43 gippsland lifestyle winter

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Winter issue #43 LONDON GIRL In South Gippsland YARRAM’S DECORATED MURALS Walls of Hope & Colour MILLIE’S ADVENTURES Loving Raymond Island CELEBRATE LATROBE VALLEY’S Maltese Heritage

ISSN 1838-8124

+ Regular Features Horoscope | Positive Lifestyle Tips | Millie’s Adventures |Canine Corner

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editorial winter #43 Winter in Gippsland Welcome to our Winter Edition 43.

I have to say it is great to be back!

After we released our autumn issue with the brilliant East Gippsland Fires special, and the groundswell of support for our friends in East Gippsland with the ‘Bring your empty esky’ promotion, who was to know just three weeks later that our lives would all change so dramatically.

Suddenly, we were all told to stay home, isolate, stop seeing family and friends, and ‘We’re all in it together’.

Fortunately, time has moved on and slowly but surely life is returning to some sort of normality. We then decided to resurrect our magazine by bringing the winter edition out in July. Like many other businesses we waited and well here it is, one month later than normal, our Winter Issue 43.

This edition has a mixture of various articles and features throughout all of Gippsland – and they do say variety is the spice of life. We also introduce three new people to our magazine, firstly Helen Taylor who is one of our new writers, and she relates her story of leaving London to live in Walkerville; and secondly, our new contributor Natalie Guest who is an Interior Specialist and is operating Taits Interiors, a long and trusted business, and shares with us her ideas on tailoring your interior styles. Thirdly, contributor, personal trainer Cristi from CGS Fitness, shows us how to achieve our fitness goals.

Again, I am immensely proud of our writers and contributors for putting together a great magazine in tough times. Also, a shout out to all our advertisers for your faith and support, you have kept us publishing since 2009.

We are a team at Gippsland Lifestyle, and as a team we have worked together, and the result is here for all to see.

Happy reading!

Doug Pell

our winter front cover London Girl in Gippsland featuring Helen Taylor Photography by Phil Cerbu www.philipcerbu.com

Mark Knight Cartoon

Re-opening Tourism (Mark Knight is the cartoonist for the Herald Sun) instagram @knightcartoons

our winter back cover

Virtue Homes Photography by Dave Aarons http://www.facebook.com/Open2view.gippsland/

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our content 6 8-10 12 16-17 20-22 24-25 26-29 30-31 32-33 34-37 38-40 42-45 50-51 56-57 60-63 66-67 70-73 74-75 76-77 78-81 82-83 84-87 88-89 90-91 92-93 94-97 98-100 102-3 104-5 106-7 108-9 110-111 112 113

GIPPSLAND LIFESTYLE | COAST | COUNTRY - Publishing Details KINGBUILT - Welcomes ‘The Star’ 8 star energy rating home TAITS INTERIORS IDEAS & INSPIRATIONS - Creating warmth WGCMA - Quietly working to improve Gippsland’s natural environment MILLIE’S ADVENTURES - Millie loves Raymond Island with Ken Roberts JOHN MUTSAERS ART EXHIBITION SNAPSHOTS - Held February 2020 THE INFINITE BIRDCAGE - Writing Competition winners’ prose GIPPSLAND GALLERY - What’s On in 2020/21 CURTIS AUSTRALIA - Importance of fine craftsmanship & customer service YARRAM’S WALLS OF HOPE - Yarram’s buildings transformed by Artist HEESCO YARRAM’S CONCEPTS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE MURAL - Quotes from the owners VENTNOR BEACH WALKS - Ventnor Common Bushland Reserve and Grossard Point BANDICOOTS – Back from the brink of extinction - Phillip Island Nature Parks CRAWFORD MARINE CRUISING - On the waters of Port Albert LONDON GIRL IN GIPPSLAND - A Londoner’s reflections on a new start KONGWAK - In the Valley of Peace FRESH FOOD AT THE FARM GATE - Flock, Stock & Basil in the Tarwin Valley LAMEZLEIGHS IS ONE OF A KIND - A quaint Mirboo North Café FRANK BUTERA - Say Syrah, Syrah - Pinot Noir TANKS FOR EVERYTHING - Unique family entertainment experience THE AFTERMATH - Great Alpine Highway Recovery after bushfires GIPPSLAND’S MALTESE HERITAGE CELEBRATED - Latrobe Valley Maltese Festa A LOCAL LOVE - Local Element Gifts WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES - Moving with the times: Mobile/Home delivery CANINE CORNER - Our best friends FOSTER & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW - Snapshots in February 2020 FOSTER TOWN - The Serendipitous Gold CGS FITNESS - Every little bit counts YOU ARE MORE RESILIENT THAN YOU THINK by Christie Boucher SHORTER DAYS & SHORTER FUSE by Christie Nelson USING A PEN & PAPER TO ENHANCE PERSONAL GROWTH by Erin Miller EDNEYS - More than just a service team | Edneys Leongatha KERRY GALEA’S WINTER HOROSCOPE - What’s in the stars WHERE DO I BUY THE WINTER GIPPSLAND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE?

our advertisers 115 77 65 46 2 57 23 3 68 49 47 114 48 31 19 14 55 41 46 48 11 64 53 41 55 7 54 19 5 52 69 13 54 58-59 18 23 15 101 15 111

ALEX SCOTT AND STAFF - Real Estate From the Mountains to the Sea BASS RIVER WINERY - Awarding winning wines BRENT SINCLAIR CATERING | FEAST ON US - Mobile catering COTTON ONTO CRAFT - All your craft, fabrics and materials CPK MCLAREN MOTORBODY - Motor vehicle body repairer CRAWFORD MARINE - Live the dream - Campion boats & more CURTIS AUSTRALIA - Helping your dreams come true EDNEYS LEONGATHA - Nissan + Hyundai car dealer - All new Nissan JUKE EVANS PETROLEUM - Featuring service station Korumburra South FINDING THE GRAIN - Handcrafted reclaimed timber furniture FLOWERS OF PHILLIP ISLAND - Creating Wedding flowers plus more G.J. GARDNER.HOMES - Display Home ‘Vista 267’ Drouin GENESTA HOUSE - Boutique B & B accommodation in the heart of Cowes GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY - Art for Everybody GRINTERS TRANSPORT SERVICES - Freight and overnight service GROW MASTER TRARALGON - Garden, fashion, giftware solutions HARRIET SHING MP - Member for Eastern Victoria HEATHER FAHNLE - Mosaic Artist - Mosaics by the Bay Classes ISLAND SHOES COWES PHILLIP ISLAND - Handcrafted EOS Brand and more JANE GARRETT MP - State Member for Eastern Victoria KINGBUILT - Building your forever home LEONGATHA RSL - Family friendly venue PHILLIP ISLAND RSL - A family friendly, modern venue RED TREE GALLERY - Art exhibitions for winter ROSEDALE BUTCHERS - Family owned country butcher - Meat and Seafood RUSSELL NORTHE MP - State Member for Morwell, Latrobe Valley SOUTH COAST FLOORING XTRA | SOUTH COAST FURNISHINGS - Interior needs SOUTH GIPPSLAND TANK ADVENTURES - Experience armoured fighting vehicles SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO - NINE NETWORK - Content Creation STOCKDALE & LEGGO - Phillip Island | Koo Wee Rup | Hastings Real Estate STONY CREEK GO KARTS - Fun for all the family – Go Kart hire TAITS INTERIORS - Textile design/soft furnishings for your home THE CORNER DISPENSARY - Organic, health, bulk foods and eco-friendly living VIRTUE HOMES - ‘Building Excellence’ New state-of-the-art homes WEST GIPPSLAND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY - Improvements WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES - Discover your Library on demand WHITEY’S FENCING - Timber paling/post & rail fencing and retaining walls WONTHAGGI MEDICAL GROUP - Medical services in Bass Coast WONTHAGGI MOTORCYLES & POWER EQUIPMENT - Horizon Boats WONTHAGGI NEWSAGENCY & LOTTO - Retailer for lottery, gifts, papers

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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 thelifestyle@dcsi.net.au ONLINE DIGITAL issuu.com/james448 WEB www.gippslandlifestyle.com FACEBBOOK facebook.com/lifestylegippsland INSTAGRAM gippslandlifestyle WRITERS Chris West, Lia Spencer, Anita Butterworth, JE Miller, Ken Roberts and Helen Taylor CONTRIBUTORS Erin Miller, Kerry Galea, Frank Butera, Christie Nelson, Christine Boucher and Natalie Guest PHOTOGRAPHERS Ken Roberts, Trevor Stow, Lia Spencer, Phil Cerbu and Doug Pell ADVERTISING Doug Pell and Maxine Sando EDITOR Maree Bradshaw

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.

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

Southern Colour 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.

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.

CREATIVE media101 PRINTERS 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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Southern Colour (VIC) Pty Ltd www.southerncolour.com.au

Southern Colour (VIC) Pty Ltd is environmentally conscious.

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

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

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

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WELCOME TO ‘THE STAR’

INSPIRED BY ITS 8 STAR ENERGY RATING

‘THE STAR’ 103 PARK LANE TRARALGON INSPIRED BY ITS 8 STAR ENERGY RATING, THIS HOME HELPS SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT, INCREASES YOUR COMFORT AND SAVES YOU MONEY, ALL WHILST BOASTING AN EARTHY, ORGANIC AND RESORT STYLE FEEL.

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Externally the product features are endless and mimic our most popular previous display home ‘The Amberly Manor’. Recycled timber posts, Adbri concrete block work, exposed aggregate, paired with soft earthy tones and a striking landscape to enhance the sophisticated design.

With 4 bedrooms or 3 and a theatre, one unique study, plenty of storage including a walk-in linen cupboard and a walk through laundry from the garage, this plan has been well thought out for a family’s needs and comforts.

Many highlights of this home include VELUX skylights, Wormy chestnut timber floors, beautiful Reece tapware along with Smeg cook top and appliances.

Beaumont Tiles feature throughout the home and our most popular raked ceiling is showcased in the living and dining.

All creating a spacious, light-filled sanctuary.

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN THOUGHT OF FOR THIS 30SQ HOME AND IS A DEFINITE MUST SEE. Like all Kingbuilt Display homes and floor plans, The Star can be tweaked to meet your unique needs and budget. Use this home and style as inspiration for your custom home build with Kingbuilt.

call 1300 546 428 or visit: www.kingbuilthomes.com.au

1300 546 428 | sales@kingbuilt.com.au | www.kingbuilt.com.au | ‘The Star’ 103 Park Lane Traralgon

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TAITS INTERIORS

ideas & inspiration

WINTER IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD IS COSY NIGHTS BY THE FIRE – FAMILY, FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD AND WINE AND A WARM, COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT. Creating that space can sometimes be challenging; not only financially but also creating the right ‘look’ for your home or special space without having an eye for interiors.

Custom made window furnishings are a longterm asset to your home and are beneficial from both an economical and environmental aspect – as well as obviously adding character and personality to your space. Using other soft furnishings such as beautiful throws and cushions, which are less permanent fixtures and perhaps introducing a Rug for the floor if you have timber or tiled floors, for added warmth and comfort.

It’s important to take into consideration the number of windows in a room and the aspect.

They might be south facing with not a lot of light coming through at any stage of the year.

This is where we need to maximise the light, so I would suggest some type of Blind, probably a Roman Blind which has a Blockout lining and different operation suggestions. Blinds are great in areas like this as they go up and out of the way, clearing the glass and allowing as much light as possible. South facing rooms commonly are cold and require good/better insulation – so a proper thermal Blockout lining will be a huge advantage. Roller Blinds can be an option but are definitely not as effective at keeping warmth in, and the cold out.

Curtains could be a good idea for an area like this, especially for larger windows. I often advise going past the width of the window if there is space, as this allows the stack of the Curtain to sit past the edges of the window.

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This again helps maximise the light flow into the room and at night when the Curtains are drawn, it gives the feeling of a much larger window. Teamed up with a Pelmet over the top – that’s the ultimate coverage, especially in Bedrooms, which is fantastic for shift workers, young children or adults sensitive to the light.

Another advantage of Curtains is the acoustic properties. If you are on a busy road or you wish to dull down noise from neighbours or another part of the house, fabrics are a great way to do this – the thicker the better!

Colours are another fabulous way of creating warmth – and make sure you choose some favourites. You are never going to be comfortable with colours you don’t like – even if they are ‘trendy’! Blues are huge this Winter and even though they are not typically ‘warm’ tones, teamed with Reds & Golds they can create a wonderful space to live in.

It’s such a personal experience being in someone’s home and I’m very conscious of listening to clients’ ideas and enhancing what is already there by making a few little changes or helping create a whole new feel for their home, whether it be established or brand new.

A big part of my job is to help make your house a home and I consider that a real priviledge.

With such a saturated DIY market on TV, in print and on social media these days, a lot of people have their ideas but aren’t quite sure how to execute them or if they will even work.

That’s when the professional has to lay down the law and mentions the reasons ‘why or why not’ that will or won’t work.

RELY ON KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD – PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN SHARE SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS – ‘FRESH EYES’!

TAITS INTERIORS – MY APPROACH When I first enter a client’s home, in my mind I’m immediately putting together the special pieces that people have. Gifts from family, friends or special bits ‘n bobs collected from travelling. We all have them. Some are harder to give up than others! I then incorporate those with fabric ideas; colours, textures, prints or embroideries that will work alongside and not fight with these special pieces.

Natalie Guest

INTERIOR SPECIALIST

Taits Interiors Est. 1963 The trusted name in Quality, Fabrics & Service for 57 years

Professional custom-made products and installation • Curtains • Blinds • Wallpapers • Lamps

• Cushions & Soft Furnishings • Tassels & Trims • Fabrics • Upholstery Services

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For advice, range and quality.

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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

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AT WONTHAGGI MOTORCYCLES AND POWER EQUIPMENT THERE IS A GREAT RANGE OF CLASS-LEADING MARINE EQUIPMENT. Whatever your need, whether for recreation or sport, you can trust Wonthaggi Motorcycles for your marine equipment needs.

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The Dirty Rivers Program aims to improve the health of the Gippsland Lakes (photo of Marlay Point)

The Thomson River

QUIETLY WORKING TO IMPROVE The work of a catchment management authority is often done away from the spotlight and public gaze.

Clearing willows in the upper stretches of the Thomson River. Rebuilding, fencing and planting indigenous vegetation along washed out banks of the Macalister, or ensuring water brings its life building qualities to wetlands in Heyfield or near Sale have both the benefit and the disadvantage of being tasks that can be done quietly, without fanfare and often with very few people in the community being aware that it even happened.

Established in 1997, the 10 catchment management authorities around the state are charged with the responsibility of managing land and water resources in Victoria.

For the large part that means working with landholders, often farmers, and community groups to protect and enhance landscapes around rivers, creeks and wetlands.

Over recent years, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority has undertaken many projects which whether examined individually or together will leave a lasting improvement on our local environment.

Funded by the state government through the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee, the Dirty Rivers Project may not sound appealing but has been quietly working to reduce sediment and nutrient inflows to the Gippsland Lakes.

Project Delivery Team Leader, Matt Bowler explains.

“We developed a project to target the rivers that were contributing the most sediment to the Gippsland Lakes and then we prioritised those catchments in which the dirty rivers were located.

“With the farmers and landowners along those rivers, we worked together to fence off the waterways and put native vegetation back in along the riverbanks,” says Matt.

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Matt explains that the Dirty Rivers Project grew from the Landcare movement and built on initial enthusiasm from landholders who wanted to do more to improve the health of rivers along their property.

“We can look at a map of the Macalister or the Thomson rivers, through the Macalister Irrigation District, and see that we’ve fenced off more of the waterway than is unfenced and we currently have more farmers wanting to be a part of this project than we have funding to help them.”

Matt believes that many farmers see the benefits of the work the CMA does and are keen to become involved.

“They’ve figured out the benefits of this themselves. They aren’t making money by cows wandering down to the river and getting stuck in the mud. They make their money on the irrigated pastures and so good fencing along their waterway helps their farm management and protects the river.”

Matt says small investments can bring ‘out of scale’ improvements to river health.

“Ten, 20, 30 metres of vegetation along a waterway makes a massive difference because then that vegetation holds the bank together, it can occasionally fall over and provide a few snags and snags are important for all the native fish that we have.

“That shelter provided by the vegetation is really good when it’s cold and windy in July or shade and shelter in February when it’s 40 degrees.”

Headwaters of the Avon River where remote willow work has been completed

GIPPSLAND’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Another project and the ultimate example of an out-of-sight job aims to remove willows from the upper reaches of the Thomson River. The work is characterised and relies on contractors walking lengths of the river, targeting individual trees.

Matt says the upper reaches of the Thomson, the Latrobe, the Avon and the Macalister rivers are, in many areas, untouched.

“They’re very scenic areas, featuring beautiful mountain rivers. We, as a catchment management authority, love those areas. They produce clean water, provide great habitat and there are only a few threats to them. One of the main ones is small pockets of willow.

Water for the Environment has been delivered to the Heyfield Wetlands

"As part of our Headwaters Program, we send remote crews in to treat willows where they stand and then they break down. It’s a relatively minor problem now but if we let it go, all those pristine mountain rivers will be ‘chocked up’ with willows, and willows aren’t a natural feature of Australian waterways. They dump all their leaves in autumn which can reduce oxygen and clog up the waterway.”

For more information about these projects and many others happening right across Gippsland visit wgcma.vic.gov.au or tune into the Gippslandscapes podcast wherever you listen to your pods.

School education program at the Heyfield Wetlands

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PAYNESVILLE LAKES ENTRANCE ORBOST CANN RIVER MALLACOOTA OMEO BAIRNSDALE SALE MORWELL MELBOURNE Grinter Transport offers a general freight service and an overnight service from Melbourne to as far as East Gippsland.

We have vehicles ranging from Ute's and Vans, 6 to 12 tonne Taut-liners with tailgates through to 22 pallet Taut-liners and Drop Decks and Trailers that can cart heavy machinery. Locally based third generation family owned business. Depots in Bairnsdale, Omeo and Melbourne. Have freight contract across Victoria that can pick-up or deliver to or from East Gippsland.

Towns we go to DAILY are: Bairnsdale, Omeo, Orbost, Marlo, Paynesville, Bruthen, Lake Entrance, Buchan and Melbourne.

TWICE WEEKLY: Mallacoota and Cann River

Contact Details

03 5152 5778

16 Lawless Street, Bairnsdale VIC 3875 Craig Grinter 0418 516 857 Fax (03) 5152 3329 Email bhaul@bigpond.net.au gippsland lifestyle winter ����

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Millie loves

Most people I know have been to Raymond Island at least once, I had been a couple of times a long time ago so Mills and I decided to visit again. I have to keep reminding myself that although Gippsland is a large region there are so many places that are suitable for day trips, Raymond Island being a perfect destination.

An easy drive up the Princes Highway to Bairnsdale, which is a great place to stop on the way or else take the turn to Paynesville and you are almost there. Paynesville is a pretty lakeside town ideal for holiday makers and boaties of all sorts. If you look closely there is even an interesting house that was featured on Australian Grand Designs. The ferry to Raymond Island goes at very regular intervals and is free for pedestrians and only $13 for a return car trip.

The ferry ride takes only minutes but is a great little experience and before you know it you are on the island! It’s sort of like going on a “safe” mini adventure and only a hop away from the mainland. Most visitors seem to leave their cars on the Paynesville side and take the free trip, especially as the 1.2 km koala trail starts at the park opposite the ferry. There are picnic tables and a playground as well as a large information board detailing lots of interesting koala facts.

Raymond Island is approximately 6km long and 2 km wide and only 200 metres across from Paynesville. The Tatungalung tribe who lived on the island were a clan of The Gunaikurnai people. The Bunjil-Baul (men of the island) lived on Gragin (Raymond Island). They were self-sufficient and as residents of the island laid claim to all the swans’ eggs in the area, using them for barter.

The signposted Koala walk takes about 20 minutes, though you will be stopping for longer than that as you make multiple koala sightings. You walk through the streets and once you get your eye in you begin to see them all around, usually perched dozing in the forks of trees. It’s a relaxing and pleasant way to wander the gum lined streets whilst also seeing the plentiful birdlife. The strange thing is seeing koalas in their natural habitat just in front of you, no zoo enclosures or fences to hinder the view.

They gaze down at you sleepily seemingly unconcerned at your presence.

As well as the wildlife there are walking tracks and boardwalks to wander along and plenty of houses, boats and nature to appreciate.

Later it was named after William Raymond, originally a magistrate from New South Wales who established himself as a squatter in Gippsland in the 1840’s. The island was used as a pastoral lease from 1865 until the early 1880’s. After 1893 a small township was surveyed on the south western end of the island. The townspeople relied on small holdings, fishing and fish smoking. Their produce was picked up by steamers travelling back and forth between Sale and Lakes Entrance. Agricultural production declined by the early 1930s, resulting in the schools closure in 1934. A ferry has been operating from Paynesville since 1889 and over the years there has been continual discussion about the possibility of building a bridge across to the mainland. Koalas were introduced in 1953 and there is now a large population there which is a major drawcard for visitors.

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There is no shop on the island so most visitors seem to wander around and look at the koalas then head back to the mainland on the ferry to discover the many food options in the Paynesville village shops.

Millie and I, with the advantage of the car, headed in the opposite direction to the ferry. I wanted to discover what was at the other end of the island.

The dusty gravel road lead us through the centre of the island past homes, bush and some grazing land until it ended at a beautiful secluded beach facing a large expanse of the Gippsland Lakes.

Raymond Island Photos & Words by Ken Roberts

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Millie loves Raymond Island It was obvious few visitors came this far at all. The deserted beach was so peaceful and the view across the water was stunning. There were many graceful black swans gathered and swimming slowly across the view. It was such a lovely hidden gem, the perfect place to sit and enjoy the serenity and made me thankful yet again for living in such a fantastic and diverse region as Gippsland.

We drove back via a different road, discovering the site of the old school and stopping to see a family of kangaroos and more koalas. Along the shore we looked at the many different boats moored at the jetties and the colourful beach hut style houses. Visiting Raymond Island was such a relaxing and enjoyable experience!

Another quick adventure on the ferry and then a visit to the bakery for some lunch. We parked along the foreshore and I was interested to discover that Paynesville played a small role in World War two as a base for RAAF Crash boats. Local women were employed in the “spotting tower” watching for downed planes. There are so many interesting facts about this region that you can always discover.

Mills and I headed back home. I sometimes like to take the back road through Bengworden. My forebears were early settlers in Perry Bridge and I like to give a nod to them as I pass. Tom Bedggood, my great great uncle, left there in 1916 to join the forces in France on the Somme. He died in November 1917 and I made a pilgrimage last year to visit his grave in Étaples France, taking a few Perry Bridge gum leaves from his home to lay at his gravestone. Another in the rich tapestry of stories from our wonderful Gippsland.

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OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE

39th SOLO EXHIBITION of JOHN MUTSAERS HELD ON 23RD OF FEBRUARY 2020 AT ARTSPACE GALLERY WONTHAGGI The Infinite Birdcage, the latest series exploring the right to freedom for all people. It consisted of twelve paintings, twelve drawings and one sculpture, all laden with symbolism and metaphors.

Part of the exhibition was a writing competition. John Mutsaers said, “I have always believed that the highest form of art is writing, because writers use words to engage readers on a one-to-one basis creating individual pictures in our minds.”

Visit John’s website www.johnmutsaers.com for more information.

Mary and John Matsaers – ‘The Infinite Birdcage’ – Come to the Table

Yellow

Grandson Daniel, Daughters Alecia, Lorinda, Kylie and son Mike.

Victor Javorn, Neil Rankin, Nola Maxfield & Mary Ellen Campieni

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Mary and John Mutsaers with Jordan Crugnale (Member for Bass) and Brett Tessari (Mayor of Bass Coast Shire)

John and Monica Murphy

Mark Finsterer, Musician & Composer of “the Infinite Birdcage” music

Wendy Saphin & Frank Schooneveldt

Birdnest hair

Liane Arno, ArtSpace president

Going Home

Crows

Back: Joel Conroy and Mike Mutsaers | Front: Lorinda Mutsaers, Kylie Mutsaers, Alecia Minster, Mary and John Mutsaers

Rowena Ashley and Doug Kane

Longtime friend and mentor Peter Downie and John Mutsaers

Graeme Scott, Jillian Durance & Nick Stevens

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JOHN MUTSAERS

THE INFINITE BIRDCAGE WRITING COMPETITION

THE TIES THAT BIND BY CATHERINE WATSON

WINNER | CATHERINE WATSON

1. AIM LOW

What happened? The annual lunch of the corporate arseholes’ guild.

Some bloated plutocrat crapping on about his vision going forward.

More like a hundred ways to stuff the world. “Paradigm shift …

Results driven … thought leader …”

Yabber, yabber, bloody yabber.

Bottle by bottle, the talk got broader.

“Let’s line our ducks in a row,” said one.

Oh Christ! I’d had enough.

These guys are mental.

An avenging spirit, propelled by rage, I sliced through air, landed on the lectern, fixed them with a beady eye and commanded “Nevermore!”

They hardly missed a beat.

Death’s dark vale doesn’t rate with these blockheads. The only futures they care about are franking credits.

A cocky saw what I was up to.

“Give me a go,” he said.

He landed on the table.

“Toilet rolls at Woolies,” he warbled.

The other cockies took up the call.

“Toilet paper. At Aldis too.

Aisles and aisles of rolls.

No limit. Take your fill!”

You should have seen them scatter.

Bloody cockies. I dips me lid!

They nail it every time.

While I mess with the super-ego They go straight for the id.

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2 FREE AS A BIRD

The same thing every spring If I stand still too long that damned raven starts messing with my hair.

Free as a bird, they say.

How can you call a thing free that suddenly starts weaving twigs and doesn’t know why.

3 THE OPEN ROAD

To be in or not to be in That’s the question.

I’ve waited years. Finally!

She forgot to latch the door.

To fly, perchance to soar in the wild blue yonder!

Oh heavens! What fears may come so far from earth must give me pause.

I dunno. I might fly right back in.

It’s kind of nice in there.

She’s got this new seed mix.

Paradise, “highly palatable for your feathered friend”.

Winter nights are cosy.

She draws the curtains Lights the fire and turns the TV on.

Neighbours, nibbles, news.

Sometimes on a sunny day she puts me on the porch so I can talk to the wild birds.

I used to think … if only!

But I dunno, they seem a little rough to me.

A little scraggly.

They sure could use some Paradise mix.

“Feathered friends” are well and good but what would I talk to them about?

To stay; to go; No more Paradise mix; or Neighbours.

No more her.

But soft, she comes.

Quick, back inside!

And pull the door behind me.

4 NO STRINGS

“No strings,” he said.

“Just try it,” he said.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to stay.”

There are always strings!

5 THE SUDDEN TUG

Why at dusk the sudden tug, the overwhelming tenderness?

Daddy’s home, sweet peas.

6 SO MUCH TIME AND SPACE

“Chook, I heard it said that when the fires came and everything was lost some people felt relieved at the end of the old life.”

“And when the footy stopped and there were no more meetings or festivals, people marvelled at so much time and space.”

“Chook, when I went shopping and the shelves were bare I felt an unexpected lightness.”

“Mistress, you grow more like a chook every day.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE INFINITE BIRDCAGE WRITING COMPETITION 12 MY HEART SOARS WITH HERS

They said it couldn’t work.

“You can’t have a cow and crow.”

“Not crow,” I said. “Raven.”

“Crow, raven, that’s not the point.

A cow can’t be with a bird.

It’s not natural. It’s sick.

Stick to your own kind.”

7 A WOMAN’S WORK

The magical finish to the day an effortless sailing into a never-ending horizon of greys and blues and pinks.

Oh damn! I forgot to get something for tea. I’d forget my wings if they weren’t screwed on.

Now where did I leave my babies?

9 THE FAMILY CURSE

“Oh what a beautiful morn …”

Hang on! What’s so beautiful??

Lonely bird in a little cage.

Why burst into joyful song?

Wittgenstein would say I sing because I have no choice.

That’s what canaries do.

Dulcet tones and delicate trills are the family burden. Did my father curse his father, I wonder, and so on down the line?

Well this little bird won’t play the game.

No more singing till you open the door of this damned cage and let me out!

Cage. The very word is like a bell to toll me back from thee to my sole self.

And yet I’m trilling still.

Perhaps I sing therefore I am.

8 MY KIND

But why an unkindness?

A conspiracy of ravens?

Officer, get me a lawyer.

I’ve been racially profiled.

10 SET FREE

“Give me liberty or give me death,” she said. They shot her.

My own kind? Heaven forbid.

That endless standing around, chewing the cud, waiting …

“The grass is greener on the other side,” we say, and wisely nod.

But no one does anything about it.

Not my Raven. She’s off on a whim.

Brings me news of what’s happening over the hill and down the dale.

Ducking, diving, weaving, plummeting ...

To see her somersault, oh bliss! Though earthbound, my heart soars with hers.

Of course there were confusions.

She likes dead things. I eat grass.

She’s Cancer, a little bit fey.

I’m Taurus, of the earth.

She calls me her rock.

At first her voice grated.

But I’ve grown attached to that gravelly caw.

She’s seen me at my worst.

The syringe of semen shoved in.

The midnight calf yanked out.

My daily waddle to the dairy, Swollen tits swinging, Farmer Joe’s angry curses and brutal blows.

And at the end of five years’ toil the final journey on the cattle truck from which no cow returns.

You thought we didn’t know?

We learn it with our mother’s milk.

Not that there’s too much of that.

Our time on earth is short.

Make the most of it. Enjoy the nuzzle of the autumn sun, the glory of the winter moon.

Friendship. Love. A feed of corn.

Be kind to one another. Don’t bleat.

The same fate awaits us all.

Even you and Farmer Joe. You’re the ones getting and spending as if there’s no end.

Even My Raven, queen of the air, Knows it comes to all. The downward spiral, the death fall.

13 NO WORRIES

Of course I don’t mind!

I don’t feel a thing.

But thanks for asking.

14 THIS ONE’S FOR THEM

Here’s to the ones who kept playing the horns as the ship went down

Here’s to the one who held up a flower as the tanks rolled into Prague

Here’s to the one who didn’t give up her seat and move to the black section

Here’s to Tank Man who refused to stay home after the massacre

Here’s to the one who hired the blacklisted worker and lost his own job

Here’s to the one who said girls should be taught so the Taliban shot her

Here’s to the one who kept writing the articles that annoyed the Kremlin

Here’s to the one who never stopped believing during 30 years in prison

Here’s to the ones who linked arms and sang as the firing squad took aim

Here’s to all the unknown ones who spoke truth to power and wore the consequences

Here’s to the valiant ones.

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JOHN MUTSAERS

THE INFINITE BIRDCAGE WRITING COMPETITION FIRST RUNNER-UP | KAREN BATEMAN CROOKED HEART

BY KAREN BATEMAN I caught the morning southerly and flew to the trees, to the pale ground near the creek, near her house. I tip tapped on the window, one two three, and out she came and fed me milk bread and fixed me with her glare, her fierce stare, her stone face. I flew, smooth, gentle, up her crepe paper arms, slight nick, no fuss. I placed a feather in her roost, slotted it in just above the tender part of her ear.

I tell her how yesterday I saw the pretty parrots, screechy and showy in their depthless splendour. Flapping from tree to tree. Such slap dash attitudes, bound to the mirror, chained by their beauty. I told her how in its simplest form, beauty is a curse and a lifelong burden and those who have it are reluctant to give it up. I told her how I swooped them. I chased them down. I crawcrawed in their ridiculous ears. I flew back and forth, back and forth, across the suburban gardens, across the rose gardens, and searched for nest boxes and when I found them, I pecked and scratched and beak-sawed my way in and saw the pretty little eggs, dusky pale, and I crick cracked them open and ate the worm limbed babies.

I tell her don’t snish your mouth at me, at least I am an honest carnivore, but she shoo shoos me away so I scare the doves from her bird bath and shit on her gardening shoes.

There is life and there is death. It’s that simple. Bookends to an existence, either long or short, but all ending the same way. In the ground, in a furnace, on a pyre, it’s all disposable in the end. Bone dust on the wind, mangy maggot food, fleshy strips in the mouths of vultures.

I followed the Welcome Swallows at dawn. Across the desiccated paddocks, across the marshland, I watched their greedy acrobatics. I watched them weave through the insect fugs, swooping in figure of eights, in deep dives and short pull ups. Tail streamers catching the early breeze, short beaks funnelling food.

I swoop flew into them and caw cawed at one, then another, then another. I lassoed around them and under them and through them. I flew further, further, further still. I flew across the paddocks to the drab suburbs.

I flew across housing tenements and playgrounds. I flew across church towers, across cities and continents. I flew across rivers and seas and oceans. I flew to the sun and back.

Back to the half-dead gum tree on the small rise. The small rise at the edge of a paddock, the paddock at the edge of a small town. I scraddled up the bark with my click clack claws and ruffledy feathers, picked insects out of crevices, ate spiders from curled leaves, snick snacks.

I fixed my eyes on the bark wounds. The dark wounds.

The knife words of long dead hopes. Rough cast crooked hearts. John loves Ella. Max loves Clair. Teenage fancies, rainbow reveries. Boring, snoring. Half-baked yawning.

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I watched her once, take off these shoes and scrunch her toes into the ground. Push her toes into the dirt and wait, and wait, and wait and hold her palms out to the windy sky and stomp her feet flat hard on the ground and smile a secret, sly smile. An arrogant smile. No crumpled old persons home for her. No shackled death. No fusty rooms and stale cake. Give her the sky! Give her the warm earth and loss and love and pain. Her blood runs hot! Give her the gift of loneliness over the snare of security. I loved her then, in my dark bird heart. In my ancient bird heart.

I perambulate and ramble. I promenade and fluff a bit then at dusk, I flew towards the furious wind. Across the barley grass and lavender, along the stone mouth near the water’s edge, I rode the storm surge, I rode the wind currents. Whooossshh! Along the curve of the southerly, sea spray and salt wind. The magnificent fury! I braced into the rain thrashing wind, flung out my feathers, flung wide my wings and screamed my bird scream.

Back, back through the rain gleaming streets, past the lamp lit windows where the truth comes out. Where the shifty humans, take off their day faces, their smirky grin day faces. You can’t trick a trickster! I see them come home at the end of the day and remove their grin and bear it faces, their neat as a pin faces and they sprawl!

They lounge! They scratch! They leer and lust and belch.

They sneer. They take pills with whisky and look up old loves. They wallow in their blue funk and regret. I see their clean faces, their true faces. You can’t fool a fooler!

Then on the distant highway, a soft thud. Hot blood on the roadside, splattered on the verge, splattered on the leaves. Fur and bone and flesh. I stuffed my head into the stomach and pulled out the still-warm entrails. Stuffed my head into the brain space and hopped around a bit.

I wiped my beak on the grass and listened to the night treats. The papery rusk of the trees, the snuffle of some small creature, slight moan on the breeze. I smelled moss, the mushroomy earth, salt fret on a smoke wind.

An owl swooped.

I soft glide back and clawed at a branch on the half dead gum tree, on the small rise, the small rise at the edge of the paddock, the paddock at the edge of the small town and I listened. I heard the powdery sigh of a compelled moth, I heard the sorrow-bark sigh, I heard the love-past sigh, I heard the little death sigh. I heard her sigh of ache, of age and loss and I flew.

I flew under the brilliant concentration of night, the magnificent stars, the slip of a moon, back to the trees near the pale ground, near the creek, near her house.

I snook across her pillow and placed a twig, careful, careful, wove it in her roost, between some threadbare memories. I told her how earlier, by the creek, for a moment the wind stilled and the stones, in their ancient wisdom, sat quietly as the water journeyed back to the source and the graceful willows swayed. Then a flurry of wind, a smatter of rain and a twig broke loose and came crashing and tumbling through the trees, scatter-catting the possums and the rats, rattling the cows and sheep in the paddocks, in their docile slumber. And I tell her how sometimes the idea of fear is enough, is all it takes to scatter cat a forest, a town, a people.

I beak whisper into her roost, remember when? When you knifed open the oysters, your sun-warmed salty skin, your obedient fingers. The smudge of fire at the beach edge, the cold flash of the midnight swim. Remember your blood running hot. Remember your toes in the dirt. Remember your supple limbs, running, dancing.

Remember running with the wind, running along the beach, dancing in the garden, dancing in the kitchen.

Remember being at the edge of reason and jumping. And I tease back into her the bloom, the oil, the red sweep of life. And I tell her secrets, all the lovely secrets. I whisper them to her in the night. In her dream ear, in her night eyes. And I remind her again, again, again and again, that she still has wings. She’s always had them. So fly.

JOHN MUTSAERS

THE INFINITE BIRDCAGE WRITING COMPETITION SECOND RUNNER-UP | WENDY SAPHIN THE KEY TO FREEDOM

BY WENDY SAPHIN At the exhibition I am immediately drawn to the small drawing of the pelican.

It is in a group of drawings of toy birds. Some on wheels, some wind up, with keys in their backs. Each toy has a red bead attached to it. A focal point, a commonality.

The Pelican, majestic, thermal floaters with hollow bones.

Their size bearing no relation to their weight. Graceful in flight awkward on land.

I am momentarily transported to the beach, where I monitor and feed them. The sun is shining and a cool breeze blows. The pelicans watch me expectantly. They know I am going to serve morning tea to them as they make their way to the Bay Supermarket. Pelicans are pescetarian. The bay is well stocked.

Back in the gallery, I look more closely at the drawings.

Twelve birds, all of which need the assistance of another being to be able to move. Not free but reliant on the goodwill of others. My mind asks, ‘what would it be like to be unable to move, much less be free, without the intervention of another?’

I think about all the sentient beings that are not free.

I embrace my own perceived freedom. Birds, a symbol of freedom. ‘The Infinite Birdcage’, an exhibition exploring the theme of freedom.

I move around the gallery.

Birdcages explore the idea that we are not free.

The concept that we create our own and return to them for safety is formed. I consider my own birdcages, keys and wheels that restrict my freedom. Some are selfimposed, others imposed by others, but allowed to remain. Some are in the process of construction.

I return to the drawings and again I am drawn to the pelican. It is not an Australian Pelican. European, I would say. Yellow bill and legs. The artist is of European descent.

‘Does this contribute to his species choice?’ I wonder. ‘Is it their simple colouring of yellow and white which seems to be consistent throughout the bird series?’

The Australian Pelican has dark grey legs and a pink bill, the longest in the avian world. The yellow spectacles from which it gets its scientific name, pelicanus conspicillatus, are a mark of maturity, as are the black wings. Juveniles have white spectacles and grey wings.

The pelican is the symbol for selfless love. A female pelican will pierce her breast in order to feed her young.

In Christianity it is the symbol of piety. I wonder what it would be like to need another being to turn the key in your back before you can move. What must it feel like to be totally reliant on another to free you from your inability to move? Is thought subject to the turning of a key?

Is freedom conditional upon another’s willingness to turn your key?

Several weeks have passed since I was at the gallery posing questions to myself about keys, wheels, birds, cages and freedom. I am gazing across the bay; in my mind, I am back at the exhibition. I visualise the pelican which might be able to reach his own key with his long bill. I worry about the duck, his bill too short to free himself. I wonder which I am. I think I am a pelican.

I contemplate the possibility that I may have morphed to duck. Sometimes I feel that I no longer feel. I ask myself, ‘has my key rusted? Where do I find the oil to loosen it? What is needed to turn my wheels? Is not feeling, freedom?’

Then it occurs to me.

Positivity is my key.

When the waves of life pick me up, I surf them to the shore. Learning to surf the mind was one of the best things I ever did. It wasn’t easy! Don’t think I have never had wipe outs! I have had many but I am a strong swimmer. I love swimming! As do pelicans! They love to swim and float and in nature they don’t have keys and ducks don’t have wheels. Again, I think about the drawing I was so drawn to. I mull over the questions it raised for me. I am transported to the gallery and the question of the Infinite Birdcage. I consider the directions my musings have wandered and the infinite places they may still go in response to the theme of freedom.

A lifetime of pondering awaits me. I am also drawn to learning more about the spiritual meaning of the pelican and to creating its image in many different mediums.

That is a birdcage I am willing to fly into.

For me, I conclude, freedom is a state of mind.

It seems to me that learning to turn your own key needs to be a priority in life. Not an easy accomplishment, given the key is in a place almost impossible to reach.

Not visible, behind you, inside you. I look at the pelican drawing again. His bill is long enough to reach his key.

What about the duck? No hope, short billed. Wheels, not a key, but his bill won’t reach his wheels either.

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WHAT’S ON

GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY

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.

UNTIL JANUARY 24, 2021

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

UNTIL NOVEMBER 8

Spanning the colonial to the contemporary, this expansive and illuminating exhibition presents a vivid account of the influence of place on the cultural imagination.

Rodney FORBES & Owen RYE Mariner and the Mermaid 1990 Painted ceramic 46 x 36 x 36cm Collection Gippsland Art Gallery Artworks Gallery Collection Donated by Norman & Petah Creighton, 2018

THE CIRCUS OF LIFE – PETER COLE UNTIL JULY 26

Born in Bairnsdale and currently living in Venus Bay, Peter Cole is a true Gippsland artist, his studio and home overflowing with bright and colourful creations. The Circus of Life invites the viewer to step inside the sacred space of the studio and learn more about the art and creative practice of one of Gippsland’s prominent sculptors.

Cole’s works are largely autobiographical, depicting his reaction to oppression in its various social, political and personal forms. He states, “there is evidence in the work of my anger at the many injustices and wanton environmental destruction I see happening around the world”.

Using birds, animals and human forms as symbols to express these ideas, Cole also draws on his early influences of art of other cultures during his travels in Mexico, South America, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Northern Australia.

Peter COLE Song for the Kimberley 2009 Mixed media 96 x 87 x 20cm Courtesy the artist

JAN HENDRIK SCHELTEMA – THE LOST IMPRESSIONIST UNTIL AUGUST 9

One of the most significant historical exhibitions presented by the Gippsland Art Gallery in recent times is The Lost Impressionist, which showcases the work of Dutch émigré artist Jan Hendrik Scheltema (1861-1941).

Until recently little was remembered about the Dutch-born artist, whose paintings are still found in galleries and private collections all over the world. In early 2019 over eight hundred pages of handwritten letters he wrote from Australia back home to his family came to light in The Netherlands. These letters are now in the State Library of Victoria.

Also discovered in 2019 were several of his paintings kept by his Dutch family and their descendants. These were recently gifted to the Gippsland Art Gallery by the current owner, Mr Gerrit ter Beek.

The exhibition features the seventeen paintings recently donated to the Gallery’s permanent collection, alongside Early Morning Start. Collectively these engaging works form a highlight of the collection, and make the Gallery the largest and most representative public repository of Scheltema’s work anywhere in Australia.

Jan Hendrik SCHELTEMA Early Morning Start, Gippsland c.1895 Oil on canvas 61.2 x 102cm Collection Gippsland Art Gallery.

Purchased with the assistance of the John Leslie Foundation, 2018.

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JOHN LESLIE ART PRIZE 2020 JULY 18 TO OCTOBER 25

The John Leslie Art Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious and valuable prizes for landscape painting. Inaugurated in 2000, the John Leslie Art Prize is a national, biennial prize for landscape painting, named after the former Patron of the Gippsland Art Gallery, John Leslie OBE (1919-2016). The continuation of the Prize is made possible through the generous ongoing support of the John Leslie Foundation.

This year the Gallery received 409 artworks submitted by 334 artists from all over Australia.

A total of 50 works have been selected as finalists for this prize. Each of the finalists will be vying for the $20,000 Prize, with the winning work to be automatically acquired for the Gallery’s permanent collection. There is also a $1,000 Prize available for the Best Gippsland Work.

All finalists are now available for viewing on the Gippsland Art Gallery website with the winner being announced mid-July. Also visit our website to vote for your favourite artwork in the online People’s Choice Award for the John Leslie Art Prize 2020. www.gippslandartgallery.com Nicola MOSS Seek Shelter 2020 Acrylic, oil, frottage, paper collage on stretched linen 120 x 240cm Courtesy the artist and Arthouse Gallery, Sydney Finalist, John Leslie Art Prize 2020

ARTIST PROOF – THE COLLECTIVE SPIRIT OF FREESTONE PRESS AUGUST 15 TO OCTOBER 18

Artist Proof celebrates the ten-year anniversary of Freestone Press with an expansive group show of work by current members.

Based in Briagolong, Gippsland, Freestone Press is the collaborative printmaking studio where this evolving group work together, exhibit together and travel together to support each other’s art making practices.

The artists included in this ten-year celebratory exhibition showcase the range of printmaking skills and styles that have been developed through the Freestone Press community and studio. Each artist was asked to produce new work for this exhibition, which has been combined with works from the Gippsland Art Gallery collection.

Gillian KLINE God of Carnage – Tsunami 2011 Colour reduction linocut on paper (edition 1/5) 55 x 35cm (platemark); 70 x 50cm (sheet) Collection Gippsland Art Gallery. Purchased with the assistance of the Gippsland Art Gallery Society, 2013

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THE IMPORTANCE & CUSTOMER WHITE GOLD, BLACK ONYX AND SAPPHIRE RING, WITH DIAMOND CORNER DETAIL

CURTIS DIAMOND HALO RING

FINE JEWELLERY CRAFTSMANSHIP IS IMPORTANT, BUT GLENN AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT CURTIS AUSTRALIA THINK CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. Curtis Australia are international award winning jewellers, with a reputation for the highest quality. Designing and making exclusive jewellery, handcrafted ladies and men's watches and stylish pens, the team creates and looks after the complete jewellery needs of their clientele in Gippsland and beyond. Nothing leaves their expert care and clients appreciate that their jewellery stays at the Curtis studio (nothing gets sent away) and are happy to entrust their treasured pieces.

Glenn explains that jewellery making is an exacting craft needing both accuracy and artistry.

”THE JEWELLER FACES TWO INTERWOVEN CHALLENGES – THE SPONTANEITY OF CREATING A BAL ANCED DESIGN, THE SECOND TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THE IDEA ALIVE WHILE FORMING AND SHAPING PRECIOUS METALS, SET TING GEMS AND APPLYING A BEAUTIFUL, FINAL FINISH.” With a palette of gold in many colours and gems capturing any hue in nature, it's clear there are rich resources on hand in the modern Curtis facility, probably the largest in Victoria.

They can also restore heirloom jewellery, which is old and precious and may have been worn for 40 or 50 years. Their professional checking of jewellery can give you peace of mind because who wants the disappointment of losing a treasured precious gem?

Curtis Australia hallmarks every piece they make. Their Maker's Mark is a Koala and is recorded on a silver touchplate held in perpetuity by the Gold & Silversmiths Guild of Australia as an historical record. This is your assurance of Australian origin, quality workmanship and integrity, showing that Glenn and Curtis Australia are members of the Guild. Of equal importance is the Kangaroo mark belonging to the Guild. This indicates that the quality of the work at Curtis has been accepted by the Guild and that Curtis has the right to use their mark.

CURTIS AUSTRALIA HAS A WORLD CLASS REPUTATION. These days the desire to buy locally and made in Australia is becoming stronger, a strength of Curtis Australia.

Diamonds both white and coloured are a special focus for the company, especially Argyle Pink Diamonds.

Talking with Glenn makes you feel the enthusiasm he has for his craft.

Every day brings a new challenge – a ring design never produced before, designing and making ladies and gents solid gold watches or a demanding jewellery restoration to keep a treasured memory alive - he takes all these in his stride as only an experienced craftsman can. He insists every visitor is seen individually and privately in the Curtis Australia showroom, where Glenn discusses options for jewellery both old and new.

PERIDOT & DIAMOND HANDCRAFTED RING

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OF FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP SERVICE

BY PAUL HENDERSON

LADIES ‘MYST’ WATCH IN SOLID GOLD

GEM SETTING A CURTIS WATCH

EVERY GEM SET BY HAND

Having developed a special relationship with Rio Tinto Diamonds over many years, Glenn and Heather had a private visit and tour of the Pink Diamond cutting room in Perth, where they gained unique insights and training about the whole Argyle process from mine to faceted gems. In addition Glenn's design skills are recognised as world class. He was invited to be the only judge from outside the USA for an international design competition sponsored by Rio Tinto Diamonds.

Seeing clients one at a time means they can choose the best diamonds to fit their hand crafted design and budget. If you are thinking about a nice diamond it may be well worth talking to Glenn.

“I NEVER TIRE OF SEEING THE REACTION WHEN WE UNVEIL A FINISHED RING OR RESTORATION, IT IS A WONDERFUL FEELING THAT MOTIVATES US EVEN MORE. THIS JOY IN MAKING THINGS LITERALLY SHINE THROUGH IN GOLD AND PRECIOUS GEMS - I THINK I'M VERY LUCKY TO BE WORKING AT SOMETHING I LOVE TO DO.” It's impressive to hear that many clients enjoy a lifelong relationship, looking upon Glenn as their personal jeweller. With engagement, wedding, eternity, anniversary and any time or 'just because' rings being designed and hand crafted on the premises, it's easy to see why people keep coming back.

CURTIS 5 DIAMOND RING

CURTIS BRIGHTON PENS

All the more reason why it's worthwhile paying Glenn Curtis and the team at Curtis Australia a visit at Macleod Street Bairnsdale, where you can be assured of a warm welcome - and the pleasure of seeing some extraordinary jewellery, hand crafted watches and unique pens.

Glenn and the team at Curtis Australia are ready to help you.

Problems solved, give Curtis Australia a call on 5152 1089 or call in to 129 Macleod Street Bairnsdale and see for yourself what this very creative team of jewellers really can do.

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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ALBERTON HOTEL

AT A TIME WHEN THE REGION NEEDED HOPE AND A POSITIVE DISTRACTION FROM OVERWHELMING EVENTS, THE LITTLE SOUTH GIPPSLAND TOWN OF YARRAM STOOD TALL AND SPREAD ITS WINGS. AND NOW, IT’S TAKING FLIGHT. French artist Henri Matisse famously proclaimed: ‘creativity takes courage’, and if ever there was a living example, it’s Yarram. The dairy farming town has taken a joyous ride from unassuming to bold at the hands of renowned street and silo artist Heesco Khosnaran.

Over a four-week period in March, Heesco masterfully created 10 murals on the walls of Yarram businesses, which have already helped put the town on the map.

While he transformed the town in just a month, the project had a much longer preamble - in fact, the journey to Yarram becoming ‘Heesco Town’ began not in Gippsland, but in Melbourne.

Anne and Wayne Tindall were firmly entrenched in the Melbourne art scene, after running a successful film production company for 30 years, which they balanced with weekend trips to their South Gippsland property.

After selling their production company the couple moved to Windsor where they opened a gallery off a laneway. A laneway that was ripe for transformation. The couple enlisted Melbourne street artists, including Heesco, to paint large murals in the laneway, which eventually became Artists Lane and is now home to a Laneway Festival that attracts 5000 people. And their friendship with Heesco endured, even when they moved to Gippsland.

DRAKEFORDS BEAN PEDLAR

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MG TRADING

BAKERY

WORDS ANITA BUTTERWORTH

KHOSNARAN “We eventually moved to our South Gippsland property then sold up and bought a 5-acre property in Binginwarri (15 minutes from Yarram),” Wayne explained. “This is when we saw the old butcher’s shop in Yarram, fell in love with it and I spent 12 months renovating it … turning it into a funky Wine and Tapas Bar. Something a little different for sleepy Yarram!

“Because it featured a big bull sign, we decided to call it the Bull Bar and asked Heesco to come down and paint a huge Spanish fighting bull on

BETTA HOME LIVING

the inside wall of the bar. He did a sensational job and the bar opened and has been hugely successful.

The artworks sparked the interest of Yarram identity Eric Greenaway, who wanted to make the project a reality.

“We then invited Heesco back to do some more painting in the rear courtyard of the Bull Bar and while he was in Yarram he completed the first painting for Paul Frost at the Ship Inn. People saw what had happened in such a short time, loved the artwork and the idea to create Heesco Town was born.”

“I quickly saw this as an opportunity to secure a famous, internationally-recognised artist to paint a number of highly visible building facades in Yarram, that would attract the large numbers of Australians and international tourists who follow ’Silo Art’ and ’Street Art’, especially art done by Heesco,” said Eric.

HEESCO KHOSNARAN ARTIIST

YARRAM GOLF CLUB

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BULL BAR

BACK WALL INTERNAL BULL BAR

EXTERNAL REAR WALL BULL BAR

“I asked Wayne if he would coordinate the project to see if a group of 10 business and building owners would catch the vision and come on board. Wayne agreed and the project began to design and paint 10 huge paintings on 10 walls in Yarram.

the project off the ground swiftly. He produced a video to showcase Heesco’s incredible talent, and it was shown to the town’s business owners. Only two out of the 12 businesses that were approached declined to be involved - an amazing strike rate.

Heesco was commissioned and Wayne has worked with him on a daily basis, co-ordinating designs with building owners, creating and maintaining a social media platform, making a film documentary (where a group of high school kids were trained in film making techniques) and organising logistics around scissor lifts/ access to sites etc. The project has gone without a single hitch and looks set to change Yarram for the better.”

A team including Wayne, Eric, Paul Frost, Matt Langdon and Garry Stephens steered the mural project, which included funding, sponsorship and in-kind donations from local businesses.

Wayne agreed to come on board for the project, with stipulations that there be no committee meetings, no lengthy grant applications and no council involvement – all of which helped get

“Early about pretty would

Each business owner was able to discuss their own ideas for their mural directly with Wayne and Heesco, to come up with artwork that spoke to the heart of their piece of Yarram. on me and Wayne had a quick chat how to do this project, and it was much clear from the get go that this be our approach, to treat each wall as

an individual commission, so each mural was designed custom to what the owners wanted,” Heesco explained. “Wayne was the brains behind the operations, sourcing walls from the business owners and landlords, and getting their stories and ideas and putting them down into digital mock ups for approval. Once all the designs were worked out, all I had to do was turn up and paint them. Of course, each design changed slightly due to size of the particular walls, or the paints I brought etc.”

Heesco, who was born in Mongolia, migrated to Australia in 1999 and developed a fascination with graffiti and street art. The son of an artist and trained in art school in Sydney, Heesco still describes himself as a self-taught artist.

His emotive murals in Yarram have captured the essence of the region, demonstrating his innate ability to translate ideas and concepts into physical representations.

SHIP INN

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FEDERAL COFFEE PALACE

“This project was unique because of the concept of having one artist paint an entire town. I personally haven’t seen anything like this organised before, and it makes me feel so grateful and honoured for being given this enormous opportunity. It is truly progressive of a town to embrace street art this way, and all credit should go towards the locals who made it all happen, they are the real heroes of this project.”

Heesco, along with everyone involved in the project, hopes the murals will ignite a passion for locals to explore their own backyard, and for other visitors to travel to the region once they’re able.

one, it encourages people to go find them all and spend a bit more time in town and get to know it better, and of course supports local businesses.

“I really hope this project sets an example of what can be achieved if we think outside the box and approach things with a bit of an open mind. And I hope it opens doors for other towns and other artists to create more public artworks for rural communities. Especially, when we are all doing it tough in isolation, projects like this help bring the community together and lift our spirits a bit.”

Photographs courtesy of street and silo artist, Heesco Khosnaran

“I hope this project will draw many visitors to Yarram and encourage them to spend the day and support local businesses, after this tough summer and the pandemic. Compared to silos, when you have 10 murals, instead of one big

SHIP INN

BROWN WIGG

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OWNERS’ CONCEPTS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE MURALS

BROWN WIGG BUILDING VICTORIA HOTEL ALBERTON

Owners - Brendan and Michelle Farley “We heard about what was happening in Yarram and watched a video about Heesco and his work with local artist Wayne Tindall owner of the Yarram Bull Bar and thought it would really be a good thing to give something back to the community. We made contact thinking we were too late as the project was already beginning, but Wayne And Eric Greenaway came straight down, and it just went from there.

After an initial conversation with Wayne, we decided on a heritage image that was not too bright but one that would stand out boldly and be seen clearly from the South Gippsland Highway. It had to be a period image and of course hotel related, hence us picking a gentleman unloading old kegs by hand. Wayne designed the image for us and mocked it up on our wall. We loved it straight away.”

Building Owner - Wendy Palmer Yarram Business Manager - Grant Shanks “When Wayne Tindall approached me about the Heesco Town own project he had planned there was no hesitation this would be great for Yarram.

The painting of the Sheep Farmer shearing a sheep with his dog beside him represents our business perfectly, what we do for the community and for Wendy (the building owner) where she has spent her childhood growing up on a sheep farm in the Yarram area….”

Grant Shanks

THE DESIGN “I designed images that I thought would be iconic Australian farm images that everyone could relate to. They were not of anyone in particular, just fun images, but when Heesco painted his magnificent piece on the wall… everyone wanted to know who this person was and what the dog’s name was. I suggested they name the shearer and the dog and the community quickly decided that the shearer was Kevin Heggins (a long-time local farmer who was a ‘gun shearer’ back in the day, and his good mate Ted). Kevin is my neighbour, so I checked with him and he is happy enough for the myth to unfold.”

Wayne Tindall

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BULL BAR & GALLERY

Building & Bar Owners Wayne & Anne Tindall “We eventually moved to our South Gippsland property then sold up and bought a 5-acre property in Binginwarri (15 mins from Yarram).

This is when we saw the old butchers shop in Yarram, fell in love with it and I spent 12 months renovating it…turning it into a funky Wine and Tapas Bar. Something a little different for sleepy Yarram! Because it featured a big Bull sign, we decided to call it the Bull Bar… and asked Heesco to come down and paint a huge Spanish fighting bull on the inside wall of the bar. He did a sensational job and the bar opened and has been hugely successful.

We then invited Heesco back to do some more painting in the rear courtyard of the Bull Bar and while he was in Yarram he completed the first painting for Paul Frost at the Ship Inn. People saw what had happened in such a short time…loved the artwork and the idea to create HEESCO TOWN was born.”

DRAKEFORDS COFFEE ROASTING BUSINESS Representative – Robert Drakeford

THE DESIGN Depicted on the right-hand side of our Heesco artwork is Victor Hugo Mattern who is one of the son’s of Franz Peter Mattern who established the hardware store in 1887. He is the grandfather of Peter Williams – a fourth generation family owner.

The mural reflects a transition in the history for the store - from the Mattern family until now.

Robert Drakeford – Business Manager “I took several photos of Robert and we finally settled on the one that now features on the wall inside the soon to be Coffee Roasting Business. It was great to have a wall inside out of the weather for Heesco to move to when the rains set in for a few days.

The previous building owner who has now retired to Sydney is extremely proud to see his family history featuring on a new business springing up in downtown Yarram.”

Wayne Tindall

FEDERAL COFFEE PALACE Building Owner– Peter Stone

“I recognised that the Federal Coffee Palace has a unique place in the history of Yarram and is highly visible as you come into town from the South. Although there were several candidates to have their face on this building, Ralph for me was an obvious choice. Ralph was a Bullocky back in the day…he died about 10 years ago now. He lived up in Binginwarri and known and loved by many in the area…. a traditional old timer.

REAR OF BETA ELECTRONICS BUILDING Owners – Garry & Judy Stephens

“We wanted visitors to Yarram to become aware of the fantastic things to see and do in and around Yarram, and to experience firsthand the Tarra Bulga national park, a remnant of the temperate rain forest that existed in the Strzelecki Ranges and a park that is especially important to enable us to view the history of the forest in the area. Overall, the mural serves to both mark the importance of Tarra Bulga National Park for all Australians and helps to mark the work of an important historical figure in Kara Healey….”

Garry & Judy Stephens

THE DESIGN “When Garry mentioned Kara Healy, I did a bit of research, talking to the local Yarram Museum and discovered that unknown to many, Kara’s daughter now 93 years old actually lived in Yarram just around the corner. So off I went to visit her and straight away she whipped out an old photo album and scrap book filled with here Mum’s life. She allowed me to take a few snaps from the book and I used one of the better ones to create a mockup image for Garry and Judy.

They were delighted and now even more so now that Heesco has brought their idea to life on this wall, ensuring many visitors to Heesco Town will now get to seen the spectacular Tara Bulga National Park where Kara spent most of her life.”

Wayne Tindall

MG TRADING

Murray Goulburn Yarram Business Manager - Jason Hobson “…Bill McKenzie was chosen as he has been involved with the Company for over fifty years, Bill was a tanker driver for Murray Goulburn for a number of years, he also worked at the Trading Store as a delivery driver. Bill and Marg are dairy farmers who have always supplied their milk to the one company, for many years it was Murray Goulburn and of course more recently Saputo Dairy Australia. Bill has just recently retired from dairying but is still a great supporter of the store. The mural that has been created at the Northern entrance to Yarram is an outstanding welcome and will hopefully help to draw many visitors. Heesco has done an outstanding job bringing to life one of the districts outstanding characters along with a very handsome Border collie named Toby. We would like to thank Eric Greenaway for instigating the idea, Wayne Tindall for all his logistical work and of course Heesco who created sheer magic out of it all!”

Jason Hobson – Store Manager

THE DESIGN “I asked Bill to come in for a photo to gather some images for a design for MG Yarram. The idea was to create an iconic dairy industry image that would light up people as they approach Yarram from the north. Bill was very obliging but Jason’s dog Toby the dog needed to be at a level so we could see both him and Bill. We ended up grabbing a couple of bales of hay and popping Toby up next to Bill. He was much appreciative at the effort we had all gone to and turned to give Bill a kiss on the cheek. That was just the right shot and said it all for me….”

Wayne Tindall

Ralph took his Bullock Train from Walhalla to Port Albert for the 150th Anniversary of Port which was quite a journey. He even made shoes for the Bullocks out of old car tyres!

He also used to bring the Bullocks down from Binginwarri to take part in the Tarra Festival each year. In the early days, some of the Bullock Trains had pairs of 16 which was quite remarkable. Everyone loved old Ralph!

Ralph was the obvious choice for me as he was an enormous character and represents the early settlers that made this area what it is today. I thought it was important to commemorate him on my building….and judging from the public response, I think I made the right call.”

Peter Stone

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OWNERS’ CONCEPTS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE MURALS YARRAM BAKERY

Business Owner – Liem & Yen Nguyen

SHIP INN MOTEL

Owners Paul Frost and Jody Twiste “…When it came to deciding what type of art we wanted at the Ship Inn, we brainstormed with Wayne over glasses that became empty quickly, and inspiration struck for a bar scene.

We imagined the bar filled with colourful characters such as pirates, skeletons, and a Mongolian Warrior Queen. Of course, Jody also insisted that a treasure chest would be a necessity… …The bar scene is full of interesting characters.

There are three skeletons causing mischief in the top corner, we’ve named them Garry, Trevor, and Geoff. These three get a little bit cheekier as the sun goes down. There is also the most amazing portrait of a Mongolian Warrior Queen standing centre-stage with a majestic eagle perched upon her shoulder.

She is statuesque, intimidating, and certainly not one to be messed with. The bar is staffed by a peculiar bartender, a roguish pirate with a tankard in his hand. Frank, a skeleton that liked a tipple of rum in both worlds, is resting casually on the bar enjoying his otherworldly refreshment. If you look closely, you can even find a few references to some wonderful people that were involved in the project hidden in the backgrounds.”

Paul and Jody

WYNNE’S BUILDING

“…All this time I have worked hard and have been trying to figure out how I can every say thank you in a public way to Australia for taking me in. When Wayne asked me if I would get involved with a painting on the wall of my business, I thought, this is my chance to say thank you Australia. That’s all I wanted. To say thank you.”

Building Owner – Ashlie Faulkner

Liem – Business owner

“…When the chance came to paint a wall at Wynne’s we decided to put a wave on it because of our proximity to the 90 Mile Beach and Wilson’s Promontory. Both our summer holidays were at Woodside Beach and Waratah Bay. We put dolphins in the wave as there are so many in the local inlets and Bass Strait….”

THE DESIGN

Ashlie and wife, Jane

THE DESIGN Ashlie simply wanted a huge wave on his building. Pure and simple, just a wave as a nod the fact that Yarram is a major service centre for coastal communities in Gippsland, located south of the Strzelecki Ranges, east of Wilsons Promontory, and inland from the historic Port Albert.

“Liem was positive right from the get-go. He was not sure what to put on the wall, but it had to be something about the persecution and the horror trip he took to get here where thousands perished. I came up with a design but insisted that he had to feature in it. He was reluctant but I managed to grab a photo and mocked up the design. The result is a very powerful image….”

Wayne Tindell

“Oh, and you can you throw in a couple of dolphins while you’re at it”, he said to Heesco as he was about to clamber up to roof top to begin painting.

I mucked around with a few wave designs, but Ashlie was pretty particular being a surfer from way back. We finally settled on the ‘right’ wave and I mocked up the design for Heesco.

The result is once again nothing short of amazing.

“Heesco Khosnaran is a true modern-day genius.”

Wayne Tindall

YARRAM GOLF CLUB

Representative – Eric Greenaway

THE DESIGN Eric Greenaway’s passion has been golf for most of his life, so when he saw the opportunity to help make HEESCO TOWN a reality, the foremost wall in his mind was at the Yarram Golf Club…and the image had to be Gary Player, the world famous golfer who visited Yarram Golf Club back in 1954.

“I played around with a photograph that Eric had showing Gary player actually teeing off at the club back in 1954 and came up with a design that would work visually from any vantage point on the greens. Heesco then added his magic and executed a fantastic image that has already inspired many golfers at the Club.”

Wayne Tindall

Words and images courtesy of Heesco Khosnaran

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MOSAICS BY THE BAY

e: heather@fahnle.com.au |

p: 0417 562 625

|

Mosaics By The Bay

www.fahnle.com.au Set in Jindivick’s rolling green hills discover an acre of recycled metal sculptures and browse the gallery space hosting the work of contemporary artists and Laurie’s small stories sculptures.

Call in anytime, no cost and see the studio (amongst the metal chaos!)

RED TREE GALLERY EXHIBITIONS WINTER EXHIBITIONS 2020 JULY

The gallery is hosting Guy Price, also known as Glyphic, with his first show, Projected Chaos. Guy is an artist illustrator and street artist and his show will be quite a different set of work for the gallery. It will be exciting and interesting to see the range of ideas of this young and talented artist. Opening is July 4th at 2.00pm and COVID restrictions will apply although there is plenty to see in the sculpture garden if you have to wait to get inside.

AUGUST

August sees Yvette Stubbs with her show “Faces of Yve”.

Yvette is an artist, poet and general ratbag and her shows are always lively, fun and creative.

Guy Price Projected Chaos

Yvette Stubbs Faces of Yve

For more info visit www.redtreegallery.com.au Thanks Laurie Good on ya

420 Main Jindivick Road, Jindivick VIC 3818 P: 5628 5224 | E: info@lauriecollins.com.au

www.lauriecollins.com.au

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VENTNOR

PHILLIP ISLAND

BEACH WALKS

V ENTN OR CO MMON BUS H L A ND R ES ER V E This scenic reserve is provided by the Bass Coast Shire for everyone’s enjoyment and is home to an array of amenities including picnic shelter, playground, boardwalk and beach access.

Dogs are permitted on leash at all times, whilst there is a pedestrian/horse path with horses being ridden at a walking pace. Planting of a bushland corridor benefits and provides habitat and food for a diverse range of native animals and birds and in turn keeps the ecosystem healthy.

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G ROSSARD PO IN T Provides a car park, walking paths, and a lookout and beach access.

The historic area was created by Bass Coast Shire, the local community and Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc. “An area of immense historical significance to Phillip Island and Victoria.” - Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.

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Ventnor is situated to the west of Cowes enveloping the coastline with delightful views of French Island and the Mornington Peninsula in the distance. The beach can be accessed from the Esplanade off Grossard Point Road. Take a leisurely stroll along the Ventnor beach whilst enjoying the sights.

GROSSARD POINT You will come upon the ‘Lonely Grave’ of Captain Grossard who tragically lost his life in 1868 - with signage:

“Captain Lock started for Melbourne early in the morning taking his two ponies and a donkey on board…he took us to the Lonely Grave. About 20 years ago he brought Captain Grossard to Phillip Island for the holiday on which the accident happened.”

Journal of Mrs W.T. McFee, 5 March 1888 This is the original site of the grave of Captain Grossard after which this point is named.

For many years this place marked the lonely grave – a tribute to tragedy.

The headstone and railing stood under a cypress tree, twisted by the wind and weather. After nearly 100 years, the grave was threatened by coastal erosion. The headstone and railing were moved further inland to its current site in 1967.

This site is considered to be a great historical significance and the remaining cypress tree is one of the oldest planted trees on Phillip Island.

Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc. Museum in Cowes has more information and objects about Grossard and this area’s significant history.

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VENTNOR BEACH WALKS

Follow the Whale Discovery Trail and stop at iconic bays, headlands and beaches to enjoy magnificent views as you search for whales. The trail leads you to a range of coastal viewing points where an explanatory sign provides information about the beautiful mammals, the whales and their spectacular behaviour in the water.

This special place holds many historical stories. There is a clear view to the western entrance, which has beheld vessels of all shapes and sizes pass by – each with a story to tell.

Follow the path to the point and learn more about the lives of the people who occupied and frequented there.

We acknowledge the Bunurong as the traditional people of this land.

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CAMPO – BLACK

CAMPO – TAN

GAID – BLACK

island shoes COWES PHILLIP ISL AND

Great European Brands, Exceptional Quality & Brilliant Customer Service

WILLO – RED ANTIQUE

WILLO – TAUPE ANTIQUE

CAMILLE – BRANDY

134 - 138 Thompson Avenue, Cowes 3922 | Phone: 03 5952 2515 Follow us on Facebook @islandshoesphillipisland

COTTON ONTO CRAFT Kidscraft / Wool / Australiana Fabrics / Quilting Fabrics & Materials Haberdashery / DMC Threads / Stitchery

Mon - Fri 9:30am-4:30pm | SAT 9:30am-4:00pm 8/133 Thompson Avenue, Cowes 3922 Ph : 5952 5202

www.cottonontocraft.com.au 46

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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 Wedding florist Karen Hamilton has worked with some of the most well-known florists around Melbourne and is current with all the latest trends as well as the traditional classic look.

With so many designs to choose from, it may initially appear daunting but be assured Karen will guide you from button holes to bouquets giving you the confidence that your flowers will be a lasting memory of your wedding day.

Her work is precise and nothing is off limits.

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

Step back in time and book into historic Genesta House (c.1917) offering boutique B&B accommodation in the heart of Cowes.

Located within easy reach of Cowes shops and cafes, Genesta House offers luxury ensuites, individually controlled heating &cooling, in room continental breakfast, free WiFi and private verandahs overlooking 100 year old cottage gardens.

An ideal couples retreat book today!

18 Steele Street, Cowes, Phillip Island, Australia, 3922 Phone: +61 412 032 173 For bookings email: genestahouse@gmail.com

Mark Knight / The Herald Sun Cartoonist

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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

eastern barred

Bandicoots

Eastern Barred Bandicoot

Eastern Barred Bandicoot release

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Eastern Barred Bandicoot pouch with young

Back from the brink of extinction Victoria’s population of endangered Eastern barred bandicoots has passed a significant milestone and scientists have now declared they are on the way back from the brink of extinction. Researchers at Phillip Island Nature Parks stated that the population of 67 bandicoots released on the Island in 2017 has grown to about 300 animals.

While Phillip Island Nature Parks’ visitor attractions were closed to help slow the spread of coronavirus, the organisation continued to implement its on-ground conservation and research activities, including significant work to stop the impact of feral cats, which are a threat to bandicoots, penguins and shearwater birds.

The recent results of trap-and-release of microchipped marsupials also revealed the animals have spread at least 4km from their original transplanted home in the wild, including across farmland.

Phillip Island Nature Parks’ Deputy Director of Research Dr Duncan Sutherland said the project to establish bandicoots on Phillip Island has now met the key criteria of success after two and a half years.

Releasing the Eastern Barred Bandicoot

“Successful establishment on Phillip Island is a huge step towards securing this species from extinction,’’ Dr Sutherland said. “We’re successfully reversing the decline.’’

The success of the program means that the Eastern barred bandicoots’ listing on the threatened species list could be reviewed in the future, Dr Sutherland said. The Eastern barred bandicoots were wiped out in Victoria by foxes and habitat loss and only existed in sanctuaries on the mainland since 1991.

In collaboration with the Eastern barred bandicoot (EBB) Recovery Team, a trial release of 20 bandicoots was established on nearby Churchill Island in 2015. Then in 2017, 67 eastern barred bandicoots were relocated onto Phillip Island, which was declared fox-free earlier that same year.

The release was significant because while there are no foxes on Phillip Island, the animals for the first time had to contend with feral cats. Last year bandicoots were also released on French Island but it is too early to say if that program has been a success.

Duncan with Eastern Barred Bandicoot crates Eastern Barred Bandicoot pouch with young

Eastern barred bandicoots live for up to three years in the wild, breeding from 3-4 months and have up to five litters of 1-3 young a year.

The EBB Recovery Team includes representatives from: Conservation Volunteers Australia, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre, National Trust of Australia, Parks Victoria, Phillip Island Nature Parks, the University of Melbourne, Tiverton Property Partnering and Zoos Victoria.

Words and images supplied by Phillip Island Nature Parks

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NEW TEAM – NEW MANAGEMENT – NEW STOCKDALE INTRODUCING A NEW APPROACH TO REAL ESTATE – SERVICING HOMEOWNERS AROUND WESTERNPORT BAY. Upon entering the new Stockdale & Leggo office in Cowes, you can immediately sense a different type of real estate agency.

Contemporary yet welcoming, professional and friendly.

Adam Schutz, Director of Stockdale & Leggo Phillip Island, Kooweerup and Hastings is proud of his team and their fresh approach to real estate whether it be buying, selling, leasing or holiday home management. With a background in corporate IT for 13 years servicing John Holland, Multiplex, Metricon and other large construction companies, Adam has created a suite of on line marketing tactics offering clients targeted marketing, not only using traditional methods but unique experiences through online journeys and social media campaigns reaching local markets through to Melbourne and beyond.

3D tours and video for all properties, on line chat facility, QR codes on real estate boards and targeted social media channels to suit the property such as Spotify, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn – all of which are included within their marketing packages.

Using their own drones and scanners, models of properties are created making it totally interactive for clients. A virtual reality facility is also available for clients wishing to explore a property of interest.

Attention to detail, quality and service is what you will experience with the team at Stockdale & Leggo Phillip Island, Kooweerup and Hastings.

Phillip Island 45 Thompson Ave Cowes, VIC, 3922 P 03 5922 9300 F@stockiesphillipisland E phillipisland@stockdaleleggo.com.au 52www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/phillipisland gippsland lifestyle winter ���� W

Hastings 69 High St Hastings, VIC, 3915 P 03 5979 4177 F@stockdaleleggohastings E hastings@stockdaleleggo.com.au W www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/hastings

Koo Wee Rup 48A Station Street Koo Wee Rup, VIC, 3981 P (03) 5997 1899 F@stockdaleleggokwr E kooweerup@stockdaleleggo.com.au W www.stockdaleleggo.com.au/kooweerup

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

FAMILY FRIENDLY AND F ULLY ACCESSIBLE CATERS FOR VEGETARIANS, VEGANS, GLUTEN FREE SENIORS AND KIDS MENUS AVAILABLE

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR OPENING HOURS

www.pirsl.com.au |

www.facebook.com/PhillipIslandRSL 225-243 Thompson Ave COWES, 3922 Phone BH: 03 5952 1004 Enquiries: info@pirsl.com.au www.pirsl.com.au

Health, bulk foods, eco-friendly living, and complementary health and studio space.

Offering organic and locally sourced produce, grocery items, herbs, spices and teas, as well as household cleaning, homewares, and personal care products.

We have supplements and food options to suit all health and dietary requirements, and qualified practitioners on staff to help guide you.

Shop 3 / 74 Chapel Street, Cowes 3922 ph | 5952 3398

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 54

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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 2012 took on the job of smallgoods making and created the line of Matty’s Gourmet Sausages.

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 gippsland lifestyle winter ����

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Crawford Marine

with Terry Raymond

WHAT A TOP DAY AT PORT ALBERT WITH AN EXPLORER The boat Terry took me out in this time was one of the fine range of Campion Boats, manufactured in British Columbia, Canada.

This boat featured the deluxe bucket seats in lieu of the standard bench and back rests.

The EX16 is a centre console, family fishing boat that measures 5 metres and has a maximum beam of 2.2m. Suitable to carry 4-5 adults, this boat features level flotation as standard, as is mandatory for boats up to 6.0m metres in the North American market, something not found in our Australian made hulls. The all fibreglass Convex V hull is constructed with 3 dimensional wovings and a Kevlar reinforced keel making it super strong. The centre console is well thought out with a full compliment of gauges, strong grab rails and side rod holders.

Rated to 90hp, the test boat was powered with the 80hp Mercury EFI four stroke, and pushed us along with ease and had a top speed of over 60kph.

There is plenty of storage throughout the boat, including in floor, forward, and under the gunwhales. Also there is a live well at the transom.

Forward of the console we had the optional cooler under the folding front seat.

CAMPION EXPLORER EX16

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The deep vee hull rode superbly though the Port Albert chop. At rest it provided a very stable fishing platform.

Always ready for a boat ride, make sure you contact Terry at Crawford Marine and experience the Campion Explorer EX16 for yourself!!

Boat, motor and trailer packages start from $39,000, ready to go!

CAMPION EXPLORER EX16

AND SOME FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY

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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VIRTUE HOMES 'BUILDING EXCELLENCE'

NEW STATE OF THE ART DISPLAY HOME COMING TO WARRAGUL gippsland lifestyle winter ���� IN 582020

YOUR LOCAL GIPPSLAND BUILDER

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Visit our showroom at 41-45 Standing Drive Traralgon

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

www.virtuehomes.com.au

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London Girl in Gippsland A Londoner’s reflections on a new start in South Gippsland

From London to South Gippsland. One is paved with concrete streets where millions of people tread daily, hourly, minute-by-minute, hurriedly shuttling between buses, tubes, trains, and the office. The other is vast and broad, the ocean lapping at its edges, with hills populated by the plodding feet of wombats and the long loping gait of cattle walking leisurely across their paddocks.

In London, I grew-up in a semi-detached Edwardian house in Richmond; a picturesque town in the city’s green, southwest corner. It had high ceilings with architraves, and a modest sized garden with a pond in it. If I looked outside the living room window, I could see 100 other houses that looked exactly like mine, from the outside.

This time last year, I was living in a one-bedroom flat in South Yarra, where I’d lived for 16-months after leaving London. When I announced my plans for a sea-change, I was met with quizzical looks and remarks: “Just see how you go until the novelty wears off, you can always move back to Melbourne.”

Words by Helen Taylor Photos by Phil Cerbu

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London Girl

Now, between Tarwin Lower and Walkerville, I live on an undulating 16-acre plot with a weatherboard house on it. There are no other houses around me that I can see, and if I walk two-and-a-half kilometres east through Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, I arrive at the mouth of Ten Mile Creek opening out to a mostly deserted beach.

Beyond my bedroom are banksias blooming and boisterous gangs of galahs screeching loudly. Rather than waking to planes flying in and out of Heathrow Airport at four-minute intervals, piercing the London soundscape with a deafening roar, I wake to a cacophony of magpies carolling, and the calves bellowing for milk. I’m new to South Gippsland, but I already feel like I belong here.

There’s been many stories told about city folk moving to the country – in England we created the television programme Escape to the Country specifically for the purpose. Though life in South Gippsland is idyllic, I’m under no illusion that it’s a rural idyll. I’ve lost five chickens to the foxes because the pen was shoddy, been bitten by pigs, and nearly lost a calf named Jim to pneumonia, not to mention the amount of times I’ve been zapped by an electric fence and felt like giving up on rural life completely.

And, what puts many young people off moving to the country, or South Gippsland, is how to earn a living – unless you’re from a farming background. I’ve found it’s a constantly evolving work in progress, with flexibility and common sense being key – a LinkedIn profile won’t get you very far here, and a conventional 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday is mostly non-existent.

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Although, for those who are prepared to put in the work, the rewards of life in South Gippsland are considerable, and there’s plenty to be learned, too. Since arriving, support from the neighbours has been immeasurable.

Families and farmers who have been here for decades have shared their time and knowledge, patiently teaching my partner and I how to erect fences and care for livestock, generously lending the tools and tractors needed to do so.

While there have been tears and frustrations, reality checks and disappointments, mixed in with a fair dose of self-doubt, life here has a way of picking you up and whisking you onwards to the next thing. South Gippsland is an intricate web of knowledge and skills that needs to be maintained, shared, and regenerated, and everyone has a part to play.

So, where before I could tell you which bus you needed to take to go anywhere in South West London, or which tube to take from Hammersmith to Piccadilly Circus, here I can tell you all about the steers, heifers, cows, or bulls in the paddocks that surround me. I can plant vegetables in tune with the seasons and stoke a fire that’ll last all day, and I know that when I hear the cry of a yellow-tailed black cockatoo rain is on its way.

Helen Taylor is a 26-year-old writer from London who lives on a homestead in South Gippsland.

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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

LIMITED TRADING HOURS DURING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS 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

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

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

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The former Kongwak Co-operative Butter & Cheese Factory complex constructed in four stages between 1896 and 1941.

This complex is of local historical, aesthetic and architectural significance to South Gippsland.

This small, pretty, historical town in South Gippsland is located on the Korumburra to Wonthaggi Road southeast of Melbourne; nestled in the hills between Inverloch and Korumburra.

Kongwak Community Hall

Kongwak

Valley of Peace

Historically, the complex demonstrates the importance of the dairying industry to the development of the Kongwak township and district, and is central for its ability to illustrate in one location the key phases of growth that occurred from the Federation to post war periods. It includes the 1941 cheese factory, which illustrates the change to cheese production that occurred as a result of World War 2 and is believed to be the only surviving example of its type in the Shire.

There is a reserve that has several walking tracks through the outlooks of tall gum trees.

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The land around Kongwak was largely cleared of native vegetation and is now used for agriculture, including dairying.

Beautifully restored Mobile service building

The former general store is now the site of the ever-popular Kongwak Market which is held every Sunday with a diverse range of collectables, retro, vintage and second hand items, plants, books, food, music and a fun atmosphere. The market will be in full operation as of 7th June, adhering to social distancing and strict cleaning measures.

This land was cleared by two brothers Richard Nutter Scott and Frederick John Scott. You can see R.N. Scott’s memorial park near the Kongwak Tennis Grounds and BBQ areas.

The Kongwak Avenue of Honour There is a memorial which lists the names of twenty-six locals who served in the First World War and sixty locals who served in the Second World War for whom mixed species of trees (Bunya Pine and Turkey Oak) were planted in the Avenue of Honour. It demonstrates the significant impact of the war upon small rural communities.

References : vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au | monumentaustralia.org.au | wikipedia.org | visitpromcountry.com.au

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EVANS BP KORUMBURRA SOUTH

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

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

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

AT THE TOP OF THE HILL

WONTHAGGI

Keeping Gippsland Moving.

At the forefront of the fuel & lubricant industry since 1970.

YARRAM

Evans Petroleum is a locally-owned authorised reseller of BP and Castrol fuel and lubricants, with BP service stations conveniently placed throughout Gippsland, providing you with a wide range of fuels, oils, convenience goods and other services to keep you moving.

103-105 McKenzie Street, Wonthaggi, Vic 3995 Tel: 5672 3988 Fax: 5672 5229 Email: wonthaggi@evanspetroleum.com.au

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

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 6:00am – 9:00pm

EVANS PETROLEUM HEAD OFFICE

South Gippsland Highway, Korumburra, Vic 3950 Office/Fax: 5655 1668 | Email: korumburra@evanspetroleum.com.au

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

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 on COVID-19 restrictions, dates and times.

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.

Working with nature rather than against it, Tarwin Valley market garden enterprise Flock Stock & Basil is using a modernised method of pre-industrial agriculture to grow and harvest its produce.

Fresh food at the farm gate Words: Chris West

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Chris & Anna with Lambington Soon after meeting in 2015 and beginning to date, Anna Briggs and Chris Muggeridge began discussing the prospect of buying a farm together.

Sharing a deep mutual interest in agriculture, the couple was keen to explore the possibility of cultivating a venture of their own based around the adoption of ethical and sustainable farming principles.

“I think both of us were headed in that direction in one way or another,” Anna suggests.

Chris was raised on a farm in the Waikato District on New Zealand’s North Island, an area renowned for its prime dairy pastures. He crossed the Tasman about fifteen years ago at the age of twenty and worked for a period as a brewer in Fremantle before eventually finding his way to Geelong.

“Rainfall is an important consideration for growing veggies, so it really came down to either New Zealand or South Gippsland,” she explains.

“We had a fairly detailed checklist. Our decision was dictated by what we wanted to produce and what we wanted to get out of the venture lifestyle-wise.”

In mid 2017, Anna and Chris found an 82-acre property on InverlochVenus Bay Road in Tarwin Lower that ticked all their boxes in terms of topography and location, but desperately required more than a touch of TLC. “It needed so many trees to be planted and a whole lot of other things to be done that even now we are still continuing to work on,” Anna notes.

Anna grew up in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne without any tangible connection to farming, other than the previous generations of farmers within her Irish family.

“Settlement didn’t occur until early 2018 and for a variety of reasons, including a serious health issue with Chris that required treatment in Geelong, it wasn’t until September that year that we moved here full time.”

From as early as she can remember, Anna’s real ambition was to raise animals, which led her to study successfully for a Bachelor of Animal Science & Management at Melbourne University.

The property has since become the base for the cleverly named enterprise Flock Stock & Basil.

“We can’t decide who came up with the name,” Anna says.

There was considerable synergy in Anna and Chris’s ideals and ambitions, and together the couple formulated a plan for their future.

“I had always been really interested in growing vegetables,” Chris says.

“We decided that we wanted to establish a smaller scale organic market garden using animals to do the heavy lifting.”

With the blueprint agreed upon, Anna says the question became where to locate their farm.

“We were brainstorming and it just came together from both of us.”

During the initial twelve months, Anna and Chris (with some hands on help from family) carried out a significant overhaul of the farm. To help keep their venture afloat, both also had small part-time jobs – Chris works as a chef at The Cavity restaurant in Venus Bay and Anna performs a communications role for Blind Citizens Australia.

“We’re still doing those jobs because every bit helps and those connections are important to us,” Anna states.

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“We didn’t start with much in the way of means, but have managed to do a lot with the land and the infrastructure. Every project we do on the farm includes some second hand items. We recycle and upcycle as much of possible.”

“One thing that was surprisingly easy in getting our venture off the ground was the local community and people’s willingness to take a chance on a new market garden business. The reception we received was so encouraging,” she comments.

Anna and Chris have adopted a holistic outlook in creating Flock Stock & Basil from the ground up, embracing regenerative and ethical farming methods and organic principles. The fresh food they produce throughout the year is grown chemical free.

“Even back when we were farm hunting, we had a really good feeling about the community here.”

“Our aim is to minimise our carbon footprint and use of fossil fuels as much as possible. We’re focused on preserving and improving the landscape, and supporting wildlife populations,” Anna explains.

Up until earlier this year, Flock, Stock & Basil’s “farm gate” customers had been accustomed to visiting the farm every Saturday to select produce from a market stall.

“In bringing Flock Stock and Basil from a concept to reality, we have discovered regenerative agriculture as more of an organised version of permaculture. We’ve taken what we regard as the best bits of regenerative agriculture and permaculture, and are seeing what we can achieve with those.”

That process of allowing farm gate customers onto the property in groups no longer became possible when the COVID-19 situation intervened in March. Anna and Chris were also supplying produce to a number of restaurants and stores in South Gippsland, a part of their operation which also had to be largely halted due to the restrictions around COVID-19 with the exception of maintaining a supply of eggs, preserves and some vegetables to the local IGA in Tarwin Lower.

Regenerative agriculture uses practices that ultimately act to reverse the effects of climate change by enriching soils and restoring soil biodiversity to increase carbon in the environment.

“Like a lot of businesses we’ve had to adapt quickly,” Anna says.

Anna and Chris primarily use hand tools on their farm. Their sole piece of machinery is a small two-wheel tractor which is used in the initial preparation of garden beds.

“Wanting to restrict our movement during the crisis we stopped most deliveries, went into lockdown, and established an online shop to take weekly orders. As it has turned out, the online shop has proven to be very worthwhile. It has decreased our time off the farm, given us more flexibility and introduced us to new customers.”

“Our approach has been to keep things small and manageable by hand. Everything on the farm has a purpose and all the animals have a job to do,” Chris emphasises.

“Our pigs do the digging, our chickens do the harrowing and provide us with eggs,” he notes.

Other animals on the farm include a small flock of sheep and cattle herd, along with guinea fowls and geese.

“Any waste from our veggie production becomes pig feed, in keeping with the holistic cycle we’re aiming for,” Chris says.

The methods embedded within Flock Stock & Basil have enabled Anna and Chris to achieve their goal of providing seasonal vegetables, homemade preserves and other produce with maximum freshness and flavour at a price which remains affordable to a broad range of customers.

The available produce varies according to the season, but always includes a healthy selection of crisp vegetables, leafy greens, herbs and edible flowers, whether from the autumn/winter harvest or the more plentiful spring/summer harvest. Also popular with customers are the farm’s pasture-raised eggs which are always in keen demand at any time of the year.

Anna says the response to Flock Stock & Basil has been overwhelmingly positive.

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Whilst it has not yet been possible to resume the traditional weekly stall due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Flock Stock & Basil’s loyal customers have instead been able to come to the front gate of the farm between 10am and noon on Saturdays to collect produce pre-ordered through the online shop.

“We only pick what we need and don’t waste anything this way,” Chris remarks.

This system has maintained an element of the face-to-face contact that farm gate customers enjoyed with Anna and Chris when the market stall was open for browsing.

Given its success, Anna is certain they will retain the online shop even when all restrictions are lifted.

“We are anticipating things will return to normal in spring. This is only our second winter and an unexpected change has been enforced upon us, so we’re still just feeling our way with everything and figuring out the best way forward,” she comments.

Another godsend to Anna and Chris through this challenging period has been their inclusion within the Prom Coast Food Collective, which they joined in early 2019.

“Since COVID-19 began that has seen a lot of growth. Previously we were supplying produce through Prom Coast on a monthly basis, but this is now happening weekly. It’s been very beneficial to us and the other farmers involved, not to mention the customers,” Anna says.

“The way we have been doing things of late with farm gate and the Prom Coast Food Collective is a mix that has been working very well for us. We like the idea of supplying vegetables directly to people’s homes.”

Chris reveals that output from the farm is also primed to increase in 2021 and beyond.

“We’re hoping to double our vegetable harvest next year and meat production will also scale up. That takes a while to build up,” he says.

“Our sheep flock should be able to provide lamb constantly next year, but the cattle herd is still about three years away from supplying beef for customers all year round.”

Flock Stock & Basil’s fruit supply will also expand considerably once the trees planted on the property have matured.

Also in the pipeline is the couple’s plan to provide onsite farm-stay accommodation in the not-too-distant future.

“It will be immersed right in the heart of the farm operation, near the barn and the animals, so is in a great spot but still needs to be properly furnished. I’d say it might be ready not this summer, but the next one,” Chris forecasts.

Since launching Flock Stock & Basil, Anna and Chris have been happy to share the story of their journey on their informative website blog and via a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. Along the way they have become husband and wife, having tied the knot in a small ceremony with close family at the farm in February last year.

Anna says she and Chris remain as passionate about their venture today as when they started.

“Possibly even more so because of what we’ve learnt along the way,” she suggests.

“We are here to work hard and have fun, and grow ethical, sustainable food that is accessible to everyone in our community. We believe the small farm model should be embraced more widely. We’re really passionate about eating local and our experience has shown that there’s no shortage of people wanting vegetables and other produce fresh from the farm.”

www.flockstockandbasil.com

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LAMEZLEIGHS

IS ONE OF A KIND

Five years ago, Alanna Gobel was having a discussion with her sisters about potential café names. The three of them decided that if they ever went into business together, they would call it Lamezleighs because it incorporated all three names: Alanna, Mary and Ashleigh.

Two years later, Alanna floated the idea of actually opening her own café. Her family, including her grandfather, loved the idea. Eight weeks after he passed away, Alanna decided to follow her dreams. In July 2017, at the young age of 22, Alanna opened the doors to Lamezleighs Café and Bar. “Although the café does not belong to my sisters, I still wanted to name it after all of us because of our sibling chat,” she said. “My grandfather was so proud when I told him the idea, so it’s a nice way to preserve the memory.”

Alanna had worked at the Mirboo North café, formerly known as Dalliance, before she purchased it.

“I had worked in a couple cafes and restaurants from a very young age. Working at Dalliance sparked the passion for hospitality in me and I knew I eventually wanted to buy it,” she said.

“It’s a quaint café with lots of personality and a lovely atmosphere. There really is nothing else quite like it.”

Alanna said one of the things that drew her to the café was the beautiful township and its residents.

“I grew up in a town twenty-five minutes from Mirboo North called Stony Creek. At the age of 15 I moved to the local area and started my work experience at Dalliance,” she said.

“But I quickly grew to love the town. I love the people and the community spirit.”

Alanna hired Michael to be the head chef at the café and said he was the perfect fit.

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Assistant Grace with Alanna

Lamezleighs Café & Bar owner, Alanna Gobel

A QUAINT MIRBOO NORTH CAFÉ IS A FAVOURITE AMONGST LOCALS, TOURISTS AND THEIR FURRY COMPANIONS.

WORDS: LIA SPENCER

“Michael started his career as a chef in Olinda, and soon after, he made his way down to Gippsland and was eager for the job,” Alanna said. “To be honest, he couldn’t fit in better.

His menu has a large focus on local produce and Australian made products. Not only is he a great chef, but he is kind, gentle and easy to please. I have a great team of workers, all which have great work ethic and a love for our small community.”

The café has been a great success, but it has not always been smooth sailing, and Alanna and the team have had to adapt the way the café runs due to the recent Covid-19 health restrictions. Fortunately, the community spirit Alanna is so fond of has helped her get through the unprecedented time.

“The community could not be any more supportive. I worked extremely hard to continue delivering our services during the pandemic,” she said.

Head Chef Michael

“We started with daily home delivery free of charge, then incorporated date night packages including flowers and wine, had special birthdays and anniversary packages, included personalised puzzles which were made locally and had essential packages available with only local products only.”

Alanna said she looked forward to opening the doors to her café again and seeing all the locals and tourists as well as all their fur babies, who are welcomed to the courtyard seating area of the café and provided with special dog parking and yummy puppuchinos. Regular open hours are Monday to Friday, 7am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm.

The café is opened Friday evenings for dinner and music during the warmer months.

For more information phone 5668 2455 or check out Lamezleighs Café and Bar on Facebook or Instagram.

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Say Syrah,

Syrah - Pinot Noir

By Frank Butera

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The blending of Shiraz (Syrah) and Pinot Noir is a tradition that was successful in the Hunter Valley, NSW. The blend has history in Australia since the 1940s, when wine maker Maurice O’Shea assembled his Mount Pleasant ‘Burgundies’. That was often blending Shiraz and Pinot Noir.

Many of the legendary Hunter Valley wines of the 1950s and 1960s, were blends of Shiraz and Pinot Noir. The very best of those wines that survive today are some of the most sought-after wines in the country.

It’s likely that Pinot Noir was rarely satisfactory in the Hunter Valley as a single variety. The curious mind of a wine maker would be to improve the wine where possible, hence tasting trials lead to the blend of a Shiraz Pinot Noir wine. The most famous being the 1952 Mount Pleasant Pinot Hermitage.

Gippsland GI (Geographic Indicator) is fortunate with land that stretches over 500 kms, and is known as the largest GI in Australia, which extends from Phillip Island to the NSW border. Resulting in the Gippsland climate, which is influenced by the coastline of Bass Strait, fertile farmlands inland and the commencement of alpine regions to the north. Western Port Bay and the Gippsland Lakes also providing cooling effects on the temperature during the growing season.

The wine making is a combination of whole berry fermentation and whole bunch fermentation. Most importantly will be the component of each wine to the final blend. Many wine makers have deviated from the Hunter Valley style which consisted of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Shiraz to an equal split of 50/50 Shiraz/Pinot Noir. Other wine making considerations include cofermentation of the two grapes. However, this may not always be possible due the ripening times.

There has been considerable success with the blend in surrounding regions. This provides the confidence for Gippsland wine makers to develop this wine style for the Gippsland region now that both grape types grow successfully within the GI. Look out for the Shiraz Pinot Noir blends and enjoy a bright medium red body wine for winter.

Frank Butera is the winemaker at Bass River winery. frank@bassriverwinery.com

Gippsland is well suited to growing Pinot Noir and on the warmer sites throughout the GI cool climate, Shiraz flourishes. However, commercially Pinot Noir is a strong brand for the region and may be a stronger marketing message. Plus, growing conditions lean towards developing structured and layered Pinot Noirs.

Blends of Pinot and Shiraz are not all that common historically. In France, where both grape varieties originated, Pinot Noir is very much seen as an earlier-ripening grape grown in fine cool regions such as Burgundy, and Syrah is a later-ripening grape grown mostly in the warmer Rhone Valley.

Blending the two is traditionally forbidden according to French wine rules.

However, the tradition of blending these two grapes lived on for many years in the Hunter Valley. But somewhere along the line, the Shiraz/Pinot partnership fell out of vogue. Australia became obsessed with monovarietal winemaking. The idea that 'bigger is better' in Australian red wines left little room for the medium weight, aromatic style of red that is common produced by the blend.

Nevertheless, there have been recent changes by Australian winemakers and wine drinkers, with a shift to more vibrant style of red wine, the blend is back in a shiny new form. The modern Shiraz/Pinot is built predominantly for early drinking. Bright, silky tannins, here in Gippsland the region may be suited to producing these blends. Producers are now considering experimenting with the blend.

Winemaking techniques used are to encourage an exotic floral fragrance coupled by a juicy fruity palate with a fine tannin framework. Highly aromatic with rose petal, blue violets and cherry fruits, the palate has a light touch, is soft and full of juicy plums. These varieties complement each other beautifully with the perfume and spice of the Pinot and the underlying structure of the cool climate Shiraz.

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s k n Ta g n i h eryt

v e r fo

For a truly unique family entertainment experience, South Gippsland Tank Adventures can roll out the big guns.

WORDS: CHRIS WEST

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Whether you call it a passion or an obsession, Cameron Stone has been fascinated with military tanks of all descriptions since he was a boy.

In 2017, Cameron relented and launched South Gippsland Tank Adventures with wife Shari.

“It began with model making when I was a kid,” he reflects.

The entertainment experience they created involved two parts - firstly a museum to show the collection and educate people about the tanks and then secondly the opportunity to ride in one.

By his early twenties, an age when most young men are thinking about buying cars, Cameron purchased his first tank.

“It was a Bren Gun Carrier and cost me around a thousand dollars,” he recalls.

Cameron was in the Army Reserve at that time, having joined when he was seventeen. In 1989, he left the family home in Mount Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula and moved to Darwin where he established a civil construction business.

While in Darwin, he also resumed his association with the Australian Defence Force and spent approximately a decade as a Leopard Tank Crewman in the 1st Armoured Regiment between the mid 90s and mid 2000s.

After 25 years living at the Top End, Cameron returned to his home state and started the next chapter in his life on a 400-acre property he had purchased at Wonyip in a remote part of South Gippsland.

“I used to come to this area as a kid motorbike riding around Mount Best,” he remembers.

“It felt good to be back here after all that time and spending such a long period in Darwin.”

Accompanying Cameron down from the Northern Territory to Wonyip was his partner Shari, who subsequently became his wife.

By the time of his move to South Gippsland, Cameron had acquired three tanks in Darwin which he transported to the Wonyip property and it was here that he continued to privately house his growing collection.

The story could have ended there, if it wasn’t for the persistent requests of people asking to be given a free ride in one of his tanks.

“Word got out about my tanks through friends and after I started taking them to local RSL parades,” Cameron says.

“I had people coming up and knocking on my door to ask for a ride. That probably went on for a couple of years.”

“Our customers learn the history at the beginning and then finish with the adrenaline rush of the ride,” Cameron says.

“Although the rides were a major factor in starting the business, for me they’ve always just been a sideline to generate revenue needed for the upkeep and restoration of the tanks and putting them into operation.

From my personal perspective, the educational side and the restoration of the vehicles are the most important part of what we are doing,” he adds.

Cameron and Shari are assisted by employee Daniel Bugg, who is responsible for the educational talks and showing customers the tanks, both inside and out.

“Daniel gives them the history and an escorted tour of the collection,” Cameron explains.

“He allows customers to step inside the tanks and shows them how the gun fires. With most tanks there is generally enough space to fit two or three people inside at a time, whilst the APCs have sufficient room for up to ten people. The educational side of our experiences can take a couple of hours, sometimes more if they are really interested in that part of it.”

When the time comes for the ride, Cameron takes customers on an unforgettable trek through rugged terrain on his property.

“The track is hilly and surrounded by very scenic rainforest. It’s a beautiful part of the world and very remote, so we can make as much noise as we want,” he notes.

“One thing you can be sure of is the track is always wet and muddy no matter what time of year. Kids in particular love going through the mud pools. That’s understandable but it’s not so great for us, because the constant need for cleaning the vehicles can get quite annoying.”

Cameron’s collection has grown to number around a dozen tanks at present, with more coming off the restoration line to be added in the future. He has tanks originating from Britain, Germany, Israel, the USA and Australia, ranging from World War 2 to modern day armoured fighting vehicles.

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south gippsland tank adventures

“The rarest tank in my collection is the Valentine 111/V, a British tank from World War 2 which is about to go into restoration,” he reveals.

There would be little argument that the most imposing vehicle is the 52-tonne Centurion, a British battle tank built in 1950 which was later converted in Australia and saw service on three tours of the Vietnam War. South Gippsland Tank Adventures offers a range of experiences to suit individuals or groups which are tailored to appeal to people of all ages.

“One of our most popular choices is the all-day Complete Tank Adventure, which is particularly suited to the tank connoisseur,” Cameron says.

“Our four-hour Group Adventure for seven or more people also attracts a lot of interest as it reduces the cost per head.”

“The Centurion is popular but does have a higher price point as it is very expensive to run,” Cameron states.

“I think our new addition - the Jagdpanzer Kanone from Germany - is also going to prove very popular.”

If budget is not so much of a consideration, the premium offering is the Helicopter and Tank Adventure, which usually involves a flight to and from Yanakie including a sweep over Phillip Island.

Cameron’s tanks are available for hire for external use, including birthdays, weddings and school visits. His vehicles have also made occasional appearances in movies and television programs.

“We were involved in promos for the television show Family Food Fight and I can remember a couple of years ago squashing a car with a tank at a Sydney pub as part of a launch event for the World of Tanks computer game. We’ve also had unusual requests like driving an Indian rock star to the stage in a tank out at Calder Park last year,” he reveals.

Other popular options include the Family Adventure and the Individual Adventure, which does however require a minimum of two people to book.

Cameron also allows some of his tanks to be transported to local public events in South Gippsland, including the Yarram Show, South Coast Show & Shine at Toora, and the Foster Show, where they are always big draw cards and admired by the young and old.

The tank customers get to ride in generally depends on which vehicle is in operation on the day the experience takes place. However, if the Centurion is specifically preferred it can be secured by booking the Centurion Adventure.

Each year since commencing South Gippsland Tank Adventures, Cameron and Shari have held an Open Day event at their property on Australia Day. “It was the third one this year and was another great success,” Cameron says.

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Shari Stone with son, Thomas, Cameron Stone & Daniel Bugg

“Everyone gets a ride and we do a bit of simulator firing, then at night we watch a war movie on the big screen.”

There are echoes of Darwin’s laid back manner in the way Cameron and Shari operate South Gippsland Tank Adventures.

While this year’s Australia Day may have passed, a similar event is being planned for Father’s Day on Sunday, 6th September.

“We keep things very casual and try to give everyone as much time and enjoyment as possible in whichever experience they choose,” Cameron says.

“Our special Open Day on Father’s Day will follow a similar format but won’t continue into the night due to the weather at that time of year which is much less conducive than summer,” Cameron explains.

Like many other family entertainment businesses, South Gippsland Tank Adventures had to temporarily close for a period from March due to the COVID-19 situation but resumed operation in early June.

“We used that time to carry out a lot of maintenance on the tanks,” Cameron says.

South Gippsland Tank Adventures is open by appointment and usually available any day of the year. Visit www.tankadventures.com.au to view more details about the tank collection, experiences offered and merchandise range.

With many Gippslanders having now emerged from the boredom and isolation of lockdown, a tank adventure would seem like a very unique and fun way to blast back into the great outdoors.

Photographs supplied by South Gippsland Tank Adventures & Doug Pell

The COVID-19 disruption was more of an inconvenience to the business rather than an economic hit. Financial considerations have never been a motivating factor behind the venture.

“Every bit of the money that comes in goes straight towards the costs of maintaining and restoring the tanks and continuing to add to the collection,” Cameron emphasises.

Both he and Shari have additional sources of revenue separate to the business. Shari owns and operates a hairdressing salon - Ego Eco Hair in Toora, whilst Cameron maintains other commercial investments.

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Phil Jones stands on the bridge over Running Creek on the Omeo Highway. First, this area was severely burned and then a flash flood roared down this small valley, bringing with it masses of trees and rubble that took out the bridge railing and washed them into the nearby Tambo River.

Fire and flood damage can be clearly seen in the Tambo River in the Ensay area.

THE AFTERMATH

Flood damage to the bridge railing at Running Creek on the Omeo Highway.

Workmen are out on the Omeo Highway extending the width of the road. Recent rain, tons of silt and rocks have been washing down onto the Omeo Highway. Tons of rock is being trucked away from the high banks to stop it washing onto the hard surface.

The Tambo River is a sad sight in the Ensay area following the fires. It will take a long time for the water quality to return to normal.

Trees that looked beyond redemption are showing encouraging signs of recovery aided by recent good rainfall.

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This wooden bridge on the Tambo River was lucky to escape the ravages of fire.

Vegetation is slowly starting to re-establish itself along the banks of the Tambo River.

GREAT ALPINE HIGHWAY RECOVERY Photographs by Trevor Stow unless stated

Roadworks continue on the Omeo Highway to improve conditions following recent rain and fire damage.

It is remarkable how quickly the vegetation re-establishes itself along the Tambo River.

The trees in the background were badly burned in these fierce fires but are quickly recovering.

Running Creek near Ensay was all but destroyed by fire and then it was hit by a flash flood that added insult to injury.

Running Creek following the flood. Debris was left strewn all over the Omeo Highway and the guard rail was destroyed by the force of the flood. Photograph by Phil Jones

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GIPPSLAND’S Maltese Heritage CELEBRATED WORDS: ANITA BUTTERWORTH

The sights and sounds of the Mediterranean echoed on the banks of Morwell’s Kernot Hall Lake in February, as thousands flocked to the town for the biennial, award-winning Latrobe Valley Maltese Festa.

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A huge crowd indulged in Maltese food and drink, while listening to the sounds of traditional and more modern Maltese performers, celebrating the small island nation with huge ties to the Gippsland region.

The highly-anticipated event saw busloads of Maltese and their families travel from across Victoria and interstate to Morwell, to share stories and taste the delights of their homeland. The Festa also showcased what Malta has to offer to Australians, who may never have tasted any of its food or had a Maltese beer.

“The food is always the centerpiece of the Latrobe Valley Maltese Festa, and this year was no different. We worked extremely hard to make sure that the large crowd was well catered for with pastizzi, qassatat, hobz biz-zejt, cannoli, imqaret and other traditional Maltese food,” explained Latrobe Valley Maltese Festa committee member and Maltese Community Centre Latrobe Valley president Mario Sammut.

“We also attracted some amazing entertainment including the Latrobe Valley’s own Destiny Band Oz, and Queensland-based Mark Andrew Tabone who performed his world-renown Elvis tribute show.

“The Maltese Own Band Philharmonic Society marched and performed to a sit-down concert, which brought an authentic Maltese feel to the day, and the Morwell Racing Pigeon Club’s pigeon release kicked off proceedings.”

For the first time the event also showcased a Knights of Malta-themed Harley Davidson motorcycle, which came all the way from Adelaide, as well as a restored Thames truck and a lovingly restored replica traditional Maltese luzzu which was unveiled at the 2018 Festa.

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The festivities didn’t end as the Festa closed, with a women’s soccer match pitting the Pegasus Maltese Team against the Sale Soccer Club women’s team at the Pegasus Soccer Ground.

This year’s Latrobe Valley Maltese Festa was preceded by the official opening of Australia’s first Maltese Museum in Morwell, which helped launch a weekend of celebration and reflection on the traditions many are working hard to keep alive.

“We are already working to plan the 2022 Latrobe Valley Maltese Festa,” said Mario, “but it will look different. With everything that has happened in the world since the Festa in February, all large gatherings are going to be a challenge we will have to adapt to, providing a new-look Festa.

But we’re excited about what the next Festa will transform into.”

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L AT ROBE VA LLEY M A LT ESE F ESTA 2020

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A Local Love Miranda Kennedy has a passion for gift-giving. So much so, that her family always seem to pick out which Kris Kringle present is from her based on how beautifully it’s wrapped.

Thus, it’s only fitting that Miranda opened her own shop, Local Element Gifts, last year.

“I love shopping for people and giving them gifts. I’ve always wanted to have my own gift shop but the timing was never right,” she said. “I was working in the sales department for a builder and had planned to return to that job when my maternity leave was up. But while I was at home with my son Arlo, I decided that I wanted to have the flexibility that comes with being a mum and a business owner. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s definitely worth it.”

The Bunyip shop is full to the brim of gorgeous items from all across Australia. Whilst some products are from Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, many are designed or produced locally in places like East Gippsland, Garfield, Warragul, Narre Warren, Geelong and the Yarra Valley.

“Most, if not all the items sold instore and online have at least one element done within Australia - whether that be created, designed or manufactured in the country,” Miranda said. “I think it’s also important to back other small businesses. I know what it is like to run a small business. It’s not for the faint-hearted, then to throw a toddler into the mix makes it extra tough. I am conscious of supporting people who are trying to have a crack.”

Miranda is also supportive of local like-minded business owners.

“There is enough room for everyone here and we need to foster our community rather than get involved in unhealthy competition,” Miranda said. “If we work together to bring more people to our small towns, then everybody wins.”

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MIRANDA’S PASSION FOR GIFT-GIVING INSPIRED HER TO SET UP SHOP IN BUNYIP WORDS: LIA SPENCER

Her positive outlook proves to be working, as word of mouth has attracted people from near and far.

“Many residents have told their friends and family about Local Element Gifts,” Miranda said. “And I get a lot of great feedback from shoppers.”

Miranda said that as well as supporting local, another aspect of the shop that people seem to love are the affordable prices.

“I really wanted to have a nice gift shop where people could walk in and it felt like there were quality items but not at astronomical prices.

Not everyone can afford to spend sixty dollars on a candle,” she said.

Some of the most popular products include home fragrances, baby gifts and dried flower arrangements.

“The dried flowers are done by a woman in Buln Buln. Dried flowers were really big several decades ago and have been making a huge comeback,” Miranda said.

“We actually ran a workshop in the store in February on dried flower arrangements and it was very popular. I plan to run more workshops with other local creatives in the future.”

Miranda said the shop was a continual work-in progress and that it was always evolving. She continues to look for new products to stock. By the end of this year, she will even be launching her own homewares line, Marlo & Co Living, in store and online.

“I plan to have my outdoor cushions instore this September,” she said.

“They were designed by a Melbourne artist and printed and hand-made locally.”

For more information about Local Element Gifts and Marlo & Co Living, visit their social media pages or head to www.localelementgifts.com.au and www.marloandcoliving.com.au

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MOVING WITH THE TIMES WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES

With the sudden increase of social distancing restrictions, West Gippsland Libraries busily began adapting services, using technology to develop alternative ways to connect communities.

West Gippsland Libraries began by delivering a range of virtual events and online programs for the community to enjoy from the comfort of home.

Regular programs have been adapted to an online format including Story Time and Baby Rhyme Time for early years, the Young Einsteins STEM learning program for school aged kids and other special online activities and events for both kids and adults.

“We’ve had some great feedback from many of our regular Story Time and Baby Rhyme Time attendees, from parents telling us how much they’re missing the library and our regular programs and how delighted their children were to see their favourite presenters, right there in their own home!” says Bec Noone, Manager Marketing and Strategy, West Gippsland Libraries.

The Library has created a number of video series including the Local Author Showcase that features local authors from across West Gippsland and Bass Coast, discussing their recent books. Simple Self Sufficiency, another video series created by the Library, features simple self-sufficiency tips to help reduce your impact on the planet and improve your family’s health and well-being. All episodes from the online programs are available to watch on the West Gippsland Libraries website.

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“We know that this doesn’t replace the great programs and events we usually host at the Library but we are trying to provide what we can and continue to promote social connection that is so important to communities, especially during these circumstances,” said Leanne Williams, CEO, West Gippsland Libraries.

To ensure all within the community have access to library resources, including the most vulnerable, West Gippsland Libraries has developed several programs to reach disconnected library members including outbound caring calls to library members who haven’t accessed online resources before.

Knowing that not all library members could access technology or would know where to begin, West Gippsland Libraries began providing a priority home delivery service through Australia Post, initially part of the caring calls program. Library members can register for a resource parcel of their preferred genre with a choice of books, audiobooks, DVDs and magazines delivered free to their home. The priority home delivery is now being offered to all members of the library who are unable to access the library.

The Tech Talks program has also been adapted to an alternative format.

Library members can book a call back from a Librarian to help setup and access online resources on their digital devices. Register online via the West Gippsland Libraries website or call a local branch to register your interest for priority home delivery or a Tech Talk.

ON MARCH 17TH 2020, IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVICE, WEST GIPPSLAND LIBRARIES CLOSED THEIR DOORS TO THE PUBLIC. THE DIFFICULT DECISION WAS MADE WITH THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF STAFF, VISITORS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY BEING PARAMOUNT.

Northern Mobile Library

Northern Mobile Library

Mobile Librarian Lynn Seymour

The library has also donated 6 pcs, recently retired from the library, to the community at Fairview Homes in Warragul to help residents stay connected during the centre closure. This has given residents access to online library resources and helped them stay connected with their families online. “I can’t believe the Library has donated these to us, thank you so much, it will make such a difference during isolation” says Lois from Fairview Homes.

West Gippsland Libraries continues to offer a wide range of e-resources including e-books, e-magazines, digital newspapers and e-audiobooks that are all available online, anytime. There are heaps of kid’s activities and reading resources, as well as streaming movies, documentaries and on-demand short courses all included free with your library membership.

With the higher demand, the focus is on increasing the online catalogue so a greater range of titles are available online.

Some of the new arrivals feature a collection of e-books and e-audiobooks written by leading experts, with practical tips and strategies that tackle some of the big issues people might find themselves dealing with during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This collection for adults, parents and teens is designed to unpack complex issues and act as a self-help guide with topics including resilience, loss and grief, anxiety, depression, coping with change, healthy habits, self-development and mindfulness.

Taking advantage of the COVID-19 closures, West Gippsland Libraries brought forward planned repair work to the Northern Mobile Library which included replacing flooring and ceilings throughout, upgrading the lighting to more energy-efficient options updating the soft furnishings and some external work as well.

Priority home delivery service through Australia Post

With the easing of the Victorian Government, West Gippsland Libraries have now begun delivering a phased re-introduction of library services.

Step 2, beginning from June 22nd will include limited access to public spaces in library branches. The Northern Mobile Library will continue to operate in Step 1: offering click and collect services until further notice.

To find out more, become a library member or support with registering or using apps call your branch or visit wgrlc.vic.gov.au. Try the new live chat feature on the website, available on the website Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Don’t forget to sign up for the e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at West Gippsland Libraries.

Bec Noone Manager Marketing and Strategy West Gippsland Libraries 65 Victoria Street Warragul, VIC 3820

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r e n r o c Abby - Hey I'm in Canine Corner

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W inter

Dozer - a good read & nap...

Miss Poppy - wanna play?

Crunchie - check me pearlers out!

Cooper - ruggin up for winter!

Rusty - soft blankie... like me

Pipin - luv my cuddles

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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

Tilka - Corona crap got me beat

Frankie - I like the sand...

Floyd & Hamlet - Don't worry 'bout the big guy... down here, I'm the boss

Charlie - my nice quiet moment

Lucy - are you staring at me?

Scout - who's that over there...

Samson - it's my chair

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22ND FEB 2020

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FOSTER & DISTRICT

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22ND FEB 2020 FOSTER & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW

AGRICULTURAL SHOW A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FOSTER SHOW HELD ON 22ND FEBRUARY 2020 “The Foster Show is a celebration of agriculture, the foundation of many families and businesses in South Gippsland. We're proud to offer an event true to what country shows started as - a showcase of the best stock, produce and crafts in the district and the opportunity for locals to catch up with old mates and check out what's new in farming and their community.”

The Foster Agricultural Show is held on the 4th Saturday in February of each year. www.fostershow.com

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FOSTER & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW 22ND FEB 2020

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22ND FEB 2020 FOSTER & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW

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Foster views over Corner Inlet

Foster

& the Serendipitous Gold words : JE Miller

Despite being financially affected by Covid-19, as have so many other people all over the world, I am still so grateful for my career, and what I am blessed to be able to do for a living… to write. Being part of the Gippsland Lifestyle Magazine is such an important part of that career, and the way it came about was like so many other things in life… with a little pinch of serendipity. Writing this story, about a unique Australian town, has been especially serendipitous for several reasons. But before I tell you more about that, I would like to pay my respects and gratitude to the first storytellers of this beautiful land, who in the area of Foster are the Brataualung Aboriginal people, of the larger tribe of Gunnai Kurnai. May all of our stories hold value far greater than gold, through the sands of time.

One of the Dreamtime stories is uniquely told in Foster through a collection of painted sculptures at PJ Wilson Reserve. It tells how Bunjil the eagle, the creator spirit, came to the land, and met Mother and Father of the Gunnai Kunai people, Booran the Pelican who flew in from the east across the mountains, and Tuk the Musk Duck, who joined Booran in his canoe after a serendipitous meeting, and travelled around the islands and the waters of the Corner Inlet.

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Together Booran and Tuk carry the stories of the land and sea, while Bunjil remembers the creation of the rivers, the mountains, the creatures, and the people.

As for my stories, many regular readers will know about my children’s book which came out last year, but you may not know that I finished my first novel the year before. It was a massive undertaking. Years of hard work studiously researching, writing and editing to create a book, with absolutely no idea if it would amount to anything.

Do you know there is more chance of winning lotto than hearing back from a publisher? Well, you can imagine how ecstatic I was to recently.

I imagine it was like the feeling of the gold prospectors in the area of Foster in the late 1800’s, who persistently chipped away at rock and dirt, in the hope of unearthing the ultimate treasure… that elusive, sparkling gold.

From all accounts it was more a case of serendipity than hard work that led to the discovery of gold in Foster in 1870, with illegal loggers posing as gold prospectors, in an attempt to avoid the law, who first struck gold.

However, after that history changing accident, there was certainly plenty of hard work that came afterwards, as hundreds of people flocked to the area, to try and make their fortunes as well. The ABC reported that very recently another small hand-dug gold-mine was found on a farm just outside Foster, with the names T. Hurley, and J. Thomas, scratched into the surface of the rock.

While it seems that no gold was ever discovered in their mine, it certainly tells a story of life in the early days of the settlement of Foster. Hopeful prospectors could literally find a patch of unclaimed earth, grab a pick, and start digging. Some got lucky, while others did not. The alluvial gold mines were closed in 1877, to be followed by quartz mining, which eventually also ended, in the 1930’s.

During this mining boom and the establishment of the town, the Great Southern Railway made its way to Foster in 1892. The town continued to flourish through the turn of the century, with electricity connected in 1916, as meanwhile across the seas the Great War marched on.

The meandering train track rolled over the land, and passengers would have enjoyed stunning views over Corner Inlet and the peaks of Wilsons Promontory National Park.

The Foster town centre, The Post Office in the centre of the photograph is now the Foster Historical Museum. Photograph from Foster & District Historical Society

The Victory Mine Foster. Photograph from Foster & District Historical Society

Foster Men’s Shed built on the site of the Foster Railway Station at the Great Southern Rail Trail PJ Wilson Reserve Painted Sculptures

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Reginald Roy Paterson

One of the early residents of Foster who would certainly have experienced the trip, was local boy Reginald Roy Paterson, affectionately known as Roy. Enlisting on the 12th of October 1914, Roy boarded the train at just 19 years of age, and shipped out on HMAT A4 Pera, on the 8th of February 1915, from Melbourne, a Private of the 8th Light Horse Regiment. His incredible career spanned decades and two world wars, during which time he made the rank of Lieutenant, survived three years in a Singapore prisoner of war camp during WWII, and was awarded the Military Cross, Military Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

Roy was credited with playing a pivotal role in the success of the operations at Jenin in September 1918. Along with his sub-section, he was detailed to watch the road from Nablus, south of Jenin. Roy came across a body of some 300 enemy and four field guns, and he immediately called on them to surrender. During what I can only imagine were some extremely tense moments, the enemy at first refused, before finally submitting to the surrender. A man who knew how to get things done, Roy came home from WWI and founded the still thriving Foster RSL, in August 1919.

Signage - Dreamtime stories

He was worth his weight in gold, both during his time, and now into the future, especially to all the service members who have gratefully walked through the doors of that RSL since.

The turn of the century was certainly a golden age for growth in this unlikely part of the world, difficult to get to before the railway arrived, and so the town flourished to long outlast the gold rush, and has continued to grow and prosper over the years, thanks largely to good soil, pleasant climate, and many hardworking men and women. Despite the unfortunate closure of the railway in 1993, the track that Roy and so many others travelled can still be followed if you are fit and able, via the Great Southern Rail Trail.

There are so many other unique treasures to be found in this beautiful town, including various nature walks, serene beaches, ancient rainforests and waterfalls, the Foster and District Historical Society Museum, fascinating parks and buildings, community gardens and freeto-pick fruit and veggies planted around the town, world class art, delicious local produce, including wine and gold medal winning cheeses, and above all else, caring and friendly people.

Flowers growing in the upgraded town with vegetables and herbs Photo by Wendy Morriss

There is something special about this welcoming town. It is a feeling you really have to experience to understand. In this serene heart of the Prom Country, described as Victoria’s best kept secret, you will feel like you want to stay a while, and just breathe.

While you contemplate your next holiday in Foster, I have a special treasure hunt for now that you can do from home. For our valued Gippsland Lifestyle readers, I have an exclusive treat. To get involved, head over to my website www.rememberlestweforget.com before the 1st of October 2020, and send me an email enquiry with ‘I struck gold reading Gippsland Lifestyle Magazine’ in the message. When my novel hits the shelves, I will get in touch and send you a free copy.

Now, the publishing world moves very slowly, so it might be more than a couple of years away, but I will remember. I won’t tell you much more about it, as I love surprises, other than to say that in a time long gone, an epic war begins, and the life of the main character is changed forever, after she receives a strange gift… a necklace with a sparkling gold stone.

Like I said… serendipitous.

Stay safe... JE Miller

Foster 100

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PJ Wilson Reserve Painted Sculptures

WONTHAGGI MEDICAL GROUP

Accredited Providers of High Quality Medical Services to the Bass Coast Community

YOUR LOCAL GENERAL PRACTICE FOR • Medical Services for the whole family • Obstetrics - Pregnancy Management/Birth • Palliative Care • Aged Care • Vascular Health Assessments • General Health Assessments • Healthy Kids Check

• Immunisation • Diabetes Management, Education and Risk Assessment • Asthma Management & Education • GP Management Plans • Chronic Disease Management - Team Care Arrangements • Skin Checks and Lesion Removal • Travel Health Advice

OPENING HOURS | CLINIC CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19 Our clinics remain OPEN with alternative arrangements in place for attending to our patient’s needs.

NEW HOURS during COVID-19 restrictions: Wonthaggi Monday to Friday 8.30am – 7pm Saturday 9am – 12pm

Inverloch Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm

Grantville Monday and Thursday only 9am – 4pm

Wonthaggi Medical Centre A’Beckett Street Medical Centre Grantville Medical Centre Holiday Season Ph: 5672 1333 MOO’S is closed on CHRISTMAS DAY & BOXINGPh: DAY5674 Then1207 OPEN 7 Days a Week untilPh: the5678 end 8029 of January 42 Murray Street, Wonthaggi 25 A’Beckett Street, Inverloch 2/1524 Bass Hwy, Grantville

AFTER HOURS | 5672 1333 www.wonthaggimedical.com.au

every little bit counts TAKING THE FIRST STEPS! the benefits of exercise for your health, mind & pocket

by CGS Fitness

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BREAKING IT DOWN Being a qualified personal trainer, I see the physical and mental benefits people get from training, whether that be in a gym, boot camp setting or getting out in our great outdoors everyday.

No matter where you are in your fitness journey, everyone has their own goals that they are working to achieve. Whether you are training at a beginner, intermediate or experienced level of fitness, the benefits of aiming to include at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day is optimal for your wellbeing.

Getting started is the hardest part. Once you make something a part of your every day routine, it gets easier and it becomes more natural.

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins.

Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body, and you may notice yourself feeling happier after exercising.

This can be achieved with something as simple as going for a brisk 30 minute walk (with family or friends), bike riding, stretching & mobility, or performing physical exercises, to name a few!

THE PANDEMIC OPPORTUNITY If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it's that we need to build up our immunity. This can include our daily intake of vitamin D (sunshine) and maintaining a daily practice of physical activity. Social distancing has inspired us to find creative ways of maintaining our physical and mental wellbeing.

Consider the average cost of a gymnasium, personal trainer, sport or activity - and before you do, ask yourself this, "Can I make a start on my own?" Changing some simple habits may help your mind, body and pocket!

Yes... habits! Let's talk about them. We all have them and rarely do we like to deviate from the way we do things... but just think for a moment how one small change can benefit you so much, such as simple activities we sometimes forget to do or build into our daily lives.

Here are some training styles and suggestions of activities that you can do that fall into the below groups:

"KEEPING IT SIMPLE HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW FOR YOURSELF?" CARDIO

Cardiovascular training increases your lung capacity, which allows for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide - which is essential for the body to function. Some cardio based activities you could do at home include: ■ ■ ■ ■

Going for a run Going for a power walk Skipping Riding your bike

MOBILITY

Mobility is the ability to move freely. It improves the range of motion on our joints and muscles, and it may even assist in improving our posture.

Some simple mobility activities you can try are: ■ ■ ■

Stretching Yoga Swimming

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's how to get creative at home!

If you would like to add extra resistance or weight to any exercises at home, you could consider using every day items! To name a few: ■ ■ ■

Two full water bottles as hand weights Two cans of beans as hand weights A full backpack as a weight

THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS, JUST GET CREATIVE! Every little bit helps! Make a start and you will be on your way to getting healthy, getting fitter and feeling better!

Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional or qualified personal trainer before commencing any physical activity.

Best of luck, make a start today, see you next issue!

Cristi x

STRENGTH RESISTANCE

Strength and resistance training improves muscular strength and endurance.

Body weight exercises are just as effective if you don't have any equipment at home! Some resistance exercises you could try are: ■ ■ ■

Push-ups Squats Holding a plank Cristi is a qualified Personal Trainer, Social Media & Marketing Manager.

You can follow Cristi on instagram @cgs.fitness Do you have a question or a topic you would like Cristi to write about? Send her an email at cgs.fitness@outlook.com

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More Resilient

you are

than you think

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Hey Gippslander’s, we have just been on one hell of a ride and now it’s time to hop off, take a deep breath and regain your balance. The drought, the bushfires and then COVID-19. The triple whammy, you would not even read about this in the twisted plot of a Steven King novel. However, you know what, you are here and you are more resilient than you think.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after adversity. Get up, brush yourself off and continue. It is through resilience that we grow, learn and develop personally and professionally. This is the time that our comfort zone widens beyond its normal scope and we cannot go back to what we were. A rubber band that is stretched beyond its norm becomes looser, freer and forever changed. We bounce back but we bounce back with a different integrity. We walk away with a new experience, appreciation of the world and acknowledgement of what is important in life.

I hear you it was bloody tough, shifting work online, business closing, staying home and ohh not to mention home schooling. However, the power and the beauty of the experience will remain with us forever. The learnings, the awakenings, the gratitude. A slower pace, time spent with family, an opportunity to stop racing around. Be with those that we love, be in the moment, be mindful and be grateful.

Running a business, I have been operating from a place of doing for as long as I can remember. Rushing from one meeting to another, picking up kids from school, often doing so many things it felt like a juggle whilst desperately trying not to drop the ball. At dinner, I often found myself standing and eating, whilst tidying up and going through a To Do list in my mind. The lockdown created a space for me to be, instead of do.

To be with my children, to be quiet, to be reflective and to be in each moment. I have enjoyed some of the simplest of pleasures that I had not appreciated for so long. Sitting and eating a meal with the kids enjoying the conversation, the moment, the connection, just being.

Resilience is developed and enhanced over time and as a result of the challenges we face. We can strengthen our resilience muscle through many practices. Self-care, exercise, gratitude, mindfulness, managing our stress and emotions. Resilience can be harnessed to evoke calm, pleasure and happiness even through the tough times. What resilience practices will you continue to incorporate in your day-to-day life?

For life is a journey of mountains, rivers and caves. There is no straight path filled with roses the whole way. Life as we know has its challenges, has its success, has its darkness and has its light. For it is within the forces of the opposite polarity that brings life into balance with all its hardships and in all its glory. We cannot experience happiness without the experience of sadness. With only a singular entity and no existence of its polar opposite it would not be what it is. We need one to comprehend and appreciate the other.

We walk towards the light, stronger, wiser and more resilient than we think.

Gippslanders have endured some back-to-back challenges and Gippslanders are more resilient than they think. I am so proud of the community I call home. The innovative initiatives of local business to continue to thrive, the community culture of supporting each other, the appreciation about the beautiful environment in which we reside.

A community of strong and pragmatic people who get the job done. No sense of wallowing in pity or rocking in the fetal position in the corner.

Gippslanders have an endearing spirit, unrelenting stamina and an unyielding resilience.

The future for the region is bright; there is nothing that can compare with what we have already experienced. We have climbed the mountain and can reprieve amongst the wildflowers in the valley. Looking back at the dark shadows with a sense of pride for what we have conquered endured and survived. As we look forward and the sun warms our skin, the scent of relief soothes our soul and the thought of celebration dances in our sights. We walk towards the light, stronger, wiser and more resilient than we think.

CHRISTINE BOUCHER 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.

Christine is dedicated and passionate about Health & Wellness. Holding a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, specialising in Intensive Care Nursing.

With over 20 years’ experience working in the healthcare industry.

www.naturalhealthbalance.com.au

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shorter days & shorter fuse ?

Words: Christie Nelson

WELL IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN THE CLOCKS HAVE GONE BACK, THE DAYS ARE SHORTER, THE WEATHER IS COLDER AND I KNOW I START TO GET THAT LITTLE BIT GRUMPIER, MORE TIRED AND HAVING SUDDEN CRAVINGS FOR THE HIGH FIBRE WHITE LOAF IN BIG TOAST SLICES FROM BAKERS DELIGHT, LATHERED WITH CREAMY BUTTER AND HONEY FROM BLUE TREE HONEY FARM. CAN ANYONE ELSE RELATE? Suddenly, you may start to suddenly feel a little overwhelmed with life and this might be due to a combination of personal circumstances, the Winter Blues, the fact that nearly half the year has slipped by already, a trauma or the pressure that comes with our busy lives and the need to fit so much into a day which disappear as quickly as the daylight.

Our minds as parents, employees and wives/husbands are overloaded with things to remember and achieve, micromanaging of kids, a household and our spouses and any other outside factors or people in our lives which can be quite fatiguing at times and can catch up with us when we don’t even realise it’s taking a toll on our mental or physical health. For example: Do you sleep too much or overeat? Do you grump at the kids because something else has bothered you? Do feel like you keep getting sick? Relationship strained? Can’t sleep properly? Is the tip of your proverbial iceberg about to melt down? Alongside all of the previous contributing factors, there are some naturally occurring reasons for this too. If we receive a lower level of natural light, our serotonin (happy chemical) levels can dip and melatonin (hormone that regulates sleep and mood) can also alter, as well as our internal body clock. (Ref 1.)

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SOME SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP COMBAT THESE SYMPTOMS ARE: › Engage in 30 minutes exercise per day. Ask a friend to go for a walk and talk. › Rug up and get some fresh air and as much sunshine as you can, and consider changing your normal activities or regime to suit the time of year. (E.g. switch beach time for exploring walking trails in the bush.) › Keep a routine such as regular bed and wake up time (helps your circadian rhythm) and eat a balanced 3 meals per day of healthy foods. › Eating foods rich in “L-tryptophan, such as chicken, eggs, cheese, turkey, beef, salmon and tuna, tempeh, beans, lentils, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, pumpkin and chia seeds, and nuts” (ref 2.), can help increase brain serotonin levels. (I can assist with a healthy living program catered to the different seasons.) › Make time to do some things that you enjoy. › Keep plans and stay connected with friends and family. › Seek help if you feel you need it and check in with those who you recognise might.

A simple reach out can hold a different meaning for the person on the other end of the message who might simply be looking for empathy, understanding, advice, comfort and even someone to just listen. Checking in with your friends every now and then, even though you are incredibly busy yourself, can make a world of difference. It costs nothing to do so and the power of your words can turn someone’s day around when you least expect it. Smiles also cost nothing and are contagious by the way, (not sure if that’s a medical fact or not but you can do that trial quite safely yourself).

“YOU HAVE TWO EYES, AND TWO EARS, BUT ONLY ONE MOUTH. THIS IS SO BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AND LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK.” LUCCA KALDAHL It can be an incredible relief to hear someone say, I know how you are feeling or I understand. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who boast to have a perfectly smooth life within their household and portray that they are totally cool with everything; but don’t be fooled!

I’m sure there are moments when an ‘F’ bomb comes out when there’s a fight over the remote (possible real experience); they’re hiding in the pantry eating the last of the cooking chocolate out of desperation when it’s that time of the month; they’re having a quiet sob in the shower when they feel there’s just not enough of them to give or the thought of flannelette pyjamas, an electric blanket and a weighty doona trumps anything else hot and heavy in the bedroom. And you know what, it’s okay to feel that way because we are only human and we all have moments of vulnerability; we are not robots.

Winter will pass and we will all find that Vitamin D to go with our evening barbeques that we’ve been waiting for once again.

References

1. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232248 2. brainmd.com/blog/4-ways-to-boost-your-serotonin/

Christie is a dual health and wellness business owner, business builder, social networker, educator and busy Mum who can offer solutions and products to those looking for a postive change.

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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Using

a pen & paper to Enhance Personal Growth

By Erin Miller

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During the recent Covid-19 lockdown period, I was regularly reminded of the many benefits that putting a pen to paper or journaling, can have as a tool to not only enhance personal growth and development, but also in the management and moving through what sometimes can be complex emotions.

Journaling is a low-cost, easily accessible, and versatile self-guided resource with many benefits. Simplistic - yes, and yet it never ceases to amaze me the profound insights and transformations that can come from engaging in this as a regular practice.

Throughout history, many great poets and storytellers have captured and described the cathartic experience of putting pen to paper - one that I can certainly echo.

On a surface level, journaling can be extremely beneficial, for improving memory, recording important details, or just assisting relaxation at the end of a long day. But, we can take this practice to a whole other level to reach further and deeper parts of ourselves that will enhance and propel us forward in our personal growth and development, if we choose.

Journaling encourages us to bypass all the logical, conscious thoughts and is a beautiful tool to bring in stillness, tune inwards and to access our own innate wisdom. It can assist us in finding meaning within an experience, encourage us to view things from a new perspective, and allow us to see the positives in our most stressful or negative experiences.

It can also lead to important insights about our self and our environment that may be difficult to determine when we are within them and going through the motions so to speak.

The beautiful thing about journaling is that there is no right way or wrong way to do it - so you cannot get it wrong!! It is simply about finding a way and the format that feels good for you. This might look like a classic journal, a cheap notebook, an online journaling program, or perhaps a blog. It might look like only a few words or writing several pages. It might mean you write for a certain amount of time each day or decide ahead of time when and/or where you will write each day.

Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time Mina Murray

The following ideas are great ways to get started with your journaling practice: § Write a letter to yourself § Write letters to others § Write a poem § Free write (writing down everything that comes to mind) § Mind mapping (drawing your main challenge in the middle, with branches representing different aspects extending out from this).

Personally, I also use Journal Prompts to deepen and expand my journaling practice, especially when I am feeling stuck or resistance as to where to start. I love these so much that I have created my own set of 45 Journal Prompt Cards that can be used at random each day, week, or month to tune in and deepen my journaling practice.

Regardless, of where you are at with your journaling practice, it is helpful to remember that it is just that - a practice, and practice takes time, patience, and commitment.

Have you ever tried journaling? Would you like to try journaling? How do you think it would benefit you?

I would love for you to let me know your thoughts by sending me an email at erin@erinmiller.com.au

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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MORE THAN JUST A SERVICE TEAM Edney's Leongatha

BY ANITA BUTTERWORTH

Left- Kate Norton - Service advisor, Nick McRae - Service manager, Ian Marshman - Business owner, Adam Henwood - Technician, Stuart Murphy - Apprentice technician, Kerry Buckley - Technician Darren Betts - Foreman, David Williams - Detailer, Kai Churchill - Technician, Brad Tennyenhuis - Apprentice technician, Stuart Mansfield – Technician

EDNEY’S LEONGATHA IS AN INSTITUTION IN SOUTH GIPPSLAND, TAKING PRIDE OF PLACE IN LEONGATHA FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. AND AT THE BEATING HEART OF THE NISSAN AND HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH BOASTS MORE THAN 70 COMBINED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Service Manager Nick McRae steers the highly skilled team, which includes apprentices and members with more than three decades of experience.

“The staff are probably the main thing. There’s quite a few people that have been here for many, many years. Ian Marshman did his apprenticeship here and he’s been here for 33 years. And Darren Betts has been here for 18 years, Stuart Mansfield has been here 11 years and I’ve been here for 12 years.”

Nick himself started in the industry as an apprentice, and has worked his way up through the servicing departments at Leongatha’s former Holden dealership, before coming across to Edney's.

“Our staff retainment is very good, and that helps us with being a good service team and working together.”

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The team includes owner Ian Marshman, Service Manager Nick McRae, Foreman Darren Betts, Technicians Kerry Buckley, Stuart Mansfield, Adam Henwood and Kai Churchill, apprentices Stuart Murphy and Brad Tennyenhuis, Parts Manager Marshall Burke and Service Advisor Kate Norton. The team has strong ties to the local community, through sporting affiliations and volunteering with organisations like the CFA. Nick says the team is embedded in the community and the south Gippsland lifestyle.

"You say g’day and have a bit of a chat when they’re dropping their car off and you build that relationship and that tends to go a long way I think.”

The friendly service, along with a personal touch is what keeps customers coming back year after year, and generation after generation.

Kate Norton- Service advisor & Nick McRae - Service manager

Kerry Buckley in the service department

The Service Centre at Edney's in Leongatha

“WE DON’T TRY AND BECOME THE CITY FOLK IN THE DEALERSHIP WORLD,” HE EXPLAINS. “WE STILL HAVE THE COHESION WITH THE CUSTOMERS AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS HAVING THAT BOND WITH THE CUSTOMERS. " “Our retention rate is quite good, when you compare our retention rate with the figures in the automotive trade, then ours is very good.

And I think that probably comes down to having that bond with the customers and a strong reputation.”

The kettle is always on at Edneys for customers waiting for their car to be serviced, and the team also offers a drop off service. But beyond the one-on-one service, is the incredible experience of the service team.

“Our knowledge within the brands we offer is second-to-none.

In conjunction with Hyundai when you get a service you get roadside assist attached to it. Everyone is essentially factory trained, we’re forever going back to do training and learning more and more about how the latest technology works.”

It’s what keeps generations of families returning to Edney's Leongatha.

“Some customers have been coming here for 50 years, they’ve grown up and their parents brought their cars to us and it’s just gone down the line. Yes, we get parents and their kids and even grandchildren bringing their cars to us.”

A: P: E: W:

1-5 Roughead Street, Leongatha 3953 03 5662 2327 edney@dcsi.net.au edneysleongatha.com.au

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WINTER JUNE | JULY | AUGUST 2020 SUN SIGN ASTROLOGY forecast with KERRY GALEA ARIES !

LIBRA '

21 March – 19 April

23 Sep – 22 Oct

What are you spending money on? It is really truly valuable, or are you wasting resources in order to feel good about yourself? Compulsions can arise from behaviours learnt far back in the past. Those behaviours do not necessarily make you feel better, nor do they help you respond in a healthy manner, especially at work. Mid-season, a surge of energy propels you to action or reaction.

This can help you achieve a career milestone, or help you come to terms with what authority figures want you to do. Later, you will need to stand up for your beliefs and actions.

To maximise your opportunities, keep your eye on what is happening in the workplace. You are learning about a new situation but the information you receive will change, or evolve into something you didn’t quite expect. There is work needed around the home, perhaps renovations. Extended family members are edgy or restless, and it may show up as tension. This theme lasts for many months. Do you want to build or improve your own home, or does it need repair?

Your parents may be the ones needing attention. Or is it your own security and emotional foundations that need attention?

TAURUS "

SCORPIO (

This is a time to investigate and recheck any communications and to be careful about decisions, as you can be easily swayed by group dynamics. Don’t be too eager to respond to mob mentality. Their decisions will not suit you, and only lead to confusion or trouble. Mid-season, your viewpoint, perspective and beliefs are undergoing expansion. This may come from being questioned or challenged, or it may come through travel or experiencing other cultures. Keep asking questions.

Aim to know rather than just believe. Later in the season, you need to doublecheck everything. Self-doubt or hidden fears can lead to mistakes.

Even if you don’t like the word “study”, you will be deep in the search for information. This search will be like digging a well, as the more you find out, the deeper it goes, and the more people that are involved, the easier it happens.

So, talk, read, reflect on what you thought you knew, and open your mind to study. Mid-season begins with a time of mental quietness. You don’t feel you want to interact quite as much as before, or you feel self-conscious. But later in the season, you begin a time where you can speak up loudly and strongly.

20 April – 20 May

SAGITTARIUS )

GEMINI #

22 Nov – 21 Dec

21 May – 20 June

It’s easy to try and avoid or delay doing anything work related, but it will lead to ineffective action. Don’t waste energy. It is important for you to take time to investigate all the possible consequences. Then you will start to move ahead and receive assistance. From mid-season, it’s time to let go and gain. This appears to be a contradiction, but you can gain when you let go and give space for something new to come. This can involve finances or possessions that you share with others. Not everybody has the same values and beliefs. It will be a time to find the problems and sort the underlying issues.

Think deeply about what you are prepared to do for a family member. Your money will be spent on the home so expect costs to rise. Be practical, for fancy ideas come with a fancy price. What is really important to you? You can focus on money-based concerns and the need to have a budget or a plan, or at a higher level, be focused on the value of ethics, beliefs and behaviours. What does an investment really look like? Is it time with family, or spending money on the home?

Do you really need it or want it?

CAPRICORN * 22 Dec – 19 Jan

CANCER $ 21 June – 22 July

You have a voice and while part of you feels that it is time to express it … you will soon be changing your mind, so don’t make announcements that are hard to change. Rather, it is a perfect time to talk and to ask questions, to write down ideas that others give you, and to revise and edit plans and projects. Connections to other people will get more complicated. And it may be about hassles in their own life. It’s a tense time for them. Communications will soon open and confusion will settle, especially if you help them and accept their stuff as “their” stuff ... not yours.

Other people will want you to understand them, but you will have trouble comprehending what they are saying. And in turn they will interpret your words in unintended ways. Each of you is speaking a different language. Your mental energy levels are high, so don’t be forceful, as it won’t help. Instead, be creative and learn to communicate in different ways. Mid-season, pressure and hard work increase. While you may feel tired, you will also be able to do more than you ever thought possible. Late-season, there is difficulty in making a decision, or in finding the right words to express your needs.

AQUARIUS + 20 Jan – 18 Feb

LEO %

23 July – 22 Aug

This is a preparation month as an active time is coming. Get things done which you need to have close at hand and in working order. Concentrate on the mundane but necessary aspects of life, and check that everything is ready. Then put your head down and work! You quickly realise that you need to be organised and that you cannot fly by the seat of your pants. The better you do it, the better the long-term gains will be. Physical activity will release tensions. Plans for holiday get blocked, so you may as well knuckle down and get busy.

It’s going to be easy to spend money or to waste resources. Ask yourself … what are you trying to prove? What beliefs about money, or worth, did you pick up as a child? What cultural attitudes surrounded you? Then decide what attitudes about worth do you want to develop? Mid-season, feelings can burst out of the subconscious, perhaps from the distant karmic past, and into focus. We don’t know where these come from, or why they are here. Are we meant to know?

Just deal with what comes up, and know that we don’t know everything.

PISCES ,

19 Feb – 20 March

VIRGO &

23 Aug – 22 Sep

23 Oct – 21 Nov

Relationship dynamics are heightened. They are having flashes of inspiration and will be eager to make changes. Which is great if you are comfortable with the idea!

But sometimes we can be stretched; totally enjoy the moment, the experiences and opportunities that changes will bring. From mid-season, everything gets very serious and practical ... but as an earthy Virgo, this is second nature to you.

Creativity slows down and it is not the time to take risks. Young people are under pressure and you may be called to help. Your own plans will be delayed and now is the time to focus on helping and being there for other people.

While you have lots of restless energy, confusion reigns supreme. This results in ineffective action. Or lots of work that gets you no-where. And the final outcome is tiredness. So, conserve and delegate to people in the groups and networks that surround you. Mid-season, you are taking on the role of the Lego connector block that is capable of making links to many other blocks. These are the groups and networks that surround you. The tribes that you belong to. Do you need to change the way you co-operate within the group, or to change one of your tribes?

KERRY GALEA ASTROLOGY, PALMISTRY AND ANCIENT MOON GARDENING Email: kerry@kerrygalea.com.au | Web: www.kerrygalea.com.au

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WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR COPY GIPPSLAND LIFESTYLE OUTLETS Bairnsdale newsXpress 21 Bailey St Bairnsdale Main Street Newsagency 212 Main Street Berwick Newsagency 29-31 High 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 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 Newsagency 10 A'Beckett Street The Jindi Caf 1055 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 Loch Village Food Store 35 Victoria Road 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 Pakenham Newsagency 99-101 Main Street Poowong IGA 17-19 Main Street Rhyll General Store 41 Lock 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 Thorpdale Bakery 34 Station Street Tinamba General Store Maffra-Rosedale Road Toora FoodWorks 66 Stanley Street Trafalgar IGA 5 McCrorey 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 newsXpress 195-197 Commercial Road 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 7 Anderson Street Leongatha 95 Bair Street Mirboo North 106 Ridgway Newmerella 5327 Princes Highway Sale 344-350 Raglan Street Toora 26 Foster Road Wonthaggi 103-105 McKenzie Street Yarram 325 Commercial Street

RITCHIES SUPA IGA Stores Bairnsdale 30 Howitt Avenue 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: thelifestyle@dcsi.net.au Disclaimer: © South Gippsland Publishing Pty Ltd 2020, 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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