VOL 15 NO 4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2024 www.brightoncommunitynews.com.au
New playground opens at Cris Fitzpatrick Community Park BYAG’s busy NAIDOC Week
In July an opening was held for a new playground at Cris Fitzpatrick Community Park and the Bond Place kitchen pavilion/outdoor classroom. The new playground is the first stage of Council’s Gagebrook Renewal Project funded jointly by the Australian Government Building Better Regions Fund, the Tasmanian Government, Brighton Council and Centacare Evolve Housing.
The opening was marked by a celebration with kids activities, live music, and food, hosted by Brighton Council in conjunction with Material Institute, Under One Rainbow and Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG).
Mayor Leigh Gray said “We sincerely thank all of our funding partners for making this possible. I would also like to acknowledge Inspiring
Place who designed the new playground and the SLS Landscape Group who did an amazing job with the construction. This new playground and outdoor classroom/kitchen pavilion at Bond Place provide facilities that we can all be proud of, and that provide our families and children in Gagebrook with a place to have fun and enjoy engaging with each other on a day to day basis.”
For those who aren’t aware, Cris Fitzpatrick was an extraordinary community leader whose dedication transformed the lives of many in the Brighton Municipality. Living in public housing with two daughters, Cris understood the challenges faced by her neighbours. Her unwavering commitment to improve their economic, social, and physical environment became her life’s mission. Despite battling cancer, Cris Fitzpatrick remained dedicated to our local area until her passing in January 2004. Her legacy lives on through the Cris Fitzpatrick Community Park, renamed in her honour.
The Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) had a busy time supporting NAIDOC Week celebrations. They facilitated a sensory based activity at the Kutalayna Collective kipli & kani celebrations at the Brighton Civic Centre, which included playdough
and Lego activities, with take home packs of homemade playdough. The BYAG team members also managed to win the Karadi Aboriginal Corporation Amazing Race! This year’s NAIDOC Week theme was Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.
Published by the Brighton Council. It is distributed to households and businesses throughout the municipality.
Circulation: In excess of 9,000.
Managing Editor: Angela Turvey
Editorial and Advertising: Steph Williams
Email: communitynews@brighton.tas.gov.au
Published by:
Brighton Council
1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach TAS 7017
2024 edition deadlines: October/November edition
Stories and contributions: Friday 30
August
Advertising material: Friday 13 September
BRIGHTON COUNCIL
Brighton Council Meetings
Meetings held at Council Offices, 1 Tivoli Rd, Old Beach
Ordinary Council
20 August and 17 September 2024 Meeting commences at 5:30pm
Planning Authority
6 August and 3 September 2024 Meeting commences at 5:30pm
Agendas can be viewed online four days prior to the meetings at: www.brighton.tas.gov.au
admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au
General Enquiries
Email Website
General Manager
James Dryburgh
Community Development
Officer
6268 7000 admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au 6268 7000 6268 7054
Environmental & Development Services
General Enquiries
Building Services
Health Services
Planning Services
Animal Control
Physical Services
Council Depot
Manager Asset Services
Corporate Services
Rates Enquiries
Accounts Enquiries
Cashier
After hours emergency
Commercial FOGO service now available in Brighton
Getting food and garden waste out of landfill is one of the easiest and most effective ways we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions quickly - not only does organic waste take up valuable landfill space, when it rots in landfill it creates a very potent greenhouse gas called methane.
Governments and industry around the world have joined together to reduce methane emissions as part of a Global Methane Pledge, with the United Nations Environment Program declaring that “Cutting methane emissions is the best way to slow climate change over the next 25 years”. Local governments, for their part,
have been rolling out FOGO - a Food Organic Garden Organic kerbside bin service where organic waste is collected and converted into valuable compost for farmers. Brighton Council offered FOGO to residents and schools in 2021, and now, thanks to an extension of Veolia’s collection service, a commercial FOGO service is now availablein Brighton.
LEIGH GRAY (Mayor)
Brighton 7030 Tel: 6268 0704 / 0488 390 115 cr.gray@brighton.tas.gov.au
BARBARA CURRAN (Deputy Mayor)
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0417 612 868 cr.curran@brighton.tas.gov.au
AARON DE LA TORRE
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0427 813 821 cr.delatorre@brighton.tas.gov.au
PETER GEARD
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0418 515 649 cr.geard@brighton.tas.gov.au
6268
7000
All correspondence should be addressed to the General Manager, Brighton Council, 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach 7017.
support or someone to talk to, you can reach out to:
Lifeline Beyond Blue Kids Help Line Men’s Help Line
Brighton businesses are encouraged to do their part to reduce methane emissions and sign up for a FOGO service. To find out more, contact Veolia’s Operations Manager Chris Dickinson at 6244 0003 or chris.dickinson@ veolia.com.
GREG IRONS
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0424 333 360 cr.irons@brighton.tas.gov.au
JOHN MCMASTER
Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0408 543 772 cr.mcmaster@brighton.tas.gov.au
TENNILLE MURTAGH
Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0479 053 814 cr.murtagh@brighton.tas.gov.au
PHILIP OWEN
Old Beach 7017 Tel: 6249 8575 / 0419 333 252 cr.owen@brighton.tas.gov.au
MICHAEL WHELAN
Brighton 7030 Tel: 0409 416 353 cr.whelan@brighton.tas.gov.au
13Yarn - Aboriginal & Torres
Strait Islander crisis support
Q Life - LGBTIQA+ support
Mental Health Services
13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days)
1300 22 4636 (24 hours/7days)
1800 55 1800 (24 hours/7 days)
1300 78 99
Immunisation Clinics 2024
Brighton Council provides FREE monthly immunisation clinics at the Brighton Council Offices, 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach from 2–3pm on these dates:
Tuesday 6 August
Tuesday 3 September
Tuesday 1 October
Tuesday 5 November
Tuesday 3 December
Please note the clinics now take place at the Council Offices at 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach.
admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au For enquiries please call Brighton Council’s Environmental Health Officer (03) 6268 7029
Bridgewater home to new whisky distillery
A new whisky distillery, Greenbanks Tasmanian Whisky Co., has opened in Bridgewater. They specialise in contract distilling, where clients work with head distiller John Slattery to create and perfect their desired whisky style. Greenbanks then makes small test batches of the whisky to ensure it meets high standards before full-scale production. The whisky is aged until it’s right for bottling.
Co-founder Hugh Roxburgh has been working to start a distillery in Australia for years, and also attempted in the United States. Finally, he settled on Tasmania as the ideal location to build a large whisky-making facility. His goal is to elevate Tasmania as a top whisky-producing region, alongside the likes of Scotland and Japan. All from Bridgewater’s backyard.
New Probus Club launched at Old Beach Community Centre
A new Probus Club was officially launched in June at the Old Beach Community Centre. The inaugural President Jacie Chick was presented with a ‘Chain of Office’ donated by Rotary Lindisfarne.
The club joins a network spanning 52 Probus Clubs across Tasmania. The Old Beach Probus Club aims to foster fun and friendship in retirement and offers retirees opportunities to socialise, forge new friendships, acquire new skills, and explore fresh interests and hobbies.
Meetings are scheduled for the third Friday of each month
at the Old Beach Community Centre, and feature activities and guest speakers.
Their first club get together was held at Brew Lab in Goodwood. Retirees from the local area interested in learning more about the club are encouraged to attend the next meeting scheduled for 16 August. Alternatively, you can reach out to a committee member via email at oldbeachprobusclub24@ gmail.com.
For further information about Probus South Pacific and a list of other clubs in Tasmania, visit their website at probussouthpacific.org.
“We chose to invest in Tasmania due to the favourable business environment, superior climatic conditions for making and maturing whisky, and the deep local engineering and distilling expertise,” Mr Roxburgh said. “Tasmania makes some of the best whisky in the world and has won almost every award there is to win globally, but very little is exported overseas because not enough is made.”
Located in Bridgewater’s Industrial Area, Greenbanks is close to Brighton Transport Hub and the Midland Highway, making it convenient for shipping by road and rail. The industrial zoning ensures they have all the necessary utilities and can operate around the clock. That’s why they chose Bridgewater for their base of operations.
“The local Brighton Council has been great to deal with during our distillery build. Bridgewater was the ideal location to build a
world-class Tasmanian distillery and we look forward to working closely with the local community going forward.”
At full capacity, Greenbanks will use about 10% of Tasmania’s annual grain production (around 10,000 tonnes). This means they will need local farmers to grow lots of high-quality Tasmanian grain.
“If you’re a local grain grower we would love to hear from you,” he said.
“We also need to work very closely with local livestock
farmers to manage our stillage - a nutritious byproduct of our distillation process. At full scale we estimate the volume of stillage produced at Greenbanks will be enough to supplement the feed of approximately 4,000 cattle.”
Looking ahead, Greenbanks plans to become one of the world’s first industrial sites powered by green hydrogen by 2026, in partnership with TasGas and Countrywide Hydrogen through their Brighton Hydrogen Project.
Local campaign to stop racism
There have been ongoing concerns regarding racism in our community, and Hobart at large. This is after various incidents of racist behaviour and racially motivated attacks have occurred. Greater Hobart councils plan to work together to stand against racism with a new campaign - which will be an important reminder that we are a multicultural community. This ties into former Premier Peter Gutwein’s recent charity walk across Tasmania raising funds and awareness of the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC). He was walking, and working, toward a more inclusive and harmonious Tasmania. He also walked to highlight the importance of Tasmania’s
migrant and refugee communities and the value they bring to the State both socially and economically. Peter passed through Brighton the last day of his epic walk.
Council
members including Mayor Leigh Gray, Cr Phil Owen, Cr Tennille Murtagh and Cr John McMaster walked with Peter through Brighton to show support for his cause.
From 2-4 July 2024, I was fortunate to attend the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) 30th National General Assembly (NGA) in Canberra. This was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to attend an NGA and wanted to share with you some of the issues and discussions that were had by more than 1200 elected members and local government employees from all around Australia, who gathered together in our national capital.
Building community trust takes centre stage in Canberra
The theme of the 2024 NGA was “Building Community Trust”, which acknowledges the critical importance of trust in our democracy’s different levels of government, its institutions, and amongst its citizens. The program featured a range of high profile and engaging speakers who explored ideas about what creates trust, and how we nurture it.
There were so many memorable highlights, including the historic first public speech of Australia’s new Governor General Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC.
Ms Mostyn summed up her aspirations for her role saying care had a deep and resonant place in Australia’s identity. She revisited that theme in her address to ALGA, saying local government was trusted because of its care and empathy for the community.
“It’s local government that is consistently the highest ranked level of government when it comes to community trust,”
Ms Mostyn said.
“That’s why the themes of care, kindness and respect emerge
so clearly as my focus, and no group understands what can be achieved through kindness, care and respect than all of you, you are all at the coalface of addressing challenges in the community.”
During the week, we also heard from Federal Ministers the Hon Catherine King MP and the Hon Kristy McBain MP, as well as Shadow Ministers the Hon Senator Bridget McKenzie and the Hon Darren Chester MP, and many outstanding keynotes and panellists.
The NGA highlighted how councils improve the lives of Australians every day in many ways that other levels of government simply can’t.
The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government reminded us all of the complexities and ever increasing responsibilities of local government for local communities.
In Australia today, all 537 councils have different needs, different constituents, and different opportunities. But all councils have one thing in common -
Community building workshop for Volunteer Week
Brighton Council launched National Volunteer Week back in May with a participatory workshop in collaboration with the Jeder Institute at the Brighton Civic Center. This two-day event aimed to foster community spirit through Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). The Jeder Institute is a not-for-profit organisation that operates across Austra-
lia. Through workshops, they aim to bring people together to realise their full potential, and engage community members in conversations that matter.
Led by Fiona Miller from the Jeder Institute, and supported by Kylie Murphy from Brighton Council and Joselle Griffin from Australian Red Cross, over 60 participants
each and every council across Australia is feeling the pressure of delivering services in our local communities.
All councils are dealing with rising costs for goods and services. And are dealing with all these challenges at a time when our communities are under cost of living pressures, when state governments are increasingly relying on local government to provide services once the domain of state government, whilst local government struggles to minimise the costs being passed onto ratepayers.
Despite this acknowledgement by Minister King, the value of the Australian Government’s Financial Assistance Grants provided to local government has declined over the past three decades from around 1 percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue to just 0.4% percent.
The playgrounds, parks, roads, bridges, sports facilities and community centres that create healthy, sustainable, productive and liveable communities are built and managed by local governments. We create jobs, build social cohesion, support lifelong learning, improve local
amenity, and support every aspect of Australians’ lives. Together, we do this on only around three percent of the nation’s taxes.
Financial Assistance Grants are particularly valuable for local government, as the funding is untied, meaning it can be spent where it is most needed. This can include building new infrastructure, delivering new programs that meet community needs, as well as maintaining e.g. sports grounds, parks and roads.
The NGA involved much discussion and advocacy around restoring the financial assistance grants to one percent, so that infrastructure and services delivered by local governments at the local community level can be maintained and wherever possible lifted up.
Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray
from the Brighton Municipality and beyond learnt the principles of ABCD. Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discovering shared values, fostering relationships, and raising collaborative initiatives. They explored what matters most to the community and how collective action can bring about positive change.
Three key principles were explored:
• Hope - helping other possibilities emerge
• Care - discovering what people care about enough to act
• Relationships - building and strengthening relationships is key to action.
The end of the workshop saw the birth of seven new community initiatives, supported by seed funding. Looking ahead, participants have committed to reconvening in six months to assess progress and share updates on the initiatives.
Food Services in Brighton
Bridgewater
Community House - 6 Bowden Drive, Bridgewater. Ph: (03) 6263 4303
Community Food
Assistance - Monday and Friday 9.30am–12pm
Loui’s Food Van - Monday evening 7.25pm–7.45pm
Emergency Food
Assistance HampersTuesday 9am-3.30pm
Community LunchWednesday 12pm-1pm
Community Food
Assistance - Wednesday 1pm-3pm
Brighton Community Food Hub - Now permanently located at 86 Jetty Road, Old Beach.
Open weekly as follows: Tuesday 10am-4pm Wednesday 4pm-7pm Thursday 10am-4pm
Please follow Brighton Community Food Hub on Facebook for latest news and special offers.
Uniting - Ph: (03) 6234 1296 - Emergency Food Relief Services – Thursday and Friday 9.30am-12.30pm
Gagebrook
Community House - 191 Lamprill Circle, Herdsmans Cove. Ph: (03) 6263 6097
Loui’s Food Van - Monday evening 7pm-7.20pm
Waterbridge Food Co-op/ Pantry - Monday to Friday 10am-2pm (delivery service available)
Vinnies Dining with Friends - Brighton Civic Centre, Greenpoint Road, Bridgewater
Dining with Friends provides a free 3-course meal to all in the community who would like to attend on 1st Wednesday of the month at 5.30pm.
Brighton Meals on Wheels - For more information call 1800 696 325
Garbage Gwen visits East Derwent Primary School JRLF
Gwen Harper, a Waste Education Officer from Brighton Council recently visited East Derwent Primary School Jordon River Learning Federation’s kitchen garden program. She provided students with information about resource management and the FOGO composting
scheme - and provided a very engaging exploration into the program. Students were respectful and curious and many gained a better understanding of local council services. Students said the highlight was meeting Gwen’s composting worms and learning about their life cycle.
Brighton Community Food Hub celebrates Community Volunteer of the Year Award
Caroline Bedelph, Secretary of the Brighton Community Food Hub, was the recipient of the Brighton LGA Community Volunteer of the Year Award. This recognition highlights Caroline’s tireless dedication to the Food Hub, despite juggling multiple responsibilities. Her efforts, alongside those of other volunteers, have contributed to supporting families grappling with economic challenges.
Caroline said, “Thank you to Brighton Council for acknowl-
edging the work of all volunteers in our community. This award is for all the Food Hub volunteers in recognition of their hard work and dedication to helping families struggling with rising cost of living expenses and for enhancing and strengthening our community”.
The Brighton Community Food Hub also recently hosted a morning tea to mark a significant donation from McConnell Dowell and their partners. They donated a
modified shipping container, refurbished at the Southern Central Trade Training Centre by a group of female students from Jordan River Learning Federation. Some of these Year 9 and 10 students have now embarked on apprenticeships in construction. The container, now equipped thanks to their efforts, will serve as a crucial space for volunteer training, office work, storage, and a place for volunteers to relax during breaks.
Free help for adults for reading, writing and numbers
You can get help at the Bridgewater Library for:
• Reading
• Writing
• Numbers
One-on-one help, private and confidential. If you know someone who would like to
improve their skills, contact the library to learn how they can get started. The library is located at 23 Green Point Rd, Bridgewater.
Call on 6165 5446. Website is libraries.tas.gov.au/locations/ bridgewater-library.
Volunteers needed to support Gagebrook and Bridgewater Community Houses
The Gagebrook and Bridgewater Community Houses are calling for volunteers to help in various programs and activities at the Houses. These volunteer opportunities present a chance to make a positive impact in the community and lend a helping hand to those in need.
Gagebrook Community House is seeking volunteers for roles in Administration/ Reception and assisting with the No Interest Loan Scheme
(NILS) appointments. If you are interested in finding out more reach out to Cheynee at 6263 6097 or via email at cheynee.pullen@jrsinc.org. au.
Bridgewater Community House is seeking volunteers for roles in Administration/Cleaning tasks and supporting Food Assistance initiatives. To find out more contact Teresa at 6263 4303 or email teresa.temple@ jrsinc.org.au.
Do you live in Bridgewater?
We’d love to hear your ideas for some park areas and open spaces in the Bridgewater West neighbourhood.
You can ‘Have Your Say’ via an online local community survey. Head to www.brighton. tas.gov.au/community/have-your-say.
The survey will be open until 6 August 2024.
Alternatively please send an email to admin@brighton.tas.gov.au, send us a letter, or call Elinor on (03) 6268 7000 if you would like help completing the survey or just to have a chat about the project.
admin@brighton.tas.gov.au
www.brighton.tas.gov.au
Vale Tony Foster
Brighton Council mourns the loss of Mr. Tony Foster, who passed away on Monday 27 May 2024. Tony dedicated 34 years of his life to serving the community as both Mayor and Councillor, retiring in June 2021. Remarkably, he held the position of Mayor for 28 of those years.
During his tenure, Tony Foster advocated for the people of Brighton Municipality, earning widespread support for his empathetic leadership style. Tony’s leadership saw Brighton undergo significant growth and development. His efforts transformed Brighton from a quiet rural area into a thriving and diverse municipality.
Tony Foster’s legacy is marked by numerous achievements that have strengthened the local economy and enhanced quality of life in Brighton. Some of these achievements include the new Bridgewater Bridge, the Jordan River Learning Federation, the Brighton Bypass, the revitalisation of the Bridgewater Parklands, the Brighton Transport Hub, the Brighton Medical Centre, and initiatives to enhance sporting facilities and community clubs, among many more.
His memory will endure through the positive impact he made.
Minister Guy Barnett honoured Mr. Foster in the House of Assembly, saying, “I had known Tony for decades, in fact three-and-a-half decades. When I first met Tony, it was in pre-politics days. It was wonderful working with Tony then.”
“Tony was always a strong advocate and a passionate
supporter. He was a tiger. He made things happen; he made a significant positive difference in his community. If you think about the things that have occurred in the Brighton municipality over that period, I think that is testament to his leadership for, and on behalf of, the local community,” Mr Barnett continued.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff also paid tribute, saying, “It was an honour and privilege to work closely with Mr Foster throughout my time as Education Minister to establish the new Brighton High School, as well
as deliver important upgrades to the Jordan River Learning Federation school.”
“Known for his integrity, good nature and vision, Mr Foster was a forward thinker who was driven by his passion for his local community and Tasmania. I extend my sincere condolences to Mr Foster’s family, friends and the Brighton community,” he said.
As a council we say farewell to a person of action, vision and humanity but his memory and legacy will live on in our communities. We send heartfelt wishes of love and support to his wife Noeline and all of his beloved family members and friends.
Local student becomes chess champion
In a remarkable achievement, Dorian, a student at Herdsmans Cove Primary School, emerged victorious at the Interschool Chess Championship held at Austins Ferry Primary School in June.
Dorian achieved first place after an impressive undefeated performance throughout the tournament, winning in all
seven rounds to claim the title of Northern Suburbs Primary Chess Champion.
Dorian has offered to tutor children from Herdsmans Cove Primary School who wish to pick up chess skills, and those keen on joining him can express their interest by contacting the school office. Well done, Dorian!
NOTICE OF MEETINGS
The following meetings are scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers, 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach:
Planning Authority - 5:30pm
Council Meeting - 5:30pm
Planning Authority - 5:30pm
Council Meeting - 5:30pm
Committee Meeting - 5:15pm
Planning Authority - 5:30pm
Council
- 5:30pm
Committee Meeting - 5:15pm
Planning Authority - 5:30pm
Council
- 5:30pm
Committee Meeting - 5:15pm
Planning Authority - 5:30pm
Annual General Meeting5:00pm
Council Meeting - 5:30pm
The public are invited to attend these meetings. Copies of the relevant agenda will be available for viewing at the Council Offices and on Council’s website four (4) days prior to each meeting.
James Dryburgh GENERAL MANAGER
Triple victory for Tasmanian Botanics
Tasmanian Botanics stole the spotlight at the Cannabiz Awards for Australia and New Zealand 2024, winning three key awards: Cultivator, Manufacturer, and Company of the Year. This is a significant victory for this company based in the Brighton municipality.
Tasmanian Botanics has quickly become a frontrunner in the medicinal cannabis manufacturing realm in Australia. With a sprawling greenhouse and a workforce of 140 full time staff, they are one of the largest producers of medicinal cannabis in the country.
The three awards were presented to the company as part of the annual conference on medicinal cannabis held in Melbourne recently. The judges said, “Tasmanian Botanics’ ongoing commitment to community leadership by building a local workforce in a low socio-economic area is a testament to the ethics underpinning the company.”
The facility, which is accredited by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, is a ‘seed to sale’ processor - which not only grows and harvests the cannabis, but processes and packages
its products on site.
Historically, using cannabis for medicinal purposes was illegal, but legislative changes have paved the way for lawful access through various channels. Doctors have been prescribing medicinal cannabis products in Australia since 2017.
Senator for Tasmania, Catryna Bilyk, recently visited Tasmanian Botanics to see the operations and learn about the contribution they are making to the Tasmanian economy and the health care of Australians.
“I have been an advocate of medicinal cannabis for over a decade, and I am pleased to see that not only are medicinal cannabis products helping thousands of Australians, but they are also creating jobs and economic opportunities right here in southern Tasmania,” Senator Bilyk said.
“I look forward to seeing the company continue to grow from strength to strength bringing much needed economic benefits to our region.”
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BYAG leads job interviews
Job interviews can be stressful, but imagine having children as part of your interview panel. That’s exactly what happened to John Flack when he applied to be Brighton Council’s Youth Engagement Officer.
Authentic youth consultation means young people are included at every step of the way in matters that relate to them. So Brighton Council decided that the only way to employ a person who was the right fit as the new Youth Engagement Officer was to include our young people in the hiring process - from start to finish.
The Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) recently helped in creating the position description, youth-relevant
selection criteria and developing interview questions, right through to being part of the interview panel and making the tough decisions. This led to the recruitment of John Flack. This approach wasn’t just about filling a job; it was about empowering young people. By being part of the hiring process, members of BYAG gained firsthand experience of how employment decisions are made. It boosted their confidence, improved their communication skills, and nurtured their leadership abilities. Importantly, it ensured that the Youth Engagement Officer would be someone they felt comfortable working with, ensuring a positive impact from day one.
Making the most of your small farm
The Derwent Catchment Project will be holding a small farm workshop in Brighton this spring. The workshop is aimed at small producers, new landholders with rural residential/hobby farms and other interested local residents. At the workshop they’ll talk about how to manage your pasture, livestock health, biosecurity
and biodiversity - all things that contribute to a sustainable small farm enterprise and assist small farmers make the most of their property. If you are interested in attending or would like to host a workshop on your property, contact Mel Fazackerley on 0410 511 054 mel.fazackerley@derwentcatchment.org.
office is open 8am–4pm, Monday–Friday.
Authorised by Senator Wendy Askew, Liberal Party of Australia, 46 Cameron Street, Launceston TAS 7250.
WHAT’S ON IN JULY/
AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER
Practice and improve your English conversation skills at English Conversation group at the Bridgewater Library, 10-11:30am. This is a new free group that runs weekly during school terms. 30
12
Bridgewater Library is holding a free class, Robotics for Adults. Celebrate National Science Week with robotics and coding equipment. 10am start, book via Eventbrite or call 6165 5446.
Does this sound familiar?
Lifeline Tasmania is hosting a huge Book and Vinyl Fair at the Activities Centre, UTAS today and tomorrow. Proceeds will go to suicide prevention programs.
15
Head along to Cris Fitzpatrick Park for an Antibullying Day event put on by Under One Rainbow. They’re also accepting donations of good quality soft toys to create their Christmas giveaway gift packs for kids at Christmas.
Have some fun and get confident searching for information online with the free Online Treasure Hunt at Bridgewater Library. 10am start, book via Eventbrite or call 6165 5446.
Bridgewater Library is holding a free class, Exploring Preinstalled Apps. Find out what the pre installed apps are on your device and how to use them. 10am start, book via Eventbrite or call 6165 5446.
3 5 19 1 2 3 4 5
Enjoy a weekly Bingo session?
Head to Bingo Night at Brighton Bowls & Community Club every Monday night. Eyes down at 7pm. May the odds be ever in your favour.
Brighton Food Hub, which provides affordable food for the community, is open every Tuesday and Thursday (10am-4pm), and every Wednesday (4pm-7pm).
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Today is Winter Fest 2024! Taking place at Botanical (2A Eddington Rd, Bridgewater), running from 11am-5pm, this is a free community event with free food, live music, and activities.
Winners of the Bridgewater Jerry Photography Competition will be announced today at Brighton Civic Centre Atrium, 11am. Refreshments will be available to purchase.
Head to Oatlands for the Heritage & Bullock Festival. Enjoy a step back in time with bullocks, horses, steam engines, stalls and more. Also on tomorrow. 10
SEPTEMBER
Bin to WinRemove and recycle hard waste for FREE at the Bridgewater Waste Transfer Station. Bookings required.
Every Thursday from 5-9pm the Veteran’s Memorial Centre welcomes the community to attend for great company and a light meal at a small cost. Bar available. 12
How to host a sustainable kids party Develop your acting skills at new theatre group
Your little one’s 3rd birthday is fast approaching. You invest heaps of effort into planning the bash, but once the festivities wind down, you find yourself tossing out heaps of waste. All the balloons, plates and gift wrapping. Then it hits you: this happened last year, and the year before, and each time you think you’d like to be more prepared and try to curb the waste.
Here are some practical ideas to help you host a sustainable kids party without compromising on the fun.
Reusable Party Kit: Invest in a birthday party kit that includes reusable cups, plates, and decorations.
These can be used year after year, reducing waste from disposable items. Maybe keep them in a picnic basket. You can start this when the kid is at an early age, and keep it going for every party after.
DIY Decor: Get creative with homemade decorations like bunting made from fabric scraps or recyclable paper. You can turn it into a fun family activity by getting the kids involved in the crafting. There are plenty of instructions you can find online on how to make bunting.
Sustainable Food Choices: Reduce packaging waste by buying in bulk and serving food in reusable containers. If you have the time and
energy, look into baking or cooking party foods instead of buying items individually wrapped in plastic.
Choose Paper Over Plastic: When disposable items are necessary, choose biodegradable or compostable paper products over plastic. These are better for the environment and can often be recycled or chucked in the FOGO bin.
Minimise Gift Wrap: Wrap gifts in reusable materials like fabric or newspaper, or opt out of wrapping gifts and instead put them in a gift bag or gift basket.
Eco-friendly Activities: Plan games and activities that involve minimal waste, such as nature scavenger hunts or craft stations using recycled materials.
Consider Second Hand Presents: This is friendly on the wallet as much as the environment. Encourage little guests to choose one of their own toys they no longer use to share with the birthday kid, or ask guests to bring a book or item from the Op Shop.
Just a few small changes in party planning can lead to significant reductions in waste, and is a great lifelong lesson for kids.
If you’re interested in the world of acting and want to give it a go, consider joining the new Jordan River Community Theatre Group, which started in July at the Brighton Civic Centre. The group is facilitated by John Adkins who is an experienced actor and director. This is an amateur
group where all are welcome, though under 15s will need guardian supervision. The group meets fortnightly on Mondays from 5:30-7:30pm. Who knows, maybe you are the next Daniel Day-Lewis. For more information, please call Kylie at Brighton Council on (03) 6268 7000.
Places of Worship
Catholic
St. Paul’s Catholic Church 2-4 Paice St, Bridgewater
Saturday Vigil - 6pm Sunday - 9am and 12 noon
Fr. Leo 6263 6242
St Matthew’s Catholic Church 231 Brighton Rd, Brighton Sunday - 10:30am 6263 6242
Hindu Sri Ganesha Cultural Center and Worship Place 6 Letitia Grove, Bridgewater 400 273 249
New Life Christian
Brighton Civic Centre Green Point Rd Sunday - 10.30am
Pastor Brian Edwards 0458 505 070
Anglican
St. Mark’s Church LOT 1 Kimberly St, Pontville
Sunday - 10am Rev. Rod. Curtain 6263 7700
Uniting Church
Claremont-Bagdad
Claremont
36 Wyndham Rd, Claremont Sunday - 10am
Glenorchy 446 Main Rd, Glenorchy Sunday - 9.30am
On the 1st Sunday, services are combined. Venue alternates between the two churches, starting at 10am
Rev. Sherrin Jackman 0447 507 059
Uniting Church
Bridgewater-Gagebrook
Bridgewater
Uniting Hub, Green Point Rd
Sunday - 10am 0434 799 506
Happy Father’s Day! Treat Dad to a sausage sizzle at a nearby BBQ and picnic spot, like Pontville War Memorial Reserve or Lennox Park.
What is it like to identify as a LGBTIQA+ person living in the Brighton region?
In 2023 Council was approached by community members, including individuals with lived experience of discrimination in our community, asking Council to take more of a leadership role in showing support for a more inclusive and diverse community. This included a request to fly a pride flag at Council’s main buildings, such as the Civic Centre and Council Offices for significant occasions that celebrate the LGBTIQA+ communities.
Subsequently, Mr Rodney Croome from Equality Tasmania was invited to brief Council on suggested approaches that Council could take in responding to these requests and possibly taking a broader approach to understanding the needs of our LGBTIQA+ community, their experiences of living in the Brighton area and promoting an inclusive community as a Council.
Local government plays
a key role in promoting inclusion in communities because it is the level of government closest to the people and provides key community services.
A number of Tasmanian municipalities have taken action to ensure their community, services and workplaces are inclusive, and Brighton Council would like to do the same. Some examples of what other Councils have implemented include:
Kingborough Council: consulting with the community, developing an Action Plan, flying pride flags, conducting LGBTIQA+ inclusion workshops for staff.
City of Hobart: consulting with the LGBTIQA+ community, developing an LGBTIQA+ commitment, flying pride flags, conducting workshops.
City of Launceston: developing an LGBTIQA+ community consultation
process and flag-flying policy.
Derwent, Huon and Meander Valley Councils: flying pride flags.
At the June 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting, councillors voted to commence a consultation project with a view to potentially developing an LGBTIQA+ Action Plan based on these findings. This consultation will begin in August with the main objective being to understand the experiences of our LGBTIQA+ residents, the good and the bad.
If you identify as LGBTIQA+ or are a family member, friend, carer, or ally of an LGBTIQA+ resident in the Brighton region and would like to find out more or get actively involved in the consultation project, please contact Angela at Brighton Council via admin@brighton.tas.gov.au or phone (03) 6268 7000.
TAKE A BREAK
Warming Chilli Con Carne
Ingredients:
1kg beef mince
2 medium brown onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed Large 790gm tin diced tomatoes
1 tbs tomato paste
1/2 cup red wine, optional 1tbs oregano
1tbs paprika
2tbs cumin
Salt and pepper to taste 425gm tin of kidneys beans, optional Fresh coriander, optional
Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add onion and garlic and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Add the mince and cook until browned. If you’re including red
wine, add it now and stir for a minute to combine. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then add tomatoes. Add the spices, salt and pepper. Lower the heat and let this cook with the lid on for at least an hour, but the longer the better, up to three hours. Stir occasionally. With half an hour to go, add kidney beans and fresh coriander if you’re using them.
This big batch will freeze for up to three months. It’s great to use as the basis for tacos, nachos, beef bowls or as a topping for hot dogs.
Note: You can also add finely chopped capsicum and carrots when you’re cooking the onion and garlic to add extra hidden veggies.
National Volunteer Week wrap up
The Brighton Municipality had a huge National Volunteer Week 2024. To celebrate it, David Adams from Action Crew 7172 produced a short film titled Doing My Bit - Stories From Volunteers, which can be viewed on Vimeo. The film shone a light on the incredible volunteers that call
our area home and that there really is ‘Something for Everyone’ when it comes to volunteering.
Celebrations kicked off with the Brighton Alive two day Participatory Community Building workshop in conjunction with Jeder Institute at the Brighton
Civic Center. Later during the week, Brighton Council’s Volunteer of the Year Awards were presented at the Civic Centre in Bridgewater.
The winners included:
Community Event of the Year - Tea Tree Community Hall Committee for the Tea Tree Community 200th Birthday Celebration. Young Volunteer of the Year - Stephanie (Stevie) Coe for her work across multiple The Smith Family Learning Clubs in the Brighton Community doing after school tutoring.
Community Volunteer of the Year - Caroline Bedelph from the Brighton Community Food Hub Inc who works tirelessly sourcing low cost food and grocery items so families have access to affordable food via the Food Hub.
A draft Brighton Community Volunteer Strategy was made available for community feedback, which closed in June. This strategy will help to ensure volunteering is given the focus it deserves to nurture our volunteer culture and ensure an ongoing supply of volunteers for the future. A copy of the draft strategy can be viewed or downloaded from Council’s website as follows: www.brighton.tas.gov.au/community/have-your-say.
Pictures: David Adams
Tasmanians with disabilities urged to give feedback on their neighbourhoods
Researchers from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research are calling on Tasmanians with disabilities to give feedback on their neighbourhoods. Researchers are conducting a survey to understand the everyday experiences of people living with disabilities across Tasmania.
Adults aged 18 and above who identify as living with a
disability are encouraged to participate. If you enter you could win one of five $50 gift vouchers. The survey can be completed online, through face-to-face interviews, over the phone or Zoom, or on paper. For more information or to participate, visit bit.ly/ AccessibleTasmaniaSurvey or contact Maria Hobbs at maria. hobbs@utas.edu.au or 0433 354 235.
Please do not endanger Council Staff by leaving out broken glass, asbestos and chemicals. This service is only available to residents who currently receive kerbside collection.
For more information, please contact the Brighton Council on (03) 6268 7000 or www.brighton.tas.gov.au/property/waste.
Veteran’s Centre seeking to fill positions
The Veteran’s Memorial Centre currently has all positions available to fill on their board. This includes President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and general committee members. Voting slips are available at the bar on Thursdays from 5pm.
The Centre aims to honour the memory of service men and women who died while serving our country. Further, they
Learn
raise funds for the day to day operation of the Centre and to hold charitable functions. They are located at 25 Old Main Rd, Bridgewater.
suicide prevention with QPR training
Primary Health Tasmania has an online education program called QPR, designed to teach people how to recognise and respond to signs of a suicide crisis. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer, and the training can be completed at your own pace using a computer and internet access.
It aims to teach you basic information about suicide, warning signs to watch for, and how to effectively communicate with someone who may be experiencing
suicidal thoughts. The program concludes with a short quiz and survey. It should take about one to two hours in total. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate.
To learn more or enroll in QPR Training, visit www.primaryhealthtas. com.au/for-health-professionals/programs/ mental-health/suicide-prevention.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
St Paul’s sets standard for environmental leadership
When Brighton Council rolled out the Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) service to residents in 2021, they also offered all schools in the area a free FOGO service for leftover lunch scraps and garden waste. St Paul’s Catholic School was one of the first schools to adopt FOGO, and are now so successful in separating their organic waste they’ve just added a second FOGO bin as their first one was often full.
Their Principal, Joanne Clark, revealed the secret of their success. “We have FOGO caddies in every classroom and the whole class, working in pairs, take turns emptying it every day into the FOGO wheelie bin after fruit break. This task, even though it’s so small, gives students the chance to feel useful and capable, which in turn develops their self-confidence. By
sharing this activity amongst all classmates, they also learn how teamwork makes tasks easier.”
Mrs Clark also noted that classroom FOGO caddies and recycling bins have helped teachers introduce curriculum-based topics such as natural resources and how to look after them.
“Our school has always encouraged environmental stewardship - we all have a role in protecting God’s handiwork and caring for our common home. Teaching students about our reliance on Earth’s natural resources, while also providing them with daily opportunities to help conserve these resources by recycling and composting (via FOGO), helps our students not just develop a deeper understanding of the topic but also practical skills and hope.”
Brighton Council’s Waste Education Officer, Gwen Harper, visits St Pauls regularly to talk with kids, teachers and parents about FOGO, composting and food waste, as well as providing curriculum-linked activities and lesson plans.
“St Pauls has done an amazing job teaching their students how they can make a positive difference, which in turn grows confidence and an understanding of how their actions affect the world around them,” said Ms Harper. “They’re an excellent example of what great environmental leadership and faculty teamwork can do.”
To find out more about Brighton Council’s Waste Education support, or to request a school visit, contact Gwen at gwen.harper@ brighton.tas.gov.au.
The Bridgewater Youth Hub project has reached the next stage where our community and in particular our young people will be driving what the long awaited Youth Hub for Bridgewater is to be. This will include what sorts of things will happen at the Hub, the culture and atmosphere of the Hub, the services that young people want to access directly and what it will physically look like. It will be a true bottom up, co-creation process with our local young people at the centre, in order to bring the Bridgewater Youth Hub to life.
In 2023 Council agreed to progress the Bridgewater Youth Hub in partnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project was endorsed by Council and signed in December 2023.
This is a justice reinvestment project that will begin by bringing the community together to identify the
best way to nurture and grow our young people, prevent and reduce young people’s contact with the criminal justice system, and using the strengths and voice of young people, cultural knowledge, lived experience and data, to design what will work best for our youth. This is an important change in how society and governments have previously seen initiatives like this and shifts the decision making power and responsibility to the community level.
The Bridgewater Youth Hub will have a particular focus on Tasmanian Aboriginal youth and their families but will be for all of community.
TALS has recently appointed Joselle Griffin as the dedicated place based worker to drive this community engagement process for the youth hub, in collaboration with Brighton Council, the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) and the Brighton Alive Youth Action Network.
A draft Community Engagement Plan is being developed and it has already been identified that Kutalayna Collective’s Winterfest, to be held in August this year in conjunction with Material Institute, will provide an ideal opportunity to let the broader community and young people know the project is kicking off and provide an opportunity to begin working on ideas.
Council’s role in the project is to identify the best available site for the Youth Hub, manage the land that the Hub will be located on and apply for grants to fund the construction of what will be a unique youth hub space. It is hoped that Bridgewater will lead the way in fostering a strengths based approach to justice reinvestment and diversion programs for Tasmania.
Authorised by G Barnett, 76 Emu Bay Rd, Deloraine TAS 7304
Guy Barnett Liberal Member for Lyons
Adopting a zero waste approach to your community event
By Martin Blackwell
From The Material Institute
Sustainability, defined, is the long-term viability of a community. Sustainability has become a frequently cited term, which defines our ability to maintain or support a community process over time, making individual choices today that will positively impact our community tomorrow. Sustainability describes our capacity to improve or maintain our local community, making choices that are contingent on the availability of certain materials or conditions.
Examples of sustainable approaches include recycling, renewable energy, waste reduction, efficient water fixtures and sustainable agriculture. When creating an event in our community, we develop a practical approach where choice matters. Whilst it is not possible to sustain everything, sometimes the goals that we set are more important to our business, than the approaches and means applied.
When planning a community event, we bring the community together whether it be by our
local farmers market, school fairs, our local sports events or possibly at a summer music festival. Sustainability for events means acting towards preserving the environment of which we live in.
As much as we all enjoy attending events, they often come at a cost to the environment with thousands of disposable plates, cups, water bottles, napkins and other items used throughout the duration of an event.
Plastic waste generated by events is by no means a new problem. At the end of an event, during the pack-up process we are left with lots of single use items, such as plastic straws, cups, packaging and disposable water bottles.
• Eliminating single use plastics
• Organising our waste management and onsite recycling
• Utilising public transport
• Choosing locally grown and catered-for food
• Providing sustainable catering
Deploying these principles preserves and protects our natural
resources by reducing landfill waste, energy consumption and pollution too.
Reduce, reuse and recycle are foundational concepts of the ‘zero-waste’ approach. The zero-waste approach entails products can be reused, repaired or recycled back in nature or for business. It is by no means a new concept, and its origins can be traced back centuries.
Sustainable, cleaner event experiences help to protect our community and set a benchmark for the future. By meeting the needs of the present in a sustainable way, we are working towards assisting our future generations to meet their own needs too, to ensure that they will have a more safe and healthy community to live, learn and to thrive within.
Patrons are increasingly expecting events to consider their impact on the local area and minimise waste. In our quest towards zero waste, we develop our community as a more environmentally sensitive location for locals and visitors alike. By doing so we are promoting a more healthy and inclusive community and supporting our local economy to thrive.
Bridgewater Jerry competition in full swing
The Bridgewater Jerry Photography Competition is currently underway for the third year running, supported by Asthma Australia. The competition closes on 7 August, but there’s still time to share your picture to win. Head to the Cafe Connections Facebook page and follow the instructions to enter. Remember that entries must be your own photo of the Bridgewtaer Jerry.
First place prize is worth $200, second is $100, and third is $50. Winners will be announced on 4 September
at Brighton Civic Centre Atrium at 11am. Refreshments will be available to purchase at the Bean to Brew Cafe at the announcement ceremony. You can view all of the entries and the winners at the Bridgewater Library throughout September.
It’s exciting to see awareness of the competition is growing. Moira Davidson of Cafe Connections recently spoke with David Reilly from ABC Hobart for a chat live on air about the competition and Jerry’s significance to the Brighton community.
We’re helping to prevent bushfires around the state
Protecting Tasmania from bushfires: j o in us in keeping our community safe
TasNetworks and our trusted contractors are taking proactive steps to safeguard properties across the state.
With bushfire season fast approaching, TasNetworks and our authorised contractors will be entering properties across Tasmania over the coming weeks, to clear trees growing too close to TasNetworks-owned powerlines.
Over the coming months, our vegetation contractors will carry out our annual ‘bushfire cut’ program. This program sees authorised crews around the state removing vegetation growing near our infrastructure ahead of bushfire season.
If you see trees growing too close to powerlines, please report them to TasNetworks by visiting tasnetworks.com.au or by calling 1300 137 008
Vegetation inspections are underway and the removal of vegetation will be completed between now and November 2024 in ‘high fire danger/high consequence’ areas, as identified in conjunction with Tasmania Fire Service.
If you notice trees encroaching on powerlines, we urge you to report them promptly to TasNetworks. Visit tasnetworks.com.au or call 1300 137 008
