Bridging
BRINGING different generations together through digital storytelling and promoting positive ageing has been a passionate project for Yackandandah’s Mark Silver, Brendan Hogan and Becky Hyde.
Mark a social worker, Brendan a Yackandandah Primary School teacher and playwright, and Yackandandah Health’s leisure coordinator Becky have combined their professional expertise for the project designed to strengthen relationships and understanding between younger and older generations as well as fostering a sense of community.
Students over 10 weeks visited residents delving into their stories with interviews, taking photos and developing digital stories to share while enjoying some fun game activities too with the project coming to fruition this month.
The volunteer program known as the Positive Ageing Digital Storytelling Intergenerational Project (PADSIP) started as a partnership between the local year 6 primary school students and Yackandandah Health’s aged care residents last year.
Mark is a social worker and co-coordinator for the Swinburne Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults and developed the program more than 15 years ago in Melbourne with mainly secondary school students and older adults living in residential aged care and
in the community taking part.
“I could see the way our society was siloing services into age groups not understanding how the community could be strengthened by the mutual contribution of all its members,” Mark said.
“There was so much resource, wisdom and knowledge not being tapped into and I saw the need to foster intergenerational understanding and communication.
“The program is about creating opportunities to connect deeply and emotionally
through the emphasis on sharing of stories and understanding of common humanity that makes this program so special.
“It is also a way of valuing our elders, allowing them to shine and be visible, be front and centre and recognising what they bring to our society as well as a way of valuing our youth and allowing them to express themselves and enrich our lives.”
When Mark moved to Yackandandah in 2022, the idea to develop the PADSIP program locally moved with him, kick-
ing off last year with grants from Indigo Shire as well as the Yackandandah Community Centre.
“With recent Border Trust funding we have been able to continue the program this year and broaden it to other schools, starting with Osbornes Flat,” Mark said. Brendan said an important aspect of the program has been the development of cross-generational friendships, empathy, and understanding.
■ Continued page 6
◆ COMBINED SKILLS: Yackandandah’s Brendan Hogan (left), Becky Hyde and Mark Silver have together driven an intergenerational project to successful fruition.
PHOTOS: Coral Cooksley
By CORAL COOKSLEY
Socialisation and your puppy
Socialisation and your puppy
SOCIALISATION is something that is always mentioned when you bring a new puppy into your life, but what does socialisation actually mean, and how can you go about it to get the best out of your dog?
The critical socialisation period for a puppy is in the first three months of life, which for most dog owners leaves only a very short window from eight weeks of age to 12 weeks of age.
During this time, the more work and exposure we put into our puppies will significantly shape their behaviour later in life.
Balancing vaccinations and socialisation
This is a complex topic.
Between eight to 12 weeks of age most pups will have only had one vaccination, meaning that they are not 100 per cent protected against parvovirus at this stage.
However, it is also significantly detrimental to not start socialising your pup during this time.
Our recommendation would be to prioritise socialisation, but to do so in the safest manner possible.
See our next article for an in-depth discussion around this topic or chat to your local veterinarian.
What is socialisation?
Many of us think that our new puppy interacting with other dogs in the house and with family members is what socialisation is all about, however this is only about one per cent of it.
There is so much more to socialisation than this.
It may help to think of socialisation as “exposure to the world”, it is not just meeting people and dogs.
When thinking about socialisation, consider these broad categories: Environment (sights,
with Ovens and Kiewa Vets
sounds, surfaces, smells), handling, people and other animals.
Within these, the opportunities are endless.
How to go about socialising your puppy?
Be prepared to put in some hard work in these early weeks.
Opportunities for socialisation should be occurring multiple times a day.
You don’t have to be spending an hour at a time on this, even just one minute can result in a significant experience for your pup.
Always have food and toys on hand to reward good behaviour.
One tip for this is to actually measure out your pup’s daily portion of kibble and use this in training, rather than treats.
Advantages to this are that you are not risking obesity by feeding excessive treats, but also that you teach your dog to work for their food, rather than it being handed to them on a silver platter.
If you search online for “puppy socialisation checklist” you will find countless resources that are extremely helpful in guiding your training.
Go through items on this checklist until your pup is relaxed and comfortable with them all.
Remember to also repeat each activity in a different environment.
For example, introducing your pup to another dog in their home, versus at a park or a cafe is a very different experience.
The most important thing is to have fun with it.
This Day in History, 1945
BEGINNING OF PEACETIME - ANOTHER WAR WAS OVER
The celebrations had erupted on the 15th and several wartime organisations had begun winding down.
In Benalla, there had been a ceremonial march past of the 20th Squadron.
The Air Training Corps had been in operation in the town for three years, and a dinner had marked the end of wartime operations.
There had been a public welcome to the prisoners of war, in St Patrick’s Hall, Wangaratta on the 17th, and when a train loaded with over 100 troops liberated from the Japanese passed through the North East on the 19th, crowds gathered at every station.
At Wangaratta, the train slowed down and passed through the station at a walking pace, so that Major W.Morrison could be welcomed.
SNOW REPORT
Beginning of spring like conditions
WHILE the spring like snow conditions have begun, there is still plenty to do on the slopes.
At Mt Hotham, they are hosting a women’s ski and snowboard weekend from August 24 to 25 where likeminded women can join in an improvement program.
Many of the lifts and trails are currently open at Mt Hotham and there is a little more snow expected later in the week.
This week the Mogul Ski World Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships
2024 are currently taking place until August 25 at Mt Buller.
There are great conditions for the championships with many of the trails being groomed and still plenty of snow on the mountain.
At Falls Creek, nine out of the 15 lifts are open with many other activities for visitors to explore.
At Dinner Plain, the toboggan slope has closed due to a lack of snow, but the ski slope is still open.
The toboggan slope will be reactivated once there is enough snow.
At Mt Buffalo, both the toboggan and ski trails are closed but there is still plenty of opportunity for sightseeing. 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.
◆ SNOW FUN: There is still plenty to do at Falls Creek this week.
◆ NEW SKILLS: Goodstart Early Learning Moore Street student, Maeve, learnt how
New experiences for kindergarten children
CHILDREN from Goodstart Early Learning Moore Street in Wangaratta had the opportunity to learn how to bake at Beechworth Bakery on Thursday, August 8.
One of the teachers from the kindergarten, Tayla Ramsay, took the students on the bus trip and said they were introduced to one of the Beechworth Bakery’s bakers, Peter, who taught the children how to roll and knead bread
“Peter demonstrated to the children some different techniques including plaiting a loaf, making a turtle and how they shape different styles of loaves,” Tayla said.
with Beechworth Bakery
“The children enjoyed manipulating the dough finding it ‘soft, smooth, sticky and stretchy’.”
Peter also showed the children where the trays of dough go to rise, taught them about the yeast ingredients and oven temperature before the children decorated and tried their bread.
“Once they had finished making the loaves, they were then offered a piece of shortbread dough,” Tayla said.
“The children chose from a variety of shaped biscuit cutters and decorated their
loaves with M&Ms for fun.”
At the end of the day, the children got to bring home a loaf of bread to enjoy with their families and had biscuits for afternoon tea.
Tayla said the children learnt a lot from the day and both the visit to Beechworth Bakery and the bus trip itself were beneficial as it was their first bus trip since COVID.
“The children enjoyed seeing the countryside, pointing out the variety of animals, roadworks and vehicles,” she said.
“They loved sitting on the window sides so most sat by themselves so they could all see.”
◆ POWEFUL MINERALS: Jerry O’Callaghan believes vitamins and minerals play and equally important role.
Unlocking the power of natural minerals
ON our journey to vibrant health, we often focus on vitamins, but minerals play an equally crucial role.
Today, let’s explore four potent sources: sea moss, colloidal minerals, Celtic Sea Salt, and the oftenoverlooked greens.
1. Sea moss gel: Derived from nutrient-rich seaweed, sea moss gel boasts an impressive 92 essential minerals.
From calcium to iodine, magnesium to iron.
Benefits include immune support, improved digestion, and skin nourishment.
Add a spoonful to your morning smoothie or eat it by the spoonful for a nutritious boost.
2. Colloidal minerals:
with Kacey and Jerry O’Callaghan WANGARATTA WHOLEFOODS
These tiny, charged particles are readily absorbed by our cells.
They enhance enzyme function, support bone health, and aid in energy production.
Look for colloidal mineral supplements to ensure optimal intake.
3. Celtic Sea Salt: Unlike refined table salt, celtic sea salt retains over 80 minerals.
Magnesium, potassium, and iron are just a few.
Use it in cooking, sprinkle it over salads or add to
your morning glass of water with a squeeze of lemon juice, for a flavour-packed, mineral-rich boost.
4. Greens powders: Spirulina, chlorella, and wheatgrass these greens are packed with minerals. Incorporate them into your daily routine, we like to just mix them up and shot them down.
Modern farming practices have inadvertently led to a decline in soil mineral content.
As a result, fruits and vegetables harvested today may lack the essential minerals our bodies need.
Let’s bridge that gap by choosing nutrient-dense organically grown foods and supplementing with real foods, whole foods.
to make bread while at Beechworth Bakery.
Bridging an age gap
■ From page 1
“It was very heartening to see genuine kindness and care develop between the residents and students,” he said.
“By the end of the program, residents were able to say it’s important for each other to understand differences.
“It’s also important for young people to understand what it is like to be an elder, and to recognise and appreciate that all residents were young once too.
“On another level, young people and older people are similar in that the adults in their lives often don’t give them a voice or a say – both are told what they can and can’t do and it’s great to give voice to the voiceless.
“I hope that what I have brought to the team is an understanding of how young people learn, think and behave.
“Together, we were able to develop an engaging, fun and authentic program, and kept the health and happiness of the
residents and students at the centre.”
As a playwright, Brendan said he has always been interested in older people’s stories.
“They have perspective, hindsight and looming mortality, and I’m always interested in what legacy and purpose looks like when you’re nearing the end of your life,” he said.
Becky said the project bridged the gap between generations, fostered mutual understanding and respect.
“The program has enhanced quality of life for Yackandandah Health residents by providing meaningful interactions and companionship,” she said.
“It also offers young people invaluable experiences and insights.”
With several programs running in Melbourne Mark says the project can be easily rolled out to primary and secondary schools.
“We are seeing more and more inter-
generational programs throughout the country,” he said.
As advisory committee co-chair for the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice (AIIP), Mark said he relishes the idea of a local intergenerational hub with support and facilitation to be created for a longer-term plan.
“The project has also been auspiced by Arts Yackandandah with the aim of developing more intergenerational programs to incorporate the arts such as music, art and theatre to further strengthen community connection and foster greater collaboration locally,” Mark said.
“The project could not have happened without an amazing group of volunteers from Yackandandah Health’s lifestyle staff and residents as well as an older community member, school staff and incredible students, and Yackandandah Women’s Shed.”
Upcoming Features
◆ TEAMWORK: Yackandandah’s Brendan Hogan (left), Mark Silver and Becky Hyde joined forces to deliver a program bringing together different generations through digital storytelling and promoting positive ageing.
NorthEast JOBS
JOBS AT INDIGO
Emergency
•Manager Regulatory Services
•Financial Accountant
•Operations Engineer
•Team Leader Open Spaces Myrtleford
•Project Manager
• and innovative organisation?
Visit www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/council/ careers other employment opportunities.
Join The Centre in Wangaratta as a Part-Time Program Officer in Community Development, coordinating volunteer support for aged care residents in the Hume region. Enjoy a rewarding role with flexible working arrangements, a supportive team, and salary packaging benefits. For more information or to apply go to Careers - The Centre For Continuing Education Inc.
Funded by the Australian Government www.thecentre.vic.edu.au/careers 03 5721 0200
Casual Packaging Operator
Brown Family Wine Group are seeking Packaging Operators for casual positions, working in our state-ofthe-art packaging facility based in Milawa, Victoria. In this role, you will be responsible for operating a wide range of packaging equipment, including set up, operation, monitoring, shut down and cleaning. Full training will be provided to the successful applicants.
If you enjoy a busy production environment and would like to know more about this role, we would love to hear from you.
For further information and to submit your application, please scan the QR Code.
Beechworth
$97,430
Digital
Beechworth
$37.34
$42.62 per hour
Visitor Experience Officer
Yackandandah Casual
$32.76 - $34.79 per hour, plus 25% casual loading
Applications close 4pm Sunday 1 September 2024.
Visit www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au/jobs to download the position recruitment kit, and to view instructions on how to apply.
www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au
WORK WITH US SEASONAL FIRE CREW
Alexandra, Benalla, Myrtleford & Shelley
Applications are sought for Seasonal Fire Crew (Summer Plantation Workers) for the 2024/25 fire season. The paid limited tenure positions will run from early November 2024 to late March 2025 and will include physical outdoor work and firefighting.
The successful applicants:
• Must possess a current manual drivers licence
• Live within 30 minutes of their nominated work depot
• Be able to pass a pre-employment medical check and a drug and alcohol test
• Be available to attend all compulsory training throughout November
• Be available for regular rostered weekend standby within 15 minutes of the nominated depot
Plantation work is varied and involves four wheel driving, spraying, assisting with helicopter fertilising operations, track clearing, mapping, fire response and fuel reduction burning!
Current accreditations in chainsaw use, chemical use, first aid, firefighting and a MR license are favourable.
How to Apply!
Please send applications via our HVP Careers portal hvp.elmotalent.com.au/careers/hvp/jobs
Please scan the QR code for the Skills Summary Form to upload as a Cover Letter. Applications close 6th September 2024
GREAT JOBS FOR GREAT PEOPLE
The following opportunities now exist for enthusiastic, safety focused people with suitable experience and qualifications. Please visit our website to find out more about current positions available across Mawsons business divisions.
Seymour – Quarry Operator – SEYQ001
Cohuna/North Vic – Quarry Transport Truck & Trailer Driver – QUAT001
Mildura – Concrete Truck Driver – MILD004
www.mawsons.com.au/careers/join-us
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 ...and jobs every week!
JOIN OUR TEAM!
Exchange and go at North East Fasteners
NORTH East Fasteners is the only current local distributor of Power10 Rent-Free Welding Gases.
As a distributor, after you buy your first gas bottle the team at North East Fasteners will replace it for free when you swap your old tank in for an old one.
Power10 Gases supply a range of industrial gases and cylinders and the team has provided over 110,000 cylinders of industrial grade gas to their customers since 2012.
Their range includes Argon, Argon, Argon 5/2, Mig gas, Tig gas, Oxygen, Acetylene, Carbon Dioxide, Beer
gases and Nitrogen. Due to their large range, their products are usable for a large range of projects including aircon and refrigera-
tion, welding, jewellers, wine making, food preservation and fire fighting.
Whether you’re working on a small weekend hobby or require bulk gas for an industrial project, you will find what your looking for in the Power10 Gases range.
So head into North East Fasteners, grab your first cylinder and then take advantage of their ‘exchange and go’ options and their daily free delivery in town. For more information on the Power10 Gas range or to find out which gas cylinder would suit your job, visit https://www. power10gases.com.au/.
Hearing vs Listening
RECENTLY I have had some time to think about how we listen and what skills are involved.
There is a clear difference between “hearing” and “listening”.
Hearing is what our ears do naturally, requiring no effort.
Of course, if there is a significant hearing loss, hearing aids may assist in hearing better.
Listening requires effort, focus and actively paying attention to get the message.
I wanted to highlight a few tips to help people work on their listening skills which often come up in audiology appointments.
These skills help with day-today communication and can be used by anyone whether hearing is normal or not.
These ideas can significantly improve the quality of your conversations.
Face your conversation partner.
This demonstrates to them that they have your attention, and that you have theirs.
This is the best way to have an engaging conversation.
Not only is the hearing optimal when you are sitting close together, but seeing each other’s facial expressions and lip move-
ments is a big plus.
We can tell when someone understands what we are saying by their facial expression, helping to clarify what they have not understood.
It is meaningful feeling another person’s “presence” with you, knowing that they are not distracted by other things.
If you have ever talked to someone while they are texting on their phone, you know what I am talking about.
Asking for clarification is a good idea if you are not following what has been said.
This often saves time in the long run and keeps both people on the same track.
Even after you have been fit-
ted with hearing aids (if you have an ‘aidable’ hearing loss), you will benefit from these techniques. People with hearing aids and their communication partners still need to use these strategies in order to get the best outcomes.
If you have hearing aids, your partner might think, “They should be able to hear me now”.
But it is worth considering: are we both facing each other?
Is there too much background noise to get the message?
Hearing aids are an ‘aid’ to overcome the burden of hearing loss, but they do not provide superhuman hearing.
We all need to be reasonable with our expectations.
If you are interested in finding out more about active listening, google this term and you will find plenty of resources available and more examples to help you.
If you or your partner is having a hearing test or appointment, we recommend that your main conversation partner comes along so these techniques and strategies can be discussed.
If you would like to make an appointment for a hearing test, please contact Wangaratta Audiology on (03) 5722 4433.
Our Nurses and Caregivers are at the heart of what we do.
Are you interested in a rewarding role where you’ll help people live their best life?
service and great value – get in touch to see how we can provide a solution tailored for you.
Enjoy a flexible schedule, receive ongoing training and support, while being recognised for the important work that you do.
www.nursenextdoor.com.au/jobs
◆ FREE DELIVERY: North East Fasteners offer free delivery of the Power10 Gas cylinders daily in Wangaratta.
PHOTO: Kevin Spendier
with Michael Ballie NORTH EAST FASTENERS
with Emma Rayner WANGARATTA AUDIOLOGY