Premier visits Shire to announce plans in Noojee

In October, Premier Jacinta Allan visited the Baw Baw Shire to announce Noojee’s participation in the Healthy Forest Plans Pilot project.

Following an end of native timber harvesting in Victoria, the state’s forests will be reimagined to meet community expectations. Support for regional economies, better forest management and community access to forests, are all a priority for the state government. The aim from the state government is to keep forests open, healthy and ready to explore.

Premier Allan said that “our forests remain open to every single Victorian and visitor alike – to enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, bushwalking and all the benefits of the bush.

“My focus is to bring more families to the bush and more jobs to the regions – and that’s exactly what our plan for Victoria’s great outdoors will do,” she said.

The $4 million investment into Noojee will also support the transition away from native timber harvesting, and also for the implementation of new strategies to support the area.

“By ending large-scale native timber harvesting, we’ve given our forests a future. Now we’re making sure every Victorian can share in it,” said Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos.

Ten other towns in Victoria are seeing similar investments. The funding boost for Noojee is part of the government’s plan for Victoria’s great outdoors and will see them invest $30 million to unlock 1.8 million hectares of state forests in Gippsland and North East Victoria, with better tracks and trails, and amenities to boost regional tourism.

The Great Outdoors Taskforce has been consulting with communities and determining the best future use of Victoria’s forests. From here, three local working groups will be established to inform the direction of Noojee: the Eco Tourism Working Group, the Specialised Agricultural Industry Development Working Group, and the Power and Connectivity Reliability Working Group.

Cr Danny Goss acknowledged that the future of Noojee’s forests has been discussed since 2022 and that during this time, the state government and council have “worked closely with the community to support local businesses to establish, expand and create local jobs.”

Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh encouraged locals to “appreciate our [state’s] brilliant bush [and] get out amongst it” and ensured that projects like this support that.

Bendigo Bank gives back

On November 5, Bendigo Bank Trafalgar hosted a presentation evening at the Trafalgar RSL, celebrating the community investments that they had made into local sporting clubs, events, schools and community organisations.

Across the successful recipients, over $37,000 was awarded, bringing the total Bendigo Bank has reinvested into the local community to $2.1 million.

Community engagement advisor Moriah Taylor described the evening as “a special occasion.”

“It is a moment to reflect on the difference local support can make when it is backed by a bank that genuinely cares,” she says.

Recipients Tom Mackenzie and Maddie Kennedy from Thorpdale Netball Club, feel grateful for the funding received. They plan to use the funding to upgrade the netball dresses and general equipment at the club.

“We are excited for hopefully what this money can do for our netball club,” says Mackenzie.

Highlighting the pride taken in seeing students thrive in their pursuit of further education, Bendigo Bank sponsored eight scholarships for students in University and TAFE. 

Trafalgar High School graduates Poppy Susa and Keeley Lewis-Ryen were present to accept their scholarships. 

Poppy, now pursuing a career in medicine, says that she feels “very privileged” to have received the scholarship.

“To attend university and move to Melbourne is very expensive, but I guess it [scholarship] allows me to spend a bit more time studying and getting involved in extracurriculars,” she says.

Throughout the year, Bendigo Bank has worked to support “over 40 local clubs and organisations and funded projects such as youth development, mental health, sport, arts and environmental sustainability,” says branch manager Torina Johnston. 

“It is really rewarding as a staff member to know that the work that we are doing is able to support local community groups and to see local community groups thrive off the back of our efforts is so satisfying.”“I would like to thank our local customers for their support in helping us be successful which then lets us return profits back into the community,” she says.

Training up the next generation of firefighters 

On the first and third Thursday of every month excluding school holidays, the junior fire brigade under the junior volunteer development program, meet at Trafalgar fire station to learn about fire safety and develop their skills as junior firefighters.

The junior volunteer development program is run across 160 brigades in Victoria and is open for young people aged 11-15.

In Trafalgar, the junior fire brigade sessions are led by volunteer firefighter Naomi Goodin, who has been a firefighter for the past seven years.

Goodin is assisted by Phil Barnes, who joined the CFA in 1987.

Both Barnes and Goodin use their experiences as firefighters to guide the juniors.

On November 6, five junior firefighters came to a training session and learnt about drafting. When fire hydrants are not accessible, drafting works to draw water from an external source like a river, a dam or even a swimming pool into the fire truck.

With teamwork being an essential aspect of being a firefighter, the juniors work well together to assemble equipment and ask questions when needed.

Goodin explained that the training sessions are led by the juniors themselves, giving them the opportunity to take ownership and learn through hands-on experience.

“They get to choose their training; we are just here mainly to supervise. 

“Other than going near live fire, they get to do all the same training that we [qualified firefighters] do,” she says.

As well as developing firefighting skills, the program gives the juniors the opportunity to be social, learn valuable life skills and understand the importance of community.

“I think it is a really good program. The confidence boost that it gives quite a lot of kids is phenomenal,” Goodin says.

Junior firefighter Trin Jarvis and her family are new to the area. She says that joining the junior brigade is her way of getting “involved in more activities” within the community.

Logan Goodin and Reid Barnes say that their favourite part about being junior firefighters is “hanging out with mates.”

They would both like to see more young people join the program.

“We need more firefighters. You never know when someone is going to retire or just feel like quitting,” Barnes says.

Due to many reasons including availability, life commitments and health concerns, the number of operational volunteer firefighters has fluctuated over the years.

Through the junior brigade, Goodin hopes to see more young people join and work their way up to becoming senior firefighters.

East Ward Councillor Kate Wilson elected mayor

Baw Baw Shire councillors have unanimously elected East Ward Cr Kate Wilson as Mayor after an election was held on November 12. She said she felt “really honoured” to be nominated but jokingly added she was a “little terrified.”

Cr Suzanne Allen was elected Deputy Mayor. Both will serve a 12 month term with another election to be held in November next year.

Mayor Cr Wilson was excited by the opportunity to represent her local community.

“It’s a great honour to be elected Mayor of Baw Baw Shire, a place where I am proud to live, work and represent. I look forward to working closely with my fellow councillors, staff and our community to deliver the priorities in our council plan and work towards our shared vision for a stronger, thriving and connected community,” said Cr Wilson.

“Looking ahead, I want to make sure every voice is heard, to cast my votes with fairness and integrity, and always with the whole community in mind. I’m committed to continuing the great work already started for the betterment of our region and am excited to see what can be achieved.”

Prior to her time on council, Cr Wilson had worked in local government and told Traf District News last year that this experience showed her “the realities of what local government can and can’t do.”

Outgoing Mayor Cr Danny Goss nominated Cr Wilson who has “impressed” him greatly during her first year on the council.

“I just could not be happier to see new blood in the role,” said Cr Goss who had announced he was not seeking a second consecutive term as mayor.

Reflecting on the past year, Cr Goss said that council had “achieved a lot” and had accomplished an important goal, to “restore the standards and protocols that [had] been lost [during the previous council term].”

These words follow a tumultuous period for the council which saw allegations of sexism and bullying, a short suspension for Cr Goss, and a shocking last election result which saw only two out of the nine councillors returned to their position in 2024.

“This council is now widely seen, I think, as very cohesive, functional, hardworking, and long-term focused,” he said.

Also on the meetings agenda, appointments to council committees and the election of the Deputy Mayor.

Cr Allen spoke of her gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Mayor, saying “I’m thankful for the trust my fellow councillors have placed in me. I look forward to supporting Mayor Wilson in representing our community and doing the best we can for this beautiful place we call home.”

The next council meeting will be held at 5:30pm on Wednesday December 10 in the Fountain Room of the West Gippsland Arts Centre. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Baw Baw Shire is heading out to Trafalgar

Council is running an open community consultation on Tuesday November 18 from 4pm to 6pm at the Trafalgar Community Centre.

Councillors and council officers will join the community to talk about the future of Trafalgar. 

“We decided to go straight to the community… so we have a clear path forward,” said Cr Brendan Kingwill.

The sale of the Trafalgar Business Centre, the adoption of the Trafalgar Structure Plan, and the development of the second oval will be key discussion points, however, Councillor Brendan Kingwill was keen to ensure that the session will be “driven by the community.”

“This is all about giving people in the community a direct chance to give input rather than hearing about the current plans.”

Cr Kingwill said it would be important to hear from community groups and clubs as well as the wider public.

“We [need to] make sure that the major stakeholders in Trafalgar are personally invited to make sure we get all the right people in the room at the right time and bounce ideas off people and get a plan going forward,” he said.

Cr Adam Sheenan is also “very excited” to meet with the community and “hear what’s on their minds face-to-face.”

Council will also seek community feedback at the event on the proposed upgrade of the kindergarten in Contingent Street, options to maximise use of the community centre, and playground equipment renewals.

“I’m hopeful to get a clear and strategic plan for Trafalgar and am looking forward to some good outcomes,” said Cr Kate Wilson.

Council is excited to engage the community and encourages locals to attend the event to help inform council decision-making moving into the future.
Registration details will be available on council’s website closer to the date – www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au

New sport pavilion underway in Yarragon

Construction is well underway for the new sporting pavilion at Yarragon’s Dowton Park. Following demolition of the existing outdated facility, a concrete slab has been poured, and both the structural steel and lightweight framing are now in place. Preparations are also underway for roof truss installation. 

The $3.9 million project is a part of the Baw Baw Shire Council’s capital works program, totalling over $46 million infrastructure investment in 2024/25. The Rollo Street park project in Yarragon is also currently underway.

East Ward Councillor Adam Sheehan said the new pavilion would help to put Yarragon on the map for junior and senior footy, netball and cricket. 

“We recently had a site walkthrough which gave us a great opportunity to see the emerging structure and visualise the layout of each room. The quality of the work is exceptional,” said Cr Sheehan. 

“Once completed, this new facility will provide a welcome boost to grassroots sport for the Yarragon community and surrounds,” he continued. 

Of the $3.9 million project fund, $250,000 has been invested by the state government and a further $1.8 million contributed by the federal government.

Mayor Danny Goss said that this collaboration “is a great example of all three levels of government working together to deliver the infrastructure that local communities want, need and deserve.”

The new pavilion will improve the site’s accessibility with additions such as handrails and an improved women’s changerooms.

Electrical mains have been connected to the upgraded power pillar, water connection works are scheduled for completion soon, and construction of the separate timekeeper’s room and coaches’ box is nearly complete.

Over the coming months, next steps will see installation of plaster walls, concrete pavements and connecting paths, internal fit outs and other essential service connections.

Local contractor, Kubale Constructions Pty Ltd, is overseeing the works.

The pavilion should be completed in March 2026 and ready for use soon after.

Community events bring farmers together

Through September and October, a series of community barbecues were held, with the intention of bringing local farmers together.

The Look Over the Farm Gate – Help a Mate! initiative had events in Neerim South, Ellinbank, Buln Buln, Longwarry, and Trafalgar. The events were an amazing opportunity for farmers to support each other with the stresses of farming in dry season conditions, as well as provide access to important support resources.

Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Danny Goss said the sense of community amongst local farmers is obvious.

“There is no denying farming is a tough job, even more so in the harsh and dry conditions we are experiencing now. It’s great to see farmers taking a few hours off their land to relax, connect, and access important support services,” said Cr Goss.

He also thanked the Lions Clubs and Country Women’s Associations for providing catering, adding that “the opportunity to share a meal and talk to each other was appreciated by all attending.”

All local primary producers were invited to attend. Information and support services from the Baw Baw Shire Council, Head2Health, Agriculture Victoria, GippsDairy and Lifeline also attended the events.

This is a particularly important time to provide support for Victorian farmers. Much of the state has been experiencing rainfall deficiencies since 2023 which has continued through winter and spring this year.

Many primary producers are being stretched financially as they must source and pay for limited supplies of water, as well as hay and grain from as far away as Western Australia.

This series of events was delivered by council with funding from the state government through Agriculture Victoria and the National Centre for Farmer Health. These community events are part of the $67.2 million drought relief package provided by the state government earlier this year.

Cricket milestones

A number of Trafalgar Cricket Club players achieved personal milestones last month. 

Rhys Holdsworth, Zack Brown and Liam Durkin each made further marks in the club’s more than 130 history, after chalking up further accolades. 

Holdsworth brought up 8000 senior runs for the club, as well as 250 wickets at First XI level. 

In a statistically prolific career, the left-hand bat is among the top performers the club has ever seen, while he has used his cricket smarts to manufacture the bulk of more than 200 poles bowling right arm variety.

Brown didn’t have to wait long to take his 100th First XI wicket, after snaring the first scalp of the season. 

Still only in his mid-20s, the opening quick has a knack for taking wickets, and is already in the top 10 on the club’s senior aggregate. 

Durkin became the latest member of the 200 club when he played his milestone match in Round 2. 

His 200 was made up of 127 games in the First XI, 55 in the seconds and 18 twenty20s. 

The club has been fortunate in its recent history to have a number of loyal players. 

Of the 13 who have played 200 games, seven are still actively involved with the club: John Asmussen, Christian Burgess, Brendan Dawson, Rhys Holdsworth, Daniel Heathcote, Jackson Noonan and Liam Durkin.

Holdsworth, Noonan, Heathcote and Durkin have also played the best part of 100 days of First XI cricket together – a likely club record.

Rehoming pets

Pet owners may face the difficult decision to rehome their beloved pet. Changes in personal circumstances may force the pet owner to consider new home alternatives.

So this prompts an important question, do animals have rights?

Definitely. Animals’ rights matter and should be properly legislated in every state to recognise them not as objects, or property, but as sentient beings. The ACT passed legislation to reflect the same in 2019. I know we can do better calling out to every state ensuring all animals are treated in good welfare and working towards simplifying legislation.

Mandating clear legislation across the country supports our judiciary system to confidently and accurately serve justice against perpetrators, whilst defending animal welfare. Many countries have recognised animals as sentient beings in law.

Recently, an abhorrent situation involving a rescue farm sanctuary located in Warragul came to light, where animals were received and left in cages as the organisation was overwhelmed. The organisation was unable to cope with the influx and improperly provided care. When officers entered the property, animals were found in cages.

These vulnerable animals relied on humans to be kind and to be cared for. Through no fault of their own, they were surrendered by their owners believing they would find them a new home.

Fortunately, the person responsible was brought before the magistrate receiving a fine and good behaviour bond. This situation raises serious questions.

Did the organisation call out for help from other rescue groups? Most are well connected offering guidance and support avoiding these types of situations. What are the core values of the organisation? Were pet owners falsely promised humane conditions upon surrender? Was the organisation a registered rescue group within the shire?

Pet owners cannot assume all rescue groups conduct their business virtuously, offering genuine care. Registered animal welfare charities should be scrutinised.

The other perspective is not to vilify the good work of foster carers, dedicated volunteers protecting animals for an organisation because of a few people not doing the right thing by the animals. The public’s perception can sour hesitating to donate money or goods. Raising funds, daily tasks feeding and cleaning, is an enormous task for these groups and any negative publicity negates what they are trying to achieve. Most groups are voluntarily administered.

Pet owner responsibility

Animals adopted from shelters, pound and rescue groups are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped, eliminating unwanted litters and promoting good pet health. This is where problems begin. If you take on a pet, please ensure the above procedures.

Where do I start the rehoming process?

Ask family and friends.

Discuss with your vet intentions to rehome, open and honest conversations are crucial. They may or may not provide recommended rescue groups.

Reach out to your pet trainer.

Search pet rescue websites (details noted below). The sites provide great information in many areas of the industry.

Seek out negative comments if the group or individual has acted inappropriately towards animals.

Ask the local council pound for suggestions, remembering most groups communicate among the rescue network. Baw Baw Shire Council offers an adoption and rehoming service through its Municipal Animal Pound. Residents can contact them to discuss their individual circumstances.

Be honest with dog assessors at shelters and rescue groups. They may refuse if dogs are deemed aggressive or display unacceptable behaviour.

Rescue groups may be charity registered, not-for-profit, relying on private and government donations (website details noted below).

Ensure the rescue group is registered, legitimate and foster carers vetted. Would you surrender your children to anyone? Is the group ethical? Do they promote unacceptable ideology counteracting genuine animal welfare?

Animal shelters either private or council may be an option. Unfortunately, animals for various reasons are put to sleep. This can be confronting but is a reality. Some rescue groups dedicate their efforts accepting animals listed on the kill list, offering the animal a greater chance of life. They are placed in foster care preparing the animal for adoption.

Research the rehoming process, view the group’s website, and carefully read the fine print. An online application will be required to be completed, signed, and submitted. Be familiar with the process. Some resources to check out are:

• RSPCA (https://rspcavic.org/)
• Facebook page Aussies Against Animal Abuse
• Rescue Directory (www.petrescue.com.au)
• Australian Charities and not-for-profit commission (www.acnc.gov.au/for-charities)

Foster carers

Foster carers provide an important service. Animals are cared for in their home observing and learning the pet’s personality and temperament in preparation for adoption. They are an asset to any welfare organization.

Cat and dog carers residing in Baw Baw Shire can become a registered foster carer through the Voluntarily Enrolled Foster Carer (VEFC) scheme. Registering is not mandatory. When more than five animals are fostered, the carer must register their premises as a domestic animal business because they are classed as a shelter.

Animal Welfare Victoria are informed of all registered animal foster carers within the municipality.

Legislation

Animal welfare legislation is complicated (Alliance for Animals link below). Navigating our way to understand Baw Baw Shire’s authority, animal rescues and shelters must comply with the following acts and regulations: Domestic Animals Act 1994; Baw Baw Shire Community Local Law 2024; Baw Baw Planning Scheme; Local Government Act 1989 & Local Government Act 2020; and a proposed Bill in the Victorian Parliament, which would be the Domestic Animals Amendment Bill 2025.

To all pet owners, if you are facing economic challenges and unable to properly care for your pet, please seek help from friends, family, and neighbours. Most people are good human beings willing to help. Please do not dump animals in rural areas, instead, reach out to your local vet and genuine animal welfare groups for guidance.

Lastly, an acknowledgement to our exceptional professional vets providing animal care. Without your love and passion animals would be denied healthcare they deserve. Thank you Trafalgar and Newborough Vet Centres, Moe Veterinary Centre and beyond.

Imagining Hazelwood as a thriving economic hub

Seven years ago Moe South resident Nina Burke took a good look at Hazelwood and instead of seeing a huge tract of land where a power station had been and a massive hole in the ground, Nina imagined it differently.

Nina allowed herself to dream of what it could become and saw the possibility to turn this massive asset into a thriving economic hub, creating much needed jobs and income for the Valley.

Nina shared her dream with others and founded a community group titled Great Latrobe Park, and for the past seven years they have been working to enrol local and state government and the mine owners in the vision.

When Hazelwood shut down it cost a lot of jobs. Yallourn is also scheduled to close soon with another massive cost to the community in lost jobs. Add in the cost of the closure of the native timber logging industry last year and The Valley economy is taking a serious nose dive, which will get worse. It is expected that Gross Regional Product in our region will drop from $7 billion to $5 billion per annum. Indications are one in ten jobs will disappear at a cost of $350 million annually. When jobs go, business closures follow closely, homelessness, poverty and social issues rise. 

But all is not lost, and it is not all gloom and doom, if the vision of GLP is enacted upon and these massive mines – starting with Hazelwood – are developed into vibrant economic projects, creating businesses and jobs and bringing wealth and stability to Latrobe Valley.

Fortunately, Hazelwood mine owner, Engie Australia is supportive of such rehabilitation and development. Writing recently in The Latrobe Valley Express, Jamie Lowe, head of regulation and compliance, welcomed Great Latrobe Park’s interest and agreed Hazelwood could be developed to include tourism and industry.  

Hazelwood occupies four thousand hectares, which is bigger than the city of Melbourne, and the lake could hold more water than Sydney Harbour. Yallourn is even bigger and the two are geologically connected. Nina and her group see both being developed to provide much needed economic and social stimulus.

So, what could it look like?

Tourism, the lake:

Imagine international quality hotels cut into the wall, overlooking this massive lake. Golden beaches with safe swimming areas for families. Yachting, kayaking, diving, fishing, sailboarding and more. Cafes and restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets. 

A zipline running to a floating island nature reserve in the lake.

Along the shores of the lake, an international golf course, a large nature reserve for bushwalkers and birders, a tourist railway ferrying visitors around the area – eventually this train would also serve the rehabilitated Yallourn mine. 

Sporting facilities, picnic areas, perhaps an underwater viewing platform. 

Imagine a large Indigenous centre to help us all better understand our first peoples, and acres and acres of parklands.

Industry: Hazelwood produces billions of litres of hot water; free energy which could bring whole new green industries to Latrobe City. Agriculture, and aquaculture could and would make good use of this readily available energy source. 

Among the agricultural hot houses would be spas and baths for locals and international visitors to enjoy.

None of this is impossible. In fact it is all very possible and fortunately there is time to develop it and it doesn’t have to be developed all at once. Repurposing would be gradual and that would ease the cost pressures.

In his letter in the Latrobe Valley Express, Jamie Lowe signalled that perhaps some smaller parcels of land could be made available as and when needed. 

Traf District News will continue to report on this topic which could once again turn The Valley into a thriving and vibrant economy.
Disclosure: The writer is also a member of the Great Latrobe Park Committee.

Mayor leads repatriation journey to Mornington Island

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Danny Goss has led a history-making journey to Far North Queensland to repatriate 37 precious cultural items from Baw Baw Shire back to the rightful custodians, the Lardil People of Mornington Island. On August 29, the Mayor embarked on his journey.

Upon arrival, he was met by Mornington Shire Council Mayor Mr Richard Sewter who hosted a morning tea at the local arts centre, where the official handover took place.

Mayor Danny Goss said the repatriation journey was deeply meaningful and a significant step on the path to reconciliation.

“We’re honoured to return 37 important cultural items to their rightful custodians — the Lardil People of Mornington Island. It’s a small but significant step towards a more respectful and united future,” he said.

“These items are some of the first examples of works that the Lardil people began creating for commercial sale. Since learning of their significance and rightful origin, council has been fully committed to returning these cultural treasures home.”

Mayor Goss said that this move is “about doing what’s right… and recognising the deep cultural connections that first peoples have with their heritage.”

As previously reported in the Traf District News, the artefacts were brought to Warragul in the 1980s by Colin and Elizabeth Goldberd who had purchased the pieces from the Lardil community. The family later gifted the collection to the West Gippsland Arts Centre, where the artefacts were safely kept and displayed for a short time. After learning that it is culturally insensitive for them to be displayed outside of the lands of their custodians, the artefacts were safely placed into storage, where they were rediscovered in 2023.

To council’s knowledge, this process has not been embarked on before, outside of established galleries and museums. Council obtained letters of support from both the Elders of Kurnai Nations and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, and importantly, the Lardil People, who look forward to having the items returned to their rightful Keeping Place. 

Mayor Cr Danny Goss said this was a rare process — especially outside of national galleries and major institutions.

“We hope this demonstrates how the local government can play a meaningful role in reconciliation,” the Mayor said.

“With the support of the Lardil People, the Kurnai Nations Elders, and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, we’re proud to be part of a movement working to restore Indigenous cultural heritage.”

Following a special smoking ceremony on  May 9 in Warragul, planning began for the artefacts’ journey home where they will once again serve their true purpose: passing on culture, stories, and identity.

The decision to repatriate the items was endorsed by Baw Baw Shire Council at the  February 5,  2025 council meeting. The cost of repatriation was covered by the Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation who receive Australian Government funding to facilitate these types of projects.

Bendigo Bank closure “frustrating” to Yarram locals

At the end of September, the Bendigo Bank Yarram branch closed its doors permanently. An announcement, made in June, confirmed the “difficult decision” to close Yarram and nine other regional branches including Korrumburra.

Bendigo Bank argues that in an age of online banking, less people are visiting physical branches. A spokesperson claimed that only 26% of Yarram customers have visited the branch in the last year.

Local resident and vice-president of Yarram & District Progress Association, Kevin Mackin said that the community has been working hard, “trying to find a solution.”

He told Traf District News that they’d suggested options for the branch to have shorter hours and offer fewer services.

However, “Bendigo Bank has been particularly unwilling to discuss, negotiate or consider any option, other than their course of action,” he said.

All this means that Yarram customers will need to travel 64 km to the next closest commercial branch in Traralgon. There is a closer community bank in Toora, but Mackin says the bank has automatically transferred the accounts to Traralgon. He said that this only “added insult to injury.”

Mackin said that the decision and the preceding talks with the bank has destroyed its reputation in the town.

Federal Gippsland MP Darren Chester called the closure a “disgraceful decision.” He said the Bendigo Bank liked to promote itself as the better big bank, “but when it comes to shutting country branches, the Bendigo Bank is proving to be just as bad as the rest of them.”

With over 2100 bank branches closing between 2017 and 2023, locals are hoping that support for regional banks can come from higher up. In the last few years, there has been a Federal Regional Banking Taskforce which released a report in 2022 and a Federal Senate Inquiry into Rural and Regional Affairs which made recommendations last year.

Banking Code of Conduct was proposed which would mean banks need to meaningfully engage with the community and discuss potential impacts that would come from branch closures. The idea of a publicly owned bank was also discussed. In theory, a publicly owned bank would act in the interests of the community rather than shareholders. It was also recommended that Bank@Post services offered by Australia Post need to be improved.

For Trafalgar residents, our branch is protected as a community bank, meaning it’s owned by locals. It was opened by local business owners in the early 2000s that recognised that regional banks would be under threat.

The Trafalgar Community Bank recently had its branch refurbished, with manager Torina Johnston ensuring they are “here to stay.”

For Yarram, “a community bank is [the] preferred model,” Mackin said.

“The community bank in Trafalgar has been supportive, helping us to understand the difference [between community and corporate branches],” he said.

“We recognise the value of what they give to the local community,” he said, noting that the Trafalgar branch recently hit a milestone, $2 million given back to the community.

In the meantime, Mackin confirms the community “haven’t given up hope.”

Editor’s Note: Please note this story was written prior to the scheduled closure of the Yarram branch but published afterwards. We will continue to follow this story and provide updates when necessary.

Homelessness is on the increase and you may be the key to easing it

We will not fill this article with a lot of statistics but two are important. First, homelessness officially increased in our area by 60% between the 2016 census and the 2021 census and we all know things are tougher now than they were in 2021. We also know that people living rough were very unlikely to fill in a census form, so the 60% figure could be significantly higher. Secondly, all the agencies dealing with homelessness and poverty report a sharp increase in the need for their services, due in a major way to very noticeable increases in the cost of living.

Jason and Kerry Rantall run Bettermentall Inc. and they are dealing with this major problem on a daily basis. They are trying to make a difference and they are making a difference, so we asked Jason how the problem can be solved.

“If we expect someone else is going to fix it, nothing will happen. We all need to all have some skin in it, in some form, and start looking after our own backyard. If we can look after our own community, we can solve the problem in our own community, and then another community can solve its problem and so on.”

The first thing toward helping, is to better understand that people living rough are from all walks of life, and all age groups are affected.

“It’s from young people, like kids, right through to the elderly, and there’s a whole range of reasons. Life gets too big on some, and they end up on the streets because they just can’t handle what’s going on emotionally and mentally and physically. There’s others that have had traumatic experiences, whether it be family violence, and they’re escaping to be safe. I mean imagine having to escape to the streets to feel safe. There’s violence against women, there’s violence in the home, there’s a whole range of reasons. 

“I know a guy who lost the person he loved most; his wife. They had a home, they had jobs, they had plans; then she died suddenly, and he just couldn’t cope. He turned to alcohol, lost his job, lost his house, and was on the streets. So we never know what’s happening. And it can be such a quick slip.”

Jason wants you and me to know that the homeless aren’t all dangerous or unapproachable. They have slipped, for any number of valid reasons and they need help getting back. 

Jason continued: “If people actually heard the stories, they’d have a bit more of an understanding why people are where they are. Instead of throwing stones and accusations and judgments at people, if they actually sat and listened to their stories, they would realise that none of them really want to be there.”

Jason will argue that we need more and more local people to get involved – ordinary people who could help set up a community hub, or help find accommodation, or volunteer some time at an existing centre, or run a raffle or collect warm clothing. Any one of a hundred things which will help the lost get back on their feet. 

Jason says, talk to a homeless person if you see one, just as you would to anyone else. They are people who have lost their way temporarily and just by opening a dialogue you may be helping with their eventual recovery. If you would like to help Jason and Kerry with their work, or learn how you can do more to end homelessness, contact them on: 0412 418 431. Email: info@bettermentall.com.au. 36 Contingent Street, Trafalgar, VIC 2824.

Looking for a new hobby? Pickleball Is coming to Trafalgar!

On Wednesday July 16, Acting Minister for Community Sport, Gayle Tierney announced 827 grants amassing over $1 million for sport clubs around Victoria. 

The Trafalgar Park Community Hub was granted $4,000 to introduce pickleball into the local community. 

A cross between badminton, tennis and table tennis, pickleball is a sport for all ages and abilities that can be played in singles or doubles, indoors or outdoors. 

Secretary of the hub Raewyn McMahon says it is “one of the fastest growing sports in the world.” 

McMahon says she had seen the popularity of pickleball and was excited to introduce it into Trafalgar, saying it will be a “pretty cool” thing to offer to the community. 

She is looking forward to creating a “great little club.” 

Instructor Michael Murrell is equally as excited to see pickleball introduced into Trafalgar. 

A seasoned pickleball player himself, having played in many tournaments, Murrell encourages everyone to give pickleball a try. 

Though it is a sport commonly played amongst an older demographic, Murrell is hoping to see younger players get involved in the sport to create a “different style” of play. 

The grant money will cover facilitation, advertising and the creation of a booking system. The money will also cover the purchasing of equipment. 

Pickleball will be available to play socially from Tuesday September 16, from 6:00-7:30pm at the Trafalgar Tennis Club. 

For more information and updates, please visit the ‘TCH Pickle Ball’ Facebook page.

Another chapter in the story of George Eyre’s bugle

In July, Traf District News reported on the return of a Buln Buln East soldier’s bugle to the area. Another chapter in the story of the bugle, thought to have belonged to George Eyre, has emerged.

On August 9, the Warragul RSL held an event to remember George Eyre and share the next chapter in his story.

As previously reported, George Eyre enlisted in 1916 and was shipped to the Western Front. Eyre took with him a customised bugle. Unfortunately, he was killed in action in April 1917 and the bugle was lost. It was recovered when an Australian found it while in England and traced it back to Warragul. It was then donated to the Warragul RSL. 

In July, Warragul RSL president Lynn Mizen was able to get in contact with Peter Eyre, the great nephew of George Eyre. George’s oldest brother, James had a son, George Herbert who also enlisted and served in World War I. George Herbert was shot and wounded in action and returned to Australia in 1919. In 1946, he and his wife, Hilda, had a son, Peter.

Peter and his wife Jenny attended the event and presented the Warragul RSL with a medal belonging to George ‘Bugle’ Eyre that Peter’s father had come into possession of. There will be a new display at the RSL which includes this medal.

Along with this news, there was also some other news. A WW1 historian, Tim Lysett, got in contact and believed the bugle to be commemorative and not a military issued bugle.

“There is no question that when the bugle was discovered in Norfolk in the early 1980s, that it was genuinely believed to be from the first World War and that the research conducted at that time to link it to George Eyre was done in absolute good faith,” Mizen said.

“Unfortunately, at this point in time, we cannot provide the evidence to prove that the bugle belonged to George Eyre, but nor can we prove that it didn’t. Further research and investigation is required and is underway,” she said.

Going forward, the bugle will be named the George Eyre Commemorative Bugle and will honour the Eyre family.

Lachlan Wilson from the Traralgon City Band played the bugle at the event, just as he did at the grave of Gerorge Eyre in France during the band’s European tour, honouring the memory and sacrifice of the fallen soldier.

Sarah and Anthony Lucas, also members of the Traralgon City Band’s tour, spoke at the event, recountering their experiences and paying tribute. Sarah called the opportunity to “honour those like George Eyre who have served and continue to serve [Australia]” a ‘privilege’.”

Sarah spoke highly of the experience .“To say we learnt a lot is an understatement,” she noted.

“We reflect on the fact that war does not just impact those who are fighting, the impact ripples through the towns, countries, families, friends and communities,” she continued.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Danny Goss and Deputy Mayor Tricia Jones were also in attendance, with the latter receiving a personal thank you from RSL president Lynn Mizen for her involvement in the process.

Highland cattle at Traf Farmers’ Market

At the August Trafalgar Farmers’ Market I was surprised and delighted to see three Scottish Highland cows (also affectionately known as ‘Heilan Coos’) being introduced to the public. These long-haired, long-horned gentle animals attracted a lot of attention with kids and adults alike, lined up to look, to smile, to pat and to be photographed.

The oldest of the three is a four-year-old female named ‘Murphy’ and she was alert and bright and studied everything around her. Weighing in at 400 kilos, this small statured but solid animal was the major attraction. In the pen with her was her owner and breeder Glenn Adams, who was answering questions and all the time gently currying Murphy’s long red coat.

Longhorn Scottish Highland cows have had a checkered existence in Australia.

Scottish immigrants brought small numbers of this hardy breed to Australia from the mid-nineteenth century, but approximately fifty years later, none remained. The breed was re-established in 1954 with the importation of two cows and a bull from Scotland.

Glenn and his wife run Serenity Farm in Yarragon and Traf District News asked Glenn what sparked his interest in this unusual breed. 

“Basically, it’s just the love of animals. I’m an ex-dairy farmer, and I left dairy farming quite some time ago and just fretted for farming again.

“We used to show Jerseys down at [the] Melbourne Show, and my wife would always disappear and go down to the beef section and look at the Highland cows and always said she wanted one.

“So, I bought one about six years ago, and now we’ve got about 50 of them running around the paddock.

“These are a heritage-listed breed and the genetic gene pool is getting thin. So, we are all about preserving the purity of the breed.

“We import some semen from Scotland and try and keep that gene pool pure and not mix it with anything.

“When the Vikings turned up in Scotland they came across these in cattle and that’s where the cups and drinking horns came from.”

Serenity Farm is set in serene country in the hills south of Yarragon and is open to the public to come and spend some time among the animals. 

There are more than fifty highland cows and you can picnic among them, take walking tours of the farm, have a photo session with them by a professional photographer on site, and enjoy the quiet energy of the farm and these gentle animals.

While you are there patting and enjoying the cows, Glenn will give you a run down on the breed and what they are doing at Serenity Farm to preserve it. It will be a great family day out.
You can contact Glenn Adams via email: glenn@serenityfarm.com.au or through Facebook.

CFA funding falls short 

Last December the state government announced increases to the compulsory fire service levy and the increases are hefty – close to a 100% increase for homeowners, big rises for businesses and a 169% increase for farmers. The levy is collected by local councils and passed on in full to the state government. The levy is collected annually to help fund fire fighting services.

Darren Wallace is a thirty year CFA veteran and is also the state councillor for this district to the body representing CFA volunteers; Volunteer Fire Brigades of Victoria (VFBV).

The state will collect an extra $168 million dollars this year and Wallace and his colleagues believe $60 million of that needs to go each year to replacing the CFA’s ageing fleet of vehicles. 

Tankers are the workhorses of the CFA and 227 in the state’s fleet are more than 31 years old. Another 212 are in the 26 to 30 year range. The government is offering $30 million a year, for four years, for replacement vehicles, but Wallace argues that buys only sixty trucks (at $500,000 each) and at the end of the four year period the oldest trucks will have been replaced, but the 212 trucks in the 26 to 30 year old range will then be 30 years and more old. In Wallace’s view that achieves little. 

He is not alone in that view. Adam Barnett, CEO of VFBV had this to say.

“The government is actually defunding CFA and investing less and less. That is like reducing your insurance as the rate of theft increases. In the most fire-prone place on earth – it is just madness.

“Further analysis has revealed the tens of millions of dollars being siphoned from CFA’s budget to be diverted to public service bodies and departments.”

Section 76 of the CFA Act stipulates that government contributions to the CFA are 22.5% from general revenue and 77.5% from the fire services property levy. If that formula applied to the increased funds raised from the levy, the CFA would receive an additional $129 million, but that is not the case.

Wallace remembers when a truck was considered old and ready for replacement at twenty years of age. That was lifted to twenty five about fifteen years ago and now there is no upper limit. But vehicles wear out and more than nine hundred of the state CFA’s tankers are twenty years and older.

A lot of extra money will be collected through the levy this year and Wallace and the CFA volunteers want $60 million of that per year to go toward vehicle replacement, arguing that the $30 million being offered won’t solve the problem.

Trafalgar CFA has one old tanker and it is a single cab appliance which means up to three firefighters have to ride on the back of the truck facing imminent danger. Coming home around midnight from a recent fire at Narracan, the volunteers on the back of the truck were freezing; and that was in summer. More than seven hundred tankers in the CFA fleet are single cab appliances so hundreds of volunteers are exposed to danger and severe weather every time they go out to serve.

CFA volunteers give up their time and safety and comfort to fight fires for their communities and frankly they deserve the best equipment available to keep them safe and effective

Wallace also added that the Trafalgar tanker is two wheel drive which is almost useless once off the bitumen and that puts firefighters at even more risk.

The Trafalgar brigade also has a pumper truck and a general purpose vehicle for which much of the funding for that comes from a generous public.

Trafalgar’s jigsaw champion

Like many people, the boredom of covid lockdowns resulted in trying new hobbies and getting back into old ones. For Trafalgar medical doctor, Hannah Farthing, it was jig-sawing. 

Farthing traced her love for jig-sawing back to her childhood where she did her first jigsaw at around the age of three. 

“I always sort of did them [jigsaws] growing up, but I got back into it during covid.”

Farthing explained that every night during covid, she would complete a thousand-piece jigsaw whilst watching TV; something her mum thought was “weird.”

From there Farthing went looking and stumbled on the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association –  which she joined – and has been a part of ever since. 

In 2024, Hannah competed in many competitions, including state, national, and world. 

The Victorian state competition saw Farthing clean up nicely, placing first in both individuals and pairs, doing a 500-piece jigsaw in amazing time. 

In nationals, Farthing placed 8th in individuals, and 1st in pairs and teams.

The world competition whisked Hannah off to Valladolid, Spain which saw her place 29th in individual, 10th in pairs, and 6th in teams. 

When asked how Hannah prepares for competition, she boiled it down to practice.

“Most of the time I come home from work and do at least one, or two five hundred [piece jigsaws].” 

“It also goes a lot further. It’s a bit of recording yourself doing puzzles, and then rewatching the footage to see what you could have done better,” Farthing said.

With the right amount of practice, Farthing believes that everyone has the potential to become a jigsaw champion. 

“Puzzling non-competitively is something that the vast majority of people have done before. It is relatable to a lot of people.”

“I would certainly recommend doing some puzzles, joining a group, and seeing what is out there. A lot of people might just end up swapping puzzles or talking about how to approach a puzzle. Then if you want to be competitive, you can always lean into that,” Farthing said. 

In 2025, the competition continues as Farthing plans to go back to defend her title as Victorian State Jigsaw Champion, and compete in the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, in September. 

“I won Victoria last year, so I am hoping to defend that,” Farthing said. 

Perhaps, dear reader, this is a sign for you to get back into an old hobby. You never know what could happen. 

Parks Victoria finds new leadership 

In late November, Parks Victoria saw its leadership change hands as Matthew Jackson stepped down and Graeme Dear was appointed as Interim CEO. Jackson had led the government agency since 2017, but left the position by mutual agreement.

Graham Dear brings with him 30 years of experience in public and private sector administration and has served on the Victorian Fisheries Authority Board. Dear is also a member of the Great Outdoors Taskforce – the group responsible for reviewing and making recommendations about future forest and land management in Victoria. 

The Victorian Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos, expressed his confidence in this move.

“His passion for the great outdoors and experience in administration means he is the right person to help Parks Victoria change,” he said.

“His leadership will ensure Parks Victoria continues to provide accessible, enjoyable outdoor experiences, while protecting and enhancing the state’s natural environment,” he said.

At the end of last year, Dimopoulos also announced that he had ordered a review of Parks Victoria. He wants to ensure that the organisation can serve the needs of Victorians to the best of its abilities.

He said that “It’s clear that Parks Victoria’s current operations need to be improved to meet community expectations.”

According to reporting by the ABC, the review will be conducted by the Melbourne based advisory firm KordaMentha.

Parks Victoria ensured that during this period of change and review, that it remains focused on ensuring our parks are open, safe and clean for all Victorians to enjoy, and we will continue to prioritise this important work over summer.

The agency has already shown this to be true, raising over $800,000 to establish a conservation sanctuary at Wilsons Promontory National Park, in South Gippsland.

This project has been a collaboration with a long-term charity partner, the People and Parks Foundation. Donations from generous Victorians will directly fund habitat restoration, species reintroduction, and critical pest control efforts.

The sanctuary would be the largest in Victoria and would create an environment where vulnerable wildlife and habitats can thrive. A new 10 km fence will prevent pests from entering the park, while continuing to provide access for Victorians and visitors to have empowering exposure to nature.

This sanctuary will ensure future generations can experience the best the Prom has to offer for years to come.

Parks Victoria encourages Victorians to continue to help fund this project. To donate towards the Prom Sanctuary, visit the People and Parks Foundation.

Trafalgar Citizen and Junior Citizen of The Year Awards

Jason and Kerry Rantall 

Jason and Kerry are passionate about supporting and improving our community by sharing their own challenges with mental health, and they have made a significant impact by opening the community hub, Bettermentall, in Trafalgar.

Together, they have created a safe and relaxed place where people can connect, learn about resources available, and build self-help with support. The hub has workshops, youth catch-up weekly, a men’s mental health group, mental health first aid and counselling, visiting speakers, and many referral opportunities to deal with anxiety and mental illness, “to help people take that first step towards recovery and healing.”

As a youth mental health first aid instructor, Kerry’s aim was to help those with bipolar and their families in a quest for a normal life, starting with helping Jason through his addictions, and now expanding her support and experience to our community. Jason has transformed from barely surviving to flourishing and being an excellent role model, making small changes and practising healthy lifestyle choices.

In his encouragement for people to believe in themselves, Jason promoted these ideals with the Have a Chat Run for Mental Health and Wellbeing last year. 

Highlighting the 3299 suicides in Australia in 2022, and their impact on families and loved ones, Jason invited community members to walk and chat with him for the same number of kms over 100 days. He promoted local businesses or community members who sponsored and shared his beliefs of a healthier and informed life, and his daily experiences were widely documented in the media.

Bettermentall is a privately operated not-for-profit community service and depends solely on donations for its survival. From the Trafalgar community, thank you Jason and Kerry.

Jason and Kerry spoke through Traf District News. “We thank the community for this recognition with the Australia Day award. While we deeply appreciate this gesture, we want to emphasize that our work is always driven by passion and commitment to making a positive impact, not for recognition. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a community that values these efforts.

“We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the community for their ongoing support—without them, Bettermentall would not be what it is today. Together, with the community’s support, we are building a more healthy, vibrant, and safe community.”

Ambrose Bajada – Trafalgar Junior Citizen of The Year

Ambrose has proven to be an outstanding example of leadership, in both his Trafalgar High School community and his many roles within the air force cadet program in Squadron 426 – Traralgon.

Prior to and during his position as a school captain, Ambrose attended school council meetings to both share his views as a young leader and also to offer students a voice. He has chaired several Student Representative Council meetings for the junior and senior SRC groups, as well as supporting several specialist leadership teams, including the Performing Arts and Community Events captains. He has led many school assemblies during 2024, including the election of the 2025 leadership team.

In his own time outside school hours, Ambrose has attended evening sessions and committed to training weekends with the 426 Squadron over many years. He has been a mentor to younger and lower ranked cadets and a chief instructor, supporting class planning, drill preparation, and executive training. He has shown a real passion for the planning of celebration events and supporting the ongoing Legacy Appeal, including leading ANZAC Day events in 2024. In 2023 he played a key role in supporting his squadron’s participation in air shows and in open days. 

Well done Ambrose, and thank you from the Trafalgar community.

Editor’s Note: Traf District News will feature more about Ambrose in a future edition.

Graham Davey (Posthumous Award)

Graham Davey was a stalwart of the Trafalgar business and wider community and his dedication and passion for community was an inspiration.

Graham was very active with the Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce and Industry for more than forty years, which earned him a life membership. He was known for good humour, friendships and his historical perspective on local issues.

Graham and his wife Maria, operated Traf Men’s and Boy’s Wear for more than 30 years. They were well known for their generous support of local sports clubs and groups. 

Neil Joiner (Posthumous Award)

Neil Joiner is well remembered for his passion for the Holden brand and the impact he made on establishing a nationally significant museum here in Trafalgar. This not-for-profit museum is run entirely by more than 60 volunteers, also eager to share their knowledge of the Holden related exhibits.

Following his very successful business career, Neil and his wife Annette, purchased and improved to museum standard, the old, disused Trafalgar Butter Factory premises. Neil’s vision has seen Holden-related exhibits that boast an impressive collection spanning 160 years of development.

Editor’s Note: Traf District News published a eulogy to Graham Davey in the April 2024 edition and Neil Joiner in the August 2024 edition, which can be downloaded from www.trafnews.com

The spirit of Christmas

John Lennon’s lyrics ringing true at this time of year.

“So this is Christmas, 

And what have you done? 

Another year over, 

And a new one just begun, 

And so this is Christmas.” 

His song has become the annual mantra at home as we reflect upon the good times and beautiful memories created in 2024. Dare I say it has been a doozie.

2024 has challenged most of us feeling pushed and pulled in many directions. Unexpected events wiping people’s possessions, forcing them to rebuild and restructure their lives differently. Christmas can be perceived as a positive distraction encouraging our enthusiasm to the fore and begin decorating our home – inside and outside. Beautifully decorated trees with colourful baubles, tinsel, ornaments, and lights invite a joyful spirit to be shared among family and friends. 

Moving forward into 2025 the Christmas spirit remains within; an energy force spurring me to strengthen connection to land. I can say nature is my kindred spirit guiding me to improve my horticultural skills harmoniously serving the land. The habitat forest is a personal project coming to fruition. In 2023 I started planning and researching appropriate native plants for stage one. My patience and careful consideration have paid off. The habitat forest will be an evolving project. 

A GARDENER’S YEAR 

For gardeners, think back to autumn, winter and your garden tasks and projects. Spring and summer are the times we reap our arduous efforts. The awesome blooms and fruits ready to harvest. Have you journaled progress throughout the year? Noting your successes and failures? 

FESTIVE SEASON AMBIENCE

Essential oils of clove, cinnamon, pine, nutmeg, all spice, ginger, peppermint, sweet orange, frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood and eucalyptus can be used in an oil burner creating a lovely ambient fragrance. 

Have you considered celebrating the festive season with native plants? Prostanthera lasianthos – Victorian Christmas bush and Adenanthos x cunninghamii – woolly bush. The latter grows to about 1 – 1.5 high x 1 metre wide and P. lasianthos is a compact bush flowering December to January, grows 2-6 metres high x 2-5 metres wide both suitable for home gardeners.

CHRISTMAS DIGESTIVES

Over-indulging at Christmas is easily done. Our overworked liver gets an unfavourable hiding making us lethargic and wanting to burst. Perhaps wearing stretchy pants may help to ease discomfort? One of my favourite digestive tisanes is mint. An easy herb to grow preferably in pots as the plant’s invasiveness can become problematic. Place a small handful of fresh mint leaves in an average teapot with hot water and infuse until ready. 

A simple spice brew combined of cinnamon quill, star anise, cardamon pods, clove buds, and black pepper is refreshing and gut supportive. Add ingredients to a saucepan of water and bring to the boil for a few minutes. Allow to cool infusing spice flavour, strain, and serve. Can be drunk cold or warm, garnish with thinly sliced orange or lemon.

FESTIVE SEASON MESSAGE

Wishing everyone in Baw Baw shire and beyond a happy 2025 and safe festive season. To our awesome farmers providing produce throughout the year – a big thankyou. To all motorists heading away please drive safely. 

Free camping in Victoria

This summer, over 130 campgrounds managed by Parks Victoria will provide a free place to camp. By doing this, the state government wants to help busy families get away to the great outdoors. 

“Busy families deserve a great holiday in our great outdoors – and this summer, they can stay for free,” said Premier Jacinta Allen. 

This opportunity will run from December 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. These campgrounds are on top of over 250 camping areas in state forests that are already free for campers. For locals, there is free outdoor accommodation at several sites in Wilsons Promontory, the Upper Yarra Reservoir Park and the Baw Baw National Park. 

This offer could save Victorian and interstate campers up to $7 million in booking fees. It builds on the Labor Government’s half-price camping initiative that’s been in place since 2019 and has saved campers a staggering $25.7 million. 

Families who have already booked and paid to go camping won’t miss out. Existing bookings for the summer will be honoured and refunded.

Each year, more than 50 million people visit Victoria’s state forests and national parks. 

“There is no better time than this summer to get out and enjoy nature, all while saving the cost of your holiday and boosting tourism in regional communities,” said Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos. 

However, Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath has called out this decision, saying that the State Government has abandoned regional caravan park owners. 

In Parliament, she asked Premier Allen to explain how the state government plans to support caravan park owners who will be affected by the loss of business. 

“I would like the Premier to outline how the Allan government will support and/ or compensate caravan park owners or operators facing a substantial loss of business,” she said. 

“[The announcement] is already causing serious distress for small business operators in Eastern Victoria,” she said. 

She estimated that some businesses will lose up to 30% of their profits. 

In response, Allen MP emphasised the amount of money that this program – and previous programs such as the half-price camping initiative – have saved campers. 

“When busy Victorian families are trying to decide where to take a holiday this summer, I want them to choose regional Victoria,” she said. 

“I will not apologise for helping those families save on the cost of their holiday whilst seeing the best our regional communities have to offer,” the premier said. 

In a time when cost-of-living is affecting many across the state, incentivizing Victorians to travel to regional Victoria, thus encouraging them to spend money at regional businesses such as restaurants and shops, is a positive for many. 

This comes at a time when the Labor Government is also facing backlash over moves to restrict mountain climbing in the state’s west. 

After the shutdown of native timber harvesting last year, the government’s Great Outdoors Taskforce has been trying to determine the best use of state forest land going forward. This includes determining what outdoor activities may need to be restricted in order to protect the environment and endangered species. 

Regardless of where you sit in the midst of these debates, why not take advantage of the opportunity for free camping and explore what Victoria has to offer? 

The cost of Potholes

Rob Tuckett of Tuckett Tyres, Hastings (and Cranbourne) has a favourite saying which he mentions to the many grumpy customers who come in with pothole damaged tyres and rims: ‘Your car has to be roadworthy but there is no law to say the roads have to be carworthy.’ 

Rob is seeing at least two customers a week whose tyres have been destroyed and of those one will also have damaged or destroyed a rim. It is an expensive business. Tuckett just ordered eight Mercedes Benz wheels at a cost of between $600 and $1,500 each. That sort of cost hurts and Rob Tuckett says that frustrated customers sometimes blame the brand of tyre which Tuckett says is unrealistic, because potholes tear low profile tyres apart, regardless of the brand.

Traf District News has been writing about the state of our roads for the past few issues and hastens to add that it is a state-wide problem, not simply a Baw Baw problem and it also needs to be said again, that not all roads in Baw Baw Shire are the responsibility of the Council. Baw Baw, like other councils, can only do as much roadworks as funding will allow. The problem is funding for roads is insufficient.

We spoke to Peter Dart of Trafalgar Tyre Service and he sees an average of two customers a week who have wrecked tyres from potholes. John Brown Tyres (Traf) told us that they agree with that figure and that damaged rims occur for many customers whose tyres have been destroyed.

A family member who lives on the Mornington Peninsula has lost two tyres at $400 each and had to have a rim re-rolled ($350) so he is out of pocket $1,150. You would think he could make a claim for recompense.  No, he can’t. “I gave up on chasing that,” he told us. For a start the minimum amount before a claim will be considered is $1,640 and then it is a very difficult process to make the claim, requiring photographs of the damage and the pothole, location of the pothole to determine which authority is responsible and more red tape which makes the exercise seem futile.

Truck tyres and 4WD tyres are less susceptible to pothole damage because the tyres are tougher, with more tyre between road and rim, better clearance and tougher suspension. Low profile tyres which are on most late model cars are less able to withstand hitting a pothole.

Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, told Traf District News that road maintenance in Victoria plummeted a staggering 95% last year. Road “rehabilitated or resurfaced” in regional victoria fell to 0.4 million square metres, compared to 9 million square metres the previous year. Putting that figure in perspective, 0.4 million square metres translates to approximately 60 kilometrest of road resurfacing, compared to approximately 1,290 kilomtres the year before.

(*How did we arrive at the cost to Victorian motorists? There are 571 registered tyre dealers in Victoria. If we assume two damaged tyres a week for each at $150 each and a rim repair at $150 we arrive at $13 million per year.)

Baw Baw has voted

On November 20, the newly elected Baw Baw Shire Council unanimously appointed Cr. Danny Goss as mayor.

The council agreed that Mayor Goss would serve for 12 months before another election takes place next November.

Cr Goss was first elected to Council in 2016, and has previously served as Mayor from 2019 to 2021.

“I want to thank my colleagues here today for their support and generosity in nominating me for this job,” said Mayor Goss.

“I know a lot is expected and I know how to do the job,” he said.

The Mayor thanked and acknowledged his family, councillor officers, and councillors past and present.

“I thank my fellow councillors for trusting me, none of them have worked with me before, apart from Cr Jones, and they are still getting to know me,” he said.

Long-standing member of the council, Cr Tricia Jones, was appointed Deputy Mayor. First elected in 2008, she is entering her seventeenth consecutive year on council.

“Thank you to the councillor group for this opportunity to serve as Deputy Mayor,” she said.

“It’s an exciting time for the shire, with six fresh councillors who are passionate, excited, and we are on the ground floor to shape Baw Baw,” she said.

“Each councillor has a unique but shared vision to make Baw Baw a standout council,” she said.

The nine councillors will commence a four-year term as members of the Baw Baw Shire Council. Over 37,000 locals voted in the elections held in October and the results were finalised on November 7, following counting of all preferential votes.

Only two of these councillors, Cr Tricia Jones (West Ward) and Cr Danny Goss (Central Ward) have retained their seat from the previous term. 

Former mayor, Annemarie McCabe, as well as East Ward members Michael Leaney and Darren Wallace, are notable absentees from the current lineup, all having failed to secure a seat.

“It is clearly what the community wanted… we saw that in the elections… all councillors should be pleased with the vote they received,” the Mayor said.

The East Ward was a close contest. More than 12,800 votes were cast. Approximately 600 first- preference votes separated the top five candidates. Ultimately, Adam Sheehan, Brendan Kingwill and Kate Wilson were successful in their candidacy, each gaining more than 16% of the total first preference vote cast.

In the Central Ward Paul Pratt and Suzanne Allen were successful. Allen said that she was “deeply humbled and grateful to have been elected as a Councillor.”

“Over the next four years, I look forward to working alongside a dynamic and passionate group of councillors who are all committed to making a positive difference for our community,” she said.

“I also feel the responsibility of ensuring that Baw Baw grows in a positive direction whilst meeting the needs of the community,” she said.

In the West Ward, Ben Lucas, who resigned from his seat in the Council in 2021 following drink-driving charges, received over 45% of the first preference votes to rejoin the council. Jess Hamilton was also appointed.

Mayor Cr Danny Goss said he sees himself as the “first among equals and certainly not the boss.”

He promised to mentor his fellow councillors and mediate a safe workplace. 

The Mayor said that he was “very optimistic” of the elected council group.

“I say to the public, we will do this job to the best of our ability, and we will be open and transparent right across the board,” he said.

The mayor acknowledged that the group would “no doubt have challenges” but ensured that the councillors would react and respond to any issues respectfully.

“I think our community will be pleased with the progress this council makes,” he said.

“With the ongoing support of our CEO and the officers, I believe we will get some great things over the line in the next four years,” Deputy Mayor Tricia Jones said.

In addition to this election, the Council CEO, Mark Dupe, announced that he will resign at the end of this year. Mr Dupe said it had been an honour to lead the organisation, and thanked the staff and the wider community for their continued support. An interim Chief Executive Officer will be appointed in the near future.

With the Baw Baw Shire Council set, the elected councillors will begin their work as they serve their community.

All nine Councillors are currently participating in a mandatory and extensive induction program in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020. 

In addition to this induction program, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will participate in additional mandatory training designed to help them fulfil their roles as leaders of the Council.

“We are expected to be community leaders, and we will be,” the mayor said.

Treat yourself to a gourmet day out at Carrajung Estate 

Editor’s Note: Traf District News provides food guides and reviews but hastens to add we are not qualified to be harsh critics and neither do we wish to be. The venues we present may or may not be advertisers and these reviews are neither paid for or requested by the venues. Also, we pay for any and all meals we review. These reviews are intended to give our readers an idea of what is on offer in Baw Baw Shire and surrounds.

If you are looking for a dining experience with a difference, we suggest a visit to Carrajung Estate Winery, previously well known as Toms Cap Vineyard, at Willung South, which was run brilliantly by Ann and Graham Morris. 

Often when new people take over a successful business, it can disappoint. Not so in this case; we found head chef Patrick Haney provided an interesting menu when we visited for lunch a couple of Sundays ago. The service was brilliant and the food was top quality all the way. 

This is not the place to go if you are looking for a quick inexpensive meal but it is certainly a fine dining experience, where you can take your time to look out over the vineyard and take in the cabins tucked away among the  grape vines.

The wines are exceptionally good. 

Carrajung Estate offers two and three bedroom accommodation, plus a large house which can sleep 12.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

O

ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and why is this important? 

By the end of 2024 it is predicted that 20,973 women will be diagosed with breast cancer in Australia this year, but it doesn’t stop there. Did you know that men can also develop breast cancer? It is anticipated that 221 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer as well this year.

The chance of patients surviving breast cancer has improved over the years due to advances in treatment, but breast cancer still accounts for 14.1 percent of all cancer deaths in Australian women. Needless to say, the treatment for this cancer is life altering and even the strongest struggle to manage side effects.

My advice to you: prevention! By regular self-checks and early detection, you can reduce your chances of developing advanced breast cancer significantly. 

As health professionals we often make these suggestions but what does this really mean? Each month you should do a breast self-examination, whether you are male or female. And if you have a partner, you could make it fun by checking each other. 

Doing a breast self-exam means checking your breasts, by sight and by touch, for any changes, like a new lump. When checking by sight, remove your top and stand front on to a mirror with your hands on your hips. If your breasts appear unevenly shaped with distortion or swelling, including dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin, you need to inform your general practitioner. Sometimes indications may also include changes in the nipple (inversion), redness, soreness, and rash, fluid coming out or swelling. Now repeat this check with your hands in the air.

The next step is to examine by touch… now don’t get distracted, stay with me. Lay on the bed using your right hand to feel your left breast, and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Starting in the armpit (yes believe it or not, there is breast tissue in the armpit), use a firm smooth touch keeping fingers flat and together. Press down with your fingers and move them in a circular motion that’s about the size of a twenty-cent piece (or an inch around). You will need to move your hand over to your collarbone, down to your abdomen, covering your entire breasts. You can also move your fingers down the breast vertically. Some people find it easier to check their breasts while showering. Examine the entire breast the same way you would if lying down.

Please remember that if you are at all concerned, please see your general practitioner. 

Some people may have naturally lumpy breasts and it’s important to have them checked regularly. 

The key is to get to know your breasts and if they have changed by sight or touch see a doctor. For comprehensive instructions please refer to guidelines from the Breast Cancer Network Australia at www.bcna.org.au

Knowing your breasts is a good way to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Happy checking.

Regional Roads Victoria quietly dumped

Back in 2018 the then Minister for Roads and Safety, Luke Donnellan, announced the formation of RRV saying in part that RRV would be “a dedicated country roads body to make sure regional communities have the safe and reliable roads they deserve”.

That hasn’t eventuated and RRV has been quietly dropped. The RRV website was live until June, with the URL now redirecting to the projects page of the Transport Victoria website, with no mention of RRV, while the agency’s last Facebook post was in August last year.

Two weeks ago the Victorian Government announced a road maintenance blitz to invest almost $1 billion to rebuild and repair roads across the state.

To quote from the government statement: ‘Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, launched the $964 million road maintenance blitz at the South Geelong depot of Fulton Hogan, one of the contractors that will deliver these works between now and mid-2025. 

‘An army of road workers will begin delivering the equivalent of $2.6 million worth of works for every day of the year – with around 70 percent of funding going to regional Victoria. 

‘Over the next nine months, crews will complete thousands of projects on Victoria’s road network, ranging from road rehabilitation and resurfacing, to patching potholes and maintaining bridges, traffic lights, signage and road infrastructure.’ 

Unfortunately none of that money appears to be earmarked for roads in Baw Baw Shire or the wider Gippsland area.

Another road initiative: the Victorian ‘Black Spot’ program has set aside $25.6 million for 57 known black spots, which is a step in the right direction, but none of those black spots occur in Baw Baw Shire.

The state government states that 700 potholes are being filled in Victoria every day and that is encouraging, but given Victoria has 150,000 kilometres of roads to maintain and repair it loses some significance.

The RACV conducts an annual survey among members and the 2024 survey attracted 7,000 responses. Potholes and poor road condition were the top issues identified, with an overwhelming 64 per cent of participants identifying these as the primary safety issue, up from 46 per cent in 2021. 

Sixty per cent of survey participants thought that improving road surfaces should be the priority road safety solution. 

RACV Head of Policy James Williams said the data from the survey indicated that the condition of regional roads had become a major safety concern for Victorians.

“As a safety advocate, it’s important that RACV closely examines what Victorians think are the factors contributing to unsafe road conditions, so we can provide that information to all levels of government and encourage action,” he said. 

Channel 9 reported a comment from Traralgon truckie, Angelo Vicino, who said the cost of maintaining his vehicles had gone up 30 per cent in a year because of the appalling conditions.

“There’s a lot of roads [where] I can’t even sit at 90 km/h, that’s how bad they are,” Vicino said.

Potholes and poor roads are not limited to Baw Baw Shire and as we stated last month, the Baw Baw Council can only work with the funding it has – which isn’t enough. 

Poor roads are a national issue and this newspaper will continue to talk to appropriate bodies to see if there are any real solutions in the offing. We will also talk to local trucking businesses to get their views on what poor roads are costing them.

“Every part of my body has had a whinge to my mind over this run; I just don’t entertain it. I don’t get involved with it.”

Author’s Note: Jason Rantall committed to running more than 30 kilometres a day for 100 days. We are sitting on his porch after he just finished run number 98. Jason has ice packs strapped to his feet and more ice packs strapped to his ankles and he is sucking on an icicle with a coffee and a broth at the ready. We are not here to discuss why he ran, but how he managed mentally and physically to complete a feat most of us could not contemplate doing.  This is a story of courage and commitment.

Jason decided to finish this epic 100 day run by pushing himself even harder and combining the last two runs into one 24 hour sleepless stint. He invited people to sponsor him and guess how many kilometres he would run, with all the money to go to his cause Bettermentall Health Inc.

But Jason wasn’t always fit and wasn’t always as capable. We go back to who he was and how he changed just a few short years ago.

“I was 99 kilos. I was an alcoholic. I was mentally unwell, physically unwell, spiritually lost. The whole of me was just broken. I just drank in the shed. I didn’t associate with people. I didn’t go anywhere with my family. They’d go out and I’d just drink all day. I’d feel guilt at first, but I’d get smashed and party alone with the music blaring. 

“One day – after years of this – my wife Kerry said to me, ‘Jase, I can’t do this anymore’ and she meant it. I gave up smoking that night and next morning I ran 2.3k. I was determined to get it done even though it was a very hot day and I was unfit. I was in stubby shorts and a T-shirt and I didn’t even have proper runners. But somehow I ran every step of that first effort and that was the turning point.”

Some weeks into his incredible run, your scribe called Jason and he said, “I’m injured mate and I can’t run,” which I took to mean he had given up. Then he added, “So I am walking the 35ks.” This meant he was starting at three or four in the morning in order to complete his commitment and hold down a job and maintain some family equilibrium.

Traf District News (TDN): “

When you think about what is in front of you each day Jason, how do you find the strength to go on?”

Jason: 

“I never, ever look how far I”ve got to go. If anything enters my head that it’s going to be a long day or it’s going to get hard, I shut it out. I don’t entertain it. I don’t allow it in. I don’t let it because in the past, everything controlled me. If I had something coming in my head, I’d play it, play on it, ask questions of it, entertain it, and it’d take me down. Now, I literally get out here. If you just saw me get out of bed in the mornings. I get up and I am bent over. Then I walk stiff legged hops for a while because my achilles just don’t want to work. I get myself in the shower, and then I put all the heat packs on the achilles and I just come out here, I click the watch and away I go.

“I have a strong will to continue growing. I think life is about a journey of growth. I want to challenge myself and see how far I can go because in the past, change challenged me. I wouldn’t step into change. The only time I would change was when it hit me in the face. Change challenged me. Now I challenge myself to find change. I actually challenge myself to look for things because growth is in the pain. 

“Finally, I have to say that if this 100 day, 3249 kilometre run was for me, or about me, I can tell you now, I wouldn’t have kept running. It’s so much bigger than me, and that’s why I’ve been able to keep at it.”

Footnote: 

Jason decided to run 3,249 kilometres over 100 days to raise awareness for mental health, 3,249 being the number of people who took their own lives in 2022. 

Jason wore out seven pairs of runners and ran 3,002.4 kilometres.

On the last 24 hour run, he ran 155.4 kilometres.

The community was invited to run with Jason and community members ran 9,422 K’s.

Jason’s effort raised $70,000 but more money is expected to flow in.

Skake, rattle and roll

WE TAKE A LOOK AT VICTORIA’S ROADS

There can be little doubt roads in Gippsland and the rest of the state are in poor condition with some commentators calling Victoria the ‘Pothole State.’ Anyone who drives will be well aware that vigilance is required to avoid potholes, some so bad they can actually do damage and must also present a safety risk.

‘Roads, rates and rubbish’ is often cited as the primary role of any local council and it is easy to assume that all roads are the responsibility of councils, but this is not so.

The reality is that highways and arterial roads are the responsibility of the state government. Maintenance of non-arterial roads – essentially streets – are the responsibility of councils. For example, Princes Highway, Trafalgar is the responsibility of the state as is the Trafalgar-Thorpdale Road, as is the Trafalgar Willow Grove Road. The street you live in is almost certainly a council responsibility.

Baw Baw Shire Council spent just under $6 million on roads last year, which is equivalent to just under 10% of the income it derives from rates and it clearly isn’t enough. However, while council is responsible for maintenance of much of the road infrastructure, it simply can’t sufficiently fund all road maintenance through rates. The federal government funds a lot of the roadworks and the state funds some. 

David Hair, Manager, Infrastructure at Baw Baw Shire told Traf District News that the council has 1800 kilometres of roads to look after. Putting that into perspective, that is the distance from Warragul to Brisbane and it is a massive task. Mr Hair also told us that 900 kilometres of roads are unsealed and that the council is constantly grading those roads.

The good news is that the federal government significantly increased council’s Roads to Recovery funding allocation from $8.9 million from 2019 – 2024, to $15.7 million for 2024 – 2029 (FY). This will enable the further delivery of road reconstruction projects. Council is also lobbying the state government for $3 million to allow Regional Roads Victoria to design a fit-for-purpose arterial road system to replace the very old roads in the shire.

The National Transport Research Association recently conducted a survey of 8,400 kilometres of Victoria’s roads and found 91% to be in ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition. A total of 296 lives were lost on Victorian roads in 2023, an increase of 22.8%, or 55 deaths, the highest number of deaths in over 15 years. Is there a connection between deteriorating road conditions and increased deaths?

There is another misconception that the money raised through vehicle registration goes back into roads. It doesn’t. There were 5.4 million vehicles registered in Victoria in 2023 and by our rough calculations, that earned around $4 billion. The state government has set aside $964 million for roads this financial year which is less than a quarter of registration income. Many people believe that registration money – like fuel excise taxes – goes directly to roads, but that is not how it works

Rather than repair roads properly, it seems, in some instances, reducing speed limits on roads in poor condition is a way the government gets around the problem.

If you damage your car, as a colleague of mine did recently, destroying two tyres and rims on Cardinia Road, his efforts to obtain compensation failed. The government has set a threshold of $1,640 for any claim, meaning that if you do $500 worth of damage, or $1,400 worth of damage they won’t entertain compensation. Only if your claim is $1,640 or above will it be entertained.

The simple truth is that not enough money is being spent on our roads but it is unreasonable to blame the council for that as they can only do as much as available funding allows.

We will bring you more on this important topic in the November edition.

See what people say – Vox Pop – elsewhere in this issue.

Uncertain future for ‘youth crime crisis’

Victoria’s youth crime crisis is impacting community safety with the latest Crime Statistics Agency confirming youth offending has increased by 32% in Baw Baw and by 20% across Gippsland.

In the Baw Baw Shire, a majority of offences took place in Warragul with the most common offences being criminal damage and breaches in family violence orders. Increases in cost of living have also seen rises in theft across the state.

From April 2022 to March 2023 there were 1695 alleged offender incidents for youths aged between 10 – 17 years in Gippsland; by March 2024 this surged to 2043 in the past 12 months. In Baw Baw Shire, there were approximately 400 offences committed by those 17 and under.

After bail reforms were passed through Parliament last October, new legislation came into place in March of this year.

The reforms have been criticised by Liberal, Nationals and Greens MPs who point to Labor’s budget cuts on crime diversion and prevention programs and the increasing vacancies on police rosters.

The Nationals are demanding the Allan Labor Government introduce reforms within the youth justice system and bolster police powers through legislative amendments.

This call to curb youth crime comes after Dr Ashley Gordon was fatally injured during a home invasion in January. 

Dr Gordon’s Latrobe Valley family are demanding the state government crackdown on youth crime through their parliamentary petition that seeks greater ‘stop and search’ powers for police; a reinstatement of section 30B of the Bail Act; and a cancellation of plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14. 

The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath said her experience sitting with and listening to Natalie, Dr Ashley Gordon’s sister and his extended family, with Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron was harrowing.

“No one should have to experience what the Gordon family has,” she said.

New data shows that over 2700 youths breached bail over the past year, the equivalent of one breach every three hours.

“It is beyond frustrating for police who work hard to get youth offenders off the street, only for bail granted through the court,” she said.

The bail laws were not introduced without reason though.

Under previous legislation, bail laws disproportionately impacted women, children and young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as people living with a disability.

These stricter bail laws led to increases in those in remand and pre-trial detention and ingenious people are more likely to be remanded in custody than given bail. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 34% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are incarcerated are unsentenced.

Last year, a Coronial Inquest found that previous bail laws discriminate against Aboriginal people, are incompatible with Victoria’s Human Rights Charter and should be changed urgently.

While the new data published by the Crime Statistics Agency looks worrying, there are alternative elements to be considered.

While there has been an increase in youth offender incidents, when accounting for population growth, figures seem more consistent. In 2024 there were 3,365 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 – not dissimilar from 3,358 in 2017.

While youth crime incidents (as well as crime rates across all ages) have increased from 2023 to 2024, they are still lower than the reported number of offences in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Many youth offenders are also victims of unsafe, abusive or neglectful households, meaning the solution may not be incarceration, stricter bail laws or more severe punishment, but increased opportunities for support and education.

Creative Wellness Centre being developed in Trafalgar

For more than thirty years the shop at 16 Contingent Street was a men’s wear business and a famous local icon. And now it is being reimagined as a wellness centre. 

Kellie Robinson is behind this idea and believes the time is right and hastens to assure us that while she intends the centre to be well used by healing practitioners, it will become more than that. “When I wanted to go to a workshop I had to travel to Melbourne, or the Mornington Peninsula or similar because there is no such facility here and I think Trafalgar is big enough and mature enough that a centre like this is sustainable. I want it to be a hub of creative people and wellness people coming together. 

”Art can be therapeutic in itself, so bringing different creative workshops to the space along with healing modalities will add to the positive energy,” Kellie said.

Traf District News visited the centre and it is impressive; very large with white painted brick walls and several private rooms set up for masseurs, kinesiologists, Bowen practitioners, acupuncturists and similar. 

In the movie ‘Field Of Dreams’, Kevin Costner, who played an Iowa corn farmer, had a vision to build a baseball diamond in the middle of his cornfield and was guided to ‘build it and they will come’ and come they did; the spirits of past famous baseball players came to use the field in the middle of the night. Kellie Robinson has a similar vision and has created a large welcoming space which is yet to be fully defined. It is a working canvas waiting to be completed.

Kellie, who is a professional photographer, runs her business from the centre and welcomes other creative people to use the facility. The private rooms can be hired on a daily basis for $80, which is unusual because such facilities often require a weekly or monthly commitment. 

“I have wanted to build such a centre for some time and was planning to build a beautiful barn on our rural property but then I noticed this space and it is perfect. It is big and central with plenty of parking and cafes and businesses nearby which can cater to the people using the centre.”

To Kellie this is not about making a lot of money from the centre because she will be happy to cover the rent and outgoings. This means wellness practitioners and people running workshops, can afford to charge less for their services while still making a profit. 

Already there are a number of workshops available, examples being Women’s Circle (Sept 16), Preloved Clothing Market (Sept 7), Chair Yoga (every Thursday), Nutrition Workshop (last Monday each month) and more. Details can be found on http://https://thecreativewellness.studio/ 

Kellie believes older people can really benefit from chair yoga which is gentle but still effectively increases flexibility and fitness.

If you wish to use the centre and want to know more, contact Kellie on 0438 331 279 

State government fundsavailable to help home buyers

If you are keen to buy a home but coming up short on the deposit you need, then this article is well worth reading, because the Victorian Government has set aside millions of dollars to help bridge that gap. The Homebuyer Fund was set up several years ago and its sole purpose is to help Victorians buy a home who may otherwise struggle to do so. Finding the deposit can be a big stretch and this scheme is designed to help, with the government providing a lot of the deposit money.

Here is an example. If you were to buy a $600,000 home, the bank could lend you $420,000 and the government would kick in and buy 25% equity by providing $150,000. You would then only have to find 5% ($30,000). Without that you would have to find all of the deposit because banks are not allowed to lend the full purchase price.

It is important to understand that the government is not lending the money to you so that means you are not burdened with paying the government back every month. The government becomes an equity partner with you, which means they own some of your home. Sure, the money has to be paid back to the government but only when the house is sold. You are not locked into paying the bank back on a regular basis and can leave that until the house is sold. However, there are ways you can pay the government out if you wish but there is no obligation to do so.

In essence, this scheme will allow more people to buy a home who otherwise would not be able to find the full deposit required. It allows people to own a better home than perhaps they otherwise would have been able to afford. That is its purpose. 

In the example above, the government is providing 25% of the value of the home and is a co-owner until the time the home is sold. 

This scheme can be particularly helpful for single people who don’t have a joint income but also first home buyers or families who would otherwise struggle to find the required deposit. 

Torina Johnston and Gavin Duffy at the Community Bank Trafalgar & District have both had a lot of experience managing these particular loans and the bank has helped quite a number of people to buy a home through this scheme, not just in our district but throughout Victoria. The Bendigo Bank, a key partner with the government, is a great place to start.

Speaking of start, before you rush out to find a home, there are a few conditions that you need to understand and the bank will help you with that. They will explain what is needed to pre-qualify. There is also a government website which will provide you with a lot of information (see image right).

The government has set property price caps for this program and in our part of the world the upper limit is $700,000. This simply means the government will not provide 25% for a home worth more than $700,000 because they figure if you can afford that, you don’t need their help. Equally important, you don’t have to spend $600,000 or $700,000. If you find the home you want at $500,000 and you have pre-qualified, the scheme can apply. 

Likewise, if you had more than the bare 5% deposit you can then choose to keep the government input at 25% and have a smaller bank loan. These examples are to show that the scheme has some flexibility.

If you are aboriginal you may be eligible for 35% instead of $25%

So, if you are wondering what next, your next move is to call the bank and Bendigo Bank is a major partner with the government in the Homebuyer Fund, so they can and will advise you thoroughly.

So call Torina Johnston or Gavin Duffy at Trafalgar and District Community Bank on 5633 2783. And if you wish to check the government site you will find a lot of information at www.sro.vic.gov.au/homebuyer.

Locals plant out at Robin Hood Reserve

Community members joined Baw Baw Shire Council staff and gave their green thumbs a workout at Robin Hood Reserve on Sunday, July 28th as part of National Tree Day. 

Around 30 people braved the cold and wet winter weather to help revegetate the area and plant approximately 800 trees in Drouin West. This tree-planting project will also help to ensure indigenous plants are growing throughout Baw Baw. 

The newly planted shrubs will help to transform the natural habitat in the area and provide future vegetation cover. 

A free community barbecue, hosted by the Drouin Rotary Club, gave volunteers the fuel they needed throughout the morning. 

Council’s National Tree Day forms part of the wider National Tree Day celebrations across the country. 

Established in 1996 by Planet Ark, it is the largest nationwide tree planting and nature care event. National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty, give back to their communities and learn more about the world around them. 

Local schools celebrated Schools Tree Day on Friday, July 26th. These events help ensure children are educated about the importance of tree-planting and other environmental protection projects. 

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said it was great to see community members give back to the natural environment and help create a greener future for generations to come. 

“Our National Tree Day event is something that the council proudly hosts each year and feeds into our Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022 – 2030, which details the council’s environmental management and sustainability goals, aspirations and commitments for the next eight years,” Cr McCabe said. 

“Protecting and enhancing the natural environment is a key goal within this strategy and it’s events such as these that contribute to achieving this,” she said. 

Last year, the local community celebrated with an event in Brooker Park in Warragul. Many other revegetation projects, run by council as well as separate organisations, have been completed throughout the shire in recent years. 

Tree planting and plant revegetation are crucial in supporting life on our planet. Trees provide habitat and food for animals, produce oxygen and absorb and store carbon dioxide. Without trees to store carbon dioxide, these gases are released into the atmosphere and contribute to rising global temperatures. Trees also move water from the land into the atmosphere, ensuring rainfall and fertile soil.

Phillip Island Getaway

Phillip Island is renowned for its vibrant wildlife and breathtaking coastal vistas. Ind undergoes a metamorphosis during winter. The clear blue waters that glisten under the summer sun, take on a deeper hue and the beaches, typically bustling with sun-seekers and surfers, now exude a peaceful solitude.

While you may need to pack your warmest jacket and beanie, winter is the perfect time to visit if you’re seeking the unique tranquillity of Phillip Island during the off-season. You’ll leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and refreshed, having experienced the island’s raw beauty.

For wildlife enthusiasts, winter on Phillip Island brings migratory humpback and southern right whales passing through the coastal waters, joining the permanent populations of little penguins, Australian fur seals, bottle-nosed dolphins and abundant birdlife.

Whales, dolphins and seals can be encountered up close in their natural habitat from a Wildlife Coast Cruises tour, while a walk, ride or drive along the Bass Coast and Phillip Island Whale Discovery Trail offers the opportunity to explore coastal lookouts and whale watch from land. 

The iconic Phillip Island Penguin Parade welcomes visitors every night of the year as the world’s smallest penguins waddle home to their burrows across the sand each night at sunset. For those travelling with little ones, winter is the perfect time to visit as the earlier sunsets bring the penguins in at a more family friendly hour.

Cosy cafes, modern eateries, waterfront restaurants, funky cocktail bars, traditional pubs, wineries and breweries are scattered across the island featuring menus that celebrate the region’s produce and food artisans. From sampling cool climate wines at Phillip Island Winery, to basking in the alpine ski lodge atmosphere while enjoying a brew at The Wooli Tavern, or enjoying freshly caught seafood from San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op, there are winter flavours to suit all tastes.

Beyond its natural wonders and culinary offerings, winter on Phillip Island provides the chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with oneself and with loved ones. Whether you opt to unwind by a crackling fire in a cosy cottage or set off on an adventure to uncover hidden gems on a guided tour with Local Way Tours, Phillip Island’s welcoming atmosphere encourages moments of reflection and creates lasting memories. 

Ramada Resort Phillip Island offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, surrounded by 65 acres of bushland while being afforded all the creature comforts of luxury accommodation and proximity to the attractions of Phillip Island. 

There is lots of fun for families, with the excitement at Phillip Island Go-Karts or roll a bowl in family friendly competition at Phillip Island Ten Pin Bowling and Entertainment Centre, or enjoy their laser tag and arcade games. 

Get lost in a world of magic, illusions and mazes at A Maze’N Things, or warm up at Phillip Island Chocolate Factory with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Maru Koala and Animal Park near Phillip Island offers immersive animal experiences with native Australian wildlife, providing the opportunity to learn about conservation efforts firsthand. 

For those seeking outdoor adventures, the island’s coastal trails offer scenic walks suitable for families, where kids can explore accessible boardwalks or rock pools teeming with marine life.

Phillip Island in winter offers a blend of natural beauty, local charm and family-friendly activities that create lasting memories. Whether you’re captivated by the wildlife, enjoying local cuisine, or exploring the island’s scenic trails, each experience reflects the island’s charm and invites visitors to unwind and reconnect. 

Embrace the tranquillity and warmth of Phillip Island during this season, where abundant experiences offer both discovery and relaxation in equal measure, making it an ideal destination for all seeking a memorable winter escape.

Plan your winter escape at www.visitphillipisland.com.au

Neil Joiner Tributes

Editor’s Note: Neil Joiner was a significant influence in Trafalgar and his passing is a great loss.
Traf District News will honour Neil with an obituary in next month’s issue. In the
meantime, three people who knew Neil well, share their recollections.

He made us feel that the museum was a part of all of us –
Jen Middleton –  Holden Museum Volunteer

Most mornings I would get a call from Neil ‘How are you going? Are you around today? We need to talk. Pop in and I’ll shout you a cuppa.’

Nothing was too much trouble and no problem could not be solved, was how Neil worked. His patience with people was amazing and he was always telling me, ‘It will be okay, we will sort it.”

As the years went on (8 years in total) I noticed it was me saying, “We will sort it”, without realising he had given me the confidence to do the work.

He was a great leader and everyone loved his passion. It was infectious. We all loved working for him and achieving our goals. Be it a new display, or just a general cleanup ready for an event. He made us all feel that the museum was a part of all of us and our achievements were well received.

Neil never stopped and I’m sure never slept, receiving emails at 2am was not unusual, I would say,  “Don’t you sleep?” and he would say,  “Sleeping is for the dead.”

Sleep now Neil, knowing we are keeping your dream alive.

Discussing the world over a beer – By Brendan Kingwill

I first met Neil about 25 years ago. Quite an intimidating character, a little standoffish but friendly enough. He referred to me as “upstart” and never allowed me to get ahead of myself. 

I soon realised how business savvy Neil was so I started to take note of his opinion when it came to business. This became a great resource and often a sounding board for me.

As the years passed on, not only did Neil become a great friend, he allowed me to become close with his family. I got to see what a wonderful father and grandparent he was and how much he loved and cared for his famiy. This certainly made him a great role model.  Neil was never short of an opinion and he expressed them with great passion. He loved a good argument and shared his sense of humour regally. 

He was an extremely generous soul who backed up his passions with action.  

His wisdom and humour will be missed on a Friday night as we regularly discussed all the world’s events over a beer. 

His plan to have a “Common Sense” Political party may never happen, but the dream will continue.

The loss of Neil is devastating to his family and friends, but also an extreme loss to our small community.

A determined optimist with a vision – By Mary Aldred – Federal Liberal Candidate for Monash

S

ome people dedicate themselves completely to their family, some people dedicate themselves completely to their community and some people dedicate their all to a vocation. Neil Joiner’s heart was big enough to dedicate himself to all three. 

It was an honour to have known Neil for over 20 years through the Liberal Party and his community work in Trafalgar. Contributions he volunteered because he believed in them. Neil loved Trafalgar. And he loved Holdens. 

Neil had a vision to bring the Holden Museum to Trafalgar. For a number of years he was told why it couldn’t be done. But Neil was one of those special people in life who choose to focus on getting things done, instead of how difficult they are. Neil persisted and achieved his dream, and we are all the better for it. The Holden Museum is an ornament not just to Traf, but to our great Gippsland region. 

Neil loved his family and his friends. It has been a privilege to join the table 33 crew at the Criterion on different occasions that included Neil and Annette, their son Andrew, BK of course, and Maria and the late, great Graham Davey. 

Neil was a practical, no nonsense person. He was also an optimist. Every time I would phone Neil about something he would answer with a cheery; “G’day Mary, how are you?” I will miss that cheery optimism. I will also miss the persistence and practical nature of Neil. All of us are enriched by Neil Joiner’s legacy of dedication to his family, his community and his vocation. Vale Neil. 

Shire Offices for Sale

Council addressed the issue of the proposed sale of the Baw Baw Technology Centre, formerly the Narracan Shire Offices, on the Princes Highway in Trafalgar with councillors being divided on the idea.

“To me, it’s surplus to requirements.” Cr. Goss

The sale would be; “So short-sighted.” Cr. Cook

It would be;  “A grave mistake.”” Resident Mick Bourke

“Personally, I think council needs to get out of this space.” Cr. Wallace. Trafalgar resident Mick Burke provided the only public written submission and argued that “the sale would be a grave mistake that would, in my  opinion, sacrifice one important community facility for another. In making the decision whether or not to sell the land, Council must guarantee to the Trafalgar community that this land will not be needed in 20, 50, 100 years’ time,” he added. “It cannot give such a guarantee.”

Councillor Darren Wallace argued for the sale, stating the Trafalgar community has a certain level of ownership of the former Narracan Shire building and having had the second oval cut recently from general revenue, believes;  “Personally, I think council needs to get out of the space and allow the growth to happen,” he said. “Whatever money we get we can put back into the same community for a long-term asset that is desperately required.”

Cr. Wallace said the second oval had been discussed in Trafalgar for more than 20 years and its omission from the budget is a hot button topic in the town. “The backlash of this project being withdrawn from the budget and long-term infrastructure can’t be understated,”= he said.  “The community  desperately wants this number two oval delivered.”

Five submissions relating to the sale of the building were received during community consultation in May, one of those in support and the other four opposed, some suggesting council use the building to develop a permanent library.

The building was constructed in 1979 and was originally used as the Narracan Shire Council offices and chambers before it became the Technology Centre.  It is set back from the road and is next door to the Trafalgar Community Centre.

Council officers described the property as under-let and recommended selling the four and a half thousand square metre site via public auction, arguing that selling the property is one way in which council can generate additional income.

Councillor Kostos said the sale of the old building had been discussed over a number of years. “I believe in my heart that retaining the money for the second oval in Trafalgar will be a far better benefit to the people of Trafalgar than retaining the building.”

Councillor Cook warned that whoever bought the property could do what they want with it and it could become a fast food outlet or a service station or similar.

There was much discussion and philosophical differences, but in the end councillors voted in favour of selling the building and in favour of directing proceeds from the sale to the much talked about second recreation oval.

Council staff advised Traf District News that the building is expected to go on the market in the next two months for a spring auction.

Council agreed the statue of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, would remain as part of the road reserve; Nelson, with 27 warships, defeated a larger flotilla of French and Spanish ships. A lesser but important battle occurred in council last month.

FATAL HIT AND RUN IN TRAF

Police seek your help

The body of an unidentified man believed to be in his sixties was found by a passerby in Waterloo Road, Trafalgar,  last Sunday morning. Also unidentified is the vehicle and the driver which police believe hit and killed him, sometime between 7:10 pm Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The body was discovered shortly after 10 am and police have said it had been there for some time

The man was wearing black tracksuit pants with two vertical white stripes, a black jumper and a black and white shirt. He also sported a grey beard. When found, he was shoeless which could indicate he was homeless, or sleeping rough, but police suggest this is not necessarily so; amnesia could be a factor or he could have had some sort of medical episode or illness. 

Detective Sergeant Peter Romanis from the Major Collision Investigation Unit told Traf District News that police really need the public’s help to solve this unfortunate death.

“We appeal to the public who may have seen him because he was spotted in the town on Saturday afternoon and again at 7:10 Saturday evening in Waterloo Road. Any information can be given directly to a police station so any members of the public who may have any information, or any dash cam footage that might have had this man walking on Waterloo Road on Saturday night or Sunday morning. We are asking for community assistance in piecing together what happened.”

The body was found in a spoon drain on the northside of Waterloo Road, near the cross over from Davey Drive.

“Debris at the scene suggests the man was hit at some speed. “Given the level of debris that was on the road, there’s no chance that whoever’s done this may not have realised. It’s absolutely apparent to me that someone will have known that they’ve struck this individual. The debris field was quite large.” Det Sgt Romanis told Traf District News.

Included in the debris was part of a headlight and indicators and enough evidence to suggest the vehicle was white. 

The vehicle is likely to have damage to the passenger side headlight and the public are asked to keep an eye out for a damaged white vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Romanis appealed to the driver of the car to come forward. 

“Imagine if it was your friend, your family, what would you expect someone to do in that circumstance? I know what the right thing to do is and that’s to come and speak with us. Put yourself in their shoes and come and speak with us about what happened.”

And if anyone has anything to add, the police urge them to contact Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000) and they can do so anonymously if they don’t wish to have their name attributed to it, or contact your local police station. “But we really are appealing to the community for assistance in piecing together what happened.” Det. Sgt. Romanis added.

Fatal pedestrian deaths have increased and it is a concern for police. There were 25 pedestrian fatalities this year, up from 16 last year and that is a staggering increase of 56%. The five year average is 19 pedestrian deaths per year, so this year’s increase is 31% above the five year average.

This death brings Eastern Victoria’s total to ten.

Summary: 

Police need your help in identifying a man who was killed in Waterloo Road sometime in the early hours of last Sunday, by a vehicle which left the scene and it is known that the vehicle was white and will have a damaged passenger side headlight and surrounds.

If you have anything that might help, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report to your nearest police station.

Police Report

King’s birthday long weekend traffic operation. 

Operation Regal commenced Friday June 7 for the King’s Birthday long weekend and was a critical focus for all police. 

Across Victoria 122 lives have been lost on our roads this year, with 47 of them in Eastern Region. Additionally, many, many more people have been seriously injured. 

Every life lost or serious injury incurred is a tragedy and has a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of our community, especially the families and friends of those lost; and to our police colleagues who respond to and deal with the trauma. 

Over the weekend, all police focused on enforcing the factors that lead to trauma on our roads including speed, drink and drug driving, fatigue and mobile phone use. 

All police do a fantastic job, however, road safety is everyone’s responsibility. If we all take time and drive to conditions as well as the road rules, we will all contribute to lowering the impact of deaths and injuries on our roads. 

Please stay safe and drive safely. 

FACEBOOK 

Did you know the Baw Baw Police Service has an EYEWATCH page? 

I ask you to please ‘like’ this page on their account so that the articles will appear on your social media feed. 

Articles help local police with investigations where the community can help solve crime and help locate any missing people. Other articles are public interest and good work done by police and community. 

Community assistance is much appreciated. You can call Trafalgar police or crime stoppers with any information 1800 333 000. 

REMINDER- CRIME PREVENTION 

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOUR- I recommend that the community take time to swap contact details with their neighbours. Speak with them about security issues, take time to tell them when you’re at work or on holidays. This approach can be very productive in having another set of eyes watch over things and alert any suspicious behaviour. It is amazing how many of us just don’t communicate with our neighbours. Look out for each other. Elderly people especially require contact and that little bit of extra concern. 

ENGRAVE VALUABLES – Mark all your valuable items with identifying symbols or words. Any item can be marked and if it becomes lost or stolen it can be easily identifiable to the police. Farm machinery, big ticket items like motorbikes, boats, jet skis etc., once marked in a secret location can be identified for life. Keep one step ahead of the crooks. Marking can help identify any property that may be recovered later down the track. Even a scratch in a strategic location can assist with identifying people’s property at a later date. 

RECORDS/LOGS/PHOTOS – Any item that is owned should be logged on the computer or diary listing serial numbers. If possible take photographs of those possessions you value. These measures are great for identifying property lost or stolen. Serial numbers and warranty cards etc., can be photographed and stored for possible value later on if lost or stolen. 

If anyone out there wants assistance with a security check feel free to contact the station via phone or email and we are happy to assist. We can attend if available to conduct the checks. 

Regards 

Chris NOTT, Acting Senior Sergeant 36262. Warragul Police Station | Victoria Police. Eastern Region Division 5 | Baw Baw PSA. email: chris.nott@police. vic.gov.au | phone: (03) 5622 7100. Address: 37 Palmerstone Street, Warragul Vic 3820 | Mob 0467 853 899 

Gardening – Apples

Apple species can be traced to Tian Shan, a region of Kazakhstan; an independent nation bordering China. There are approximately 30 species to the Malus genus belonging to the Rosaceae family. Our common apple – Malus domestica, has evolved by cultivating and domesticating Malus sylvestris – the crab apple and its biological parent Malus sieversii.

We are fortunate through the efforts of a few dedicated growers, some in Gippsland, providing consumers a wide range of apple cultivars. There are juicy, floury, crisp, and soft textures. It is sad many consumers are unaware of the many varieties we grow in Gippsland, Yarra Valley, Goulburn Valley and Petty’s Orchard in Templestowe. Could this be because consumers rely on mainstream food outlets?
One of Australia’s favourite apples is the Granny Smith, a uniquely cultivated variety in the mid-1800’s by Maria Ann Smith, a Sussex born, UK immigrant of North Sydney.

Growing apples
If you decide to grow apples, winter is the best time to purchase bare root fruit trees. The trees are professionally grafted onto selected root stock ensuring consistent fruit. Growing from seed is not viable, it is hit and miss. Nurseries sell dwarf and columnar trees that are suitable for small spaces. Standard varieties are available for larger gardens. Most apple trees require a pollinator to successfully produce fruit (two different compatible varieties planted close by). Monoecious plants self-pollinate, dioecious plants are either male or female. Prior to purchase, check with the nursery. Self-fertile trees do not require a pollinator.

Where to find
Hazeldean Forest Farm, Strzelecki` Heritage Apples, Heritage Fruit Society, Picnic Point Farm and PlantNet (located in Queensland providing plant care and other related fruit tree information) offer heritage varieties and various apple products. Hazeldean’s apple cider vinegar is seriously delicious. Grower’s produce is often available from visiting local community markets.

Pests and disease
Apples are prone to pest and disease. Soil preparation a few months prior to purchase provides a healthy environment reducing disease. Good soil equates to delicious fruit. Codling moth, aphids, fruit fly, pear and cherry slug, woolly aphid and powdery mildew are a few pests and disease.

Nutrition
Apples are a good source of phytonutrients in the form of antioxidants. Pectin assists with unbalanced cholesterol levels. It binds heavy metals from absorbed pollution to transport safely out of our body. Apples are delicious and can be eaten raw, cooked, stewed, barbecued – or baked into strudel or pie. Crab apples are too bitter to eat; they are best prepared into jelly, easy to make and delicious on almost most sweet and savoury dishes. Pairs nicely with cheese.

One of my absolute favourite is the apple sandwich. Thinly slice an apple and preferred cheese, alternate layers on good quality sourdough bread, I usually do three layers of each and you have made yourself a very delicious snack. Toast the sandwich and lightly butter the bread. Delicious!

Apple’s history
The Roman Empire loved to conquer what they could back in the day. Whilst on their journey into Britain, they brought in apples and spread them throughout their travels. As time passed by, apples continued an evolutionary process in Britain. When Henry VIII reigned, he ordered his fruitier Richard Harris to introduce new species into his orchard at Teynham, Kent. This action saved many varieties from probable extinction. Supplying a wide selection of species enabled nurserymen who were employed by the large estates to concentrate on creating new apple varieties. Let us be grateful to Henry VIII (on this occasion) and his nurserymen and estate owners determined in their apple innovation pursuit. Without their concentrated efforts the apple’s gene pool faced an uncertain future.

Post WW2 agricultural practices in orchard production improved with the aid of chemicals controlling pest and disease. As new rootstocks were introduced, nurserymen grafted selected varieties considering manageable tree height at harvest. This reduced the need for tall ladders as apple trees grow quite tall. Commercial picking and pruning involved intense labour that increased production costs. The non-commercial varieties were put aside for maintaining gene stock.

Companions
Apple trees companion favourably with nasturtiums, scented pelargonium, borage, wormwood (pest repellent), tansy, white clover, and foxglove.

Great resources to read up are All About Apples – Allen Gilbert, and The Complete Book of Fruit Growing in Australia – Louis Glowinski, both Australian authors.

Mental Health Run

Jason Rantall understands mental illness. At age fourteen he started drinking in a desperate effort to find relief from his pain and continued on this destructive path up until the age of forty-four. In that time he was diagnosed with OCD, bi-polar disorder, psychosis, depression, anxiety and more. A real and painful cocktail of illness. 

Over the past seven years Jason has transformed his life from barely surviving to flourishing. Jason fought demons for a very long time and is now incredibly healthy, fit and well and is about to embark on an amazing run to help others. 

The number 3,249 seems odd but when you understand that figure represents the number of Australians who died by suicide in 2022, it is a powerful motivator. That figure equates nearly nine suicides a day. Jason wants us all to be more aware of mental illness and to reduce the stigma attached to it and he wants to help those in need every day of his one hundred day running journey. 

Every day Jason will run around thirty two kilometres and he invites you to join him to run or ride and have a chat. During the one hundred day run there will be events people can attend where Jason will be giving public appearances and speaking of his personal experiences. Some of these are listed later in this article and can be found on the www.bettermentall.com. au/have-a-chat-run/ webpage and socials. 

Jason understands there are still not enough pathways in communities for people to openly speak and that more work needs to be done. Many people are still hiding, not coming out, still isolating and going it alone. He believes as a community we have a responsibility to create easier pathways for people and this run is one such pathway. 

The idea is to give people hope; to say it is possible for you to find a way out of what troubles you. To show there is a way out for those in the battle and give hope to their families. 

Jason’s ‘Have A Chat-Run with Jason’ kicks off on on July 11 from 36 Contingent Street and all are welcome to attend. The event starts at 9:30 and Jason will commence his run around midday. In the meantime there will be plenty going on. 

Sponsorship: Jason and Kerry need financial support for this major undertaking and individuals and corporations can help. The aim is to raise $15,000 and donation is easy through the website. 

There are also options to sponsor a leg, or an event and full details can be found at www.https://bettermentall.com.au/have-a-chat-run/ 

Jason’s Story: “I’ve been diagnosed with OCD, bipolar, psychosis, depression, anxiety, and all these things. 

“I had a challenging upbringing and I was a troubled kid. I couldn’t get the help I needed. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, mental health was even less understood than it is now. But doctor after doctor, couldn’t give me any reasoning of what was wrong and by the age of thirteen they put it down to puberty. There were no answers, but I had a lot of crazy thoughts going in my mind. 

“At the age of 14, I found alcohol. I found peace in the alcohol because sadly, we do find peace. But what happens is it kept me in it for 30 years and kept me locked in the pain. 

“But I had all these dreams of being something. I was quite intelligent. I was doing well at school, I was good at sport. All these things. Life was going well in those senses but in my head, it wasn’t. Then school started unraveling. I failed year 12, which really hit me. Alcohol got bigger and bigger on me. It controlled me up until the age of 44. So for 30 years. 

“I always managed to work. I hung my hat on the fact that I provided financially, not well. In my occupation of nineteen years, I was very protected because it was a big organisation. If it was in a small organization, I’m not quite sure I would have kept my job for that long. I would often turn up under the weather, hung over. My drinking was constant. It took me away from everything including my family. It took me away from the things I loved. In the end, I was isolated in the shed. I’d go to work, come in, drink, write myself off, get up, go to work, write myself off, drink. 

“Over those years I made multiple attempts on my life. I kept drinking. I had a breakup with my first partner, and that sent me more into the alcohol. At the age of 38, I met Kerry, my wife now, and things started to turn around there. 

“There was a lot more security there with her, but we were still troubled. I was an alcoholic and chain smoker, very unhealthy physically, mentally. I was almost invisible; nobody knew I really existed, they just knew of Kerry and the kids. 

“Kerry was constantly worried about how she was going to find me. 

“And one day she said; “I can’t do this anymore – either things change or it’s over. You have got a choice. “ 

“I wanted to change. I wanted my family and I didn’t want to lose myself. I look back now and I know that the attempts on my life, I didn’t want to die. I just wanted the pain to end and I didn’t know any other way. It was a resting place for me. 

“I made the choice to start running the very next day and give up smoking. 

I started running on a real hot day. It was 40 degrees in February. There I was running around the hills of Narracan and that’s where the changes began. I’ve changed everything. But slowly, everything’s been slow. It’s been seven-year progress. “ 

TDN: That’s an incredible personal story and very courageous of you to share it. That helped you form this group, Bettermentall Together? 

“I wanted to share my story with people because I knew the pain people go through and I wanted to help. I wanted to shout from the rooftop. Kerry and I started a monthly support group in a little white house in Traf. The need grew. We saw that people were really getting something out of us telling our story because it gave hope to those living with mental health challenges and their loved ones, because people want hope. They want to see that it is possible to find ways. If we don’t believe something is possible, why are we going to try? 

“Then Kerry, in her wisdom, said; ‘Let’s get a shop.’ I’m thinking, This is all just… We’re just giving our time for nothing. I’m thinking, a shop, how’s this going to work? Anyway, I don’t know why, but we went with it and we ended up with a shop and started the drop-in service. More people are knowing what we’re doing and seeing and hearing about how comfortable it is to come in and see. 

“But we couldn’t afford to continue but one day Moira and Dee from the Uniting Church in Traf walked into our shop and offered us a place. It was like a shining light. 

Bettermentall is now permanently located at 36 Contingent Street and offers many programs, too many in fact to list here, but you can find out more by going to www. bettermentall. com.au

Prospective councillors line up for Baw Baw Shire elections

Baw Baw Shire Council elections will occur in November and eligible voters get to decide who represents them for the next four years. 

There are three wards in Baw Baw Shire and each ward has three councillors. Traf District News understands that at least three current councillors across the shire will not recontest and any councillor hoping for another term must take their chances in the ballot, the same as any new prospective councillors. 

The prospective candidates in the picture below are Wayne Newton (East Ward), Suzanne Allen (Central Ward), Ric Nicolson (East), Paul Christian (East) and Leni Teng (East). Missing from this photo is Stephanie Mirams (East) and several other candidates will join shortly. 

Trafalgar, Yarragon and surrounds fall into East Ward which is currently represented by Councillors Peter Kostos, Michael Leaney and Darren Wallace. 

The group of potential councillors in the picture below are associated with Restore Baw Baw whose website states ‘Community First: Uniting For A Stronger Baw Baw Shire.’ So, what does that mean? Their opening statement reads: ‘Our mission is simple; to inform and engage residents about the upcoming local shire elections.’ 

To quote directly from the website; ‘At the heart of Restore Baw Baw is our commitment to restoring our shire to its core functions, community values and expectations. We believe in delivering essential local services, maintaining vital facilities and fostering a sense of community spirit. By working together, we can uphold these values and ensure that Baw Baw Shire remains a vibrant and thriving place to live.’ 

One of the creators of Restore Baw Baw is Wayne Newton, a long time resident and business owner based in Willow Grove and Wayne is one of the team hoping to be elected. Restore Baw Baw was developed to provide a platform for all candidates without discrimination and is not aligned to any political party or business interests. It is there as a resource for voters and prospective candidates. 

Wayne believes Baw Baw Shire, like many councils, has lost touch with its core purpose and become far too embroiled in areas beyond its purview. “Council’s core responsibilities are rates, roads and rubbish. It should not be the role of council to involve itself in contentious social issues. Arguing about street names and pronouns doesn’t achieve much, if anything and it certainly doesn’t get the potholes fixed. We need council to realign itself with its core functions and all of the prospective candidates who align with us are committed to that.” 

The elections will be via postal vote which will be mailed out from October 8 with voting closed on October 25. Results will be announced on November 15. If you are not on the roll and wish to be, you have until August 30 to enrol and be eligible to vote. 

Restore Baw Baw website will provide details of all of its prospective candidates and this paper will bring you more information on candidates in coming issues. The website also contains practical information on the election process. 

If you wish to find out how you might become a candidate or if you simply want to assist, visit the website (restorebawbaw.com) for further information.

Photography

Welcome to our first photography section and if there is enough interest from our readers it will become a regular feature.

Are you a keen photographer or do you know one? If so, we would welcome images for the next issue.
If this page kicks off, Traf District News will be happy to organise photographic outings, events and exhibitions and we will do what we can to encourage photography as a fun hobby.

We realise that newsprint is not the ideal medium for photographs so again, if this page continues, we will consider printing a selection of good images into a glossy book.

The inspiration for this column came from Chris Hardy from Yarragon. Chris is a keen photographer and the images on this page are all his.

Do you have some you would like to submit for the next issue? If so, contact us at articles@trafnews.com

Logging Perspective

When Victoria shut down the native timber industry on January 1 last year it was seen as a great victory for the environment. A long campaign had been waged on behalf of the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum. Government listened and the harvesting of native timber was stopped abruptly throughout Victoria, seven years earlier than expected. There are many factors threatening the possum, including urban development, infrastructure (roads etc) farming and pests but forestry was singled out.

It sounds like an environmental success story and a great victory – but is it? The need for hardwood hasn’t stopped and harvesting of native forest hardwood continues and endangered species are still endangered. What the shutdown achieved was to transfer the problems to Tasmania and some Tasmanians are not happy.

The need for hardwood logs in Victoria didn’t magically stop the day logging was banned. Hardwood logs are still being milled in Gippsland but the logs are coming in from Tasmania (and elsewhere).

Hundreds of truck-loads of logs are coming across Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania and the Searoad Mersey. As many as six log trucks have been on the Spirit at any one crossing and that is causing some frustration as trucks are crowding out tourist cars and campervans and the Tasmanian tourism industry isn’t happy with that.

A spokesman for the Bob Brown Foundation told Traf District News that they have been told that all the logs coming out of Tasmania are coming from privately owned plantations but former Tasmanian Greens Senator, Paul O’Halloran, who actively tracks these logging movements, suggests some of the logs are coming from the pristine Meunna and Tarkine areas which is a breeding ground for the threatened Swift Parrot. The parrot breeds in Tasmania and crosses Bass Strait to Southern Victoria every year.

There are an estimated 500 birds left in the wild and this number could be as low as 100 by 2031 if present trends continue. Is the Swift Parrot any less valuable than the Leadbeater’s Possum? Is putting one species at risk to save another myopic and short-term thinking?

What this article is trying to point out is that closing down an industry in order to save a species, only to transfer that issue elsewhere and in so doing, adding significant financial and environmental costs to the timber industry, is not an ideal solution.

The world is worried about CO2 emissions and transport adds significant emissions, so consider this equation.

Let’s look at the environmental cost of transporting logs from Tasmania to a mill in Gippsland, compared to bringing logs from within Gippsland to a mill in Gippsland.

A log truck emits between 2.5kg and 3.5kg of greenhouse gases per kilometre travelled and, of course, it depends on the condition of the truck, size, weight, and many other factors, but for this exercise we will use the lower figure of 2.5kg.

Gippsland to Gippsland. Let’s say 50k one-way trip. Greenhouse gasses emitted = 125kg.
Tasmania: Logging coupe to Devonport Ferry Terminal estimate 100 kilometres = 250kg of CO2. Geelong Ferry Terminal to Gippsland estimated 300 kilometres = 750kg; total 1,000kg of greenhouse gas emissions. It is very difficult to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of the overnight ferry trip but it would add significantly to the total greenhouse gas emissions because a ferry uses tonnes of heavy fuel per hour.

Summary: On a simple one-way trip analysis, logs coming from Tasmania release at least four times more greenhouse gas emissions than local delivery. Of course, the trucks run both ways so these figures could be nearly doubled.

By closing our local industry, we have shifted the environmental species threat from Victoria to Tasmania and we have added significantly to the cost to the environment through increased greenhouse gas emissions.

But it doesn’t end there. Traf District News has been told that 80-year-old Tasmanian hardwood logs are being shipped to Sarawak to be trimmed and cleaned and then returned to Victoria. That involves a shipping distance of approximately 17,000 kilometres. It is anyone’s guess how much greenhouse gas is dumped into the atmosphere because of this transportation.

There is no guarantee that Gippsland will be able to continue to buy logs from Tasmania in the long term. Before Victoria closed its native timber forest industry there were strong moves in Tasmania to similarly ban logging and that mood persists.

The issue in Tasmania is heating up. On one side, the industry is asking the government to open up more logging coupes in the Tarkine and other currently no-go areas and the government indicates it is keen to assist. On the other side, the environmentalists are seeking an end to native forest logging. Victorian mills, cashed up with an estimated $200 million government transition package and buying up Tasmanian logs, are putting further pressure on Tasmania’s timber resources.

This newspaper is not making an argument for the return of native forest harvesting in Victoria as it was before January 1. What we are pointing out is that the closure was based on environmental grounds and that has achieved very little.

We are still milling hardwood in Gippsland because it is needed, but by closing our local industry we have added significantly to the environmental and monetary cost of doing business.

Late last year a young Gippsland forestry worker spoke at a Traralgon rally about recently harvesting a logging coupe his grandfather had planted fifty years earlier. That is sustainable and responsible forestry and that perhaps makes more sense than closing a $770 million dollar industry to save a possum, potentially at the expense of a parrot.

Closing the industry in Victoria hasn’t ended the need for hardwoods and if there is no guarantee we will be able to buy logs from Tassie in the long term, perhaps it is time to find a way to properly develop a sustainable industry in Gippsland.

A forestry scientist is now harvesting hardwood for milling which he planted in the Otways thirty years ago, so it may be possible to shorten the growing period.
If we need hardwood then perhaps we need to revisit how we produce

The author: Devoted fifteen years and some fifteen thousand hours to Landcare including starting Landcare groups, serving on district Landcare boards and at committee level with Landcare Victoria Inc. He believes there is a distinction between the Landcare movement and the extreme green activists whose actions often appear more political than environmental.

Information sources: NRM South, Birdlife Australia, ABC, Traf District News, Bob Brown Foundation, Australian Wood Review, Margules Groome.
Photo Credits: All pictures supplied by the Bob Brown Foundation

Companion Planting

A concise definition of companion planting is where two or more plants grow in symbiotic (harmonious) relationship. Correctly grouping plants requires planning and good research. To learn and understand their unique characteristics helps to create a beautiful healthy garden for all to admire. As gardeners our reasons to companion vary.

Our effort to produce stunning blooms, rehabilitating poor soil, attract beneficial insects and pollinators is most rewarding irrespective where we live and land size available to us. I have always found companion planting to be my first gardening method due to its success over many years.

Plants are intelligent. They know how to extract nutrients deep in the ground to make available for the plant’s survival. Photosynthesis supports the process.

The many unseen critters working industriously below our feet – microbes, insects, worms, mycorrhizal fungi, and beneficial soil bacteria create beautiful humus for good plant health. In return, they flourish and fruit for our enjoyment and harvest. This can only be achieved when giving plants the ideal spot to grow and good feed. A good example of what not to do is plant shade loving Daphne odora in full sun or Oregano vulgare underneath gum trees.

Often, we fall in love with ‘I have to buy that plant’ without proper research. The outcome is often disappointing. We have done our money feeling disappointed the plant has not performed as we expected. Companion planting is not an old-fashioned concept. It is incredibly simple if you follow a few horticultural guidelines. Companion planting is often implemented among biodynamic, organic and permaculture practices. If you are not a confident gardener, start with a small area and a few plants; note your observations.

Companion planting extends beyond growing garlic and lettuce together. There are horticultural complexities and many elements to consider. Learning this method encourages the gardener to understand how plants function in their environment, and why they require correct growing and feeding conditions to flourish. This method is suitable for courtyards and small spaces using fixed position or moveable pots.

Listed are a few combinations:
Potato and lettuce, radishes, spring onions, strawberries, celery. Companion marigolds to ward off pests, peas to provide nitrogen.
Apricot and dill, parsnips, anise, carrot. Underplant with white clover, buckwheat to attract predatory insects. Avoid planting near plums, strawberries or solanaceae plants. Apricot susceptible to fungal and verticillium wilt.
Borecole (collard greens, broccoli, kale) with dill, mint, sage, rosemary suggests an improved borecole flavour. Companion with late cabbage or potatoes. Avoid strawberries, tomatoes.
Tip: learn the plant’s botanical name to properly identify; common names can be misleading.

Soil Health and Allelopathy
Allelopathy is when plants release toxins to discourage nearby plant growth either positively or negatively. An example is planting underneath gum trees.
Overall, we want to achieve healthy soil, good yield, and attract beneficial insects. Remember there are no perfect combinations. The below mentioned guidelines kickstart the process, experiment and have fun.

To get you started, here are some questions and pointers breaking down the process:
Why do I want to create a companion plant garden? Steep slope, combat soil erosion?
Do I want to create an aesthetic landscape? Wildflower prairie?
Organically nourish soil to create a healthier microbial environment?
Low or high maintenance garden?
I want to increase yields, soil biology and chemistry.
Deter pests? Attract beneficial insects? (Consider interplanting.)
Create a low allergen, native bushfood garden?
What aspect (direction) is the garden bed facing?
Does that area receive sufficient light? Airflow?
What plants including trees exist on my property?
Are seasons problematic? (Wind, rain, extreme heat.)
Soil type – clay, sandy loam, clay loam etc., alkaline, acidic?
Am I in a bushfire zone?
Wetland environment?
Suppress weeds? (Remember not all weeds are bad, some are sadly given a bad reputation.)
Consider plant cycle – annual, biennial, perennial.

Property infrastructure
Where is my infrastructure located? It is crucial to know exact location of gas, phone, water, sewerage, and power, the “she’ll be right attitude” is dangerous. If unsure have a qualified tradesperson check for underground utilities. Dial before you dig is a good place to start. For many on rural / semi-rural and potential new home buyers to purchase these types of properties you must KNOW exact locations of septic tank and effluent lines. Septic specialists offer information where to avoid planting around these systems. When you think about it, would you consume food grown from untreated human effluence? Planting shrubs or trees too close to pipes give roots an excellent opportunity to seek food and may infiltrate pipes causing them to break discharging untreated sewerage. Not a pleasing situation for the homeowner and never underestimate a plant’s root system.

Here is a personal experience I will share with you about root systems. At our previous home we had a beautiful twenty year plus Japanese maple in our front yard. After some heavy rains I heard water trickling inside the lounge room wall. I went outside to investigate pulling up one of the downpipes and was horrified to see the Japanese maple roots growing upwards inside the downpipe. We called out a plumber to investigate and clean out any blocked pipes. He removed metres of matted roots, brought in the excavator to remove, and lay new pipes. Unknown to us, the tree had crushed terracotta pipes causing vast damage.

By now you should be confident to start out.

Definitions
Allelopathy – antagonistic by repelling nearby plants.
Aspects – north, south, east, and west.
Deciduous – plants drop their leaves annually and new growth re-emerges in spring.
Evergreen – plants hold onto their leaves greening all year round.
Genus – plant category.
Herbaceous – fleshy, soft stems, non woody plants.
Interplanting – growing two or more crops in the same place at the same time, good use of space.
Mycorrhizal fungi – a symbiotic association between a green plant and a fungus (Wikipedia).
Photosynthesis – a process used by plants using sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water releasing oxygen. The green leaf colour is called chlorophyll.
Plant cycle – annual (grows, dies back setting seed in one cycle), biennial (plant cycle of two years – grows, set seed, and dies back), perennial (lives more than two years).
Semi deciduous – plants that lose leaves for a short time.
Symbiotic – where two or more species live in harmony.
Trap plants – plants specifically chosen to attract pests detouring from good crops.

RESOURCES
Companion planting charts (mostly based on northern hemisphere observations)
CFA Victoria website – how to prepare your property and plant selection key
Council and Landcare publications
TM Organics – Tim Marshall (Australian) books
United Nations Soil publications

About the author
As a child Diana always loved nature – plants, medicinal herbs, animals, and anything connected to the natural world.

Over the years she consistently wrote garden articles and presented plant topics to various garden clubs and worked in different areas of the industry.

Diana completed a full time Diploma of Horticulture and Sustainability.

Planning for Trafalgar’s future

Baw Baw Council is making quite an effort to encourage Trafalgar residents to have a say in the future structure and development of the town. We have heard complaints that the public generally have little say or input but this was not the case last month.

Staff from the Council planning division, along with staff from Tract Consultants, conducted two drop-in sessions at the Community Hall on May 9 and a follow up public meeting the next day. A total of seven staff were in attendance to listen and to field questions.

There were fifty-nine sticky notes containing ideas and suggestions placed by the public on the various maps and charts from the two drop-in sessions. Each of those sticky notes represented an idea from a member of the public and every one will be considered in the draft planning process.

At the meeting many more ideas were floated and two in particular are worth mentioning.

One concerned resident worries that as the town grows and population increases one or both of the supermarket giants will move into town to the detriment of IGA. In this resident’s view, once that happens a town loses its identity; loses its village feel and becomes a less homely and friendly village. His question to the meeting was how can this be avoided but there were no immediate answers.

Another major concern was drainage and flooding. An engineer with vast experience in that area is concerned that not enough attention is given to proper drainage and this will cause problems.

He reminded us that Trafalgar sits at the foot of the Strzelecki Ranges and rain hitting the ranges naturally flows down and through the town. The area which is now farmland north of the town was once part of the Moe Swamp which stretched from Yarragon to Moe and was the natural soak for all this water, but rainfall doesn’t get that far now because of the highway, which is higher than the surrounding land and acts like a dam wall.

Adequate drainage can overcome the problem but his fear is that drainage is treated on an ad hoc ‘as needed’ basis and not looked at as a whole. These concerns were raised with the staff who were present.

Submissions are still being sought from the public and a draft plan will be ready in September. If you want to have your say do so by email to bawbaw@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au, attention ‘Strategic Planning’.
It was decided that when the draft is ready, a public meeting will be called to discuss all aspects of it and the council staff agreed they would attend.

This newspaper will keep you informed.

Autumn – a time of rest, rejuvenation, celebration, and planning

Cool nights, warm days and March Equinox leads us into the next seasonal cycle. For many gardeners, including me, autumn is a time we reflect on our gardening success and failures. What can I improve for the following season? The cooler season gives us the opportunity to tidy up, rest garden beds, plan and prepare soils for a spring cornucopia.
Autumn is the time we see deciduous plants hibernate, reserving their energy throughout the colder months to reemerge in spring. During this process, the green leaf colour known as chlorophyll begins to die back. Chlorophyll is created through a photosynthesis process energising the plant’s life force to fruit and bloom. The plant retreats inwards reserving its energy until it is time to reawaken.
Leaf colour changes from green to warming, intense shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. At the right time plants release most or all its leaves – “letting go” as she prepares for dormancy. A beautiful, spectacular display of warming colours litter the landscape. Good, nourishing litter that is useful to create healthy compost. I usually mulch the leaves before adding to the compost bin that creates a finer compost. It is always good practice to check if any bugs or disease are present among the leaves, if so, do not add to your compost bin. Collect the leaves and dispose of them thoughtfully to reduce possible spread into fresh, clean garden beds.

Edible and ornamental plants
Deciduous trees – fruit and exotics drop their leaves. Some plants (vegetable and ornamental) die back fully to be pulled out and composted (where appropriate) making way to nourish soil beds in preparation for spring and some winter crops. Remember to collect seed and clearly label the particulars.

Rejuvenating beds, planning, maintenance
I usually dedicate two beds to sit and rest for at least nine months. Another bed dedicated for winter crops that are nutritionally demanding, example – broccoli and kale. The beds are alternated seasonally as part of my crop rotation system.
Succession planting is good practice to consider extending a crop’s harvest.
A diary dedicated to our garden practices is a must. It helps us to better navigate the year’s successes and failures. Documenting our observations helps us to form better practice and remedy any difficult challenges. Most of us would agree that nature throws us a few unexpected climate challenges compounding our understanding of how to work with nature; questioning what processes we need to change or adjust.

Garden tasks – checklist
Autumn is a great time to check over garden tools and attend to repairs.
Check raised beds for splitting, deterioration.
Check irrigation system.
If space permits, set aside a couple of beds to rest during the year.
Replenish spent soil with organic matter.
Never add potting mix to soil because they are two different growing mediums.
Clean and sharpen all tools including spades.
After each use all tools must be wiped down (weak solution of vinegar and water) to prevent spread of disease.
Check first aid kit.
Remove plant labels and put them in a safe place. If left on the plant outside, they fade over time. The plastic ties merge into the plant as it grows creating wounds in the bark that may be detrimental to the plant. I usually place them in a dedicated box or envelope.
Replace garden stakes if broken.
Ensure a good supply of plant food on hand.
Check gloves for holes, always wash after use.
Good quality masks to wear when opening bags of potting mix and any growing medium.
Do you have a leaky watering can?

Plants to consider growing
Australian natives.
Kale, beetroot, broad beans, carrots, endive, snow peas, turnips, parsley, oregano, garlic, cauliflower, saffron.
Poppy, foxglove, calendula, carnation, cornflower, cosmos, sweet pea, camellia, and various flowering bulbs, tubers, and corms – tulips, daffodils, iris, hyacinth.
Tip: If you love coriander, plant seedlings or sow seeds in autumn / winter. The plant loves moist conditions; leaving it too late the plant will bolt to seed.

Autumn landscapes and art exhibition
If you are not a keen gardener there are many regions you can visit to experience the stunning open autumnal landscape. Here in Victoria the Harvest Moon Festival and Victorian Autumn Festivals are celebrated. Marysville, Mt Dandenong, Bright, and Victoria’s High Country are stunning places to visit. For us locally we can enjoy our own backyards – Mirboo North, Walhalla, Broughton Hall and further out Buchan Caves Reserve.
A few years back I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition at New York Botanical Gardens where artist Philip Haas created an interpretation of Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s Four Seasons. Philip created four massive artworks representing winter, autumn, spring, and summer.
I leave you with a poem written by an Australian writer Monty Edwards.

Unpredictable Autumn
There is no “ought” in Autumn- It’s bound to disobey. It doesn’t like to keep a rule, But far prefers to play. Sometimes cool and sometimes warm, Sometimes sunshine, sometimes storm, Think it over. You will find Autumn can’t make up its mind!
Please be safe and let me know how you are getting on with your tasks.

Potential danger at Dodemaides Road

Late last year Vicroads changed speed signs on the approach to Trafalgar from Moe to make the Davey Drive/Princes Highway intersection safer. Before the changes, much of the traffic arriving at Davey Drive was travelling well in excess of 60 kph, even though there was a 60 kph sign about 100 metres from the intersection. Signage went abruptly from 110 kph to 60 kph, which was insufficient warning for traffic to slow.
The solution was to commence an 80 kph zone 800 metres back and it has worked. While it is not perhaps the ideal solution, it has seen a significant improvement. Traffic is travelling noticeably slower when it arrives at Davey Drive.
The other end of town has a similar problem according to some of the residents who contacted Traf District News to put their case. Spokesman Dennis Jones organised a group of concerned residents to talk to this paper. Dennis hastened to add that Vicroads was aware that changes are needed and the work was supposed to occur last year, but nothing has eventuated.
Anne, a Dodemaides Road resident, told us “Turning right from Dodemaides is definitely difficult and quite dangerous – in fact when you look at the size of the gap between lanes and the fact that there is a right turn lane off the highway as well as a U turn lane coming from Traf there definitely isn’t any space or design for cars from Dodemaides to sit in the middle and turn right.
“When we were first here I used to try turning there but then one time I crossed into the middle just as a 4WD vehicle pulled into the right turn lane coming from Yarragon – he couldn’t turn past me to cross the highway and I couldn’t see a thing to be able to turn right – it was a stalemate until I took the risk of pulling out blind and I have never turned right out of there again.”
The main problem appears to be that inbound traffic is allowed to be travelling at 80 kph. The 60 kph zone doesn’t commence until after the Dodemaides Road intersection.
Dennis Jones and his team believe changing the speed signs would have a positive effect. “Changing the current 80 sign for a 60 sign and slowing approaching traffic down from further back – similar to what occurred at the other end of town – should be effective and inexpensive.
“It would also help cut down noise which is quite significant. When trucks see the current 60 sign and apply their engine brakes, it becomes very noisy. We are all aware that Vicroads has a responsibility to keep traffic moving but safety and comfort should also be major considerations.
“We believe that with very little expense both safety and noise levels could be improved significantly.”
Dennis spoke to MP Wayne Farnham who said he was aware of the problem having driven through it several times recently and Wayne offered to follow up with Vicroads local people to move the project along.
Footnote: At the time of writing, 80k speed signs on the West bound lanes have been changed to 60.

Scammers prey on the innocent and vulnerable

Scams come in various sizes and guises; from simple scams involving a few dollars, to elaborate stories which can take years to develop and which can rob their victims of small fortunes.
The following two stories are true. Your writer has direct involvement in both.

Grandma’s Gold:
They met on a dating site, she a stunning blonde from Eastern Europe looking for a husband and a new life in a democratic country; he, a lonely Gippsland farmer in his forties. She had no ready money but she did have a significant amount of gold inherited from her grandmother which had been kept secret from the authorities. She was keen to come to Australia and all she needed was the cost of a passport and the airfare. The farmer promptly sent the money.
But she hit a hurdle. Authorities in her country had to be bribed in order to get the gold out. Given the gold was worth around $200,000, a $3,000 bribe was certainly worth paying and they would live happily ever after. The money was sent to cover the bribe.
About this time my wife and I and another neighbour became involved and tried hard to convince the farmer he was being scammed; but he wouldn’t have it. Loneliness was a stronger motivator than reason.
Quite some time went by and then she was in Singapore. So close! But the Singaporean authorities were demanding an assay and an audit of the gold in order to establish a transit tax and this was to cost a few thousand dollars. Again, we tried very hard to alert him, but again we failed. He simply refused to believe he was being conned.
Eventually, I helped this poor bloke track the scam to Nigeria and I actually spoke to the scammers, pretending to be a senior officer with the Nairobi Fraud Squad. As soon as I mentioned any detail, the phone went dead.
My farmer friend reluctantly confided that the entire exercise, which dragged on for some time, cost him in excess of $120,000.

The lonely cleaner:
She is a decent woman in her seventies in Melbourne. He posed as a British citizen who worked for the UN in the Middle East and then moved to Europe and then to Australia where he is currently imprisoned on ‘trumped up’ visa charges.
They met on the internet some years ago and she still believes he is genuine; even though he has scammed more than $100,000 from this lonely vulnerable woman who could ill afford to lose it. She is still working as a cleaner.
His latest ploy is to seek money to get him out of prison. Traf District News has seen the letter supposedly from the British High Commission in Canberra and it is clearly a fake. It goes on to suggest that with a little more money he could get out of prison and finally join her in Melbourne.
The real tragedy here is that this poor woman may give him yet more money because she can’t accept that this person she has never met, is a fraud. She lives in hope they will meet soon.
There are common threads in these two stories and common practices employed by the scammers.

1. They seek out the very lonely.
2. They build confidence and rapport over time, exchanging personal and intimate details.
3. They claim to be equally lonely and commit to a permanent relationship and they are happy to come to Australia.
4. They ask for very small amounts of money to begin with, gradually upping the ante.
5. They are master manipulators.

This sort of scam is huge. Scamwatch reports that it tallied up the dollars of the romantic scams reported to it in 2021 and it was a staggering $37million. Given many such scams are never reported, the real figure is likely to be huge.
You might think most of the people caught in romantic scams are elderly but not so. Scamwatch reports that nearly half of those reported to it are under 35.
It could be happening to a friend or relative of yours, so be mindful.
Not all scams are big but they all have one thing in common; they prey on the honest, the fearful and the vulnerable.
This scam is currently on my mobile.
Note: Your past due toll bill may affect your credit. Please resolve it promptly https://link-ish.life.au.
Clicking the link takes me to a convincing invoice from the Linkt Corporation requesting $5.83. How many busy people who use Linkt tollways, would pay this small amount rather than spend time checking its validity? How many would get it out of the way and move on and if you are the scammer and a few hundred people fall for your little scam every week, then big money is to be made.
Citilink’s official website warns of this particular scam.
Another favourite is what looks like an official text from Australia Post asking to complete an order and pay some money. Australia Post warn it’s a scam but how many people don’t bother to check and fall victim to the cyber criminals?
A very popular scam doing the rounds a few years back was the inheritance racket. I received one from a law firm in London which tracked me down as the only living relative of an obscure and distant unknown aunt in England who had left me a tidy sum of £2,480.00. My luck was truly in and all I had to do was provide my bank details.
Earlier this year I noticed a $307.05 charge on my credit card I did not recognise from a company called Simple Site in Copenhagen. I went to our local bank which recognised it as a scam and the money was returned to my account.
Currently in my ‘spam’ folder is an order from PayPal for some bitcoin I supposedly ordered. All I have to do is confirm the order and provide some bank details.
That is the key. If anyone asks for your personal details, particularly your bank details, don’t provide anything and make sure you have this conversation with your friends and relatives.
If in doubt, check the Australian Government site ‘Scamwatch’ and remember the sixteenth century adage ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.’

A bold vision which could lift a sagging economy

The Latrobe Valley economy is in a downward spiral and it is likely to get a little worse.
It is estimated that the local economy could lose $2 billion over the next decade with the premature closure of the native timber logging industry last December, Yallourn in 2028 and Loy Yang in 2035. The native timber logging industry was worth $770 million and secured 2,500 jobs, according to a 2016 report by Deloitte.
The closure of the Reflex paper making plant at Maryvale was a flow-on from the closure of the native timber logging industry. The mill produced up to 200,000 tonnes of white paper per year, with 300 reams of paper created a minute. An estimated 200 jobs were lost with the Reflex closure.
A socio-economic study data of for Victoria’s seventy-nine local government areas concluded that the Central Goldfields and Latrobe City Council were “the two most socio-economically disadvantaged” Local Government Areas (LGA’s) in Victoria. This data was compiled from the last census and therefore before the native timber industry closure.
To put this into perspective, a reduction of $2 billion in the local economy represents about a 30%
contraction. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that there are many activities which can and will lift the economy and one that could make a major economic contribution is the vision for the Great Latrobe Park. It is only a vision at this stage but its supporters believe it needs to be seriously considered and it needs to be considered now.
They believe there is a once-in-a-millenium opportunity to transform the three coal mines into a thriving economic zone to lift the local economy and replace the financial loss faced.
Currently the thinking around the Hazelwood mine, which is now filling and Yallourn and Loy Yang which will soon follow, is to rehabilitate them. The GLP committee suggests that the planned rehabilitation will do very little to lift the local economy but they believe these massive pits and surrounding lands could be turned into a valuable multi-purpose asset.
Hazelwood is a huge pit, six kilometres long, 3.5 kilometres wide and on average, 100 metres deep. It is nearly one and a half times the size of Sydney Harbour in volume. Or, for a more local perspective, it would take close to three Blue Rock Lakes to fill it. Yallourn is even bigger. The two mines are only five kilometres apart and are geologically linked, as is Loy Yang.
There is an obligation on the owners to rehabilitate these giant pits but what if that work went beyond just rehabilitation to complete repurposing? They are three of the largest pits of their kind anywhere in the world and they present an opportunity to do something spectacular for the Latrobe Valley and for Victoria.
Current thinking at corporate and government level is to see the three mines in isolation and manage them in isolation. Hazelwood is currently being filled with water which will take at least another decade. Current thinking suggests the same will occur at Yallourn and Loy Yang.
So, let’s go on an ‘Imagine if…’ journey for the next few paragraphs to see what could be possible.
Imagine if Hazelwood had beaches selectively dotted around its perimeter?
Imagine if it became a multipurpose marine area able to accommodate yachting, hang-gliding, speed boating, canoeing, swimming, fishing and bathing areas; and yes, it is big enough that these could be completely separate zones. It may also be suitable for an aquaculture industry.
Imagine if it contained wineries, market gardens, and similar.
Hazelwood has another major valuable asset which could be utilised; and that is billions of litres of hot water from the aquifers below the floor. That hot water is an incredible resource, so imagine if that cheap energy was used to heat hotels, a business and commercial park, new housing, universities and colleges, museums, an Indigenous centre, etcetera. Imagine the appeal cheap energy would have to the business and tourism sectors in this state and the opportunities that could present.
Imagine if it had world-class hotels dotted around its perimeter, with walking tracks, cycling, golf courses, sports complexes, bird hides, reserves for endangered animal and plant species, and more.
Imagine if it had world-class subterranean tourist accommodation built into its wall overlooking its vastness, similar to Lake Taal in the Philippines.
Imagine if it had health spas and health resorts, museums, art galleries, all utilising cheap energy in the form of abundant hot water.
Imagine if a major geothermal industry was developed to take advantage of this abundant and inexpensive energy resource.
Imagine if Hazelwood and Yallourn were linked, with similar developments at each end with a nature oasis between them, linked by walking tracks and a tourist railway.
If it sounds like ‘pie-in-the-sky’, consider the Eden Project in Cornwall. A bold vision turned an unused commercial clay pit into a world class tourist attraction. Among other things it has the world’s largest indoor rainforest all housed in a very large dome. A second large dome houses plants in a mediterranean environment. There are outdoor botanic gardens and many attractions to attract paying visitors. The Eden Project has lifted the Cornish economy and the same could occur in the Latrobe Valley.
The Great Latrobe Park committee believe these ideas should be considered now, to flesh out the possibilities, before it is too late to do so.
Currently, the mine owners are set to foot the bill for rehabilitation, but it must be remembered that they are commercial corporations whose primary responsibility is to their shareholders and not the Victorian community.
It must be remembered that these mines have only been privatised for thirty years. For the first seventy years, the Latrobe Valley was run by the SEC, wholly owned by the Victorian State Government, which earned billions of dollars of revenue from electricity sales in that seventy-year period and earned $30 billion when it sold them off to private enterprise. It can be argued that the state has an obligation to contribute but that obligation is also a great opportunity, an opportunity to develop a new economic model for the Latrobe Valley whose economy has been flattened in recent years.
The team at Great Latrobe Park (GLP) are a serious group of retired people who are all committed to community development and they are highly credentialed. Below is the briefest explanation of who some of them are.
Rob: a geologist with twenty-five years’ experience in the Latrobe Valley mines and a lecturer in Engineering Geology.
David: A regional planner in Gippsland for thirty years and author of a book on the topic.
Nina: Former president of the Moe Development Group and more recently ‘Growing Together Latrobe.’ a supportive organisation for school and community gardens. Nina is the catalyst for forming this group.
Bob: A senior mechanical engineer with the SEC for 14 years and knows the geology of all these mine pits as well as anyone.
Barbara: Studied Ag. Science and a career in Agricultural Education at secondary and tertiary levels. Extensive Landcare and water management experience.
Richard: More than thirty years in senior positions in the brown coal mining industry. Responsible for redirecting and moving the Morwell River and Strzelecki Highway to allow open cut mining.
Ross: Trained as an economist with thirty-five years experience with the PMG national headquarters (which became Australia Post) working in industrial relations and network planning.
Peter B: Retired surgeon with 30 years’ experience in the Latrobe Valley.
Peter K: Retired dentist and philanthropist and patron of the Latrobe Valley Orchestra.
Monique: Marketing and IT specialist.
Rosemary: A lifetime involved with community welfare.
Margaret: An educator before retirement.
Brendan: An engineer with a long career in microcomputer development and later, with Australian Paper, managing health and safety and hazard management.
Some of these ideas may be workable and others not so, but the idea of seizing an opportunity to examine the potential needs to be considered urgent.
What next? Members of the GLP committee will be directly addressing community groups across the region to put these ideas forward and they are already talking to mine owners, government and other industry bodies.
You can learn more by visiting www.glp.org.au

Good Friday Appeal

A small team of Trafalgar locals get together every year to run this event. They love the rewarding experience they receive from being a part of this worthy fundraiser. The generosity of the community is overwhelming and since this commenced in 2018, $94,219.33 has been raised. This year the total should reach over $100,000! The team would really appreciate the support of more people. Do you have one or two hours to spare on Good Friday (March 29)? A big thank you to Trafalgar Football / Netball club who have filled the roster for Thursday (March 28). This began in 2018 with Michael Patterson and Graham Davey. Michael is coordinating a roster for volunteers to “rattle the tins” at the traffic lights. If you would like to be a part of this rewarding experience, please contact Michael on 0418 534 487 or email trafalgarhotel@bigpond. com to be added to the roster.

Puppy School Graduates

In late February, Dr Kerrie Piper congratulated her newest puppy school graduates: Rip, Argus, Douglas, Luna and Marshall!

These pups and their owners had worked hard over five weeks building their bonds and learning how to sit, drop, stand, stay and come; amongst many other tricks. In between all the learning, there was also plenty of safe socialisation and play, and certainly plenty of happy wags and adorable moments to cherish.

All puppies passed a final exam with flying colours, prior to receiving their own personalised graduation certificate. Witnessing puppies blossom into confident companions is truly rewarding, and Dr Kerrie Piper was thrilled to be able to be a part of this journey.

The first few weeks of a puppy’s life is an important developmental period. It is a great time for your puppy to get to know other dogs and other people, and be exposed to different experiences in a positive and safe manner.

Our puppy school is suitable for both first-time owners and experienced owners alike. Dr Kerrie Piper brings with her a lifetime of experience training dogs, cats (and other critters too), as well as her extensive knowledge in veterinary medicine and behaviour as an experienced veterinarian with further qualifications in veterinary behaviour.

Dr Kerrie runs classes regularly but chooses to keep class sizes small and intimate to allow each pup to shine. This means that classes and waiting lists can fill up quickly, so if you are thinking of getting a new pup, don’t hesitate to contact us about our puppy class.

Vale Graham Davey

The Trafalgar community is in shock with the sudden loss of a well-respected icon of the community.
Most will remember Graham from his time as the owner of Traf Men’s and Boys Wear alongside his wife Maria. Graham operated this business for 33 years, only selling up and retiring around four years ago. Graham also established the Trafalgar Laundromat which he only recently sold.

There would not be many young athletes in town who didn’t receive an award donated by Graham and his wife. Their generosity to local sports and charities extended well past the boundaries of Trafalgar.
His dedication and passion for the local community was an inspiration to those around him.
Graeme’s efforts with the Trafalgar Chamber earned him a life membership which was acknowledgement for the years of work Graham put into the community.

Graham was a dedicated supporter of the Trafalgar Football club while some years supporting Warragul when his son was playing there. He was a one-eyed St Kilda member and an incredibly passionate supporter. Passion is a word that keeps appearing as we remember Graham, whether it be in business, sport or community but is particularly so with his family.

Graham’s passing will leave a void in our community and in the lives of many but none more than his family. A loving husband, father and grandfather.

Graham is survived by his wife Maria, children Ryan and Michelle, sister Shirl, brother Ian and their families.

(Tribute by Brendan Kingwill)

Concerned residents taking childcare centre proposal to VCAT

Traf District News was present at the council meeting last year where a proposal for a childcare centre in School Road, Trafalgar was discussed, debated and then approved.

Three councillors voted for, two against and one abstained which resulted in a decision to grant a planning permit. But it doesn’t end there as objectors are taking the decision to VCAT for a hearing sometime after July.

At the council meeting, objector Debra Robson, who lives in the vicinity of the proposed childcare centre, presented many arguments against the proposal on behalf of 32 objectors. She had very limited time to speak and made a strong case, but wasn’t able to convince Councillors Firdous, Leaney and McCabe, who voted for the proposal. Councillors Wallace and Tauru voted against. While nearby residents are concerned their properties will decrease in value, they insist it is not a case of ‘not in my backyard’ citing a range of reasons why they believe the decision should be overturned.

Foremost of the objectors concerns is in regard to the safety of the children. It is on a very busy road which sees more than 370 vehicle movements a day and there is real concern about injury to children.

At six years of age, children have essentially no peripheral vision* which takes many years to fully develop and this presents added risk. The proposed centre has fifteen car parks which will be for the 14 staff members, residents are concerned there will be double parking, and reverse parking into School Road, presenting a real danger to very young children.

Additionally, the only access to the entry of the centre is via the carpark, creating an unsafe pathway for children and families. Before the vote in council last year Councillor Darren Wallace raised the carpark and traffic concerns declaring “It’s not going to be on my conscience, as a long-term Trafalgar resident, if anything terrible ever happens on this site.” The centre will be less than seventy metres from a busy 5-way intersection which carries thirty tonne cattle and gravel trucks regularly throughout the day, in addition to being busy with many cars and school buses. It is the main thoroughfare between Thorpdale and Trafalgar. The proposed centre is only metres away from two schools and the objectors fear for the safety of the children particularly at school drop-off and pick up times as traffic numbers will continue to increase, as will foot and bicycle traffic.

They believe a safer, more suitable location should be found. There is an argument that the site may be too small for the proposed 72 children and 14 staff. There must be a minimum of 234 square metres of unencumbered indoor space and 504 square metres of unencumbered outdoor space to meet the state government’s own minimum requirements for children in early childhood development environments. Due to the size of the property, all 15 carparks are of minimum size.

The site cannot accommodate a horseshoe driveway, nor a walking path for safe drop-off and pick up. At the council meeting Councillor Wallace said the fact the developer had to go to two storeys was clear the site was too small. “Why should we accept poorly planned and over-developed sites?” he added. Another concern for surrounding residents lies in the loss of township character given the style and heritage homes in the vicinity.

It is the responsibility of the Baw Baw Shire to ensure development is appropriate and addresses existing roads and maintains the rural character of the township. The objectors believe that this modern two storey building will diminish the neighbourhood and heritage character of the surrounding homes. None of the objectors have any issue with childcare centres and agree more are needed in Trafalgar.

Currently there is another childcare centre application with council, in what many of the residents believe to be in a more suitable and safer location in Trafalgar. Traf District News spoke to Tom Pye who lives next door to the proposed centre and Tom told us his bedroom is only metres from where the rubbish bins for the centre will be located. Tom suffers from emphysema among other things and uses oxygen to get through the day and he has to sleep during the day.

Tom’s wife Sue is concerned that the noise of cars and kids and the lack of sleep will worsen Tom’s already poor health. Sue is calling for acoustic fencing should the centre go ahead but realises that will only have minimum impact. Perhaps the final word for now belongs to Councillor Leaney who said at the meeting last year that if council refused the matter and it went to VCAT “I dare say they (the applicant) would be successful.” It is going to VCAT and the objectors certainly hope you are not right councillor.  *(Clark University Study 1976) 

Profile Liam Durkin

Liam Durkin is the editor of the Latrobe Valley Express and two other newspaper titles and a significant news contributor to Traf Daily News.  Liam was editor of Traf News for some years.

Traf District News (TDN):

“You have chosen journalism as a career but were you expected, or tempted, to go into the Durkin family potato and transport business?’

LD: ‘“There was never any pressure put on me to do that. Dad did always say that the farm was there if ever I wanted it. But no, farming was never something that I envisaged as a career. There are quite a few people in the arts sphere that have come from the Durkin family. We’ve got Patrick Durkin, who’s at the Fin Review, and cousin Catherine who’s a presenter with Fox Sports. So I guess it might be in the genes somewhat. I always enjoyed writing and telling stories.

“Nan was always on to us about our grammar growing up, so maybe it could stem from that as well. But, yeah, I guess journalism was probably something that was always on the cards for me.’

TDN: “Did you go to school here locally, or were you educated elsewhere?”

LD: “I was shipped off to boarding school right from the start. So, from year seven right to year twelve. I was at Assumption College in Kilmore.

“It was quite daunting to start with. I would have been twelve years old when I started. I was one of two very young boys in a dormitory of 16 year olds, so I had to grow up pretty quickly. A few beltings along the way, but that was all part of it. I guess it made me grow up pretty quickly and I certainly learned to fend for myself. 

“I wasn’t an excellent student in terms of flat out applying myself, but I think I applied myself when I had to and got reasonable marks in the end.”

TDN: “You are a keen sportsman, playing cricket and football. Did that come from your years at Assumption College?”

LD: “I was interested in sport regardless, but certainly it was a very sort of alpha male-dominated environment. Cricket is the sport I love the most. I enjoy football and I was pretty passionate about it when I was younger. It has tapered off a bit in recent years, but I do still play.

“It didn’t necessarily matter if you were any good or not, as long as you were playing. I think that was probably the way to earn some respect amongst your peers. If they could see you were willing to participate, that was much better than the alternative.’

“After Assumption College I had a year off because I’d been at boarding school for six years and never really had an opportunity to experience the workforce, apart from the times on the farm, but as I was only ever coming home on school holidays there weren’t many of those. So I had a year off just to dabble in the workforce and just mucked around with a few jobs here and there. 

“After that I went to Deakin’s Melbourne Campus, which was in Burwood. I studied there for four years, doing my B.A. in professional writing.

“I wouldn’t say it was a battle, but it was certainly unrelenting in terms of assignments and submitting things on time. I think there’s a misconception with university that it’s a bit of a breeze but certainly when you’re there, it’s pretty intense. 

“I was still playing cricket and footy back in the Valley. I felt it was important to keep doing that just to keep touch with my mates I had down here. So, yeah, I’d study during the week and then come home on the weekends to play, which was good. And then managed to finish up uni and graduate with an undergraduate in professional writing.”

TDN: “And then you started working for this newspaper?”

LD: “Actually, I need to thank Traf News, because I got my start here. The paper was at a bit of a crossroads. They weren’t sure who the next editor was or where it was going to be and essentially, there was an SOS put in one of the issues and basically they said that if they couldn’t find an editor, then that might be the end of Traf News. I was studying in that area, so I thought it might be a good opportunity to learn a few things about newspaper production and maybe get my foot in the door as well.

“So put my hand up at the age of 22. Luckily, two other people put their hands up as well and we all came on board which lightened the load.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind to start – a bit of a baptism of fire – but like most things, you get better the more you do it.”

TDN: “You are now 30 and I’d love to know what you think of the future.”

LD: “In terms of the newspaper game, it’s hard to quantify just where it’s heading, because even when I first started it seemed like people were talking about the end of the printed issue and moving solely to digital format. But I still feel there’s a great market and a great desire for a printed newspaper to be hitting letter boxes every week.

“It does seem like political correctness has just gone totally too far to the left or too far down one particular stream and whether there’s a way to correct that or not, I don’t know. It seems like no matter what you do, you’re going to offend someone regardless of what political views you have. It is very tricky. And this comment is probably, ironically, going to offend people, but it does seem like people enjoy being offended in this day and age.

“Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for the future is not so much fabricated facts, but fabricated evidence. If I was going to pinpoint the biggest challenge moving forward, that would be it. We have so many media streams, and that’s all well and good, but it seems like anyone who’s been to an online college or anyone who has been able to get a PHD out of a cereal box, automatically becomes an expert in a certain field. And their word is gospel and no one else can ever just disprove whatever they’ve got to say, or no one can ever dare challenge what they say. They could absolutely be off the mark, or they could absolutely be spot on. But it seems like there’s no room for disputing whatever evidence they seem to come forward with. So, yes, that term, ‘fabricated evidence’ is a major challenge.”

TDN: “Thanks for your time and your insights Liam.”

Harold Mitchell remembered 

Harold Mitchell was an advertising icon, philanthropist and very successful businessman who died unexpectedly from complications arising from knee surgery. He was eighty-one.

Harold – the son of a sawmiller – came from humble beginnings in Trafalgar to develop and operate the biggest media placement business in Australia.

Harold and your writer shared parallel paths as young blokes. He went to Melbourne and was working in an advertising agency in Latrobe Street. I went from Trentham and was working in the advertising industry in the same little courtyard where Harold worked. We were both shy country kids.

In 1962 we both enrolled in a four-year diploma course at RMIT along with one hundred and thirty other hopefuls. We suffered cold lecture rooms, half cold pies and bad coffee in order to further our careers. Only twenty of us graduated. Another member of that group was a bloke named Bruce who told us one night that he was giving up advertising to pursue a career in music as his amateur folk group had secured a long-term gig on a cruise ship. I remember thinking that was a courageous move, but it worked out very well for Bruce Woodley and ‘The Seekers’.

Harold and I both worked in different advertising agencies in that time but at some point Harold spotted an opening and in 1976 founded Mitchell and Partners which went on to become the biggest media buying agency in Australia, which he later sold to an English crowd for a lot of money.

Harold made a lot of money and was estimated to be worth $370 million, but he gave a lot of it away. He was particularly fond of the arts and many groups benefitted from his generosity. He cared about community health and sports and was patron of many groups which he helped financially. At one point he owned the Melbourne Rebels Rugby team.

I last saw Harold in the eighties when I was writing articles on the future of the media for some magazine or other and went to Harold for insight. He told me then that he had managed to get on top of his weight problem and he had much earlier given up alcohol altogether.

It wasn’t always plain sailing for Mitchell. The first business he started went stunningly broke and he was bailed out by Kerry Packer.

Harold once said “Sometimes I reflect on where life has taken me – from the sawmills of Gippsland, to the intimate circles of Australia’s richest and most powerful media families”.

Many honours were bestowed on Harold Mitchell over the years. He deserved them all.

Traf Citizens of the year 

Pat Tatterson is the recipient of Trafalgar ‘s 2024 Citizen of the Year Award. She has served the Trafalgar community for over 60 years and she has done so in a number of different roles.
She has been a nurse at the Warragul Hospital for 40 years, then worked at Andrews House, Trafalgar caring for the local elderly. Over these years Patricia demonstrated considerable care and compassion to those under her care.

Pat has been a member of the Trafalgar Fire Brigade for 53 years. When she joined the brigade, women were not allowed to fight fires and so she became a member of Trafalgar Fire Brigade Auxiliary.
She was awarded a life membership for her dedication and ongoing service. During her time with the brigade, Patricia held the roles of president, secretary and treasurer.

Pat is a member of Trafalgar Bowls Club and has played bowls for 30 years. In 2017 she won the ladies championship. She assists with Bingo on a Tuesday evening, manages the kitchen, has been a selector for the pennant teams and is a board member at the club.

Pat joined Trafalgar Lions Club in 2014 and became secretary in 2017 until 2021. She was appointed Secretary again in 2023.

She assists in BBQs, cutting, stacking, bagging and selling wood, selling Christmas raffle tickets and oversees the Junior Public Speaking every year.

The latter role involves traveling to local schools and in all requires eight months to complete. This year alone the program engaged five local schools and 75 individual students.

Pat also mentors students from Trafalgar High School and has done so for the past five years.
She meets with students every Monday night, providing a listening ear and a positive interaction with the local youth.

Pat also is a member of Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL sub-branch, and assists with the selling of products for Anzac Day fundraising. Her father served in World War II, and she is proud of all who served for our country.

When asked about her community involvement via the various community groups, Patricia stated; “I feel proud that I am helping them all to exist and that we are helping so many people.

“I am very proud to have received the award. I didn’t expect to get anything like this.”

Patricia is a most worthy recipient of the Trafalgar Citizen of the Year Award and we thank her for her services over the past 60 years.

Vanessa Hornby is the recipient of Trafalgar’s 2024 Young Citizen of the Year Award.

Vanessa started as a Youth Scout in 2018 and progressed to the Venturer Scouts. As a scout she was awarded the Peak Award for the age group, the Australian Scout Medallion. Vanessa also designed the OZ Venturer Victorian Contingent shirt.

In 2023, Vanessa returned to scouting as an adult volunteer. She now serves as a leader at 1st Trafalgar Scouting Group assisting groups from the Joey Scouts aged five to seven years, Cubs Scouts aged seven to 11, Scouts aged 11 to 15 and Venturer Scouts aged 15 to 18 years.

Attending RMIT University in Melbourne, Vanessa travels back and forwards from Melbourne to Trafalgar to support the local scouts group. In the 2023 Term 3 holidays Vanessa spent a week in the Dandenong Ranges with the Trafalgar Cubs Scouts, as well as their peers from Newborough and Leongatha as part of a state-wide event.

Vanessa has become a trained Participant – Bushwalking Tracked Environments so that she can take local scouts on hikes across the state and has been part of the hundreds of scouting youth who represent the inclusivity of scouting at the Midsummer Pride March.

In addition to her impressive contribution to 1st Trafalgar Scouting group, Vanessa also participated in a number of creative programs involving both the visual arts and music during her time as a student at Trafalgar High School.

During the COVID lockdown years, she was a strong contributor to not only the online learning but also online social programs run by the school. Vanessa also won the VCE Units 3 and 4 Visual Design subject award for the top score in the class in 2021.

Vanessa has participated in Warragul Youth Theatre productions as both cast and off stage support.

“I am so honoured and delighted to be the recipient of this award, said Vanessa
“Being a role model to young people through my involvement in Scouting is so fulfilling and brings me so much joy. “I love being able to make a positive impact on the Trafalgar community.”

Savage storm leaving days of disruption

The storm looked innocent enough as it approached Trafalgar from the West just after 4pm on February 12, but it left massive chaos and destruction in its wake. Two days later and the town of Traf was largely without power or communications as were Yarragon and Moe. All around the town nature strips were covered in branches as scores of trees have been destroyed. Residents spent the following twenty-four hours with chainsaws cleaning up the mess. A spokesperson from the Bureau of Meteorology said the atmospheric environment on Tuesday produced the severe thunderstorms over West, South and East Gippsland. Mirboo North may have been hardest hit. A dairy farmer near Mirboo North was killed when debris struck him and several of his cows. Many homes were completely or partially destroyed. Mirboo North resident Andy McCarthy considers himself lucky as he watched bulldozers demolish his neighbour’s house only metres away from his own. “Fifteen or 20 of my friends have either lost their house completely or lost their whole roof, or part of their house has caved in,” Mr McCarthy said. Further south, Yarram saw wind gusts reach 126 kilometres per hour, destroying buildings while a short-sharp blast at Warragul and in the Strzelecki hills received gusts of 90km/h mark. All four units at AGL’s Loy Yang A power station in the Latrobe Valley were offline at one point and it is believed two transmission towers physically collapsed. STORM SHOWS CASH IS KING. Two days after the storm your correspondent went to work early only to find the power was off and headed to BK’s for a coffee. In a ten minute period we watched as four tradies come in for their coffee and takeaway only to leave empty handed because they had no cash and the electronic payment system was out. Some ventured next door to the bank but found the eftpos machine also down. They left empty handed.

Men’s Mental Health

Recent studies conducted across the Western world have found that men who receive help to reduce their ideation with self-harming, can reduce issues with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and promote better mental health.

Recovery and healing start from the first step and that first step could be a visit to Bettermentall Health. Trafalgar locals, Jason and Kerry founded Bettermentall in response to their own personally lived experience of dealing with issues of mental health. They were disheartened by the inadequate regional mental health services.

Bettermentall can help with issues such as, managing crisis, desperation, feelings of hopelessness, and affirming obligations to family.

Men cope with psychological suffering differently to women. Often this presents as inappropriate masculine behaviours including drug and alcohol abuse to numb distress, ignoring negative emotions, and engaging in high-risk behaviours. All the behaviours mentioned have the ability to promote and worsen issues of depression and anxiety, which leads to poor mental health in men.

Bettermentall Together Health and Wellbeing service provides a safe environment for starting out on a journey to a new life, by providing a helping hand, to make that new beginning a reality. Often those effected by issues of poor mental health, are left to deal with their situation themselves. This ultimately results in unnecessary family breakdown, hospitalisations, police involvement, and in worse case scenarios, suicide.

Bettermentall staff encourage individuals to get the help they require to start their journey to wellness, and to treat their illness the same as any physical illness that can be addressed and managed to acceptable levels. Bettermentall works tirelessly to breakdown stigma attached to mental illness and empower people to get out of their limiting beliefs and find inner peace and self-worth.

The church hall at 36 Contingent Street Trafalgar, is the home of Bettermentall which runs a Men’s Health support group every Thursday between 10.00am to 12.00pm.

This provides a safe friendly environment for men to sit, have a coffee and chat about all things.
Support includes peer support services, N.D.I.S. support services, material aid, food aid supplied by Baw Baw Food Relief, and referral service to others specialised, services across the region.

Bettermentall is broadening its scope to include youth, through the provision of a Youth program held at the Contingent Street hall on Tuesday afternoons 3.30pm to 4.30 pm through school terms, along with community programs aimed at whole families, which includes one-on-one coaching, Root Course therapy, mediation workshops, breathwork sessions, and assorted group activities, and outings designed to assist people to achieve calm states of wellbeing.

Each year Bettermentall holds their hugely successful Christmas Gifts for families experiencing hardship.
More than one hundred children received gifts from Santa along with generous food hampers from Bettermentall, ensuring no child in the community went without.

bettermentall is dedicated to assisting and supporting anyone who is finding it hard to take that first step on the road to recovery.

Bettermentall is a privately operated community service and depends solely on donations for its survival.
We can be found at bettermentall.com.au or on Facebook and all are welcome.

Note: if you or someone you know needs urgent help, call Beyond Blue on (03) 9810 6100

Energy: Wrong tack perhaps!

Author’s Note
The author is a ‘greenie’, having spent an estimated fifteen thousand voluntary hours with Landcare, doing everything from planting trees to district-wide strategy to state-wide policy development over a fifteen-year period. The author also believes we must find alternatives to burning fossil fuels. But – and it is an important but – are we going about it the wrong way and destroying industries and communities in the process? Is Australia trying to punch above its weight in this area? This article is designed to throw some light on that. If it also starts a discussion, that will be a bonus.

A gigantic new alternate energy system is to be built in New South Wales and we ask; is this a sensible idea?

Loy Yang – occupies fifty-seven square kilometres

and is capable of powering 1.9 million homes with transmission infrastructure already in place and not running to capacity.

NSW Renewable Energy Zone – will occupy twenty-two thousand square kilometres of prime farming land and capable of powering 1.4 million homes when complete. Infrastructure yet to be built at massive economic and social cost.

Read those two paragraphs again and let them sink in?

Electricity prices are rising at double digit percentages and consumers are hurting. Business, which is often left out of the equation, is also really hurting with small businesses facing bills they simply can’t afford.

Energy generation accounts for about one third of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and the federal government is committed to reducing that substantially by 2050.

To put that figure into some form of perspective, Australia is responsible for less than 1.5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia currently has eighteen fossil fuel power stations and is closing them down.
By comparison, China has one thousand one hundred and forty-two coal fired power stations and is building new ones at the rate of two a week. India has two hundred and eighty-two and is rapidly building more.

If greenhouse gas was a local issue, then what Australia is attempting to do would make a lot of sense. But it isn’t local. Emissions are global.

This is an important issue and worthy of debate. You are invited to have your say. Write to articles@trafnews.com.

Timber industry: whats next?

At the end of December, Victoria’s native forest timber industry was shut down by the Victorian government despite promises that they would allow it to continue until 2030. The industry is naturally devastated.

The clear winner was the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum, which has been the focus of the successful environmental push to close the industry.

The possum was and certainly is worth saving and the environmentalists who fought this long fight should be delighted with the result.

But that decision will cause more environmental issues than it solved.

If we could do without ever needing a native timber log again, then the decision – from an environmental aspect – is a sound decision. The reality is that we are still bringing hardwood to be logged in mills across Gippsland because there is a real need which didn’t end on December 31.

We do need hardwood and now we are bringing logs in from Tasmania, countries to our north and the US. At what environmental cost? At what monetary cost?

Let’s look at the environmental cost of transporting a log from Tasmania to a mill in Orbost, compared to bringing a log from within Orbost to a mill in Orbost.

A log truck will emit between 2.5kg and 3.5kg of greenhouse gases per kilometre travelled and of course it depends on the condition of the truck, size, weight, and many other factors. For this exercise we will use the lower figure.

Local: Omeo to Omeo. Let’s say 50k one-way trip. Greenhouse gasses emitted = 125kg.
Tasmania: Logging coupe to Devonport Ferry Terminal is 100k = 250kg. Geelong Ferry Terminal to Orbost is 452k = 1,130kg greenhouse gas emissions. It is very difficult to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of the overnight ferry trip but it would add significantly to the total greenhouse gas emissions because a ferry uses tonnes of fuel per hour.

Summary: On a simple one-way trip analysis, the local log delivery releases less than a tenth of the CO2 emissions as a log from Tasmania. Of course the trucks run both ways so these figures could be nearly doubled.

Then there is the monetary consideration. TDN believes that the ferry fee for a log truck is around $9,000 and this is being picked up by the Victorian taxpayer.

Logs are also coming from the US, Borneo and Indonesia so the environmental impacts of that would be huge.

Consider for a minute the endangered OrangUtan and the Sumatran Tiger which are both under serious threat from logging and now Victoria is contributing to that threat by purchasing logs from Asia instead of sensibly managing and harvesting our own.

Asian logging and environmental practices are far less stringent than in Victoria so are we simply solving one environmental problem and transferring it elsewhere?

The answer is, of course we are. Are we thinking locally when we could be thinking globally? We appear to be.

Last year I met a young forestry bloke who was harvesting a coupe in Gippsland his grandfather als0 planted fifty years earlier. That is the solution. We are not suggesting in this article that old-growth forest should be harvested but sustainable management can be achieved and this also keeps the forests in better shape and less prone to bushfires.

What has looked like a victory for the environment by shutting down logging, may be a shallow and hollow victory in truth.

Then there is the huge financial cost of this closure to Gippsland and Traf District News will cover that in the March issue.

We will look at the impact on jobs, businesses, and the taxpayer.

If you have thoughts on this please let us know via articles@trafnews.com.
We would like to hear from you.

Emission free engine development

Gippsland plays role in development of plasmoid generator

Plasmoid generation is cutting edge technology which provides clean emissions and zero carbon output and dramatically improves fuel efficiency, no matter what type of engine is retrofitted. And the process is as old as the universe itself because it is the process involved in thunderstorms.

Nicola Tesla – the father of AC generation – and much more – was at the forefront of these discoveries at the beginning of the twentieth century and Australian inventor Malcolm Bednall has been working in Neerim and Thorpdale with a team testing the methodology on a range of engines.

We spoke to Malcolm who was in India helping the Indian Navy to test-fit the technology to an aircraft carrier, as we attempt to understand the technology and how it works.

“It is incredibly simple and yet does something incredible”… was how one of the team described the process and that seems to be a fair assessment.

A technical explanation is perhaps beyond the writer’s pay grade, but a layman’s explanation follows. The process is based on Divine Mathematics… some prefer the term ‘God’s Mathematics.’
A plasmoid is a donut-shaped vortex containing hot and cold elements which meet at a precise temperature and generate incredible amounts of energy. Consider lightning and a thunderstorm as the classic example of this process. The same principles and mathematics that create this phenomena occur throughout the natural world.

Malcolm and his team reproduce the process in a tube which essentially converts protium atoms into energy and that energy feeds into the engine via a suction process from the pistons. The engine starts on normal fuel but then the plasmoid generator takes over and runs the show. The result is much less fossil fuel used and zero carbon emissions. It is a huge win for the economy and a win for the environment.

The Gippsland teams have retrofitted and successfully tested a small petrol generator, a massive Caterpillar diesel engine, a jet engine and more.

It is important to understand that this technology does not require an engine replacement but is a ‘bolt-on’ solution.

German companies are testing the technology and scientific tests have been carried out in the UK, all proving the process is effective and efficient.

Less fuel used, clean air out if applied only to the airline industry, would make a huge difference to the global environment.

Given there are around eight thousand commercial aircraft in the air at any time and given they average two jet engines, it is safe to say there are at least sixteen thousand jet engines belching out a lot of CO2 and using a lot of jet fuel and that is every hour of every day.

A one-hour commercial flight – including take-off and landing – produces approximately 33 tonnes of CO2. A cruising plane uses less, so for this article we are using a figure of 25 tonnes per hour flown. Given there is an average of eight thousand aircraft in the air at any one time, the hourly CO2 total is a staggering 200,000 tonnes per hour or 4.8 million tonnes of CO2 per day.

The engine development we are talking about here cuts those emissions to near zero, with clean oxygen coming out of the exhaust and little or no Co2.

A heavy articulated truck produces around 2.5 kilograms of Co2 per kilometre travelled and Australia has approximately 110,000 such vehicles. If each truck averaged 50 kilometres a day that would save nearly 14 million kilograms of greenhouse gas per day.

What an incredible contribution to the world-wide environment this technology will make. It is almost impossible to underestimate its environmental impact and financial potential.
Traf District News will bring you more on this story in future issues.

Why pets are good for health

Our furry friends play an important role in our lives. They’re always there to greet us at the door with a wagging tail or a purr, and they provide us with unconditional love and support. But the human-animal bond is more than just about companionship. Animals can also have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. Following are some of the benefits pets may have on your wellbeing.

Reduced stress and anxiety: Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat can lower blood pressure and heart rate and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Interacting with animals can also release oxytocin, a hormone that has mood-boosting effects.

Increased physical activity. Having a pet can often encourage us to get more regular exercise, whether it be waving a wand toy for your cat to chase up and down the hallway, or taking the dog out for a walk. This can lead to a number of health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and obesity.
Improved mental health and reduced social isolation. Studies have shown that pets can help to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Animals can provide emotional support and help people to feel less alone by providing companionship and helping people to meet new people.

Some additional tips for strengthening your bond with your pet:
Spend time with your pet every day. This could involve playing, walking, or simply cuddling on the couch.

Do some training with your pet. This will help to create a sense of trust and communication between you. If you have a dog, consider joining the local dog obedience club, or if you have a new puppy contact us about our puppy school. Cats can be trained as well, and there are a lot of fun training exercises that you can find online that can be practiced at home.

Provide your pet with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. This will help to keep them healthy and happy.

Take your pet to the local vet clinic for regular checkups and vaccinations. This will help to ensure that they are healthy and free from disease. Making an appointment is as easy as giving us a call on (03) 5633 1327 or visiting our website

www.trafalgarvet.com.au

We visit Traf Farmers’ Market

The weather looked ominous as the stallholders gathered in the early light but at opening time at 9 am the weather gods relented, and the day improved. And the people came, perhaps as many as 2,000 visited the more than fifty stall holders at the Croquet Club.

Market organiser Ric Nicolson explained ‘I think the matter is that the town has always been crying for somewhere different to meet and to socialise other than the usual café’s and pubs. There’s a lot of people here who’ve been crying out for just such a meeting place. We’ve just provided the opportunity and it’s worked really well so far.

“We’re doing the first Saturday of the month, plus a twilight market the 22nd of December which starts at 4 pm and that means we won’t have one in January. There will be plenty of Christmas goodies and cakes at the twilight market.”

The market operates on the philosophy of no junk or car boot goods. Most of the stall holders make or bake or grow or sow the items they sell, so it is a genuine craft and farmer’s market.

list of stallholders
Annie’s Knitwear
Arancini 4 All
Aroma Lee
Baw Baw Shire Council
Bella-Liscious
Carrie Massage
Colleen Plants
D & E designs
Downunder Mushroom
Dream Organic Coffee
Eddies Cider
Eden Hill
Ellinbank Wildflowers
Folk Farmacy
Forest Remedy
Fran’s Sweet Delights
GI Essentials
Gippsland Colloidal Silver
Glass Roots
GPC
Handmade By Denni
Harriet Herbery
Himalayan Bliss
Hughesy’s Nuts
Kamie
Kiki Coffee
Leonie
Little Aussie Tradies
Little red Bucket
Magic of Mushrooms
Mill Grove Dairy
Oma’s Kitchen
Our Soap Kitchen
Postcode Hives
Premium Nut Company
Primal meats
Queen Bee bags
Reminessence
Rianha Blomeley Jeweller
Rotary Club (sausage sizzle)
Small batch Sweets’
South Hill Seeds
Splash of Colour
SRC
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Old Holdens on Route 69

The Holden Museum in Traf has spawned a lot of events, not the least of which is the annual ‘Route 69 Cruise’ which took place in late October.

Volunteers at the museum came up with the concept and every year they leave the museum in Railway parade for a 69 kilometre cruise up to the Blue Lake reservoir wall and back to Traf .

Volunteers came up with the concept and up to forty vehicles join the cruise which is followed by a sausage sizzle back at the museum.

This is a picture story so let the photographs tell the rest of the story.

Temporary Pause: Trafnews Operations Halted

On behalf of the Traf News management and editorial committees, we would like to provide an update to the Trafalgar Community regarding our newspaper. As we navigate through these challenging times, we have experienced some operational and financial difficulties over the past 6 months. Despite successfully adapting to the pandemic, we have faced a reduction in advertising revenue which has greatly impacted the paper’s viability. Additionally, a few volunteers have had to step away for personal reasons. A joint meeting of the management committee and the editorial team has determined to place the paper into recess for the foreseeable future. Publication of Trafnews has therefore been suspended.

However, we want to emphasize that Trafnews has been an essential part of the community for more than 20 years, and we are committed to finding solutions to get the paper back up and running as soon as possible. We deeply appreciate the loyalty and support of the businesses who have advertised with us, and we are grateful to our hardworking team for their dedication during this challenging time.

Our last publication in March was distributed to almost 3000 homes in Trafalgar, and we are aware that many people value the information we provide. We will continue to work diligently to overcome the current situation and will keep you updated on the next developments via our website. We look forward to providing our community with informative and engaging content once again in the near future.

Mirboo North Italian festa

Traffic jams aren’t always bad news.

People must have heard how good the food was in Mirboo North last month.

Cars were literally backed up as far as the Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road turnoff, waiting to get into this year’s Mirboo North Italian Festa.

So big was the crowd, they had to park cars on the footy ground – and even that overflowed.

Eventually, people parked on the side of the road on the outskirts of town, willing to walk just to see what all the fuss was about.

As they approached Baromi Park, and got a little further in, thoughts of ‘there are a lot of people here’ surely shone through.

If there is one things Italians can do it’s cater for a crowd – even if there is more than 20,000 of them.

Yes, there would have easily been more than 20,000 people in Mirboo North for this year’s Italian festa.

Months and months of preparation culminated in a spectacular festival, that featured authentic Italian food and wine, as well as cooking demonstrations, singing, dancing, and plenty of activities for the kids.

Build it and they will come.

It was a celebration of all things Italy; put together by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Just how they managed to organise an event that sees the town of Mirboo North go from a population of 2500 people to a figure eight times that was truly remarkable.

Historically speaking, the day holds great significance, as it is used to celebrate St Paul.

St Paul is the patron Saint of Solarino in Sicily, the hometown of a group of Italian immigrants who made their way to Mirboo North half-a-century ago.

St Paul’s statue was shipped to Australia at the time, and proudly took pride-of-place in Baromi Park on Sunday.

Mass was held at 10am, before a procession with the statue, leading to the official opening of the festival.

Festival volunteers were on deck from dawn, frantically coordinating dozens of stallholders in readiness for the rush.

The rush didn’t let up.

Lines for woodfired pizza, pasta varieties, and perfectly handcrafted bread just kept going and going.

Those with a sweet tooth were in for a treat, as all the favourites were there as well.

On the dancefloor, attendees kicked-up their heels, and heard from acts like Siesta Cartel, and saw internationally acclaimed group, The Flag Throwers, wow the crowd with an incredible aerobatic display.

For a bit of fun, there was a spaghetti eating contest, and a grape stomping one, while Roman soldiers walked the grounds, making sure everything was in order.

Festa organiser Rosie Romano was understandably emotional when speaking to Traf News.

When a group of local women decided to reinvigorate the festival in 2016, it is unlikely any of them ever thought in their wildest dreams they would one day welcome a crowd of more than 20,000.

“We would have been happy to have 1000 people at an event,” Ms Romano said.

“It’s been an incredible amount of work from our team.

“We’ve got a small team of 10 women, we are not professionals, we are just a group of people who love Italy and love Italian culture.

“For this day to be what it is, is really emotional. We’re so proud, the people in the town have been amazing.

“To me, it’s about families being able to gather and celebrate as a family, at a free event, where there is something for everybody.

“It’s really heart-warming.

“It all comes together, the unity that happens, the engagement, the pride in the town, there are a whole lot of things that blossom.”

If you are wondering just how long it takes to organise an event of this magnitude, Ms Romano provided the following insight.

“Probably at least a good six months, the last two months have been really intense,” she said.

“Because it happens just after Christmas and everything shuts down, we have to be prepared by the end of November.

“We have most things in place, then the last few weeks are quite frantic.”

While the Mirboo North Italian Festa was certainly memorable, one important fact needs to be remembered: Mirboo North isn’t actually in Baw Baw Shire.

If any councillors are reading this, surely we can get something similar going here?

If any Commonwealth Games organisers are reading this, you might want to ask the Mirboo North Festa committee how to go about planning for a big-scale event in Gippsland.

Photo captions

1. Maria Carpinteri (with flowers) held a cooking demonstration for attendees. Showing their appreciation are Ruth Rogan from the Mirboo North District Community Foundation, Maria Germano, and Victorian Farmers Federation president and Mirboo North local, Emma Germano.
2. Flag Throwers captain Ivan Samori.
3. People were in a very festive mood.
4. The Mirboo North football ground was transformed into a carpark to accommodate the 20,000 strong crowd.
5. Accordion player Carmelo Santamaria and vocalist Adam Cursio from the band Siesta Cartel, provided some great music.