VOL 16 NO 2 APRIL/MAY 2025
www.brightoncommunitynews.com.au
Six Greater Hobart councils stand together against racism
On 21 March six southern Tasmanian councils, including Brighton Council unveiled a new campaign celebrating Greater Hobart’s cultural and linguistic diversity and taking a stand against acts of racism.
The idea of the ‘We Stand Together Against Racism’ campaign has been driven by Brighton Council and developed collaboratively between Brighton, Clarence, Hobart, Glenorchy, Kingborough and Sorell councils, with guidance from the Migrant Resource Centre.
The campaign was officially launched with a walk along Hobart’s waterfront, led by the six Mayors, CEOs, and former Tasmanian Premier and Chair
of the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania, Peter Gutwein.
Coinciding with International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the walk to Parliament Lawns was an opportunity for community members to show solidarity, raise awareness, and commit to a future free from racial discrimination.
Mayor Leigh Gray said he felt heartened that the six councils were able to come together on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) to launch this joint anti-racism campaign.
“In our local communities, we all see the best, and unfortunately at times the worst, of human nature. It is vital that as community members and
Tasma nians, we stand strong and united against the pervasive issue of racism, he said.
“Our councils began this joint initiative with the strong belief that open discussions about racism demonstrate a commitment to t ackling racism when
Reverse Vending Machine opening soon
As part of the Recycle Rewards scheme, TOMRA Cleanaway have installed the first kiosk for container deposits in Bridgewater. The new container, a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) has been set up at Cove Hill and will launch on 1 May 2025.
To use the RVM, you place an empty, eligible drink container into the machine. The container is then scanned to verify it is eligible, and then you receive a refund.
The RVMs do not hold cash, so to receive a refund, you can opt for a cash voucher, e-voucher or to donate your refund to a registered charity, school, sports club or community group.
Drink containers eligible for a refund include aluminium cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, cartons (under one litre) and steel bottles/cans, and most drink containers. Containers should be clean, empty and uncrushed. Where possible, the lid should be
at tached (to ensure the lid enters the recycling stream and does not become litter). Barcodes need to be intact to use a Reverse Vending Machine refund point.
For more information visit: www.nre.tas.gov.au/environment/recycle-rewards/recycle-rewards-faqs.
In the lead-up to 1 May, containers still should be disposed of in the recycling or kerbside bins.
it occurs and preventing it in the future. We need to act for change and demonstrate our leadership on this issue. This campaign is a very powerful and unified way of doing that.”
Former Tasmanian Premier and Chair of the Migrant Resource Centre
Tasmania Peter Gutwein led the walk. “As a former migrant myself I want to thank the six councils for standing together against racism. I think that Tasmania generally is an inclusive and respectful place but occasionally we let ourselves down.
That’s why last year I walked across the State to provide a platform for migrants and
refugees to share the positive contributions they make, because regardless of colour, race, background, or circumstance we are all better when we are together.”
Following the walk, the City of Hobart hosted The FILM and TALK, featuring the launch of Our Journey, a short film by Students Against Racism. A panel of passionate advocates, including community leaders, academics, and artists, discussed racism, its impact, and ways to foster equality in Lutruwita, Tasmania.
To learn more about how we can all play a part in building a welcoming community visit www.standtogetherhobart.com
The six mayors and Peter Gutwein followed by supporters at the walk. Pic Massimo Combi
Brighton Council CEO James Dryburgh speaking at Parliament Lawns after the walk. Pic: Massimo Combi
Published by the Brighton Council. It is distributed to households and businesses throughout the municipality. Circulation: In excess of 9,000.
Managing Editor: Angela Turvey
Editorial and Advertising: Steph Williams
Email: communitynews@brighton.tas.gov.au
Published by:
Brighton Council
1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach TAS 7017
2025 edition deadlines: June/July edition
Stories and contributions: Friday 2 May
Advertising material: Friday 9 May
BRIGHTON COUNCIL
Brighton Council Meetings
Meetings held at Council Offices, 1 Tivoli Rd, Old Beach
Ordinary Council
15 April and 20 May 2025 Meeting commences at 5:30pm
Planning Authority 1 April and 6 May 2025 Meeting commences at 5:30pm
Agendas can be viewed online four days prior to the meetings at: www.brighton.tas.gov.au
admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au
General Enquiries
Email Website
6268 7000 admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au
Chief Executive Officer
James Dryburgh
Community Development
Officer
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Environmental & Development Services
General Enquiries
Building Services
Health Services
Planning Services
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Physical Services
Council Depot
Director Asset Services
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Accounts Enquiries
Cashier
Meet Development Engineer Alex Hunt
Alex Hunt joined Brighton Council six months ago, following a career at JMG and studies in Civil Engineering. As a Development Engineer, Alex assesses development and subdivision applications from an engineering perspective, ensuring that pipework and road designs are appropriate and consider flood risk.
Alex appreciates the opportunity to think strategically at Brighton Council, enjoying the challenge of improving infrastructure for community benefit. He hopes to do more long-term planning of the road and stormwater infrastructure in key areas of development within the Brighton municipality. Alongside his career, Alex is also an accomplished athlete. He recently won New Zealand’s Coast to Coast race, a challenging multisport event that traverses the South Island from the west to east coast. The race has been running for 43 years, with only one other Australian ever winning! Alex has competed in the event seven times
over the past nine years, dedicating up to two months of training in New Zealand to prepare.
When he’s not at work or winning races, Alex finds balance in his daily training sessions, spending time with his daughter, and sharing coffee with his partner. Whether tackling infrastructure challenges or crossing finish lines, Alex remains dedicated and motivated to keep improving.
Help shape the
future of JRS
Jordan River Service (JRS) is on the lookout for community voices to help shape the future of the Gagebrook and Bridgewater Community Houses.
It only costs $1 a year to join the Jordan River Services Association. The Association’s aim is to be a true voice for the community, helping to inform JRS’s direction and ensuring it meets the needs of the people it serves.
Come down and join JRS for a fun and informal wine and cheese evening to discuss ideas, build connections and explore how the team can work together to make a difference. There will also be lucky door prizes as well as a ‘join up a friend’ prize draw, with a $150 gourmet hamper up for grabs!
The event will take place on Wednesday 30 April from 6pm-7:30pm at
Bridgewater Community House. To RSVP or learn more, contact Cheynee (Gagebrook Community House) on 6263 6097 and Teresa (Bridgewater Community House) on 6263 4303.
LEIGH GRAY (Mayor)
Brighton 7030
Tel: 6268 0704 / 0488 390 115 cr.gray@brighton.tas.gov.au
6268 7078
6268 7016
6268 7029
6268 7041
6268 7000
6268 7000 6268 7000
6268 7025
6268 7001
6268 7000
6268 7000
Youth Justice Reform Taskforce
The Youth Justice Reform Taskforce (YJR Taskforce) plays an important role in driving the Tasmanian Government’s Youth Justice Blueprint 2024 – 2034 and a number of Commission of Inquiry recommendations.
Established within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC), the YJR Taskforce aims to reform the youth justice
system with a comprehensive, integrated and therapeutic approach that prioritises the rights of children, rehabilitation and breaking the cycle of offending.
The Youth Justice Model of Care provides the overarching approach, principles and ways of working for services to support children and young people across the youth justice system.
It was developed with input from government, non-government and Aboriginal service providers, and children and young people.
Sign-up to the Youth Justice Taskforce newsletter to keep across the progress of the project and receive important updates. Please email yjreform@dpac.tas.gov.au with the subject line ‘Newsletter’.
BARBARA CURRAN (Deputy Mayor) Brighton 7030 Tel: 0417 612 868 cr.curran@brighton.tas.gov.au
AARON DE LA TORRE
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0427 813 821 cr.delatorre@brighton.tas.gov.au
PETER GEARD
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0418 515 649 cr.geard@brighton.tas.gov.au
GREG IRONS
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0424 333 360 cr.irons@brighton.tas.gov.au
JOHN MCMASTER
Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0408 543 772 cr.mcmaster@brighton.tas.gov.au
TENNILLE MURTAGH
Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0479 053 814 cr.murtagh@brighton.tas.gov.au
PHILIP OWEN
Old Beach 7017 Tel: 6249 8575 / 0419 333 252 cr.owen@brighton.tas.gov.au
MICHAEL WHELAN
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0409 416 353 cr.whelan@brighton.tas.gov.au
JRS Acting President, Janet
Alex Hunt
Grant secured for Pontville Pavilion energy upgrade
Brighton Council has successfully secured funding through a federal government grant to support energy upgrades at the Brighton Regional Sports Pavilion. The project aims
to reduce emissions and energy costs at the facility.
Key upgrades will include the electrification of the gas hot water system,
installation of solar panels and addition of a battery storage system. These improvements will significantly reduce reliance on nonrenewable energy sources, lower electricity and gas bills and contribute to the council’s target of net-zero emissions by 2035.
FOGO comes to Brighton Primary
3/4 students at Brighton Primary School are taking a stand against waste with the launch of a new food and garden waste collection service aimed at reducing landfill. The initiative is supported by Brighton Council, who funds the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service and provides classrooms with caddies and curriculum materials.
FOGO ensures food scraps are composted for farmers instead of being sent to landfill where they decompose and emit the greenhouse gas, methane.
“By introducing FOGO, we’re showing students how they can reduce food waste in landfill and make a positive environmental difference,” said Sonya Plunkett-Smith, Principal of Brighton Primary. “This in turn grows confidence and an understanding of how their actions affect the world around them.”
Brighton Council’s Waste Education Officer, Gwen Harper, praised the school’s efforts. “This is a significant achievement for a large school like Brighton Primary,” said Gwen. “FOGO complements their kitchen-garden composting and impressive paper and cardboard recycling efforts, and is yet another testament to this school’s leadership team.”
To mark the launch, students were each given a unique pencil made from recycled newspaper, printed with the message ‘Sustainability Champion’. Students participated in an assembly presentation on the journey of food waste from paddock to plate and the environmental benefits of composting.
Students were also treated to a visit from the FOGO collection truck. Some lucky students got the chance to sit in the driver’s cab and see the many controls and cameras that help drivers collect and examine FOGO wheelie bin contents.
To encourage awareness on the correct way to FOGO, Council has introduced a friendly classroom competition to collect the most fruit stickers, which are considered a compost contaminate. The classroom with the most collected stickers at the end of the term will be rewarded with reusable metal drink bottles.
With their enthusiasm and commitment, Brighton Primary is fostering a culture of sustainability among students, empowering them with waste-reduction programs that make a real impact on our environment.
Loca l community organisations leasing the facility are expected to benefit from lower energy costs, easing financial pressure on clubs and groups that use the space. Additionally, the project will generate valuable insights to support similar energy upgrade initiatives across the region, helping
build capacity for more sustainable infrastructure projects.
Brighton Council welcomes this funding as a crucial step toward a more energy-efficient, environmentally responsible and cost-effective future for loca l facilities.
Grade
Brighton Primary School students received a visit from the FOGO collection truck
Budget preparations are well and truly underway for the 2025/2026 financial year. Council has been the recipient of several grants that will come to fruition during 2025/2026.
These grants will help our active spaces to be revitalised and also have a positive economic
Grants give a welcome boost for 2025/26 budget planning
and environmental impact with grants provided for energy and climate change initiatives.
These include the following capital expenditure grants:
• Community Energy Upgrades Fund – Grant amount $119,581 for solar panels and upgrades at Pontville Pavilion.
• Active Transport Fund –Grant amount $500,000 for the design and construction of a shared pathway connecting an existing path along East Derwent Highway to the path for the new Bridgewater Bridge and extending a path along Glenstone Road, Brighton to link to the pathway network within Brighton township.
• Community Climate Change Actions Grants
Program – Grant amount $20,000 for Kutalayna Collective and Derwent Catchment Project to collaborate on Community Climate Change – creating and hosting events at Green Point Reserve, Bridgewater.
• Isolated Communities Resilience Grants –Grant amount $6,000 for funding to purchase specific resources and equipment to support the operation of evacuation and recovery centres in our area.
• Keeping Children Safe – Grant amount of $2,000 from Department of Premier and Cabinet to run a Youth Week event ‘Party in the Park’.
And of course, a reminder of the successful collaboration that was announced by the Al-
banese Government in January between Council and TasWater, which saw a grant of $10 million dollars towards unlocking a growth precinct in South Brighton near the Brighton High School. Residents would have already seen the start of these works by TasWater in recent months to upgrade the pumpstation in this area and Council will begin their works on the approved masterplan in the coming year.
As a Council, we are fortunate to have been able to secure many grants for services and infrastructure and keep our rates increases to a minimum over the years. As we increase our services and community assets, there is also a significant increase in the cost of maintaining these, with the cost of materials and services continuing to increase sub -
stantially. The challenge facing Council is that with high levels of services and improved community infrastructure, Council will need to increase revenue through various means to assist with maintaining these services and assets to a high standard for our communities.
It is with great excitement and anticipation, as the Brighton Community News goes to print, that the Brighton Town Square is almost complete, and an official opening is just around the corner. We couldn’t be happier with how this important gathering place for the Brighton community has come together.
On behalf of Council, I wish everyone a very happy and safe Easter break.
Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray
Kutalayna Plays has kids excited for big school adventures for the future
Kutalayna Plays has played a vital role in supporting children in the Kutalayna/ Jordan River community, guiding them from playgroup to their first day of school.
This year, the little graduates headed to big school full of confidence and excitement! When asked what they loved most about starting school, their responses were heartwarming:
“I liked all the stuff in the world at kinder!” said Shaylee.
“I go to school and sit on the mat. I go down the slide with Shaylee and Kingslee,” said Stanley.
“Doing my name and playing in the park with our bikes,” said Kingslee.
The impact of Kutalayna Plays extends far beyond playtime. Shaylee’s mother Kayla shared a heartfelt reflection on how Kutalayna Plays helped her child adjust to big school:
“Nicki at Kutalayna Plays helped Shaylee get into kindergarten by getting her out into the community more and letting her have more of a voice, helping her blossom into herself,” said Kayla.
Community playgroups like Kutalayna Plays provide
a strong foundation for a successful school transition and are the cornerstone of every community. Kutalayna Plays provides a safe and supportive environment where children and parents form lifelong friendships and strengthen their community connections.
With engaging and fun activities that are embedded with learning from Country and culture, each child is supported to nurture their development, ensuring that each child is ready to thrive on their lifelong learning journey.
L-R: Shaylee, Addison, Kingslee, Malakai and Stanley at the Kutalayna Plays graduation
Brighton High School opens its doors
Brighton High School’s first cohort of students have started at the new school, which opened its doors in February. Alongside a whirlwind of Year 7 energy, Brighton High School also had an amazing cohort of 16 Year 11 students start the school year.
Photos: Karen Brown
The Place Project – Let’s Tell Our Stories
Brighton Alive is a local network of community groups, services and individual community members facilitated by Brighton Council. Brighton Alive meets each month, bringing community together to collaborate on activities, events and training that help build a stronger community.
On this basis, Brighton Alive has been invited to participate in a project that is simply called The Place Project. Placebased approaches target the specific circumstances of a place and engage local people from all walks of life as active participants in development and implementation of ideas to improve people’s lives and experiences.
What is this project?
The Place Project is funded by the Paul Ramsey Foundation (PRF) and Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF).
Why is it needed:
The project is about collaboratively building a better understanding and learning about the experiences of place-based work in Lutruwita / Tasmania.
• Six communities are involved who have histories in place-based work (Brighton, Clarence Plains, Northern Suburbs Launceston, George Town, Devonport and Burnie).
• There is interest from the funders, who through this project, want to learn and change their ways of doing things. We can all contribute to the conversation and potential change.
• This work is unique because benefits can come from working together on things that matter to communities, using good processes.
Some of the opportunities:
• We can think about ‘what can be?’ and ‘what can we have?’ because presently some of the systems are not working as well as they could.
• What are the issues around the work? How else can we do this work? How can we best fund it and support placebased work?
Who is involved: Currently in Brighton,
Communities for Children
South-East Tasmania, Brighton Council and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS) have been facilitating discussions, but the goal is to open the project up to the broader Brighton Alive community or anyone who would like to be involved.
Next steps:
1. There is an opportunity to tell some of the place-based stories of Brighton, our work, the learnings along the way and what is essential to make place-based work happen in this community. We are hoping to do this via film.
2. The call is for community members to get together and have a conversation about this in the next few weeks, so we are looking to support these conversations in a way that works best for anyone who is interested.
If you would like to get involved or just have a chat about the project, please contact: Kylie Murphy, Community Development Officer kylie.murphy@brighton.tas.gov.au Phone: (03) 6268 7000
The Brighton Youth Action Group calls for new members NextGen
BYAG is the active voice of young people in our local area and represents young people from all communities within the Brighton Council area. The group meets fortnightly on Thursday afternoons from 5pm onwards at the Brighton Civic Centre in Bridgewater (pizza and drinks provided).
BYAG members participate in youth forums, co-ordinate school holiday events and activities, get involved in film making, participate in camps and generally advocate for young people in our area at any opportunity they get.
If you would like to join the BYAG or know a young person who would like to get involved in making a difference in our community, please click on the QR code above or visit Brighton Council’s website to complete the expression of interest form. Alternatively, feel free to call Brighton Council’s Youth Worker John Flack on (03) 6268 7000 if you would like to have a chat about becoming a BYAG member.
This section of the Brighton Community News is dedicated to sharing stories and news about and from the young people of our area and will appear in each edition. We want to showcase the many young people in our area who care deeply about connection with others in community and are working to inspire change. They have an attitude and mindset defined by desiring positive change and want to make it happen. They are our future community creators and we want to put a focus on their voices. This is where you will find out about the NextGen of Brighton citizens.
Helpful teens come to aid of elderly person
A community member was driving home after work one afternoon, and she noticed an old man was lying on the ground near a footpath close to Cove Hill Shopping Centre. She pulled over to see if she could assist.
The elderly gentleman had tripped and fallen on his way home from doing some shopping. Two teenage community members were assisting
him. One was cradling his head and stopping the blood flow from where he had hit his head on the footpath, and the other was calling the ambulance.
The young people had the situation under control and displayed a true sense of care and kindness to an older member of the community.
It was described as incredibly touching and heartening to see younger members of our community behaving in such a positive and caring manner.
Respect for elders and our surroundings
A fter a community event in Gagebrook at one of our local parks, there was some rubbish scattered around the park. One of the members of the community group, fondly known by the young people as ‘Grandma’, was picking up the rubbish at the end of the event.
A young person in attendance asked if he could use the microphone. He politely requested that those still in attendance please help to pick-up the rubbish, rather than leaving it for ‘Grandma’.
This young person wants people to learn to not throw rubbish on the ground but to show respect for others, especially elders who should not have to pick up after others.
The BYAG team
BYAG Government House trip
BYAG boat trip
NextGen
Bridgewater Youth Summit brings 160 voices together
On 27 February 2025, the ‘Everyone has Something’Youth Summit brought together more than 160 attendees, mostly young people from the local community, to share their ideas and aspirations for the proposed youth hub. This exciting event provided a unique opportunity for young people to have their voices heard in shaping a space designed specifically for them.
Hosted by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS) and Brighton Council the summit was facilitated by Fiona Miller from the Jeder Institute. The event created a platform for discussion, collaboration, and direct
engagement with the architects responsible for designing the potential new youth facility.
Attendees participated in workshops and interactive sessions, offering insights into what they wanted to see included in the building – from recreational spaces to creative areas, study zones, and wellbeing services. The enthusiasm and engagement from young people demonstrated the strong demand for a dedicated space that meets their needs. By having face to face conversations with the architects, our young people could ensure their ideas and priorities would be considered in the design.
This event was a crucial step in ensuring that the youth hub reflects the aspirations of the community it will serve. The organisers were thrilled with the turnout and the thoughtful contributions made by participants. Moving forward, the feedback gathered at the summit will play a key role in shaping the next stages of planning and development.
This event highlights the incredible importance of involving young people in decisions that impact their future. With their voices at the centre of the discussion, the potential youth hub is set to be a space that truly belongs to them. To find out more information on the youth hub visit www. bridgewateryouthhub.com.au.
Jack Triffitt, Anti-Bullying Champion
At just 12 yea rs old, Jack Triffitt from Gagebrook has a charisma that grabs you straight away. He attended East Derwent Primary School and has started high school this year at Jordan River Learning Federation – Senior School (JRLF-SS).
Jack wants to be a paramedic when he leaves school, having grown up with family members who have always been involved with volunteering for emergency services. He wants to follow in their footsteps. Jack describes himself as a good public speaker, and he loves music and has been learning guitar, keyboard and drums at school.
Jack believes it is important to get involved in the community to help others express themselves, and to overcome stress and anxiety. He is very passionate about speaking up against bullying at school, and likes to show people that by getting out in the community, enjoying fun events and talking to people, you can feel better about yourself and help overcome problems.
“I always try to help anyone who is getting bullied,” said Jack. “At school, I’m working with one of the teachers to put together a group that can help people with stress and anxiety.”
Jack joined the Under One Rainbow community group to encourage others to get involved. He helps with the many community events they run throughout the year, such as the Under One Rainbow Christmas Party, Halloween, Pride
Colour Run, Cris Fitzpatrick Day, Anti-Bullying Week and Harmony Day. Jack also attended the annual Tas Pride Parade in Hobart with Under One Rainbow.
As if Jack is not busy enough, he has started participating in the Community Creators program this year at JRLF-SS and recently joined the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG).
Beyond his championing of anti-bullying initiatives, Jack is also thinking about many other things in our community. “I would like to see less rubbish around our area and people doing things to make it cleaner,” said Jack. “It would be good to teach people about the impact of throwing rubbish on the ground. I would like to see a cleaner school and people feeling connected and working together to make the school environment better for everyone.”
Launch of ‘Your Village’
We often hear there is nothing for our young people in the Brighton region to do. In early 2024, community member Michael Casey decided he wanted to do something about this. Michael came up with the idea of an expo for community groups and clubs to showcase their activity or hobby to young people.
When Michael was accepted into the Tasmanian Community Fund – Emerging Community Leaders program for 2024, he decided to take his youth expo idea to the table as a potential project.
A project team was formed to take on the idea, which evolved into the objective of supporting young people 12 – 17 years old to forge links within their ‘village’ by participating in community groups and activities in the Bridgewater, Brighton, Herdsmans Cove and Gagebrook communities. Michael was joined by Catherine Bannister, Daniela Dorney, Jannah Digby, Kerryn James and Bree Piscitelli.
The enthusiastic project team evolved the idea into developing a directory of the community groups and activities available for young people to get involved with, both in the Brighton region and surrounds. The team identified how parents and young people really struggle to find what is available to them, with groups and activities often being hard to find online or contact.
The ‘Your Village’ booklet aims to overcome these barriers by bringing everything together in one guide, and provide ease of reference to
locations and contact details for a whole range of activities and community groups.
Long-term, the project team would like to see the guide in digital form, so that it can be easily shared online, updated regularly and added to over time to ensure its longevity and relevance.
“Ideally we would like for an organisation like a council or longstanding community group to take this on and ensure it can be updated on a regular basis,” said Michael. “This is the only way it will stand the test of time and continue to be there as a resource for young people who are looking for a hobby or something to do but don’t know where to start.”
The guide was launched and distributed at the recent Youth Summit in Bridgewater, where students from the Brighton area attended to share ideas for a future youth space.
The project team has been delighted with the initial response. “The feedback since launch has been very good from parents and young people,” said Michael. “It is clear from the reaction that this is an information gap that has existed in the Brighton area for a long time, and we have no doubt the experience in other communities will be similar.”
The ‘Your Village’ guide is being distributed far and wide. Grab your copy from the Bridgewater Library or contact Brighton Council on admin@brighton.tas.gov.au to request a copy.
Youth Summit
L-R: Michael Casey, Daniela Dorney and Catherine Watson
Meet Jack Triffit
WHAT’S ON IN APRIL /MAY APRIL
18-20
Don’t miss the Hobart Easter Fun Fair, perfect for the whole family. $3 entry, kids aged 2 and under free. Tickets from www.ticketebo. com.au/tasfamily-funfair.
7
Enjoy a hearty meal among mates at Dining With Friends, held the first Wednesday of the month from 5:30pm at Brighton Civic Centre.
Easter! 20
6
Visit The Lions Club of Brighton market at Pontville Hall, held the first Sunday of the month from 10am-2pm.
11
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and mother figures. Treat mum to a fancy high tea at Riversdale Estate Winery. Otherwise, just let her have a sleep in!
12
Kids can join the fun of Lego Club at Bridgewater Library every Monday from 3:15pm-4:15pm
Vaisakhi Mela is a free family event hosted by Punjabi Society Tasmania. From 11am-5pm at City Hall, enjoy food stalls, a DJ, performances and activities. 26
19
All are welcome at The Lions Club of Brighton meeting, held the third Monday of every month, 6:30pm at the Old Council Chambers in Pontville.
16
Young people are invited to Party in the Park with BYAG, 11am-2pm at the Bridgewater Parklands. Free!
Join Jordan River Service for a fun, informal wine and cheese evening, 6pm-7:30pm, Bridgewater Community House. 30
MAY
17
After a short break, Bond Place sessions are back! Join in on an Easter celebration Thursday 17 April for some free fun.
2
A three-week family history DNA course at Bridgewater Library starts today from 10am-12pm. Classes are free but bookings essential.
20-21
For National Volunteer Week 2025, Brighton Alive will be hosting Asset Based Community Development workshops with the Jeder Institute. For more info contact Kylie Murphy at Brighton Council on (03) 6268 7000.
Join the group!
The Jordan River Community Theatre Group are seeking new members
The Jorda n River Community Theatre group is a vibrant and welcoming space for creative expression. It was founded in 2024 under the direction of John Adkins, an actor, playwright, artistic director and mentor. The group held its first production, a lively variety concert, at the Brighton Civic Centre, drawing an enthusiastic audience of over 80 people. Since then, Jordan River Community Theatre has grown into a supportive and fun-loving community, now rehears-
ing four exciting plays to be performed at their new home, Pontville Hall.
The group is looking for new members of all backgrounds to help bring its productions to life. Future plans include acting workshops and expanding into musicals, variety shows and rolling performances throughout the year.
The theatre is a fantastic way to build confidence, meet new people and uncover hidden talents. Many members of the group started with little or no
stage experience, but brought enthusiasm and a willingness to try something new.
Whether you dream of acting, enjoy working behind the scenes, or simply want to be part of something creative and rewarding, there’s a place for you. Come along and be part of the fun – everyone is welcome!
For more information, contact John Adkins on johnwtadkins@gmail.com or Kylie Murphy on kylie.murphy@brighton.tas.gov.au.
17
Youth Week Fun Day kicks off at 2:30pm at Cove Creek Soccer Grounds, with food, music, bikes and activities.
5
Run or walk 5km as part of Queens Domain parkrun, a free, all ages event on every Saturday at 9am.
22
Today’s the presentation of the Brighton Community Volunteer Awards by Mayor Leigh Gray, 10am at the Brighton Civic Centre in Bridgewater.
Brighton Community Volunteer Awards
Know of a fabulous volunteer making a difference in the community? You can nominate them for the Brighton Community Volunteer Awards.
A chance to recognise and honour individuals or groups making an outstanding contribution, the awards have three categories: Volunteer of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year and Community Initiative/Event of the Year Award. Nominations can be made on the Brighton Council website: www.brighton.tas.gov.au/ community/brighton-council-community-volunteer-awards/ Applications close on Monday 28 April 2025, with the awards to be presented by the Mayor in National Volunteer Week 19-25 May 2025.
Hobart Easter Fun Fair
Queens Domain parkrun
TAKE A BREAK
“ Isitnotlovelytothink thewarisover,Dame? ”
An ANZAC letter from 1918
The below letter was first published in The Weekly Courier in 1918 as part of the Letters from Young Folks section. It beautifully captures what it was like around Hobart in the time when the end of World War I was announced.
Dear Dame, We are having glorious weather, but want rain badly, for everything is beginning to get parched. I think I told you we lived on an orchard property, and just now the cherries are ripe. Needless to say Dame, we are often found under those cherry trees. We also have a few strawberries ripe. Have you tasted loganberries? They are nice with cream.
into the hills, “cock-adoodle-doing.” After a while we went to bed, but I do not think we slept much.
Next morning we went to town, and was there not a hurry-scurry!
base to the strains of “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” After we had seen everything there was to be seen, we made our way back to aunt’s home, where we had ice creams to cool our spirits. After having tea, we caught the 8 train bound for home – the end of a perfect day.
ACROSS
1 Levels (of quality) (9)
6 Conversations (5)
9 Rampaging (7)
10 County in NW England (7)
11 Lackadaisical (9)
13 Astound (5)
14 Colouring (7)
16 Fantasy creature (7)
18 Greek letter (3)
19 Climbing support spot (7)
20 Sewer entrance (7)
21 Member of a Jamaican religious movement (5)
23 Choosers (9)
26 Food (archaic) (7)
27 Distance in models or maps (7)
28 Cooks (quickly) (5)
29 Distributes (9)
1 Horses’ fathers (5) 2 Loathe (9) 3 Tendency (5) 4 Mat (3) 5 Is not good (colloq) (5) 6 Associate (9) 7 Blood carrier (5) 8 Impasse (9)
Bordered (5)
Weekend days (9) 15 Worshippers (9)
16 Desert animal (5) 17 Study of the production and consumption of goods (9)
22 Hindu deity (5)
23 Satisfied fully (5)
24 South Australian valley (5)
25 Long detailed stories (5)
27 Distress call (1,1,1)
I went to the Hobart Show on the first day. The stock was lovely, but there were not many ring events. These events are more interesting on the second day. Whilst we were there one of our returned soldiers gave an exhibition of stockwhip cracking. I thought it was very good.
I suppose you saw the armoured train when it was in Launceston. I, with a few others, went to the station to see it pass through. Is it not lovely to think the war is over, Dame? I can hardly realise the fact. Our school marched up and down the street, then marched over the bridge to Granton. I think the children enjoyed themselves very much; they were given many nice things, but the day was hot.
People would get in each other’s way. Well we got ready without accident, excepted for a few pins stuck in each other, and arrived in Hobart on a very crowded train, to find the parade had been postponed till the next day. We were not downhearted, and enjoyed the proceedings very much.
The returned soldiers created lots of fun with their speeches and the monkey; in the afternoon they marched. My sister and I stayed in town that night, and in the evening went to a combined thanksgiving service in the City Hall.
The Hall was crowded, many people having to stand. The next day we made it to Queen’s Domain to witness the parade and the living word “Victory”, which was splendidly formed.
The parade was the best I have seen in Hobart.
The returned soldiers passed the saluting
Now we are waiting for peace to be signed and if I have to walk to Hobart then. On Tuesday the first of our ANZACs came home. With my two sisters I went to the station as the train passed through. The soldiers received a rousing welcome in Hobart, and suburbs through which they were driven in cars from Claremont.
I remember the day our first contingent left – that was a Tuesday too. I was at school that day and we were all allowed to proceed to the station to see the troop train pass. It was a grand sight. People must have stripped their flower gardens, for there were very few soldiers without flowers.
Today there is a big race meeting at Elwick. The weather is fine so there should be a big attendance. Christmas will soon be here; it will be a much happier one than that of 1917.
I have exhausted my supply of news, so I will say au revoir till some time in 1919. Wishing you and all readers a very merry Christmas and prosperous new year, I remain, yours sincerely, “Valmal.”
Head to page 11 for the crossword and wordsearch answer.
We received the news about half-past 8, on the Monday evening, and was there not a noise! Dinner bells, cow bells, tin cans, musical instruments, and the church bells were soon tolling. Those who had guns fired them. From one house a gun would go off, and then others would answer simultaneously. We listened for a long while to the mail train going for miles
Party in the Park for Youth Week
With funding from the Tasmanian Government, the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) invite young people to Party in the Park on Wednesday 16 April from 11am to 2pm. The event, held at the Bridgewater Parklands behind Bridgewater Library, is part of Youth Week celebrations.
The theme for Youth Week 2025 is ‘Courage: Stepping out of your comfort zone’. The event will showcase the work and skills of the young people in the community who regularly step out of their comfort zone.
Learn more about the voluntary work of the Brighton Youth Action Group, the proposed youth space in Bridgewater, and the Community Creators program at Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School.
Attendees will also enjoy a free feed and loads of activities, including a hands on learning circus tricks from Cirque Tas and a display of sea creatures from The Land and Sea Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania ‘Wave To Plate’ program.
Recycling your Easter wrapping
A highlight for many over Easter is unwrapping and enjoying chocolate eggs and bunnies! Once they’ve
been eaten, instead of chucking the packaging into the bin, you can recycle it instead.
This simple act means that instead of the foil from your chocolate going to landfill, it can be transformed into aluminium for a new can of soft drink, among other things. But small bits of foil can get lost during the
recycling process, which is why it’s best to roll your foil wrappers together into a ball shape before putting them in the recycle bin.
Any cardboard boxes, such as Easter egg packaging, can also be put in your recycle bin. As for the bags your hot cross buns came in, paper can be recycled, but soft plastic packaging
unfortunately can’t be put in the recycle bin and will instead go into landfill.
Brighton Council offers fortnightly kerbside garbage, recycling and FOGO bin collections. Please ensure your bins are at the kerbside ready for collection by 6am on your day of service.
Ten Lives Cat Centre are encouraging pet owners to check their microchip number and where it is registered, following news that HomeSafeID’s microchip database may go offline in future.
With many cats adopted from Ten Lives since April 2017 having their microchip registered with HomeSafeID, this could mean that if your pet goes missing, the contact details on the microchip might not be available.
Ten Lives President Paula Wriedt said the Cat Management Act 2009 in Tasmania requires all cats over four months old be microchipped. The microchip must be implanted in a prescribed manner
and the microchip implanter must enter the prescribed details into an approved database.
Ten Lives have advised to find your cat’s microchip number by checking your adoption paperwork. If you need to get your cat’s microchip number from Ten Lives, get in touch with them directly. You can then check your pet’s microchip registration at: www. petaddress.com.au.
When it comes to changing registries, alternatives to HomeSafeID include Australasian Animal Registry, Global Micro Animal Registry and Petsafe. For more information, visit www.tenlives.com.au.
A huge congratulations to Brighton Council’s Community Development Officer, Kylie Murphy who has recently received her Master of International and Community Development from Deakin University.
Kylie is an inspirational community development worker who is not only dedicated to working alongside our communities to be the best they can be but is passionate about continuous improvement as a professional. She has a thirst for learning and knowledge in her field and achieved her master’s degree while working full-time at Brighton Council. An outstanding
achievement by anyone’s standards.
Kylie’s thesis is titled “How do we support better health and wellbeing outcomes for communities, by using a strengths and AssetBased Community Development (ABCD) approach in Tasmanian Local Councils?”
Her thesis involved looking nationally and internationally at case studies that demonstrated the opportunities available to local government in Tasmania through embedding strengthsbased methods and the ABCD frameworks into communit y development
Kylie continues to master community development
strategies. The guiding principles of ABCD include asset mapping, community-driven development, strengthsbased approaches, relationship building, inclusivity, and equity being embedded in local councils’ practices and community development approaches. Strengths based community development work ensures that councils are working with, understanding what community wants and not ‘doing to’ community.
Kylie’s nickname is Kylie Smiley and she beams her beautiful warm smile as she explains, “Working with community is what inspires me, working together, sharing conversations and bringing ideas to life as a community. Working at Brighton Council gives
me the opportunity to work with a lot of young people and these amazing young people inspire me every day with their understanding of their community and thoughts on how as community members they can support and create new opportunities, and instigate the change they want to see.”
We are very fortunate that Kylie has chosen to work here in our communities with her kind and gentle nature combined with a fervent drive to positively support community to achieve their goals. Congratulations Kylie on graduating with your master’s degree and as Kylie reminds us often “Whatever the problem, community is the answer!”
HIPPY expressions of interest open
Has your child turned three-years-old before or on 1 January 2025?
If so, they could benefit from HIPPY, a free home-based learning program for children aged three. HIPPY focus is on the parent being their child’s first and most important teacher.
This two-year early childhood learning and parenting program is delivered by trained tutors, who empower and encourage families
to extend their parenting skills and engage with their children by introducing reading, play and educational activities for 15 minutes per day.
To be eligible for the program, you must live in the Brighton area and care for a child that turned three on or before 1 January 2025. For more information, please contact Kellyanne at Kellyanne. williams@54reasons. org.au
Wordsearch secret message: Best Friend
Kylie Murphy
