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The News Headlines
Wednesday February 1 2012 |
Letters to the Editor
Promaccom
Fine Accommodation
From The Mirror,
February 5 1992 |
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Prue Fleming is Corner Inlet Citizen
of the Year |
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PRUE Fleming’s invaluable contribution to the community was recognised
during the Australia Day celebrations at Foster, when she was announced as
the Corner Inlet Citizen of the Year 2012.
Prue’s long term involvement in the fundraising activities of the South
Gippsland Hospital Auxiliary, most recently as Vice President, her support
and organisational skills in preparations for the Prom Coast Seachange
Festival, her participation in FAMDA over many years, and her tireless
efforts as a committee member and Steward of the Foster and District Show
were all mentioned in her citation.
Not only has Prue been invaluable as a committee member for the Show but she
has been a marvellous exhibitor, culminating in her winning the Mary
McDonald Trophy in 2009 for earning the most points across all sections of
craft and cooking.
Her citation also praised her long involvement in the local Uniting Church,
saying it had been much appreciated by all those to whom she has shown such
care and love.
A very worthy recipient, Prue’s nomination was supported most vigorously and
enthusiastically by each of the community organisations with which she is
involved, all of whom are convinced she will represent the Corner Inlet
community most admirably.
In accepting her award, Prue said that she was truly honoured to have been
nominated and was very grateful to all those responsible for her nomination.
Fish Creek CFA’s Mick Dorling, last year’s Corner Inlet Citizen of the Year,
was at the Australia Day celebrations to pass the baton to Prue.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
Two community service awards were also presented at the Corner Inlet
Australia Day celebrations. They went to the very deserving Pieter Berghoef
and Eva Hendrie.
Pieter has, on behalf of many organisations including the Toora Lions Club,
raised tens of thousands of dollars over the years. This quiet achiever has
for many years been actively involved in all facets of the Lions Club, and
along with his wife Sylvia has been a driving force behind the Toora Uniting
Church. There is barely a committee in the area which Pieter has not been a
part of, and his dedicated efforts in assisting the community are much
admired and respected.
Eva Hendrie is much admired for her work with the Uniting Church, the
Welshpool Red Cross, Junior Red Cross, Welshpool Memorial Hall Committee,
the CWA and South Gippsland Hospital. Selflessly generous and always ready
to assist those in need, Eva has been involved with Red Cross for over 50
years, organising Music Days at Welshpool and running Junior Red Cross, and
has spent countless hours baking for charity. Eva has raised thousands of
dollars for charities such as Orana, Vision Australia and the Bible Society.
Already the recipient of a well-deserved OAM, Eva has now been given
recognition on a local level for her dedication to the Corner Inlet
community. She expressed her gratitude, adding that she derives a great deal
of enjoyment in what she does, therefore finding that it requires very
little effort.
Corner Inlet Australia Day committee chair Margaret Haycroft officiated as
MC and did a splendid job ensuring the day ran smoothly. She commented that
in such a relatively small community it was wonderful to have in attendance
two local recipients of the Order Of Australia - Eva Hendrie and Ros Bryan
(who received her OAM in recent years for her work with the RSL). Ros Bryan
was there with other local members of the RSL.
Stan Tindle, president of the Fish Creek RSL, raised the Australian flag at
the start of the official proceedings.
COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR
The award of Corner Inlet Community Event of the Year was presented to the
Prom Coast Summer Festival, incorporating the Sea Days Festival, the Show
‘n’ Shine and the Tour de Garage.
Gratefully accepting the award on behalf of the organising committee was Lyn
Lucas, who with her team of helpers worked so hard in organising the
festival.
Presenting the award to Lyn, South Gippsland Shire Councillor Jeanette
Harding said that with so many elements to the festival, it was quite an
undertaking to pull everything together in order to bring this wonderful
event to the community and to the general public.
Lyn had only been made aware of such recognition earlier in the day and was
almost speechless with surprise.
The theme of this year’s Corner Inlet celebrations of Australia Day was the
National Year of Reading and, with the assistance of the Friends of Corner
Inlet Libraries, the indefatigable Marg Haycroft organised a range of
activities around this theme. Children were invited to make ‘hot dog books’
and book bags. This continued through the afternoon, along with lots of
storytelling.
The celebrations were held on the lawns outside Foster Museum and plenty of
people took the opportunity to visit the museum. Members of the Fish Creek
and Toora RSL branches presented an impressive display of books and war-time
memorabilia, and there were fine examples of weaving and knitting to admire
at the Foster Wool Group stand.
Appropriately for the literacy theme, guest speaker was South Gippsland
Secondary College principal Cheryl Glowrey. She spoke about the Corner Inlet
area’s rich tapestry of local stories, including stories of the early
exploration for gold and of pioneering families who cleared the land and
established farms, building a community. Cheryl encouraged everyone to read
the local stories, and as we are shaping the future, to begin the next set
of stories.
Music from the band ‘Soul Purpose’ had everyone’s feet tapping. With a cuppa
from the Welshpool Red Cross or a tasty bite from the Toora Lions Club
barbecue, it was a perfect way to celebrate our national day.
The celebrations culminated in the cutting of the cake. Australia’s
‘national cake,’ the lamington, once again made an appearance – this year as
a cake consisting of individual lamingtons, made by the ladies of the CWA.
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A top community atop Mt
Best |
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MT BEST’S reputation as a cohesive community was borne out last Sunday, when
on a hot summer afternoon, with the beach beckoning, more than forty people
turned up to the local hall for the launch of the Mount Best Community Hall
and District Development Plan 2011.
“When it comes to community, Mt Best does it best!” It was with this proud
boast that the president of the Mt Best Hall Committee, Phil Rerden,
launched the plan. He invited Harold and Maureen Ford and Joan Webley, who
have all had a long association with the hall, to cut a ribbon marking the
occasion.
“The hall is the heart of the Mt Best community. It’s the way to welcome
people onto the mountain,” said Mr Rerden.
The hall plays a pivotal role in the community plan, which has as its
vision:
To create a friendly, caring community with social and artistic activities
offered for all age groups, centred at the Mt Best Hall;
To maintain the hall as an extremely valuable asset for interaction of the
community;
To develop a plan to expand the facility in a modest way for the increasing
future population.
As the plan points out, the hall has long been recognised as the focal point
of the Mt Best community. It is the only public building at Mt Best. It has
a current membership of 76 adults and 24 children – a large proportion of
the local population – and is the location of regular community activities.
For the launch of the community plan, the management committee did the hall
proud, arranging a fascinating display of historic photographs and articles
and supplying a sumptuous afternoon tea for the community to share.
At the launch was Marzia Maurilli from South Gippsland Shire, who worked
with the Mt Best community to prepare the plan, first holding training
sessions in community building in this and other communities in the east of
the shire. She praised the Mt Best community for working well together and
for combining in a halls network with other communities (Toora, Welshpool,
Port Welshpool, Hedley and Port Franklin), to better access funding for
prioritised hall projects.
South Gippsland Shire councillor Jeanette Harding, who was there to
represent Council along with Cr Mimmie Jackson, said that Mt Best was
frequently held up as an excellent example of a community working well
together. Mt Best and Koonwarra, she said, set the benchmarks in South
Gippsland Shire.
“Keep on supporting your hall committee,” she urged the Mt Best community.
Mr Rerden said the community plan was a very important tool with which the
community could work with local government to achieve its vision.
“It includes a history, as well as what we like about this community and
where we want to go as a community. We will look at it each year and review
it and we ask for general community involvement, not just from the members
of the hall committee.”
The community needs as listed in the current plan include:
Mt Best Hall extension – an application will be submitted to provide a
meeting room and kitchen extension. Estimated cost $160,000;
Covered BBQ area;
Roads – unmade roads need more attention in the winter months. Following
rains, potholes, corrugations, drains and culverts need to be attended to
regularly. Regular roadside vegetation cutting and weed spraying;
Telephone exchange upgrade;
Mobile phone wireless internet tower improvements;
Rubbish collection – no rubbish collection in the area. Disposing of own
rubbish at the local transfer station is costly; suggest a free council
voucher could be offered for three drops a year;
Digital television reception improvement;
Weeds/livestock – weed and livestock control on properties of non-resident
owners can be a problem.
Shire boundaries – the change of shire boundaries has put the Mt Best area
in a small pocket with the Mirboo area, which includes non-populated
mountains, excising us from close communities such as Toora and Foster.
Future directions and needs are listed as:
Sign – ‘Welcome to Mt Best, the top of the world’;
Hall heating/cooling;
Women’s group to welcome new residents in the district and raise funds for
the hall;
To form a youth group for local youth;
Resurface the Mt Best hall tennis court;
To network with other local community groups;
Seek grants for large projects;
Provide two parking spaces at the lookout near memorial plaque for the
convenience of tourists;
Develop the picnic area next to the hall;
Work with local government departments;
Review suggestions and priorities each year.
Marzia Maurilli said she was hopeful that the funding application from the
halls network to the state government, supported by the shire, would be
successful. If so, it will see nearly $400,000 spent on the three priority
projects, one of which is a new kitchen for Mt Best Hall.
“The application is with Regional Development Victoria and we should hear in
the next couple of months,” she said.
Mr Rerden said the people of Mt Best who worked to put the community plan
together can feel proud on a job well done.
“Everyone wants a nice place to live,” he said. “Here in Mt Best we have a
population ranging in age from three years to ninety years. They are from a
diverse range of cultures – a melting pot – but we have learnt to live well
together. Mt Best does it best!”
Mr Rerden concluded by reminding everyone to attend the next community event
in the hall – an old-time film night on February 18.
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Hospital staff get on their
bikes for
a great cause |
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PROMOTING the health benefits of cycling at the same time as fundraising for
a great cause, a team from South Gippsland Hospital will participate for the
first time in the Murray to Moyne relay cycling event.
Held on the weekend of Saturday March 31 to Sunday April 1, the event will
see as many as 1700 cyclists riding from the Murray River in the north of
the state to the mouth of the Moyne at Port Fairy. The South Gippsland
Hospital team will be among the ‘Day Timers’ riding the 390 kilometres in
relays from Swan Hill to the sea. Some teams of ‘Night Riders’ will ride the
full 520 kilometres, some from Mildura or Echuca.
2012 is the 26th year of the Murray to Moyne, long recognised as an
excellent way in which to raise funds for health services. Last year a total
of $1,300,000 was raised for health services across the state. Leongatha and
Korumburra hospital employees have taken part in the past, but are not
involved this year.
The aims of this famed event are twofold – to raise funds for hospitals and
health services and to promote the health benefits of cycling.
“It is also a great team-building exercise,” said local GP Phil Worboys, who
will be among the team known as the ‘South Gippsland Riders.’
The local team will include 29 riders of varying ability and experience,
drawn from the full gamut of hospital staff, from doctors and nurses to
radiography, kitchen and administrative staff, including CEO Peter Rushen
himself. Eleven members of the community are joining the ride. They will be
joined by a support crew of six. A few riders are hopping back on their
bikes after 20 years out of the saddle!
Upwards of 3,000 people are expected to participate in this year’s event.
The South Gippsland crew plan to ride from 20km to 50km at a time in groups
of four or five cyclists. They will stop at Hamilton for a communal meal on
Saturday and ride on again the next morning. The finish should be
spectacular, with all riders getting together for the final 90 kilometre
ride down to the sea.
“We have begun training, but we will be increasing our training regime over
the next eight or so weeks,” said Dr Worboys.
The South Gippsland Riders are aiming to raise $20,000. The money will go
towards specific items, including a defibrillator for the community health
centre.
“We have been blown away by the generosity of the public already. Some very
generous sponsors have come forward and contributed $7,000 so far. We’d like
to thank all our sponsors,” said Nicole Wake, who will also be among the
riders.
The team is now looking for more sponsors and donations to make this the
major fundraiser for South Gippsland Hospital for the year. Donations are
tax-deductible and can be made at hospital reception or through the website
www.everydayhero.com.au (go to the South Gippsland Hospital link).
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Community bushfire exercise
at
Sandy Point |
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THE CFA will be holding a community bushfire exercise in Sandy Point this
weekend.
CFA’s Ivan Smith will be facilitating the exercise in the Waratah Beach Surf
Lifesaving Club on Saturday (February 4) commencing at 4pm.
The exercise has been designed to give residents of Sandy Point a realistic
understanding of the likely fire behaviour and local risk.
“Hopefully the exercise will give the Sandy Point locals an idea of how a
fire is likely to start and where it might go,” said CFA Gippsland Community
Safety Manager Mark Potter.
The CFA hopes that residents will come away from this exercise better
informed about their local risk, and use that knowledge for their bushfire
survival plans.
Ivan Smith has been a CFA volunteer and staff member for many years and will
be able to give the residents an insight to how a fire might impact on Sandy
Point.
CFA will be suppling large aerial photography maps so participants can
actually map the progress of the “fire” and see how it might affect their
property.
Participants will also learn about fire behaviour, the Fire Danger Rating
and community warnings. Local representatives from the Department of
Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Victoria Police and South Gippsland
Shire will be attending.
There will be no charge for attendance at the exercise and CFA will be
supplying dinner. During the dinner break, CFA will be holding a live fire
demonstration to practically simulate how a bushfire burns in coastal areas.
The fire simulation table uses actual bush and real fire to demonstrate fire
behaviour and prevention.
There is no need to book for the exercise and all community members will be
made welcome.
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Seven have lucky escape as
boat capsizes |
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A BOAT carrying seven people struck trouble attempting to negotiate the
entrance to Shallow Inlet last Tuesday.
The seven on board the four metre boat, all aged about 14 to 25, were
attempting to travel out of the entrance and onto Waratah Bay and were using
the flat-bottomed boat to ‘surf’ the waves.
The group’s fun came to a nasty end as the boat began to take on water and
capsized.
Thankfully all on board were wearing life jackets and managed to right the
boat and bail out the water.
Unable to restart the motor, they managed to row close enough to shore for
four of the party to begin the walk back along the beach. Distressed and
tired, three stayed on board.
A woman riding a jet ski alerted those nearby to the events unfolding. Sean
Geary, on holiday from Bendigo, and a regular visitor to the area for over
thirty years, was able to assist by bringing the remaining boat occupants
back to land and rescuing the stricken boat. These three were grateful for
Sean’s help. Sean expressed surprise that the party had ventured out of the
entrance, which can be very dangerous. The windy weather was also not taken
into consideration.
Speaking as a boat operator familiar with the area, Sean said it was of
great concern that some visitors to the area are not acquainting themselves
with the possible pitfalls of tackling the entrance and are not considering
the type of equipment suited to such an endeavour.
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