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.
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.”
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.
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to be able to present a short profile of Mary Aldred and there will be more on Mary in this paper in the coming months. Traf District News also expects to bring you information on other political candidates to help you to be well informed come election day.
Russell Broadbent is your local Federal member of parliament and one of the longest serving MP’s in Canberra. Russell lost Liberal Party preselection to Mary Aldred last November and now serves as an independent MP.
When the next Federal election occurs is anyone’s guess, but it must occur before the end of September next year which gives Mary Aldred time to work in and better understand the electorate. As we found when we spoke to Mary recently, she is off and running.
Mary Aldred has a long and impressive track record. She also has a very strong gaze and listens intently. We were in a noisy crowded coffee shop but Mary focussed solely on the task at hand. It was apparent she knows how to listen.
‘It’s a really great privilege to have been selected as a Liberal Party candidate. To get the endorsement is an honour and it gets me to the starting gate. Now I need to go out and make the most compelling case I can to the broader community to win their trust and confidence about why I would be the most effective representative for them at the next election; and I haven’t wasted a second since the preselection. ‘My first job is to listen. I really want to hear from local community groups. I am getting out and meeting as many people as I possibly can, to ask them what are the local issues that are important to them. And I’m getting some enthusiastic and strong messaging back already.
‘I am hearing about a mix of national and local issues. So, at the national level, cost of living is really hurting people. I saw that when I was at a food relief centre yesterday, which is now looking after up to thirty-nine families a day. And it’s a broadening cohort of people seeking support. Some people just can’t afford to pay their rent, they can’t afford their mortgage repayments and they are really struggling with food and utilities. The cost of living is really hurting people right now at a local level.
‘Roads are another critical issue. We’ve had some heavy rains in recent times and the state of some of our roads is diabolical.”
Mary joined the Liberal Party when she was in year twelve and unlike many politicians she has not spent her life as a party apparatchik which brings a broader view to politics.
Mary left school at age fifteen to work in the family small business in Upper Beaconsfield, returning to school later and went on to gain a Batchelor of Arts with Honours and then a Master’s Degree in Agribusiness, working three part-time jobs to pay her way.
‘I saw firsthand how hard my parents worked, and so that gave me a lifelong dedication to small business. People really put their house on the line to give someone else a shot at a job. Young people often get their first start in life in a small business, and then I’ve seen so many businesses that put an enormous amount back into community initiatives. So we need to look after small businesses.’ Mary worked in Canberra for a short time for a few politicians, after having volunteered at the age of twenty in the office of a US Senator in Washington. She has a very good understanding of how government works.
Mary has also been heavily involved in Lifeline Gippsland, and worked for the Committee for Gippsland for more than seven years. She has been fighting for a new hospital in West Gippsland for over a decade. ‘I am very passionate about ensuring that we get that built. It should have been built ten years ago, so we need to turn the first sod on that. And I’d like to see that develop as a tertiary hospital as well, so that attracting and retaining aged care and health workers in the region is a challenge. If we can attach the tertiary elements to a new hospital that will provide the skilled workers that we need locally.
‘We need to protect our industries. If the timber industry dies, that will have a devastating impact on local schools, on local businesses, on local community spirit. And those things matter. They’re important and they’re issues that I intend to stand up and fight for.’
I will also fight very hard for all our farmers to continue to have the right to farming. I’m very proud to come from an amazingly diverse farming region and I want to see that continue and be able to grow.’ When not working for the industrial arm of Fujitsu or meeting the people in her electorate, Mary relaxes with family and enjoys spoiling her nieces and her pet Jack Russell. Cooking, sport and horses are high up on Mary’s list of things to do in order to unwind.
Welcome to the second issue of the Traf District News and the small production team who put this paper together are genuinely surprised at the response we have had from our readers.
Dozens and dozens of people have approached me personally to thank us for bringing the paper back to life. It clearly filled a need and It was clearly missed.
If we can serve a real purpose and continue the work that Mick Bourke and others began more than twenty years ago, it is well worth all the hard work that it takes to produce a newspaper.
We hand-delivered more than three thousand copies to letterboxes in Traf, Yarragon, Thorpdale Willow Grove and many rural letterboxes. Hundreds and hundreds of copies have been placed in retail outlets and they disappear from some businesses almost as soon as we place them. The paper is being read. Our part of Gippsland is a major producer of farming, forestry and energy and all three are under some form of threat. In this issue we look at those issues – and we will continue to do so because they are important to all of us.
There are questions to be asked and that may raise controversy, but debate is healthy. You may disagree with us and if you do, please say so. Letters to this paper are welcome, as are general editorial contributions. This is a community paper and that means you have an outlet if you have something to say.
To our advertisers we offer a huge ‘Thank You’ because without you this paper would not exist. Your generosity is providing a vital community service.
To our readers, please re-read the previous paragraph. Local businesses are funding this newspaper, so wherever you can, please support them and this paper will continue.
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
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.
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.
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.
The State Government has reneged on previous agreements by forcing the industry to shut down by the end of this year, despite agreeing to let the industry run until 2030. The WA government is in lock-step. First they came for the fishing industry. Australia is the world’s largest island with 34,000 kilometres of coastline and more than 4,000 species of fish and yet we import 75% of our seafood. Let that sink in. The farming industry is under severe threat from impossible green overlays and mounting bureaucracy, incredible numbers of solar panels, wind turbines and transmission lines closing down productive farming land and a rising wall of unreasonable indigenous demands.
And now both Western Australia and Victoria’s hardwood timber industries are being forced to close by the end of this year, despite both having agreements with their state governments that they would support logging until 2030. The industry accepted that date in good faith and mills and the harvesting and timber transport industries have spent millions of dollars in new equipment. Those industries are in shock.
The Andrews government assured the industry before the last election that it would support logging until 2030 and abruptly reneged on that agreement almost immediately after they won another term. There was no consultation. The same cruel blow was dealt by the McGowan government. The McGowan government gallantly offered $350M to develop the softwood industry. The Andrews government launched a fund to help the industry and the fund is titled ‘The Sawmill Voluntary Transition Package.’ Voluntary? Really?
Good arguments can be made for phasing out the native forest hardwood industry but only if enough time is allowed to replace it with sufficient plantation hardwood and that is a sixty-year cycle. Close it down at the end of this year and that timber will be replaced from countries to our north – among others – who have far less stringent logging practices and are far less regulated and monitored. Harwood is already being brought in from overseas to fill the gap.
It is not as if this hasn’t been discussed in full over successive governments. Federal Member for Monash, veteran politician Russell Broadbent announced in federal parliament; “This is a kick in the guts for regional Australia. This is a real kick in the guts for my community and it’s immoral”. Broadbent said various federal governments have addressed the issue “We spent political blood and millions of dollars to get these regional forestry agreements up with the states and those agreements are now shattered.” Federal member for Gippsland Darren Chester announced in parliament; “It is dangerous to live around forests that are unmanaged. People and wildlife die in poorly managed forests and Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ plan to shutdown the native timber industry in 2024 is a plan to kill country towns, kill wildlife, and kill Australian jobs. It is a Dan-made disaster.” Recently Gippsland Water cancelled a longstanding agreement with the Country Fire Authority for forest management which leads to an increased risk of fire and this just as we enter an El Nino dry weather period.
In WA, Shadow Minister for Forestry Steve Martin lambasted the government over the loss of yet another milling operation.
“Whiteland Milling is the third timber mill to close within the last month as a direct result of the McGowan Labor Government’s attack on regional jobs. Thanks to Labor’s unscientific and cynical decision to shut down a sustainable regional Western Australian industry, dozens of workers in Busselton are now looking for a job”.
Mills in WA have advised that they can’t get logs even though the government suggests there is no issue. At the coalface it is a different story, with mills unable to source logs which essentially means the industry is shutting down well ahead of the January 1 deadline.
WA Forestry Industry Association CEO Adele Farina said that five months from the cut-off the government contacted mills across southern WA and advised them that no more logs were available and any statement to the contrary by the government is a blatant lie.
To add insult to injury, logs selected for logging are being selected for firewood according to WA’s Forest Industry Association.
Perhaps the final word goes to WA forestry consultant John Clark who said he has seen clear evidence that sawmill-quality timber was still being harvested but it was not going to mills and instead was being stockpiled for firewood. “One of my suspicions is that the minister, The Honourable Jackie Jarvis, is really concerned there will be firewood shortages next year.”
It is a pleasure to be writing this article announcing the return of the Traf News because like so many of you, I really missed this paper when it went into recess last March.
Community newspapers are important because they provide information that major news outlets don’t provide and unlike social media, the paper can be picked up and browsed many times during its month-long life. There is also something familiar and comforting about ink on paper.
Traf News is your paper and it is our job to do the best we can to provide you with a paper you want to read. I expect we will get some aspects right and we will also make some errors but we welcome your feedback. If you like what we do, let us know. If you don’t like what we do, or think we are missing coverage that would interest you, please let us know. Use the email address at the end of this article to convey those thoughts and please, if you have something to say publicly, consider writing a letter to the editor.
My wife Susie Foletta and I have newspaper backgrounds and we moved to Trafalgar three years ago. We are retired, we have the appropriate backgrounds and skill sets so, it would have been remiss of us not to have a go at bringing this paper back to life. Someone needed to have a go at relaunching this newspaper, so Susie and I decided we would. And here it is.
The previous Traf News committee has been incredibly supportive and they have gone out of their way to make it as easy as possible for this paper to be reborn. You will have noticed it is now Traf District News, providing coverage for Trafalgar, Yarragon, Thorpdale and Willow Grove and is distributed to those four towns. Our coverage of those other towns is not as thorough as it could be in this issue, but we expect when our next issue comes out (February 1) we will have that under control.
Mick Bourke (OAM) started this paper 23 years ago and Mick has been in the office with me on a number of occasions and has provided material input. Liam Durkin has provided material for this issue despite being a busy bloke with three newspaper titles to manage in his full-time career with the Latrobe Valley Express. Our thanks go to them and the rest of the people who made this newspaper happen for so long. And a very special thanks to the many advertisers in this issue, which make this paper possible. We are entirely reliant on advertising to produce Traf District News and it costs quite a lot of money to finance each issue, so we thank the advertisers for supporting us and we urge you to support them in return. We are a community after all and supporting each other is what communities do best.
Trevor Colvin Publisher/Editor. Contact me at publisher@trafnews.com
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
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 St. Fiacres Steel Sparking The Clover Project The Light Newspaper Tickle Pink Tonemade Un-be-weed-able Whimsicasl Craft Wild n Succulent Wild Yeast Bakery Wings To Sing Yummy Gozleme
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.
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.
Hello again to our former readers of years past, and a warm welcome to those who have joined our great Trafalgar community in the last few years.
This column came into being to hopefully provide a bit of nonsense, which we hope will at least create a few smiles, and distractions for all to enjoy.
Your writer is prepared to own up to lots of fibs, liberally mixed with some very funny true stories.
When the source of a story or joke is known it will always be acknowledged as it appears. Thanks for giving us a trial run.
We begin with some contributions from some of the most talented ladies ever to grace the stage. Rita Rudner once vouched that “I don’t plan to grow old gracefully. I plan to have facelifts until my ears meet.” She also confessed, “I love being married. It’s so good to find a special person that you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” Joan Rivers also has some associated thoughts on the facelift subject. She said, “I wish I had a twin sister so I could know what I would have looked like without all the plastic surgery I’ve had.” Laura Kightlinger was speaking about family life. She said “I thought about having a family, but I haven’t seen any that really appealed to me.” Roseanne Barr, a funny lady who once told her audience that “I love my husband, I love my children, but I want something more than that, I want a life.” She also told us that her husband was always saying that he needed more space, so she locked him out of the house for a few days.
One of the funniest male comedians had to be Bob Hope. He told an audience, “I remember having performed for the Mafia – if they didn’t like you they didn’t applaud – they just let you live.” Someone once asked him how he coped with such a lot of air travel. His reply was, “flying? I’ve been to almost as many places as my luggage.” He told us about a friend who was paranoid that his wife was having an affair with a jockey. He said he came home one night and found a horse under the bed. Bob Hope was so popular that he was asked at one stage to run for president of the USA. He said, “so nice to have such an offer, but declined on the grounds that his wife Dolores wasn’t prepared to move into a smaller house”.
Sir Malcolm Sargent (1895-1967) was an English orchestra conductor. He was a debonair man in both looks and manner, and with his smooth black hair he was nicknamed, Flash-Harry. He remarked that “people in concert audiences didn’t seem to realise that a conductor facing his orchestra can still overhear conversations in the front row.” Plenty of ladies made sure they sat as close as they could, and during one performance, there were two or three ladies in that position, and even with the orchestra playing, he recalled that one lady leaned over to the other and said, “I wish my backside was as flat as his.”
Our final subject relates to some items which appeared in a book by author Antony B. Lake called The Pleasury of Witticisms and Word Play, with a section devoted to ‘schoolboy howlers’. He has compiled a list of answers given by students, which he has collected over many years. Each of these items were not questions. They are the answers. He insists that we do not need to waste space on the questions.
“Zanzibar is noted for its monkeys. The British Governor lives there”.
“Trigonometry is when a lady marries three men at one time”.
“The Magna Carta provided that no free man should be hanged twice for the same offence.”
“Homer was not written by Homer, but by another man of the same name.”
“Two popular ancient sports were Antony and Cleopatra.”
“Robert Louis Stevenson got married and went on his honeymoon. It was then that he wrote Travels with a Donkey”.
“Joseph Haydyn had a lot of will power. He died in 1809 and is still dead.”
“Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel.”
“Paganini was a famous fiddler. He fiddled with many of the greatest singers in Europe.”
Thinking of joining the Trafalgar Men’s Shed and would like to know what goes on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 4pm? Well please keep reading and we will endeavour to give you some idea. The main purpose of men’s sheds is to provide for the health and well-being of the men attending the shed. Assisting to reduce the social loneliness, isolation and depression caused through unemployment, retrenchment, retirement or other life changing conditions. Sheds provide a safe and friendly environment where men can talk, learn new skills and be part of a bigger community and be involved in meaningful activities and projects. We have two members John Aldrich (life member) and Frank Gridley; both are well into their 80s and have had health issues recently, but they attend the shed regularly and are always actively involved in what is going on. John has just completed a sign for a Yarragon sporting club using letter stencils and a router. Frank was always helping with projects and attended the Bunnings sausage sizzles to lend support, but owing to age and health issues has eased back. However, Frank still finds a way to participate by running the lotto syndicate, managing the waste disposal and is always up for a chat in the dining room. The character and endeavour of these two blokes is the epitome of what the shed is about. Our membership fee is $60 for the period July 1 to June 30. A pro-rata annual fee does apply based on the remainder of the financial year. The fee is necessary to cover the cost of insurance while you are in attendance in case of need. Being a member gives you the right to attend meetings, vote and be heard. Also, a daily attendance fee of $2 will cover the cost of tea, coffee and biscuits consumed during the day. You can participate in woodwork and metal work projects; small engine repair and the internet is available. If you are not computer literate this is a great opportunity to ‘Be Connected’. This is a federal government program aimed at increasing the confidence and skills and online safety of older Australians when using the internet. There are blokes here willing to help. Come along Monday, Wednesday or Fridays between 9am and 4pm for a visit, and we guarantee a friendly welcome. The president, Corrie Koppen, will give you a tour of the premises and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at the Trafalgar Men’s Shed. We are in Wellington Street next to the community gardens.
Ring Corrie Koppen on 0458 674 450 for further information.
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
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.
Flag Throwers captain Ivan Samori.
People were in a very festive mood.
The Mirboo North football ground was transformed into a carpark to accommodate the 20,000 strong crowd.
Accordion player Carmelo Santamaria and vocalist Adam Cursio from the band Siesta Cartel, provided some great music.
Last month, Trafalgar District Probus Club welcomed a new member, Judy Bishop, to its ranks.
Then on the same day, as a first for our club, Judy also acted as our guest speaker.
Judy’s life has been filled with adventures.
In 2020, at the beginning of COVID, she returned to Australia after spending 12 years teaching in a very new international school in Dubai. Her beautiful photos and life experiences gave us a glimpse of another life and culture. The awe-inspiring, architectural designs of buildings in Dubai and the grandiose décor spoke of a great wealth, a little foreign to us in Australia.
Judy was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the lives of those she worked with, and experienced ceremonies such as weddings, special birthdays and holiday celebrations. Dubai for Judy became a base for exploring many other countries and cultures around the world.
Each year she was given a trip home to spend time with family. Judy has been one of the most enthralling speakers Probus has been fortunate enough to listen to. We are thankful she was so ready to share her travels with us all so early in her Probus life!
Coffee mornings and dine-outs are always popular with Probus members. Last month saw 33 enjoy lunch and fellowship at the Down Towner in Warragul. Coffee mornings were also well attended, with 19 at Coffee Life on the second Thursday and 14 at Gracie’s on the fourth Thursday of the month at 10.30am. This is a great way to really get to know fellow Probians in a smaller setting, and for new or interested people to find out what Probus is all about.
Our Probus Garden Club ventured to Morwell to the home of one of our newer members, Trish Ryan.
Trish has really enveloped Probus, taking on the role of kitchen supervisor, organising delicious morning teas at our meetings, and now this year, taking on the extra role as garden club leader. Twenty-two members enjoyed the visit to her garden, with plants inside and outside. She has created an eclectic wonderland with hidden features, garden ornaments and treasures dotted throughout the pathways, water features and numerous flowering plants that make up her garden. Truly a work of love.
Probus would like to congratulate the two Trafalgar residents Glenys Ralls and Bob Moss, who were awarded dual citizens of the year on Australia Day, for the enormous amount of time they have given to community projects as volunteers over many years. Both are Probus members and have worked as committee members, so they are certainly busy people. Well done, our club is proud of you.
This month is our big month.We celebrate 30 years of Trafalgar District Probus in our area!
Please phone secretary John Attwell on 0419701331 or any Probus club member if you are interested in joining, You will be very welcome.
Photos captions
Julie Phillips and Jan Rhodes at a probus dine-out at the Down Towner, Warragul.
Wayne Butterworth and Olwyn Vitale.
Liz Bowley and Tina Phipps.
New member speaker Judy Bishop being welcomed by president Maggie Attwell.
Glenys Ralls and Bob Moss, Trafalgar Citizens of the Year and Probus members.
When Noah Templeton began school this year at St Joseph’s Primary School, Trafalgar, he was the fifth generation of his family to walk through the school gates.
So it was appropriate for Noah to give great-grandmother Kerin Templeton a sneak peak of his school uniform, given she too completed her primary education at the school.
Kerin (nee Kenny), and siblings Suzanne and Martin were second generation students at the Catholic primary school, built on land donated by their great-grandfather, Patrick Kenny.
Little did she realise at the time, it would be a tradition carried on through the next three generations of her family.
Kerin’s six children attended St Joseph’s, followed by six of her 11 grandchildren.
Almost 80 years after her school days at St Joseph’s, Kerin proudly watched Noah pull on the St Joseph’s uniform as the first great-grandchild and fifth generation of the Templeton/Kenny families to attend the school.
While Kerin enjoyed what she said was an “historic moment,” Noah was focussed on the excitement of his first day at school, with new uniform, new shoes, new bag and new friends to be made.
Source: Warragul Gazette
Photo caption: Prep student Noah Templeton was the fifth generation of his family to start school at St Joseph’s Trafalgar, and was keen to show off his school uniform to three of the generations before him, including great-grandmother Kerin Templeton and (back) his dad Bryce Templeton and pop Paul Templeton
The Baw Baw Shire community can look forward to another season of free swimming at the Thorpdale outdoor pool thanks to a generous sponsorship by the Thorpdale Swimming Pool Committee.
For the third year in a row, the committee has worked with Baw Baw Shire Council to provide a donation that covers the entry cost for all using the pool between December 1 until March 31.
To encourage social connectedness among the Thorpdale and surrounding communities following the disruptions of COVID-19 lockdowns, the community-led committee donated a portion of the unspent volunteer funds back into the facility, allowing the community to use the pool at no charge for the 2020/21 summer season.
After receiving an overwhelming amount of support and praise for the generous sponsorship, the popular initiative has continued each year since.
Thorpdale Pool Committee member Natasha Hammond says that by offering free entry, it has been a welcomed benefit to the local town of Thorpdale and the public of all ages.
“We’ve seen this initiative bring people from all over the shire to our town to use the pool as well as explore the local businesses we have on offer such as the famous bakery and local pub, the Travellers Rest,” Natasha said.
“We are so passionate about our local assets here in Thorpdale and look for opportunities to maximise their use for the benefit of the whole community. We look forward to welcoming more people to our pool this season.”
The pool is open on days when temperatures are forecast for 25 degrees or more (except early morning swims, which are not weather dependent). The pools may close prior to or during thunderstorm activity or in extreme weather conditions.
Opening times:
Monday to Friday: 3pm-7pm
Weekends, school and public holidays: 1pm – 7pm
For more information about council’s swimming pools, including full entry pricing, locations and operating hours, visit www.bawbawpools.ymca.org.au
Baw Baw Shire Council has committed to advancing the region’s most pressing needs in 2023, by putting forward a set of draft advocacy priorities designed to balance the challenges of growth while enhancing Baw Baw’s lifestyle, character and environment. Council is now actively inviting community feedback on the draft priorities to ensure they meet resident needs and inspire grassroots support.
At the Wednesday, December 14 council meeting, council endorsed the draft Advocacy Priorities 2023 and moved to put them on public exhibition from Monday, January 9 to Sunday, February 26 to seek community input and support.
Once adopted, council proposes to focus its advocacy efforts on these identified priorities, seeking support and investment from state and federal governments, relevant agencies and other key stakeholders to deliver real outcomes for Baw Baw residents.
Tier One Priorities are most pressing and include:
-Baw Baw Culture and Connection Precinct;
-Drouin and Warragul Arterial Road Network Planning;
-New hospital and increased health services and support;
-Longwarry Logistic and Employment Hub, and;
-Securing resources for ongoing growth.
Tier Two Priorities reflect infrastructure projects and issues which will make a significant difference to the liveability, safety and sustainability of Baw Baw Shire. Priorities include:
-Investment in education;
-Erica Mountain Bike Hub;
-Industry transition;
-Innovation in the visitor economy;
-Leveraging Commonwealth Games’ opportunities;
-Sealing South Face Road;
-Securing utilities, and;
-A new library for the Trafalgar community.
Tier Three priorities focus on supporting objectives from key council strategies, including environmental sustainability, economic development, long term infrastructure and municipal early years’ plans.
All residents, young and old, newly settled or locals for generations – are invited to review the priorities and provide feedback. It is resident input and support that will help shape and drive Baw Baw’s future.
Residents can view council’s Draft Advocacy Priorities 2023 in full and contribute their feedback via council’s website.
To learn more about Baw Baw Shire council’s ongoing advocacy efforts, visit www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/advocacy or email advocacy@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Annemarie McCabe encouraged locals to have their say.
“We want to ensure these advocacy priorities reflect our communities’ expectations. We need your feedback to make sure we are putting the most important projects on the table when we work with government to make things happen,” she said.
“All councils are reliant on other levels of government to fund and provide crucial infrastructure and services. Baw Baw Shire is one of the fastest growing regions in the country and there are serious infrastructure and service gaps that council cannot solve or fund on our own. These areas are where our advocacy work needs to be focused, and we will be shouting from the rooftops seeking state and federal government support for our residents’ needs.”
The 2022 Probus year full of fun, friendship and fellowship, as well as some COVID hiccups along the way, drew to a close in December with a very enjoyable Christmas dinner held at the Kings Arms Hotel in Neerim South.
The staff at the hotel had decorated the restaurant and tables in true festive spirit, and cooked us a magnificent meal, truly plentiful and delicious. Our club gifted each member with a Christmas pudding to take home. Adding to the atmosphere were about 20 lucky ticket winners who also took home boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine. There was one special winner, Carol Bourke, who took home the hamper kindly donated by Beryl Cropley.
The New Year of 2023 has begun with our first general meeting held at the beginning of January. We congratulated Ron and Lyn Jones on their 60th wedding anniversary, a wonderful milestone in their marriage. February sees Bob and Bev Jones also celebrating 60 years of marriage. We wish them all good health and many happy years ahead filled with Probus fun.
Sadly, we lost one of our much-loved members. Frank Achterdenbosch, a member since 2012. Frank had been a very active in our club taking part in numerous activities, organising caravan trips with the help of his wife Carol and also acting as our sheriff, checking on the wearing of badges and shaking the gold ingot that was his fine’s tin. Frank even filled in as Santa Claus a couple of times. He will be missed.
Our speaker this month was Mick Bourke OAM, who relived with us his trek to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano in Tanzania. The beautiful photos of the wildlife, birds, people and scenery kept us all enthralled. How wonderful to be fit enough to do the trek and manage the altitude problems that come with this climb.
The fortnightly coffee mornings continued on through the Christmas season, with a very festive morning tea held at Gracie’s Bakery in the week leading up to Christmas. We thank Gracie’s for all the festive trimmings and Sharley Smith who provided us with some extras including lucky door hampers. It was certainly a very merry gathering.
We look forward to welcoming new members in 2023 as we celebrate 30 years of Trafalgar & District Probus in March.
Come along to one of our meetings or morning teas and find out what Probus is all about. You will be made very welcome.
Phone secretary John Attwell on 0419 701 331, or any Probus member.
Photo captions
Barbara Butterworth and Liz Bowley enjoying Christmas dinner at Neerim South.
Kaye Brand, Terry Tabliabue and Pam Pinkerton.
Jim and Anne Cornwell.
Sharley Smith.
Marge Williams and Beryl Cropley.
Probus club member, Frank Achterdenbosch, is being remembered.
Winners of the lucky door prizes.
Probus walking group at Traralgon Railway Reservoir Reserve.
9. Ross Pethybridge thanking our member and guest speaker Mick Bourke OAM.
Glenys Ralls and Bob Moss, two Trafalgar stalwarts, are our joint citizens of the year for 2023.
Both have contributed to the Trafalgar community over a number of years in different fields, and are both very worthy citizen of the year.
Glenys has been a lifelong member of the Trafalgar community, throughout which time she has raised her family and been a reliable support to a wide variety of community groups.
From the early days of Young Farmers then play group, she became a committee member in scouts, guides and pony club and acted as timekeeper to the football club during the 1980s and 90s.
She has volunteered many hours of her time at St Joseph’s Primary School and helped there over the 40 years of her children and grandchildren’s lives.
As time moved on, Glenys assisted with events and functions with the Country Women’s Association and volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years.
St John’s Catholic Church has awarded her a life membership, recognising her volunteer support with cleaning, donations and help with other church members.
She has been a member of Trafalgar and District Historical Society for many years, having held the position of treasurer and magazine sales officer. She is currently a member of a Trafalgar Bible Study Group, Probus, and also volunteers at Andrews House.
Glenys enjoys many other activities in the Gippsland area, such as volunteering weekly at 3WA Radio in Morwell and ballroom dancing, to which she takes those in the community who are unable to drive themselves.
When told she had received the citizen of the award, Glenys said she was surprised and thought that the phone call must have been for something else.
Then, subsequently going through her community activities over the past 50 years, she even surprised herself with the amount of volunteering she had undertaken, thanking the many people who helped her on her journey through the various organisations in which she has been involved.
She said her parents were also a significant influence on her as both were heavily involved in volunteering activities within the Trafalgar community.
Quoting St Mary Mackillop, Glenys sees her attitude to the community as “never see the need without doing something about it”.
Bob Moss will be currently recognised for his monthly article in Traf News, outlining Trafalgar Holden Museum’s car of the month.
However, his outstanding contribution to the museum includes everything from painting walls, cleaning, restoring displays, hosting tour groups, writing articles for their display boards and leading the cataloguing team.
He tirelessly researches records of all exhibits and his wealth of knowledge is considered irreplaceable.
Bob is familiar with taking on responsible roles in a variety of community groups.
He was secretary of Trafalgar Primary School Council and Trafalgar Football Club for several years, coached junior football and was awarded clubman of the year for his efforts there.
He took his turn as cub leader in Trafalgar Scout Group, helping boys towards earning their badges, organising camps and competitions with other district cub packs, plus support for the paper and bottle drives about town.
He also led bushwalks for several years with West Gippsland Bushwalking Club.
More recently, Bob is an active member of Probus, having served time as president, secretary and tour leader.
He helped upgrade the Trafalgar RSL building and the relocation of the cenotaph, and compiled articles and photographs for a book covering the Trafalgar postal and telephone history.
Bob was also very pleased to receive the award, saying he felt proud to receive it, and appreciated it very much, and the fact that others thought he was worthy to receive it.
Humbly, he said that he didn’t expect to receive the award, and that he “just did what normal people would do”.
No nominations for the Trafalgar’s Youth Citizen of the Year were received.
Photo caption: Trafalgar’s 2023 Citizens of the Year, Bob Moss and Glenys Ralls.
Around 80 people attended this year’s Remembrance Day commemoration at the RSL cenotaph in Trafalgar on November 11.
Starting at 11am, Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL president, Jim Crowe, officially welcomed everyone, and then passed the microphone to the sub-branch’s secretary, Chris Johnson, who gave an overview of Remembrance Day.
He said the day “is set aside as a day to remember the sacrifice of those who have died for Australia in wars and conflicts. It was originally known as Armistice Day. Australia is a free and democratic country and this freedom we all enjoy is the legacy of those that have fought and died for this country. We must never forget. “At 11am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. “In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender. “The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. “This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between nine and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this day and time for the commemoration of their war dead”, he concluded. The sub-branch’s treasurer, Paul Altamore then informed those present that the Flanders poppy has been a part of Armistice or Remembrance Day ritual since the early 1920s, and is also increasingly being used as part of ANZAC Day observances. “During the First World War, the red poppies were seen to be among the first living plants that sprouted from the devastation of the battlefields of northern France and Belgium,” he said. “Soldiers’ folklore had it that the poppies were vivid red from having been nurtured in ground drenched with the blood of their comrades. “The sight of the poppies on the battlefield at Ypres in 1915 moved Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to write the poem In Flanders Fields.” Wreaths were then laid to represent the RSL sub-branch, those lost during World War 1 and World War 2, as well as other conflicts. Other wreaths were laid by students from Trafalgar Primary and Trafalgar High School, as well as Baw Baw Shire Council. A number of those present then accepted Jim’s invitation to lay a poppy as a personal gesture of remembrance. The Ode then followed with the Last Post before Rouse was played and the flag raised to mast head. Prior to the national anthem, the names of all those on the cenotaph were read. The RSL sub-branch then conducted a similar commemoration at Thorpdale’s cenotaph at midday.
Photo captions:
Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL sub-branch with fellow Vietnam veteran Bill Kilday, treasurer Paul Altamore and secretary Chris Johnson.
Wreath laid by Trafalgar Primary School students.
Wreath laid by Trafalgar High School students.
Wreath laid by Dellas Edwards on behalf of World War I veterans.
Some of the 80 local residents who attended the Remembrance Day commemoration.
Veteran Bob Moss (facing camera) attended, along with Les and Marge Bartlett talking to Peter Battey.
THE Latrobe Valley is copping another banking blow, with ANZ, another of the ‘big four banks’, withdrawing from Moe next year. ANZ has confirmed it will close its Moe branch as from April 2023. ANZ district manager, Minh Vuong, said 80 per cent of Moe customers were using online and mobile banking. Mr Vuong said in-branch transactions had slumped by half in the past four years. “We have personally written to our Moe customers to help them with alternate banking options and our relationship bankers continue to visit many of our business customers at their locations and are also available on the phone and online,” Mr Vuong said. “Customers can visit our Traralgon branch for their face-face banking needs and they can also use the ATMX network at no charge and ATMs operated by the other major banks, fee-free.” Mr Vuong also suggested customers could access cash from major supermarkets’ EFTPOS systems. However, the Finance Sector Union has slammed the decision, stating branch closures had a “devastating” impact on small towns and regional centres. FSU national secretary, Julia Angrisano, said it also unfairly affected those forced to travel further to do their banking over the counter. “Residents in regional areas could decide to close accounts when a particular bank leaves and move to one that continues to have a local presence,” Ms Angrisano said. “However we know from bitter experience that when one bank closes other often follow, sometimes leaving towns without any local banking services.” Ms Angrisano said banks should be required to provide a minimum level of service to customers and “stop cannibalising their local branch network”. She said the union was also calling on the federal government to inquire into the provision of local banking services, particularly in regional areas. “Don’t believe the banks when they claim customers prefer banking online,” Ms Angrisano said. “Our members tell us that the numbers of over the counter transactions in a branch often have limits placed upon them and once that limit is reached, customers are taken to a computer inside the branch or to an ATM and shown how to do their banking online.” Latrobe City Council has been told that all ANZ Moe staff will be retained and relocated to Traralgon. A Latrobe City spokesperson said council still encouraged the community to bank with existing local branches, or use online and Australia Post’s Bank@Post services where available. “Council remains open to working alongside banks to ensure local communities remain empowered as services change,” the spokesperson said. “While it is understandable that these decisions aren’t made lightly by corporate banks and there has been a significant shift towards online banking for many customers – access remains paramount; “particularly for community members that may face certain barriers and small businesses that require cash float and deposit facilities.”
After what has transpired in recent times, this year probably offered a chance to enjoy ‘normal service’ once again.
At Traf News, we were able to produce a 20-page paper each month, which we hope you have enjoyed. My thanks go to all contributors who supplied stories. You are the voices in the community people love to read about.
For a small town to have its own dedicated newspaper provides a terrific way for people to communicate, enjoy something with their morning coffee, as well as provide a historical record for generations to come.
Well, here we are at the last issue for 2022.
After what has transpired in recent times, this year probably offered a chance to enjoy ‘normal service’ once again.
At Traf News, we were able to produce a 20-page paper each month, which we hope you have enjoyed.
My thanks go to all contributors who supplied stories. You are the voices in the community people love to read about.
For a small town to have its own dedicated newspaper provides a terrific way for people to communicate, enjoy something with their morning coffee, as well as provide a historical record for generations to come.
One of the things I have always loved about Traf is I believe it is a town of ‘doers’. Regardless of resources, time, or even odds, Traf people always seem to be out doing things.
Maybe it is just me being over-observant, but even driving through other towns, Traf seems to be the one where you see people running the most.
To keep producing a paper I think is important in the upkeep of that notion of just getting out and getting the job done.
That being said, this year provided a few challenges professionally and personally.
Unfortunately, a high turnover of staff at the Latrobe Valley Express meant my work commitments skyrocketed, and as a result, Traf News fell way behind on my list of priorities.
Not being able to dedicate the time needed to Traf News was frustrating, but I hope I have been able to put together a creditable paper nonetheless over the year.
My thanks to Traf News graphic designer Sarah Mangion for her patience and understanding. There was a few mad scrambles this year getting the paper out, and I’m sure at times she wanted to kill me, so I can’t thank Sarah enough for giving me until the absolute last minute (sometimes more) to have everything submitted.
Thanks also to those behind the scenes and to the committee of management for their trust in me. The committee is to be commended for seeing Traf News continue at a time when most other regional newspapers were going under.
Moving forward, it is clear we need more hands on deck.
If anyone reading this has an interest in writing, we would love to have you on board.
For students especially, Traf News can be a great stepping stone into your media career.
I got my start at Traf News, and there is no reason someone else can’t as well.
Best wishes to all Traf News readers for the festive season.
Trafalgar’s local doctor, Dr James Brown, leads a very busy life. Besides performing clinical work at Trafalgar Medical Centre, associate professor Dr James Brown OAM is Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ (RACGP’s) current principal medical educator and, from February 2023, is set to become RACGP national director of training.
From February 2023, RACGP will be taking over responsibility for most of Australia’s training for general practice.
This means providing the training of some 5500 doctors to become GPs. As the RACGP principle medical educator, James has provided leadership at RACGP in preparation for delivering the training. This has required building a curriculum, an educational program and a medical educator team. From February 2023, James will be the national director of training leading a large team of medical educators to deliver the training.
In undertaking these roles, he brings 35 years of experience as a GP in Trafalgar, 25 years as a lead medical educator in Gippsland and 15 years of research into GP training.
His work has been widely published and has informed the evolution of GP training over the past 20 years. He has recently completed a PhD focusing on the GP supervisory relationship.
James, and his wife Helen, raised their family in Trafalgar. They have three daughters, now all adult, and all specialising in mental health.
In reflecting on being a GP in Trafalgar, James says, “Being invited into the lives of our patients is an extraordinary privilege, and I treasure this.”
Outside of the busy practice and RACGP role, James isn’t one to sit still. He loves to ride his bike of a morning, ski mountaineering, making a fence or two on their small farm and enjoying his spectacular view of Mount Baw Baw.
10 questions with associate professor James Brown
What are you looking forward to in your new role? I am looking forward to working with the teams who will be training doctors to become Australia’s GPs. I am very excited about the opportunity to be part of the next chapter of GP vocational training. I believe that College led training will offer an environment that will enable many new developments for Australian General Practice training enabling it to continue to address the changing challenges and needs of the primary care for the Australian community.
What inspired you to start working for RACGP – while still juggling work as a GP for your practice? I joined the RACGP in 2020 because I wanted to be part of college-led training. I saw this as the next challenge in my work in GP education.
What kind of leader are you? I perceive myself as collaborative, consultative and enabling. I consider that the shared objective of high-quality GP training is the primary imperative and that we need a shared vision of this.
What strategies do you employ that help you switch from ‘GP’ to ‘RACGP leader’? I continue to be a GP. I find that there are many parallels in the work of general practice and being a leader. As a clinician, a GP needs to take leadership in sense making with their patients and enable them to realise their chosen direction.
Tell us about how you manage your work/life balance I start the day early with a time of reflection, I have a bike ride with my wife most days and I prioritise my relationships. I also have lots of adventures.
Why did you choose a career in general practice? Because I like people, I want to make a contribution to the world and I seek challenges.
What did you want to be as child/teenager? A fire fighter and then a scientist. As a teenager I also had a list of initiatives I would take as the prime minister!
As a practice owner for over 30 years, what memories do you reflect on? Being involved with families over a long time is an enormous privilege. As a GP, I have been part of many shared significant events with patients and families and these become part of my ongoing connection with them.
What advice do you have for your colleagues? I think that it is important to start from a position of trust: trust that registrars want to be excellent clinicians; trust that supervisors want the best for their registrars; and, trust that educators and program staff care about training. Trust doesn’t however mean naivety.
What advice do you have for young doctors in training? Being invited into the lives of our patients is an extraordinary privilege, treasure this. Make sure you establish supportive professional relationships as you train and maintain these after graduating as a GP.
Photo caption: Associate professor Dr James Brown OAM enjoying feeding out hay away from his busy professional life
Probus Day in Australia and New Zealand is celebrated on October 1 each year.
Trafalgar & District Probus marked the occasion this month with a free barbecue lunch held after the general meeting.
Bob Jones and Lyn Jones (lots of Joneses in our club) organised the special event and were helped by many willing members who provided salads and desserts for the day.
The Lion’s Club generously allowed us the use of their barbecue. It was a wonderful gathering with 73 happy Probians enjoying the celebrations. The desserts were a highlight with homemade fruit salad, rolled pavlovas and sticky date puddings courtesy of Ross and Leonie Pethybridge and Bob Jones.
Guest speakers at the meeting were Torina Johnston, manager of our local Bendigo Bank in Trafalgar and Debbie Di Sisto, community investment coordinator who spoke about the work of our local branch.
We learnt that 80 per cent of the profits go back into the community, so in the last financial year $80,000 went into community programs, events and projects, a wonderful achievement and very much appreciated.
We were also educated about the many scams that seem to plague our lives these days, what to look out for and safer ways of conducting our daily lives. We should all have credit card protector sleeves in our wallets to prevent identity and private information theft. They can be used on other cards like licence and health cards also. Bendigo Bank have been great supporters of our Probus Club for many years.
This month saw 15 happy gardeners brave the cold and wet to visit the garden of Peter Petschel in Yarragon. The rain held off and we forgot about the cold as we explored this interesting garden with its great array of plants, trees, aviaries of colourful birds and all kinds of memorabilia arranged among the plants. Peter has also created his own museum of all things dairying, mementos of his working life through the years. We admired his propagation of plants, reminisced over bygone times and finished the morning with a chat over a hot cup of tea. Some went home with cuttings to try in their own garden.
The walking group met at Lake Hyland in Churchill this month. Along with a number of canine ‘Probus’ members, they completed a circuit of the lake and enjoyed a cuppa and chat in the picnic area afterwards. This is a great walk for those who have never been, as it has flat, well-maintained paths and plenty of scenery with water views and new plantings of trees and shrubs.
Some of our Probus folk were lucky enough to join WillowGrove/Hill End Seniors Club for a bus trip to Tesselaars Tulip Farm in Silvan. Margaret Parton, President of the Seniors Club and also a Probian organised a wonderful day for everyone. The weather was glorious and everyone was able to tip toe through the tulips with plenty of photo opportunities among over a million flowering bulbs. There was music, Dutch food, stalls, even clogs to try. All agreed it was a magical day and the company of new found friends from the Seniors Club made the day extra special.
Coffee mornings and dine-out were also well attended this month with 19 members gathering at Coffee Life, 14 at Gracie’s Bakery and 23 dining at Dragon Place in Morwell. These outings are a great way to get to know new friends.
So if you are interested in joining Probus this is a perfect way of getting a taste of fun, friendship and fellowship. Come along you will be made very welcome.
Phone secretary John Attwell for details on 0419 701 331.
Photo captions
Probus members enjoying coffee at Gracie’s.
Lining up to celebrate Probus Day with a free lunch.
Probus members walking Lake Hyland.
Margaret Parton, organiser of the Tesselaars bus trip.
Celebrating Probus Day with a free barbecue lunch.
John Attwell presenting Torina Johnston and Debbie Di Sisto from the Bendigo Bank with a Probus giftpen.
Garden Club enjoying Peter Petschel’s garden.
Anne, Sharley and Wendy enjoying the Tulip festival.
Sustainable woodworker Amy Hay of Trafalgar is kicking goals as a woman working in woodwork and a mental health advocate.
Her business The New Red, produces sustainable, custom furniture made from recycled material, and doubles as a platform for Ms Hay to promote her work and encourage mental health conversations.
Ms Hay began her business in November 2019 after quitting a job that she said was destroying her mental health, leaving her looking for a way to keep the income flowing in.
Woodworking has always been a part of Ms Hay’s life and she learnt a lot in her early years from watching her father work on various projects. However, she is primarily self-taught and most of what she knows comes from years of trial and error.
Ms Hay thought she “would be lucky to last six months” when she began her business, but three years on it is still going strong.
“It’s been a very organic growth,” she said.
“I started in a little three by five metre shed that flooded when it rained, it had no power, it had no lighting and I had to keep everything propped up off the floor
“Now I rent a commercial workshop…it’s a bit surreal.”
Ms Hay now partners with Haymes Paint for her furniture projects, and recently used their paint to create a rainbow staircase in her home. “The previous owners, Jodie and Paul, had lived here for 10 years and renovated the house the entire time,” she said.
“It was everything we had been looking for – it’s perfect for us.”
“We’ve been here two years this month…they did such a good job with the basis and the little things we’ve been doing are just putting our own stamp on things.”
A walk through Ms Hay’s house is like a showroom of her creations. The majority of the furniture inside are pieces she has created in the past three years – a demonstration of what sorts of items now exist in her clients’ homes.
“At the moment I make custom furniture. Someone will come to me with an idea, they’ll bring their own piece or I’ll source it,” she said.
“It’s just taking what we have and making what we can from it.”
Ms Hay only uses reclaimed, recycled materials. Whether it is old furniture from Facebook marketplace or a follower who has called her after pulling down an old barn.
She also works with a sub-contractor to make smaller pieces, also made from sustainable wood.
“Together we make small timber items, little trays, earring racks, scrunchie racks…the items that are still made from reclaimed timber.”
“We quite often work with other small businesses – so we make earring racks and sell them with earrings from another small business, or scrunchie racks.”
Ms Hay also runs online woodwork tutorials through a Patreon account. People wanted to learn how to create certain pieces or develop their skills can watch uploaded videos and ask questions along the way.
“I also make DIY build plans that they can follow along…plant stands, bath trays,” she said.
Ms Hay said she had been lucky as a woman working in a trade. Because she runs her own business she can decide who she interacts with and has not had many of the experiences she hears about from other female woodworkers.
“Every man in the trade who I’ve come across has always been overly helpful … just genuinely wanting to give advice,” she said.
“If anything, I think people underestimate you.”
Another part of The New Red Ms Hay enjoys is the ability to reach people through platforms like Instagram. As someone who has had her mental health challenges, she said she can use her platform to share her own experiences.
She said receiving messages about the impact of her personal stories and woodworking classes on others makes it “all worthwhile”.
Recently, Ms Hay has also created a line of merchandise with a women-in-trade focus, featuring slogans like ‘I’m pretty…damn good at my job’, and ‘Get in loser, we’re going tool shopping’.
Source: Warragul Gazette
Photo caption
Amy Hay has been running her own business for about three years. Photo: Amanda Emery
