GOULBURN VALLEY LIBRARIES

Sloths, Stories and Storytellers.

The Tatura Library has so much happening! Check out just some of the things happening in the next few weeks.

Now in its 23rd successful year, National Simultaneous Story Time is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. In 2022 National Simultaneous Story Time had 2.18 million participants at over 59 thousand locations. This year children and adults all over the country will be reading 'The Speedy Sloth' written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie. Join us at the Tatura Library on Thursday 25th May at 10:30am. We'll read the book, make a sloth puppet, and have stickers and other activities to take home. This is a FREE event.

Suitable for ages 2 - 6 years.

For more information phone 1300 374 765 or email tatura@gvlibraries. com.au

The Sydney Writers’ Festival Live & Local program gives people all across Australia the opportunity to join in events offered at the Sydney Writers' Festival. What does this mean for us? Authors walk onto the stage in Sydney and are streamed live into Goulburn Valley Libraries. Audiences can access events that are part of the Sydney Writers' Festival as they are happening and participate in sessions by sending questions direct to the Sydney stage! The program offers quite a line up. Sessions are available for free through Goulburn Valley Libraries. Everyone is welcome.

Tatura Library will be hosting 6 sessions.

Thursday 25th May

Jane Harper: Exiles 10.00am

Geraldine Brooks: Horse 2.00pm

Friday 26th May

Bringing the past to life, 10.00am Colson Whitehead: Harlem Shuffle 4.00pm

Saturday 27th

A Life in food: Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer 10.00am Crime and Justice 12noon

For those into learning new skills and having a chat with others, why not join the fun on Thursday 1st June at 10.30am and learn how to hand make rope using scrap fabric. This free activity is aimed at adults. We supply all the equipment, just come along, have a chat, and learn a new skill.

TATURA MECHANICS’ HALL

The Mechanics’ Hall has had a saving restoration!

Just completed, the timber flooring which is probably older than the Victory Hall next door had suffered many termite attacks and repairs. The original Red-Gum joists on brick foundations were still in good condition. The surface flooring was replaced with termite proof 25 mm particle board flooring and covered with new Territory Terrain carpet tiles. This has been a massive undertaking for Tatura Civic Halls, and we thank the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal for the Strengthening Rural Communities Grant and GSCC Matching Grant which have contributed about half of the costs, but still with approximately $16k to be funded locally.

George Ferguson Tatura Civic Halls Inc.

Tatura Probus Club

Our Guest Speaker at our April meeting was Christian Longbottom, who is the new Manager at Hill Top Golf and Country Club. Christian spoke of becoming a golf professional at age 19, before heading overseas for what was to be a few weeks and ended up being 24 years. He lived in Norway for twelve years where he was involved with golfing and other aspects of the golfing industry. He then went to Thailand for a number of years and was involved with the building industry there. He got married to Dom and they had two children before deciding to come back to Australia where they settled in Adelaide, managing Golf Clubs, before applying for the job at Hill Top. He had lots of ideas for improving the financial status of Hill Top, hopefully introducing musical evenings. Dom runs a business where she organizes weddings, etc., so that may be on the agenda as well. Christopher spoke of how welcoming Tatura people have been to him and his family. Pat Ibbott thanked Christopher for his informative talk and presented him with a Probus pen.

Margaret Chance, one of our founding members, was the Member Behind the Badge, and it was very interesting to hear the story of her life to this time.

- Wendy Wilson

Recipes

Satay Pork Pastie

Satay Pork Pastie

Ingredients:

1 Onion, chopped

1/4 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter

2 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce

2 tbsp Soy Sauce

2 Garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp Ginger, chopped

2 tbsp Peanut or Sesame Oil

500g Pork Mince

Method:

1 Carrot, grated

1/2 cup Plain Flour

1/2 cup Coconut Cream

2 Zucchini, sliced lengthways

3 sheets Puff Pastry

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tbsp Sesame Seeds

In a blender or small food processor, puree onion, peanut butter, sauces, garlic and ginger until almost smooth.

Heat oil on high in pan and brown pork mince for 4-5 minutes, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon.

Stir in peanut butter mixture, carrot and flour. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes.

Gradually mix in coconut cream and simmer for 3 minutes. Cool. Meanwhile, heat a grill pan on high and grill zucchini slices for one minute on each side until tender. Cool slightly.

Place pastry sheet on tray, spread pork filling over pastry, leaving a gap around edges. top with zucchini and cover with second pastry sheet.

Crimp edges to seal.

Bake at 200 degrees for 30-35 minutes until puffed and golden and base is cooked.

- Janice Dreyer

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 0497 597 127 www.allsaintstatura.org.au

Tatura Uniting Church

“Olive & Vine”

115 Hogan Street, Tatura

Minister: Brian Spencer 0400 274 482

Service 9.30am every Sunday.

June 4 Rev B Spencer Zoom from Colbinabbin

June 11 Rev B Spencer Zoom from Murchison

June 18 Joan McRae, communion Zoom from Rushworth

June 25 Rev B Spencer Tatura

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

295 Dhurringile Rd www.generations.org.au

Helping Native Fish Thrive

Go vernment agencies are collaborating to revitalise native fish populations in the wake of the 2022 floods. North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) Native Fish Recovery Plan project manager Peter Rose said the October 2022 floods had created a different set of environmental challenges.

“The flooding impacted our rivers in various ways, such as eroding riverbanks and deposition of silt, as well as increased carp populations,” he said. “One of the main environmental impacts of the floods was water quality. The scale of the flooding meant water ran out onto floodplains, further than it had for decades and following a wet season where a lot of crops were doing really well. Consequently, a lot of organic matter and nutrients washed into the river system, causing hypoxic black water, which resulted in some fish deaths.”

Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) co-CEO Beth Ashworth said the VEWH had been able to work with Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) and various catchment management authorities to minimise fish deaths following the floods.

“Once we weren’t going to impact on towns or farms, we were able to work with GMW and the CMAs to do some small releases and oxygenate the water,” she said. “In smaller systems like the Lower Broken Creek, we were able to release fresh water into the systems and protect native fish.”

Environmental flows are also frequently used outside of flood events to support native fish. We work closely with GMW and CMAs to release water through the irrigation district to key wetlands. We tend to have big breeding events of native fish at locations throughout the southern Murray-Darling Basin.

Using water for the environment, we can deliver flows to help move those juvenile fish throughout the southern Murray Darling Basin to high-quality habitats.

Murray cod and golden perch are natural predators to carp, so ensuring the native species thrive also helps mitigate the carp boom.”

Equally important to providing native fish access to quality habitats are fishways.

Fishways enable fish to bypass manmade barriers such as weirs and dams. Fishways have recently been constructed at Tea Garden Weir, Koondrook and Cohuna, and a further one is being constructed at Taylors Creek. These are a part of the Victorian Government’s $248 million investment over four years (2020-2024) to improve catchment and waterway health across regional Victoria.

Collaboration between agencies has similarly been important in the construction of these fishways. Koondrook Fishway, for example, is operated by the North Central CMA, having been funded by the VEWH and the state government, and with GMW having managed its construction. Dr Rose said fishways had a significant impact on native fish populations. “It is crucial we improve connectivity to help native fish thrive,” he said. “The recently constructed fishways at Cohuna and Koondrook have allowed golden perch and Murray Cod to move freely between the Murray River and 140km of Gunbower Creek. These fishways are a great success story, and it is the partnerships with GMW and the VEWH that have enabled us to complete these large-scale infrastructure projects.” People can learn more about how government agencies are giving native fish the best chance to prosper by listening to the latest episode of Talking Water with GMW at www.g-mwater.com.au/podcast.

- Klaus Nannestad, Media Adviser

BY BEEKERS

JOHN’S SHORT STORIES

I have decided to make all the short stories that I have written for the Bulletin over the past eight years available for free to the general public. During the pandemic I emailed them to many of my friends to help them cope with their isolation and received a great deal of encouraging feedback. I was talking to one of these friends recently and it was suggested that I should open them up to a wider audience. We discussed whether people should pay a fee for the privilege of reading them, but I decided they should be free.

To access them, go to Google and type in johnkriesfeld.substack.com and register for the stories. The site will then give you access to them at absolutely no cost to you.

As I have more than fifty stories, if you count all the episodes of my serial stories, it will take me some time to upload them all. However, I already have ten stories available and I will upload a new one every week.

Once I have done this, I am considering uploading my novel ‘Memories to Die For’. I am thinking of doing this because I have two other novels that I have yet to finish writing and I am hoping that this will give me the impetus to complete them.

If you do decide to register for my stories, then please share the site with your friends and family. Thank you in anticipation for your registration.

- John Kriesfeld

2022 Darwin Awards

Honouring Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool, by removing themselves from it. The criterion for the awards states, "In the spirit of Charles Darwin, the Darwin Awards commemorate individuals who protect our gene pool by making the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives. Darwin Award winners eliminate themselves in an extraordinarily idiotic manner, thereby improving our species' chances of long-term survival."

1. Steel Macbook Armour - Ukraine.

A Russian soldier wearing body armour in the Ukraine warzone found an abandoned Macbook laptop computer. Deciding that he wanted the Macbook, the soldier then had to work out where to hide it. After some thought, the soldier slid the Macbook into his chest armour pocket, replacing a ballistic plate designed to save his life. Unfortunately, the Macbook didn’t provide the same protection as the ballistic plate and he was killed in Irpin.

2. Accidental Snake Bite – United States. On January 19, 2022, authorities making a welfare check in Maryland, USA, found David Riston dead, alone in his house; alone except for numerous species of snakes, many venomous! Cobras, rattlesnakes, black mambas, and a gigantic python were among the 124 serpentine residents still living in the house. These exotic snakes were kept in beautiful habitat enclosures, but evidently one disgruntled snake had protested against this confinement. The autopsy confirmed that the 49-year-old male had died of 'accidental' snake bite.

Rodney Cwa

In May, the Juniors made earrings and decorations from polymer clay; they let the clay cool, then added fittings. At their June meeting, the girls will do pour painting; bring a puzzle you like, e.g., Rubik’s cube.

The Rodney CWA meeting April was attended by nineteen members. Birthday greetings to Pauline Parks, Lorraine Secomb and Shirley Harrison.

Community Welfare – Donations of goods have been made to Vinnies, Carolyn Chisolm Society and Tatura Hospital. These included handknitted toys and baby clothes.

Group Craft on March 17: Lyn Trezise and Gwen Ranson joined Echuca Group/ Goulburn Valley West. Wool embroidery with Doreen Napier, chicken scratch, embroidered bag, or own project. Thirty-seven people attended, shared lunch, and an enjoyable day was had by all.

Mandy Perkins will attend the Rochester Feel Good Days on April 28/29, taking donations of fruit cakes, biscuits, hand lotion and face masks. The meeting decided that a letter be written to local politicians re lack of action for the Rochester Flood Victims.

Competition Winner – Lynne Lowe’s oven mitt. Best Bloom – Lorraine Secomb.

A wonderful Morning Tea was held on April 20 at Janice Perry’s house, with delicious food and good company. We had an interesting guest speaker, local nutritionist Diana Miranda who spoke on, ‘Eating from your backyard’, rather than using processed foods.

Due to Covid19, our annual Mothers’ Day stall in Tatura has been replaced by The Rodney CWA Scone Day. The Scone Day was held on Saturday, May 6, when pre-ordered scones, yo-yos and Anzac biscuits were available for pick-up at Gwen Ranson’s.

Next meeting Thursday June 8 at the Tatura Bowling Clubrooms at 1:30 pm. All welcome.

publicity.

“Alright Agnes, I have found us a meditation class to go to. It’s with a lady called Abby and it’s not that far from here. It runs through the daytime so that will suit us. I have checked and they have room for us both. I really think this will help you with your sleep issues,” I explained helpfully. “I mean it’s much better than taking all of those pills. We both know you can’t keep taking the ones that make you eat all the time. For heaven’s sake, you will end up just exploding.”

“I don’t think it’s quite that bad, thank you Merle,” replied Agnes primly. “But I get what you are saying. Yes, my appetite is very healthy at the moment, and to be honest I can’t really wear a lot of what is in my wardrobe either.”

“Yes Agnes, and it’s because you really have beefed up, so let’s try the class then.” Sometimes you just have to be blunt. Agnes frowned but had no come back, because after all, she was getting fat. Off we went the very next day to the meditation class and gathered with the others in a very peaceful and pretty room. We were given instructions regarding bags, shoes and water.

“Sit down and make yourself comfortable.” said Abby in her very sweet voice. I felt relaxed already just listening to her. “Get cosy and make sure you are warm.” She explained what we were going to do and the other attendees had clearly been before because they all smiled, nodded and got sorted.

“I am not sure how we’re supposed to sit,” said Agnes. Abby stepped in and said, “Just sit comfortably, but don’t cross your legs.” “Oh, I like to cross my legs,” Agnes said. “So, we can’t cross them here?”

“No,” Abby replied in an almost singing tone. “It blocks your energy and also you won’t be able to sit like that for too long. Just put both feet down on the ground.”

“But my feet don’t really touch the ground,” Agnes moaned.

I noticed some frowns appearing on the foreheads of the other attendees.

“Just sit quietly like everyone else Agnes,” I said in a school teacher voice.

“What’s energy Merle?” Agnes whispered in a voice that I truly believe was louder than her normal speaking voice. “And how does it get blocked.

I don’t really need blocked energy on top of all everything else you know.”

Abby promptly placed a pillow on the ground for Agnes, and said, “Pop your feet on that Agnes. I know that will make you comfortable. I can explain energy to you later but we do need to get started now.”

Working with Agnes was liking taking a child on an outing, I thought to myself. I had managed to get comfortable, and Abby had put a rug on both our laps which felt very nurturing. She then explained, for the new people, what we would all be doing. Basically, we were to sit very quietly and close our eyes. The idea was to relax and listen to the music. She said if we got messages then that was also okay. I was very confused as to how we were going to get messages when we were specifically told to turn our phones off and leave them in our bags in the other room so that we did not get disturbed. However, I thought it was better not to question Abby about this. I was very surprised that Agnes did not question her but I think she was too deep in thought about her legs and her blocked energy. We were given instruction to close our eyes and to listen to Abby and to relax. There was some very lovely music playing in the background, but the more Abby lowered her voice, presumably to make us even more relaxed, the quieter she spoke and the less I could hear her. I felt relaxed and because I could no longer hear her, I sat with my own thoughts. I was starting to relax and drift away when I was startled by a very loud snort. I immediately knew it was Agnes. I opened one eye to secretly look, and there she was snorting, snoring and very, very asleep. Her chin almost on her chest. The others all had their eyes still closed. I was certain they could hear her too but by the look of it they were able to block her out. How they did this I did not know. I squeezed my eyes closed and tried to relax with great difficulty.

I felt a tap on my knee as Abby stood in front of me and said, “Merle, it’s time to open your eyes.”

I felt a bit confused for a moment and then she went over to Agnes who was still snoring and snorting and pleasantly tried to wake her up. She almost needed to shake her before she succeeded in getting her to open her eyes. Everyone sat in silence and the room was silent as Abby stepped back over to her chair angelically.

“So how did you all go she asked?” As she smiled and looked around the room at the others. There seemed to be a couple of grumbles and murmurs. Finally, one of them spoke up, “Not that well,” she said as she glared at Agnes.

“Not too bad I suppose, all things considered,” said another with a strange smile.

“And did anyone get any messages?” asked Abby

Why would she keep asking that silly question I wondered to myself. A couple of people spoke about messages they had received and one giggled and said if they did get them, they would not have heard them anyway. There was very quiet giggling and some awkward looks at each other. How on earth did they think they would hear anyway when the phones were in the other room? A strange bunch I thought to myself. Hippies probably. New age folk.

When it was time to leave, a robust lady came over to us where we were putting our shoes back on and said, “You two clearly don’t sleep well.”

“I beg your pardon?” I asked.

“Well, you both snored so loudly I felt the walls shake. It was very hard to relax and go into a deep meditation you know.”

I looked at Agnes and she looked at me and we both started to laugh hysterically. I did not even answer the lady. We just waved goodbye and laughed all the way to the car. We drove home feeling very calm and very refreshed, still smiling.

“So, I guess meditation makes you sleep Agnes,” I said while nodding at her. “So that’s what we will do, and we will just do it from home. I mean, as we were leaving Abby did mention the class was quite full and there may not be room for us in the future, although I am wondering if that was not quite the truth, but anyway we will just do it ourselves. It will save us some money and I do feel really quite lovely Agnes. What about you?”

I looked over to the passenger seat but Agnes had nodded off. Boy, she really was sleep deprived I thought. Only seconds later she started up with her snorting and snoring and although it was deafening, I just kept smiling. Oh my, we must have been quite awful to listen to if we were both at it. I laughed out loud as I drove along and even turned the radio up in a feeble attempt to drown Agnes out.

Why do people take things so seriously? What has happened to our sense of humour? Can someone please explain? Anyone?

Tatura Community House

Power Saving Bonus – every household is eligible! Get $250 in ten minutes!

The community house can process your power saving bonus application quickly and ensure that all documents are uploaded. Bookings essential – 5824 1315.

Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee – up to 38 hours of sick pay for casual workers paid by the Victorian Government!

If you are a casual worker in hospitality, food trades and food preparation, supermarkets, retail or sale, aged care and disability, cleaning and laundry, then you may be entitled to 38 hours of paid sick pay per year. You need to work an average of 7.6 hours or more per week, be older than 15 years and work in Victoria. The community house can register you and support you in claiming your sick pay. Bookings essential – 5824 1315.

Women’s Health Clinic – FREE/BULK

Billing

In partnership with GV Health, a Women’s Health Clinic will be available at the Community House for women and LGBTIQA+ people of all ages. The clinic will provide information, support, clinical services ad appropriate specialist referral services in an informal and relaxed environment. The clinic runs every first Tuesday of the month during school terms from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Give us a call.

Digital Essentials – Expressions of Interest

Would you like to learn the basics of how to operate your smartphone or tablet in a small and friendly group setting with plenty of time to learn and apply your knowledge straight asway? Then these 10-session classes are the thing for you! Each session is three hours, course fee is $130 full fee and $103 concession. Please call the community house to express your interest 5824 1315.

Coming Soon – Tatura Community House Walkway Gallery –Volunteers needed

We are transforming our hallways and foyer into a community gallery. We are looking for art loving volunteers for the gallery committee. Give us a call to inquire and have a chat.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – If you would like to get involved, give the Community House a call on 5824 1315.

Tatura Garden Club

At our meeting Monday April 17th, we enjoyed hearing from member Glenys Stockdale and Guest Noreen Smith. They spoke of their visits to East Timor and the help they are giving to the people. They supply basics for a hospital and sewing machines and fabric for women to make items for sale. Noreen and Glenys showed us examples of the beautiful traditional weaving of the area. They passed around many photos to illustrate their talk. It was most interesting.

The Tatura Garden Club meets on the third Monday of the month at the Tatura Community Centre at 7 pm. Next meeting is June 19th.

Geoff Gerrish TREE STUMP REMOVALS

Tat Lawn Tennis Club

Good Things Come in Threes and Fours

The Tatura Lawn Tennis Club has had a very eventful few months with a successful Labour Day Tournament, a Grand Final win in the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association, being awarded the rights to host the Judy Dalton Cup in October and FAST 4 providing some fun.

The Labour Day Tournament held over the long weekend of 11/13 March saw players from all over the state and a contingent from Byron Bay all enjoy the club’s courts and other facilities. Entry numbers were at record levels, and it was particularly pleasing to see the high number of juniors taking part.

Saturday involved Singles, Veterans Doubles and Junior matches and after the serious tennis the Wooden Racquet Challenge allowed players from all grades to compete in a handicapped knock out event. A lot of fun to play and watch with many players never having picked up a wooden racquet before.

Winners of the Open singles were former club champion Tim Lanyon, all the way from Byron Bay, and Amanda Hassett.

Unfortunately, rain spoiled the doubles events on Sunday but that did not stop players packing out the clubhouse on the Aussie Icon themed Sunday night for dinner provided by Chargrilled Chicken Tatura and entertainment by Byron Bay legend, Tim Stokes. The weekend wound up with Mixed Doubles on Monday.

The club receives wonderful sponsorship support from many local businesses and for the tournament greatly appreciates the major sponsors; Tatura Milk, Unilever, OPSM and Foodworks.

The week after the tournament, the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association held Grand Finals for the season. Some events were transferred to Tatura at the last moment, due to a forecast of 38 degrees in Cobram. The relocation was well received by the two Tatura Teams involved. Tatura Tornados took the honours in the GM4 Division but unfortunately Tatura Lightning missed out in GM5. The great performance by the Tornados has been recognised at higher levels and the team was invited to take part in the State League Championships held at Royal South Yarra, Kooyong Lawn and Dendy Park Tennis Clubs on 29 and 30 April.

Tatura Lawn has some of the best lawn courts and facilities in Victoria and Tennis Victoria has recognised this by allocating the prestigious Judy Dalton Cup to Tatura, to be played over the weekend of 28 and 29 October 2023. This will involve under 14 and under 16 girls playing on all twelve lawn courts at Tatura over the weekend. Go along and watch some high-quality junior tennis. Tennis is not always serious at Tatura Lawn. Social tennis is also very popular and thanks to Shepparton Real Estate and the organisational skills of Gabrielle Cornwall, FAST 4 was conducted again in February. FAST 4 is exactly what it says, fast games and plenty of fun followed by a BBQ.

The club is very keen to encourage more people to play tennis. It doesn’t matter if you think you can be club champion, or just want a hit and giggle, there is no better place to do it than the Tatura Lawn Tennis Club. See us on Facebook or try our website https://play.tennis.com.au/ taturalawntennisclub.