BEST START STORY WRITING COMPETITION

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Best Start’s Grade 5 and 6 Story Writing Competition, and Greater Shepparton City Council is encouraging local school children to get involved.

Grade 5 and 6 students from participating schools in Greater Shepparton are encouraged to write and illustrate a children’s book suitable for a child aged three to four years. Each school can select three entries from participating students to put forward to a judging panel, with the entries having to be endorsed and sent in by the school. Entries for the competition open today, Monday 10 July, and close on Monday 11 September 2023. Once entries close, the judging panel will pick a winning story which will be professionally printed and included for 12 months in the book bag, which is distributed by Council’s Maternal and Child Health nurses, to children attending their three-and-a-half-year visit.

Winners in the past have represented a range of schools throughout the region, including Congupna Primary School, St Mel’s Primary School, Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Shepparton East Primary School, Orrvale Primary School and Bourchier St Primary

School. Last year’s winning story, ‘What is your superpower’, was written by Congupna Primary School Grade 5 student Asim Ismet.

Council’s Manager Early Years, Sally Rose, encouraged local school students to get involved, saying the competition was a great opportunity to practice their creative writing skills.

“The winning story is distributed to close to 1,000 children each year from their Maternal and Child Health nurse. It is widely distributed and is read by a large number of families throughout Greater Shepparton,” she said.

“Reading is such an important and enjoyable activity for children and this annual competition aims to encourage a love of books and reading amongst children and their families. The quality of entries we receive each year continues to grow and we look forward to seeing the creativity of the stories submitted by Grade 5 and 6 students this year.” a. Jupiter b. Neptune c. Uranus d. Saturn a. Oslo b. Copenhagen c. Helsinki d. Stockholm a. South America b. Asia c. Europe d. Africa a. Austrian b. German c. French d. Polish a. Alan Shepard b. Neil Armstrong c. John Glen d. Yuri Gagarin a. Salt b. Copper c. Tin d. Silicon a. Galen b. Hippocrates c. Herophilus d. Leonardo da Vinci a. Sir Robert Menzies b. Bob Hawke c. Stanley Bruce d. John Howard a. The Netherlands b. Belgium c. Poland d. France a. 76 b. 88 c. 96 d. 112

For more information about the Best Start Story Writing Competition, contact your school or Council’s Early Years Project Officer, Belinda Schmedje, on council@shepparton.vic.gov.au or via phone at (03) 5832 9700.

1. What is the largest planet in our Solar System?

2. What is the capital city of Denmark?

3.On what continent is Benin located?

4. What nationality was composer Frederic Chopin?

5. Who was the first man in space?

6. What element is denoted by the chemical symbol Sn in the periodic table?

7. Who is known as the father of Western medicine?

8. Who is Australia’s longest serving Prime Minister?

9. Gouda cheese originated in which country?

10. How many keys are there on a standard piano?

Indoor Carpet Bowls

Hey! Are you looking for a social game of indoor carpet bowls on these cold and wintry days. Then come along to the warm and inviting Tatura Bowls Club, Service St Tatura for social bowls held each Friday from 1pm. Everybody welcome. Enquiries to Freda 0419009059.

CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME? by Ma

Merle

“It’s like this Fred,” I said as I stood on his front veranda. I had come to give him a piece of my mind about keeping his house clean. After I declined his offer go into the house, I simply stood facing him outside the front door where he reluctantly joined me. I was not in the mood to take off my shoes and was not sure they were clean enough for inside, so it just made more sense. I knew Agnes was not at home as we had chatted earlier on in the day and she was spending time with her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren in Bendigo. “You need to understand women better Fred,” I continued as I added a serious teaching tone to my voice. “We keep the home running, as you well know, and we can be very particular about it too. Imagine if a woman traipsed into a man’s work shed and put flowers or pot-pourri all over the place and burned oils and candles. Oh, and we would make a jolly mess about it too, leaving it for you to clean up after we leave. I am quite sure you would not be very happy with the extra work and the intrusion on your special space. So, the bottom line is, women take a sense of pride in their home and like having it presented in a clean and orderly manner for friends and family. You need to respect that and take your muddy shoes off so that my friend Agnes is not so grumpy. Do you understand?” I said sternly as I waved my finger from side to side in his face.

“Yes, of course I understand,” replied Fred. “And you can calm down Merle. You can tell a bloke something without all that aggressive body language you know. I mean Agnes has already read me the riot act, don’t you worry. There is nothing more you can say about it that she has not. I understand perfectly well and I won’t ever do it again. And just for the record, Merle, its actually my home too and my special place. I mean, I have lived here for a very long time, well before Agnes came into my life. Of which I am very grateful. Speaking of which, while we are on the subject of telling people what to do, how about you either spend more time with Garry or let him get on with things Merle?”

The change of subject caught me by surprise. “What sort of things do you mean Fred? Let him get on with what? It’s not like I have him tied up and locked in the garden shed.”

“Well, I am just telling you there are other interested parties, but nobody is sure if you and him are an item or not,” Fred said very seriously and also a little nervously.

“What a ridiculous, childish word Fred, an item. You make it sound like a piece of clothing. Don’t be so silly. And it has nothing to do with anyone how much time I do or do not spend with Garry. He is free to come and go as he pleases.” I paused a moment. “Although not this weekend coming because he is staying at my house while Agnes and I go off on our getaway as you well know.”

“You see!” exclaimed Fred triumphantly as if he had won a point in an argument. “So why is Garry staying at your house?”

I sniffed in annoyance. “Not that I need to explain anything to you Fred, but Garry offered to mind the animals and keep an eye on things around the house while I am away. What Garry does with his life is really none of your business and I were you I would focus on things closer to home, don’t you?” I said in a ‘take that’, voice.

Fred seemed to swell up slightly as he took in a large breath. “Well, in that case I feel I should tell you that Noelene has been at me to match her up with Garry for a while now. She wants the four of us to go out for dinner together.”

“Garry is busy and he has no time for that sneaky Noelene anyway,” I quickly replied.

Fred laughed derisively. “Sneaky? Why would you even say that Merle? What makes her sneaky?”

“She has a history of stealing other women’s men, and everyone knows it.” I felt triumphant as I knowingly replied.

“Apparently not everyone, I don’t know it,” replied Fred calmly. “And anyway, Garry is not someone’s man now, is he?” he continued, with a cat that ate the cream look on his face.

I snorted in disgust. “Oh, I simply do not have all day to stand here going around and around in circles about this Fred. So, just take your shoes off before you go in the house and tell Noelene to back off and find someone else.”

Having finally won that argument, I turned and left him standing on his porch. What a day I was having. I was feeling exhausted and thought I should definitely have an afternoon nap. I was looking forward to going to the theatre with Garry and Agnes in a couple of days’ time to watch a movie, and I was wondering why I was so bothered about Noelene, but had little interest in exploring my inner thoughts any deeper than that so I settled down to nap on the couch. Just like meditating really.

The next couple of days passed without incident and we all eventually arrived at the theatre. “This is great,” said Garry as we walked up the theatre steps. “I can’t believe you girls invited me to come along.”

We didn’t bother to tell him that there was method to our madness and his role was to drive us there and back, park the car and keep us safe, just in case anyone bothered us. In fact, when I had said to Agnes that Garry could keep us safe from hoods that might want to bank roll us, she was very clear that hoods do not bank roll people. I decided not to argue the point, knowing my streetwise knowledge was not one of my greatest strengths. The theatre had only another six or so people in it which was very strange. We sat down and Garry plonked himself in the middle of Agnes and me.

“I do enjoy a film at the theatre,” I said smiling in anticipation.

“It’s a cinema Merle, no one calls it the theatre anymore,” Garry said like he was abreast with the latest lingo of the day. “And hardly anybody even comes as you can see by the numbers here today.”

“All these modern terms Garry, I can barely keep up anymore,” I said a little disinterested.

Agnes dragged out the large bag of chips she had purchased and very noisily opened them. I truly believed she would have made less noise vacuuming her house.

“Be quite Agnes,” I said sternly. “There’s such a thing as theatre etiquette you know.”

“What’s that love?” said Garry loudly as he leaned towards me.

“Oh, do be quite Garry, and you too Agnes. We are at the films and we need to be quiet.”

Two people down a few rows in front of us both turned around and said, “Can you be quiet please.”

“Hang on love,” Garry suddenly said. “My phone is vibrating in my pocket. It could be that call I am waiting on from the plumber.”

“You have got to be joking,” I said as he rummaged around in his pockets and retrieved his phone.

“Yeah, its him.” he said as he stood up and squeezed past me. “I’ll take it outside.”

The two people from the front turned around and said, “You have to be quiet.”

“You be quiet,” I replied loudly. “How rude are they Agnes?”

Agnes stuffed her mouth with chips and crunched so loudly she could not even hear me and she seemed to be in a world of her own as she fossicked around for her drink. She eventually noticed me looking at her and said, “What? Are you talking to me?”

Before I could answer, Garry made is way back and squeezed past me again and said rather loudly, “All sorted with the plumber.”

“Oh, shut up will you,” someone else yelled from behind us. Something banged into the back of the seat in front of me and bounced back into my lap. It looked like it was a Jaffa. This was becoming a nightmare, our lovely day at the theatre was being ruined by rude people.

Garry and Agnes were oblivious as they stared at the big screen. Garry dragged out his phone once again just as all the lights went off in readiness for the film, and it looked like a lighthouse in his lap.

“Will you please put that away,” I hissed as I looked down at Garry’s lap. “Oh my Merle, what are you two up to now?” Agnes looked at us with a very quizzical expression on her face. “Do I need to leave you two alone? I don’t know where to look. What’s happening?”

“Just look at the ruddy screen and shut up will ya,” yelled someone else. This was just ghastly. I did not even know how I was feeling at this point. All the adverts and the shorts for the next movie came on first then the movie finally started. It was so loud I immediately reached for the remote, but of course there was no such thing.

What happened to my enjoyable outing and why are people so rude? Can someone please explain? Anyone?

Junior Public Speaking Contest

The Lions Club of Tatura held the finals for the “Junior Public Speaking contest” on Tuesday, July 11 at the Senior Citizens Club Rooms.

Six Students representing Tatura Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School participated.

Overall Winner from Sacred Heart School Grade 3/4 was Olivia Talarico. Her speech topic was “Oh No - You’ve turned into a Giant”.

Overall Winner from Tatura Primary School Grade 5/6 was Lili Keane. Her speech topic was “Strange World Records set in History”.

All students presented their speeches to Judges, George, Sandy and Glenda, Lions members and their Parents. In all there were 42 people in attendance. Well done and congratulations to all the students for your fabulous presentations, you made us all very proud!

We look forward to next year’s presentation.

Tatura Presbyterian Church

Minister: Kalpan Vasa

Worship Services

Tatura 10:30 am

Rushworth 9:00 am.

Weekly Bible study and Fellowship Groups

Contact 0477 241 042

All Saints Tatura

Anglican Church

Minister: Rev. Tracey Wolsley

Family Worship Service

Including Little Saints Children’s Program

Sundays at 9.30am

Contact 0423 267 405 www.allsaintstatura.org.au

Tatura Uniting Church

“Olive & Vine”

115 Hogan Street, Tatura

Minister: Brian Spencer 0400 274 482

Service 9.30am every Sunday.

Aug 6 Rev B Spencer

Zoom from Murchison

Aug 13 Joan McRae

Zoom from Rushworth

Aug 20 Gereldine Leonard

Tatura, Communion

Aug 27 Rev B Spencer

Zoom from Colbinabbin

See Waranga Uniting Churches

Web site for Zoom links

Sacred Heart Church Tatura

Minister: Rev Fr John Paul Pasala

Worship Services:

Weekends

Saturday 6pm (1st & 3rd of the month)

Sunday 10.30am

Weekdays

Wednesday 9.15am

Friday 9.15am

Reconciliation:

1st Saturday of the month at 11.30am

Contact: Ph. 5824 1049

Email: Tatura@cdos.org.au www.sacredheartparishtatura.com.au

Generations Church Tatura

Senior Pastor: Ps Jeremy Burr 10am Service 03 58243240

Hair & Beauty

Colour and Cutting Specialist

Salon Trading Hours: Monday - Closed Tuesday to Friday - 9am to 6pm; Fridays - Late Nights Saturday - from 8.30am

Phone Sam on 03 5824 2019 or 0408 571 525