life in our districtJen Walker (02) 4861 2333

jenny.walker@fairfaxmedia.com.au

12 Southern Highland News, Wednesday, July 27, 2016

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ryJULY 27

Mittagong CWATHE Mittagong Branch of CWA willhold its monthly meeting at therooms in Winifred West Park,Mittagong, on July 27, 2016. Theactivities will begin with handicraftat 10am followed by lunch at 12noon and the meeting from 1pm.Visitors are welcome. Details:Beverley on 4871 1483.

JULY 28

History TalkTHE history of Mittagong’s Farmand Cottage homes will be present-ed by Leonie Knapman at the July 28meeting of the Berrima DistrictHistorical Society. The Farm wasrenamed Renwick in 1976. The talkwill commence at 2pm in the OldCouncil Chambers, Bowral Road,Mittagong. Members and visitorsare welcome, and afternoon tea willbe provided. Enquiries: 4872 2169.

Movie nightBOOK early for the Highlands pre-miere of ‘Jason Bourne’ at theEmpire Cinema in Bowral on July 28.Tickets are $25 and proceeds willhelp support projects of the BerrimaDistrict Rotary Club. A glass of wineor a drink will be provided on arrival,along with a snack box. Arrive at6pm for a 6.30pm start.

JULY 29

Double DutchTHE U3A third term course DoubleDutch will resume on July 29. Thecourse combines conversation andgrammar in a congenial atmos-phere. New members are alwayswelcome. We invite Dutch speakersto speak at our Friday morning ses-sions for 30 minutes or more beforeor after our coffee break Details:Martin on 0459 228 033 or 4862 3804or email double-dutchu3a@gmail.com

Trivia Night fundraiserA TRIVIA night will be held July 29 toraise funds for Korina to purchaseprosthetics. The Christmas in Julytrivia night will be held at theMittagong RSL from 6.30pm. Ticketsare $50, which includes a two courseChristmas dinner. Prizes are avail-able on the night. Purchase ticketsfor the ‘Reaching 4 Korina’ fundrais-er at the Mittagong RSL.

JULY 30

Membership driveBONG Bong Picnic Race Club is run-ning a membership promotion forthe club until August 6. The club willwaive the $65 initial joining fee fornew members choosing to take oneither a three year $90 subscriptionand five year $125 subscription. Theclub will have a stall in Springett’sArcade on July 30 and August 6 from9.30am to 1pm where people canjoin or renew their membership.

Blue Light DiscoA BLUE Light Disco will be held July30 from 4pm-6.30pm. Cost is $5 perchild, parents and children underfour are free. The disco will be held atthe Mittagong RSL. Pay at the door.

Saving our closest relative

The 'Gorilla Girlz' consists of Year 7Oxley College students Bianca, Julia,Zoe and Molly, along with Freya and Ella(not pictured). Photo by Claire Fenwicke

By Claire Fenwicke

ZOE Brain has a new team tohelp her save an endangeredprimate species.

‘Gorilla Girlz’ was startedmore than a year ago, when Zoedecided to create an initiative tohelp support the GorillaDoctors in Africa.

Now she’s in high school, butshe hasn’t forgotten her missionto save the gorillas.

The Year 7 Oxley College stu-dent has wasted no time imple-menting her fundraiser at herschool.

She now has her eyes set onother high schools in the area.

“I’m looking at getting itstarted at Chevalier andSouthern Highland’s ChristianSchool,” Zoe said.

“The program is already inBurrawang, Avoca, Penrose andBowral primary schools, alongwith the BDCU Alliance Bankand the Robertson CommunityTechnology Centre.”

Students bring in their old orbroken phones, iPads, head-phones, chargers and musicdevices to be taken by theGorilla Girlz to be recycled.

The girls receive about $2 perphone and have raised about$560 since the project began.

“It’s hard to take the collec-tion boxes to the recycling cen-tre with sport and school, but wemanage,” Zoe said.

Zoe said people shouldn’t benervous to do something theycare about because of their age.

“You’re never too young tomake a difference,” she said.

“Basically, don’t be afraid tomake something happen.Follow the dream.”

Mobile phones contain a raremineral called coltan, which is

found in gorilla habitats.The mining for coltan has

affected not only gorillas, but atleast 10 other African primatespecies as well.

When the phones are recy-cled, the coltan is extracted,which Zoe said reduced theneed for mining.

“This reduces the amount ofhabitat being destroyed, there-fore helping save the gorillas,”she said.

Mobile phone recycling issupported by all majorAustralian zoos.

FROM FRONT PAGEAmelia, 13, said she was

proud to represent the MossVale Girl Guides, the Highlandscommunity and Australiaalongside Taylor, 12, next year.

"We knew we really wanted todo these jamborees when wewent to the last one, but we hadno idea if we'd get accepted,"Amelia said.

Moss Vale Girl Guides leaderLauren Brook said she wasincredibly proud to accompanythe two girls overseas.

"The selection process forthe camp included an applica-tion based on experience, refer-ee reports and interviews andthey were the only two from theHighlands/South Coast select-ed," she said.

"The girls can travel theworld and go anywhere withGuides."

The trip will include commu-nity service and offers a varietyof experiences and activitiesincluding water activities,archery, clay shooting, chariotracing, talent quests, bungee

trampolines, caving and climb-ing.

"We get to learn so much thatwe wouldn't experience other-wise," Taylor said.

"It's really cool that my firstoverseas trip is going to be withGuides - unless it was with myfamily I don't think I'd be goingoverseas at this age."

Amelia said she was lookingforward to widening her hori-zons and meeting new people.

"There's a lot of music andperformances, so I'll get to meetso many people who know dif-ferent things about music that Ican learn."

Ms Brook said the girls hopedto extend their trip and stay atPax Lodge, the WorldAssociation of Girl Guides WorldCentre in London.

"They've opened bankaccounts especially to save forthis, they've been doing clean-ing jobs and Amelia has bankedher last birthday and Christmasmoney," she said.

The girls have called out forsponsorship and support from

Girl Guides ready for international jamboree

Moss Vale Girl Guides Amelia Brook and Taylor O'Brien have been selectedfor an international jamboree. Leader Lauren Brook will accompany the girlsto the UK next year. Photo by Victoria Lee

local businesses and the com-munity ahead of their trip.

"Anything that will help themwith this once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity is appreciated," MsBrook said.

Keep an eye out for the pair,

who will hold street stalls andraffles as they save to pay theirway to the UK.

Anyone who would like tooffer donations or support canemail laurenbrook@live.com