Griffin’s D-Day looms closer
2 COLLIE RIVER VALLEY BULLETIN, FEBRUARY 16, 2023
AAAAAA What's on, When and Where Community Expo Saturday, Central Park 10am to 12pm. Information about community organisations. Music quiz Saturday, 6.30pm at library, Big Fat Music Quiz, tables of 10. Goods Shed markets Sunday, Forrest Street, 8am to 12noon, variety of stalls, morning tea. BTC triathlon Sunday, Minningup Pool and Scenic drive, from 6.30am. Bunbury Triathlon Club, two events. Non-members must register before day. Bingo Collie Eagles clubrooms, Thursdays, doors open 6.30pm, eyes down 7pm. Library activities Sing along story time, weekly, Mondays, 9am. Junior board game starts today, then fortnightly Thursdays 3.30pm. Lego Club weekly Mondays, 3.30pm. Parkrun Parkrun at Soldiers’ Park every Saturday 8am, walk or run at your own pace. Collie Child and Parent Centre Playgroup Mondays at 9am (for parents and carers with children birth to 5 years old). MyTime support group (for parents and carers with children with additional needs) Tuesdays from 12.30pm. Baby Business (for parents and carers with children birth to 2 years) Fridays at 9am. Coalfields Museum Open every day, 9am to 3pm. Children under 16 free when accompanied by an adult. Riff Raff dancing Every Monday from 7pm at Collie PCYC. Beginners welcome, no partner necessary. Supper provided. Cost is $5 per person. Signing centre Monday 10am to 12-noon; Thursday 2pm-3.30pm; Friday 10am to 12-noon at the courthouse. Op shops The Anglican Op Shop has reopened, Tuesday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm. Vinnies open Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 3pm. Jo’s Bazaar, Monday and Thursday, 9am to 12pm. Send it in This column offers free publication of not for profit events or items of social news. If you would like to have details of your events or organisation published, send copy to nola.crvbulletin@ gmail.com or classies@crvbulletin.com. Deadline 5pm on Fridays.
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Agreement details ‘confidential’ D-DAY is looming for Griffin Coal with its state agreement due to expire in June. Financial stability and a fully-funded plan for its operations are among the numerous requirements for renewal of the agreement, according to the Mining Energy Union’s state secretary, Greg Busson. “The government would have to be very sure that Griffin was financially stable and viable going forward. That would be a prerequisite,” Mr Busson said. He said financial stability would need to be proven before the government would renew the agreement. Griffin Coal went into receivership in September last year, with debts of $865 million. A spokesperson from the office of energy minister Bill Johnston would not confirm the details of the looming agreement and its deadline.
“Details of negotiations on state agreements are commercial-in-confidence. “The government is working proactively with all parties to ensure a stable and sustainable Griffin that produces coal during the transition to 2030.” Prior to Christmas the government provided Griffin’s receivers with an undisclosed amount. The spokesperson said the grant funding was designed to help stabilise Griffin’s Collie operations and provide certainty to the local workforce. Receiver Deloitte was appointed to the company after power station operator Bluewaters instigated legal proceedings following Griffin's inability to supply 400,000 tonnes of coal to meet its supply contract. According to a creditors' report, the company had a book value deficiency of $346 million as of the end of August.
Boost to battery donations THE Collie Veteran Car Club was pleasantly surprised when it received 128 batteries for its recycling program. The batteries were dropped into the bins at Collie Mowers and More during a period of six weeks. Chairperson Eric Martin, secretary Hamish Pipe and member Tony Edwards said the number of used batteries usually decreases during summer, so the recent haul was surprising. Before the bin was placed at the site more than two years ago, Mr Edwards was one of several members who drove around town collecting the batteries. The batteries allow the club to support the community as they donate proceeds of the sales to local organisations. “The majority of proceeds go to youth programs in town,” Mr Martin said. School breakfasts, which are provided to students for free, receive regular funding from the club, along with the PCYC. The members explain that they have made other donations in the past such as a $1000 donation made towards solar panels at Valleyview. The club encourages the public to
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POWERED UP: Hamish Pipe, Eric Martin and Tony Edwards counted 128 used car batteries dropped at the bin over the last month and a half. continue depositing batteries at the bin, however Mr Edwards can be contacted on 0408 858 453 for collection.
Community Expo
FIND out what clubs and organisations have to offer in Collie at the Community Expo in Central Park on Saturday, February 18. Collie Community Radio 101.3fm will broadcast live from 9am, and the expo gets underway at 10am, running until 12-noon. Local clubs and organisations will be on hand to talk about their activities.
Cup next weekend
THE Collie Underwater Hockey Club will host the Collie Cup at the swimming pool next weekend. Teams will be selected at 10am Saturday for the round robin games. Juniors will play between the senior games. Dinner and drinks will follow at the Collie Golf Club.
Ukrainians settle in Collie
Continued from front page “I bought food just in case, and we had a suitcase with documents and a package with non-perishable food in the corridor." Anastasiia said that on the morning of February 24, their worst fears became reality. “We went outside to check, and a rocket flew over our heads. “Our whole life flew before our eyes. We returned to our apartment, took the children and the dog, got into the car and left.” The family drove to a friend’s house in the city of Mukachevo, almost 800 kilometres away. “Our journey lasted 14 hours, but we were on such an adrenaline rush that we did not feel hungry or tired,” she said. Anastasiia’s mother lives in Australia, at Kulin, and had been monitoring developments in Ukraine. “She knew where the rockets were going and told us which way we needed to go. “Thank God we got there.” The family stayed in Mukachevo for a month. They wanted to leave the country, however, men were no longer allowed to leave. Anastasiia said it was calm in Ukraine’s west, but they soon started to hear air raid alerts. “Every night we woke up, dressed and hid,” she said. “A friend suggested I go to Germany so I decided to travel with the children. My husband stayed in Ukraine.” Anastasiia said the journey to Germany was difficult. “It took a day, with the children, but at every step there were volunteers who fed us and watered us,” she said. Anastasiia, Kirrill and Archie stayed in Germany for two months. “I hoped that everything would end and I would return home,” she said. “But nothing stopped, it only got worse.” Anastasiia then made the decision to move to Australia, to be with her mother and stepfather. “I lived with them for six months,” she said. “I lived, I existed. I lay in bed without getting up, I did not want anything. I was isolated from everything. “I don't have a driver's licence, I don't know English. I have no friends. There is no complete family. And, I confess, that I decided I would fly home next month.” Anastasiia’s plans were halted by Yevhen’s miraculous escape, as he flew to Australia in November. The couple now lives in a home in Collie, owned by Anastasiia’s step father. Archie attends Wilson Park Primary School and Kirrill is at Collie Senior High School. “Now we are learning to live again,” Anastasiia said. “We are new here, but I really hope time will help us, and we will get off the ground.” While the Makovskyis have found safety, they still have concerns for their family and friends in Ukraine. “We have many relatives and friends who stayed in Ukraine,” Anastasiia said. “They are used to rockets, to the sounds of bombs, and this is scary. “I just pray to God that all this ends and everyone returns home to their families.”
