at The Sticks, where you can find handmade goods and fresh produce.
Community Spirit
The Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel, also known as the Killy Pub, is a beloved spot for meals, live music, and incredible sunsets. Kilcunda is the perfect destination for those looking to immerse themselves in nature, explore local history, and experience the charm of a small coastal community.
KILCUNDA POST OFFICE
KILCUNDA RAIL BRIDGE
A DELIGHTFUL COASTAL VILLAGE
Situated in South Gippsland, Victoria, it is nestled between Phillip Island and Inverloch, offering breathtaking views of Bass Strait.
Photos by Doug Pell
THE NEW SKATE PARK
gippsland life Summer ����/�5
Kilcunda
KILCUNDA GENERAL STORE
SHELLEY BEACH
THE OCEAN VIEW HOTEL
THE STICKS
TRUCKING AROUND GIPPSLAND TO ALL YOUR EVENTS, WE CAN CATER ANY LOCATION
We are fully self-contained and can take care of everything including attendants.
BOOK US FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS - EVENTS & CORPORATE FUNCTIONS
We also offer catering for many other occasions including birthdays, weddings and engagements. You can find us at Markets around Gippsland and we can prepare our menu to suit your event. Contact us today on 0447 728 547 or brent@brentsinclaircatering.com.au
Become a RSL Member
Earn Reward Points
Daily Food & Beverage Promotions
10% Discount on Food and Beverage
Thursday Members night – Happy Hour, Members Draw, Raffles. Fab Friday’s – Members Draw, Meat Tray Raffles, Joker Poker
Shows & Events
For Upcoming Shows and Events check the Website regularly
Bistro Hours
Monday – Saturday:
Lunch: 12pm – 2pm
Dinner: 5:30pm – 8pm
Sunday: Lunch: 12pm – 2pm
Dinner: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Dinner Bookings Essential
Venue Trading Hours
Monday – Wednesday: 10am-10pm
Thursday & Friday: 10am-11pm Saturday: 11am-11pm | Sunday: 11am-10pm
Let us host your next Function
Let us look after your event and create an event to remember! With a large range of function services available, Leongatha RSL is here to provide you with memorable events and great local service.
Red Poppy Café
Red Poppy Café pays homage to our Service Men and Women and offers a bright space for coffee and a light snack every day of the week.
REGULAR EVENTS INCLUDE MUSIC USING LOCAL MUSICIANS
CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR LATEST NEWS & EVENTS
Located on the top of the hill at The Gurdies, our winery boasts breathtaking views of French Island and Western Port Bay. Our large Cellar Door with open fire place, huge patio and outdoor function area, caters for all your special occasions.
Come and experience what The Gurdies Winery has to offer.
Explore The Nobbies
A natural wonderland on Phillip Island
Photos by Doug Pell
The Nobbies is a stunning ecotourism destination located at Point Grant on the western tip of Phillip Island.
Managed by Phillip Island Nature Parks, it offers a range of attractions and activities.
SEAL ROCKS
Home to Australia’s largest colony of fur seals, with around 16,000 seals inhabiting the area. You can view them from the boardwalks and even spot them lounging on the rocks. Wildlife Coast Cruises also offer boat trips on a daily basis, weather permitting and you will have the opportunity to see the seals within metres of the boat.
THE BLOWHOLE
An impressive natural feature where waves crash into a sea cave, creating a spectacular jet of water soaring into the sky.
BOARDWALKS
Winding pathways that offer breathtaking clifftop views of Bass Strait, Seal Rocks, and the surrounding coastline.
WILDLIFE WATCHING
Opportunities to see a variety of sea birds, migrating whales, and even fairy penguins in their burrows.
The Nobbies Centre also features a café, a children’s play area, gift shop, making it a great spot for families and visitors of all ages.
Need for Feed
The Need for Feed initiative recently organised a significant hay run to support drought-affected farmers on King Island. On May 18, 2024, 30 trucks transported 550 tonnes of oaten hay and 220 tonnes of cattle pellets from Swan Hill to Port Welshpool. The feed was then loaded onto the King Islander vessel for shipment to King Island.
This effort involved many volunteers and local groups, including the Port Welshpool Coast Guard and the Yarram Lions Club, who helped keep the drivers well-fed during their stay. It's heartwarming to see communities come together to support those in need during challenging times.
Photos by Doug Pell
Port Welshpool Long Jetty
Photos by Doug Pell
The Port Welshpool Long Jetty is an iconic landmark in the coastal town of Port
Length: The jetty stretches over 800 metres into the beautiful waters of Corner Inlet, making it one of the longest jetties in the southern hemisphere.
Activities: It’s a popular spot for fishing, with opportunities to catch snapper, squid, and flathead. You can fish from the jetty itself or launch a boat from the nearby boat ramp.
Scenery: The jetty offers stunning views of Wilsons Promontory and the surrounding coastline. It’s a great place for a leisurely walk, with interpretive signs along the way providing information about the local area and its history.
Food: The Rusty Gurnard, recently renovated, is now open for business and offers enjoyable meals and has a fine selection of wines, beers and spirits on offer.
Welshpool.
In 2025, The Noojee Hotel will be celebrating it’s 100th birthday, so keep an eye out on our website and socials for exciting events that will be held during the year. 2025 Charity Duck Race, Saturday March 22nd, 12 - 5pm, Noojee Pub River Flat
BRUNCH, ALLPRESS COFFEE, LUNCH, BREAKFAST, FRESH BREAD, ALL AVAILABLE IN THE SEASIDE TOWN OF NEWHAVEN ON PHILLIP ISLAND. THE SIMPLE THINGS... DONE REALLY WELL!
TRADING HOURS: �.�� AM TO � PM DAILY | CATERING AVAILABLE SHOP � , �-�� FORREST AVENUE, NEWHAVEN � ���
NUDE LUCY | ENA PELLY | ALIAS MAE | LUV LOU | ARAMINTA JAMES | KIVARI
NEWHAVEN, PHILLIP ISLAND
plans on track MTB
The Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association is advocating passionately for much needed local infrastructure and facilities for riders.
Bass Coast is home to a growing community of mountain bike (MTB) enthusiasts, who in following their pursuit continue to face one critical ongoing dilemma.
“Unfortunately, we have no local trail infrastructure in our area,” laments Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association Committee Member, Michael Wright.
“Riders here have had to resort to using unsanctioned jumps due to the absence of any properly designated facilities.”
Michael even went to the effort of creating a private trail circuit on his own property on Phillip Island but acknowledges that most people are unlikely to be able to emulate a similar set-up at home.
“Local Bass Coast MTB enthusiasts have no real option but to travel elsewhere to places in broader Gippsland such as PBI Ride Farm in Stony Creek and Haunted Hills near Moe, or further afield where established infrastructure does exist. We have become accustomed to driving considerable distances out of necessity, but hopefully some sanctioned local facilities for widespread use may be on the way to make Bass Coast a recognised destination for MTB.”
Mountain bike riding is a healthy, outdoor pursuit enjoyed both by individuals of all ages and families as a group. Michael has so far introduced two of his three sons to MTB.
“My elder two boys have become super keen riders, and I’ve just started introducing my youngest to the thrills of MTB. We find it such a fantastic activity to do together,” he says.
Michael has been advocating for local MTB facilities for several years, and both he and Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association Secretary, Eve Hollole were instrumental in the establishment of a MTB academy at Newhaven College on Phillip Island last year based around the installation of a pump track and micro trail within the school grounds.
“Eve and I both had children at Newhaven amongst a cohort of about twenty students who were really into MTB. Creating the academy was a parent-led initiative designed to provide better opportunities for the kids to compete in inter-school competitions,” Michael explains.
“In constructing the facilities, our group of volunteer parents drew on my own trail building experience from my home and transferred that to the school project.”
The establishment of the academy has been a significant step forward for the college and Michael now wants to see the impetus carried into the development of facilities for the wider community.
“The school project generated a lot of interest, and the natural extension is to now broaden the focus. Breaking out offsite will also complement Newhaven’s program,” he states.
Words by Chris West | Photos by Michael Wright & Doug Pell
MICHAEL WRIGHT RIDING AT HIS FAVOURITE PLACE THREDBO
“There is a massive need for MTB infrastructure right around not just Victoria but the whole of Australia at present. We also recognise that not all kids are able to access facilities outside our shire. The Bass Coast area very much typifies the current situation in terms of a lack of facilities and we’re just trying to help fill that void.”
But over the past year, the wheels of change have really been set in motion as a result of the development and recent adoption of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Mountain Bike, Pump Track and BMX Strategy.
“Their original blueprint encompassed only Pump Track and BMX, but Eve and I were successful in leading the lobbying to have MTB added within the strategy,” Michael notes.
The need for the MTB community to liaise effectively with Council was one of the main catalysts for formally establishing the Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association in June this year.
“Previously, our group had existed informally for several years, but it was important for us to come together with a united voice. It also provides the status to allow us to apply for financial grants,” Michael observes.
“As an association, our overarching aims are to promote the sport of mountain biking by implementing and enhancing local trail systems, advocating for further trail access, and fostering a community for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities.
We are committed to promoting the benefits of mountain biking, including physical fitness, mental well-being, and community engagement, while ensuring the sustainability and accessibility of the trails.”
Initial discussions with Council over recent months have been positive and the Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association’s input has helped shape the revised strategy.
“We are advocating for three tiers of Mountain Bike facilities in Bass Coast which includes micro trails in our nature reserves, urban infrastructure (pump tracks and jump lines) in our towns and a destination gravity trail network at The Gurdies Nature Reserve near Grantville,” Michael reveals.
Bass Coast Shire’s strategy identifies various short, medium, and longterm objectives. Michael acknowledges that the infrastructure gap will not be rectified immediately. Potential sites often require complex discussions involving multiple stakeholders across different levels of government or associated authorities.
Many items on the infrastructure wish list will require State Government funding.
The Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association considers micro trails to be the “low hanging fruit” that can realistically be achieved in the short term at minimal cost.
PROPOSED TRACK COVERED BY TREE LOGS
“These narrow trails designed specifically for mountain biking are often found in smaller nature reserves like urban sites but also in areas with limited natural amenity to cater for mountain biking like we have in Bass Coast Shire,” Michael says.
“Micro trails offer a quick and accessible way for riders to experience suitable terrain, featuring elements like berms, bumps, small jumps and wooden features. Despite their compact size, they provide an engaging ride experience, perfect for honing skills or enjoying brief, frequent sessions. They are typically built to be low-maintenance and environmentally friendly, utilising the natural landscape, navigating sensitive areas and incorporating sustainable trail-building practices.”
The Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association’s vision is for a network of micro trails to be implemented across the Shire.
“Council’s MTB strategy recommends various sites in which micro trails could be implemented. Our aspiration is to see micro trails implemented in three clusters where enthusiasts could cycle through a small network in a precinct for an overall experience,” Michael comments.
“The MTB strategy identified areas on Phillip Island and the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine as suitable locations for micro trails. We would like to also see micro trails in the middle of the shire on Kilcunda Foreshore Reserve. Early discussions with the various controllers of the suitable land sites that have been identified are starting to take place.”
The Wonthaggi State Coal Mine concept has been designed to complement and rejuvenate the existing historical site through the creation of a state-of-the-art mountain bike facility which would have the potential to include micro trails but also urban facilities such as pump tracks and jump lines as part of an overall MTB destination. It is envisaged that the facility would be themed with a coal mine influence in keeping with its surrounds and connections to local history.
Much of the inspiration behind the Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association’s vision for micro trail networks comes from the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in the town of Bentonville in Arkansas, USA which has become a Mecca for the MTB world.
This wonderland of trails, jumps, bridges and slalom courses was developed through the investment of the Walton Family Foundation of Walmart store fame. It is described as the Disney World of MTB.
“There is hardly a mountain in sight around Bentonville, but they went all in to ensure everywhere there now caters for mountain biking,” Michael says.
“They’ve created little side trails off most paths and landscaped features that can be ridden right through the town. All nature reserves have micro trails running through them. It’s a theme and lifestyle the whole area has immersed themselves in, whether they ride or not. It has rejuvenated the town and had immeasurable economic and health benefits,” he adds.
Michael emphasises that Micro Trails are the most readily achievable MTB infrastructure solution for the Bass Coast in the short term.
“Micro trails are a great way to combat the unsanctioned trail building that most councils are dealing with at the moment and turning that around into the design and creation of new sanctioned facilities,” he says.
“Cost is not the issue with micro trails. It’s more about obtaining the necessary permissions, establishing some parameters and allowing the community to help implement and maintain any new amenities. Our association is assembling a group of volunteers ready to not only help design but also build some of this amenity. We’re also ready to help fundraise as well, as we did with the Newhaven College project.”
Urban facilities typically in the form of pump tracks and jump lines are another key component of the MTB vision for Bass Coast and are considered an essential part of mountain bike culture. Importantly, these facilities don’t require a lot of space or a hill and can be easily implemented in large parks. They fulfil the need similar to a skate park where like-minded people can gather and practise skills.
MICHAEL WRIGHT ON PROPOSED MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACK
As the name suggests, urban MTB facilities need to be located close to populated areas and provide ease of access for frequent use.
“The latest trend is to have large scale destination urban MTB facilities rather than smaller facilities with more frequently placed within an area,” Michael notes.
“We would like to see two of these large scale, destination urban facilities implemented at both ends of Bass Coast - one in Wonthaggi and one on Phillip Island at Cowes. These types of facilities carry a significant cost to put in and funding would need to come primarily from the State Government. We’re asking for Council to confirm suitable sites and fund plans which would allow a shovel ready package to be put together.”
The third component of the MTB vision is gravity trails, which utilise natural topography to create steep inclines with the addition of daring jumps and challenging obstacles.
“We’ve identified that The Gurdies is undoubtedly the best location for a network of gravity flow trails in the area,” Michael says.
“It has for decades had a network of unsanctioned trails which are subject to the build it and knock it down mentality. There is no reason why The Gurdies could not be made similar to what is available at Red Hill or Creswick or the like. It offers an amount of elevation and vertical descent comparable with all the other popular gravity trail networks around Victoria,” he adds.
Michael says the involvement of several key stakeholders is required to remove roadblocks currently holding back this part of the overall MTB vision.
“Although recreational bike riding and horse riding are permitted on the fire access trails within The Gurdies at the moment, Parks Victoria have previously resisted allowing additional trails to be implemented for Mountain Bike riding.
Council also owns 150 acres at The Gurdies set aside for carbon offsetting, and there is also a special interest group, Save Western Port Woodlands (SWPW) campaigning for the cessation of sand mining in the area,” he notes.
“We would like to see all parties - Parks Victoria, Council, SWPW and our association - come together to discuss relevant concerns and plan how we can work together so everyone can see the benefit of utilising this amazing place for environmental education and recreational enjoyment for generations to come.”
In summary, Michael says the BCMBA’s view is that modern mountain bike amenity should not be reserved for Alpine Shires only and that Bass Coast has every attribute required to play a more prominent role as a MTB destination going forward.
“By pulling together various solutions across the state, national and global MTB scene, we can easily form a host of Mountain Bike experiences spread across the shire to not only satisfy the local MTB community but attract outside visitation from participants of one of Australia’s most popular pursuits,” he comments.
“Despite Bass Coast having extensive cleared landscape for farming which reduces the amount of suitable areas for traditional mountain bike trails, our association has been able to identify viable options for all three tiers of the required MTB amenity to be accommodated here in the shire. We have been encouraged by our discussions with Council prior to the recent Local Government elections and hope the new Council maintains the level of energy and momentum that we’ve built together so far.”
For further information or to support the Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association in its endeavours, contact basscoastmtb@gmail.com or visit basscoastmtbassociation.wordpress.com at any time.
PROPOSED MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACK
SON HUGO RIDING MICRO TRAIL AT NEWHAVEN COLLEGE
Hundreds turn out for the 2024
That’s a wrap on the 2024 Bass Coast Cycle Challenge and what a day it was. The sun was shining, the smiles were beaming, and music filled the air as around 400 cyclists turned out on Saturday 9 November, for the 13th edition of this annual event.
Starting and finishing in Inverloch, cyclists from 13 years old to over 80, on all bike types including e-bikes, took to the start line, and challenged themselves over one of five incredible routes: 121km, 85km, 53km, 40km and the inaugural 100km gravel ride.
“Wow what a day. Today was one of the best!” said event director Gavin Slavin.
“Thank you to everyone who took part and helped on the day and in the lead up. It was a terrific day and we are thrilled to support more local students to take part in RYDA road safety education workshops.”
These sentiments were echoed by many riders as they crossed the finish line and enjoyed the village market in Rainbow Park, organised by the incredible volunteers at Rotary, Inverloch.
The Bass Coast Cycle Challenge is a true community event, and would not be possible without the support of many key people and groups, incredible volunteers, sponsors, local businesses.
Uniting for a great cause
We are thrilled riders had a fantastic experience, and we are equally as thrilled that because of our riders, we are able to support in-school courses teaching life-saving road and driver knowledge. Over the past 10+ years, the BCCC has enabled over 3500 secondary school students, from the South Gippsland and Bass Coast areas, to take part in the RYDA Road Safety Education Program, and L2P programs, where they learn strategies and skills which they will retain for life. This could not happen without our riders. Thank you!
PHOTOS BY DOUG PELL PHOTOGRAPHY
BCCC COMMITTEE: L-R GAVIN SLAVIN, KATIE HODGE, ANTON HOCKEY & BOB WILLIAMS
GAVIN SLAVIN BCCC DIRECTOR
SUE WRIGHT • 85KM RIDE & PETER SUGDEN 53KM RIDEWINNERS OF THE GIPPSLAND LIFE OVER 60S
Photos by Doug pell
The Great Southern Rail Trail, between Koonwarra and Meeniyan, is a delightful section of this scenic trail, offering a mix of natural beauty and historical charm.
Distance: The trail covers approximately 7.9 kilometres, making it a manageable ride or walk for most people.
Scenery: As you cycle or walk, you'll be treated to picturesque views of farmland, bushland, and the Tarwin River. The trail also features several small bridge crossings and sealed underpasses, adding to the adventure.
Historic Elements: You'll pass by the impressive Tarwin River Bridge and the remnants of the old trestle bridge, which add a touch of history to your journey.
Community Vibes: Koonwarra is a quaint village with a welcoming atmosphere, known for its rustic heritage buildings and country gardens. Meeniyan, on the other hand, is a small town with a big heart, offering a variety of cafes, delis, and boutique stores.
Activities: The trail is popular for cycling, walking, and even horse riding. It's a great way to explore the local area and enjoy some outdoor exercise.
This section of the Great Southern Rail Trail is perfect for a leisurely day out, whether you're looking to enjoy nature, get some exercise, or simply take in the local sights.
Biketoberfest Leongatha
Words: Cherie Pritchett | Photos: Doug Pell
Biketoberfest Leongatha was a concept that was devised during Covid.
We were wondering how we could bring the community back together. We had just had the redevelopment in Bair Street and thought we would love to showcase that. As we are all motorbike enthusiasts and ride ourselves, we thought, “why not make it a motorcycle event?” Leongatha Business Association was very keen to get on board and support us, so with that we became a sub-committee of the Association. We are a not-for-profit event relying on sponsorship and donations to keep the event going each year.
We wanted to raise awareness for mental health and road safety. Black Dog Ride is a big part of our event.
We feel community-based support systems, including peer support groups, provide an important source of emotional and social assistance for individuals facing mental health challenges. Peer networks are a safe space to share experiences, coping strategies and emotional support prompting a sense of belonging. This year we were lucky enough to have Psychs on Bikes attend and carry out free mental health checks on the day.
We also had the Victoria Police in attendance to talk about road safety that has become a growing concern over the years. Motorbike use has grown steadily in Victoria with more individuals opting for motorcycles as an economical and convenient mode of transport.
However, riding a motorbike presents inherent risks, particularly due to exposure to external elements and the limited protection during collisions. The more we can raise awareness for this the safer we all become.
October is motorcycle awareness month in Victoria and is an annual safety campaign dedicated to raising awareness about motorcycle safety and reducing the number of motorbike related accidents. Mutual respect and safe driving is the key.
This year we had approximately 800 bikes parked up in Bair Street and the town was buzzing. Some of the cafes stayed open till about 2pm. It was great to see the street so busy and the shop owners supporting the event. The Stallholders had a great day and money was raised for the Black Dog Ride.
We had the Trials riding in Michael Place and they never disappoint, putting on a fantastic show for all to watch. The local CFA even bought out their trucks and set up interactions for the kids.
Next year we are hoping for bigger and better things.
CPK McLaren MotorBody was the Winner of the Gippsland Business Awards Mechanical Trades & Construction Category in 2016 and 2023; also recognised as one of the State’s leading Automotive Repair Facilities – consistently one of only 5 Regional Finalists in the VACC Automotive Industry Awards from 2016 to 2024.
UTILISING THE LATEST
Environmentally friendly automotive refinish technologies, diagnostic fault discovery and safety restraint system equipment: by highly qualified technicians in all aspects of vehicle body & mechanical repairs.
HOME GIPPSLAND
ALEX SCOTT & STAFF – CLASSIC GOOD SERVICE SINCE 1886 113a Thompson Ave, Cowes 3922 Phone: 5952 2633 www.alexscott.com.au
Page 147
BJS INSURANCE BROKERS – HOLIDAY RENTALS INSURANCE
2/88-98 Watt Street, Wonthaggi 3995 Phone: 1800 358 131 www.holidayrentalsinsurance.com.au
Page 11
BRACKEN LANDSCAPING & STONEMASONRY – A TIMELESS ART
Phone: Paul – 0409 180 061 | Josh 0413 509 088 www.brackenlandscaping.com Page 74-75
CARPET COURT – CREATE YOUR OWN SANCTUARY
Phillip Island Carpet Court, 9 The Concourse, Cowes 3922 | Phone 5952 6377
SPACE CARPET COURT
41A Smith Street, Warragul 3820 | Phone 5622 3933
LEONGATHA CARPET COURT 43 Blair Street, Leongatha 3953 | Phone 5662 4164 www.carpetcourt.com.au Page 62
DAIKIN AIR CONDITIONING
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME INTO A HAVEN 1/60 Genista Street, San Remo 3925 Phone: AH commercial breakdown 5678 5190 www.coastalairrefrigandaircon.com.au Page 12-13
ENCORE RETIREMENT LIVING – FOR THOSE 55 AND BETTER
2 Flagship Drive, Trafalgar 3824 91 Coast Avenue, Paynesville 3880 Phone: 1800 362 673 www.encoreliving.com.au Page 10
GIPPSLAND REAL ESTATE
118-120 Johnson Street, Maffra Phone 5147 2200 4 Temple Street, Heyfield Phone 5148 3007 191-193 Raymond Street, Sale Phone 5144 1888 www.gippslandrealestate.com Page 115
HAYMES PAINT SHOP – WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
215 Settlement Road, Cowes 3922 | Phone 5952 2522
5-7 Korumburra Road, Wonthaggi 3995 | Phone 5672 5522
68 Bair Street, Leongatha 3953 | Phone 5662 2941 www.haymespaint.com.au
Page 92
LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES – LIVE LIFE ON YOUR OWN ISLAND
TIME AT LIFESTYLE PHILLIP ISLAND
59 Justice Road, Cowes 3922
Phone: 1300 505 560 www.lifestylecommunities.com.au
Page 5
MELALEUCA NURSERY – INDIGENOUS & NATIVE PLANT FARM
50 Pearsalls Road, Inverloch 3996
Phone: 5674 1014
www.melaleucanursery.com.au Page 39
MELBOURNE FURNISHING CO
READY TO FIND YOUR DREAM FURNITURE
119 Graham Street, Wonthaggi 3995
Phone: 5672 1027
www.melbfurnco.com
Page 50
PALM LAKE RESORT
START YOUR JOURNEY HERE – AFFORDABLE LUXURY IN PAYNESVILLE
78 Ashley Street, Paynesville 3875
Phone: 1800 960 943 www.palmlakeresort.com.au
Pages 7 & 66-67
RIGBY HOMEMAKERS
FURNITURE & BEDDING
24 Inverloch Road, Wonthaggi 3953
Phone: 5672 5906
www.rigbyhomemakersfurniture.com.au
Page 11
VIRTUE HOMES
THE MARSHALL 28 NOW OPEN | FAMILY FRIENDLY LIVING
Display Homes: 2-8 Broadway Boulevard, Traralgon 3844
68 Marshalls Road, Traralgon 3844
Phone: 5176 5997
www.virtuehomes.com.au
Pages 72-73 and BC
Palm Lake Resort Paynesville is excited to bring a new era of over-50s lifestyle living to the Gippsland region. Created specifically for those looking to downsize without sacrificing comfort, style, or community connection, Palm Lake Resort offers a fresh approach to over-50s living, combining high-quality design with an active and engaging community atmosphere.
“Creating a community is about so much more than just building homes,” says Alysia Nechvoglod, Sales and Marketing General Manager. “Our goal is to establish a community where every homeowner can live a life filled with comfort, connection, and opportunity. Palm Lake Resort Paynesville embodies this vision—a community where people thrive.”
With over 47 years of experience building communities across Australia, Palm Lake Resort has refined what the best in over-50s looks and feels like. Our Paynesville project represents an incredible opportunity for Gippsland locals, offering an enriched lifestyle that combines quality, community, and convenience in one unique resortstyle package.
The homes at Palm Lake Resort Paynesville are designed with the modern over-50s homeowner in mind, offering spacious, open-plan layouts that make day-to-day living and entertaining a breeze. “Our designs focus on comfort and sophistication, allowing homeowners to spend less time on upkeep and more time enjoying the good life,” says Nechvoglod.
These homes feature designer kitchens, generous living spaces, and expansive outdoor areas ideal for embracing the natural beauty of the Gippsland region. Crafted with high-quality materials and sustainable design principles, every home offers low maintenance and energy efficiency, balancing luxury and practicality.
“This is more than just a place to live—it’s a place that feels like home from the moment you step through the door,” says Nechvoglod. Three beautifully appointed display homes are open for inspection, providing prospective homeowners with a firsthand look at the thoughtful design and architectural quality that Palm Lake Resort has become known for.
Palm Lake Resort Paynesville isn’t just a new home; it’s an opportunity to join a vibrant, social, and supportive community. The resort creates a welcoming environment for homeowners to foster friendships, discover new passions, and lead an active, engaged lifestyle.
Sales Manager Sandy Martin says, “This community is about offering a lifestyle full of options—whether joining a book club, dining with friends, or participating in wellness activities. We understand that this stage of life is about freedom and fulfilment, and we want our homeowners to feel supported in living fully.”
Palm Lake Resort Paynesville homeowners enjoy shared amenities supporting personal wellness and active social life. Whether dining together, gathering for a game of Ten-Pin, or participating in one of the many complimentary activities, the environment here encourages connection and a life of purpose.
In April 2025, Palm Lake Resort Paynesville will proudly introduce the Latitude Country Club, a state-of-the-art facility that sets a new standard for over-50s living. The Latitude Country Club will feature amenities that support relaxation, wellness, and recreation, including a heated indoor swimming pool, spa, Milon gymnasium, luxury movie theatre, and arts and crafts studios.
Additionally, the club will offer a ten-pin bowling alley and cozy lounges, ensuring there’s something for every resident to enjoy. “Our Country Club is designed to be more than just a facility—it’s a social hub where connection and fun come naturally,” says Nechvoglod. “We want every homeowner to feel this is a space they can enjoy and share with friends and family.”
One of the unique aspects of Palm Lake Resort Paynesville is its transparent financial model. Unlike some over-50s communities, Palm Lake Resort Paynesville does not charge deferred management fees (DMFs), providing homeowners greater financial peace of mind. “Our no-DMF option is part of our commitment to a smooth, stress-free transition into over-50s living. It’s about ensuring homeowners know exactly what they’re getting,” explains Nechvoglod.
Palm Lake Resort is built on a foundation of community, quality, and a commitment to creating spaces where people genuinely thrive. With decades of experience in over-50s living, every detail of our resorts has been carefully refined to provide the best homeowner experience. Palm Lake Resort Paynesville proudly continues this legacy, offering a luxurious, supportive community designed with you in mind.
For Gippsland’s over-50s, Palm Lake Resort Paynesville presents a rare opportunity to be part of a welcoming over-50s lifestyle community that offers everything needed for an active, fulfilling life. “We’re thrilled to bring this incredible project to the Gippsland region and look forward to welcoming new homeowners who want to make the most of this exciting chapter in their lives,” says Nechvoglod.
Book your private inspection of our display homes today by calling 1800 960 943. Discover firsthand why over 10,000 people across Australia have chosen to call Palm Lake Resort home.
Tambo
Take The East Gippsland Upper
Tambo River near Swan Reach
Tambo River near Metung
UPPER TAMBO RIVER
TAMBO RIVER SWAN REACH HOUSEBOAT
TAMBO RIVER NEAR METUNG
RAYMOND ISLAND LOCAL
Point Hicks
in Summer! Getaway
East Gippsland is a picturesque destination offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and local charm. Located in Victoria, Australia, this region is known for its breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant wildlife.
Natural Beauty
East Gippsland boasts stunning coastal scenery, lush forests, and serene lakes. Visitors can enjoy the vast expanse of Ninety Mile Beach, explore the rugged beauty of Croajingolong National Park, or take in the views along the East Gippsland Rail Trail.
Outdoor Activities
The area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and boating. The Gippsland Lakes, Australia's largest inland waterway, is perfect for water sports, while the national parks offer countless trails and wildlife spotting opportunities.
Local Culture
East Gippsland is rich in local culture and history. Charming towns like Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, and Orbost offer a glimpse into the region's heritage, with local markets, galleries, and historic sites to explore.
Culinary Delights
Food lovers will appreciate the fresh, regional produce available at local cafes and restaurants. From gourmet dining to quaint eateries, the culinary scene reflects the region's agricultural bounty.
Relaxation and Accommodation
Whether you prefer camping under the stars, staying in a cosy bed and breakfast, or enjoying the comforts of a luxury lodge, East Gippsland has accommodation options to suit every preference.
An East Gippsland getaway promises a rejuvenating escape, filled with natural wonders, outdoor adventures, and warm local hospitality. It's the perfect destination to unwind, explore, and create lasting memories.
DOUG PELL PHOTOGRAPHY
Paynesville
POINT HICKS THURRA RIVER
PAYNESVILLE FORESHORE
Metung
OMEO HISTORIC POST OFFICE
METUNG WHARF
MARLO ANGLING CLUB
MARLO BRODRIBB RIVER
MALLACOOTA WHARF
BULLOCK ISLAND CAFE
BUCHAN - FAIRY CAVE ENTRANCE
BRUTHEN TAMBO RIVER
BAIRNSDALE LIBRARY
VIRTUE HOMES
A Timeless Craft Creating Beauty with Stone
Words
PAUL BRACKEN, JOSH BRACKEN & PATTY HARMER
by Paul Bracken
Photos by Doug Pell
After completing my landscape design trade in 1987, I discovered a profound love for stone—both the naturally occurring stone in creeks and waterfalls, and the human-crafted stone structures.
To me, stone has always been a timeless element that bridges civilization with nature. In 1989, a traditional stonemasonry business in Castlemaine recognised my enthusiasm and offered to train me in the craft.
After a few years working on various building projects, I decided to venture out on my own, merging house and garden with an unwavering passion for creating beautiful spaces both indoors and outdoors.
Over the years, many projects have come and gone, but my passion remains strong. This passion has been passed down to a new generation: my son Joshua, now my junior partner, and Patty Harmer, our apprentice craftsman. We favour local stone and prefer using the time-honoured tools of the trade— hammers, stone chisels, and splitting tools.
I cherish the integrity and timeless beauty of stone and its innate connection to the earth. Our guiding principle is simple: "It has to be beautiful."
Beauty that lasts.
www.brackenlandscaping.com Bracken Landscaping & Stonemasonry @brackenstonemasonry
Contact: Paul 0409 180 061 • Josh 0413 509 088 brackenlandscaping.stone@gmail.com
a shining pearl of Inverloch
From a home workshop to a boutique showroom, Joseph Courtenay brings the finest Australian gems to life with timeless, handcrafted designs.
Words byChris West | Photos by Doug Pell
Blue Salt Jewellers is redefining the art of bespoke jewellery as one of Inverloch's newest boutique destinations. At the heart of this flourishing boutique is craftsman Joseph Courtenay, whose journey - from the red pindan soil of Broome, to a home workshop, and now to a stunning showroom in Inverloch - is as captivating as the exquisite pieces he creates.
Having started Blue Salt Jewellers from a converted carport at home in Inverloch as a full-time venture in 2018, Joe felt ready to take a leap of faith and elevate the business to the next level earlier this year.
“I saw the ‘For lease’ sign go up and thought ‘bugger it, it’s now or never’,” he chuckles.
In April, Joe signed a lease on the property at 10B Williams Street, Inverloch that had previously been occupied for two decades by the 3mFM radio station and embarked on a complete fit-out to transform the upstairs space into a boutique jewellery store.
“A lot of effort went into the renovation to get it how I wanted. My fiancé Alejandra also rolled up her sleeves to help out where she could,” he says.
The result? A chic, welcoming boutique that blends modern elegance with artisanal charm.
Blue Salt Jewellers’ new home includes a showroom gallery area where its spectacular range of precious items are displayed, along with a private workshop and polishing room, a meeting room for appointments, and an external patio which is ideal for hosting functions or allowing clients to view pieces in natural sunlight.
A grand opening event in October was a great success despite inclement weather on the evening.
“We invited many of our existing clients who have had multiple pieces done in the past as a way of expressing our appreciation,” Joe explains.
“Now that we’re settled in, everything is going really well, and we’ve been flat out. Our plan is to keep raising the standard going forward and as part of that we are intending to run educational opal, pearl and diamond themed nights.
These events will offer a unique opportunity for people to explore the entire journey of a gemstone - from its origins deep within the earth or ocean, to its transformation into a stunning finished piece. We’re also scouting to collaborate with local wineries and cheesemakers to add to the evening’s enjoyment.”
Clients of Blue Salt Jewellers have the choice between having Joe create an exquisite custom-made piece to order or selecting from any of the ready to purchase items in the boutique’s current dazzling collection of rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces and watches.
“My display cabinets showcase all Australian products - pearls, sapphires, diamonds and opals,” Joe notes.
“My collection ranges from timeless, high-quality designs to oneof-a-kind, artistic creations that showcase my originality, blending unique textures and metals. These distinctive pieces have become especially popular with clients seeking something truly special.”
Prospective clients can either knock on the door for an informal visit during opening times from Tuesday to Sunday or schedule a private appointment online.
"We encourage clients to book private appointments so we can offer them an exclusive experience, taking the time to understand their vision and ensuring they receive exactly what they’re looking for."
For personalised bespoke pieces, which account for the greater share of Joe’s work, clients usually arrive with something in mind which they want him to turn into reality.
“After we sit down together, I begin by discussing their ideas and developing the concept more, and then I proceed to sketch possible designs. Generally, by the end of the first meeting, I ensure that all details and design aspects are sorted before I get on with making the piece of jewellery,” he says.
“There is nothing more satisfying than the smile and surprise on my clients' faces when they collect the finished product.”
Each personalised custom order is meticulously crafted with Joe’s trademark skill, expertise and individual flair to create a unique piece that will be treasured by its owner for a lifetime.
Alejandra &Joseph
Anything to do with jewellery, Joe can do. He’ll even take care of small repairs to existing pieces such as fixing a chain, resizing a ring or changing a watch battery.
“It can all be done here in my workshop, and I don’t need to send anything away,” he says.
With his extensive industry experience, there is very little Joe doesn’t know about jewellery and gems.
”This is a business and trade in which you never stop learning. As experienced as I may be, I learn something new every day and I’m constantly pushing the envelope to improve myself and my skill sets.”
Growing up in Broome, Western Australia, he started working on pearl farms and boats on weekends and holidays at the age of fifteen.
“I studied aquaculture instead of doing Year 12 at school and ended up accepting the offer of an apprenticeship with one of the world’s largest pearling companies in Broome which was a dream come true,” Joe recalls.
“It was a five-year apprenticeship with Broome Pearls Pty Ltd, learning everything about hand crafted jewellery but also specialising in pearls and diamonds. During my apprenticeship I was very lucky to learn from some of the best and most traditional jewellers who made everything by hand.”
After finishing his apprenticeship, Joe went back out on the pearling fleets as a Pearl diver giving him a rare insight into the ins and outs of the processes involved in harvesting this beautiful oceanic gem. It was love that had Joe leave the Kimberley’s teal waters behind when he met his now ex-wife and followed her to her home town in Inverloch.
“She was keen to get back to her hometown, so I followed her down here in October 2008 and found work with Exxon Mobil at the Barry Beach Marine Terminal,” he says.
The birth of Joe’s two kids sealed his fate as an Inverloch local and over time they became the inspiration for his return to his beloved craft of fine jewellery.
Joe remembers it not being too difficult a decision to establish Blue Salt Jewellers despite the risk of leaving secure employment to commence a home-based business six years ago.
Alejandra with guests at the Opening
“I’m the type of person who is happy to keep moving forward in life and I don’t tend to get caught up in stuff too much,” he remarks.
“I set up a workshop at home and got stuck into it. It was a bit tricky getting work at first and matching the income I’d had working in oil and gas and other industries, but the bonus was being able to see more of my two boys and spending precious time with them.”
To this day, family continues to be a strong value that Joe holds, fuelling his passion to grow the business.
Joe’s eldest son Jed is now 16 and youngest Billy is 12.
“I’m hoping Billy is going to be a jeweller or artist. He’s really keen. Jed also did show some interest for a while and made a few rings, but it’s more likely to be Billy who follows in my footsteps,” he states.
Another key person in Joe’s life is his fiancé Alejandra who is already assisting in the business.
“I’m super lucky that Alejandra helps out where she can on the administrative side, looking after the accounting, marketing and website, which I’m super grateful for and stoked about,” he says.
“We’re a great team. Our complementary skill sets mean that we can operate the business at a really high standard on all fronts and we are always looking to improve and grow on all levels.”
Joe says he is extremely selective about the jewellery and gems that he uses and where he sources them from.
“I’ve got a standard that I stick to and won’t compromise on that –ethical and sustainable sourcing is as important to me as is selecting gemstones of the highest calibre,” he vows.
Joe’s workshop at the rear of the boutique is equipped with a combination of trusted older basic tools and modern hi-tech equipment.
Although Joe’s jewellery is typically high-end, he remains very down to earth, and it is important to him to be approachable and accessible to his clients.
“I don’t want to be like the flash jewellery stores where you don’t feel welcome. We are fancy but we’re friendly,” he laughs.
“That’s not how I see the trade, and I’ve certainly tried to remove that sort of stigma with my business. I did my apprenticeship in a high-end company, but we were all real craftsmen and had that connection to the pearl farm or diamond mine. That’s where the true beauty and connection to gems truly is in my eyes.”
www.bluesaltjewellers.com
Guests at the Opening
A Haven for Growth and Belonging
With leading scientists, artists, sporting greats and even a Hollywood superstar, Newhaven College punches above its weight when it comes to success.
Newhaven College is in an unbeatable location on Phillip Island, allowing for hands-on learning opportunities in nature. The smaller size of Newhaven College (currently 908 students from Prep-Year 12) allows for individual care and attention, with a commitment to finding the right path for each student, whether academic or vocational. Catering largely to the Bass Coast and South Gippsland regions, students come from far and wide to attend this unique school.
Inclusion and belonging thrive through the provision of supportive learning environments and opportunities. Newhaven College offers a wide range of camps and outdoor education programs, drama and music classes, and individual music tuition, plus providing for different sporting interests such as the widely renowned Surfing Academy and the newly formed Mountain Biking (MTB) Academy.
PREP TO YEAR 12
The special Year 9 Program embodies a commitment to an innovative and immersive curriculum, igniting students' curiosity and fostering active participation in their learning journey.
Principal Tony Corr has been with the College since 2022 and is proud of the well-rounded education students receive. “Our College provides so much more than an academic program. It is a vibrant and nurturing learning community where each student’s gifts and talents can flourish. We have state of the art facilities which enable personalised learning experiences both in and out of the classroom,” he says. “Ultimately, we aim to provide a learning experience where every student is inspired to make a positive difference in the world in which they live.”
The next Newhaven College Open Day will be held on Saturday 15 March, with College Tours running throughout the year. Any enquiries should be forwarded to Admissions Officer Bec Anderson at admissions@newhavencol.vic.edu.au or 5956 7505
9
DUKE OF EDINBURGH PROGRAM
EQUESTRIAN
JOY OF PLAYING OUTDOORS
MTB ACADEMY
SURF ACADEMY
YEAR 9 COMMANDO GAMES
YEAR 10 MT STIRLING HIKE
Inverloch Bowls Club
Such an idealic location lends itself to being a destination for members and visitors alike. Formed in 1960 the Club has been an integral part of the community. Today it has 250 members and provides an outlet for both locals and visitors to engage in healthy outdoor entertainment. The Club fields 7-mixed gender Pennant teams for those that seek competition but also provide social bowls for those that simply want to have a bowl and catch up with old and new friends.
The Inverloch Bowls Club prides itself on being Community minded and is always prepared to pitch in and help the less fortunate. Over the years the club has raised thousands of dollars for bush fire victims, the local hospital, the Good Friday Appeal and many other causes.
A recent addition of flood lights has elevated the facilities that the Club can offer to a new level. Coupled with this the Club is currently focussing on the redevelopment of the upper level and is hoping to announce an opening date early in 2025. This refurbishment, once complete, will prove to be an invaluable Club and Community asset for many years to come.
Over the coming months the Club will play host to its Corporate Community Bowls as well as the ever-popular Barefoot Bowls. The Corporate Community Bowls runs from October 23rd to December 11th and then resumes on February 5th and continues until February 26th with Teams vying for the coveted champion’s title.
Barefoot Bowls is available at any time but the season ramps up from December 27th when the holidaymakers and tourists flock to the seaside hamlet of Inverloch. This activity is open to all ages and is a very enjoyable way to spend leisure time during holidays.
Bookings can be made by phoning the Club on 5674 1655 or the best way is to jump online at www.invybowls.org.au
The Club has also launched a very user-friendly website that allows those seeking information to be able to navigate easily to find exactly the information that you may be after.
Words by Greg Nugent
Photos by Doug Pell
Bowls Club is nestled behind the sand dunes at Andersons Inlet and is certainly a jewel of the Community.
The new website is www.invybowls.com.au
“We are delighted with the on-going development of the Inverloch Bowls Club,” said Club President Terry Seaward. “It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people and enjoy the experience of bowling.
We warmly welcome all tourists visiting over the Christmas New Year period and invite them to experience the family enjoyment of playing this amazing game in a relaxed atmosphere.”
The Inverloch Bowls Club looks forward to welcoming you next time you visit the wonderful town of Inverloch.
Foster Show 2025
The Foster Show is located in Foster, the gateway to Wilsons Promontory. In its 117th year, The Foster Show showcases the region’s agriculture and brings the community, and people from afar, together for a true country show experience.
The dog high jump has everyone on the edge of their seats in the grandstand, while the best jams, cakes, home-grown vegetables and crafts are evaluated for prizes in the exhibit shed. Goats and sheep are magnificently on display, with a local shearer demonstrating how to shear the wool, which gets taken directly to volunteers spinning and utilising the wool to make clothing. The spectacular sights do not stop there, with woodchop, sheaf tossing, the pet parade – where we had some great fancy dress in 2024, the poultry competition, the Young Farmers’ Challenge, horse events, photography, art, rides, and even giant pumpkins breaking records of 85.9kg in 2024 grown by Alana and Liam Sage.
In 2025, the Foster Show is excited to announce new features to the program. The inaugural Calf Classic will showcase poddy calves that
Saturday 22 February, 2025
have been hand-reared since Spring, 2024. This event will pay homage to the Calf Club competitions held in Hedley in the 1960s. The Foster Show looks forward to encouraging the next generation to develop husbandry and management skills with animals, as well as highlighting the human-animal bond with their calves. At the end of the Avenue of Agriculture you will find Ferret Racing! An addition to the 2025 show, 25 ferrets will race throughout the day with one winner to be crowned the SG Offroad Ferret Cup Fastest Ferret. A new highlight to the very popular Foster Show Fashion Stage, the Mullet Competition is sure to turn heads.
A family friendly event, the Foster Show has lots of free things to see and do on show day. There will be 300 free showbags as part of the Golden Brick Road Showbag trail, magic shows, wildlife display, petting zoo, face-painting, animals on show, chainsaw carving, and dancing displays just to name a few. Spending the day at the Foster Show is a fantastic way to experience a farming community, with lots of fun and friendly faces. We’ll see you there!
Words by Sammy Spark | Photos by Doug Pell
Summer in South Gippsland is spectacular, and there is no better way to celebrate the end of summer than a trip to the Foster & District Agricultural Show.
Planning for show day is easy, with plenty of information available at www.fostershow.com or via our Facebook page www.facebook.com/fosteragshow.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. Kids under 12 are FREE in 2025, so bring the entire family for the day out! Kids between 13-17 are only $5 entry.
There will be an early bird special for adult tickets, $12 for tickets purchased before 31st January 2025.
Parking spaces near the showgrounds get snapped up quickly so there will be a shuttlebus available from the following sites in Foster on the day: Foster Secondary College, VLine Bus Stop in town, Foster Vet Clinic (Court St) and the Rail Trail Car Park.
Do not miss the action at the Foster Show, check out the timetable for the day, or the show day map of the grounds via our website.
Spending the day at the Foster Show is simply a great way to show your support of agriculture in Australia and your local community, whilst having lots of fun. The people of Foster have loved their show for over 100 years and they're excited to share it with you!
FOSTER SHOW 2025
Station Rd, Foster, VIC Saturday 22nd February, 2025 www.facebook.com/fosteragshow www.fostershow.com
An education alternative
With a view of the majestic Corner Inlet and the natural beauty of Wilsons Promontory on their doorstep the site for the new independent Secondary school, Corner Inlet College, can only provide inspiration for prospective students. The natural environment amongst farmlands and on the waterfront will form part of their learning, encouraging students to be environmentally conscious and have a deep respect for Gunai Kurnai, Boon Wurrung and Bunurong Country. This innovative and modern style of schooling is an exciting and thoughtful model of education.
The driving force behind the establishment of CIC (Corner Inlet College) is Jen Young, a talented and experienced educator who has dedicated the past several years to getting this project off the ground. As Founder and Board Chair, Jen Young, brings teaching and principal experience to the new leadership role. Prior to establishing the college, Jen lectured in the university sector, and has worked closely with the next generation of teachers.
Her Masters of Educational Leadership brings teaching methods proven successful across international education systems. She has a sincere and caring commitment to empower students to reach their full potential.
Jen began her own education in an independent school and has been educated and worked in different models of education ever since and understands fully what works and what doesn’t. She sees that education is more than just academics but also about fostering the whole child.
The task of establishing a new secondary school from scratch is not one for the faint hearted. The amount of compliance, structures and hoops that have to be faced are enormous! Jen and other committed individuals have worked extremely hard to face all of the challenges they were presented with from finding a suitable site, obtaining planning permission and preparing the rigorous planning application.
Their preparation was so thorough that they were granted planning permission and were able to answer any concerns raised. The logistics of creating a school from a greenfields site seem mind boggling, especially when being done by a relatively small team (as opposed to government departments full of public servants) but that is what they have achieved, with the expertise of experienced planner, Isley Sutherland, of ‘IS Architecture’.
Words by Ken Roberts | Photos by Doug Pell
JEN YOUNG – ADMIN SITE FOR THE FIRST CLASSROOM
COLLEGE GARDEN WITH DAM AND VIEW OF THE PROM
To those unfamiliar with the concept of this style of school and learning model it may seem unconventional and untried, but this is far from the case. Jen and her team are focussed and well versed in the educational facility they are creating. It has been done before and Village High School, a similar independent school in Ryanston near Wonthaggi, has been operating for several years. They offer a carefully crafted learning environment that challenges the systemic practices that are no longer serving young people, and allows students the freedom and space to experience and practice a range of skills that are critical to them living positive, productive and happy lives. The same ethos is what drives the creation of this new school at Corner Inlet.
What is encouraging is that this is not an “experiment” in learning. Jen herself coming from this model has gone on to have a highly regarded career in her chosen field of education as have others. Naturally some misconceptions exist but it is not going to be an elite facility, with low school fees they are striving to make quality accessible to all. Nor will it be a school for delinquents or troubled youth though they will break down barriers and create opportunities for every learner to thrive.
Equality is at the heart of everything they do. No matter what the students choose to be, a plumber, architect, nurse, ranger, artist or whatever else, the school just wants to be able to provide them with skills to thrive and be the best they can be. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to offer a different education choice to the students that will enrol next year at CIC.
Enrolments are beginning with years 7 and 8 in 2025 and then progress each year to eventually include VCE by 2029. Jen says that when those VCE students graduate she will be very emotional and it will a milestone moment! Classes will have a maximum of 15 students which means students receive more individualised instruction leading to better understanding and support tailored to their unique needs. While the school will deliver the Victorian Curriculum and VCE it will be in a student-centred focus through a program that aligns education with individual interests.
Much work though continues before classes begin in January 2025 as the infrastructure continues to be put in place. A unique idea of the school is that not every classroom has 4 walls and so while learning will take place inside, through a strong Outdoor education program, students will be immersed in many opportunities provided by the region’s natural environments.
“Dream big” is one of the concepts espoused by Corner Inlet College, something they themselves have definitely done in bringing this new education alternative to the area. They have captured the imagination and support of many people including parents whose children will be among the lucky students beginning their secondary school education there in 2025.
It is an inspirational and aspirational story that will be interesting to watch unfold and grow in the years ahead.
2024 TBUG RIDE INVERLOCH & ENVIRONS
Monday, 11 – Thursday, 14 November 2024
The members meet for cycling events each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday in venues scattered across Melbourne, and each year a number of special events are programmed including the 4-day November annual country ride. This year ‘Inverloch Big4 Ingenia Holiday Park’ was selected as the venue due to excellent variety of nearby rail trails and facilities to support the rides. 28 cyclists attended this year with an average age of just over 75 years including 6 guys over 80 years old!
The organisers made forward reservations/bookings for each ride at a number of coffee shops/bakeries and pubs for morning teas, lunches, etc. Our whole group supported these venues as some have kindly put on extra staff etc to accommodate us. This support includes local purchasing of fruit, vegetables, groceries and meat etc. for 5.00pm Happy Hours, BBQ and other meals.
The TallyHo Fitness Group commenced in 1970 based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and continues to this day with a Saturday program of fitness activities. Many of the crew have participated in many marathon runs, Round-The-Bay in a Day cycling, and Great VIC Bike Rides.
The program this year included the following activities:
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Monday: A short ride of approximately 43kms, with lunch at Wonthaggi, and pub dinner
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Tuesday: Starting at Fish Creek for a circuit of 76km to Port Welshpool and back with a BBQ dinner at the Holiday Park
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Wednesday: Starting at Fish Creek for a circuit of 81km to Leongatha and back followed by a pub dinner in Inverloch
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Thursday: Starting at Loch for a circuit of 32km up to Korumburra and back to a lunch at Loch before starting for home.
Words & Photos supplied by Jeff Pitt
MORNING TEA AT HENRIETTA'S IN LEONGATHA
Eric Musgrove
Jumps Maestro
The emotional decision to offer his ‘life’s work’ Karasi Park for sale heralds the end of an era for Australia’s most successful jumping trainer.
Words by Chris West | Photos by Doug Pell
In racing parlance, legendary Victorian jumps trainer Eric Musgrove can probably see the finish line, but he hasn’t cleared the last hurdle yet in his extraordinary career.
At 73, it was with something of a heavy heart that Eric recently decided to list Karasi Park, his magnificent 217-acre training establishment at Coronet Bay, for sale as part of a plan to scale back the size of his operation.
Retirement is not really a word that sits comfortably in Eric’s vocabulary, and the master horseman cannot imagine a life without some level of involvement with thoroughbred racing.
“My intention is to reduce my numbers from thirty horses back to about ten for the next twelve months and then see what happens after that,” Eric says.
“I still enjoy training and it’s not the sort of thing you can just give away. It’s a lifestyle and something that gets you up in the morning.”
Eric says the decision to part with Karasi Park, which he created from scratch after purchasing the property 20 years ago, was not an easy one to reach.
“It’s been my life’s work really,” he states.
“I’m hoping whoever buys it allows me to rent back some boxes here so I can stay on with a smaller team. Although I’m prepared and have alternatives if that doesn’t turn out to be the case, if the day does come that I have to go it will be very hard to leave this all behind. But it’s too big for me now and would better suit an owner or syndicate with large numbers of horses, or possibly one of the large-scale training operations.”
Karasi Park holds so many special memories for Eric, from all the great horses and wonderful people who have come through the gates of the property over the past two decades and contributed to his unsurpassed success as a jumps trainer in this country.
Eric expresses his heartfelt appreciation to wife Inez, who has been a constant source of support in both the business and at home. Stable foreperson and trackwork rider Belinda Simpson has also been a huge asset at Eric’s side throughout his training journey.
All trainers need owners for their horses in order to be successful and Eric has been blessed with many loyal supporters over the years with whom he’s shared some of his finest moments in racing, including Tony Hodgson, Pearse Morgan, David Bowman and Peter Cousins.
Amongst the many equine stars who have graced Eric’s stables, none has left a bigger mark than the gallant horse whose name his property honours – Karasi – who achieved the unsurpassed feat of winning the prestigious Grand Nakayama Jump in Japan in three successive years from 2005 to 2007. Sadly, Karasi passed away in September this year at the ripe old age of 30 and has been buried on the property.
“He was a wonderful horse and really did change our lives,” Eric acknowledges.
Karasi was bred in Ireland in 1995 and started his racing career in England before being imported to Australia. Trainer David Hall prepared him to win the 2001 Geelong Cup and run a very creditable fourth in the Melbourne Cup that year. His form in flat racing began to decline over the next couple of years and he came into Eric’s care in 2003.
Switching Karasi firstly to hurdle racing and later steeplechasing, Eric patiently coaxed the gelding back into winning form. In 2005, he was invited to compete in the world’s richest jumps race, the Grand Nakayama Jump in Japan over 4,250 metres, carrying prizemoney of $1 million to the winner.
Eric flew to Tokyo in August 2004, seven months prior to the race, to view the Nakayama course and assess whether Karasi would handle it.
“I thought he’d be competitive, so we made that his target for 2005 and got him ready with some flat runs at home,” Eric recalls.
KARASI PARK
After making the trip to Japan, Karasi showed he was in good fettle by running third in a lead-up race over 3,350 metres three weeks before the Nakayama Grand Jump. This final tune-up topped him off perfectly for his main assignment.
Not only did Karasi go on to win the 2005 Nakayama Grand Jump, he gained legendary status by repeating the dose in 2006 and 2007.
“He became a hero in Japan through those three years,” Eric says.
Jockey Brett Scott rode Karasi in all three wins and Belinda Simpson travelled with the horse on each occasion, helping Eric with the horse’s preparation during the month away from home.
“It was a team effort,” Eric emphasises.
“Scotty’s rides were faultless, and we wouldn’t have won without him. He suited the horse perfectly. Belinda probably put more into it than anyone and her contribution cannot be understated. Inez also ran the stable at home during the periods when I was overseas with Karasi in each of the three years. She saddled up the winner of a feature race at the Oakbank Carnival in South Australia while I was away in Japan in one of the years.”
An attempt to win a fourth Grand Nakayama Jump with Karasi unfortunately didn’t get to the line.
“We went back again in 2008, but he got a bit of inflammation in the back of a tendon from trackwork,” Eric remembers.
“He wasn’t lame, but we weren’t prepared to take a risk and decided not to run him. Instead, we brought him home and retired him.”
Karasi finished his remarkable career with 16 wins and earned almost $3.8 million in prizemoney.
Eric has a deep love of horses which began with an involvement with pony club as a boy. He first took out a training licence in 1981 following a highly successful showjumping career which saw him represent Australia many times on the international stage all around the world.
Before obtaining his licence, Eric spent time with trainer Ian McKinlay and learned the art of breaking in and pre-training horses. After successfully applying for his own licence, Eric was initially based at the Victorian Equestrian Centre at Upper Beaconsfield and trained out of the old Pakenham racecourse.
“I stayed there for a few years and then relocated to Cranbourne for the better training facilities. I would have had about forty or fifty horses in those days,” he says.
Cranbourne remained Eric’s base until he bought Karasi Park twenty years ago.
“I didn’t move here until seventeen years ago as it took three years to get everything set up. It was just a paddock when I purchased it,” he explains.
The undulating Coronet Bay property is accessed from Bluff Road and stretches all the way down to the beach, providing spectacular views out over Westernport Bay.
Amongst the many facilities Eric installed at Karasi Park for his training operation are a 2,000-metre circular track and another 900-metre straight track with elevation. The property has 49 stable boxes, along with dozens of spelling and exercise yards, a swimming pool and horse walker.
“The only time we need to leave the property is for trialling and racing,” Eric notes.
Through the course of the 44 years in which Eric has held a licence, he built on his early success in flat racing to become the most successful jumps trainer in Australian racing history. He has won every feature jumping race in the nation, and most of them on multiple occasions.
“I became mostly associated with the jumps, but in the early days particularly I did win a lot of flat races as well,” he observes.
Rather than purchasing expensive yearlings and hoping to syndicate them to owners, Eric’s model for success throughout his career has been buying tried horses at a much lower price point. He has continually demonstrated an uncanny knack for finding horses who have been able to transition successfully from flat racing to jumps racing.
“In my experience I’ve found only about one in a hundred horses don’t like jumping, which might surprise some people,” Eric comments.
“I look for horses that are sound and honest, who have the stamina for longer distances. In recent years we’ve seen a lot of European horses being brought out to Australia for the big staying races that haven’t quite measured up to that standard. Many of those horses are now going jumping,” he adds.
In the first half of his career, Eric had a great rivalry with another jumps training doyen, the late Jim Houlahan. The pair dominated the jumps scene year after year until age forced Houlahan into retirement in his early 90s in 2005.
KARASI + JOCKEY BRETT SCOTT
Karasi Park
“Jim and I shared a strong mutual respect. We got on very well,” Eric says.
“He was an incredible trainer and fearless punter. Jim never had a big team but always got amazing results. I would always watch what he did closely.”
When Eric and Jim’s healthy rivalry was at its peak, jumps racing was an established feature at all four metropolitan racecourses in Melbourne as well as on the Victorian provincial/county circuit and at many venues interstate.
Nowadays in Victoria, jumps racing is confined to a six-month season from March to the end of August and Sandown is the only metropolitan course hosting hurdle and steeplechase events. The remainder of the jumps calendar is programmed at provincial and country centres, most prominently Warrnambool, Casterton, Coleraine, Hamilton, Ballarat, Pakenham and Sale.
Eric is saddened that the gloss has come off jumps racing in comparison to its heyday, but he acknowledges that society and times have changed.
“There were a lot more horsemen around in previous generations and more people earned a living around horses. Technology has altered that a lot,” he observes.
“There has also been a shift in public sentiment towards jumps racing over time, but ironically it’s never been safer at any point than what it is now.”
Alterations to the designs of the obstacles and the materials used have improved the safety aspects, and the qualifying standards for horses to compete in jumps races have also been made more stringent.
“There’s lots of positives. It’s a great winter sport and the people involved are very passionate about it,” Eric says.
“Some of the leading trainers in flat racing like Ciaron Maher and Gai Waterhouse are big supporters of jumps racing.”
As he prepares to part with Karasi Park, Eric reflects on how he first came to find the property 20 years ago.
“Back then I was renting a hundred acres just up the road for keeping cattle and came down for a look at them one day and saw this place,” he recalls.
“There has barely a tree on the property when we bought it. We’ve done everything to it – put up all the fences, set up the facilities, built the dams and put in the drainage. We’ve had great use out of it, but it is equipped to handle a hundred horses and I’m realistic enough to know that the time has come to place it in someone else’s hands.”
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HARRY HOOK
a musician's journey
WORDS BY KEN ROBERTS
PHOTOS KINDLY SUPPLIED
The life of any creative person is a journey of ups and downs, hits and misses, and never ever is it predictable. Such has been the tale of Harry Hook, a singer songwriter and musician who began life in the tiny Gippsland town of Cowwarr. He claimed once that the town’s decorated tin cows that line the main street were more famous than he was but that is far from the case!
Harry comes from a musical family, his parents and 5 siblings all play instruments and so it was pretty natural for young Harry to begin to play one too. He started with piano lessons (which he wasn’t that keen on) and then at 16 his father taught him to play guitar.
He overcame any fear of performing early and said any kind of stage, from school plays to the local hall, and he was there. His first “gig” was at the local watering hole, The Cricket Club Hotel in Cowwarr, to an audience of 4 people and one dog. It was the beginning of much bigger crowds in the future. Since then he has toured extensively across Australia, USA, UK, France, China, South Africa and Cuba. His early influences were the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the like and so his style developed into a Blues, Folk, Country, Alternative, Indie mix.
Harry moved to Melbourne to study Arts and Law and while there he began busking in the city; it was great training for fearless performing and getting out there. He really enjoyed his student days but once he’d graduated with his Law degree and worked in that field he didn’t enjoy the Law so much.
An unexpected turn in his journey came when he entered the ‘Telstra Road to Discovery’, a national talent development program to compete for a tailor made 12-month prize package which included the ultimate prize of performing in “global music city” Nashville USA. Tailored to suit each winner’s musical aspiration the prize package included connection with a network of music industry professionals, mentorship for 12 months, studio recording, corporate gigs and much more. After several heats, Harry won first prize in the 2011 competition! It was a life changing event.
“It’s taken my music from a street corner in Melbourne to the main stage of The Basement in Sydney in a matter of months. It has taken my music to the ears of some highly respected musicians and industry people who have offered me really insightful advice on the music industry and how it works. Needless to say it has been a very fulfilling leap, and one that gives me hope I can make a career of doing what I so dearly enjoy.”
He commented at the time.
Harry made the most of all on offer and he used the CD recording that he made as a result to “cold call” post CDs to every record company and agency that he could think of. Luckily it was noticed and resulted in him being signed to Warner Records. It was a dream come true and he was so hungry to get ahead that he readily signed the contract offered.
Any aspiring musician would have relished being in this position of having management, recording an album and having that promoted by a big recording company. Being under the umbrella of such a large organisation gets you noticed. It was all such a success that Harry’s debut album ‘Misdiagnosed’ was nominated in 2014 for an ARIA award (Australian Recording Industry Association) for Best Blues and Roots Album. Although he didn’t win it, it was still a heady time, making music videos, mixing with all the people in the industry, sitting next to Molly Meldrum at the award ceremony (another former Gippslander - he was born in Orbost) and being a part of the Sydney music scene.
Harry continued on and recorded a second album but he soon found that being a part of a corporate music machine and being seen as a “product” was not all it was cracked up to be. Looking at the history of the recording industry not many artists survive being a puppet of the system unscathed. Complications arose and Harry departed the scene. His second album remained behind never to be released and more importantly the company had the rights, via the hastily signed contract, to his original name, Harry Hookey. That was when he launched his new professional name, ‘Harry Hook is Real’.
Harry left for a totally new start in the centre of his type of music in the world, Nashville. Another huge learning curve he says where every second person is a songwriter peddling their wares and trying to get that all important break. He played lots of gigs, wrote songs but finally he was disillusioned with the whole “starmaker” aspect of the scene and returned to Australia.
Coming home was the beginning of a period of reflection and finding out what he wanted to be and to get back to who he was after being distracted by the expectations of others. He calls it his “second act”. He met the love of his life the stunningly original Mim, they had two children, Felix and Dot and settled in a quirky cottage in Sale, not far from his original hometown of Cowwarr. They married during lockdown which suited them both as small and unique was their style, Mim’s wedding dress was an over the top $5 Op shop find while Harry’s blazer was once owned by Geoffrey Rush (he also has a much treasured T shirt that belonged to Paul McCartney). This bohemian couple suit each other down to the ground!
It seemed that things fell into place naturally for Harry. He began working in another creative field as a Gallery Technician at Gippsland Art Gallery Sale. Not only did he get to explore his creative side by working with artists but the flexibility of the job meant that he had time to continue to write and record. He released his second album ‘No snake in the Tree’ in 2021 and his third, ‘A beast in me’ in 2023. His creativity now unleashed is free to explore and his main aim is to release a body of work that he is proud of.
Harry has a studio space, an abandoned room at the top of the old Sale Memorial Hall complex where he records at night in the cold and draughty space, because there is no noise then in the deserted town centre. Time and advances in technology since he first began means that streaming and online content have replaced CDs.
He is now exploring and learning to use AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the recording process. He still plays gigs, though distance is limited due to his commitments, but on the other hand, the world is open to him through the portal of the internet.
A stranger to his work will be enchanted by the poetry of the words he writes and by his clear tone and skilful musicianship. He has a likeable charm and charisma that makes him a consummate professional who is so at ease in what he does. It’s a pleasure to listen to him perform.
This second act of Harry’s is only at the beginning and there is much more ahead for him. This time he is doing it on his own terms and in his own way, but still, what a journey it has been!
The last words go to Harry, “I just like making things and I believe in being original. Whether you like my work or hate it, I hope it makes you feel! The feel is real.”
HARRY HOOK
Snapshots of Rosedale
Photos by Doug Pell
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Maffra
Charming town steeped in history
Photography by Doug Pell
YOUNGS ARCADE 1923
MAFFCO BREWERY
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GIPPSLAND REAL ESTATE AND MAFFRA COMMUNITY CLUB THE BERRY DAIRY FARM
Maffra is a charming town located in Victoria, Australia, about 220 kilometres (140 miles) east of Melbourne. It is part of the Shire of Wellington local government area and is known for its rich agricultural heritage, particularly dairy farming.
The town has a population of around 5,384 people as of the 2021 census. Maffra's history dates back to the 1860s, and it was named after a village in Portugal, reflecting the heritage of some of its early settlers. The town's main street is lined with historic buildings, including the Beet Museum, which chronicles the early sugar beet industry and the area's cattle and dairying heritage.
Maffra hosts several community events throughout the year, such as the Mardi Gras in March, the Maffra and District Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Show in October, and a tennis tournament in April. The town also has a range of recreational activities, including fishing in the Macalister and Thomson rivers and boating at Lake Glenmaggie.
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The Maffra Christmas Lights Family
Words by Ken Roberts | Photos Kindly supplied
I’m sure when Dean and Cindy Rowley of Maffra first put Christmas lights on their house in Maffra in 2007 they had no idea what they were starting! Their lighting display has almost become synonymous with Christmas in the town (and beyond) and has become a must do thing for many, especially those with children.
When the Rowley family moved to the outskirts of Maffra on acreage, they continued the tradition they started but on a bigger canvas. They really enjoyed doing it and friends would make the short drive down the gravel road and up their tree lined drive to see the yearly display. People were so impressed as the displays grew each year and wanted to thank Dean and Cindy by giving them a donation. This was not something they wanted at all, they did it for the pure pleasure of seeing their kids and others enjoy the displays. As more people heard of the lights and the crowds began to get bigger, and donations continued, they decided they would donate whatever monies they received to a charity.
Cindy experienced the tragedy of a loved one taking their own life in the loss of her brother Ron Molden aged 27 in 2007. They decided to donate whatever they received to Beyond Blue, an organisation that is there to help all people in Australia achieve their best possible mental health. Two in five people experience a mental health condition at some point in their life.
Beyond Blue has several different streams of support and programs, and more than 750 people usually reach out to their services daily. Donations received help ensure that every call, webchat and email are answered. Once they joined up with Beyond Blue, Cindy and Dean realised how special it would be to honour Ron’s life in such a positive way. They could also make it a personal Christmas remembrance of him. This spurred them onto much greater things!
Each year their display grew and grew, all self funded, and from the first of December until Christmas night they open their property to visitors. The preparation for this extravaganza is massive. The build up starts over two months prior as they slowly set up each area. They are fastidious in how it is set out. The different areas they have include the inflatable enclosure with Santa chair for family photos, the forest, the aviation wall, vehicle scene, the manger, there’s also a bush scene, water scene, snow area, driveway avenue, Christmas tree display inside, acrylics scene, reindeer garden, a Christmas light windmill, plus more.
All the equipment is checked and after so many years they have a routine of how it’s done. They receive a lot of help from friends and family; a friend’s large tractor is enlisted to erect the large light structure in the middle island of their drive. Community support is great with a large donated Christmas tree, gifts of lights, a family sponsoring the candy canes they hand out each night and Bunnings donating cable ties to attach everything.
The Maffra Christmas Lights Family
The Memorial Christmas tree is a very special part of the display for many people. Located in a quiet corner of the yard, Cindy and Dean provide baubles that people can write the names of loved ones who have passed due to suicide on, and hang on the tree in remembrance. It can be a very emotional experience for many.
Cindy tells of a visitor who came from several hours drive away, in the daytime, with a close family and put a bauble on in memory of somebody they had tragically lost. It was the first time they could open up about their grief. They spent several hours there. It was such a special gift that this very generous couple Cindy and Dean gave to that individual and to the many others who visit the tree.
The display is open until 11pm when timers automatically turn the lights off for the night. On the busier nights, over two hundred cars can make the journey down the gravel road to their wonderland. Cindy suggests coming earlier in December because as it gets closer to Christmas it gets much busier. Some visitors just drive through but many park in the makeshift cow paddock car park, with friends directing the traffic. Local aged care providers also bring coaches out to the property so their residents can enjoy the spirit of the lights.
These are some of Cindy, Dean, Blake and Jessica’s favourite visitors! Visitors of all ages can enter the interactive areas such as the inflatable world, and many families have made a new tradition of taking a family photo on their large red Santa chair inside the inflatable world. Children just love it, so do the adults, and the feeling in the air is one of joy, sharing and happiness. Their only request is that visitors refrain from bringing their pets due to the large number of small children and elderly visiting the displays.
A local family generously sponsors the free Candy Canes available and there is no charge at all for visiting the extensive displays, a wonder in these times. Cindy and Dean are so very generous, not only in this way but with their time. One of them is out with the display every night it’s open. They both have busy lives, working and with their teenage children. The spirit in which they do all of this is above and beyond expectations.
There are buckets available to donate to Beyond Blue and 100% of the money given goes to the organisation. An online portal is now available on Beyond Blue’s website for people to donate there as well, fundraise. beyondblue.org.au/christmaslightsdisplay356threechainroadmaffra.
Since 2015 total donations so far exceed $110,000. This is an incredible feat and such a heartwarming tribute that they have done in the name of Cindy’s brother Ron. His gift too is the sharing of all this with the thousands of visitors who attend. What an amazing legacy.The overwhelming sense of heartfelt goodness and joy surrounding everything about this Christmas display cannot be underestimated. The feeling of community togetherness in a non-materialistic way that has been established around this annual event is really rare.
Cindy, Dean and their crew of helpers are truly awe-inspiring and demonstrate what living life in today’s world should be like.
Bravo to them all and Merry Christmas.
Christmas Lights Display
356 Three Chain Rd, Maffra, Gippsland, Victoria
Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36
Gippsland Real Estate operates offices in Maffra, Heyfield and Sale to service these towns and the surrounding districts. All directors of Gippsland Real Estate are Licensed Estate Agents and fully involved in the day to day operation of the business and have a combined experience of over 75 years in the local real estate market.
We have experienced residential, lifestyle, rural, business and commercial Sales Agents, Auctioneers, experienced Property Managers, support staff and receptionists. Gippsland Real Estate staff are motivated, highly trained and qualified. The company has an emphasis on staff training and bringing a fresh and innovative approach to real estate services.
Maffra | Heyfield | Sale
We are members of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria and abide by its strict Code of Conduct and Professional Standards. We are committed to providing superior customer service delivered professionally, with honesty and integrity and always in the best interests of our clients.
The team at Gippsland Real Estate has a thorough knowledge of Maffra, Heyfield and Sale townships and surrounding district and contribute to a wide range of community and sporting activities through personal involvement and/or sponsorship.
Macalister Wetland Reserve
Experience this delightful walk of the wetlands along the boardwalk.
The Macalister Wetland Reserve is a beautiful natural area located in Maffra, Victoria. This reserve is a 20 plus year project aimed at transforming paddocks near the town into a thriving environment for aquatic birds. It's a peaceful spot perfect for bird watching, with plenty of pathways and boardwalks that allow visitors to explore the area.
DECEMBER
ANITA GEORGE
JANUARY
CATHY SMITH
The reserve is home to a variety of bird species, some of which are quite rare. There are informative signs along the pathways that provide details about the different bird species inhabiting the wetlands.
August 29 to September 25
Pen on Parchment Calligraphy
Additionally, students from Maffra Secondary College have been involved in ongoing projects to test the water quality in the wetlands.
Maffra wetlands walk is a 2.6km lightly trafficked trail and is good for all skill levels. It's a great place to enjoy a quiet walk and connect with nature.
FEBRUARY
Location: Start/Finish – Cnr River and Laura Streets, Maffra.
CAROL & RUSSELL MONSON
September 26 to October 30
Sculptor and Artist
October 31 to November 27
Photography & Textiles
EVANS BP
BP ROSEDALE
65-79 Prince Street, Rosedale Vic 3847
Tel: 5667 2951 | Email: rosedale@evanspetroleum.com.au
FISH CREEK
2 Falls Road, Fish Creek, Vic 3959
Tel: 5683 2521
Email: fishcreek@evanspetroleum.com.au
FOSTER
94 Main Street, Foster, Vic 3960
Tel: 5682 2008
Email: foster@evanspetroleum.com.au
INVERLOCH
25 Williams Street, Inverloch, Vic 3996
Tel: 5674 1442
Email: inverloch@evanspetroleum.com.au
JOHNSONVILLE
1760 Princes Highway, Johnsonville, Vic 3902
Tel: 5156 4102 Workshop: 5156 4233
Email: johnsonville@evanspetroleum.com.au
KORUMBURRA
South Gippsland Highway, Korumburra, Vic 3950
Tel: 5655 1668
Email: korumburra@evanspetroleum.com.au
LEONGATHA
95 Bair Street, Leongatha, Vic 3953
Tel: 5662 2440
Email: leongatha@evanspetroleum.com.au
LEONGATHA - WESTSIDE
7 Anderson Street, Leongatha, Vic 3953
Tel: 5662 2834
Email: westside@evanspetroleum.com.au
MIRBOO NORTH
106 Ridgway, Mirboo North, Vic 3871
Tel: 5668 2377
Email: mirboo@evanspetroleum.com.au
NEWMERELLA
5327 Princes Highway, Newmerella, Vic 3886
Tel: 5154 1601
Email: newmerella@evanspetroleum.com.au
ROSEDALE
65-79 Prince Street, Rosedale Vic 3847
Tel: 5667 2951
Email: rosedale@evanspetroleum.com.au
SALE
344 Raglan Street, Sale, Vic 3850
Tel: 5143 1030
Email: sale@evanspetroleum.com.au
TOORA
26 Foster Road, Toora, Vic 3962
Tel: 5686 2324
Email: toora@evanspetroleum.com.au
TRARALGON
23-29 Shakespeare Street, Traralgon, Vic 3844
Tel: 5174 1138
Email: tim@evanspetroleum.com.au
WONTHAGGI
103-105 McKenzie Street, Wonthaggi, Vic 3995
Tel: 5672 3988
Email: wonthaggi@evanspetroleum.com.au
YARRAM
325 Commercial Road, Yarram, Vic 3971
Tel: 5182 6019
Email: yarram@evanspetroleum.com.au
EVANS PETROLEUM HEAD OFFICE
22 Hughes Street, Leongatha Vic 3953
Tel: 5662 2217
Web: www.evanspetroleum.com.au
The Museum of Timeless Memories
Words by Ken Roberts | Photos kindly supplied
When you walk through the door of this fascinating museum, a time capsule of everything and anything, be prepared to lose several hours as you get lost in the amazing array of treasures that await. There is a mind-boggling amount of stuff here, some that you would never think to keep but thankfully somebody has because these inconsequential items are a record of everyday life from the near and far past.
Peter and Rose Smolenaars are the creators of this gem of an attraction that should be more well known than it is. To say they have a passion for collecting is an understatement. They love anything old and interesting and have been collecting on and off for over 50 years. At times due to circumstances they have reduced their collections and then began again to slowly amass things to the point where they decided to open a museum for others to appreciate what they have. It truly is a remarkable endeavour to gather together such a diverse range of objects.
A brief sample of what they have on offer include a bullock wagon, Blacksmith’s shop, working model dairy, old schoolhouse, chapel, children’s toys, kitchenalia, motors, garagenalia, tools of every kind, tricycles, mowers, tractors, chainsaws, vintage cars, haberdashery, sewing machines, caravans, a boarding house and much more. There is too much to mention but they guarantee there is something of interest for everyone.
When you walk around the collection it triggers so many memories from your own past. I saw an old washing machine that mum had; I remember I asked for a turn and then had my fingers squashed by the rollers of the ringer. I saw a toy that I yearned for but never got (it was a farm set with buildings, fences, animals and people). It really is a place to reminiscence for many.
The museum is open for groups of 10 or more and by appointment only. They have had visits from residents of Hostels and Nursing homes who absolutely adore what they see and have such treasured memories of what they find. School groups visit the museum and to them it is an Aladdin’s cave of wonder and excitement. Even just a rotary dial phone is something most would never have seen before.
The working dairy with model cows and fully functional milking machine is a great draw card and for many they can actually see where their milk comes from. The kids, and teachers, find such learning stimulation from what they discover. The schoolhouse with blackboard, wooden desks and slates is an eye opener for young students used to whiteboards and tablets.
Any groups are welcome through the museum and Peter and Rose say they have never had a group through who haven’t been surprised and amazed at what they have achieved.
The Museum of Timeless Memories
They are surprised that it exists, tucked away quietly on the outskirts of Sale. It is an ideal excursion for any club or association plus with the added bonus that they cater for lunches, morning and afternoon teas with prior notice. ‘Rose’s Tea House’ provides scrumptious home cooked fare with country style hospitality.
It’s remarkable that somebody has taken the time to keep and collect such a variety of things. Everything is arranged neatly and in logical sections. The “Nautical” items are all together as are the “Medical”, “Grooming”, and so on. Not only are they all impeccably arranged but also the collections and the surroundings are immaculately clean. That’s Rose, says Peter, she is fanatical about it.
They vacuum and dust everyday to maintain the pristine condition of the museum. You can tell they are both tireless workers and take such pride and pleasure in what they have created. It’s hard to believe there are enough hours in the day for these two preservation warriors to do what they do. It doesn’t stop there as they are continually adding to, improving and developing the collection.
Peter and Rose use many different ways to find things. They haunt garage sales, op shops, clearing sales, Facebook marketplace, eBay and wherever else they stumble upon things. On holidays they are always on the lookout for what they can bring back to the museum. Peter says he’s just a scrounger and will pick up things that others see as junk but he can restore it and give it a new life. They’ve travelled many miles to pick up pieces they have bought.
They accept donations (just contact Rose to make arrangements). As people age and downsize they find they can no longer keep many things that their families don’t want either. Giving a precious piece, even just a worn but lovingly kept old kitchen utensil, ensures that it has a new life and will have a new purpose as a touchstone for the memories of others.
While they both come from farming backgrounds, Rose growing up in the local area, Peter’s story has a different beginning. When he was 8 years old he emigrated from Holland with his parents and 11 siblings. They arrived barely speaking any English. He says that at that time there was no assistance and they just had to get on with it, learning a new language in a new country the best they could.
In the end his parents and all of his siblings made successful lives through much hard work and their own endeavours. He became a plumber, eventually running his own business, married Rose and they had four children. He attributes everything they have achieved to a strong work ethic and honesty in all things.
They both show a genuine old-fashioned country spirit of good values that absolutely shines through in all they have created at the museum and their wish to share it with others. It’s a remarkable collection that they have put together and they really shine when they talk about it with others. You will walk away in wonder at what they have there, it’s truly fascinating!
www.timelessmemoriesmuseum.com.au
Museum of Timeless Memories
Peter - 0400 441 700 | Rose - 0409 382 684
A Vibrant Community Hub
Facilities
The club offers a range of amenities, including a bistro, bar, TAB & Keno. Plus the best indoor golf simulator entertainment & ‘Winmau’ class leading dartboards.
Activities
Our club supports various sports, including cricket, baseball, golf, darts & pool. We host tournaments, offer sponsorships & provide junior sports grants.
Raffles
There are regular events such as Wednesday and Friday raffles. Special event: Major Christmas Raffle on Friday 20th December drawn from 7.30pm.
Bistro
The bistro serves a variety of delicious dishes, with weekly specials crafted by our talented chefs. The bistro is open daily from 12pm to 2pm for lunch & from 5:30pm to 8:00pm for dinner, with extended hours on Fridays & Saturdays to 8.30pm.
Hours: Mon-Wed 9am to 12am | Thurs-Sat 9am to 1am | Sun 10am-11pm Phone: (03) 5143 2345 | @sportinglegends3850
The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail
This Rail Trail is a picturesque 63-kilometre (about 39 miles) recreational trail that runs from Traralgon to Stratford in Central Gippsland, Victoria. This trail follows the historic route of the Gippsland Plains railway line and offers a gentle, low-intensity experience for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders of all ages and abilities.
Here are some highlights of the trail
Scenic Views: The trail offers stunning views of the Great Dividing Range and the surrounding dairy-farm countryside.
Historic Towns: Along the way, you'll pass through charming towns like Glengarry, Toongabbie, Cowwarr, Heyfield, Tinamba, and Maffra, each with its own unique history and attractions.
Points of Interest: Notable stops include the restored Glengarry Railway Station, the historic GY Wagon in Cowwarr, and the beautiful Avon River Crossing in Stratford.
Accessibility: The trail is mostly flat with a total elevation gain of only 50 meters, making it suitable for families with prams and those looking for a leisurely ride.
Amenities: There are plenty of amenities along the trail, including picnic spots, rest areas, and information shelters.
The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail is perfect for a weekend getaway, offering a mix of natural beauty, local history, and small-town hospitality. Whether you're looking to walk, cycle, or ride, this trail has something for everyone.
Photos by Doug pell
TINAMBA HOTEL
GLENGARRY RAILWAY STATION
Railway
on the
stations
original line between Traralgon and Stratford TRARALGON, GLENGARRY, TOONGABBIE, COWWARR, DAWSON, HEYFIELD, TINAMBA, MAFFRA, POWERSCOURT & STRATFORD
CRICKET CLUB HOTEL COWWARR
COWWARR
BOAT HARBOUR JETTY B&B
BOISDALE CFA COMMUNITY DAY
Summer Events
Jumping Castle, Face Painting, Santa visiting, Fire Truck
Date: Sunday Dec 1 @10.00am to 2.00pm
Location: Maffra-Briagolong Road Contact: 0418 354 224
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMPETITION
Date: Sunday Dec 1 from 5.00pm to Sunday Dec 15 @5.00pm
Location: Port Albert Website: www.portalbert.vic.au
SALE CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
Date: Tuesday Dec 3 from 6.15pm to 9.45pm
Location: Sale Botanic Gardens – Guthridge Parade Contact: salecarolsbycandlelight@gmail.com
SALE FILM SOCIETY MOVIE SCREENINGS
Mrs. Henderson Presents – Laura Henderson
(Dame Judi Dench)
Date: Wednesday Dec 4 from 7.30pm to 10.00pm
Location: 100 Foster Street Website: salefilmsociety.wordpress.com
FOLK SOUNDS TOUR – STEPH STRINGS, DIDIRRI & KEE’AHN
Date: Friday Dec 6 from 7.00pm to 11.00pm
Location: 1 Maffco Lane – Maffco Brewery
ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FAIR
Date: Saturday Dec 7 @ 9.00am to 12.00pm
Location: Church St & Thomson St Maffra Website: www.gippslandanglicans.org.au
CARS DISPLAY, COFFEE
+ CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY DAY
Date: Saturday Dec 7 @ 12.00pm to 5.00pm
Location: Denison Hall, 1293 Denison Road, Denison
JUSTIN MAINWARRING LIVE
Date: Saturday Dec 7 @7.00pm to 11.00pm Sunday Dec 15 + Wednesday Jan 1 @ 12.00pm to 5.00pm
Location: Maffco Brewery, 12 Railway Place
Website: www.maffcobrewery.com for more music gigs
STRATFORD COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Date: Sunday Dec 8 @ 4.45pm to 8.15pm
Location: Apex Park, Apex Park Road
Contact: 0401 035 379
MAFFRA CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Lots of entertainment + Mr & Mrs Claus!
Date: Wednesday, Dec 11 @5.00pm to 9.00pm
Location: Johnson Street
JARRYD GOUNDREY: LIVE IN SALE
Date: Thursday Dec 12 @ 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Location: 118-124 Raymond Street Website: thegippynook.com.au
GLENMAGGIE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS GET TOGETHER
Date: Friday Dec 13 @ 5.30pm start, 7pm Santa B.Y.O. Alcohol
Location: Mechanics Insitute Hall
CHRISTMAS DINNER & PARTY @ MEWBURN PARK WITH TINAMBA HOTEL
Date: Friday Dec 13 @ 6.30pm to 11.30pm
Location: 5667 Traralgon-Maffra Road Website: www.mewburnpark.com.au
WELSHPOOL LAWN MOWER RACE
Date: Saturday Dec 14 @10.00am to 4.00pm
Location: Port Welshpool Road, Welshpool Website: www.arolmra.net
CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT THE STABLES
Date: Thursday Dec 19 @7.00pm to 9.30pm
Location: Cobb & Co Stables, 199 Raymond St, Sale Contact: 0448 742 273
CHRISTMAS RACING
Date: Sunday Dec 22 @11.00am to 5.00pm
Location: 1227 Maffra-Sale Rd, Sale Website: country.racing.com
MAFFCO CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATIONS
Date: Tuesday, Dec 24 @12.00pm to 8.30pm
Location: 13 Railway Place, Maffra Website: www.maffcobrewery.com
SALE GREYHOUND CUP
Date: Thursday Dec 26 @5.00pm to 11.30pm
Location: 1 Maffra-Sale Road Website: www.salegreyhoundlcub.com.au
LOCH SPORT ANNUAL COMMUNITY CARNIVAL
Date: Saturday Dec 28 to Thursday Jan 2, 2025
Time: From 5.00pm to 10.00pm
Location: Lake Street Foreshore Website: www.discoverlochsport.com.au
PORT ALBERT NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS
Date: Tuesday, Dec 31 @6.00pm to 10.00pm
Location: Bay Street, Port Albert Website: www.portalbert.vic.au
DA FUNK | JUNGLE JIM SMITH | CHARLIE BEDFORD
Date: Tuesday, Dec 31 @7.30pm to 10.30pm
Location: 795 Maffra-Sale Rd, Bundalaguah Website: www.liveatthebundy.com.au
SEADAYS FESTIVAL 2025
Date: Sat Jan 4 & Sun Jan 5 @9.30am to 3.30pm
Location: Port Welshpool Jetty Website: seadaysfestival.com.au
RL24 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Date: Monday Jan 6 to Friday Jan 10 @11.00am – 5/6pm
Location: 725 Marlay Point Road, Clydebank Website: www.lakewellingtonyachtclub.org
AROUND THE WORLD WITH ALISON LESTER
Date: Thursday Jan 16 @2.00pm to 4.00pm
Location: 70 Foster Street, Sale Website: www.gippslandartgallery.com
GOLDEN BEACH AUSTRALIA DAY
SURF FISHING CARNIVAL
Also the Annual Cent Night & Saturday Market at VMMMR
Date: Thursday, Jan 23 @12noon to Sun Jan 26 @2pm Location: Golden Beach
YARRAM CHALK ART FESTIVAL 2025
Date: Friday Jan 24 and Saturday Jan 25 @9am to 5pm
Location: Commercial Road Website: www.yarram.org.au
MUSIC IN THE PARK
Date: Sunday Jan 26 @12.00pm to 5.00pm
Location: Rutter Park on the Port Albert foreshore Website: www.portalbert.vic.au
THE BADLOVES | ANNA SCIONTI
Date: Friday Jan 31 @7.30pm to 11.30pm
Location: 795 Maffra-Sale Rd, Bundalaguah Website: www.liveatthebundy.com.au
PARKCHELLA 2025
Date: Saturday Feb 1 @7.00pm to 11.00pm
Location: 5667 Traralgon-Maffra Rd, Maffra Website: www.mewburnpark.com.au
COSENTINO – DECENNIUM
Date: Friday Feb 14 @7.30pm to 9.30pm
Location: 100 Foster St, Sale Website: thewedge.com.au
HEYFIELD TIMBER FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday Feb 15 @9am & Sunday Feb16 @10am
Location: Gordon Street Reserve Website: www.heyfieldtimberfestival.com.au
BRIAN CADD LIVE
Date: Saturday Feb 15 @7.30pm to 9.00pm
Location: 100 Foster Street, Sale Website: thewedge.com.au
GIPPY ROCKS 2025
Date: Friday Feb 21 @5.30pm to 10.00pm Saturday Feb 22 @10.00am to 6.00pm Sunday Feb 23 @10.00am to 1.00pm
Location: 88 MacAlister Street, Sale Website: gippyrocks.com.au
ROCK, RHYTHM & RHYME - MAFFRA LIBRARY
Date: Weekly on Monday @ 9.30am until Dec 20
Location: Maffra Library, 150 Johnson Street Contact: (03) 5147 1052
FAMILY FUN – BABY ON BOARD (Gippsland Art Gallery)
Date: Weekly on Tuesday at 9.30am until Dec 20
Location: 70 Foster Street, Sale Website: www.gippslandartgallery.com
SALE PARK RUN
Date: Weekly on Saturday at 8.00am
Location: Sale Botanic Gardens, Guthridge Parade Website: www.parkrun.com.au
SALE GREYHOUND RACING
Date: Weekly on Sunday at 5.30pm
Location: Sale Greyhound Club, 8 Maffra-Sale Rd Website: www.salegreyhoundclub.com.au
BONSAI
Date: Monthly on every 1st Saturday
Location: 19-21 Leslie Street, Sale Website: www.saleneighbourhoodhouse.org.au
Markets
HEYFIELD MARKET
DATE: 1st Saturday every month
TIME: 8.00am to 1.00pm
LOCATION: Cnr of Temple & Harveck Sts CONTACT: 5148 3408
HEYFIELD RAIL TRAIL MAKE IT, BAKE IT AND GROW IT MARKET
DATE: 2nd Sunday every month
TIME: 9.00am to 1.30pm
LOCATION: Railway Reserve, Heyfield
GLENGARRY MAKERS, BAKERS & GROWERS MARKET
DATE: 3rd Sunday every month
TIME: 9.00am to 2.00pm
LOCATION: Main Street
CONTACT: 0400 182 400
GORMANDALE CRAFT & PRODUCE MARKET
DATE: 3rd Saturday every month
TIME: 10.00am to 2.00pm
LOCATION: Mechanics Hall, 45 Main Road
CONTACT: gormandalecraftanproducemarket@gmail.com
LOCH SPORT CHRISTMAS MARKET & CONCERT
DATE: Sunday December 8
TIME: 3.00pm to 7.00pm
LOCATION: 222-236 National Park Road
WEBSITE: www.lochsportcommunityhouse.com
LONGFORD COMMUNITY MARKET
DATE: 2nd Sunday every month
TIME: 9.00am to 2.00pm
LOCATION: Spencer Street (at the oval) FACEBOOK: Longford Community Markets
LONGFORD TWILIGHT MARKET
DATE: 22nd December
TIME: 4.00pm to 8.00pm
LOCATION: Spencer Street (at the oval) FACEBOOK: Longford Community Markets
ROTARY CLUB OF MAFFRA COMMUNITY MARKET
DATE: 1st Sunday every month
TIME: 9.00am to 12.30pm
LOCATION: Island Reserve, McMahon Drive FACEBOOK: Rotary Club of Maffra Community Market
ROSEDALE BUSH MARKET
DATE: 1st Saturday every month (closed Winter)
TIME: 9.00am to 1.00pm
LOCATION: 33 Lyons Street
CONTACT: The Rosedale Bush Market
SALE PRODUCERS MARKET
DATE: 3rd Saturday every month
TIME: 8.00am to 1.00am
LOCATION: Sale Showgrounds CONTACT: 0409 697 254
SALE SUNDAY MARKET
DATE: 3rd Sunday every month
TIME: 7.00am
LOCATION: Canal Reserve, South Gippsland H’way FACEBOOK: Sale Sunday Market
SEED COMMUNITY GARDEN IN SALE
DATE: 1st Saturday every month
TIME: 9.30am to 11.00am
LOCATION: Montgomery Street
WEBSITE: www.seedcommunitygarden.org
STRATFORD MARKET DAY
DATE: Last Sunday every month
TIME: 9.00am to 2.00pm
LOCATION: Market Green – Tyers Street CONTACT: statfordvictoriasundaymarket@gmail. com
CHRISTMAS IN YARRAM
DATE: Saturday December 7 Santa Photos, Games, Music, Arts + Crafts
TIME: 9.00am to 1.00pm
LOCATION: Commercial Road
CONTACT: 0448 871 213
ANGLICAN PARISH OF YARRAM COMMUNITY MARKET
DATE: 2nd Saturday every month
TIME: 8.30am to 12.30pm
LOCATION: 95 Commercial Road
CONTACT: 0407 369 486
YARRAM VARIETY MARKET
DATE: 1st Sunday every month
TIME: 8.00am to 1.00pm
26 DEC OR SUNDAY WEEKLY SALE GREYHOUNDS
31 DEC PORT ALBERT DEC 6 FOLK SOUNDS TOUR
Outlook Walk Vereker
Photos by Doug Pell
The Vereker Outlook Walk is a scenic trail located in Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Distance from car park: The walk is approximately 6 km return and takes 2 hours to complete.
Terrain: The trail is rated as Grade 3 (moderate), suitable for those with some fitness. It features a steep climb through open banksia woodland, past unique grass trees and granite boulders.
Views: The lookout offers panoramic views across the landscape to Darby Saddle, Corner Inlet and Cotters Beach.
Extensions: You can extend your walk by following the link track to Millers Landing.
Safety: There are no facilities available along the trail, and caution is advised due to unprotected cliffs.
Having walked this trail on a few occasions, there are a few ways to get to the walk, probably the best is to take the Millers Landing Walk and then look for the Vereker Outlook signpost, from there it is a short connecting walk to the Vereker Outlook Walk.
It is very important to ensure that you are wearing comfortable and well maintained foot wear as the rocks can be slippery if wet, and there are many jagged rocks and banksia roots along the track, so look where you walk and most of all enjoy the outstanding scenery, remember to bring your mobile phone or camera to take the spectacular views that are on offer.
OUTLETS
GIPPSLAND LIFE OUTLETS
Bairnsdale newsXpress 21 Bailey St
Bairnsdale Main Street Newsagency 212 Main Street
Briagolong Post Office & Newsagency 4 Avon Street
Bunyip IGA 2-6 Main Street
Cape Woolamai Food & Liquor Express 2 Vista Place
Cowes Newsagency Chapel Street
Drouin Newsagency 93 Princes Way
Fish Creek Discount Pharmacy Plus 25 Falls Road
Foster FoodWorks 37 Main Street
Heyfield IGA 18-22 George Street
Heyfield Lotto 14a George Street
Inverloch FoodWorks 10-12 Reilly Street
Kilcunda General Store 3535 Bass Highway
Korumburra Michael's Supa IGA 1 South Railway Cres
Leongatha Authorised Newsagency 30 Bair Street
Leongatha Michael's Supa IGA Cnr Church & Bruce Sts
Maffra Community Sports Club 122-126 Johnson Street
Metung Village Store 62 Metung Road
Morwell Newsagency 174-176 Commercial Road
Neerim South IGA 147 Main Road
Noojee Little Red Duck Café 1 Bennett Street
Omeo Post Office 155 Day Avenue
Rhyll General Store 41 Lock Road
Rosedale Butchers 32 Prince Street
Sale Newsagency 308-310 Raymond Street
San Remo IGA 135 Marine Parade
San Remo Newsagency and LP0, 105 Marine Parade
Swifts Creek General Store Great Alpine Road
Tarwin Lower IGA 45 River Drive
Trafalgar IGA 5 McCrorey Street
Trafalgar Newsagency 97 Princes Hwy
Traralgon News & Lotto 51-53 Franklin Street
Ventnor The Anchorage Caravan Park Ventnor Road
Venus Bay General Store 139 Jupiter Blvd
Warragul Newsagency & Officesmart 43 Victoria Street
Welshpool Supermarket 18 Main Street
Willow on Main General Store 8 Moe-Willow Grove Rd
Wonthaggi Coal Mine Café 19-37 Garden Street
Wonthaggi Newsagency 31 Murray Street
Yanakie General Store 3640 Meeniyan-Promontory Road
EVANS PETROLEUM OUTLETS
Fish Creek 2 Falls Road
Foster 94 Main Street
Inverloch 25 Williams Street
Johnsonville 1760 Princes Highway
Korumburra South 2-8 Commercial Street
Leongatha Westside 7 Anderson Street
Leongatha 95 Bair Street
Mirboo North 106 Ridgway
Newmerella 5327 Princes Highway
Rosedale Prince Street
Sale 344-350 Raglan Street
Toora 26 Foster Road
Wonthaggi 103-105 McKenzie Street
Yarram 325 Commercial Street
RITCHIES SUPA IGA Stores
Maffra 102 Johnson Street
Paynesville 3-5 Wellington Street
Sale 177 York Street
Wonthaggi 160 Graham Street
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with Stephanie Johnson
YOUR STARS SUMMER 2024
21 March – 19 April
It is summer fun for Aries, but first you need to heal any hurt feelings from the past. People popping up from the past, memories surfacing and your dreams give you clues as to what may be lingering. Once you have dealt with emotional undercurrents, then you are free to broaden your horizons. This is your time to escape to local or foreign beaches, art galleries, festivals and such like. It is back to work and goal planning in January but you can still have mini escape plans. The summer is for you to spread your wings and fly.
20 April – 20 May
Tradition plays an important role for you this month. Customs passed down by your parents and previous generations are part of the cycles of your life. Now you need to focus on what works and what needs to change. Perhaps nothing, or maybe it is time to break free of outmoded patterns. In January you have a chance to escape the humdrum of everyday life. As you take time out this gives you food for thought regarding your profession or voluntary position, casting circumstances in a different light. By February you are surging ahead with your career goals, adjusting where necessary.
21 May – 20 June
Summer fun with a loved one is your focus in December. As the Sun comes out to play, so do you. The lucky planet Jupiter in your Zodiac Sign continues to remind you that self-growth remains the central force, but someone special can add positivity and be a favoured playmate. By January shared resources and intimacy take the main stage perhaps as you plan a major expenditure, such as a trip to a foreign land. February sees you yearning to escape to local or faraway waterways. If long journeys are not possible then you could explore local festivals.
21 June – 22 July
December starts with a list of odd jobs and a focus on your workaday life. As you approach the end of the calendar year, it is a busy time with many daily decisions at home and work. Take a moment to list your priorities and then tick your chores off one by one. As you approach the year’s end your focus shifts to your partner. Life becomes a double act with a business or personal partner, or with a search for one. By February you are ready to assess your personal resources. Investments of time, energy and money are up for review.
23 July – 22 Aug
You will be delighted to know that December is your month to slow down and have fun. Fun means different things to different people. You can pursue your own idea of what it means to you whether it is mingling with your favourite loved ones or filling your calendar with pleasurable activities. In January you reassess your work/life balance, paying attention to some of the more mundane matters in your life. And then February sees you enlisting the support of your nearest and dearest for some summer celebrations. Creative activities started in December and fine-tuned in January can now be consolidated.
23 Aug – 22 Sep
Family matters are the focus at the start of December. Your house, apartment, living quarters and household require your attention. People are likely coming and going, calling on you to be flexible. It is also possible that you are travelling to a different location for family celebrations. As the season progresses you are likely to take a short journey, enjoying a change of scenery. Decisions with siblings and other extended family members are also likely. The end of summer sees you take stock of your personal finances. Changes in your circumstances are prompting a charge of heart when it comes to money matters.
23 Sep – 22 Oct
It is time to escape everyday responsibilities either by putting aside duties that can be temporarily shelved, or by taking a short journey for a change of scenery. You need to be able to enjoy your own space so that you have a positive mindset and the ability to think clearly. By January, decisions around personal money matters can be made. Your self-worth plays an important role in these decisions. By the end of the summer season, you are ready to put yourself first, knowing your worth and what makes you happy and healthy. Your self-image shifts.
23 Oct – 21 Nov
Changes in your household call for a change of direction. This is not necessarily a negative situation. On the contrary it could be something like a child being born, or the announcement of a grandchild. No matter what your news, you learn what is truly valuable. As the season progresses, you assert yourself, relying on your reputation to move matters in a positive direction. Circumstances in February may prompt you to indulge in a little ‘cave’ time, retreating and resting to recharge your energy. This is the ideal time for a health or spiritual retreat.
22 Nov – 21 Dec
This is your time of the year to truly celebrate. You like nothing better than to kick up your heels and celebrate Sagittarius season. Your reputation precedes you. So, it is time to update your social profiles, let everyone know that you are ready to party and have some fun. Your partner, in business or your personal life, could be the driver during December, urging you to accept their social agenda. January sees you slow down, taking some much-needed rest and by February you are ready to pursue your hopes, dreams and wishes with friends and groups.
22 Dec – 19 Jan
The message in the stars for the start of summer is clear – take some time to slow down and rest. Your spiritual health is a key factor in December. So, take some time to retreat, meditate, pray and generally chill. If possible, spend some time in or near the water, soothing your soul. By January you can go out and about again, enjoying the company of friends, mingling in social or business groups and generally filling your calendar. As a result, you are likely to be ready to work towards your true north by the end of the season.
20 Jan – 18 Feb
Your social calendar quickly fills this month. Your preferred way of connecting with friends and associates is likely in person, but if you do enjoy social media, then this, too, demands some attention. The idea is for you to network and elicit the support of key offsiders. Mid-season you are likely to be out and about for your work. Your professional life sector is lit up during January, but you may be pleased to know that you can plan an escape in February. With the powerful planet Pluto now in your Zodiac Sign the emphasis is on you living your authentic life.
19 Feb – 20 March
While others start to wind down at the end of the calendar year, you are once again on call at work. Even if you have a chance to take a break you are likely considering your professional options. This time of the year continues to be a time of career opportunities. By January you can take some time for a tree or sea change, exploring your local neighbourhood or further afield. And as summer comes to an end, something profound is the result, either a realisation of your own, or an event that sparks a sense of wonder.
Stephanie Johnson (BA/J) is an international consulting astrologer running her own Seeing With Stars business for personal and business clients. Stephanie also heads up Esoteric Technologies, the company that produces astrology software for professional astrologers around the world. She was one of the original creators of the world-renowned Solar Fire for Windows and continues to co-create apps for the iPhone, iPad and macOS. Stephanie lives and works on the Mornington Peninsula, and writes horoscopes for her own business, as well as local bespoke magazines. She is also the author of numerous astrology reports which are used across the globe. You can follow Stephanie @seeingwithstars on Instagram | Twitter | www.seeingwithstars.net
Are you looking for ways to fill your summer with adventure, relaxation, and discovery? Myli – My Community Library has you covered! From exciting events to digital collections and the much-anticipated BIG Summer Read, there’s something for everyone, young and grown-up alike.
Get Ready for the BIG Summer Read
This summer, young readers can embark on an exciting reading challenge with the BIG Summer Read, an annual program run by Public Libraries Victoria. Perfect for kids and teens aged 0-18, the challenge runs from 1st December to 31st January, encouraging young readers to enjoy books and connect with their local libraries over the holidays.
Registration is free, and participants who complete the challenge can earn incentive prizes from their local library, plus the chance to win fantastic statewide prizes. Last summer, over 16,000 readers from all over Victoria joined the challenge, completing more than 220,000 books! This year, Myli is inviting even more young readers to join in. So, pick your next read, grab your library card, and let the summer fun begin!
Summer Fun for All Ages
At Myli, the summer season is packed with activities for every age. Kids can enjoy LEGO-building sessions, craft workshops, and interactive storytelling events. Adults won’t miss out, with book clubs, author talks, and hands-on workshops adding to the mix. Check out Myli’s Eventbrite page: myli.au/events for all the details and book your place at events that spark your interest!
Discover Myli’s Digital Collection
Whether you’re relaxing at home or off on an adventure, Myli’s digital collection is your summer companion. Borrow e-books and audiobooks with BorrowBox, stream films on Kanopy, or learn something new with LinkedIn Learning and Creativebug. With your library card, these resources are always within reach.
Try Myli’s Library of Things
Make this summer unforgettable by borrowing something new from Myli’s Library of Things. Capture your holiday moments with a GoPro camera, explore nature with bird-watching kits, or borrow picnic blankets for an outdoor escape. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Your Local Summer Haven
When the summer sun gets too hot, Myli’s libraries are your perfect escape. Enjoy cool, air-conditioned spaces, free Wi-Fi, and cosy reading corners to relax and recharge. Whether you’re there to browse, read, or unwind, your local Myli branch is ready to welcome you.
This summer, discover the joy of connecting, learning, and exploring with Myli. Visit your local branch or head to myli.org.au to find out more about all the fantastic resources and events waiting for you. Here’s to a summer full of memories!
Summer at Phillip Island
Phillip Island is the ultimate summer destination, offering endless activities from exploring stunning beaches and walking trails to immersing yourself in nature and wildlife. With plenty of entertainment and gourmet experiences, there’s something for everyone.
One of the best ways to experience the island is with Wildlife Coast Cruises, which offers unique coastal tours for all ages and interests. For an unforgettable wildlife adventure, hop on the Phillip Island Seal Cruise and visit Australia’s largest fur seal colony. Thousands of playful seals await coming up to the boat to greet you, and during summer, you can spot seal pups (born from October to December) exploring their rockpool habitats and bleating out to their mothers who provide them with food from the surrounding waters.
Beyond Seal Rocks, other interesting spots on Phillip Island include Cape Woolamai, renowned for its dramatic granite cliffs, caves, and remnants of the old quarry, all framed by crystal-clear turquoise waters. The Cape Cruise, a one-hour tour, departs from the historic San Remo fishing village, offering stunning views of this iconic headland.
Afterward, treat yourself to fresh fish and chips from the local Fisherman’s Co-op, where the flake comes straight off the boats.
For a relaxing evening, unwind with a glass of local wine and a delicious grazing platter or king prawns on an evening Sunset Cruise. As you glide across the bay, you’ll spot birdlife and watch the sun set along the coastline. To make the experience even better, this cruise features live music, allowing you to enjoy soothing tunes as the day fades into night.
With so many incredible options to explore Phillip Island by water, make sure to set sail this summer!
For more information Wildlife Coast Cruises at 1300 763 739 or visit their informative website www.wildlifecoastcruises.com.au
Gippsland Veterinary Group says
G’day to Grantville
Gippsland Veterinary Group (GVG) is excited to announce the opening of its newest companion animal clinic in Grantville, bringing high-quality veterinary care to Bass Coast residents and the many holidaymakers visiting this beautiful region.
The new clinic, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, offers routine consultations and treatments closer to home for clients who once travelled to Newhaven or Wonthaggi. Whether you're a local or a visitor to the Bass Coast, GVG's skilled team is here to keep your pets healthy and happy.
The new Grantville clinic is the eighth location for Gippsland Veterinary Group, joining a proud legacy of trusted clinics across the region, including companion animal clinics in Leongatha, Inverloch, Foster, Wonthaggi, Newhaven, and Mirboo North, and a Large Animal & Equine Centre in Leongatha.
This expansion reflects GVG’s ongoing commitment to the communities of Gippsland and the Bass Coast, providing compassionate and comprehensive care to animals of all kinds.
GVG’s team is well known for their dedication to their clients and extensive contribution to the welfare of local wildlife. From koalas to albatrosses, they generously volunteer their time and expertise to treat a wide range of injured animals, providing essential medical attention to aid in their recovery.
This dedication to the health and wellbeing of both pets and wildlife reflects GVG’s core values of integrity, compassion, and community support, embodying a commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of all animals across the region.
Dr. Belinda Herrald BVSc (Hons) Leading the Team with Dedication and Expertise
The Grantville clinic will be led by Gippsland Veterinary Group Board Of Directors member and Senior Veterinarian Dr. Belinda Herrald, whose extensive experience and passion for animal care make her an ideal leader for the new location.
Dr. Herrald graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1999 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours (BVSc(Hons)) She began her career in a mixed-dairy practice and has since developed vast experience in companion animal medicine, working in small animal and emergency clinics in both Australia and England. Since joining GVG in 2007, Dr. Herrald has become a trusted and familiar face, particularly at the Wonthaggi and Leongatha clinics.
Belinda's professional interests include small animal medicine, ultrasonography, and soft tissue surgery, along with mentoring new graduates and managing daily clinic operations.
Pet Corner | Summer time
Bear
Buttons
Charlie
BaaBaa & Meryl Sheep
Charlie
Bluey
Candy & Tina
Cisco
Chippie
Bob RIP angel
Alfie
Audrey
Dargo
Duke
Eddy Stewart
Dingle-Deni
George
Fonzie
Lilly
Harvey
Frankie
Lucy RIP angel
Millie
Barra
Mini
Dumpling & Baci Remy
Okami & Kitsune
Tigger
Timmy & Tommo
Rocco & Daphne
Tinker Bell
Miss Poppy Rebel
Set in Jindivick’s rolling green hills discover an acre of recycled metal sculptures and browse the gallery space hosting the work of contemporary artists and Laurie’s small stories sculptures. Call in anytime, no cost and see the studio (amongst the metal chaos!)
