QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS
With Liz Bell
OAM for ‘Coodabeens’ Bill Baxter EVEN for people who only know very little about football, the name Billy Baxter rings of luminary fame, like the pseudonym or alliterative moniker of a screen star or wanna-be pop star. For those who don’t know, that name is attached to one of Australia’s most ‘under-theradar’ and down-to-earth superstars of the entertainment sector, who says he was “shocked”, “humbled” and “grateful” for the recent honour of an Order of Australia Medal. The award is not just for Baxter’s 42 years of non-stop involvement in the music industry as performer and broadcaster, but also as author and actor, and for his part as a team player in that loveable, long-running, radio footy program The Coodabeen Champions, alongside Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover, Jeff “Torch” McGee, Simon Whelan, Andy Bellairs and Greg Champion, all of who made the Queen’s Birthday OAM list for 2022. Baxter was initially so surprised about his Order of Australia Medal for services to the performing arts and to radio, he figured it must be “a prank”. “It was almost like something we could have pranked on the Coodabeens, so I just wasn’t sure at first when I received the letter, then I realised it was genuine and I was quite humbled,” he said. Of course, the ever-modest Baxter has accepted the compliment with genuine pride, as he does when I tell him the ‘Coodabeens’ have legendary status in my world, and the worlds of hundreds of thousands of listeners who have grown up with them. At 63 and now living in Mornington, Baxter says it delights him that the Coodabeens have at least three generations of audience, even after moving from their long-time home of the ABC to their new “but basically the same” gig at ACE Radio’s 3MP. Baxter says the move gives the AFL radio show a wider reach in regional Victoria, while still keeping the loyal
Bill Baxter. Picture: Yanni Coodabeen fans listening and laughing. “We have little kids who listen because their dad or mum listens, and they listen because their mum or dad listened, so there are generations of families who know the Coodabeens and have welcomed us into their homes,” he said. “That’s pretty special.” Baxter’s links to broadcasting spans four decades. As part of The Coodabeen Champions – he has been on air since 1981 when the show kicked off on community station 3RRR before moving to the ABC for the next 27 years. Baxter has also co-presented on 774 ABC, ABC Victoria and Tasmania (1988-1995), co-presented on 3AW (1995-2003), and was a founding presenter of 102.7 3RRR (1981-1988). In 2003, he was inducted into the MCG Hall
of Fame, which cemented his position among Australia’s football ‘royalty’. But long before he gained fame from a footy show that is like no other, Baxter had earned his performance badge as a musician. Baxter’s name was best known in the 80s and 90s, which were the halcyon eras of live music and international recognition of Australian rock ‘n roll. He has been lead vocalist of Ghetto Blasters, Big Fans of Jesus, the Hollow Men, and also worked as a solo artist in the early 90s. If you watch it closely, you might even notice Baxter as the part of the rock group The Cicadas, in the cult comedy Spotswood, in 1991. Baxter has also penned a few books, including Half a Chicken and Chips (2021), Coodabeen Champions: 40 Footy Seasons (2020), The Coodabeen Champions Take a Good Hard Look at Australia (1992), The Coodabeen Champions Big Book of Things (1992) and The Coodabeen Champions Big Bumper Footy Book (1990) Despite his personal successes and accolades, Baxter is proudest of the mentorship and encouragement he and his fellow musicians have provided for younger musicians coming up through the ranks, particularly in the latter part of the 80s and 90s when every second teenager had a garage band and many morphed into headline acts. Although his participation in the music industry today involves listening more than playing, he fulfils that mentoring passion these days by jamming with his 17-year-old son Gulliver. “Sometime we just sit in the bungalow and play guitar, and it’s great, I love it,” he said. “At 17 I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, but now I look back and am proud of having been part of the Australian music scene since the 80s, and I love seeing young artists have a go. “But receiving an OAM for something I love was the furthest thing from my mind.”
BEGINNERS BRIDGE LESSONS 4 Consecutive Weeks starting Monday 11th July Rosebud RSL 10:30am start $40 per person Contact Jill 0410 652 298
To advertise in the Southern Peninsula News call Ricky on 0425 867 578 or email ricky@mpnews.com.au Southern
Peninsula Southern Peninsula local families Caring for 40 years for over
erals.com.au
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES
YOUR GUIDE ON THIS TO WHAT’S FOR WEEKEND FAMILIES PENINSULA
FACEBOOK: peninsulakids.com.au INSTAGRAM: mornpenkids
ndent voice An indepe
: peninsulakids.com. mornpenkids
FACEBOOK : INSTAGRAM
Your weekly
www.rosebudfun
123 Jetty Road,
Rosebud
Caring for local families for over 40 years
Ph: 5986 8491
www.rosebudfunerals.com.au
123 Jetty Road, Rosebud
2022 nity y 13 April Wednesda for the commu An independent voice for the community
FREE
Ph: 5986 8491
FREE
Wednesday 13 April 2022 au ews.com. Beach to Portsea covering Safety to Portsea community newspaper weekly Beach s.com.au www.mpn SafetyYour team@mpnew r covering 9000 or email:For all advertising and editorial needs, call 03 5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au y newspape call 03 5974 communit editorial needs, au
For all advertising
and
Our Lady students at Laarni YEAR two Primary School Day. of Fatima during Harmony and Guyan Picture: Supplied
YEAR two students at Our Lady of Fatima Primary School Laarni and Guyan during Harmony Day. Picture: Supplied
in colour Harmony around the
from schools in participated STUDENTS Peninsula Mornington at the end of March, Harmony Day in a range of activiof diversity getting involved to the theme ties linked parents and and inclusiveness. 25 March, On Friday Lady of Fatima PriOur held a crazy friends of in Rosebud of mary School where the rainbow run, of colour fun to the celebration colours added be used diversity. raised will The money for the school’s to buy resources which promotes a club, environment lunchtime and inclusive welcoming on the yard. for all children
Harmony in colour STUDENTS from schools around the Mornington Peninsula participated in Harmony Day at the end of March, getting involved in a range of activities linked to the theme of diversity and inclusiveness. On Friday 25 March, parents and friends of Our Lady of Fatima Primary School in Rosebud held a crazy colour fun run, where the rainbow of colours added to the celebration of diversity. The money raised will be used to buy resources for the school’s lunchtime club, which promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children on the yard.
reef ondelay layfor on reef calls for de Shire Shire calls Liz Bell om.au liz@mpnews.c groups are
pinning
COASTAL from the on pressure
their hopes Shire CounPeninsula Mornington artificial reef being an cil to delay Port Nepean. about the installed off are concerned The groups environment reef on the impact of the consultation. community fish and lack of a plan to improve the As part of fishers, recreational stocks for
of the bay.” sensitive part reef has for such a an artificial was an exThe push for by the government said there led Ms Cheers consultation Associalargely been request community Victorian Fisheries pectation of likely to affect marine to ignore to ignore the Cheers said there was an exMs Foundation, body the the request “For a minister wants to “For a minister would be outraFishing Authority the Futurefish Victorian about matters hasn't hapcommunity consultation Liz Bell pectation tion, online asof“a outrabeand wants to council itself of would of a local structures inbut “that of a local council install 16 large concrete Authority no evidence in liz@mpnews.com.au which describes about matters likely to affect marine said. 30 about communities, representing said. shestudy. there wasgeous,” Victorian Fishing andapart 50 metres geous,” she the minister of four to clustersdated watchdog” concrete structures pened” assessment fearless dated 30fishers,communities, with an aim but “that hasn't hapMarsh In a letter to the minister install 16 large about 50 metres apart In a letter to north of Observatory the ocean CrinAnthony any environmentalabout this reef whenCr Anthony four and there was no evidence of recreational pened” recreational Marsh the mayor Point, at Point the mayor Sorrento are pinning clusters of Observatory groups Nepean. “We only heard March, March, and enhance” it’s been north ofCOASTAL of the Portsea, “protect any environmental assessment study. Sorrento Victoria. the Portsea, membersofofthe said because in the ocean Nepean. the members from it in The News, groups, has sidedwe with their hopes on pressuresaid readresidents The council throughout increase heard about this reef when fishing is toonly groups, mandates“We Coastal advisory advisory with residents Point, at Point has sided and Rye Coastal Rye the quietly Counthrough about Shire Peninsula and beach users concerned Mornington all News, it’s been andcommunity, in The pushed fishing lobby One of its the broader it in reefs we read about The council concerned alongside the broader community, of artificial recreational and boating reef beingthe “significant is urging fishing an artificialalongside reef andconcerns” powerful number because of the users cil to delay the concerns” pushed through quietly “significant and boatingNepean. and beach sheonsaid. had expressed to hold off had expressed Melissa Horne groups,” minister reef. Page 12 fishing lobby for the instal- parts of Port Phillip. installed off Port artificial on urging fishing recreational asking powerful Continued artificial reef. the planned the planned to hold off reef and is about until the for the quesaboutabout Horne plan.information “We are simply The groups are concerned hold she said. calls themore groups,” on wainformation more for put calls letter and letter minister Melissa Thenot a big ask be The Chair of the Rye Community reef on the environment lation toGroup impact of the Group environment It's “We are simply asking for the instalpubliclyCheers, said the plan. on the potential environment and waanswered. Community on the potential Alliance, Mechelle be made Ryeand consultation. tions arethe community lack ofsaid the lation to be put on hold until the quesimpacts to to be made publicly Chair of the Cheers, ter safety council’s support had given opponents ter safety impacts fish a plan to improve As part of tions are answered. It's not a big ask Alliance, Mechellehad available. given opponents available. of the reef “a fair bit of hope”. the for recreational fishers, stocks hope”. council’s support “a fair bit of reef the of
with quality time gEnjoy more quality time with Enjoy more one, by trustin your loved by trusting with their your loved one, After-Care After-Care with their needs in home carethe complication out of in home care needs to take on how Support, For information and NDIS Packages a call! Home Care friendly staff or give our visit our website
t NDIS Suppor Packages Home Care 1300 46
46 63
for such a sensitive part of the bay.” The push for an artificial reef has largely been led by the government body the Victorian Fisheries Association, and the Futurefish Foundation, which describes itself online as “a fearless watchdog” representing recreational fishers, with an aim to “protect and enhance” recreational fishing throughout Victoria. One of its mandates is to increase the number of artificial reefs in all parts of Port Phillip. Continued Page 12
For information on how to take the complication out Home Care Packages and NDIS Support,
Southern Peninsula
of
visit our website or give our friendly staff a call!
nance Home Mainte Garden & Home Maintenance Garden & NDIS Support s e Care Service All In-Home Care Services All In-Hom Packages Home Care
e.com.au 63 46 46 1300 after-car inhome@
om.au www.after-care.c inhome@after-care.com.au
www.after-care.com.au
Stormwater quality in-lieu contribution scheme
From 1 July our new flexible Stormwater Quality in-lieu Contribution Scheme will be applicable to all new builds on the Mornington Peninsula. Funds collected will go towards stormwater treatment projects on the Mornington Peninsula. These projects will improve the quality of water entering creeks, Port Phillip and Western Port. Choose between:
100% onsite You choose to do full stormwater quality works on site.
100% contribution You choose to pay full stormwater quality offset.
mornpen.vic.gov.au/stormwaterscheme
Partial contribution You choose to do some stormwater quality works and pay part offset.
4PM - 6PM EVERY FRIDAY POWERED BY:
Southern Peninsula News
6 July 2022
PAGE 9