Ocean Grove Voice - 4th January 2017

INSIDE THIS EDITION…

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Voice Ocean Grove

YEAR IN REVIEW, INSIDE

January 4 - 17, 2017

OCEAN GROVE’S NUMBER ONE NEWSPAPER

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Sealing charge THE City of Greater Geelong will declare a Special Charge Scheme to partially fund the sealing of 1.4km of roads around Baker Street in Ocean Grove.

City Administrator Peter Dorling said the road sealing and drainage works were scheduled to start by mid-2017.

Mr Dorling said 106 individual properties would benefit from the works, which include sealing all unsealed portions of roads at Field Street South, Baker Street, Osborne Street and Inskip Street, along with intersection safety improvements.

He said The Esplanade, between Field Street South and Inskip Street, would also be sealed but would not be included as part of the scheme.

Mr Dorling said the total cost of the project was estimated to be $1899,146, including a City contribution of $707,764, comprising $324,480 for underground drainage improvements; $173,040 to seal the Esplanade and $210,244 in recognition of benefits the scheme would provide to the wider community.

He said under the scheme ratepayers would contribute $1,191,382 to the project, amounting to charges of between $1190 and $9521 for 106 individual properties, with property owners able to pay back the charges in instalments over a five-year period.

“This project follows extensive consultation with residents, and will provide a number of benefits, including improved road and pedestrian safety and access to the foreshore areas, which are vitally necessary to a growing community,” he said.

Ocean Grover Nikola Korsten is gearing up for the busy tourist season after having only just taken over her own hair salon at the age of 22.

For the full story, see page 7.

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News

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Surfing for all abilities

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Volunteers, carers and participants love the surfing days put on by the DSA. 163456

chairs are available for use along the Bellarine and Surf coast free of charge by the community at any time by arrangement. This enables a person with special needs to experience the beach at any time with family and friends all year round.

Participants, carers and volunteers can email dsaoceangrove@ gmail.com or go to http://disabledsurfers.org/vic/ocean-grove-branch/ to get further event information, register your interest as a volunteer or if you would like to sponsor the branch in some way.

What’s a snag in bread without sauce? 163101

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EVERYONE deserves to experience the adrenaline rush of riding a wave.

And that’s where Ocean Grove Disabled Surfers comes in.

Their aim is to provide an inclusive experience for all people with any disability to experience the rush of riding a wave.

And with a new year brings a new set of dates to help people of any disability experience the thrill of the surf.

The club held a barbecue and information day at Wallington Mitre 10 recently and also announced dates of the 2017 DSA season.

Anyone interested in participating or volunteering can put Sunday 5 February and Sunday 5 March in their diaries. That’s when the DSA will hold its 2017 event.

The club has world class beach facilities that help make the experience as inclusive as possible. This includes: Special needs changing/amenities; Wheelchair ramp access from the carpark all the way to the sand Specialised Beach Wheelchairs (to suit adults and children) The Specialised Beach Wheel-

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The DSA held a barbecue at Wallington Mitre 10. 163101

Carrying the message forward with jute the Bellarine Farmers’ market and local events.

Both stores are keen to support Coastcare in spreading the message about the need to keep plastic bags out of our dunes, river and ocean.

Plastic breaks down in the ocean, attracts toxins, and is eaten by fish, making its way up the food chain to us.

The bags make a great Christmas present, either on their own or filled with food or other treats.

The bags are available for $5, with proceeds being returned to Coastcare’s ongoing campaign.

- Chiropractic - Myotherapy - Podiatry Dr Kane Fraser B. App. Sc (Clinical Chiropractic)

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TWO Ocean Grove shops are now selling the ‘Let Our Sea Be Plastic Bag Free’ jute bags, to assist the local plastic bag reduction campaign in the town.

Recently changing hands, the Ocean Grove Fresh Fruit shop has come on board, joining Driftwood Cafe to extend the opportunity for local shoppers and visitors to purchase a unique, locally designed bag.

Adopting the design from the Barwon Heads Primary School, Ocean Grove Coastcare arranged for the production of the bags and has been making them available at

Open 6 Days

14 Tuckfield St, Ocean Grove Driftwood Cafe’s Ty Simons and Carolyn Gregory from Ocean Grove Fresh Fruit with the new jute bags. 163011

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The DSA events are loads of fun for all. 163456

News

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Music feast at fair of fun IT’S that time of year again - the weekend when the Tranquility Fair hits Ocean Grove.

The fair is a feast of local and international music, natural therapies, high quality crafts and eclectic food.

Held on 7 January at Ocean Grove Park, the Tranquility Fair has been an annual feature for almost 20 years, and is one of the area’s most popular events that attracts crowds from all over the Bellarine.

The fair is a wonderful place to catch up with friends and neighbours, and enjoy the stimulating tastes and talent, all in the heart of Ocean Grove.

With more than 100 stalls and activities, you won’t be bored. Relax and revive with massage, meditation, yoga and other alternative therapies.

Delight your tastebuds with exciting sweet and savoury foods from all around the world, including Turkish, Mexican, Tibetan, as well as the reliable Aussie snag.

The kids will be amused with activities and rides, and there is plenty of room for them to play among the gum trees.

If you are inclined to lay back and listen, or even get up and dance, the music begins on the Grove Pavilion stage at 10am. This year’s line-up features a list of top artists and a variety of sounds, culminating with Jordie Lane, recently back from the US. With his new band, the Sleepers, he extends his musical boundaries far beyond his acclaimed folk and alternative country sound.

The legendary Nick Barker is featured with The Heartache State, doing what he does best, basic ‘70s rock’n’roll.

Irish singer/songwriter Gallie, will be performing his dramatic tales backed by his simple, easy folk sound.

Hey Mammoth, an all female trio entertains with their acoustic, folky sounds, sprinkled with edgy harmonies and lyrics. Added to this are the emerging talent of Ez Bjornenak and the rollicking and romantic sounds of Gypsy Smash to round out the artists.

Entry for a full day of fun and entertainment is only $3, with children under 12 admitted free. All the proceeds go to maintaining the park for the benefit of the community.

Crowds will flock to the Tranquility Fair. 148676

Chloe O’Brien, centre, and Buddy and Natalie McGregor, right, enjoyed last year’s Tranquility Fair. 148676

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Owns her own salon at 22

By Justin Flynn NIKOLA Korsten is a young woman who knows what she wants in life.

From an early age, Nikola knew she not only wanted to be a hairdresser, but her dream was to run her own business and it became a reality only weeks ago when she took over Ruby Room Hair & Beauty at the age of 22.

“I always used to cut my dolls’ hair,” Nikola said.

“And then I had a horse so I cut his tail and mane and the dog didn’t escape either.”

Nikola has grown up in Ocean Grove, attending Surfside Kindergarten, Surfside Primary School and then Bellarine Secondary College. She completed a school-based hairdressing apprenticeship and started work at the Ruby Room when she was 15.

When the opportunity came to buy into the business she’d learned her craft at, it was too good to turn down.

“The opportunity came up and I knew we’d already had a good clientele base, and they’ve been very supportive,” Nikola said.

Nikola’s advice to any young person wanting to start out in their own business is simple.

“You have to be really passionate about it,” she said.

“There’s no point doing it if you’re not.”

Nikola remembers the day she first cut a paying customer’s hair.

“I’d practised on friends and mannequins but the first time was very, very nerve-racking,” she said.

“It did take a little while for the nerves to go away, but obviously I’m fine now. The best part is making peo-

Nikola Korsten has taken over her own business at the age of 22. 163475 ple happy. The girls who work here are all lovely and we all get along so well.”

So what does Nikola think of taking over the Ruby Room only weeks

before the tourist season?

“Our regular clients keep us going through the winter, and I never thought someone would want to get their hair

r Hire fo r e p 5 2 $ hour

cut while on holidays, but it’s surprising how many do,” she said.

Nikola said it took 20 minutes in the morning and that “it’s important to

present yourself well” and loves Ocean Grove because “it’s a beautiful place to live, a lovely place to work and a small town growing”.

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Year in Review 2016

JANUARY OCEAN Grove Community Association was leading the push for footpaths on Grubb Road, after reports of pedestrians walking dangerously close to traffic. OGCA president Michael Harbour said he had seen people walking on Grubb Road, including school children. “We’ve noticed people are walking down Grubb Road with prams because there are no footpaths,” he said. “We think that needs to be urgently addressed.”

BARWON Heads resident Sally Smith was left searching for five heroic beach-goers, who she says saved

FEBRUARY SOME 750 people competed in the first ever Barwon Heads Triathlon, including 115 from Ocean Grove. The event was the brainchild of Ocean Grove local Lincoln Beckworth and Jan Juc’s Pete Currie. “We sold out five weeks before the event as we had no more room left in transition,” Lincoln said. “It’s been awesome to see so many people willing to get involved and getting excited about the event.” The run leg of

MARCH OCEAN Grove welcomed its new top cop, Senior Sergeant Shane Madigan. Shane took over as officer in charge (OIC) of the Bellarine Police Station on 15 February, replacing Senior Sergeant Angelo Ferraro.

Shane grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne and his family often travelled to the Bellarine.

CALLS for more police officers and CCTV grew louder after burglars smashed their way into three stores in The Terrace. The burglars used sledgehammers to break into The Groove, Seaside Pizza and Ocean

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CONSTRUCTION on a four-level motel in The Terrace was slated to begin later in the year after the City of Greater Geelong Council issued a planning permit for the project in its latest meeting. Project developer Mark LeMaistre was pleased with the council’s decision on Thursday 7 April. “It’s a good result for us we are hoping we will start construction sometime this year,” he said. “We feel there’s a real

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the event passed through Ocean Grove after crossing the Barwon Heads Bridge. Competitors ran along the sands of RAAFs Beach and climbed the stairs just before Ocean Grove Main Beach, before running back to Barwon Heads.

THE hunt for retailers for Kingston Village kicked off after development company Lascorp appointed Colliers International as its exclusive leasing agent.

Colliers appointed Mike Crittenden and Bernard Canning as the agents for the soon-to-be-built shopping centre, which will be Grove Pizza and Pasta on 9 March.

Sergeant Grant Langmaid said the burglaries were likely committed by the same “crew” that targeted a number of stores in Geelong and Barwon Heads the same morning.

Groove owner Ivy Zhang said her store was burgled in a less than a minute, after viewing its CCTV footage. “It’s very annoying to have to deal with it first thing in the morning,” she said. “It’s scary - I’ve lived in Ocean Grove for 10 years and this has never happened to my shop.”

OCEAN Grove locals opened their hearts and wallets at Easter, donating $42,008 to the Royal Children’s shortage of higher-end accommodation for people looking to stay in Ocean Grove.” Mr LeMaistre said limited cooking facilities onsite would lead to more business in The Terrace. “All the patrons will be dining and eating breakfast up the street,” he said.

STATE Shadow Emergency Services Minister Brad Battin brought the debate for firefighters’ rights to Ocean Grove, signing a pledge for presumptive legislation. “Volunteers protect us and we should commit to protecting them,” he said. Pre-

MAY A LARGE blaze tore through an equipment shed at Ocean Grove Golf Club causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. The fire started about 10.15am and the smoke billowing from the shed could be seen from kilometres away, as residents looked on. Nearby resident Dale Park said his wife called triple-zero after hearing an explosion and seeing the fire erupt. “I reckon there were gas bottles in there,” Mr Park said. “It nearly blew her off the bloody treadmill!” The golf club’s

MAY: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews with OGPS students.

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chairman of greens Ray Danks watched from the course, as fire burned through the shed and the roof collapsed. He said the fire would have destroyed the course’s

JUNE AN initiative by Bellarine Police to help local traders prevent the recent plague of shop break-ins on The Terrace was launched in Ocean Grove. The Terrace was hit hard by a spate of break-ins, but Bellarine Police Station commander Senior Sergeant Shane Madigan said a few simple precautions would go a long way to discouraging potential thieves. Police were encouraging local business owners to display a ‘No Cash Left on Premises’ sign on

community services

JANUARY: Sally Smith and her rescuers, Louise Challis, Donna Larkins and Shonah Friswell. 148947 her life just days before Christmas.

Sally, 54, was swimming at RAAFs Beach (19W) on 18 December, after her daughter had left, when she was caught in a rip. “Within seconds I

JUNE: No cash here. 155552 their shop windows and to display their empty till at the front door while closed. “We’re getting this ‘no cash on premises’ to happen and to try and get our traders to commit to it,” Sen Sgt Madigan said.

was being sucked out and I couldn’t get my feet on the ground,” she said.

Sally said if the rip had dragged her into the deep she would not have survived. “I knew if I floated out noone would be able to see me,” she said.

AND only a matter of days after the Voice published the story of Sally’s rescuers, she found them. Sally finally got to thank the three brave women, who saved her life just days before Christmas. The Voice helped track down Ocean Grove’s Louise Challis, and Geelong’s Shonah Friswell and Donna Larkins, who rescued Sally at RAAFs Beach. one of the largest in the Bellarine. Mr Crittenden said Kingston Village will be the home to a new Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and Aldi, as well as 20-plus specialty retailers.

THOUSANDS basked in the afternoon sun at the 21st Ocean Grove Primary School Apple Fair.

The smell of sizzling sausages filled the air as fairgoers sampled homemade curries, nachos and more. Children, parents and grandparents alike were moving to the tunes and youngsters rode on ponies and the Cha Cha. Hospital Good Friday Appeal. The town has long been one of the most generous contributors to the appeal and the (official) total eclipsed the 2015 total of $40,800. Local appeal co-ordinator Alistair Drayton said it had been another great year. “We are seeing an increase in the number of businesses supporting this cause which is a fantastic response,” he said. Ocean Grove Fire Brigade contributed $10,200 from roadside collections, beating last year’s amount of $9625. Ocean Grove Bowling Club’s raffle raised $13,836, while Collendina Holiday Park’s golf day raised $6001. sumptive legislation makes it easier to claim compensation for specific cancers commonly suffered by firefighters. It presumes the cancer is caused by exposure to chemicals at work, unless proven otherwise. The pledge comes as the State Government decides how it will implement the legislation - which it promised to deliver this year.

Then Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said the government was working through the details. automatic watering system and computer systems, along with other maintenance equipment.

MOUNTAIN to Mouth came to a spectacular end at Barwon Heads with the burning of its centrepiece artwork - Canoe. Ocean Grove’s Tara Lynch said the burning symbolised the completion of its journey carrying water from the You Yangs to the Barwon River. “Once the Canoe has done its job it’s time to say goodbye,” she said.

Tara was involved the extreme arts walk from start to finish, performing in both the opening and closing ceremonies.

OCEAN Grove’s Steve Neville launched the “Homeless Portable Bed Project” to provide portable camping beds for the homeless.

“I thought there’s got to be something I can do which really makes a difference - that nobody else is doing,” he said. “It’s about getting them off the ground and out of the cold and the wet. You’d be surprised how appreciative they are.” Steve hoped providing bedding for rough sleepers can have positive “ripple” effects, like freeing up money for other homelessness services.

Year in Review 2016

KINGSTON Estate residents shivered through an uncomfortably cold night after their gas was cut.

They were left with no gas heating or hot water as the mercury plummeted to five degrees by 7pm with a wind-chill factor of around minus three. Angry residents swamped their gas supplier AusNet with phone calls and emails during the outage. It wasn’t the first time the estate has had its gas supply cut as demand outstripped supply during colder days and nights. Some residents

reported no interruption to their services, but others said it was the second time they had experience an outage. AusNet confirmed there was a sporadic loss of services on the night.

A SIMPLE Facebook post asking for donations of flannelette and towelling so that adolescent girls in Africa can go to school received an overwhelming response from Ocean Grove locals. Ocean Grove grandmother Heather Edsall posted on the OGBH Community Noticeboard page asking for the materials so that she, and her sewing students, could

AUGUST KINGSTON estate residents who shivered through two gas outages in July were relieved to know that new pipelines were being installed by their gas supplier, AusNet. The outages, which left dozens of households without heating or hot water on two bitterly cold nights, were expected to be a thing of the past with AusNet Services increasing gas capacity to Ocean Grove with the construction of an alternative gas supply into the Kingston Ocean Grove Estate near

AUGUST: Local author Alan Cobham. 157578 Evergreen Circuit. AusNet Services’ principal gas planning engineer Mark Baker said that gas usage hit record levels due to significant population growth combined with record cold days.

SEPTEMBER OCEAN Grove Kinder hit the big 50.

The kinder celebrated its 50th birthday with a fun day that involved past and present pupils and teachers.

The kinder began life in 1966 and has had many Ocean Grovers walk through its doors in its 50 years.

OCEAN Grove’s iconic Rolling Pin Pie and Cake Shop did it again. The award-winning pie shop added to its already impressive haul of trophies with three more gongs at the Great Aussie Pie Competition. The team’s country lamb and rosemary pie won the overall best pie in the gourmet

SEPTEMBER: kinder’s 50th.

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section and the best pie in the red meat section. They also won the best pie in the breakfast section with the sumptuous breakfast pie.

It didn’t end there. They also won the best poultry pie with the garlic pepper chicken pie. Overall they won

OCTOBER PAT Sheehan was summoned by the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney specifically for his role of Santa Claus leading into Christmas. Pat and wife Bev, who will accompany him as Mrs Claus, travelled up to Sydney where they spent stay until at least Christmas Eve to play Santa Claus for the iconic shopping centre’s Christmas festivities. They spent around six weeks in Sydney in a full-time role - and have been locked in for next year as well. The

OCTOBER: Diane Gardner and Deb Elea. 160170 shopping centre could have had its pick of any local Santa, but so convincing is Pat, it wanted only him. Pat has been playing the role of Santa for 25 years.

NOVEMBER TARGET defended its decision to stop selling menswear from its Ocean Grove store. Target Country stopped selling men’s clothes, prompting many local consumers to express their disappointment via social media and to the Ocean Grove Business Association.

However the retail giant said the decision was part of a trial. It left only the Green Room and Strapper Surf, both on The Terrace, that sell men’s clothes, albeit surfwear.

Ocean Grove Business Association president Ty Simons said he had

NOVEMBER: Relay for Life. 161533 received inquiries about Target’s decision. “The committee has been approached by many residents to see whether we can do anything about it,” he said.

THE annual Relay for Life raised almost $65,000 for cancer research.

DECEMBER ANDREA Robertson won the prestigious Ross Lipson award and also reached the top 30 in the Australian Songwriters Association Songwriting Contest. The Ocean Grove singer, songwriter and musician was presented with the Ross Lipson award at the Queenscliff Music Festival.

The award is in its third year and acknowledges a female from the local area who has shown excellence in, along with promoting and supporting, the local music

DECEMBER: Ocean Grove Playgroup. 162224 industry. “It feels like I’m pinching myself - it’s such a huge honour,” Andrea said. “To be acknowledged for the part that I’m playing in Ocean Grove and the

make reusable sanitary pads to help girls in Africa attend class every day without an interruption to their education. Many girls in impoverished African nations resort to using leaves or even dirt or they simply are unable to attend school during their period.

The response Heather received was “gracious” and “huge”. Good Samaritans delivered the equivalent of 12 garbage bags full of flannelette and towelling while a group of volunteers are helping make the pads and others are volunteering as dropoff points for fabric donators.

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2017

OCEAN Grover Alan Cobham decided to put his innermost thoughts into a book, and finally had the finished product to share. Alan’s book, ‘Magic Moments’ is a memoir of his childhood memories, his first and only romance, children and even his ‘death’. He decided to cobble together a collection of his memories including a section on nicknames. Alan’s nickname is ‘Bassa’ or ‘Bass’ because someone decided he looked like a basset hound.

12 gold medals, three plaques and a giant trophy at the awards, which judges the best pies in the country.

OCEAN Grover Mark Stone completed a successful swim of the English Channel. The 56-year-old made the epic journey in 11 hours and 59 minutes. Mark was in the water at Dover at 2am with his support crew aboard the vessel the Viking Princess.

OCEAN Grovers were being encouraged to befriend the resilient little hooded plover during the nesting season. The endangered bird, which nests all along the Bellarine and Surf Coast, has been upgraded to the ‘vulnerable’ category.

IT’S a long way from Ocean Grove to Las Vegas, but two local women sang at the Sweet Adelines International convention on 20 October. Ocean Grover Diane Gardner and Deb Elea from Barwon Heads went to Nevada as chorus singers at the internationally acclaimed event at the MGM Grand Casino. The MGM’s stage has a capacity to seat 15,000 people, and it is expected to be full for the performances. Both women sing for Geelong Harmony, which is Geelong’s only women’s barbershop chorus.

The event kicked off at Collendina Recreation Reserve and ran nonstop for 24 hours. More than 300 walkers and 25 teams participated. The Candlelight Ceremony on the Saturday evening had an audience of hundreds. Penny Freeman and Corrine Beyer both spoke, telling their stories about how cancer had touched them.

MORE than 100 people attended the Ocean Grove Barwon Heads RSL Sub-branch Remembrance Day service at Ocean Grove Park on 11 November. People paid their respects to our fallen soldiers and a minute’s silence was observed.

Bellarine, it’s a real honour and there would be many that would be deserving of it.”

OCEAN Grove Playgroup was recognised for its longevity and quality. The group was a finalist for Regional Playgroup of the Year at the Playgroup Victoria Awards. Playgroup president Nicola Hyde was a finalist for Playgroup Leader of the Year.

Nicola is in fact the daughter of a founding member. The judges were impressed with the fact that the playgroup has operated since 1981.

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JULY

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Help showcase the real Ocean Grove THE Bellarine Catchment Network, along with Friends of the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve and Ocean Grove Coastcare, are calling for nature photos of Ocean Grove to be included in a new and exciting booklet about the Ocean Grove environment titled ‘Discover the Real Ocean Grove’.

The categories of photographs that are being sourced are indigenous flora - including trees, shrubs, grasslands, wildflowers; indigenous fauna - including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians; and landscape images of coasts, marine, estuary and wetlands.

You might have an image of something unusual like a white-bellied sea-eagle gliding over the coast, or a dolphin out the back while surfing, maybe a whale out front of main beach, or an echidna in your garden.

Along with any beautiful landscape images, indigenous flora, sunsets, sunrises or storms over Ocean Grove that brings our wonderful town and nature to light.

Your images need to be a minimum of 3 megabites, and a maximum of 10 megabites per image and email.

It must align with one of the categories above and have your name and contact details attached.

Send your images to info@environmentbellarine.org.au and in the subject heading write ’Ocean Grove Environment Booklet Photo’.

Bellarine Catchment Network program manager Matt Crawley (pictured with the draft copy of the book) wants people to send in photographs of Ocean Grove's nature for a new book, titled Discover the Real Ocean Grove. 163335 You will receive a response once your image or images have been received.

Submissions close on 31 January.

You will be advised if your image has been selected for use in the booklet and all photographers used will be acknowledged. Three category winners of Indigenous Flora, Indigenous Flora and Landscapes will be advised and awarded prizes.

This project is supported by Ocean Grove Connected Communities, City of Greater Geelong and Ocean Grove Camera & Photo.

Pictures like this could find themselves in the 'Discover the Real Ocean Grove' booklet. 163335 Pat Reid and Carol Naylor helped fill and later distributed the hampers. 163425

Christmas hampers distributed

Get your wildlife photos in. 163335

OCEAN Grove Uniting Church gave out Christmas hampers again this year to disadvantaged families and individuals who attend the Loaves and Fishes food pantry.

The church operates the pantry along with The Wave Baptist Church - with money donated by the dove Opportunity Shop, T.O.W.N. group and Friends of the Community.

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School growth THE Surfside Primary School won a regional garden award in the Victorian School Garden Awards.

The garden specialist and some students travelled to the ceremony in the Royal Botanic Gardens to accept the award - and a $350 voucher that it will put to use by installing more irrigation into the garden.

It’s the second time the school has entered a kitchen garden in the Victorian School Garden Awards. Last year it won a regional award and the Best Garden in the State for its category - primary

school with over 280 students.

The school runs the intensive Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

It has an extensive kitchen garden that essentially provides all of the fresh produce for the kitchen. All students in Grades 4 to 6 participate in weekly garden or kitchen classes. They sow, harvest, prepare and share fresh seasonal produce. Students use excess fruit to make delicious jam and sauce that is sold at the Fresh Food Fair and from the school office to support the program.

The school has just harvested garlic

- more than 100 bulbs that will keep the school supplied for all of 2017. Students have also been busy planting summer crops, including tomatoes, capsicums, beans, corn, eggplant, sweet potato, zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, spring onion, lettuce and sweet basil. They plant late so the bulk of the harvest is ready when school resumes. During the holidays school families look after the chickens and water the garden.

The school has great support from Ocean Grove Rotary Club who have helped with many major projects in the garden.

Lana Purcell with her Children Sienna (8), Eyde (7), Tassia (3) and husband Chris. 162703

Eat it up!

Bec, Victorian School Garden Awards patron Paul Crowe, Aspen and Kasey.

CONVINCING kids to eat healthy food is more than just lessons in nutrition for Ocean Grove mum Lana Purcell. Now a food coach with a growing business, Lana learnt the secrets of her craft when she took over a closed canteen at her children's school.

"We had to be clever and sneaky about it,'' she tells Angie Hilton in Geelong Coast Kids magazine.

"We knew we couldn't go all out with green smoothies and chia pudding. We had to make versions of what they were familiar with, using more-natural ingredients."

Read all about Lana's family and coaching business in the latest edition of Geelong Coast Kids, available now to pick up free at hundreds of family and children's venues around the region.''

ANTIQUE AUCTION SUNDAY 8th January at 10.30 a.m. WOODLANDS AUCTIONS 16 GRUBB RD. OCEAN GROVE 800 Lots inc Antique furniture inc French inc bookcases, sideboards, chests, display cabinets, desks, armoires, hallstand, Oak draw leaf & 3m refectory tables, beds, bedside cabinets, etc. Wide range of quality Bric a Brac inc Moorcroft, Worcester, R/Doulton & Beswick figures, Apprentice furniture, 1960’s art glass, clocks inc 3 long case, clock sets, wall clocks etc, militaria inc propellers, pistols, swords, badges etc, Garagenalia inc bottle stand signs etc, Japanese Okimonos, Sterling silver, Paintings & prints inc D. Bromley, Taxidermy, Toys with many in original boxes, boxes & caddies, copper & pewter ware, walking sticks, fly fishing rods inc Hardy, reels, flies etc, barometers, jewellery, etc.

Ph 52561674 or 0418553910 View Saturday 10-5 Sunday 9-10.30 Catalogue with all photos at woodlandsauctions.com.au selling live at invaluable.com 12335954-PB01-17

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16฀Grubb฀Rd,฀Ocean฀Grove฀•฀Ph:฀5256฀1674

News

17

Seaside visitor has a sting in the tail

Distribution Bluebottles are frequently seen along the east coast of Australia during summer months although are not usually as common in southern and western Victoria.

The sudden appearance of large numbers of bluebottles are a consequence of prevailing easterly winds and currents over previous days and weeks, pushing these open ocean animals ashore, with some washing up on beaches.

· ·

Prevention

swimming when blue· Avoid bottles have been washed

· ·

·

·

Danger to humans Bluebottles can deliver a painful sting when the ten-

HOURS

·

tacles make contact with bare skin, even when washed up dead on the beach.

Intense pain may be felt from a few minutes to many hours and can develop into a dull ache that can spread to surrounding joints.

Children, asthmatics and people with allergies can be badly affected and many cases of respiratory distress have been reported in Australia.

onto the beach as they are likely to still be in the ocean.

The tentacles frequently break off in rough water and can still sting.

Do not touch dead animals as the painful toxin remains active, and nematocysts can still fire long after the animals are dead.

As a precaution, wear protective clothing such as a lycra top, skivvy, wetsuit or stinger suit.

Treatment

stinging occurs, leave the · Ifwater immediately and wash

· ·

off any adherent tentacles with salt water.

If any tentacles are still attached to the skin, gently lift off with tweezers or a gloved hand to minimise more stinging capsules from being fired.

Do not rub the area with wet sand or towel, nor wash with alcohol or vinegar as this will only make it worse.

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BEACHGOERS are being warned to take care to avoid being stung as significant numbers of potentially harmful bluebottle jellyfish have been spotted in coastal areas and bays.

Bluebottle jellyfish have a small deep-blue air-filled float that looks like a half blown-up piece of chewing gum (and gets to about the size of an egg).

Long, thin retractable tentacles hang below this float and can get up to three metres long.

The tentacles are covered in powerful stinging cells.

Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning are asking people to be aware and avoid being stung by these animals.

Look for their presence on the beach, do not touch the animals with bare skin and if present do not enter the water.

18

Every building we design begins with a relationship based on understanding, cooperation, suggestion and creation.

It is a process that encourages individual expression in the building of something lasting and valued.

1234042-CG29-16

yourvoice write to: news@voicegroup.com.au

BE HEARD: Reader letters should be concise and no more than 250 words. Occassionally longer letters will be published at the discretion of the Editor.

Letters should be typed or in neat handwriting. Writers should include their full name, address and business and after hours phone numbers for confirmation.

Letters may be edited for length, clarity or for legal reasons and must be received by Friday close of business.

Opinion

Launch of Bellarine ‘BSafe’ Website LAST week I was pleased to launch the Bellarine Community Safety Group website ’BSafe’.

The site allows residents to access information on a range of community safety topics including personal, road and beach safety as well as crime prevention tips.

It features live news feeds from a range of emergency services including Victoria Police and provides residents with a one-stop shop for all community safety advice.

In late 2014 I was pleased to establish the Bellarine Community Safety Group in partnership with the local community in order to identify and develop community safety strategies for the Bellarine.

The group is made up representatives from local councils, community associations, service clubs and is co-chaired by myself and Assistant Commissioner for Police Tess Walsh.

The Government provided funding of $30,000 for the Bellarine Community Safety Group to support the development of the website and other

first floor 4/78 the terrace, ocean grove p. (03) 5255 3355 | f. (03) 5255 3366 www.mhbd.com.au | e. info@mhbd.com.au

Lisa Neville MP Member for Bellarine For assistance on any issue please ring the Electorate

community crime prevention activities.

The website is a great resource for residents and visitors to get important up-to-date information on how to keep safe.

I encourage all residents to bookmark the new website so they can quickly and easily access the latest information about their area.

To access the BSafe website, go to https:// www.bsafebellarine.com.au/ Thanks to our Emergency Services As we quickly move into the summer holiday season with the annual influx of holiday makers and beach goers I would like to extend an early thanks and acknowledge the great work provided by our emergency service workers.

With thousands of people heading to our beaches surf life saving clubs provide a vital rescue service and Ocean Grove, like all clubs on the Bellarine, do a magnificent job.

Over the years I have enjoyed working with the Ocean Grove Club in ensuring they are well equipped to undertake their important task in

keeping those on the beach safe.

Of course boaters will also be out in force and volunteer groups such as the Ocean Grove Coast Watch Radio and Marine Rescue Squad together with Coast Guard do a great job in keeping them safe.

Summer is also busy for our local police, CFA and SES brigades. I therefore also thank and acknowledge their work as we move into those hot dry and busy months ahead.

Merry Christmas Finally on behalf of my staff and I, I take this opportunity to hope that everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2017.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email or call my office if there are any matters that I may be able to assist you with directly.

Hon Lisa Neville MP Member for Bellarine lisa.neville@parliament.vic.gov.au Twitter@Lisanevillemp Ph; 5248 3462

Office on

lisa.neville@parliament.vic.gov.au Funded from Parliament’s Electorate Office and Communications budget.

1224367-DJ17-16

5248 3462

EUROPEAN VEHICLE

SPECIALISTS AutoLogic Diagnostics FRIENDLY, FULLY QUALIFIED & EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS

A bloomin’ blight I HAVE been kayaking regularly in the Barwon River for nearly nine years. Over recent weeks I have noticed a new and unusual algae growth in the estuary. The algae forms in massive ropelike structures and is rapidly expanding across the shallower areas, choking the other river plants. At low tide it is even covering the young mangrove plants, which will kill them.

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Left unchecked this will become a hazard for boating and eventually kill the river.

Phil Bodel, Ocean Grove

Specialising in all vehicle makes and models including European vehicles such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, etc.

Algae growth in the Barwon River. 162843

Well connected ONE lucky Voice reader was heading off on holidys and snapped this photo while waiting for a connecting flight at Sydney airport. We love getting to go on holidays with our wonderful readers.

Pick up delivery service covering all of the Bellarine Peninsula.

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AUTO CARE OCEAN GROVE 50 Grubb Road. Ph: 5255 1045 info@autocareoceangrove.com.au www.autocareoceangrove.com.au

Pals in the pecking order FLAPPER the chook and Flea the horse are good mates. Here they are hanging out at Mannerim Stables.

19

freetime The Voice guide to arts and entertainment

Making much ado among the vines CELEBRATING 15 years of Shakespeare in the Vines, the highly acclaimed Essential Theatre will be staging one of the Bard’s most loved works, Much Ado About Nothing at Leura Park Estate over two nights on 10 and 11 February.

Much Ado About Nothing is a witty, romantic and timeless tale of two pairs of lovers - and the people who want them to be together - and, the people who try to rip them apart. Under the setting sun, Leura Park Estate provides a stunning backdrop for this colourful and charming comedy.

“Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.”

After victory in battle, Don Pedro leads his soldiers, including the dashing young Claudio and the clever wordsmith Benedick, to the home of Leonato.

The soldiers are greeted warmly by Leonato and his charming daughter Hero and consequently invited to stay.

Leonato’s witty niece Beatrice engages in a merry war of words with Benedick both proclaiming their scorn for love, marriage and each other.

In contrast, Claudio and Hero meeting for the first time, are instantly love struck and are quickly betrothed.

However the bastard brother of Don Pedro, Don John, devises a meddling plan to mess with the unfolding romance.

Lovers are deceived and happiness is threatened. Dogberry and Verges, the comical night watchmen, appear just in time, ensuring that good will defeat all evil!

Whether you’re new to the work of the annual Shakespeare in the Vines at Leura Park Estate or a regular audience member, you are guaranteed a very special night to remember (tip: historically, these tickets are gratefully received Christmas presents and sell out very fast).

The show starts at 7pm with gates opening at 5pm. Seating is provided so there’s no need to worry about that.

Food, wine and other refreshments are available for purchase during the night.

After the show, patrons are invited to kick back in the cellar door, meet and chat with the talented cast and enjoy live music until late.

Limited tickets cost $45 per person and are available only via GPAC www.gpac.org.au or 5225 1200.

Leura Park Estate is at 1400 Portarlington Road, Curlewis. Visit online at leuraparkestate.com.au

Benedick (Grant Foulkes) and Beatrice (Sharon Davis). Picture: Amy Walker

Ten Thousand Things 1/53 Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads | Ph: 5254 2620 Hand crafted jewellery, fashion, accessories, antique and sterling beads, design and repair

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20

what’s ON welcome to any or all of these sessions. For details www.facebook.com/bellarinevolleyball/.

MUSIC/LIVE EVENTS Piping Hot Chicken Shop ■ Check www.pipinghotchickenshop.com.au/ upcoming_gigs.html for upcoming gigs.

Ocean Grove Callisthenics, Ocean Grove Recreation Hall

Barwon Heads Hotel ■ Box of Blues, 6 January ■ Daryl Braithwaite & Band, 13 January, 9.30pm Check barwonheadshotel.com.au/Live_Music.php for upcoming gigs.

■ Wednesdays, Master of Dartness and Poker, from 7pm.

■ Thursdays, Trivia Night, 7.30pm.

■ Friday Happy Hour, 5pm-7pm, raffle, live music.

■ Live acoustic covers in Bakbar Fridays, 10pm-1am.

■ DJs Saturdays, 10pm-1am.

Drysdale Senior Citizens Hall ■ Making waves music/poetry arvo every fourth Sunday of the month, from 2pm5.30pm.

Maggie’s Bar ■ Friday 6 January Kristy Wilson, 7pm ■ Saturday 7 January Tex Miller, 8 pm ■ Sunday 8 January Terry Brown Junior, 5.30pm ■ Friday 13 January Jay Coggers ■ Saturday 14 January Peter Corcoran ■ Sunday 15 January Jack Wright ■ Friday 20 January Dave Dorman ■ Saturday 21 January Paul Carrigg ■ Friday 27 January Ziggy, 7pm ■ Sunday 29 January Claire Bower, 5pm

Break by the beach WITH so many enjoying the New Year on our shores, it may be a timely to mention a few things to help everyone enjoy their New Year at the beach Stick to the made tracks when making your way to the beach, don’t cut through the fragile dunes, and no fires, obviously. Observe the signs on pet restrictions. Enjoy the day out, but please take your rubbish with you.

Happy New Year!

September at Bellarine Aquatic and Sports Centre, Shell Road.

■ Calisthenics classes incorporating dance, song, ballet and gymnastics with strength and creativity. 123 The Avenue, Ocean Grove Recreation Hall. Contact oceangrovecalisthenics@gmail.com

Senior Citizens Hall Ocean Grove ■ Monday 9.15am, gentle exercises to music for 55-plus; 10.15am, gentle exercises to music for 65-plus. Call Marg 5255 1335.

■ Thursday 1pm, Craft Group.

Uniting Church Hall Ocean Grove ■ Wednesdays 9am, Volleyball, 9.30am exercises to music for all ages. Contact Marg on 5255 1335.

Queenscliff RSL Hall ■ Mondays 1.30pm, exercises using chairs for all ages. Contact Marg on 5255 1335.

Leopold Hall, Bellarine Highway

■ Third Saturday of month, 9am-1pm, Ocean Grove Park.

■ Tuesdays 7.45pm-10pm, Scottish Country Dance (formerly Ocean Grove). Ph: 5251 3393.

Buy Bellarine Produce Barn

Barwon Heads Community Hall

Bellarine Community Farmers’ Market

■ Tuckerberry Farm, Saturdays and Sundays, 9am-3pm.

■ Yoga and dance with Tara Lynch. Classes for all ages and abilities. Ph: 0435 481 920.

Barwon Heads Community Hall

Ocean Grove Scout Hall, The Avenue Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove Walkers ■ Tuesdays 9.30am, meet at the shelter in Ocean Grove Park except when taking bus, train or ferry trips. For further information contact Stan 5256 3920 or Helen 0411 534 899.

Koombahla Equestrian Park ■ Tuesday to Friday, after school riding programs special school holiday courses available. Ph: 5256 2742.

Bellarine Church of Christ Hall, 17 Tareeda Way, Ocean Grove ■ Last Wednesday of month, chat room, gentle fun activities, make new friends, afternoon tea. Free event from 1.30pm-3.30pm. Inquiries to Neville on 5255 2837. reading and writing

Ocean Grove Library, corner Presidents Avenue and The Avenue.

■ Wednesdays 10.30am - Toddlertime.

■ Thursdays 11.30am, Babytime - Nursery Verses.

■ Mondays 10.30am - Preschool Storytime.

■ Third Tuesday of month 2.30pm-3.30pm, book chat for adults. Visit www.geelonglibraries.vic.gov.au

Ocean Grove Neighbourhood Centre ■ Program with a range of courses, classes and fun activities. Ph: 5255 4294. health and well-being

Ocean Grove Hotel

Leura Park Estate

■ Wednesday 7pm, 1st/2nd Ocean Grove Scout Group.

■ Last Friday of every month 1pm-3pm, Breast Cancer Support Group (lunch and nibbles). Details Julie Rodger 0435 362 573.

■ Sundays 12.30pm-4.30pm, live music, sensational food and wine. Ph: 5253 3180.

Yoga classes in Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads

Well Women’s Clinics at Ocean Grove, Portarlington and Point Lonsdale

■ First Thursday of every month, 10.45am, Morning Melodies.

McGlashan’s Wallington Estate, Swan Bay Road, Wallington

Cafe Maritana

■ Open weekends and public holidays, 11am5pm, new release wines, gourmet platters and classic car displays. Ph: 5250 5760. get active

■ Beginners, Hatha, Vinyas and Svaroopa Yoga. Ph: 0413 955 331 or kerryn@bluewateryoga.org.au ■ Yoga classes. Tuesdays 6pm-7pm, The Pavillion (corner The Avenue and Presidents Avenue), Hatha fusion, beginners welcome.

Contact Charlotte for a free class at info@ theyogabud.com.au, 0431 110 085.

■ Barwon Heads Yoga, classes are across Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove and all under-18s are free. Website: www.barwonheadsyoga.com.au. Contact Rache on 0430 515 424.

■ Staffed by qualified registered nurses: pap tests, breast health advice and checks, menopause and contraception advice. Appointments (free) phone 5258 0812.

Fourth Monday of every month Combined Probus Club of Ocean Grove, 10am, Shell Road Sports Pavilion. Phone Bryan Olsen 5255 1821.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Lions Club, 7pm, Moorfield Park, Grubb Road. New Lions most welcome. Phone 0418 524 873.

9.45am, St Peter’s Church Hall.

Tuesdays

Bellarine for Refugees, Barwon Heads Community Garden, Barwon Heads, at 3.45pm.

New members always welcome. Any inquiries, Margaret 0419 323 166.

Ocean Grove Bowling Club ■ Happy hour, 5pm-6pm weekdays (excluding public holidays).

Ocean Grove Hotel

■ Live acoustic music Friday nights, open mic nights Wednesday and Thursday nights. Inquiries 5254 1188. Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm.

MARKETS AND FAIRS Rotary Club of Ocean Grove Market ■ First Sunday of month, 9am-1pm, OctoberMarch at Kingston Park, Grubb Road, May-

■ Monthly market, last Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm.

Summer Volleyball ■ 13, 20 and 27 January. Come and try skills clinics 7.30pm-9.30pm at Bellarine Aquatic and Sports Centre, Shell Road, Ocean Grove. $2 per person for coaching, fun and games, prizes, giveaways. All ages, all abilities, all

Samata Yoga classes ■ Tuesdays 6:15pm, Wednesdays 9:30am, 11:00am, 6:30pm, Saturdays 8am. Meditation classes. Thursday 6.30pm. Satya Centre, 100 The Terrace, Ocean Grove. 0428 673 077 or 0402 098 793.

What’s On: phone 5255 3233 or email news@ voicegroup.com.au

Clubs meet Mondays Ocean Grove Bridge Club, 1pm, Marcus Hill Hall, Bellarine Highway end of Banks Road.

Also Wednesdays and Fridays 1pm. Phone Marg 5256 2550.

Bellarine Table Tennis Club, 7pm-9pm, (juniors/seniors) at the Memorial Hall, 123 The Avenue, Ocean Grove. Phone Ian 5256 2242 or Peter 0400 093 831.

Ocean Grove and District Men’s Shed - Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9am to 3pm - and Wednesday, 9am to noon, 17 Smithton Grove.

Phone Ted Price 5255 2595.

Jujitsu, 6.30pm juniors, 7.30pm adults, Surfside Centre. Phone Steve 0438 019 991.

Soft tennis, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Memorial Hall. A social soft tennis gathering for women over 55. Phone Jeanette 5256 1633.

First Monday of every month Bellarine Fly Fishing Association, 7.30pm, Shannon Park, Shannon Avenue, Newtown.

Phone Pat on 0414 959 248 or Bruce on 0407 361 319 or email bffa@hotmail.com Legacy Laurel Group of Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, 1.30pm at St Peter’s Church Hall, Draper Street. Details 5255 2820 or 5154 2873.

Third Monday of every month Ocean Grove RSL, 2.30pm, Club Grove. Committee meets at 1.30pm, The Terrace.

Ocean Grove Garden Club, 1.30pm, Uniting Church Hall, Eggleston Street. Phone Dianne 0422 134 810.

Ocean Grove-Surfside Mixed Probus Club, 10.30am Ocean Grove Bowling Club. Fun, fellowship, friendship. Visitors welcome, phone 5255 2074, surfsideprobus.org.au Bellarine Fly Fishing Association, 7.30pm, Shannon Park, Shannon Avenue, Newtown.

Phone Pat 0414 959 248 or Bruce 0407 361 319 or bffa@hotmail.com

First Tuesday of each month If you are new to the area, or would just like to enjoy some time with other people, we invite you to join us at our Meet ‘n’ Greet morning tea. Venue is Springdale Neighbourhood Centre and we get together the first Tuesday of the month at 10.15am to enjoy a cuppa and a chat. There is no charge for this. Further details contact Jackie on 0439 473 244 or just come along on the day.

Bellarine Table Tennis Club, 10am to noon (adults only) at the Memorial Hall, 123 The Avenue, Ocean Grove. Phone Ian 5256 2242 or Peter 0400 093 831.

Bellarine TOWN, 5.30pm, Uniting Church Hall, Eggleston Street. Phone Doreen on 5255 2856.

Ocean Grove Senior Citizens Club, The Terrace Tuesday 1pm. Also Thursday and Friday 1.30pm. Phone Dianne on 5255 2996.

Rotary Club of Ocean Grove, 6pm, Club Grove.

Phone 0457 315 900.

Barwon Heads Chorale, 7.30pm, at the Anglican Church Barwon Heads. All abilities welcome for a sing and a laugh. Phone Jo 5254 2670.

Second Tuesday of month National Seniors Bellarine Peninsula Branch meets at St James Church Hall, Collins Street, Drysdale, 2pm-4pm. Guest speaker on varying subjects related to seniors at each meeting. If you are over 50 and would like to make new friends you are welcome to join in.

Contact Jackie on 0439 473 244 for info.

First and Third Tuesday of every month

Last Tuesday of every month.

Wednesdays Ocean Grove and District Men’s Shed, 9am to 1pm, 17 Smithton Grove. Phone 0475 418 377. After hours Bruce Ward 5255 8827.

Chord Club - meet to make music: first and third Wednesday of the month, 4pm, at 101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove.

Jujitsu, 6.30pm juniors, 7.30pm adults, Surfside Centre. Phone Steve 0438 019 991.

First Wednesday of every month Bellarine Business Women, from 7pm, Suma Park Winery, Bellarine Highway. For details contact info@bellarinebusinesswomen.com. au or 0412 199 467.

U3A Art Group: Drysdale meets every Wednesday, at 1.15pm, at Drysdale Tennis Club. Tutor is Dr Ted Reilly who usually gives a short talk on a technical topic such as ‘Fifty Shades of Red’ or on a lesser-known Australian artist like Dorrit Black, before members follow their own projects for two hours. Enrol by visiting on Wednesday, or by contacting the U3A office at Cobbin Farm, Grovedale, on 5244 5114 or mail@u3ageelong.org.au Second Wednesday of every month Bellarine (Ocean Grove) Parkinson’s Support Group, Church of Christ Hall, Tareeda Way, 1pm-2pm Parkinsong, 2.30pm-4pm Support Group with guest speakers. Phone Pam 5255 5152.

Third Wednesday of every month Ocean Grove on Barwon Probus Club,

Fourth Wednesday of every month Ocean Grove Angling Club, 7.30pm, Minerva Close sporting oval clubhouse. Phone Peter 0419 782 629.

Ocean Grove Evening VIEW Club, 6.30pm, Ocean Grove Bowling Club. Phone June Hansen 0422 142 882 for information.

Ocean Grove Stamp Club, 10am, Senior Citizens Hall, 101 The Terrace. Phone Dianne 5255 1372.

Last Wednesday of every month Cancer Support Group, 10am, call Jean 0447 853 442 or Graeme 5255 3435.

Thursdays Bellarine Table Tennis Club, 10am to noon, at the Memorial Hall, 123 The Avenue, Ocean Grove. Phone Ian 5256 2242 or Peter 0400 093 831.

First Thursday of every month Ocean Grove Nightlights CWA, 8pm, Ocean Grove Bowling Club. Visitors welcome. Phone Faye 5255 4430.

Last Thursday of every month Ocean Grove Coastcare, 7pm, Ocean Grove Bowling Club. Environmental activities to protect our coastline. Phone Fran 0429 237 661.

Saturdays Bellarine Table Tennis Club, 3pm-5pm, Memorial Hall, 123 The Avenue. Phone Ian 5256 2242 or Peter 0400 093 831.

Coasters Social group. Social events for people of working age. Dining out, movies, trivia, bands/trivia nights. Details at www.groupspaces.com/coasters-social-group or phone 0411 952 598.

22

The local guide for dining on the Bellarine...

Finlay Kennedy, Ty Simons and Krystie Wiltshire celebrate the Driftwood Cafe’s award. 161444

W

NE

BLUE MOUNTAIN

INDIAN

BAR

Wine, Food and Music

RESTAURANT GOOD FOOD

Open 7 Days from 5pm

GREAT COFFEE

* Available for private functions

LOCAL WINE & BEERS

OPEN 7 DAYS

Shop 5/62 The Terrace, Ocean Grove

Lunch Wed-Sun 12-2pm Dinner Mon-Sun 4-10pm

0413 338 390

12335807-HM01-17

FRIENDLY SERVICE

15 % off Takeaway

• Come try Ocean Grove’s best coffee • All day breakfast and delicious lunch menu (dine in or take away) • Child friendly - dog friendly - we are friendly • Directly across the road from the beach at 7W with plenty of parking

Open Christmas Day Lunch 12-2 Dinner 4-10

FREE HOME DELIVERY

Min Order $35 Ocean Grove & Barwon Head

www.bmir.com.au 9/62 The Terrace Ocean Grove

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64D The Terrace, Ocean Grove PH: 5255 1832

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5255 3100

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5255฀4330฀•฀5255฀4861 Sun - Thurs 4.30pm – 9.00pm Fri and Sat 4.30pm – Late Delivery & Pick Up

131 Ocean Throughway, Ocean Grove P: 5255 1677 www.cheekycow.com.au •

12335555-RC51-16

Jazz, Blues, Soul, Covers

Shop 6 Park Lane, Ocean Grove Next to Bendigo Bank

23

The local guide for dining on the Bellarine...

Lots to enjoy at iconic cafe THE Driftwood Cafe has established itself as the place to be for breakfast, lunch or dinner and it has the award to show for it.

The iconic cafe, nestled in the heart of Ocean Grove’s main street, won a Golden Plate award for the Best Licensed Cafe.

The team at the Driftwood never fail to deliver.

With a philosophy of using fresh, local, free range, seasonal and organic produce, where possible, the Driftwood prides itself on quality. With a few dedicated fruit and vegetable growers bringing in bags of fresh produce every week and some occasional gardeners with an oversupply, they are happy to use products grown in the local area.

The Driftwood has always taken great care to ensure the products they use and impact they have upon the environment is as responsible as possible. With a real community focus, supporting local schools,

Ty Simons enjoys a ‘passionate affair’. 151469 events and other local groups has meant the Driftwood Cafe has cemented a welcome place within Ocean Grove.

The Driftwood offers areas that can be used for private functions from elaborate sit down meals to canape parties or early morning breakfast meetings. Now offering a range of outside catering options, the

Driftwood seems to offer something for everyone.

With the warmer weather here and summer in full swing, the team at the Driftwood are looking forward to opening all the doors after having retired the fireplace for the season, opening The Atrium roof and gearing up for another busy summer.

W NOPEN O

sweet and savory tarts bakes fresh daily

1225058-HM16-16

European Style Cafe comes to the Grove

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Sweet and Savoury Tarts, Muffins, Cupcakes, Pies & Quiche All made fresh daily in house Organic Coffee from Local Boutique Roaster

PICK UP PIZZAS

Open 7 Days for Breakfast & Lunch

12331317-CG46-16

2 LARGE $33

Wed - Sat for Dinner Call for reservations on 5256 3153

order online

Walk-ins welcome - OPENING HOURS Open 7 nights during January Sunday - Tuesday 8am - 4pm Wednesday - Saturday 8am - 11pm

1207390-KC48-15

12333339-ACM49-16

24 Hodgson Street, Ocean Grove www.napona.com.au

•฀Ice฀Cream •฀Milk฀Shakes •฀Smoothies

Old Fashioned Sweets

gourmet pizzas - gluten free pizzas home delivery to: ocean grove, Collendina, Barwon heads, Wallington, point lonsdale, Queensclif

Chamellia Tea

Queen of Tarts cafe Shop 1 70A The Terrace Ocean Grove

26

Treat back pain early DR Google cannot fix your headache or back pain.

Actually Dr Google could be making your pain worse.

When was the last time you put your symptoms into Dr Google to find out you have some debilitating chronic disease that there is no cure for?

That can be stressful. As can be the stress on your neck and back as you spend hours sitting at the computer or on your phone assessing Dr Google’s diagnosis.

So why not come in and see

Dr. Kane Fraser (chiropractor) who is open seven days a week over Christmas.

Dr Fraser is happy to see new patients, locals or holidaymakers.

He counts 14 years of experience in treating all types of conditions including headaches, back pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, muscle soreness-strains and sciatica.

Dr Fraser is finishing a Masters in podiatry so, and has the skills to assess and treat:

Foot pain-Plantar Fascitis - ball of foot pain, heel pain, ankle pain. So call 5255 2200 or book online www.bellarinechiropractic.com.au to come in and see Dr Fraser at 14 Tuckfield Street, Ocean Grove, or use Dr Google to have a look at the website.

Enjoy your holidays and keep well.

Dr. Kane Fraser (chiropractor) B.App. Sc. (Clinical) B.App. Sc. (Chiropractic)

All about stepping into life YOU’VE made the decision that 2017 will be the year that you become the best version of yourself.

With all the hype at this time of year about getting fit and healthy, you first need to decide if you are actually going to be committed to training or are you just dabbling?

Here are a few tips to ensure that your exercise program lasts longer than a few weeks: Take the time to work out WHY you want to get fit. Is it because YOU want to or because you feel you should?

What do you want to achieve? Is it weight loss – how much; feeling better about yourself? Being more energetic? Keeping up with the kids? Playing with the kids? Fitting into clothes; having better quality of life?

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www.stepintolife.com.au

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- Chiropractic - Massage - Dry Needling - Orthotics - Rehabilitation

THE festive season is a time to eat, drink and be merry, though it’s also a time when we tend to overdo it.

In Chinese Medicine, many herbs can be used to help ease symptoms of overindulgence.

Hawthorn fruit and radish seeds help digest meat and greasy foods, and benefit bloating and reflux.

Peppermint, carda-

· ·

Step Into Life can help you achieve your 2017 goals. 163274

mom and ginger help stomach pain, nausea/ vomiting and bloating and turmeric helps with chest and stomach pain and liver congestion.

They can help to lower blood sugars, cholesterol, blood pressure, prevent heart disease and slow fat absorption as well. These herbs can be used in teas and medicinal formulas, or simply add them to your cooking.

Chinese medicine can help over the holidays.

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Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine & Cupping • Arthritis & Back Pain • Constipation & Digestion • Asthma & Hay Fever • Insomnia • Fertility

• Sporting Injuries • Muscular Pain • Fatigue • Stress & Anxiety • Allergies, Colds/Flu and much more

Adrienne Jurcevic BHSc(CM) For more information about Chinese Medicine please go to

www.ogcm.com.au

5255 2905

0432 961 910

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bellarinechiropractic.com.au

you will feel when you have achieved your goal?

Now how are you going to feel if you don’t do this? Imagine how you will feel this time next year.

Now enlist in some professional help. Get a trainer, who can help and motivate you.

In the first one to three weeks you may feel more tired and a bit sore, however you will soon start to feel you have more energy and aren’t quite so sore and it will all be worth it.

Need some help? Contact Penny at Step into Life Ocean Grove - 0403 896 104; oceangrove@ stepintolife.com, www. stepintolife.com “You don’t have to be great to start you have to start to be great” Good luck.

Offsetting festive splurge healthily

able l i a v A s 7 Day

14 Tuckfield St, Ocean Grove PH: 5 2 5 5 2 2 0 0

you know WHY, · Once now write down how

environment Black-faced cuckoo-shrike at Reedy Lake. 163259

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Grey shrike-thrush at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve. 163259

Shrikes are stunning little singers I’VE been reflecting on Lake Connewarre after seeing the brolgas near Barwon Heads Airport.

Lake Connewarre forms part of the Bellarine Peninsula 'Ramsar’ site, which means that it is a wetland of international significance.

Paradoxically, Lake Connewarre is also a game reserve, which means that people can shoot beautiful ducks there, and now there’s been a whopping great housing estate built right near the Hospital Swamp Wetlands.

I can’t bear to look at all the building that’s about to happen on the east side of Barwon Heads Road. Surely, there should have been a buffer zone around such a valuable wetland?

Right that’s my Christmas Soapbox over and done with for another year.

I thought I would write about two unusual birds that I see a lot of but find hard to photograph. I’m writing about them as I would like to know more

about them.

The first bird is the grey shrikethrush, which is a lovely bird that I hear very often, especially in forested areas such as Anglesea Heath, the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve and Anakie Gorge. The other day I was walking around Charlie’s Reserve near Connewarre on my way to work, and I could hear about four grey shrikethrush calling, and it was so beautiful to hear their rich, melodious songs which stopped me in my tracks. There was a young bird which was making a very harsh noise to boss its parents around.

I imagine that shrike-thrushes are so named because they have characteristics of the family of birds known as shrikes, and also with birds of the thrush family. Shrikes are mediumsized birds, up to 50cm (20in) in length, with grey, brown, or black and white feather colours or plumage.

Their beaks are hooked, like the

beaks of raptors. They also have a raucous and harsh call. Birds of the thrush family are plump, small to mediumsized birds, that eat insects and the fruit off trees. They inhabit wooded areas, and often feed on the ground, and they have very beautiful calls. So to combine the two classes of birds, there are five species of shrike-thrush known.

They all have brown or grey plumage, and all are virtuoso singers, the Placedo Domingo’s of the bird family!

There are three species of shrikethrush found in Australia and two found in New Guinea. The Bower’s shrike thrush, which I have never seen, is found in Far-north Queensland. The sandstone shrike-thrush is found in the Northern Territory and parts of Northern Queensland and the Northern Western Australia. By far the most common shrike-thrush is the Grey ST, which is found in most parts of Australia, but is becoming less common in urban areas.

If you hear a loud 'bip bip bip bip ho-

eyyyyy’ sound while walking through a woodland and you see a drab grey bird with a brown back, take a minute to admire the bird and the song!

The other bird I want to know more about is a black-faced cuckoo-shrike, which is also commonly seen around the Bellarine. As stated previously, shrikes are birds with hooked beaks that they are used for catching insects and small vertebrae. Cuckoos are generally medium-sized birds which feed on insects, insect larvae and a variety of other animals, as well as fruit. Many species are known to lay their eggs in the nests of other species. However, cuckoo-shrikes are neither cuckoos nor shrikes, and are so called because their plumage has a similar pattern to those of cuckoos, and their beak shape resembles that of shrikes. There are 84 species of cuckoo- shrikes found in the world, and four found in Australia. The black-faced cuckoo-shrike feeds on insects and other invertebrates, which

may be caught in the air, taken from tree foliage or caught on the ground.

In addition to insects, some fruits and seeds are also eaten. When the olive trees are fruiting outside the North Track of the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve the black-faced cuckoo-shrikes help themselves to a feast! Recently, I was walking down the north track of the nature reserve when many different species of birds started calling, and I thought that a raptor or predator must have been nearby, but they were worried about a black-faced cuckoo-shrike and ended up chasing it away. It was very interesting and odd. Maybe the cuckoo-shrike had invaded the territory of many other birds.

I must say Happy New Year to everyone, and enjoy the beach over summer, but remember to watch out for the hoodies on the beach and obey the signs if you are walking a pup.

- Jen Carr, jennifer.carr6@bigpond.com

We conserve, present and enhance the natural & developed coastal environs for the enjoyment and use of all

BARWON COAST Barwon Coast is a Committee of Management appointed by the State Government with responsibility for the management of 13km of coastal crown land from 7W Collendina to 42W Blue Rocks, Barwon Heads covering our beautiful beaches in Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and 13thBeach.

Our Committee members are local residents appointed with consideration of the skills and experience that they have to offer in the management of this important piece of coastline.

A NEW COASTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN In December 2016 Barwon Coast began the first phase of community engagement for a new Coastal Management Plan (CMP).

Coastal Crown land Committees of Management rely on a CMP for their primary strategic agenda. A requirement of the Coastal Management Act 1995, CMP’s are essentially an agreement between the government, the committee and its stakeholder community on how the reserves will be managed.

For the Committee of Management, CMP’s provide direction and a business plan for achieving outcomes and actions identified in the plan.

Essential for developing a strong and responsive CMP is comprehensive community stakeholder engagement.

We want to hear from you, our community about what you value and cherish about your foreshores and beaches that are managed by Barwon Coast; we want to hear about what concerns you, and what ideas you have.

There is a very easy way to communicate your ideas online at: www.collaborativemap.com/BarwonCoastCMP CollabMap is an interactive tool that allows anyone to place comments on an aerial image of Barwon Coast’s management area; give it a try it is easy and quick and will provide us with the feedback we need to make our CMP a truly responsive document.

However time is limited CollabMap opened early December and closes for this initial phase on Sunday 8th of January and will reopen later in the month for comments on the draft CMP that has been developed.

13TH BEACH ACCESS – 31W The construction of the replacement beach access at the Cylinders Car Park, 31W, is well under way.

The ‘Cylinders’ stairs, beach access and car park at 31W remain closed due to the safety risks posed by the damaged stairs and beach access, caused by a storm event in May 2015.

The Barwon Coast Committee of Management is acutely aware of the inconvenience of having the car park at 31W closed at this time, however, the safety of beach users is our highest priority.

Piling works have been completed, providing greater stability to the structure. Further works to complete the repairs will be postponed to February 2017 to protect public safety and minimise disruption to the community, beachgoers and road users during the busy summer period.

Beach-goers are urged to use nearby 30W and 32W (Beacon) car parks and access points instead, until further notice.

Dogs on Our Beaches: We all know that dog owners love to take their pets to the beach; however not all people like to be on the beach when uncontrolled dogs are present.

Uncontrolled dogs pose a real threat to other beach users and also importantly our wildlife that has nowhere else to go.

In off leash areas dog owners must have their pets under EFFECTIVE CONTROL at all times.

This means they come immediately the first time they are called and are leashed when other dogs, people and importantly wildlife are present.

PLAT IT SAFE BY THE WATER At all beach access pathways we have installed Beach Safety Signs that provide advice on general water conditions, rocks, tide etc. and where the nearest patrolled beach is. Please take time to read those notices.

Always be alert on the beach when with children and never swim alone.

No diving / jumping from jetty, promenade or bridge Tragically serious incidents have occurred in recent summers so it is really important to take personal responsibility for your safety when near the water, be it at the ocean or the river beaches.

Dangerous activities such as jumping or diving off the Barwon Heads jetty, the promenade or the bridge can lead to serious injury especially back injuries.

This year we have seen massive movement of sands along the beaches and at low river flows the water depth can be minimal, especially at low tide near the Jetty, so don’t do it!

SUMMER SHUTTLE BUS Leave your car at home or your caravan park and catch the free shuttle bus co-ordinated by Barwon Coast with financial support from valuable community aware sponsors. Our Gold sponsors this year are Barwon Heads Community Bank® and the City of Greater Geelong.

The free bus is operating from 27th December until 26th January commencing at 10am thru to 6pm with an hourly lap of Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads and the beaches starting at the Ocean Grove Post Office. The Shuttle Bus tows a trailer to carry beach gear including surf boards.

Gary McPike General Manager

12335063-DJ01-17

OUR ENVIRONMENT:

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Real Estate

Endless opportunity in old Grove FEW houses enjoy such a sought-after position as this classic old Grove residence.

Located at the end of a quiet and leafy cul-desac, this three-bedroom home has been meticulously maintained and recently enhanced with a new kitchen reno complete with Caesarstone bench tops, euro appliances and soft close cabinetry.

A large double carport has also been added to the lock-up garage providing extra off-street parking for a boat or van. The house sits pretty on a generous 631m2 block which provides scope for future extensions if desired.

There are two separate living areas, one opening on the charming covered fernery and a tranquil north-facing backyard complete with raised vegie garden good-sized garden shed and plenty of green space to enjoy. This house combines relaxed living with contemporary styling; the bedrooms have extensive storage and enjoy calming views over the garden.

There is a good-sized laundry, nice bathroom and separate toilet. This is the ultimate opportunity to acquire not only a delightful home in a highly sought after location, but a property that provides endless options for future development subject to council approval. Those who inspect will fall in love with this home and all that it has to offer.

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OCEAN GROVE

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Address: 18 Stringybark Place Ocean Grove Inspect: By Appointment Price: $550,000 - $595,000 Contact: Wayne Wrigley 0418 727 261 OCEAN GROVE REAL ESTATE 5255 0800

TRACT

UNDER CON

1150 Bellarine Highway, Wallington

A Touch of Tuscany!

Majestic blue stone & iron gates create a grand entrance to this lifestyle property which has been made with passion. Meticulously maintained gardens including a mature olive grove planted approx. 8 years ago & an array of fruit and nut trees give the feeling of being in Tuscany. The home boasts generous accommodation with 2 living areas & main with ensuite. Outside is a second building with extensive garaging & storage along with a worker’s kitchen, dining area featuring a wood fired pizza oven & shower and toilet.

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FOR SALE Price contact agent

INSPECT

By Appointment

CONTACT Wayne Wrigley 0418 727 261

www.oceangroverealestate.com.au

2+ 16 Amberwood Way, Ocean Grove

Designed for Family A feeling of grandeur from the moment you walk in, the home offers a flowing floor plan with generous living areas & a spacious family friendly kitchen.

Offering privacy for parents with the main suite at the front of the house, a further 3 brms are located in their own wing at the rear. Outside is packed with additional features - outdoor shower, cubby house with sandpit, vegie garden, shed and a large deck perfect for summer entertaining.

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FOR SALE $520,000 - $550,000

INSPECT

By Appointment

CONTACT Ken Jewson 0419 524 833

03 5255 0800 22 Kingston Downs Drive Ocean Grove

12335283-EPJ51-16

TRACT UNDER CON

Sport

33

Champions set in their ways THE Bellarine Volleyball Association will hold a series of come-and-try sessions during the January holidays.

Kicking off at Bellarine Sports and Aquatic Centre, on Shell Road, Ocean Grove, the BVA’s clinics are on 13, 20 and 27 January and will run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Costs is $2 per person for coaching, fun and games, prizes, giveaways. All ages, all abilities, all welcome to any or all of these sessions.

For details see www.facebook.com/ bellarinevolleyball The association’s 2016 season grand finals were hotly contested.

The Friday night competition attracts a mixed, friendly group of people of various ages and levels of ability.

There’s a mixture of school kids and adults playing in teams that might include school friends, parents and their children, siblings, couples and workmates.

In Division 1 the Stinkers, undisputed underdogs, took to the court two players down. They were up against an eight-strong team in the Phantoms, who have not lost a grand final this decade. The Stinkers quickly took a 10-point lead in the first set, with impressive blocking at the net by Pat Williamson, using his height to great effect, and skilful serving and defensive play by Hope Ellis in the back court.

The defending champs soon rallied however, digging deep to find the holes in the Stinkers’ court.

Phantoms with a great fight back, won the first set 25-20.

The Phantoms dominated the second set, with their front line peppering spike after spike into the Stinkers’ court. Husband and wife Aaron and Lisa Krahe, showing their experience, bolstered the Phantoms with Daniel Bruns, Jared Hunt and Dominic Renggli finding their range and having a big impact on the score line. The ball control of the Phantoms was spectacular with Abbey Randall and Eroni Naileu, both new to the line-up this season, consistently getting the ball to the capable setting hands of Nadia Tkaczuk.

The Phantoms easily won the second set 25-11.

The Stinkers could have been excused for rolling over in the third set but with the odds against them they stood their ground and made the Phantoms play it out. Agile Tom McKenzie recovered balls from seemingly lost situations and with Bec McKenzie’s ball control the brother-sister duo gave the Stinkers a fighting chance in every point. They mixed up their attacking structure for some penetrating spikes and sneaky dumps but with six on the court, there were just not enough holes in the Phantoms defence. Formidable Phantoms double blocks made things very uncomfortable for the much shorter attackers on the Stinkers side of the net.

Phantoms won the third set 25-16.

Despite a commendable Stinkers effort, this completed the Division 1 BVA Spring Season with another Phantoms grand final victory, 3 sets to 0.

The division 2 grand final saw the Tip Rats face off against the Setting Ducks. Both teams took the court with only five players and all looked determined to win.

Neither team could stamp their authority on the first set, with the teams staying within a point or two for most of the game. As the scores marched on, both teams seemed to lift. Scrambling saves from Andrew Bean for the Rats and new comer Beth Daly for the Ducks reflected the resolve on both sides of the net that would see the first set played past 25 points. It took a couple of changes of serve for the Tip Rats to finally sneak ahead just enough to finish the required two points in front at 28 to 26.

The second set was shaping up the same way with Tip Rats Majella O’Conner serving devilishly low and the powerful penetrating serves from

Gina sets to her schoolmate Madi. 163010

Phantoms Division 1 premiers. 163010

Nadia sets for Dan with Dom ready for the back set. 163010 Drew Atkinson making it tough for the Ducks. These usually effective serves however, were matched by equally skilled Ducks passing. Madi Cammarota teamed up with her schoolmate Gina Valjak to keep the pressure on for the Ducks. The closeness of skills mirrored the closeness of the match. The Tip Rats, through some masterful setting by Christine Smith, inched away to take the second set 25-19, putting them two sets up in the best-of-five set format.

The loggerhead continued in the third set with Setting Ducks refusing to hand the Tip Rats an easy win. Mitch Graham and brother Lachie stepped up for the Ducks, finding more of the ball and with subtlety and just the right

amount of power, targeted vulnerable places on the Tip Rats’ court. The Tip Rats 3-0 ambitions where dashed by exuberance, and tenacity as the Setting Ducks claimed the third set 25-23.

The fourth set started no different to the others, both teams refusing to give an inch. The Setting Ducks made some great reflex saves and Kellie Bennett skilfully rounded up the occasional wayward ball for the Tip Rats. Just when a fifth set decider was looking likely, the Tip Rats' experience shone through, allowing them to pull away on the scoreboard at just the right time, finishing the set 25-22.

Tip Rats claimed the glory of the 2016 Division 2 spring season, three sets to one over the Setting Ducks.

Magella beats a double block. 163010

34

Sports Year in Review 2016

JANUARY THE finishing touches were applied to the state-of-the-art Shell Road sports pavilion in Ocean Grove, with a key handover slated to take place in February. Along with the Federal Government’s $3.5 million contribution towards the project, the City of Greater Geelong confirmed Ocean Grove Football Netball Club, Surfside Waves Soccer Club and Ocean Grove Cricket Club would be able to occupy the $6 million facility.

STAR Ocean Grove SLSC Nipper Ellie Harrison was crowned Wahu Surf Groms under-12 girls champion. The bubbly young surfer was a standout competitor in clean waves at her local home break in Ocean Grove across two days of competition in late January.

The Ocean Grove Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary student, who won with a score of 14.34 points to defeat Torquay’s Imogen Bailey

Taking shape: An image of the Shell Road sports pavilion. 148984

Ellie Harrison. 149617 7.67 points in the final, said it was a fun competition. “The waves were good at Ocean Grove and it was great to be competing among friends,” she said.

JULY OCEAN Grove was on the lookout for a new coach after Wayne Walsh decided to stand down at season’s end. The Grubbers moved swiftly and appointed a three-person panel to select a new coach with a number of applicants applying for the advertised role.

OCEAN Grove gave retiring veteran Mark Laidler a fitting fare-

Michaela Payne with her older brother Joshua. 153200 winners of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Little Athletics Club’s club athletes of the year. Joshua also had a bountiful night at the Geelong Region Little Athletics presentation night, winning (in the Little Athletics Category – age under-8 to under-11) the best hurdler award, best jumper award, won his under-10 age group, won the most personal bests in his under-10 age group, and then took out the under-8 to under-11 Little Athlete of the Year. well after it upstaged Anglesea in their final home game of 2016 at Ray Menzies Oval on 30 July. The 32-year-old snared two goals in the first quarter of the Grubbers’ 14-point win over higher ranked third-placed Anglesea in round 17. Laidler, who played with GFL club Newtown and Chilwell from 2010 to 2012, made his Ocean Grove senior debut in 2001 and has played key roles in defence and forward at the Grubbers.

Retiring senior Grubber Mark Laidler, pictured with his son Jack, was given an ideal finish. 157464

Ocean Grove SLSC junior competitors. 150205 Higgins made a stunning return in his first A Grade appearance this season and finished with figures of 2/23 from 13 overs.

COBRA A Grade co-coaches and best mates Corey Walter and Ben Ricardo had twin reasons to celebrate during day one of their two-day clash against BPCA ladder leaders Portarlington.

The star Collendina batting duo achieved a rare feat as Walter, who hit 113, and Ricardo, who made 105, both scored defining hundreds on the Demons’ home deck on February 21.

THE Bellarine Bears Baseball Club was enjoying a great start to 2016 season with all three senior teams in the top four after the first four rounds. The Wallington-based club fielded three senior teams in A Grade, A Reserve and C Grade and three junior teams with under-12s, under-14s and under-16s sides, and a team in the local T-ball competition.

AFTER 14 years and six runners-up medals, the Victorian Men’s state side captured the most prestigious team event on the national bowls calendar. Victoria competing in Canberra in the Australian Sides Championships and playing for the much coveted ‘Alley Shield’ were dominant in their undefeated performance. Challenging against all other states and territories, the men’s team – with Ocean Grove’s Matt Flapper at the helm of one

The Bellarine Bears started the season well. 153683

Alley Shield winners. 153854 of the rinks – secured the silverware with a clinical performance in round seven against Tasmania.

Tamaryn Stevens with her two gold medals. 160144 premiership player, the inspirational clubman has filled roles as playing reserves coach, nonplaying reserves coach, a junior football coach and worked at committee level.

OCEAN Grove announced Elyse Howard as its new netball coach.

Howard, 26, crossed from St Mary’s last season, but only played during the second half of 2016 due to injury. Howard has extensive experience as vice-captain at St Mary’s and as captain at Colac Imperials where she played in two premierships. She began playing senior netball at the age of 14.

PAUL Smith qualified for the first Australian UTI Cross Triathlon World Champs. The 42-year-old Ocean Grover was off to Lake Crackenback in the Snowy Mountains on 19 November after a gruelling qualifying process. Smith finished second in the Tasmanian state championships, sixth in the Australian championships and eighth in the Victorian championships held in Bendigo. The event is a 1500m swim, 30km mountain

TALENTED young gymnast Mila Blyth completed a successful week at the Australian Championships in Melbourne. The former Ocean Grove Primary School student, who was in Year 7 at St Ignatius College, came sixth overall in Australia for her international level and won a gold medal as a member of the winning Victorian team.

Mila was selected to train at the National Centre for Excellence in Melbourne. Her training regime of 30 hours a week means that she cannot attend regular school and must use distance education.

OCEAN Grove’s hopes of climbing up the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association ladder received a massive boost with the signing of gun batsman Michael

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST THE future Ocean Grove Netball Club exciting youth was on show after four Grubber netball junior teams won premierships over two big days. The Grubbers had seven teams which participated in the region’s netball grand finals at Kardinia Park and Drysdale on 26 and 27 August. “We have got a really good crop of junior girls that are coming through, so you will see more of that from (Ocean) Grove in the future,” the club's director of netball Gill Hodgson said.

OCEAN Grove’s brave homegrown B Grade netball side went down by eight goals in the grand final to Geelong Amateur. Captain Meg Badrock, the B Grade league best-and-fairest, stood tall in defence rebounding and getting her hands on the loose balls. Junior star, fresh from her 17 and under

THE wider Ocean Grove community, club sporting representatives and political figures came together for the historic $6 million Shell Road sports pavilion opening on 13 March. Ocean Grovebased Beangala Ward councillor Jan Farrell, who was master of ceremonies, officially opened proceedings with a ceremony service. Councillor Farrell was joined by Federal Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson, Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville community day opening.

COLLENDINA suffered a heartbreaking BPCA A Grade grand final loss to a young Anglesea side. Batting first in the league’s A Grade season decider played at Ocean Grove, Collendina were bowled out for 146 despite facing 74.3 overs on day one. “In the back of my mind I thought we

Collendina players and supporters after their loss to Anglesea. 151511 were 20 or 30 runs short,” Collendina Cricket Club co-coach Corey Walter told the Voice. Anglesea then made 2/151 to claim its first title.

OCEAN Grove claimed the BPCA B Grade premiership. The Grubbers defeated Portarlington by 20 runs in a tense encounter after coming all the way from fourth spot to win the title. And the Grubbers under-13 team defeated Queenscliff to claim premiership honours with Josh Kuipers and Nathan Down batting their side to victory.

JUNE

Disappointed Grubbers. 158303 grand final win, Claudia Britt, had to draw on her young experience to battle it out with the Ammos centre court and Erin Mercer, B Grade League hotshot, worked tirelessly for her 21 goals.

OCEAN Grove golfing sensation Ben Henkel, 15, fresh from victory in the Stuart Appleby 2016 Regional Series, was stepping up his challenge to become one of the elites of the sport. Henkel won the final event of the series in Sandhurst recently to clinch the title.

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER TAMARYN Stevens won two gold medals at the recent Australian Transplant Games. The 24-yearold Ocean Grove cyclist won her medals in the 5km cycling time trial and the 30km cycling road race. Stevens recorded personal best times in both events - less than 10 minutes in the 5km time trial and less than 57 minutes in the 30km road race. Stevens will represent Australia in the World Transplant Games in Malaga Spain in 2017.

PAUL Featherby was made a life-member at the Ocean Grove Football Netball Club annual general meeting on 23 October.

A current general committee member, Featherby’s involvement with the Grubbers has spanned almost 30 years. A five-time Ocean Grove reserves

MORE than 1000 state elite junior lifesavers collectively took part in two huge days of Life Saving Victoria Nipper competitions in early February.

Hundreds of Ocean Grove SLSC Nipper competitors were among the 1200-plus junior state-wide participants in the LSV Junior State Carnival. Local and statewide Nippers backed up at the LSV Western/Surf Coast Victorian junior event, which was a qualifier for the 2016 Victorian Junior Championships.

IN-FORM Collendina booked a BPCA A Grade finals berth following an impressive 91-run away win over Barwon Heads.

Chasing 189 for victory on day two, the Cobras rolled Barwon Heads for only 97 from 55.4 overs. Gun all-rounder Andy

MAY

APRIL PLANS were already underway to host more games under lights at Shell Road in 2017 after Ocean Grove’s successful first ever BFL home night fixture on 23 April.

Ocean Grove Football Netball Club president Tony Potter said the local community response from Saturday night’s inaugural match played for BFL points had been positive. “It has been fantastic, the Ocean Grove community have come out in force and supported the night and it is something we are going to look forward to do much more in the future,” Potter told the Voice. He said the committee would lodge a request to AFL Barwon for more night games at Shell Road in 2017.

BROTHER and sister duo of Joshua Payne (under-10) and Michaela Payne (under-9) were the

MARCH

FEBRUARY

THE Surfside Waves Men’s Division 2 South won a pulsating grand final at Shell Road. With the score locked at nil-all, the game went to penalties where the Waves prevailed 4-3. Coach Pablo Mujica was full of praise for his team. “After a magnificent season and full of youth and just falling short of the winning the league, the belief of the players never waivered,” he said.

CHAMPION soccer star Cath Sattler announced her retirement

Mila Blyth in action at the Australian Championships.

154987

Kenneady. The 31-year-old run machine was announced assistant coach to Paul Jubber after a season at Highton where he made 389 runs at 32.42 in GCA Division Two firsts. Kenneady spent a few seasons in Lancashire, but was excited to be back in Ocean Grove, where he played from 2008 to 2013. from the sport. The Surfside Waves legend was knocked unconscious in her final game, but she’d already decided that retirement was the option for her even before the injury.

OCEAN Grover Caitlin Pickett was chosen in the Under-19 Australian Schoolgirls team to tour the UK and Ireland in January. It’s the result of a lot of hard work from the Sacred Heart College Year 11 student, who has rapidly progressed from a bench player to a vital member of the starting side in the Galaxy’s inaugural season.

Cath Sattler.

159073

DECEMBER

Elyse Howard. 161390 bike ride and finishes with a 10km trail run.

OCEAN Grove Bowling Club coach Matt Flapper won the men’s singles state title in Shepparton on Remembrance Day. Flapper defeated Lee Schraner from Rosny Park in Tasmania in the final. The final score was 21-4 with Flapper dominating from start to finish.

AUSTRALIAN Diamonds netballer Tegan Philip became the newest race ambassador for the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club's Rip to River Classic.

The Melbourne Vixens netballer, who hails from Anglesea, was presented with her Rip to River Classic souvenir singlet. “I am definitely interested in supporting this event – I think it is a great community event and fund-raiser,” Philip said. Philip, 28, the all-time leading goal scorer at the Vixens, missed the 2016 season after she ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee while playing in an ANZ Championship pre-season practice match.

OCEAN Grove’s Premier Division bowls side went to the top of the ladder after beating

Tegan Philip. 162663 previous ladder leader Lara. In the battle for pole position, the Grovers got off to a shaky start trailing Lara by around 20 shots in the early stages, but they hit the front by the 85th end and continued on to win the game.

Sport

35

Grubbers still in the hunt THE Grubbers remain in the hunt for a top four finals berth.

Ocean Grove suffered a humiliating five-wicket loss to bottom-placed Queenscliff to end 2016, but claimed a decisive victory against Barwon Heads in their rain-affected match in round two.

Key away wins over reigning premier Anglesea and also Barrabool have helped. Only nine points separates third-placed Ocean Grove to ninth-placed Queenscliff.

The return of key batsman Michael Kenneady has been a masterstroke for the Grubbers' top order. Kenneady, who was appointed as an playing assistant coach in the off-season, is the leading BPCA A Grade run scorer with three half-centuries and a hundred against Queenscliff on 10 December.

The inclusion of wicket keeper Huon Bertino has strengthened its leadership and added depth to its batting line-up. Bertino made 58 against Queenscliff.

Coach Paul Jubber, a spin bowler, will play a key role with both bat and ball in 2017 after fellow spinner Mick Gill decided to retire. Jubber scored 75 with the bat against a quality Collendina bowling attack in round four and claimed a four wickets against Barwon Heads in round two.

At times the Grubbers have lacked genuine penetrative fast bowlers with key left-arm speedster Dan Roddis only playing two A Grade games in 2016/17.

The spin trio of Jubber, Gill and Thomas Kent have combined for 29 scalps and taken the bulk of its wickets.

Youngsters Lindon Giuffrida with the ball, Jackson Kent and Dylan Thorley will need consistent all-round performances to ensure the Grubbers finish in the top four.

Back-to-back games against Drysdale in rounds seven and eight could decide Ocean Grove’s A Grade finals prospects. They also face a tough away match up against Jan Juc in round 10.

Left: Michael Kenneady is certain to be among the runs again in 2017.

Dan Roddis is back playing A Grade and has a lot to offer.

TOP PERFORMERS Michael Kenneady 365 runs at 60.83.

Paul Jubber 150 runs at 30 and 10 wickets at 22.40.

Huon Bertino 123 runs at 30.75, five catches and three stumpings.

Mick Gill 10 wickets at 18.60.

Thomas Kent 9 wickets at 15.22.

RUN HOME Round 7: Drysdale (home).

Round 8: Drysdale (away).

Round 9: Bye. Round 10: Jan Juc (away).

Round 11: Portarlington (home).

“Being in the top four at Christmas does not assure you of anything come finals time.

We still have room for improvement with our young group. We are always looking forward to the next challenge. Mick Gill leaves a hole with his experience.”

- Ocean Grove coach Paul Jubber

Jackson Kent has 134 runs this season.

Cobras poised and ready to strike SECOND-PLACED Collendina looks primed for another A Grade premiership tilt in 2016/17 after its runner-up finish last season.

Collendina recorded two victories against Ocean Grove and defeated Portarlington and Barwon Heads once.

Their round two match against Drysdale ended in a draw after rain.

Both Jan Juc (37 points), Collendina (27 points) have bridged a gap on third-placed Ocean Grove (18 points) and fourth spot Drysdale (15 points).

Cobra coach Corey Walter has been a standout in 2016/17 with his classy unbeaten hundred against Barwon Heads on 17 December. He scored 85 and 72 against Ocean Grove in round one and round four.

Former co-coach Ben Ricardo showed why he is one of the better bats in the BPCA with his brilliant 138 against Portarlington. Ricardo shared in a 205-run stand with Andy Higgins who hit a terrific 85 against the Demons.

The Cobras have a settled top order batting line-up with the likes of Walter, Ricardo and all-rounder Higgins.

The return of gun bowler Charlie Lamb in 2017 will be a massive advantage. He took a six-wicket haul against the Grubbers in round four.

Lamb has only played three games,

Collendina coach Corey Walter looms as a major runmaker in 2017.

TOP PERFORMERS Corey Walter 295 runs at 73.75 and 4 wickets at 24.75.

Ben Ricardo 212 runs at 53.

Andy Higgins 200 runs at 66.67 and 6 wickets at 31.33.

Charlie Lamb 8 wickets at 10.75.

RUN HOME Round 7: Bye. Round 8: Anglesea (away).

Round 9: Jan Juc (home).

Round 10: Barrabool (home).

Round 11: Queenscliff (away).

Collendina will be hoping to go one better than last season's runner-up performance. a scary prospect for opposition batting line-ups. Higgins and Jye Hearps have been good contributors with the ball.

Cobra bowlers Joe Hinkley and Dean Britt have stood up in the absence of Lamb, both took three wick-

ets against Barwon Heads in round six.

The two-day game against Jan Juc looms as a compelling contest in round nine.

Expect a top two finish from the Cobras and a home final.

Dean Britt's medium pacers provide the perfect foil for the pace of Charlie Lamb, Andy Higgins and Jye Hearps.

“We get an automatic six points after the Christmas/New Year break with the bye in round seven and it sets us up for a massive tilt in our last four games. The difference is this season we have got a lot of guys in the top order who are in good form. The bowling aspect has been huge. We will have a few headaches at selection - but it is healthy and it is good way to be.”

- Collendina coach Corey Walter

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Sport Ocean Grove

Volleyball, page 33

12335286-KC1-17

Grubbers to start season with the home advantage OCEAN Grove will open the 2017 football and netball season with a home game against Portarlington on 1 April.

The Grubbers have been allocated only one night game under the lights at Ray Menzies Oval, against Newcomb on 22 April.

But Ocean Grove drew a blockbuster Easter clash against Torquay at home on 15 April and also has two Sunday games – against Drysdale at Mortimer Oval on 30 April and against Newcomb at Newcomb Sand and Soil Oval on 11 June.

The interleague byes will take place on 13 May and 8 July while the two Battle of the Bridge clashes against Barwon Heads are in round 6 on 6 May at home and in round 14 at Howard Harmer Oval on 15 June.

The Grubbers play five of their first seven games at home and finish the home-and-away season with two away games, at Anglesea and Queenscliff.

2017 BFL FIXTURE Round 1 (1 April) v Portarlington (home) 2.10pm.

Round 2 (8 April) v Geelong Amateur (away) 2.10pm.

Round 3 (15 April) v Torquay (home) 2.10pm.

Round 4 (22 April) v Newcomb (home) 7.10pm.

Round 5 (30 April) v Drysdale (away) 2.10pm.

Round 6 (6 May) v Barwon Heads (home) 2.10pm.

Round 7 (20 May) v Queenscliff (home) 2.10pm.

Round 8 (27 May) v Modewarre (away) 2.10pm.

Round 9 (3 June) v Geelong Amateur (home) 2.10pm.

Round 10 (11 June) v Newcomb (away) 2.10pm.

Round 11 (17 June) v Anglesea (home) 2.10pm.

Round 12 (24 June) v Torquay (away) 2.10pm.

Round 13 (1 July) v Drysdale (home) 2.10pm.

Round 14 (15 July) v Barwon Heads (away) 2.10pm.

Round 15 (22 July) v Portarlington (away) 2.10pm.

Round 16 (29 July) v Modewarre (home) 2.10pm.

Round 17 (5 August) v Anglesea (away) 2.10pm.

Round 18 (12 August) v Queenscliff (away) 2.10pm.

Red-hot run on the greens Ocean Grove played its first night game in 2016. 153308

HAROLD Curwood keeps an eye on things at the green as Ocean Grove headed into the Christmas/ New Year break in red hot form. The Pennant side is locked safely inside the top four as is the Division 5 side. Division 8 is also dominating while Division 9, Midweek Division 2 and Midweek Division 6 are also doing well.

sport news 5255 3233 – sports@oceangrovevoice.com

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