Forrest Post Mar 2023 edition

FORREST POST THE

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and waters around us, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We respect their cultural heritage, knowledge here in Forrest where the waters flow over Gadubanud and Gulidjan Country

When the new lessee of the caravan park took over they did say that they would talk to the annuals about checking on compliance issues that had been noted. We as annuals were aware that there would be sites that needed to be made compliant and we had no qualms with that, indeed we were happy to discuss. We were hoping for the opportunity to work with Belgravia Pro to meet compliance issues, but sadly that option, to date, has not been considered. After nearly 7 months of silence since the takeover we had our first formal contact with the upper echelon of Belgravia Pro and that was to inform us that they would be levelling the park and we would have to remove our vans at our own cost and then if we were interested in returning would have to apply via a ballot for the now limited amount of annual sites made available, all this having to be done by the end of June. After approaches from the group of committed annuals, Belgravia Pro said they would slow down the process so that we could digest all of this and try to make some sort of compromise. They did after a period come back to us and say that they would allow us all to apply for a site.....but that decision has to be made by the end of March and we still have to remove by end of June which seems more accelerated than slowed down, then rebuild after they carry out whatever works they intend to do. At this point in time they won’t tell us where we will end up in the revamped park, and what materials any annexes or flyovers will need to built in, I doubt very much we will be able to reuse what we have.

Leveling of the site in order to put in new plumbing seems pretty extreme and there was sadly no opportunity for the current annuals to explore ways in which to bring their dwellings up to code. Some of these vans have been owned by families for up to 25 years, some were purchased in the last few years, in some cases for substantial amounts. The fallout of this for quite a few people is not just financial as in some cases it will be very costly to remove, store and rebuild. Some of the vans have been in place for many years and will need to be transported away from the park on trucks and the disposal of materials will not only be wasteful but expensive. Aside from those issues it is going to have negative effects on the owners own well being and their feelings of self worth, issues that can’t be fixed by throwing money at them.

Despite the community engagement conducted during the lead up to the tendering process for the park, and the resulting paper that came from that, Belgravia Pro say they have never seen any info from that document and therefore the community’s wish for a pretty free form park without boom gates has been disregarded, and the value of the annuals to the economy of the town be it either financial, supporters of events, creators of events such as the Rock trivia night and as volunteers for the Mountain bike club or committees along the lines of Soupfest or neighborhood house will be overlooked.

Our own community of annuals are continuing to seek alternatives to a mass upheaval and destruction of our piece of paradise. We’ve been heartened by the support of friends, the people of Forrest and also that of the Community group. Our local state politician has offered some advice and we have some well qualified people looking into the process. The irony that we called our particular street “Highview Crescent” in homage to the movie “The Castle” many years ago has not been lost on us. Aside from a lot of exceptionally private and sensitive information they are asking from any potential current or new annuals to supply in any application, verging on an invasion of privacy, the process itself is proving to be demeaning and a disheartening experience, and that will for many detract from the “vibe” of the place.

Sandy Maxwell

Women of the Otways: Friday March 3rd, 6pm-8pm. Byo .

It’s not just a park, it’s a second home.

The Town's Extended Family

Council News Update

Colac Otway Shire Council Grant Program 2023 - 24 Applications Now Open

The Colac Otway Shire Council Grants Program 2023 - 24 provides grants to assist funding projects and events that benefit the wider community and help in achieving goals and outcomes consistent with the 2021-2025 Council Plan through strong and resilient economies, natural and built environments and healthy and inclusive communities.

A total pool of $311,500* is available through three funding streams:

• Community Grants

• Events Grants

• Business Grants

*(subject to Council budget approval)

Information sessions will be available online. Please contact Council’s Grants Officer to register.

Wednesday 8 March 2023 at 12.30pm

Thursday 9 March 2023 at 5.45pm

How to apply

Visit Council’s website to review the NEW Guidelines and apply online at www.colacotway.vic.gov.au under ‘Apply for a Grant, Colac Otway Shire Grants Program 2023-2024’

Applications open 9am on Friday 3 March 2023 and close 5pm on Friday 14 April 2023.

For assistance, contact Council’s Grants Officer on grants@colacotway.vic.gov.au or (03) 5232 9400

Presentation of the 2023 Colac Otway Community Awards

Join us for the presentation of the Colac Otway Community Awards at the Colac Kana Festival in Colac.

Join in the festival fun on the day, and come and celebrate Colac Otway’s Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Service of the Year.

When: Saturday 18 March

Where: Colac Kana Festival stage in Memorial Square

Colac Otway Shire Council thanks the organisers of the Colac Kana Festival for including the awards in their program and look forward to celebrating at the festival.

Colac Otway Shire Council Countback

The resignation of Cr Jamie Bell in January 2023 created an extraordinary vacancy within the Colac Otway Shire Council. The extraordinary vacancy will be filled through a countback conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). The countback will be streamed online through Microsoft Teams at 10am on Wednesday 1 March 2023.

A link will be available on the VEC’s website on 9.30am on the morning of the countback. For more information please visit www.vec.vic.gov.au

ATTENTION SENIORS

The Forrest & District Neighbourhood House are seeking to expand our programs to include more senior centred activities. If you are aged 65+ and have a suggestion or recommendation for activities, please get in touch by calling 0493105502 or email forrest.nh@gmail.com. Examples could include social gatherings, exercise groups, outings, morning teas etc.

The Forrest Post is auspiced by the Forrest Men’s Shed. Every effort is made to remain current, accurate and non-partisan. Feedback, submissions and advertising are encouraged. Submissions may be edited. You can request an electronic version by email, find us on Facebook or online at issuu.com/theforrestpost for back issues Contact: theforrestpost@gmail.com

Editors: Susan Langridge, Marita Kennedy, Noor Petersen

Contributors Ian Davies, Adam Fry, Pauline Rostos, Mary Dracup, Marita Kennedy, Ruby Jackson, Noor Petersen, Sandy Maxwell

Design: Nasser Kotb Print: Forrest Primary School. All contributions to be received the 22nd of the month.

Blundy Street Newbies

Finally the lonely little house in Blundy Street now has reason to feel alive with Leonie Hurry and her three children Will, Oliver and Lucy-Rose, who come and stay intermittently, bringing love and joy. They were delighted to spend their first Christmas here, celebrated with the planting of a Jacaranda tree. The history of Forrest definitely drew Leonie to the town along with all the beautiful walks and nature. Discovering the house once was the local bankers thrilled Leonie who loves restoring old homes and discovering their history and the people who lived in them.

Leonie was previously on a little farm in Alvie where she had Australian miniature goats and Irish miniature donkeys… who knows, the donkeys may make a guest appearance in Forrest one day!

For the moment Leonie is commuting a few times a week to Melbourne for work. She has an arts background. Since childhood Leonie’s attraction to the Otways and GOR began when she stayed in Anglesea. This continued with her first teaching round at Lorne High School in 1980 when she spent a term living and working there with the locals, which she loved.

Leonie’s three Cocker Spaniels, Tess, Hattie and Winnie are the latest to join the growing Forrest canine community. The town’s new residents all look forward to getting to know the community and already feel overwhelmed by the kindness the people of Forrest have shown.

May the Otway spirit and pristine environment captivate them all as it has for us.

The Women in Fire

Noor Petersen

The Women in Fire and Emergency Management Network is a working group aimed at creating a safe and inclusive workplace culture and promoting the professional development of women working for Forest Fire Management across the Barwon South West. With a few key developments, such as a buddy system to support new staff and a roster for women to gain exposure to key emergency roles, a big highlight this season has been our first women’s working day! Operational staff were invited to participate in a day of maintenance on the mountain bike tracks in Yaugher. Work for the day included vegetation and track clearing, gravel resurfacing and tree work, with a focus on chainsaw training. The aim was to bring women in the district together, to share skills, gain leadership experience and to complete meaningful work out in the field. It was a great success, with many feeling “more open and less worried about being judged on our ability or skill level”. We are hoping to hold more events like this one for women at all levels of the workforce- not just those with operational roles in the field, but also for those with office-based roles. This is just the beginning, watch this space for more to come!

Ruby Jackson

Film review for Woman at war

Woman at war was the best film I saw last year, so I’m excited our committee has chosen to screen this as the next Forrest Flicks Film Society film on Thursday 9 March. The film is set in raw Icelandic countryside and tells the story of a 50-year-old woman’s audacious sabotage of an aluminium smelter and her flight to safety across the highlands. She is an unlikely hero, living a double life as a respected choir leader who hopes to adopt a child. The characters are authentic, and there are plenty of quirky sub-plots to add surprise and fun, though there is a serious environmental theme underpinning it all. I don’t want to give too much away, but there is a delightful twist towards the end. The director is Benedikt Erlingsson, and the film stars Halldora Geirhardsdottir. Woman at war is the second Forrest Flicks Film Society film. We will show 10 films a year, on the second Thursday of each month from February to November. All will be at the Forrest Public Hall, starting at 7:30 pm. You can relax with a complementary glass of wine or juice on arrival, and chat about the film afterwards over a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits. Don’t forget to BYO cushion!

Full-year and five-film subscriptions are available at the hall on the night for cash or online at: https://www.eventbrite. com.au/e/forrest-flicks-film-society-subscription-tickets-504202612587. You can also come and ‘try it and see’ for a cash donation of $15. For more information email forrestflicks@gmail.com.

Mary Dracup

Forrest & District Neighbourhood House -

CRAFT CIRCLE: Mondays 10am-12pm. BYO craft projects and a snack. Gold coin.

Top up’ boxes (fruit, veg and bread) will be available for collection each Tuesday with arrangement through the coordinator. Please get in touch to receive a box.

WEEDING GROUP: Second Tuesday of the month 10-12pm.

FOOD SHARE PANTRY: Pantry is topped up each Wednesday and Friday evenings from ALDI collection. Available to all

SINGING FOR FUN: Wednesdays 10-12pm Gold coin

STUDIO FORREST ART GROUP: Wednesdays 10-4pm.

BOOK CLUB: 1st Wednsday of the month @ 7.30pm

COMING SOON

• Women of the Otways: Friday March 3rd, 6pm-8pm. Byo refreshments. All local and visiting women welcome.

• Seniors morning tea: Tuesday 28th March 10.30am-11.30am. Welcome to all over 60. Please RSVP 0493105502

• Sew Socials: Saturday 18th March,10am-4pm.. BYO sewing projects, machine/equipment and lunch!

• Easter activity! Watch this space.

$250 power saving bonus application support- call or text 0493105502 to book a time.

March 2023

YOGA: Thursdays 6pm-7.30pm $15 per class.

COMMUNITY LUNCH: Take away. Order the day before, pick up at 12.30 on Thursday. $6.

PLAYGROUP: Friday mornings 9.30am-11am. Gold coin

YOUTH SPACE: Friday afternoons. Grades 3-5, 3.30-4pm. Grade 6-12, 4.15-5.pm. Games, snacks and fun provided. $10 per term

FORREST COMMUNITY GYM: Contact coordinator for membership information and to sign up.

ROLLERSKATING @ the hall. 1st Sunday of the month 3-4.30pm. BYO skates or borrow some of ours. $5 per skater.

WE HAVE:

Free WiFi • Printing services • Room hire • Community spaces

• Reading room • Food share • Forrest & District Historical Society display and library • Recycle drop point (during open hours only) for soft plastics, bread tags, Clothes swap and small household batteries.

LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, SHARE THE CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND STAY SAFE.

Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page for up to date info and events! facebook.com/forrest.neighbourhoodhouse

OPERATING: Tues, Wed, Thurs 8.30am-3.30pm, Thurs AT THE HALL for lunch, FRI 8.30am-12pm. Please contact the coordinator Renee if you have any queries, program requests or would like to run a program T: 5236 6597 0493105502

E: forrest.nh@gmail.com A: Community Hub - 47 Grant Street, Forrest 3236

The F&DNH is open during normal operating hours and running programs at usual capacity.

Forrest Osteopathy is onsite and operating on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Please contact Jessie on 0438298669 or forrestosteo@gmail.com for more information or to book.

True Blue Forrester

By the time you read this Audrey Miller will be a few weeks shy of circling the sun 88 times!! A grand achievement indeed and made more so by Audrey’s ‘sharp as a tack’ memory, her immaculate home and garden and her generosity.

Audrey holds the impressive title of being the only long term resident who was actually born in Forrest and virtually remained in the area all of her life! She was born in her grandmother’s house near the Pub by the then bush nurse! The family moved ‘up the hill’ to Barramunga until her father was enlisted in the War. The family also lived in Kaanglang Road for a short time. When her father returned from the War in 1942 they moved to Forrest living where Alice, now the Cooper house is. Audrey simply crossed the road while attending the Forrest Primary School. Soon after they worked a farm in Gerangamete. Audrey then went to the Barwon Downs School for 8 years. She left at 14 to work on the farm. Her farm stories are a wonderful collection of anecdotes of hard work and sustainable life skills.

In 1958 Audrey married Ken and soon were running a trucking business. They purchased the stately house on the corner of Station Street and Hennigan Crescent where their three children were all raised. Audrey recently realized, after 64 years in her home, 12 years of that alone, that it was time. Time to hang up her pinny and her cleaning regime, to remain safe and cared for, so she has transitioned to a nursing home in Winchelsea.

Forrest misses you dear Audrey. But like all memories they remain forever in the heart to be ‘viewed’ at the merest suggestion. And that is how we at Forrest will keep youfriendship alive.

Petersen

Organic Gardening 2

Following on from last month's article, soil health depends upon the correct balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for optimal plant growth.

Nitrogen encourages leaf growth and green leaves. Sources include poultry manure and blood and bone. Legumes such as cow peas or broad beans fix nitrogen in the soil, working with bacteria to do so.

Phosphorus is needed for strong roots and fruit development as well as an increased resistance to disease. Sources include phosphate rock which is 65 percent calcium phosphate plus trace elements. Super phosphate is made using sulphuric acid which can leach into waterways and kill beneficial bacteria, microbes, fish and frogs. Not so good and not necessary as soil microbes decompose fine rock particles which the plants take up when needed.

Potassium forms carbohydrates which are necessary for photosynthesis and promotes early growth of plants. Sources include potash, wood ash hay and leaves.

A well balanced organic fertilizer is 1: poultry manure,1: phosphate rock, 4: wood ash, applied with as much animal manure or plant residue as possible.

Trace minerals can be sprayed onto leaves at dusk; (leaf openings close up during the day to reduce evaporation) A good mix is 75 percent fish emulsion: 25 percent seaweed extract which contains over 21 trace minerals.

Happy gardening!

Information taken from "Growing Fruit and Herbs Organically by Liz Sinnamon. Marita Kennedy

Snakes Alive!! and Dead!

A live Tiger snake in your craft supplies! EEEKKKK! But brave Aletheia Freddi did as she remembered learning when snake catcher Benny McNamara visited the school last year educating the kids what to do when seeing a snake... SCREAM! Snakes apparently do not have a sense of hearing but the idea is to attract someone to come running to help. Which Liza did! And before the slithery reptile slinked away Benny was there to the rescue.

Kudos to the school for including such an important visit for the students. And what an amazing find the Howards had at the dam! Another Tiger snake but this one well and truly dead. Such an incredible skeleton to hang on the wall! And

by the shape of it’s head! Stick Benny’s number on your fridge 0498063229

Noor

Benny McNamara was able to identify it as a Tiger

just in case! Noor Petersen

MOVING ON

John Cruikshank is moving on from his home and Wildlife Sanctuary at Upper Gellibrand. To meet John is to first meet his house, several buildings in a beautiful revegetated forest garden and orchard ten minutes down the road to Stevensons Falls from Barramunga.

Zazen is written in large bold letters on the wooden doors at the entrance to the house, facing the road. The name refers to sitting meditation, the old name for Zen and originates from the teachings of Buddha who lived 2500 years ago the founder of Buddhism. The practice is meant to give insight into one’s true self, recommending witnessing thoughts not being affected or overcome by them. The curiosity and mystery of being here are already aroused. John seems to be the embodiment of all this with his quiet cheerful, calm and welcoming manner. The various rooms in his house which he built himself have been made available for people, particularly from the city to come and spend retreats or to facilitate group meditations. One meditation room is open to the public at any time.

John bought the land in 1980 but before that the house was part of an old dairy farm. (from 1934)

In the early twentieth century Upper Gellibrand was a thriving community with a pub named Halfway Hotel to serve the workers on the bullock trains as they made their way to Colac - a one day journey from the logging areas. The area was all dairy farms before logging took over again. National Parks grew up in areas when the logging stopped.

By the mid 80’s life had changed and John and his partner Lyn and their 5 month old son Orien came to live at the house using the old dairy with its original stonework as a base. From this he added another storey and a maze of rooms. He settled into the peace and mystery!

His meditation has been refined over decades. in 1996 he took Sannyasan, a religious ascetic practice of renouncing the world. But John is not a total hermit. As seen in the photo, his drum (and others) has been and still is a big part of his life. He has been seen and heard busking in Apollo Bay, playing at the Forrest Neighbourhood House and music jam at the Men’s Shed. All this, he says, is with other musicians helping to build community spirit.

Because of the way John has lived, where he lives and the experience he has had, it is hard to really know and define him. Perhaps this is how he likes it - keeping the mystery and the curiosity alive by not defining himself!

Pauline Rostos

John Drumming. Zazan Entrance to John's.JPGA bowler’s dream

A new landscape emerging at Hennigan Crescent

A total of 66 adults and children have given their time over the past year to restore the bushland site on Hennigan Crescent. This is an amazing number, out of around 260 people living in the Forrest area. It’s difficult now to remember the solid walls of holly and thick tangles of blackberry that dominated before, but we should feel proud of our achievement as a town, as we enjoy the tranquil new view of the river from this site.

The 1300 new plants we put in last year are thriving, with continued care from Landcarers over summer. Last month Hennigan Crescent resident Leo Coolhaas donated a few tonnes of woodchips, which we have started to spread around the new plants in our working bees.

Have a stroll down the Hennigan Crescent walking track and check on the progress for yourself. While you’re there, please don’t forget to pull out any baby holly plants you see!

Landcare activities are generally on the first Sunday and second Tuesday of each month, 10am-12pm. For information contact gerangametelandcare@gmail.com.

Gang Gang Cockatoo

Forrest and district is home to so many beautiful birds. This month we welcome two new contributors Ian Davies and Adam Fry, who are enthusiastic bird watchers in our region. They will write about a different bird they have seen, each month. Hope you enjoy learning about the beautiful birds we share our backyard with. Thanks Ian and Adam.

The iconic Gang-Gang Cockatoo is a favourite of many people. They are found in forested areas from the South Australian Border through to Mid Northern NSW. They also venture out into farmland areas, and can be even found in Suburbs of bigger towns if there are enough large trees around. They can be common around the township of Forrest, and other good places to find them include The West Barwon Dam, and around Lake Elizabeth. I have also seen them around the school, and the Forrest caravan park. They are even quite common in the Colac area during the autumn and winter months, where they come in looking for seeds and fruit.

Like most Australian Parrots and Cockatoos, they nest high in a tree hollow, where they lay 2-3 white rounded eggs. Males can be easily distinguished from females by their distinctive brightly coloured red head and crest. Females have a grey head and crest, and a more barred chest.

They can usually be seen in flocks of up to 15-20 birds, and are quite amusing to watch their floppy, irregular but strong flight. It is also great to hear their `rusty gate` call, as they announce their passing, or arrival in an area. They can be extremely quiet and approachable while feeding, and often their presence is given away by the smaller gum nuts falling like rain as they forage through the leaves. In the autumn season they can also often be seen along the Forrest Colac road as they feed on the berries of the Hawthorn bushes along the roadside.

This Cockatoo is definitely a favourite of ours!

Ian Davies and Adam Fry

Mary Dracup

Landcarers big and small

Female Gang Gang.

Male Gang Gang.