Ocean Grove Voice - 30th June 2023

Footy rivalry resumes

The annual State of Origin footy weekend returns as Ocean Grove Cobras host their good friends Glebe Greyhounds from Sydney.

The concept began six years ago with 22 participants and has grown to the point where Glebe will be bringing more than 140 young footballers down south to the Bellarine.

With all funds going to River’s Gift, the weekend of footy fun is at Collendina Recreation Reserve on July 1 and 2.

The Cobras won all seven games last year in Sydney, but the results don’t really matter. Participation, friendship, fun and raising as much money for River’s Gift is the aim of the weekend.

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‘Spicy’ budget approved

By Matt Hewson

Geelong council has approved its 2023-24 budget, fully restoring funding for lifesavers but only partially so for the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC).

At a tense and sometimes fractious council meeting on Tuesday councillors by turns goaded and attempted to soothe a public gallery bent on having its voice heard.

Before council adopted what Cr Belinda Moloney called “a real spicy budget”, Save Geelong West Library spokesperson Angela Carr warned voters would remember councillors’ words and actions when next year’s election came around.

“Tonight we are asking councillors to think very carefully about voting in this budget because you will be doing so against the wishes of the broader library community,” she said.

“You need to remember that we vote you in or vote you out. So we are asking councillors to take this matter very seriously and commit to fully funding libraries.”

Council ultimately approved the budget, with only Cr Melissa Cadwell voting against it.

While the GRLC will face a shortfall of $406,000, council reversed its proposal to slash funding paid lifeguard services at Ocean Grove, Bancoora and 13th Beach.

Ocean Grove Life Saving Club president Lyndie Freestone said the funding ensures the rostering of paid lifesavers over the peak summer period.

“We’re greatly relieved and appreciative; obviously it had significant implications for our beach and our community,” she said.

“We’re appreciative of the support that we got from the community, those who were also concerned about the libraries, as well as (federal MP) Libby Coker.”

Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club junior development manager Michael Schofield said the club was “tremendously glad” at the council’s turnaround.

“The decision by council was really reckless

and ill-conceived from the beginning; it went against so many of the statistics that Life Saving Victoria provide in their reports each year,” he said.

Mayor Trent Sullivan said there were “no unassigned dollars in the budget”.

“We are spending the same large, assigned amount that was put forth at the start of this council term,” he said.

“The problem is, as with all of our dollars, it just doesn’t go as far as it used to.” he said.

“Every dollar has to come from somewhere. When it comes to decision making, we must … make sure that the dollar is getting the best value and that we are putting as much as we can into the deserved areas.”

Willow, Tom, Kaylen, Lola and Alexandra with the State of Origin trophy. (Ivan Kemp)

Rotary welcomes new president

By Jena Carr

Lynne Carlson has taken over the reins as president of the Ocean Grove Rotary after a successful financial year for the club.

Ms Carlson said she has “enjoyed every moment” of her involvement with the club and felt “very lucky” to continue helping the community through her new role.

“Iamexcitedabouttakingonthepresidency

Willow, Bas, Kaylen, Izabella, Tom, Kenzie, Alexandra and John (seated) wearing their Indigenous round socks. (Ivan Kemp)

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and look forward to the club being actively involved in the local community in the wider Rotary community in the year ahead,” she said.

“There’s a lot going on and a lot of changes with some of the things that we’re doing. I think it’s important that we just don’t do the same thing.”

As part of her new role, Ms Carlson said she looked to start an information program for

the club’s members that would hold sessions over close to six months.

“We have got a lot of new people in the club, andtheyhaven’treallyhadanytraining,which we haven’t been doing that for some time, but we are going to introduce that again,” she said.

“We’ll call it Rotary Inside Bites so that when the trainees are there, we’ll have some of the major people from within the club that will go along and just be there to

Cobras poised for Indigenous round

With nearly 20 young Indigenous players, Ocean Grove Cobras will take part in this year’s AFL Barwon Indigenous round.

The junior footy club got involved mainly through first-year vice-president Mel Gee, who is a proud Palawa woman originally from Lutruwita (Indigenous Tasmanian), living on Wadawurrung Country.

The Cobras, an amalgamation of Ocean Grove and Collendina Cobras Junior Football Clubs, will wear specially designed socks during the round of matches from July 7 to 9.

“This is the first year that Ocean Grove Cobras Junior Football Club is participating in AFL Barwon’s Indigenous round,” Mel said.

“This round is something I’m extremely excited about initiating and hope to see this weekend acknowledged in the region every year from here on. This year’s Indigenous

Round ties in well with NAIDOC Week at the same time.

“Part of this round for us, is the inclusion of some special club apparel. By purchasing these specially designed socks, and wearing them for the round, our club and community get to commemorate the oldest living culture in the world.”

The Cobras are one of the biggest junior football clubs in the region and field 29 boys and girls teams from under -9 to under-14.

“This round allows us, as a club, to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and their contributions to the game we all love,” Mel said.

“It is also a round for the whole football industry to celebrate and thank Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander players, volunteers, administrators and umpires past and present

for their contributions and commitment to the game.”

The Cobras will donate the profits from the socks to its fundraising initiative Opening The Doors Foundation (openingthedoors.org.au).

The weekend will culminate on Sunday, July 9, when the Cobras will host a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony lead by Corrina Eccles, from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

“We will also be showcasing three out of five of our very talented under-14 teams, with games starting from 8.30am at Collendina Reserve, our home ground,” Mel said.

“It’s a weekend, where we can all come together, learn from each other, celebrate and have fun, all while playing the game we all love, footy.”

Justin Flynn

answer questions.

Outgoing president Peter Cowburn helped the club donate more than $90,000 to charities over the 2022-23 financial year.

“We thank the local community for their support with our fundraising program,” he said.

“The club has been very successful this year and has donated $12,000 nationally, $23,000 internationally and a huge $56,000 locally.”

Club makes music for a special day

Encouraged by Make Music

Australia’s winter solstice annual Make Music Day, Ocean Grove Chord Club performed an outdoor concert on June 21.

Make Music Australia celebrates music making “always, everywhere”, but particularly on June 21.

Ocean Grove Chord Club members mostly live on the Bellarine and Geelong and enjoy playing music and singing together, learning songs, and then playing them in a supportive group.

The club’s concert was held on a cold day on The Terrace in Ocean Grove and was well received.

“We decided not to bring our portable amplifiers, letting our voices and acoustic instruments carry the music down the shopping strip,” coordinator Jac Renzenbrink said.

“We were encouraged by the smiles and applause from passers by, who stopped to listen.

“Lucky for us the rain and wind held off. Many of them had a very cold strumming hand as it was 12 degrees.

“After our 10 songs we walked back to the Ocean Grove Senior Citizens Centre, for a cup of tea and to warm up.”

Fourteen members played music on the day: Ian Baldock, Terry Tormey, Cheryl Hann-Wooldock, Peter Frequin, Frank Bernadelle, Trevor Gibbs, Dave Pownall, Ray Leigh, Jac Renzenbrink, Barbara Spiller, Stan Rusiniak, Marjorie Milligan and David Cook.

Chord Club is a subgroup of the Seniors Citizens at 101 The Terrace and meets there at 4pm every Wednesday.

Deakin ranked in top 250 unis

Deakin University is now in the top one per cent of universities worldwide, according to the latest QS World University Rankings released this week.

Climbing 33 places, Deakin has entered the top 250 universities in the world, receiving its highest-ever ranking of 233.

The QS World University ranking system is basedonninekeymetrics:academicreputation; employer reputation; faculty student ratio; citationsperfaculty;internationalfacultyratio; international students ratio; international research network; employment outcomes; and

sustainability.

Deakin was rated most highly in international faculty (130th), citations per faculty (160th) and international students (249th), with good rankings in sustainability (283rd) and academic reputation (291st) also.

Deakinvice-chancellorprofessorIainMartin said the results were an acknowledgement of the work of staff across the organisation

“As we approach our 50th anniversary at the endof2024,IampleasedthatDeakin’sprogress and leadership continue to be recognised on a global stage,” Professor Martin said.

“What we do matters to our students, our local communities, and Australia. And through our extensive community, industry and academic networks, what we do matters internationally.

“I acknowledge that so much of what has been achieved is the result of the efforts of many across our university. We have made extraordinary progress in our comparatively short life and remain focused on driving a culture of innovation, creativity and excellence while staying true to our founding values of inclusion and access to education.”

Consequences at The Hive Gallery

Two Bellarine artists’ new exhibition, Consequences, makes an environmental statement on how invasive species affect the land.

Painter Linda Gallus and ceramicist Kaye Clancy will showcase their artworks at Ocean Grove’s The Hive Gallery from June 30 to July 30, with a free public opening on Saturday, July 1, from 2pm to 4pm.

Ms Gallus said she had been exploring the Bellarine’s remaining vegetation to understand the consequences of European settlement and was “proud” of “every single one” of her paintings.

“I knew that I had to have 10, and I did them

all almost all the same time,” she said.

“I was looking at these romantic painters because their skies are incredible, and then at the same time, we’ve had La Nina; wet weather, dramatic skies, and greenery everywhere.

“It’s not about sales, it’s about expressing ourselves and being brave enough to actually put things out there because people are pretty harsh critics, and you have to be really brave to exhibit.”

Ms Clancy is a descendant of the Bangerang people from South Eastern Australia and said her ceramic figureheads would be positioned like the early settlement ships.

She said she liked how the exhibition made

New CEO starts in August

Ali Wastie has been announced the City of Greater Geelong’s new chief executive after an almost 12-month search for the right person.

Ms Wastie has experience in local government and the Victorian Public Service, having worked across the sectors since 2004 and has held a number of senior executive positions, including serving as chief executive of the Bass Coast Shire Council.

Ms Wastie chairs the Alpine Resorts Victoria board, and has previous leadership experience asadirectorattheCityofMelbourneandYarra Ranges Council. After finishing her role with Bass Coast Shire Council, Ms Wastie will join the City of Greater Geelong on August 28.

Ms Wastie said she was looking forward to working with councillors and employees to deliverhigh-qualityservicestothecommunity.

“I am feeling very privileged to be appointed as CEO for the City of Greater Geelong and I

am looking forward to commencing in the role on 28 August,” she said. “Delivering on the community’s vision and council’s plans and objectives in a period of growth, change and opportunity will be my focus.

“IhavelongstandingconnectionstoGeelong, with family and friends living in the region. I am passionate about building and sustaining positive, can-do organisational cultures that are inclusive and welcoming.”

Mayor Trent Sullivan praised acting chief executive Kaarina Phyland for leading the city since September 2022.

“Kaarina has overseen a period that has transformed the city into a more efficient and high-performing organisation,” he said.

“Under her leadership we have made progress on delivering the community’s clever and creative vision and the council is thankful for Kaarina’s valuable contribution.”

“a statement about what’s happened” in the past when the Europeans came to Australia.

“We wanted to make a statement, but we didn’t want to be aggressive or political about it. Just to make you think,” she said.

“I started thinking about all the stuff they brought out in those boats and how these figureheadsledthewaythroughthewater;they symbolised everything else that was coming.

“I love the pieces and I love the colours and we’ve got funny names and I absolutely love making them, but I’m proud to bring it to people’s attention.”

Jena Carr

Deakin, which in past years has consistently been ranked in the top 50 young (50 years or less) universities in the world by both QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings, also boasts the number one ranked university careers service in Australia.

It is also in the process of becoming the first university in the world to establish an international campus in India, with a commitment to open its GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) campus mid-2024.

NAIDOC events across region

Winchelsea and Geelong are honouring this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘For Our Elders’, with events across the region.

Yorta Yorta and Baraparapa artist Dr Jenny Murray-Jones will host her ‘For Our Elders: Beyond the Voids in Colonial History’ exhibition as part of Winchelsea’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Dr Murray-Jones said the exhibition at the Winchelsea Shire Hall on Thursday, July 6, from 6pm to 8pm, formed part of her PhD work on indigenous families’ history, including her own.

“It was quite a journey and there was certainly much more that I learned,” she said. “My grandmother and her little sister, at eight and 11 were stolen. They were abducted from a station where their father, my great grandfather, was working.”

Dr Murray-Jones said the information she collected led her to talk with her elders and explore their history through 40,000 words and 10 oil paintings on exhibition from July 7 to July 11.

“A lot of those elders have now passed and it’s good to know that they passed on their stories and tales of how the family survived, and so that’s what I painted about,” she said.

Geelong’sNAIDOCWeekcelebrations will include nightly projections of First Nations art on City Hall from Sunday, July 2 to Sunday, July 9.

The projections will feature the works of Yorta Yorta and Bunjalung man John Patten, an educator, historian and artist.

Local projectionist Matt Bonner will light up City Hall with Mr Patten’s artwork from dusk till 11pm every night of NAIDOC Week.

Painter Linda Gallus and ceramicist Kaye Clancy at The Hive Gallery with pieces from their exhibition Consequences. (Ivan Kemp) 341735_02

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Aquatic centre is taking shape

A major milestone was reached last week as the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre starts to take shape.Buildingworksontheoutdoor50-metre pool are nearing completion as it fills with waterinpreparationforfinalstepsbeforeitwill be ready to open to the public later this year.

On Friday ,June 23, mayor Trent Sullivan and Corangamite MP Libby Coker toured the stage one facility near Drysdale as the pool reached 60 per cent capacity of water. Bellarine MP Alison Marchant also joined the tour.

The eight-lane heated pool has received substantial funding, with $10 million provided by the federal government and an additional $5.5 million from council.

The North Bellarine Aquatic Centre project has expanded into the northern end of the sports precinct with its own access road off Peninsula Drive.

The pavilion building, a prominent component of the aquatic centre, is nearing completion with the installation of external cladding, screens, and final minor works

underway.

The changerooms have already been completed internally, with minor external works remaining on the building roof. The pool plant room and landscaping are ongoing and will be the final items to be finished.

Cr Sullivan said he was excited to see the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre taking shape.

“The filling of the outdoor 50-metre pool at North Bellarine Aquatic Centre marks a significant milestone, bringing us one step closer to providing our community with a

State of Origin fires up down south

Rugby league’s State of Origin is as popular as everwhiletheAustralianRulesfootballversion at the highest level is all but extinct, however there’s a thriving rivalry between a Bellarine Peninsula junior footy club and a club from inner Sydney.

Ocean Grove Cobras and Glebe Greyhounds began the State of Origin concept six years ago when two old schoolmates Cain Sarah (Glebe) and Harvey Stephenson (Ocean Grove) started talkingabouthowgooditwouldbeiftheirboys could play a game against each other.

A Geelong-based friend of the pair, Karl Waddell, had recently started the charity, River’s Gift, following the death of his son, River, from SIDS, and supporting such a worthy charity through a State of Origin concept was born.

Each year one club takes its turn to host the other and this weekend Ocean Grove will welcome their Glebe friends down south.

The very first match was 11 kids from each side, but this year Glebe is sending more than 140 junior footballers to Ocean Grove for two days of footy fun and fundraising for River’s Gift.

“Our aim is $30,000 this year,” Ocean Grove Cobras president Aaron White said.

“We’ve had some great support and fantastic contributions from multiple businesses from right across Victoria and Australia to be honest.”

Last year almost 200mm of rain fell on Sydney for the Cobras’ journey north, prompting their hosts to move the games from a waterlogged Jubilee Oval in Glebe across the Harbour Bridge to St Leonards in the inner north.

Mr White said the collaboration between the two clubs was “absolutely brilliant”.

“The friendships that have been built and the bonds that have been made, we’re looking forward to catching up,” he said. “I took on the organising last year as I’ve got a soft spot for SIDS. No parent should have to go through losing their child, especially at such a young age. It’s something that I’m passionate about.

“If we can contribute in some way to the research to try and sort this, then that’s what

we’ll do and continue to do.”

This year will be the first “clown show” otherwise known as the parents’ game.

Parents from Ocean Grove and Glebe will takeoneachotherwithmorethan40fromeach side playing. Mr White said he was thankful for the numbers because there would be high rotations on the interchange bench, allowing for a regular rest.

“That was my drunken idea last year,” he said. “After a few too many cans in Sydney last year I thought why should the kids have all the fun?”

The State of Origin weekend is on July 1 and 2 at Collendina Recreation Reserve. Face painting, food, drink, and footy are all on the agenda and every cent raised will go to River’s Gift.

world-class swimming facility,” he said.

“This new aquatic centre means residents of the surrounding Bellarine community will no longer have to travel to Geelong to access a 50-metre pool. We’re bringing the joy of swimming right to their doorstep.

“The collaboration between council and the Australian government has enabled us to realise the vision of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre, a space designed to foster health, wellness, and inclusivity for all.”

Help Grace join Renegades

Grace Jones is into the final three of the Melbourne Renegades recruit and needs Greater Geelong’s help to make her cricket dream come true.

The Renegades Recruit searches for the best players in community cricket competitions across the state with the potential to play at a higher level.

Televised as a two-part miniseries, 11 young cricketers tried out at St Kilda’s Junction Oval before the squad was first cut to six and then three.

Geelong and Armstrong Creek Cricket Club leg-spinner Grace, 18, made it through, with the winner to be decided by a viewer’s vote and by Renegades Renegades WBBL coach Simon Helmot.

“Anytime you get to train at the Junctionisgood,thefacilitiesareunreal,” Grace said. “You get to see where the talentpool is and see their skill sets. I was more nervous when they were reading out the final six (in episode one) than the final three (in episode two).

Grace has played Premier cricket at the women’s level, but has also excelled in the men’s game with Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association club Armstrong Creek. She played in the Titans’ A2 Grade premiership in 2021/22, taking 17 wickets for the season.

Gracefirststartedplayingasamedium pacebowlerwhenshewas12,buttookup leg-spin not long after.

And now this is where you get to help Grace be the next WBBL star by voting.

“It would be really cool for someone local to have a crack,” she said.

TowatchbothepisodesandhelpGrace win the competition, which will bring a unique high-performance opportunity with the Renegades to further develop hercricket,headtomelbournerenegades. com.au and cast your vote. Voting closes at 11.59pm Friday June 30.

Ocean Grove Cobras’ president Aaron White and River’s Gift’s Karl Waddell hold the State of Origin trophy with Willow, Tom, Lola, Bas and Alexandra, Paddy, Kaylen and Noah. (Ivan Kemp) 343131_06

Bellarine budget wins

By Cr Trent Sullivan

Like all organisations and tiers of government across the country, council is facing heavy financial pressure due to rising costs.

As a result, this year’s council budget is about being financially responsible.

Councils need to concentrate on long-term sustainability as much as the short-term, which means that the difficult decisions being made now will help set us up for the future, while allowing us to deliver many wonderful projects and important community services in the year ahead.

Council committed to listening to the community’s feedback on our proposed budget, and we thank the many people and community groups who made submissions.

We have heard that feedback and responded. Across the region, we have allocated more funding for libraries, reinstated funding for the Kardinia Aquatic Centre to operate during winter, and restored funding towards surf lifesaving at our ocean beaches.

I trust that the Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads communities will welcome these changes, particularly members of the Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club.

There are many other positive stories out of this budget.

We are continuing to strongly invest in new facilities and maintenance of our existing assets and there is a huge range of projects –254 in total over four years – that have been funded.

We will see many of these make great progress over the next year with funding now reconfirmed.

Some exciting ones that come to mind include the Collendina Reserve pavilion upgrade in Ocean Grove, which will receive

$694,000 in 2023-24, the Barwon Heads Bowling Club pavilion, which will receive $200,000 in 2023-24, and the Barwon Heads Tennis Club court resurfacing and pavilion and lighting upgrade, which will receive $239,000 in 2023-24.

The money for Barwon Heads Bowling Club will complete its $1.2 million pavilion, which has been supported by $500,000 from the federal government and $200,000 from the Victorian government and is expected to be completed in the next few months.

On top of this, there is future funding allocated for a significant project at Devlins Road Reserve (Kingston), in Ocean Grove.

This covers the detailed design and construction of a pavilion, sports fields, sports lighting, and other infrastructure.

There is $750,000 allocated for this project

LETTERS

Homeless horror

I was deeply disturbed to read about Geelong’s growing homelessness rates and the fact that 8500 people are currently on the priority waitlist for social housing in our region (‘Homeless numbers soar higher’, Voice, 16/06/2023).

To make matters worse, many of those waiting for housing are dealing with top priority issues such as family violence, over-crowding, rough sleeping, and threats of danger. They desperately need a safe home.

Geelong, like many parts of Australia, has a serious shortage of public housing resulting from years of neglect by all levels of government.

Everyone needs a safe place to live. Our local, state and federal governments must work together to provide immediate housing relief for those currently without affordable accommodation in Geelong.

Robert Van Zetten, Highton

Shopfront disappointment

It is disappointing to see that the budget priced fruit and vegetables store in Leopold has gone and been replaced by yet another pet store.

There are already numerous fast-food outlets along this strip in Leopold and it’s a shame that the health of locals has been

in 2023-24, $1.7 million in 2024-25, and $2.565 million in 2025-26, totalling $5.015 million over three years.

With costs rising at a rapid rate, we have been clear that our money won’t stretch as far as it previously did.

We also won’t be making changes to the list of capital projects to be placed on hold, and we understandthiswillbedisappointingforthose who made submissions on particular projects. But it is important to remember that these are still on our agenda, and we will be looking for ways to deliver them, including creating affordability in our own budget as soon as we can as well as seeking external funding.

We aim to be a high performing council providingoutstandingvaluetoourcommunity, and this budget will set the platform for us to do so in a sustainable way in the future.

compromised. Look a little further down the line of shops and a vape store has appeared. Just when the government and health authorities are trying to get on top of the new problem that has replaced tobacco.

Chris McGlade, Highton

To market, to market

For those looking for something different to do on a Sunday, I strongly recommend a visit to the Belmont Sunday Market.

There are so many bargains to be had including clothing and footwear, for both adults and children,

Often at prices which are well below those which apply in op shops.

Over the years, I have regularly bought pre-loved quality clothing for $2 or less. Pick your day, as poor weather usually means fewer vendors on site.

Michael J Gamble, Belmont

City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan. (Supplied)

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QMF announces lineup

By Matt Hewson

Queenscliff Music Festival (QMF) has announced its first round of artists for its 2023 event ahead of the end of its early bird pricing period on July 1.

The first announcement, which includes 30 acts, continues the tradition of diversity that QMF is well known for.

Artists announced so far include bona fide big name acts such as Aloe Blacc, Boy and Bear, Ian Moss, Something for Kate and Illy, as well as much-loved favourites the Badloves, G.Love & Special Sauce, Liz Stringer and Dan Sultan.

Broadening the genre range are artists such as guzheng player Mindy Meng Wang, Melbourne nine-piece band Jazzparty, blues rockersWillieJ&TheBadBooksandelectronic sound sculptor Alice Ivy.

Festival director Andrew Orvis said providing a broad range of music was something the festival prided itself on.

“It’s always what we aim for; a little bit of something for everyone and then a little bit of something that’s not necessarily for everyone,” Mr Orvis said.

“A few left of field things, a few challenging things, it’s always good to keep it exciting and fresh.

“Personally, I get excited about the ones that nobody’s ever heard of that I think will be hits and that people will love, like that blues rock act where people walk away and that’s their new favourite band.

“I’m most excited about Ngulmiya, an artist from Arnhem Land, who’s just got the most amazing voice and music and blew me away the first time I heard it. I’ve listened to a million artists’ submissions over the years and that’s maybe the favourite one, or one of the top few that I’ve ever got.”

The 20 announced artists represent probably

a little under half of the total acts that will be at the festival, Mr Orvis said.

“I’ve got a couple of internationals still up my sleeve, and some really great Aussie acts still to come,” he said.

“And always (in the) second or third

Rescued baby owls take flight

Three young owls are back in the wild after recuperating at Werribee Open Range Zoo for more than two months.

The trio were found in the hollow of a tree that had been cut down on the Bellarine Peninsula.

A wildlife carer took the birds to the zoo for a full health check under anaesthetic.

They weighed just 300 grams each and had a full examination, including blood tests and X-rays.

For the next nine weeks they lived in an enclosed space that simulated a tree-like hollow and were fed a wild diet so they could gain strength.

They were then taken to a specially-designed aviary near Torquay to help them adjust back to life in the wild.

Werribee Open Range Zoo Veterinary Nurse Layla Merritt said hand-raising the birds was critical to their survival because owlets needed at least 14 weeks of care before being strong enough to leave their nests.

“I was incredibly proud to see what beautiful birds they have beco me,“ Ms Merritt said.

It’s believed their parents took flight after losing their home.

Ms Merritt asked anyone considering removing old trees to check whether any animals were living inside the wood.

announcement we roll out a bunch of great local acts as well. We always have a good chunk of exciting Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast artists. So yeah, lots to come.”

To see all the artists announced so far visit http://www.qmf.net.au/artists.

Anyone who sees an owl in distress is asked to keep their distance and contact Wildlife Victoria.

- AAP

A solid holiday adventure SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Advertising feature

You know those days during the holidays when the kids are getting bored, and they’re starting to climb the walls?

Or maybe even starting to drive you up the wall? Well, your peace-of-mind solution is to take them to where they can do exactly that: takethemtoTheRockAdventureCentrewhere they can try indoor rock climbing in a safe and controlled environment.

Open from noon to 6pm every day and to 9.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday over the holidays.

When you take your children rock climbing, don’t be afraid to give it a try yourself. It’s a great way to improve your fitness. You use your whole body: fingers, hands, forearms, shoulders, back, abdomen, and legs. Indoor rock climbing is an excellent low-impact fitness regimen and it’s great fun and very addictive.

Even if you don’t want to climb yourself, just being involved with your kids by holding their safety ropes while they climb and sharing in their success makes rock-climbing a great family activity.

There are also fully supervised Kids Rock sessions. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm drop your kids off and they will be taken climbing.

The trained and experienced instructors will take your kids through climbing games and challenges in both the bouldering roped areas.

LetTheRockdoallthe’belaying’fortheKids, as well as encouraging them to explore their limits. You can sit down and enjoy an excellent coffee while you watch your kids or head off for a shop on Pakington Street. Bookings required.

If your child is looking for a start to an adventure that could last a lifetime, get in and check out the term sessions. Climb-it Club for primary aged kids and Team Rock for teenagers.

Fitness, strength, fun and new friends to meet,climbinghasitallandwithclimbingnow in the Olympics, this may be the start of some Olympic dreams.

Each term is rounded off with a day trip to nearby You Yangs or Staughtonvale where climbers can enjoy a day of outdoor climbing or abseling.

Call 52213101 or check out rockadventures.com.au

Head to The Rock to climb away from the school holiday boredom. (Supplied)

Ngulmiya is one of QMF 2023’s newly-announced artists. (Anthony Gray)

A mother and son’s ninja journey

Leopold’s Michelle Callanan and her son Jett will head to Florida in July to compete at the World Obstacle Sports Expo 23, including the Federation of Ninja Athletics World Finals. They spoke to Matt Hewson about the sport they love

Michelle Callanan had always enjoyed competitive sports, including obstacle courses, so when the show Australian NinjaWarrior hit our television screens in 2017 she knew she had to throw her hat in the ring.

“I’ve always been sporty; I did little aths, netball since I was teeny weeny, I play indoor cricket, basketball, I do functional training, gym work in general; lots of running, I’ve done marathons,” she said. “I loved obstacle racing, running and obstacles, but I enjoyed the obstacles more than the running side.

“So when I saw the TV show come on, I thought oh, this looks good. And then my whole family was like, mum, you need to go on that’’.

“Obviously I did, and got through the massive application process that you have to do, as well as the videos and interviews. It’s actually quite intimidating, some of it, to get on the show.”

Michelle competed in the 2018 season of the show, but unfortunately her initial run was not screened. Despite that disappointment, she was more than happy when Channel Nine asked her to work for the show testing the obstacle courses.

The next year, Michelle went on to qualify for the National Ninja League World Championships in the masters category, travelling to the USA for the event and eventually finishing in third place.

By this stage, Michelle’s son Jett had started getting involved with ninja athletics as well, showing a natural talent for the sport.

Now 13, Jett began training alongside his mother when he was six years old.

“It’s just fun, it calms me down, takes my mind off the bad things in life,” Jett said.

Due to his aptitude for ninja athletics, Jett soon found himself training with the adults as he began competing locally and further afield.

He said he preferred the more serious training, as it allowed him to really push himself.

“It’s actually made me do more, focus more on the activities,” he said. “When I was in the (junior) class I didn’t really focus that well because of all the games and things that were happening. It was only really five minutes of doing the actual training.”

The World Obstacle Sports Expo, held at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, from July 26 to 30, is the first event of its kind in the world, bringing the major annual events of three different ninja athletics organisations together for the first time.

The five competitions, which include the UNAA World Series Finals, the FINA World Finals, the Ninja World Cup, the World Ninja Athlete Games Championships and the Ultimate OCR 3km Championships, are held over five days in a packed schedule.

Jett has qualified to compete in the UNAA, FINA and World Cup events, while Michelle has earnt a spot in all five competitions.

“We weren’t expecting to qualify, to be honest,” Michelle said.

“We literally did this event to just see how we went. We’ve always done it for fun, really, but I’m a bit competitive.

“Then Jett decided he wanted to start doing comps, so we got more into the comps with him. This is his first year of full competition.”

ThesteptocompetitionwasabigoneforJett, but he has learnt to channel his nerves into his performances on the course.

“IgetabitanxiouswhenI’mactuallyheading

to (a competition), but then once I get there I see the course, see what things I might get. And the ones I might not get I try the most on.

“That means taking it slow and steady (on thoseobstacles),andthentheonesIknowIcan do pretty easily I can do pretty fast.”

Through Jett’s competition journey Michelle has loved watching her son grow and blossom.

“I’ve noticed that Jett’s confidence has bloomed,” she said.

“From being a really timid, quiet boy, he’s now come out of his shell. He’s a lot more focused as well.

“Building that confidence and being both there together, I suppose, and supporting each other makes a big difference too.”

Michelle said the support of both the local ninja community and people all throughout the region had been instrumental in allowing her and Jett to travel to the US to compete.

“Between the Leopold and Bellarine communities, it’s just been sensational; we wouldn’t be going without them,” she said.

“Lots of strangers have helped us. We’ve got like a gofundme page, but it’s through the Australian Sports Federation fundraising site.

“We put on a garage sale, Jett made a heap of cupcakes, we’ve got our fundraising socks. And our local gym’s done a lot for us, Geelong Ninjas did a big fundraiser for the six local ninjas going.”

She said the ninja community in general was

amazinglysupportiveofanyonewhowantedto try the sport.

“Thecommunityspirit…eventhoughit’san individual sport, every ninja, it doesn’t matter who you are, they will support you the entire way,” she said. “They’ll give you tips on how to do things, they’ll come up to you and say, oh, that was so good, you did so well. It’s just an amazing community.”

Michelle said it was fantastic to be able to share this experience with her son.

“(Going together) is what we love about it,” she said. “It’s something Jett and I have always loved doing together and we’ve always supported each other with that. It’s nice having a mini me.”

Jett and Michelle Callanan are on their way to the ninja worlds in July. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 343778

‘‘ It’s just fun, it calms me down, takes my mind off the bad things in life ’’

- Jett Callanan

Two old friends perform

By Matt Hewson

Beloved Australian performers Normie Rowe and Denise Drysdale have returned to the stage together in their new show, TheTwoofUs, a trip down memory lane coming to Geelong this weekend.

The pair have known each other since the ‘60s, when Rowe was an emerging pop star and Drysdale was a go-go dancer on pop music TV show Kommotion

While Drysdale went on to enjoy a long-running and continuing career as one of Australia’s television darlings, Rowe was drafted into national service at the height of his pop stardom in 1968.

While anti-war sentiment effectively put an end to his pop career after his return, Rowe continued to perform, adding television and musical theatre roles to his repertoire and participatinginmanycharitiesandcommunity groups.

Rowe said he and Drysdale were both delighted to be working with each other again.

“We’ve been really good friends since we were teenagers and both of us are in our 70s now; if anything lasts a long time it’s got to be good,” he said.

“(In the) early days, we were just I guess 17 or so when we met. Denise had been doing some dancing on television and I’d just started to hit my straps with a television show called the Go!! Show

“The green room was a great place to meet each other; waiting to go on to do your bit.

People like Johnny Young, Olivia Newton John, Pat Carroll and Yvonne Barrett, Joy Lemmon, Ronnie Burns and Ronnie Charles, Billy Thorpe and Ray Brown.

“(Drysdale) is just a hilarious person; what you see is what you get.”

Rowe said audiences responded to the natural warmth between the two friends.

“We started this show towards the end of last year in Queensland, and we found that there was such a wonderful synergy,” he said.

“The general vibe is sit back, relax, have fun and just enjoy the night. From my point of view, I want to bring some memories.

Women of Wit tour returns

The 2023 edition of the hugely successful Women of Wit tour arrives at the Potato Shed next weekend with a lineup including the best of well-known and up-and-coming comedians.

SuperstarcomicCalWilson(TheGreat Australian Bake Off , Have You Been Paying Attention, Spicks and Specks), the irreverent Nicky Barry, Daisy Webb andPattiFawcettallfeatureonthisyear’s bill, which will also include an as-yet unannounced special local guest.

Fawcett, who won the national Class Clowns competition in 2019 at the tender age of 15, is returning after joining the tour last year.

TheBendigonativesaidshewasexcited to come back to the Geelong region, having last performed here in 2021 as a guest performer for Class Clowns.

“Itwasreally,reallyfun,andI’mexcited to go back and do it again,” Fawcett said.

“I also think it’s really important because it’s regional; in regional places there isn’t a lot of comedy, fullstop, and then women doing comedy, there’s even less.”

Fawcett said the show was also a great opportunity to gig alongside people with years of experience on her.

“We’re really excited about coming to Geelong, the whole area is just a marvellous place. When you get outside the major cities people are less stressed and ready for a great night’s entertainment.”

TheTwoofUs will be at Geelong’s Sphinx Hotel on Saturday, July 1.

Details: events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/ the-two-of-us-starring-normie-.

Barwon Coast Update

JUNE COMMITTEE MEETING RECAP

The Barwon Coast Committee of Management June meeting had a strong financial focus, with discussions around the budget, forecasting and asset management. We also went over the work of Barwon Coast over the last month. Following the meeting, we were joined by representatives from Friends of the Lobster Pot, Friends of the Bluff, Ocean Grove CoastCare and Bellarine Friends of the Hooded Plover.

WORKS ON THE PROMENADE

Works are underway to replace all the board walk decking on the section of the promenade surrounding At the Heads. Pedestrians are being asked to take alternative routes during the works. The project will take around three weeks; works are expected to be completed by the end of July.

CARING FOR THE LOCAL PORT OF BARWON HEADS

Barwon Coast is appointed Port Manager for the Local Port of Barwon Heads through the Department of Transport under the ‘Port Management Act 1995’. Our role is to oversee port operations, including boating activities and maintenance of the port facilities, navigable channel and navigational aids.

With current estimates indicating approximately 6,000 vessels moving through the port each year, we have a a strong focus on safety.

Our team has secured over $290,000 in grants and completed more than 20 port projects during the past 18 months - just another way we care for the coast.

For more information, visit barwoncoast.com.au/caring-for-our-port

“I’m really excited to see (the other comedians) perform live, either the people I haven’t seen perform before, or someone like Cal Wilson, who I saw when I was getting into comedy.”

Women of Wit is at the Potato Shed, Drysdale on Saturday, July 8.

COLLENDINA • OCEAN GROVE BARWON RIVER ESTUARY • 13TH BEACH

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NAIDOC WEEK

9.30am, Monday 3 July

At the tip of Bukareeyoo (Ocean Grove Spit)

Representatives from Wadawurrung

Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation will perform a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, followed by a didgeridoo performance.

Access the event from the 20W car park on Barwon Heads-Ocean Grove Rd.

For more information about the event, visit: barwoncoast.com.au/nadioc-week-2023

Please note that filming and/or photography is not permitted at this event

Denise Drysdale and Normie Rowe. (Supplied)

Works completed at Ozone Jetty

Event location at the tip of Bukareeyoo (Ocean Grove Spit)

Winter fires up

Adventure Park’s Winter Glow festival is in full swing. Voice photographer Ivan Kemp was there on Sunday, June 25 for all the snow, rides, epic light installations, fire twirling and ice sculpting fun.

1/ A fire twirler lights up the night. 2/ Jasvir Kaur and Mami Singh. 3/ Peyton and Emmerson from Warrnambool. 4/ It’s all about the kids. 5/ Baljit Kaur, Khushmeet and Harmeet Singh. 6/ Hayley, Alex and Celine. 7/ Glenn Smith at work on an ice sculpture. 8/ Stuart Ford and Christine Smith. 9/ Oliver, Annabelle and Daisy from Ballarat. 10/ Ralph and Hugo from Melbourne. 11/ A giant teddy bear and a globe. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 342614

City birds a welcome work sight

the Werribee Zoo where they were looked after in a tree-like hollow.

I spent a few days in Melbourne over the past fortnight, attending a work conference.

I had a few walks along the Yarra between Kew and Alphington and was surprised to see a small flock of king parrots as well as a pair of kookaburras.

The most common bird seen in Melbourne was the omnipresent rainbow lorikeet. These birds are certainly thriving in many areas of Australia. On the way home from Melbourne I took a detour to Western Treatment Plant, as I hadn’t been there for months. I was pleased to see good numbers of brown falcons, nankeen kestrels, pied stilts and white-faced herons.

I saw a small flock of curlew sandpipers, that are migratory shorebirds that have obviously chosen to over winter in southern Australia rather than flying to the Northern Hemisphere to breed.

I was pleased to spot a peregrine falcon roosting high in a tree canopy in Point Wilson Road. I think this bird was a female as it was a large bird and female peregrines are noticeably bigger than males.

I also saw four magnificent brolgas. I was looking along the Spit for blue-winged parrots or maybe even an orange-bellied parrot, but didn’t spot either of these beautiful birds.

On the subject of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrots, 36 of these birds were released from captive breeding programs in late April to the Spit Nature Conservation Reserve in Northern Western Port Bay and

Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula. This project aims to establish flocks of released birds in suitable habitats in Victoria with the aim of attracting naturally migrating orange-belliedparrotstothosesitestoimprove the over-winter survival of these birds. These

birds are being electronically monitored to track their movements and survival.

The Bellarine Peninsula was also in the news overthepastfortnightafteratreewascutdown and three barn owl hatchlings were found in a hollow of the tree. These birds were taken to

The parent birds were assumed to have left the area after their hollow was destroyed. The three owls fledged and were released back into the wild this week. Wildlife carers asked residents to check hollows in trees before cutting the trees down. Hollows are crucial for many species of animals and birds for shelter and nesting.

I received a lovely email from Fiona and Phill, who are periodic visitors to Ocean Grove as they have family in the area. They love birds and are long term nature observers, as Phil worked as a park ranger for 40 years.

Phil was outside at night in the Woodlands area, using a thermal monocular to observe possums, when he saw a large bird flying in the scope and in the torchlight saw a very large wingspan of some sort of owl.

They were wondering if powerful owls have been seen around the Bellarine, to which I replied that the bird was most likely a male tawny frogmouth as powerful owls are very unlikely to be seen in Ocean Grove, with the closest sightings being at Point Addis.

Powerful owls are found in forests in eastern and south-eastern Australia, mainly on the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range from Mackay to south-western Victoria.

There is currently an exhibition of bird photos taken by Bellarine Birdlife members at SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre at Drysdale if anyone is interested in having a look.

I received an email from Carla and Brian, who observed that the fledgling cygnets at Blue Waters Lake are being chased off by the parent birds, who may be preparing to nest again. Swans nest all year around, even during winter, as they are very hardy and resourceful birds.

Jen’s immature brown falcon (right) and brolga (below) at Western Treatment Plant. Below right: Carla and Brian’s swans at Blue Waters Lake.

Left: Professor Cassandra Szoeke and National Council of Women Victoria Geelong branch president Alexandra Jeffrey. Right: Past president Janice Latham. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 338796

Left: Natalie Kaminnyt, Nadia Solynskyj and Yanina Dutka from the Ukrainian Women’s Association. Centre: Jane Kennedy and Rita Jenkins. Right: Jane Laidlaw and Gael Butler.

Lola Lawrie and Noni Crozier.

Above: Marilyn Adams and Maureen Ware. Left: Judy Vagg and Lyn Ranford. Far left: Ariana and Palladia Szoeke.

Above: Sharon Ciancar. Below: Tanya Harrison.

Jordi and Brett Marshall. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 343260

Above: Alicia Wakeman and twin daughters Naia and Lani. Below: Jeanette Lake and Irene Barnes. Bottom: Tiffany Nievaart and daughter MacKenzey.

Bella Watts and Holly McPherson.

Vive la France at Claribeaux

Bastille Day MENU

Escargot vol au vent

Snails with pine mushroom and parsley butter in puff pastry

Confit duck, leek and foie gras terrine (gf)

Chanterelles, tarragon & black truffle vinaigrette

Bouillabaisse (gf)

Local fish, portarlington mussels, scallops, prawns, fennel with a rich shellfish broth

Pork cassoulet (gf)

Pork cheek, lardons, confit duck, sausage, haricot , parsley & breadcrumbs

Salade de Fruits et Glace (gf)

Candied fruits with a selection of sorbets & ice creams

Bastille Day VEGAN MENU

Pine mushroom and celeriac napoleon

Chanterelles, tarragon & black truffle vinaigrette

Beetroot and macadamia cream terrine (gf)

Shallot jam petit herb salad melba toast

Vegan Bouillabaisse (gf)

If you haven’t been to the award-winning Claribeaux bistro yet, Friday, July 14 is Bastille Day and presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy a delicious fix of fine French cuisine.

Executive chef Dwayne Bourke, head chef Luke King and the talented Claribeaux culinaryteamhavecreatedasensational-five course degustation menu celebrating fresh local produce cocooned by French finesse.

Vegans and vegetarians don’t need to feel excluded either, the team has also created a bespoke degustation line up for you as well.

Guests have the option of choosing to enjoy their meal with perfectly matched French wines.

Claribeaux is the signature restaurant located onsite at Curlewis Golf Club, 1345 Portarlington Road, Curlewis.

The Bastille Day celebration dinner commences at 6.30pm. Cost is $85 per person or $145 with matching wines. Curlewis Golf Club members pay $80 or $140 with matching wines. For bookings, call 0425 750 655 or head to claribeaux. com.au.

BastilleDayisanationalholidayinFrance

which commemorates the fall of Bastille, a French military fortress and prison on July 14, 1789. The event is regarded as ushering in the French Revolution. Here in Australia, it’s a great excuse for a celebration of all things French and fabulous.

Read the following Bastille Day Menus, start drooling – and grab your beret in readiness for a fabulous night out.

Roast fennel, pickle spring onion, haricot beans, congo potato, with a rich tomato and fennel broth

Kampot pepper and artichoke tourte Spinach, cashew, artichoke puree, espagnole sauce

Salade de Fruits et Glace (gf) succade fruits with a selection of sorbets

• Iconic Bellarine winery

• Unrivalled panoramic views

• Contemporary a la carte

• Sophisticated wines

• Lunch / Wine Tastings

• OPEN 7 Days

85 McAdams Lane, Bellarine 03 5251 2223

jackrabbitvineyard.com.au

12606706-RR21-23

Artisan wines without compromise

• Sensational setting

• Stunning pizzas, platters & fresh local fare

• Live Music Sundays

• Wine Tastings

• Open Thurs - Sunday 11am - 5pm

1400 Portarlington Rd, Curlewis 03 5253 3180 leuraparkestate.com.au

12606035-SN21-23

FLYING BRICK CIDER CO

Funky, Fabulous, Fun.

• Landmark Bellarine venue

• Innovative space

• Delicious food

• 100% naturally crafted ciders

• Luxurious grounds & vineyard

• OPEN 7 Days 11am-5pm 1251 Bellarine Hwy, Wallington 03 5250 6577

flyingbrickciderco.com.au

12606701-KG21-23

THE RANGE @CURLEWIS

Finesse your form or just for fun.

• Lunch / Dinner / Snacks

• Burger, Beverage & Balls packages

• Barista coffe, beer, wine & cocktails

• OPEN 7 days 1201 Portarlington Rd, Curlewis Ph 5251 1111 curlewisgolf.com.au

LEURA PARK ESTATE

JACK RABBIT VINEYARD

Vive la France: celebrate Bastille Day with the team at Claribeaux. (Pictures: Supplied)

The rise of sourdough: a return to nourishing baking

Amidst the chaos of recent years, a remarkable phenomenon emerged – a surge of passionate sourdoughbread-bakingenthusiasts.

As our lives simplified and confined us to our homes, curiosity sparked playful experimentationwithsourdoughculture.

Theallureofsourdoughissimplyirresistible; its fermentation and biochemistry offer a captivatingglimpseintotherealmofscience.

At Ket Baker, its foundation lies in its unabashed adoration for the wonders of breadmaking. Cultivated bread becomes an integral part of a nourishing and healing diet, intricately woven into the fabric of our overall wellbeing.

It is widely acknowledged that our gut, often referredtoasthe‘secondbrain’,greatlybenefits from the inclusion of fermented foods – a crucialaspectofholisticwellness.

Unfortunately, the dark underbelly of industrialised bread production has transformed this essential sustenance into a profit-driven commodity, devoid of any true nutritional value. The demonisation of bread has been further exacerbated by a coordinated campaignagainstgluten.

While coeliac disease is undeniably real, the market has been flooded with questionable substitutes that come with a host of unsavoury additives.

Ket Baker’s concern lies not only with the final product, but also with the conscientious cultivationandexpressionofthegrainitself.

Creating fermented foods successfully requires an understanding of the intricate biochemical dance within a living culture.

As bakers, we resist the allure of shortcuts and commercial ‘success’; which risk diluting the authenticity of sourdough. Authentic sourdough demands time, attention, and, above all, a generous infusion of love. Skilled bakers can eschew extraneous elements, allowing bread to reclaim its rightful place

Miek Paulus. (Pictures: Supplied)

as a nutrient-dense staple - an ambassador of gut health, rich in vital vitamins and minerals readilyabsorbedandutilisedbyourbodies.

At Ket Baker, they proudly embrace their old-schoolroots,transmittingcherishedfamily traditions to nourish yours. The products are a testament to the harmonious collaboration between local, small-scale producers, thereby fosteringathrivingcommunityeconomy.

The unwavering commitment to prioritising people and quality over profits shines through

every loaf. Ket Baker actively trains and mentors enthusiasts, safeguarding the ancient art of sourdough baking and ensuring its perpetuation, as the knowledge base and culture of this ‘culture’ continue to evolve and expand.

As the age-old adage goes “you are what you eat”, so it’s imperative to choose nourishing sustenance that fuels our bodies. Let’s embrace the sourdough renaissance, rediscovering time-honoured traditions and reclaiming our

connectiontowholesomefood.

Visit Ket Baker to experience the true pleasure of artisanal sourdough bread and small-batch pastries that will leave you craving formore.

377 Grubb Road, Wallington, is where the magic happens, open Tuesday to Sunday. For specific hours, farmers market appearances, and other stockists, visit ketbaker.com.au

TACOS

Ingredients:

For the taco filling:

500 grams minced beef (or substitute with chicken, turkey, pork, or tofu for vegetarian/vegan option)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon chilli powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup beef or vegetable broth (if needed for moisture)

For serving:

Taco shells (soft or hard), warmed

Shredded lettuce

Diced tomatoes

Chopped coriander

Grated cheese

Sliced avocado or guacamole

Sour cream or Greek yogurt

Salsa or hot sauce

Lime wedges

Method:

Get ready to tuck in, it’s taco treat time

Tacos are beloved for their endless flavour combinations, fresh ingredients, and the joy they bring to our taste buds.

Whether you prefer soft or crunchy shells, vegetarianormeat-filledfillings,tacosoffera world of culinary possibilities.

Making homemade tacos is a delightful way to unleash your culinary creativity and satisfy your cravings for delicious Mexican

flavours. Whether you prefer traditional beef tacos or explore vegetarian alternatives, the key lies in the fresh ingredients and the endless combinations of toppings.

So, gather your favourite fillings, warm up those taco shells, and embark on a flavour-packed journey that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Enjoy the satisfaction of creating and

savouring your very own taco creations right in the comfort of your home. In this article, we’ll explore a delicious and versatile recipe for homemade tacos that you can customise to suit your taste preferences.

So, let’s dive into the art of taco-making and discover how to create a mouthwatering taco feast right in your own kitchen.

1/ In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened and fragrant.

2/ Add the mince to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through. If using a vegetarian alternative, follow the package instructions for cooking.

3/ Drain any excess fat from the skillet if necessary. Add the chilli powder, cumin, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well to evenly coat the meat with the spices.

4/ Pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine. If the mixture seems dry, add a little beef or vegetable broth to moisten the filling. Simmer for a few minutes until the flavours meld together. Adjust seasoning to taste.

5/ Prepare the taco shells according to the package instructions. If using soft tortillas, warm them in a dry skillet or microwave them for a few seconds.

6/ Fill each taco shell with a generous spoonful of the meat filling.

7/ Now comes the fun part - toppings! Customise your tacos with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped coriander, grated cheese, sliced avocado or guacamole, sour cream or Greek yoghurt, salsa or hot sauce, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Feel free to add any other toppings of your choice, such as pickled jalapeños or black olives.

8/ Serve your homemade tacos immediately, allowing everyone to assemble their own with their preferred toppings.

BISTRO MEALS

Every Friday from 5:30pm DEVONSHIRE TEAS

Every Sunday from 1:30pm-3:30pm

Please call our office to book. Club Italia Geelong also offers: Private functions such as weddings, birthdays, corporate events, Christmas parties and more • Shows • Family discos

Everyone is welcome!

9/ Don’t forget to pair your tacos with a side of Mexican rice, refried beans, or a refreshing salad for a complete and satisfying meal.

PUZZLES QUICK CROSSWORD

No.

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

ACROSS

1 Feudal workers (5)

4 Assumes the worst (9)

9 Awe-inspiring (7)

10 Progress (7)

11 Yellowish-green colour (4,5)

12 Body of troops (5)

13 Film special effects (acronym) (3)

14 Insect before butterfly

16 Agreement (11)

19 Type of fish (3)

20 Former US president (5)

22 Man-made (9)

25 Refractory (7)

26 Visuals (7)

27 Named for office (9)

28 Support (5)

DOWN

1 Actress, – Sarandon (5)

2 Armed resistance to authority (9)

3 Throw (5)

4 Ostensible reason (7)

5 Reading or copying machine (7)

DECODER WORDFIT

3

Today’s Aim:

N L A

S O E

R E

U

I B N R G

begun, bruin, brume, burg, burin, burn, burning, ennui, enuring, erbium, grub, gunmen, gunner, imbrue, imbue, inure, menu, numb, number, NUMBERING, numbing, ruin, ruing, rumen, rune, rung, umber, urge, urine

No. 139

Y R S H U F F S A L L A H S T O K E T R U E D Y A R D S

1 Which of the world’s rivers runs through the most countries?

2 Which superhero disguises himself as a reporter for the fictional DailyPlanet newspaper?

3 Which Australian author released their debut novel, MonkeyGrip, in 1977?

4 What genus of primate has the scientific name papa?

5 The de facto head of the Eastern Orthodox Church is the archbishop and ecumenical patriarch of where?

6 In what year was the Republic of Türkiye established?

7 How many member states currently comprise the European Union?

8 What is the majority language of the city of Brussels, Belgium?

9 What does the dutch word ‘handschoenen’ mean?

10 What is the musical stage name of US actor Donald Glover (pictured)?

LETTERS ADD ALL ASH ATE COD CUP DEN EGO ERA ERR EVE EYE HUM MEN MOP ONE OVA SEA SKI SPY TOO TOT USE WAD 4 LETTERS AEON APES AWAY BABE BAWL BEEN CYST DART HOSE INNS OATH ONES SCUM SHES 5 LETTERS AISLE ALIKE ALONE AMASS AMBOS ANGER ARISE AROMA ARROW BALMY BARES BEAMS BLASE CARVE DAUNT EATEN ENSUE EVENT GRUEL IOTAS MESSY MOTOR OLIVE OUSTS PERIL RISEN ROACH ROARS SANDY SCENE SCENT SEEPS SERUM SHEEN SHEET SMITH SNOOP STAND STUDY SWEPT SWOOP TESTY TIRES UDDER VISIT WAVES WEAVE WORST WROTE YESES 6 LETTERS EDDIES ODDEST SENSES TETHER 7 LETTERS BAGGAGE GUESTED MOTTOES NURTURE ORDAINS PRESENT 8 LETTERS GIGANTIC OVERLONG OVERSTEP PATIENCE 12 345678910111213 1415 1617181920212223242526 I E S R M X N T C J B G H O V D Q Z U A P Y F K L W Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible 30-06-23 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com 435679128 573461892 157346289 761832945 816925734 648297513 982154367 294783651 329518476 easy medium hard 364817952 573961428 657198243 721359864 892543176 149236587 985624731 416782395 238475619 392651847 569243718 937462581 678394152 741586923 425817639 154728396 283179465 816935274 1 14 7 20 2 15 8 21 3 16 9 22 4 17 10 23 5 18 11 24 6 19 12 25 13 26 KW ANSWERS: 1. The Danube (10 countries) 2. Superman 3. Helen Garner 4. Baboons 5. Constantinople 6. 1923 7. 27 8. French 9. Gloves (hand shoes) 10. Childish Gambino

No. 139

No. 139

No. 139

Gades come to town for the day

The Melbourne Renegades took their school holiday junior cricket program to Geelong this week. Voice photographer Ivan Kemp was at Barwon Valley Activity Centre on Monday, June 26 to see the mixed 11- to 14-year-olds being put through their paces.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Book club

Leopold CAE book club meets second Tuesday each month from 6.30pm. Very friendly group. New members welcome.

■ Shirley, 0488 055 969

Chess clubs

For chess fun simply come along and see yourself, play some chess, meet some members, with no obligation to join. We welcome players of all abilities. Ocean Grove, Tuesdays at 1.30pm at 101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove; Portarlington, Mondays at 9.30am, Parks Hall, 87 Newcombe Street, Portarlington; and St Leonards, Thursdays at 9.30am, unit 2 1375-1377 Murradoc Road, (on Blanche Street), St Leonards.

■ Ralph, 0431 458 100 (Ocean Grove), Rob, 5259 2290 (Portarlington), Lyn, 5292 2162 (St Leonards)

Carpet bowls

Leopold Hall 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Leopold on Wednesday and Friday from 1pm to 3.15pm. Admission: $4 includes afternoon tea.

■ 0400 500 402

Ballroom dance

Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday, July 1, 7.30pm-11.30pm.

Admission: $10, includes supper. Music by Ben Costanzo.

■ 0400 500 402

Scottish country dancing classes

GOG Scottish Country Dance classes

7.30pm Tuesdays at Leopold Hill Hall, $5. No partner needed, just comfy casual clothing and flat shoes.

■ Jane 0481-126 022, or Barbara 0419-511

Ocean Grove Senior Citizens

101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove Weekly

•฀฀Tuesday:฀indoor฀bowls,฀snooker฀and฀chess฀ 1pm

•฀฀Wednesday:฀beginner฀art฀painting฀class฀at฀ 9.30am, bingo 1.30pm and chord club jam session for musicians 4pm

•฀฀Thursday:฀social฀afternoons,฀cards฀500฀ and snooker 1pm

•฀฀Friday:฀sketching฀art฀class฀9.30am,฀indoor฀ bowls 1pm Fortnightly

•฀CWA฀1st฀and฀3rd฀Thursday฀7.30pm

•฀Inhouse฀movies฀3rd฀Wednesday฀1.30pm

•฀฀Ocean฀Grove฀Stamp฀Club฀4th฀Wednesday฀ 10am

■ 5255 2996

Cards

Ocean Grove Seniors play card game 500 every Thursday at 1.15pm. If you are new to the game a quick lesson will get you in play. The core group of six players adjust to any number and you will enjoy the friendship of like-minded players. Cost: $20 annually and coffee included. At 102 The Terrace, Ocean Grove.

■ Lyn, 5256 2540

TOWN club

The Springs TOWN Club (Take Off Weight Naturally) meets Mondays, 9-10.30am at the Community Hub, 23 Eversley Street, Drysdale. Weigh-in, group therapy and regular relaxation sessions. Cost: $5 per session, $54 annual fee.

■ Bev O’Meara, 0421 636 830

CWA Drysdale

Meets Drysdale RSL, Princess Street, Drysdale on the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings start at 1pm followed by afternoon tea. Friendly group looking to recruit new members.

■ Jenni, 0452 258 333

Ocean Grove on Barwon Probus Meets 9.45am for 10am every third Wednesday at Ocean Grove Golf Club. ■ gwen.anne.james@gmail.com

Probus Club of Ocean Grove Men’s Meets at 10am on the first Monday of each month, except January, at the Surf Life Saving Club on Surf Beach Road.

■ Barry, 0409 161 129

Drysdale Ladies Probus Club Meets at 10.30am on the fourth Monday of each month at the Clifton Springs Golf Club.

■ Lorraine, 0412 805 858

Drysdale Day VIEW

Supporting The Smith Family for fun and friendship while supporting disadvantaged Students. Meetings at Portarlington Golf Club for lunch on the fourth Friday of each month.

■ Margaret, 0431 636 090

Ocean Grove Evening VIEW Meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm. Email oceangroveevening.viewclub@gmail.com for details.

■ 0428 546 796

Afternoon tea dance

Life Activities Club [Geelong Inc] hosts an afternoon tea dance on Thursdays, 2-4pm, at Belmont Park Pavilion. Entry: $5.

■ 5251 3529

Above, left to right: Radhika Goyal on the front foot; Archie Hyatt sends one down; Steve McConachie giving one-on-one instructions; Frasier Lang in his delivery stride. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 342837

Left: Steve McConachie and Adrian Taranto with the training group.

Above: Tanush Goyal bowls. Above right: Daniel Chakomatthew defends.

Out and about

1/ Courtenay Fowler with daughter Mila. 2/ Jamison Camilleri and Lauren Wood. 3/ Kade Diamond and daughter Lila. 4/ Ryan Shaw, Andrew MacDonald, Rhiannon Whitson and Brianna Renshaw. 5/ Florence, Esther and Lucy. 6/ Donna and Colin Hunt. 7/ Troy Withers and Chelsea Barton (rear), Lyndall and Milli Wither (front) from Wodonga. 8/ Ben Tardrew-Munday and son Sonny. 9/ Alex Houlston and son Kieran. 10/ Tim Burdew and Kim Cummins. 11/ Andrew Beeson and Mark ’Nutsy’ Tilders. (PIctures: Ivan Kemp) 342597

Voice photographer Ivan Kemp roamed Ray Menzies Oval, Ocean Grove on Saturday, June 24 to meet footy followers from Ocean Grove and Portarlington.

SALES MANAGER

GEELONG INDEPENDENT

The Geelong Independent and Ocean Grove Voice seeks an experienced Sales Manager with exceptional communication skills.

The position will manage print and digital advertising sales for the Independent and co-publications Ocean Grove Voice, Geelong Coast Home and Lifestyle and Geelong Coast Kids. The position will be based at our Geelong West office. The successful applicant will have a proven track record managing sales teams, will be a strategic thinker, budget focused, organised, and able to multi-task.

The role requires strong relationship skills internally and externally, a confident communicator, and the ability to train and motivate staff.

Media sales management experience would be an advantage. Send your application letter and resume to: Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au

PRINT AND ONLINE SALES EXECUTIVE GEELONG INDEPENDENT

Geelong Independent seeks an enthusiastic sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms. Geelong Independent is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future.

The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business.

Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance.

The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme.

Send your application letter and resume to:

Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au

SPORTS QUIZ

1. Which basketball team won the 2023 NBA Finals, four games to one?

2. And which basketball team did they defeat?

3. By what score did Argentina defeat the Socceroos in their friendly match held in Beijing?

4. Media personality Matthew Johns played for which two NRL clubs?

5. Australian swimmer Kai Taylor is the son of which former champion swimmer?

6. ´Bazball’ refers to the play style of which nation’s cricket team since the appointment of coach Brendon McCullum?

Marlion Pickett last played for which AFL club?

Which Norwegian tennis professional did Novak Djokovic defeat to win the 2023 French Open?

Which NHL team won the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, 4 games to 1?

10. And which NHL team did they defeat?

11. How many races will there be in the 2023 F1 season?

12. Which team currently sits on top of the NRL ladder?

13. How many runs do you get if you hit the ball over the rope without bouncing in cricket?

14. Next year’s AFL Gather Round will take place in which round?

15. In which year did Australia last host an Olympics?

16. And which year will they next host one?

17. Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja was born in which country?

18. Former wrestler Dave Bautista stars in which Marvel movie franchise?

19. True or false: Richmond’s most recent three premierships were in 2017, 2018 and 2020?

20. The Northstars play for which city in the AIHL?

21. What is the nickname for the jumper that Port Adelaide Power wear in certain games?

22. Which team did the Collingwood Magpies Super Netball team defeat in their last ever match?

23. What was the former city and nickname of the NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder?

24. Which country will host the upcoming Netball World Cup?

25. Which Victorian beach plays host to a World Surf League event every April?

26. Which country will host July’s World Aquatics Championships?

27. Which country will the Matildas play against in their opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup?

28. What Major League Baseball team was based both in Florida and Buffalo, New York during the 2021 season due to travel restrictions?

29. Which English bowler was criticised for his overly aggressive demeanour towards Usman Khawaja after dismissing him in the first Ashes test?

30. What other language aside from English is an official language of the Olympic Games?

Giulia is designed to turn heads

By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring

Alfa Romeo Giulia is a stylish Italian sports sedan built on a rear-drive platform and designedtotacklethemarketsegmentcurrently dominated by the premium European brands.

Although the name Giulia (pronounced Julia)wasaroundinthe1960sandearly1970sit didn’tre-emergeuntil2015when,tothedelight of Alfistis everywhere, the company broke away from using the bland numeric names 156 and 159 and returned to such a distinctively Italian one.

There are five models in the Giulia range: Ti, Veloce, Quadrifoglio, GTA and GTAm.

There’s a huge difference in price, starting fromaround$70,000fortheTiandVeloce,then doubling once to the $143,000 Quadrifoglio anddoublingagaintothetrack-readyGTAand GTAm.

Our test car was the Quadrifoglio, which is Italian for four-leaf clover and has been the symbol for Alfa racing cars for close to 100 years. In modern times Quadrifoglio, often abbreviated to QV, indicates high-performance road cars.

Styling

Giulia Quadrifoglio is a real stunner. It’s very svelte and Italian in its shape and drew plenty of attention wherever we went due in no small partbytherichMontrealGreenversionthatwe tested.

Indeed, one Irish colleague was so smitten by the combination of the colour and the shamrock/clover badges (there is a difference apparently) on the sides that only my mention of the price tag stopped him from rushing off to buy one.

The exterior is highlighted by the traditional triangular shield grille flanked by two lower-mountedgrillesintheapron.Thebonnet has two cooling outlets for the engine bay

There’s a carbon-fibre splitter and large air intakes for the intercoolers as well as the brakes. The side skirts also feature carbon-fibre inserts and there are gill-style outlets either side at the front to allow air to escape from the wheel housings.

The “angry-eyes” headlights, narrow on the inside and swept-back over the front fenders, add to its striking appearance.

Unlike some of its competitors, there is no wagon variant for the Giulia although the recently-released Stelvio SUV Quadrifoglio is there if a more functional interior is needed.

Interior

Giulia is built close to the ground making entry and exit difficult for less supple occupants. Consequently, the driving position is lower than we normally like but Giulia is a sports sedan so that’s to be expected.

The dashboard tilts slightly towards the driver.

Our test QV came with optional black leather with Alcantara inserts and green/ white stitching. The front seats have tall rigid bolsters which will challenge ample-buttocked occupants but do provide excellent support.

Cabin storage is adequate, with dual cup holders and a sizeable smartphone-sized alcove at the base of the dashboard and an adjacent USB socket. There are two more USB ports in a smallcentreconsolestorageboxwithawireless phone charging pad next to them.

There’s also a useful small slot in the centre console to fit the keyfob.

The rear does have three seatbelts but the centre seat is not only narrow but it sits on top of a very high transmission tunnel that makes seating, even for children, all but impossible. Perhaps a child seat might just be squeezed in but not much else. Otherwise the fold down armrest, with twin cupholders, will be in place all the time.

On the plus-side the two useable rear seats are large and supportive as well as heated. As with the front seats they are finished in leather and Alcantara. Head and legroom are reasonable and there are twin air vents and a pair of USB ports.

Boot size is a decent 480 litres although access through the narrow opening can be a squeeze. The latest upgrade added a powered tailgate.

Engines / transmissions

Both the Ti and Veloce are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with outputs of 206 kW and 400 Nm at 2250 rpm.

The 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 in the Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde (QV) is something special with its Ferrari-inspired 500 horsepower (375 kW) twin-turbocharged engine. That peak power comes in at 6500 rpm with the redline set at 7000 revs. There’s an impressive 600 Nm all the way from 2500 to 5500 rpm.

All engines are mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox with large aluminium manual gearshift paddles.

Safety

Although the Quadrifoglio hasn’t been tested by ANCAP the lower spec Veloce achieved a five-star rating including an adult occupation protection rating of 98 per cent.

Standard safety features in the Giulia QV include six airbags, active cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, intelligent speed control, driverinattentionalert,trafficsignrecognition, automatic high beam system, lane departure warning and lane keep assist and, forward collision warning.

There’s also active blind spot assist, autonomous emergency braking, tyre pressure monitoring, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and rear-view mirror auto-dimming, and Isofix child seat anchors in the outer rear seats.

Infotainment

Displayisthroughasmall8.8-inchtouchscreen embedded in the top centre of the dashboard that can, and should be, operated by a new rotary dial on the centre console.

Traditionalists will be happy with the two large analogue instrument dials for the driver with a digital speedometer in between.

As is the norm nowadays there’s a lot of learning needed to operate what is quite a complex infotainment system including a triple split screen. As always, given that we only have most vehicles for a week, we try to avoid being too critical of features that owners will

2.9

2.9

SPECIFICATIONS

quickly adapt to.

There’s built-in satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay but wired Android Auto as well as an impressive 14-speaker Harman/Kardon system called Sound Theatre.

Driving

As good as the Giulia Quadrifoglio looks it’s also a brilliant car to drive. It’s a true sports model, with an all-new rear-wheel drive

architecture giving it 50:50 weight distribution. It’s the first Alfa sedan to be driven by its rear wheels since the early 1990s. Weight is kept down through the use of lightweight steel and composite materials such as carbon fibre.

Like an increasing number of new vehicles Giulia comes with a start/stop button, many of which are annoyingly tucked away out of sight behind the steering wheel. Determined to be different, the Alfa designers have cleverly positioned the button at the bottom of the steering wheel itself. At least it’s at the bottom once the driver gets into the habit of parking, as we all should, with the wheels pointing straight ahead.

Once pressed the fun starts with the 2.9-litre twin-turbo engine sending out a lovely V6 burble through the four tailpipes.

Around town the Giulia QV is a little awkward with ground clearance of just 100mm needing a fair bit of caution and angled approach around driveways and the like.

The Alfa DNA Driving Mode Selector offers four main drive modes: Advanced Efficiency (for poor traction conditions), Normal, Dynamic and Race. Each of these changes the settings for the dampers, torque limiter, steering, gear shifts, all-wheel drive system, exhaust valve, throttle sensitivity and torque vectoring.

Most drivers, as we did, will spend most of thetimeinDynamicratherthanNormalmode as it provided everything we required.

Extra-large piece aluminium paddle shifters are fixed to the steering column encouraging their use – just for the fun of it.

Fuel consumption is listed at 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres kept down by the combination of auto engine stop-start and cylinder deactivation which shutting down three of the six cylinders when not required. We averaged a touch over 10 L/100km during our test, still pretty good for such a sporty car.

Summing up

Alfa Romeo Giulia QV is a car with the character that you expect from Italy in that combines stunning looks with outstanding performance.

Anyone who is in the market for a mid-sized sports sedan should forget all their pre-conceptions about Alfa and at least take it for a test drive before rushing in and buying one of its mostly German competitors.

The beautiful lines together with the stunning green body is a real head-turner. (Pictures: Supplied)

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2.9-litre four-door sports sedan

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Alfa Romeo dealer for drive-away prices.

Grubbers take it up to Demons

Voice photographer Ivan Kemp was busy on Saturday, June 24. He went to the Geelong West vs Ocean Grove Under 18s footy game at West Oval, Geelong West, and was at Ray Menzies Oval, Ocean Grove, for the seniors footy, B Grade netball and 15 & Under Division 1 netball clashes against Portarlington.

Sydney Reid beats Shelby Hackett to the ball in a tight contest.

Above: Lucy Sampson wins a tight contest against Emily Lacy. Left: Isabel Hackett looks to pass out of defence.

Emma Barry pulls down a screamer. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 342600

Emilia Evans was one of Port’s best in a tight 15 & Under Division 1 clash.

Above: James Devine gains possession on the wing. Left: Levi Norman kicks into the forward line in the Under 18s game against Geelong West.

Left: Jamison Hallam just keeps the ball in play. Hallam was one of Ocean Grove’s best in the 26-point win. Centre: Max Sutton tackles Matthew Lawrence. Right: Josh Horton gets his kick away under immense pressure in the seniors game against Portarlington. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 342593

Ocean Grove players make their way onto the ground through a crowd of young Cobras.

Georgia Maier takes a pass under the goalring.

Highton sneaks in one game win

LOCAL TENNIS

It was round eight this week for Tennis Geelong’s Senior Competition, and the first games of the second half of the season, and in Section 3 Open, all three matches saw teams reverse their fortunes from round one.

Ladder leaders All Saints travelled to Highton to face their White team. Round 1 saw All Saints take a comfortable 3-1 win, but this week White turned their form around sneaking home with a one-game win tying on

rubbers and sets.

CoreyHerdstartedthematchwellforWhite, winning the first singles 6-3, 6-0, while Colin Dempsey and James Dat levelled the score winning the first doubles 6-2, 7-6.

Dat put the Saints in front when he won the second singles 6-3, 6-2, but Herd and Joshua Palmer pushed through in the second doubles to win 7-5, 6-4 for White leaving them with the win by the closest of margins.

Second placed Surfcoast Torquay hosted Highton Blue and didn’t enjoy the rain-delayed match going down three rubbers to one.

Barwon Heads dominate

Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club dominated at the TRE Motorsport Victorian Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) championships in Lorne on the weekend of June 24 and 25.

The club took out the overall title from 17 other teams across the state, including Anglesea,Fairhaven,Lorne,andOceanGrove.

Results

Open women’s rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Zoe

Campbell, Georgia McKinnon, Aaron Robson)

2nd: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Keely

Peatling, Tara Scott, Amy Veenendaal)

Open men’s mass rescue

2nd: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Zoe

Campbell, Jake Pownall, Samantha Pownall, Ryan Wilson)

3rd: Barwon Heads 13th Beach

(Stephanie Dimitrio, Thomas Lenehan, Conor McKinnon, Keely Peatling)

Open women’s mass rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Thomas

Lenehan, Keely Peatling, Tara Scott, Amy Veenendaal)

2nd: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Zoe

Campbell, Georgia McKinnon, Aaron Robson, Bryce Newton)

Open men’s teams rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Zoe

Campbell, Stephanie Dimitrio, Thomas

Lenehan, Conor McKinnon, Jake Pownall, Ryan Wilson)

Open women’s teams rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Zoe

Campbell, Georgia McKinnon, Keely Peatling, Aaron Robson, Tara Scott, Amy Veenendaal)

2nd: Ocean Grove (Emily Bambrook, Orlagh Davison, Benjamin Eales, Mackenzie Hooper, Jacob Lee, Ella Willson)

Open men’s tube rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Jake

Blue gave themselves the lead after the first two rubbers with Caleb Brozina winning the singles 6-3, 6-2 and counterparts Oliver Murphy and Will Burke battled to win the doubles 6-4, 6-4.

Murphy backed up in the second singles winning 6-1, 2-6, 10-8 to seal the match for Blue, the only success for Torquay being the second doubles with Vander and Jason Withers coming through 6-3, 6-4.

With Lara having the bye, the final match of the round was between Wandana Heights and Highton Gold.

In round one the teams were drawn on rubbers and sets, with a seven-game advantage to Gold.

ThedaystartedinsimilarfashionwithGold’s Sara Chol and Daniel Locke taking a win in the doubles 6-4, 6-4, and Wayne Gear winning the singles for the Heights 6-4, 6-3 giving his team a one game lead.

From there Wandana took control with Terry Mills winning through in the second singles 6-2, -3, before Gear teamed with David Treacy to win a hard-fought doubles 7-5, 6-3, 10-2 sealing the victory three rubbers to one.

Rohan high on confidence

Geelong speedster Gary Rohan is primed to reprise his game-breaking heroics when he confronts his former AFL club Sydney tonight.

The Cats will be without leading goalkicker Jeremy Cameron for the high-stakes clash at the SCG, the star forwardsidelinedbecauseofaconcussion sustained in an accidental collision with Rohan last week.

But Rohan stepped up after Cameron’s early exit against Melbourne and has taken a huge confidence boost from his match-winning performance.

“It was absolutely massive for him,” Cats teammate Jake Kolodjashnij told AAP.

Pownall, Samantha Pownall, Ryan Wilson)

Open women’s tube rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Zoe Campbell, Samantha Pownall, Ryan Wilson)

3rd: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Bryce Newton, Keely Peatling, Amy Veenendaal)

Masters men’s mass rescue

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach

(Isabelle Balding, Darragh Maher, Denis McDonald, Jake Pownall)

Open mixed IRB relay

1st: Barwon Heads 13th Beach (Matthew Burke, Paul Caddaye, Zoe Campbell, Stephanie Dimitrio, Jasmine Happ, Thomas Lenehan, Denis McDonald, Conor McKinnon, Georgia McKinnon, Bryce Newton, Keely Peatling, Jake Pownall, Samantha Pownall, Aaron Robson, Tara Scott, Amy Veenendaal, Ryan Wilson)

Cats to fight hard to keep Esava Ratugolea

Geelong coach Chris Scott is adamant Esava Ratugoleaisn’t“goinganywhere“astheracefor the defender’s services heats up.

Ratugolea’s contract expires at the end of the season and Port Adelaide are reportedly circling the 70-game backman.

Geelong thwarted Port’s bid to snare Ratugolea at the end of last year and Scott indicated the Cats will fight tooth and nail again to retain the 24-year-old.

“As to how hard we fight for him - about as hard as last year. He’s not going anywhere,“ Scott told reporters on Tuesday.

“If I were Esava, I would take it as a complimentthatotherteamsareinterestedand as a coach I certainly do. We’ve got players that other teams want.”

Ratugolea, who has been a revelation since being switched from attack to defence during

the off-season, will return from a hamstring injury in tonight’s clash with Sydney at the SCG.

Scott confirmed star veteran Patrick Dangerfield would join Ratugolea in the side.

Dangerfield has been sidelined since suffering a partially collapsed lung and cracked rib in the round-14 loss to Port Adelaide.

The 33-year-old was unable to fly straight after that game, forcing him to drive eight hours to his home in Moggs Creek.

Scott said Dangerfield had been passed fit to play against Sydney.

“He’sfine.Hewascloselastweek,”Scottsaid.

“As we alluded to, we were going to be cautious with him. He had a lung issue and that was the problem we needed to be really sure about.

“I’ve said a number of times I don’t think it’s

the modern way at our club anyway to risk any player, irrespective of status within the group. He’s trained as expected so good to have him back.”

Forward Jeremy Cameron will miss the match after being concussed in the win over Melbourne.

ScottishopefulCameronwillreturnfornext week’s clash with North Melbourne.

“Thepleasingthingformeishelooksnormal around the place, he is his happy self,” Scot t said.

“He’s in the concussion protocols. He has a bit of a shoulder issue from that contact as well. I’moptimisticthatoncehe’soutoftheprotocols he’ll be ready to play. He will probably have a shoulder strapped up when he comes back.”

“He was really good the previous week against Port Adelaide as well, so credit to him. Ever since he’s come back from that hamstringinjury(inround12)he’sreally been pivotal and important for us.

“We love what he does; fighting for marks and his pressure around the contest is elite. He’s a great teammate to have.”

Cameron also sustained a shoulder injuryinthecollisionwithRohanbutthe Cats are hopeful he will return for next week’s clash with North Melbourne.

Rohan was visibly shaken after the incident but refocused to showcase his talents, booting three goals to steer Geelong to victory over flag fancies Melbourne.

It squared the ledger at 7-7 and put themonthebrinkofthetopeightleading into the Sydney clash.

“It was a pretty shocking incident but he stood up,” Kolodjashnij said. “He was unbelievable,probablythegame-changer intheend.Welovethewayhewentabout it. His speed once the ball hit the deck to push forward and really punish them was the real highlight.”

Rohan will partner with evergreen veteran Tom Hawkins in Geelong’s attack, while remodelled defender Esava Ratugolea returns from a hamstring injury at the other end.

CatscaptainPatrickDangerfieldisalso back after suffering a partially collapsed lung and cracked rib in round 14.

Beaten by Geelong in last year’s grand final,Sydney(6-8)ishanginginthefinals conversation despite being smashed by injuries this season.

The Swans are coming off a record-breaking 171-point hiding of West Coast and have set their sights on an upset, having lost to the Cats by 93 points in round six.

“We’re looking ahead of us this week,” Swans coach John Longmire said.

“We know what Geelong can do. We know they’re a really good team, but we’re also confident in what we can do.” – AAP

Donna Schoenmaekers

Barwon Heads 13th Beach was crowned Victoria’s open TRE Motorsport Victorian Inflatable Rescue Boat champion. (Pictures: Michael Schofield)

Mammoth challenge for Grove

By Justin Flynn

Freshfromtwowinsfromitspastthreegames, Ocean Grove faces the Bellarine Football League’s toughest challenge over the next two rounds.

A huge Battle of the Bridge clash against second placed Barwon Heads awaits after a general bye this weekend while it gets even harder after that with an assignment against the undefeated and all-conquering Torquay.

Ocean Grove was gallant in a 44-point loss to third placed Drysdale in round 11 and on Saturday June 24, put away bottom side Portarlington to the tune of 87 points.

Ocean Grove’s four wins this season have come against Newcomb and Portarlington, which fill the bottom two rungs on the ladder.

Grubbers’ coach Dave Farrell was not shying away from the mammoth task ahead, but refused to be drawn on whether his side needed a win against a side that is above them on the ladder.

“Barwon Heads then Torquay on the back of that is as big a task as there is in local footy right now, but the timing of it is perfect for our group to keep growing,” he said.

The timing of the Barwon Heads clash actually couldn’t be any better.

The Seagulls suffered a shock loss to Modewarre at the weekend, but had 14 senior players missing due to injury and unavailability. While the Seagulls can expect to have players back for the game and are still clear second favourites for this year’s flag, it represents an opportunity for Ocean Grove to knock over its arch nemesis.

Farrell, however, preferred to focus on what

his team can do rather than buy into whether his side’s arch rivals are gettable.

“We are still searching for a complete four-quarter performance,” he said.

“There’s real clarity around how we want to play and what our best footy looks like, but we’re implementing some subtle changes to the way we play.

“We have a young group and by the halfway point of the season had played 36 players. The back third of the season is exciting and we’ll go into games with a heightened confidence and are looking to build on the four wins to date.”

Against Portarlington, skipper Joe McDonald was superb with three goals in a best afield display.

“Joe McDonald was super again - (he) sets the standard for workrate and two-way running which resulted in him hitting the scoreboard but as importantly, some high value rundowns and pressure acts,” Farrell said.

Josh Wooding booted five goals to make it nine from two games and Tom Chalkley provided rebound from half back.

“Tom Chalkley (is) growing into a really influential running half back, he’s got a great eye for the game and makes really solid decisions,” Farrell said.

Ruckman Ed Dayman was prominent, youngster Jet Kneebone continued his successful transition from under age to senior

Round 12

Ocean Grove 5.4(34), 11.8(74), 13.13(91), 19.20(134)

Portarlington 1.1(7), 3.2(20), 6.4(40), 7.5(47)

GOALS

Ocean Grove: Josh Wooding 5, Jye Walker 3, Joe McDonald 3, Jet Kneebone 2, Max Sutton 2, Tyson Ruck, Josh Horton, Fletcher Long, Patrick Norton.

Portarlington: Tom Richardson 3, Ryan Salvador 2, Josh Jones, Jordan Vlahos. BEST

Ocean Grove: Joe McDonald, Josh Wooding, Tom Chalkley, Ed Dayman, Jet Kneebone, Dylan Moroney.

Portarlington: Dylan O’Brien, Tyler Cummins, Alex Gugliotti, Noah Withers, Stephen Walton, Matthew Lawrence.

footy and Dyan Moroney rounded off the best players.

Ocean Grove defeated Portarlington by 82 in the reserves and is a game and percentage clear of Modewarre in fifth place.

Ben Bennett, skipper Jack Brew and Lachlan Bedendo were best while Beau Stella booted three goals.

The side also faces a tough two rounds ahead with Barwon Heads (third) and Torquay (first) awaiting.

Round 12

A Grade: Ocean Grove 58 def

Portarlington 25. Best: Kelsey Ollis, Rhiannon Whitson, Emily Moroney.

B Grade: Ocean Grove 58 def

Portarlington 20. Best: Gemma Bell, Claudia Britt, Isabel Hackett.

C Grade: Ocean Grove 33 def

Portarlington 18. Best: Sofia Dickeson, Mikayla Treacy, Kellie Morrish.

D Grade: Ocean Grove 30 def

Portarlington 13. Best: Emma Sinkinson, Terri-Anne Finch, Monet New.

E Grade: Ocean Grove 25 def

Portarlington 14. Best: Kylie Collett, Anabelle Sargeant, Emilie Punton.

19 & Under: Ocean Grove 20 def by Portarlington 33. Best: Ruby Hildebrandt, Lexie Annand, Chloe Jeffrey.

Slow start, but Grubbers pull away

Ocean Grove withstood a spirited first-half performance from Portarlington to win its Bellarine Netball League round 12 clash by 33 goals.

The ninth-placed Demons came out firing against second-placed Ocean Grove to lead by four goals at the first change and scores were level at half time.

But the Grubbers pulled away in the third, scoring 19 goals to one and then cruised over the line with a further 20 goals to five in the final term to win 58 to 25.

Captain Emily Moroney said the challenge was laid down at half time after a tardy start. “We just started really slowly,” she said. “The weather was pretty average and we weren’t really prepared for it. Mentally we just weren’t in the game when we should have been.

“We pulled our heads in and started fighting for the ball going for the one percenters. We were able to play our style of netball.

“They (Portarlington) were good. They really came out firing, probably the opposite to us.”

Moroney said slow starts against the top sides could prove disastrous and that the group was determined to not let that happen again.

“It was a credit to us that we were able to get ourselves back into the game,” she said.

“We changed our attitude and mindset. The positions pretty much stayed the same. It will be a lesson learnt from the weekend. You have to play four consistent quarters, against the top sides.”

Moroney said there was no complacency pregame given Port’s lowly position on the ladder.

“We usually come out expecting a tough game no matter who we are playing,” she said.

“It was just the team effort and the ability to keep going even though we were down and turn the scoreline around.”

Moroney was a star at wing attack for Ocean

Grove while defender Rhiannon Whitson and goal attack Ashton O’Brien had a positive influence on the outcome.

The Grubbers have a bye this weekend before taking on their arch rivals Barwon Heads at home. Ocean Grove scraped home by three goals against the Seagulls in their round six clash.

“It’s always such a good game against them,” she said. “The last time we played Barwon Heads it was a close one. We’ve got six weeks now to prepare for finals. We’re still training but a weekend off is always nice.”

Moroney is in her first year as A Grade captain and is enjoying the role and has learnt how to stay calm when the team needs it most.

“We’vegotsuchanicegroupofgirls,it’sbeen a fun year,” she said.

“I’m surrounded by really good people.”

Justin Flynn

17 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 23 def by Portarlington 31. Best: Sofia Dickeson, Ella Brown, Chelsea Ferguson.

17 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 35 def Portarlington 12. Best: Sienna White, Bella Wearmouth (16 goals), Molly McLean.

15 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 24 def Portarlington 20. Best: Abhi Sanjeev, Emma Barry (17 goals), Ella Brown.

15 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove

39 def Portarlington 14. Best: Georgia Maier (21 goals), Eve Lake, Lucy Neaves (15 goals).

13 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 6 def by Portarlington 31. Best: Alana Farrow, Charli Rew, Ruby Cook.

13 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove

22 def Portarlington 0. Best: Joie Clarke, Olivia Clark (10 goals), Olive Wearmouth.

Left: Claudia Britt was one of Ocean Grove’s best against Portarlington in B Grade. Right: Katie Chalmers beats Lucy Sampson for this ball. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 342604

Josh Wooding starred for Ocean Grove, booting five goals. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 342596