PAGE 36 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Holden set for Leongatha A COLIN Watson Holden dealership is set to be open in Leongatha next year.
In the know: Chris Elliott, Ryan Veda and Russell Hemming at the open day recently.
Helping hand: Rotary members Graeme Evans, Helen Barrow, Ross Pearson and Jim Cusack were on hand dishing out sausages to those who came to have a look at the new Holden dealership site.
Construction will start in around three months on the empty block next to Beaumont Tiles. Manager of Colin Watson Holden Traralgon, Chris Elliott, said the finishing date is not set in stone. “We’ve got to tweak a few plans yet, but then we expect to get started as soon as possible,” he said. “We’ll be hoping to open in about the second quarter of next year.” The land was bought two years ago, but Holden held off due to the global financial crisis that saw the American General Motors Company battling. Colin Watson Holden held an open day last week to welcome people to the site. The first car bought on the new home of the dealership was by Wendy Appleyard, who purchased a new Holden Cruze Sri-V on Saturday.
Lucky number one: Holden salesman Russell Hemming with Wendy Appleyard, her daughter Kate and her new Holden Cruze Sri-V that she purchased on Saturday morning.
New site: Holdens like these will be on display at this site within a year.
Hands on learning STUDENTS from Years Prep to 2 at Tarwin Valley Primary School turned scientists last week. The kids launched into hands-on learning to explore and develop their understanding of the animal world as part of their integrated studies units, ‘Insects and Australian animals’. The students were part of a science incursion which had them moving through
a number of interactive science learning centres. Classifying animals, studying worm behaviour, creating snail environments and learning about survival characteristics and behaviours were explored. In addition to learning science facts, the program aimed to develop curiosity, asking questions, noticing patterns and challenging current perceptions and understandings.
Knitting for charity: (back, from left) Jill Ryan, Sonia Holt, Betty Fitzpatrick, Sharon Nicita, front; Christine Corbidge, Carol Morrison, Yvonne McAlpine and Val Stephens are knitting hats for Leongatha Hospital’s chemo ward.
Made of the right stuff THE Leongatha Community House Craft Group’s latest charity venture is perfect considering the recent cold weather. The group of 10 is knitting hats and scarves for the chemotherapy
ward of the Leongatha hospital. “Initially it was just going to be a hat or a scarf each, but it’s growing,” Sharon Nicita said. “Now we’re aiming for about 100 hats.” The hats and scarves add to the long list of past charity work including quilts for breast cancer,
toys, teddies and singlets for the Royal Children’s Hospital and clothes for tsunami and bushfire victims. Members are always welcome to the craft group, who meet between 10 and 12pm on Thursdays.
Future scientists: Mason, Mitchell and Alexandra explore preserved animals.
Tourism in the region is back on track Destination Gippsland covers all of Gippsland when it comes to promoting tourism and their Korumburra offices provide a great base for the company. The company is the peak tourism body in Gippsland and they deal with five regional tourism associations. Chief executive officer Terry Robinson said that being positioned in Korumburra has many advantages. “South Gippsland is a popular tourist destination within Gippsland, especially because of Wilsons Promontory,” he said. “Being in Korumburra adjacent to another popular tourist attraction, Coal
Creek as well as the information centre is another benefit.” The building that the offices are in belongs to the South Gippsland Shire Council. “Even though this is a council building it is important for us to be seen separate from the council; they do great stuff for tourism though,” Mr Robinson said. The outlook for tourism in South Gippsland all depends on time frames. Mr Robinson explained his thoughts of the future of tourism in three stages: short, middle and long term. “In the short term it’ll be difficult for the industry and some businesses will be doing it tough but when the winter is over
and the Prom is fully open it will be the time for bouncing back. In the long term the future is bright and positive because this is a strong area for tourism. I’m very optimistic about the future of tourism in South Gippsland. When questioned about the effect that the carbon tax will have on the industry Mr Robinson said it was hard to know. “Right now I think that people are really still trying to figure out what the tax is all about and how it will affect them,” he said. “If and when the tax comes in, domestic airfares will increase which will have an effect on both Australian and international visitors.
“With petrol prices not being affected driving holidays’ popularity will increase most likely, which will mean international visitors will stay and explore one state or area for longer instead of setting off around the country on domestic flights.” The long term effects of the carbon tax are what will benefit the Gippsland tourism industry the most. “Tourism in Gippsland is very environmentally based, with the Gippsland lakes and of course Wilsons Promontory being a national park. Anything that helps charge: Destination preserve the environment automatically is In Gippsland’s chief executive helping preserve the main tourism attracofficer Terry Robinson. tions in our area.”