the croaker vol 9 no 6 aug/sept 2016 - deans marsh community … · 2018. 7. 18. · 70 swayns lane...
TRANSCRIPT
Page �1PENNYROYAL OTWAYS RETREATVol. 9 No. 6
! The Croaker
Volume 9. No. 6 - August/September 2016 Editor: Renee Wigley
TheCroakerisanotforprofit,monthly,voluntarypublicationandisforgeneralinformationpurposesonly.Alternativepointsofviewtothoseexpressedinopinionarticlesareencouragedandwelcomed.Pleasesendnews,commentsandqueriestoRenee-email:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/thecroaker/
Banksia Lake Cottages: Thevery(irstgueststoarriveatBanksiaLakeCottagesonBoxingDay2000causedgreatconsternation.Thehusbandannouncedthathiswifecouldnotgetoutofthecar,sogreatwasheragoraphobia,andwhilehedeclaredhisowndelightatthepropertytheyweresoonheadingoffdownthedrive.Somuchforthebottleofchampagnewaitingfortheminthefridge!(Whyhebroughtherhereinthe(irstplacewaswhatweaskedourselves.)Ourdismaywasnottolast,asaquickcalltotheLorneVisitorInformationCentrehadthecottage(illedforuslaterinthedayandwehavenotreallylookedbacksince.
Therehasbeenadiverseselectionofpeoplevisitingusovertheyearsfromtheworldover.TheycomefromGeelongandIceland,ColacandSaskatchawan,DarwinandCostaRica.WehavethegoodfortunetobeabletoshareourlittleplaceintheGreatOtwayNationalParkwithvisitorsfromalloverandfromallwalksoflife.WearehappytohostpeoplefortheCancerCouncilandalsotoprovideacottagefreeofchargeforperformersattheLorneFestivalofPerformingArtseveryyear.
Becausewetrytogiveourguestsatotalexperienceweofferadviceontheregioningeneraltermsorsteerthemintherightdirectioniftheyhavespeci(icinterests,suchasvisitingwaterfallsorlookingforaroundofgolf.MostChinesevisitorsconcentrateontouringtheGreatOceanRoadbutforthosewithalittlemoretimeweencouragethemtotravelintotheOtwaysstoppingoff,ofcourse,inDeansMarshforacoffeeorabitetoeat.Therecentsnowfallsawavanloadofdisabilityyouthspilingoutofavantobuildasnowmaninfrontofthemainhouse.Naturallythisresultedinsnowballs(lyingthroughtheair.
Wearedoglovers,andasaresultthecottagesaredogfriendly,comeandmeetKevintheCurlycoatedretriever!
Yourhosts,DougandNikkyWilliams
BanksiaLakeCottageshttp://banksialakecottages.com.au/
PROPOSED COMMUNITY-WIDE SMS LIST FOR AFTER FIRE COMMUNITY RECOVERY AND RENEWAL: Accurate,clearandreliableinformationhasbeenshowntobeoneofthemostimportantthingsthatcommunitiesneedafter(iresorotherdisastersituations.
LessonsfromBlackSaturdayshowthatthosecommunitieswhichhadeffectivecommunicationsstrategiesinplacebeforethe(ires,arethosewhichweremostabletoberesilientandpositiveinthe(ires’aftermath-which,asweknow,cangoonformanyyears.
AftertheclosecallswehadlastsummerandthealltoorealexperiencesofthoseweknowinWyeRiverandSeparationCreek,itseemstimelytotrytoensurethatourcommunitiesofDeansMarsh,PennyroyalandBambraprepareasbestwecanmeettothechallengesofrecoveryaftera)ire.
Onewaytodothisistoputtogetheracomprehensivelistofthemobilephonenumbersofallofourcommunitymembers-bothpermanentandholidayhomeowners.SMShasbeenfoundtobethebestwayofcommunicatingeffectivelywitheveryoneaftera(ire,whenmanyofusmayberesidingawayfromhome,andwheninfrastructuresuchaspowerandADSLmaybeunavailable.
SmalltownssuchasStrathewennearKinglakehadsuchacommunitySMSlistbeforethe2009(ires.Itsuseprovedveryhelpfulinprovidingreliableinformationtoallcommunitymembers-wherevertheyendedupaftertheFebruary7(ires.
TheDeansMarshHallcommitteeandtheDeansMarshCommunityCottagehavebeendiscussingwaystogoaboutcreatingsuchalistthatwould:NOTBEUSEDFORANYOTHERPURPOSESUCHASREGULARCOMMUNITYNOTICES.
AndthatWOULDINNOWAYREPLACETHECFAFIREAPPSANDOTHERFIREWARNINGSYSTEMSALREADYINPLACE.
OurSMSlistwouldbeheldbytheCottageandusedonlytogetincontactandthenkeepintouchwithparticipatingcommunitymembersaftera)ireevent.
Suchasystemcouldbeanimportantwaytobesurethatinformationisaccurateandrelevantatatimewhentherearemany,manyotherplayers-differentlevelsofgovernment,mediaorganisationsandcharitableorganisationswithrolestoplayinprovidingrelief-inordertopreventcontradictoryorconfusedmessagesgettingtocommunities.
In2009,theStrathewenSMSsystembecamethemosttrustedmethodforcommunicatingwiththecommunity.
TheDeansMarshCommunityCottagewouldholdourlist,andSMSmessageswouldbesentouttoeveryoneonceinformationaboutservices,meetings,brie(ingsandassistanceavailabilityhavebeencheckedandcon(irmed.Inthisway,rumours,misinformationandinaccuraciescanhopefullybeminimised.
Onewaytoreachasmanyofourpermanentandholidayhomeresidentsaspossibleistoaskpermanentresidentsineachofthethreeareastoreachoutandnetworktoexplaintheideatopeopleintheirareas,andtogivethemcopiesofaformandcoveringletterweareintheprocessofpreparing.TheformwilllistrelevantcontactandSMSdetailsofallfamilymembersandasksforconsentfortheinformationtobeusedforthispurposebyourcommunity.
TheseideashavebeendiscussedinbroadtermswithlocalorganisationsincludingtheCFABrigade,Landcare,RedCross,DeansMarshPSPrincipal,CottageandHallCommittees,butitisnowtimetostartgettingoutthereandcollectingtheinformationweneed.
WENEEDTOFINDVOLUNTEERSTOBEAREACOLLATORSWHOWOULDCONTACTPEOPLE-ESPECIALLYHOLIDAYHOMEOWNERS-TOADVISETHEMABOUTTHEPROCESS,GIVETHEMTHELETTERANDFORM,ANDCOLLECTTHEINFORMATIONANDRETURNITTOUS.
Wewouldlikegetthisupandrunningintimeforsummer,soweneedthoseareacollatorssoon-pleaseletusknowifyoucanhelpbyAUGUST24.
Pleasesendanyoffersofhelp,otherthoughts,comments,suggestions,andideasyoumayhavetoVictorGoldsztein,[email protected],[email protected]
Deans Marsh Cricket Club - AGM: Tuesday23rdAug2016-7pmClubRooms
WelcomeallSwampRats,sponsorsandsupporters.ThenewseasonwillsoonbeunderwaywithpotentiallyacricketmatchonFridayevenings,SaturdaysandSundaysallseason,ashostsofaDeansMarshdiv3teamand
Birregurradiv1and2.Alsotwojuniorteams.Hopetoseeyouthere.
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SWARMING: Let'stalkaboutsomethingweallfearandadmire.Thehoneybee.
Thisspringthequeenwilltakehalfofhercolonyawayto(indanewhome.Thatishernaturalinstinct.Wecallit‘Swarming’.
Thequeen’spreferencesforanewhomewouldbeoldweatherboard housesorhollowtrees.Since1994,Ihavegivenherahelpinghandandprovidedherwithready-madehomessoshecanliveandprosperandmultiply.
Inallwedependonthehoneybees.Soifyouencounteraswarm,don'tpoisonorbombardthemwithwatertogoaway.Justgivemeacall.
AlfredWittosch70SwaynsLaneDEANSMARSHMob:0419130335 Home:0352363237
TENNIS ANYONE? ThetennisseasonisfastapproachingandForrest
TennisClubisseekingAgradeplayersforthePolwarthandDistrictTennisAssociation2016/17season.
TheseasonrunsfromearlyOctoberuntilMarch2017,witha6-weekbreakoverthesummerholidays.
ForrestwillberepresentedintheAGradecompetitionthisseasonandisseekingexpressionsofinterest-permanent
and(illinpositionsavailable(maleandfemale).Ifyouhavejustmovedtothedistrictorareaweekender,
pleaseletusknow!
TennisatForrestisagreatwayofkeeping(it,havingfunandbeingpartoftheForrestanddistrictsporting
community!
Pleasecontactclubpresident,MarkMurnanebyAugust30th2016.Ph:[email protected].
AnneMurnane-Secretary,FTC
DEANS MARSH PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS: Providingawell-roundededucationtocreateresilient,21stcenturylearnersinahappyandsafeenvironment.
PREP100DAYSOFSCHOOL:ThankstoeveryonewhomadeeffortstohelpthePrepscelebratetheir100thdayofschoolonTuesday26thJuly.Itwasgreattoseesomanyparentsandvisitorsintheclassroomhelpingthechildrencelebratethismilestone.ThankstoprepteacherLianaBeatson(neeSinclair)fororganisingafunandexcitingdayforthesestudentsandtotheparentsforprovidingfoodanddrink.
GRADE4/5/6EXCURSIONTOEARTHED:OnThursday28thJulyourclassofgrade4/5/6attendedaninformativeandenjoyableEarthEdexcursiontoBallarat.DuringthisexcursionstudentsparticipatedinmanyactivitiesandexperimentsrelatedtoChemicalscience.
WONDERFULBOOKDAY:ParentsandcommunitymembersarewelcometovisittheschoolontheafternoonofFriday9thSeptembertoviewbooksthechildrenhavewritten.ItwouldbegreattoseemanyvisitorsattheschooltosupportthechildrenofDeansMarsh.Afternoonteaincludingteaandcoffeewillbeprovided.Hopetoseeyouthere!
WHOLESCHOOLACTIVITY-SCIENCE:EachFridayafterlunchwehaveourWholeSchoolActivity.Thisprovidesanopportunityforallofthestudentstocompletetaskswitheach-otherandfurtherdeveloppositivestudentrelationships.It’salsoanopportunitytohaveabitoffuntogetherasawholeschool!RecentlystudentsdidaseriesofSciencerelatedtasksbyworkinginmixedagegroupsofthreeorfourtosolveaproblemusingavarietyofmaterials.
DeansMarshPS:Greatstaff,greatstudents,greatcommunity=Greatschool!MurraySurkitt
Principal
Amy’s Gran Fondo: Sunday11thSeptember
RoadclosuresinDeansMarshfrom6.30am-11amOnWednesday27thJuly,severalcommunitymembers,myselfincluded,attendedtheAGFinformationMeetingatMartiansCafe.Amy’sGranFondoisnowinit’ssixthyearandIampleasedtoreportthatthisverywellorganisedeventpresentssomegreatopportunitiestothelocalcommunity.
Localaccommodationprovidershavebeeninvitedtoadvertisefortheweekendofthisevent,freeofchargeontheAGFwebpage(pleasegotolinkbelow).
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WHAT’S ON: August - september 2016 ArtsTrailatTheStore-SandraHickfordandVeronicaPhillips Saturday13thAugust10am-4pmMartiansCafe-‘TimHulsman’ Saturday20thAugust-7.30pmNBNTowerInformationMeeting-DMCommunityCottage Tuesday23rdAugust-TimeTBADeansMarshCricketClub-AGMatClubRooms Tuesday23rdAugust-7pmFilmnightBlakesEstateWinery-‘Sherpa’ Friday26thAugust-7pmTheShedArt&ObjectGalleryDeansMarsh-AUCTION Saturday27thAugust-11am• Hugeclearance/relocationAuction
WonderfulBookDay-DeansMarshPrimarySchool Friday9thSeptember-afternoonAmy’sGranFondo-DeansMarshRoadClosures6.30am-11am Sunday11thSeptember
A tale of Two HallsWhy can’t they all be like Bambra: Weddings, parties - tennis anyone?
Pennyroyal people have been putting a lot of energy over the last few years into what might just be the final effort to save the last physical reminder of their community, the Pennyroyal Public Hall.
Built in the 1910s on donated land and constructed by Pennyroyal people themselves, Colac Otway Shire Council is thwarting community efforts to repair and renovate the Hall which could be used for local functions, meetings, community groups, and by the very active and growing current premiers, the Pennyroyal Tennis Club.
Instead, the Council just keeps ‘reviewing’ the Hall (we’re up to the third ‘review’ now) and have declared that repairs would cost $250,000.
Pennyroyal locals disagree, they say the necessary renovations can be done in stages, and would only cost a maximum of $100,000.
It seems a shame that rather than helping their residents to build their community assets, COSC would rather thwart community efforts to progress the refurbishment.
But never say die. In the run up to the planned Back to Pennyroyal School event the Pennyroyal Hall committee would love to hear from locals or newer residents, those who went to the school, played in the tennis club - or just anyone who would like to help the community save the Hall. Please contact committee member Jen Bush on 0429 363 278 or [email protected] *and please see our Facebook public group: I Live(d) in Pennyroyal, Vic. www.facebook.com/groups/34881216929/
Meanwhile another hall, the St Paul’s Church Hall in Deans Marsh, owned by the Anglican Church of Australia, may have a brighter future on the horizon. An architectural heritage review has been conducted and the initial verdict is that the hall, originally part of the old Deans Marsh Primary School, is potentially saveable.
We are awaiting details from the Church as to their plans for restoration, but on visits to Deans Marsh in April and May, the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Phillip Huggins spoke of similar restoration projects the Church has run in partnership with local councils and communities across Victoria, so fingers crossed.
Wouldn’t it be great if both halls could be restored and used by us all - just like the Surf Coast Shire Council and Bambra community, working together - have achieved there?
Deb Campbell
Amy’s Gran Fondo - cont
Eventorganisersarealsocallingoutforlocalvolunteersoneventday,trainingandmanyotherbene(itsprovided.Ifyouareinterested,goto‘Volunteer’inthislink:http://amysgranfondo.org.au/contact-us/
AftermuchplanningwithAmy’sGranFondo,VicRoadswillbetrialinganewtraf(ic/cyclistroadwarningsystem(asapossiblepermanentinstallation),betweenDeansMarshandLorne.TheinitiativeandfundingforthisdevelopmenthascomefromtheAGForganisation.
ReneeWigleyEditor
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