Regional Extra 280623

Continuing the cancer conversation

By CHLOE JAENICKE

FOR 42 years the Wangaratta Volunteer Group for the Cancer Council Victoria has been going strong raising money for cancer research.

They currently have 10 members who come together and host four events a year including the biggest morning tea, daffodil day, pink ribbon day and most recently, their annual men’s breakfast.

The men’s breakfast started several years ago after the husband of one of the volunteer group member’s died of cancer as a way to give men a forum to talk to each other about issues they face.

“Men aren’t really good at talking about things, they’re getting a lot better and I think it’s great to see that,” group leader, Barbara Thomas said.

“We’ve got a mixture of young men and older men so that’s good too.”

This year they had 81 people attend the breakfast which is the most they’ve had attend.

At many of the group’s events, they have raffles with prizes donated by the community.

Margaret Colvin, who has been volunteering for around 22 years, said over time it has been interesting to see how the fundraising ef-

forts have changed with new members.

“When I first came in we used to have to go along and put up our cover to keep the weather out and just be able to set up,” she said.

“We had stalls at that stage with cancer badges, literature; you name it on Sundays at the markets.”

“We had some men back then but not anymore, we don’t have many men volunteers anymore.”

Currently, the Wangaratta Volunteer Group is looking for new members as a way to breathe new life into the group with new ideas and perspectives.

YOUR HEALTH

Ms Thomas said at the moment all the volunteers in the group are women, despite it not exclusively being a women’s group.

“That’s something we would like to change, if any men are interested in joining the group, because cancer affects both men and women,” she said.

“We don’t want to keep doing the same old same old because times change.”

One of the biggest issues they face is coming up with new ways for people to donate as many people don’t carry cash on them anymore.

■ Continued page 6

COOKING CORNER

◆ IMPORTANT CAUSE: Roslyn Arnold, Barbara Thomas, Robyn Proft and Margaret Colvin encouraged new members to join their volunteer group.

PHOTO: Chloe Jaenicke

with BELINDA

with BELINDA

Why do birds chew and pull out their feathers?

FEATHER damaging behaviour (FDB) is a common and frustrating condition in companion birds that causes significant suffering for affected birds.

It’s essential to understand the underlying reasons behind this behaviour so we can address it effectively and provide the best possible care for our feathered friends.

FDB can include a number of behaviours and there are many causes for this condition, which can be physical or behavioural.

It’s wrong to diagnose ‘boredom’ or ‘fear/anxiety’ as the cause without a thorough investigation by your avian vet to rule out physical problems first.

This will require blood tests and possible skin biopsies and even X-rays to make sure there isn’t an underlying problem causing pain and discomfort.

The treatment for FDB will vary depending on your individual bird

and should include a treatment plan formulated in consultation with your avian vet.

Approaches that may help include identifying and removing risk factors and being especially mindful of any changes in the bird’s environment or experience, developing an environmental enrichment plan, considering whether social enrichment through introducing a new bird for companionship might help – or worsen – the problem, providing safe, alternative chewing opportunities , implementing reproductive controls and normalising social relations between you and your bird.

It’s important to remember that a bird who damages their feathers may always do so to some degree, but the frequency and severity can be reduced or minimised.

For more information visit https:// kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/ why-do-birds-chew-and-pull-outtheir-feathers/.

This Day in History, 1880

IN the early hours of the morning on June 28, 1880, with the Kelly Gang prepared to call of its plan and release the hostages from the Glenrowan Inn, the police train arrived.

Warning of the missing rails had been given to the train crew by the local school master, who had been given permission by Ned Kelly to leave the Glenrowan Inn, to see his invalid wife.

The gang donned their armour and engaged the police in a fight which lasted through the small hours of the morning to the shooting of Ned Kelly in the daylight, and ended with the burning of the Glenrowan Inn, in the early afternoon, after the escape of the hostages.

The bodies of Joe Byrne, Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were recovered from the ruins of the hotel.

Ned Kelly was treated for numerous wounds and placed in custody.

The snow season has begun

THE snow is falling and the slopes are finally beginning to open this snow season.

Falls Creek has an average snow depth of 97cm with the snow still falling steadily every day.

Six out of the 15 lifts are currently open and almost all activities are available to visitors, including tobogganing and skiing.

Mt Hotham is reporting an average of 66cm across the mountain with steady snow showers to be expected.

All of the cross country trails are currently open, with good coverage and some of the lifts are beginning to open.

There is currently snow on the roads, with all cars requiring chains on their vehicles on the Harrietville Approach and two wheel drives requiring chains on the Omeo approach.

Please note that guests are not allowed in the ski field after 5pm under any circumstances.

At Dinner Plain, the average snow depth is 45cm

PET CORNER

and none of the ski lifts are open.

The Peashooter Toggan slop is also now open.

Mt Buffalo is reporting moderate snow coverage and both Dingo Dell and Cresta Valley are open for tobogganing.

Dingo Dell Café is open for food and beverage everyday on the school holidays from 10am to 4pm.

There will be no toboggan rental at Mt Hotham this year with rental instead available in Porepunkah, Myrtleford and Ovens.

All if the cross country trails currently have moderate cover.

Chains are required to be carried for all resorts and fitted where instructed.

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.

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.

ENERGETIC KIMBA: Kimba is a playful pup who thinks everything is fun. She would also appreciate an owner who can take her for walks every day and get creative with things for her to do. Kimba has a lot of energy and would love a big outdoor area to run around in. She is a bit too boisterous for little kids and tends to jump when she sees her favourite people. Kimba will need help learning manners in her new home. She would like to be your one and only pet. She has become stressed around other animals in the shelter and would benefit from slow socialisation. Her microchip number is 956000014864611.

RSPCA.

PHOTO:

Propagating native plants – have a go!

well as demonstrating how to propagate them.

Compared to many exotic garden plants, our Australian natives have a relatively short history of propagation and cultivation.

EARLIER this year, as part of ‘March into Sustainability’ month, I had the pleasure of attending a workshop at the Wangaratta library run by the Australian Plants Society (APS).

Janice Jones, the current president of the Wangaratta branch of APS, provided tips and tricks for planting and growing native plants, as

However, some native plants are easy to grow and groups such as the APS have a wealth of collective knowledge and resources to share.

When growing by seed, genetic variation will always result.

Some typically seed-grown natives are eucalypts, bottlebrushes, tea trees, wattles, peas, daisies and grasses.

Always source your seed responsibly and follow the directions on the packet.

For example, wattles and peas have a hard seed coat and will need to be soaked in boiling water or scarified with sandpaper to allow germination.

Prepare a punnet or seed tray by filling with a native potting mix which has been sieved to remove the larger particles.

Many seeds are tiny and can simply be sprinkled over the top, followed by a fine layer of sand or vermiculite.

The tray should be watered and Janice recommends placing plastic wrap over the top to make a mini ‘hot house’ and leaving it in a warm place out of direct sun. Keep moist and, once the plants are several centimetres high, gently transplant them into individual pots. Cuttings are used for plants which are hybrids, or where you want to create a new plant that is ‘true to type’ i.e. genetically identical to the parent plant.

Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) and Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Yellow Buttons) are excellent native groundcovers which strike easily by cuttings.

To make cuttings, use semi hardwood pieces, cut just below a node at the base and trim off any flowers and all but the uppermost leaves.

Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone, such as ‘Clonex’, and place into a pot made up with a

blend of perlite and propagating mix.

Multiple cuttings can be placed into one pot, using a stick or skewer to make holes.

The pot needs to be kept in a warm, moist environment.

This can be achieved by placing a plastic bottle over the top or placing your pot within a larger plastic box which has pre-drilled drainage holes.

Janice recommends leaving the lid slightly ajar.

Roots should strike within a month.

With many natives on the verge of flowering, now is a good time to choose your favourites to try propagating by seed or cuttings as the weather warms up again in spring.

It’s easier than you think.

Check out ‘Growing Native Plants’ from the Australian National Botanic Gardens at https:// www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/.

For a local connection, the Wangaratta branch of APS has many friendly members who are more than willing to assist.

They meet monthly on a Thursday evening and usually have an outing the following Sunday.

A propagation day is held in early December and newcomers are always welcome.

Find out more at https://apsvic.org.au/apswangaratta/.

Happy gardening!

◆ KNOWLEDGEABLE: Janice Jones from the Wangaratta branch of the APS with a wonderful display of native plant resources and art work.

◆ BABES: Native plant seedlings, at six to nine months old.

with Natalie O’Connell HORTICULTURALIST, PARK LANE NURSERY, WANGARATTA

Raising money and continuing the cancer conversation

■ From page 1

“That is a problem, particularly for things like raffles,” said Ms Thomas.

According to Ms Thomas, volunteering isn’t an onerous task, with the only requirement being that members have a Working With Children’s check.

“We are always looking for more volunteers because we’re always looking for more ideas,” she said.

“It’s not onerous as we meet before we’re having an event, when we work out what we’re going to do, the meetings don’t usually last longer than an hour.”

Due to her background in science and because her husband had cancer, Ms Thomas decided to join the group and has been volunteering for 17 years.

She said she specifically decided to work with the Cancer Council of

Victoria due to their transparency with where the money goes.

“I think they used to say 13 cents in the dollar raised goes towards infrastructure so you know the money we raise really is going where it should be,” she said.

“I just want to help people and really want the money to go towards research, that’s what my primary interest is.”

Ms Colvin decided to join the group due to her own battle with cancer and has said over the past 22 years, people have always given generously to the group.

“No matter where we set up or no matter where we still do today it’s amazing the people who come to you and say somebody they know has cancer,”

“They’re so generous with their do-

FEATURE STORY

nations I find and I think it’s wonderful.”

As a group, much of their fundraising is done through word of mouth as a way to increase participation through creating a sense of community.

“We’ve found just going out into the community is better and word of mouth is better than advertising when trying to put together an event,” Ms Thomas said.

“It makes the events feel like a kitchen table discussion.”

Overall, Ms Thomas said she believes the sense of community and giving people a sense that they are doing something to help is what keeps their events going and donations steady.

For more information on the group or to join, contact Ms Thomas on 0419 889 804.

◆ STARTING CONVERSATION: Don James, Tom Leitch and Doug Bain all enjoyed supporting a good cause at the recent Men’s Breakfast. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling

MANSFIELD SECONDARY COLLEGE IS CALLING ALL PASSIONATE AND EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS TO JOIN OUR GROWING SCHOOL IN 2024!

Located at the picturesque foothills of Mt Buller, our small rural Victorian school is on a remarkable path of growth. Easy access to watersports, snowsports, and bushwalks, our school offers the perfect backdrop for an enviable lifestyle for both work and play.

Enrolments are increasing, and we need your expertise to continue providing an exceptional education in a stimulating environment.

Whether you’re a teacher or support staff, we have a variety of positions available.

We invite you to visit our school, meet with our Principal, and take a tour of our impressive facilities.

Contact Timothy Hall, Principal, to schedule your visit or inquire about available positions. Ph 0400 079 302. Interested applicants should apply via DET website: https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/ careers-and-recruitment-hr#find-a-job

CLEANER WANTED

for holiday rental in Beechworth. One or two shifts per week.

Suit someone with school aged children.

Rates $45 per hour.

Phone Kim 0425 703 814 or Megan 0417 468 563

Search

PRINCIPAL PROPERTY OFFICER

Plant Operator/Road

Maintenance Worker

Rutherglen

Road Maintenance Worker

Yackandandah

Library Coordinator

Rutherglen

Marketing and Digital

Strathbogie Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer and a Child Safe organisation. We value diversity in our workplace and will

PEOPLE STILL WANTED FOR ALPINE FOOD BIN ROLLOUT

Are you fit, active?

Mobile Bins Australia is working with Alpine Shire to deliver Food & Organics wheelie bins.

All towns need 1 x bin per home. We have a team but need more hands to assemble & deliver. Get involved in this project that helps turn food waste into organics.

JUNE/JULY 2023.

Top casual rates paid, ABN holders too.

To apply write and tell us briefly about yourself and why this job might suit you.

Email: info@ridestorm.com.au

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.

Balranald – Concrete Truck Driver/Batcher – BALR001

Lake Cooper Quarry – Weighbridge Clerk- LKCQ005

Myrtleford – Concrete Truck Driver – MYRT005

Kyneton – Concrete Truck Driver – KYNE005

Echuca – Concrete Cartage Services – CCSECHU01

Shepparton Country Concrete – Concrete Truck Driver – SHCC002

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

Building Surveyor

Yackandandah

Maternal and Child Health Nurse

Works

Seasonal Municipal Operations Opportunities

Advertising Account Manager (Full-Time)

Wangaratta Chronicle is looking for a driven and committed individual to join the advertising team at our office in Wangaratta. If you can always see an opportunity and enjoy the idea of helping businesses grow, then we want to talk to you. To be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate

Excellent work ethic, organisational skills & attention to detail with a drive to achieve results.

An ability to communicate with a wide range of people across various industries. Create innovative business proposals, develop collaborative partnerships and provide excellent customer service both internally and externally.

Taking over an established client list, you will be selling advertising and digital marketing opportunities to existing clients while looking to drive new business opportunities. An ability to develop and maintaining business relationships will be the key to your success in this role.

An attractive remuneration package is offered including a base salary, commission and employer superannuation contributions.

North East Media is an independent media group publishing award winning publications in print and online across North East Victoria and beyond.

Please forward your application and covering letter to Ian Pople Sales Manager at the Wangaratta Chronicle, ipople@nemedia.com.au

THE ROLE OF PUBLISHERS

Advertisers please note!

to the publisher's approval.

For further advice, contact:

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

JOBS AT STRATHBOGIE SHIRE COUNCIL WORKS SUPERVISOR – EUROA

JOBS AT INDIGO

Chicken and cashew stir fry

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup brown rice (uncooked)

• spray olive or canola oil spray

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

• 1/2 tsp fresh ginger, grated

• 2 tsp reduced-salt soy sauce

• 150 g skinless chicken breast, chopped

• 2 tbs unsalted roasted cashews

• 1 cup broccoli

• 3 tsp honey

• 1 tbs oyster sauce

• 1 cup snow peas, stalks removed

• 2 spring onions (including green tops), sliced

• 50g of red capsicum

• 6 dried chilli

Method

Cook rice according to packet instructions.

Combine garlic, ginger, soy sauce, pepper and chicken in a small bowl; set aside to marinate while vegetables are prepared.

Heat a non-stick wok or large frypan to high.

Add cashews and dry-fry for a minute or until browned; remove from pan and set aside.

Spray pan with oil and heat to high.

Add the chicken (with its marinade) and stir-fry for 2 minutes until browned; set aside.

Re-spray pan with oil, add broccoli and stir-fry for 3 minutes, until just tender.

Add honey, oyster sauce and 2 tablespoons of water to the pan along with snow peas, spring onions, capsicum and chicken including any juices, and dried chilli; stir-fry for another 3 minutes till heated through.

Divide rice and chicken stirfry between plates and serve sprinkled with cashews.

Healthy Tip: Chilli, lemon and herbs add flavour and are great alternatives to butter and salt.

My child is sick again, is this normal?

SIMPLY, yes!

It is hard to stay positive when you are in the trenches of lack of sleep and snot city, but just like a muscle, your child’s immune system needs to work and train to be able to identify viruses and pathogens so it can fight at its peak.

It is common for children to be unwell for two to five days with a common virus and should bounce back from a virus with good energy and appetite.

If this is not occurring then as a naturopath, we can develop a plan to help you fight the virus, but also investigate why your child is struggling with recovery.

You should always seek medical help if your child is listless, is not urinating, or you just feel uncomfortable treating your child at home.

It can be common for children to be fussy, warm, have low appetite and be irritated for a couple of days during the height of the virus.

Fevers can safely be managed at home without excessive use of Panadol and as guided by a trained professional.

Again, if you feel uncomfortable doing this, then please seek help and guidance.

Guide to supporting your child’s immune system:

• Do not dose them up with Panadol and send them to school or daycare.

That goes for you in your workplace too.

You are suppressing your immune system and spreading the virus to everyone else.

No more soldiering on.

• Rest, sleep and relax; a warm bath, a rest on the couch and keeping them quiet is gold during an active infection and recovery.

• Hydration; helps to keep mucus thin and moving, helps to support and reduce a fever and aids in recovery.

• Diet: keep it simple; reduce bread, sugars and processed foods.

• Try spag bol with hidden veges and herbs, soups, curries, stews etc with bone broth.

• This allows your child’s body to spend energy on fighting the virus rather than digesting heavy foods/numbers.

• Last, but not least: use herbs and nutrients as indicated by your university-trained naturopath.

We are also mums, so we get it, and we keep our plans simple and easy to follow.

We look forward to meeting your family soon.

◆ QUICK AND DELICIOUS: Make this meal easily during the week.

with Naturopaths Belinda McPherson (BHSCI. NATUROPATHY)