Echuca Moama magazine (issue 6)

Echuca-Moama’s premier entertainment venue.

Come and see why.

Award winning design, architecture and hospitality in Echuca-Moama’s premier entertainment venue.

Open from 10am daily. Cafe, Bistro, 3 bars, Bistro Terrace, Players Terrace, full TAB, Sports Lounge, Kids Kave and function facilities that are simply second to none.

Free shuttle service. FreeCall 1800 806 777

6 Shaw Street, Moama NSW 2731. www.moamabowlingclub.com.au ABN 58001046939

Find the floor you’ve been searching for Choices Flooring Echuca has been servicing the Echuca area and surrounding suburbs since 2001. They have the latest ideas in carpets, timber, bamboo, laminate, luxury vinyl, tiles and rugs.

There’s a flooring choice to suit every home and every budget.

With over 25 years experience in the flooring industry, Russell, Angela and the team are committed to bringing you professional and up to date information on the latest trends and styles to help you find what you’re searching for.

So if you’re looking for the latest trends in flooring, everything that’s new underfoot, then look no further than Choices Flooring Echuca.

Luxury Vinyl

choices

Tile

choices2

Carpet

Floating Floor

choices

Choices Flooring Echuca - 5482 3883 1/188 Annesley St, Echuca echuca@choicesflooring.com.au choicesflooring.com.au

choices

Life is Good

at Allen Court Retirement Village Moama’s ‘hidden secret’ offers residents the independence of owning their own home, while having the freedom to enjoy their retirement.

Travel or take up a new hobby or simply take advantage of what Allen Court has to offer.

As well as a very active social club, Allen Court has an indoor and outdoor bowling green, hydrotherapy pool and spa, table tennis, billiards and entertainment area with barbecue, set in beautifully landscaped gardens.

Allen Court is a 64–strata title village catering to over 55s.

The self-care units have a new, personal 24-hour emergency call system and provide independence and privacy with the knowledge of feeling safe and secure in a controlled neighbourhood.

Become a part of a caring, supportive and stress-free community, while enjoying the peace and tranquility and the freedom retirement offers.

A member of the Menarock Aged Care Services Group

61 Regent Street, Moama, NSW 2731 Phone: (03) 5480 9147 or (03) 5482 1311 Mobile: 0428 008 192 Email: allencourt@bigpond.com www.allencourt.com.au

9 EchucaMoama

Welcome to E M. WORDS Vivienne Duck, editor vivienne.duck@riverineherald.com.au Tyla Harrington Vivienne Duck Ivy Wise Sophie Baldwin David Chapman Andrew Mole Jess Gledhill

PHOTOGRAPHY Luke Hemer David Chapman

DESIGN

Brendan Cain Bella Considine Tanya Main

ADVERTISING Daniel Priestley, advertising manager daniel.priestley@mmg.com.au

Echuca-Moama may just be the most inclusive address in Australia but our remarkable disabled residents are also enriching us with their determination to be contributors and to make the most of lives that have been accidentally and dramatically changed.

In this issue of echucamoama we meet five people in wheelchairs who have all found a new path in life — from education to sport and the arts and fashion.

It is a fascinating series of interviews.

We also meet some of the twin towns’ twins — from the identical to the very different. And try to reveal what makes them so alike but at the same time so different.

A Perth couple have relocated to Gunbower after falling in love with the old butter factory there. They have arrived with ambitious plans to resurrect it and give it a new purpose in life.

Then there is the budding young Ed Sheeran who is already making some waves in the music world.

And our dramatic cover of David Drake introduces a tattoo artist who has given up the needle and ink to take up a brush and canvas, making a transition from body art to art that hangs from walls. He shares his artistic journey with our readers.

Finally we would not be able to bring you a magazine of the quality of echucamoama without the loyal support of local business and its advertising.

Emma Mortimer Vanessa Brewis Kerry Vevers Stuart Addicott

Shopping locally is what keeps our town’s economy on the move and we urge you to support all the people who have advertised in this issue because without them we couldn’t tell the stories we have inside the magazine.

PUBLISHER

Everyone at the Riverine Herald has worked hard to bring you this issue of echucamoama and we hope you enjoy reading it.

Riverine Herald 270 Hare St, Echuca, VIC 3564 P: (03) 5482 1111 W: www.riverineherald.com.au facebook.com/ EchucaMoamaMagazine

Enjoy,

Vivienne Duck Editor

We treat your home

like our own

Riverside Pest Management is determined to assist you with all of your domestic and commercial pest control needs.

Our team of fully qualified pest technicians will work with you to customise a short or long term pest management plan to suit your individual needs.

We service the areas east and west of Deniliquin and Echuca-Moama.

WE CAN Provide treatment options for a wide range of common pests including, but not limited to: • Spiders • Termites • Ants • Fleas • Cockroaches • Rodents • Wasps • Pantry moths • Bees • Carpet beetles

Riverside Pest Management is a member of the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association, which represents and sets standards for the Australian pest management industry, so all treatments abide by the current standards of practice.

Servicing Echuca, Deniliquin & surrounding areas

Ben the cocker spaniel is highly trained to sniff out the presence of termites.

Award winning pest management Steve and Jess Butcher have not wasted any time in laying waste to hordes of local pests – from Deniliquin to Echuca-Moama and surrounding areas.

In just six years they have gone from opening the doors on their new business to establishing themselves as major players on the national stage.

Their Riverside Pest Management cemented itself as one of the industry’s best after being named as a finalist in this year’s Pest Manager of the Year Awards.

The awards are hosted by the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association and are contested nationally.

Although they finished runner-up it was an outstanding result as it was also the first time the Butchers had entered.

Jess said the process included completing a lengthy nomination form and a phone interview.

“It’s pretty cool to receive recognition for our hard work,” she said.

“We established this business from scratch so to be considered among the elite is exciting.”

One thing that has set Riverside Pest Management apart in today’s hi-tech world is the success it is having with its latest staff member – even if he has four legs instead of the normal two.

His name is Ben and he’s a working cocker spaniel with an unbelievable nose for the pest.

He also comes from a champion bloodline of detection dogs – his grandfather Pete was a top termite detection dog in Sydney, his father Ess is a top termite and bed bug detection dog, also in Sydney and his aunty Sal is a noxious weed detection dog working in the Snowy Mountains National Park.

Mr Butcher said Ben was more accurate than conventional testing equipment.

“He can help us detect termites no other equipment available can.”

Steve has been in the industry for more than a decade but said he

was yet to have seen a worker like Ben. “I’m just blown away by how accurate he is in picking up activity; the very first day was beyond all expectations,” Steve said.

“He has detected things we had absolutely no idea were even there.”

Steve said Ben was also trained to find termite-conducive conditions such as water leaks, wood rot and decay, in the absence of termites.

Ben is the first of his kind working in the region, according to Steve.

“There’s no other termite detection dog with the independent search and find skills like Ben’s working in the Riverina, southern NSW or northern Victoria, that I’m aware of.”

With operational centres in both Echuca-Moama and Deniliquin Riverside Pest Management has its finger on the pulse of the region’s local pest population.

Such as mosquito plagues that strike the two river centres whenever receding high water leaves stagnant pools of water – perfect breeding grounds for the buzzing little biters.

“Airborne mozzies are difficult to control because unless they land on a treated surface or are sprayed directly, they won’t be affected,” Mr Butcher said.

“Residents can get professionals to spray around their home, including the garden, grass and house exterior, so that if a mosquito lands on the surface it will die.

“This technique is really good for events such as parties or weddings because it lasts for around three to four days – but isn’t a long-term solution.

“I would recommend people keep their pet’s water fresh, empty the drip trays under pot plants regularly, turn lights off if they aren’t being used and have some fans going when outside to keep the number of mozzies down.”

If you have any pest problems, you can call Riverside Pest Management on 0400 435 252.

Phone: 0400 435 252 riversidepestmanagement@hotmail.com www.riversidepestmanagement.com.au Licence numbers : NSW Lic 5073435 • Vic Lic L005728

16 34 12 EchucaMoama

49

contents 16

What is it about twins that makes them so different?

Maybe everyone does have a doppelgänger but in a select few cases genetics guarantees the outcome.

18

Same skin but very different stories

26

29

22

24

Opposites do attract — mostly The best (and occasionally the worst) thing about being a twin is they are always there for you — even if you don’t want them to be.

34

Twins by birth but not by nature Sometimes in the Campbell household you can hear a car alarm screaming at all hours of the day and night.

The body artist now prefers paper and painting

Tree change beats sea change — and they’re not kidding Sophie Baldwin meets a couple who find getting down and dirty with a boutique farm at Cohuna beats being beside the seaside hands down.

A lifetime of endless symmetry Michele Perry and Melissa Pearce don’t need to have a DNA test to prove they are identical, the twins are well aware of that fact themselves.

Same, same. But different. When Maddie and Chloe were born via C-section their parents got a huge shock.

Ivy Wise talks to a tattooist who has swapped needles and gloves for paintbrushes and the potential of a future as an artist and finds it is proving a tough transition despite a spectacular debut exhibition.

If you can’t tell these two redheads apart you can just call them Ted.

20

The unexpectedly identical girls

40

Out of Africa A Nigerian doctor and South African pharmacist have come to call Australia home and told Sophie Baldwin their most challenging decision would change their lives forever — and for the better.

44

Peter’s getting back into the swing of things Even by the incredibly resilient comeback stories of the wheelchair bound, Peter Hyden’s story is resiliently incredible.

47

Born again the hard way It’s almost impossible to get your head around the notion but John Raccanello is adamant.

49

Jason Clymo mark II is on a roll

53

Different strokes help define different folks

In the words of John Lennon, life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

When you know you are about to die, you tend to have a slightly different, albeit very short, take on the world around you.

WANT MORE EM MAG? Find us on facebook: facebook.com/EchucaMoamaMagazine

78 56

60

Billy really is the comeback kid Billy Ilsley has not lost his need for speed. The 18-year-old might have had to swap two wheels for four following his motorbike accident in January that left him a paraplegic.

When everything old is much better than new Vintage cars. The label evokes memories of old duffers in tweed jackets, white dustcoats and goggles puttering down the main roads on a Sunday afternoon in open cars from the golden days when Edward had just inherited the throne from Queen Victoria.

65

78

82

87

It didn’t take much to butter them up

You can’t help but adore them, even if they are smart asses It might seem an unusual calling but for May Dodd setting up and running one of Australia’s few donkey shelters was the reason she was put on earth writes Tyla Harrington.

108

92 100

All revved up about mechanics Dave Cato has been as far as life in the fast lane can go, short of being behind the steering wheel, but tells David Chapman he is pretty comfortable these days running his own business in Echuca-Moama.

If we build it, it will sustain us Sophie Baldwin meets a couple who dared to dream they could build a sustainable house — without being weighed down by the blinkered baggage of the zealots — and turn it into something for their whole family.

112

114

116

From little things big things grow Don’t dare tell Christine Morris that a dream can’t become a reality because she will just laugh.

You can’t put a price on progress What I am trying to say is we sell a concept here — we sell inclusion.

Game day — it’s what the game is all about Jess Gledhill looks behind the football scenes to see what makes players tick and finds it doesn’t matter whether you are in the school juniors or the AFL you all get the same kick out of game day.

Largely self-taught and getting better every day, Tighe Cole tells Ivy Wise he would not mind being like Ed Sheeran, whose music he admires.

Long-distance love is increasingly common in the online world of the 21st-century.

70

It’s never too soon to be a rock star

100

118

Stepping up to the GVL Bart Phillips began his senior football career eight years ago at East Point Football Club in the Ballarat Football League.

Eating up life in the big leagues Being an AFL footballer might have been the dream but Ollie Wines is the first to admit the reality was an incredible transformation.

The kid gets a kick out of footy When you are just 13 there isn’t much better than getting out on the ground and playing footy with your best mates — on game day.

Frozen moments in the Echuca-Moama story echucamoama photographer LUKE HEMER has put together a stunning body of work as he travels around the region.

13 EchucaMoama

87

16 EchucaMoama

What is it about twins

THAT MAKES THEM SO DIFFERENT?

Maybe everyone does have a doppelgänger but in a select few cases genetics guarantees the outcome.

In Australia around one in 80 births produces twins. But fewer than one third of those births results in identical twins, making them a singularly exclusive club of double acts. Our writers caught up with some of Echuca-Moama’s unmistakable lookalikes.

Harley and Jesse Anderson HARLEY and Jesse Anderson have done us all a favour.

Apparently.

The 18-year-old identical twins have subtle but deliberate differences which make it easier to tell them apart.

Or so they tell me.

Despite spending almost an hour with the boys I was still unable to discern just what those subtleties might have been — they were so genetically subtle.

They even work together at Dynamic Fitness as personal trainers.

“We normally have shifts together as well,” Harley said.

“This can be a bit confusing when a client is talking to one of us and then the other is around as well.”

And before you ask, yes, they do have the sixth twin sense.

“We are always out doing things, whether that be motocross, playing footy or water skiing — and we are always doing them together,” Harley said.

All the awkward guessing of names was swept under the rug when they told me even their mother still gets them mixed up. “Sometimes when I am skiing and Harley is in the boat, he knows when I am about to do a trick or something before I “Mum normally just calls us ‘the boys’ because she still can’t actually do it,” Jesse said. tell us apart,” Harley said.

“And most of the time he knows when I am about to fall off.”

“She used to dress us in red and blue when we were little,” “And of course we always answer at the same time,” Harley Jesse said. said.

“But now I think she just guesses sometimes.”

Despite all the mischief they could have got up to, the boys In case you are the football player who double takes every admit to changing classes at school only a few times. time you see an Anderson get the ball again, or if you are at “They could never tell us apart so it was easy,” Harley said. the gym and that trainer is still here, I have some tips for you to remember.

“But in Year 12 we had all the same classes so we couldn’t get Harley has a nose ring and parts his hair on the right side of his head, is normally a little heavier and is nine minutes younger.

Jesse parts his hair on the left side of his head, has both his ears pierced and was quick to advise he is nine minutes older.

But the hardest part is to remember which one the difference belongs to.

Especially when they are together — and that’s just about all of the time.

up to too much then.”

Harley said sometimes freaky things happen to both of them.

“I used to have this floating cartilage issue in my knee, which has since gone away,” he said.

“But now Jesse is having the same problem.

“Sometimes you think surely not him too.”

To top it off the boys have twin dogs.

And they are almost identical too.

“The longest we have spent apart was about two weeks I think,” “It’s pretty cool because our Staffies are also twin brothers,” Jesse said.

Jesse said.

“And just like Harley, his dog is about 10 kg heavier than mine.

“We don’t really miss each other as such but we are always “Which is the same as we normally are.” thinking what the other is doing.

“But other than that we are always together.”

What a surprise. 

17

EchucaMoama

18 EchucaMoama

SAME SKIN BUT VERY DIFFERENT STORIES Ned and Tom Kilborn IF you can’t tell these two redheads apart you can just call them Ted.

“I like fashion because I like watching Project Runway with mum.

Or as their mother Sarah has stuck with since their birth — “Ned in red”.

“And I think it is cool when they win they get to be in magazines.”

The six-year-olds are fraternal twins, best friends and polar opposites.

Little did he know that he would feature in a magazine photo shoot — all before his seventh birthday.

Ned and Tom Kilborn were born seven minutes apart, Tom happily boasting he is the oldest.

When describing each other the boys had one thing in common — kindness.

But despite their similar looks, they have completely different personalities.

“They may not look very different but inside they are completely different boys,” Sarah said.

“And they always have been.

“Their interests are completely different and I love that about them.”

Although Sarah admits she and husband Nick have succumbed to twin matching once or twice.

“They have their own style,” she said.

“We used to dress them in the same type of clothes but different colours sometimes — always Ned in red because that is something you can never forget.”

And true to form Ned was wearing red when they came in for their interview and photo.

Despite being only six, these two lads have big dreams.

“He is kind and stands up for me and loves ballet,” Ned said about Tom. “He is joyful, kind and loves footy, basketball and watching the footy with dad,” Tom said about Ned. As the self-confessed “more dramatic” twin Tom has always been full of life.

“Although their temperament is the same, Tom is definitely more into drama than his brother,” Sarah said.

“This comes out when he is dancing but also when he is at home.

“Ned on the other hand is sometimes more laid back and casual about most things.”

Despite their differences their similarities are much more obvious.

The striking red hair is the one you can’t overlook.

“I want to be a builder,” Ned said.

“Apparently my great grandfather had red hair and it has just come out with the twins,” Sarah said.

“I think it is really cool and you get to drive trucks.”

“But they are pretty hard to miss.”

At the complete opposite end of the scale his brother Tom wants a life in fashion.

“I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up,” Tom said.

Wherever life takes the Kilborn twins there is one thing they agreed upon.

“We will be friends forever,” they said in unison. 

19

EchucaMoama

OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT — MOSTLY 20

Adelaide and Aedan Visca-Lias

EchucaMoama

THE best (and occasionally the worst) thing about being a twin is they are always there for you — even if you don’t want them to be.

That’s certainly how 13-year-old Adelaide Visca-Lias describes her relationship with her brother Aedan.

Born at 32 weeks and 400 grams each, the twins agree they are very different, not just in gender but in their likes and dislikes.

Adelaide loves animals and wants to be a vet while Aedan is into totally geeky stuff.

“Star Trek consumes the majority of Aedan’s life. He is disorganised — apart from his suit — and he loses his shoes a lot. I like his teeth and his handsomeness and he has done an amazing job on his books (Aedan has published and illustrated eight books to date with a ninth in the works),” Adelaide said.

But one thing that is guaranteed is when the Lias twins are around there is never a dull moment.

They both share a whacky and zany sense of humour and spend most of their time laughing at, or with, each other.

They both agree they love their mum, have cool grandparents and share the same brother Will.

“Aedan is always off with the fairies, we are partners in crime but we are different,” Adelaide said.

“I am more handsome and she is the ugly one, but she is down to earth and has got her act together,” Aedan laughs.

Mum Joanne said the twins do have a wicked sense of humour.

“They are quite entertaining to be around,” she said.

Even though they are similar in many ways the most

In his younger days, and while at school in Brisbane, Aedan was bullied and did for a time lose his confidence, but big sister by seven minutes Adelaide stepped in and sorted that problem out.

“I punched the boy in the nose when he took Aedan’s hat.

I knew it was wrong to hit him but he didn’t do it again and he and Aedan ended up becoming friends in the end,” Adelaide said.

Both Adelaide and Aedan share a love of art and there is some debate over who will beat who in the Moama Grammar ‘Magsabald’ art competition this year.

“There are some really good artists entering, including Aedan,” she said.

The twins have also had a brush with fame appearing on SBS’s Insight program featuring twins and said it was an awesome experience.

The Visca-Lias family moved back to Echuca last year after living in Brisbane and they are happy to be back home, especially Adelaide, who now gets to regularly ride her horse. 

EchucaMoama

Adelaide says Aedan is definitely quirky, with a lot of geekiness thrown in.

There is no cure for dyslexia because it is not a disease, but Aedan has learnt over the years to focus on the things he can do and he certainly hasn’t let that fact get in the way of chasing any of his goals and dreams.

21

Aedan says Adelaide is tall, grumpy on a Monday, organised, horse and pony ridish, awesome, majestic and could grow a mono brow if she tried.

significant difference between the two is Aedan has dyslexia — a neurological brain difference that affects reading, writing and spelling.

22 EchucaMoama

A LIFETIME OF ENDLESS SYMMETRY Michele Perry and Melissa Pearce MICHELE Perry and Melissa Pearce don’t need to have a DNA test to prove they are identical, the twins are well aware of that fact themselves.

“We sound the same, talk the same and finish each others sentences,” Melissa said. “We never ask each other what we are wearing but we often rock up to an event in the same clothes and if that happens one of us always ends up going home to change,” Michele said.

The couple has had 48 years together to try and get that hiccup fixed but when you ask them to describe each other they are at a loss.

Michele sums it up perfectly: “It’s too hard, it’s actually like describing me,” she laughs.

The girls do have different haircuts and Melissa’s hair is longer than Michele’s.

Michele is right handed while Melissa is left handed and Michele has a lazy left eye and yes you guessed it, Melissa’s is the right eye.

They both have a sweet tooth and will often order the same meal if they are out for tea together.

They are similar heights and both married men with a surname starting with P. They both have two children — Melissa two daughters and Michele a son and daughter.

Michele left school to work in a bank while Melissa went to university.

The twins didn’t intentionally both end up living in EchucaMoama and while that is the case now, they both agree down the track they could retire to different states.

“Who knows where we will be in years to come,” Michele said.

Melissa moved to Koondrook in 1989 where she met her husband while Michele moved up to Moama in 1996 to manage a family business with her husband. It wasn’t until 2003 that Melissa moved across to Moama and joined her twin.

The girls said while their close friends can pick the difference between them straight away, they are constantly mistaken for each other when they are out and about the town.

“We are always polite and we always say hello but sometimes we have no idea who we are talking to. This can be mistaken for being snobby sometimes but we do have different friends and acquaintances and there are times when we really do have no idea who are we talking to,” Michele said.

Melissa said she has had to pull out her license to prove to some people who she is because they remain unconvinced that she has an identical twin.

The sisters are obviously close and talk to each other everyday, “We see each other all the time. Mel will come and hang around if I am working at the caravan park and she also helps us out when we are busy,” Michele said.

“We are close but we do also live our lives quiet separately and we are not dependent on each other,” she said.

“It’s funny we do buy the same things in a catalogue and if we do wear the same piece of clothing we always swap, one might wear a dress and the other one pants,” Melissa said.

The girls said they have never had the connection where they can feel each others pain or sadness but random things do occur where one will be thinking about the other and then bang the phone will ring and it is either Melissa or Michele. 

23

EchucaMoama

TWINS BY BIRTH BUT NOT BY NATURE 24 EchucaMoama

Xavier and Marley Campbell SOMETIMES in the Campbell household you can hear a car alarm screaming at all hours of the day and night.

Most of the time, though, year can hear them at the same time.

And sometimes there is the hoarse hack of an old smoker.

You could even be forgiven for thinking the house is a secret

mechanic’s workshop.

But it’s not. Nor is it haunted.

near like I did with the twins.

“I felt full term with the boys at about 20 weeks.”

For twins they are, their mother Leila said, extremely different.

Marley, who is older by 12 minutes, was 40 grams lighter at

twins. birth.

“From birth they didn’t just look different but they even cried differently too,” Leila said.

“They have always been about that much difference in weight,”

“Marley is like a car alarm and Xavier is almost like an old man smoker.

“One goes up, so does the other and when one loses weight so

“If I am in a different room and one of them cries I know exactly which one it is.”

“But they are completely different in personalities already.”

Leila and her husband Tim knew from their five week ultrasound that they were having twins.

“I had really dark hair like Xavier when I was younger,” Leila

“I had a feeling from the first pregnancy test that this one was different,” she said.

“I was just uncomfortable through the whole pregnancy with constant pain.”

Despite giving birth a few days short of 38 weeks, Leila said her first pregnancy with her daughter Macy, 3, was much easier.

“Obviously being pregnant the first time with just one baby was better,” she said.

“I gave birth to Macy at 41 weeks but I didn’t feel anywhere

Leila said. does the other.

Xavier has a thick head of dark hair and Marley is much fairer. said.

“But Marley is much more awake and aware of everything while Xavier is fussier and in the first few weeks would just feed and sleep.”

It wasn’t a surprise to Leila and Tim when they found out they were having twins, because like most families with twins, it’s in the DNA. “On my mum’s side, my uncles are fraternal twins,” Leila said.

“And on my dad’s side, my dad’s dad was a fraternal twin.

“So it was bound to happen sooner or later.” 

ECHUCA MEDICAL CENTRE

Open 7 days

MEDICARE BULK BILLING OPENING HOURS:

Mon, Fri 8.30 am – 8 pm, Tue, Wed, Thurs 8.30 am – 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday 9 am – 4 pm We offer; General Health Check-up, Child Immunisations, Antenatal Care, Travel Vaccines, Women, Men and Children’s Health.

Male and Female Doctors available. Walk in or make an appointment.

Located within the Echuca Amcal Pharmacy

192 Hare Street, Echuca Ph. (03) 5480 2685

EchucaMoama

Looking at the boys you might have trouble believing they are 25

Simply put it is the home of fraternal twins Xavier and Marley — aged three months and a bit.

26

EchucaMoama

27 EchucaMoama

THE UNEXPECTEDLY IDENTICAL GIRLS Maddie and Chloe Pettigrove SAME, same. But different.

When Maddie and Chloe were born via C-section their parents got a huge shock.

Expecting a blue and pink they were quite floored when the doctor held up two pinks.

Each attached to their own placenta, it was assumed the girls weren’t identical so their mum got a hell of surprise when a DNA test seven years later came back confirming the girls were 99.99998 per cent identical.

At first glance they are the spitting image of each other but take a moment and you will pick up on differences — deliberate and otherwise.

Maddie is slightly taller and always wears glasses, Chloe now has a shorter haircut.

Maddie has never had a broken bone while Chloe the ‘klutz’ has.

“Chloe injures herself. I just have the diseases like eczema and asthma and I have to wear glasses because I can’t see, Chloe has none of those,” Maddie said.

Interestingly the girls both had braces when they were younger and x-rays showed their teeth were identical.

Growing up they were in different classes at school and had a different circle of friends, but are finding as they are getting older they are spending more time together, although they do have different interests and make separate decisions.

Maddie completed Year 12, Chloe didn’t.

Chloe has started a certificate three in hospitality while Maddie attends university studying health science.

Both girls work at the Moama Bowling Club and they joke the only way their co-workers can tell them apart is Maddie’s glasses.

“Maddie forgot to wear her glasses to work one day and apart from the fact she couldn’t see, she actually had to go home and get them because nobody could tell us apart and it was confusing everyone, not to mention driving us insane having to say ‘no, it’s Maddie’ or ‘no, it’s Chloe’,” Chloe said.

Family is extremely important to both the girls and they are very protective of their mum and their younger brother Connor, who has autism.

“Connor has made us who we are today and mum is a single parent so we have had to mature at a pretty young age. We spend a lot of time together as a family and Con means the world to both of us,” Chloe said.

The girls said they will be sitting down with their mum and they will both say exactly the same thing at the same time and turn to each other and high five without meaning too.

“It happens a lot. We always laugh and then we say to mum ‘see, it must be true’,” they both said (at the same time might I add).

Maddie might be a whole two minutes older then Chloe but she maintains her little sister is still the boss.

“Chloe walked first. She walked at nine months and I didn’t until three months later so I spent a lot of my early days chasing her. She kept running away from me and has just always been the boss — she has bigger balls then me too when it comes to doing stuff.”

Chloe has just recently returned home from a European holiday and has plans to travel more; perhaps one day to live overseas.

“I don’t know what I want to do with my life yet. I am happy to work, save up and travel while I can and even though Maddie would like to come with me, she is held back by her studying.

I will figure out what I want to do later.”

The girls speak to each other every day and can’t imagine life without each other.

“We don’t know anything different other than being twins and when people ask us what it’s like we just laugh because we can’t answer that question. We fight like all brothers and sisters but it usually lasts about five seconds and then we are over it and it’s all good again,” Chloe said.

“I have had people say to me ‘Chloe has cut her hair, are you going to do the same?’ I just say I am still my own person and I don’t need to do everything my sister does,” Maddie said.

Only 99.99998 per cent of the time. 

r e m m u S

Open 7 days from 10 am | 572 High Street, Echuca | 0447 339 455

The body artist now prefer s

EchucaMoama

IVY WISE talks to a tattooist who has swapped needles and gloves for paintbrushes and the potential of a future as an artist and finds it is proving a tough transition despite a spectacular debut exhibition. >>

29

paper and painting

>>

30

DAVID Drake has tattooed and pierced more body parts than he can remember.

“You’re looking at three hours to get the size of a CD, so it took a long time.

And admits there is no part of the anatomy he hasn’t pierced or inked.

“You become attached to the work you do, but also when it’s with people you connect with.

Despite that he finds it hardest to comprehend some of the decidedly safe selections for which many opt.

“We went out drinking together and he came to New Zealand to a tattoo expo with me, where we won the cover up section.

EchucaMoama

“One minute you’re tattooing a skull on a bikie and the next you’re tattooing a grandma,” he said.

“You’ve got to accommodate everyone — and all kinds of styles.

“I’m happy to do the black and white stuff like your skulls and demons and old school wizards, but if someone wants a dragonfly or a butterfly, that can be cool too.

“It’s not so much what you do but how you do it.”

And nothing is off limits.

“I get asked all the time what’s the weirdest request or the weirdest place I’ve tattooed — well believe me, I’ve tattooed everywhere,” he said.

“Not many clients would do that.”

Born and raised in Echuca, David has always loved art and anything creative.

“I could always draw and school (sort of) helped that along,” he said.

“I was never really good at school so I got a lot of detention which meant I had a lot of time of my hands and that’s what got the drawing up to scratch.”

Although no-one in his family was tattooed, David’s interest in tattooing began in primary school — with his oldest tattoo books dating back to Year 5.

He began a six-year tattooing apprenticeship at Tattoo Nation in 2003.

“For me, I like the different stuff, what people would think is weird. To me, weird is the generic tattoo that everyone gets.

The tramp stamps, the infinity symbols.

“It was very extensive,” he said.

“One time on Australia Day, I did 25 Southern Cross tattoos and that to me is weird.”

“There was the hygiene side of it and a lot to learn behind the scenes.

The most memorable tattoo was one he did over several days on a man who died a few years ago.

“I did a tiger on his leg. It started on his ankle and the tail finished at his hip,” he said.

FREE LIGHTING CONSULTATIONS In-store or on-site

We will work with your plans to bring your home to light with house lot discounts on a huge range of designer styled items

169 Pakenham St, Echuca Ph 5480 2238

Shining Bright Since 1987 www.roundaboutlighting.com.au

“Fourteen years ago, the tattoo world was a lot different to what it is now.

“Even 15 years before I started, people were only just starting to wear gloves. Hygiene has gone ahead in leaps and bounds. >>

31

EchucaMoama

32

“GIVING PEOPLE LIFELONG PIECES OF ARTWORK ON THEIR BODIES HAS BEEN REWARDING, BUT AFTER 14 YEARS IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE FOR ME TO DEVELOP DIFFERENT SKILLS AND TO GROW AS AN ARTIST.”

EchucaMoama

DAVID DRAKE

>> “Artwork also used to be very limited with flashwork.

Flashwork used to be in every shop. You see it on the wall and pick what you want.

“But then artistry evolved, people wanted more individual stuff and flash became unwanted, which was good because I always liked doing custom work.”

David’s first tattoo he did was on himself.

“It was a little Chinese symbol on my ankle,” he said.

“That was just to feel the water, but it’s covered now.”

already staging his first solo art exhibition — From Needle to Canvas — at the Foundry Art Space in May. It all came about when Next Level Fitness Echuca owner Luke Diss offered him the chance to paint a canvas for the new gym.

After completing this first painting, he set a goal to complete 50 pieces of artwork in five months.

Which he did.

“It almost came pretty quickly. I tried to cater for different styles,” he said.

Now three quarters of his body is covered in tattoos, of which he has done about five himself.

“I wanted to break away from the strict tattoo form and do something for everybody.”

“Learning on yourself is good. You don’t go into it blind. You’re training in drawing and stencils long before you’re even picking up your gun,” he said.

His collection included drawings, photography pieces and oil paintings, encompassing still life, portraits, nudes and abstracts, in colour and black and white.

“There’s a million different ways you can draw a line and get the same effect with different pain levels. When it’s on yourself, you learn pretty quickly.”

The exhibition was a huge success, with 75 per cent of his artwork selling.

And although most clients were happy with his work, there were a few who weren’t.

“It chews you up inside. You’re always going to get that one person though,” David said.

“The key is having a lot of trust involved and communication.

“Ninety per cent of my work was custom and I had a lot of trust with people and they knew my work so it allowed me to have a fair bit of artistic freedom which I was very lucky and grateful for.”

But after working as a tattoo artist for 14 years, David is making the transition from skin to canvas.

“Giving people lifelong pieces of artwork on their bodies has been rewarding, but after 14 years it is time for a change for me to develop different skills and to grow as an artist,” he said.

And while his tattooing experience has helped with that transition, creating art on skin is a lot different to putting pencil, pen or paint to paper.

“It was crazy on the night. We got heaps through the door and a lot of interest on the internet. I was very lucky,” he said.

As he is only just starting out, the term ‘starving artist’ is certainly ringing true at the moment.

“With tattooing, a client pays about $120 an hour,” he said.

“Some of these paintings took over 30 hours so you’re never going to get your money back on them.

“It’s heartbreaking. One drawing piece, I spent nine hours on.”

Despite this, he still wants to pursue a career in art.

“I really hope one day I can support my family. Not be rich and famous but be able to pay the bills and create art,” he said.

David would love to be creating art full-time, but he still has to survive so he has been doing factory work to help pay the bills.

“Trying to survive on a single income for five months was tough. There were some hectic moments where I was living on Vegemite sandwiches. It was pretty grim,” he said.

“It’s completely different. The way you tattoo has to change to suit the individual’s skin,” he said.

“Trying to convince your partner to let you follow your dream and living week to week, day to day was pretty crazy.

“If you’ve been out in the sun all your life and you’re an old tradie, it’s like tattooing an old school shoe. It’s like leather.

“I have all these crazy hopes and dreams but finances get in the way.”

“But when you draw something on nice smooth paper, it’s going to be a lot better.”

Self-taught, David only picked up a paintbrush at the start of this year.

Since then, he has come a long way in his artistic evolution —

And as much as he loved tattooing, David doesn’t see himself getting back into it any time soon.

“It’s something that will always be a part of me and I do love it, but I’m enjoying my break from tattooing and will get back to it when the time is right,” he said. 

34 EchucaMoama

TREE CHANGE BEATS SEA CHANGE — AND THEY’RE NOT KIDDING SOPHIE BALDWIN meets a couple who find getting down and dirty with a boutique farm at Cohuna beats being beside the seaside hands down.

WHILE most people dream of a sea change Sarah Moyston has always been one of those characters who like to swim against the tide.

So while your average Australian pines for the seaside our Sarah, already living on the Gold Coast, naturally wanted to head bush.

Married to Shayne and living in the most quintessentially Australian waterfront address, accountant Sarah was beginning to think her country dream might just pass her by.

Until she really crunched the numbers and five years ago the couple traded surf and sand for mud and dust — and life on a farm.

And in keeping with doing things her way, it is a farm from just a little out there in left field.

Sarah and Shayne now own Windella — a milking dairy goat farm.

“We pretty quickly became known as ‘those crazy Queensland goat farmers’,” Sarah laughed.

Sarah has always had a lifelong dream to move to the country.

As a child she had many great memories of time spent on her grandparents’ dairy farm at Lockington.

“I always knew I would love living on a farm but I had no >>

35

EchucaMoama

36 EchucaMoama

>> idea if Shayne would too — but we have both embraced the move and we now love our life on the land.”

While they both still do work off farm, Sarah is hoping to decrease her hours and spend more time at Windella as the business grows.

“When we moved we looked at dairying but you need so much capital to get started, goats were something different and they were affordable for us,” Sarah said.

“Initially everyone laughed but now they think it is quite cool and there is a huge demand for milking goats — the soaps and other products actually developed a bit later on as a sideline,” Sarah said.

Sarah and Shayne purchased their farm smack bang in the middle of dairy country and Windella is their delightful little 5 ha slice of heaven that is now well and truly home for the former city slickers.

The old dairy has been converted to milk the goats (eight at a time), the fencing has been upgraded, the paddocks sown and the soap making room is an irresistible temptation of scents.

There are 38 gorgeous little kid goats running around in the nursery and there is a herd of very happy and contented goats in the paddock.

“We have definitely found our own piece of heaven,” Sarah smiles

Because the focus of the business is to sell young stock, the couple milk their herd for six months, dry them off and then join them to the Billy goat.

While they are committed to the farm this does give them flexibility and reduces some of the work load.

“Our goats lead a pretty cruisy life really and we are expecting them to live to 12–14 years. They are a sweet, friendly and inquisitive animal, but they do eat anything and I mean anything and that is why proper fencing is an absolute must.”

Multiple births are also common.

The kids are housed in the shed on a bed of rice hulls. They have access to water, pellets and hay and because there is always the threat of foxes, the radio plays continuously in the background.

“The kids are about the size of a cat when they are born and they are super cute,” Sarah said.

The couple is somewhat limited by land size as to how many goats they can run and because they made the decision to focus on breeding and not milk production, they haven’t had to invest in an expensive vat.

“We are very happy with the way the business is running and it is very rewarding to start something from scratch, even though it can also be incredibly busy and stressful at times.”

They use the milk to feed the kids and make soap which has >>

37 EchucaMoama

CAMPASPE REGIONAL LIBRARY FREE TO JOIN

Say Hello to your Retail Finalists • Extensive range of books, DVDs, audio books, ebooks, magazines, newspapers and online resources • Free internet access including Wi-Fi hotspot • A wide variety of activities and programs; see website for details • Comfortable seating and numerous study areas • Clean and accessible amenities including parents’ room • Free car parking • eSmart library – helping our community to be safe, smart and responsible online

Come and read the paper or flick through a magazine, while taking in the magnificent view.

A welcoming, and inclusive meeting place, something for everyone!

Call in and see Tara, Jess, Kirsten and Bernie – your travel professionals

ECHUCA LOCALLY OWNED

150 Hare St, Echuca 5480 1911

Campaspe Regional Library 310 Hare St, Echuca VIC 3564. Ph: 5481 2400 Website: www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library

38 EchucaMoama

“WE HAVE DEFINITELY FOUND OUR OWN PIECE OF HEAVEN.” SARAH MOYSTON >> led Sarah down a path she never imagined.

“A friend of mine had psoriasis and asked me to look into making soap,” she said.

“She was a dance teacher and that’s how I paid for my dance lessons.

“I started giving away the soap to family and friends and that side of the business has just grown from there.”

Windella now produces a wide range of luxury, handmade soaps and body products based on the philosophy that natural is best.

“We use only natural additives and essential oils to enhance our range. Our products do not contain artificial fragrances, colours, additives, detergents or petroleum products.

“Our goat’s milk range is specifically designed for sensitive and problem skin and is formulated to take advantage of the

numerous health benefits that goat’s milk has to offer.”

The soap range is currently sitting at 25 although Sarah has added lip balm, deodorant, reed diffusers and bath salts to her collection and she is always on the lookout for new products to add.

“I do lots of research online. For me it’s always about the smell and feel of a product and I like the rustic and natural look of my products.”

Best sellers include the ‘Nourish’ soap formulated for sensitive skin, which includes goat’s milk, lemongrass and pink clay while the ‘Outback’ soap is a non-milk soap made from Australian clay, lemon myrtle and is super gentle on skin.

All Windella’s products are available online through windellafarm.com.au and Sarah does travel to a couple of markets including Echuca Framers market which is held the first, third and fifth Saturday at Alton Reserve. 

Don’t let your workspace get to this!

GET YOUR SPACE SORTED WITH PEAT’S OFFICE EQUIPMENT We are one of the foremost suppliers of Office Equipment, Technology Solutions and Office Supplies, servicing the surrounding area since 1976. We present our customers with competitive pricing, quality service, fast delivery and sound advice.

Photocopiers & Printers

Office Furniture

Telephone Systems

Computers

Stationery & Paper

Call today to get your office running at its full potential.

Supporting our local community since 1976 200 Pakenham St Echuca. Ph 5482 3009 www.peats.com.au

Servers, Networks & Management

40 EchucaMoama

Eji, Nkiru (Kiki), Oluchi and Rashika Ekeanyanwu.

A Nigerian doctor and South African pharmacist have come to call Australia home and told SOPHIE BALDWIN their most challenging decision would change their lives forever — and for the better.

AUSTRALIA may be 10,000 km — and a world away — from Africa but for pharmacist Rashika and her husband doctor Eji Ekeanyanwu it is now very much their home.

With Rash growing up in South Africa and Eji in Nigeria, life itself was a challenge.

In Africa there was poverty and despair, violence and corruption, running in parallel with ‘normal’ life in their birth countries.

Perhaps it is the challenges they faced, the things they have seen and experienced, and the opportunities they now have for the future of their two girls Oluchi and Kiki, that have them firmly entrenched in Australia.

And more importantly, in the twin towns of Echuca-Moama.

But that does not mean the couple have forgotten about their heritage, returning to Africa on numerous occasions with their children to ensure they know their full family story and where their parents grew up and extended families live.

Sadly the ongoing instability of Nigeria makes it unsafe to visit, which devastates Eji. But the essence of this couple’s story is one of love — and the power of education.

Eji grew up surrounded by corruption and poverty.

“My dad was very lucky to have a car, that was considered a pretty big deal,” Eji said.

“Dad went with the flow but mum had ambition and trained herself to be a teacher; an ambition instilled in her children,” he said.

“She saw education as a way out for us; she was quite a forward thinker and a woman born well before her time.”

>>

EchucaMoama

I was standing;.

You were there.

Two worlds collided;.

And they could never ever tear us apart.

41

OUT OF AFRIC A

42 EchucaMoama

>> As the second-youngest child Eji started school at just three years of age — but he had to walk there carrying his own chair on his head.

At first he just sat in class and followed his mother around but it soon became apparent how intelligent he was once he began answering questions no-one else in the classroom could.

couldn’t even go to, and that’s just how things were,” Rash said.

“My dad was a builder but could never own his own business.

We used to have to take a calculator to the supermarket to buy groceries, things were tough financially but I don’t remember it as a particularly bad time.”

By the age of nine he was attending boarding school on a scholarship and already living a long way from home.

Rash said her parents were typical of their South African Indian generation, conservative but driven, and expected the same from their children.

“I used to cry myself to sleep at night — I was only able to go home every three months,” he said.

She studied pharmacy, drove a broken-down old car and had a student loan she had to repay.

“I can remember people back then thinking I was so lucky and now I know I was — I shudder to think where I would be and where I could have ended up without the opportunity of that scholarship.”

At the completion of her degree she was posted to a rural hospital at Dennilton.

Boarding school days were regimented and disciplined but they also helped build character and independence.

Eji had to make his bed, wash his own clothes, participate in chores and had to give his teachers his money to look after and the only way he could get it back was to write a letter outlining the reason why he needed it.

“If you got in trouble you had to mow the lawns, not with a push mower because everyone would have wanted to do that, but with a hand-held scythe,” he laughed.

In Australia education is taken as a given but that was not the case for Eji and his family.

His parents were forced to choose between sending him to medical school or his brother to law school.

He became a doctor and his brother accepted the decision with that sense of African inevitability — a shrug of the shoulders and without too much fuss.

Rash on the other hand grew up in South Africa in the 1970s.

“I lived with apartheid without really knowing it I guess. There were just certain areas you lived in and certain areas you

Rash said the poverty she encountered was confronting and eye-opening and something she had been largely sheltered from as she grew up.

“It was a predominantly black community, very poor, with no electricity or running water and a lot of HIV. “Poverty was everywhere and at times it was quite confronting.

I went there kicking and screaming but how was I to know it would be the start of the rest of my life and my journey to my home here in Australia.”

Dennilton was also where Rash met emergency doctor Eji, just at a time (2011) when he was contemplating a move.

“I was looking for better opportunities and generally talking about leaving. Canada was an option, as was this place called Australia that I knew nothing about, other than it had a cricket team.

“But a friend knew the director of emergency at Frankston hospital and in the end I came out here.”

Rash, however, was busy living her life in her home country as most 21-year-olds have a wont to do — not follow someone around the world.

Although they did keep in touch — constant touch.

Until Telstra notified Eji of his $2000 monthly phone bill, at which point Rash conceded it would be a lot simpler — and a hell of a lot cheaper — to come and take a look at this place called Australia.

“Life in South Africa was good for me and I didn’t really want to have to start my life again,” she recalled.

“My heart is definitely here in Australia now and it is my home,” she said.

In the early days the couple lived in the Frankston area.

In 2004 they returned to South Africa to get married because it was too hard to organise family and friends to fly to Australia and in the same year, they were offered an opportunity to manage a practice in a country town called Rochester.

“At the time one of the outgoing doctors said to me if I can survive here so can you, and I took that on board,” Rash said.

“The Rochester people were lovely and welcomed us. I worked at the pharmacy and Eji had the practice and in 2005 he finished his fellowship.”

That same year was also a personally tragic one as the young couple lost their newborn son to an undiagnosed diaphragmatic hernia.

“He basically took his first breath and passed away.”

In 2006 they were offered an opportunity to become partners

Both Eji and Rash have embraced life in Echuca.

Rash is heavily involved in fitness and instructs classes on a regular basis. She is a familiar voice at FitMob as she belts out instructions and encouragement during spin, or at the EWMAC as she bounces around the stage for her cardio classes.

Eji has also taken up cycling and the kids are actively involved in the community with dance being a particular love for them both.

“Echuca definitely feels like our home now. We love the community and the people and we have certainly made some lifelong friends. Who would have known we would be where we are today and living the life we now lead,” Rash said.

The couple have never forgotten their beginnings though and continue to support their families in Africa.

“There is no pension scheme in Nigeria, well maybe there is but it is probably corrupt, so I see it as my duty to support my parents and give back to them for the faith they showed in me and what that cost them,” Eji said.

“I wish I could do more because there are so many people nowhere near as fortunate as us.

“We are so lucky to have ended up where we are,” he said.

Where home is alongside the Murray River and Africa is 10,000 km and a world away. 

CELEBRATE WITH THE SILVER SCREEN Kids!

Celebrate your next birthday at Echuca Paramount!

PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES

Photo courtesy ofPhoto Squirrel Lane courtesy of Squirrel Lane

For just $20 each child receives: • Movie admission, • 1 x small soft drink, • 1 x small popcorn, • 1 x small lolly cup.

Fundraisers

PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES Spring Summer ••Autumn Autumn Spring • Summer www.thestrawberrypick.com.au www.thestrawberrypick.com.au Pleasecall call Matt or 555 044 044 for for enquiries Please orWayne Wayne on on 0414 0414 555 enquiries 359 359 Lady Lady Augusta Augusta Road, Road, Echuca EchucaVillage Village

@thestrawberrypick thestrawberrypick Please check web & Facebook opening hours Please check web and Facebook page page for for opening hours

Your local cinemas can provide a wonderful opportunity for you to boost your charity/club funds and enjoy a movie at the same time.

Contact the Paramount on (03) 5482 3399 for booking enquiries.

Visit our website for release dates, previews and screening times

www.echucaparamount.com 392 High St, Echuca

EchucaMoama

Despite all her misgivings, Rash quickly ended up falling in love with the land Down Under.

The couple welcomed the births of their daughters Oluchi in 2007 and Nkiru (Kiki) in 2009 and in 2011 moved to Echuca, where they have happily set up yet another new home.

43

“Looking back it was a huge decision to move to a new country and to a place where I didn’t know a single person.”

in what is now known as St Anthony’s Family Medical Practice and encompasses nine surgeries.

44

PETER’S GETTING BACK INTO

EchucaMoama

the swing of things

Unlike most of his contemporaries, the former small businessman swears there has never been a single moment, let alone day, or days, when he has broken down and demanded to know “why me”?

Although his power is now his arms, not his legs, using a modified bike.

But for Peter that’s old news — his latest endeavour has been to get back on the Rochester golf course and play his first round since the accident.

He lost his work, as a contract agricultural fertiliser spreader with clients in southern NSW and across Victoria.

And he did it.

He has lost most of his independence.

Standing up.

He has also lost motorbike riding.

With the help of the European made ParaGolfer, a modified wheelchair that extends to support Peter in an upright position from where he can steady himself with one arm and swing his club with the other.

His passion.

And also his downfall.

Because in 2011 he and two mates were riding to the Phillip Island MotoGP when he crashed and woke up a paraplegic; paralysed from the waist down.

“I have no idea what happened. The last thing I can remember was we were about 10 minutes out of Healesville and I was hoping the guys wanted to stop for lunch as I was hungry,” Peter recalled.

“The next thing I remember was hospital and the news about just how extensive my injury was,” he said.

No-one actually knows what happened. Peter was rounding a bend and simply went down, sliding across the road and into the path of an oncoming car — wrong place, right time for it to go seriously wrong.

His friends confirmed they were not speeding, not doing anything stupid. It just happened.

“I actually asked them had I been stupid, too fast or trying to really lay the bike down as I cornered but they said no, that I should have routinely gone around the corner,” he added.

“But I didn’t.”

He has given up trying to work it out, in all probability that memory has been wiped for good.

Unlike the two months in hospital, the three months at Royal Talbot for rehab and all the years since.

But from the word go Peter has staked it all on an almost ruthless pragmatism.

Once he realised what the future held he saw every day as a challenge to be the best he could.

“The Royal Talbot is there for a reason, it teaches you how to talk, sleep, even eat, in short you have to learn it all again because up until that moment of injury it is all second nature, and you never give it a second thought,” Peter said.

“But your real rehab starts when you get home, when you are turned out into a world where everything isn’t level, polished floors — where there are footpaths, potholes, grass, dirt, gutters and obstacles,” he said.

“That’s when you finally realise just how much you have lost when it comes to independence — I can drive somewhere I want to go but if there are stairs when I arrive I need help.”

But he avoids that in just about every facet of his ‘new’ life.

Such as riding a bike around Fiji, across 600 km of Thailand

“Before the accident I liked riding, everyone laughed because I did the middle aged thing and got into lycra,” he said. “After the accident I saw a hand cycle in a rehab facility in Kew and while I was trying it out a guy said I should join them in riding around Fiji.”

In 2013 he and wife Meran started the long-distance cycling campaign — “she is my right hand man and travel companion”.

“I’m at a bit of a hiatus now because I’m running out of people to ride with — I’m a bit slow,” he laughed.

“Riding is a very individual thing and golf is a lot more social and I get to play with different guys all the time.

“It’s just as frustrating as before, I still hit it into the trees and water but it’s a step back into normality, if that’s the right word.

“In a chair you are limited but it’s another experience and you can still participate even if my handicap isn’t as good as it used to be.

“My mates still hang it on me, telling me to stand with my feet further apart and fining me for not cleaning up after myself on the sand scrape — I’m going to be losing a lot of money, $2 at a time.”

Mate is also a key word of Peter’s renaissance.

“I have a beautiful wife and great kids but I also have good mates,” he said in a more serious moment.

“There has never been a problem with the transition, I still have all my mates and that means a lot. They haven’t said how sad it all is, they have just said ‘look at Pete, he’s getting on with life’.”

But he has seen people struggle coming out the other side of such a devastating accident.

“I suppose I could have sat in a corner and cried, but there is no upside in anger or self-pity, and I have so many things to tick off my bucket list.

“Things I want to do and things I want to see. But I definitely don’t want to be a burden even though there are those times you have to get help for things.

“Asking for that help is certainly one thing you have to learn to deal with, but you do and you keep going.”

Like most people Peter wants a long and happy life — healthy >> in his case is now very much a subjective assessment.

EchucaMoama

and from the Alice to Darwin just in case the first two rides weren’t hot enough.

45

EVEN by the incredibly resilient comeback stories of the wheelchair bound, Peter Hyden’s story is resiliently incredible.

46 EchucaMoama

“MY MATES STILL HANG IT ON ME, TELLING ME TO STAND WITH MY FEET FURTHER APART AND FINING ME FOR NOT CLEANING UP AFTER MYSELF ON THE SAND SCRAPE — I’M GOING TO BE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY, $2 AT A TIME.” PETER HYDEN >> Because like most who end up in a wheelchair, and which most able bodied people seem blissfully unaware of, is the pain. The constant pain.

In Peter’s case it has manifested itself as nerve pain, a lot of nerve pain, 24 hours a day, every day.

“It’s like burning pins and needles; I have that down my right side and it does tend to drive you nuts, especially when you are trying to go to sleep,” he said.

“They will give you drugs, and a lot of people really need to have them, but so far I have been lucky enough to stay off them for now. I’m only 56 so they are an option I have up my sleeve for the future.

“I am part of a pain management course and I still have to deal

with things, such as falling out of my chair, and as only half my body’s muscles work I have to be very diet conscious.

“I did ask at the Talbot when I would be getting my electric chair and they told me that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, I would need the exercise. And they were right.”

Right at the top of the list of things Peter still has to do is a special one.

That he got to experience only a couple of months ago when his son Matthew and partner Laura presented him with Charlie, his first grandchild.

It’s one of the momentous milestones that keep driving this remarkable survivor forward.

Fancy a game?

FOOTNOTE: Peter Hyden said if any of the region’s wheelchair community was interested in trying golf he would be more than happy to share his $36,000 toy.

“I’m trying to take it out once a week so that’s 50 plus uses a year but if another person in a chair wants to give it a go I welcome them to contact me on 0458 508 656 because the cost prohibits a lot of people.”

Peter has his own specialised trailer and can drive his modified van to be self-reliant, even though he said some of

the young blokes at the golf course like to steal the chair to back it off the trailer.

“Out here people can’t do enough for me and it’s a very humbling experience because I still have to get my head around asking for help,” he said.

“Even simple things like putting in my tee or picking up my ball are a challenge.

“This chair is a good jigger and I can’t wait to get out on the course more often.” 

47 EchucaMoama

Born again THE HARD WAY

IT’S almost impossible to get your head around the notion but John Raccanello is adamant.

Falling through a shed roof and landing in a wheelchair as an incomplete L1 paraplegic has, he insists, given him back his life.

It also gave the self-confessed workaholic builder a second chance as a husband and father.

Not that he was a bad husband or father, it’s just that he was so rarely there.

Plagued with the constant pain that is part of life in a wheelchair, facing the daily unseen demands of bladder and bowel management and the risks of weight gain and its everattendant bogeyman of diabetes is all part of what John refers to as his “better” life.

“You have to be in a chair to appreciate what I mean, but for me my accident has given me a great life,” John said.

this happened and now Sue and I live in Moama, our son Tom and his partner Kirstie are in Mathoura and Aaron and Meg in Melbourne and they are all often here.

“I love that, I really do and I am grateful I got that chance.”

So are a lot of people in the twin towns, because this bricklayer turned builder, who added civil engineering to his resume, now volunteers at Campaspe Adult Education Centre in Echuca.

Where he teaches woodwork to senior citizens from Glanville, to students from Echuca Specialist School and to young people who have left school but want skills.

And in his spare time privately imparts his decades of experience to ham-fisted amateurs who fancy themselves as potential craftsmen.

Mostly, though, he spends time around the home with his growing family and Tilda, their four-legged fur baby who requires a serious slice of attention.

“Instead of being at work seven days a week, sun-up to sundown, I have a family life, I have time with my wife, and my kids and that is fantastic,” he said.

“I just had a new young bloke join me in the business at Ulladulla and we looked like finishing early,” John said.

“I did not fully understanding what I was missing out on until

“As we started work I looked at my watch and it said 2.05 and I >>

>> said to him that every day wouldn’t be like today,” he said.

Which is about the only thing John can remember from the day. He does not recall falling, with a sheet of roofing iron in his hands and which he fell across, causing the irreversible damage to his back.

48

His head also slammed into the concrete floor of the shed, causing further problems.

EchucaMoama

There is no recollection of the ambulance, the helicopter to the Prince of Wales hospital in Sydney and although he knows he had a stream of visitors while trapped there as doctors worked overtime to repair his shattered vertebrae he cannot work out who they were, or when they came.

In the months and years that have followed some of it has come back, not all, but little bits here and there.

“I was numb from the waist down and half my face was numb, I did a pretty thorough job in the fall. My face is better now and I have recovered feeling in small parts of my body — I was in hospital for eight months, followed by months of rehab,” John said.

“Looking back some of it was pretty frightening — you had to re-learn almost everything, even how to sit up.

“The first time I tried it I pitched forward and Aaron (John’s son) had to grab me to stop me from planting my face.”

However each setback became a challenge and slowly, surely, eventually, John started to regain full control of his upper body and was ready to resume in the real world, the one outside hospitals and rehab and wall-to-wall carers, assistants, specialists and state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

Community Living & Respite Services Inc.

Which eventually led him back — not home to Deni but to Moama and a purpose built house perfect for wheelchairs (except for his wife’s annoyance with tyre tracks on her sparkling floor tiles).

As his confidence returned John ventured into his new world, where he had to rewire his outlook on life — and the way he communicated.

Such as the time he assured one of his woodwork wannabes that the timber stain was in a certain lane at Bunnings, halfway down on the left at eye height.

And that’s exactly where it was — at his new eye height.

Until finally his 187 cm apprentice rang and said there was nothing like it at eye height, not even close.

“That’s when the penny dropped,” John laughed.

“The apprentice thought it was pretty funny too. But we now speak the same language about eye height when it comes to finding things.”

Although things don’t seem to matter that much anymore.

John cannot help but check that his core message has been received and understood — part of his new commitment to communication.

Because the message he most wants understood is he has found what he didn’t even realise he was missing.

His family, his friends and a life.

And that, he insists, is a pretty good win for someone who had nearly let it all slip away. 

JASON CLYMO

>>

EchucaMoama

IS ON A ROLL

49

mark II

50

EchucaMoama

>> IN THE words of John Lennon, life is what happens to you

profile people in the industry is mind-blowing.”

while you’re busy making other plans.

Jason’s new life direction has also seen him use his accident as the force behind his campaigning for a greater awareness of disabled people in the media and advertising industry.

Jason Clymo is currently building himself something of a career as a model. When he is not jetting to Sydney or Brisbane for shoots he is (and has been for the past 18 months) the booking and marketing officer for the Port of Echuca.

But in 2014 he was a second year medical student at the University of Melbourne with a pretty obvious life plan.

Jason had the world at his feet until a bad fall left him a paraplegic — and off his feet forever.

“The accident has certainly taken my life in a new direction and right now I am really enjoying it,” Jason said.

“I have thought about medicine, I haven’t ruled out going back but here and now I am pretty happy with the way things have been going,” he said.

“Apart from the modelling and the work at the port I am also doing a fair bit of exercise, which really helps me.”

Jason’s exercise has a focus on boxing and work with a personal trainer.

It certainly helps him when he gets a gig such as his fashion shoot for a four-page feature in Stellar magazine.

A shoot also picked up by network television and broadcast on the award-winning The Project.

“It was a great shoot and I really enjoyed it — the funny thing is a lot of my friends reckon I come home with all these fantastic clothes.

“And that just isn’t right,” he laughed.

“The only thing I have been given was a Trenery jacket — but it is a beautiful jacket.”

The student-turned-activist rocked his best blue steel in the fashion shoot, a wish granted by the Starlight Foundation genies.

“My original wish was to meet Beyoncé or Jennifer Lawrence but after the foundation tried for almost three years, I decided this was a more viable option,” Jason said.

“The day was incredible and to have worked with such high

“Like I continue to say, about 20 per cent of the population is disabled, so why aren’t companies and brands advertising to 20 per cent of their market,” Jason said.

“Being visible in my wheelchair in shoots, such as in Stellar, is a really powerful way to get the message out there.

“The response in just the first week was incredible and since then I have worked in Melbourne and Sydney and am going to Brisbane next week.”

Jason was pictured in shades of indigo for the moody industrial shoot alongside his story pushing for equality.

“Everyone was fantastic and it was really fun,” he said.

But Jason’s success didn’t stop there, with a feature in Sunday’s edition of UK-based Creative Portrait Magazine.

“To be honest I didn’t know much about CPM before I stumbled upon them while I was searching the hash tag disabled models on Instagram and their Disabled Models Campaign came up,” Jason said.

“I did a bit of research and saw they took submissions so I sent in images in my portfolio taken by my friend Brooke Somerville of Full Cream Photography and they got in contact with me to do an interview.

“It is pretty incredible to be featured alongside Australian super model Madeline Stuart (who has Down syndrome) because she is killing it and we are both trying to do the same thing for disabled people.”

Jason said the feature in CPM is helping to spread his message on an international scale.

“We were just on the same page,” he said.

“And to be included in the campaign is helping my message spread further.”

For someone whose life has been sent in a new direction, and from which there can be no return to a former life, Jason is really on a roll. 

EchucaMoama

JASON CLYMO

51

“THE ACCIDENT HAS CERTAINLY TAKEN MY LIFE IN A NEW DIRECTION AND RIGHT NOW I AM REALLY ENJOYING IT.”

52 EchucaMoama

Got tech questions?

We’ve got the answers.

Stop by for a chat and we’ll give you all the info you need on our products and bundles.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Telstra Store Echuca 169 Hare St 5480 3336 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Service not available to all areas or premises. The spectrum device and TM are trade marks of Telstra Corporation Ltd, ABN 33 051 775 556

53 EchucaMoama

Different strokes

HELP DEFINE DIFFERENT FOLKS WHEN you know you are about to die, you tend to have a slightly different, albeit very short, take on the world around you.

Until you suddenly realise you can breathe again.

And just as you are sucking in that air the next wave flips you over and you are certain this time you are going to drown.

Fortunately Peter Conroy was face up more than he was face down so he could recount this horror story of the day a surfing trip in Sydney went horribly wrong.

Even though he was aware of the sand bars at the beach, and conscious of making sure he steered clear of them.

Almost.

The end result was a broken neck — medically he is a complete C7 quadriplegic — and those terrifying moments being pushed towards the beach by wave after wave, being rolled over and over.

With no help in sight.

Until he landed in the shallows, where a man teaching one of his children to surf on a small board noticed him and realised something was seriously wrong.

“Incredibly a spinal cord specialist happened to be at the beach and when she saw what was happening came over,” Peter said.

“She was a real help but I recall the ambulance people being determined to stabilise my neck and head before they would move me and I thought to myself that was a waste, I had just been in a washing machine for God knows how long,” he said.

From there Peter’s journey to recovery — and a new life began.

He would spend three months in The Prince of Wales hospital and rehab centre in Sydney.

As an art teacher — and aspiring artist — Peter was rocked when he discovered C7 would affect his hands.

A neck break at that point meant he was no longer able to have the same finger and thumb function as before.

He also lost his ability to have opposable thumbs, the ability to move his fingers in a certain direction and lost almost all of >>

“I RECALL THE AMBULANCE PEOPLE BEING DETERMINED TO STABILISE MY NECK AND HEAD BEFORE THEY WOULD MOVE ME AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT WAS A WASTE, I HAD JUST BEEN IN A WASHING MACHINE FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG.” PETER CONROY 54 EchucaMoama

>> the strength he previously had before.

“Before the accident, as an artist I loved doing political cartoons and as a painter I was enormously taken with the classical form, which I had been taught, producing work consistent with the Renaissance style,” Peter said.

“But once I got out of hospital I knew I no longer had the dexterity to do the fine work of cartooning or the control to accurately depict large, realistic figures and real-life scenarios,” he said.

“But what I could do was mix the two styles and evolve something with which I was still happy and yet had appeal to others.

“As an art teacher I had some ability but I don’t think it was on my radar to ever become a professional artist; any more than guys playing soccer in their backyard or at the local pitch expect to get a call from Man U.” But with mainstream employment now beyond his reach Peter realised he had an opportunity to try something he previously might never have dared.

Based in Sydney, with a circle of close friends, the Englishman turned Aussie saw his future there until the accident also turned his financial life upside down.

“The timing of it all was weird,” Peter said.

“Around the same time I got hurt Maddie and my friends started moving further out from Sydney as they became families and could not afford the inner city real estate,” he said.

“We all said we would stay in touch but the distance thing, the costs, my injury and our need to have a home to cater for my needs meant we also had to look further afield.”

A search that eventually brought them to the twin towns — to Echuca — where there was a modern house that worked for Peter, worked for his and Maddie’s budget and offered a climate more conducive to his condition.

And it had a huge double garage he could, and did, convert into a studio.

“Straight after I was injured I went back to uni and did a Masters of Fine Arts, and did my thesis based on spinal cord injuries, talked about all the things people don’t know, I didn’t know, about what being in a wheelchair really means,” Peter added.

“It was in a way a satirical look at being part of the spinal cord injury club,” he said.

“Maybe it was still a bit of the teacher in me, wanting to get a message into the minds of people just as I had done at school.

“I also had an exhibition of my cartoons in Sydney, based on the dangers intrinsic in the exponential growth of capitalism.

“It was also something of an indulgence, since then I have had to start looking at my art as a business and paint things people want to buy, and that might not necessarily be some of the stuff I love to paint.”

As a compromise Peter now devotes the first two days of each week to producing commercial art that people like before spending the rest of the week doing the art that drives him on.

And he works hard at it, painting for more than 60 hours a week.

He’s back in the workforce but still working towards the day it becomes a cash positive enterprise.

Making the move from the heart of Australia’s biggest city to one of the country’s decidedly bucolic surrounds is something of a mixed blessing.

“We could not have made it if Maddie’s employer had not agreed she could do her job from home, wherever that might be at any given moment,” Peter said.

But in between injury and relocation there was another new world for Peter, one he embraced openly.

“I got involved with NSW wheelchair rugby and I honestly think if I had not had the chance to meet these people, play sport with them and be on a level playing field, as it were, with them while also having close access to their stories, how it happened, how it was treated, how their lives are going today.

“It was the one thing we had all been through together and it would prove so valuable to me and my future,” he said.

“Hospitals are all well and good, but their aim is not to see you back in their hospital so the safety instructions they give you encroach on your life so much it means you would never get round to living a normal life again.”

But Peter has. In the past two months he has been back to the UK, around Victoria and for the past two weeks at the time of writing had been in Sydney where Maddie has to go from time to time as part of her work-from-home agreement.

And were Peter takes the opportunity to market his ‘commercial’ art through local galleries (he sold one just before this interview for $1000).

“The trip here and the meetings with galleries is all a bit of an experiment to see if there really is a future in being an artist,” Peter said.

He also plans to strut his stuff in his new hometown and has applied to The Foundry for exhibition space, only to discover that won’t be available until February at the earliest.

So in the meantime he wheels around his home, he paints in his garage studio, and he prepares to consolidate his new career path. 

SNAP FITNESS ECHUCA LOCALLY OWNED

ďƒź

24

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

FLEXIBLE MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

24-HOUR ACCESS

HIGH-QUALITY EQUIPMENT

Snap Fitness Echuca is now locally owned and operated.

This now opens the door to our members having access to all the benefits of a large club with the added bonus of local people with local knowledge and expertise.

Commit to results by choosing one of our membership options that will best suit you and your lifestyle!

No more waiting on the doors to open for your early morning workout or getting hurried out of the gym at closing time. We are here to fit your busy schedule so that you can work out whenever.

Use the industry’s best fitness equipment for your cardio, strength training, and all of your fitness needs.

Snap Fitness Echuca has new owners, Mark & Kim Pearce, Patrick & Lisa Pellegrino and Todd & Julie Charnas. We are all Echuca locals who have lived and grown up in the area. We are excited about the positive changes that have already begun within the gym and there is much more to come. Very soon the gym will be going through a modernisation program which will include some cosmetic changes but more excitingly over 30 items of new cardio and functional training equipment-some never seen before in Echuca Moama!!

56 EchucaMoama

BILLY REALLY IS THE

COMEBACK KID >>

57

EchucaMoama

58 EchucaMoama

“I HAVE ALMOST VOMITED A FEW TIMES WITH THE WORKLOAD HE HAS PUT ON ME. BUT I FEEL A LOT BETTER FOR IT, IT HAS HELPED ME A LOT.” >>

BILLY ILSLEY

BILLY Ilsley has not lost his need for speed.

that has been a work in progress.

The 18-year-old might have had to swap two wheels for four following his motorbike accident in January that left him a paraplegic.

There’s no ducking the admission his accident is a painful memory, but it is one Billy confronts with steely determination.

It was just incredibly bad luck, he had just been riding along within the speed limit — the police who investigated the accident have confirmed that.

And a maturity beyond his years, and definitely beyond the awareness of the then 17-year-old who crashed from his motorbike — and into his wheelchair.

He had on the appropriate protective gear but hit an unexpected rough road surface and was thrown from his bike.

Billy had been on the cusp of adulthood, of going his own way and setting up his own life.

And that’s exactly what he is planning to keep doing.

Just differently.

Right now he is working overtime to get in shape for the hard road ahead by working pretty damn hard at FITmob Central Health and Fitness in Echuca.

“I am training with Shannon Fink, I am getting bigger and stronger and it is really helping me with my basketball,” Billy said.

“I am doing that with the Bendigo Braves, there’s nine of us and this is my first time with basketball.

“But clearly Shannon thinks I can do better, I have almost vomited a few times with the workload he has put on me,” he laughed, “but I feel a lot better for it, it has helped me a lot.”

Billy laughs at any suggestion he might be aiming for something such as the Paralympics.

First, he conceded, he would have to find a sport he was “even half decent at”.

“It means,” he declared, “I can overcome anything.”

Absolutely the crash changed William’s life. But almost as much it has impacted on the life of his family, his friends and the wider Gunbower community.

For his family it began as the dreaded phone call no parent wants, became the bedside vigil and has evolved into raw admiration for the way their teenage son has adjusted to his new world.

For his friends and for Gunbower it has meant an endless round of fundraisers, of helping out on the Ilsley farm so his parents could be at his bedside and just being there to lend a hand, or be leaned on.

Although he has a long way to go, Billy the kid from Gunbower has already defied the odds.

“The doctors told me I should be dead. It was a miracle I survived it,” he recalled.

His progress was so impressive Billy returned home on April 12 — barely three months after his crash.

Doctors had assured him he could be in the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre for at least six months.

They didn’t reckon on Billy’s fast-track reputation.

Billy’s story could have been, should have been, one of tragedy. “I told them I’d be out in three but I was wrong — I was out after two months and 24 days,” he said.

But what was to follow would astound first his surgeons, and then the therapists at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.

Billy has a quad bike now and still likes living life on the edge.

He doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. Instead, etched indelibly into his forearm, is the time and date he became a paraplegic.

He knows they are notorious for rolling and after four months on his new ‘motorbike’ he concedes that is probably “bound to happen”.

The day, he concedes, his life changed.

Forever.

“Mum and dad said if I gave up the motorbike they would chip in and help me buy the quad bike,” he said.

January 7, 7.30 pm — a tattoo, like the rest of the teenager’s life,

“I sold it immediately.” 

ECHUCA RACECOURSE - THE IDEAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

THE

PAVILION RACING - EVENTS - EXHIBITIONS

LOOKING FOR A FUNCTION VENUE WITH A DIFFERENCE? The Pavilion at the Echuca Racing Club is a premium venue like no other. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, this elegant and truly unique function venue boasts modern fittings and panoramic views of the Echuca Racing Club grounds.

Corporate functions, weddings, birthday parties, exhibitions and Christmas parties.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES Enjoy your work, family or social Christmas party at the races on Monday 18 December. We have a wide range of packages to suit your group while you enjoy a day of racing and entertainment. The Pavilion is available for private non-race day Christmas parties throughout December and is the ideal venue to hold your celebration.

Enjoy the expansive deck overlooking the secluded grounds of the racecourse. Seating capacity is 300 or 400 for cocktail events.

For a more detailed discussion or a personal tour of the venue, visit www.pavilionechuca.com.au

UPCOMING RACE MEETINGS Tuesday 7 November – Moama Bowling Club Melbourne Cup Day Monday 20 November 2017 Monday 18 December 2017 – Christmas Racing Sunday 31 December 2017 – New Year’s Eve

03 5482 2487 | 123 Scott Road countryracing.com/Echuca

WHEN EVERYTHING

60 EchucaMoama

OLD IS MUCH BETTER THAN NEW

Vintage cars. The label evokes memories of old duffers in tweed jackets, white dustcoats and goggles puttering down the main roads on a Sunday afternoon in open cars from the golden days when Edward had just inherited the throne from Queen Victoria. But DAVID CHAPMAN discovers cars we remember from our childhood are now worth big bucks and are well on their way to being vintage as well. >>

61 EchucaMoama

Echuca and District Historic Vehicle Club secretary Rod Cole with his 1989 Mercedes 300CE and club member Robyn Simons with her 1980 Mercedes 350SL and 1953 Austin A30 outside the club’s headquarters at Rotary Park.

62 EchucaMoama

“WHEN WE HAVE DISPLAYS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COME UP AND SAY, ‘WE USED TO HAVE A CAR LIKE THAT GROWING UP,’ AND IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF SIMPLER TIMES.” NORM RAVERTY

Your place for Gluten Free

RIVERINE GLUTEN FREE Open Tuesday 10 am – 6 pm Wednesday 10 am – 5 pm or by appointment 116 Strathallan Rd, Strathallan 3622 | M. 0428 629 391 | E. riverinegf@bigpond.com

>> throughout its more than 30-years.

There’s been an Austin A90 Atlantic, cars dating back to 1904 and the pre-1910 era in general, rare T-Model Fords from

The Echuca and District Historic Vehicle Club prides itself on being a community club and works hard to be involved in events around the region.

when they start to fall into that 25-year category required to

The club was set up in 1983, an inevitable outcome given the nearest car club was in Shepparton and Echuca-Moama’s motoring fraternity believed it was time to stop driving the 70-odd kilometres (and back) to indulge their passion.

commonplace.

Echuca’s club began with 12 members, prominent among them being Norm Raverty; whose classic car collection was so vast he set up his own motor museum on the road out to Shepparton.

The club now has 240 members who own more than 250 classic vehicles between them.

The word vehicles is key — everything from motorbikes to trucks as well as cars are welcome in the club (along with family members).

And don’t think it is an exclusively male domain either — the club actively encourages female members.

around 1914–15 and every decade since to the early 1990s meet ‘classic vehicle’ eligibility.

In fact, age has a wonderful way of adding value to the “People who have owned a VL Commodore or a Maloo ute, in 30 years they wonder whatever did happen to those cars,” Mr Cutting said.

“You look at the Toranas, Monaros, GT Falcons, (Valiant) Chargers and Sandman panel vans, everyone had one.

“Now to buy one of those you’re talking phone number figures and you think, ‘why did I sell that?’.

“A GT Falcon sold at auction recently for $360,000.

“We are the ultimate in recycling.

“We rescue old cars and the workmanship put into restoring them, some from qualified mechanics and others not, and the time and quality is incredible.

“The art of car restoration is alive and well in Echuca.”

In fact, only a few years ago even the president, Val Cosway, was a woman.

The Echuca and District Historic Vehicle Club still welcomes

“We try to be an active club and get people involved,” former president John Cutting said.

Mr Cutting himself has been in the club for six years, having

“We have a minimum of 70 events a year, not counting club meetings (which are held monthly).”

He said classic vehicles have their own individualistic identity,

two or three registered cars into its club a month. spent 12 years in the Bendigo historic vehicles club. not conforming to the white or silver colours of mass produced vehicles of today.

Part of these events involves car rallies with other clubs, visits to motor museums, a Motor Heritage Day with clubs from Deniliquin, Kerang and Swan Hill and the Echuca Swap Meet.

“We appreciate how things were put together in the past,” he

Members also join displays at heritage events in the Port of Echuca precinct.

“We had a rally of 40 cars here and only two or three were

There are tours to places as diverse as the Bellarine Peninsula, Horsham and Tasmania making Echuca one of the more active car clubs to hit the road — anywhere.

“We have about 90 people attend our (monthly) meetings which attests to the health of the club,” Mr Cutting said.

said. white or silver. The rest were orange, brown, green, yellow.

“The colour card was wide open back then and each make had a colour unique to them.

“When we have displays, members of the public come up and say, ‘we used to have a car like that growing up,’ and it brings back memories of simpler times.”

“Our headquarters are at Rotary Park and we help out with the steam rally when it’s on.

Mr Cutting’s father was a spare parts manager at Repco so his

“We’re all volunteers and we’re paid appropriately but we do it because we like old vehicles.”

His wife Kim owns a 1965 Thunderbird coupe while their son

The all-inclusive approach of the club allows it to capture the different interests of fans of all classic vehicles.

“Single make clubs can get a bit cliquey but it shows the health of this club that everyone’s accepting of each other,” Mr Cutting said.

He’s not too sure which model is ahead at the moment in terms of club membership — “is it Fords or Chevs?” — but several rarer vehicles have passed through the club

love of cars was bred into him from an early age. has a fascination for American left hand drive coupes.

They’ve even been for a drive along the famous Route 66 in the US, highlighting the joy and satisfaction motor vehicles can provide.

“That’s what it’s about, going for a drive,” Mr Cutting said.

“We are a live and active museum out on the road.”

Anyone interested in joining the club can contact the secretary Rod Cole on 0417 340 629. 

EchucaMoama

Nor does it imply you are probably as old as, if not older, than your car.

63

BEING the member of a car club doesn’t mean you live, sleep, dream and breathe all things motorised.

64 EchucaMoama

Wharparilla Lodge Residential Aged Care

Brolga Apartments Assisted Living

Cunningham Downs Village Independent Living Units

Illoura Village Independent Living Units Wharparilla Home Care Home Assisted Living

Echuca Benevolent Society Inc. Hartshorn Drive, Echuca 3564 P: 03 5480 5000 W: www.echucaca.com.au E: info@echucaca.com.au

Yes, we have it!

Stuart Joyce is part of the Kyabram landscape – starting with his launch of Kyabram Bearings 20 years ago. Today the business employs seven locals.

Five years ago Stuart backed up that long-term success by opening K2 Industrial Supplies in Echuca – it now employs six locals – to provide a high-performance network between the two regional hubs. Kyabram Bearings and K2 Industrial Supplies in Echuca carry all types of bearings and industrial products, PTO shafting, roller chain, sprockets, with bolts & fasteners, tool sets, hardware, welding equipment, compressors, lawn mower belts and that’s just to start with. Kyabram Bearings and K2 Industrial Supplies today carry the largest product inventory, not just in the Goulburn Valley but throughout regional Victoria. Underwritten by a range of the market’s most competitive prices and quality service.

Our Products include: • Bearings • Abrasives • Bolts & Fasteners • Lubricants

• • • •

Safety Accessories Hardware Power Tools Industrial Fans & Heaters

Industrial Supplies

• • • •

Hand Tools Hose & Fittings V Belts & Pulleys Welders

• • • •

Welding Supplies PTO Shafts Chains & Sprockets And so much more!

55 Cornelia Creek Rd, Echuca P: 03 5482 4446 www.kyabrambearings.com.au

Long-distance love is increasingly common in the online world of the 21st century. >>

Letitia Edwards, Jon Keetelaar and Frankie Grace Keetelaar.

EchucaMoama

but ter them up

65

IT DIDN’T TAKE MUCH TO

66

EchucaMoama

67 EchucaMoama

Restaurant

Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 7 days a week 19-21 Meninya St, Moama PH: 03 5480 9966

68 EchucaMoama

“I CAN JUST SEE HOW IT IS GOING TO TURN OUT AND IT IS GOING TO BE MAGNIFICENT. IT HAS SUCH BEAUTIFUL BONES AND WE WANT TO CREATE A SPACE THE LOCALS CAN BE PROUD OF.” LETITIA EDWARDS >> PEOPLE fall in love in mysterious ways.

And for mysterious reasons.

These days a lot of them fall in love online.

Perth couple Jon Keetelaar and Letitia Edwards were not immune to a digital dalliance — but in their case it was an online photograph of an old rundown factory in a small country town that did them in.

From the moment Jon first laid eyes on the Gunbower Butter Factory he was hooked and if there is such a thing as destiny, Jon reckons he has found his.

It didn’t take much to convince Letitia either, she could see the charm in the place even though in its current rundown state, it requires quite a bit of imagination.

Growing up in Elmore Jon has many fond memories of the Gunbower area — he spent time fishing in the waterways and hanging out in the bush with his pop.

As life happens, Jon moved away and spent the next 20 years of his life working in the mines in Western Australia.

“I have worked very hard over the years flying in and out but the arrival of our little girl Frankie last year has changed all

that and we now want to spend our time together as a family unit,” Jon said.

With the die cast, the family began searching for a property.

“I was looking online, saw the location and the building and I just fell in love with the character of the property straight away. The factory is a massive dream of ours and a once-in-alifetime opportunity,” Jon said.

“When we first enquired it was under contract and we thought we had missed out but not long after the sale fell through and the owner rang us and here we are now, with this beautiful place to call our own,” Letitia said.

“The first day we came to have a look Jon and I were out in the yard and someone went past on a party boat sipping wine and waving to us,” she said.

“When we went to the pub for lunch they were there and it turned out they had lived at the factory years ago — they told us all about their fond memories of the place and from that moment on it just seemed like it is where we are meant to be.”

The fact the couple now have a very large and breezy fivelevel factory in dire need of renovation as their home does not leave them feeling overwhelmed at all.

69 EchucaMoama

History: 1906: Group of Gunbower dairy farmers met to discuss the establishment of a butter co-operative in the township.

“I can just see how it is going to turn out and it is going to be magnificent. It has such beautiful bones and we want to create a space the locals can be proud of,” Letitia said.

They are hoping to turn the space into a wedding and event destination and down the track a bed and breakfast.

“I can see local food and wine days in the loading dock and spilling out into the yard.

“I have a cousin who is involved in Just Get Active, which is a school program in Melbourne which has a different approach to health and fitness for kids, including meditation, and I would love to be involved in something like that.

“It’s such a beautiful rural destination and I can imagine the kids running around in the huge yard and having a great time,” Letitia said.

The couple have already made huge inroads into clearing away the mountains of junk and taming the wild garden which backs on to Gunbower Creek.

They have unearthed some old treasures including a cabinet full of memorabilia — such as a roller used to hand-brand the butter and the big old boiler which is still in working order and cooks a mean pizza and baked potato.

“We are looking forward to bringing this beautiful big old building back to life. We have been welcomed in to the Gunbower community and I think they have a genuine love and interest in the factory and I think they are happy to see someone giving it the love it deserves.” 

1907: A two-storey weatherboard factory, with the latest equipment was built and officially opened on August 1, allowing the production of butter to begin soon after.

1910: Production reached five tons of butter per week.

1922: Fire destroyed the factory, manager’s residence and all equipment was lost.

1923: The factory was rebuilt with reinforced concrete. The manager’s residence was built facing the street.

1920–30: Production of butter increased to 10 tons per week.

1936: The Gunbower Co-op took over the Federal Milk Company’s Cohuna Butter Factory, increasing production.

1950: The co-op considered moving all butter production to Cohuna but this was voted against by shareholders.

1954: Production of butter was up around 32 tons a week, along with 1.5 tons of milk powder — and the annual turnover was almost £1 million.

1959: All operations moved to Cohuna.

1970s: The old butter factory becomes a private residence.

70 EchucaMoama

YOU CAN’T HELP BUT ADORE THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE

SMART ASSES It might seem an unusual calling but for May Dodd setting up and running one of Australia’s few donkey shelters was the reason she was put on earth writes TYLA HARRINGTON. >>

71 EchucaMoama

May Dodd and Jess Smeaton at Tongala Donkey Shelter.

72 EchucaMoama

>> THERE are a lot of smart asses in Tongala.

Really.

Lots of them.

Well, maybe not right in the town, but just outside its bounds, on two properties, you will find 200 very smart, very capable donkeys.

Just ask psychiatrist — and Tongala Donkey Shelter founder — May Dodd and she will tell you just how special they are.

“When people tell me to describe a donkey, I tell them they are just like a dog,” May said.

“They are friendly, curious and affectionate. What’s not to love about them?

“Donkeys are nothing like a horse, in my opinion. They are much friendlier.

“This idea the donkeys are stupid and stubborn could not be further from the truth. It’s just that they don’t have the fight or flight response that horses have.

“You can meet the worst people in this job. But you also meet the best of the best and that makes up for it.”

May has been hanging out with donkeys for quite some time.

Owning a donkey shelter is not something that happens overnight, as she explains.

“Well when I was in my 40s I had a pet donkey and because they live for so long I wondered what would happen to her

after me,” May said.

“So I researched what donkey shelters there were and there was nothing.”

Today May is 63 and you can still count the donkey shelters in Australia on one hand — with a thumb and pinky finger to spare.

The nearest, apart from Tonny, is Newcastle, north of Sydney.

But that’s almost 10 hours from Echuca — and the main reason May decided to open her own shelter and open the doors to any donkey — big, small, skinny or fat.

“I started in Diamond Creek,” May said.

“It was just me so in that first year I spent a lot of money and quickly realised I would have to get sponsorship if I wanted to continue.”

May’s not joking when she says she spends a lot of money keeping her donkeys sheltered.

She’s talking about $250,000 a year so suffice to say she needs all the funding she can get.

“We went broke at one stage … eventually I decided to mortgage the house and buy a farm in Tongala.”

And now she has two properties and a helper called Jess Smeaton and hasn’t looked back.

Of course there are some days that leave them both utterly exhausted wrecks.

Like the day one of her donkeys decided to have a foal. Except >>

73 EchucaMoama

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Experienced Professional Conveyancing

Offering the same great service!

Making Tools Great Again We are a family owned business with over 10 years’ experience in the tool repair game, you can be rest assured that you will always be dealing with someone who cares about getting the job right each and every time and that your equipment will be returned to you in peak condition.

At Rapid Tool Repairs, our goal is to provide “real service, real fast”.

This means a 24–48 hour turnaround in most cases, so we can get you back to work “real fast”.

» Repairs » Service » Warranty Repairs » Testing & Tagging Call in and see Trent & Kellie today OPEN Mon – Fri: 8:30am to 5:30pm, Sat: By appointment info@rapidtoolrepairs.com.au 35 Hovell St, Echuca P: 5480 7755 F: 5482 6969 www.rapidtoolrepairs.com.au

• Licensed conveyancers • Over 12+ years’ experience • Specialists in property sales and purchases

• Speedy results • Competitive prices • No hidden costs • We strive for excellence • We are local • Victoria & NSW

Ph: 5482 1208 PO Box 74, Echuca E: jessica@jmjconveyancing.com.au W: www.jmjconveyancing.com.au

Locals taking care of locals Menarock Life Murrayvale is a modern, purpose-built aged care facility.

We have 50 bedrooms, divided into 16 single and 17 double rooms. Each bedroom has a fully appointed ensuite, built in robes, ducted heating, evaporative cooling, telephone and television outlets and emergency call system. All bedrooms are serviced daily with linen provided.

Our home is fully secured for our residents’ safety while still enabling access to our private courtyard gardens, meeting areas and a secured dementia walk garden with bus stop and water fountain. Residents are encouraged as far as possible to maintain their independence, social and personal interests.

Choice of medical practitioner or specialist is encouraged. Medication, nutrition, dietary and personal care needs are carefully supervised. welcomes input from each resident, as it is their home.

Our long term staff are dedicated professionals who are fully qualified to meet the residents’ personal and clinical care needs, many of whom have been there since the facility opened

in 1982. They are trained to deliver the best service with qualified Personal Carers and a Registered Nurse, 24 hours a day, every day, with a special understanding of the needs of the aged. An integral part of our care is to develop individual care plans which provide a holistic team approach. The care plans are regularly reviewed to meet the needs of each resident assisting in the care of the resident’s mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing, giving our carers a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Our trained Chefs provide delicious varied menus with fresh selections each day. A qualified Dietitian also ensures that the specific nutritional needs of our residents are met, including religious and cultural requirements.

Activities, recreation and therapeutic programs including exercises, crafts, movies, readings, special events and outings are catered to the residents’ personal interests.

Offers visiting Hairdresser, Podiatrist, Physiotherapist, Pharmacist and arrangements for newspaper deliveries upon request.

Additional features • Division 1 Registered Nurse 24 hours • Medication supervision • Comfortable lounge room area • Dedicated secure dementia wing • Secure dementia walk • Sitting room with open fireplace • Large activity rooms • Two separate garden courtyards • Barbeque garden area • Hairdressing salon • Dedicated facility bus.

Australian owned and operated.

63 Regent Street, Moama t. 03 5482 1311 f. 03 5480 9336 e. don.murrayvale@menarock.com.au manager.murrayvale@menarock.com.au

75

EchucaMoama

76 EchucaMoama

“THIS IDEA THE DONKEYS ARE STUPID AND STUBBORN COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. IT’S JUST THAT THEY DON’T HAVE THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE THAT HORSES HAVE.” MAY DODD

>> when the baby came out so did everything else, and all at once, including the placenta and uterus.

“That was horrific,” May said.

“We will take the donkey first and sort the rest out later — that’s how I’ve always been and how I always will be.”

Jess Smeaton, who lives on one of the properties, and is May’s right-hand woman, has been volunteering for 15 years.

“We wake up and walk outside and have no idea what the day will bring.

“I started in 2002. I was doing work experience and I never left,” she said.

“Sometimes, for no reason at all, a donkey will have tried to jump a fence and somehow got itself stuck. That becomes a bad day.”

“I had to do some work placement and my teacher suggested donkeys and I was like ‘what’? Like everyone else.

Every donkey has a personality.

May’s pet donkey Molly was a diva but sadly Molly, who would have been 26 in September, died.

“Molly was the public relations donkey, she went everywhere with me, and she loved the camera. Any time it would come close she would stand on her profile and pose,” she said.

“Molly made it very clear from the start that she didn’t need me — she only ever needed me to take her places.

“And when she was there for the photo shoot she only ever needed one take too and everyone would say how great she was but they weren’t there when I had to fight her to get in to her float, in the car park later on.”

Unfortunately Molly got sick and despite everyone doing everything they could she had to be put down.

“Never did I think I would outlive her,” May said.

Despite the heartache May went through losing Molly you can still see that same love when she looks at any of the donkeys that call her shelter home.

“So I did it and I never left.

“I moved up here nine years ago with the donkeys. May started in Diamond Creek. We peaked at 110 donkeys in Diamond Creek on 10 acres so the feed bill was astronomical.

“After Black Saturday we were evacuating every summer, to come up here. The summer periods got longer down there then May decided to sell it all and come up here.”

And together the pair has never looked back.

Oh, except for when a donkey is cheeky enough to sneak up behind them and nibble (you might be more inclined to call it a bite if it was you being nibbled) them on the shoulder.

They certainly look back then.

“They can be so cheeky but we love them,” May said. 

PETER WALSH MP MEMBER FOR MURRAY PLAINS

And she can — without any hesitation — name them all.

May also said it was important donkeys had separate paddocks to cater for different needs.

At the Tongala Donkey Shelter there’s one for the naughty boys, the jacks (male donkeys), the mules (half horse/ half donkey), intensive care, the core herd and the nursery.

Among the 200-odd donkeys there are three that need to be medicated, two for tumors and one for arthritis.

But despite all the hard work — the blood, sweat and tears — May would do it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant one more donkey could be saved.

“We’ve travelled as far as Perth, that was expensive because it ended up costing $2500 to get Jess and I there,” May said.

Looking forward, May said there was still plenty to be done.

In a perfect world where only the sky was the limit — and May is quite aware her feet are still planted firmly on the realistic ground — she said she would like to have $200,000 in her bank account to make the donkey shelter into everything she would like it to be.

But she’s content at where it’s at now. She’s come a long way and picked up a lot of donkeys along the way too.

We’re building a second Murray River crossing to connect Echuca and Moama in a $280 million project which is jointly funded by the Australian, Victorian and New South Wales governments.

Echuca Moama is on the move – love where you live!

Peter Walsh MP

peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au Facebook /PeterWalshMP

496 High St, Echuca 3564 Ph: 5482 2039 Local Call: 1300 467 906

Funded from Parliament’s Electorate Office and Communication Budget.

EchucaMoama

Doesn’t matter what sort of day it is because May reckons there aren’t too many that are the same.

“People ask me ‘Will there ever come a day when you have to say ‘no’? And I say ‘No, there won’t’.

77

“The foal had to be pulled out … the vet ended up using a wine bottle to push it back in because her arm was too short. So it’s fair to say that was a chaotic day,” she said.

And that, of course, has always been her intent — to help as many donkeys as she can.

78 EchucaMoama

IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO BE A

ROCK STAR Largely self-taught and getting better every day, Tighe Cole tells IVY WISE he would not mind being like Ed Sheeran, whose music he admires. But as Tighe is still in grade five he’s got a few years up his sleeve to really get his act together. >>

79

EchucaMoama

“I WOULD LIKE TO BE LIKE ED SHEERAN AND GO ON TOURS SOMETIMES, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL.” TIGHE COLE 80 EchucaMoama

>> TIGHE Cole.

taught him how to breathe properly while singing.

Don’t forget that name.

And what does he like singing the most?

Because one day, it might be up in lights.

“I like Ed Sheeran. I like his style of music,” he said.

That’s his plan anyway. To be the next Ed Sheeran.

“I like singing Happier by Ed Sheeran and Hey Soul Sister by

And if his talent is anything to go by, he is certainly on his way.

Train.”

At just 11, Tighe taught himself how to play the guitar, sing and has already performed at several events around town.

Tighe hopes to one day become a famous singer.

“It’s fun. I love it,” he said.

His parents, Melissa and Gavin Cole, bought Tighe a guitar for his fifth birthday but it sat there for two years before he picked it up.

“We started guitar lessons at school and we did a few riffs and scales,” Tighe said.

He liked it so much, he asked his mum for guitar lessons so he could learn to play songs.

But his mum had someone better in mind — local musician Sean Orr who was performing at The Mill, which Melissa owns.

So Sean started teaching Tighe and about a year later, they performed together at The Mill for Gavin’s 40th birthday.

“I only knew two songs back then and we played Lonely Boy by The Black Keys, so Sean was singing and I was playing along,” Tighe said.

“That was the first time I performed in front of people. That was really good because my whole family was there.”

Gradually as Tighe learnt more songs, his confidence grew and he started playing more often at The Mill.

But it wasn’t until his sister Tilly, 14, started learning to sing about two-and-a-half years ago that Tighe tried his hand at it too.

“I got a bit competitive,” he laughed. “I always liked singing and thought I was pretty good.”

The St Mary’s Primary School grade five student had already sung at school masses so it was an easy transition for him.

“Sometimes I’d take my guitar in and play,” he said.

“I would like to be like Ed Sheeran and go on tours sometimes, that would be pretty cool,” he said.

However, it’s not just the excitement of performing that he loves.

“I like just strumming and having something to move my fingers on. It’s satisfying,” he said.

Tighe has even tried his hand at busking, making almost $100 at Barwon Heads Caravan Park the past two holidays.

And when he’s not strumming his guitar, you can find him on the footy field, playing for Echuca Bombers’ under-12s (Echuca Green), which he also loves.

Melissa said although Tighe was a sporty child, he had always loved music.

“As a toddler, he was always tapping and had rhythm,” she said.

“He got excited around music.

“And because he started performing with Sean at a young age, he never really found it challenging.”

However, because Tighe is still young, Melissa and Gavin are making sure music doesn’t become Tighe’s whole life.

“We don’t want him to become too obsessed too early,” Melissa said.

“We just want him to enjoy what he’s doing.”

And for now, he is, and his family are enjoying listening to him.

“Usually at least once a night he’ll get his guitar out and play some old ones or jump up and hear a song and just be obsessed and play and play and play until he nails it,” Melissa said.

Unfortunately when Sean moved to Bendigo, his weekly lessons became less frequent, but Tighe continued to teach himself and learn new songs.

“He plays while we’re cooking tea which is nice,” Gavin said.

“I’d put the music on a sheet of paper and keep on practising until I knew it,” he said.

neck construction — producing a natural amplified sound.

Tighe’s next aim is to get a Cole Clark guitar, which is the only mainstream acoustic to use a Spanish heel or integral Famous musicians who use it include Pete Murray, Eskimo

Tighe probably knows between 30 and 40 songs now.

Joe and Jack Johnson.

This year, he also started singing lessons which he says has

And perhaps Tighe Cole will one day add his name to that list. 

81

EchucaMoama

82 EchucaMoama

ALL REVVED UP ABOUT MECHANICS

Dave Cato has been as far as life in the fast lane can go, short of being behind the steering wheel, but tells DAVID CHAPMAN he is pretty comfortable these days running his own business in Echuca-Moama.

DAVE Cato has spent a lifetime working with cars; and that long-held passion has taken him to the pinnacle of Australian motorsport.

He labours away in his Catocraft Automotive yard practically every day, restoring classic cars to their former glory.

But the commitment and passion he has to making cars fire on all cylinders is nothing new to the former V8 Supercars team manager and mechanical engineer.

Cato’s automotive business has taken him from Torquay to Echuca but he was taken to many different countries competing in Australia’s biggest touring car series.

Cato said his journey of more than two decades with the big boys started in Melbourne, working for long-time team owner Mike Imrie.

“I worked for him down in Melbourne and he owned a wrecking yard,” he said.

“He’d been involved in race cars his whole life and we built a number of sports sedans together and raced all through Asia.

“Mike asked me if I wanted to race V8s, and I said ‘why not?’

So we went and bought a Larry Perkins car and that’s how it started. We continued on from there and built three of our own cars in-house.”

He was involved with Ballarat truck owner Robert Smith who bought into the racing game with multiple cars, sometimes running four cars at the one time.

Cato relocated to Queensland where he worked with Paul Morris Motorsport, where he ran Development Series drivers as they tried to make the jump to the big league.

Drivers he ran included Lee Holdsworth, Chris Pither, Tomas Mezera and Steve Owen, who he helped to the Development Series title in 2008 for the Loadsman Racing Team.

The role of the mechanical engineer in V8 racing? Everything you can think. >>

83

EchucaMoama

84 EchucaMoama

When only Ave, the finest quality| Ph: 5482 1713 | echuca_meats@telstra.com 5/361 Ogilvie Echuca. meats & smallgoods will do.

85 EchucaMoama

>> “Everything from the ground up on the car; every time a car went out that car would be stripped back to a bare shell,” Cato said.

While at times a winner on the track, Cato and his team excelled on different terrains at times, setting the record for the highest speed ever by a V8 supercar in 2005 on the salt flats of Lake Gairdner in South Australia.

“For each car, we’d have two to three engines, two gearboxes, 10 diffs, and every component would have to be stripped back to nothing every time it went out.

“Breaking the record for the fastest V8 supercar, that was pretty exciting,” Cato said.

“Engine, gearbox, tail shaft; we would rebuild and check over everything. Things just break because they’re under so much pressure.”

“We took two cars to Lake Gairdner and we put in a different engine and took all the telemetry out of it; anything to get an advantage down the road.

Speaking of pressure, Cato said the long days and nights in the garage were as full-on as it gets.

“That was really hard; you don’t have a life other than V8s, you just don’t,” he said.

“You go to a meeting on a Wednesday and spend all day setting up the pits, setting up the car, and unloading the trucks.

You’re at track first thing in the morning, scaling the car, doing the weights, string lining cars.

“Something is always not 100 per cent the next day when you get there and you do the whole car again, it just takes hours and hours.

“Before you know it it’s eight o’clock and you’re going home, and then six o’clock in the morning you’re back there again.

“Bathurst is the biggest one because you’re changing engines all the time. You do a Friday night engine swap, hopefully a Saturday shootout engine swap and then a race engine.

“She’s pretty full on.”

“We went out there with 60 Minutes; Charles Wooley drove the car and he couldn’t believe it.”

Cato stepped up to the team manager role of Team Kiwi Racing for the 2008 season, the team running five drivers throughout the season before team owner David John was declared bankrupt — “it was a pretty ugly ending for the whole thing,” Cato said.

Originally from Frankston, he opened the Catocraft business in Torquay before relocating to Echuca.

But despite leaving the constant pressure of V8 racing behind, Cato said he is still constantly on the go restoring classic cars.

“We’re absolutely flat out here, it’s sort of the same; we’re here seven days a week now, it’s different but we’re certainly busy here.

“I do miss it all, but it’s too hard at the moment, I’ve got too much going on.

“But I’d certainly get back into V8s tomorrow.” 

86 EchucaMoama

There’s more in store at Metaland! We stock all your steel requirements to save you time and money on your next project … and we’re always here to lend a hand. No Dramas!

• And if we don’t have it in stock we can order it in.

No Dramas!

• Our helpful friendly service and advice that’s second to none • Our wide range of steel and roofing products, fittings and accessories

• Additional technical information from our quality suppliers

• Everything you need to weld, cut, grind, paint and fasten

• Delivery to your door … We can arrange that too.

No Dramas!

• We cut-to-size

“Service with Solutions” is our promise.

Throughout our store you will find a full range of tubular pipe and RHS, rounds, angles, reobar, intels and all the steel accessories products you require. NO DRAMAS!

IF WE BUILD IT,

EchucaMoama

SOPHIE BALDWIN meets a couple who dared to dream they could build a sustainable house — without being weighed down by the blinkered baggage of the zealots — and turn it into something for their whole family. And they did. >>

87

it will sustain us

88 EchucaMoama

Enjoying their Shearing Shed House are (from left) Lisa Booth, Steve Booth, Xan Booth, Charlee Hawken, Jedda Booth and Bodhi Hawken.

>> OWNER-BUILDERS put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into

now take a bulldozer from that old sand mine to get them out.

their domestic projects — and have no-one to blame but

While Lisa is passionate about sustainable building principles

themselves if they get it wrong.

In taking that punt Lisa and Steve Booth also committed their hearts and souls to this labour of love, which they hope will sustain them and their family for years to come.

They put the finishing touches to their 28-square home in March and since then have immersed themselves and their four children in the dream.

The home has been the destination for a journey that began five years ago when the couple came across a small, rundown block of land that was once home to an abandoned sand mine.

“To be honest I don’t think we ever really thought this would ever get off the ground,” Lisa laughed.

“We thought it would be unlikely we would even get a building

she is not a zealot — in fact she knows the green hardcore would scoff at their house.

“We have built the best home we could for the budget we had, but we are far from extremists.

“But we are proof you can build a sustainable, off-grid family home for the same price as any project home and the dream is certainly not unobtainable,” Lisa said.

“In fact if you came to our house you would have no idea it is off grid — it has every possible mod con imaginable and sometimes we do have to remind the kids of that,” she laughed.

The design of the home had been taking up way too much space in Lisa’s mind for quite some time, in fact she had a

permit because the land size was only 22 acres. It had been for

little book with sketched designs she had modified and fine-

sale seven years and nobody wanted to buy it.”

tuned through the planning process.

And while it certainly wasn’t easy and there were many times when the couple questioned what they were doing, it would

“Because it is not a large home it was extremely important we didn’t waste and space.

89 EchucaMoama

“OUR HOME IS SO CONNECTED TO THE OUTDOORS AND IS BATHED IN BEAUTIFUL NATURAL LIGHT. IT IS COMFORTABLE AND EASY TO LIVE IN AND BOTH STEVE AND I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH INTEREST THE KIDS HAVE SHOWN IN THE BUILD.” LISA BOOTH

“We have a lot of multifunction areas — the butler’s pantry

And while the house has performed very well thermally, the

is also the laundry and we have an office/desk/workspace

addition of a biofuel heater and gas log fire did help to keep

running the length of the hallway.”

the chill away when temperatures dropped.

The house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two multi-

“In the dead of winter the gas heater probably ran for an hour

function living spaces — and it has been built from recycled

in the morning and the biofuel heater for five hours — usually

red bricks.

at night. The north glazing was still very effective and the

Almost every room has north-facing glass for passive energy

house did warm itself through the day.”

gain. The sun-splashed concrete slab and recycled internal

The couple had a biofuel heater in their previous home but

brick wall store and release heat to help keep the home

Lisa would urge anyone putting one in to do their homework

comfortable.

because while efficient, they are not miracle workers.

Large windows on the north and south sides blend indoors

She is the first to admit there was a lot of researching every

and out — and also allow for cross-ventilation.

aspect of the build and there were times when it absolutely

There are 8 kW of solar panels and 26 kW of saltwater battery storage — so the house is completely powered by the sun.

The biggest concern for Lisa during the build was keeping the house warm in winter.

“Cooling wasn’t as important to me as heating. I absolutely hate to be cold and there was no way I was going to live in an icebox.”

consumed their lives.

She found the website yourhome.gov.au particularly helpful.

“That website was like my bible. The information was simple, clear and independent and it was certainly my go to site.”

The Booths, all six of them, love their home and couldn’t imagine living any other way now.

“It would be very difficult to go back to ‘normal living’. >>

90

EchucaMoama

91 EchucaMoama

>> “Our home is so connected to the outdoors and is bathed in beautiful natural light. It is comfortable and easy to live in and both Steve and I have been surprised by how much interest the kids have shown in the build.”

Lisa’s love of the environment was passed down to her from her pop and she is in turn passing it down to her own family.

“As I got older my interest in sustainability began to creep into my working life.

“When I had the opportunity to become involved in some interesting renewable energy projects it just took off.

“I think if we can all do our bit (whatever that bit is) then together we can achieve some pretty great things.”

The couple have been happy to share their journey because they want to show others that anyone can achieve what they have.

“It’s certainly not rocket science and if you stick to a few basic principles sustainability and energy efficiency are certainly not out of reach for a normal, everyday family.”

Lisa said anyone interested in finding out more information on their build can visit bookenblend.com.au or Instagram bookenblend 

SOLAR ON ELECTRICAL

GIVING YOU THE POWER TO CONTROL YOUR ENERGY At Solar On Electrical we know everything there is to know about solar systems!

SOLAR ON ELECTRICAL CAN: • Supply and install a solar system that best meets your needs and home.

• Show you how to reduce your electricity bills with a FREE energy audit.

• Grid connect your solar.

• Help reduce your carbon emissions.

• Offer a range of options and products to suit your needs.

• Off-grid solar.

• Install solar hot water.

• Perform solar clean and test.

Government Rebates still available $$$ Solar On Electrical offer free no-obligation quotes with finance available Brooke Coghlan 0408 258 298 brooke@solaronelectrical.com.au www.solaronelectrical.com.au

VIC Rec 22986 NSW 294186c

92 EchucaMoama

FROM LITTLE THINGS

big things grow >>

93

EchucaMoama

94

EchucaMoama

95 EchucaMoama

>> DON’T dare tell Christine Morris that a dream can’t become a reality because she will just laugh.

And then prove it can.

In fact she is living hers.

It may be hard work but when you have a passion and an instilled love for something it’s never really work, is it?

Growing up with eight siblings and two green-thumbed parents, Christine has chlorophyll running in her veins and knows no life other than one surrounded by plants and the serenity of the garden.

Her garden has, at various stages, been an escape from the tough times, a place to potter and a calm and relaxing environment to enjoy with family and friends.

Christine shares the garden with her husband Trevor on their former dairy farm outside Cohuna and the establishment of Elm Tree Nursery has become an inevitable extension of her love of gardening (and in some strange way destiny as well).

“Mum and dad ran a nursery in their later years and when they passed away I found myself with a range of plants that needed a home. The nursery very much started out as a hobby for me back in 2010,” Christine said.

A ‘hobby’ that has evolved into a self-sustaining business and has been extended into the calf paddock and includes a large igloo to house plants, a renovated machinery shed that houses giftware and an extensive range of garden art and pots.

The nursey has allowed the family to stay on the farm as they transition from dairy to beef and has provided a welcome additional income stream.

“I have been surprised by how steadily it has grown. We are tucked away out of town but people actively seek us out now and I think it is lovely.

“There is an element of discovery when people, especially first timers, arrive here and walk through the front gate of our yard, through the garden and out into the nursery. >>

96 EchucaMoama

>> “Kids come out here and they run and run, I don’t know whether it’s the big open lawn and the space or all the twists and turns of the garden, but they love it.”

Christine is quick to add the property is still very much a farm.

“I had a heifer running around in the nursery the other day so I had to clean up after that and quite often there are cows leaning over the fences, which visitors also love.”

The farm means the world to Christine and Trevor.

Not only is it their home, it is the place where they have raised their three children but the volatility of the industry in the past few years, in particular water security and fluctuating milk prices, has brought forward their decision to swap industries.

“Dairy farming is going through multiple challenges but we are at a time in our lives where we are fortunate enough to have choices which allow us to stay on the land.

“There are a lot of fixed costs associated with owning a rural property and the combination of the nursery and beef should allow us to continue on the land.

“We love sharing the nursery with visitors from far and wide and everyone should have the pleasure of enjoying a garden whether it is big or small.” 

97

EchucaMoama

100 EchucaMoama

YOU CAN’T PUT A PRICE ON

PROGRESS “WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS WE SELL A CONCEPT HERE — WE SELL INCLUSION.” >>

101

EchucaMoama

102 EchucaMoama

>>

It sounds simple. Open some tea rooms in a tourist town and see how you go. But for the staff at Murray River Tea Rooms this is more than a job, this is a window to their future world and the view right now is pretty impressive writes TYLA HARRINGTON. ONCE in a while something special happens in EchucaMoama.

Not every day, not every month, not even every year.

But when it does it gets marked down in a diary called history.

Because it is one of those moments of change, when lives are altered and things (and people) suddenly go in new directions.

Such as May 8, 2017, when the doors were officially opened at Murray River Tea Rooms in Moama.

A Community Living and Respite Services initiative, it was a first for the region.

It gives people with a disability the opportunity to work in a café and interact with the community. It includes them in a society where, sometimes, albeit unintentionally, they are excluded.

Project manager and retail supervisor Sandra Carey said the café’s revenue had exceeded expectations but the opportunity it was providing was priceless.

“We don’t want it to fail which is why we did a very good feasibility plan. We’re turning over double what we were initially.”

The business makes $1300 a week from the op shop alone, while $1500 – $2000 comes in from the café (about 50–100 coffees per day).

That’s miles ahead of what was budgeted.

“I am just so proud and so grateful the community has embraced it,” Sandra said.

At Murray River Tea Rooms (10 Meninya St) there are nine clients, and another 28 involved through the Recyclability program, which is another initiative of CLRS. Plus there’s about 12 community volunteers and a couple of staff members.

“The concept of course came about six or eight months before May,” Sandra said.

“It offers training in hospitality, retail and customer service.

It provides an inclusive, purposeful interaction with the community,” she said.

“We had our op shop at Number 4 in Percy St so we decided there was an avenue for another op shop across the river but we also wanted to explore the hospitality side of things so that we could provide training and work experience for clients.

“And it also provides a volunteering opportunity for people with disabilities who like to volunteer, like everyone else.

“So we decided the tea room concept, and we found this building, and we thought what a great spot.

“I knew the business side of things would work but the outcomes are higher than what I anticipated.

“But because we wanted to have a café we couldn’t walk straight in the door, we had to make it food compliant.

“The skill level is higher. They could run the place without us. I am not being flippant when I say that. The team does everything — the cash register, the coffees, cleaning — I mean everything.

“At the same time the Murray River Council was advertising for community grants so we put in an application and we got $50,000 across three years.

“What we want is to set them up to be able to get a job in the future.

“We try and take away the anxiety. A lot of people with a disability get a job but often anxiety takes over. But if we can do the reverse and give them all the experience first then we can hopefully help them get and keep a job.

“What I am trying to say is we sell a concept here — we sell inclusion.”

The money made from the café goes back into the business to keep it sustainable for many years to come.

Because as Sandra explained, this is not a short-term venture.

“We want it here in 20 years,” she said.

“It gave us a good start up.”

Since then business has been booming and, most importantly, the community has thrown its support behind the cause.

“Suzanna is very, very resourceful so she started telling people about the idea. We met firstly with the RSL and they said they would like to donate scones,” Sandra said.

“So that was something we didn’t have to buy in and it gave us a concept to start approaching people. Most things you see here in terms of food have been donated.”

CLRS chief executive Suzanna Barry said the tea rooms were an expansion of the Recyclability program.

“Recyclability started in 2015 as a kerbside collection program, providing people with disability the opportunity to be part of >>

103

EchucaMoama

104

EchucaMoama

105 EchucaMoama

A part of the Murray River Tea Rooms team.

106 EchucaMoama

Murray River Tea Rooms team hard at work in the kitchen. >> a community initiative that provides environmental benefits,” she said.

“Each week flyers are distributed, donations (mainly clothing) are collected and then sorted and sold.

“The concept of Recyclability was embraced by the EchucaMoama community, and after five months of operation an

op shop was opened in Percy St, Echuca. As the program continued to gain momentum and support, an additional outlet in Moama was made possible by the support of Murray River Council.”

“It has been rewarding to see the progress of those involved … we hope that over time some will develop skills and confidence to explore open employment opportunities.”

Faces behind the counter KELLYANNE Dryburgh has been a volunteer at Murray River Tea Rooms since the start.

And her reasoning for sticking to it is simple.

“I work here because I love working here. It’s good work,” she said.

Nowadays nothing is too big an ask for her — she makes sandwiches, coffees, cleans and interacts with the customers.

“Everything, I do everything,” she said proudly.

Then there’s Donald Doorman who hangs up his craft in the store.

“I have been making them for a long time and sell them for $60 each,” he said.

“They’re pretty easy to make, it’s basically one knot,” he laughed.

There’s also Tracey Abbey who has become a barrister in her own right, and Kyabram’s Emma Breen who brings in her own cards and dog biscuits to sell at the store.

Her father Len said if she gets enough interest she might even start selling at markets.

“I take the photos for the cards,” Emma said.

“Emma is really good at what she does which is why we are so happy to showcase her talent at Murray River Tea Rooms,” Sandra said.

“She is showing initiative and should be celebrated for it.

Kyabram is a smaller town so it’s hard to start something up there so that’s where we come in.”

Sandra’s right, the opportunity Murray River Tea Rooms provides is priceless.

Anyone who has had anything to do with the enterprise has been the better for it.

Even the customers jump up and down about the taste of their coffee — and I have to agree because the day I was there mine was perfect.

The store is open Monday to Saturday. 

Meet your local travel experts These are the fresh new faces you will see when you come to visit the team at Flight Centre Echuca.

We have come from varied backgrounds to bring you a seamless experience planning your ideal holiday, and would like to introduce ourselves: JAMIE JACHMANN — TEAM LEADER: jamie.jachmann@flightcentre.com.au Jamie has always had a huge passion for travel! customers to enjoy, a position that he never takes As a child, he dreamed of the places he had seen for granted. Jamie’s favourite holiday in books and movies and couldn’t wait until the destination is always the next one, but if he had day he could experience them first hand. Each to choose a few personal favourites they would day he gets to vicariously live that dream by have to be New York, Cancun, Budapest and planning amazing holidays and experiences for his Prague.

Countries visited: 34 | Favourite place: New York | Expert in: Europe ANTHONY TUSTAIN — ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER: anthony.tustain@flightcentre.com.au Born in Melbourne, Anthony has lived in different Bali, Cambodia and Vietnam as the culture, food and experiences keep enticing him back. With regions of Australia as well as Scotland. Being based in Queensland for a large portion of his a young family of his own, he aspires to create life, his knowledge of Tropical North Queensland unforgettable holidays for couples and families around the world. is unbeatable. In recent years, South-East Asia has become Anthony’s destination of choice including Countries visited: 15 | Favourite place: Siem Reap | Expert in: Southeast Asia MELANIE SZAKAL — TRAVEL CONSULTANT: melanie.szakal@flightcentre.com.au Melanie’s background in customer service and her especially passionate about Canada and the USA. love of meeting new people make her the perfect Mel is excited to share her expertise in North Whytravel not to give the America, ranging from individual group consultant to plan your next holiday. She has gifttoofhelp travel you with createa travelled to countless cities and especially enjoyed tours and cruises. Mel is ready the cultural experiences of Thailand and Vietnam. amazing travel memories today!

Flight Centre Gift Card?

After living in Canada for 12 months, she is Available in store.

Gift Card

Countries visited: 14 | Favourite place:Vancouver | Expert in: North America KIRSTIN STREET — TRAVEL CONSULTANT: kirstin.street@flightcentre.com.au Kirstin loves the diversity that travel offers knowledge of group tours and ‘off the beaten everybody!

She has helped young travellers track’ destinations is unparalleled. Whether it’s to 207 Pakenham Street, Echuca. organise their first solo trip, reunited family book your next five-star retreat, or a hiking trip Restrictions and conditions apply. See in store for full terms and conditions and gift members list. Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25couples 003 377 188) trading as Flight Centre.

FCEC56015 and sent to re-ignite theVIC Licence No. 31089. sleeping under the stars, Kirstin’s excited to assist flame on their anniversary. After four months you in making your unique travel dreams a reality!

FCEC56015 Echuca Christmas Press Ad_260x280mm.indd 1 1/11/13 10:33 AM adventuring through Africa, her extensive

Visit us in store.

1300 805 727

▼

Countries visited: 16 | Favourite place: Namibia | Expert in: Africa

rd Gift Ca

Visit us in store.

207 Pakenham Street, Echuca. ▼ ▼

Restrictions Restrictions and and conditions conditions apply. apply. See See in in store store for for full full terms terms and and conditions conditions and and gift gift list. list. Flight Flight Centre Centre Limited Limited (ABN (ABN 25 25 003 003 377 377 188) 188) trading trading as as Flight Flight Centre.

Centre. VIC VIC Licence Licence No. No. 31089.

31089.

FCEC56015 FCEC56015 Echuca Echuca Christmas Christmas Press Press Ad_260x280mm.indd Ad_260x280mm.indd 1 1

Why Why not not give give the the gift of travel gift of travel with with aa Flight Flight Centre Centre Gift Gift Card?

Card?

Available in store.

Available in store.

1300 805 727

www.flightcentre.com.au FCEC56015 FCEC56015 1/11/13 1/11/13 10:33 10:33 AM AM

108 EchucaMoama

GAME DAY – IT’S WHAT THE GAME IS ALL ABOUT

JESS GLEDHILL looks behind the football scenes to see what makes players tick and finds it doesn’t matter whether you are in the school juniors or the AFL you all get the same kick out of game day.

That holds true whether you are kicking the dew from the

And nearly every footballer has his, or her, way of approaching game day — little habits (aka superstitions), routines (aka superstitions) and essentials (aka superstitions).

It might be as simple as a morning jog; the staple chicken and salad roll before a game or the celebratory McDonald’s meal after a win (mostly a junior’s habit), the rush remains the same. >>

EchucaMoama

The training (maybe an hour a week for the little guys to every day of the week for the big leagues); the injuries (a weekly hazard of any contact sport) and the disappointments at the selection table are all forgotten come game day.

grass in the under 10s on a shivering winter morning or running into one of the colosseums that are home to the AFL.

109

GAME day is a rush. From modified rules in the tiny tot leagues to girding the proverbial loins for a knockdown battle in the AFL, it is what life is all about.

“ONCE I’M FINISHED WITH ALL MY COACHING COMMITMENTS I GET SOME TIME TO WATCH THE RESERVES BEFORE MY OWN PREPARATION STARTS.” 110

BART PHILLIPS

EchucaMoama

>> For the sport’s elite, the game-day routine is more of a weeklong commitment to training, recovery and match reviews as AFL player Ollie Wines explained.

The former Echuca footballer turned Port Adelaide vicecaptain said he learnt as he went during his journey from a junior to the AFL. He now begins his week with a match review day at the club followed by a line meeting with the midfield coaching staff.

From there, players undertake a series of rotations between mobility sessions — just to get the body moving — before a gym session and recovery session usually in the pool or ice bath.

And that’s just day one.

Wednesdays are dedicated rest days, which Wines usually spends catching up on his TAFE studies or practicing his aviation skills at Adelaide Soaring Club.

After he was drafted, Wines said his dedication to training and diet dramatically changed.

“The main difference from playing even at TAC Cup standard to AFL was my diet,” he said.

“I had to learn a lot about my body and what certain foods did to it.

“Back when I was playing as a junior at Echuca Football Club I used to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

“Now I work one-on-one with a dietitian in understanding the best time to consume carbohydrates and the quantity and types of food to eat.”

He said his routine was similar to the preparation of any senior footballer.

Tuesdays and Thursdays were still dedicated training days with an added captain’s run the day before a game at Adelaide Oval.

“Everyone’s preparation at the club varies come game day,” he said.

“For myself, it usually consists of a run in the morning — which is something I would never have done before a game in the past — and then me and my house mates will go down to the basketball courts and play a little to get our bodies moving.

“Then you find some time to relax before heading into the game.”

Wines said the most important thing was to understand your body and what it needed to play at its best each week.

And it clearly works for him — at the 2017 Brownlow Wines was the leading Port Adelaide player in voting.

Back at Wines’ stamping ground current Echuca Football Club senior Bart Phillips doesn’t get much time to focus on

his own game.

Instead his Saturday mornings consisted of coaching the under-18s in the Goulburn Valley League.

“In the past I used to roll up at the start of the reserves then get straight into it, but now I’m at the grounds from around 8.50 am.”

If it’s a home game, Phillips will go for a quick walk in the morning before picking up a coffee on his way to the thirds.

“Once I’m finished with all my coaching commitments I get some time to watch the reserves before my own preparation starts,” he said.

On top of his Tuesday and Thursday night training sessions (rain, hail or shine) Phillips would try to get to the gym during the week for a high intensity session.

He places a lot of emphasis on recovery and stretching in keeping his body match fit.

“Post-game we have our chat from Briggsy (2017 senior coach Andrew Briggs) and then it’s normally stretching and a meal of Subway at the club or I’ll sometimes have a protein shake after the game,” he said.

For 13-year-old Dylan Jardine, playing in the Murray Football League as an under-14, only required two trainings a week.

The Moama footballer’s trainings involved a mix of drills, running and game structures.

His favourite activity was, as a keen forward player, a game simulation drill where the aim was to work as a team in getting the ball past defenders.

“Outside of training I don’t really do much for footy,” he said.

“I sometimes go for a bike ride during the week, but most of my fitness is done at trainings.”

Jardine said he arrived at the ground at 8.30 am for a 9.15 am start.

The players get ready in the change rooms before heading onto the field for the warm-up.

“We usually run around the goal square and alternate between side steps, backwards running and high knees,” Jardine explained.

A few touches of the ball, a quick rev-up from the captain and the game was underway.

His incredibly healthy breakfast of yoghurt and banana under the watchful eyes of mum was then replaced by the postgame bucket of chips from the canteen.

Already Jardine had started watching the under-17s and was preparing for the step up to harder training sessions and matches. 

111 EchucaMoama

TINDARRA RESORT CONFERENCE | TRAINING | ACCOMMODATION Catering from 12 to 250 people Formal seated dining, cocktail, buffet or canapés 11 self-contained modern apartments can sleep a total of 58 guests View Full range of options at www.tindarra.com.au/meetings-events/ www.tindarra.com.au | (03) 5483 6888 | events@tindarra.com.au | Moama NSW

112 EchucaMoama

STEPPING UP TO THE GVL BART PHILLIPS, ECHUCA BART Phillips began his senior football career eight years ago at East Point Football Club in the Ballarat Football League.

He spent a season with Cobden Football Club in the Hampden league in 2014 before returning to Echuca Football Club in 2015, where he had previously played as an under-18 and in the reserves.

And while it was a step up to the Goulburn Valley League, Phillips said his game day preparation has hardly changed.

“Most clubs across different leagues will follow the same ritual,” he said.

“The structure and timing for warmups doesn’t change too much, but the preparation required and intensity of training definitely increases once you reach the GVL.” On top of his club training commitments, Phillips does his own added gym session once a week, plus extra cardio, which usually included a 2 km jog during the week.

During the footy season he would try and avoid focusing too much on heavy weight training and instead use the gym to maintain his fitness.

A regular session would include between 20 and 30 minutes of high intensity running on the treadmill followed by light weight training on key muscle groups and core strengthening exercises.

“Doing the extra work outside of club trainings is almost necessary to compete at GVL standard,” he said.

“My gym sessions are more focused on cardio as that ability to run and compete with the others guys for long periods of time is most important.

get straight into it, but now I’m at the grounds from around 8.50 am.

“Once I’m finished with all my coaching commitments I get some time to watch the reserves before my own preparation starts.

“It takes about 10 minutes to refocus on my game after thinking about the thirds game for so long.”

“I’ll go in and get into my warm-up gear and then see the trainers to get my ankle strapped before getting on the foam rollers and doing some resistance band training to activate the major leg muscles.”

At three-quarter time all the players are expected back in the rooms and stock up on fluids before heading out for their warm-up.

Then it is time to pull on the game jumper.

“Post-game we have our chat from Briggsy (2017 senior coach Andrew Briggs) and then we’re left to cool-down, which involves stretching and some food in the rooms or sometimes a protein shake after the game,” he said.

The next day would be their chance to visit the club physio, Pat Arnold from Echuca Moama Physiotherapy, to address any niggles or more serious injuries from the game.

On a Monday after the game the team would get together for some form of recovery, usually at the pool, and this was also the time Phillips added in his own cardio.

He said recovery and stretching was crucial to keeping his body fit for games.

“The extra work improves my footy ability and you definitely notice the guys who put in work outside of training.

Every Friday night Phillips would try and get on a foam roller

“They’re the ones that show the most improvement throughout the season.”

The 25-year-old currently teaches at Echuca College and there

Phillips’ game-day routine was different to most senior players.

Instead his Saturday mornings consisted of coaching the under 18s, which he said made him more organised in his usual routine and put him into a footy frame of mind.

“I usually try and get a quick walk in the morning and grab a coffee before a game, but that sometimes doesn’t happen for away games especially with my other commitments,” he said.

“In the past I used to roll up at the start of the reserves then

at some point to loosen out any sore spots before the game. was a lot of time during his week dedicated to football.

It meant he had to manage his life accordingly and make time to get things done outside of work and training hours.

“At each level of footy there’s an increase in the standard and level of commitment required to stay match ready,” he said.

“There are definitely some consistencies from junior footy to local senior footy and then to the VFL and AFL. “There’s a higher intensity and conditioning component required as you progress up the ranks, but the processes are similar for every footballer.” 

113

EchucaMoama

114

EATING UP LIFE IN THE BIG LEAGUES

EchucaMoama

OLLIE WINES, PORT ADELAIDE BEING an AFL footballer might have been the dream but Ollie Wines is the first to admit the reality was an incredible transformation.

Drafted by Port Adelaide in 2012, the star midfielder’s football commitments have increased — but not to the point of giving up the things he enjoyed.

He still has time to keep up with his TAFE studies and indulge in his passion to fly even higher at Adelaide Soaring Club.

It is all, Wines said, a matter of prioritising.

And he doesn’t waste a moment, especially Wednesdays, his designated rest day, when he focused on his obligations and hobbies outside the professional footballer life he lives.

Every other day has time dedicated specifically to footy, starting with a Monday.

The 22-year-old begins every week of the season with a review day at the club followed by a line meeting with the midfield coaching staff.

From there, players undertake a series of rotations between various mobility sessions — just to get the body moving — before a gym session and then recovery session (usually in the pool or ice bath).

And that’s just day one.

Tuesday involved training at the club for an hour or so in the morning followed up by a chef-prepared lunch.

In the afternoon players went through rotations of weights, another line meeting, a skills session and then a massage to cap off day two.

“Understanding your body and what it needs to play at its best each week is probably the most important thing,” Wines said.

“A lot of it you learn as you go from high performance staff and others around you.

“One thing I would have never done before the AFL was go for a run the morning of a game, but it actually improves game performance.”

The most dramatic change came in his eating habits.

“The really big difference from playing, even at TAC Cup standard, to AFL is my diet,” he said.

“I had to learn a lot about my body and what certain foods did to it.

“I naturally take on a lot of weight so my diet has played a big part in keeping fit.

“Back when I was playing as a junior at Echuca Football Club I used to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

“Now I work one-on-one with a dietitian in understanding

the best time to consume carbohydrates and the quantity and types of food to eat.”

Thursday was the club’s main training day which included a high intensity hour of training in the morning, more line meetings, gym and then an afternoon of rest.

“You tend to build a pretty strong connection with your line coach and everyone has good access to Ken (head coach Ken Hinkley) and understand his door is always open,” Wines said.

“Being vice-captain I’ve found my commitments aren’t any greater than the next player.

“It’s more about setting a standard to follow and doing what’s required of me.”

The day before a game the team would meet for a captain’s run at Adelaide Oval and a short team meeting.

“Everyone’s game day preparation varies at the club,” Wines said.

“If it’s a home game, I’ll usually get up around 9.30 am and go for a compulsory run to get the body going.

“Then my housemates and I will head down to the basketball courts and play a little before chilling out for the rest of the afternoon.”

From the moment the players enter the ground it’s down to business with pre-game preparation, warm-up and stretching.

Wines said he tried to keep his routine as similar as possible for away games — the biggest difference being he was sleeping in a hotel room as opposed to his own bed.

The day after the game players were left to their own devices and would undergo their own recovery and meet with club doctors and physiotherapists if required.

The week-to-week commitments far surpass that of any local footballer, but Wines wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The preparation is fairly similar to any senior player at a local level,” Wines said.

“We just do it at a higher level and are exposed to more specialised coaching.”

Now in the process of obtaining his pilot’s license, Wines hoped to eventually build a career as a commercial pilot, following in the footsteps of an uncle.

“I’ve always had a major interest in aviation,” he said.

“It’s something my family has been involved with for a long time.

“Once the football season has finished up, it would make things a lot easier flying between Echuca and here (Adelaide).”

In the meantime he will remain one of the AFL’s high-flying stars. 

115

EchucaMoama

116 EchucaMoama

THE KID GETS A KICK OUT OF FOOTY DYLAN JARDINE, MOAMA WHEN you are just 13 there isn’t much better than getting out on the ground and playing footy with your best mates — on game day.

Game strategies and playing structures go out the window as 18 enthusiastic, young footballers hurtle themselves at the ball in an eager attempt to get their hands on it.

With endless cries of “kick it to me” punctuating the morning.

While desperate pleas from coaches to “spread out” fall upon deaf ears as the Sherrin becomes the proverbial red flag to the bull.

At this age kicking goals is the highest priority and being relegated to full-back is just about the worst punishment any player could be given.

But all would be forgotten during the ritual post-match team meeting at McDonald’s to refuel after a tough game and talk strategies — which would soon be forgotten — for next week.

At the time, every budding footballer’s goal is to ultimately make it to the AFL, like their heroes.

And every time they pull on the training top or match jumper, they were one step closer to making that dream a reality.

Moama footballer Dylan Jardine currently isn’t concerned with making it onto the big stage; instead he is focusing on becoming the best footballer he could be for the under-14 Murray Football League side.

He joined Moama four years ago and had been playing in Auskick since he was five.

He made sure to be at the ground at 8.30 am before every game.

“Then we come back out onto the oval and start our warm-up.”

As the first game of the day, beginning at 9.15 am, the under14s have the benefit of warming up entirely on the ground.

Jardine said his team would begin by running around the goal square followed by side steps, backwards running and high knees.

After getting their legs moving they head into some lane kicking and cross-over handballs to get their hands and feet ready.

“Our captain gives us a talk before the game to get us prepared,” he said.

“I usually play on the wing or up forward.

Jardine has a balanced diet when it came to game day.

He liked to start the morning off healthy with a banana and yoghurt for breakfast, which was replaced post-game with a bucket of chips from the canteen.

He said his coach Brad Langborne ran trainings twice-a-week and had taught him a lot about working hard and playing as part of a team.

“We do a lot of drills and running at training,” Jardine said.

“I really enjoy doing the drills, especially the ones where we have to work as a team to get it past the defenders.”

Outside of trainings he would sometimes ride his bicycle, but otherwise naturally kept quite fit as a 13-year-old.

And while he still had another season with the under 14s he was already looking at the next level of footy.

“I don’t mind getting up early,” he said.

“The under 17s train after us and it’s good to watch them,” he said.

“We start the day listening to our coach before we go into the rooms to get into our gear.

“They do a lot more than us at trainings which is going to be a change once I reach that age group.” 

117

EchucaMoama

118

FROZEN MOMENTS IN THE ECHUCA-MOAMA STORY

EchucaMoama

echucamoama photographer LUKE HEMER has put together a stunning body of work as he travels around the region.

He has captured the excitement of sport, the drama as well as the humour, the sheer joy of life.

And bravely risked the danger zone of all photographers — working with children and animals.

From his files he has selected a range of images for this issue of our flagship magazine.

We hope you remember some of them — and enjoy them all.

A cowboy rides under the setting sun at the Kyabram Rodeo.

Veterans sit in front of a big screen at the ANZAC Day ceremony in Echuca.

119 EchucaMoama

Echuca College wellbeing focus day Colour Run.

Liam Wilkinson of Echuca is carried o the ďŹ eld by team mates after his 150th senior game during the GVL seniors match between Echuca and Shepparton Bears.

120 EchucaMoama

Air-Chair skier Greg Cummins.

Artist Tarli Bird.

Col Pearse was selected in Swimming Australia’s Paralympic Development Squad.

121 EchucaMoama

Echuca footballer Jodie Lake.

Matthew Hinks of Echuca during the GMC A-grade match between Echuca and Tongala.

122 EchucaMoama

Phil Hubbard and Elle Florance (United), Jordan Florance and Liv Slattery (Echuca), Steph Watson and Tyler Jones (Moama).

Muay Thai ďŹ ghter Jo McMaster.

Performer Paul Denham.

Frinkle is about doing desserts your way.

Located inside Moama Bowling Club 6 Shaw Street Moama ♼

frinklemoama.com.au

@frinklemoama