Bella magazine (Issue 15) 2018 by McPherson Media Group

Edition 15 — June 2018

T R A e h T

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Contents

Edition 15, June 2018

On the cover 12

The talented ‘phantom’ behind the scenes Model: Tamara Cadd; makeup by Julie Raverty

Inside 8

The eyes have it

Bella Escape

Winter. What to wear, wear to get it

Kiara Dean, Annie Oakley. Tomayto, tomarto

Kerry has her work cut out for her

Isobel’s been too busy to be sick

Suddenly Single

Attenshun! Sergeant Grundy, two steps forward

Danielle’s going downhill, fast and loving it

When the only way is up

It’s a tough Gig but they’re Jammin’ in everything they can

Keeping those hormones — and you — fit and healthy

Dot calls it herself — ‘I’m history’

Designing the right space for an outdoor fire pit

Thirty Something

bella editor Tyla Harrington tyla.harrington@riverineherald.com.au 5482 1111

24 32

39 bella advertising Stuart Addicott stuart.addicott@riverineherald.com.au 5482 1111

Want more bella? facebook.com/bellamagazineechuca Instagram — @bellamagazineechuca bella.riverineherald.com.au

Photography: Luke Hemer, Andy Harrison, Steve Huntley Editorial design: Bella Considine Advertising design: Bella Considine, Brendan Cain, Tanya Main Words: Sophie Baldwin, Andrew Mole, Tyla Harrington, David Rak, Ivy Jensen, Charmayne Allison, Andrew Johnston

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Editor Tyla Harrington.

INTER — IT’S NO longer coming.

It’s fashion.

bella’s Luke Hemer.

It’s here.

The only thing I love about winter is the fashion.

You can thank me later. nesses and people — Willow Tree Beauty

And yes, we still have to wait until next year before season eight arrives.

Long sleeve dresses, jumpsuits, jumpers, coats, boots, trackies, beanies, slippers. Need I go further?

Both of which (waiting for GoT and suffering through winter with it off the small screen) is incredibly unfortunate.

Not only do I generally prefer the style of winter clothes to summer, there’s also the comfort factor.

facilities, Lauren as our clotheshorse and all

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about when I say Game of Thrones I suggest you watch the series or ignore this reference entirely.

Give me boots, a nice cosy jacket and pants any day of the week, ahead of shorts and a singlet.

And, no, I am not making a Game of Thrones reference.

What I am really trying to say is I hate the cold. Actually, that’s not true. I despise it. I love the heat and everything about it. But just like as spring follows winter, there is light at the end of my cold, miserable tunnel.

That’s where this month’s edition comes in because it’s jam packed with ideas about how you can dress up winter. Our first of a series of fashion shoots starts on page 18. Clothes from participating businesses including Annab ella, Sage, I Want I Need and Guys & Girls have been modelled by Lauren Cavanagh and photographed by

But for now I would like to thank some busiLounge for making up our model, Murray River Paddlesteamers for the use of their participating businesses. It wouldn’t have been a fashion shoot without you. Be sure to check it out. That’s it from bella HQ. This editor’s off to get herself a hot chocolate with some chocolate on the side. Then I might head to those shops so I can dress to impress. But I might need to layer lots, and spend even more, given how cold it is! 

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The eyes have it 1200 steps to killer lashes

ID YOU REALISE if you can balance a single eyelash on the tip of your finger and then flip it over your shoulder you will be granted a wish?

Any wish. Think lottery, world cruise, think of anything you desire. But if you really want to have more than a very small shot at celebration we think you need to have a sit down with lash queen Mel Roberts. If you don’t believe us, ask Keely Tracey because that’s exactly what she has done. And she now has an extra 1200 potential jackpots stuck to her eyelids. So if the story about the wish is correct, you would wish you were Keely. Right or wrong, when it comes to having lash with panache Mel will have you positively bristling with beauty in (give or take a few minutes) a few hours. Adding lashes one at a time Crafting incredible volume in your lashes — and the good news is when she is finished it won’t be your new lashes getting blown away. It will be you.

Mel knows there’s so much stigma attached to her industry with many shocking photos of lash extensions gone wrong all over the internet.

Mel and her business Glow Beauty are making some serious statements when it comes to eyes (and their general surrounds).

It’s why she is so determined to make a difference.

It doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye though — her art takes a little bit longer than that. “In Keely’s case we were putting between two and six lashes on each eye at a time and while that took us almost four hours we did manage her makeup for the bella shoot in 30–40 minutes,” Mel said. “We went for pink because I don’t like to blend in, I like to stand out. I wanted something bold and that’s what I tried to create.”

And people going to one-day crash courses is not good enough and why, she said, there were so many horror stories out there. “If you make a mistake it is a litigation nightmare, not to mention you are talking about a person’s eye,” Mel added. Part of her mission to restore professional pride in her industry Mel also plans to offer a regional mobile eyelash extension training course which will go direct to the salons.

That’s not to say Mel can’t blow you away with the traditional look because she can do that too.

When she’s not extending lashes, Mel has her hands full with her extended family — she is the mother of Kristen, Joe, Tameka, Ryan and Mason and grandmother of Dakota and Eadie.

“The lash extensions can last between two to six weeks. Everyone is different so it does depend,” she said.

Mel’s service is based out of Rich River Chiropractic Centre in Hare St, Echuca, where she also provides a massage practice.

Chiropractor Graham Hodgson asked Mel to join him fulltime earlier this year after seeing her showcase her massage work. “I like to help fix people and with Graham I can do that,” Mel said. After moving from Griffith, Mel worked as Graham’s part-time massage therapist for two years. “I will continue to work alongside Graham as his massage therapist.” But having owned her own salon and worked at a day spa she thought it was time to get back to her other fashion passion of semi-permanent eyelash extensions. “I offer safe lash extensions that complement the client’s individual beauty,” she said. “The eyes are one of the most important parts of our body and safety is paramount.” It’s a pretty impressive package — massage or beauty. Either way it’s a win-win for her clients and anyone else who wants to feel or see the magic she makes with her hands. 

NG WHEN DID STRinO ny? become the new sk

Thirty years ago lifting weights was the domain of Schwarzenegger wannabe body builders and sweaty oversized testosterone-pumping muscleheads. Back then jumping through highly choreographed classes, Jane Fonda style, was the preferred women’s exercise option — chances are most females never thought twice about bicep curls or bench presses. In the 80s Olivia Newton John’s Let’s Get Physical set the tone for the evolution of women’s fitness. Women across the country realised exercise could be enjoyable and social at the same time. As the years progressed and the growth in women’s freedom and expression changed, the simple notion of exercise to be skinny also started to change. As empowerment and feminism grew the need to be mentally and emotionally

powerful extended into the physical aspect as well. Then BODYPUMP hit the scene. Today women across the country can be heard saying: “I don’t exercise to be skinny I exercise to be strong”. This ability to work hard and be strong added the cream to the cake, completing the evolution of full female empowerment. A quick search of social media fitness models will highlight just how large this has become with the likes of Michelle Lewin and Kayla Itsines who have become household names with 20.8 million Instagram followers between them.

title sounds unless you want to make it that way. The beauty is you can choose your own weights to reach your desired outcome. The basis of the workout is a single barbell using moderate weights with lots of repetition. The exercises and routines provide a full body workout burning hundreds of calories per session making you lean, toned and fit-fast. A qualified Les Mills instructor will coach you through the scientifically proven moves and assist you with motivation and technique. And the best part?

But what is BodyPump and what does it achieve?

You can start small or go hard with a 55, 45 or 30-minute workout which most importantly still gives you the time to socialise afterwards.

BodyPump isn’t as intimidating as the

What’s not to love about that?

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The talented ‘phantom’ behind the scenes Julie Raverty is a doer — and a giver. She does it all, from working with the disabled to training dogs. And with her spare time is also the secret talent behind the scene creating the look of the stars on stage in plays such as Phantom of the Opera, where her work surpassed even her own high standards. Cast member and Bella senior writer IVY JENSEN spoke to the makeup maven about her work.

ULIE RAVERTY DOESN’T have a single gift.

No, instead Julie Raverty is the gift. And a gift to organisations.

lot

people

and

But you would have to be on the ball to know anything about her; the modest 49-year-old mother of two has done nearly all her best work from the shadows. Or, in the case of Echuca-Moama Theatre Company, from behind the scenes. She started out supporting people with disabilities and then training dogs. Most recently she has been volunteering as a makeup designer with EMTC where she has become the local theatre company.

“I love being creative and theatre gives me the opportunity to do that,” she said. Her ‘behind-the-scenes’ work started early; as caregiver for her mother, who suffered from a lung disease which would claim her life at just 48, and Julie was 19. But it was growing up next to a residential disability unit in Melbourne from the age of 11 that really got Julie interested in working with people with special needs. “I used to volunteer ‘next door’ and help them with their weekly swimming, art and music therapy,” Julie explained. “They were five young kids living with high support needs and I would spend a lot of time with them,” she said. “I loved it and learnt a lot along the way.”

She has become a maven of illusion; trans- Julie went on to receive a degree in disability studies at Deakin University before working forming faces into everything from sea in the field in Melbourne for 12 years. creatures and animals to evil villains and the “I just loved helping people,” she said. >>> dead — and even women into men.

>>> “It was fascinating and I loved the satisfaction of helping people achieve things for themselves and supporting kids and seeing them do normal things that I took for granted.” After marrying husband Daryl in 1994, the couple moved to Echuca for a tree change in 1998 thanks to a job transfer with Murray Human Services (MHS), now known as Vivid. During that time, Julie helped set up a branch of MHS in Kyabram. “One of the many services we provided was art classes. It was wonderful for our clients to be able to express themselves creatively and I supported some people who had amazing artistic talent,” she said. “We would work with mediums the clients could handle, so we had to be creative, often on a shoestring budget.” It was also around this time Julie became a professional dog trainer and for the past 12 years has been running puppy school classes through Rose’s Veterinary Clinic. A lifelong lover of dogs, Julie discovered she had the knack for teaching canines how to behave. “I have always trained my own dogs and I love sharing my knowledge with new puppy owners so they feel confident and experience the joy and success of training their own dogs using positive methods,” she said. “It’s all about establishing a communication system with the dog and a positive approach to training. There are so many better ways to train your dog than just relying on discipline. Dogs don’t want to be naughty, they just live in the moment and they’re impulsive. “Dogs innately want to please humans and love nothing more than that.” Having trained hundreds of dogs — from Pekingese and Chihuahuas to Rottweilers and everything in between, Julie said it was just a matter of finding the right motivator. She should know. She has had everything from Border Collies, Blue Heelers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles. “Working dogs might love chasing a Frisbee while other dogs may be motivated by going for a walk,” she said. “The most effective form of reinforcement though is food. Used correctly, it is not a bribe. It becomes your dog’s currency.” And it works for puppies, as well as adult dogs. “You can teach an old dog new tricks,” Julie said. The canine loves of her life at the moment are Papillons Olé, 8, and Winter, 2.

“I cannot imagine a day without them in my life,” she said. “They don’t judge you, they greet you when you come home and are always excited to see you. It’s unconditional love and they are so forgiving. “Dogs don’t live long on this earth and it’s hard to say goodbye to a family member every 10 or so years, but they make me whole.”

but I figured faces are a living canvas and with a change of medium from paint to makeup, it was a challenge I was excited to be entrusted with,” she said. “Blind faith had me tackle my first show, which was assisting Will Kendrew to create his evil Child Catcher character.” It was an enormous task to create his white villainous face, complete with long pointy nose and cold, hypnotic eyes.

The other loves of Julie’s life are her husband Daryl, who she quietly supports behind the scenes helping him run their electrical business specialising in solar electricity installations, and her children Oakley, 15, and Harper, 13.

“It was a good introduction to theatre makeup because Will had some clear ideas for his character and it was our job to help him do it,” Julie said.

It would be Harper’s involvement in musical theatre that got her mother hooked.

“Working in that creative team environment was so much fun and I loved that adrenalin rush.

“I have always loved musical theatre and loved watching shows since I was a kid,” she said. So when Harper scored a minor role in Echuca-Moama Theatre Company’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2015, Julie jumped at the chance of being able to share the experience with her daughter when asked if she could help out behind the scenes on the makeup team. “My experience is with canvas and paints

“It was a challenge though, as it had to be done so quickly.

And, it was really satisfying to have that audience appreciation.” The following year Julie took on The Little Mermaid Jr, which involved a lot of face painting. Creating the faces for the whole show including the villainous sea witch Ursula, tropical fish Flounder and seagull Scuttle (played by Harper) might have been fun but they were still that creative challenge.

“

I GET TO MEET SOME FABULOUSLY DIVERSE AND TALENTED PEOPLE AND MAKE SOME GREAT FRIENDSHIPS. EVERY SHOW ATTRACTS NEW AND INTERESTING PEOPLE AND YOUR THEATRE FAMILY GROWS.

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“It was a lot of research and trial and error and we also needed to consider skin allergies,” she said. “With a fantastic team of helpers we came up with designs, tweaked them and got better at it each time.” Julie has also worked with the makeup team in Moama Anglican Grammar School’s production of Seussical Jnr, Dillmac’s Annie and EMTC’s Spamalot and Elf Jnr. “Because you’re in a live theatre, all of them had to be done so quickly,” she said. “You have good intentions of creating some amazing character faces but in reality you need to create the best character face you can with very limited time.” Her most recent project was creating the grisly visage of the Phantom in EMTC’s production of The Phantom of the Opera. “A production like The Phantom of the Opera was a mammoth undertaking for all involved and it takes a committed team to bring it to the stage and do it the justice it deserves,” she said. After months of research tation, Julie worked with such as latex to create the ble facial disfigurement as thrown in his face.

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SKINSTITUT'S TOP 3 WINTER PRODUCTS Gentle Glow. Use an antioxidant rich, gentle cleanser that will revitalise your skin while restoring its natural moisture. Winter is a time when your skin needs gentle products that will help to lock the moisture inside rather than drying it out. Our Picks: Gentle Cleanser. Rich in nourishing and protective antioxidants with calming red raspberry extract and goji berry. Keep Yourself Hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to keep yourself hydrated. Keeping hydrated is especially important in the colder months because we naturally tend to do things that potentially dehydrate the skin. Our Picks: Multi active Hydrating Mist. A super lightweight moisture and vitamin rich spritz with hyaluronic acid niacinamide for added skin protection. Sunscreen. You cannot stop wearing sunscreen by thinking it’s a cold winter afternoon and it doesn’t matter. UVA ageing rays are present all year round so applying a face SPF 50 is important to keep wrinkles at bay. Our Picks: Age Defence SPF 50+

“I worked on the Phantom’s bad side to create his disfigurement to not only look very realistic but also survive being under the mask for the majority of the show,” she said. And after 12 performances, Julie had it mastered. The only downside was not being able to see her work from the audience’s perspective. However, there are even bigger upsides to working behind-the-scenes. “I get to meet some fabulously diverse and talented people and make some great friendships,” she said. “Every show attracts new and interesting people and your theatre family grows.” 

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Escape

Share your snaps with bella HAVE YOU TRAVELLED recently?

Maybe it was for your honeymoon or a quick getaway. Or maybe it was for something more, a trip planned for months certain to alleviate all that built up stress. Whatever the reason, weâ€™d love to see your pics and feature them in the next magazine. Email them to editorial@riverineherald.com.au ther Graeme McMillan Lynda McGrath and bro ulu Sumartra ngk Be in Wedding

Fiji Sunset from Mellissa

Cardiff Narelle Taylor in Zurich &

Scott

Jada Scarfo in Paris and

London

Claudia Turvey in Amsterdam and Germany

Want your snaps to be featured in the next edition of bella? Send your snaps to editorial@riverineherald.com.au

Winter What to wear, Wear to get it

THIS PAGE, ABOVE: Sage, RIGHT: Annabella. OPPOSITE: I Want I Need.

THIS PAGE: Annabella. OPPOSITE: Guys & Girls.

THIS PAGE, ABOVE: I Want I Need, LEFT: Guys & Girls. OPPOSITE: Sage.

Kiara Dean, A��ie Oakley. Tomayto, tomarto

This teenage hot shot with the gimlet eye and a power of concentration which belies her age has now set her sights on two things — finishing school this year and getting back to the world championships in two years ANDREW JOHNSTON reports.

VERYONE DREAMS ABOUT being ranked at the top of their profession, sport or passion.

The top meaning; of course, the best in the world. Well Kiara Dean is living that dream right now. Still in Year 11, she put in a dominating performance at this year’s down the line shooting world championships. One week she was firing at the Australian down the line shooting championships. The very next week she was on fire at the world championships.

The competition was graded as a pointscore event, which sees different scores awarded depending on which shot hits the target, for an overall maximum of 900. “Our competition at the worlds was 300 targets, we shot 100 targets on the first two days, with a further 50 targets on day three. If you were in the top 10 per cent after that you advanced to the finals and shot another 50.”

“We had a bit of time to recover, and it helped me get my best shooting back. When we finished, I was third overall in A-grade, and fourth overall in ladies.”

“So when I was old enough, he passed that passion on to me and taught me how to shoot,” she said. “I got to spend a lot of time hunting with dad, which meant I was learning a lot but also spending time with him, which is fantastic.”

Kiara dropped just three targets en route to a score of 870 from her possible 900.

It’s a sport that takes incredible focus and hard work.

It’s been a five year journey for her to get to this stage.

“It’s all about focus. You can be out there for half an hour or more, and you have to spend that entire time focused on what you are doing. The competition doesn’t really break at any stage.

“I got my gun licence when I was 12 and started competing not long after, mostly in By the time the gun smoke cleared the teenfield and game. But about 12 months ago ager was ranked number four in the world. I made the transition into down the line “I didn’t shoot anywhere near as well as I shooting (which is a variation of trap or clay would have liked at those championships, pigeon shooting).” I only ended up just inside the top 10 for While a 12 year old with a 12-guage shotladies for the nationals,” she said. gun may seem a strange choice to some, it’s But the worlds were a different story.

father taught him how to shoot when he was young and it’s something he has always loved doing,” Kiara said.

perfectly normal for Kiara. She has spent most of her formative years around the gun club, as her family has a long history in shooting. “Dad grew up hunting. His grandfather and

“You have five stands with a trap (a mechanism that shoots out the targets) 15 m in front of you. “The targets could go straight out, but they could also go to your left or your right, so you need to be permanently switched on. “You start at one of the five stands and take your shot. Once everyone has taken their shot, you move to the next stand until your round is finished.” >>>

“

I GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME HUNTING WITH DAD, WHICH MEANT I WAS LEARNING A LOT BUT ALSO SPENDING TIME WITH HIM, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

”

>>> Kiara started with the mock hunting field and game. But when she realised nationals were as far as it went she made the decision. “I’ve always loved it, and still do, so I still compete in that field. But the issue is that from a competition perspective I knew I could go further in down the line.” And it has already paid dividends, with selection to an elite shooting academy. “I shot down the line for the first time 12 months ago in a school shoot. We only shot 20 targets on that day, but the Bendigo Academy of Sport selected nine kids who got to a certain level to be part of their 12-month training squad in clay target shooting.

“Last year, I was lucky enough to be at that level, and was the only person from this region who was selected to be a part of it. I also got back in this year. “It’s been incredible for me. We don’t just look at our shooting, we look at psychology, and how we use social media, training your eyes and your feet for shooting, healthy eating, all these areas that you can improve on to make your shooting better. It’s been an incredible experience and it has absolutely made me a better shooter.”

Finishing school is the top of that list. “I missed a bit of schooling for these championships, so I basically had to use my whole holidays to catch up,” she laughed. “But that’s what you have to do. I’m very lucky that I have a supportive family around me to get me through it. “After school I’m not really sure what’s next. Nationals come around every year, but our next worlds are in 2020 in England, so obviously I want to go back.

With this year’s worlds behind her, attention now turns to what could be next.

“But there are also a number of disciplines I haven’t tried yet and want to give a go before I settle on one discipline.”

But now she has a few other things to focus on.

A discipline that down the line might lead to the Olympics. 

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Kerry has her work cut out for her From weightlifting to working in the past, Kerry Howlett told TYLA HARRINGTON she had found new strength and purpose from her physical rebirth and a professional commitment that is helping her achieve some personal success and fulfilment. >>>

OAMA’S KERRY HOWLETT has the weight of the world on her shoulders.

And that’s weightlifter.

not

just

because

she’s

She’s also the co-ordinator of the town’s most precious cargo, Echuca Paddlesteamers. So the stakes are high but looking at Kerry’s face, sitting next to her and talking about exactly what that means, you wouldn’t know it. Kerry’s as cool as you could be. She’s relaxed, calm and chipper — even though on the day of the interview she was starting a 12-week shred so that she can drop 10–15 kg. Enough to make anyone sweat. Literally. Not Kerry though. “There truly is no better feeling than being a strong woman, physically and mentally,” she said. “Every single day at EPS (Echuca Paddlesteamers) has been a delight. “We operate the oldest historic paddlesteamers to leave the back wharf and I proudly board many excited passengers daily on the ‘All the Rivers Run’ boat, the beautiful PS Pevensey. “My back window overlooks the Murray River, I couldn’t ask for a better location and team to work with.” But it is weight lifting which has become the “single most important sport and past-time” for Kerry. “I started lifting more than 20 years ago,” she said. “I had a really bad fall in America two years ago where I fractured my wrist really badly. “I was doing a trick (backside air flip) at a skate park, landed on it and smashed it. I didn’t have guards on it. I have to make it crystal clear it wasn’t roller derby. “Anyway, I came back and my husband (Glenn who is the chief medical officer at Echuca Regional Health) re-built me. “That was the wake up call I needed. I knew I needed to strengthen my bones. I was doing sports of a 20-year-old but I was getting older. “When we arrived in Echuca five years ago I searched out the best gym to suit my needs and my husbands. “I like an ‘old school’ style gym rather than a big chain as I believe the equipment and training is superior and more personalised. “We found Next Level Fitness, Echuca and the expertise of owner Luke Diss.” Kerry said his training was second to none, coupled with his partner Brianna Cook and her nutrition coaching. “Both have backgrounds in competitive body building which has been my inspiration,” she said.

“Luke has personalised a program around my injuries and has pushed me to a lifting potential I could not have dreamed of. “Having a PT to guide you is worth every dollar spent as you get the technique spot on and don’t waste time wondering what equipment compliments your ultimate body goal.

I’d still be eating loads of chocolate and donuts every day. “Eighty per cent of dieting is food. I’d be putting in two hours in the morning and three at night and nothing would change, my body wouldn’t change. “When I was bulking it was a balanced diet of six days a week on an 1800 calorie diet.

“I have no doubt Luke and Bree will have me ‘skate ready’ for the US in July for RollerCon.” “So I had five meals but went down to three during the shredding period.” In terms of shredding, Kerry said it was the On any given day Kerry will train in the hardest part. morning for two hours. “I am like the international ambassador for donuts and all things sweet so it’s very hard “I do cardio in the morning and lift at night,” she said. for me to give it up,” she said. “I had to get my head around it and if it hadn’t been for the way Bree broke it down I think

“There’s a boxing class so occasionally I’ll do that. >>>

“We play roller derby in Australia on a flat track with a roster of 14 women who must pass safety checks then line up on the track with four blockers and one jammer per side,” Kerry said. “The jammers job is to get past all the blockers which scores the points and ultimately wins the game for their team. “Strict rules are in place and with all the safety gear it’s not as dangerous as most people perceive. “It is a game which has enabled me to travel Australia wide to compete with my teammates (Dragon City Derby Dolls, Bendigo) and worldwide to represent US skate company ‘Suregrip’ at RollerCon annually. “I leave for this again in July for Las Vegas.” Kerry was born in Southport on the Gold Coast and started working with Campaspe Shire in January, 2017. With a background in high end fashion, Kerry said it was a change of scenery. “Every single day I go in and I feel so fortunate,” she said. “My time with the shire and all of the experiences associated have been extremely rewarding and positive. “My direct report is my mentor and team leader Janine Caiolfa and she has supported EPS (Echuca Paddlesteamers) with such initiatives as Orange Day, White Ribbon Day and April Active. >>> “I don’t lift two days a week. The other two days are rest days but I always do cardio.” The other part of Kerry’s life, though somewhat behind her now, is roller derby. She might no longer be part of a team but she still gets on her quad skates and heads to the skate park. But back when she was in a team, people knew her by her roller derby name, not Kerry.

Peninsula (Mornington Peninsula Roller Derby Club MPRDC) has empowered many women and is now run by my teammate, Zoom who I met in Bendigo.” Despite perception, Kerry said it was a safe sport. “A lot of people think it’s dangerous because they see all the hits and blows. But it’s not,” she said.

“You have certain body parts that you can’t hit with and certain zones that are illegal “I’d see people at the supermarket and they and you’ll get sent to the bin for it. didn’t know me as Kerry, they would call out Dee or Double Dee (her roller derby name),” “You have to go through a full safety check she said. twice a game.” “It’s a name you take on that becomes who you are in roller derby.

Kerry said roller derby had evolved a lot from her humble beginnings in 2011 as a “fresh meat” recruit.

“It’s changing a bit now. Now that roller derby has become so athletic and competi- “I was weight training in my gym/skating rink tive, girls are using their real names.” on the Peninsula and I saw two girls skating and asked what they were doing. Kerry said roller derby was a sport which embraced women of all ages, sizes and athletic ability. “It promotes camaraderie and fosters gender equalities,” she said. “I have met some lifelong girlfriends over the years especially with my regional team the ‘Chiko Rollers’ in Bendigo, one of whom ‘Razorbec’ works for Campaspe Shire also. “The team I set up on the Mornington

“These are extremely worthwhile causes instigated and driven by the shire to directly benefit shire employees and the community.” It is safe to say Kerry’s spare time is taken up with weights training and skate park quad skating. She is taking a break from competitive roller derby to concentrate on her weightlifting. So what’s ahead for her? “I am preparing to head back to the USA for a month of skating in LA and Vegas with my best girlfriend ‘Dirty Deborah Harry’ who just happens to be the most sought after skate coach in the world,” she said. “My road bike doesn’t get as much time out these days, unfortunately. “Of course eating out regularly at the many outstanding Echuca-Moama restaurants and pubs is a must. “We try to get back to Sorrento where our beach house is as regularly as possible.”

“They said ‘We are starting a team of roller derby girls’. I said ‘I haven’t ever skated before but I’m really strong’.

Kerry is a self confessed chameleon, she can change her look depending on what hat she’s wearing.

“They said ‘Sure, join’ so I had to learn to roller skate as an adult.”

And she has a very kind heart.

Kerry had to pass four levels of WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) assessments before becoming a “‘bouting’ skater”.

She’s always trying to look after people, be it her team at EPS or her husband. Kerry’s simply happy if others are too.  PHOTOS: Andy Harrison

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Isobel’s been too busy to be sick DAVID RAK meets Isobel Harvie, a woman who doesn’t have time for downtime, at any time. Not even cancer has managed to stop her in her tracks, it was just a distraction — and her friends had expected nothing less.

REAST CANCER HIT Isobel Harvie like a freight train.

For a woman accustomed to operating in fifth gear, the energy sapping treatment was a frustratingly tough pill to swallow. Isobel survived three pulmonary embolisms, hours of chemotherapy and underwent a mastectomy in 2004 in her fight against the insidious disease. Her family was called to say goodbye on multiple occasions. But Isobel’s infectious zest for life and dogged determination to squeeze everything out of her time on earth demanded she fight back. After 10 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation, Isobel began the process of resuming a normal life. Many would see it as a remarkable recovery, for those who really know Isobel it was exactly what they expected. After buying a Kyabram dairy farm with her husband Keith in 1970, Isobel milked the cows and managed the farm on her own while Keith continued long-haul truck driving. To suggest the task of raising four children while not “knowing one end of the cow from another” was a challenge is an understatement. But it was a challenge Isobel took in her stride. “It was difficult but I really enjoyed working on the farm, especially as the boys got

older,” she said. “My children got to grow up around animals and with plenty of open space. It’s not something everyone can say.” When Keith finished truck driving, the couple opened a farm machinery business in Echuca. It was there Isobel began speaking to people and discovering the impact cancer has on so many lives. She wanted to give back to the people who had saved her life — and give others a chance to survive. Isobel became a breast cancer advocate in 2006 and began speaking about the need for rural cancer centres. “My work as an advocate and with Pink Lady was eye opening,” Isobel said. “I got to travel and meet so many inspiring people and I wrote a book called Emotions of Breast Cancer. “It was a wonderful feeling to know I was giving something back to the community that saved my life.” Isobel had a new lease on life after her cancer battle and wanted to do something to promote her town.

“I was extremely grateful to be offered the chance to do a clothing display at the community centre.” Once the popularity and size of Isobel’s fashion collection grew, it became apparent that a new home was needed. Isobel and a group of dedicated volunteers “harassed” Campaspe Shire for use of the dilapidated Kyabram Town Hall. After two years of back and forth, the Kyabram Town Hall Committee were able to lease the building for use as a tourism attraction for the town. “It was a beautiful building going to ruins,” Isobel said. “There were a lot of hours invested by some very dedicated volunteers to make the town hall what it is today. “The hall gave my collections a permanent home and I was able to focus on building their popularity. I’m now known far and wide for them. “My goal is to compete with Bendigo and bring people to our area. It’s encouraging to see a bus full of people arrive at the town hall to check it out. “They all look at the collection and then go for lunch and spend money in town.”

“I’ve always had an interest in fashion and I wanted to use that to lift the spirits of Ky,” Isobel said.

Because of her collections, Isobel became an unofficial tourism ambassador for the town.

“At that time, we were going through the drought and Banksia had gone belly up, so it was a really rough patch.

Embracing her new role, she and other volunteers created the “crazy” goal of bringing the Melbourne Cup to Kyabram in 2016.

After learning of the Cup tour just days before the deadline for applications, Isobel and the team of volunteers gathered pages of documents and paperwork to support their submission. “It was a long shot. We put the application in and forgot about it,” she said. “So when we found out we had won we were stunned. Little old Kyabram was going to have the Melbourne Cup.

“After months of planning the big day finally came, and it was incredible. The streets were packed, every event was booked out — we couldn’t have wished for it to go any better.” Isobel looked back on events like the Cup tour and said she was pleased with the interesting life she has led, but was quick to point out how much support she has received through the years. “I would not be here without Keith and the

never-ending support of my family. From the cancer diagnosis right through to bringing the Cup to town, I truly couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “And the people of Kyabram deserve a lot of credit. I am just a small part of some of the great things that have happened in our town. “I’m consistently blown away at the community spirit our little town has. I’m lucky to be part of it all.” 

Suddenly Single

Cairns might be cool but I am cooling off even faster Our Suddenly Single Sophie has spent the past two years focused on one goal (well, one apart from maintaining her tenuous grip on sanity) — not just entering but completing the Cairns Ironman (a total of 226 km of swimming, riding and running). And to her horror the big day is getting here faster than she planned.

O AS I sit here and stare Ironman Cairns in the face, I am seriously starting to wonder what is actually wrong with my mental state.

oh, as a bonus, $750 on new wheels after I nearly wrecked my race ones when I fell off the stationary wind trainer in my lounge room.

I mean it all sounded exciting, fun and challenging when it was six months away and a dream on the horizon.

I mean who even falls off their wind trainer?

But now, with less then a month to go, I am like what the %$#@. I have swum, ridden and run what feels like a million kilometres in my training, through heat, cold, wind and rain (and I have whinged and bitched my way through about 850,000 of those). In that time I have also been blown off my bike by a truck, gone up ridiculous hills around Euroa and, even more scarily, ridden down them with my brake jammed on as tight as I could get it (without making smoke come off my wheels). I have run; and then run some more, even though I didn’t really want to and I have spent many, many hours following the black line in the pool. I have also spent an absolute fortune. In fact in all honesty, I could have had a nice overseas holiday without the torture of an Ironman thrown in, for how much this has cost me. When I tell people it costs $800 to enter an Ironman they just look at me with a blank expression on their face and invariably ask I am really paying that much to swim 4 km, ride 180 km and run 42 km, what is wrong with you? That doesn’t include airfares, accommodation, 1000 pairs of sneakers in the lead up, workout clothes because I go through two sets a day and a gazillion punctures and

I gotta agree, what is wrong with me? But I have put a lot into this and aside from my broken down (and rapidly deteriorating) shoulder and poor old knees, I will cross that bloody finish line even if it kills me (providing I am not prematurely eaten by a croc in the swim first, something else I hadn’t thought of). My house looks like a bomb zone. My workmates have gone from looking at me as though I am crazy to looking at me as though I have come from Mars when I tell them I have been riding for six hours and running for three. But as someone once said to me: “Sophie it’s all about crossing that finish line”. And I can tell you now; I will be trying my hardest even if I have to crawl over the bloody thing. In an added bonus apparently the longer you are out on the course, the more value for money an Ironman is, or so they tell me anyway. Committing to something big is hard, especially when it scares you and pushes you far from your comfort zone. But after going up and watching my mates race at Ironman Port Macquarie in May this year, I am convinced it has as much to do with your mental attitude as anything else. I watched people in all sort of shapes, sizes and ages, their faces looking as though they had been going through torture, cross that

line, including Anne Grundy the only female in the 70–74 category, who completed in less than 16 hours. How amazing is that? I don’t know Anne at all but to see her out there on the course was truly inspirational and proves yet again age is only ever really a number and not a reflection of what you can achieve. And I am sure the bigger and scarier the goal, the more rewarding it is to achieve something like that anyway. Aside from swimming, running and riding my life away I have managed to make the transition to town living quite well. Me and my littlest bubba moved into our house in the ‘burbs and have settled in quite nicely, although the same can’t be said for the cats. Their continual meowing outside my bedroom window at 4 am is driving me crazy. The dogs are happy, but I never realised how much or how often they actually poo. Living on an acre previously and a dairy farm before that meant this wasn’t ever really an issue, but it’s not nice when you let your dog out the front door and he sprints across the road and backs one out on the neighbour’s front lawn, before you even get a chance to blink. I had visions of their door flying open, hurling abuse and chasing me across the road, but a quick sprint in my pyjamas with a plastic bag to pick up the offending offering saw the problem resolved quickly and incident free. I wonder if that sort of sprint interval helps with Ironman training? Wish me luck, I am going to need it. 

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Attenshun! Sergeant Grundy, two steps forward Army Cadets has been a stepping stone to a military career in Australia since 1906. ANDREW JOHNSTON caught up with Joni Grundy, a local 15-year-old who has only been in cadets for two years and has just been promoted to sergeant.

S LEADERSHIP SOMETHING with which people are born; or is it something they develop? It may even float somewhere between the two, people might have the skills inside but need the right environment to nurture that latent potential, to get the best out of them as a leader. Being a leader is not high on the agenda of your average 15-year-old but for those who want to serve, it can come around much quicker than they dreamed. When Joni Grundy reported for weekly training with Echuca’s army cadets in February she was met by the head of her battalion — who promptly promoted her to sergeant.

Cadet Sergeant Joni Grundy of the Australian Army Cadets was, and still is, in her early days in the organisation. Her promotion is bordering on the meteoric. “It’s all still very fresh, it only happened less than three months ago,” Joni said.

something new, something different. “I think I was excited by getting to be in a space I hadn’t before. I realised after a few weeks it was something I’d wanted to be a part of for a long time,” she added.

in 1906, has provided a military pathway and the army, in turn, invests heavily in the program, providing high-ranking and successful officers and NCOs to manage it nationally and work with it locally.

Joni said she had been lucky to learn from In her two years she has completed her some great people. induction, advanced through the role of cadet to take on her junior leader’s course “I owe a lot of it to my CUO (Cadet Under and being made a corporal after success- Officer, the highest rank a cadet can obtain). fully completing that. He was a sergeant when I started out, so In late 2017 she completed her senior lead- he’s been here on my whole journey, giving er’s course, which resulted in the promotion me a great deal of advice on how I can earlier this year. achieve the goals that I have,” Joni said. “It’s been a really enjoyable journey already,” “I’m really grateful for that.” Joni said. The skills she has already developed have “But it’s been a lot of hard work to get to the helped her outside her cadet endeavours. point I’m at now. Cadets are one of those “If I hadn’t taken on cadets, I don’t think I places where if you put a lot into what would be doing some of the things in my you’re doing, at camps or lessons around life,” she agreed. the barracks, then you will get a great deal back from it,” she said. “It’s a very rewarding thing to be a part of.

“It was a pretty amazing moment, and I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me the opportunity and responsibility that goes with it.”

“I’ve found by working hard in my time in cadets, I’ve been able to get where I want to go. It’s a great lesson I’ve learnt and it’s something I think works well for me outside of cadets as well.”

Cadets for Joni were a case of trying

The Australian Army Cadets, established

“I have a job that is heavily customer service based, so I’ve developed skills around my confidence that have really been helped in the cadets. “I have taken on leadership roles in my schooling as well. “These are things I couldn’t really have done if I hadn’t learnt what I have here. >>>

>>> “I’m confident in my leadership now, and I firmly owe that to my time in cadets.” It isn’t all about leadership in cadets for Joni. She looks forward to one of the regular events, going bush with other cadets for camps, and Joni said that was one of the best parts of her time in cadets. “I’ve just gotten back from one,” she said. “I love going out to the bush. You do learn a lot in a classroom when you are here, but that isn’t the same.

into action, seeing what works and what doesn’t so you know what you need to work harder on. “It’s also different putting the leadership side into action. When you are leading a section in the field, it’s completely different. “You learn more about your people management skills, how you interact with those around you.

“On the ground leadership is a fantastic skill to have. It’s one that I’m working on and hope to get even better at as time goes on. “You learn skills about how to work while you are out in the field, but when you are actu- I’ll continue to try to get better with areas like that.” ally out there it’s completely different. “You are putting the skills you have learnt

Though she’s just made sergeant, Joni is not

satisfied. “I’m looking at doing my CUO/WOs (Warrant Officer) course by the end of this year. Warrant officer is the next rank I want to reach. “It’s even more responsibility, so it’s something I can aspire to get to. It’s another set of things to learn, which I love. I’m taking in as many of the lessons that I can at this point.” It’s unclear where Joni is headed but at 15 she has the time to make the right calls. Because with what she has achieved in such a short time, it’s pretty clear the sky is the limit. 

Danielleâ€™s going downhill, fast and loving it Danielle Garden literally laughs in the face of danger. Her bum has been planted on a bike seat in some form or another for the past 15 years. And now sheâ€™s taken up cyclo-cross over winter and gravity enduro and downhill racing in summer SOPHIE BALDWIN writes. >>>

>>>

TARING DOWN A mountain on a hot summers day with nothing but a bike and a small bit of safety gear probably doesn’t sound all that appealing to many of us. What about slogging through mud with your bike on your shoulder in the dead of winter? It’s still a no from most people.

the most amazing scenery 3000 m above sea level. We would ride amongst glaciers and it was just beautiful,” she said. Danielle may have returned to Australia permanently three years ago but she still heads back to Bormio every winter for three weeks to continue working as a guide.

But for Danielle Garden, it’s what she loves.

“When I returned to Echuca I fell out of love with road racing,” she said.

She has taken up cyclo-cross over winter and thrown in a bit of gravity enduro racing, and downhill racing over the summer months, to even out the year.

“I did try for a while to race at a national level. It was great fun, but I couldn’t train enough hours to be competitive and work full-time as well.

All of which sounds terrifying and scary, but Danielle assures us it’s all just one great big laugh.

“To race nationally you need to do an absolute minimum of 15 hours riding and I found the flat roads to be very unmotivating.”

Danielle has had her bum firmly planted on a bike seat in some form or another for the past 15 years.

Looking for motivation in other forms, Danielle thought she would give cyclocross a bit of a go.

She initially took up riding when she was overseas living in the United Kingdom and Italy.

“It’s a bit like riding a road bike with knobbly tyres through mud and dirt,” she laughs.

Cyclo-cross consists of some sort of circuit (usually 1 km long) that you race around for “There were not too many team sports to get up to an hour and whoever is in the front at involved in when I was in the UK so I took the end basically wins. up cycling as a way to get fit and meet new people. When I moved to Italy I became a “There might be creeks we have to ride cycling guide in the Italian Alps and that is through, steps to run up (with your bike) or where my love of mountain riding began,” ride down all on dirt and mud with a small Danielle said. portion on bitumen,” Danielle said. She would ride more than 400 km a week on “It basically comes down to how good your a road bike, leaving from the town of Bormio bike handling skills are, but it’s so much fun and climb 1500 m of elevation each ride. and you usually end up filthy and covered “It was huge riding but I got to see some of in mud after each race. It is an awesome

spectator sport and is massive overseas.” Danielle completed her first season of cyclocross last year and looking for something to do over summer, she decided to buy her sixth bike for a bit of a giggle and take up gravity enduro and downhill racing. “I rocked up to the first round of the Victorian Downhill Series in Dookie with my bike and that was about it,” Danielle said. “I had no idea what I was in for and it was hilarious. I stacked it and was too scared to even ride down the hill but the marshalls helped me pick the lines to ride down and my skills are now improving. “It’s a lot of trial and error and if you crash this time, you don’t do the same thing next time — speed is your friend and you have got to learn to be confident.” Danielle also adds as a bit of an aside that she is actually leading the series. “It’s only because I participate in every race and have been consistent coming 3, 4, 5,” she said. Gravity enduro racing is different again. Riders start in a mass group and ride to the top of a stage and head down a timed descent at intervals. They then ride to the next stage and do the same thing again — only the descent is timed. “We end up riding 20–40 km depending on the stages but it is steep mountain climbing,” Danielle said. “I fall off at least three times each race, but

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thankfully I haven’t hurt myself seriously yet.” To participate in this type of riding, each rider must wear knee pads, a full face helmet, mountain bike pants, have their elbows covered and Danielle also rides in body vest and armour. “My skills aren’t quite up to scratch and I need all the help I can get.” Danielle said her most memorable crash to date was when she took out the starting gates during a race. “I just crashed into them before I even started and took out the whole timing system,” she said. “Everyone was clapping and cheering me but I actually broke the gates and delayed the race by 45 minutes while they had to get new ones brought up, I was so embarrassed.” Danielle has found her foray into this type of racing to be very social and heaps of fun. “Everyone is encouraging and afterwards we all eat pizza and have a beer,” she said. “You don’t have to be light on the bike and in fact if you have a bit more weight the faster you go.” She will start training for the cyclo-cross season soon, which will include around eight hours a week of intense riding and a few gym sessions to build up her strength. “It is a great laugh and heaps of fun and even though I started out as a complete beginner I am learning my way around the sport and I am looking forward to the season ahead.” 

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When the only way is up One minute happily at home, partner, children, money and security. Then suddenly, without even realising it, you own nothing; have only your children and you are all alone. One woman tells SOPHIE BALDWIN about her descent into the depths of single parenting and trying to provide the best future for your children.

OMETIMES ROCK BOTTOM can be the catalyst for change.

Because once you are down there the only way is up.

“I might not be able to make it to school assembly every week but when I do get there it just makes those times so much more special,” Tess said.

But you need to embrace that change in a good way.

Tess said it was a huge shock to go from a stay-at-home mum to working fulltime.

Just ask Tess Wickham. She had her children, Hunter, 8 and Payton, 6, but when her relationship fell apart a few years ago she lost everything else. But today she is a strong and independent woman, all the richer for the experiences and determined to succeed on her own. Tess juggles single parenting with a fulltime job and while it is never easy, she is justifiably proud of how far she has come and where she is going.

“I don’t say that lightly either. It is hard work being a mum at home too but I didn’t have that option anymore; I have had to provide a life for the three of us now and it is actually quite empowering. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive on welfare or child support so I went out found myself a great job — but even having the courage to apply was huge but I would say to any single mum’s out there, just go for it, you never know.” Tess decided to apply for a job as a customer support officer with Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) — she didn’t care that it was a predominantly male dominated workforce and it certainly didn’t deter her

from applying. “I said to my dad (who also works for GMW) if you can do it, I can too,” she laughed. Tess managed to secure the job and has been working with GMW for more than two years. Her role is very much field based and she spends most of her working week out in the field. “I have to fill in at reception and administration duties from time to time but 95 per cent of my job is outside. I make sure customers have water when they have ordered it, I service outlets, find faults and fix leaks in channels and make sure the infrastructure is in good working condition. “I was lucky I already knew a lot of the blokes through my dad and they have been very supportive passing their knowledge on to me. Very few people have a problem with me being a female in such a male dominated role.”

Tess loves her job and it has proven to be a real turning point for her. “I have taken the kids away on a holiday twice to Queensland and we are going to Darwin this year. I had never done anything like that on my own before, but when you are a single parent you soon learn and it is quite empowering actually.” Tess said while it was hard to juggle things sometimes, she has had a lot of help from family and friends and like most single parents, she has battled mother’s guilt. “When Payton was in daycare I used to drive from Lockington to Echuca to Rochester twice a day. I was forever in the car and I used to feel guilty about putting her there — she was always the first kid there and the last to leave. “I have since worked out I have nothing to feel guilty about. Payton is very smart and resilient and she has learnt so much, I now wish Hunter had the opportunity to go.” Tess has learnt a lot about herself over the last few years. She acknowledges she made a few mistakes as a young woman, one of which was letting all the assets the couple built up together go into her spouse’s name. “I tell anyone who will listen to me now, make sure you don’t put all your eggs in your spouse’s basket, you never know what is around the corner. “At the time our relationship broke down I had a casual job working in retail, two children and no home of my own to go to. I knew that wasn’t going to be enough but I was determined to get myself a good job that would support the three of us. “And I have and it’s awesome.” 

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It’s a tough Gig but they’re Ja�in’ in everything they can Girgarre has become the pinup star of small country town revivals as it has turned around not one, but two major economic disasters to remain the little town that could — and then did. CHARMAYNE ALLISON reports.

IRGARRE, like too many small country towns, was about to die — and not with a bang but with a whimper. It was 2000 and Australia, like much of the world, was celebrating a new millennium. But in Girgarre, Jan Smith and a small band of townsfolk were cooking up a blueprint to see their town not just survive, but grow.

To many it looked like mission impossible. But today Jan is among those who can sit back, put their feet up and say mission accomplished. She’s the last person to admit it, but she’s one of the first names on everyone’s lips when they look around at Girgarre today and say ‘wow’. The town people once thought was taking its dying breath is, 18 years on, still small but also a vibrant hub of art, music and culture. Backed by an energetic community that proves time and again, no dream is too big to pursue. But Jan’s story doesn’t begin in 2000. Let’s punch in some new numbers for our time machine — say 1962. When an Echuca girl fresh out of teacher’s college was being less than pleased upon discovering what her first posting would

be — a pint-sized town called Girgarre. “I’ll admit, I felt like the education department dumped me there,” she said. “I wasn’t overjoyed; it was such a little place.” But it wasn’t long before she was infected by the town’s spirit. It was a community that had always been staunchly positive (and still is) through all the ebbs and flows. Jan was only weeks into her new posting when she discovered local volunteers. The local mothers’ club held a monthly afternoon tea for the teaching staff. After a strenuous morning milking the cows, the mothers would scrub themselves clean, put on their Sunday clothes and head to the school to set up the tea. Jan still remembers those mothers, dressed in pristine pastel and high heels, laying out sponge cakes eight-inches high. Once the teachers had been properly spoiled (which meant barely incapable of getting up from the table so much cake and tea had been consumed), the mothers would pack up. Returning home to take off their glad rags and milk the cows again. “I can still see them so clearly in my mind,” Jan said.

“It was just spectacular to watch them make such a huge effort for us when they clearly had so much to do elsewhere.” From then on, Jan became an incurable volunteer. Two years in and her transformation from disappointed to dazzled was almost complete as she married Garry from Girgarre. Five years later and she and her dairy farming husband had a couple of kids and she went back to the school as a kindy teacher. For the next 28 years. Some of Girgarre’s most golden years. The cheese factory was churning out a winning product; the town was expanding, the school bursting at the seams. But in ‘79, hardship struck Girgarre when the cheese factory suddenly closed. Sparking a diaspora as hundreds of workers and their families abandoned the town in search of greener pastures. After that, the faithful few hanging onto the dream decided it was their time — to get busy. So much so they barely noticed the town crumbling around them. First the supermarket closed. Then the hairdresser, newsagent, butcher and cafe. All the symptoms of a small town slowly,

Jigarre Jammin’ was a Muster spinoff — the community music sessions encouraged everyone, from beginners to more experienced musicians, to play music together in a relaxed, supportive environment. Girgarre was on a roll. Until 2012. In another employment body blow — the Heinz factory was closing down. But rather than just packing up shop and skulking out of town solely leaving them with another gaping hole, the company left the town a gift. “They were wonderful, they offered us $50,000 but instead we asked for 24 acres across from the park,” Jan said. “For botanical gardens,” she added. Not just any gardens, the most difficult to put together. Of course. Even Jan has admitted it is a lifelong project, but stage one of the gardens was already complete — a gently sloping sound shell. Which recently opened with a stunning performance from the local ‘junkestra’ — an orchestra of mostly non-musical members playing on broken and salvaged instruments, repaired with or made out of, junk — led by internationally renowned musician Graeme Leak. Looking back on the past 18 years, Jan doesn’t hesitate to share Girgarre’s secret to resurrecting a dying town.

inevitably, dying. “The whole structure changed as there were more and more people of limited means,” Jan said. “It was the most challenging time; there were a lot of social issues.” But Jan — like many of her neighbours — wasn’t content to sit by and watch her beloved town waste away. When the millennium drought hit, the group (which would soon be known as the Girgarre Development Group) gathered to hatch a master plan to bring Girgarre back to life — it was ‘Girgarre Revival’.

which was falling apart faster than the town.

“Our community is prepared to change. If something doesn’t work, that’s okay, we’ll learn from that and try something else,” she said.

“Council said they’d back us if we could give them a business plan for the hall,” Jan said.

“It’s that attitude that makes all our ideas successful.

“We knew if we expected someone to pay, we needed to be able to eventually give back.”

“Plus there are no longer little boxes or cliques in town. All the doors have been opened and all groups are working together.

But it was as if the group had the Midas touch, everything quickly turned to gold. The hall was restored and it wasn’t long before it was home to musical performances and bush dances. Then came the music festival. “When we held the first market we had some musicians come up from Melbourne to play,” Jan said.

“We realised we had to be the ones to make “The musicians looked around and said, ‘you the change. We couldn’t just sit by and watch, could run a music festival here’.” hoping someone else would do something,” So they did. she said. “We didn’t know what we needed to do, but we knew we needed to change something.” They started by holding a barbecue to raise drought money. From there, they developed the Girgarre Farmers, Produce and Craft Market, which still lights up the town every second Sunday of the month. The group then decided if they could get the money, they’d restore the old Girgarre hall,

In true Gig spirit, they ignored the eye-rollers and asked once again, “how do we make this happen?” Once the question had been asked, it was only a matter of time before the Girgarre Moosic Muster was born. The now-annual event, which draws crowds year after year, features a line-up of talented musicians to town who all agree to perform for free — allowing anyone and everyone to come along and enjoy the show.

“The people here are just amazing. They never say why, they say when? “While we had no doubt we could change things around when we got together back in 2000, we never would have dreamed we’d do what we’ve done. There’s nothing you can’t do if you give it a fair crack.” It’s hard to believe it, but Jan is supposed to be sharing her personal life story here. Not Girgarre’s. But it’s evident this town is a major part in the fabric of her family and her life. And she clearly detests the spotlight. She puts it simply: “There’s no ‘I’ in Girgarre. “Well yes, technically there is, but it isn’t. “One person can’t do this,” she said. “It’s all about using individual skills as a team. “And I plan to keep doing whatever I can to help this town for a long time to come. “I still have hills to climb and I intend to get over them and keep going.” 

Keeping those hormones — and you — fit and healthy T

HE HORMONAL SYSTEM is an intricate and complex symphony at play in our very own bodies.

acupuncture or painting to relax. 5. Going to bed early and rising early in the morning

The actions of hormones are far-reaching, hence a fault in our hormonal system can result in a wide range of symptoms. One of the most common complaints Naturopath Kelly Fenton hears from women who walk into her office is “my hormones are all over the place and I feel like a crazy woman” or something similar. “The way our hormones affect our moods is extraordinary and in fact the type of symptoms we suffer will often give us the best clues as to what is out of balance,” Kelly said. “Mental symptoms form a very important part of that puzzle.

6. Walk in your barefeet on the earth everyday to help ground your body. Additionally these steps will also help to support immune function, which is important as we journey into the cold and flu season. Kelly Fenton and Suzy McCleary. of our body’s growth and development, mood, reproduction and metabolism. Consequently hormonal imbalances can result in weight gain, fatigue, skin problems, infertility and PMS”.

Suzy said extra sleep would also be of benefit if you did become ill as naps may help you recover faster. “You can support your immune system further by drinking plenty of water. Every cell in your body requires it to be lubricated and run smoothly,” she said.

“Avoid the consumption of ice cream and “Major factors contributing to this hormoiced beverages. If possible, drink liquids at “Estrogen dominance is so common, espe- nal imbalance include being overweight, room temperature. exposure to environmental toxins including cially with all the exposure to environmental influences, the common symptoms of heavy, pesticides, cigarettes and excessive alco- “Too many cold foods, especially during the colder months, can disrupt your digestion painful, clotty periods, often with head- hol, genetic predisposition, elevated stress making it work harder than necessary.” levels and poor gut health,” she said. aches and anger, or moods swinging from anger to frustration and a body full of heat “A key consideration when balancing your Another essential element is daily exercise. hormones is looking after your gut health. can go untreated for years.” “There is no substitute for the health-proThis can be done by taking a daily probiotic, The severity can go from a couple of these moting benefits of this easy task,” Suzy said. increasing the amount of fermented food in symptoms to all of them. “Aim for 20 minutes of movement every your diet and using bone broth.” “Progesterone tends to be considered when day. A recent study found that daily exerThe following steps can also help to we see sore breasts, anxious and or weepy/ cise reduced the risk of dementia — another balance your hormones and aid energy worried swinging moods and often light great reason to move. production. or short cycles, however sometimes you 1. Taking action if you are feeling stressed “And come in for acupuncture treatments. can have a mix of hormonal imbalance and Acupuncture works extremely well when and overwhelmed. hence a mishmash of symptoms,” Kelly said. you have a cold and also as a way to stimu2. Spending some time practicing deep “But with a good case history we can usually late the healing capacity of your body.” breathing or finding an activity that you work it out and get you back on track to You can make appointments today with find relaxing. hormonal bliss.” health professionals and qualified acupunc3. Surrounding yourself with friends and Echuca Family Acupuncture Doctor of turists Dr Suzy McCleary and Dr Sun Yoo family (only if relaxing). Chinese Medicine Suzy McCleary also Hwang or Naturopath Kelly Fenton on 4. Trying meditation; yoga, dance, reading, 5480 2095.  said “hormones are an important element

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SAY HELLO TO YOUR TRAVEL EXPERTS

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HELLO ASHLEA With over 6 years experience as a Travel Consultant, Ash loves to make clients’ travel dreams come true. Ash aspires to travel as much as possible and has seen many parts of the globe. Ash was a finalist in the Australian Federation of Travel Agents “Rookie of the Year” award, finishing in the top 5 consultants nationally. Her friendly nature and attention to detail will ensure your travel experience is everything that you desire.

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HELLO TARA

HELLO KIRSTEN

HELLO BERNIE

As a franchise owner with 21 years’ experience in the travel industry it is clear Tara has a passion for travel. With an understanding of how precious time can be Tara likes to keep the stress out of itinerary planning and still gets excited making her clients’ holidays a reality. Tara has earned many awards within the travel industry including helloworld Travel, Qantas Holidays, Scenic Tours & most notably owns & operates a Premium award winning agency.

As a Senior Travel Consultant for 24 years, Kirsten brings a wealth of knowledge. Kirsten is renowned for her ability to tailor make any itinerary or airfare combination, Kirsten has the can do attitude to make it happen. Kirsten thrives on a challenge and has earned many awards over the years, including the prestigious No 1 Travel Consultant in Victoria for Qantas Holidays.

After a break from the industry, Bernie is a welcomed addition to the helloworld Echuca team returning part time. Bernie has had a long association with the travel industry in both corporate and leisure travel and has worked interstate and overseas having lived in both Ireland and far north Queensland. Bernie has an interest in adventure travel and has worked for Backpackers World and other adventure based ground operators.

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Dot calls it herself —‘I’m history’ After more than 18 years as the face of Echuca Historical Society Dot Hammond is calling it a day. And this time it’s for real. But that’s not the end of the septuagenarian’s story, just the beginning of a new chapter.

OT HAMMOND IS history — and she knows it.

Eighteen years ago she agreed to cover the secretary’s role at Echuca Historical Society for six months. Since that day those six months have disappeared into 11 years as secretary and six as president. And that’s why Dot knows she is history. It’s time for someone else to put their hand up and take over the reins of EHS and guide its next stage of growth. She has said it before but stayed on anyway. Not this time. She is adamant she won’t become a parody of the people who run hysterical societies rather than historical. “I first got interested when my husband John and I were on an extended road trip from 1999 to 2000,” Dot said.

“One of the things you do when you stop in new towns is check it all out, and in many of them that included a visit to the local historical society,” she said. “Which made me wonder if we had one as well, back in Echuca, and it turns out we did.” But what worried Dot back then, and is the reason she really is in her last term of anything at EHS now, is age. “Every one of those places we visited was staffed by oldies, everyone was ancient, sitting there just holding the fort, and that’s not going to be me, it’s someone else’s turn, someone with a different outlook to take EHS into its next phase,” she declared. “If I don’t get out now I’ll end up just like them. “And I’ll have to get right out because a new president needs their own free air, not having their predecessor hanging around looking over their shoulder.” Mind you, that won’t slow this workaholic;

she’ll simply find something else to do. As she has always done. Echuca born and bred — her alma maters are 208 and Echuca High — she left town as a 15-year-old. First for a family farm in the Western District and then a rash of roles, from a garage in Camperdown to the conservative agribusiness Elders, where she was one of the first females working saleyards. The acquisition of the milk bar at the southern end of High St that brought her and John ‘home’ and it lasted 12 months before she installed a manager. John was sales manager for an animal health products firm, covering the area from Echuca to Gippsland to mid NSW, meaning he was gone about 4.30 am on the Monday and didn’t get home until around 10 pm on the Friday. While Dot was up at the crack of dawn every day to make sure she had the papers

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and the pies — and woe betide if she didn’t have both when she opened the doors at 6 am. “We bought the business through real estate agent Don Healy and got him to sell it for us as well — and then he offered me a job in his business,” Dot said. That would keep her on the go for 11 years with LJ Hooker and then with independent Tony Galvin. Because she wasn’t working 100 hours a week during her time at LJ Hooker, Dot and her husband also signed on with the developer of Alan Crt Retirement Village in Moama; John as building site manager and Dot in sales. And never one to waste a waking moment they also purchased 2 ha on Stratton Rd which ran a B&B and nursery. Then the couple hit that road in their van for more than a year before reappearing in town in 2000 — at which point Dot rejoined Elders at the local branch. “I needed a hobby so that’s what got me to the front door at EHS — I’ve just never been able to escape,” she laughed. “But I do enjoy it, and enjoy the people who also volunteer there. We have a core team

of around 15–20 and we are all trying to keep the show alive. “They are a wonderful group and I am really proud of them and the work they do.” She was also excited as EHS has recently managed to recruit three new members and one thing volunteer groups constantly need is new blood. “I wanted to step down this year but didn’t. We have our AGM in August so hopefully I will get rolled there and can step away,” she added. “Anyway, I’m too pushy, someone with a different approach but the same passion would be great.” Pushy, of course, is an understatement. When Dot wants something done you either do it or condemn yourself to being a target as Dot stalks your every waking moment until she gets what she believes EHS needs. As well as president she is also chief publicist and helps co-ordinate applications for grant money, the society’s paperwork, donations and exhibitions. And it has all reached the stage where Dot needs a holiday from her hobby. “We

are

actually

committee

management, and while we have a good relationship with the port traders and the shire, we still have to cover every cent we spend,” she explained. “EHS is stronger than we have ever been but I am part of its history now, its future needs to be in the hands of someone younger — hopefully we will be able to attract more men as well. “I’ll happily help the new person if needed but take it from me, I’m done.” Done but not dusted. EHS is in Dot’s debt and whoever takes on the role will have big shoes to fill. It is also an opportunity for any other group in town that wants to sign a workaholic to help knock it into shape. It’s a given Dot’s phone will start ringing the minute her departure from EHS becomes officially permanent. Just as it’s a given she will probably be idle for about one day before she signs on somewhere else. The next Echuca Historical Society exhibition will be the Australian Maritime Museum’s touring exhibition ‘Shackleton — Escape from Antarctica’ and it will be open for June and July. 

Designing the right space for an outdoor fire pit A

S THE TEMPERATURE dips, it’s a perfect time to make your outdoor space warm and inviting with the inclusion of a backyard fire pit.

Over the past few years, a backyard fire pit has become a popular addition to any outdoor space.

GROUND SURFACE

This outdoor centrepiece doesn’t take up a lot of space and can be featured almost anywhere. You can get as simple or as fancy as your time and budget allows.

First and foremost, make sure the ground or surface is even to reduce the risk of fire escaping beyond your fire pit.

Designing the right space for an outdoor fire pit should factor in location, ground surface, seating and type of fire pit. However, the number one design factor should be family safety. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and check with your local council for any special permits or requirements. Here are some tips from the The Garden Planners on designing the right space for an outdoor fire pit:

LOCATION

Integrating a fire pit into your backyard’s design can be tricky; the location can often be determined by available space. Also consider whether it will be a square or circular design. If you love entertaining and often have large gatherings at your home, creating a separate space is a good way to maintain some intimacy between guests.

Once you’ve picked a location for your fire pit, you need to consider the ground surface.

Other factors include whether it is a permanent area that can be paved or suitable for timber decking, or a temporary area whereby you can use cheaper products like gravel or lawns to save some expense.

SEATING

The fire pit is an extraordinary conversation area around which you can have comfortable chairs, benches or sofas. From a design perspective, a round fire pit can be enclosed by semi-circular seating while a square fire pit can be surrounded by straight walls and benches. Using materials like timber and bricks to build permanent seating looks fantastic and really creates the right space. A sunken seating area looks very cosy and comfortable. It provides the perfect entertaining headquarters and also allows for better control of the fire.

WOOD VS GAS

Fire pits come in unlimited shapes and sizes but the first question you’ll need to answer is whether to install a wood or gas fire.

When you choose a fire pit design that uses wood, you get more of a campfire feel complete with crackle and smoky aroma. Of course, you have to be more careful about not letting it get out of control and making sure the fire’s out before you go to bed. Gas is undoubtedly far easier to use than wood with just a flick of the switch. Safety, efficiency, maintenance and overall cost are all key factors in making your decision.

GET IN TOUCH

If you choose a wood burning fire pit, you will need to think about smoke blowing into your house.

Long and wide cushioned benches provide ample seating and invites guests to lounge back, settle in and enjoy the warmth from the fire.

There are a large number of design options and styles when it comes to fire pits. Choosing one over another is not that easy.

Either way, we recommend considering your family’s current and future use of the backyard when picking a spot for your fire pit.

Consider adding accessories like cushions and blankets to provide some support and comfort when guests are gathered around your fire pit.

If you would like help, get in touch with The Garden Planners. Call 1300 599 989 or pop into our new design studio at 52 Heygarth St, Echuca (by appointment only). 

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Thirty Something

I’ve always loved a lot of lust, but what the hell is this? What happens when you wake up one morning, happy, unsuspecting and all is well in your world but by the time the sun goes down you might as well be on another planet? When you are 30 something and looking middle age face to face the last thing you need is someone else calling the shots, especially when they are doing it by tugging your heartstrings.

F ANYONE SAYS anything, if there is just one snide suggestion of anything to do with karma, I’ll scream.

made sure we did on the odd occasion) but he didn’t just seem aloof, he seemed downright arrogant.

And any comment about me being a fraud I will resort to litigation.

“The perfect man for you dearie,” I can hear mother carping.

It will be lawyers at 20 paces and I know mine is better than yours.

But girls I cannot find even the most remote line of logic which took me from a suddenly steamy moment in the lift to inviting him back to my place.

I do. So I might as well get it over with and explain how I know he’s better than yours. It’s because he is my fiancé. Yes, that makes me his fiancée. But for now keep your gossiping big mouths closed. I haven’t had the chance to mention this to my mother. In fact, if there is any reason for this totally unexpected merger to go ahead it will be my mother.

From first kiss to bliss, then to him taking my face in his hands and asking me if I would marry him could just about have been clocked with an egg timer (I’ll explain how we ended up in the lift another time). Just as there are bits in between I’ll never discuss (and you can keep your more puerile suggestions to yourself at the same time). But the big bit, about me saying ‘I do’ was just so wrong in so many ways.

Because she will not be able to contain herself.

I ask the questions, not answer them. I always have.

She will go into paroxysms of rapture.

And he’s a lawyer.

She will bring it up every chance she gets for the rest of her life.

I have my own place, I have a dog and I have many, many credit cards.

I can just hear it now: “Ooh, Ms La-di-dah is human after all. She really is just like the rest of us”.

He has seen none of them.

Well mother, you couldn’t be more wrong. An engagement does not a wedding make. And it won’t be making one anytime soon as far as I am concerned. This whole thing has left me feeling as if I have terminal vertigo. It has happened so fast, so unexpectedly and so un-me I feel like everything is spinning out of control. I have noticed this guy for some time, we have crossed paths (I might have even

Even worse, I have been an engaged woman for barely 72 hours and already I am in a relationship built on a lie. Which, I will admit, has never been an issue for me in the past. But it is gnawing at me now. It is a bizarre feeling; I have never had a moment’s self-doubt that I know what I want and how to get it. I will do it my way (God, now I’m breaking out in old people’s songs). Do I want him?

In the most base of ways absolutely — I want, I really want. But do I need him? I just don’t know. And this is where the emotional wheels are falling off. He’s finally had to go to work this morning and he’s been gone for the six longest hours of my life. I didn’t even make it to my office. I phoned in for my first sick day in five years. Sick? Surely I’m not lovesick? People can’t really be lovesick can they? He’s only been gone six hours and 11 minutes now; if that is making me sick already what am I going to be like tomorrow because (did I remember to mention this?) his head office is in another state. He won’t be back for three days. And he’s only been gone six hours and 14 minutes. Now I am going hot and clammy. You’ll excuse me, I am going to have to try and get some sleep; you see I haven’t had much for the past day or three. Oh, crap. I’ve just remembered I arranged to meet mother for lunch, she’s picking me up at the office (so I don’t have to invite her to my place, or get trapped at hers). They think I’m sick, she thinks I’m there. It’s only been six hours and 22 minutes and my whole carefully coutured world is coming apart at its very expensive seams. Six hours and 24 minutes. Is my watch broken, or just my heart taken? Could I be more pathetic if I tried? 

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