THE QUEENSCLIFF AND POINT LONSDALE NEWS Published monthly on the first Wednesday and available in Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale and the Queenscliff/Sorrento Ferry. NOVEMBER, 2014 Circulation 5000 – Number 180 – FREE Phone: 5258 4828, e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.queenscliffeherald.com.au Queenscliff Music Festival 28-30 November Welcome to the 18th edition of the Queenscliff Music Festival! QMF director Andrew Orvis says that without the support of the local community, Q-crew, partners, patrons and artists ‘our little gathering at the end of November each year would not be possible’. "Everyone has been asking me who the headline act at QMF is this year and my response has been simple - it's QUEENSCLIFF!" "Ticket sales are as strong as they've ever been," says Andrew. "We're expecting to sell out of some of our ticket types, so buy now, rather than waiting until the last minute and missing out. Our Local 3225 discount offer will get local residents $10 off current 3 Day Weekend ticket prices." With the countdown to the festival just weeks out we have three new acts - Good Times Band featuring music legends Daryl Braithwaite, Richard Clapton & Russell Morris, Emma Swift and Chris Pickering, The Sweethearts, Tim Chaisson from Canada and Trevor Hall from the USA bringing the already extensive 2014 lineup to a grand total of 67 acts. And that's not all folks! Foot-in-the Door This competition is aimed at helping young emerging artists perform and compete at the QMF is also managed and run by youth from the Borough. Supp-orted by FReeZA, a Victorian Government initiative, encouraging young Victorians to plan and run drug, smoke and alcohol-free music and cultural events. Friday - Blues Roots & Beyond, Saturday - Rock, Sunday - Acoustic. Kids Quarter Flag Circle performance space featuring: Bikerina, Mr Quirk, Red the Clown, Hoop Fusion and Mar- imbaTaters. Bellarine Kids Activity Centre: face painting, hair spray, craft activities, card games, kid's music and movement sessions, bubbles and scratch art. Carnival Rides. Busking and free entertainment in and around town all weekend. QMF Camping Room for 700 campers on the Monahan Centre Sports Oval. Tickets are selling fast. Buy yours now at www.qmf.net.au Caravan Rolls On to Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup aspirant Caravan Rolls On was sadly mistaken if he was under the impression a return to the Bellarine was going to be just fun in the sun. Coming off the back of a slashing win in the Geelong Cup on 22 October, Caravan Rolls On's cup preparation moved up another notch when he returned to work at trainer Danny O'Brien's Barwon Heads stables. Caravan Rolls On, rated a 30/1 chance in next Tuesday's $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington, has been putting in the hard yards down on the coast to have him ready to run the race of his life. Usually, soon after 6am, Caravan Rolls On trots and canters away the miles on the Conneware grass before his training schedule relocates to 13th Beach. With the turf work behind him, Caravan Rolls On is given a leisurely two mile walk through the soft sand before he turns around and does another two miles wading, tendon high, through the shore break. O'Brien, a master trainer of stayers, and sprinters, has meticulously timed Caravan Rolls On to be at the peak of his powers on the first Tuesday in November. Caravan Rolls On will not only carry the hopes of the Bellarine into the world's richest two mile race, but that also of his owner and Arabian squillionaire Sheik Fahad al-Thani. A face that has never been, or likely to be seen, on the Bellarine, but the story behind the man is impressive on any level. For the record, Fahad is just 28, London educated with a degree in Business Admin, a thoroughbred investor since 2010, and owner of previous Melbourne Cup winner Duna- den. He oversees the running of Qatar Bloodstock which has over 200 horses on its books, in or about, seven different countries. Fahad is a descendant of a long list of Qatar rulers dating back centuries and is regarded as a heavy hitter when it comes to global economics. Despite a population struggling to surpass 2 million, Qatar wields enormous clout due to its almost unlimited and untapped gas and oil reserves. Qatar is also a stern advocate for Sharia Law which tends to contradict most religious tendencies down here on the coast with regular and rigorous floggings inflicted on those unfortunates, who have conflicting views, on the consumption of alcohol and illicit sexual relations. But, that seems to be getting a little off track from the business at hand … backing the winner of the Melbourne Cup. At the time of the Queenscliffe Herald going to press, Caravan Rolls On was placed 36th on the order of entry into the Melbourne Cup and will be relying heavily on a series of equine casualties by the time final declarations are taken reducing the field to just 24 starters. In my experience, covering racing for well over three decades, the prospects of Caravan Rolls On obtaining a start are well on the better side of any even money bet. Should Caravan Rolls On meet his demise in the ballot then he will be short odds to regain redemption and compensation when he lines up in the following Saturday's Lexus Stakes at the same track. Australia's international jockey Craig Williams, who piloted Caravan Rolls On to win last month's Geelong Cup, believes the seven-year-old non- descriptive bay will be ultra competitive should he gain a start in the Cup. Williams was most eloquent in his praise of Caravan Rolls On's latest triumph and commented the English bred stayer was an ideal Cup contender. "He towed me all the way around at Geelong today, and when the race had to be to won on the turn, he just put them to the sword," said Williams. "There is nothing better than to win for Qatar Bloodstock and, most importantly, Sheikh Fahad al-Thani," Williams said. "He was a different horse today. They took the gear off him and he was a racehorse. He wasn't lairy going to the gates, he wanted to be part of it. He outstayed the second and third horse in a really great effort." Williams' optimistic view was also shared by O'Brien who was absolutely delighted with the Geelong Cup procession. O'Brien said Caravan Rolls On was a 'genuine two-miler' who had been kept fresh for Wednesday's race so the sprint could be kept in his legs. O'Brien said Caravan Rolls On would improve 'three or four lengths' on that performance. "Getting into the Cup, getting to Flemington and getting to two miles will suit him even more," he said. "He will be a top chance for sure." By Peter Taylor You'll be on a winner too when you purchase a Gold Medal Winning Pie from Rolling Pin Pies & Cakes! MEALS FROM Mothers groups / playgroups welcome 11 entries = 11 medals in the 2014 Great Aussie Pie Competition 8 Gold 3 Silver 1 Bronze OCEAN GROVE – 12 Park Lane – Ph: 5256 1517 QUEENSCLIFF – 40 Hesse Street – Ph: 5258 1533 Page 2 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 Mayor's Column This month the Borough truly comes to life with a return to peak season trading and the commencement of a busy calendar of events which draws visitors from across Victoria to Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff like the 2014 Toast to the Coast Festival and Queenscliff Music Festival (QMF). Now in its 18th year, the QMF incredible musical event has grown to become an annual highlight of the region's events program and an iconic festival experience in its own right. Queenscliff's grand buildings and stunning coastal environment provide the perfect backdrop to this 3 day celebration of contemporary Australian and world music, and for the first time, a comedy line up. I encourage visitors to take time out from the musical feast to taste the many other delights of the region including our great beaches, boutiques, galleries, cafes, hotels and harbour. The festival continues to get bigger and better than ever. Let the music begin! Recognising an outstanding School Crossing Supervisor The fantastic work undertaken by our school crossing supervisors was recognised recently at a civic cere- Nick Scown receives his award from Mayor Helene Cameron. mony at the Queenscliff Town Hall. Supervisors hold an important role in a school student's day by making the journey to and from school free from the worry of crossing busy roadways. As a parent, I am reassured in the knowledge that my children have someone looking out for them as they make their way to and from school each day. Council has 8 school crossing supervisors in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, and an additional school crossing is now located at Fellows Rd, near Grimes Rd, Point Lonsdale for safe crossing of children walking to Point Lonsdale primary school. One of our school crossing supervisors has been nominated for this year's School Crossings Victoria Supervisor of the Year Award that recognises the professionalism and care shown in their role. Our nominee, Mr Nick Scown, knows the names of all the children and the parents and chats to them all. Congratulations Nick, and indeed all our hard working School Crossing Supervisors, who make the Borough a safer place to live. Australia Day Awards 2015 Nominations reminder This is an opportunity to honour individuals or groups who have made an outstanding contribution to their local community. Nominations must be submitted on the official nomination form by 4pm Wednesday 26 November 2014. Forms available in hard copy from Council offices or downloaded from Council's website www.queenscliffe.vic.gov.au Cypress tree removal to restore road safety in King St The cypress in the splitter island at the King St - Bellarine H'way intersection has been removed after losing a very large limb 28 of September. Following an independent arboricultural assessment, Council responded immediately to assess the CELEBRANT structural integrity of the tree after it suffered the loss of a large scaffold branch in high winds. The limb blocked access into King St and access along Flinders St toward Queenscliff until Council and the State Emergency Service safely removed the fallen debris. The tree is a part of the iconic avenue of honour comprising of cypresses that run along both sides of Flinders St on the approach to the town ship of Queenscliffe. Council will consider replacement as part of the Queenscliff Avenue of Honour Tree Management and Replacement Plan. Asbestos Awareness Information at the Point Lonsdale Market Sunday 9 November Asbestos Awareness aims to alert people about the dangers of working with asbestos during home renovations and maintenance. Homes built or renovated before the mid 1980s are likely to contain asbestos. If left undisturbed asbestos generally does not pose a health risk. However, when disturbed during renovations and home maintenance, asbestos fibres can be released into the air and when inhaled, can cause life threatening diseases. Visit asbestosawareness.com.au and take the 20 Point Asbestos Safety Check to learn how to protect yourselves and families from exposure to dangerous asbestos fibres. Celebrate our Young Achievers Nominations are now open for the 2015 Victorian Young Achiever Awards and National Youth Awards to acknowledge, encourage and promote the positive achievements of our young people. Further information on Council's website www.queenscliffe.vic.gov.au Next Council Meeting Wednesday 26 November 7pm. All welcome. Letter to the Editor A controversial decision by BOQ Council approving a housing development in Mercer Street raises issues of Good Governance and questions why Council's Heritage Officers recommendations have been ignored. July 2013 - proposed 2 storey, 5 bedroom house with mezzanine level and swimming pool next door to historic Clutha Cottage was refused by Borough of Queenscliffe Council stating: "… it would be inconsistent with the prevailing single storey streetscape… contrary to the purpose of the Heritage Overlay…" October 2014 - the proposal with a few design modifications was before Council again. The Heritage Officers report is below. … the proposal fails to meet many of the objectives of the State Planning Policies and the Municipal Strategic Statement as well as the individual provisions of the Heritage Overlay (HO 11) and the Design Development Overlay (DDO1) requirements of the Planning Scheme. It does not sympathetically complement the design, materials and form of other buildings in the streetscape and it will adversely affect the significance of the individually listed heritage property Clutha adjacent to it. In addition being a high, double storey structure in this single storey section of Mercer Street, it will present as a visually dominant structure in the streetscape. None of these outcomes are new to the applicant. They were put to him almost two years ago at the first pre-application meeting and report (20 December 2012). They were central to the 28 May 2013 heritage report on the proposal prior to the refusal of the initial permit. They have subsequently been included in a further two heritage advisors reports responding to the applicants modified schemes, late last year on 19 November 2013 and a further redesign earlier this year. All of these reports included a number of recommended design changes, which have only resulted in minor and inadequate modifications to the proposal. More importantly the heritage reports have consistently included the recommendation, as outlined in DDO1's Urban Character Study and Building Siting and Design Guidelines, that "the highest point of the roof is not greater than the highest point of the roof of any adjacent buildings…" BOQ Heritage Adviser's Recommendation For the reasons outlined above, on heritage grounds the proposal cannot be supported. Residents attending the 22 October Council Meeting were stunned when Cr Graham Christie declared 'a personal conflict of interest' and absented himself from the vote which brings into question the issue of good governance. Municipal Association May 2014 The Oath of Office requires that Councillors undertake the duties of office in the best interests of the people in the municipal district. Councillors will at all times act impartially, with integrity and in accordance with the Councillor conduct principles. Conflict of Interest Individuals must make their own decisions. Conflict of interest is not a political weapon. Councillors should not use Conflict of Interest as a weapon against each other. No councillor can determine that another councillor has a conflict of interest. Councillors generally have long associations with community groups sport, church, school etc prior to standing for Council and form friendships and relationships within them. If Cr Christie's 'friendship' with just one of the five who opposed the development was the reason for him not voting, then surely other Councillors should have searched their consciences about 'friendships' that could possibly have influenced their vote and declared 'a close personal friendship' and abstained from voting. Cr Merriman is on record as 'lamenting' the decision to refuse the application last year. So what's changed in the past year? Not much according to the Heritage Officer's report yet the Planning Officer of the day's recommendation to approve the development and Cr Butler's being handed two votes ensured it was passed 3-2. The only recourse for the nearby residents affected by what they consider an oversized, inappropriate build in a heritage overlay area is to take Council to VCAT. A shabby result from Councillors elected to consider all issues put before them with impartiality - and that means being able to vote without fear or favour. Barry & Bev Singleton 16 Mercer Street PUBLIC NOTICES Christmas Lunch for Senior Citizens Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Lions Club would like to invite the senior citizens of the Borough, to our 53rd annual Christmas Luncheon at the Queenscliff RSL King Street on Saturday the 13th December starting at 12 o’clock. Published by Swansong Publishing 31 Hobson Street, Queenscliff 3225 Phone: 5258 4828 Email: [email protected] READ US ONLINE EVERY MONTH AT: www.queenscliffeherald.com.au Editor: Carmel Murphy Printers: Newsprinters Pty. Ltd. Shepparton Average Monthly Circulation: 5000 Copyright; Swansong Publishing 2014 ISSN: 1443-5071 Disclaimer The views expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of the Queenscliffe Herald. READERS PLEASE NOTE The next edition will be published on: Wednesday November 26, 2014 Copy deadlines are one week prior: Wednesday, November 19. If anyone requires transport we can arrange for you to be picked up and returned to your homes. Come and join us for some Christmas carols, a good lunch and the Christmas pudding piped in by the Bag Pipes. The Lions Club look forward to this day each year and there is no cost to those who attend. There will be lists at the Borough Office, the Senior Citizens Club rooms or the Bellarine Community Health Centre. Or you can ring and put your name down with Bill on 0430 182 260. PROFESSIONAL IRONS McDUFF ARCHITECTURE T: (03) 5254 1337 M: 0404 041 337 www.ironsmcduff.com.au Remembrance Day Commemorative Service Tuesday 11 November 10.45am Queenscliff/Point Lonsdale RSL Hall President of the local RSL Sub-Branch Lieutenant Colonel David Millie MBE invites the Borough community to join in the occasion. In particular the commemoration will honour the service of veterans by encouraging a descendant of a deceased veteran of any war or conflict to be in attendance wearing their medals. It is customary for those wearing the medals of their forebears to wear them on the right breast. During the service a silence of one minute is to be observed at 11am, in remembrance of deceased veterans. Bells will be tolled in Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff. Architects on the Bellarine and regional Victoria Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 – Page 3 Letter to the Editor Bellarine Community Health Ltd The Facts According to Ms Hazel Ingram, Chairperson Bellarine Community Health Ltd (BCH) (Geelong Advertiser 8/10/14, Bellarine Times 9/10/14 & 18/10/14), "Ann Nichol House has been running at a loss for some years". This aged care facility is funded by the Commonwealth Government and fees paid by residents. Why would Ms Ingram state that "wider community health services will be at risk" if BCH did not sell Ann Nichol House (ANH)? The community health services she refers to as being at risk are funded by the State Government! Could it be that the investments built from interest earned on resident bond payments over many years have dwindled due to poor investment decisions made by the BCH Board and CEO? Bellarine Times 8/5/2014, COGG Cr Lindsay Ellis. "It seems that 'the rot set in' in late 2006. Bellarine Community Health Inc filed for the wind up of the 'incorporated' status to become Bellarine Community Health Ltd, noting financial losses attributable to the Global Financial Crisis and the failure of Lehman Bros in the US. Losses with Lehman Bros were quoted as $4.4 million, ($1.2 million has since been recovered)." If the decision for BCH to sell ANH to Arcare as stated by Ms Ingram "was based on a sound financial assessment of BCH's residential aged care service", how is it that Arcare, a private for profit aged care provider expect to run ANH at a profit, when BCH has been running it at a loss? Particularly when Ms Ingram states that "there will be no change to resident's financial arrangements as entered into with BCH, be they fees, bonds or security of tenure". This is certainly good news for the current residents, however what does it mean for future older community members with no assets who will require public funded aged residential care on the Bellarine Peninsula in the future? Ms Ingram states that "we are increasing the number of beds and that no beds will be lost - in fact the new owner, Arcare plans to increase ANH by 40 beds, bringing to 100 the total number of beds". The real facts are that BCH closed the public funded 40 bed Coorabin aged care facility in Pt Lonsdale 12 months ago and has sold the 40 bed licences and the 60 bed public funded ANH to the private for profit Arcare aged care provider - a total of 100 beds! Therefore there is no actual gain of beds for the Bellarine Peninsula. Ms Ingram states that BCH is "expanding our current aged care services to ensure elderly residents can stay in their home as long as possible". In fact BCH has been allocated 16 aged care packages by the Commonwealth government to assist in supporting older people in their homes. This does not replace the loss Hazel Ingram and John Fendyck of 100 public funded residential aged care beds for an increasing number of older people who cannot be cared for at home because of severe dementia or frailty. Ms Ingram states that "the sale of ANH opens up new opportunities for BCH to further develop its community health services - and to be able to plan for a long-term future for Bellarine". The BCH Board predecessors worked with the community over many years to plan for the long term future of services that would assist people with their health needs from the cradle to the grave. They achieved this goal. THE FACTS NOW ARE that within a period of two to three years the current BCH Board and CEO: •Got rid of the Maternal and Child Health Program. •Got rid of the Meals on Wheels Program. •Closed the 40 bed public funded Coorabin aged care facility in Pt Lonsdale. •Sold the 60 bed public funded Ann Nichol House aged care facility in Portarlington. •Terminated the employment of all BCH employees who were employed at ANH under the public sector awards when Arcare took over the ownership of ANH. •Made it impossible for an unknown number of older people currently living on the Bellarine Peninsula who have no assets, who will require aged residential care to find public funded accommodation unless they travel to Barwon Health Aged Care facility in North Geelong or further afield. •Told the remaining older residents living in the 16 Eric Tolliday units in Pt Lonsdale that they may need to seek other accommodation. Another closure? What an achievement! Moyneen Curtis, Pt Lonsdale Fundraising and all that jazz An Evening with the Society Syncopators jazz band and singer extraordinaire Hetty Kate at the Queenscliff Town Hall was a night filled with great jazz music, song and dance for the 150 who attended raising $6.500 on the night. The venue was the perfect setting for the fundraising event organised by members of the Queenscliffe Historical Museum's La Trobe Memorial Appeal. Chair of the Appeal, Diana Allen, said the Syncopators kept the audience enthralled with their world renowned music and enticed many on to the dance floor. "The feedback has been phenomenal," Diana says, "and it looks like another visit from them will be scheduled for 2015!" Jazz lovers filled Queenscliff Town Hall to hear The Syncopators HIGH TEA ON THE HIGH SEAS "ITS PICNIC TIME" Choose from our farm fresh produce of Award Winning Extra Virgin Olive oils, Kalamata Table Olives and our new Olive Tapenade. Open Thur-Sunday 11-4pm Lighthouse Olive Mill Shop P: 5251 1100 648 Andersons Rd, Drysdale Mel ref 472 A4 The Museum's goal is to raise $50,000 to commission a bronze bust of Victoria's first governor, and founder of Queenscliff, Charles Joseph La Trobe. It will be sculpted by the eminent Australian sculptor Peter Corlett OAM and is proposed to be erected in the forecourt of the Queenscliffe Museum in the centre of town. The Appeal committee are delighted with how fast the funds are climbing as they have only been fundraising for about six months. Too modest - the committee has worked extremely hard to bring attention and funds to the project that should attract great interest in Queenscliff's founder for generations to come. Indulge in a leisurely 2 hour return sailing in a private lounge as you enjoy a High Tea of tasty sweet and savoury morsels, washed down with a sparkling wine, loose leaf tea or coffee. Departs every Sunday from Queenscliff at 3pm. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th of November. Limited seats available. Only $40 per person. SAIL THE BAY FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS OR END OF YEAR PARTY Sail at Twilight or book a private Lounge during the day. Call Nick and find out about a catering package to suit your needs on 5258 3244 ext 84. Page 4 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 – Page 5 News from your local MP Ann Nichol House & Eric Tolliday Units The community continues to seek answers from the current Government about the sale of Ann Nichol House and the Crown land on which it sits. Despite a series of questions in Parliament, the Minister is still not providing information to the community. The next big issue is ensuring that the residents of the Eric Tolliday Units can stay in their homes. I have been working with the residents and arranged for legal assistance to be provided. The priority is that these residents are not abandoned. As the Member for Bellarine I will continue to do all I can to push for this outcome. Police Services As the summer holiday season approaches, I am concerned about the impact of the reduced Police services on the Bellarine. I know this is being felt by the community on a daily basis, with many residents contacting me, with their concerns about the decreased police presence and the response times. We need a proper police presence in our community and if elected in November Labor is committed to returning all four stations on the Bellarine, with Drysdale, Portarlington and Queenscliff operational 16 hours, and the Bellarine station in Ocean Grove operational 24 hours a day. Bellarine Ambulance Services There is increasing concern about the cuts to our Ambulance services affecting residents in both North and South Bellarine. Many of you have talked to me about the issues and your fears, particularly people living alone or with ill or vulnerable family members. It was good to meet recently with some of our local Paramedics and the Shadow Minister for Health, Gavin Jennings. It is important to hear directly from them about the pressures and issues they are experiencing and that dramatically impact on their ability to meet the needs of our community. The most recent figures indicate a response time of 23 minutes - 8 minutes longer than it should be. I have raised the issues in Parliament and publicly over many months and I will continue to work with the community and our Para-medics to push for appropriate services for the Bellarine community. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me by email or call my office if there are any matters that I may be able to assist you with directly. Hon Lisa Neville MP Member for Bellarine [email protected] Twitter @LisanevilleMP 5248 3462 Pirates take over the ferry Pirates Captain Jack and Bonnie Anne (aka school teachers Ed Dolista and Kelly Clifford) held about 40 children captive as they crossed the bay on the Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry during the school holidays. Parents willingly handed their kids over to be indoctrinated in pirate lore and language with songs and sword fights using flesh friendly swords made from colourful balloons. With lots of "Aaaaaarrrggghhh's" and "Oy Matey's" the swashbuckling continued until they happily walked the plank at the ferry terminal. Ferry captain Gus Rogers dog ‘Skipper’ was press ganged into joining in the days festivities. Playwright tackles health issues with humour Actor and playwright Alan Hopgood's career in TV and theatre over 60 years include writing the movie Alvin Purple and The Big Men Fly. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer 20 years ago, Alan set up a new theatre company featuring 'health plays' tackling issues like widowhood, dementia and mental health with humour. As part of Mental Health Week the Borough of Queenscliffe hosted the play 'My Dog Has Stripes' based on true stories addressing depression and mental illness. "I'm not making jokes about the condition," says Alan. "It's about how you deal with the condition and using comedy makes it more palatable. The 'stripes' refer to the many aspects of mental health, not just the 'black dog' of depression." The play attempts to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourages people to seek professional medical help and counselling. The performance in the town hall was followed by an informative chat with the playwright and afternoon tea. Lorne Film Festival 2014 Featuring a range of intimate venues against the backdrop of Lorne's unique coastal beauty, Lorne Film 2014 is a four-day celebration of international film for the people who make, watch and love film. In all 23 feature films, 15 shorts films and events. Venues include the iconic Lorne Theatre, the 350 seat Cumberland Resort Auditorium, and the surf retro themed Sunset Lounge @ Uniting Church Hall. Lorne Film 2014 features a heart health narrative - with events such as the Young Heart Project, a youth oriented digital film making adventure, and the Have a Heart Initiative - a selection of short films around the subject of organ donation. Along with a number of industry events including The Screenwriter Award - a $10,000 cash prize and live rehearsed reading to the winning screenplay, Thunder - along with Open Channel's Framed Industry Seminar around the screening of the Australian apocalyptic drama, These Final Hours. The Victorian College of the Arts will be in attendance via the VCA Screenplay Event - a live reading of the top 2014 Masters of Screenwriting Graduate screenplay, A Devils Redemption. And of course various cast, crew, directors and producers will be descending on Lorne to speak to their work. Saluting film makers as visionaries and story tellers, Lorne Film 2014 attracts content from Australia, and globally demonstrating the universal power of film. Tickets from http://ticketworks.com.au/ 2014 13 - 16 Nov 2014 www.lornefilm.com.au Contact Emma Crichton for more information: [email protected] Page 6 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 Lighthouse Reflections Celebrating 40 years of photography Be Bop Allula! I don't mean maybe! Well it's that time again, QM Fest, and it's turning 18, don't they say you have come of age at 18? Personally I think it came of age, the first one, back in 1997 and has often changed faces, morphed itself, gotten better, swapped location, lost its innocence but always delivered the musical goods. The team has always done its homework and catered for everyone's musical taste. The big names, the undiscovered and if you didn't have a good time you'd better adjust your vertical and horizontal. I can recall as clear as day the moment our good friend Kim Gooddall approached me in the Espy bar and said: "Dods, you love your music. What say we get together some crew and have a music festival in town?" Well, what a great idea! Today that's an understatement. And we chatted over a few beers. Myself and a couple of musician friends had run bands under the banner of Lost in the Ozone Again back in the late 70's early 80s - yes Men At Work, Australian Crawl, Goanna - all graced the stage at what was once our raging pub, The Ozone, now developed into luxury apartments - and played their earliest gigs there. Believe me, the crowd would line up down the Ozone passageway, down the steps out on to the street. Pay $2, have a stew and rice supper, be entertained and dance the night away. Boy I loved the 70s!! We'd clean up the dining room, head home past the bakery maybe 2am, collect a family pie straight out of the oven, count the pennies and play Pink Floyd's Money It's a Hit!? Anyway getting back to that conversation with Kim, (I love getting sidetracked). I said to Kim, I'm not really a committee person but I'll sure as hell photograph the event and do what I can to help. I'm proud to say I kept that promise to Kim and I'm lining up to shoot my 18th QMF. And even though my favourite, Bill Thorpe, won't be playing I'm sure he'll be there in spirit. I've shot lots of bands/performers in 18 years but Billy's concert on Main Stage rocked the festival and brought about thunder and lightning - absolutely awesome. The powerful music he produced from those Marshall stacks could be heard all over the Bellarine. If Rockwiz's Julia Zemiro asked me what was the first record I had ever bought I would have to say Billy Thorpe's EP Poison Ivy. Yes, EP, 4 tracks half the size of an LP back in 1966. I'd have to say that the QMF has shown us every great act that Australia's has produced and been instrumental in showing us young acts that are well on their way to achieving that very same status. We are very lucky here in Queenscliffe. One weekend in November, one great musical experience, I'll say it one more time Be Bop Allula! It's here to stay. Most people I know think that I'm craaaazy, no not me, that's what Billy is playing in this photo. Till next time - Rock On! Rodney Nicholson 0417 582 887 Featuring live music from a variety of locals and over 100 stalls selling quality home made goods. NEXT MARKET: SATURDAY & SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29 & 30 9am – 2pm Corner of Hesse & Symonds Street near the train station. Enquiries: [email protected] or look for Queenscliffe Community Market on facebook POINT LONSDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL MARKET Held 2nd Sunday of each Month Handmade and Homegrown Produce NEXT MARKET SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER 9am to 2pm BOWEN ROAD, POINT LONSDALE FREE PARKING ON SCHOOL OVAL Community Celebration of Christmas Lighting of The Christmas Tree Point Lonsdale Saturday 6th December 2014 Local vocals from 6 pm-7.15 pm Santa arrives 7.25 pm Community Carols commence 7.30 pm Lighting of the Tree at 8.30 pm- 8.45 pm Volunteers Park Corner Grimes Rd and Point Lonsdale Rd, Point Lonsdale BBQ by Queenscliff Fire Brigade Plus other food stalls Bring your rugs, chairs and mozzie repellent Any enquiries please contact Karen on 5258 1264 Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 – Page 7 Queenscliffe Community Market The KO shop looks OK The Queenscliffe Community Market (QCM) was established in 1979 by two local women wishing to promote artisans. Today the QCM is an integral tourist attraction providing donations to community activities and services and a place where locals fundraise and shop. The QCM is run by volunteers and operates on the last Sunday of the month from September to May 9am2pm in Princess Park. Stalls are purposely kept at an affordable price to attract innovative stall holders who sell high quality, handmade, home grown, produce, artworks and goods. The Market is a key contributor to local projects and services and for over 35 years has returned funds to the community of over $600,000. In 2010 the QCM contributed $40,000 to the establishment of the new play space located on the waterfront in Princess Park. Other projects include donations to Bellarine Lighthouse Films Winter Festival, Camp Wyuna for an all- Queenscliff MarketsStallholders Sarah and Bec of Kitschy Koo Jewellery terrain wheelchair to improve access to the beach, Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Uniting Church organ restoration, Queenscliff Sea Scouts & Senior Citizens; Community Activism in the Borough (photography by The KO shop is the latest new business to open its doors in Queenscliff's Hesse Street offering unique handcrafted products from around the world. "The main focus for KO is to provide high quality products at competitively low prices to benefit you, our customer," said co-owner Annette Wemyss. Her partners, Sahana and Apoorva Gaonkar added: "We are delighted to join the traders on Hesse Street who have been very welcoming and the locals very inquisitive." Apoorva explained that KO stands for Karwan Ornaments, a jewellery range that originated in India in 1997, and Queenscliff's KO shop is the first to open in Australia. "We've expanded the range to include wonderfully affordable handbags from India, Nepal and Fiji John Ellis), Surf Life Saving Club defibrillator. Not for profit groups can apply to hold a stall for free. To apply for a site contact [email protected] or phone 0408 340 932. and a colourful range of clothing for adults and children," said Apoorva. "We stock eco-friendly products including 'eco plates' to replace plastic picnic ware, beauty products and a range of 'Little Innocents' certified organic soaps, sunscreen and powder suitable for tender skins and great to have on hand when the grandchildren visit," said Annette. If it's bells on your fingers and rings on your toes KO has them and many 'one off' designs made with silver and semi-precious stones. There's sound bowls, candles and Himalayan rock salt lamps to enhance your yoga and meditation sessions, items big and small suitable for gifts at any time and with Christmas coming you're bound to find an unusual KK gift or stocking filler. Regional World's Longest Lunch - Queenscliff Queenscliff Harbour with the support of the Borough of Queenscliffe is again hosting the 2015 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's Regional World's Longest Lunch on the boardwalk at Queenscliff Harbour on Friday 13th March 2015. The views at Queenscliff Harbour make a stunning backdrop for a four course meal of local produce and wine delivered by iconic local restaurants and chefs. We encourage locals and visitors book early for what is sure to be a memorable lunch. With only 120 tickets available the event is sure to be a sell-out like last year's event. This is a great event for food and wine lovers alike and we are thrilled to have secured the event in the Borough. Queenscliff Harbour in conjunc- OPEN EVERY NIGHT FOR DINNER Breakfast & Dinner 7 days • Lunch on weekends 4 Hobson Street, Queenscliff Phone 5258 1024 www.athelstane.com.au *NOW HIRING EXPERIENCED RESTAURANT AND CLEANING STAFF FOR SUMMER* Email your resume to [email protected] .tion with the Queenscliff Lonsdale Business and Tourism Association (QLBTA) with the support of the Borough of Queenscliffe raised $1773 last year donated to Cottage By the Sea. Enquiries - Jacqui Sidwell 0401 881 100 or jacqui@house-warming .com.au Tickets $120pp - Event Brite www.eventbrite.com.au Annette in the KO shop invites you to fill your life and home with the colours and textures of the KO shop. Specialising in unique handcrafted products from around the world HIGH QUALITY AT COMPETITIVELY LOW PRICES Shop 1/45 Hesse Street, Queenscliff Phone: 5258 2237 Email: [email protected] Web: www.koshoaustralia.com.au • Candles • Copper ware • Clothing • Cotton Rugs • Cushions & Covers • Eco Plates & Cutlery (Environment Friendly) • Handicrafts • Incense sticks • Kikoy beach towels and robes • Lamps • Leather Goods • Organic body care products • Quilts • Scarves • Telescopes • Wooden toys Queenscliff Village News 72 Hesse Street, Queenscliff, 3225 Ph: (03) 5258 1828 Fax: (03) 5258 1828 Email: [email protected] We are the place for INK! Save money when you buy printer cartridge 'plus packs', all brands available! OPEN: Weekdays: 11am – 4pm Weekends, Public & School Holidays 11am - 5pm SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! e.g. HP 920XL PlusPack - save $13.45, our price $90.55 (Officeworks $104.00) e.g. Canon CL521 PlusPack - save $32.98, our price $96.00 (Officeworks $128.98) "If you are buying your ink from anywhere else, you are paying too much!" PHARMACY H E A LT H I S B E A U T Y Helpful advice always available. Free delivery and pick-up in Pt Lonsdale & Queenscliff daily – Senior’s Card Welcome. SPRING WEATHER OFTEN MEANS HAYFEVER FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN Call in to Pardeys and check out the options to relieve your symptoms. Have peace of mind with your medication... WEBSTER-PAK Simple, convenient and delivered to your home weekly. 52 Hesse Street Queenscliff Tel 5258 1817 Fax 5258 4128 Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9am to 5.00pm Page 8 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 The Gray's in Turkey Winter arrived early and hit hard on the first weekend of October with storm force winds of 120 kph and lots of 'snow stones'. Fortunately we had renewed our peat supply the week before. I got a message to the local turf cutter and told him we would like a trailer load, meaning a 6 foot by 4 foot Aussie style trailer. Certainly wasn't expecting a block of flats on four wheels! Anyway the team of two had it all stacked and covered in a couple of days. Wet turf will still burn on a hot fire but a permanently wet stack simply turns back to soggy earth. Having done another house exchange, we are in Turkey for six weeks with a Norwegian couple who have a holiday apartment here in Bodrum. Great place for the idle rich. And the Gray's. House swap. No cost. No complications. Our Norwegian hosts will be in Pt Lonsdale at a time to be arranged. I must reiterate what a fabulous idea home exchange is. When it suits this couple to come, we will just go somewhere else. A holiday in Victoria, Gae's sister's farm or a house swap closer to home. It is simply just rent free accommodation and the internet Home Link site has thousands of places to offer. Anywhere on the planet! KLM took us from Cork to Amsterdam to Istanbul to Bodrum without us setting foot on one of their planes. Dunno how this works. Don't care either! The Amsterdam to Istanbul leg was courtesy of Pegasus Airline. Real 'no frills' stuff. A hundred of us were standing at the plane door when a man in overalls said something to a lady in a pretty uniform. The word 'wheel' was overheard after which we were herded back up the stairs to the boarding area. Apparently poor Pegasus had cast a plate! Following a safe landing at Sabiha airport, we had to take a taxi across Istanbul to Ataturk airport. An hours' drive accomplished in about 18 minutes. High beam flashing, horn beeping and speeds up to 150kmph and all on the wrong side of the road. And with one of us not wearing her seat belt! Very exciting. I'm glad we didn't tell the House swapper Gae Gray has swapped the wintry blasts of Ireland for the sunny skies of Turkey. driver we were in a hurry to catch a plane! Gae reckoned it left the Thunder Mountain ride in Paris for dead. Nearly did too. We flew past a fatal smash on the way. Bodrum is everything we hoped for. Slightly westernish but still very old Turkish. Lots of markets, bazaars and bargaining. Virtually no English is spoken but with Gae's theatrical body language and me bumbling along with my language without borders we haven't been stuck yet. To her credit, the captain is memorising what Turkish she needs to know. The old dog is avoiding new tricks! We had heard before we left that Turkey is an inexpensive place to live. Well, it sure is. I would say prices are about 50% of Australia's. A few examples: 24 tablet packets of extra strength Panadol, 2.5 Turkish Lira. That's less than a dollar. A loaf of good bread is 50 cents Australian, a large fresh chicken, 6TL which is less than $3.20, litre bottle of water $2.50 and delivered on a motorbike up a 100m steep stairway! Irish people have told me that when they think of Australia, they conjure up kangaroos, sharks and bushfires. For us, Turkey was going to be coffee, baths, bazaars and kebabs. Well seeing is believing and has changed my opinion. Turkey is mobile phones!! It is possible for a Bodrum male to smoke a cigarette, drink a glass of Turkish tea and hold two phone conversations all at the same time. Gae is enthralled by the Friday food market. It is a covered area about the size of the Queenscliff footy oval and sells an unimaginable range of vegetables, fruit, breads, cheeses, spices and so on. Turkish salad, bread and oil have become our normal lunchtime fare and all of our dinners are well spiced and prepared with knowledge provided by local traders. We have long been devotees of the Turkish doner kebab. Over here, they are an absolute delight. Next Tuesday is the craft market. Even wild horses won't stop her. We took a boat trip to the Greek island of Kos 20 minutes from Bodrum. The ancient city is just remarkable, particularly the ruins of the 3,000 year old section. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, was born there in the 5th century BC. The tree under which he gave instruction supposedly still stands. Could be the genuine article - scientists have dated it as at least 2,000 years old! Murray Gray S K MA PAR U HOMESTEAD Holiday Bookings and Property Management Demand of holiday homes in Queenscliff & Point Lonsdale is exceeding supply. Contact us today to discuss how your holiday property can make you extra income. Call Cheryl and Philip to assist you to provide the perfect “beach break” Ph: 0424 172 050 Email: [email protected] www.beachbreaksbellarine.com.au CONFERENCES FUNCTIONS WEDDINGS ACCOMMODATION WINERY CELLAR DOOR All enquiries 5258 3507 A Theatre of the Winged Unicorn Experience Readings from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens By Ben and Elaine Mitchell with soprano Lisa Breen Sunday 14 December $25pp View the mansion - 2pm Reading - 3pm Afternoon tea $5pp - 4pm Barwon Park Mansion, Inverleigh Rd, Winchelsea Bookings 5249 1350 [email protected] or online www.theatreofthewinged unicorn.com.au SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD SUPPER Queenscliff HOTEL Friday 7th November @ 7.00pm Swan Bay room DEPI Accommodation – Restaurants – Bar Courtyard Restaurant – 2 course Lunch $33 per person The Boat Bar – 2 course Dinner Special $33 per person Dining Room – Open for dinner Fridays & Saturdays Special – 3 course Dinner & Accommodation $295 16 Gellibrand Street, Queenscliff Victoria 3225 Australia Phone: (03) 5258 1066 ISD: 61 3 5258 1066 Fax: (03) 5258 1899 www.queenscliffhotel.com.au Bellarine Hwy, Queenscliff 3225 $55 FOMDC members, $65 non members Enjoy a delicious seafood dinner with wine (all inclusive) followed by an auction of local goods. Proceeds towards the Rangers Program for Grade 6 students Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 – Page 9 Telling stories President of Barwon Heads Arts Council, Victoria Strachan, Cr. Andy Richards, Author Zoe Daniel and convenor Diana Allen. It seems Point Lonsdale's Diana Allen's love for music and literature is benefiting many living on the Bellarine. Diana is the convenor of many 'jazz events' in the borough bringing first class musicians and singers to town. Diana recently coordinated a 'Meet the Authors' lunch at the Barwon Heads Golf Club in conjunction with the Barwon Heads Arts Council. The authors, Patricia Edgar 'In Praise of Ageing'; Dr. Margaret Bowman, 'The Cultured Colon- ists; Sian Prior, 'Shy' and Zoe Daniel, 'The Storyteller' had the full house spellbound with their fascinating subjects. Zoe Daniel was the ABC's Foreign Correspondent in Africa and South East Asia for many years and her book 'Storyteller' is a testimonial to the great risks and adventures involved in such a career. "Due to the great success of this inaugural event another two 'Meet the Authors' will take place in 2015, one of which will be devoted to the Centenary of WW1," said Diana. Jane Flowers tugs at the heart of maritime art The Mission to Seafarers Victoria ANL Maritime Art Award exhibition aims to promote excellence in maritime subjects in art and assists in raising the profile of seafarers worldwide. CEO Andrea Fleming says the exhibited works reoccurring theme 'The relationship between Humanity and the Sea', conveys the importance of the ongoing work of the Mission to provide for the welfare of individuals from all over the globe that make a living on the world's seas. The 2014 first prize of $15,000 has been won by local artist, Jane Flowers, for her oil on canvas 'David and Goliath'. Jane, a landscape and seascape artist for over 20 years, has been a frequent finalist in the competition and was named the People's Choice winner in 2009. "Giant container ships ply our supply routes but become incapacitated at destination. Time for the plucky tugs with their no nonsense push pull attitude - the rulers of the ports. The painting graphically represents the relationship between tiny tugs and huge container ships. It also continues my fascination with depicting silhouettes against sunlight on water," said Jane. Jane has lived in Queenscliff for fifteen years where she is a keen yachtsman, scuba diver and beachcomber so the world of oceans and ships has always been close at hand. She has been invited onto the Melbourne Sea Pilot launches to further her references for her maritime paintings. Jane Flowers shows locally at Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff. Patrick McCaughey in Queenscliff Queenscliff Town Hall, 6:30pm - 7:30pm, Tuesday 11 November 2014 Patrick McCaughey has spent much of his life in art museums. He has been director of the National Gallery of Victoria and art critic of the Age. Who better to take you on a tour of Australian art? In this lecture, McCaughey focuses on the original the moments Australian art was marked by a particular individuality, explores the revival of Indigenous art in the 1970s, and its impact on changing the Australian consciousness. He argues that three major women artists were crucial to the coming of the Modern in Australia: Grace Cossington-Smith, Margaret Preston and Clarice Beckett. Join this Australian icon for a very special lecture on what has made Australian art distinctive and original, from John Glover to the present. Tickets $20 and $12 concession Book Now at wheelercentre.com Tuesday 25th November 6.30-8pm He’s back! Australia’s latest publishing phemonenan! Sian Prior ... author, broadcaster, entertainer will co host Graeme Simsion with his sequel to The Rosie Project . . . "The Rosie Effect” ‘We've got something to celebrate,’ Rosie said. I am not fond of surprises, especially if they disrupt plans already in place. I assumed that she had achieved some important milestone with her thesis. Or perhaps she had been offered a place in the psychiatry-training programme. This would be extremely good news, and I estimated the probability of sex at greater than 80%. 'We're pregnant,' she said. Seaview Gallery Pt Lonsdale Bowling Club 6.30-8pm queenscliff Cost $10, drinks at bar prices the Jane Flowers at the the Mission to Seafarers Maritime Arts Awards and Exhibition Docklands, Melbourne. The award was presented by Tom Holyman General Manager, Agencies, ANL. Seaview Gallery SARA PAXTON & DAVID HOBDAY EXHIBITION 1-30 NOVEMBER 2014 Open 7 days - 10:30 - 5:00 86 Hesse St Queenscliff 3225 For further information please contact: Colleen 03 5258 3645 [email protected] David Hobday and Sara Paxton Exhibition 1 - 30 November Don't miss this stunning exhibition of oil painting and kiln formed glass by two wonderful local artists. David Hobday Throughout his working life as a marine biologist, David pursued a fascination for working with glass. His work conveys an intimate knowledge and inspiration from the marine environment. Nowadays a full time glass artist, David's work ranges from studio pieces including free standing works and window panels to larger scale sculptures and windows. Sara Paxton Sara's vibrant treatment of subject matter using vivid colour and contemporary form give her paintings a unique expressive style. Working mainly in oils she uses various techniques - building colour and light with layers and washes to give the work a luminous, transparent effect, or using thick slabs of colour to build texture and form. Join the artists at the opening for drinks 2-4 Saturday 1 November. Weekend of Jewellery Saturday 22 and Sunday morning 23 November Darylle Kelly and Kate will showcase their unique jewellery at Seaview. Great Christmas gift ideas! bookshop at queenscliff Ph. 5258 4496 [email protected] BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL EVENTS (OTHER THAN WHEELER CENTRE*) Page 10 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 – Page 11 Friendly Society Book Review ‘Nora Webster’ by Colm Tóibín ‘Nora Webster’ is set in Wexford, Ireland, where Toibin was raised. He started the book over a decade ago but set it aside as it was 'so personal' recalling his widowed mother's life in the late 1960s and early '70s. Nora is a 44 year old mother of four recovering from grief after the death of her beloved school teacher husband. Despite it being a struggle to grieve in a village where people remember your birth, and know the plot in the graveyard where you'll eventually be buried, she discovers her own identity and will. There are moments of quiet triumph and despair - the drama of a family emerging from a bereavement that transformed them into a family concealing their feelings. Her younger son starts wetting the bed, the older boy becomes withdrawn and develops a stammer. Nora doesn't buy advice books or rush the boys to urologists and speech therapists. Given a little peace and time, she knows ‘she would work out how she was going to live’. After 21 years Nora returns to her first employers, an imperious couple who pretend they rule the village. When a rude co-worker must be put in her place, she does it. Other challenges follow, some of them gently comic, and when her son's headmaster makes an unfair decision, she threatens to hurl down ‘a widow's curse’. The book is a portrait of a provincial town filled with characters, vivid writing and wit. Slowly, through the gift of music and the power of friendship, Nora finds a way of starting again. She never breaks down; her children never lash out; none share their grief on Twitter; reminder of an era when people responded to hardship with dignity and stoicism. ’Nora Webster’ distributed by Pan MacMillan is available at The Bookshop at Queenscliff. Roland Wettenhall is researching the history of Friendly Society's in Victoria up to 1920 for a doctoral thesis at the University of Melbourne. "I am seeking the assistance of long term families and residents who may have documents or memorabilia relating to Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale Friendly Society activities to include in my research," explained Roly. "I would like to copy documents, photographs, items of interest and gather any background information available to understand the Queenscliff connection." Friendly Society's were self-help mutual organisations that provided sickness, medical and funeral benefits before governments provided welfare benefits to those in need. Manchester Unity, IOOF, ANA and Foresters were the abbreviated names of the well-known societies. More importantly, they were social 'clubs' that met fortnightly and became, especially in rural and small villages, integral to the life of the community through dances, sporting competitions, picnics on prominent anniversaries and other social events. Queenscliff had a fine tradition of friendly societies with the Ancient Order of Foresters being especially prominent. On the Forester's membership list were many Queenscliff citizens including the Baillieu, Batchelor, Golightly, Gane, Laurence, Mouchemore, Thwaites, Arkins and Twoomey's. Barry Hill's book, The Enduring Rip: A History of Queenscliffe contains a photo of the Foresters processing through Queenscliff in the 1890 Eight Hour Day celebrations. Various hotels and the St George Church Hall featured as friendly society meeting places; in 1890 the William Golightly built Foresters Hall in Learmonth St was opened to great fanfare. This hall became the focus for many Queenscliff social activities until purchased by the municipality for use as the Town Hall. If you are able to assist Roland please contact him a.s.a.p. 9583 1777 [email protected] By Bernard Ryan host of 'The Blurb' a weekly books program Tuesdays 2-4pm on 94.7fm The Pulse Geelong Community Radio streaming at www.947thepulse.com Royal Australian Naval Commemoration of the loss of the minesweeper HMAS Goorangai During World War II the troop ship 'Duntroon' ran over HMAS 'Goorangai' in war time lights out off Queenscliff with the loss of all hands. Sunday 16 November 10am - March from the RSL to the Masthead and Memorial cairns. 11am - Service on site. Fort Queenscliff Museum Historical and Educational Guided Tours Members of friendly societies celebrating the opening of renovations to the Foresters Hall, Learmonth Street, which later became the Town Hall and is dated 1890. Enjoy the rare opportunity to tour a 19th Century Coastal Artillery Fort and let the children dress up in military uniforms. A great photo opportunity. TOURS: Weekends: 1pm & 3pm School Holidays: 11am, 1pm & 3pm Guided tours last 1hr and 15mins. Family Ticket $25, Adult $12 Child $6, Concession & Senior $6. Santa has booked a Special Carriage with the Bellarine Railway. Trains depart Queenscliff Station at 11am. Sunday 7 December Sunday 14 December Sunday 21 December Families are invited to start the festive season on board Santa's Steam Train singing Christmas Carols, enjoy a Christmas tree shortbread, bottle of water and a gift from Santa for the children and an Activity Pack to help decorate your home for Christmas Day. Families will be allocated seats on 1 of 2 sessions with Santa on the outbound or return journey. If the 11am service is booked out, and there are sufficient people on the waiting list, an additional trip with Santa will be made available on the 2.45pm service. To place your name on the waiting list, please email info@bellarine railway.com.au or phone 5258 2069. Please note that this does not guarantee a seat on the Santa Carriage, however if the second trip becomes available, we will offer bookings in the order names have been placed. Tickets for this family experience are now on sale and close 1 week prior to each date unless sold out. So grab your Santa Hat and get ready to start enjoying the Christmas period! JAZZ AT THE BOATSHED Sunday 23 November, 2.30pm – 4.30pm Live music with Steve Murphy and friends Ticket $20, with first glass of wine free 2011 Australia Day Community Award 150th Anniversary Military Presence Santa Claus is Coming to Town! QUEENSCLIFFE MARITIME MUSEUM 2 Wharf St, Queenscliff Book on 5258 3440. Savoy Opera Company Inc. HERITAGE SERVICE Scenic Train Trips Carriage Hire Locomotive Cab Rides 2, 9, 16, & 23 November WHAT’S ON BOARD Santa Train Specials 7, 14 & 21 December Tickets now on sale www.savoyoperacompany.com Presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s RUDDIGORE Or the Witch’s Curse - Oueenscliffe Historical Museum - 49 Hesse st, Queenscliff (Next to Post Office) Pt. Lonsdale School Hall Bowen Road, Pt. Lonsdale Saturday 8th November Twilight Performance 5:00 p.m. Adults: $25, Concession: $20 Child, Full Time Student $10 Bar facilities available Bookings: Queenscliff Village News Von Philp Tel: 5258 4681 [email protected] [email protected] UPCOMING FAMILY EVENTS ry 3-4 Jan uauary 17-1e 8QueJenascnliff Station at th ay Don’t del ge t your tic kets on-li ne to day! © 2014 Gullane (Thomas) Limited © 2014 HIT Entertainment Limited Visit website or call 5258 2069 for details, bookings & more. www.bellarinerailway .com.au Page 12 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 ‘87’ not out Queenscliff's Bruce Priddle celebrates his birthday every year with friends old and new from the local community including the Queenscliff Cricket Club where he is a regular fixture cheering them on. On the lunchtime menu is freshly cooked fish caught by Bruce who rows a small wooden boat into the bay for 'the catch of the day'. Bruce's 'lovely ladies' provide the rest and it is always a great spread with lots of chatter and laughter - mostly at Bruce's expense. Bruce, a sprightly '87 not out', lives life to the fullest, enjoys sharing good times with good people and is looking forward to making his first century. Pictured at right: Bruce Priddle (centre) with his brother Basil and guests, all good people, on the Bruce Highway, aka Little Hesse Street. Appealing for pitch perfect The Uniting Church's Fincham Pipe Organ is a key feature of the historic red brick church installed in 1961 with 'modern electric action' for a whopping £2,650. Together with the ceiling, pulpit, and windows, the organ, listed as one of significance, complements the ambience of the church. The organ is regularly maintained to keep it pitch perfect but recently the Australian Pipe Organs maintenance company reported that the instrument needed a major overhaul at a cost of $7,000. Church secretary Richard Allen said: "The organ is part of our continuing heritage that provides a strong link to our past and is appreciated by many participants in worship and concerts." To assist with the overhaul locals have shown their support of the The Pitch Perfect Appeal officially launched on 29 October with a chicken and champagne dinner. Guests were invited to 'repair a key' for $50 or 'repair a pipe' for $500. The restoration is a two-part undertaking with the keyboard and pedals sent to Melbourne for work, while specialists will travel to Queenscliff to work on the pipes. To make a donation contact Heather 5258 2854 or 0478 611 481. Glastonbury Past Care Leaver Reunion Cardboard 'pipes' have been decorated in the lead up to the appeal and purchased in support of the restoration - the snake from the Garden of Eden was a favourite with Rev Charles Gallagher. Saturday 1 November Barwon Valley Fun Park - Meet 10am onwards at 132 Barrabool Rd Belmont for lunch. * Food supplied, BYO drinks/chair. Contact Heather re special dietary requirements. Sunday 2 November Trip to Belmont - Join Marion Nott, Principal of Christian College, Colac Rd Belmont, to visit the old Glastonbury building for morning tea and a tour. * Suggest car pooling. Visit to South Barwon Community Centre in the afternoon to review information available and an opportunity for you to record your story. Please bring photos for scanning and sharing memories. RSVP Heather Baird [email protected] or 0412 154 424. Women in Business The Place For: First in the region to offer Live Blood Morphology A Community of Likeminded Businesswomen Monthly Networking Events Business Development & Resources Promotion of your Business Read the Queenscliffe Herald online @ www.queenscliffeherald.com.au Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 --Page 13 Meeting the challenge Local Jim Mason, aged 67, arrived in Bentiu South Sudan 17 September where 40,000 people, displaced last December by the civil war, are taking refuge and reliant on The United Nations Mission in Southern Sudan for security. Bentiu is located in one of the world's largest swamps and reaching the camp took Jim several days flying via Nairobi, Juba, Malakal and finally helicopter to Bentiu. Torrential rains have hit the town and while Jim took rubber boots, he really needed waders. For most of August people were living knee deep in floodwater contaminated with raw sewage. Many slept standing up, their children in their arms, desperate people removed soil from the main levy bank to build houses. Jim's challenge was to mobilise as many resources as possible to drain the 1km x 1.5 km flooded camp and hiss experience in civil engineering was very useful in getting the desired results. Transport was just one of the hurdles to overcome in getting the necessary equipment to the town, what to do when a pump has arrived with no hoses, O rings missing and how to replace them, pads needed to be made to stand the pumps on but the earthmoving machine has to be shared with the military. Within the UN 'protection of civilians' site, there has been a significant reduction in water levels after a 2km drainage canal was completed and drain-age systems improved. There are still Families in Bentiu, South Sudan constructed low mud walls around their temporary houses to keep water out. flooded areas, but most people's shelters are now dry. The new challenge is to plan for a major solution to be implemented in December when the rain stops. Jim and his wife Lynne, 70, have been involved in emergency relief work for many years starting as volunteers in a Botswana refugee Camp in 1987 during the Apartheid Era. Jim completed a Masters Degree in International Relations and his wife Lynne completed a Masters Degree of International Development that prepared them for living and working in different cultures including Afghanistan, Kosovo, East Timor and the Philippines. Lynne has distributed food in Southern Sudan, in the area where Jim is presently working, writing courses and retraining water engineers in Afghanistan in 2005, and supported the UN drought relief coordination in the Somalia Region of Ethiopia in 2011. For service to international relations through humanitarian assistance to people in developing countries this amazing couple were awarded AMs in 2008 and are now members of the Order of Australia. Lynne and are passionate environmentalists and have an ongoing re-vegetation program on their Marcus Hill farm, a continuation of the work they did in Birregurra in the 70's and 80s. They are active members of Lancare and Landcare and belong to several sporting clubs in the area. Jim's work will be soon be finished and he should be home in four weeks but I don't think he will be resting on his laurels for long! When the pen is mightier than the sword Several members of the Trinity Aid for Refugees Group recently gathered for a letter writing workshop focusing on the issue of children in detention. Parliamentarians from both major political parties were the recipients of letters. This followed a recent talk by Sr Brigid Arthur on the same theme and an ongoing collection of household products for refugees from residents in Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads. Generosity has its own rewards Queenscliff Lodge manager, Nikki Cominie, happily reports that the lodge's activity room is now a fantastic place for the residents to enjoy a new TV unit complete with a new TV, couch, Xbox console with games, extra control and connect device, a storage cube and a table and chairs to play puzzles and board games on. "These items were bought from funds raised at the Lonsdale Women's Golf Club's recent charity golf day," said Nikki adding that the staff and residents were very appreciative of the club's generosity and their decision to support the Lodge this year with fundraising. • Counselling/Life Coaching • Reike • Bowen Therapy • Ear Candling • Complimentary Health & Nuttrition • Health Benefits Rebate Available Dip. Remedial Massage, Dip. Reflexology, Dip. Counselling Walking Home Saturday 8 November ' Wa l k i n g H o m e ' i s a n initiative of housing workers representing government and private not-for-profit service providers in the Barwon South Western region who deliver services to homeless people. The walk begins in Queenscliff at the railway station and proceeds 37ks along the Bellarine Rail Trail to the Steampacket Gardens, Geelong Waterfront, for a free public event featuring speakers and live entertainment. Walkers can choose from four distances, depending on your fitness level and time available. More information: www.salvationarmy.org.au/getinvolved/Walkinghome/#sthash.rzUce3zu.dpuf Flawless Competition For your chance to win a Beauty & Wellbeing Gift Voucher describe your favourite beauty treatment and why you love it so much. Email entries with your name and address to [email protected] Entries close Friday 28 November. Oxfam Book Sale Saturday 29 November 9am-1pm Ocean Grove Uniting Church Cnr The Parade and Eggleston Street Huge selection of new books - ideal Christmas gifts! Feel Fit & Fabulous while you have Fun being 50+ Group classes starting Ring Kerry Energy for Life 0414 581 670 Page 14 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 BUSINESS DIRECTORY FLOORING CENTRES War Service Memorabilia and the Star of Glory Don Gerling's long military career, and those of other family members, has provided the background for Don's passion in mounting military medals. His father was a Colonel in the Australian Army, his father-inlaw a Colonel in the British Army and elder two brothers served in the RAAF. Don's started his military career as a schoolboy cadet that went on to include National Service, Regular Army and the Army Reserve that spanned thirty nine years and nine months with his retirement coinciding with his 65th birthday. Included in his Regular Army service was a posting as staff to Fort Queenscliff in the late sixties and early seventies. He became interested in mounting medals when he received two medals and on inspecting their mountings, was disappointed with the quality. After receiving a third medal he proceeded to remount them along with his father's and brother's medals and then for friends. Don explained how the different ribbons attached to the medals have particular significance, they are not chosen 'out of hand'. "Colours of the ribbons on every medal are not just haphazard, they have a significance. The Pacific Star for example has the green of the jungle and the yellow of the sand. The war medal is red, white and blue and the Australian 39/45 Service Medal is blue and khaki," said Don. The medals are all mounted as per specific instructions in the Military Dress Manual and in researching medals for mounting Don has become a medal historian. "I was doing some medals for a lady and I found out her husband a Brit had been with the British Expedition Forces at Dunkirk. So I came home and looked up my book and found out there was a Dunkirk Medal issued by the French. So I mounted a replica of that medal and presented it to her." "There is a considerable dmand for replica medals," said Don. "A lot of replicas are being asked for by families. You can't split up the medals as it destroys the whole concept and integrity, so families are asking for a full representative set of their dad's, granddad's etc medals. Each medal is different and replicas are available for almost every medal, at least in the British Empire." The mounting ribbons come from a supplier in Melbourne who sources them from England, New Zealand and Tasmania. One of his more interesting recent mountings was that of a replica of a Victoria Cross set. Throughout his career Don has had various postings including overseas, it was during one of these postings Don had two unique experiences. While stationed in England he went to Spain for a holiday, riding a motor scooter from London to Alicante and while there, proved to be in the right place at the right time. He was enlisted to be an extra in two movies. One of those movies was the blockbuster classic 'Lawrence of Arabia' starring Peter O'Toole. "I was told they were sourcing English-looking people to appear as extras in Lawrence of Arabia. They chose the location because there were a lot of sand hills in Alicante. Then a week later they were looking for extras for 'The Singer Not The Song' with Trevor Howard and Dirk Bogarde," reminisced Don. In the latter movie he appears as a Mexican peasant sitting in the gutter. He received fifty pounds and lunch, for appearing in the two movies, a considerable sum in 1962. Since retiring from the military he has visited Russia on three occasions and it was his second trip that was pivotal in the receipt of another three medals. He was made an honorary Cossack with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Don in the grounds of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. Cossack and awarded their Star of Glory. When the Grand Duchess of Russia visited Australia and The Shrine of Remembrance, Don was invited to attend. She planted a tree in the grounds to commemorate the hundred Russians that fought with the Australians in the Australian Army at Gallipoli. During the same visit to Moscow he visited a facility not normally high on visitors' lists but one of particular interest to Don. "They asked me if I wanted to do anything while I was in Moscow and I said I would like to visit a blood bank," said Don. "I visited one of the large hospitals that had its own blood bank and while talking to the Director, he asked me how many blood donations I had made. Over 450 I told him. He looked at me quizzically, 'More than 450?' he queried. I told him 451. He placed his arm around me and said, 'Come we have vodka.' So we did." On the occasion of his five hundredth donation, the first in Geelong, the milestone was written up in a local Geelong paper and he sent a copy to the hospital in Russia. As a result he was nominated for the Albert Schweitzer Medal for Humanitarian Services as recognised by the United Nations, which he duly received. Don has been donating since he was eighteen and told how he first became a donor under somewhat dubious circumstances. "They informed us during an army parade that the mobile blood bank would be there that day and anyone interested in donating blood would be exempt from duty for the rest of that day. Those interested were to take a step forward and everyone stepped forward. At two o'clock we were back on parade and received congratulations for the number of donations. Then we were told that due to the high number of volunteers we would still be required for duty." Don has rarely missed his fortnightly plasma donation over the past 62 years, and with his latest donation his tally has risen to 603. Now a sprightly 80 and after regular donations for 60 years, Don bemoans the fact that due to the rules, his blood donating will be forced to end on his 81st birthday. Perhaps when that time arrives, Don should receive another medal. It would be a small reward for a huge contribution to the welfare of others. Anyone interested in having medals mounted or obtaining replicas, full size or miniatures, can contact Don via email [email protected] By Denis Walters Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 – Page 15 Sea change for Benny Boy THERE is a new kid in town, albeit in his mid-thirties, and his laconic character allows him to gently slide under the mainstream radar. He's tall, very tall, tanned, the sunglasses conceal a genuinely kind face and he doesn't so much swagger along the boardwalk, but just goes with the flow. Turn the clock back to 1999 and the thought of soaking up the sunshine beside the creek running out to Port Phillip Bay, or anywhere else for that matter, was not on the horizon for heat seeking Ben Ellis. Alone and cruising out on a dusty country road, breezing past a 100 kph sign prior to the crest of a hill, he was a bullet-proof nineteen year old without a care in the world. Metres later at the top of the incline his world was shattered in an instant, crashing head on into a tractor. The car is smashed beyond recognition, the bolts of the drivers' seat have snapped and the safety harness hasn't been enough from stopping him from wearing the full brunt of the windscreen. Slowly regaining his senses he is trapped in the wreckage and the flames leaping from the engine illustrated he is no longer bulletproof. Despite the unimaginable confinement, he finds his phone and makes his last call… to his mum. "She knew something was wrong instantly," Ben says. "I'm calling to say I love her for the final time." It was touch and go stuff, probably more go than touch, but as the flames subsided from the burning engine oil, the beginning of a remarkable escape had begun. With a shirtful of broken ribs and various other bones bent, Ben and Sophie at their café ‘Lix’ on Queenscliff Harbour. Ben is removed from the car with 40 per cent of his face torn from his skull. "It was life changing," the former concreter says. Fast forward two painstaking recovery years with a return to strenuous manual labour out of the question, Ben's employment path does an about face and he replaces the fluro shirts and Blundstones with a shiny pair of Florsheims and Armani suit as a corporate career with new electricity giant Powercor beckons. CRM is Customer Relationship Management, for those not or terms with the new corporate speak, and it is on an upward spiral at the turn of the new millennium. Ben is not only in on the ground floor, but his skill set almost takes him on an express trip to the top. With a fast growing reputation for dousing fires and finding resolutions to all number of complaints on the doorstep of the Ombudsman's office, Ben was headhunted by the auto industry to ensure the smooth launch of the new look Mini. A stint with BMW followed before a chance phone call saw him transfer his indentures across to Porsche taking up a lead role within the executive team. It may have been the dream job, but the there was still plenty of work done between the international travel and taking the More awards for local builders Last month Nick and Allie Barker from Ocean Grove took out a Housing Industry Association award for their display home, Dakota 237, in the Oakdene Estate. This month the husband and wife team were finalists for the Victorian Professional Builder of the Year Award at the annual Hotondo Homes national conference. Builders were judged on a number of criteria - customer satisfaction and service, quality of homes built and attention to detail. Hotondo Homes Managing Director, Michael Renwick, said that given the tough competition in Victoria, Nick and Allie were standouts in their nominated award category. "They are hardworking and passionate about building homes to suit the lifestyle and budget needs of their clients." Nick, Allie and their team build in Geelong, the Bellarine MARINE SERVICES Peninsula, Ocean Grove, D r y s - d a l e, H i g h t o n a n d Armstrong Creek. They pride themselves on personalised customer service and specialise in house and land packages, sloping blocks and split level home designs that can be viewed at www.hotondo .com.au wheel behind a series of luxury cars. "I drove a lot of nice cars at various times, but the best was the Porsche Turbo S, the 911, there is nothing in this world like it, it retails about 450 grand and it is worth every cent," Ben said. Just as he was enjoying the corporate lifestyle and trappings that come with it, another near immovable object appeared on the horizon, or more precisely the Burvale Hotel, which will now be remembered for more than just Australia's longest bar. Another life changer for Ben. He unexpectedly met Sophie McEwan as she was juggling international travel with a career as a highly revered Nanny for some highly esteemed families here and abroad. To cut a long love story short, Ben and Sophie are now partners, no rings, but there is clearly a bond there that can't be broken. And the sea change that followed earlier this year dragging Ben out of the leafy eastern suburbs to the even more picturesque Bellarine was not a difficult decision. "I was always destined to be my own boss so when the opportunity arose to buy into a business at the Harbour there wasn't any turning back, or regrets," he said. The business was established by Sophie's parents Rob and Anne McEwan and the highly popular café, ice-creamery, coffee shack is one of the most successful on the strip. As everyone knows, Sophie has such a good handle on the business that it has allowed her parents to step away knowing the venture will continue to run smoothly. "The coffee shop has a lot of similarities to corporate life… it needs good people, good products, good customers service," Ben says. "Of course there are obvious differences, but the core business principles apply in both fields. In any business customers are a priority as are good product and good conversation so we are blessed to have such an amazing location. I appreciate the efforts of Anne and Rob made to make this business what it is and they have done a fantastic job. I think Sophie and her mum are one and the same, and a lot of people come here to see them, but it just so happens, the coffee is great," he said. By Peter Taylor BUSINESS DIRECTORY RESTORATION PRINTING & COPYING THIS SPACE IS AVAILABLE MONTHLY. FOR ENQUIRIES CALL CARMEL 5258 4828 TREE REMOVAL Page 16 – Queenscliffe Herald, November 2014 CHRISTMAS LUNCH BOOKINGS – 5258 1773 @ QUEENSCLIFF BOWLING CLUB – OPEN 7 DAYS Staying safe and ‘Sail Past’ opens QLYC season seaworthy on the bay Happy Coast Guards Ric Lasslett and Graham Douglas recently attained their Certificate One in Transport & Distribution Maritime Operations. This makes them 'Competent Crew' in Coast Guard speak. Their next challenge is working toward a 'Coxswain Qualification', Certificates One & Two in Marine Operations. Involving Engine O p e r a t i o n & M a i n t e n a n c e, Navigation, Electronic Equipment Operation, Safe Operation of a vessel, Environmental work practices, etc, etc. "It's a challenge," says Ric who loves being a volunteer with the Coast Guard. " But we have good instructors and plenty of time." If you are looking for Maritime Skills we are always looking for new members at Coast Guard. Drop in at our headquarters near the Queenscliff Boat Ramp any weekend or call De puty Commander Graham Douglas 0419 009 477. Be Prepared Last month I spoke about preparing your boat for summer. So let's look at operations for the 15 days to the 18th of October. Queenscliff Coast Guard was called to 6 assists expending some 26 volunteer crew hours. Our two Mercruiser engines chewed through some 365 litres of diesel fuel over 9.8 hours. Twenty Persons were brought to safety and the value of vessels assisted approximately $252,000. The vessel problems, 3 mechanical breakdowns, 2 flat batteries and one fuel blockage. Most foreseeable and easily prevented. Remember, if you breakdown in a car you stay where you are, break down in a boat and you Ric Lasslett and Graham Douglas showing off their new Certificate One in Transport & Distribution Maritime Operations. may be taken wherever wind and tide decide. Help Us Fund a Replacement Boat Don't forget we are aiming to purchase a new upgraded boat as soon as funds allow. So please come and buy a raffle ticket when you see our uniformed crew in the street or at local markets. You could win a brand new Toyota Yaris! Boat Safety Seminars To qualify for a Boat License Certificate attend a Boat Safety Seminar at Coast Guard Queenscliff last Thursday evening of each month. Details/bookings Gary Tomlins 0409 380 359 Don't Drink and Boat .00 limit (YEP ZERO) for skippers under 21 years of age and under .05 for skippers over 21. Until next month, stay safe on the water and be seaworthy before you go out! Ric Lasslett - Coast Guard Queenscliff CHICKEN MINI ROAST $4 each CHICKEN PIN WHEELS - $2 each BUTTERFLY CHICKEN - $15.00 each TASTY PATTIES $8.99 kg OR 10 for $6 AWARD WINNING Cabana, stras and boneless ham are always available ALL YOUR NEEDS ALL YEAR ROUND Fresh quality cuts & good old fashioned service every day FULL RANGE OF QUALITY HOME MADE SNAGS 82 Hesse Street, Queenscliff Phone: 5258 1742 FREE DELIVERY IN QUEENSCLIFF & POINT LONSDALE Queenscliff Lonsdale Yacht Club's ‘Gala’ Opening Day celebrating 100 years of sailing beginning in the 1890s becoming the Swan Bay Boat Club in the early 1940s with a subsequent name change to 'Queenscliff Lonsdale Yacht Club'. The Club had its own pier in Swan Bay and boasted a thriving dinghy fleet. It was the home of the 'Pup' dinghy built and sailed by many founding members over the years. As Swan Bay began silting up the lack of depth became a real challenge and changed the way we conducted sailing activities. Today the club has an active, diverse fleet of Keel Boats, Couta Boats, Multi Hulls and Dinghies, Sail Boards, Kayaks and Canoes. Bellarine Secondary College and the YMCA operate their sailing/canoeing programs from the club and children from the Cottage By The Sea visit frequently. Club members were delighted with the refurbished building, boat yard and grounds with marine themed 'creations'. "Rebuilding the sea wall, relaying the concrete apron and two boat ramps was a huge achievement by many hard working volunteers," said Commodore Jill Golland. Open Day celebrations included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by the Club's Honorary Life Governor, Jack Golightly, and a 'Sail Past' of club boats and other water craft. "Sail Pasts are traditional on Yacht Club Opening Days but no one can recall when this last occurred on Swan Bay in recent decades and will become a regular feature on Open Day," said Jill. "In keeping with the vision of our founders, we trust that our efforts as custodians will consolidate QLYCs unique place in the history of Queenscliff and ensure that sailing in Port Phillip Bay prospers for the benefit of future generations." Lonsdale Golf Club Residential Estate Lonsdale Golf Club President John Calnin turned the first sod in the club's new residential development on 10 October. "Club members are excited that construction work on Stage 1 of its residential estate has commenced after a long planning approval process," said John. "And two lots have already been sold and there is strong interest in the remaining lots." Stage 1 consists of 12 lots in Gill Road which will be upgraded and sealed to current council standards. Club President John Calnin, Club Manager Colin Fraser and Redevelopment Chair Ross McKenzie 'turning the first sod' at Gill Road, Point Lonsdale. Maritime & Collectables Market Sunday 2 November 9am-1pm Treasures of all kinds - books, memorabilia, bouys, marine motors and parts, model boats, anchors, prints… something for everyone! Queenscliffe Maritime Museum, Wharf Street Queenscliff. Entry $6. Children free. FISH AND CHIPS TAKE AWAY FOOD FRESH LOCAL SEAFOOD DAILY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK PHONE ORDERS WELCOME Queenscliff: 4 Gellibrand Street – 5258 2334 Clifton Springs: Jetty Road – 5253 1821 TYRE CENTRE • Large range of popular brands • Fleet Vehicles - most major companies can be accommodated • Computer wheel alignments • Computer wheel balancing • Seniors discount available Phone 5255 5611 16 MARINE PARADE, OCEAN GROVE (off Grubb Road)
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