46 gippsland lifestyle autumn

$7.95 Autumn #46

BEYOND THE FIRE

Danielle McAlpine Johnson

FARMER’S DAUGHTERS

Passion on a plate

FOOTY’S BACK!

Country footy returns

BRYAN DAWE

Open Dawe

+ Regular Features Horoscope Positive Lifestyle Tips Millie’s Adventures Canine Corner ISSN 1838-8124

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NISSAN | HYUNDAI | DEMO & USED VEHICLES | SERVICE | PARTS | FINANCE 1-5 ROUGHEAD STREET, LEONGATHA, VIC, 3953

P (03) 5662 2327 F (03) 5662 2642 E edney@dcsi.net.au www.edneysleongatha.com.au LMCT 1500

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editorial autumn #46 Autumn in Gippsland Did summer arrive or am I mistaken to think that Autumn beat Summer to the post?

I say this as long hot sunny days were few and far between, but nevertheless Autumn is here, and the experts often say that Gippsland shines in Autumn.

Once again, our journalists have pushed out the top bar with some remarkably interesting features that cover all parts of Gippsland and we have ventured out of Gippsland into Melbourne to cover a chef and a business that sells only Gippsland to the city folk. The Farmer’s Daughters with esteemed Chef Alejandro Saravia are hitting all the right notes.

If you have been watching some TV over summer, on the 10 network was a show called ‘Beyond The Fire’ this was a great look at the families and people that were caught up in the devastating East Gippsland Fires only one year ago. Danielle McAlpine Johnson is a born and bred Gippslander and she produced this magnificent show and Danielle Is destined for a great career in the media.

Talking television Bryan Dawe was synonymous for many years with his onscreen partnership with the late John Clarke, their satire was for all to see and hear. This humble man talks about his early days of growing up in Port Adelaide, his brilliant journey and now he is happily settled at Phillip Island.

The Bryan Dawe story is not quite over.

This summer we did find some nice days to get out and about, and we have some interesting and varied features on some of the great places to visit, Alberton Cemetery Tours, take the Cape Woolamai walk, visit Walhalla, go to East Gippsland, and visit Metung, and take your dog for a walk as well and send us a photo of your dog for Canine Corner that is now proudly sponsored by Pets Domain. There is plenty to see and do in Gippsland and of course this edition brings you plenty to read!

James Pell | Editor

our autumn front cover

Farmer's Daughter | Passion on a plate Photography | Thom Rigney thom@thomrigney.com thomrigney.com

our autumn back cover

Virtue Homes Building Excellence www.virtuehomes.com.au

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our content 8-9 10-11 12 22-24 25 26-27 28-29 32-33 34-38 40-44 46-47 46-47 48-49 48-49 50-51 50-51 52-53 52-53 54-56 54-56 58-59 58-59 60-61 60-61 62 62 64-65 64-65 66-68 66-68 72-73 72-73 74-75 74-75 82-83 82-83 84-102 84-102 103-107 103-107 108-110 108-110 111-113 111-113 114-115 114-115 116-118 116-118 119-121 119-121 124-125 124-125 126-128 126-128 129 129 130-132 130-132 133 133 134-135 134-135 136-137 136-137 140-141 140-141 142-143 142-143 144-145 144-145

CURTIS AUSTRALIA - Your jewellery is always close to your heart WEST GIPPSLAND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY - Join the great pelican count TAITS INTERIORS - Earthy Comfort EDGEWATER TERRACES METUNG - Metung and an East Gippsland gem WARRAGUL CAMERA CLUB - 48th Warragul National Photographic Competition WALHALLA LONG TUNNEL EXTENDED MINE - Digging Into History SANCREED COTTAGE WALHALLA - Ugly duckling reborn BK’S TAKEAWAY - Serving up success DANIELLE McALPINE JOHNSON - Beyond The Fire Documentary BRYAN DAWE - Open Dawe TOURING INVERLOCH INVERLOCH TOURING PAPER PLAY PLAY & & PRETTY PRETTY THINGS THINGS -- Bringing Bringing big big city city appeal appeal to to the the coast coast PAPER LOOKING BACK BACK AT AT INVERLOCH’S INVERLOCH’S VINTAGE VINTAGE DAYS DAYS LOOKING JOHN HUTCHISON HUTCHISON -- Keeping Keeping history history alive alive JOHN BUNARONG BUNARONG COAST COAST EDUCATION EDUCATION -- Inverloch Inverloch is is ground ground zero zero for for dinosaurs dinosaurs in in Australia Australia A A TASTE TASTE OF OF ASIA ASIA -- In In Inverloch Inverloch ANDERSON INLET ANGLING CLUB Perfectly located on the beautiful Gippsland ANDERSON INLET ANGLING CLUB - Perfectly located on the beautiful Gippsland coast coast PINK PINK STUMPS STUMPS DAY DAY McGRATH McGRATH FOUNDATION FOUNDATION -- At At Inverloch Inverloch Cricket Cricket Ground Ground BLUE SALT JEWELLERS A rare gem BLUE SALT JEWELLERS - A rare gem COLIN COLIN BOYD BOYD -- From From the the Sherrin Sherrin to to the the saddle saddle GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY - What’s on GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY - What’s on VIRTUE HOMES - Building excellence VIRTUE HOMES - Building excellence WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES - Tackling anxiety WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES - Tackling anxiety PHLLIP ISLAND ADVERTISERS AND FEATURES PHLLIP ISLAND ADVERTISERS AND FEATURES FOOTY’S BACK! - The return of country footy to Gippsland FOOTY’S BACK! - The return of country footy to Gippsland WARREN CURRY - Artist Port Albert Art Gallery WARREN CURRY - Artist Port Albert Art Gallery PROM COAST MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB - Off-Road cycling in Foster PROM BIKE CLUB - Off-Road cycling in Foster LIFE IS COAST BERRY MOUNTAIN SWEET IN KORUMBURRA LIFE IS BERRY SWEET IN-KORUMBURRA FARMER’S DAUGHTERS Passion on a plate FARMER’S DAUGHTERS- -Millie Passion on a Beach plate MILLIE’S ADVENTURES & Magic MILLIE’S ADVENTURES - Millie & Magic Beach CANINE CORNER - Our Best Friends CANINE CORNER SHEA EDEN - Eden -onOur theBest rise Friends SHEA - Eden on theStars rise KERRYEDEN GALEA - Autumn KERRY - Autumn Stars A WALKGALEA THROUGH TIME - Alberton walking cemetery tour A WALK THROUGH - Alberton walking cemetery ARTICHOKE BOOKSTIME - Reviews on books & board gamestour ARTICHOKE BOOKS - Reviews LOCAL HEROES - Graeme Piera on books & board games LOCAL Graeme Piera FRANK HEROES BUTERA -- The age of Riesling FRANK BUTERA - The age Riesling to eat mindfully at work CHRISTINE BOUCHER - 5ofStrategies CHRISTINE BOUCHER - 5 Strategies to eat mindfully at work CHRISTIE NELSON - Pounding the pavement with a purpose CHRISTIE NELSON - Pounding the pavement with aofpurpose ERIN MILLER - The mind is not qualified for matters the heart ERIN MILLER - The mind is not qualified for matters of the heart

our advertisers our advertisers 138-139 BASS COAST HEALTH - Wonthaggi Hospital 46-47 138-139 76 46-47 69 76 57 69 70 57 39 70 14 39 30-31 14 19 30-31 77 19 146 77 21 146 3 21 71 3 73 71 79 73 81 79 63 81 27 63 63 27 16 63 39 16 80 39 77 80 5 77 29 5 89 29 78 89 13 78 57 13 44 57 45 44 17 45 18 17 62 18 80 62 148 80 25 148 20 25 83 20 7 83 15 7 15

BASS COAST SHIRE - Touring Inverloch & Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre HEALTH - Wonthaggi Hospital BBQ TRARALGON - Heating every home BASSGALORE COAST SHIRE - Touring Inverlochto&suit Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre BACKYARD WORLD - Cubbies, sheds and carports BBQ GALORE TRARALGON - Heating to suit every home BLUE SALT JEWELLERS - Exclusive custom handmade jewellery BACKYARD WORLD - Cubbies, sheds and carports BRENT SINCLAIR CATERING - Mobile Catering and Takejewellery Away Meals on order BLUE SALT JEWELLERS - Exclusive custom handmade BURRA GARDEN SUPPLIES NURSERY Korumburra BRENT SINCLAIR CATERINGAND - Mobile Catering and Take Away Meals on order CARPET COURT -SUPPLIES Dream It. Style Live It. Korumburra BURRA GARDEN AND It. NURSERY COMMUNITY BANK TRAFALGAR & DISTRICT BRANCH CARPET COURT - Dream It. Style It. Live It. CPK McLAREN MOTORBODY - Motor Body Vehicle Repairer COMMUNITY BANK TRAFALGAR & DISTRICT BRANCH CRAWFORD MARINE - Live the- dream!

Campion boats and more CPK McLAREN MOTORBODY Motor Body Vehicle Repairer CURTIS AUSTRALIA very Campion best in Jewellery CRAWFORD MARINE- -Bairnsdale’s Live the dream! boats and more EDGEWATER TERRACE METUNG -very Relax and Rejuvinate CURTIS AUSTRALIA - Bairnsdale’s best in Jewellery EDNEYS LEONGATHA Nissan Navara EDGEWATER TERRACE- New METUNG - Relax and Rejuvinate EVANS Leongatha EDNEYSPETROLEUM LEONGATHA- West - NewSide Nissan Navara GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY MustLeongatha see in Sale EVANS PETROLEUM - West -Side GROWMASTER TRARALGON Garden,Fashion, GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY - Must see in Sale Giftware Solutions LEONGATHA RSL - Family friendly venue GROWMASTER TRARALGON - Garden,Fashion, Giftware Solutions LIME AND CORSL - Mexican street food cantina in Inverloch LEONGATHA - Family friendly venue LONG TUNNEL GOLD Gold Tour Booking Information LIME AND CO - EXTENDED Mexican street foodMINEcantina in Inverloch MELALEUCA NURSERY - Indigenous and Gold NativeTour plant farm Information LONG TUNNEL EXTENDED GOLD MINEBooking MOOS AT MEENIYAN - Eat Drink and have a greatplant time!farm MELALEUCA NURSERY - Indigenous and Native RIGBY Gippsland’s & bedding store MOOS HOMEMAKERS AT MEENIYAN - -Eat Drink and finest have afurniture great time!

ROSEDALE BUTCHERS- -Gippsland’s Family owned country butcher - Meatstore and Seafood RIGBY HOMEMAKERS finest furniture & bedding RUSSELL BROADBENT - Federal Member Monash ROSEDALE BUTCHERS MP - Family owned countryforbutcher - Meat and Seafood RUSSELL NORTHE MP -MP State Member for Morwell BROADBENT - Federal Member for Monash SANCREED COTTAGE RUSSELL NORTHE MP--Walhalla State Member for Morwell SOL STUDIOCOTTAGE & GALLERY - Inverloch Art classes and workshops SANCREED - Walhalla STONY CREEK GO KARTS- Inverloch - Fun for all family,and Goworkshops Kart hire SOL STUDIO & GALLERY Artthe classes TAITES The trusted Service for 58 years STONY INTERIORS CREEK GO -KARTS - Funname for all in theQuality, family,Fabrics Go Kart&hire THAT PLACE INVERLOCH Earth in friendly alternatives a sustainable lifestyle TAITESECO INTERIORS - The trusted-name Quality, Fabrics & for Service for 58 years THE - Restaurant in Krowera THATGROVE ECO PLACE INVERLOCH - Earth friendly alternatives for a sustainable lifestyle THE GURDIES WINERY - Refurbishing GROVE - Restaurant in Krowera award winning winery THE MELBOURNE FURNISHING CO - award Qualitywinning furniturewinery for our community GURDIES WINERY - Refurbishing TOWNSEND’S NURSERY WONTHAGGI - A large variety outdoor natives THE MELBOURNE FURNISHING CO - Quality furniture forofour community TREAT TIME - Where you can find a treat -for of the family TOWNSEND’S NURSERY WONTHAGGI A all large variety of outdoor natives VAN STEENSEL TIMBERS - We have everything Autumn cleanup TREAT TIME - Where you can find a treat for all offor theyour family VIRTUE HOMES TIMBERS - Building Excellence VAN STEENSEL - We have everything for your Autumn cleanup WARRAGUL CAMERA CLUB - 48th National Photographic Competition & Exhibition VIRTUE HOMES - Building Excellence WEST GIPPSLAND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITYCompetition - The great &pelican count WARRAGUL CAMERA CLUB - 48th National Photographic Exhibition WEST GIPPSLAND GIPPSLANDCATCHMENT LIBRARIES -MANAGEMENT Discover your library on demand!

AUTHORITY - The great pelican count WONTHAGGI LOTTO - Authorised Tattslotto Agency WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES - Discover your library on demand!

WONTHAGGI PLAZA Plaza that has theAgency lot including K Mart LOTTO -- The Authorised Tattslotto WONTHAGGI PLAZA - The Plaza that has the lot including K Mart

Russell Northe is your local MP for the Morwell Electorate in the Victorian Parliament’s Legislative Assembly

”Gippsland, such a great place to live, work and visit.Through natural disasters and even pandemics the generosity and goodwill of Gippsland people always shines through”

RUSSELL NORTHE MP M E M BE R FO R M O R W E LL

Proud Parliamentary representative of the following local towns and communities including:

RUSSELL NORTHE MP M E M B E R FO R M O RW EL L

12 – 14 George Street Morwell, VIC 3840 (03) 5133 9088 Russell.Northe@parliament.vic.gov.au russellnorthe.com.au

Boolarra, Callignee, Churchill, Cowwarr, Glengarry, Hazelwood, Jeeralang, Koornalla, Morwell, Newborough, Toongabbie, Traralgon, Traralgon South, Tyers, Yallourn North & Yinnar

Authorised by Russell Northe, 12-14 George Street Morwell, Funded by Parliamentary Budget

GIPPSLAND LIFESTYLE DEATILS

CONTENT COVERAGE AREA

SOUTH GIPPSLAND PUBLISHING PTY LTD. Trading as Gippsland Lifestyle 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 FACEBBOOK facebook.com/lifestylegippsland INSTAGRAM gippslandlifestyle WRITERS Chris West, Anita Butterworth, Lia Spencer, Trevor Stow, Kelvin Lau, Camilla Hullick, Ken Roberts and John Turner

Through continual research, we seek and find new products and innovative manufacturing processes; implementing energy saving efficiencies, removing potential waste and harmful processes affecting the environment.

CONTRIBUTORS Erin Miller, Kerry Galea, Frank Butera, Christie Nelson, Christine Boucher, Natalie Guest and Millie Roberts

Southern Impact adheres to all current governing laws and regulations set down by the State and Federal Governments in relation to Environmental and Conservation Acts.

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Roland Pick (Phillip Island Nature Parks) and Paul Henderson (Curtis Australia)

Southern Impact is active in ensuring all their disposable waste materials are disposed of in accordance to those laws. Regular audits are carried out on the companies they use to ensure they follow the strict guidelines set out by these laws.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Doug Pell, Ken Roberts, Trevor Stow and Kelvin Lau ADVERTISING Maxine Sando - Sales Manager Sonia Hogg - East Gippsland Sales Consultant and Doug Pell - Sales Consultant

Vegetable based low Volatile Organic Compounds and VOC free inks are used and all of their paper waste material is recycled. As a result, their factory and current printing processes are some of the most environmentally friendly on the market today.

EDITOR James Pell CREATIVE media101 | design central DISTRIBUTION Gippsland the Lifestyle 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. Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, galleries, hair and beauty salons and Council information centres.

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PRINTERS

Southern Impact (VIC) Pty Ltd www.southerncolour.com.au

Southern Impact (VIC) Pty Ltd is environmentally conscious.

They take action to minimise their waste and recycle their waste products; ethically and responsibly.

WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR COPY GIPPSLAND LIFESTYLE OUTLETS Bairnsdale newsXpress 21 Bailey St Bairnsdale Dahlsens Mitre 10 19 Dalmahoy Street Bairnsdale Main Street Newsagency 212 Main Street Berwick Newsagency 29-31 High Street Briagolong Post Office & Newsagency 4 Avon Street Boolarra Store & Newsagency 9 Tarwin Street Bunyip IGA 2-6 Main Street Churchill Newsagency Hazelwood Village Shopping Centre Cowes Newsagency 44-46 Thompson Avenue Dalyston General Store 4213 Bass Highway Drouin Newsagency 93 Princes Way Erica General Store 1 Henty Street Fish Creek Alison Lester 1 Falls Road Fish Creek Discount Pharmacy Plus 25 Falls Road Foster FoodWorks 37 Main Street Garfield Licensed Post Office 77 Main Street Glengarry General Store Main Street Grantville Newsagency & Post Office Shop 2, 1503 Bass Hwy Heyfield IGA 18-22 George Street Inverloch FoodWorks 10-12 Reilly Street Inverloch Paperplay 10 A'Beckett Street The Jindi Caf 1070 Jacksons Track Korumburra Michael's Supa IGA 1 South Railway Cres Lakes Entrance Newspower 297 The Esplanade Lang Lang IGA 32 Main Street Leongatha Authorised Newsagency 30 Bair Street Leongatha Michael's Supa IGA Cnr Church & Bruce Sts Maffra newsXpress 144 Johnson Street Metung Village Store 62 Metung Road Moe Nextra Lotto Shop 2, 1-3 Moore Street Morwell Newsagency 174-176 Commercial Road Nar Nar Goon, Clough Fuel 1975 Princes Hwy Neerim South IGA 147 Main Road Newry General Store 44 Main Street Omeo Post Office 155 Day Avenue Poowong IGA 17-19 Main Street Port Albert Interiors by Jade Gift Shop 65 Tarraville Road Rosedale Butchers 32 Prince Street Sale Newsagency 308-310 Raymond Street San Remo IGA 135 Main Parade Stratford IGA 67 Tyers Street Swifts Creek General Store Great Alpine Road Tarwin Lower IGA 45 River Drive Tinamba General Store Maffra-Rosedale Road Toora Fancy Goods & Relics 26 Stanley Street Toora FoodWorks 66 Stanley Street Trafalgar IGA 5 McCrorey Street Traralgon News & Lotto 51-53 Franklin Street Trafalgar Newsagency 97 Princes Hwy Traralgon Seymour Street News 83 Seymour 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 Wonthaggi Newsagency 31 Murray Street Yanakie General Store 3640 Meeniyan-Promontory Road Yarram Artichoke Books 1/243 Commercial Road Yarragon Fozigobble Café 79 Princes Highway Yinnar General Store 44 Main Street

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 Churchill 5-8 Georgina Way Maffra 102 Johnson Street Paynesville 3-5 Wellington Street Sale 177 York Street Wonthaggi 160 Graham Street

WONTHAGGI NEWSAGENCY & LOTTO OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK | CLOSED SUNDAY 31 Murray Street, Wonthaggi Vic 3995 Tel: 5672 1256

Gippsland the Lifestyle Magazine is published quarterly.

This magazine is distributed throughout Victoria. All photographs in this publication are copyright to Gippsland the Lifestyle, and if any are used in other publications or used in a commercial sense, you are liable to prosecution. Permission to use any photos in the publication must be obtained by contacting South Gippsland Publishing Pty Ltd via email to: gippslandlifestyle@bigpond.com Disclaimer: © South Gippsland Publishing Pty Ltd 2021, All Rights Reserved, has the discretion to add or remove words or photos that are deemed unsuitable for the magazine. South Gippsland Publishing Pty Ltd is not responsible or liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or use of information contained within these pages, offering no warranties, either expressed or implied with respect to any material contained within the pages. Material in this magazine cannot be published or reproduced without South Gippsland Publishing Pty Ltd's written consent. Failure to heed to this could result in prosecution.

The opinions and views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers.

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YOUR JEWELLERY IS ALWAYS CLOSE TO YOUR HEART RESTORING, REMODELLING & RE-IMAGINING YOUR PRECIOUS JEWELLERY

BY PAUL HENDERSON

THERE'S A POWERFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR JEWELLERY – ESPECIALLY YOUR ENGAGEMENT, WEDDING AND ANNIVERSARY RINGS. They're probably the only personal possessions you have that have really stood the test of time – for maybe 20, 30 or even 50 years.

Wrapped in significance and irreplaceable, they hold memories that are so close, you'll remember exactly when and where you were proposed to, got married or enjoyed that special anniversary. Rings are significant too - your wedding ring reminds you of the commitment you gave to each other, and shows that promise to everyone you meet.

One of the unique aspects of the way Glenn works is his willingness to fully engage with his customers. He insists that every visitor is seen individually and privately in the beautifully appointed Curtis Australia showroom, with time to discuss their jewellery needs fully.

Glenn enjoys the interaction, advising clients when restoring their much loved pieces or on the best way forward when redesigning their rings into something new. Redesigns can include working with your existing rings and you can even add some extra, larger gems for that extra sparkle. Everything the jewellers do is undertaken with great skill, artistry and every care.

With their fingers very much on the pulse, Glenn and the team stay ahead of trends and can work across a wide range of design themes to give you the jewellery you want.

To begin with, Glenn will usually draw a simple sketch to explain the idea, and if needed a more considered drawing comes next. Once that is approved, work starts on your ring or other item.

Curtis Australia is unusual in that they make all of their work themselves in their own studio – nothing gets sent away, giving their clients real peace of mind while allowing Glenn and the team complete control over the outcome.

SO, WHO DO YOU TRUST YOUR JEWELLERY WITH WHEN YOU WANT IT RESTORED? Master Jeweller Glenn Curtis from Curtis Australia and his team in Bairnsdale have a wealth of skills, expertise and knowledge in the hand-crafting, restoration and repair of fine jewellery. With over 50 years of experience, and winning international awards for craftsmanship along the way, you can confidently leave your precious jewellery to be restored or re-imagined knowing it will be in safe, skilled hands.

EVERY GEM IS CAREFULLY SET BY HAND, A SKILL THAT TAKES YEARS TO LEARN AND EVEN LONGER TO PERFECT

It's when he's creating your jewellery that Glenn's love of his craft really shines through, you can tell that his is a lifetime's passion.

Curtis Australia encourage their clients to bring everything in for an informal chat so Glenn can discuss options for jewellery old and new. Styles and fashions come and go, for instance rings are usually lower in height than they might have been in the seventies, and people generally prefer a lower ring for today's busy lifestyle.

DRAWINGS ARE OFTEN CREATED BY HAND, THIS ALLOWS DESIGN THOUGHTS TO FLOW AND GIVES YOU A GOOD IDEA OF YOUR SPECIAL DESIGN

There is nothing more rewarding to Glenn and his team than when they reveal a beautifully restored engagement ring to a client. Looking just like it did on the very first day they were proposed to, this moment often brings tears of joy and happiness.

A COLLECTION OF JEWELLERY RE-IMAGINED INTO A CLEVER NEW DESIGN

With over 50 years experience in jewellery design & creation 8

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LADIES 'MYST' WATCH IN ROSE GOLD WITH AUSTRALIAN SOUTH SEAS MOTHER OF PEARL

THE FINISHED HAND CRAFTED YELLOW GOLD AND DIAMOND RING

YELLOW AND WHITE GOLD ARE PERMANENTLY FUSED TOGETHER IN THIS RIBBED BAND RING

YOUR SPECIAL RING IS GENTLY HAND POLISHED AS A FINAL, FINISHING TOUCH

When you've jewellery to repair, restore or even remodel, Glenn and his team at Curtis Australia in Bairnsdale are ready to help. You'll be assured of a warm welcome, and more importantly, the professional service and care your jewellery deserves. Next time you're in Bairnsdale, pop in and say hello – there's a lot to see. Browse and be inspired by their unique jewellery collections, see a growing range of exclusive Australian made solid gold Curtis watches and wonder at their ranges of beautifully imagined silver pens, all created in house. This really is more than just a jewellers, this is a destination too.

AND DON'T FORGET THAT ADVICE ON YOUR PRECIOUS JEWELLERY IS FREELY GIVEN TOO!

'SNOWFLAKE' EARRINGS WITH COLOURED GEMS CREATED IN THE CURTIS STUDIO

YELLOW GOLD EMBACES A PEARL AT THE HEART OF THIS UNUSUAL PENDANT

You can see more at Curtis Australia’s stunning work at www.curtisaustralia.com or, next time you are in Bairnsdale, why not pop into their studio at 129 Macleod Street. Ph | 03 5152 1089

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PELICANS IN FULL BREEDING COLOURS, NOTICE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THEIR BILL AND POUCH

Pelican

JOIN THE GREAT

COUNT

THE GIPPSLAND LAKES GREAT PELICAN COUNT IS BACK ON SUNDAY, 11 APRIL 2021 AND YOU CAN BE INVOLVED

According to Deb Sullivan, Birdlife Australia Project Officer in East Gippsland this year’s count is more important than ever.

The Count will be held from 11.30am to 12.00pm on Sunday, 11 April 2021 at many locations around the Gippsland Lakes.

“Last year’s Great Pelican Count had to be cancelled with late notice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions that were put in place,” explained Deb.

Although the pelican is easily identifiable and iconic, some of its behaviors remain a mystery. Pelicans are highly mobile and respond to rainfall events but that does not mean that they all move inland to breed. Research is beginning to show that coastal Pelicans generally stay coastal debunking the theory that they all move inland.

“There was so much uncertainty last year that we just didn’t know if we could run the event in line with restrictions at the time.

“We’ve now had a year to organise it and are confident we can run it in a COVID-safe manner,” continued Deb. Nearly 200 people participated in the last Great Pelican Count in April 2019.

“So much important data was gathered by these participants,” explained Deb. “And getting this data in 2021 is going to be vital to understanding the patterns of behaviour of pelicans in the Gippsland Lakes.”

The Count is a snapshot – like a census – of pelicans across the Gippsland Lakes taken at the same time on the same day.

Anyone can be involved in the count; pelicans are distinctive and easy to spot making it an event the whole family can be involved in. All you need to do is register.

“Annual counts help provide insights into population fluctuations from year to year and help understand the arrival and departure of nomadic populations that use the Lakes in times of high or low rainfall or both,” continued Deb.

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“We began color banding pelicans in November 2018, and we’ll be asking citizen scientists to report bands they see as part of their sightings. The bands are bright red with white writing, making them easy to read. These sightings are helping us to build a picture of where the pelicans move to and how they use the Gippsland Lakes.

“Not only have two of our banded Gippsland Lakes Pelicans been spotted in Queensland and northern NSW but we also know that a pelican banded with a silver band from Queensland has been spotted around the Gippsland Lakes which is very exciting and might be seen at the count.”

Deb explains that the data gathered is used by people and organisations such as BirdLife Australia to improve management actions and increase knowledge of the species.

“This is really valuable information,” continues Deb. “It’s used by natural resource management professionals to understand why the pelicans prefer a certain type of wetland or habitat. They can then set about protecting and trying to recreate those habitats at other sights meaning that the pelicans have more safe places available to them.”

The Gippsland Lakes is home to one of only two permanent pelican rookeries in Victoria.

A YOUNG PELICAN BEGGING FOR FOOD

BANDED PELICAN NUMBER 223 SITTING ON A POST AT SHAVING POINT

Pelicans are colonial nesters, meaning they nest en-masse. Their young form creches that stay together for around three - four months learning to fly, feed and fend for themselves.

“The Gippsland Lakes provide a refuge for nomadic pelicans during time of regional and national drought,” continued Deb. “We would expect to see more pelicans around the Lakes in dry times as they look for food. Data from the Great Pelican Count gives information about current numbers and their locations. This contributes to the larger BirdLife Australia Gippsland Lakes Pelican Project.

“Register for the count, grab your friends and family and get out and enjoy the Gippsland Lakes. Your observations as citizen scientists can really make a difference.

“This count will, over time, help us to quantify the changes in pelican numbers across the Gippsland Lakes and enable volunteers of all ages to participate in counting one of Australia’s most recognisable birds.”

There will be 92 sites across the Gippsland Lakes with counters allocated to them. Some sites will have lots of birds, others may have none, but this also provides useful information.

A ‘POD’ OR GROUP OF PELICANS AT THE GIPPSLAND LAKES A PELICAN FLEXING ITS POUCH

“We’re also keen to get some local knowledge of roost sites, or places where pelicans ‘hang out” continued Deb. “We’re asking people to give us a call or send an email to let us know.”

Registrations will open soon. To be notified when registrations open, email greatpelicancount@birdlife.org.au, registrations will close on 31 March 2021.

BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding conservation results for native Australian birds and their habitats.

This project is supported by the Victorian State Government, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

This is a COVID-safe event and will be run in line with all restrictions in place at the time. Participants are asked to look after their own safety and that of others when they participate.

Photography by Deb Sullivan, Birdlife Australia

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TAITS INTERIORS

EARTHYcomfort

BY NATALIE GUEST

Since the middle of last year, a lot of us have searched for any sense of comfort. Not only because a lot of us isolated in our homes during Winter but because our homes and immediate surroundings became an important part of keeping us safe.

Many city folk escaped to their country properties; where they would rather be – others, to the ocean. From this we have seen a rising trend towards natural fabrics, raw materials, local suppliers, bringing the outside in with plants and earthy colour schemes and the underlying word – comfort.

I’ve always been a natural fibre kind of person.

My first job in the curtain & blind industry was dealing in cottons, linens, flax, seagrass, coir – I adore it all. The ‘just woven’ feeling and texture. The thought that these are created from plants and earthen dyes which have been used for centuries. They are simple, raw and available without too much processing.

I feel many of us have tried to simplify a lot of what we do in our homes and be conscious of footprint.

This is sending big signals to all the fabric suppliers I deal with, who are recognising that we don’t need complicated fabrics that go through six different processes before they get to the workroom. Let’s keep it simple, let’s print fabrics here, let’s employ local artists to create and print textile designs we can use in our homes.

Colours do a lot for our senses and we all have those which we are drawn to. That can change as we travel and see new places and environments, gather momentos or just as we feel throughout the seasons.

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Creating a mood or a feel is really important with your window treatments & soft furnishings. Forming a space to either work or study; another to be relaxed and cosy – all of that is shaped around colour. To some, they appreciate the warm autumn tones of Reds, Terracotta, Rust, Ochre, Mustards & Golds to keep them comfortable and focused, while others prefer the complete opposite of the colour wheel with Blues, Teals, Duck Egg, Navy, Bottle Green, Sage Green and find them inspiring yet calming. As we say, there are no rules, it’s very much personal taste.

Have a walk around your home with a cuppa and take in each room at a time. Ask yourself – ‘How do I use this space? Is this a good use of this area? Should I move any furniture around - take it out or bring something in from another room? Do I need to hang a plant in that corner? Should I have curtains in here or does it need just a simple blind? Go through that exercise with a friend or someone who knows you well. Write some ideas down.

I have many clients who are gardeners like me so have recently spent a lot of time outside.

Some were just maintaining, others planning new spaces and creating areas for children to play, growing vegetables & herbs or just to sit and ponder. Some were more focused on introducing indoor plants and have gained a whole new interest by inviting some greenery into their homes. I had never been much of an Indoor plant girl but now I’m looking for spots to fill with not only a beautiful textured succulent but with a lovely hanging pot or plant stand to grow it in! The range of ceramic pots in our local nurseries these days is incredible; something for every interior.

Visit www.taitsinteriors.com.au to view our full range of fabrics available or phone Natalie to discuss options and order fabric sample cuttings for your next Window furnishings project.

It’s a lovely thing to feel safe & secure when you are at home and for many people that means having coverings on their windows.

Consider your privacy - you may be happy with the sunshine in winter but not so much in summer. You may love the open glass out to paddocks or mountains during the day but not enjoy the blankness at night with no colour on your windows. Is it draughty in winter and not as cosy as it could be.

Let your home become your cocoon – your special place, your sanctuary.

Natalie Guest INTERIOR SPECIALIST

FROM BREKKY TO BOOZE, YOUR LOCAL IS MOO'S

R E C E N T LY R E N O V AT E D & S E R V I N G T H E F I N E S T T H AT S O U T H G I P P S L A N D H A S T O O F F E R

BREKKIE

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LUNCH

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DINNER

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TA PA S

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TO RESERVE A TABLE CALL 5664 0010 OR EMAIL eat@moosatmeeniyan.com.au

www.moosatmeeniyan.com.au MOO’S AT MEENIYAN 89 WHITELAW STREET MEENIYAN VIC 3956

Photography by Mark Thurman

COFFEE & CAKE

TOWNSEND'S NURSERY WONTHAGGI

Townsend's Nursery have a large variety of Australian natives, Exotic plant ,indoor plants, Tube stock, fruit trees, advanced stock & gift ware. Lois and the girls have over 50 years of plant knowledge.

TOWNSEND'S NURSERY WONTHAGGI

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

CLOSED TUESDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Address: 315 West Area Road Wonthaggi VIC 3995 (03) 5672 1982 0488 322 777 www.facebook.com/townsendnursery www.instagram.com/townsend.nursery

GIPPSLAND’S PREMIER PRESTIGE MOTOR BODY REPAIR FACILITY

WE NEVER COMPROMISE PREMIUM QUALITY & SAFETY STANDARDS CPK McLaren MotorBody is recognised as one of the State’s leading Automotive Repair Facilities, one of only 5 Regional Finalists over 3 years in the VACC Industry Awards Best Body Repairer, Passenger Vehicle Category.

UTILISING THE LATEST

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insurance claims assistance

17-19 Roughead Street, Leongatha | 5662 4173 | info@mclarenmotorbody.com.au

cpkmclarenmotorbody.com.au

edgewater terraces

If it’s a while since you’ve dipped your toes into the delight that is Metung, a stay at Edgewater Terraces will reintroduce you to this idyllic coastal town in the most delightful way possible.

WORDS BY ANITA BUTTERWORTH | IMAGES BY DOUG PELL And if you’ve never had the pleasure of exploring the Gippsland Lakes, this unique accommodation is an enchanting anchor point to everything the vast water network has to offer.

A stay at Edgewater Terraces Edgewater Terraces at Metung has a bush land resort feel, with a distinct Riviera look. The terraces are spacious, beautifully appointed, standalone houses tucked away into the hilly alcove just metres from the water.

With its own private Edgewater Marina no less.

Arriving at Edgewater, it’s easy to see why it’s such a tourist draw card. The heady scent of eucalypt and the constant call of native birds envelopes each terrace. Views of the water or gardens from each window, and merely a glimpse of the nearest terrace give a sense of privacy, despite 13 houses on the property.

The facilities include saltwater swimming and wading pools, spa, BBQ area and children’s playground. And if you do actually want to venture beyond the serene cocoon of the Edgewater Resort, cross the road and you’ll find yourself at the private Edgewater Marina. Take in the beauty of the Gippsland Lakes, watch the fish and seahorses at play, get out the fishing rod or pop on your walking shoes.

Head right along the boardwalk and it’s a gentle stroll into the Metung township, where stocking up on local produce is a must. Then walk back to your Edgewater terrace to cook up your finds in the full kitchen, or on the BBQ. Then sit out on one of the many balconies surrounding your terrace and take in the sights and sounds of the Gippsland Lakes.

Or if the weather isn’t playing nice, stoke up the slow combustion wood fire, if you’re lucky enough to nab a terrace with one of these beauties.

And if the kids just can’t do without their technology, there’s Wi-Fi and Foxtel available.

The fully self-contained terraces are spacious, spotlessly clean and despite many of them being around since the mid-eighties, surprisingly modern and fresh. The one bedroom terraces, ranging from resort to luxury and deluxe, are the perfect couple’s getaway haven. While families have the choice of two or three bedroom terraces, or the impressive four bedroom lakeview terrace house.

Behind the scenes

Despite Edgewater’s position on the main road into Metung, the location is peaceful. The sound of frogs at night and birdcalls during the day is its soundtrack.

Bryan and his wife Vita have managed Edgewater for the past five years, and admit the days feel like anything but work. “It’s very rare that you fall into something that you actually like doing,” Bryan says.

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At the helm of Edgewater Terraces is manager Bryan Carroll, who’ll check you in with a bunch of fabulous ideas to pass the time and explore the region with a friendly smile.

at Metung, an East Gippsland gem

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edgewater terraces metung

“Most people live to work, and not work to live, but here, it’s something we love doing so it’s great.”

Bryan explains that the area was first developed in the mid 1980s, with the architecturally designed terraces lasting the test of time. “They’re all a common theme in design all the way through. There are two newer ones towards the back, they were built back in 1995, so they’re similar design, different colour.

“All up there’s one four bedroom house that sleeps 10 people and there are seven two-bedroom houses and four three bedroom houses.”

While many in the hospitality sector suffered a severe downturn over the past 12 months, Bryan says he’s been buoyed by the support of locals.

Bryan credits some of the success of Edgewater to the competitive tariffs, which incredibly haven’t changed for 11 years.

“We haven’t changed the prices since 2010. Metung is way smaller than Paynesville, but there’s three times as much accommodation. Not only have you got your normal resort complex here, but there are heaps of little cottages. There’s also lots of Airbnbs, there’s a lot of competition.

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So we made a business decision this year not to increase the prices, when it would have been very easy to jump the prices up given the situation where people can’t go overseas.”

Many visitors return again and again, taking advantage of better deals by booking direct through Edgewater Terraces. It’s meant a steady stream of bookings throughout the first quarter of 2021.

It’s easy to see why Edgewater Terraces is a Metung success story.

Whether it’s a family mini-break or a romantic getaway, it’s an ideal central East Gippsland resort to base your next holiday. From the location, to the accommodation, facilities and friendly staff, it’s a hidden gem that every traveller should add to their bucket list.

Edgewater Terraces at Metung Corner of Metung Road and Nicholas Avenue Book direct: 03 5156 2666 www.edgewaterterraces.com.au

IN F

CUS

HIGHLY AWARDED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN MAY WARRAGUL CAMERA CLUB PRESENTS the 48th Warragul National Photographic Competition & Exhibition This is an incredibly special opportunity to see stunning photographs taken by about 130 of Australia’s best photographers from across Australia.

The exciting exhibition will take place over three days only from Friday May 14 to Sunday May 16, 10am - 4pm daily, at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul. The West Gippsland Arts Centre is a complex that has been purpose designed and built especially for entertainment, exhibitions, events and features food and beverage facilities. It overlooks the beautifully manicured Civic Park which is a popular picnic spot.

Jane Woodcock, Chair for the Warragul Camera Club’s annual National Competition and Exhibition stresses the importance of the Exhibition to attract visitors to the Gippsland region and that it is a great community event for all to enjoy.

This unique opportunity to see the works of some of our best Australian photographers is not to be missed. For the third year in a row, the exhibition will also feature work of senior secondary students from Victorian schools.

In conjunction with the National Exhibition a showcase of works of local photographers via The Gazette Readers Competition will be displayed as a slide show on one of the large digital screens.

Jane Woodcock said we could not stage this event without the valued support of our partners and sponsors. Please offer them your support.

Our thanks must go to the following generous sponsors:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Baw Baw Shire Council | Epson

The Warragul National is one of only two such events in Victoria and attracts a total of around 1400 entries. It is endorsed by the Victorian Association of Photographic Societies and the Australian Photographic Society. Entries are assessed by a panel of judges with 500 of those entries, with the highest scores, being "accepted" into the Exhibition.

GOLD SPONSORS

The photography on view will be prints and digital accepted entries which include sections of landscape/seascape, nature, portrait, rural Australia, animals, Open, still life, after dark, creative, architecture, social documentary all of which will be professionally displayed in the Fountain Room at the WGAC. High quality full colour comprehensive catalogues will be available to purchase upon entry. Large digital screens will display a continual slide show of the Digital entries.

Baw Baw Arts Alliance | Print 2 Metal | Roylaines

BenQ | Crumpler and Vanguard Drouin & District Community Bank Branch, Bendigo Bank | V/Line

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Bruce Langdon Design | Digital Works | Homegrown Design Image Science | Louise Sedgman Equine Photography Rotary Club of Warragul | Victorian Association of Photographic Societies Voyage Fitness | Warragul & Drouin Gazette West Gippsland Medical Clinic | Wright Builders Pty Ltd

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DIGGING INTO HISTORY WALHALLA LONG TUNNEL EXTENDED MINE Words by Anita Butterworth | Photos by Doug Pell 1862: With gold fever already gripping much of northern Victoria, a group of prospectors decide to take their chances down south. Led by Ned Stringer, they trek from the Goulburn Valley, down the Aberfeldy River, reaching the Thomson River, which they followed downstream.

Carefully searching tributaries as they journey, they reached what’s now known as Stringer’s Creek. As they followed the creek upstream, the glint of gold is abundant, and it’s not long before word of their luck spreads, and the gold rush to the ‘Valley of the Gods’ begins.

“It was an almost instantaneous rush,” explains Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine Manager Geoff Anderson. “A lot of people came, the population swelled and it became a tent city. The word got out about all the gold and the big quartz miners from Ballarat, Bendigo, Maryborough they got wind of it, and they came down looking for reefs. And they found a number, the most significant of which was Cohen’s Reef, which runs from the Railway Station north for a distance of about eight kilometers. There were five large mines established on that reef.”

In total over their 50-year history, the mines produced 40 tonnes of gold the Long Tunnel Extended Mine alone yielding almost 14 tonnes. During a time of great economic depression, it was the top producing gold mine in Victoria for five years - and for one year it topped the gold mine production in Australia.

“Some people did very well and others not so well. The ones that did well were the people who grew vegetables, the Chinese, the butchers, the bakers, and the candlestick makers who made their money supporting the mining industry.

"Everything came in by road from the nearest town which was Heyfield.

All of the equipment for the mines came by sea to Port Albert and were then transported by bullock wagon.”

The Long Tunnel Extended Mine was at the heart of Walhalla’s gold production. It attracted droves of prospectors trying their luck, and it still draws crowds of visitors, including those looking to strike it rich.

“It’s an interesting mine. It commenced work in 1865 and it worked for just under 50 years, closing in 1912. The tunnel goes into the mountain about 300 metres and then the shaft goes down 3400 feet. There are levels all the way down 100 foot apart.

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“The quartz was extracted from the reef and hauled up the shaft and out the tunnel, taken to the crushers and batteries, where it was pounded down to coarse sand. It was then ground down to flour and then when it went over mercury plates and the mercury amalgamated the gold and everything else got washed off into the creek.

"They were very proud that they had a 90 percent efficiency, which meant that 10 percent of the gold wound up in the creek, and that is what people still find today when panning.”

As an engineer, Geoff marvels at the Long Tunnel Extended Mine and the ingenuity of its planners. “It was very well planned. A lot of people think it was ad hoc but they knew exactly what they were looking for. They could see the quartz reef up on the surface and they knew the line of reef, they knew the dip of the reef and they knew exactly underground where they’d find it. It’s a particularly safe mine.”

Despite its safety, there were still casualties over its years as a working mine, but Geoff insists he’s never encountered any lost souls while in the depths of the tunnel. “People do talk about ghosts in the mine, I do a lot of work in there on my own and I would love it if they come and gave me a hand,” he laughs.

The mine is one of the most accessible in the state, allowing for wheelchair visitors and those with mobility issues while offering an authentic experience.

“What you see in this mine is all at one level, so you walk in on fairly flat ground, you go about 300 metres, you can look at where the shaft was but you can’t go to the shaft it’s quite dangerous further in. You can look at the reef, where the machinery was and the guides explains everything in detail.”

The mine is open for tours every day, with several daily tours during school holidays, but Geoff admits the last couple of years have seen lower visitor numbers.

“2020 wasn’t a good year for anyone. We had a bushfire in 2019 that directly affected us, it came right into the town. The 2020 bushfire, which didn’t come to Walhalla, had a bigger affect. Because people in Melbourne looked out and all they could see was smoke in the east and the word was Gippsland’s on fire, don’t go to Gippsland. And even though Walhalla was quite safe in the 2020 bushfire people didn’t come.

“Covid 19 of course was something that no one has experienced and that closed us down from March to June and again in August to October, so we virtually lost half a year.”

However, it appears locals are now turning to their own backyard and supporting drawcards like the mine while international travel is still off the cards.

“It’s amazing the tourism we’re getting now, of course it’s all domestic, it’s nearly all local, very little from interstate and we’re benefiting from the fact that people aren’t going interstate, they’re staying in Victoria. People have been cooped up and they want to get out so we’ve had a very, very busy December and January.”

WALHALLA LONG TUNNEL EXTENDED MINE THE MINE IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS Tours will be conducted at the advertised times and as tour sizes will be reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions, additional tours will be conducted to meet demands. School groups and bus groups welcome.

Tickets purchased at the Mine Office at 165 Main Road Walhalla prior to the tour may be paid for by cash/card.

Family 2 adults and up to 4 children - $60 Adults - $20 Children under the age of 16 - $15 Children under the age of 5 are Free Seniors, bona-fide students and concession card holders - $15 Group tours may be conducted by arrangement. Costs for groups of over 12 people are $12 per head.

Hours: Saturday to Sunday – 12noon 1.30pm 3pm | Monday – Friday 1.30pm

165 Main Rd, Walhalla VIC 3825 | phone 03-5165 6259 | email info@walhallaboard.org.au www.walhallaboard.org.au

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Walhalla’s

Ugly Duckling Reborn When the neighbouring cottage came up for sale Walhalla locals Brian and Joanne Brewer saw promise and opportunity past the buildings dilapidated appearance. What they have done is transform what was one of the town’s most unsightly cottages into a recently opened and fully restored and remodelled short stay accommodation venue in the heart of the town.

Brian and Joanne have a long association with Walhalla having been married in the town in 1997. Brian’s family has ties to the town for over 150 years with his ancestors having operated the Corner Stores. He proudly boasts that his children are 7th generation associated with the town.

The Cottage in question was purchased by Brian and Joanne in 2018 and was known as Club Wal. It was completely surrounded by a very overgrown native garden and locals acknowledged that the style of the building dating from 1957 was reminiscent of a Blairgowrie beach house from the period. The roofline house featured two very large windows on the front and a long skillion roof that extended the entire length of the cottage. It was clad in hardwood fence palings and was painted a drab mission brown.

The cottage was built in 1957 for the sister of Walhalla Lodge Hotel publican Phil Mouritz. “Mitzy” Johnstone and her husband Len who was a returned WW2 serviceman. Len had lost an arm and was blinded during the war. Incredibly he was responsible for building the first addition to the original cottage essentially doubling its size.

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THE FAÇADE OF THE HOUSE AS IT APPEARED WHEN BRIAN AND JOANNE PURCHASED IT IN 2018.

The house was sold to Lloyd and Nancy Coleman in the 1970’s and became widely known as “Coleman’s Cottage.” At the time Lloyd was operating tours at Walhalla’s famous Long Tunnel Extended Mine – and for this reason was known locally as “Wombat!” Lloyd and Nancy were responsible for once again extending the cottage adding the last third.

When the Colemans retired the home was sold in January 1987 to a consortium of 4 shareholders that varied over the years. Only essential maintenance was done during this period. The cottage was significantly damaged by the root systems of many large native trees that had been planted over the years. There was also significant damage caused by termites and rot.

THE ORIGINAL COTTAGE THAT OCCUPIED THE SITE PRIOR TO THE TOWN FIRE OF 1888.

THE UNRESTORED INTERIOR OF THE COTTAGE (2018).

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The house was one of few in Walhalla that was not connected to the state power grid when power was first delivered to Walhalla in 1998. The interior had not been updated since it was built and was best described as “quirky” with a shower in one room, the toilet in another and the hand basin in a third. The floor of the back section had been repaired with timber pallets and fence palings.

After purchasing the cottage Brian and Joanne pursued their wish to completely remodel and restore the cottage to resemble the original cottage that occupied the site prior to the 1888 town fire that decimated the town centre of Walhalla.

Over the following 2 years extensive renovations were carried out with local builder Jeff Forti engaged to oversee the project.

The finished cottage, renamed “Sancreed”, was completed and welcomed its first guest in October. It has been transformed into a gold era appropriate miner’s cottage with 2 bedrooms that sleeps 4. It is a blend of historic features and modern convenience.

“The COVID pandemic has restricted international and interstate travel and Sancreed Cottage has had excellent bookings. Lots of Victorian’s and in particular Melbournians, are checking out their own state. Having such a long family history with the town we are extremely happy with what we have achieved so far,” Brian said.

“It is great to see a cottage, that is located in one of the town’s most prominent locations, transformed in such a way. I commend Brian and Joanne on this project and wish them all the best with this endeavour,” Baw Baw Shire councillor and Walhalla resident Michael Leaney said.

THE MASTER BEDROOM.

THE LIVING ROOM FEATURES 110 YEAR OLD NEWSPAPERS AS WALLPAPER.

SANCREED COTTAGE !

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WALHALLA

“Quality short stay accommodation with some of the best views in town.”

4 Church Hill Road, Walhalla 3825 Phone – (03) 8373-4049 Email –enquiries@sancreed.com.au

www.sancreed.com.au

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Community Bank Trafalgar & District Investment

Supporting the Goldfields Railway Walhalla

GOLDFIELDS RAILWAY WALHALLA Phil Drummond, Branch Manager with the Walhalla Board members and representatives from Walhalla railway.

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Community Bank Trafalgar and District branch is a locally owned and operated company with a franchise agreement in place with the Bendigo Adelaide Bank. The Community Bank branch in Trafalgar opened in November 2003 and supports local community investment.

The Community Bank story began in 1998. Unlike other banks, Bendigo Bank’s Community Bank model is based on a ‘profit-with-purpose’ philosophy, which means profits are returned directly to the local community which would not have been possible without our customers.

Community Bank Trafalgar and District branch have invested close to $1.6 million back into our local community which would not have been possible without our customers.

We are proud to be Australia’s bank of choice to our customers and support our local community whilst still providing our customers with a high level of service. If you are not already a Community Bank Trafalgar & District customer, please think about calling into the branch located conveniently on the Princes Highway and speaking to one of our friendly staff about your banking needs.

PHIL DRUMMOND – BRANCH MANAGER, CHRISTIE ASHE, KALANI PAKOTI, GAVIN DUFFY AND TIFFANY KOKSHOORN

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Serving up success It’s home to one of Victoria’s top five burgers, has been a Gippsland institution for more than two decades and fields hundreds of enquiries from Melbourne folk wanting to snap up a franchise. But Trafalgar’s BK’s Takeaway is still as humble as its beginnings.

Brendan Kingwill never dreamed that his first foray into small business would result in a Gippsland success story, which is still writing new chapters 20 years later.

“Our first shop was located in Yarragon and called Brendan’s Café. After about eight months we were able to double the turnover of the shop so I decided to open a second,” Brendan explains. “We called this shop BK’s Takeaway in Trafalgar. I had a lot of trouble managing two stores as my skill level and systems were not at level to do so at that stage.

“We sold off the Yarragon shop and concentrated on the development of the Trafalgar business. Over five years we increased the turnover 500%!”

A credit to his business instincts, Brendan continued to expand and turn over high sales figures. He decided to once again try his hand at dual stores, and bought a shop in Korumburra - which in just 12 months increased its turnover by 400%. “This time I had learnt to have detailed systems and procedures in place to ensure a smooth operation.”

At around this time, a Herald Sun food critic propelled BK’s burgers into urban history, naming the now-famous Brendan Burger in the top five burgers in the state.

“The Brendan Burger was originally cooked to set up one of our customers as a joke. What was not expected that he would come back and order it again. This burger was only going to be used for marketing purposes but created its own cult following. We have people who take a day trip to come down and have one for lunch. We have had many Burger eating competitions over the years and a netballer from Thorpdale still holds the record.

“With this additional publicity and interest in our brand, we decided to go into franchising. This included complete renovations of our stores, redesigning logos and even more formalisation of our systems.”

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Brendan says his foundation in small business was laid early, thanks to his family. Raised on his family’s dairy farm in Yarragon, he spent his teens helping his parents run the Yarragon Supermarket. It was his first taste of business, but it wouldn’t be his last. After finishing school he spent 10 years working across Australia in the welfare sector, where he says he gathered skills that have translated perfectly into small business.

“I always felt I was destined to be in business but what sort of business really didn’t matter. Along my journey you pick up skills and ideas that you love to put into practice. I have found that being involved in your community, keeping things simple, recruiting great staff then training them well and building relationships with other business, go a long way in being successful.

“Don’t try and reinvent the wheel and never assume you know everything. Sometimes some of the best ideas come from the most unlikely source.”

Brendan says he’s fortunate to have his family working shoulder to shoulder in the business. “My oldest daughter works with me in Head Office and she is a qualified real estate agent and business broker, these skills have come in very handy. My other daughter works in the Trafalgar store and trains staff on a part-time basis. My partner and I now have nine grand kids who are frequent visitors to our office.”

One of the keys to the success of BK’s is the loyal customer base, which hails from far and wide. “Not only do we have a great local trade who dine with us regularly, we continue to see the same faces during the holiday period as people take their annual trip. We have established some great friendships and loyalty from our customers and this is why we are still here after 21 years.”

While many businesses took heavy blows in 2020, for Brendan it was a time to seize opportunities.

“Covid-19 was one of the most challenging and strangely enough, exciting periods to be in business. It gave me an opportunity to examine the business like I had never done before."

at BK’S Takeaway

WORDS BY ANITA BUTTERWORTH & IMAGES BY DOUG PELL

"We were adjusting, recording and analysing our trading figures every day in 15-30 minute intervals. It also gave us an opportunity to bring forward plans that were not a high priority at the time, like online ordering. It has enabled us to become ever more streamlined, therefore more profitable.”

And it’s meant even more hopefully business owners knocking on the door.

“We are now looking to expand our brand and feel Gippsland is a great place to start. Locations like Pakenham, Sale and Bairnsdale are on the radar and we will seek out the best candidate for these locations."

“We have had hundreds of enquiries for metro Melbourne and we continue to work through these applications. We plan to stay a smaller franchising system so we can provide close, friendly and dedicated support to our franchisees. We offer very low entry costs and high support so it’s ideal for the first business owner or those who wish to expand beyond one store.

If anyone feels they have the attributes and drive to own their own store, please visit our website and fill out an enquiry form.”

The Brendan Burger BK’s Takeaway’s famous Brendan Burger is a supersized hamburger with the lot. It’s big. Need to use two hands big. It’s packed with lettuce, tomato, beetroot, cheese, egg, onion and bacon.

A classic Aussie mouthful, upsized.

BK’s Takeaway www.bkstakeaway.com.au

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Beyond the fire A powerful home-grown television documentary series created by film-maker Danielle McAlpine Johnson provides an emotional window into some of the human stories that emerged from the ashes following last year’s Black Summer bushfire disaster.

Words: Chris West

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As a born and bred Gippslander, Danielle McAlpine Johnson was deeply moved by the terrible events surrounding the bushfires that blazed a trail of devastation throughout sections of East Gippsland and many other parts of Australia during the 2019/2020 summer. Watching the disaster unfold from her family’s property in Longford with feelings of horror and helplessness, she felt compelled to assist in any way she could.

The first course of action was Danielle banding together with her cousins Darcy and Clancy McAlpine who were arranging a 15 semi-trailer convoy to deliver hay to affected farmers. They were joined in the effort by her good friend Sallie Jones of Gippsland Jersey and Emma Germano of the Victorian Farmers Federation.

Danielle McAlpine Johnson

This initial relief mission proved to be the catalyst for Danielle mobilising her creative talents as a film-maker to make a contribution of an even greater magnitude.

“It was an honour to be on that road trip for the hay run and the whole experience really did change me,” she states.

“We were able to see first-hand the way people were impacted. Not only the impacts of the fire, but also what impacts the community coming together to support each other were having. So as well as seeing the negative side effects of the fires, we also got to experience the beauty of humanity and what can be achieved in response to a crisis. That triggered me to comprehend that what was unfolding was a far bigger story than just a fire, and it really set in motion everything that has followed.”

As the founder and creative force behind Melbourne-based film production house CheekyMac Productions, Danielle recognised that the human side of the tragedy provided a broad tapestry of potential content for a television documentary series. Soon after the hay run, she produced a short trailer which was sent to Sue Medson of Connect Well East Gippsland and Wellington (formerly the Outer Gippsland Area Drought/ Bushfire Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership) with an accompanying proposal for consideration.

“Emma Germano from the Victorian Farmers Federation arranged funding for the initial pilot and was instrumental in gaining access for us through the roadblocks up to Gelantipy whilst the fire was still burning,” Danielle notes.

“Sue Medson then commissioned the series after we presented Connect Well with the pilot and the proposal,” she adds.

With the funding in place, Danielle and her team set about putting in place a multi-faceted collection of stories for the seven-part series titled Beyond the Fire. The series recently aired on the Ten network, having commenced on 2nd January and concluded on 13th February, but remains available for viewing on catch-up TV platform ‘10 play’ for the next two years.

“Each episode covers the impacts of the fires from a different perspective.

We met many remarkable and courageous Gippslanders who have endured so much and are bravely trying to get on with the task of gradually rebuilding their lives,” Danielle says.

“We had some assistance in identifying suggested contacts for some of the storylines. Sallie Jones kindly introduced us to some fire-affected farmers and Sue Medson connected us with The Sanctuary in Mallacoota – a youth organisation that was birthed out the fires.

“Sue also connected me to GlaWAC, where we were privileged to work alongside Gunaikurnai elders and learnt the fundamental importance of using traditional cultural burns to maintain our land. It was also such an honour to learn more about Gunaikurnai country, now known as Gippsland. We have such a rich history and I’m fascinated in learning from the First Nation people.”

Danielle underlines how crucial it was for the series to provide a multifaceted view of the fires, including voices from all walks of life.

“All voices are important - the indigenous elders and emerging leaders, farmers, CFA members and, of course, the youth,” she emphasises.

“Each story and opinion is another piece of a puzzle and a much bigger picture. I don’t think we can move forward into solutions without hearing ALL these voices as a collective, in unity. Otherwise, history will continue to repeat itself, and what will we have learnt?”

The series carries a strong mental health message through it. The Black Summer disaster directly claimed the lives of 34 Australians and over a billion animals, wreaking environmental and economic havoc along the way, but there was also the huge emotional toll on the people who suffered, which is impossible to quantify.

“With the rapid decline in mental health particularly in regional areas, social connectedness needs to be at the forefront of our lives. By sharing these stories, others are encouraged to do the same which is often the springboard for healing,” Danielle says.

“It’s important to leave the audience with hope.”

The nature of the content made Beyond the Fire a very confronting project for Danielle to work on at times.

“Making this series impacted on my own mental health in a way,” she admits.

“My mum passed away from cancer eighteen months ago and while still dealing with her loss I was hearing stories day in day out from people traumatised by the fires, some being on the brink of suicide. Not only was I connecting with them while interviewing and getting close to them, we were building trust with each other. They would pour their heart out to me and then I’d immerse myself in the edit room, reviewing and writing.

“It got very heavy at times. I had days and moments where I just melted down. When you’re innately compassionate, you tend to take on other people’s pain quite easily. You need to find the balance by recognising that it is their story not yours, and being okay with just being a form of support for them.”

In bringing together factual story-telling while also depicting the raw emotion of the people who suffered, Danielle was mindful that some stories needed to be shared in a delicate manner.

“We were covering some very sensitive topics and we saw it as a very big responsibility on our shoulders to avoid any form of sensationalisation,” she says.

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Danielle McAlpine Johnson

“Of all the personal stories we covered in the series, one that particularly struck me involves a young man emotionally explaining how some people don’t understand that just because you didn’t lose your home it doesn’t mean you couldn’t be traumatised just as much, if not more, than those who did. Many of the people who lost their house evacuated beforehand and didn’t experience the fire, whereas for some of the people who stayed to fight the fires, their trauma and what they went through is quite intense.”

Danielle is full of praise for the efforts of her colleagues at CheekyMac in helping to bring Beyond the Fire from concept to reality.

“It is great to have a really supportive team who were on the mission for the same reasons,” she remarks.

“I would like to acknowledge cinematographer Aaron Harvey, who is also our talented editor, and Lachlan Campbell, our sound engineer/associate producer. Lachlan and I have worked together for the past fifteen years and so we work really well together. Our make-up artist, Tania De Ross is a Gippslander who grew up in Orbost, so this project carried extra significance for her.”

Danielle reserves special mention for her husband Chico Johnson, who plays a pivotal role at CheekyMac as Managing Director and is the source of musical inspiration at the company.

“Chico is our backbone. He’s not often seen on set but his tireless work behind the scenes to support me is incredible,” she says.

“He’s one of those people with wisdom beyond their years. Having someone like Chico in my corner supporting me no matter what is vitally important. There is no way I could do it without him.”

Another of the challenges in making Beyond the Fire was having to manage the project amidst the COVID-19 restrictions.

“Many of our team are parents and have families, but we were able to navigate our way through everything,” Danielle comments.

“What COVID has proven to us, and many other businesses, is that the nature of our work allows us to adapt easily and successfully to working remotely from anywhere.”

Not only is Danielle proud of the finished product that went to air across all seven episodes of Beyond the Fire, she is also heartened by the positive feedback she has received from people featured in the series and from the viewing public.

“I didn’t expect the level of response we’ve had,” she reveals.

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“It’s especially comforting to hear from the cast in the series telling us that we handled their stories in an uplifting way. Many confirmed the interview process was part of their healing. The series is not just about the Black Summer bushfire crisis; it’s a bigger picture of why are we here and what are we doing. When terrible events happen it often brings the best and worst out in people, but we’ve been able to experience some of the most beautiful stories and meet the most extraordinary and courageous people. In showing stories such as these, it inspires other people to rise up as well.”

Whilst Danielle may be adept at capturing other people’s stories, she has had quite an interesting journey in life of her own. She grew up in Longford and has roots in Gippsland on both sides her family going back eight generations.

“On my mother’s side, my ancestors J. W. Davis and Sophia Letitia arrived in Port Albert in 1845 and on my father’s side my family arrived in the Yarram district in the late 1800s. Our family has resided in Gippsland ever since,” Danielle notes.

“My father Leon and mother Pauline were the first to break the chain of famers in the family by both becoming primary school teachers. Dad taught at all of the local primary schools around Seaspray, Loch Sport, Maffra and Stratford over about forty years, while mum had a thirty-five year career teaching at Seaspray Primary School.”

Danielle showed a natural flair and interest in film from an early age.

“I loved film-making from when I was young and used to make short films with my friends from school,” she says.

“There was probably more of an involvement on the other side of the camera back then. I appeared in a lot of local Gippsland TV commercials.

My dream for a while when I was a kid was to be on television, but later on I decided I wanted to be behind the camera.”

At the age of 18, Danielle made a change in her intended career path and moved to Melbourne to instead study teaching.

“I was always drawn to working with youth and I still am,” she comments.

“I wanted a film career but my parents steered me towards a profession with more stability and job security. In my teaching degree I majored in Outdoor Education, which fulfilled my love of nature, with a side in Literature and Drama.”

After completing her degree, Danielle’s life took an unexpected but exciting turn when she successfully applied for a teaching job in The Bahamas in 2004.

“As a bit of a joke, my mum sent me a very small notice that appeared in the Gippsland Times saying a teacher was needed on a remote island in The Bahamas. Mum suggested that it seemed like a dream job, but probably didn’t seriously expect me to pursue it. I think she regretted sending it to me for a short time after I actually did apply and was successful,” she recalls.

“The lady who was doing the interview for the job had been a nanny on this tiny island in The Bahamas and had moved back to Gippsland. She said: ‘I remember you, I gave you a lift home from a one-night waitressing gig when you were sixteen. I know your family and I know you. You’ve got the job.’ So I packed my bag, much to my mum’s despair at the time, and left. Mum was delightfully surprised how everything turned out in the end, but she had been a bit worried about her little girl going to a faraway country.”

Danielle spent around 18 months in the teaching post on Harbour Island in The Bahamas. During her time there, she met her future husband Chico Johnson. Chico accompanied Danielle back to her parents’ property in Longford when she returned home in early 2006.

“Chico and I journeyed from this beautiful island in The Bahamas, to a new life in Gippsland and it’s been an incredible adventure!” Danielle says.

“I taught at Bundalaguah Primary School for a year in 2006 and also did a lot of relief teaching around the Seaspray/Longford area. At first Chico did everything from fencing, to picking tomatoes, to milking, before we went on to establish CheekyMac in 2008. We’ve between dividing our time between Longford and Melbourne ever since and have travelled back to The Bahamas for visits about six times, but still miss it.”

The couple married firstly in Australia in 2010 and then repeated their vows in The Bahamas at a second ceremony later that year. Danielle adopted Chico’s son Jason, now aged 20, who joined them permanently in Australia after the wedding. Danielle and Chico have added two further children of their own – a son River Leon, who is 9, and daughter Nevaeh, 7.

Losing her mum in 2019 was a pivotal moment for Danielle and has caused her to reassess her priorities in life and where she wants her family to be. These periods of reflection and contemplation have only been reinforced by the events of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our family currently spends a lot of time with my dad on the property in Longford where I grew up, but we are actually looking to build a place of our own along the Ninety Mile Beach and continue to create our future in Gippsland,” she reveals.

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Having a very strong faith is something that helps guide Danielle through every aspect of life.

“I have a belief that every human being on the planet is here for a time such as this. We’ve been chosen to be in this generation, right here, right now, and that we all have a purpose. I encourage anyone to seek their purpose,” she says.

“There was a time in life when I was floating through life with a feeling of emptiness. Everything becomes so much more fulfilling when you’re living a purpose-driven life.”

SERIES SNAPSHOT

Danielle says she is often asked how do you find your purpose?

“My answer is always that the place I found it was where my passion met my pain. My passion was always film-making from a little girl. I loved writing and creating. My pain was always issues of injustice and fighting for those who didn’t have a voice.”

By successfully marrying those two contrasting elements together, Danielle was able to find her calling. “”I’m very happy and content to continue doing something that at times can be very overwhelming and difficult, as was the case with the Beyond the Fires project,” she states.

“I feel very humbled by the whole process. It’s taught me so much, not just in terms of my craft, but it also teaches you how to be a better leader through sharing stories that really matter. I’ve had this deep-rooted passion to do humanitarian documentaries for a very long time. I was producing, directing and writing television commercials for ten years prior to documentary making. But one of the drawbacks with TV commercials is that they only give you a very short time to tell a story and often they’re quite superficial in the sense that they’re selling a product.

“Personally, I just had this desire to share the heart stories and really leave an impact behind when I leave this planet. I want to create film and TV that will be a catalyst for change. Our goal is to put thought-provoking content out there that will also pull on the heart strings and be a spark for people to reassess the way they live and create change for the better.”

In Beyond the Fire and other important projects being undertaken by CheekyMac, Danielle is producing work that fulfills all of those fundamental aims.

EPISODE 1: RAGING INFERNO Examines how farmer Craig Calvert of Mossiface is overcoming the adversity of his family nearly losing everything on New Year’s Eve in 2019.

EPISODE 2: DELIVERING HOPE Follows the story of a random act of kindness from young Gippsland farmers Darcy and Clancy, as they orchestrate a convoy of donated hay to be delivered to fire-stricken farms in East Gippsland.

EPISODE 3: THE SANCTUARY Focuses on youth, as young people from Mallacoota who heroically lived through the crisis share their voice and act as a pillar of strength amongst their community.

EPISODE 4: CIRCLE OF FIRE Highlights the indigenous perspective, as traditional owners from Gunaikurnai Country in Gippsland discuss the fundamental benefits of cultural fire to care for and heal Country.

EPISODE 5: FLAME FIGHTERS Spotlights the inspiring efforts of the Lakes Entrance CFA and how the station managed to survive with community supported resources during one of Australia’s most devastating natural disasters.

EPISODE 6: THE HEART OF WAIREWA Relates stories of courage and survival from the tiny community of Wairewa, which saw almost half of its 24 homes burnt to the ground and many locals left to fight the flames alone.

EPISODE 7: MILKING KINDNESS Places the spotlight on the emotional toll of the tragedy, and follows powerhouse mental health advocate Sallie Jones as she puts together her annual dairy farmers’ calendar.

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Open Dawe WRITER, SATIRIST, ARTIST AND IRREDEEMABLE MISCHIEF-MAKER BRYAN DAWE REFLECTS ON HIS REMARKABLE LIFE AND THE SANCTUARY OF HOME ON PHILLIP ISLAND. Words: Chris West Bryan Dawe is renowned as a man of many talents. His Wikipedia page describes him variously as a writer, comedian, political satirist, songwriter, photographer and social activist. You could easily add a few more hats to that collection, but comedian is one label that he dismisses without blinking an eye.

“I’ve never claimed to be a comedian,” he insists.

“I have no idea who wrote that. Clearly someone who doesn’t know me.

Nowadays I would say I’m still a political satirist and an artist, but doing satire is very difficult – the current politicians are now satirising themselves far better than any satirist could.”

Dawe is also an inveterate traveller with a strong appreciation for history. He loves a yarn and gravitates towards interesting, colourful people who may offer a different view of the world. When it comes to places, he prefers those which are vibrant and culturally stimulating. He has travelled extensively in the Middle East, visiting Syria three times before the civil war.

“I’ve got to have water around,” he adds.

Dawe has enjoyed a life-long affinity with port towns.

“Growing up in Port Adelaide, there was something about that whole culture and the people that had a profound effect on me. It has stayed with me for the rest of my life,” he says.

“My character Roly Parks comes out of there and the actress Jody Seidel, who plays Roly’s wife Sonya, is from just up the road in Semaphore. Again, near water.”

Port destinations with edgy reputations such as Tangier and the French city of Marseille have fascinated the inquisitive Dawe on his many overseas travels.

“I’ve gone to these sorts of places and feel more at home there than anywhere else,” he admits.

Wherever you happen to find Bryan Dawe, chances are it will be near water. After growing up in Port Adelaide, he has spent various periods living in other coastal locations from St. Kilda in bayside Melbourne, to exotic Tangier in Morocco and the more tranquil surrounds of Newhaven on Phillip Island.

Indeed, it was to Tangier that Dawe turned for refuge following the sudden passing of his professional co-collaborator of 27 years, John Clarke, in April 2017. Australians were shocked by the news that Clarke had succumbed to a heart attack while hiking in the Grampians National Park. For the shattered Dawe, the pain of losing his great mate was unbearable.

“I couldn’t live inland anywhere,” Dawe states.

“The reaction from the public was really overwhelming,” he remembers.

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Bryan Dawe and John Clarke

“I couldn’t face work and after six months I just had to get away.”

Not long after the purchase, Dawe entrusted a builder living on the other side of the street to construct a mud brick home on his property.

Dawe spent the next three months in relative anonymity in Tangier.

“I was running away and chose Tangier because apart from the friends I had made there previously, no-one would know me,” he explains.

Four years on from Clarke’s passing, time hasn’t healed the pain.

“It’s impossible to explain. The feeling of loss isn’t just about the work, there’s all the other stuff I miss – the music, the politics, the conversations, the interest in other things,” Dawe says.

“John was one of the great talkers. I always said that if there was an Olympic sport called yacking, he would have won gold for two countries.”

One of the many things Clarke and Dawe share in common is that they both bought real estate on Phillip Island. Clarke kept a holiday home there, whilst Dawe’s astute purchase was made around 35 years ago, when he and his then wife Jen were looking for a new home away from Melbourne for their young family.

“I figured he would do a good job, as it wouldn’t be hard for me to find him if he didn’t,” he quips.

They agreed upon a classic Alastair Knox design with a revised front.

A number of magnificent timber beams from Fremantle Wharf were used in the construction and remain a standout feature of the home today.

“I reckon those beams are now worth more than I paid for the whole house and land back then,” Dawe suggests.

Whilst the garden has grown and thickened considerably over time, the house remains faithful to its original design and has not been altered or modernised since being built. It is also reassuring to note that the front hasn’t fallen off (those familiar with one of Clarke and Dawe’s most memorable skits will understand the reference).

After the house was completed, Dawe divided his time each week commuting between Phillip Island and Melbourne for work. This became increasingly tricky as his work commitments continued to escalate, leaving him little option but to return to the city within a year.

“We basically drew a circle on a map and zoned in on Phillip Island as a possible choice,” he recalls.

“You know the saying. Light a cigarette at a bus stop and you can be sure a bus will come,” he remarks.

A reconnaissance mission one Saturday to check out the local area had proven fruitless until a real estate agent eventually mentioned a vacant block in a secluded spot at Newhaven almost as an afterthought.

Dawe returned to the St. Kilda/Elwood area, but retained the mud brick house at Newhaven as something that could be used as a weekender or more permanent getaway.

“He didn’t think we’d like it, but Jen and I had seen nothing that day that took our fancy, so before heading back to Melbourne we turned the car around and drove to find this block,” Dawe remembers.

“The house on Phillip Island became the place where I leave everything and the base I have always been able to come back to. It’s in a beautiful location and I’m not intending to part with it,” he says.

“After parking the car we took a short walk down from the street and the instant we saw the bay, our decision was made. We bought it on the Monday.”

The home at Newhaven is a peaceful sanctuary where Dawe is free to immerse himself in his artwork or writing. At almost 73, he cannot entertain the thought of a humdrum life in retirement.

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The Night Is Young | Bryan Dawe

Bryan Dawe at home in Phillip Island

“People ask me when I am going to retire. Retire from what?” he questions.

“I think retirement is something for people who are not happy with their work. They’ve done a job and seen it out.

For an artist or writer, I don’t understand how you do that.”

Dawe needs to keep feeding his active mind. These days it comes through a combination of a lot of reading and listening to audio books (he does not watch television), but largely through his creative endeavours in the digital artwork space.

“John Clarke and I both came to the same conclusion that art is really about keeping boredom at bay,” he states.

Dawe started taking his artwork seriously about twelve years ago but paused along the way for a five year hiatus before being given an unexpected invitation to create a locally-themed exhibition in Tangier.

It was an opportunity that reignited his artistic passion and he has never looked back since.

“That exhibition turned the way I worked on its head,” he reveals.

“I hadn’t previously used Photoshop until the Tangier exhibition and it opened up a whole new world for my art.”

Dawe now utilises the latest digital technology on his iPad to expertly meld anything from photographs, paintings, drawings and cut-outs into collages of visual creativity. His work has been shown at numerous exhibitions over the past decade. On occasions he has been known to include nostalgic touches from his past into his art, as he has done with some of the work in his limited edition 2021 calendar titled Toy Stories, which is available through his website.

Another interest for Dawe, although more of a sideline, is his involvement as International Secretary of the National Trouble Makers Union, a body he established around ten years ago with his partner and curator of his artwork at the time, Krista McClelland. They enlisted a number of colleagues and friends as members, combining their talents in support of various causes whilst championing the merits of pot stirrers, boat rockers and rabble rousers everywhere.

“We’ve held various events, including a couple of shows in Adelaide, and raised money for a Palestinian family in Gaza,” Dawe reveals.

Throughout a remarkable working career that has crossed over several different fields, Dawe has never really known a nine-to-five life. Routine doesn’t suit him.

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“It’s a boredom thing. Once I’ve worked out how to do anything, I don’t want to do it anymore,” he admits.

“In many cases, I bullshitted my way into a job and learnt how to do it later.”

It might have all turned out differently, however, had his original plan to join the Navy after leaving school in Adelaide at the age of fifteen not come unstuck in somewhat tragic circumstances.

“I had forged my parents’ signatures on the paperwork and was about to join when my father unfortunately died,” he recalls.

Dawe instead found employment in the music industry, initially at Festival Records in Adelaide from 1963 to 1964, before running a record store for four years. In the early 70s his career in the music industry continued in Melbourne at Brashs and then Astor Records.

In between his move from Adelaide to Melbourne, Dawe spent six months in London where he worked six days a week for a mere pittance in a record bar in Carnaby Street.

Despite only being in London for a short period, Dawe managed to suffer two embarrassing foot-in-mouth moments at the Carnaby Street store. He cringes but can now laugh at the memory of striking up conversations but failing to recognise firstly legendary jazz double bassist Dave Holland and later the world famous lyricist Tim Rice, who had co-written the smash hit musical of the time, Jesus Christ Superstar, one of his many iconic collaborations with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

By the mid 70s, Dawe was in Melbourne working at Astor Records but again found himself looking for a new challenge. He found it by teaming with English-born singer/musician Steve Groves, who had enjoyed international success a few years earlier with the band Tin Tin. Together they wrote pop songs, Dawe as the lyricist and Groves composing the music.

“We did that for about ten years,” Dawe reflects.

“Steve used to write some very good hooks. Tin Tin had a big hit with Toast and Marmalade For Tea back in their day.”

Although the Groves-Dawe partnership did not conjure a hit to match the chart success of Toast and Marmalade For Tea, they did strike a chord of some note with a song called On the Loose Again. The catchy number won the Australian Song Festival prize in 1976 and went on to be judged in third place at the World Song Festival in Tokyo that same year.

Singer Marty Rhone performed the vocals on both occasions.

Bryan Dawe

Second Cello | Bryan Dawe

“We won a grand piano for winning the Australian Song Festival, which we sold to pay the rent,” Dawe recalls.

After a decade working together, Dawe was again ready for a fresh challenge, as was Groves.

“Ours was a very creative collaboration and fun while it lasted, but neither of us was interested in writing pop songs anymore, so the partnership just fizzled out fairly naturally,” he comments.

“I was keen to advance my writing and got into radio at the ABC. Steve and I still wrote together for a radio program I wrote and directed called Don’t Get Off Your Bike, which was a really important part of my body of work. I think some of the songs we did in that period were the best we ever wrote. They were all satirical and it was great fun.”

La Divina | Bryan Dawe

Political satire had become Clarke and Dawe’s calling card, with Clarke stereotypically cast as the slippery politician and Dawe the inquisitive and often incredulous political reporter. Their witty, rapid-fire interview exchanges were brilliantly written by Clarke and just us perfectly executed by the pair.

“John and I recorded a couple of pieces which A Current Affair host Jana Wendt and one of the show’s producers had a look at,” Dawe says.

“Those pieces we submitted went to air and that was the beginning of a weekly spot on the show for us that continued for the next nine years, before we eventually ended up back at the ABC on the 7.30 Report.”

Dawe speaks about Wendt with warm affection.

“Jana loved what we did,” he says.

It was also at ABC Radio that Dawe first worked with John Clarke, the New Zealand-born funny man who was best known at that time for his character Fred Dagg.

“I had been given a job running ABC Radio’s comedy unit. The word unit is probably a stretch, as I was head of a one-man team,” Dawe recounts.

“I knew John’s work as Fred Dagg and wanted to get him back on radio at any price. Fortunately I succeeded, but I didn’t think for a second back then that we would end up collaborating together for the next thirty years.”

“She would introduce our segment but she’d never see the piece until it went to air. Her reactions were often priceless. She’d regularly be in stitches when the camera returned to her. I can tell you that Jana saved our arse a lot of times when we went close to overstepping the mark.”

So convincing was Dawe in the role of interviewer that he was often mistaken for an authentic political reporter, including by Nine’s Director of News at the time, John Sorell, who in a gruff but approving tone asked him where he had learned his news journalism.

“I had to tell him that I was acting,” he laughs.

The turning point in their association came when Clarke made Dawe aware of some satirical scripts he had written based on the concept of mock interviews. Clarke would deliver the humorous lines and Dawe was only too happy to play the straight man role.

No side of politics was spared from a savaging from Clarke and Dawe.

Controversial former Queensland premier, the late Joh Bjelke-Peterson, was a rich source of material in his day amongst a smorgasbord of easily recognisable targets from the political landscape.

“Initially, we were just trying it out. In the first one I interviewed John as Prince Charles,” Dawe remembers.

Dawe says that most politicians tried to give the impression that they didn’t mind him and Clarke taking the mickey out of them.

The concept clicked from the outset. A magical partnership was born.

Clarke and Dawe became a double act and the chemistry between them was both palpable and immediate.

“They would say they loved it, but you could tell they were mostly bullshitting.”

“We trusted each other totally and utterly from day one,” Dawe states.

The pair worked together on radio for a year before they made a hugely successful crossover to television. The ABC’s management dropped the ball and missed the opportunity to put Clarke and Dawe on the small screen before the duo was snaffled from under their noses by the Nine network.

Clarke and Dawe’s famed exchanges kept audiences around the nation laughing for years. Having struck upon a winning formula, they developed different forms of the same idea to broaden the topics of their content beyond the political domain.

“One variation we enjoyed the most was when I played the schoolmaster and John played the kid in trouble. It’s still the funniest stuff in my opinion,” he says.

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Bryan Dawe Dawe also has great affection for his two best known fictitious characters – Roly Parks and Sir Murray Rivers QC. The life of the elderly Roly Parks was told through his much-loved and endearing Letters from Kalangadoo, which were broadcast on radio for many years and later published in print.

His other acclaimed alter ego is Sir Murray Rivers QC (retired), a politically incorrect figure of the highest order with outspoken views on all manner of subjects. Sir Murray’s forthright opinions and words of wisdom always guaranteed entertaining radio and have been keenly sought after on the professional speakers’ circuit for many years.

“Roly Parks and Sir Murray Rivers have been a big part of my work over the past three decades,” Dawe says.

Column space does not allow sufficient room to list all of Dawe’s credits across his vast catalogue of work. Apart from the Clarke and Dawe skits on television, many people will also recognise his face from his starring role in mockumentary television series The Games and his minor appearance in revered Australian film The Castle.

In today’s ever-changing world, Dawe is deeply concerned at the declining standards across most forms of communication. His many bugbears include the overuse of texting in the general population and the poor state of journalism and news. He even once asked a friend in the media for the address of a particular journalist because he wanted to send them a full stop and a comma for Christmas.

“Since the advent of social media, everyone thinks they can write,” he comments.

“It also disturbs me to see the number of kids who can’t spell and wouldn’t know a full stop if they fell over one. Unfortunately, I can’t really see it improving.”

Turning to the future, Dawe still has plenty of items on his wish list to tick off once the lingering uncertainty around COVID-19 has cleared.

He had intended to leave in December last year to return to Tangier for a period before continuing on to live in the Portuguese coastal town of Porto. Dawe’s love of Portugal blossomed as a result of previous trips to Porto and Lisbon.

“It’s something I am going to do, but the timing is now just a question of when travel allows,” he says.

Other destinations on his future travel itinerary include return visits to Poland and Iran, but in the interim he is engaging his mind in proactive ways while home on Phillip Island including learning to speak Spanish and brushing up on his Italian.

Dawe also estimates that he has completed almost two exhibitions worth of artwork during COVID. He has all the works in readiness for his next exhibition, to be titled Stills from the Narrative, but is unsure when and where it will be seen.

Despite all his previous success in radio, television, film, stage, music and print, Dawe’s future work plans are geared predominantly around his art.

“I’m happy to just keep doing my artwork. I also have a writing project that I have been working on for about nine years and will get around to finishing one day,” he says.

Whenever people ask Dawe if he misses the life he had at the height of his professional success, he has a simple answer at the ready which pays fitting homage to his great mate John Clarke.

“I worked with the best. I’m never going to work with anyone that good again.”

For more on Bryan Dawe's artwork visit www.bryandawe.com

The Grove Gippsland is an idyllic 60-acre Olive Grove, regenerated eucalyptus forest, restaurant and wedding venue located high in the hills of the Bass hinterland with stunning views across the rich farmland of South Gippsland to Western Port Bay. Our Krowera Extra Virgin Olive Oil has won several medals, including a Gold award at the 9th Australian Olive Expo and a Bronze medal at the 2016 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show.

Originally classic bluegum country, Krowera is an indigenous word meaning ‘windy’, and the cool coastal climate produces olives that mature slowly, resulting in a rich, flavoursome oil that is smooth and delicious.

Our restaurant endeavours to support local businesses and small-scale farming families by gathering the best quality produce the area has to offer and using these ingredients to form the core of all our menus.

Spectacular scenery, beautiful event spaces and delicious seasonal food are just some of the reasons we think you will love our idyllic home in the hills.

For seasonal opening hours and to book please visit www.thegrovegippsland.com The Grove Gippsland | 27 Uren Rd, Krowera, 3945 ph 0457 111 026 | em info@thegrovegippsland.com

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TAKE A DETOUR TO THE GURDIES WINERY With New owners, but that same great taste with more variety all in one place Gurdies Winery is undergoing a complete makeover and offers eight varieties of Estate-grown grapes, using traditional wine making processes. Wines are cool climate in style.

Our most popular wines being Riesling, Verdelho-Chardonnay, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cab Sav & Shiraz Stunning location overlooking French Island and Westernport Bay Grazing platters including local Bassine Cheeses or bring your own picnic, bbq facilities available.

Gippsland Cider, Ocean Reach Beer & Loch Brewery also available

215 Gurdies-St Helier Rd, The Gurdies VIC 3984 O P E N F R I DAY T O S U N DAY 1 1 A M T O 5 P M Phone (03) 5997 6208

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Email info@thegurdieswinery.com.au

www.thegurdieswinery.com.au

THE FAMOUS EAGLES NEST, A POPULAR PLACE TO VISIT

TOURING INVERLOCH

THE FAMOUS INVERLOCH ROTARY CLUB CLOCK IN A’BECKETT STREET

SCREW CREEK RESERVE

SAIL BOARDING – POPULAR AT ANDERSON INLET REPLICA OF THE RIPPLE KETCH

INVERLOCH LAWN BOWLS CLUB

INVERLOCH SURF BEACH

SCREW CREEK RESERVE

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ONE OF THE MANY EXERCISE SPOTS ALONG THE BEACH PATH

INVERLOCH JETTY

INVERLOCH SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBROOMS

INVERLOCH COMMUNITY HUB

THE ESPY HOTEL AND A’BECKETT STREET THE GLADE WITH THE NEW INVERLOCH SOUND SHELL

SCREW CREEK RESERVE

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Paper, Pl y & Pretty Things BRINGING BIG CITY APPEAL TO THE COAST WORDS LIA SPENCER | IMAGES DOUG PELL

OWNERS OF PAPERPLAY NEWSAGENCY ADRIAN & TRUDY BANKS

Situated in the beautiful coastal town of Inverloch is a stunning shop which has been attracting locals and visitors - young and old - for years.

Paperplay Inverloch has been wowing people since Trudy and Adrian first bought the business eleven years ago. The couple both came from families with deep roots in Inverloch’s retail history. Adrian comes from generations of Bank Butchers, and Trudy was a nurse for ten years, with a longing to be behind the counter and follow in her family’s footsteps.

They followed their dreams, and the rest is history.

At the time of opening their business, the couple had three young children and knew they had to cater to families, as well as the wider community and an abundance of tourists. The area is known to be frequented by women on a ‘girls’ weekend’ away, or by men embarking on a fishing trip.

It is also a go-to location for families wanting that perfect Victorian holiday.

That is why Adrian and Trudy have carefully chosen high-quality toys, books, games, collectables, and gifts from respected brands. The business is bursting to the brim and could easily rival many of the department stores you would find in Melbourne.

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They stock the ever-popular LEGO, as well as other great toys in the categories of vehicles, dolls, craft, outdoor, building, role-play, baby gifting, educational, wooden, puzzles, and plush.

The items are all built-to-last and can be passed down from generation to generation. With the stunning array of toys, it is no wonder many kids have saved their coins to buy something special for themselves in what they believe is the best shop they have ever been to. And their parents agree- with many picking out items for birthdays, Christmas, and other special events such as baptisms or anniversaries.

For those who prefer to kick back with a book at home or on holiday, Paperplay Inverloch has one in nearly every genre for any age. Originally chosen to reflect the interests of their own family and friends, Trudy and Adrian have expanded the literature section in their shop to an impressive range, recommended by publisher’s themselves or from the conversations they’ve have had with their book-loving customers. They also have access to Barrington Stoke books, which are targeted to children with reading difficulties such as dyslexia.

The book department takes up the back corner of the shop and packs a punch! In fact, Trudy and Adrian have cemented themselves as a major book retailer in the area and help the library with special author events.

Previously known as newsXpress Inverloch, and still proud to be a member of the newsXpress group, Paperplay still stocks a range of magazines and newspapers for those wanting to stay up to date with current affairs and entertainment news.

Besides diving into a good book, people can keep their brains active by purchasing one of the many jigsaw puzzles, card games, board games or outdoor activities on offer.

People especially love the huge range of everything from Planet FinskaFinksa, Kubb, Noppa Yard Dice, Bygga, Cornhole, Quoits, Linkii, Hookey, Bocce, Boules, and all of their quality wooden indoor board games. They are perfect to play on a beach holiday or at a backyard BBQ. Another family favourite is the Gamewright Games, which are card games with an educational twist.

Paperplay also stock items which appeal to collectors, such as coins from Royal Australian Mint, trading cards, and the popular POP! Vinyls which can also be purchased through the Inverloch link on the website www.popvinylsinaustralia.com.au.

Customers, whether they are locals, holiday makers or second-home owners, have been raving about the shop for years, and Trudy and Adrian said the love is mutual. They credited the loyal shoppers and supportive community for helping them stay in business during COVID-19 restrictions last year.

Trudy and Adrian have been showing their appreciation to their customers for several years with a generous rewards program. When customers shop with them, they receive an immediate reward for their purchase.

Depending on what they buy and how much they spend, the computer software generates a voucher that customers can then use on a future purchase.

ADRIAN & TRUDY BANKS

And it is because of this generous customer service and impressive array of items that Paperplay Inverloch will continue to be a favourite amongst those who live in and visit the bustling coastal town.

Paperplay Inverloch Shop E & F, 10 A’Beckett Street Inverloch Vic 3996 Tel: 03 5674 1177 For more information, visit www.paperplayonline.com.au or check out their Facebook page.

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Inverloch history

A’Beckett Street Inverloch – late 1920's. This is one of the classic Inverloch photos, showing the main street in its early glory, complete with the original timber Esplanade Hotel – destroyed by fire in the mid 1930s. Note the gas lamp (left) and the Two Views Guest House (formerly Neil’s Hotel) at the top of the street.

The Ketch Ripple on Port Phillip Bay – circa 1890.

1890 Built in 1872 at Davistown, Brisbane Waters, near Gosford NSW by ship builder Benjamin Davis. She served Inverloch for over forty years in a regular service to Melbourne till 1929. She was a shallow draft vessel and was sunk in the Yarra River near Queen’s Bridge Melbourne in the early 1940s.

A’Beckett Street Inverloch – 1950's. The building on the left is the old Mechanics Institute and just to the right is a 1954-55 Ford Consul/Zephyr. Also in the street is an original Holden, a Morris Oxford, and a Ford Prefect. The only two buildings that exist today from this great photo is the Esplanade Hotel and Bill Ramsey’s “Premier Store” at the end of the street

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Two Views Guest House – circa 1925. Situated at the very top of A’Beckett Street and Sandy Mount Avenue. It was a popular and well attended guest house.

Strangely, following its total removal in 1968, the site has remained vacant.

Inverloch Estate1920's sales poster. Victoria's most beautiful seaside resort.

Mrs Nelson’s Café & Tarax Bar – 1950's. Owned and run by Myrtle Nelson, with her husband Arthur assisting. Located in the Esplanade almost opposite The Glade. She sold ice creams, Devonshire Tea, a Palais Dancing floor, accommodation, a Wurlitzer jukebox, meals for the local footballers, billiards, table tennis, and hot water for holiday tea makers.

Foreshore Camping Area Inverloch – late 1930's. Careful examination shows the tents sitting between the amazing variety of cars and trucks

Holmes Store in A’Beckett Street – early 1930's. Holmes Store was the main shop in town, and of immediate interest are the painted signs on the buildings. Also note on the far left you can see a portion of the front of the original Post office.

Looking back at Inverloch’s vintage days Photos supplied by John Hutchison from the Inverloch Historical Society Mary Mountain in front of her shop. Mary stands proudly, with her little dog in front of her business. Sitting in The Esplanade near the current Inlet Hotel, she was located near the beach and camping area to conveniently attract holiday business. Mary married Bill Ramsay who was Chairman of the Foreshore committee.

A’Beckett Street Inverloch – 1962. The Esplanade Hotel and The Two Views Guest House are clearly evident. Bank’s butcher shop can be seen on the right, whilst on the corner you can see the Mobilgas Service Station.

We know this is 1962 as tucked behind the black car on the right are two 1961-1962 Holden vehicles.

Neil’s Inverloch Hotel. Built in 1896 using local timber. The building sat in the prominent position of being at the top of A’Beckett Street. In 1922, the hotel was de-licensed and became the Two Views Guest House, suitable for accommodation. It was a well-known local landmark and was demolished in 1968.

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Keeping history alive with John Hutchison

Words & Photos

by Anita Butterworth

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John Hutchison

It’s obvious that John Hutchison loves order. His office is a shrine of meticulously stored and catalogued information, with every thing in its proper place. The walls are adorned with images of his many passions – trains, music, his wife and of course, history.

The former teacher has been devoted to maintaining and preserving the past throughout his life, and into his senior years as the driving force behind the Inverloch Historical Society.

As a secondary school teacher, John, 82, belonged to the Croydon Historical Society. He’d spend his days educating his pupils and his evenings with his family and helping out at the society.

“I’ve always had an inquiring mind I suppose. One of the problems I have is keeping up with all the topics I have an interest in. Trains, music, history, you name it, I’ve got a whole group of things."

“I think history is important. Because if you don’t keep a history of whatever it is, be it a town, be it a music group, then you’ve lost such a valuable thing. I’ve been in schools where they haven’t kept a history and they’re scratching like chooks on the ground, and it’s very difficult.

Who knows how valuable what we are collecting now, will be in 10, 20, 150 years time.”

After moving from East Ringwood to Inverloch in 2015, John was quickly sought out by the Inverloch Historical Society, where he eventually became president. Since joining the group its held three major annual exhibitions at the Hub in Inverloch and other venues. This helped raised the profile of the Society, which currently has a membership of around 50. It includes former locals who’ve moved on but are keen to maintain their Inverloch roots, and half a dozen core members who do much of the heavy lifting.

“For more than 25 years the Society has had nowhere central to store their material. There were things stored in farm sheds and people’s houses.

Our Secretary is accessing our material to create a computerised index of our historical material. Eighteen months ago we decided to hire some space in the industrial area of the town, and started to fill it. Within months we were offered the big green shed behind the elderly citizens building by the council.

“We’re still moving into the green shed, we’re still finding out what we’ve got. We’ve filled it physically at the moment but our problem is we need power so we can get our computers operating. If we do any work on our computers it’s got to be done in our private homes.”

The gathering of the society’s historical artifacts into the one place has triggered the push for a dedicated Inverloch museum. John explains that visitors to Inverloch often have no idea the significant role it played in Gippsland and Victoria’s history.

“This town has undergone an enormous change. It’s gone from a wooden old town to a very modern place where people say, ‘Oh, this is a new town, how old is it?’ And when you tell them 1886, they think you’re kidding. But it’s one of the oldest towns in the area.

“The South Gippsland coast along here was the last place in Victoria, apart from the mountain area that has modern transport and roads, because they couldn’t get past the Koo Wee Rup swamp or the Strzelecki Ranges to produce roads and railways. So coastal trade developed, so San Remo, Inverloch, Port Welshpool, Port Albert all depended on shipping trade. Why was this a good spot? Because of Anderson Inlet. And people recognised it then as a beautiful spot.”

During his years with the Inverloch Historical Society, John has been instrumental in documenting the town’s past. As he did at Croydon Historical Society, John penned a book, ‘Inverloch – a place of great beauty, today and yesterday’. Not only to help preserve precious parts of Inverloch’s history, but to help raise money for the society’s ongoing projects, including the museum.

He says the society continues to uncover important historical items, many of which have been hidden away for generations. “One of the most interesting things we found a few years ago, and we nearly passed it by. We asked local people to show us their family photographs, taken at Inverloch as most people think their own family photographs will not interest other people or be of historical significance. But they’re pictures of Inverloch.

“We picked up a picture, clearly taken in the 1930s, of three ladies dressed up in their gear, they’re at the beach. Ladies in their 50s, smiling, happy. But what’s interesting is not those ladies, it’s what behind the ladies. Because there at the back of the ladies is the only picture we’ve got of Mahers Landing - the pier and the shed.”

It’s easy to see just how passionate John is about capturing the history of Inverloch for future generations, his face lighting up as he details one of the town’s many historical firsts, the birth of the beach beauty contest.

“They ran a Miss Inverloch. They wanted to raise money for improving the foreshore facilities and Wonthaggi Hospital. They then added to it Mr Inverloch, and Miss Tiny Inverloch, little kids got involved. The 1952 Mr Inverloch was Ted Whitten. And we’ve got a picture of Ted, with a sash along his chest, and it’s spelt Inverlock, with a ‘k’ on the end,” he laughs.

John says while some parts of history are much easier to piece together, more modern history is far less reliable. It’s why he urges historical records to be kept by at schools, societies and organisations, the old fashioned way.

“One of the problems we’ve got with historical societies, is in recording exactly what we do have.

When when you come down to the real answer, it’s the old fashioned methods of communication: paper, photographs, maps etc. Electronic things don’t have a good history of lasting."

“The Victorians and Edwardians were great diary keepers, churches kept records, everybody kept records so they are easy to check. But now it’s a lot more difficult because it’s electronic. And I’ve often said, ‘If you turn the power off, God help us all’.”

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B U N U R O N G C OA S T E D U C AT I O N

INVERLOCH IS GROUND ZERO FOR DINOSAURS IN AUSTRALIA

The Arch, Kilcunda, Site of the discovery of Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei

Australia’s top predator during the Cretaceous, Australovenator wintonensis

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Eagles Nest, Inverloch. It was near here that Australia’s first dinosaur bone was found, 7th May 1903

T H E D I S C OV E R Y O F A N A N C I E N T C L AW N E A R E AG L E S N E S T BY T H E S C OT T I S H G E O L O G I S T W I L L I A M H A M I L T O N F E R G U S O N O N 7 T H M AY 1 9 0 3 P R O V I D E D T H E F I R S T E V I D E N C E T H AT T H E S E M Y S T E R I O U S R E P T I L E S O C C U P I E D A U S T R A L I A .

T H E C L A W H A S N E V E R B E E N P O S I T I V E LY I D E N T I F I E D B U T I S L I K E LY T O H AV E B E E N A TO E C L AW F R O M A M E D I U M S I Z E D C A R N I VO R O U S D I N O S AU R .

Dinosaur Bone freshly removed from the rock before it is lost to erosion

The beauty of the Bass Coast. Erosion by the powerful wave action is steadily wearing away the cliffs and shore platforms and will continue to reveal new bones from the Cretaceous.

Nothing further was discovered in Victoria until 1978 when Tim Flannery, his cousin John Long and geologist Rob Glenie revisited the site.

Following Ferguson’s detailed map from 75 years earlier, they were able to pinpoint the original location of the claw and explore the area further. Almost immediately they found more, first the ankle bone of a large carnivorous dinosaur, then smaller limb bones and other remains.

These discoveries led to vertebrate prospecting being reignited along the Victorian coastline and eventually to the realisation that the area has a rich diversity of amazing fossils from long ago.

Their systematic search of the Cretaceous fossil bearing rocks from Inverloch to San Remo resulted in the discovery of several dozen bones, and the identification of several sites where bones were concentrated.

The team then headed west to explore similar rock along the Otway coast, eventually finding a fossil layer at Dinosaur Cove and opening up a full-scale dig at that site which produced two new dinosaur species.

Digging returned to the Gippsland coast with the discovery of the Inverloch dig site near The Caves in the early 1990s. This productive seam has yielded over 20000 bones to date including two dinosaurs new to science, Qantassaurus intrepidus and Galleonosaurus dorisae, as well as numerous remains of turtles and fish, and occasional bones from primitive birds and mammals.

Dinosaurs are now known from all continents of the world but what makes ours special is that they are the most diverse assemblage of polar dinosaurs known from anywhere in the world. At the time they were alive Australia was still connected to Antarctica and Inverloch was within the Antarctic circle, only a few hundred kilometres from the south pole.

Palaeontologists including Dr Tom Rich at Museums Victoria and Prof.

Pat Rich from Monash University who led the exploration effort have conducted detailed research into these creatures and are hopeful of further discoveries.

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Model of the giant amphibian Koolasuchus at the Wallace Avenue Community Park in Inverloch

Dinosaur bone embedded in the rock, Bass Coast

Their work is assisted by extensive prospecting of the exposed rocks by Mike Cleeland, Melissa Lowery and several other eagle-eyed helpers.

Much of the painstaking work of removing the ancient bones from the encasing rock has been performed by Lesley Kool, using her specialist skills as a preparator.

Visitors to the Bass Coast sometimes make interesting finds that contribute to scientific research.

If you find something you think could be an interesting fossil, the three golden rules are: 1 2 3

Leave it there Photograph it and GPS Contact a palaeontologist to have it identified

The Inverloch Dinosaur Footprint

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Rockfall at The Caves, Inverloch. This huge cliff collapse occurred in 2020 and could have killed dozens of people if they had been entering the cave at the same time

Mike Cleeland at the Bunurong Environment Centre in Inverloch is the local point of contact em | mike.cleeland@sgcs.org.au ph | 0447 352 619 Melbourne based palaeontologists available to help include: • Dr Tom Rich | Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Museums Victoria trich@museum.vic.gov.au • Prof. Pat Vickers - Rich | Monash University pat.rich@monash.edu Want to become involved? Mike leads field trips out to The Caves or Eagle’s Nest for school groups and holiday activity groups where participants have a chance of finding a fossil. You can book in at www.sgcs.org.au/educational.php *Please be aware that these fossils are on public land often within National Park boundaries. Visitors are not permitted to break rocks or collect fossils without special permission.

Petrified wood, the remains of a large forest tree from the time of the dinosaurs

EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM HANDMADE JEWELLERY INVERLOCH

BY APPOINTMENT JOSEPH COURTENAY 0413 706 631 bluesaltjewellers@outlook.com

That Eco Place is dedicated to providing everyday earth friendly alternatives for people striving to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

2 Reilly Street, Inverloch VIC 3996 | Tel: 0409 259 387 | Email: info@thatecoplace.com.au www.thatecoplace.com.au gippsland lifestyle autumn ����

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a Taste of Asia in Inverloch Words by Camilla Hullick

No matter where you travel in Australia, chances are you'll stumble across a Chinese restaurant in just about every town. Since the 1850's when an influx of Chinese migrants worked in “cookhouses” among the goldfields, commercially available Chinese cuisine made its debut and to this day, continues to influence Australia. Not only do the exotic food restaurants offer a delicious dining experience, they symbolise our country's cultural diversity.

Centrally located in the coastal town of Inverloch is one of these favoured restaurants named the Inverloch Palace. Robert Zhou, the proprietor for twenty-two years, has over time enjoyed a front row seat witnessing substantial growth and progressive, blossoming trends of the area. With a general population of over 5,500 people, stunning Inverloch well and truly comes alive with visiting tourists during the holiday seasons - and everyone's hungry!

Robert, so named simply as Australians have difficulties pronouncing his given name, emigrated from China to Australia thirty-two years ago. He claims, “I love the coastal lifestyle of Inverloch, I enjoy friendships with local residents and I walk the beach whenever time permits.” As an accredited cook, Robert worked hard towards owning his own business, consistently desiring the freedom to be his own boss. He enjoys his trade and endeavours to spend most of his working hours behind the scenes, cooking up an Asian storm in the kitchen along with his Chinese employees.

Having grown accustomed to the inundation of holiday makers during particular months of the year, Robert typically prepares himself well.

However, during the recent summer holidays dinner sessions occasionally proved challenging. With travel restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, South Gippsland's coastal towns were overwhelmed with visitors across the board. The family friendly Inverloch Palace which seats eighty customers, introduced two dinner seatings to adhere to the enforced corona virus restrictions and to satisfy the demand of hungered vacationers. Bookings in advance were essential as tables filled quickly most evenings.

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As soon as you enter the foyer of the popular Oriental establishment, a tantalising waft from the kitchen teases your taste buds. Walking through a further door, a spacious room opens up to exhibit traditional Chinese decor with set tables ready to accommodate eager guests. Chinese folk music hums softly in the background adding intrinsic ambiance to the scene while waiting staff diligently prepare to greet customers and take orders in a friendly and efficient manner.

The Inverloch Palace is fully licensed and open for lunch and dinner six days a week. In addition to welcoming in-house guests, take-away meals are also available. In fact, there's a steady demand for dishes purchased over the counter which constitutes a significant portion of Robert's overall business revenue. How easy it is to stop by and pick up a flavoursome Oriental dish ready to devour in the comfort of your own home!

Robert's menu typically offers diverse, generous and succulent Chinese dishes, encompassing appetisers, entrees, mains and desserts.

Banquets, reflecting the collective Chinese culture, are a popular choice among group diners. The option to use chop sticks or cutlery is yours while the traditional warm teas symbolising respect are poured into bottomless cups. Many dishes are conventional Chinese recipes Australians have grown to love, such as the roast duck or steamed fish varieties. However, Robert loves to add a touch of nostalgia to his menu by including authentic cuisine, unique to his hometown in China.

The casual, hospitable Inverloch Palace restaurant offers one of Australia's most popular foods. Make sure you're hungry when you arrive to enjoy a hearty meal. If by chance you can't finish your appetising dish, your host will be pleased knowing you have consumed an ample amount of food, which signifies prosperity and abundance.

Robert Zhou strives for residents and visitors of Inverloch and surrounds to be taken on an Asian journey while frequenting his restaurant. Maintaining the traditional food and culture of Robert's motherland, he assures the Inverloch Palace offers a memorable, dining experience.

Inverloch Palace 2 Abeckett St, Inverloch VIC 3996 | Phone: (03) 5639 2699

INSIDE THE INVERLOCH PALACE

OWNER ROBERT ZHOU WITH STAFF MEMBER JACK

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ANDERSON INLET ANGLING CLUB PERFECTLY LOCATED ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIPPSLAND COAST WITH A HISTORIC CLUBHOUSE THAT IS STILL SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WORDS BY JOHN TURNER | IMAGES BY DOUG PELL [OLD BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY TOM GANNON] PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHIRLEY SCOTT AIAC CLUB MEMBER

The Anderson Inlet is an area of stunning beauty which is at its very best at sunset or sunrise. The inlet provides a safe beach for the many hundreds of holidaymakers that come here each year and is an ideal spot for windsurfing, kite surfing, stand–up paddle boarding and for just messing about on the beach. It is also home to an amazing diversity of marine species and birds such as the Hooded Plover that come to the inlet and other local Bass Coast beaches to breed.

The variety of popular fish species in the inlet makes the inlet a premier spot for anglers. Flathead, Trevally, Pinkie Snapper, King George Whiting, Estuary Perch, Bream, Australian Salmon and Gummy Shark can all be found in the Anderson Inlet waters during the year. It is no surprise therefore that boats and fishing are popular sports in the area both for locals and visitors.

The Anderson Inlet Angling Club premises lay nestled between the beach and the Esplanade road with only the sand dunes for club members to traverse to get to the water’s edge and drop a line into the water. Enjoying an afternoon or early morning’s fishing accompanied by amazingly beautiful sunset or a sunrise is something not to be missed.

The Angling Club’s building has had many guises over the years and has travelled significant distances before its final resting place in Inverloch.

If walls could talk I am sure the Angling Club walls would have many a tale to tell.

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The building was first used as an RAAF aerial photography laboratory in Sale, Gippsland probably as early as the 1940’s and maybe earlier.

Sometime after the war the building was moved to the Monash Hospital at Clayton where it took on a new life initially as an infectious diseases unit and later as a psychiatric unit.

In 1959 a group of fishing enthusiasts held their first meeting at Point Smythe, Venus Bay in Gippsland and as their numbers grew they searched for premises to serve as club rooms. Just one year after forming the club an application was made to build club rooms on the Anderson Inlet foreshore for which approval was granted in 1962. It was about this time that the building at Monash Hospital became available and the Angling Club paid Henry Donahue Removals the princely sum of $600 (about $90,000 in today’s money) to purchase the building and relocate it to Inverloch. The building was duly placed in its present position by Henry Donohue with the help of volunteers under the direction of local engineers.

The building has been modified from time to time to ensure that it is fit for purpose and meets the necessary safety standards; nevertheless it retains its essential character while providing an excellent venue for the club’s fishing and social activities. These social activities include regular meetings, Café days and making the hall available for community activities such as Tai Chi, Yoga, Bridge Club, photo exhibitions, weddings and more.

F IR S T A N D E R S ON' S I N L E T A N G L I N G C L U B 1 9 5 9 From the Rear, left to right. Terry Haines, Harry Bannon, Bill Kimber, George Clark, Hilary McLeod, Jim Darling, Jack Smith, Jim Mayes, Kevin Maguire, Chris Haines, John Wright, Mario Bau, Jim Murphy, Tom Gannon Front, left to right Kneeling. Norm Perry, George Keily, L. Muir, Alan Huntly, Arthur Ryan, Fred Schrek (behind Ryan), Mike Perry, George Huntly (partly obscured), George Donohue, Fred Sloan, Dave MacDonall, Hughie Farrell, K.Martin, Alan Thompson, J.Shandley (behind Thompson), Keith Thornton.

Over time all organisations have their ‘ups and downs’ and need to change to remain relevant in today’s society. The Angling Club is no exception with a major overhaul of club management as recently as 2020; yet despite the disruption of the Covid 19 crisis the present time is certainly one of the ‘ups’ in the history of the club. It presently boasts 120 members and is continuing to grow.

The club membership believes that “Fishing is For Everyone” and is strongly focused on achieving a wider engagement with the local community. Its ethos is that the club can further the interests of the sport and the fishing community by encouraging inclusiveness, social connection, and respect for our environment.

For many years now it has promoted its Fishing Clinics for children, families, the elderly and persons of different abilities as a way of doing this.

The clinics provide basic angling skills, knowledge of local fish species, teaches respect for the environment and information about how to handle fish properly and if required, kill fish in a humane way.

As in previous years the 2020 Family fishing clinics during the summer break were a big hit with the children.

Every third weekend, each month the club has a fishing competition, members meeting and BBQ. The club is keen to develop a strong junior section and a big asset to achieve this is junior member Logan Brown who has an enviable record of catching fish in the local inlet from his fishing kayak and has an infectious enthusiasm for fishing.

The club is a not-for-profit member organisation, promotes transparency in everything it does and actively seeks members input to ensure the club meets the needs of its members and the local community.

For more information about the club visit its web site at www.rbh49.com/AIAC/ where you can view recent newsletters, get an application form for membership, view its constitution and view pictures of events.

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Pink Stumps Day, Inverloch Cricket Ground. Held Saturday 30th January, full crowd in attendance, major success!

Many people involved with this great day gave up their time and provided plenty of energy to make this day the success it turned out to be for a worthwhile cause to assist with Breast Cancer research for women and men.

Photos taken by Doug Pell

Greg Taberner pictured with host of the event Jackie Newman Greg was in charge of refreshments

Paul Woods “Paul the Pieman” President of Inverloch Cricket Club provided the food for the day

Where you can find a treat for all the family 62

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17A A’Beckett Street Inverloch Vic 3996 www.treattime.com.au

Mexican street food cantina – takeaway – order in store OPEN 7 DAYS FOR LUNCH & DINNER KEEP UP TO DATE ON INSTA @_LIME_AND_CO 10B A’Beckett Street Inverloch 3996 VIC ph | 5674 6151 www.limeandco.com.au

Check our facebook or Instagram for menu and opening hour updates

Melaleuca Nursery has been supplying quality indigenous and native plants for over 30 years.

Whether it’s a few plants for the backyard or thousands for a revegetation project, we have a wide range of plants suitable for your area.

WHOLESALE ENQUIRIES WELCOME

03 5674 1014 |

info@melaleucanursery.com.au |

50 Pearsalls Road, Inverloch Vic 3996

www.melaleucanursery.com.au

Find us on facebook @MelaleucaNurseryInverloch gippsland lifestyle autumn ����

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Blue Salt Jewellers A RARE GEM WORDS BY ANITA BUTTERWORTH

Joseph Courtenay is a rare gem in the jewellery industry. While the talented jeweller now crafts exquisite pieces from his Inverloch-based studio/workshop Blue Salt Jewellers, he’s been a part of almost every facet of the industry since he was a schoolboy.

Growing up in the pearling heartland of Western Australia, the 40-yearold has now come full circle, crafting exclusive jewellery for some of Australia’s most discerning customers.

As a teenager in Broome, Joseph was working on pearling boats at just 15 years of age. He went to school with and played sport with the sons of pearl divers, and it seemed his destiny to end up chasing precious gems.

“It was just in the blood basically.”

For a young bloke, it was a dream come true, “Getting paid to go to all these magical places in The Kimberleys that people pay thousands of dollars to go to. “ After finishing school in year 11, Joseph studied aquaculture part-time, while working on pearl farms as a diver & deckhand, and it’s where he cut his teeth in the jewellery trade.

“I was good friends with the showroom manager for the company I worked for and they had a massive fish tank in their store. They asked me to come and set it up, so I was trapping fish when I was out diving and bringing them in to get the tank going. I got talking to the jeweller and he said he needed an apprentice and asked if I was interested.

“I thought, there’s always going to be dive work there I’ll give this trade a go. It was a five-year apprenticeship in Western Australia, because it’s quite detailed. And I did a specialised pearl and diamond apprenticeship.

So I got the real ins and outs, I did all the setting and all the traditional techniques. I was just really lucky to grow up in an era in Broome when there was some of the best jewellers in the world working there, it was a real pearl hub. It was a real gem hub really. A lot of people travelled there from around the world to buy the pearls and the diamonds and to experience The Kimberleys.”

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After finishing his apprenticeship, Joseph headed to Kuri Bay in the middle of The Kimberleys - home to the first pearl farm set up in Australia, owned & operated by Paspaley Pearls.

“I just worked around in the pearling industry, tripped back into the showrooms and the jewellery shops every now and then. I was based between Broome and Darwin and I worked mainly on the fleet boats as a diver. I left the trade for a little while but I always had a jewellery set up at home. I started working in oil and gas and lived in Darwin, where I met my now ex-wife who was from this part of the world.”

Joseph made a home with his wife in Inverloch and started a family, and has remained in the town following his separation to stay close to his sons. He opened his own business, Blue Salt Jewellers, in 2017, and has become a sought-after craftsman.

“I’m very unique. I’ve worked in every part of the jewellery trade, in every part of the pearling industry. I’ve worked as a pearl technician, a diver, a decky,on the farms,in hatcheries, in the pearl grading rooms, in the sales’ teams, in the show rooms and as a jeweller . And in doing that I’ve got to meet a lot of really good jewellers, really hands-on craft people. " "I’ve also got connections with opal, sapphire & diamond miners. I deal straight with the sources. I don’t deal in anything other than high value, high-end jewellery & gems. I don’t really even do repairs.”

His clientele includes Gippslanders and customers from as far as Western Australia and Queensland. His unique pieces all tell a distinctly Australian story.

“All of my gems I can certify . All of the diamonds I supply come with certifications that they come from the Argyle Mine all my pearls are the same. It’s really prevalent to me to keep that industry going. It’s so easy for us to go overseas and buy something cheaper and flood the market with it. What we don’t realise is that we’re killing industries in Australia.”

Creating pieces mainly by request, Joseph says the providence of his gems and his exacting standards combine for truly heirloom jewellery.

“I’ve got no problem with starting again. I tell my clients, it might take six weeks. And if I have to do it three times, I have to do it.

One thing I can’t do is let something go that I’m not happy with and is to a standard that I know is not going to last two or three lifetimes. That’s just the way I was taught and that’s just the way I do it.”

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Colin Boyd A country boy who loved to kick the leather in the winter and smack it with the willow in summer, Colin Boyd had the quintessential idyllic Gippsland childhood.

COLIN BOYD | ESSENDON VS CARLTON, AFTER THE GAME

An unassuming and humble fitness enthusiast, he played Australian rules football under the tutelage of Mr Football himself, before turning his energy to education and a new passion.

Growing up on a fourth generation farm in Stockdale, Colin was the third of three boys. Raised country-tough in the 1950s, he boarded at St Patrick’s College in Sale while his busy parents kept the farm going. It was there that his love for football was ignited.

“St Pat’s was a school that was strong on football. In fact if you didn’t play football, it would have been miserable. I just happened to like football, I enjoyed that part of it. Football in the winter, cricket in the summer. I had good friends – each night we’d just go and kick the football together.

Lunchtime we kicked the football. So we became very much students of the game.”

But by the time Colin finished his time at St Pat’s, things were different on the land, and it seemed his destiny lay elsewhere.

“By the time I got to my senior studies, the farming game had changed.

Droughts and prices had suffered, so there was no place for me on the farm, so I went to Melbourne. I did year 12 and then went to Melbourne Uni and studied physical education.

“It was a last minute change really. I think partly because they had studentships and things had changed on the farm and I don’t think it was possible for my father to pay for me to go through. So I took a studentship, stayed in a hostel for country student teachers and then lived with my mates in Melbourne and Carlton, and did PE.”

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COLIN BOYD AT HOME

While in Melbourne, Footscray Football Club asked Colin to come and train. It eventually led to playing in the senior side with a couple of his former classmates. “Ian Morrison and Ted Carroll who were in my year 12 class. And we sat three desks in a row, and the year after leaving St Pat’s we were playing football in the seniors at Footscray together, so it was quite an extraordinary story when you think about it now.”

Colin juggled playing footy with his studies, and while he loved his first foray into the big league, he had a distinct pull towards his country roots.

“To go to Footscray and do PE, the two seemed to support each other.

My first teaching placement was in the western suburbs. I’d been at Footscray for two years and Ted Whitten Snr, E.J., started coaching Williamstown in the VFA and he asked myself and about four young players at Footscray if we’d go down and play. And we thought it was too good a chance to miss out on, to play under the famous Mr Football.

“So I played there for two years. For me I was a bit disillusioned by VFL footy as it was then, and VFA was just like country footy. Williamstown was like a country town in Melbourne. Strong local support, we played Sundays, wild football, lack of scrutiny. It was just great times, and it just reinforced my love of footy. We won a premiership, I won the VFA best and fairest. Footscray had asked me to go back and I said no, I think I’d had enough of a go there and Essendon were really keen so I went to Essendon and played there.

“It was a young side. It was the time of the Baby Bombers. Tim Watson came on board, he was only 15, Simon Madden, Paul Vander Haar came on board, Roger Merrett they became the nucleus of the premiership side.

From the Sherrin to the saddle Words Anita Butterworth

LAP OF THE MCG GRAND FINAL 1979 VFL RESERVES BEST AND FAIREST

So they won premierships in 84, 85, played in three grand finals in a row and I was just part of that. It was a really good bunch of guys. Their country zone was in the Mallee and Wimmera areas, so country guys and I really associated well with them. It was the start of a new era for them and really good times.”

But a family tragedy spurred a return to Gippsland, and a change of direction. “My sister had been killed in Africa. She was a nurse and she was in Rhodesia, which is now Zimbabwe and she was killed (by a landmine) in 1978, and I think when that happened I just reassessed where I was at. I was keen to get back to family after that. So in 1980 I came to Leongatha with the intention (of staying for 2 years before returning closer to family at Stockdale). And I was a great supporter of state education and I was keen to stay in the state system, so Leongatha were able to give me a position at Leongatha High School and I came up and coached the footy side. (Leongatha became home for us.) And Yolande, my partner and I that’s where we had our kids. We had a beautiful house and life was great and we enjoyed the community. And then our three kids finally went to college in Melbourne.”

“Yol had a bit of ill health so it changed our life plan a bit. So we bought an old house here on this site in Surf Parade Inverloch in about 1999, and then we just had it rented out as holiday house. When the last of the kids went off to college, we had a big house, I was principal at Leongatha Secondary College at that stage and Yol was assistant principal at the specialist school and so we then decided to subdivide the property in Leongatha, and moved down here did a rebuild. So we moved in here 2005, so this has been home for us for almost 16 years.”

PREMIERSHIP COACH LEONGATHA 1989

It was in South Gippsland that Colin found a new love – cycling. While he’d cycled to school when he was a boy in East Gippsland, he’d never considered it as anything more than a casual pastime. But after moving to Inverloch Colin started regularly riding to Korumburra on Sundays with a friend.

“Then a couple more people joined us. Then the next year we did Around the Bay, which is 200 kilometres. And then more people joined us and it became this group called Coastal Cruisers. And we would have probably 200 people on the books, and visitors from Melbourne would bring their bikes down and take part in our rides.”

It also inspired Colin’s partner Yolande to hop into the saddle. With their three children having all settled in Inverloch, the couple began ferrying their seven grandchildren to and from school and daycare on their bikes.

And before long, their love of cycling resulted in several incredible trips.

“By increments, we started doing bigger things and bigger things. In 2012 Yol and I went and did the Andes Trail, which is from Equador, from the Equator right down to the very tip of Argentina through the Andes Mountains on mountain bikes – that’s 11,000 kilometres. That took us four and a half months. That was an amazing trip.

“On a bike, it’s an amazing way to travel because there’s no barrier. People just warm to you. They see you’re not in a car or bus or big group of people, you just one and two people, so that was very special.”

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COL & YOL IN SOUTH AMERICA

COL & YOL - ITALY FROM SOUTH TO NORTH

COL AND YOL IN SPAIN

Colin Boyd

From the Sherrin to the saddle

They also rode 12,500km through central Asia, while Colin tackled New Zealand and Tasmania. “Emotionally and mentally, riding is very cleansing.”

Colin also managed to marry his love for cycling with his passion for helping others, riding to raise funds for a drug rehabilitation centre and children’s cancer. And this year he tackled the 360km ride for the Neil Sachse Centre for Spinal Cord Research in South Australia for the second time.

It’s a cause close to Colin’s heart, with the centre founded by former Footscray player Neil Sachse. “He was 24 years of age, came across from South Australia as a very talented player and in his second game he was in a collision and broke his spine and became a quadriplegic. So he had two young boys aged two and four, and his wife.

“Despite the depths of his injury he was able to, with the support of his wife who’s been quite amazing, and the community in Adelaide, he developed a project called Project Discovery.”

The project aims to advance the diagnoses and treatment of spinal injuries to improve long-term outcomes.

This year’s ride held even more meaning, with Neil passing away in August 2020. “Except for sheer luck, it could have easily been me, because of the type of physical activity I’ve done. So I put myself in their shoes and think how I would have coped with it. The very least I can do to support them is to get some money together and get this up and going.

“I felt like I owed it to him, to the legacy he created and to his family.”

The Neil Sachse Centre doesn’t receive any Government funding and relys on donations. Donations can be made by calling 08 8128 4717.

DAILY COMMUTE WITH GRANDCHILDREN

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COL AND SON JESSE RIDING PERTH TO BAIRNSDALE

COME & SEE OUR DISPLAYS ON LOCATION Backyard World is a leading SteelChief supplier and custom builder for cubbies, forts and playgrounds, sheds and workshops, decks and pergolas, portable homes, custom man sheds and pet enclosures for Gippsland and the Bass Coast.

CUBBIES & FORTS HIGH QUALITY FORTS, PLAYGROUNDS & CUBBIES FOR KIDS & BIG KIDS AT HEART

CUBBIES, SHEDS & CARPORTS GIPPSLAND & BASS COAST Headed up by the Director of the Business is a qualified carpenter and registered commercial builder with over thirty years’ experience in the building industry.

Backyard World is a family run business, well-equipped to help you with your next backyard project in Gippsland and the Bass Coast

SHEDS & WORKSHOPS AUSTRALIAN MADE SHEDS & WORKSHOPS FROM STEELCHIEF

NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE COWES BAZAAR, Thompson Avenue, Cowes 7 Days Per Week DALYSTON – WED THUR FRI 10.00AM TO 3.00PM & SAT 10.00AM TO 1.00PM

CUSTOM BACKYARD STRUCTURES BACKYARD WORLD CAN HELP YOU DESIGN YOUR DREAM BACKYARD STRUCTURE. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DESIGN & CONSTRUCT SERVICE

BACKYARD WORLD 4212 Bass Highway, Dalyston VIC 3992 Tel: 0429 667 825 | Em: chantelle.backyardworld@gmail.com Open – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm | Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm Any other times by appointment www.backyardworld.com.au

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

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During the COVID restriction period we are offering TAKE AWAY MENUS. Please visit our Facebook @BrentSinclairCatering for weekly changing menus and specials.

When looking for a superior culinary experience from an intimate gathering to a lavish banquet choose Brent Sinclair Catering.

Relax and have the Brent Sinclair Catering team handle all the details and tailor any menu to perfectly suit your event.

Call Brent Sinclair on 0447 728 547 146 McCartin Street, Leongatha, Vic 3953 E: brent@brentsinclaircatering.com.au www.brentsinclaircatering.com.au

EVANS BP LEONGATHA WESTSIDE

BP Service Stations FISH CREEK 2 Falls Road, Fish Creek, Vic 3959 Tel/Fax: 5683 2521 Email: fishcreek@evanspetroleum.com.au

FOSTER 94 Main Street, Foster, Vic 3960 Tel/Fax: 5682 2008 Email: foster@evanspetroleum.com.au

INVERLOCH 25 Williams Street, Inverloch, Vic 3996 Tel/Fax: 5674 1442 Email: inverloch@evanspetroleum.com.au

JOHNSONVILLE 1760 Princes Highway, Johnsonville, Vic 3902 Office/Fax: 5156 4102 Workshop: 5156 4233 Email: johnsonville@evanspetroleum.com.au

KORUMBURRA SOUTH South Gippsland Highway, Korumburra, Vic 3950 Tel/Fax: 5655 1668 Email: korumburra@evanspetroleum.com.au

LEONGATHA 95 Bair Street, Leongatha, Vic 3953 Tel/Fax: 5662 2440 Email: leongatha@evanspetroleum.com.au

For all your fuel supplies in Leongatha please visit BP Westside whilst our service station in Bair Street is currently being renovated and is temporarily closed for the short term.

LEONGATHA - WESTSIDE 7 Anderson Street, Leongatha, Vic 3953 Tel/Fax: 5662 2834 Email: westside@evanspetroleum.com.au

MIRBOO NORTH 106 Ridgway, Mirboo North, Vic 3871 Tel/Fax: 5668 2377 Email: mirboo@evanspetroleum.com.au

NEWMERELLA 5327 Princes Highway, Newmerella, Vic 3886 Tel/Fax: 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 Fax: 5143 2686 Email: sale@evanspetroleum.com.au

TOORA 26 Foster Road, Toora, Vic 3962 Tel/Fax: 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 Fax: 5672 5229 Email: wonthaggi@evanspetroleum.com.au

YARRAM 325 Commercial Street, Yarram, Vic 3971 Tel: 5182 6019 Fax: 5182 6458 Email: yarram@evanspetroleum.com.au

BP LEONGATHA WESTSIDE 7 Anderson Street, Leongatha, Vic 3953 Tel/Fax: 5662 2834 | Email: westside@evanspetroleum.com.au

EVANS PETROLEUM HEAD OFFICE 22 Hughes Street, Leongatha Vic 3953 Tel: 5662 2217 Web: www.evanspetroleum.com.au

WHAT’S ON

GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY MARCH | APRIL | MAY 2021

Wellington Centre | 70 Foster Street SALE VIC 3850 Open Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.30pm, Sat-Sun and Public Holidays 10.00am - 4.00pm T (03) 5142 3500 E galleryenquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au W www.gippslandartgallery.com

THE ART OF ANNEMIEKE MEIN

STORIES FROM THE COLLECTION

A permanent, evolving showcase of works from Australia’s favourite textile wildlife artist.

Stories from the Collection delves into the deep, multi-layered history of the Gippsland Art Gallery’s permanent collection in a new, ever-evolving journey through the ages. Spanning the colonial to the contemporary, this expansive and illuminating exhibition presents a vivid account of the influence of place on the cultural imagination.

UNTIL JULY 25th, 2021

Annemieke MEIN Face on 1992 High-relief textile wall panel 165 x 122 x 10cm Courtesy the artist

VICTOR COBB THE HAPPY WANDERER

13th MARCH TO 2nd MAY, 2021 Victor Cobb: The Happy Wanderer will present rarely seen works by this historically significant artist, ranging from his Gippsland vistas to his urban subjects that memorialise a Melbourne of days gone, alongside works by some of Cobb’s contemporaries such as Lionel Lindsay and John Shirlow.

A collaboration between guest curator Rodney Scherer and Gippsland Art Gallery.

Victor COBB A Country Road, 1932 Pencil on paper 24 x 31cm Private collection

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UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26th, 2021

Lorna CHICK The Entrance, Gippsland Lakes, Victoria 1973 Oil on board 72 x 81cm Collection Gippsland Art Gallery / Purchased, 2019

RODNEY FORBES

13th MARCH TO 16th MAY, 2021 A showcase of Forbes’ colourful and characteristic practice from 1983 to 2020 celebrating his unique style of storytelling and painting. Rodney Forbes is represented by Australian Galleries, Melbourne.

Rodney FORBES Two Sisters, 1984 Oil on canvas 129.6 x 130cm Collection Gippsland Art Gallery Donated by Euan Heng through the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program, 1997

ENTRANCING OTHERS

20th MARCH TO 23rd MAY, 2021 Each artist in this exhibition was asked to create a new work exploring the theme of the endlessly fascinating animal (human and/or non-human), through the medium of printmaking. This exhibition was organised by Rona Green and includes artists that represent a cross section of established and emerging practitioners from around Australia. Everyone has manifested a uniquely intriguing representation of what it is about the animal that entrances with a selection of works that beautifully illustrate the distinct qualities of a range of printmaking techniques.

The participating artists are Sue Anderson, Andrew Antoniou, GW Bot, Hannah Caprice, Jazmina Cininas, Paul Compton, Rachel Derum, Philip Faulks, Angus Fisher, Rona Green, Rew Hanks, Greg Harrison, John Hart, Bill Hay, Deanna Hitti, Nicola Hooper, Kyoko Imazu, Clare Jackson, Freya Jobbins, Rhi Johnson, Michael Kempson, Julian Laffan, Otto MacPherson, Cassie May, Aaron McLoughlin, Glenn Morgan, Katy Mutton, Angela Nagel, Tim Pauszek, Rujunko Pugh, Michael Reynolds, John Robinson, David Rosengrave, Heather Shimmen, Anne Starling, Georgia Steele, Neale Stratford, Sophia Szilagyi, Julian Twigg, Peter Ward, Allie Webb, and Deborah Williams.

Rachel DERUM My Works is Loving the World, 2019 Inkjet Print 38 x 38cm / Courtesy the Artist / Photograph by Tim Gresham

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VIRTUE HOMES 'BUILDING EXCELLENCE'

THE ACURA 38 WARRIGUL

NEW WARRIGUL DISPLAY HOME

NOW OPEN

243 COPELAND'S ROAD 11AM - 4PM

'The Acura home is a unique blend of industrial style with a modern zen like feel using earty tones. It exudes effortless sophistication, yet relaxed ambiance with added walnut cabinetry and brushed brass finishes"

Tania & Emma | Interior Design

2018

2019

AWARD WINNING BUILDERS WINNER 2019

WINNER 2019

THE MACLAREN 35 TRARALGON

DISPLAY HOME | THE MACLAREN 35 REGIMENT LANE, TRARALGON

Visit our showroom at 41-45 Standing Drive Traralgon

Phone: 03 5176 5997 Email: info@virtuehomes.com.au

www.virtuehomes.com.au Photography by Open2ViewGippsland

TRARALGON

HEATING TO SUIT EVERY HOME

Whether it's the barbeque, or a gas or wood heater, Australian's love affair with the flame will never die.

We're all drawn to the flame. It's where memories are made, with the people that matter most.

At Barbeques Galore Traralgon, we help you create these moments, with the largest range of styles and designs. Unrivalled specialist knowledge and the convenience of installation from our qualified team.

We have an extensive range of Gas & Wood heater options available for all spaces, styles & budgets.

The home of wood and gas heating

309 Princes Highway (Cnr of Stratton Drive), Traralgon P: 03 5174 6734 E: info@bbqs3844.com.au

CAMPION BOATS ARE BACK IN AUSTRALIA

BOATING SINCE 1964

71-77 Chickerell Street, Morwell 3840 P: 5134 6522 E: info@crawfordmarine.com.au www.crawfordmarine.com.au

MEMBER

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77

Stony Creek Go-Karts is now well and truly one of the highlights of South Gippsland.

EVENT DAY – RETRO KARTING AUSTRALIA F100

■ Hire Karts ■ BYO Kart Membership (Day/Yearly Rate) ■ Corporate Days ■ Group Bookings ■ Birthday Parties & Functions ■ Driver Education ■ Phoenix Kart Agents ■ Kart Sales & Spares ■ Café Please check

website for dates and times.

PH : 5664 7272

EM: info@stonycreekgokarts.com.au For more information visit stonycreekgokarts.com.au Please Note: When Stony Creek Racing Club is holding a race meeting the venue will be closed. During the winter period the venue is closed mid week unless prior booking is made.

Please check our facebook for updates Some changes are in place to keep you healthy and safe.

1. Bookings are essential. Please call to book your time.

2. There is a maximum of 12 karts only.

3. A 50% deposit is needed to secure your booking.

4. If you are sick, please stay at home.

5. Karts and Helmets will be disinfected between groups.

AT G R O W M A S T E R T R A R A L G O N I N S P I R AT I O N A W A I T S Y O U

GROW MASTER TRARALGON

COME TO GROW MASTER FOR ALL SHOPPING, GIFTWARE, HOME WARES, LADIES FASHION AND GARDEN SUPPLIES OR CHOOSE A GIFT CARD

W E A R E Y O U R D E S T I N AT I O N

For advice, range and quality.

For an experience and a garden encounter that will enchant you.

For solutions, inspiration and motivation.

WANDER THROUGH THE LAYERS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL GARDEN CENTRE, EACH STEP LEADING YOU INTO ANOTHER CHAPTER OF IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME, GARDEN AND LIFESTYLE.

Hours | Monday to Sunday 9.00am - 5.00pm 62 Argyle St, Traralgon Vic 3844 Ph: (03) 5174 2861 Em: growmastertraralgon@yahoo.com.au www.growmastertraralgon.com.au

ROSEDALE BUTCHERS Local Family Owned Country Butcher

Three generations of Vaux Family owned and operated business since 1977.

In 1986 their first smokehouse was purchased and then later in 1992 a second larger smokehouse was obtained and are still used today, which allows them to produce the quality products that Rosedale Butchers have become known for.

Ray and Janet Vaux took over the business in May 1977 with their son Neville starting his apprenticeship with them and eventually he and his wife Debbie took over the business in July 1995. In turn, in 2012 their son Matthew after completing his apprenticeship in took on the job of smallgoods making.

Call now for your Meat & Smallgoods needs or call us to conveniently place your order

32 Prince Street, Rosedale 3847 Ph 5199 2210 Follow us www.rosedalebutchers.com.au

Our Gardening Section has Expanded! Ideal for Autumn clean up!

Plants, Seeds, Soil, Fertilizers, Garden Tools, Mowers & More Full Range of Water Tanks, Building Materials, Gates, Timber & Hardware Available for Pickup or Delivery To Order Phone 5678 8552 Cnr Bass Highway & Dalyston-Glen Forbes Road, Grantville E: grantville@vansteenseltimbers.com.au | www.vansteenseltimbers.com.au

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Don't miss out on your favourite copy with delivery right to your door. Now available as an Annual Subscription it couldn't be easier to get hold of your copies... also makes a great gift idea. Past copies are also available in limited supplies AD PH WB 80

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PO BOX 862 WONTHAGGI VIC 3995 0404 301 333 | EM gippslandlifestyle@bigpond.com www.gippslandlifestyle.com

LEONGATHA

RSL BISTRO

New Members Welcome. Reciprocal rights with RSL'S in Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania

LEONGATHA RSL CONTACTS OFFICE: RECEPTION: BISTRO:

5662 2012 5662 2747 5662 4487

www.leongatha-rsl.com.au Find us on Facebook

TAKE-AWAY MEALS SEE LUNCH & DINNER MENUS ON FACEBOOK CHECK FACEBOOK FOR ANY ONGOING UPDATES

Corner of Smith Street & Michael Place, Leongatha

CORNER OF SMITH STREET & MICHAEL PLACE, LEONGATHA

TACKLING ANXIETY

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. One in every 3 women and one in every 5 men will experience anxiety at some point in their lives.

Anxiety is usually a natural response to new situations and experiences that is especially present in children who are learning to navigate a world of new experiences and emotions. But how can you tell what is ‘normal’ and when you may need some extra support?

Some people including children, react more quickly or intensely to situations that are stressful or find it harder to get their feelings under control. The advice for both adults and children is not to hesitate to seek help early so you can learn and cope with different fears and worries.

Developing a toolbox of strategies to manage distressing situations, particularly at a young age can forge lifelong skills to help cope with everyday stresses at home, school and social settings.

The most notable influence in 2020-21 has been of course the global COVID-19 pandemic. This has affected everyone in individual ways. For those who already view the world to be scarier or more dangerous than others, they can find it much harder to cope with changes like starting a new year at school, being back at work or recovering from any disruptions to a daily routine.

Often it is hard to know where to begin but believe it or not, your local library can often be a good place to start. We all know ‘Doctor Google’ does its best in providing a wealth of information but sorting through what is relevant and what is credible can often lead us down a rabbit hole which can lead to even more worry, particularly if you suffer with anxiety.

LIBRARY STAFF A helping hand, to guide you through the overwhelming amount of information is available to you at your local library. Friendly and supportive library staff are available at West Gippsland Libraries. Many library staff are now accredited in Mental Health First Aid, a course that teaches practical skills on how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help and more. This course is currently being provided by Mindfull Aus and available to all Gippsland residents at a government subsidised rate of only $25. Start your information journey by simply asking a librarian – call, visit a branch or use live chat on the library website.

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BOOKS, EBOOKS & EAUDIOBOOKS West Gippsland Libraries have a wide range of books, ebooks and eaudiobook at your fingertips. Written by leading experts, with practical tips and strategies, these free resources tackle a range of topics including resilience, loss and grief, anxiety, depression, coping with change, healthy habits, self-development and mindfulness.

These self-help guides are written for adults, parents, teens and children and are designed to unpack complex issues to help manage daily life challenges.

MONTHLY MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING BLOG West Gippsland Libraries’ Mental Health Blog covers a wide range of topics, from wellbeing, emotional health and loneliness, positive mental health, mindfulness and ideas for creating healthy habits. The monthly blog includes tips and resources from the library, links to other organisations and information on where to find additional local support.

VIDEO PROGRAMS Offering more than just physical resources for you all to lean on and learn from, West Gippsland Libraries have teamed up with Alison Fonseca from Bourke Fonseca Consulting to provide you with an introductory video series, ‘Looking after your mental health’. Alison is a psychologist based in Gippsland, with more than 20 years’ experience who understands the current challenges our communities are going through. This series highlights some key topics providing generalised guidance and direction on how to begin working through your mental health concerns. This video series will be available soon on the library website.

Clinical advice or experience is always recommended for any mental health concerns. Don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns with your G.P. If you or anyone you know needs assistance with a personal crisis please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 and if a life is in danger please call 000.

If you would like to learn more about the resources on offer at West Gippsland Libraries, please visit the website: wgrlc.vic.gov.au

L EAR N MORE ABOU T TH E RE S OU RC E S ON OF F E R AT WE S T GIP P S LAND LIB RARI ES

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Phillip Island Index 2

G J GARDNER HOMES - Build your dream home with a local builder

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GRUMPYS CRAZY GOLF - The Home of Mini Golf on the Island

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FLOWERS OF PHILLIP ISLAND - Creating wedding flowers plus more

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DESTINATION PHILLIP ISLAND - Phillip Island & Bass Coast - Touring Trails|Hiking & Biking

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GENESTA HOUSE - Boutique B&B accommodation in the heart of Cowes

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BLUE GUM GARDEN CENTRE - Everything you need for the garden

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PHILLIP ISLAND GRAND PRIX - Go Karts and racing fun

89

WILDLIFE COAST CRUISES - Incredible wildlife and scenery Phillip Island

90

ISLAND SHOES COWES PHILLIP ISLAND - Cabello Comfort

90

FINDING THE GRAIN - Handcrafter reclaimed timber furniture

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MINGARA GALLERY - Contemporary Art at Phillip Island

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DESTINATION PHILLIP ISLAND - This Autumn discover something new on Phillip Island

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PHILLIP ISLAND NATURE PARKS - Escape to the Cape

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SOUTH COAST FLOORING XTRA|SOUTH COAST FURNISHINGS - Interior needs

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NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS MUSEUM - Learn about our history in Vietnam

97

DAIKIN AIR CONDITIONING - The best air everywhere

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BOWENS PHILLIP ISLAND - Introducing Bowens Online Store

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HEATHER FAHNLE - Mosaic Artist - Mosaics by the bay classes

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PHILLIP ISLAND RSL - A family friendly modern venue

100-101

SOUTH COAST FLOORING XTRA - Country-style with contemporary home delights

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HAYMES PAINT SHOP - For all your work and home paint requirements

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ALEX SCOTT AND STAFF - Real Estate from the mountains to the sea

Open 7 Days a week

Ph: 03 5952 3060 152 Thompson Avenue, Cowes, Phillip Island Look out for the Cow on Thompson Avenue Email: grumpyscrazygolf@gmail.com

www.grumpyscrazygolf.com

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Flowers of Phillip Island (formerly Tropical Zone) has a history of creating wedding flowers for the most discerning couples for over 30 years With so many designs to choose from, it may initially appear daunting but be assured, our qualified and experienced wedding florists will guide you from button holes to bouquets giving you the confidence that your flowers will be a lasting memory of your wedding day.

To cope with the never ending changes within the wedding industry, we have created a superstore – four times larger than the original that has a "wow" factor inside and out for you to feel excited when we meet you.

It’s packed with a stunning array of body products, plants, flowers and gifts –so much to see and experience.

In addition to assisting with your floral needs,we can help with venue set up and styling we pride ourselves on our local venue knowledge.

Please contact us to make a personal no obligation consultation on (03) 5952 2235

Servicing Phillip Island, San Remo, Bass and welcome Gippsland bridal enquiries.

Weddings, Events & for all your Special Occasions

Shop 1/96 Thompson Avenue, Cowes Phone: 03 5952 2235 | Email: info@flowersofphillipisland.com.au Instagram: flowersofphillipisland

Facebook: flowersofphillipisland

Web: www.flowersofphillipisland.com.au Photography by Nick Skinner Weddings

PHILLIP ISLAND & BASS COAST

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TOURING TRAILS | HIKING & BIKING

LINGER A LITTLE LONGER AND DISCOVER HIDDEN GEMS AND CLASSIC ATTRACTIONS ON OUR NEW PHILLIP ISLAND AND BASS COAST TOURING TRAILS. Pack your runners and your bike, and tick off the areas' best tracks and trails on the Hiking and Biking Trail.

See the spectacular pinnacles at Cape Woolamai, the awe-inspiring views along the George Bass Coastal Walk, and the enchanting caves of Forrest Caves. For avid bird watchers, uncover the best places to spot a range of species on the Twitcher Trail.

Phillip Island and Bass Coast is one big and beautiful adventure playground, with an endless array of activities and attractions. For groups, the Family Fun Trail includes all of Phillip Island's favourite attractions from boat cruises, go-karting and scenic flights, to the famous Little Penguins, chocolate factory and maze.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the Wildlife Wander Trail highlights the region's bona fide wonderland of Australian native wildlife over 40 different species making their home here, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, seals, echidnas and penguins.

For foodies, discover the producers and makers behind some of the regions tastiest produce on the Tasting Trail. Fill your empty esky or picnic basket with homemade cheeses, fresh seafood, local produce, wines and craft beers. If you would rather have the work done for you, come with an empty belly and indulge your way around Phillip Island and San Remo on the Drink and Dine Trail.

For art enthusiasts, the Artists and Creators Trail is for you.

Discover what inspires local artists and view their creative works as you meander the region stopping at art galleries along the way.

Explore the coastal towns and hinterland hamlets of Phillip Island and Bass Coast on the Bass Coast Discovery Loop.

From your base on Phillip Island, follow Loop and discover what makes this region special.

Discover the inspiring Touring Trails at visitphillipisland.com.au

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“Special midweek offer" Sun to Thur – "Buy 2 nights and get one FREE” Conditions Apply Contact Simonne on 0412 032 173 Shady cottage gardens, close to the beach and Cowes shops and cafes.

Visit www.genestahouse.com.au contact us on 0412 032 173 or genestahouse@gmail.com to book your stay now

FF 10% O ULCH ALL MMARCH 2021

31ST ION UNTIL YOU MENT E WH N D A THIS

THE TEAM LOOK FORWARD TO ASSISTING YOU WITH ANYTHING YOU NEED TO CREATE, MAINTAIN OR REJUVENATE YOUR GARDEN!

■ SOIL, SCREENINGS, SANDS & MULCH ■ PLANTS INCLUDING INDOOR ■ FIREWOOD ■ PAVERS, BRICKS & EDGING ■ POTS LARGE MEDIUM SMALL & HANGING ■ FIREPLACES & BBQ ACCESSORIES ■ BIOFILTA FOOD CUBE WICKING BEDS ■ STOCKFEED,

DOG FOOD & BIRD SEED

Open 7 days Monday to Friday 7.30am - 5pm Saturday & Sunday 8am - 3pm

Public Holidays 9am to 1pm

886 Phillip island Road, Newhaven, Vic, 3922

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JOIN OUR GARDEN CLUB & YOU COULD WIN A $100 GOURMET WINE & FOOD HAMPER SIGN UP ON OUR WEBSITE OR INSTORE!

Tel:(03)5952 3855 Email info@bggc.com.au Web www.bggc.com.au

92 Dunsmore Road, Cowes, Vic, 3922

SOL STUDIO & GALLERY 76 Toorak Road, Inverloch Meg Hayley 0408 520 576 ART CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Open Friday to Sunday 11.00am to 4.00pm

PERRIN ART GALLERY NEWLY OPENED - NOW AT 6B Ramsey Boulevard, Inverloch Nick Perrin 0437 018 871 COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE Open Friday to Monday 10-00am to 4-00pm

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island shoes COWES PHILLIP ISL AND

Great European Brands, Exceptional Quality & Brilliant Customer Service 134 - 138 Thompson Avenue, Cowes 3922 | Phone: 03 5952 2515 Follow us on Facebook @islandshoesphillipisland

FINDING THE GRAIN

HANDCRAFTED TIMBER FURNTIURE

Finding The Grain is able to produce life lasting, hand crafted furniture created from reclaimed timber.

COMMISSION AND CUSTOM DESIGNS A SPECIALTY WITH ATTENTION TO CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS. Salvaged from local demolition sites around Phillip Island, this timber has historically been sent to landfill.

Finding The Grain is dedicated to reclaiming that timber, and not only reducing our carbon footprint, and allowing the timber to live on preserving nature’s history.

Beautiful furniture and home dressings are created on site from all types of magnificent timber Red Gum, Native hardwoods, Huon Pine, Jarrah - the list is endless.

Mark Davis 0418 355 148 | 40 Phillip Island Road, Newhaven VIC 3925 www.findingthegrain.com.au 90

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OCEA N

&

EA S TER

EAR TH

|

EX HI B I TION

SARA

PA XTON

OP E NING SAT URDAY 3RD A P RIL 2P M & R UNNING UNT IL 2ND M AY

Sara’s vibrant treatment of subject matter using vivid colour and contemporary form gives her paintings a unique, expressive style, frequently drawing inspiration from the extremes offered by Victoria’s natural beauty

STUDIO CAFE Now Open 242 Thompson Ave, Cowes, Phillip Island Sales and enquiries

phone 59523722 | 0457343771 m i n g a r a g a l l e r y. c o m . a u

...this Autumn, discover something new on Phillip Island!

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CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE, TO A WORLD AWAY. LET PHILLIP ISLAND CALL YOU BACK TO PLAY. We all have our favourite places we love visiting, but this Autumn, discover something new on Phillip Island!

Phillip Island is compact and easily accessible to get around, making the Island an ideal place to experience a diversity of attractions and experiences. Discover a world of magic at A Maze'N Things, see chocolate creations at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, experience a seal watching cruise with Wildlife Coast Cruises and watch the little penguins waddle home on sunset.

For outdoor family activities, go on a jet boat ride with Ocean Adventures, take a kayak tour with Pioneer Kayaking, wander the treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Reserve, or discover the beautiful gardens and shaggy highland cattle at Churchill Island.

For an interactive wildlife experience, check out the wildlife show and a range of Australian wildlife at Maru Koala and Animal Park, learn about the Southern Ocean at Antarctic Journey and view a selection of interpretive displays and artifacts at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum.

For an active afternoon, explore Phillip Island's diverse landscape with a range of great family walks including Swan Lake, Pyramid Rock, Rhyll Inlet and the boardwalks at The Nobbies. For a different perspective on Phillip Island and an experience to remember, take a scenic flight with Phillip Island Helicopters.

If you are up for a family challenge, race for the best go-kart time at the Phillip Island Go-Karts or test your strike rate at Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling. Climb to new heights at Clip ‘n Climb Phillip Island or count your hole in ones at Grumpys Crazy Golf, Maru Pirate Pete’s and A Maze'N Things Mini Golf!

For more family fun inspiration and to book your getaway visitphillipisland.com.au

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WORDS BY PHILLIP ISLAND NATURE PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOUG PELL

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ESCAPE TO

FROM THE BEACON ATOP CAPE WOOLAMAI, YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST DILEMMA IS FIGURING OUT WHICH WAY TO LOOK, AS YOU TAKE IN THE BREATHTAKING 360 DEGREE VIEWS. To the south you see the open waters of Bass Strait, reaching endlessly towards the distant horizon. Turn towards the east and you’ll catch sweeping views of Bass Coast’s wild and beautiful beaches and coastline, while to the north you’ll easily spot the town of San Remo and the Phillip Island bridge against the backdrop of Westernport Bay and French Island.

But you’ve saved the best ‘til last as you make one more turn and face west, to take in the incredible panorama of Phillip Island’s ruggedly beautiful southern coast, from Woolamai surf beach, past Forrest Caves to Pyramid Rock and beyond.

And then the expanse of what your eyes behold comes into focus as you spy the island’s northern coastline and even Mornington Peninsula off in the distance, and you realise you can actually see most of Phillip Island from this one spot. It will truly take your breath away.

This incredible nature reserve offers surprises and stunning vistas at every turn as you explore its network of walking trails that criss-cross the Cape.

Starting from the Woolamai Beach carpark, one of the most popular walks is the 4.4km trail to the ancient pink granite rock formation known as the Pinnacles, easily one of Phillip Island’s most photographed locations.

THE CAPE

The hardier among us may choose to take on the full 8.1km Cape Woolamai circuit, which loops right around the top of the Cape. Take in the stunning turquoise waters around the old granite quarry before ascending to the beacon at the Cape’s highest point, and then on to the majesty of the Pinnacles.

As if the views weren’t enough, there is even more to learn and enjoy about this amazing place. Cape Woolamai is home to a colony of well over half a million short-tailed shearwaters over summer, after they complete one of the world’s longest wildlife migrations.

These global travellers arrive on Phillip Island around late September every year, after flying approximately 16,000km from the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. They come here to feed in the waters of Bass Strait, before laying a single egg in their sandy burrows to raise a chick of their own.

In April, the parents start heading north again, leaving the chicks to learn to fly by themselves before fledging, or leaving the nest, and follow mum and dad a couple of weeks later. It’s one of nature’s miracles that one of the first ever flights these birds take is a 16,000km epic adventure to the northern hemisphere.

The shearwater colony is closely monitored by researchers from Phillip Island Nature Parks, who share the responsibility and the privilege of managing the Cape Woolamai reserve. The Nature Parks conservation team, alongside an army of redeployed staff, took the opportunity during Victoria’s restrictions in 2020, to undertake a range of major revegetation, weed control and track maintenance projects.

The end result is that we all now have the opportunity to help protect this incredible place by visiting the area mindfully, responsibly, and safely.

Cape Woolamai is an exposed location, and can experience sudden and severe weather changes, so make sure you check tide times, and bring water and appropriate clothing. It is important not to venture off track in search of that all-important selfie or landscape photo. Stay on the well-formed and signposted trails to keep yourselves safe, and also protect the shearwater burrows which surround the trails across the entire Cape.

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south coast furnishings

FLOORING

TRA

All your interior needs with coastal themes. Flooring and window coverings, plus ...

Beds Sofas Dining suites Over 70 rugs to choose from Cushions Lamps Manchester and Linen Give your home its own personal touch and decorate with style, pick up a unique rug, lamp or cushion to finish the look.

We custom make a wide range of window coverings to suit any style of home or commercial building for both indoor and outdoor applications. We make it easy for you as our experience and local service is readily available not to mention our prices are extremely competitive.

155 Thompson Ave, Cowes 3922 T: 03 5952 1488 E: tania@southcoastfurnishings.com.au | W: southcoastfurnishings.com.au

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THE BEST AIR ANYWHERE

1/60 Genista Street, San Remo 5678 5190 After hours commercial breakdown office@picra.com.au www.coastalrefrigandaircon.com.au

COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC REGRERATION & AIR CONDITIONING

|

REFRIGERANT TRADE AUTH NO: AU 22840 - PI 48651

Heather Fahnle mosaic & ceramics artist Art therapy Workshops-group or personal e: heather@fahnle.com.au |

Phone or Email Heather for Bookings

p: 0417 562 625 |

bookings required Commissions available Do yourself a favour & give it a try!

Mosaics By The Bay

www.heatherfahnle.com

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PHILLIP ISLAND RSL A VENUE FOR ALL OF LIFE’S OCCASIONS BIRTHDAYS | CHRISTENINGS | ANNIVERSARIES | WEDDINGS | CONFERENCES | MEETINGS | WAKES

FAMILY FRIENDLY AND FULLY ACCESSIBLE | KIDS PLAY AREA OPEN DAILY MENU FEATURES HEALTHY CHOICE OPTIONS CATERS FOR VEGETARIANS, VEGANS, GLUTEN FREE | SENIORS AND KIDS MENUS AVAILABLE

OPENING HOURS PHILLIP ISLAND RSL MONDAY TO SATURDAY 9AM UNTIL LATE SUNDAY 10AM UNTIL 11.30PM

LONE PINE BISTRO PHILLIP ISLAND RSL LUNCH: NOON TO 2PM DINNER: 5.30PM TO 8.30PM IDEAL FOR PRE PENGUIN DINNERS

Phone BH: 03 5952 1004 Enquiries: functions@pirsl.com.au www.pirsl.com.au

COUNTRY-STYLE WITH CONTEMPORARY HOME DELIGHTS When Tania and Berny Huigsloot met on Phillip Island in 1985, they never envisioned that one day they would be running a successful furniture shop together.

“We had a five-year old and three-year-old at the time, with no family support - crazy! But the hours of the new business were really appealing to us as a young family,” said Tania.

But fast forward 35 years and the husband-and-wife team, together with their family and a friend, are doing just that. Their business, South Coast Furnishings & Flooring Xtra, has become the go-to for contemporary furniture and furnishings in Cowes. It’s the perfect one-stop-shop for anyone looking to decorate or update their homes or beach houses.

“Fortunately, the people we were buying from were older and very helpful and wanted to stay on assisting us in training, which was a godsend. We also had a couple of good friends who got us through in the beginning and, being part of a national network of flooring store, offered a great deal of knowledge in a new field.”

It all began when a friend suggested to Tania and Berny that they should buy the local furniture store.

One of those supportive friends was Kerryn, who had a background in design. She looked after the shop when Tania and Berny had their first family holiday in 2003. They were so impressed with Kerryn’s work that they asked her to join the team alongside Tania and Berny’s brothers Craig and Andrew. They are now all part-owners.

“We had been in the catering business for about fifteen years,” Tania said.

“When my friend made her suggestion, I just looked at her strangely and thought ‘why would I do that. I know nothing about furniture!’”

But despite their initial hesitations, the couple took a leap of faith and purchased the business anyway - and they have not looked back since.

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“We are really a family business,” Berny said. “We have supported four families, put children through school and universities, and now a few of our kids are old enough to help out in store.”

TANIA HUIGSLOOT – OWNER

A STUNNING SHOP AT COWES HAS BEEN A HUGE HIT FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS.

BY LIA SPENCER

Each member of the team brings to the business their own area of expertise. And it is because of their knowledge and unity that they have been able to create such a strong working relationship not only with each other, but with the wider community.

In keeping with its community focus, the shop supports many local charities and fundraisers.

“WE ARE ALL LOCALS AND WE APPRECIATE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY,” SAID KERRYN. “It’s mutually beneficial to us all” said Tania. “We all appreciate our locals.”

The shop has a loyal customer base, while also attracting new people every week with the eye-catching window displays and vast array of quality products.

“We are part of a national flooring chain Flooring Xtra, so flooring and window coverings are our main services, as in carpet and vinyl for new and renovated properties; as well as blinds, curtains, shutters and outdoor awnings,” Tania said. “Then we also provide furnishings for the home such as lounge suites, dining and occasional pieces in a relaxed coastal style. We also have beds and mattresses. Then we dive a bit deeper and offer cushions, rugs, Manchester, and linen. We often think of ourselves as offering the services of an older country-styled store, but with a contemporary feel.”

Tania encouraged people to pop into the store so they could see and touch the products for themselves or ask anyone from the team for advice or assistance.

South Coast Furnishings & Flooring Xtra is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm and Saturdays from 10am until 2pm.

They are open 24hours a day, seven days a week at their online store www.southcoastfurnishings.com.au/shop

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PAINT SHOP LEONGATHA

LEONGATHA | PH: 5662 2941 | MANAGER: LUKE WATSON | 68 BAIR STREET, LEONGATHA VIC 3953 Tel: 5662 2941 | Email: Leongatha@haymespaintshop.com.au Hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.00pm | Saturday 9.00am to 12.00pm | Sunday Closed

COWES

WONTHAGGI WONTHAGGI | PH: 5672 5522 MANAGER: ROB GEYER | 5-7 KORUMBURRA ROAD, WONTHAGGI VIC 3995 Tel: 5672 5522 | Email: wonthaggi@haymespaintshop.com.au Hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.00pm Saturday 8.30am to 1.00pm | Sunday 10.00am to 12.00pm

COWES | PH: 5952 2522 MANAGER: DAVID FUSINATO | 215 SETTLEMENT ROAD, COWES VIC 3922 Tel: 5952 2522 | Email: cowes@haymespaintshop.com.au Hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.00pm Saturday 8.00am to 1.00pm | Sunday 9.00am to 1.00pm

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED

JARRYD BLAIR ADDRESSING HIS WONTHAGGI POWER PLAYERS

The countdown is on to the return of country football and some prominent names from AFL and VFL ranks are among the new additions to the coaching fraternity in both the Gippsland League and the West Gippsland Football League for 2021.

Words: Chris West | Photos by Doug Pell

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JARRYD BLAIR SENIOR COACH WONTHAGGI POWER

Football is an integral part of the fabric of the local community throughout Gippsland, as it is in all country areas around Victoria.

The arrival of each new season is accompanied by an air of excitement and sense of expectation, but even more so this year after no football was played in 2020 other than the elite-level AFL competition due to COVID-19.

Amongst the new faces within the coaching ranks in both the Gippsland League and West Gippsland Football League, plenty of local interest has surrounded the arrival of decorated former AFL premiershipwinning players Campbell Brown and Jarryd Blair, along with former Essendon VFL captain, Aaron Heppell.

Brown has joined Kilcunda Bass in the West Gippsland Football League as an assistant to former Sydney Swans great Stephen Wright, who has been recruited from Meeniyan to coach the Panthers this season.

In the Gippsland League, Blair has returned to his home club Wonthaggi Power as playing coach, whilst Heppell has also made the pilgrimage back to where his football journey began at Leongatha to take on an assistant coach and playing role.

All three are coaching for the first time in their careers, but each can call upon considerable experience learning from high quality mentors at AFL or VFL level.

Brown played 159 games at Hawthorn from 2002 to 2010 and a further 46 with the Gold Coast Suns from 2011 to 2013. He was named in the All Australian team in 2007. Six of his nine seasons at the Hawks were under master coach Alistair Clarkson, including the 2008 premiership year.

Blair played 157 games at Collingwood between 2010 and 2018, firstly under the tutelage of legendary coach Mick Malthouse and then subsequently Nathan Buckley. Blair was a member of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership-winning side that was coached by Malthouse.

In 2019, he joined VFL club Port Melbourne, where he played under highly experienced and successful coach, Gary Ayres. He was intending to play at Port Melbourne again in 2020 but the season did not eventuate.

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Heppell’s career at VFL level at Essendon spanned 90 games across six seasons from 2014 to 2019. He was the team’s captain in 2019 and would have continued in the role last year if the season had proceeded.

Having won the R.A. Freeman Medal as the Essendon VFL side’s Best and Fairest player on no fewer than three occasions, Heppell can consider himself unfortunate to never have been promoted to the club’s AFL list, where his brother Dyson is the club’s current captain.

Heppell’s coaches across his time at Essendon included Hayden Skipworth, who is now with Collingwood’s AFL coaching group, and Matthew Egan, who is now at Melbourne.

Brown, Blair and Heppell are all continuing to live and work in Melbourne, and will find no difficulty in managing the easy commute to Gippsland to fulfill their football commitments for the upcoming season. All three are embracing their new roles and looking forward to the challenges that await them in 2021 as football resumes at the grass roots level.

Blair kicked off pre-season training for Gippsland Power back in mid November last year and is happy with how his squad is progressing.

“I have my friend Tristan Francis helping as my senior assistant. He played in a premiership at Port Melbourne in 2011 and was a runner at Collingwood for a few years. Things are going pretty well so far,” he says.

“We’ve seen good numbers at training and we have a pretty talented young list. We’ve got some guys that have come through the junior ranks at Wonthaggi under programs run by Darren Brown and his team. There are some good kids here who have played a handful of senior games already who are likely to become long-term players for the club, so the future looks bright.”

Blair’s brother Jack is amongst the other new recruits to the club for 2021.

AARON HEPPELL WITH FISH CREEK'S JORDAN SHAW AT PRE-SEASON TRAINING IN MELBOURNE

AARON HEPPELL

SENIOR ASSISTANT COACH LEONGATHA FOOTBALL CLUB

“Jack was at Heidelberg then came to Port Melbourne in 2020, but the season didn’t get off the ground. He has decided to move back home and play for Wonthaggi as well which is very handy for us,” he states.

“I’ve always stayed reasonably involved with both the town and the club. I love Wonthaggi and I always love coming home. It’s a great part of the world.”

Blair believes that the break from football of over twelve months will have assisted many players.

The Blair family is deeply entrenched within the club. In addition to Jarryd and Jack returning this year, their sister Courtney coaches the A-grade netball side and her husband Phil Young has played around 250 games of football for the Power. The family connection also extends to Blair’s parents, Neil and Judith, who are great off-field contributors around the club.

“I think it will have helped a lot of the guys find a bit of extra spark to get back into it,” he suggests.

“Having missed the social connection that football provides, you realise how much you need that outlet and how much it all means to you.”

Wonthaggi finished sixth in the Gippsland League when football was last played in 2019 and Blair will be seeking to improve upon that ladder position this season.

“I’m not going to make any outrageous statements. We’ll be trying to be a competitive and respected footy side. If 2020 had gone ahead, Wonthaggi would have been a team on the up and pushing for contention for finals footy,” he comments.

“There’s a lot of excitement around the club, and if we can harness that and keep all the boys on the same path, I think we’ll be right amongst it.”

At 30 years of age, the skillful and pacy Blair would seem to still have plenty to give on the field at country level and should be a great asset to the Power this season.

He grew up playing junior football for the now defunct Wonthaggi Blues, which through a merger with Wonthaggi Rovers evolved to become Wonthaggi Power.

“I played for Wonthaggi Power before going on to Gippsland Power and then being drafted by Collingwood,” Blair recalls.

“In my mind I was always going to finish up playing back home,” Blair says.

“It was a great place to learn the game growing up, and in a way you feel some sense of responsibility to go back to try to have some success there again and help others to get where they want to go with their footy. The footy club really helped me achieve what I wanted to as a kid.”

It also marked a homecoming for Aaron Heppell when he was appointed as a playing assistant coach to Paul Carbis at Leongatha for the 2021 season. Carbis was also at the helm when the Parrots lost the 2019 Gippsland League Grand Final to Maffra.

Heppell grew up in Leongatha and played with the Parrots prior to joining Gippsland Power for a couple of seasons before being recruited

by Essendon.

Around September last year he made the decision to return to his original club.

“During the COVID year, I loved getting out of the city and heading back home, although my parents are now living in Inverloch. I thought I’d like to do that more often, which brought the prospect of returning to play at Leongatha into the picture,” he explains.

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STEPHEN WRIGHT SENIOR COACH

SHEA EDEN CLUB PRESIDENT

CAMPBELL BROWN

SENIOR ASSISTANT COACH

“The club was keen when we spoke and the opportunity for me to get into an assistant coaching role was another attraction in coming back to Leongatha.”

“I had a conversation with the club’s president, Shea Eden, who I know well through having raced a horse with his stable,” Brown says.

Heppell’s role will see him be midfield coach and play throughout the midfield on game days, whilst another part of his responsibility as assistant coach is to take the Melbourne-based training group.

“Shea asked if I would be interested in helping the club to get back on its feet post-COVID and I thought it was a good opportunity. A lot of country clubs have obviously struggled with no footy in 2020 and the uncertainty around what this year was going to look like.”

“We have players training in both Melbourne and Leongatha. The Melbourne group accounts for around fifteen of the fifty players on our list,” he notes.

In accepting an assistant coaching role at the Panthers, Brown will work around any media commitments he locks in for 2021 on television or radio.

Heppell is pleased with how things are shaping up for the Parrots in 2021.

“Most are likely to be on Sundays which will allow me to be involved on Saturdays and help out as much as I can,” he states.

“The guys are really keen to get back into it. We’ve still got a pretty similar list to what the club had in 2019 when finishing runners-up, but we’ve also picked up a few guys from the city and locally back home.

I don’t think there’s any reason why we won’t be super competitive again, but just having a look around the league it seems like a lot of the teams have picked up guys that will also strengthen them. It’s going to be a very strong league this season I imagine.”

Brown says he has already struck up an excellent rapport with new head coach Stephen Wright, who has built up a strong coaching resume after playing 246 games for South Melbourne/Sydney Swans between 1979 and 1992.

Being just 26, Heppell should be at the height of his football powers and is likely to prove a major acquisition for Leongatha.

“He’s fantastic. You’re not going to meet a bloke that’s more experienced in football, both as a player and a coach, so I think he’s an unbelievable get for the footy club. His record speaks for itself."

“Like everyone, I haven’t played a game in over twelve months, but my body is feeling pretty good at the moment. Having no contact for that length of time has certainly helped with the recovery,” he suggests.

“Steve and I complement each other and get on really well. We are both committed for the long term; it’s not going to just be a one or two year thing.”

In Campbell Brown’s case, it was an appearance at a sportsman’s lunch last year that led him to joining the coaching staff at Kilcunda Bass.

Brown is thoroughly enjoying his first foray into coaching.

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CAMPBELL BROWN PRE-SEASON TRAINING AT KILCUNDA BASS

“I’ve been absolutely rapt with everything so far. The turnout at training has been terrific and we’ve got some really good recruits. I’ve trained with the boys and was surprised at how good the skill level was,” he comments.

“The group has been fantastic and they clearly want to learn and succeed. I’ll probably take some of the philosophies and things I learned under Clarko at Hawthorn and try to instill them here.”

Brown is hoping that the determination and never-say-die attitude that he played with will rub off in his coaching.

“One of the things I’m big on is being brilliant at the basics. You don’t need to be a star footballer to do the basics well. We’ll have a teamoriented side that competes hard. We’ll have plenty of fun doing it, but I think you have more fun when you’re playing well and winning. I can handle losing, as long as you play the right way and have a crack,” he says.

“We’re not looking to introduce any extravagant game plan. The players are hungry, the numbers are good and the skill level is there, so I think we’ve got a lot to work with.”

It has been about four years since Brown last played and he is still undecided whether he will take to the field for the Panthers in 2021.

“I like the aspect of training and being in the drills with the boys. The body’s feeling good, but I’m thirty-eight this year, so I understand that I’ve got severe limitations on what I can do now as opposed to what I used to be able to do,” he observes.

SENIOR ASSISTANT COACH KILCUNDA BASS

“They’re working on me to put on the boots and play a few games, but I haven’t fully committed to that as yet. I just want to get through the rest of the pre-season and take it from there.”

Brown has put some additional strength in his legs, courtesy of cycling 1068 kilometres in December for the Silver Lining ride which raises funds in support of ovarian cancer research.

“I lost my mum to ovarian cancer eighteen months ago, so it’s a cause that is very close to my heart,” he explains.

“During December I was getting to training early and going for a ride out on the roads around past the Woolamai Racecourse before we started.”

One of Brown’s aims is to bring a winning culture back to Kilcunda Bass, which has experienced some lean years following a three-peat of flags in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“The club has a proud tradition of premierships and success, but their more recent history hasn’t been as successful. It would be great for the club to get a taste for finals footy and ultimately win another premiership,” he says.

But win or lose, Brown suggests one of the most important things for footballers at all clubs will simply be the benefits that accompany getting back on the field.

“Just being out there playing games again will help their mental health and fitness. The season is almost upon us and it’s really exciting for the club and the competition.”

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ARTIST PORT ALBERT ART GALLERY

WARREN CURRY WORDS & IMAGES BY KELVIN LAU

“I’m so sorry about this, but I have to go and drive a fire truck.

I’m really sorry.”

My first impression of Warren Curry when he greeted me at the front door of his Port Albert studio residence was not what I had expected. I watched as Warren, award-winning London-trained visual artist, Antipodean and Ionian, and master of oil on canvas leap onto a bicycle and pedal towards the Country Fire Authority station siren that was ringing several blocks away. I had expected to meet an archetypal introspective romantic in the style of Constable, Turner, or Blake after viewing the collection of maritime-themed landscape oil paintings in his gallery the previous week. Instead, I met a polite well-spoken individual whose personal life was deeply engaged with the history and everyday realities of his local community.

We eventually caught up once the local crisis was averted to discuss life as an artist in South Gippsland, his past and present creative inspirations, and his latest works that emerged from the recent pandemic lockdown.

We sat in a lounge room situated behind the public gallery space, amongst the company of a diverse sample of works that Warren had brought to life along his creative journey, to reflect upon his journey as an artist.

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A cursory glance of the oil paintings on display amongst this private space might leave a casual audience somewhat perplexed, especially after a viewing of the dramatic mariner-themed vistas currently on show within the public gallery. Formal portraits and pictorial coastal landscapes hang adjacent to mythological figures dancing in expressionist movement, residing within a colonial heritage interior that hints at the building’s historical origins as the Port Albert bakery and general store.

“Having grown up in Yarram, I always had an interest in the heritage of the local area and preserving its architecture and surrounding environment.

My passion in art also came at an early age. It began with drawing at school using sketchbooks that my father gave me. It was also by my father’s example that in 1964 I became actively engaged in the local community as Secretary of the district Historical Society.” Warren’s creative interests eventually moved to painting, along with exploring the possibility of transforming his artistic passion into a full-time career. A level of pragmatism was evident even during these early days, as shown by his chosen direction after being presented with the opportunity to study abroad and develop his creative talents. “A free and expressive form of painting was in vogue in Australia at the time. You got a paintbrush, a canvas, and away you went - and the local art schools reflected this trend.

Even though I was painting in this style and gaining award-winning recognition, I did not consider it sufficient grounding if I was going to take it up as a livelihood. I knew that I needed a stronger foundation in traditional forms of painting, so in 1971 I started to look to schools abroad.

I travelled to London with the intention of studying at the Chelsea School of Arts and was disappointed to discover the same thing was happening there! Eventually I found the education that I was looking for, beginning with life drawing at the Byam Shaw School of Art and subsequently with painting at the City and Guilds School of Art at Kennington. That was perfect. It was like what an apprentice would do when they work for a master.”

Warren’s passion for historical connection and preservation continued upon his return to Australia in 1972. Critical accolades and commercial success provided the opportunity to purchase the building at his current Port Albert location in 1973, and eventually open a gallery in 1975.

“I had known about this building for a while, and its history in the region. I also had strong connections with the town through working with the Port Albert Maritime Museum. I thought it would be a wonderful location to continue painting full time.”

A desire to preserve the heritage and spirit of the local region continued to inspire Warren’s creative work – elements such as the buildings, the natural environment, and the strong maritime history of the area surrounding Port Albert.

The next chapter of Warren’s creative journey began in 1981 when he was awarded the Camberwell Rotary Art Show Grant. He returned to the UK and Europe with his family to continue painting, and found his muse in the form of a Greek island named Corfu.

“All the things that inspired me were found in this location: scenic beauty, water, sunlight and a remarkable tradition of myth and spirituality. Wherever I looked, there were scenes that I wanted to paint. I was painting every day. It resulted in a new folio of work, and a connection with the local community that continues to this day. Such a rich history was evident in the daily activities of the people we shared our lives with.”

He returned to Port Albert twelve months later with a fresh perspective and newfound appreciation of the town’s own traditions and way of life. Corfu’s siren call to Warren nevertheless continued. He made regular return visits, purchased a house in the Corfu village of Pelekas, and started to host regular art tours to the island for groups of equally passionate Australian artists.

Despite his mastery of realist pictorial painting styles, Warren never abandoned his origins in figurative expressionism and continues to travel across differing forms of visual representation. “The audience of my early exhibitions could not believe that some of my paintings were created by the same artist, so I used to apply a different signature for these expressionist works. I still move freely between differing styles as it prevents me from getting bored or feeling stale.” A collection of paintings created between 2014 and 2016 depicting scenes from Port Albert’s history would not have felt out of place amongst mid-century Australian Angry Penguinsera works, successfully conveying the humanity and hidden dramas of everyday life that might have escaped a more romantic depiction. His choice of colour palettes reflects a grounding in the represented space: warm muted ochres with umbers, resting adjacent to eucalypt greens and deep aquamarines.

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WARREN CURRY ARTIST | PORT ALBERT ART GALLERY

His dynamic choice of lines and angles also leap out from several mythicthemed paintings created during a 2011 visit to Corfu and which currently reside in a private reading room.

2020 did not proceed as scheduled for Warren. He started the year in deployment as a firefighter with the Country Fire Authority, fighting the fires raging through Eastern Victoria and New South Wales. He was also forced to close his gallery and shelve his plans for a return to Corfu last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Warren turned this into an opportunity to visually re-examine the maritime heritage of Port Albert, and commenced work on a series of paintings that depicted the tall ships and steamers with significance for the town’s history. These completed works are now on public display in his recently re-opened Port Albert Art Gallery.

They are romantic in the traditional sense, and fitting for our time: fragile crews of humanity on a shared journey, attempting to navigate uncertain and sometimes overwhelming natural forces through cooperation and collective will. When I asked Warren if there was any specific intent or agenda behind creating his works, he offered a simple answer:

“Painting is a form of communication. If I’m trying to create a mood, I would like others to feel the same way when they view the work.”

He remains optimistic about the opportunity to return to Corfu and share his creative experiences with others on tour, and hopes that these recent works will resonate amongst visitors to his gallery in unexpected ways.

Port Albert Art Gallery is located at 69 Tarraville Rd, Port Albert.

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PROM COAST

MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB OFF-ROAD CYCLING IN FOSTER WORDS & IMAGES

BY KELVIN LAU

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PROM COAST MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB There is a parcel of land within the South Gippsland township of Foster called Cement Hill Natural Features Reserve. It is a space that was once embraced for the wealth that was stored beneath its surface. It was ravaged over the years, its gold and gravel extracted by many hands and machines. It was eventually abandoned once its coffers were empty, its surface left scarred and fallow. Cement Hill remained undeveloped as a reserve of land, with nature slowly doing its restoration work during its subsequent years.

With the space vacant and no longer in the spotlight of commodified interests, Cement Hill’s recovering wilderness attracted the attention of local residents looking for a hidden playground to discover and enjoy.

Amongst these people was a group of young mountain bikers seeking adventures close to home. They explored the reserve on two wheels, gently marking new trails for others to follow, surveyed the scars that were left on its landscape from mining, and saw beauty in their potential.

Gouges became berms, and gravel pits became whoops. Through the repeated passing of tyres and rakes, tracks snaking in harmony with maturing gum trees grew into flowing switchback trails. By the time a decade had passed, this once forgotten plot had transformed into an ad-hoc pedal-powered recreational park that operated in harmony with bushwalkers, horse riders, and the recovering natural ecosystem.

This passionate group of riders knew they had created something special for their sport and the wider community, so they formed the Prom Coast Mountain Bike Club (PCMTB). By making things ‘official,’ they achieved a legitimate standing amongst other community stakeholders in their advocacy for the sport of mountain biking within South Gippsland – as well as recognition for their role as caretakers for the existing trail network.

I spoke with David Lemchens (current President of PCMTB) and Ashton Webster (Vice President of PCMTB), together with other committee members to learn more about a trail park and local cycling subculture that relatively few people outside the area seemed to know about.

“We always knew that the reserve would make a great mountain bike park, so we approached Parks Victoria for approval to develop certain areas of the land for this purpose. Things just progressed from there.

We were keen to develop the trails into a location that everyone could enjoy. We wanted to add trail signage so that new riders know where they are going, as well as establish and maintain new trails within the reserve. Parks Victoria suggested that we form a club to facilitate these developments, so we went ahead with it. We made a lot of good progress, and this culminated in our first organised mountain bike race in 2011. This race created a fair amount of public interest, and people started to travel from places outside Foster to use the track. In 2017 we eventually incorporated into a standalone cycling club that was affiliated with AusCycling.”

The mountain bike trails currently span the boundary of the Cement Hill Natural Features Reserve, between Wilson Road (adjacent to the South Gippsland Highway) and the retired Foster train station. Most riders park their cars and prepare for their ride at the train station, along with other cyclists who are seeking less adrenaline-filled pedalling along the adjacent Great Southern Rail Trail. The trail head begins with a gentle uphill climb through a young gum tree forest along the western boundary of the nature reserve, with the rider given a gentle introduction to what lies ahead in the form of several gentle and well-groomed switchback turns.

A single out-of-place cypress pine amongst the gum trees drops a hint at the reserve’s turbulent history prior to its rebirth as place of leisure.

The rider eventually reaches a gated access road and is presented with three options: turn left and continue past the gate to explore the Cement Hill Loop’s west side; turn right to follow the access road and ride the first and second parts of the gum tree forest circuit; or turn around and just ride the second part for an immediate adrenaline fix through its moderately technical downhill sections.

Two sections, aptly named ‘Bruised Elbow’ and ‘Gravel Pits’, are accessible from the northern section of the main Cement Hill Loop. These are provisionally rated in difficulty as ‘Black Diamond’, and cater for braver and more experienced riders who like to have air riding inside and under their tyres simultaneously. Riders that only want to practice their skills in these sections and not struggle up the hill from the old train station can park their cars along Hall Road or Wilson Road.

“As a club we are trying to get the trails to be the best they can be, and to develop it for all riders. We want to turn it into a destination, in the same way that other regional towns have promoted mountain biking. We want others to know that a network of good quality mountain bike trails exist in Foster, and that we’re more than happy to share it with people from outside the local area. There are many other potential benefits for the local community.

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...BY THE TIME A DECADE HAD PASSED, THIS ONCE FORGOTTEN PLOT HAD TRANSFORMED INTO AN AD-HOC PEDAL-POWERED RECREATIONAL PARK THAT OPERATED IN HARMONY WITH BUSHWALKERS, HORSE RIDERS AND THE RECOVERING NATURAL ECOSYSTEM. This became obvious during the lockdowns last year, when the trails were full of kids who couldn’t go to school and were looking for something to do. Some of them even started to get their hands dirty by getting involved in our track building efforts. Prior to the pandemic, we saw outdoor education groups from various regional schools regularly utilising the trails with their students, and some even participated with track maintenance.”

David and Ashton reported an increase in the overall number of riders using the Foster mountain bike trails, with all ages being represented.

“Mountain biking is an activity that holds appeal for small children, families young and old, and those at retirement age. The feedback we get on the trails from riders across all age groups has been very positive. There are trail sections for all different skill levels.”

PCMTB has been supporting this growing audience by publishing updates and information on their club website (www.promcoastmtb.com. au) and Facebook social media page, as well as freely available maps of the trails on the Trailforks website (www.trailforks.com). “We would really like to be able to promote the trails and the club to a wider audience in the same way that other tourist destinations in the region have done. We also want to install permanent signage within the reserve to assist new riders with navigating the trail network, as we’re hearing anecdotes of visiting riders getting disorientated within the reserve. We have drafted a signage proposal and are ready to build them, but we’re still waiting for Parks Victoria to provide the green light for this initiative. Cement Hill is an open reserve that isn’t exclusive to bike riders; it’s shared with walkers and horse riders alike. Whilst separate walking tracks co-exist with the mountain bike trails, our trail network has also opened access for these other users to the wider reserve space. We believe that formalizing the trail system with proper signposting will not only help riders navigate the reserve, but also improve safety and accessibility for all who use it.”

PCMTB will be hosting a 3-hour enduro racing event at Cement Hill on the 7th of March as part of the Foster Prom Coast Festival. The event will raise funds for their trail development projects, as well as raise the profile of the club and its trails amongst the wider community. Prospective entrants and spectators can currently find details of this event on the club’s website. “We know that there are talented young riders in our community, so this is a chance for them to make themselves known.

We’re hoping this is the start of something big for Foster and for our club, and that it provides the impetus for the ongoing promotion and sustainable development of the mountain biking trail network.”

Cement Hill, after many long years of exploitation, has finally found the care, attention, and purpose that it deserves.

Prom Coast Mountain Bike Club Trail Map Prom Coast Festival 2021

www.promcoastmtb.com.au www.trailforks.com/region/foster foster.vic.au/events/prom-coast-festival-2/

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GOSIA, JUSTIN, ERYK, WITH DARIA AND MAPLE

Life is Berry Sweet Nestled amongst the rolling, green hills of Korumburra with stunning views across the Strzelecki ranges, lies the picturesque Fleming Berries farm and orchard. Gosia (known as Margaret), and Justin Fleming, along with their children, Daria and Eryk, are the proud proprietors of this productive business and by no means afraid of hard work.

Gosia, originally from Poland, spent her childhood on a produce and dairy farm. Rural life flowed through her veins and as her passion flourished, Gosia eventually completed a Masters Degree in Agricultural Sciences and Biochemistry. Soon after, in 1998, she migrated to Australia to pursue a career in Agronomy.

Justin was born in Sydney to an Australian mother and a father of New Zealand heritage. He grew up and completed his education in New Zealand before also relocating to Australia in 1998. It was through mutual employment in 2000 Justin and Gosia's paths crossed. Instantly feeling a strong, timeless connection, they knew an intriguing fairytale was about to begin, which would forever change their lives.

The happy couple married in 2003 and purchased a 3 acre property on the outskirts of beautiful Korumburra. This pocket of land, comprising of a house and surrounding grass paddocks was the perfect clean slate to bring their dream of cultivating a berry farm to fruition.

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Utilising their extensive horticulture knowledge enveloped with combined passion, it was in 2007 Gosia and Justin laboriously began breathing new life into their prepared pastures. Naming their venture 'Fleming Berries' felt liberating as they witnessed the pleasing results of their hard work transform the property into a thriving, impressive berry farm and orchard – one seedling at a time.

The Flemings predominantly work their land themselves. During the cooler seasons, the farm requires substantial preparation, maintenance and care. During the warmer months, as the fruits ripen and are ready to pick, life for the tireless family escalates.

Justin continues to work in a full-time position away from the farm, while Gosia creatively plans, drives and manages the orchard in her familiar, European style. The conscientious couple admirably share the household and farm upkeep.

The farm boasts an array of berries, such as autumn and summer raspberries (including black and purple varieties), blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, gooseberries, loganberries, tayberries, silvanberries, youngberries, red and black currants and some strawberries. All berry plants are planted from tissue culture, which are propagated in a laboratory, free from any pest and diseases.

in Korumburra Words by Camilla Hullick | Images by Doug Pell

Not only are the fruits delicately handpicked by the industrious family, the Flemings regularly attend events, such as farmers markets, food, wine, music festivals and school fetes across Gippsland and beyond, to sell their delicious produce. Justin, with over sixteen years of market garden experience under his belt, joyfully slips into his element on these occasions.

During 2020, the pandemic forced the Flemings to rethink their operations on a deeper level. Improvising production to suit demand was imperative for their business survival. Implementing safety measures around that, a mandatory priority. However, Gosia stated, “The support we received from our customers, friends and family was overwhelming! We are so grateful to each and every one of them.”

The Fleming's quality, home-grown, seasonal fresh and frozen berries are typically in high demand and available in a wide range. Flavourful jams, comprising only of fruit, lemon juice and sugar, sell like hot cakes, as do assorted berry coulis. During market days, mouth-watering, 100% fruit sorbets - a combination of berries and banana - are whipped up on demand and prove popular during Gippsland's summer days. Fruit popsicles are a hit with the kids, while healthy assorted smoothies are a satisfying treat. Most of the delectables are created within a sophisticated machine the Flemings imported from Poland.

Besides filling customary online orders of fresh or snap frozen fruit and preserved goods, Fleming Berries assembled and promoted beautiful, colourful grazing boxes (as Gosia endearingly calls them), and platters for every occasion. These proved to be extremely popular.

Further delicious delicacies, such as the well known 'Fleming Berries famous waffles', cakes and frozen yoghurt are available to please everyone's taste buds. Gosia cooks the tantalising preserved food herself, following recipes passed down from her mother and grandmother. Not one berry is ever wasted. She enjoys experimenting, forever striving to continuously surprise clientele with exciting new versions of berry recipes and products, as the fruits are highly versatile.

The pandemic isn't over yet however, as Victoria heals and restrictions ease, normality is slowly, but surely returning. The Flemings are excited about the future and look forward to presenting their customers with continued succulent fruits and innovate products to satisfy all appetites.

Fleming Berries is their 'baby'. Fuelled with pride, passion, motivation and business sense, Gosia and Justin, a lovely, humble couple, remain focussed and continuously strive for excellence.

To connect with Fleming Berries visit their website at www.flemingberries.com

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F A R M E R ’ S D A U G H T E R S

Passion on a plate WORDS ANITA B U T T E RWO RT H P H OTO GR A P H Y BY T RI STA N J U D + T H O M R I GNE Y 116

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Esteemed chef Alejandro Saravia has more than just a passing affection for Gippsland and its produce - it’s a full blown love affair that has culminated in the opening of a self-proclaimed Gippsland food embassy in the heart of Melbourne.

His four-year mission of self-education and complete immersion in Gippsland’s food and wine has now come full circle with the opening of Farmer’s Daughters - a triple-level restaurant completely dedicated to the region’s produce.

“My connection to Gippsland roughly started four years ago,” Alejandro explains. “I opened Pastuso in 2014, which is my Peruvian restaurant in AC/DC Lane and I was new in Melbourne, I was living in Sydney before and I was looking to understand more about what Victoria had to offer in terms of ingredients, accessibility and provenance.

“I bumped into different farmers, different producers and the beef farmer that I was talking with, Paul Crock from Gippsland Natural Beef, he invited me to the farm one day and I took the opportunity to go and explore and slowly started getting introduced to different producers and winemakers, different farmers as well.”

The further he delved into the rich offerings of the land east of Melbourne, the more Alejandro became enamored. “I was just blown away from the beginning to be honest at how diverse, the more I researched, the more I was so surprised at the same time that nobody was doing anything actively to promote the region in Melbourne or in Australia.”

He took it as a personal mission to start supporting and promoting Gippsland wherever he could. Government agencies gave their blessing as Alejandro dreamt up ways to put the region on plates all over the state.

He was appointed a Gippsland food and wine ambassador, and eventually started crafting bespoke events. “We managed to create an event called Renascence Lunch for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which was basically bringing people from Melbourne to beef farms, we set up a restaurant for 200 people and everything was cooked on a campfire set up. We managed to sell out, and it was the only regional event in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival that was sold out.

“I remember when I first told people about the event, he said, ‘you are crazy. It’s a lot of work, it’s two hours away, what are you going to do, 200 people you’re crazy this isn’t going to work’. And I’m so glad that I proved them all wrong, because we did it two years in a row and it was a success. “ So how did this ambitious chef make the leap from standalone Gippsland produce-laden events to a restaurant completely dedicated to the region’s offerings?

“ FA RMER’S DAUGHTERS WAS N EVER MEANT TO BE A R E STAU R ANT. THIS WAS ALWAYS M Y OW N PERSONAL WAY O F G I V I N G B ACK TO A REGION T H AT G AV E ME A LOT. I GAINED S O M A N Y F RIENDS I MET SO MA N Y I N S P I R ATIONAL PEOPLE TH AT H AV E B E E N ADDING IN A POS I T I V E WAY TO MY LIFE." “The only reason that it became a restaurant was that the Australian Open invited me to be part of the Chef Series. Basically three days of fine dining, showcasing whatever food we wanted. So I said let’s translate what we did in the Renascence Lunch into an Australian Open set up and we launched Farmer’s Daughters as a concept and everybody just loved it.

“We were fully booked for three nights, they were asking for another one.

We worked with different Gippsland farmers and producers; we got all Gippsland wines for the pairing. It was a complete success to the point that I did it again the next year for the Australian Open. After seeing that, how the concept was embraced, the food, the ingredients the stories, we decided this may be a restaurant we could open in Melbourne. “ Fast forward to 2021, and Alejandro’s passion project has become a reality – a hub for sharing not only the food of Gippsland, but also the origin stories.

F A R M E R ’ S D A U G H T E R S Farmer’s Daughters’ three levels rise proudly on Melbourne’s bustling Collins Precinct. The Deli on the ground floor gathers fresh, seasonal Gippsland produce and offers a farm to table, casual dining experience, with an open kitchen. And its gourmet deli and pantry give diners a chance to take a slice of the region home.

The middle tier of Farmer’s Daughters is The Restaurant, touted as a more formal interpretation of the Gippsland experience. Aimed at business lunches, formal dinners and special occasions, its Gippsland wine and spirits menu is something of a wonder.

And finally, resting atop Farmer’s Daughters is The Rooftop. It’s a Gippsland-style oasis that overlooks the CBD, with its lush native Mountain Pepper trees and in-house herb garden. Think end of work drinks, summer sippers and lazy long lunches.

The search for the perfect location lasted for a year, with Alejandro desperate to strike the perfect balance between city customers and a Gippsland feel. “Where could we be build this embassy for Gippsland?

Because that’s what we consider ourselves. Self-proclaimed but we do it in a humble and very proud way as well.”

“ W E ’ R E NOT TRYING TO BE P R E T E N T I O US OR COCKY, BECAU S E T H AT ’ S N OT THE CULTURE IN G I PPSL A ND. WE WE LCO ME E V E RY B ODY WHO WANTS TO K N OW M O RE ABOUT GIPPSLAN D O R WA N TS TO PROMOTE THE I R P R O D U C TS THROUGH US TO CO M E A N D B E PA RT OF THIS PROJEC T.” Alejandro admits honouring the Gippsland region is a heavy burden. “We are representing a region, we are representing people, we are representing a subculture into the Australian culture. We are representing people that have dedicated their lives to grow ingredients to develop products, to breed animals, to brew beer, to ferment grape juice to become wine, distil spirits and we shouldn’t take that lightly. “ Gippsland garlic grower, and Farmer’s Daughters’ regional liaison David Jones says the 60 suppliers who have already signed on are honoured to be part of the restaurant.

“People had a lot of faith in the project and were very keen,” said David.

“Of course one restaurant does not make a business, but I think the growers and the farmers feel very proud. They see it as the Gippsland food embassy. And some of the larger farmers have said to us, ‘It’s just nice to know who’s buying our food.’ They know that there’s a restaurant in the city they can say, ‘That’s my salad veggies.’

“The big issue for us as growers will be, and I say this with my Mirboo farm hat on as a garlic producer, to raise awareness of Gippsland as a high-quality food and food product region. We’ve been in the shadow of the Yarra Valley and other regions and we just want people to turn their eyes east. “ Alejandro says as the executive chef, his role isn’t to redefine Gippsland produce. Rather, he’s giving it a voice.

“Our approach to the menus is not to transform the ingredients too much.

I want our customers to know these are olives from Tarago Valley, this is pork from Eaglehawk Creek Farm, this is beef from O’Connors or Gippsland Natural or Bass Strait Beef. This is fish from Lakes Entrance.

Our conversation with the farmers always starts with, how can we work together? What do you need from us?”

Photography by Tristan Jud FA R M E R ’ S D A U G H T E R S 95 Exhibition Street, 80 Collins Precint, Melbourne www.farmersdaughters.com.au

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A L E JA N D R O SA R AV I A

Millie & Magic Beach Photos & Words by Ken Roberts

It was the cusp of summer on a blazingly hot day when Millie and I made a long trek from our home to yet another unknown part of Gippsland.

Travelling down the South Gippsland Highway I passed through Yarram and was excited by the fantastic murals that are on display throughout the town, such a wonderful attraction and legacy. I made a mental note to return and spend the day there exploring!

I am always amazed as I drive across our region at the variety of landscapes that we are so fortunate to behold. The wide-open plains and grasslands can quickly melt into the dense bush of tangled eucalypts and secret creatures lurking within. On my journeys I’m a sucker for the sight of any old, abandoned farmhouse glimpsed across a paddock and I wonder at the lives that lived in these places. This trip there were some gems that we saw on the way!

Millie and I drove through the changing landscapes, appreciating all we could see and eager to discover yet more fantastic parts of our Gippsland home. We drove through several country towns, some no more that dots on a map like Giffard West, Agnes and Hedley on the journey to our ultimate destination. As we made our way suddenly the coast, Corner Inlet to be exact, came into sight.

The view of Wilsons Promontory in the distance was spectacular. It was so clear and pristine, and another mental note is to explore there further. We are so lucky to have this world-famous attraction as a part of our region.

It’s ideal for a day trip or longer. We wound our way past the Prom on our road to our “magical” destination.

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Millie & Magic Beach

I had been a fan of the famous illustrator and author Alison Lester for many years. She is known around the world and she grew up and still lives in Gippsland. She has many career awards and accolades including Childrens Book of the year awards, inaugural Children’s Laureate 20112013, Member of the order of Australia (AM) and was even featured on an Australia Post stamp! One of her most beloved books “Magic Beach” was published over 30 years ago and is considered an Australian classic. It is based on her love for the beaches where she roamed as a child and is now taking her grandchildren to visit.

This special beach is tucked away at South Walkerville on Waratah Bay. The journey there is one of discovery as the road turns to gravel and narrows. It ends in a sheltered cove that looks out on the beauty of the shimmering waters of Waratah Bay with the outline of Wilsons Promontory looming in the distance. Mills and I couldn’t have chosen a better day! The sun was shining, and the beach was almost deserted. This lovely cove was pure delight. The tide was coming in and water was lapping at the rocks along the shoreline. Such a place to explore! Millie was scampering over rocks and happy to have the gentle waves tickle her paws.

I was amazed to find the remains of lime kilns on the cliffs and reading the information provided discovered that there was once a thriving industry in this quiet and forgotten corner. Operating from 1875 to 1926, the place was abuzz back then with a busy port, shops, cottages and the industrial buildings required to convert the limestone into quick lime. This was a main ingredient in building materials such as mortar, lime cement and plaster.

All that remains in the sheltered cove from that era are the remnants of a couple of lime kilns. It honestly seems hard to imagine.

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As in the beautiful illustrations in “Magic beach” the whole area is just a delightful place for children (and adult & dog) to explore. Alison’s pictures not only capture how it is in reality but take the reader on magical imaginary adventures. Mills and I paddled through water and discovered hidden coves that felt like we were the first ever to find them! The handful of people there with us were either enjoying the glorious views from the sand, swimming in the sheltered waters or exploring like us. One thing that I found so totally gratifying was that it was unspoilt, there was not a shop or commercial enterprise in sight. There was nothing to detract from the absolute beauty of the natural surroundings. Words cannot do justice to how special this place is!

We could have stayed there all day, but further adventures beckoned.

We retraced our trip and ventured off to the seemingly endless shores of Waratah Bay. This time we were totally alone, a deserted beach all to ourselves. Gippsland has a multitude of locations where you can experience this, and I really think that most of the time we take it for granted. We had come from one magic beach with its rocky cliffs and sheltered cove to another stunning wide and pristine beach with a front row seat to Waratah Bay. Millie had a fabulous time frolicking in the waves and running along the sandy shoreline. It was just so blissful and tranquil. I didn’t think this could be surpassed at all. I was wrong!

Millie and I drove through the lush farmland to the tiny village of Fish Creek.

This place punches way above its size with a surprising array of makers, NADINE PLEYDELL RUST artworks and cafes all wrapped up in|an archetypal small country town. The reason for our trip was that Alison Lester has a shop there and she is often in store and signing books.

I had discovered today was one of those days. The store is a haven, and perfect gift buying destination for fans of her work. It is crammed full of her many books, prints, cards and a fantastic array of associated gifts. She also has a website for those who cannot visit the shop. I was nervous as I entered and soon met Alison.

I shouldn’t have worried. She was so warm and friendly, still a country woman despite all the accolades and fame.

I mentioned to Alison that Millie and I had just made our pilgrimage to “Magic beach” and she generously agreed to meet Mills.

I was so wrapped to have met her, she is so very talented and so very down to earth. It really was the highlight of our day. We talked about the Fish Creek Children’s Literature Day on the 7th March that recognises the town’s unique standing as a destination for children’s literature and storytelling.

I really was in awe of all she has done. What a day!

We sadly farewelled South Gippsland and headed back towards home, I vowed though that I would return soon and explore its delights further.

My mind was overflowing with the imagery of all we had seen. A magical day at a magical place meeting an amazing person.

Gippsland again had shown me why it is such a wonderful place to live and visit.

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canine corner

Archer - is it walkies time?

Miss Poppy - gardens a good spot to rest

Ziggy - i can wag my tail & look cute 124

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autumn

Crunchy - try it, i dare you...

Polly - not walking all the way over there!

Tilka - the cat did what?

Tess - are you going fishing?

Max - when's da food coming mum...

Lucy - i caught a rat

proudly brought to you by

Millie - thirsty work this reporting!

Denzel - no, i will not get off this cabinet

Alice & Veronica - sisters are doing it...

George - i said wee wees not poo poo

our best friends Do you want to place a photo of your dog in Canine Corner ?

It's easy, just email us your pic and their name at thelifestyle@dcsi.net.au

...just pawfect

Fred - we're not going out for dinner?

Ruby - hello? gippsland lifestyle autumn ����

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EDEN ON THE RISE Spreading his thoroughbred training operation across stables at Cranbourne and his property near the beach at Corinella is giving Shea Eden the best of both worlds.

Words: Chris West

Horse racing is a results-driven business, and having continued to refine his boutique operation over recent years, trainer Shea Eden has found a model that is producing success. A consistent flow of winners during the current 2020/21 season, including multiple victories from Aslvin, Ocular, Bless Her, Polanco and the promising Housay have raised his profile on the Victorian racing stage and confirmed his status as a young trainer very much on the rise.

“This is the best season we’ve had because of the model that we now have in place,” he says.

From his stables at Cranbourne Training Centre to the recuperative powers of the Westernport waters at Corinella beach which are easily accessed from his home property, Eden Racing can tailor a horse’s preparation to best suit its specific needs.

“Both locations have an important role to play,” he emphasises.

“The biggest thing with our operation and the main thing I’ve always focused on is individualising each horse. They’ve all got different wants and needs – and the beach gives you that option for horses that need it, which is very important.”

“I am adamant that without it, we wouldn’t have had half the success we’ve had,” he states.

“I think one of the most important aspects of being a trainer is making sure a horse is recovered from a gallop or a race before galloping them again or putting pressure on them. I’m a big believer in recovery, and obviously the beach assists us with that.”

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Having formerly been a very active buyer at the annual yearling sales, Eden has also switched his focus more towards purchasing gallopers from “ready to run” sales and tried horses from interstate and New Zealand.

“It’s usually quite a long time from when you buy a yearling to getting them to the races. Ready-to-run race horses are more appealing to many people, as they provide potential for a quicker return on their investment,” he observes.

“Buying horses speculatively at the yearling sales and having to then seek out owners for them can put a lot of pressure on the business. I was finding myself having to be a salesman all the time and not being able to concentrate fully on doing my job as a trainer.”

Although his career started in the building trade, Eden was probably always destined to work with horses. Growing up in Bass, he developed an interest and connection with thoroughbreds from a young age.

“My uncle Paul broke in horses for local trainers. He would give horses their first ride on the beach at Kilcunda and needed someone to ride the lead pony and hold the horse. I’d often get a morning off school to give him a hand,” he recalls.

There were also horses on his parents’ 250 acre beef farm in Bas where he grew up.

“From early on, I got a fairly good understanding of the thoroughbred,” he says.

Kilcunda Bass Football Club President Shea Eden pictured at Kilcunda Bass

Jocky Nikita Beriman after winning the Listed MSS Security Sprint on Melbourne Cup Day 2018

“I’d been evaluating a lot of things at that time after a bad motorbike accident had left me having to stay indoors for quite a while. I had also met my future wife Miranda, who was riding trackwork for the O’Briens at Lauriston. I’d reached a point where I wanted to leave building behind and have a crack at working with horses.”

Eden’s venture into racing progressed with incremental steps. He spent considerable money renovating the house and creating horse paddocks at the Guy Road property.

Initially, Eden made breaking in horses his line of business and from there branched out to pre-training. Successful, Group One-winning Melbourne trainers like Mick Price, Mick Kent and Colin Little would send horses down to the beach for periods of preparatory work under his care before returning to their stables for full training.

“I was sending horses back to these trainers and seeing them go to the races and perform. After a couple of years of doing this it made me think that the step up to training horses myself couldn’t be that hard. Having ridden horses myself, I found I could really gauge when they were going well, so in 2008 I decided to take out an owner/trainer licence.”

SHEA EDEN Upon leaving school, Eden’s interest in horses stayed in the background as he found his way to a job in retail working in the timber yard at Mitre 10. From there, he did some laboring before undertaking a building apprenticeship.

After completing his apprenticeship, Eden went out on his own and often found himself working in tandem with his father Kent, who operated a rural fencing business. One of the many jobs they worked on together was fence work at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm at Corinella.

“Watching what went on at Lauriston really intrigued me,” Eden says.

“My uncle Paul was breaking in horses there. I would start work earlier than normal to allow time in the morning to help him before doing my building work for the day.”

Lauriston Thoroughbreds was operated by the late Kevin O’Brien and his wife Tanith, who were amongst the most successful racehorse owners and breeders in Victoria at that time.

“I was seeing the quality of the horseflesh getting off the truck there and couldn’t help be drawn to it,” Eden comments.

In 2006, a property across the road from Lauriston became available for sale and Eden saw the chance to pursue his racing dream.

“My dad though I was crazy to be contemplating starting from scratch, but the timing all just worked out,” he says.

Eden purchased his first horse – a tried galloper called Just Kurrupt – which provided him with his initial victory as an owner/trainer at the Woolamai picnic races in December 2008. Just Kurrupt won again at Woolamai two weeks later and eventually went on to win a further two races at the same track, including the Woolamai Cup in February 2010.

“I really enjoyed competing on the picnic circuit in those early days,” Eden reflects.

“We went out as far as the Hinnomunjie picnic races at Omeo and won the cup up there. Training horses for the picnic meetings gave me a solid grounding at the grassroots level. I made plenty of mistakes and learnt from them.”

After enjoying considerable success on the picnic circuit, Eden branched out and joined the professional ranks by taking out a restricted trainer’s licence.

“It was tough getting horses and making inroads at first, so I recognised that I had to use the beach to my advantage,” he says.

“In the early days I was doing a fair bit of work rehabilitating horses that may have previously had good form but had seen their performances decline due to injury. Utilising the beach and getting results with those horses was what really kicked my business along.”

As his training operation started to grow bigger, Eden temporarily moved over the road to Lauriston on lease for a couple of years before returning back to his own property. Then in 2015, the Cranbourne stables of trainer Mick Kent became available for lease, an opportunity that the young trainer could not let pass.

“Mick had been a real mentor of mine. I did a lot of pre-training for him and he’d been an important influence on me from the outset,” Eden acknowledges.

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Since becoming a trainer, Eden has consistently unearthed gallopers with good ability. His best horses to date include talented sprinting mare Ocean Embers, who won six races and earned well over $400,000 in prizemoney between 2015 and 2017.

Amongst those victories were two Group 3 successes and a Listed Race on Melbourne Cup day in 2017, which added to her value as a broodmare.

SHEA EDEN “Securing the boxes he vacated at Cranbourne enabled us to stretch our numbers and take the operation to the next level. We have 38 boxes there along with our treadmill and horse walker. Two minutes away is the very well appointed Cranbourne Complex which includes a terrific swimming pool for horses.”

From that moment forward, Eden has divided his time between his stables at Cranbourne and the beachside home base at Corinella.

“Spreading the business across two properties works well,” he states.

“I’ve got a really good team at Cranbourne that forms an important part of our business model. My Racing & Business Manager Glenn Scott has been with me now for over three years following four years as CEO of the Werribee Racing Club." Prior to that Glenn was CEO of the Victorian Country Football League for over ten years.

“Also I’ve had the pleasure of having Brooke Wilson join us in mid 2018 as our Office Manager. Brooke has worked in the industry for a number of years prior to having her family. She spent several years with IRT the big international horse transport company, time in a racing stable and a number of years in charge of international polo horse teams.

“Our foreman Jamie Dentith has been with me for nearly five years and is a most experienced and dedicated horse person. We have a strong team supporting myself and our key people. Having quality people around me allows me to have the country lifestyle we’ve have living not far away at Corinella. I reckon we’ve got the best of both worlds.”

In his life away from racing, Eden and wife Miranda have three children – Riley, 12, Blake, 11, and Indiana, 8.

“The two boys are keen on camping and hunting and the whole family enjoy fishing. It’s easy for us to head straight down the end of the road at Corinella and get out on the water,” he says.

Eden has also taken on the presidency at Kilcunda Bass Football Netball Club, where he formerly played before starting his career in racing.

“I have a very supportive committee assisting me at the footy club.

I devote plenty of time to it, but my first priority is always with the business,” he notes.

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Most of the leading horses currently in Eden’s stable carry his now familiar royal blue and lime quartered colours, including Housay, Alsvin and Ocular.

Housay is showing considerable promise, with three wins and three placings from his first seven race starts. The striking grey-brown gelding scored at Wodonga and Ballarat in September last year and then rounded off his first racing preparation by winning over 1200m down the straight course at Flemington on 16th January this year.

“I purchased Housay at the 2018 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling sale.

That was the last year I spent up big at the sales and he was the last horse I bought on that occasion,” Eden remembers.

“He was a cracking type from the first crop of a stallion called Zebedee.

I had to pay more than I wanted to, but I stuck fat and ended up landing him. Fortunately, he looks like being a very handy horse and some good judges think he is a group horse in the making.”

Housay is now spelling and Eden is hopeful that there is more to come from his charge when he returns.

“He was unlucky in a couple of his runs in his first preparation and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. We’re aiming for him to return for a Spring campaign. He’s shown us that he’s up to that level, and should come back a bigger and stronger horse,” he suggests.

Eden presently has about 30 horses in training at any time.

“That’s a manageable number and about where I want to keep it now. I’m quite comfortable with that level,” he says.

As a young trainer trying to make his mark, it hasn’t been all been smooth sailing for Eden. There have been highs and lows along the way, which is typical of racing where sustained success is not easy to come by.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had some owners who have been very loyal to me along the journey. They’re the heart and soul of the business,” he comments.

Eden has shown the ability to get the best out of most of the gallopers that come into his care and would encourage any potential new clients interested in racing a horse with him to make contact. He appreciates that everyone has different budgets and he wants to make racehorse ownership accessible to all.

“Most people who haven’t been in racing before assume it’s an expensive hobby, but it can be made affordable through taking a small share or forming a syndicate amongst family members, friends or colleagues,” he says.

“I’m very mindful of training costs and horses being able to pay their way. It is therefore very important to be up front and honest with owners about their horses. My clients often say that there’s no better feeling than seeing their names as owners in the racebook and experiencing the thrill of seeing their horse win.”

AUTUMN MARCH | APRIL | MAY 2021 SUN SIGN ASTROLOGY forecast with KERRY GALEA ARIES !

LIBRA '

21 March – 19 April

Your mind is racing and so is your mouth. This means you can say more than you mean too. Or you can appear augmentative when all you want is to express your opinion. I suggest that you use your mind to ask lots of questions. When energy levels drop, take time to relax. Expect to start a new activity and give it your full attention. Later in the season, communication will flow well and you can share the love of all that you enjoy. Dealings with extended family members can reach a breakthrough and any issues resolve.

23 Sep – 22 Oct

This is the time to express your knowledge and opinions to the world, and to find out what others believe. Have constructive debate rather than arguments.

Otherwise, it’s a time of taking care of details and initiating better, perhaps healthier, routines. Find out your loved one’s values and what they believe? Ask, for this is a great time to expand and grow connections with people. If it hasn’t worked, try something new. Don’t say the same things and expect a different outcome. Later in the season, it’s time to stretch your mind. Think bigger and further than you ever thought possible.

TAURUS "

SCORPIO (

20 April – 20 May

There will be a mad rush to have, to hold, or to possess, and it can lead to spending more resources, or money, than is wise. You want to work really hard, to achieve your goals. During mid-season your energy levels drop, so spend time going inward and finding a peaceful place. You will also attract attention, and people will want to spend time with you. Later in the season, ponder your values. This includes emotional and intellectual values as well as financial ones.

Do you have a tendency to waste them or misuse them? Value yourself, and the world will follow.

23 Oct – 21 Nov

You want more of the good life! Enjoy yourself by allowing a new creative playful energy to rise and start doing something that you have not done before. Be a big kid. Mid-season, you are about to go back to the humdrum of work where duty rules the day! Luckily, you can meet new people, or have more social experiences, especially with loved ones. They provide you with new ideas which leads to a search for more knowledge. Later in the season, a surge of emotions can soon lead to deep thinking and inner investigations, especially in regard to relationships. Be the true you.

GEMINI #

SAGITTARIUS )

21 May – 20 June

This is a great time to shine. And you will be very busy for yourself, not others.

Submitting to another’s wishes or trying to work in a group setting will be difficult.

Let yourself be seen for what you want to achieve. Mid-season, you will lose focus, and confusion or indecision can prevail. It will help to get counsel from those that have the knowledge you seek. But you will be noticed and it becomes ever easier to connect to people. And your ability to communicate is much improved. The down-side is that you expect the best of others.

CANCER $

22 Nov – 21 Dec

Disharmony is rising due to compromises that become a weight. Your focus on home and extended family. You won’t quite know what it going on, but trust that there is something new brewing. Take the opportunity to begin, change or adjust what needs to be revised. Also relax and allow creativity to rise. This happens best when at rest, or at play. Make your own decisions about how you feel. Later in the season, the people around you are attracting attraction and there is a buzz around all relationships. Friendships can blossom, love can arrive or relationships can deepen.

21 June – 22 July

CAPRICORN *

This is the time to search for what is hidden behind the scenes. If you are forced into the limelight, you are likely to feel awkward or uncomfortable. In the background you can search for your own inner truths. And you may find them when you break routines and, experience something different. Explore and educate yourself. Mid-season, there is information that will help with the work you do, and coming opportunities. Energy levels will momentarily reduce, so redistribute tasks. Becoming part of a community or a group will be important.

Later in the season, pushing for outcomes will not work. Instead go with the flow and be peaceful.

It’s time to talk, to communicate, and to speak your mind. Also notice the details of what is going on around you. You will then discover what you need to know.

The stars want you to see clearly, so pay attention and to start learning. Home and family are becoming important mid-season, so notice what needs attention.

Extended family members have news to share with you, but you may be so focused on details, or work, that you will not be listening. Later in the season, it’s time to be practical and stoic… and luckily you are good at this.

LEO %

AQUARIUS +

Everyone seems to want you to “do things”. Do “you” want to do things? Speak up, as they won’t know unless you communicate what really means to you. Be prepared to let something go. Release and refresh. Especially when you are restless. Start to study, or plan a holiday. Mid-season make sure you know what the rules are. Good advice is both reassuring and inspiring. Later in the season, there is new collective energy rising and will find a group of like-minded people, either socially or with sports. Change is happening in the work place, or in any paid or unpaid role you do.

You have energy, not for hard work, but for expressing your creativity and your uniqueness. You will not have any self-discipline, but you will have a dynamic selfexpressive energy which will bring you opportunities. Financial concerns become confusing, and you can waste money or resources. Mid-season, you have a way with words and can make anything sound good. Just don’t waste resources or spend money on risky ideas. Later in the season, you want to spend relaxing time at home or connecting with extended family. So have fun, be creative, or enjoy the creative pursuits of others.

23 July – 22 Aug

22 Dec – 19 Jan

20 Jan – 18 Feb

VIRGO &

23 Aug – 22 Sep

PISCES ,

Trying to control your emotions will not help. Responses are heightened, and you can over-react. Look for others opinions, as you need to take their ideas into account. Their opinions will be changing, so keep asking! Forcing outcomes will only lead to issues. Let go of trying to have any control. Control is only an illusion. I suggest that you rely on your great ability to adapt! Later in the season, you will receive help in your career, work or role in the world. Creativity and communication along with relationships and partnerships, are enhanced.

19 Feb – 20 March

You have all the sparkle that you need to attract attention to yourself. You want to enjoy good times with loved ones. But family tensions can rise and you will tend to run away, or accept compromises, rather than make a stand for yourself.

Look deep within, decide what you want, ask… and help will come. Mid-season, it’s time to decide what you value in yourself and what you know to be ethical.

Later in the season, either improve, or reorganize, your home surroundings. This can be in either redecorating, or in regard to family relationships being renewed, improved or expanded.

KERRY GALEA ASTROLOGY, PALMISTRY AND ANCIENT MOON GARDENING Email: kerry@kerrygalea.com.au | Web: www.kerrygalea.com.au gippsland lifestyle autumn ����

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TOUR OPERATOR - SANDI DAVIE

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A WALK THROUGH TIME Alberton Walking Cemetery Tour offers a unique journey through history.

WORDS BY LIA SPENCER / PHOTOS BY DOUG PELL When Sandi Davie discovered that she was related to some of the earliest settlers in Alberton, she set about to find their graves. It was this journey that led her to become involved in a unique tour attracting several locals and tourists every year.

“When I learned that my Great Grandmother was Grace Appleyard, a cousin to the Alberton Appleyard’s, I wanted to find (my relatives) graves.

I found them, even though quite a few are unmarked now due to exposure to inclement weather,” she said. “Then I read about the Alberton Cemetery Walking Tours in the local newspaper and went along. The tour guide then was Marcus McKenzie, and he was terrific! During the tour he mentioned that the section where most of the Appleyard graves are, is affectionately known as ‘The Appleyard Section’. I got really emotional.”

Marcus invited Sandi to be a guest presenter on the following tours to talk about her family history. When Marcus became busy with his role as a Wellington Shire Councillor, he handed the tour reigns over to Sandi.

The tours are run in collaboration with the Port Albert Progress Association, The Alberton Cemetery Trust and the Wellington Shire Council and they allow guests to be taken on a historical and personal journey through the cemetery which has some of Gippsland’s oldest residents dating back to the 1820s.

“We start at the front and visit selected memorials and graves and share information about them and their contributions to establishing the Port Albert and Alberton areas,” Sandi said.

“Naturally, I love telling the story of Alfred Appleyard, and his association with a very talented young singer who went on to become world famous!”

Guests learn about the area’s pioneers including Agnes Gellion, the tragic story of the Howden family, and the first recorded burial of a European settler, Robert McClure, who died in March 1842.

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A WALK THROUGH TIME

Guest presenter Eric Greenaway delights the guests with a personal story of his great-grandparents.

Sandi said that guests love hearing the stories and learning the history during the tours.

“Everyone has been so kind and expressed how much they enjoyed learning about our pioneers. I was really humbled when a lovely gentleman said that he was captivated by my presentation,” Sandi said.

“I also get regular calls or messages from people who want to know if they have family members buried at our cemetery, which I always endeavour to find out for them. We have 1300 known graves so I don’t know all of them off the top of my head.... yet! If their ancestors are buried at our cemetery, I also try to uncover some of their history so I can relate a story back to the person. It is very rewarding for me as I love family history research. I do get emotionally invested in our cemetery residents!”

Sandi said she believed the tours were vital in preserving and sharing the stories of the region’s pioneers.

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“The stories of their contributions to our area are incredibly important and should be remembered and told to the younger generations- not just the historical facts that are printed in history books- but the personal hardships and sacrifices these amazing, hard-working and determined people made to carve out a life in a new place,” Sandi said. “They were resilient and ingenious in what they managed to do here. Our area is fascinating and we are so proud of what our early settlers achieved.”

The tours are held from September through to April.

The next tours are on Saturday 6 March and 3 April.

Tours begin at 214 Yarram-Port Road, Alberton, Victoria (off-street parking available). The cost is $10 per person for people aged 16 and over, or $30 for a family of four adults. Children under 16 are free.

Tours begin at 5:30pm sharp and last about 90minutes.

Contact details are through the Alberton Cemetery Walking Tours Facebook Page, via the message tab, or contact Sandi mb | 0403 818 183 email | sandraleedavie@yahoo.com.au

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Local Heroes

GraemePiera

BY TREVOR STOW

Graeme Piera is a legend in Gippsland golf. He was born in 1939 at Pascoe Vale South. After completing school he gained employment in painting, decorating and sign writing.

In 1959 Graeme got itchy feet and decided to join a friend to migrate to Canada so that he could “see the world”. He arrived in Toronto where he worked for a retail outlet. After a year he quit that job and joined a couple of mates to head into America on a sightseeing holiday.

Money was scarce so they slept “rough”. The toured down the east coast of America and decided to also include Mexico in their plans.

After an enjoyable trip and seeing lots of the USA and Mexico for a few months Graeme left his mates and returned to Toronto where he was lucky enough to get his previous job back. That only lasted for a couple of months and he was again ready to move on. This time he decided to move to New York in the USA where he obtained a job with the Australian Consulate, in the foreign news section, delivering the Australian news to foreign Consulates.

The human “Cadaver”, which is an intact body, was preserved for the students use.

These Cadaver’s were sometimes used by the students for up to 5 years. They were well preserved however they did have a slight non offensive odour. Students were able to access the Cadaver’s to learn how the human body is constructed.

They studied muscles, nerves, the spinal column and all associated structures, sometimes under a microscope. It was invaluable experience for these young student chiropractors. Physiology was extremely important, patient management and chiropractic technique under the guidance of professional instruction was also necessary in order to achieve the maximum benefit to the patient.

During his time at the college, Graeme was invited to join the Delta Sigma Chi Fraternity.

It was quite an honour to be asked to join this fraternity.

This job again lasted less than a year when Graeme met a chiropractor who changed his life.

After talking to this person, Graeme was inspired and decided to become a chiropractor himself.

He enrolled in Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1961which is situated in Davenport, Iowa in the Mid-west of America. The course was a 3 calendar year course. During his studies he worked to supplement his income and pay for his studies.

It had limited invitees and involved an initiation process over a 3 month period that was challenging and intimidating with the “usual handshake” between members. During the pledge period the brothers of the fraternity were required to wear a unique beanie and carry a paddle everywhere they went and to endure teasing from the other students. Although it did not further his studies it did provide an opportunity to network and bond with other students. These contacts have been with Graeme for years and he still associates with some of these people. Graeme still wears his Fraternity ring.

There were 24 Australians and 8 New Zealanders participating in the course together with over 1000 other students. This university is where chiropractic started back in 1895. This was a very intense course and the subjects covered all the principals of the human body that a medical student would study except pharmacology. It included dissection of the human body including work on real human bodies procured from people who had donated their body to science.

After graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, Graeme was then qualified to practice in any state of America. However he decided to return to Australia and purchase 3 practices at Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon where he continued to practice until he retired in 2010.

He has helped countless thousands of patients with their physical problems and, in many cases, made a significant and positive difference to their life.

CHIROPRACTOR

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CYCLING In the early 1950’s Graeme joined the Brunswick Amateur Cycling Club. He rode off scratch on the road and won 4 club championship’s as a junior and was captain of a team that won 4 state junior championships in both track and road competition. In those days cycling was a very popular sport with every town in Australia boasting a team.

Graeme was a very good rider who had ambitions to ride in the Olympics. He rode and trained with his friend Alan Grindal, who was twice Australian Road Champion and Olympic representative. Graeme’s times were very competitive and comparable with his mate Alan.

Between them the won many events.

His cycling career ended early following numerous crashes, which was not uncommon in cycling, He was only 18 years of age. His final crash resulted in a severe back injury which was later diagnosed as a fracture.

GOLF Les Tipper, the local barber and patient of Graeme, suggested to him that it would be advantageous to his practice if he joined the local Bairnsdale Golf Club as a member. Graeme joined in 1964. Fred Morecroft, who was the local golf pro at Bairnsdale, took Graeme under his wing and instructed him in the finer points of golf. He started with a handicap of 24 but soon got down to 2 handicap. At that stage there were only a handful of golfers playing off single figures.

Golf equipment has improved significantly over the years but, in those days, anybody who could play off single figures was an outstanding golfer.

To combine golf and his chiropractic practice was quite a challenge however Graeme used to attend the golf club in the early hours of the morning and practice his game before work. He was particularly keen on improving his putting so he would place tees in the bowling green before anybody arrived at the course and putt from all positions on the green.

Graeme receives his life membership of the Bairnsdale Golf Club from (L) Steve Mann, President & Chris Savige who nominated him.

Graeme has won 12 “A” grade club championships and also a “B” grade championship in his later years. This is the most championships that a Bairnsdale Golf club member has won at the current course. In addition he has also won a number of District Foursome Championships together with an East Gippsland Championship.

He got to the quarter finals of the Victorian State Championships and played in the Victoria Open when the legendary Arnold Palmer was an opponent. He held course records at Bairnsdale and Yarram Golf Clubs and boasts 6 holes in one. Graeme also represented East Gippsland in Country Week Golf and won the event twice.

Currently Graeme plays golf at least 3 times per week. At 82 years old he regularly “shoots his age” at club events. He first achieved this milestone at 78 years of age and he is still playing off single figures.

Late last year Graeme had the honour of being nominated for Life Membership of the Bairnsdale Golf Club by Chris Savige. There are only a handful of members that have achieved that honour, as to be nominated, members need to meet stringent requirements of long service, exceptional work and great achievements at the club including holding office. Graeme meets these requirements, having been vice president on 3 occasions, committeeman for many years, and chairman of several committees amongst many other achievements.

SAILING

Making the News: Bairnsdale golfer, Graeme Piera, watches carefully after his stroke during the Bairnsdale Gold Club annual tournament last week.

Graeme’s other passion in life has been sailing.

He firstly started in yacht racing with a 23 foot Hood yacht on the Gippsland Lakes. He sailed club events and state championships “just for fun”. Later he purchased a 38 foot Swanson which he sailed up and down the east coast of Australia and throughout Bass Strait with many of his friends.

He and his crew once came close to capsizing the yacht whilst crossing the Wide Bay Bar leading into Tin Can Bay. In the process of picking up the lead light the yacht was broadside to the waves. A large wave hit the side of the yacht and knocked the boat over onto its side.

Upon righting the ship, Graeme and the crew quickly decided to turn around and head back out to sea. They chose to celebrate their close miss with a blue label Johnny Walker or two.

Together with 4 close mates Graeme decided to purchase the unfinished hull of an Oceania 42 foot yacht that had been in a shed in Traralgon for 20 years.

When it arrived the yacht only consisted of the hull and motor. This boats keel was placed in a hole at Eagle Point to keep it upright and to make it accessible to the workers. This was a very big job and took the 5 men 18 months and many man hours to complete. The team had to install all rigging together with a complete fitout internally which was quite extensive as it included wiring, plumbing, completing engine installation, refrigeration and all the navigation equipment, winch’s etc.

Finally, after 3 years, the launching occurred at the Paynesville Slip Yard. Not long after the launching, the owners sailed the yacht from Paynesville all the way around the coast to Eden and return. The workmanship on the yacht proved to be sound as few problems were encountered. After this long project was completed, the yacht was sold.

Graeme had had a long and fulfilling life. Many people owe their current good health to the healing power of his hands. He has perused his hobbies with a passion that has seen him as a stand out golfer in Gippsland. Graeme and his wife Maree now live an enjoyable and active life in Paynesville.

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Age of

the

Riesling

By Frank Butera

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Words such as pureness and clarity are often associated with Riesling.

Its bright, fresh flavour profiles come to light with understanding that it is not about wine making when it comes to Riesling it’s about the land, atmosphere, and dedicated viticulture. The ability to transmit a sense of place and vintage like no other variety, through minerality and spice, combined with fruit. The structure is typically pristine, with the best Rieslings showing wonderful mouthfeel, intensity and purity, incredible balance with both power and elegance, texture, and length.

However, there is no question that Riesling ages very well, developing complexity and changing in the bottle as it travels in time from youth to maturity.

Young Rieslings are almost always about primary fruit, that display flavours that range from apple and pear to peach and apricot, mixed in with citrus notes from lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange. My favourite descriptor when I can use it combination of orange, lemon and lime rind blend. Then the aromas and flavours of herbs, spices and minerality. No other white grape transmits its place of origin like Riesling.

I was inspired to write an article on (aged) Riesling after receiving a request from our viticulture consultant seeking aged Riesling. As it turned out, deep in our underground barrel cellar there was some 2009 Bass River Single Vineyard Riesling. The wine was stored in screw cap, which absolutely assists in persevering Riesling characters. I shared a bottle with our team, and we were pleasantly surprised with our findings.

The evolution as Riesling ages often contributes to the complexity and enjoyment of the wine. As Riesling ages, the fruit recedes and yields to aromas and flavour of beeswax, lanolin, butter, smoke (in good way), pine, or pine forest, honey and butterscotch, earthy mushroom, woodsy spice, lemon candy and citrus preserve. Any residual sweetness located in the wine bonds with the acidity resulting a more textural and drier expression of the wine. The acidity and minerality remaining the structural backbone, keeping the finish long and vibrant.

Well-made Rieslings can be enjoyed both young and aged.

Riesling has higher natural acidity than many other varieties, and it is this acidity that makes Rieslings so wonderfully vibrant when young and delivers the structural integrity to age beautifully, longer than many other wines.

The best Rieslings can enjoy a very long life – some for many decades.

However, a mature Riesling will display different characters to a young wine. As they age the palate broadens, and the bright fruit of their youth evolves. Citrus remains dominant; typically, the fresh lime develops to a richer style, some with undertones of mandarin, while the lemon takes on some richer marmalade flavours.

At two to three years of age, Rieslings start to show hints of their secondary characters, and over the next few years they will display both primary and developed characters. It is a wonderful evolution. Great wines will show their age through their increasing complexity and yet can still look youthful well into their second decade, and for some, far beyond.

Riesling grows best in cool climates, although it needs plenty of late season sunshine to ripen fully while retaining its zingy acidity. In areas like the Mosel and Wachau Valleys, the vineyards are planted on steep slopes close to rivers, to maximise warmth and exposure to sunlight. In Gippsland, Riesling plantings are scares, although the varietal has been well rewarded. When P. J. Charteris was the Chief Wine Judge for the Gippsland Wine Show in 2016, PJ claimed that Riesling was the distinctive white wine grape that is suited to the Gippsland region. Of course, we don’t need to venture too far south to understand the success with cool climate Tasmania Riesling.

“Great Riesling is like a very large orchestra playing very quietly” It is without doubt Riesling lends itself to many styles, from young and dry to middle aged and mature for the experienced palates to the off-dry, semi-sweet or Iced Wine examples that are a labour of love in Gippsland.

There is something to be said that if you ask any sommelier what their favourite wine style is to drink, I’d suggest that nine time out of ten will suggest Riesling.

Gippsland has low acreage of Riesling vines, but seek some out and if you like it, age Gippsland Riesling. From my recent experience with a 12-year-old bottle of Bass River Riesling, we have a bright future with Riesling on selected sites in the Gippsland region.

Frank Butera is the chief wine maker at Bass River winery. frank@bassriverwinery.com

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Our Mission Delivering person centred care to improve health, wellbeing, care experience and health outcomes, with our community.

Our Vision Excellence in care.

Our Values Well-being, Equity, Compassion, Accountability Respect, Excellence.

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Bass Coast Health (BCH) is the major public healthcare provider within the Bass Coast Shire in South Gippsland. It is an integrated health service providing a range of acute, sub-acute, ancillary medical, aged and ambulatory care services. BCH is fully accredited by the Australian Council on Health Care Standards (ACHS) and is equipped to offer a broad range of specialist medical, surgical and obstetric services including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gynaecology, paediatrics, urology and rehabilitation.

Aged Care residential services are provided in the Kirrak House residential care facility located on the Wonthaggi campus and Griffith Point Lodge Hostel situated at San Remo, overlooking Cape Woolamai.

All residential aged care services are accredited though the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA).

New device connects Emergency Department with Royal Eye & Ear Hospital

$2.5 million investment in Armitage House

Top nurse working together to increase regional health outcomes

Bass Coast Health is proud to be safely delivering maternity services, with a highly trained maternity team, in a spacious and updated Maternity unit.

Armitage House, a cherished place where sub-acute care is provided at Wonthgaggi Hospital, will receive a $2.5 million upgrade through the Victorian Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund on the back of significant community support and fundraising delivered in 2019-20.

In the midst of a global pandemic that transformed the way health services are delivered, while continuing to expand and build new services, the Directors of Nursing (DONs) of four health services remained connected to strengthen our region’s health and wellbeing. Last week, with Victoria now COVID free they were able to meet in person at Bass Coast Health in Wonthaggi.

Midwifery and maternal health appointments are available at Wonthaggi and Cowes and free post-natal care is available in the home after birth.

Families from Grantville, Cowes and Inverloch, and everywhere in between are choosing Bass Coast Health to support their birthing and parenting journey locally.

Continuity of care is at the heart of our service. To learn more contact (03) 5671 3201.

BCH offers a wide range of community and welfare services that are provided at Wonthaggi, San Remo, Inverloch, Grantville, Corinella and Cowes.

“In 2019 we saw our community come together to raise money for this much loved local facility; many lives has been touched through the exemplary care offered by Armitage House staff.

Victorian Government investment in this facility will enable Bass Coast Health to see significant improvement for our community and our staff,” said Jan Child.

Refurbishment to Armitage House will assist Bass Coast Health to mitigate clinical risk and upgrade essential services.

BCH’s Community Services provide a wide range of allied health and clinical nurse consulting services that include assessment and treatment to clients within the Gippsland South Coast. These services are delivered in a variety of settings including inpatients, outpatients, residential aged care facilities and in clients’ homes and embraces the Active Service Model as its underlying philosophy. All community services are accredited through ACHS or AACQA.

The four health services work together as part of the South Coast Gippsland Partnership (SCGP). The SCGP has patient care and improved services front and centre of its agenda. Examples of their joint effort include an integrated health promotion effort, definin capability in maternity services, Allied health educator partnerships, collaborating on Flexible Local Patient Transport Programs and a joint Disability Action Plan and support for local engagement and action.

Wonthaggi Hospital 235 Graham Street, Wonthaggi Vic. 3995 Phone: 03 5671 3333 Fax: 03 5671 3300 basscoasthealth.org.au gippsland lifestyle autumn ����

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5

Strategies

TO EAT MINDFULLY AT WORK & NOT SKIP OR SHOVEL LUNCH “Mindful eating is eating with intention whilst paying attention.”

Kati Konersman

Do you ever find yourself busy at work? Silly question I know! You are always busy at work.

How does this impact the way you eat? Do you skip or shovel your lunch?

You are worried about the meeting you need to prepare for or the report that needs to be submitted.

Perhaps you just lose track of time and skip lunch altogether. Or you give yourself a 6min lunch break just enough time to shovel it in before the next client arrives.

As a Corporate Health & Performance Coach, I often see employees skipping or shoveling lunch. It is important that you get the vitamins and minerals for cell growth and regeneration. To fuel your body as well as your mind for clarity of thought, optimal decision making, efficiency and productivity. Making the right food choices and taking the time to nourish yourself promotes optimal physical and mental health.

HERE ARE 5 STRATEGIES TO MINDFULLY EAT AT WORK SO THAT YOU NURTURE AND NOURISH YOUR BODY AND MIND. SCHEDULE IN YOUR LUNCH BREAK Sounds simple right! Just as you schedule in a meeting or an appointment. Block out the time in your diary for a lunch break. In an environment, that has no work distractions, buzzing email notifications or pinging messages. When we are distracted, it becomes harder to listen to our body’s signals about food and other needs. Move away from your desk and go to the tea room, cafeteria or outside in the sunshine.

Direct the focus on your lunch and nurturing your body. Give your brain a break from work. You will reap the benefits of this time out whilst enjoying good nutritious food. When you return to your desk you will be ready to smash out some work.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY’S HUNGER SIGNALS. It is important to tune into the mind-body connection and tap into our innate ability to understand our bodies signals when it comes to hunger.

The body releases a hormone called ghrelin, which is produced by the stomach. It triggers receptors in the brain to inform us that we are hungry.

Ghrelin also has protective effects on the cardiovascular system and plays a role in the control of insulin release.

True mindful eating is listening to your body’s signals for hunger. Is your stomach growling, low energy, light headed? So often we eat just when our mind tells us rather than our bodies. We may eat just because of emotion, stress, anger, frustration. Listen to that mind-body connection.

Does my brain tell me I am hungry? Is my body giving me the signals?

NOURISH YOUR BODY AND MIND WITH A NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEAL Often I witness employees skipping there lunch breaks and sipping on sodas or energy drinks to keep up their energy levels. They are simply filling their body with empty carbs and high sugars with no nutritional value. This peaks their blood sugars and the need for insulin to break the glucose down.

Short bursts of energy are followed by slumps in blood sugar leading to tiredness, poor decision making abilities, potential workplace injuries as well as increasing their risk for type 2 diabetes. I also witness employees shovelling in a quick takeaway bite. Meat pie, hamburger, crappy processed food that is not giving them the essential vitamins, minerals and nourishment the body requires.

It's important not only to consider and be mindful of how we eat but also what we are eating. Look at your prepared lunch and ask yourself these questions. Is this meal going to nourish my body? Do I have a healthy balance and good variety? Is this meal going to promote optimal physical and mental health so that I will continue my work day productively?

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR FOODS JOURNEY Now this may sound weird. But we have become so disconnected with our foods journey. We don’t often consider where our food has come from to arrive here on a plate before us. All the people involved from those who planted and harvested the raw ingredients to those that packed transported and stocked the shelves. The person that lovingly prepared the meal for you with care and love. Being mindful of the elements that grew the food from the earth’s soil, water and weather.

As you consider and appreciate everything that went into this meal. From the people to the earths elements to your much loved one that prepared it for you. With mindfulness and gratitude not just around the meal on the plate but the beyond us bigger picture may just instigate wiser choices that are healthy for our body, mind, environment and the sustainability of our future.

Stay Healthy, Chrissy

DEVELOP HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIOURS. We often create habits and routines for ourselves which aren’t always contusive to healthy mindful eating. Eating as we are working, walking or even driving. Habits are formed and can be difficult to break. It is important to check in with yourself around your habits with eating. Are you eating on the go? Are you shovelling food in whilst you are working?

Are you skipping meals all together?

Recognize the habit then formulate a plan for healthier mindful eating moving forward. Sitting down in a suitable environment, taking the time to enjoy your nutritious meal. Being focused and mindful of every mouthful and enjoying the taste, flavours and aromas. Take time between mouthfuls to determine if you are full.

CHRISTINE BOUCHER

We often habitually finish what is on our plate when our bodies are full.

We produce a hormone called Leptin which is released from fat cells.

Leptin signals to the brain which can be slow and we often overeat before we realize that we are full.

of Natural Health Balance is a corporate Health and Performance Coach transforming organisations to work productively and cohesively as a team. Improving the health of staff and the well-being of business through performance management, health coaching and team building to improve productivity, performance and profitability.

By taking our time listening to our mind as well as our bodies for when our hunger is satisfied. You will feel a sense of peace or control, as well as a loss of interest in eating. If you keep eating it can be uncomfortable.

For example, your stomach might hurt and feel bloated, and you might feel lethargic. Your goal should be to eat just enough to achieve fullness.

Christine is dedicated and passionate about Health & Wellness. Holding a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, MBA and specialising in Intensive Care Nursing. With over 20 years’, experience working in the healthcare industry.

www.naturalhealthbalance.com.au

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pounding the pavement with a purpose WORDS: CHRISTIE NELSON Photos by Greg Price, Heart Foundation My Marathon TM. I know for some people, lacing up their runners, pulling on some activewear and getting up early or braving the elements to go walking or running, is not necessarily their idea of fun. I have however, witnessed many people (and have been one) who have pushed outside their comfort zone when driven by a cause, an ability to raise awareness or funds for something meaningful, support others, to honour someone’s memory, to aim to meet a personal achievement and when there is a sense of community that surrounds the activity. Other than the pure intention of exercise; these are strong, motivating factors driving people towards a purposeful goal.

There are numerous ‘awareness’ types of activities, groups and charity events established that bring people together on foot, (such as Relay For Life), on wheels (Tour De Cure, Around The Bay In A Day) or even into a squat or sit- up position that not only help meet a common goal but can help create new health habits for some that may last a lifetime or others, perhaps only the time the event is running for.

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One of the biggest pluses of walking or running is that it takes little skill, no equipment, it can be done any where and it’s free!

Parkrun is a well-known global activity and a weekly favourite of many and is ideal for all age groups and abilities. It was established by a group of English running mates in 2004 who wanted to run socially, and it began with a stopwatch and some washers from hardware, followed by a natter and a coffee at the shop after the five-kilometre run. The technology has since improved to the use of barcodes of course, but the coffee shop tradition continues in the same fashion.

A more recently established weekly event is The Man Walk which is scattered throughout Australia and a couple of places overseas. The Man Walk was created as an informal, inclusive space for men to help support their mental and physical wellbeing by being able to walk and talk freely in a supportive environment and know that it is okay to do so.

In the Gippsland area, the walks have begun in Traralgon, Sale and Phillip Island and the website lists other locations where the walks meet up and it would be great to see this grow further afield as mental health becomes less of a taboo subject and a more supportive one.

I was fortunate enough to participate in My Marathon for the Heart Foundation last year and support a good friend and her family who have been impacted by heart disease, (Sarah Price, pictured, was also a My Marathon ambassador), to raise an incredible amount of awareness and funds for heart health by logging our kilometres throughout the month to tick off the equivalent of a marathon. The power of sharing our team journey, warts and all, with the broader community was extremely powerful and helped spread an incredible message about the early warning signs of heart disease, honoured a treasured soul, got a lot of us moving for the month and through the power of support of each other saw many of us exceeding our expected kilometre and fundraising goals.

I love getting out into nature and find walking or running an incredible form of mental and physical therapy. It can be great to do on your own or with others, so I encourage you to give it a try with your own sense of purpose, if nothing else and benefit from the incredible health benefits listed below.

Happy trails!

TOP REASONS FOR WALKING OR RUNNING. Increased cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke Improved management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes Stronger bones and improved balance Increased muscle strength and endurance Reduced body fat { Ref 2 } Improves memory, focus and thinking skills Improves sleep so you feel more energised the next day Reduces stress and anxiety Prevents against depression Builds your coping and resilience Can help distract from negative thoughts Gives you a sense of accomplishment Offers opportunities to socialise with others { Ref 2 }

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM BEYOND BLUE ABOUT HOW TO START EXERCISING IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO GET STARTED: Start small Make it part of your routine Do something you enjoy Set goals and monitor your progress Make a commitment to others { Ref 1 }

Ref:https://walking.heartfoundation.org.au/whats-on/blog/the-benefits-of-exercise-on-mental-health Ref 2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/ Christie is a busy mum, dual health and wellness business owner, business builder, professional social networker, President of the Southern Business Women’s Network and also a licensed estate agent.

Christie’s personal businesses can offer solutions and products to those seeking a positive change in their world.

For further information, please email youcanactivewear@gmail.com or go to www.youcanlifestyle.com.au | www.christienelson.arbonne.com youcanactivewearandlifestyle youcanactivewear christienelson0827

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mind heart the

is not qualified for matters of the

By Erin Miller

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MAKE DECISIONS FROM THE HEART AND USE YO U R H E A D TO M A K E I T W O R K O U T SIR GIRARD

The mind is no doubt a powerful vehicle for driving amazing insights and accomplishments and should be acknowledged and celebrated for that. But there is a risk when we reduce everything to the mind. For the mind is not qualified for matters of the heart.

We live in a society that places a lot of credence on mental intellect and mental intelligence (our mindset) where we applaud certificates, placements, diplomas, trophies, accolade’s, qualifications, and accomplishments. This is not to undervalue any of these things (I have accumulated many over the years myself) yet how often do we celebrate and recognise those who have followed their heart, listened to their intuition, or led from within?

We, human beings, are complex. Life is complex. But we often make it complicated.

By over thinking, analysing, and obsessingwhich happens in the mind and often leads us to experience feelings of being overwhelmed, anxiety, confusion, and uncertainty.

The key I believe is to embrace our complexity, but not over complicate it and that starts by moving beyond just engaging the mind and expanding our horizons to also address the wisdom that lies within our heart.

There is a complex interplay that happens between the mind and the heart, which many have become disconnected from. Understanding the dynamics of how one shapes the other and vice versa is an invaluable practice well worth exploring. We can work on our mindset but still hold pain, guilt, and sadness in our heart, which will undermine any positive mindset strategies we have in place if the heart remains burdened.

We have long been conditioned to believe that we must endure pain, suffering, sadness and to do things the hard way in order to move through life and yet I don’t know about you, but personally I refuse to believe that this is the only way to live out my days. It is the reason why I have dedicated the last 10+ years of my life to not only my personal growth journey but also to guiding others to do the same.

The more I work on expanding my heart, the more unwilling I have become to accepting negative emotions and feeling anything but good. And the more I recognise the correlation between the thoughts I have and how I feel at any point in time, the more intentional I am with my thinking.

Clear decisions are not made from a mind that is clogged up over thinking, over analysing and obsessing by making it mean something about us. From this place, there is simply no spaciousness for us to create and do life in a way that we desire.

Clarity comes from a clear heart, one that is free and open to feel. Decisions are made with ease, flow and from a place of alignment. We get one chance at this thing called life. The path of least resistance is a choice.

Erin Miller is a NLP life coach, mentor, writer and proud mama to 3 very active young boys.

Her previous career roles have been quite diverse and she has a background in hospitality/travel, disability/mental health and business management.

Trained in a variety of modalities including NLP, Life Coaching and as a Soul Modes Mentor, she has had the privilege to work with clients all around Australia and also runs empowerment workshops, retreats and group events.

For further information please call 0418 328 441 or visit my website www.erinmiller.com.au or follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

Do you have a question or a topic you would like Erin to write about? Send her an email at erin@erinmiller.com.au

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