Connecting students with visual arts in city
By CHLOE JAENICKE
REGIONAL students will get the chance to discover what it’s like to have a career in the visual arts space thanks to the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art’s (ACCA) REACH Art program.
The program was devised with support from the Victorian Government through the Raising Rural and Regional Student Aspirations 2024-2025 grant.
REACH Art’s aim is to connect regional and remote students and teachers with leading contemporary artists, arts workers and exhibitions in order to build interest, knowledge, participation and career aspirations in the visual arts, with the longterm goal of supporting the development of future creative industries workers.
ACCA education manager, Felicia PinchenHogg, said they decided to target the program to regional and remote students due the gap in career aspiration and knowledge relating to the visual arts sector.
“The idea grew out of a deep desire to build creative career aspiration and remove barriers to engagement with the visual arts for regional students,” she said. ■ Continued page 6
VET CORNER Poisons and toxins of companion animals
AS the weather warms up and the days get longer, naturally we begin to venture outdoors with our four-legged friends.
Spending more time outside results in an increased risk of exposure to poisons and toxins found around the house and sheds.
Therefore, we thought we would mention some of the substances found around the home and farm which are harmful to pets.
Common toxicities seen in vet practices are baits used to control household pests such as rats and snails, but also extends to wild dog and fox control such as ‘1080’ and para-aminopropiophenone (or ‘PAPP’).
Venomous species commonly encountered by pets include snakes (tiger, brown, black, copperhead) as well as paralysis ticks which can be picked up while travelling to coastal locations along the east coast from Gippsland to far North Queensland.
Common household items toxic to dogs and cats include pharmaceuticals such paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Foodstuffs include onion and garlic, chocolate, sultanas/grapes/raisins, mushrooms, avocados, macadamias, stone fruit, artificial sweeteners such as xylitol/sorbitol found in chewing gum.
Around the shed, ethylene glycol (antifreeze) is extremely toxic.
It has a sweet taste to dogs and cats and therefore should not be left lying around after changing coolant fluid.
If consumed; it is only a matter of hours before damage to kidneys results in death.
Other chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides should be locked away,
with Lachlan ShiltonOvens and Kiewa Vet
including drenches for livestock.
Plant species toxic to dogs and cats include oleander, lilies, marijuana, blue-green algae, brunfelsia (commonly known as yesterday-today-tomorrow), agapanthus, pistachio, deadly nightshade, foxglove, elephant ears, and rhubarb, to name a few.
Garbage toxicity is another reasonably common presenting condition, where an animal has accessed garbage, compost, decaying carcasses, which may be contaminated by large numbers of bacteria, or fungus, which may be detrimental to your pet.
Clues of possible toxin ingestion include recent changes in routine, such as dietary change or access to a new environment, sudden illness after a period of being unsupervised, or a sudden change in behaviour.
Clinical signs vary greatly depending on the toxin involved, and may include diarrhoea, vomiting, excessive salivation, paralysis, tremors, or seizures.
If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, always call the vet immediately as it may be a medical emergency.
In other circumstances, the vet may deem the toxic dose insufficient to cause harm, saving you the trip.
If bringing the pet to the clinic it is very helpful to bring a photo of the suspected cause, or the packaging if a toxic food source or pesticide has been ingested.
More snow on mountains
THE weather is becoming colder, and more snow is beginning to fall on the mountains.
Up to 50cms is forecast to fall this week across resorts in the biggest dump yet of the 2024 snow season.
Over the weekend, Mt Hotham experienced more snowfall with a depth of around 30cm.
Many of the trails are open including Heavenly Valley, which is currently recommended for more experienced skiers and snowboarders due to current conditions, with fun to be found for the less experienced elsewhere.
Mt Buller has around 43cm of snow and the slopes have been groomed for skiing.
Glider’s terrain park just got an additional beginner-friendly
line on the right of the carpet over the weekend, and Skyline is open for some more advanced park riding.
There is still plenty to do at Falls Creek with an average snow depth of around 24cm across the resort.
Ten out of the 15 lifts are open, creating opportunities for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, and two of the three terrains and snow play parks are also open.
More snow has finally begun to fall at Mt Buffalo over the weekend with a light dusting across the mountain and more snow forecast throughout the week.
Both Cresta and Dingo Dell toboggan slopes are closed until there is more decent coverage but there is still great
sightseeing opportunities from Mackeys Lookout through to Cresta Valley.
At Dinner Plain, there has been a light dusting of snow and the snow guns have begun firing.
There still isn’t enough snow for tobogganing due to there not being enough cover.
There will be more snowfall throughout the week, with most of the snow expected to come over the weekend.
For the latest information on the mountains visit: Dinner Plain: visitdinnerplain.com.au Falls Creek: fallscreek.com.au
Mt Hotham: hotham.com.au
Mt Buffalo: visitmountbuffalo.com.au
Mt Buller: mtbuller.com.au.
This Day in History, 1901
BOER WAR WELCOME HOME
LANCE Corporal Duncan of Killawarra and Trooper Wallace of Wandiligong were given a tumultuous welcome at Wangaratta Railway Station.
Fresh from fighting in South Africa, where Duncan had distinguished himself in several actions, the two men were greeted by the Town Band, while Duncan and Wallace were cheered aboard a drag which carried them in triumphant procession through the streets to the Theatre Royal, where a banquet had been prepared.
A presentation was made to Lance Corporal Duncan, of a silver tray with two entrée dishes and a spirit stand.
There were speeches and toasts, interspersed with patriotic ballads, ending with the National Anthem and Auld Lang Syne.
◆ TWILIGHT: There was plenty of snow fun over the school holidays, including the night skiing at Falls Creek.
First Nations stories alive in books
FRESH from NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week, it’s worth focusing on some of the great First Nations-themed books which have hit the shelves recently.
‘When the World Was Soft’ is a graphic novel which shares the stories of Yindjibarndi Creation-times for a modern audience.
Yindjibarndi believe all creation is written in our landscape and was sung long ago, filling Country with sacred meanings and deep religious significance.
The acknowledgements in the book credit “our Elders, who have shown unwavering dedication in passing on their wealth of Yindjibarndi cultural knowledge.
The stories in this book from the beginning of the world were passed down over many generations and carried by our late Elders”.
‘When the World Was Soft’ contains Yindjibarndi words and their English definitions in a glossary, and a QR code provides access to a reading of the book and educational resources.
Dynamically illustrated by Alex Mankiewicz with striking artwork by members of the Juluwarlu Art Group, ‘When the World Was Soft’ is a powerful gift of culture for all ages.
In ‘Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu’, Ben Tyler and Diane Lucas share stories, knowledge and their love of
◆ BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WALK:
the land on a walk through one of Australia’s most ancient and beautiful ecosystems.
They introduce Kundjeyhmi language, one of the Bininj Kunwok languages of Kakadu and western Arnhem
Land, along the way.
Emma Long’s detailed and beautifully rendered images bring to life the rich and varied plant and animal life of this unique place.
Her captivating artwork
encourages readers young and old to see, hear, smell and feel the land, and to experience how Aboriginal people have lived and walked Country for thousands of years.
As Emma says in her acknowledgements, “every time I step out onto this amazing country, I am filled with the wonder of it and all that it provides”.
This book also features a
glossary at the back, and a QR code at the front which links to a recording of Diane and Ben reading it.
Finally, to fiction with First Nations history and culture at its core; last month also saw the release of ‘Protectors’, the third instalment in the Wylah: Koorie Warrior series, aimed at eight to 14-year-olds.
A heart-stopping adventure, starring a hero for the ages and her mega-funny megafauna friends, this bestselling series, written by Peek Whurrong man Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard, who has Samoan heritage, is a favourite among young readers.
It follows Wylah as she has triumphed to become the Koorie Warrior.
However, her journey is just beginning - her family and people are still prisoners of the cruel Dragon Army, and more animals and children are mysteriously disappearing from other tribes.
Faced with new responsibilities and a dangerous new adversary, can Wylah rise as the leader and protector children and animals desperately need?
Excitement and suspense await in this thrilling latest episode.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin, we have copies of all three books to give away to one lucky reader in a pack this week.
* If you would like to own ‘When the World Was Soft’ (RRP $34.99), ‘Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu’ ($29.99) and ‘Wylah the Koorie Warrior 3: Protectors’ (RRP $15.99), email skerwin@nemedia.com.au to be in the running, telling us why you’d like to win.
Muirs is proudly an Australian owned 4th Generation family business, established 97 years ago.
Specialising in a full range of Ag Chem, Seed and Fertilizer for your Horticulture, Pasture & Cropping needs.
The team of specialist Agronomists & Key Account Managers at our Wangaratta Branch have been supporting farmers locally for over 40 years
16A Shanley St, Wangaratta 5723 3800
Official Opening Thurs 18th July 10am BBQ lunch from 12.30pm Prizes & giveaways 3x $500 Muirs store vouchers drawn on the day
‘Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu’ is one of three books on offer in this week’s giveaway.
◆ SUSPENSE AWAITS: ‘Protectors’ is the latest instalment in the Wylah the Koorie Warrior series.
with Simone Kerwin NORTH EAST MEDIA
Connecting regional students with the visual arts in the city
■ From page 1
“We are so excited to share stories of inspiring creative career trajectories and work with students to build the real-world skills they need to secure a job in a creative industry, through participation in hands-on collaborative creative projects.
“Participation in the visual arts supports individual wellbeing, student academic outcomes and connected healthy communities.”
Annually, ACCA works with 12,000 students and the REACH Art program has been years in the making to ensure they can work with more regional schools.
“When it came to designing
the program and the activities, the process was incredibly exciting and enriching,” Ms Pinchen-Hogg said.
“We had lots of fantastic conversations with our colleagues at ACCA around their unique pathways, which revealed the diverse ways that exist to engage with the arts and become an arts worker.”
The REACH program is available to all regional and remote Victorian students and is designed to be flexible and tailored to the individual needs of each school.
There are transport subsidies for eligible schools to visit ACCA in Melbourne, as well as online options.
ACCA educators and lead-
ing industry professionals are also able to visit classrooms.
“At ACCA, we are always interested in ensuring access,”
Ms Pinchen-Hogg said.
“We have found that a hybrid model, including an offering of both in-person and online program streams, greatly increases participation.
“We see the three options as being cumulative, where teachers have the opportunity to select the number and location of programs they would like to engage in.”
Ms Pinchen-Hogg said the most exciting part of the program is the practical ‘Make’ component where students create artworks and installations based on
ACCA’s current exhibition.
Each ‘Make’ session can be tailored for children of all year levels.
During the in-gallery and inschool options of the program, students learn about the roles at ACCA via a process of role play.
“They first explore the role of the artist through creating an artwork inspired by the current exhibition, then they split into groups, wearing the hat of curatorial, installation and/or marketing, creating practical outcomes like a wall label, an exhibition display, and a social media post,” she said.
“These activities really strengthen student understanding of creative careers through practical learning.”
The REACH Art program is open now and will be running throughout the rest of 2024 and in 2025.
To book or learn more about the REACH Art program, visit https://acca.melbourne/reachart-inspiring-creative-careers/.
ACCA is located in Melbourne’s arts precinct in Southbank and are nationally recognised for their education program which offers innovative, free and fun arts learning opportunities for students, educators, and the wider education community through ingallery programs, outreach, online resources, and the ACCA virtual classroom.
NorthEast JOBS
To place an ad, phone 5723 0101 or email
About us: Brown Family Wine Group, an innovative familyowned multi brand wine business, is one of Australia’s most loved and trusted wine companies. We have evolved from a single brand to a family of brands that now includes Brown Brothers, Devil’s Corner, Pirie, Tamar Ridge and Innocent Bystander. We are a proud and passionate business who are strong on values and culture. Most recently we have been certified as “A Great Place to Work” and are committed to honouring this recognition throughout all aspects of the business.
About the Role: This full-time role provides a diverse range of administrative support for the Viticulture, Winery and Sustainability teams. In addition to general admin duties key tasks for the role include:
• Coordinate, schedule and manage the grape and juice intake from internal and external growers during vintage
• Responsible for maintaining grower records, completion of industry surveys, supplier contracts and payment through various software applications
• Assist the business in achieving its sustainability goals through accurate and regular recording of both sustainability and emissions-related data
Check out the North East Jobs section inside the Regional Extra every Wednesday, or online anytime at
• Provide a range of administrative support and co-ordination for the Viticulture, Winery and Sustainability teams as requested
What’s Required: This role is suited to someone who can work unsupervised with a high attention to detail, excellent communication skills and strong computer literacy across all platforms.
What’s on Offer:
• An opportunity to develop personally and professionally
• Work with one of Australia’s leading wine companies
• Be part of a fun, passionate and dedicated team
• Generous employee benefits including amazing discounts on products
Your pro-active and flexible approach to your work and the capacity to work in a busy team environment will be rewarded.
More Information: Further information and a position description can be obtained by emailing careers@brownfwg.com.au or by calling Allyce on (03) 5720 5500.
Your local Wangaratta Chronicle has brought together local employers and local employees for generations ...and it is no different today. People prefer to work close to home, to save on transport costs, the frustration of travel and to be closer to family. Both our printed and digital newspapers have a highly engaged local audience looking for news, sport, local information
Connecting hearing aids to your phone
ONE of the major advancements in hearing aid developments over the past several years is their ability to connect to your smart-phone via Blue-
When I say “smart-phone”, I mean a phone that has a touch screen onto which you can download apps.
If you are not sure whether your phone is a “smart-phone”, ask your kids or grandkids or someone else you know who is tech savvy.
Being able to adjust the volume of your hearing aids through your phone can be a good solution for many, especially if you have dexterity issues or arthritis.
Often, as we get older, it can be hard to manipulate the small volume buttons on the hearing aids.
It can also be hard to tell which button makes the hearing
aid louder and which is softer.
Most recent hearing aids can connect to an app on your phone, enabling you to turn the hearing aid volume up and down.
It shows the volume on a sliding scale.
A lot of clients find this quite straight-forward.
If you do not currently have your hearing aids connected to your phone and you would like to do that, see your audiology clinic for support.
If your hearing aids were fitted in the past few years, it is quite likely that they are compatible.
If you would like to try to connect them at home yourself, search for hearing aid apps and type into Google your hearing aid brand – which would be on your box.
Most of the apps these days will coach you through pairing your phone up.
For clients who do not have smart-phones or who still have difficulty adjusting the volume on their hearing aids, it might be possible to order a remote control to adjust the volume.
These are designed with big buttons to help identify louder and softer.
If you want to explore that option, talk to your audiology clinic.
If you have any further questions about this or would like to book an appointment to see an audiologist, please call Wangaratta Audiology on (03) 5722 4433.
MATTERS
with Jonathan Green legal
PROFIT-sharing agreements might be a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
As a business lawyer one of the key challenges I hear from my clients is around finding innovative ways to retain key talent and plan for future succession of their businesses.
One powerful tool that can address both these challenges is the implementation of a profit-sharing agreement.
For small business owners in Australia, profit-sharing agreements offer numerous benefits, particularly in the realms of talent retention and succession planning.
Understanding profit sharing agreements
A profit-sharing agreement is a strategy where a business owner shares a portion of the company’s profits with its employees.
This can be structured in various ways, such as bonuses, stock options, or direct profit distribution, aligning employees’ interests with the success of the business.
Key talent retention
1. Enhanced motivation and productivity: When employees have a stake in the profits, they are more likely to be motivated to work harder and be more productive.
2. Attracting top talent: Talented individuals often seek more than just a salary; they look for opportunities where their contributions are recognised and rewarded.
3. Increased loyalty and reduced turnover: When employees feel valued and see a direct correlation between their work and the company’s success, they are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.
4. Fostering a positive work environment: Employees who feel financially invested in the business are more likely to collaborate effectively, leading to a more cohesive and motivated team.
Benefits of profit sharing for succession planning
1. Smooth transition of ownership: By gradually transferring shares or profits to key employees, owners can ensure the continuity of the business without abrupt changes.
2. Retention of critical knowledge and skills: Profit sharing helps keep these essential personnel engaged and committed, ensuring that the business retains critical knowledge and skills during the transition.
3. Increased interest in long-term success: Employees investment in the business is particularly beneficial during ownership transitions, as they
will work towards maintaining and enhancing the company’s performance.
4. Building a successor pool: By observing employees who excel under profit-sharing schemes, business owners can identify those with the potential to take on leadership roles in the future.
Implementing a profit-sharing agreement
Implementing a profit-sharing agreement requires careful planning and legal guidance to ensure it aligns with the business’s goals and complies with Australian laws.
Here are some steps to consider:
• Define the profit-sharing structure.
• Set clear terms and conditions.
• Consult with legal and financial advisors.
• Communicate transparently with employees
• Monitor and adjust as needed.
We are highly experienced in advising business owners on the ins and outs of profitsharing agreements.
with Emma Rayner, WANGARATTA AUDIOLOGY