Regional Extra 260423

Artistry across the globe

By BELINDA HARRISON

FROM Wangaratta to China, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Vietnam and Canada, Anna Weston has experienced a vast array of sights and met some wonderful people, many of whom have since influenced her art.

After completing a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University, Anna worked in the UK and took jobs in rural, remote and city areas across Australia, but in 2011 her horizons were broadened when she started with Operation Smile.

“Operation Smile provides cleft palate and craniofacial surgeries to babies, children and adults in developing countries and I volunteered with them as a speech pathologist,” Anna explained.

“Along with nurses, doctors, surgeons and dentists, I helped figure out who was an appropriate candidate for surgery, worked with local people and families to best support kids to develop speech and language skills in their own languages and dialects, and helped parents figure out how to best help their babies and kids eat and drink.

“It’s hard work and confronting at times but it is also great to meet people just like you who happen to live across the other side of the world, and to learn about di erent cultures and ways of being.”

The work for Operation Smile was for around 12 days at a time, which Anna completed around her day job and among finding time to create and make art.

“I have made art for as long as I can remember, my teachers in primary school strongly encouraged creativity which was integral, and my parents were encouraging,” Anna said.

■ Continued on page 6

RELAXED: Anna in her studio.

PHOTO: Alexandra Hose

NATURAL WORLD with BELINDA

YOUR HEALTH with TERESA

Why are my chickens not laying eggs?

NOT getting many eggs?

Are your egg shells weak and flimsy?

Don’t be too concerned, as winter is the natural time for hens to take a break from laying eggs.

Chickens need 12 to 14 hours of daylight in order to stimulate laying, so as we approach the winter solstice they will stop laying due to the shorter days, and will usually start moulting.

Moulting is where a chicken loses its feathers and grows new ones.

This can look fairly ugly with some chickens losing all their feathers at once, whilst others will have a prolonged moult losing a

PET CORNER

WANGARATTA RSPCA has many lovable creatures waiting for the perfect family to take them home.

If you want to add a furry friend to your home, call (03) 5722 2874 or visit the shelter at 1 Connell Street Wangaratta.

Wangaratta RSPCA’s animal adoption source code is BR100934

ANYTHING BUT TINY: Don’t be fooled by the name, because Tiny is a big dog with an even bigger personality. Tiny thinks everything is fun and loves to go for big walks to stay active. He is a typical working breed kelpie who would be best suited to a home used to these kinds of breeds. He would love to go to a home that has another dog to play with and that could teach him some more manners. Tiny is not suited to a home with cats or other small animals and still has a lot of puppy tendancies and would thrive with an owner would could teach him how to work on a farm. His microchip number is 956000012844948.

with Breanna Carr, Veterinarian

few here and there.

The moult requires a lot of energy and protein to build new feathers.

During this time it also gives hens a chance to replenish their calcium stores so they can make quality eggs in spring.

The main thing to do during this break in laying is to provide your birds with a quality balanced layer pellet or mash (be careful feeding whole grain mixes, this should not be fed ad lib), add a bowl of shell grit to the pen, and keep their pens clean and dry.

Stable weather, amazing fishing

THIS stable weather has helped deliver some amazing fishing across North East Victoria over the last week.

In recent weeks I have mentioned that the changing weather has slowed the cod fishing down in many rivers.

Well, over the last week I have had more reports of Murray cod being caught in the Ovens River than I have in the last three weeks.

Murray cod have been caught using both bait and lures.

This is typical of the Murray cod fishing in the Wangaratta area during autumn where it can be all or nothing.

The next cold front might slow

them down, but at the time of writing this report the fish are biting well.

I fished Lake Bu alo with Austyn Fleming during the week where we managed to catch quite a few redfin. We were casting soft plastics o the bank.

Small curl tail grubs and soft plastic minnows worked the best with the largest fish being a redfin of around 30 - 35cm.

Two days later I fished the lake again, this time by boat with my dad and daughter.

We caught around 30 to 40 redfin, with quite a few being decent sized fish.

There were no real “purple patches” of fishing which redfin are known for, but instead we had a consistent morning picking up a fish every once in a while.

Everything we used worked well and nothing seemed to stand out as a “best” technique.

We trolled them on diving lures, caught them on cast soft plastics and bobbed lipless crankbaits directly under the boat.

Live yabbies also caught a few fish including the largest one which my dad caught.

We didn’t measure it but it must have been nudging 40cm and was very fat.

This Day in History, 1877

RUTHERGLEN‘S congregational community, fired up by their pastor, the Rev J.B. Gribble, determined to have their own church, their services having been conducted in the Town Hall. The very persuasive Rev Gribble, who later in Jerilderie would persuade Ned Kelly to force Steve Hart to return his watch during the gang‘s raid on the town, got the congregation motivated and on April 26 1877 the foundation stone of the new church was laid.

◆ DECENT: Austyn Fleming with a nice sized Lake Bu alo redfin caught on a Strike Tiger curl tail grub soft plastic in Whitebait Pearl colour.

PHOTO: RSPCA

with Rob Alexander WANGARATTA

Protect yourself and those around you this season

With Teresa McMahon, South Wangaratta Medical Centre.

IT is that time of year again, the cold weather is setting in and we are preparing ourselves for winter.

Unfortunately with the onset of the cold weather we see an increase in the transmission of influenza.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Every year, influenza causes a significant amount of illness, hospitalisations, and even deaths worldwide.

While many people recover from the flu without any complications, it can be severe and even fatal in some cases, especially for older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions.

One of the most e ective ways to prevent the flu is through vaccination.

Influenza vaccination is a safe and e ective way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu.

The flu vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that fight against the virus, thereby reducing the

risk of getting infected or developing severe illness if infected.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone aged six months and older, especially those who are at high risk of developing complications from the flu.

In addition to protecting individuals, influenza vaccination also has broader public health benefits.

When more people get vaccinated, the spread of the flu is slowed, and the number of cases and hospitalisations decreases.

This reduces the burden on healthcare systems, which can become overwhelmed during flu seasons with high numbers of patients.

It also protects those who cannot get vaccinated due to medical reasons.

By getting vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself but also contributing to the public health e orts to reduce the burden of flu seasons on healthcare systems and protect vulnerable populations.

Some people are eligible to receive an influenza vaccination at no cost.

Others may have to pay a small fee.

To organise an influenza vaccination or for more information, speak to your GP clinic, pharmacy or government run vaccination clinic.

Creativity battles screen dependence

THE role technology plays in our lives, and particularly those of our young people, is a constant talking point as society becomes more and more dependent on devices with screens.

Laptops, tablets, interactive whiteboards and even green screens are among the everyday learning tools used by the current generation of students, while those who grew up using pens and pencils, paper and blackboards often fret about the impact of the change.

When you add to the fray phones, the everincreasing number of household TV screens, home computers and entertainment like XBoxes and PlayStations, it’s a full-time job for parents to ensure kids are still using their innate sense of creativity and drawing on their own imagination.

‘The Glow’, a new novel by Sofie Laguna, and illustrated by her husband Marc McBride, taps into these concerns.

It centres on two young girls, Megan and her best friend Li, who love spending time riding their bikes and visiting the local beach with Megan’s dog Callie.

They also love creating worlds of their own via Megan’s talent for drawing fantastical creatures, and Li’s ability to build stories around them.

Their imaginative collaboration is not under-

stood by everyone in their lives - least of all Megan’s sporty sisters.

Then one day, Megan notices that the kids in her class - and even her teacher - appear to be transfixed by their screens.

As she’s returning home on the bus with her fellow students, who are staring blankly ahead or at their phones, she witnesses a car crash, and has to yell at the bus driver to halt at her stop.

She has also become aware of a strange, cold light in the sky.

While they discover more and more people a ected by the strange glow coming from their devices, it seems Megan and Li’s lack of dependence on screens makes them immune from the creeping stillness falling over their town.

They set out to seek help, and soon a battle unfolds which pits all of their creative energies against a terrible monster that has ensnared everyone else around them.

Targeted at readers aged between eight and 12, this exciting supernatural adventure is a celebration of the joy and rewards of creativity - and a great way to draw a youngster away from a screen for a while.

• We have a copy of ‘The Glow’ (Allen & Unwin, RRP $16.99) to give away to one lucky reader.

If you would like that to be you, email skerwin@nemedia.com.au for your chance to win.

◆ EXCITING SUPERNATURAL ADVENTURE: ‘The Glow’ is a new release from successful husband and wife team Sofie Laguna and Marc McBride.

Artistry across the globe

■ From page 1

“I have always been drawn to the challenge of art making, and it can be quite fun to use a di erent part of your brain and see the world in a di erent way.”

While living in Canada in 2014, Anna’s friends introduced her to plein air painting, which is essentially a type of landscape painting done outdoors, out in the Canadian Rockies and Anna exhibited in some of the local shows.

She also ran a dynamic life drawing class and she and a friend put on a community art exhibition, which included 17 local artists.

“I learnt a lot about landscapes, mountains and big animals while in Canada and was lucky enough to have some really inspiring people around me, some of who were painters and encouraged me to give it a go (in addition to drawing).

“I spent time with an artist friend at

Yulara near Uluru and have a few scientist friends who let me tag along on their work projects, including into the old growth forests of Tasmania and Lamington National Park in QLD so I have made a lot of artwork which reflects my time working abroad and closer to home.

“I think whether you realise it or not, you are always influenced by what is around you - whether that’s a particular landscape, colours, objects or people - they end up being interwoven into the work.”

Back in Australia in 2019, Anna decided to do an experiment - she would hold a private solo art exhibition to show her friends and family some of her work.

Money raised was donated to a local charity but the real test was this: if it went well, Anna would continue to pursue a career as an artist, if it was a flop then she would put art aside and focus on her ‘day job’ skills.

“Luckily it ended up going really well and my focus on art gained even more

momentum once I started a Bachelor of Fine Art at the Queensland College of Art at Gri th University in Brisbane,” she said.

“I now combine speech pathology, the university course and oil painting so there is a lot of art every day in that mix.

“The course is challenging both technically and academically, but it is worth every second and I am learning a lot.”

Over the years, Anna has created a varied range of narrative art with a leaning towards magical realism and loves combining miniatures (objects, people, animals) into the scene.

In the last 12 months in particular, she has turned her hand to quirky, surrealist style paintings and a 30 metre mural in South Bank, Brisbane, which was an opportunity through her university course.

“I mix up my style but I absolutely love contemporary portraiture and landscapes,” Anna said.

“I love meaningful art and anything

to do with the human condition and the natural environment - these two things are inextricably linked so there are often bits of both in the works.

“I also like to add a certain level of quirkiness and weirdness, puns, in-jokes and references which makes the work more interesting.”

Last month, Anna won third prize in the John Villiers Outback Art Prize, Winton, Queensland for her portrait painting of a friend who lives in outback Rolleston, Queensland.

“She is an amazing woman and is currently beating breast cancer,” Anna said.

“She had to come to the city for treatment and was worried about how she would keep herself occupied so I basically said, ‘hey mate, why don’t you come over and I’ll do your portrait’.

“I love painting portraits of people and weaving the details of their story into the painting.

“It was a nice experience as she was

happy with her portrait, and was really excited that it got through to the final.”

Anna received a Highly Commended Award: Inaugural Behlau Murakami Grant Art Prize at Queensland College of Art Gallery, South Bank (2022) and was selected for the Undergrowth Invitational Exhibition at Queensland College of Art Gallery, South Bank (2022).

Anna has also been a finalist at the Small Works Art Prize at Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy (2023); Tacit Still Life Prize at Tacit Gallery, Collingwood (2022); Out of the Box – live in Fernie, Canada (2014) and the Australasian Turf Monthly Equine Art Prize at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (2006).

“I think it’s common for artists to have a relentless drive to make art, it’s not really a choice; you just have to do it,” she said.

For more information on Anna and her work visit: https://www.annaweston.com.au/.

NorthEast JOBS

To place an ad, phone 5723 0101 or email

MEDICAL SECRETARY/ RECEPTIONIST

An established specialist medical practice in Wangaratta requires an experienced and wellpresented medical secretary/receptionist. This role will be part time (0.6 EFT) with capacity to increase hours as required. Your responsibilities will be varied and cover all aspects of a busy orthopaedic surgical practice including front desk reception, answering the telephone, patient appointments, liaising with patients and health funds, organising theatre lists, billing, banking and handling other communications. We offer generous remuneration as well as a pleasant working environment.

Start date is Monday 31st July 2023.

Applications close 14th May 2023.

The successful applicant must have:

• Medical reception experience

• A good working knowledge of the health industry

• A high level of professionalism

• Excellent communication, people and organisational skills

• Capacity to work in a team

• Willingness to use initiative and take responsibility

• Ability to prioritise tasks

• Computer literacy and the capacity to utilise new computer software

Applications and enquiries to: Mr. Richard Kjar orthokjar@gmail.com

Maintenance Person / Welder

Wangaratta Abattoirs provides an opportunity for a maintenance fitter wanting to build their career and be involved in the operations of a meat processing facility.

We are a respected supplier of lamb, beef and pork to the Australian wholesale market for over 40 years and are looking for an additional person with maintenance experience to join our team. This opportunity is there for someone who is self- motivated, dependable and has an eye for detail to assist with project work and preventative maintenance.

Skills Required:

• Excellent mechanical skills

• Welding skills

• Problem solving

• Must hold current driver’s license

• Forklift license an advantage

Please email resume to justin@gathercole.com.au or ring Justin on 0412 251 397.

Circulating in Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Bright, Mt Beauty, Beechworth, Yackandandah, Rutherglen, Chiltern and districts

JOBS AT INDIGO

DELI MANAGER

FoodWorks Myrtleford

As the Deli Manager, you will be responsible for the successful operation of your department within this busy supermarket.

You will be responsible for leading and developing a small team, ensuring the highest quality of goods are being presented, deliver a high level of customer service, and ensure a health and safety standards are meet.

About You:

• Previous experience in fresh department, deli preferred

• The ability to train and develop staff

• Be positive, approachable and people focused

• Be organised and have the ability to meet deadlines

• Control department costs such as wastage, wages and other operational costs

• Understanding of local market and seasonal trends

• Understand food safety standards

Great jobs for G reat 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.

bendigo – Concrete

Heathcote – Concrete

beechworth – Concrete

broken Hill – Concrete

regional Victoria – Drill & regional Victoria –

www.mawsons.com.au/careers/join-us

Sustainability Projects Officer

• Have the ability to work in a fast-paced

Steel the show with Kincrome nut riveters

NUT riveters have all kinds of unique applications.

These include automotive, metal fabrication, appliances, food equipment, industrial machinery, farm equipment, electronics, transportation, 4WD/off-road applications, marine equipment and more.

For those looking for cost effective nut rivets, you will find them here at North East Fasteners.

Our nut rivets allow you to create a solid captive nut in thin material that cannot be tapped or threaded.

We carry a range of Kincrome nut riveter kits which are suitable for all uses.

This includes the Kincrome 68 piece twin handle nut riveter kit which is currently $189 with a range of riveters designed for an everyday professional or the occasional DIY project.

The kit includes a hand operated

Twin Handle Nut Riveter manufactured from a heavy duty aluminium and steel construction with moulded grips for two handed operation.

The Nut Riveter Set includes six different sized mandrels including M3, M4, M5, M6, M8 and M10, mandrel spanner for attaching sized mandrel to riveter and 60 zinc coated steel rivet nut inserts, 10 of each size, all housed within a blow mould case.

For those who are unsure of how to install a nut rivet, Kincrome has a ‘how-to’ video as well as maintenance and repair video that can be found by following the QR code.

A Dingy Swallowtail butterfly friendly garden

WE have a buddleia/buddleja growing in our backyard, which is also known as a ‘butterfly bush’ as its honey-scented flowers attract butterflies as well as birds.

Its flowers burst to life in summer and when they do, I know to start looking for the beautiful Dingy Swallowtail butterflies that will come and feed on them.

When I do, it’s not long before I will find tiny yellow eggs placed on the tips of new leaves on our nearby lemon and orange trees.

I keep an eye on those until the eggs turn white and the baby orange/yellow and black caterpillars emerge and feed on the leaves.

Once they’re a week or so old I take the caterpillars, along with a good supply of leaves, and place them in an open topped old fish tank (sans water of course).

I keep the fresh leaves topped up and watch the little ones as they grow bigger and stronger.

They have two rows of short spines along their backs, which are not sharp, instead, they protect themselves from potential predators by extending a bright red-orange forked organ from behind their heads called an osmeterium.

It is not sharp either, but it does emit a strong,

stinky chemical to deter would-be predators (or humans who disturb them by adding new leaves).

Once the caterpillars are about three and a half to four centimetres long, their colours change and they become a green or blue-black colour with two rows of yellow-orange spots on their sides as well as some pale blue and white spots.

At about this time, I add some strong sticks and one by one, the caterpillars will find their preferred spot and hang themselves up.

They create a grey or brown pupa with green patches and in summer it takes around two weeks for the butterfly to emerge, with that timeframe out to about four weeks in autumn.

Once the butterfly has emerged from the pupa, its wings will take a few hours to lengthen and dry, at which time I either take it to the buddleia to feed, or it makes its own way there.

Adult Dingy Swallowtails are black with grey, white and smaller blue and red spots on their wings and yellow markings along their bodies.

The female’s wingspan is up to 7.2cm while the male’s up to 6.7cm.

Happy spotting!

with David James NORTH EAST FASTENERS

with BELINDA