NEWS v District
Our ‘living legend’ Anita’s special award
Karla May is wife to local farmer, Simon and mum to Lucy aged 5 and Ben, 3. Karla continues her series of columns in the Plains Producer.
E
Bec O’Brien reports: Lower Light resident, Anita Trenwith, has many strings to her bow – mother, award winning science teacher, horsewoman and now living legend. Last month the 36-year-old, who has been teaching science at Salisbury High School since 1998 and is part of the school’s Special Education Unit, was honoured by Salisbury Council as one of its Living Legends. The Living Legends Awards were established in 2005 as a way for the council to recognise the city’s strong community spirit and say ‘thank you’ to those who were doing great things in the council area to actively promote the positive qualities of life in the north. Anita was presented with her award at a ceremony on March 7 and says the announcement came as a shock. “I didn’t even know I was nominated until I
Karla’s_Korner
A n i ta Tr e n w i t h a n d husband, Ray, in front of her Living Legend billboard.
got the congratulations phone call,” she said. “So it was a surprise for me that someone nominated me (and) I still don’t know who it was. “It has been an honour to be nominated and recognised in such a way. “There are some truly inspirational people that have been ‘Living Legends’, (and) the award is a great way to promote the positive things happening in the area.” Last year Anita’s science work with the Special Education Unit at
Salisbury High earnt her the top prize in the 2011 Australian Museum Eureka Awards for Science or Maths teaching. As part of her work she has also established a Stage 1 Agricultural class, and uses her Lower Light property to help the students practically apply the theory they are learning in class. “The students learn about electric circuits at school and then apply that knowledge putting up electric fences,” she said.
“They learn theory about factors that impact on plant growth and then apply that knowledge managing a section of the farm and cropping the land. “They calculate costs and seeding rates, they also have to monitor it for weeds and pests and then arrange to slash and bale the hay.
“Agriculture has now become very popular and in only its second year this year, the class had a waiting list.” Anita said the class last year featured on the ABC and a webisode of the filming could be viewed at http://vimeopro.com/ decd/webisodes.
Anita has established a new agricultural class, using her Lower Light property as a base for the students’ learning. Pictured back are Jo Hill (SSO), Special Education Unit students James Clausen, Jayden Huddleston, Philip Coyle, and Lliam Rodger, with front, Daniel Crewdson, Phuong Nguyen, Emily Thrupp, Sam Sears, Cheryl Wyatt and Anita Trenwith. Absent Sarah–Jane Rodger and Ashley Stoekel.
aster break usually means fishing for our family. Sometimes there’s a whiting or two to share, sometimes... not. After many perplexing experiences launching and retrieving the boat at a public marina, I have decided ‘boat ramp’ should be called ‘magical area of man-metamorphosis’. Something inexplicable occurs when a man embarks on a fishing trip. It’s somewhat like a primal stirring thought to have been extinguished between Cro-Magnon period and now. Could it be a carnal hunting instinct that causes this surge of territorial behaviour not seen anywhere else? What turns our gentlemen into competitive sea dogs? I’ll set the scene. We’re all sitting lazily around the table looking out to sea, sighing out a breath of relaxation, tinged with a little-too-much lunch. Maybe a nap is in order? No! All of a sudden someone looks at their watch, checks the tide guide and springs to action. It’s battle stations with the skipper retrieving deck hands and sourcing bait, rods and enough snacks to keep the kids happy until we reach our bag limit. Then he cries out “we have to go now or we’ll miss the turn of the tide!” Never have I seen such a rush made to get a boat ready. Is there only one fish left in the ocean? Will we starve if we don’t catch it, and what of the Kiosk? I hear there’s a good living to be made serving those who can’t catch their own! Once at the boat ramp, there’s etiquette. You let others retrieve their boats from the water before pushing in and chasing after this one fish you’ve smelt out from the shack. That’s all easily forgotten the minute toes touch the tepid water lapping the ramp. No, our men are so eager to find seafood they would pick the boat up and lift it over the heads of the retrieving parties if they could. Even the talk between boaties is pseudocompetitive. Courteous greetings of, “how’d you go?” are laced with cynicism and disbelief or just pure jealousy. I’m by no means restricting this to men, well, not entirely. The difference is women ask other women where they got ‘those fabulous shoes’, and we’d congratulate them on the acquisition and in return the purchaser would share information, happily. But fishing people? Oh no, no way! GPS marks and favourite spots are closely guarded; one thinks CIA has less security surrounding some of their secrets. Fishing ... here I was thinking it was a relaxing pastime!
There’s a catch to relaxing!
BUSINESS DIRECTORY BACKHOE & LOADER
Loader & Backhoe Service •7 days •Good rates •Local operator •Trucks also available
Phone Nick on
0408 803 434 BUILDING
ABN:12273886540 BLD: 240715
Specialising in… ◆ Renovations & Alterations ◆ Pergolas & Decking ◆ Doors & Windows ◆ Roof plumbing ◆ 1st & 2nd fix carpentry Call Danny: 0437 386 619 or email: wiesehomes@live.com.au
CATERING
Tom’s Catering Service Whether you choose a 5 course gourmet dinner or delicious finger food Tom caters for all. Flexible menu choices with prices starting at $10 a head
MOBILE - 0409 676 755 PHONE - 8527 2247
EXHAUST & BRAKES
PEST CONTROL
SLASHING
Specialist in all types of pest control since 1984
B.A.S. SLASHING
Balaklava and surrounding areas Local family business ✓ Flies and ✓ Termites Mosquitoes ✓ Rodents ✓ Bird Proofing ✓ Spiders ✓ Rabbits ✓ Cockroaches
BRIAN RIDDLE PEST CONTROL
PHONE US ON 8380 9477
ABN - Fully Insured
P: 8862 1832 M: 0421 517 708 E: b.t.riddle1@bigpond.com
Phone Peter 0411 822 417
PHOTOGRAPHY
RURAL SUPPLIES
ACTION PORTRAITS EVENTS
Multi Exhaust & Brake Virginia • Exhaust • Brakes • Suspension • Radiators • Servicing Cnr Old Pt Wakefield & Gawler Roads, Virginia (opp. Virginia Hotel)
No Job Too Big or Small
• Rotary Hoe / Large & Small • Slashing • Post Holes • Light Earth works • Offset Disk Plough
Photography
>By Lisa Redpath
Ph: 0438 041 491
E: redgd84@hotmail.com
RAIN WATER TANKS and Rural Merchandise
J.C. & A.J. SHEPHERD Phone/Fax 8862 2284
84 - 86 Yorsdale St, Balaklava (off Dunn’s Rd)
IF YOU’RE IN BUSINESS ... you and your customers can’t afford to miss our extra monthly TRADER’S PAGE. Ph: 8862 1977 for details.
8 www.plainsproducer.com.au
Plains Producer, Thursday April 12, 2012