Tatura's Booming July 2022 by McPherson Media Group

TATURA’S Booming

The power of community

The place to be and to come back to Page 2

Baking new and tasty treats

Page 13

Non-stop action at Tatura Park Page 16

2 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming

The place to be and to come back to The little town of Tatura has much to offer to any age group. By CLEMENCE CARAYOL That’s what 27-year-old teacher Robert Kirby firmly believes.

A stalwart in the Tatura community, Steve has taken his father’s values and implemented them in every way he can.

Making Tatura a community ’’My father was renowned for helping everybody in the community and as a kid we were brought up that way — if you can't help someone, don’t hinder them,’’ Steve O’Toole said. By CAITLYN GRANT “I give everybody a chance, we only get one go at this life so let’s enjoy it.” A stalwart in the Tatura community, Steve has taken his father’s values and implemented them in every way he can. He wears (and has worn) many different hats across the Tat landscape — a farmer, a family man, a stockbroker, owning a catering business and butcher shops, and now a real estate agent. Steve said Tatura was bursting with opportunity, in employment and in making a home. “There’s always plenty of industry in Tatura,” he said. “From tomato picking to working as a scientist down at the research station, you’ve got the abattoirs to the prison — there’s all types, every type of person is catered for.” Having lived in the region for almost 70 years, he’s seen all the changes first-hand. He said the town was now home to all kinds of people — families, young folk, retirees — Tat has it all. “It has grown colossal, I never thought it would get this big.

“With Northlinks and all that sort of thing, I never thought this was going to happen but it's good for everybody so that’s the main thing — good for the town, good for the shops and everything like that.” On top of all his work, Steve has spent about 40 years volunteering. He has spent time on the boards of a myriad of community organisations, including Tatura Football Netball Club, Tatura Fire Brigade, Tatura and Shepparton Racing Club, and more.

The young man is teaching in Kyabram and has been living in Tatura since he was eight years old. “I’m passionate about teaching kids who are disengaged in school and to make it an enjoyable time for them,” Robert said. “I grew up in Rushworth and moved to Tatura when I was eight — I have been a proud Tatura boy ever since.” For Robert, Tatura rhymes with friends and good times. “The best thing about Tatura is that there are other young people to hang out with,” he said.

“Mum used to work at Sacred Heart school and my old man plays lawn bowls here,” he said. “It’s a great place to raise a family, too.” His advice for anyone moving there: Give the Tatura folk time to welcome you first, as he would describe the community as close-knit. If Robert had to describe Tatura in five words, it would be: “Best town ever. My home.” For him, Tatura is always going to be home. “I think I’d like to move away for a little bit and see other parts of the world but would love to come back.”

“When we were growing up we had a huge group of us and it was absolute tradition to go down to Wilma’s cafe with $2 — get $1 worth of fries, then to IGA for a 70-cent soft drink — and then just hang out at the skate park, go to my friend’s house and watch movies or play mini footy or mini cricket. “Those were the days.” Robert has always been very involved in the Tatura football community.

Robert Kirby moved to Tatura aged eight and has been a Tatura boy ever since.

Along with delivering meals monthly for Meals on Wheels, he’s also half of the brains trust behind the annual community Christmas lunch, created on the premise that nobody should have to spend the day alone. “It’s not just for those who are doing it tough or are homeless, it’s open to anybody,” Steve said. “We’ve had multi-millionaires come there and then we have the person who’s down and out on their luck. “One bloke said to me one year, 'this is the best meal I’ve ever had’, and that did me, I didn’t need to be doing anything more — as long as you can make one person happy, that’s good.”

Young Robert and his childhood friends having the time of their lives in Tatura.

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‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022 – 3

Planning for Tatura’s future Like so many towns, Tatura has been struggling with a lack of houses and vacant land for sale. By GIANNI FRANCIS Tatura’s housing crisis has been directly attributed to a lack of available 800-square-metre ‘general residential’ lots ready to be developed, a Greater Shepparton City Council land supply report found. Urban Land Projects project director Paul Ranson said since 2019, there had been virtually zero ‘general residential’ lots that weren’t pre-sold or already available to the public. “There’s lots of opportunities in Tatura, people want to live there, but there’s no available land for people to build on,” Paul said.

Tatura for a number of years now,” he said. “We’ve had discussions with council since 2017, early 2018 … and we’re still waiting.” In the first quarter of 2021, the median sales value of a vacant residential lot in Tatura was $96,000. But if new land isn’t made available soon, the likely result will be “upward price pressures on residential retail lots”, according to the land supply report. At least 144 new development sites could see a house on them if the plan is passed.

A new draft structure plan for Tatura, designed to replace the depleted supply of residential land, was endorsed by Greater Shepparton City councillors at their April meeting.

For every house built, $1,000,000 of economic output is generated and three direct jobs are created, according to the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Paul said as it stands, the current draft structure plan will likely meet the housing demands of Tatura, and right now it was up to council to rezone the land.

Tatura has historically contributed around 11 per cent of all general residential lot construction across Greater Shepparton.

“It’s desperately needed, there’s just been no residential land in

“Average greenfield lot construction in Tatura prior to the current crisis was tracking at around 26 lots per

A new draft structure plan for Tatura, designed to replace the depleted supply of residential land, has been endorsed by Greater Shepparton City Council.

year — $26,000,000 economic output generated and 78 direct jobs created,” Paul said. There are some 2000-square-metre blocks available on the market, but broad acreage is not meeting the current needs of market demands, Paul said. “They’ve got a high price tag and they’re a lifestyle block, for people who

want a bit of land,” he said. “By far and away, your biggest market is your 800-square-metre allotment. “The finalisation of the (Tatura Structure Plan) and rezoning of land will be welcomed by residents, the development industry and employers alike.”

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Keep up the community spirit, Tatura Even in these challenging times, Tatura continues to be a strong community, with new and established businesses servicing the ongoing growth of the town. With quality goods and services available to their community every day, I encourage Tatura residents to shop local.

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4 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming

Motel gets a new lease on life The new owners of the Tatura Country Motel, Dale and Liane Simpson, are determined to put the historic destination back on the map. By GIANNI FRANCIS “We want to be the first place people think of staying when coming to the Shepparton region,” Dale said. “Not to be an afterthought, but a firstthought.” The couple actually considered buying the motel seven years ago, before ultimately deciding to sell their home and travel Australia. They ended up in Darwin for four years, but after Dale’s father became ill, they returned to Tatura. By pure chance, Dale caught wind that the motel was back up for sale again. “So I popped in and had a chat, and one thing led to another,” he said. After taking over in March 2022 from Kaan and Linda Gungor, the Simpsons have poured blood, sweat and tears into refurbishing the place, bringing modern convenience and hospitality while maintaining the site’s retro appeal.

“We’ve done a lot in the last three months — a lot,” Dale said. “The place was built in 1976, and a lot is still the same from 1976.” Over the next 12 months the motel rooms will be renovated and refurbished. “Re-carpeting, repainting, re-tiling and new beds will happen in the next financial year. All new TVs have already gone in,” Dale said. The Simpsons have also opened up the old bistro, converting it into a common space where guests can relax outside of their rooms. Dale said many local business and community groups had already used the new space, with quite a few Rotarians reminiscing on eating in the bistro back in the 1970s. The new owners are also looking to build an outdoor area, including a gazebo that matches the theme of the motel, where guests can enjoy the warmer weather.

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Dale and Liane Simpson are working hard to make the Tatura Country Motel the best place to stay in Greater Shepparton.

“Have a beer, the kids can run around on the grass and kick the footy,” Dale said. He’s also planning to install a Coonara heater in the planned gazebo so the outdoor social area can be used during the colder months.

“So they can sit around the fire and start mingling with each other.” The former motel owners, Kaan and Linda Gungor, are still business owners in the Tatura community, and are now the owners and operators of Tatura Cabin and Caravan Park.

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6 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming

Disco ball is turned back on The kids turned out in droves to Victory Hall for the most recent Tatura Blue Light Disco, the largest turnout ever.

“We normally get 100, and we had 184,” Sergeant Darryl Phillips said. “That was fantastic … I’ve never seen so many come to our disco, so that was fantastic.” Blue Light Discos are an opportunity for local police members and community members to work collaboratively together to host a fun, enjoyable experience for young people in a safe environment. “It’s great for them to build their familiarity with their local police,” Sgt Phillips said. There were three police officers at the most recent disco, all of whom are on the committee that puts the event on, alongside parent volunteers. So your kids couldn’t be in safer hands on a Friday night out on the town. “Cheapest babysitting in town. That’s what I always say,” Sgt Phillips said. GV Sound & Lighting took care of the lighting and music for the disco, and

Party time at Tatura’s Blue Light Disco.

Junior footballers are flying high

Greater Shepparton City Council has come onboard, providing games and entertainment for the participants. Tatura police try to host a Blue Light Disco once a term (four times a year). The next disco will be held on Friday, September 2 at 6 pm, which will have a footy theme to the night. The following disco will be held on Friday, October 28, which will have a Halloween theme. Sgt Phillips said Tatura police were looking for parents in the community to assist with organising and hosting the discos after so many more kids were showing interest in the event. “It’s only roughly four discos a year, so it’s not very onerous, but we still need their help to get them up and running,” he said. “It’s four discos and four meetings a year; it’s not asking a lot for their kids to have such a great time.”

Soccer club is kicking goals Taking up the position of Tatura Soccer Club’s seniors coach was a no-brainer for Tristan Zito.

The Tatura under-13 football team had such a strong start to the Goulburn Murray Junior League season it was winning every game by 100 points, and was pushed up from division two to division one.

Tatura’s under-11 football team.

By GIANNI FRANCIS “Right now they’ve got some tough competition and they’re competing really well, winning some games, losing some now,” junior league co-ordinator Michael Reid said. “It’s been really good for the team and the club to be able to step up into that higher competition.” Across the three teams in under-13s and under-11s, the Tatura Football Netball Club has 65 registered players, and coach Michael Reid said the juniors were kicking it out of the park. Three players in particular have stood out — Hugh Crawford, Tanner Miller and Sidney Nihill are representing Tatura in an inter-league competition.

Tristan Zito says Tatura Soccer Club is a staple in the community.

Michael said the fantastic performances were thanks to the coaches, the volunteers and the parents who support the team. “It’s been a very successful year … This has been the best season for the kids and for the club for years,” he said. “We’ve got a really great group of volunteers from the parents, really great community spirit and involvement.” The club will hold its end-of-season presentations in August or September, where families will get together to celebrate the hard work of the players. “We’re looking forward to a really strong 2023, with new opportunities, new players, more team involvement and participation from the community,” Michael said.

By CAITLYN GRANT Growing up in Tatura, Tristan found his first love at five years old — soccer. “My friend’s dad was actually my first coach and it sort of went from there, I played all my junior years there,” he said. “I really found my passion for soccer in the community, I guess you could say.“ Tatura Soccer Club, or the Ibis, has a long and varied history. Beginning in 1961, it has gone from strength to strength in homing some of the region’s best players. Across the men’s, women’s and junior divisions, Tristan said there was a common theme. “It’s a family club, it always has been filled with kind, caring people,” he said.

“And even though most of the players have probably moved away from Tat, a lot of them still go back to playing there, which says a lot.” Tristan being one of them, even travelling from his home in Melbourne each week when studying. “When I finished uni I had a bit more time on my hands, so I decided to take on the coaching role,” he said. “I’ve really been enjoying it, I’m coaching my friends and being in a team with great people. “And there’s still a lot of familiar faces at the club that I’ve grown up with.” He said the seniors were second on the ladder with hopes for taking out the big one this year.

‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022 – 7

Scouting for fun and adventure When the 1st Tatura Scouts aren’t roving around the countryside, they’re out and about in the community. BY GIANNI FRANCIS “Whether that’s picking up rubbish or getting down to the SES to see how they help the community,”Scout leader Mark Sargent said. “They love getting out into the community.” The 1st Tatura Scouts is a very active group that meets Monday nights at the Tatura Scout Hall next to Bartlett Lake, where they get up to all kinds of fun. “We might be having campfires to learn some cooking skills and fire safety,” Mark said. “We’ve had a number of hall sleepovers to reinforce initial camping experience and also taking (the Scouts) away for a weekend in recent times.” The 1st Tatura Scouts offers programs for Joeys (six to eight years old) and Cubs (eight to 11 years old). The young Scouts regularly go on adventures, recently heading to Moira Park Scout Camp just south of Shepparton, where they learnt new skills

Cubs and Joeys at Tatura Scout Hall.

and got to spend time with the Mooroopna Scouts, giving them an opportunity to make new friends.

Another weekend, Mark took the Joeys to Yea for a weekend with other Scout groups in the region to prepare for their upcoming statewide Victorian Scouts camping trip to Gipplsand.

The kids had so much fun they didn’t even complain that they had to cook

All of this is run entirely by volunteers, usually parents.

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These volunteers receive free training from Scouts Victoria, which is translatable to the workforce, Mark said.

their own dinners and wash-up afterwards.

The weekend was themed ‘Get up and away’, so the Scouts set to building catapults and mini pop-rockets for some ranged competitions.

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Mark Sargent helping Katrina McMahon make her way across their home-made bridge.

He said 1st Tatura Scouts was 100 per cent volunteer-run, and was a great opportunity for members of the community to receive leadership training and experience.

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8 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

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Long serving Rodney Shire Councillor dies aged 86. Long serving former Rodney Shire Councillor Andrew Crawford has died. Mr Crawford died at Goulburn Valley Health on July 12, aged 86. Kevin “Gunna” Ryan, who served on Rodney Shire Council with Mr Crawford for nearly 20 years before the municipality was merged to form Greater Shepparton City Council, said he was a great representative. “He was such a likeable bloke, and he loved to help the underdog,” he said.

“Andrew was always there to help anybody and his support for people that needed a hand was renowned.” Mr Crawford served 17 years on the Rodney Shire Council and was Shire President three times. “The Tatura, Toolamba and Mooroopna areas are a lot poorer for the loss of Andrew,” Mr Ryan said

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Attention Tatura Businesses! If you would like to advertise your business in our next edition on November 11, 2022 or have an interesting story or local news we can share please contact Simone Dunne on 03 5820 3134 or simone.dunne@sheppnews.com.au Tatura Rotarian Ray Flemming, Tatura Rotary Club life member Andrew Crawford and Shepparton Stroke Support Centre acting co-ordinator and registered nurse Lynne Lee.

‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022 – 9

Celebrating 20 Years

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NOT JUST A Tatura Irrigation and Wartime Camps Museum president George Ferguson.

Preserving our wartime history The history of the World War II internment camps near Tatura will be forever commemorated at the Tatura Irrigation and Wartime Camps Museum. BY GIANNI FRANCIS During the war, German, Austrian and Italian citizens in allied territory were detained and sent to internment camps. Art, photographs and possessions from some of the 2500 detainees shipped from the United Kingdom onboard the passenger ship Dunera to Australia as enemy aliens in 1940 are exhibited at the museum. Museum president George Ferguson said the internees had a lot of time on their hands, receiving art supplies through the Red Cross on money order from Myer in Melbourne. “We’ve got lots of paintings by these artists and they’re still turning up,” George said.

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“There were a lot of families in camp three who had babies in there, and a lot of families that came there.

Tatura Medical Centre, located at 4 Thomson Street Tatura has been providing comprehensive, quality primary health care to the people of Tatura and surrounding areas for over 50 years.

“So they’re still returning to see the history and to catch with some of what we do here.”

Whilst Tatura Medical Centre is not a Bulk Billing clinic, we do bulk bill all children under 16 years.

We also have an onsite Pathology collection Centre on site, which operates from 7.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday. Please note they are closed for lunch from 12.30 - 1.30pm each day.

Payment is required on the day of consultation for all other patients. We offer discounts for most Government Support recipients and we are able to have your Medicare rebate deposited straight back into your nominated bank account within minutes of your payment being finalised.

If you are looking for a Doctor you can count on, for yourself or your family, why not give the friendly staff at Tatura Medical Centre a call on 5824 1244. You can also book online at www.taturamedical.com.au using our HotDoc booking service. It’s quick and easy and very convenient.

There were four camps around the Waranga Basin that hosted 1000 internees each. The concrete foundations can still be seen today, and the Tatura Irrigation and Wartime Camps Museum runs guided tours of these sites. There are rooms in the museum that depict the history of local people, along with rooms telling the story of how the irrigation system throughout the Goulburn Valley was developed. The museum is on the corner of Hogan and Ross streets, Tatura.

Tatura Medical Centre is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 12pm on Saturdays.

We are currently running Flu Vaccination Clinics. Flu Vaccinations are highly recommended and available for patients who are eligible to receive free, Government Funded Flu Vaccine and also for patients requiring a Private Flu Vaccination, at a cost of just $15.00. Book into one of our Flu Clinics, have your vaccination and away 4 Thomson Street, Tatura you go. It’s quick and easy and will help keep you E: admin@taturamedical.com.au protected from the coming Influenza Season.

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12 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming Appeal to repair ‘grand old ladies’ The Civic Halls Committee is holding an appeal to raise at least $80,000 to upgrade Tatura’s Victory Hall and Mechanics Institute.

Civic Halls Committee president Tom Perry in front of Tatura’s Victory Hall.

Show,” Tom said. More than 150 children and teenagers recently gathered for the first Blue Light Disco in more than two years.

The Rotary Club of Tatura Art Show is held in Victory Hall every year.

BY GIANNI FRANCIS The committee will be approaching local businesses in town and running different community events to raise funds for the two projects. The Mechanics Institute needs $41,000 to replace floors damaged by termites, and $35,000 will go towards replacing the open gas heaters in Victory Hall with reverse-

cycle airconditioning to improve safety. “We’re determined to get the grand old ladies of the town looking good,” Civic Halls Committee president Tom Perry said. The halls are well-used by the town for community and family events. “We’ve quite often got weddings and parties and then there’s the Rotary Art

The committee has applied for grant funding form the Federal

By Greater Shepparton City Council

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Tatura is the biggest town in Greater Shepparton outside of SheppartonMooroopna’s urban area, and is a rapidly expanding growth corridor. With the arrival of new young families to the town, the already high demand for the community space the two halls provide will increase proportionally.

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The RSL uses rooms in the Mechanics Institute to store memorabilia, movies are screened for the elderly and a women’s art group gathers each week.

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The committee received a $30,000 grant from the Federal Government seven years ago to fix the halls’ gutters and drainage spouts, which means the chances of receiving another major grant are low. “We’ve been successful in getting small grants, (but) you’ve got to remember that with old buildings like that it costs a lot of money to keep them up to standard,” Tom said. Tatura Rotary Club has already donated $500 towards the appeal — which is the group’s yearly contribution, Tom said — so there is still a way to go before the funding target is reached.

New blocks released On the site of an old apricot orchard, 12 new lots have been released onto Tatura’s property market. BY GIANNI FRANCIS

town.”

Apricot Court is the new kid on the block, and there are only four of the 2000 square metre rural lots located five minutes away from town.

Lenon said the blocks would be ready to be built on in late December.

“We already sold eight lots without even advertising,” Bantam Property Group managing director Lenon Stewart said.

“It’s a great opportunity for families to expand, or farmers to move in closer to town but still want the land,” he said.

“It’s a very limited opportunity to get that size land so close to

“And it’s a private court, so less traffic.”

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Government, but in the last round of grant applications, Tom said there were 1000 per cent more applicants than money available for allocation.

Lots in Apricot Court are for sale.

‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022 – 13

Baking new and tasty treats Tatura Hot Bread may boast one of the best vanilla slices in Victoria, but new owners Sophia, George and Olivia Wells are also determined to create new and delicious products to delight their customers. BY GIANNI FRANCIS Olivia Wells is the baker behind the business; she’s a master of the classics, but a maestro of creative and experimental pastries. The bakehouse supervisor is not afraid to try something new, and is always experimenting and bringing fresh new products to town.

“Not so many locals but more people visiting from out of town.” The community has been supportive of the new products, and even though some experiments aren’t as successful as others, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, George said.

“We’re passionate about what we do,” Olivia said. “We try and have two or three different things each week. “For example, every week we do a few different flavoured cheesecakes to change it up so when people come in there’s something different to try. “We’ve just put on two apprentices as well so it gives them a chance to try new aspects of the industry and get experience as well.” The Wells are keeping up with the latest trends and consumer demands, introducing vegan and gluten-free products.

“There’s more and more gluten-free and vegan people getting around nowadays so you’ve got to cater for them,” co-owner and manager George said.

Taking over in the midst of lockdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t slow the family down. “The lockdowns were always interesting,” George said. Outbreaks in the community and the subsequent lockdowns would wipe out the staff for weeks at a time. But George said the community was supportive and understanding of the challenges they faced and he was grateful for their continued patronage.

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Olivia Wells, 20, isn’t afraid to take charge in the bakery, where she leads the team.

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14 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming

Chicken empire spreads its wings Tatura Charcoal Chicken’s empire has conquered the surrounding towns of Shepparton and Kyabram since opening two years ago. BY GIANNI FRANCIS Store manager and empress of the expansive chicken empire, Sue Bevilacqua, started her campaign on Hogan St, Tatura back in May 2020. And despite the business starting at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was able to spearhead the success and expansion of the chicken shop. “It was hard, but the best thing about it all was that we did not have to close, and we did not have to terminate anyone,” Sue said. “The secret of our success is our amazing chickens and the way they’re cooked, our amazing chips and secret seasoning that we have.“ While residents across Greater Shepparton were locked-down and the supermarket shelves were bare at the height of the pandemic, Tatura Charcoal Chicken was providing great value to families doing it tough. Sue’s daughter was stuck in Melbourne

Tickling Tatura’s tastebuds.

inside Victoria’s ring of steel, and when Tatura was hit hard, she donated $500 to help out her home town that they used to hand out 30 food packages to families in need.

Sue’s motto is “not just a chicken shop”, and Tatura Charcoal Chicken is also looking to expand and diversify its culinary offerings into things like Asian cuisine and pasta.

“Because she’s a country girl through and through,” her proud mother said.

The business is already offering catering for events, and has started

doing banquet nights where people can go the buffet and feed two for $20. It could be roast, it could be pasta, but it will always be different and interesting.

Tatura Library — the best FREE entertainment in town! Free Free Free Free Free Free

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Story Time — 2nd & 4th Thursday Craft & Coffee - 1st Thursday Not a member? It is easy, and FREE, to join — or just come along and enjoy your library.

www.gvlibraries.com.au

‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022 – 15

Caring for generations of residents With no end to Greater Shepparton’s doctor shortage in sight, Tatura Medical Centre has played a critical role in providing primary health care. BY GIANNI FRANCIS Tatura Medical Centre has been taking on patients from Shepparton, Mooroopna, Kialla, Kyabram and beyond as those towns’ local clinics have been unable to retain the doctors necessary to meet patient demand. “We’ve been getting a lot of overflow, we’ve got a lot of new patients that have come from other clinics that aren’t able to help them at the moment,” practice manager Denise Caldwell said. “There’s been a couple of doctors in the Goulburn Valley area that have retired recently or are retiring very soon. So all those patients are looking for another clinic.” With six doctors at the clinic, Denise said Tatura Medical offered as many appointments as possible and was fully booked every day. “‘We’re probably taking at the moment, I would expect, probably between 15 and 20 new patients a week,” she said. In addition, the six doctors at Tatura Medical Centre support the Tatura

The Tatura Medical Centre team includes Dr Monica Atkins, Sharon Heard, Sarah Anderson, Natasha Boyle, Anna Trazzera and Denise Caldwell.

Hospital by seeing their patients and caring for residents in local aged care homes.

Throughout the doctor droughts, Tatura Medical’s doctors have been stalwart members of the community.

“Parents came here when they were kids, and then they bring their kids,” Denise said.

“We’re trying to do what we can because doctors are so light on the ground at the moment,” Denise said.

“One of our doctors has been here for 30 years. Another one’s been here for 22 years, then another one’s been here for 20 years,” Denise said.

“And now, their kids are starting to bring their kids.”

“And it’s not a new problem for the Goulburn Valley; it’s been a long-term problem, trying to attract doctors to the Goulburn Valley has been a problem for a very long time.”

The clinic itself has been providing healthcare to families for almost 60 years, in that time seeing multiple generations of Tatura residents.

Tatura Medical Centre is a private practice, meaning there is no bulk billing. However, the clinic does bulk bill for children aged under 16 and offers discounts to pensioners.

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16 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming

Twenty years of goodwill You never know what donated treasures you’ll see through the front window of Tatura’s Generations Op Shop, but the real value to the community goes beyond a thrifty bargain. BY GIANNI FRANCIS Started by Pat Cornwall in an old pizza shop, Tatura’s Generations Op Shop is now celebrating 20 years with a week-long sale from September 3 to 10, culminating in an afternoon tea to acknowledge the hard work of volunteers and the role the shop has played in the community. Generations Op Shop manager Neville Crow has seen Tatura volunteers dedicate thousands of hours over the past 20 years to make affordable goods available to those in need. It’s all about building community for Neville, who doesn’t hesitate to give — free of charge — items of clothing or furniture to families in need.

for members of the community in need. “We’ve developed a food pantry now which runs every fortnight,” Neville said. “If people need assistance they can approach us and we can offer frozen goods — sometimes fresh goods, too — which were picked up from Shepparton Foodshare that can be distributed to families and individuals when they need it.” And the proceeds raised from the op shop are invested straight back into the community via $2000 cheques every few months, Neville said.

“At the end of the day we can’t take anything with us, but if we give goodwill and help people on the journey, I think that’s more important than anything,” Neville said.

“We support various organisations including local hospitals, hospital aged care and the fire brigade and the SES branch, as well as other people who may need assistance … [with] furniture or other help that is needed.

But there’s more to Generations Op Shop than second-hand clothes and furniture. Over the years the shop has become a front-line service provider

“Obviously, the last few years, we’ve been struggling because of everything, but generally, we’ve been pretty consistent.”

John Lovell operates the Tatura newsagency with his wife Jenny.

Lovells love their ‘vibrant’ town The newsagency at 138 Hogan St is where locals and tourists gather to hear more about what’s on in Tatura. BY CLEMENCE CARAYOL

weekends.

This lovely store, full of diverse goodies along with the usual lot of magazines and newspapers, is thriving thanks to Jenny and John Lovell.

“Young couples and families are moving into our town because everything’s covered here, especially when it comes to football, netball or even bowls — and all the amenities required for these sports.”

The Lovells have been operating the shop for almost two decades, after settling down in town 18 years ago. Tatura is one-of-a-kind when it comes to living and enjoying life, according to John. “Tatura has got the best of both worlds,” he said. “It’s close to Shepparton, we have got a very diverse retail offering, plenty of industry, a lot of employment and on top of that a lot of development going on.” The newsagent has been noticing more young families moving from Melbourne to Tatura, along with an increasing flow of tourists on the

Pick up some quirky accoutrements to complete your wardrobe.

For John, if he had to describe Tatura in two words, he would say “vibrant” and “progressive”. His wife Jenny rejoices in living in such a strong community. “People have a great sense of community here, and with the new development going on we hope that more and more people will take on an interest in our lovely rural town,” she said. “Locals and tourists are starting to really appreciate their little retail shopping strip, and we are blessed with good food as we have so many lovely eateries here.”

Find a bargain at Generations Op Shop.

‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022 – 17

Monster sale raises vital funds Tatura Community House is getting ready for the annual Monster Garage Sale. Residents across Tatura register their garage sales with Tatura Community House, and at 8am on September 10, the house will start selling maps showing every garage sale in town. The Monster Garage Sale has become a town tradition, Tatura Community House manager Tom Boocock said. “It’s a great opportunity to get the town moving and meet your neighbours,” he said. More than 300 maps were sold and 70 stalls were registered when the Monster Garage Sale last ran in 2019, raising more than $600. The proceeds from the sale go towards keeping the house’s doors open so the house can continue to provide critical front-line services to the community. Tom said it was one of the biggest annual fundraisers for Tatura Community House, and a great opportunity for people to learn

more about the role of the house in the community. “It's vital for the community to have neighbourhood houses, because no-one else is going to provide the services that we offer. “We catch a lot of people that have fallen through the gaps.” Community houses are often the first port of call for people in need, offering everything from healthcare to food relief and referrals to specialist services. “It's just a place a safe place for community members to go,” Tom said. Tatura Community House is partnered with Shepparton Foodshare, and prepares frozen meals to be distributed to people in need. Registrations for the Monster Garage Sale will cost $25 and will be open from July 11. Maps will be sold on the day for $2 at Tatura Community House.

Tatura Community House managers Tom Boocock and Nadine Pichler are getting ready for the next Monster Garage Sale.

Combined Knowledge of Over 30 Lawyers

Dawes & Vary Riordan have been a part of the legal and business landscape in the Goulburn Valley since the 1890s and look forward to continuing to assist locals with their legal matters for years to come.

Dawes & Vary Riordan can offer clients access to lawyers with specific knowledge in particular areas of law. • Immigration • Property, Planning & Construction • Banking & Finance • Corporate & Commercial • Water & Water Trading • Litigation & Dispute Resolution • Agribusiness • Local Government • Intervention Orders

• Employment • Family Law Children & Property Matters • Injury Law/TAC Claims • Superannuation • Succession & Estate Planning • Wills & Powers of Attorney • Deceased Estates

For experienced and efficient legal advice in relation to any of these matters, please feel free to contact us

Dawes & Vary Riordan Lawyers Address: 146 Hogan Street, Tatura VIC 3616

18 – ‘Tatura’s Booming’, July, 2022

TATURA’S Booming

Shopping with a quirky twist Tinkers Twist is Tatura’s funkiest retail shop that’s upcycling forgotten treasures and showcasing the work of local artists, crafters, makers and creators. “We’re fun and funky retail with a difference,” owner Sharryn Smith said. “It’s an eclectic array of stuff with a lot of local artists thrown into the mix.” Artists and crafty folk sell their creations through Tinkers Twist, making it the perfect place to find original pieces from Goulburn Valley artists.

Not a lot of people use it because they don’t know it’s there, and Sharryn said she would love to see more people using the book exchange. “There’s tons of books,” she said. “I’m a book lover and I would like to see people using it.”

It’s the perfect place to find that special gift for yourself (or others) to complete a home or garden. “There’s something for everyone, something quirky you’re not going to find at Kmart,” Sharryn said. It’s a small shop and Sharryn has to be creative with space but she has managed to fill it with all sorts of interesting items she has acquired from all over northern Victoria. There is also a book exchange with new and used books — some for sale and some for borrowing and swapping.

Sharryn Smith is the owner of Tinkers Twist.

Sharryn Smith and her book exchange.

Tinkers Twist is the quirkiest shop in Tatura.

Non-stop action at Tatura Park Tatura Park Exhibition and Events Complex is home to a myriad of events throughout the year, including International Dairy Week — the largest dairy show in the Southern Hemisphere, which is held every January. Since the return of events to the facility earlier this year, Tatura Park has only had three weekends free. From the end of July onwards, the complex is booked every weekend until the week before Christmas. Events range from smaller training sessions with about 10 horses to major events with up to 190 horses. International Dairy Week has drawn around 7500 attendees in previous years,

and annual total visitors to Tatura Park reach 16,000 to 17,000. In 2017-18, equestrian events brought an economic impact to the region of $1,475,893. Some upcoming events include: • Victorian State Indoor Showjumping Championships. • Field of Dreams Show. • Extreme Cowboy Racing International Championships.

The Southern Seven Cutting Horse Show is just one event that’s been held at Tatura Park.

Matters - Tatura

July 2022

HOSPITAL SUNDAY The Community Reference Committee and Ladies Auxiliary are looking at dates in the spring for Hospital Sunday – a date will be announced as soon as confirmed. To find out more about the function of these community groups and the value and importance they hold for the Tatura campus, check out our video on the Tatura Hospital and Parkvilla Aged Care Facility Facebook page.

RESIDENT ACTIVITIES COMMUNITY We appreciate the ongoing support of the local community. A big thank you to the Tatura Bowls Club for their kind donation and to the many local businesses who supported them in their fundraising which included Chargrill Chicken, Foodworks Tatura, Hazel Grace Homewares, Meats and Moore, Mooroopna Bakery, Pental Factory Sales, Pizza Nostra, Ritchies IGA Tatura, Shepparton RSL, Soak Body Beauty and Homewares, SPC Ardmona Factory Sales, Tatura Family Butchers, Tatura Hotel, Tatura Newsagency, Tatura Pharmacy, Tatura Top Pub Lagozzinos, Tinkers Twist, Unilever Australia, Victoria Hotel, Watches and Diamonds – Tatura Jewellers.

With the days continuing to get colder and shorter, our residents have been participating in more indoor activities. Balloon games, indoor golf putting, word games and bingo were just some of the fun activities they participated in, with even a facial and nails pampering day for the ladies. The residents also celebrated their favourite footy

teams by dressing in their team’s footy colours and eating meat pies. We appreciate your ongoing assistance with the visitor restrictions. There have been some announcements by the Government in recent days of changes to visiting restrictions and mask wearing, and we will update our visiting requirements once official notifications are received.

Last year we were able to use their kind donation to go towards the purchase of outdoor furniture and this year we are looking at a Tatura mural opposite the nurse’s station in Parkvilla. Our Community Health Coordinator, Jenny John, organised an information session on Advance Care planning which was facilitated by Austin Health. Those that attended found it to be very helpful and informative and future sessions will be organised and advertised. Jenny has also organised for Hearing Australia to provide a hearing clinic at the Tatura Community House on Tuesday 26th July 2022 between 10:30am and 2:30pm. Bookings can be made at the Tatura Community House at 12-16 Casey street Tatura.

INTERPRETER SERVICES

For a full list of all Goulburn Valley Health Services, visit www.gvhealth.org.au

64-68 Park Street, Tatura VIC 3616 Australia

Translation

P 03 5824 8400 E taturaadmin@gvhealth.org.au Like us on Facebook (Italian)

CREATE. Outstanding. countabilit

If you require an interpreter when visiting the hospital, ask a GV Health staff member.

CREATE. Outstanding.

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Wednesday July 27 - Tuesday August 23

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