The Great Southern Star - December 22, 2009

White water warriors MEMBERS of the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club live an exciting life on the Parade surf beach they patrol. Taking their inflatable rescue boat on the high seas can pose a hair-raising challenge.

In front are Inverloch surf lifesavers Wade Berry, Sam Suke, Daniel Pearson, Lucas Jurey, Shaun Allen and Peter Nettelbeck.

A new crop of surf lifesavers were inducted on the weekend, following theory tests and practical trials during their bronze medallion camp. For more surf lifesaving pictures and reports see page 45.

ARSON SQUAD Firebugs targeted as towns left without fire refuges

By Matt Dunn and Bert van Bedaf UNDERCOVER police are patrolling South Gippsland in search of firebugs, ahead of what many experts predict could be Victoria’s worst ever fire season.

And while arsonists are being blamed for half the region’s bushfires, there are growing concerns

about the lack of “safer” places that have been identified in the region’s high risk coastal towns.

Only Waratah Bay and Inverloch have designated places of last resort, with residents of other towns told to “think outside the square”.

The plain clothes police officers are working with local uniformed police, along with members of DSE and CFA. The covert police operatives are on the look-

out for suspicious behaviour, as community anxiety in bushfire-affected towns continues to rise with the mercury.

Chief of the Bass Coast South Gippsland Police Service Area, Inspector Brian Curley wouldn’t “go into details regarding specific operations,” but confirmed more plain clothed police are being resourced to the region to deal with the risk of firebugs.

“Local police management will task these

members for duties as required with flexibility to move these resources right around South Gippsland and Bass Coast. On days of high fire risk they will assist local police in patrolling for fire related duties in addition to normal patrols,” he told The Star.

Boolarra CFA captain Todd Birkbeck, said he was pleased to hear about the undercover police.

Continued on page 11.

PAGE 2 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Party like it’s 2009 LI’L Rascals Early Learning Centre held a Christmas party on Saturday evening in Leongatha.

About 300 people came, filling Brown Street with cars.

The children enjoyed a jumping castle, animal nursery, face painting, craft activities and food.

Even Santa came and handed out treats.

The centre is taking enrolments for 2010 and can be contacted on 5662 5533.

Jumping fun: Raj, Harrison, Alfie, Sulli and Maddi at the Christmas party.

Animal nursery: Chloe feeds a sheep.

Left: In the pen: Ethan and Oscar pat a pig.

Brothers: Nicholas, Alexander and Jayden of Nerrena sitting on the playground equipment.

Great staff: Li’l Rascals’ Kristy Davey (centre) with Jada (left) and Pallas (right).

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 3

Shark bait fear

By Jane Ross

COMMUNITY activists have prevented holidaymakers from the risk of becoming shark bait off Williamsons Beach, Wonthaggi.

Thiess Degremont, which is part of the AquaSure consortium constructing the desalination plant, was all set to undertake marine monitoring work last week.

The monitoring included setting baits to attract deep water fish and sharks, about one kilometre from the shore.

An underwater video was to have been put in place on the sea bed to film the creatures, so that data on the presence of deep water fish and shark communities could be collected.

That part of the coast is a popular surfing spot and members of the Bass Coast Board Riders were horrified. So were those who belong to the desalination protest group Watershed Victoria. Surfing Victoria CEO Max Wells was equally alarmed.

With schools having broken up for the summer break and tourists already here, they could see surfers becoming shark bait too.

The concern was all the more pressing because of a shark attack at the end of November 1989, about 300 metre east of the Kilcunda Cemetery. During that incident, a man was dragged from his board by a six metre bronze whaler shark. He was saved by a friend.

Ron Anderson, president of the Bass Coast Boardriders, said that attack and another on Phillip Island at the time, was a direct result of shark baiting at Phillip Island.

Mr Anderson said sharks were creatures of habit and if they found bait or a free feed in the water, they’d keep coming back for more, thus putting surfers and swimmers in danger.

Both Watershed Victoria and Bass Coast Boardriders were quickly in touch with Thiess Degremont, which has postponed the monitoring until after the busy summer season.

“It was really dangerous timing wise,” said Mr Anderson. But, he added, Thiess Degre-

Surfer’s nightmare: sharks like this Great White could have been attracted by baiting off Williamsons Beach. mont listened and he congratulated the company for being prepared to postpone the survey on local advice.

He said the board riders now had time to look at alternatives to baiting and suggest those to the company.

“Our preferred option is no baiting.

“There is no good timing for baiting to attract large sharks so close to shore.

“The decision to conduct bait surveying … is just one of myriad problems that will be created as a direct result of the State Government’s pathetically flawed Environmental Effects Statement.”

Watershed secretary Neil Rankine said he thought the initial public information about the baiting schedule was “particularly poor” but “pretty typical” of the way the whole desalination project had been handled.

He said the information was not released in

time for it to go into the local papers ahead of the proposed starting date.

The Star received an email from Thiess Degremont dated December 11, a Friday, saying baiting would begin on Monday December 14.

“Surfing Victoria got on to them too,” said Mr Rankine. “It would have been disturbing (if it had gone ahead). I suppose we have to be encouraged that they appear to have listened.”

But, he added, he did not think the incident spoke well of the community consultative committee which has been set up to represent the communities affected by the desalination plant and the power and water piping systems leading to and from.

Mr Rankine said it also showed how important it was for members of the community to keep a close eye on what is happening at the Williamsons Beach construction site.

Carol choir: St Laurence’s and Leongatha primary schools combined to help present a wonderful night of carols at Leongatha’s velodrome on Saturday night under the guidance of Bronwyne Kent. Full story and more photos on page 16.

Road works to start in January SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council will begin major reconstruction works on the Koonwarra-Inverloch Road between Bacon Avenue and Whitelaws Track in mid January.

The works have been scheduled in Council’s 2009/2010 Capital Works Program at an estimated cost of $875,000.

“Over time the road surface in this area has been severely damaged and uplifted by tree roots, creating a rough and dangerous surface.

A number of trees and stumps in this area will be removed in January, and will cause only minimal disruption to traffic during the busy holiday period,” council’s engineering coordinator Paul Challis said.

“We will then tackle the drainage, kerb and channelling and pavement improvement stages in February and expect to complete the job in March. Slightly longer delays may occur in these latter stages but the road will remain open to traffic at all times.”

Residents in the vicinity have been in-

formed of the impending works and have raised no objections.

“To the observer it may seem impractical to do these works at the height of summer, but we need the drier weather to construct a solid road base,” Mr Challis said.

The works will be carried out by council’s in-house construction team. Residents are asked to heed traffic signals and take care when travelling in the area for the safety of motorists and construction crews.

PAGE 4 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Petition handover: Ken Irwin hands over the C48 petition to Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan, calling for the removal of the amendment.

Hard times

By Bert van Bedaf SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council received 79 submissions regarding financial hardship suffered by land owners over the C48 Amendment.

Of the total, 76 submissions related to specific properties, of which 47 referred to previous planning applications, some of which were refused as a result of the amendment.

Imposed by the Minister for Planning on July 29, the amendment removed key planning decisions from council planners.

It banned the use and development of land in the farming zone on lots less than 40ha, and the subdivision of land in the farming zone to create a smaller lot for an existing dwelling (house lot excisions).

Similar measures were imposed on the City of Mildura (C58 Amendment), which were modified to provide “dispensation in a limited number of cases” where hardship could be demonstrated on September 25 by Mr Madden.

As a result, council passed a resolution on October 7, requesting for a

delegation to meet the Minister to “discuss any transitional hardship issues” caused by the amendment and that the request is made once hardship issues had been identified and considered by council.

On Wednesday night council noted the report by planning manager Chris Wightman, and will “seek a meeting with the Minister for Planning to discuss the hardship submissions”.

The imposition of the amendment has resulted in a revaluation of 800 properties within the farming zone, cutting between $240,000 and $250,000 in shire rate revenue.

There was some confusion over council still receiving ‘late’ submissions. Local farmer and member of the Rural Property Owners Group Phil Murphy asked whether council was still taking late submissions.

Council’s sustainability director Andrew McEwen said that “all submissions are forwarded to the Minister” and although people have been able to put in a late submission, by this time “it may be too late”.

The official cut-off date, according to last Wednesday’s report was October 31.

Mr Murphy also asked whether Mayor Jim Fawcett, former chief executive Paul Bawden, Mr McEwen and Mr Wightman had “any prior knowledge” of the “C48 Planning Amendment, leading up to its implementation”.

Cr Fawcett said he had no prior knowledge. “It came as a bolt out of the blue,” Mr McEwen commented.

First knowledge was on the day of the announcement. Mr Bawden no longer works for council and Mr Wightman was not at the meeting.

Mr Murphy was given an undertaking that he would be given a written response to his question, what were the total consultancy costs “attributable to the Rural Strategy Project” payable to Parsons Brinckerhoff and RMCG. Meanwhile, Foster small landowner and a member of the C48 Watchdog Committee Ian Irwin, handed over a petition, with 4000 signatures, to Gippsland South MP Peter Ryan on December 8.

The petition calls for the removal of the C48 amendment by the Legislative Assembly.

New ambulance station MIRBOO North ambos can hardly wait for their new home.

The old station, which is about 50 years old, will soon be demolished to make way for a brand new

facility.

To be built by Leongatha’s Considine and Johnston, the new station is designed to accommodate two full time paramedics, with more room for growth in

the future.

“The builders have officially taken over the site and they’ll start work in the new year,” station officer Don Gillies said.

“I’m not sure how long the construction is going

Ready for something new: station officer Don Gillies and Considine and Johnston’s commercial supervisor Gary Bullen, outside the old station.

to take at the moment.”

Commencement of the construction is expected to begin in February.

In the meantime, the ambulance officers are sharing the old police station with members of the Mirboo North Bushfire Recovery Centre.

Don was the first paramedic at the station, arriving in March 2008, and he’s very happy about the idea of a new station.

“We’ve got two vehicles now and the new station will have a garage for both vehicles.

The way that the branch is structured, it’s got enough room for branch growth,” he said.

“The structure is big enough so we can grow into it.”

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 5

Memorial push

By Danny Buttler MORE than 67 years after they were massacred by the Japanese, a group of South Gippsland soldiers could soon be given long overdue recognition.

Jack Howard: who perished on the Montevideo Maru.

Happier days: Frank James as captain of the Leongatha High School football team.

The local boys were part of the 2/22 Lark Battalion, which was overrun by the Japanese at Rabaul on an island off the east coast of New Guinea.

Brothers William and Clarence Bellingham of Nerrena East, Dumbalk’s James Butterworth, Albert Kuhne of Meeniyan, Tarwin’s Harry Millsom and Leongatha man Frank James were all killed at Gasmata after being recaptured several months after the fall of Rabaul.

With no survivors of the massacre, there has never been an official account of what occurred.

But Bendigo woman Lois Newman is fighting to bring the plight of the Lark Battalion to the attention of the public and politicians.

Apart from the Gasmata massacre, Lark Battalion also saw 150 of its members killed in another mass execution at Tol Plantation, while 850 soldiers and 250 civilians died when a United States torpedo sunk the Montevideo Maru, an unmarked ship carrying them to Japanese work camps.

On board the Montevideo Maru were Leongatha men Jack Howard, Tom Sangster Snr, Fred Broadbent and Fred Ketels, along with Jimmy Kavanagh and Arthur Oliver from Leongatha South.

Ms Newman said there was little official recognition of the Montevideo Maru sinking or the Tol Plantation massacre and almost no official history or tribute to those who died at Gasmata.

“They have to be acknowledged, there has to be a proper burial, it is no good just being a memorial somewhere,” she said.

“Most of them came from Meeniyan and Leongatha … to lose that many young men is a terrible story.”

According to local historian Lyn Skillern, there are still huge gaps in the information available, of what happened to the South Gippsland men.

“No one survived Gasmata, they were just missing in action and they are probably still missing in action,” she said.

“It is a very significant local event, the Gasmata men’s families never knew what

happened to them.”

Ms Skillern said she would like to see a public memorial to the men somewhere near their home towns.

“I would like to see them remembered more in the community,” she said.

“I thought it might be nice in a garden or on the rail trail or something, just to mark those who were in the battalion, just to acknowledge them all, whether they lived or died.”

According to Ms Skillern, the battalion was raised in May 1940, the men coming mostly from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and Gippsland.

Many locals joined the battalion to be with Major Bill Owen, who had worked in the local bank and was a well respected Militia officer.

The 2/22 battalion was the nucleus of Lark Force, which was stationed at Rabaul. The shamefully under-resourced soldiers were without air support and were outnumbered 1350 men to around 17,000 Japanese.

Major Owen attempted to keep his company together and escaped into the jungle, where most of the men were recaptured, although a small group made it back to Port Moresby.

Major Owen and three other locals – Dave Lawson, Owen Hughes and Phil Hillis – made it to a beach where they were supposed to rendezvous with the others.

When no one arrived, they were forced to flee the island back to safety.

The Gasmata victims were on the run from January to March, presumably living off their wits in the tropical jungle.

Ms Newman said that when they were finally captured, it is believed they may have been taken out in boats and thrown into the sea.

“They were taken out to sea and dumped, but their bodies were washed back onto shore, so they would be buried somewhere,” she said.

“The Japanese guy who ordered the executions gave two stories, one was that they were spies and the second was that they had run out of food and they couldn’t feed them.”

Ms Newman has called on the Federal Government to try and locate the graves of the Gasmata victims, so they can buried in a proper war grave.

Mary a Saint soon

NEWS that Mary MacKillop will become Australia’s first saint early next year is creating much exciting nation-wide and in local Catholic circles.

Over the weekend Vatican authorities finally declared that Mary MacKillop was also responsible for a second miracle, which will make her elevation to sainthood possible.

Her first miracle was ratified in 1995, which led to her beautification and sainthood in Australia, when the Vatican accepted Mary had miraculously cured a woman of terminal cancer in 1961.

On Saturday, a papal decree announced that Mary was also responsible for healing a woman of cancer in the 1990s, which will lead to her universal canonisation and worldly sainthood.

“Jesus has given us a special Christmas gift this year. Mary MacKillop will become our first Australian Saint,” Bishop Christopher Prowse, of the Catholic Diocese of Sale, said.

“Surely all Australians, especially those in the Catholic Diocese of Sale, rejoice in the news that our own Blessed Mary MacKillop (1842-

Mary MacKillop 1909) is to be canonised a saint of the universal Catholic Church.

“Inspired by the love of Jesus in her heart, she became a woman totally dedicated to God. This enabled her to become an extraordinary woman of courage, action and compassion.

“At this Christmas time, let us imitate Mary MacKillop’s life and so draw closer to the baby of Bethle-

hem, Jesus. ‘God is all goodness and love, Mary MacKillop (1880)’ said,” Bishop Prowse said.

This year is the centenary of Mary’s death which occurred in Sydney on August 8, 1909. Mary MacKillop may never have visited Gippsland but the Sisters of St Joseph, which is the congregation she founded, has had great involvement and have been here for about 106 years.

Over the years there have been 27 convents in the diocese – in every parish but Korumburra, Cowes, Moe, Berwick and Drouin which were served by sisters of different orders. Today only seven convents remain; Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Yarram, Wonthaggi, Bunyip, Koo Wee Rup and Narre Warren.

While initially a community of women set up to teach disadvantaged children, they quickly expanded into other work.

While in Gippsland they were mainly teachers in the early days.

They have also served as pastoral associates, catechists and in South Gippsland ran the famous motor mission to reach families in the back blocks of the Heartbreak Hills, as the Strzelecki Ranges were known.

PAGE 6 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Home secured for elderly

By Brad Lester THE future of residents at nursing homes at Foster and Toora is secure, after staff agreed to cut back hours to save money.

The organisation administering the hostels, Prom Country Aged Care, is expected to this month make its first monthly surplus in two years.

PCAC was headed for closure as costs exceeded income, threatening the future of the hostels.

The committee of management asked staff to reduce hours and work across Banksia Lodge at Foster and Prom View Lodge at Toora. General manager Joanne Stringer was also asked to work three days a week as per contract, instead of five.

Plans are still underway to build a new $11.7 million, 60-bed hostel at Foster, after the committee received a $9 million grant from the Federal

Government.

PCAC would have closed had the deficit not been addressed, said new committee president, Terry Parks.

“That is no longer a risk. PCAC will continue to operate and the security of our residents can be assured,” she said.

“The organisation is certainly solvent and will have sufficient liquidity to pay all debts as they fall due. Thanks to staff’s willingness to reduce their hours, a crisis has been averted.

“It is the committee of management’s intention to ensure that PCAC continues to deliver monthly surpluses and does not ever return to a deficit situation.

“We have stopped impending deficit and the only way now is forward.”

Ms Parks said the reduced hours would not compromise the quality of care.

While PCAC is a communitybased, not-for-profit organisation, Ms

Parks said surpluses must be made to meet ongoing costs and capital expenditure.

Staff were initially unwilling to work to the new roster, but that roster is now operating after a meeting between PCAC management and union representatives at a hearing of the industrial relations tribunal, Fair Work Australia.

Outstanding issues will be discussed at a further tribunal hearing next month.

The new roster was in part designed to expose staff to high and low care demands, as they will be expected to meet these once the new hostel begins to operate.

Banksia Lodge is now predominantly low care and Prom View Lodge high care.

Ms Stringer is now on leave until January 11, after the committee voiced concern about the personal toll the long working hours were taking.

“The general manager was working grossly excessive hours and with any human being, the committee of management was concerned the number of hours she was working was unsustainable, so was it was appropriate that she take leave,” Ms Parks said.

“It was not apparent to us why she was working those hours but it was a position not in the interest of herself and the organisation.”

The committee is negotiating with South Gippsland Hospital about the acquisition of vacant land owned by the hospital, and located behind Banksia Lodge and the hospital.

That land would be an ideal location for the new hostel, as well as for the hospital to expand.

Completion of the hostel is scheduled for the end of 2011. Banksia Lodge will continue to operate beyond then, but the Prom View Lodge building is likely to be used in another way.

The PCAC committee has invited

Beyond the yellow

By Matt Dunn THERE’S not much you could tell Graeme Brumley and Bob Spotts about daffodils.

As globetrotting aficionados of the fine fauna, Graeme, who has now returned to Leongatha after many years away, and Bob, a Californian who has created some of the most remarkable flowers on the planet, are part of a rare breed.

Graeme’s family is something of an institution in Leongatha, with generations of the Brumley clan woven into the history of this town.

You know when your family has a street named in its honour that you have been around a while.

“There’s a community of people who love daffodils spread around the world and I’m part of it. These people are part of it.

Graeme Brumley is part and I come to see him and his flowers.

Wherever daffodils are grown and people really love them, we’ll mix.

It’s my turn to come here,” Bob said during a recent Australian visit.

“There are a few thousand people who are nuts about daffodils around the world, so we try to mix.

He grows them, they bloom here in September. They bloom in my place in March. It’s easy to come up here in September and he can

come to my place in March.

“The daffodils here are as good as anywhere in the world.

You have Graeme here and Ian Dyson and their flowers are just as good as anyone’s in the world. It’s always good to come down here and see daffodils that are a little different.”

Bob said his main interest was in “creating new colours and forms” of daffodils.

“I get a real kick out of doing it and recognition from people that those are pretty nice flowers,” he said.

Bob has continued the work of the late Manuel Lima, conducting experiments with the Narcissus verdiflorus, a green daffodil.

Simply put, verdiflorus means “green flower”.

“Nature doesn’t look at daffodils quite the way we do. The interesting thing about verdiflorus is it’s green and it blooms in the fall (autumn),” Bob said.

“Manuel Lima was a sort of a hermit. He had one thing he wanted to do in life and that was to create a green daffodil. He did. He took nature’s little form, which is an ugly little thing and crossbred it with other flowers and he got some really nice flowers,” Bob said.

“He died young, but I sort of caught his fever and now I have some green daffodils. They’re not bright green, they’re really sort of lovely flowers and they’re different to anyone else’s.”

In bloom: great mates Bob Spotts and Graeme Brumley are part of a dedicated globe-trotting daffodil-loving community.

Graeme said the flowers were “different to anything else in the whole world”.

Bob admitted that the radical flower was only liked by a minority of daffodil fans: “The main part of the daffodil world is perfectly content with yellow and orange. It’s nice to do something different.”

Making money from this work seems an unlikely scenario, as commercial flower growers simply order the bulbs of new strains and grow them on a mass scale.

Graeme said his friend had lost out on the work he did creating flowers, with the Dutch producing

them by the millions, and nothing paid to the creator.

But for Bob, making money is secondary to the glory of the creation.

“It’s recognition and satisfaction and the approval of your peers – all that kind of thing.

The money is made by the big business. But after I’m gone if they’re still selling my flower and people know who bred it, my name lives on for a while,” he said.

While the money being made at his expense would make most people green with envy, Bob is happy to have his ‘green’ surface elsewhere.

the Toora Progress Association to submit suggestions.

“While the level of care is excellent, the building that was the former nursing hospital isn’t young and substantial capital expenditure would be required,” Ms Parks said.

“The building would not be demolished but it is in need of a lot of capital work, and so the money would be better put towards the new facility.”

Not every room at Prom View Lodge has a private en suite.

The PCAC committee must raise $2.7 million towards the cost of the new Foster hostel.

Pledges of more than $350,000 have been made, including by a philanthropic trust supporting aged care.

Ms Parks assumed the presidency recently after her predecessor, Rob Knight, resigned, citing health problems and time constraints.

Plans get green light SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council’s coastal town plans were given the green light last week.

The recommendations of the Coastal Spaces Landscape Assessment Study and Urban Design Frameworks for the four coastal towns of Venus Bay, Tarwin Lower, Waratah Bay and Sandy Point can now be implemented, following the gazetting last week of the C45 Amendment into the South Gippsland Planning Scheme.

“This means that these coastal towns now have frameworks that define the township boundaries and character,” Council’s planning co-ordinator Paul Stampton said.

“They include Design and Development Overlay (DDO) schedules to provide developers and the community with clear direction on the preferred form of building in these settlements.

Some significant changes are evident in Schedule 7 that deals predominantly with native vegetation removal and site cut and fill.

“As long as no native vegetation is to be removed or site cut and fill is not over one metre, a Planning Permit is now not required for conforming buildings,” Mr Stampton said.

“However, non-conforming buildings will be assessed against detailed decision guidelines in the DDO schedules.

“The changes represent many years of work by council in partnership with the coastal communities, and should serve to clearly define appropriate development and the preferred character of the four towns.”

The Coastal Spaces Landscape Assessment Study, conducted by the State Department of Sustainability and Environment, identified three significant coastal landscapes within the shire; around Anderson Inlet, within the Toora ‘amphitheatre’, and around Cape Liptrap.

Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO) schedules are now included in the South Gippsland Planning Scheme to help preserve the character of these important and sensitive coastal areas.

Developments within the overlay area may trigger the need for a Planning Permit and a subsequent assessment if they do not meet the requirements in terms of height, size and colour.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 7

POLICE BRIEFS

Korumburra crash TWO passengers were airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne after the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a tree outside Korumburra last Tuesday.

The accident occurred just near the Korumburra Secondary College on the Korumburra Wonthaggi Road at about 4.30pm.

“The car’s come around a moderate bend and failed to negotiate it, leaving the road and hitting a tree,” Bass Coast TMU Acting Sergeant Paul McLean said.

“The male driver, from Korumburra, sustained minor injuries and the left side passengers sustained major injuries and were airlifted to Melbourne. The front passenger had chest and leg injuries. The investigation is continuing.

“The road was closed for at least an hour, as the front passenger was trapped.”

Two helicopters attended the scene. The driver was taken to Korumburra Hospital but was released the next day.

The scene was managed by police members from Leongatha, Korumburra and Bass Coast TMU. Police were assisted by Korumburra CFA members. The vehicle was towed by Burchell Panels, Leongatha.

Speed was not believed to be a factor in the crash.

According to anAlfred Hospital spokeswoman, the injured pair is in a “stable condition”.

Drunk L-platers A POLICE blitz on drunk and hoon drivers is already claiming scalps, with three learner drivers busted for offences including drink driving, not displaying L-plates and driving without supervision.

“At just after 2am on Sunday morning police were watching the Isle of Wight Hotel on Phillip Island, when they saw a car drive away. The driver was obviously under the influence of alcohol,” Bass Coast TMU Acting Sergeant Paul McLean said.

He said the man got in his car to drive two blocks to his house “despite the fact that the divisional van was 100m in front of him.

“He was intercepted and found to have a high alcohol reading. He elected not to come back to the station for a breath test,” Acting Sgt McLean said.

“He’ll be facing charges of failing to accompany police officers, being an L-plater without an instructing driver. He was the second one we got within half an hour over there.

“In the space of an hour we had three L-platers pulled over.”

Two were found to have been drinking.

All three were without an instructing driver.

Acting Sgt McLean said people needed to be aware there was a special operation occurring in the region, and police were working late into the night to ensure road safety.

“Anyone who wants to break the law on the

Near tragedy: four people from Korumburra were involved in a single vehicle collision last Tuesday, with two choppers ferrying injured occupants to the Alfred Hospital. roads after hours, especially 2am to 6am, will be caught,” he said.

He said there were a “lot of idiot drivers” on the road during the summer period.

“If anyone wants to drive like an idiot you run the risk of causing an injury or death. If that happens you’re going to face a rather big jail term,” he said.

Vandal bust THREE teenaged boys have been identified as the vandals behind recent attacks at the Meeniyan kindergarten and the Tarwin Valley Primary School.

The boys were from Meeniyan, Leongatha and Korumburra.

“The boy from Meeniyan knows he’s in trouble, but I don’t know if the other two know yet,” Meeniyan police’s Leading Senior Constable Paul McDonald said.

Leading Snr Const McDonald said the trio’s bragging about the attacks had got back to police.

In Leongatha, the vandalism has continued for another successive week, with rear windows broken at businesses along Bair Street, near the railway carpark.

Residential streets were also targeted.

“Residents up around Parr Street, Owen Street and Turner Street had mailboxes, windows, and fence pickets damaged during the weekend.

There seems to be a lot of anti-social behaviour in regards to that at the moment,” Leongatha police’s Leading Senior Constable Jeff Stephens said.

“It seems to come with the drinking season.”

McDonalds assault POLICE are investigating an assault at Leongatha McDonalds on two local women late on Saturday night.

The attack came courtesy of two other women from the Latrobe Valley.

“Investigations are continuing and we expect to interview the two attackers shortly,” Leongatha police’s Leading Senior Constable Jeff Stephens said.

Lucky escape A man was lucky to escape with his life after crashing his car down an embankment on the Mirboo Road, Mirboo on Sunday night.

“The male driver, from Mirboo, put the car through a fence and down an embankment at about 5 in the afternoon,” Meeniyan police’s Leading Senior Constable Paul McDonald said.

The man was not injured in the crash, and had left the scene before police arrived.

PAGE 8 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Mainland destination: Flinders Island cattle are yarded ahead of being transported to Port Welshpool.

By Brad Lester

STUART Storr sits in a truck at the end of a rocky point lapped by the waves of Corner Inlet.

He is at Port Welshpool, waiting for a barge-load of cattle and sheep to arrive from Flinders Island after a 14 hour trip across Bass Strait.

Cattle, bred on lush country beneath granite peaks, are bound for feedlots in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. The sheep may go to abattoirs at Melbourne, Geelong and Bacchus Marsh.

Distinctively blue and white, the trucks of Storr Transport, Toora meet barges at the port every fortnight or so. Helping to keep Flinders Island going has been part of Stuart’s business for 10 years.

“The trade is very valuable to the district and Victoria is a lot cheaper than Tasmania for supplies, so they might as well bring it over from Victoria,” he said.

“It gives us an opportunity to have our trucks working longer and working longer distances. The job’s demanding because when the boat comes in, you’ve got to have the trucks here, but it helps to keep us going.”

Once livestock is offloaded, vessels return to Flinders with cargo vital to keeping the island’s economy and community ticking over: fencing materials, tractors, trucks, cars and furniture.

Some goods have been bought by pastoralists on the island or belong to people starting a new life there. Often goods are sent by Victorians, including South Gippslanders, with property on Flinders.

South Gippsland businesses supply many of the goods. Bottled gas, boat outboards, treated pine posts, farm machinery and supplies come from such businesses as Agmart Leongatha, Inverloch Marine, Corner Service Station at Welshpool, and Alberton Timber and Treatment Plant.

Port Welshpool is the only Victorian port offering a direct service to Flinders Island. The alternative for islanders is to transport goods from Melbourne to Devonport via the Spirit of Tasmania, and then on to Launceston for freight via sea to Flinders.

The latest figures show about 3400 tonnes of goods left Port Welshpool in 20007/08, bound for Flinders Island and Bridport on the Tasmanian north coast.

The multi-million dollar trade with Flinders Island is a welcome boost to the economy of South Gippsland.

Steve Stoitse stores sea-bound goods at his Welshpool warehouse. The operations manager at Peter Stoitse’s Transport said his business has been carting freight destined for Flinders for 20 years.

“Whenever there is a boat there (at Port Welshpool), there is something to put on it,” Steve said.

“The business creates jobs. In our area, there is not really a lot of industry and it all helps when you put all the business together to make up the year.”

The economic benefit to South Gippsland could expand dramatically if a plan by one of the two Tasmanian shipping companies servicing Port Welshpool eventuates.

LD Shipping is considering transferring operations to nearby Barry Beach and establishing a freight service between there and King Island, as well as maintaining the Flinders Island run.

Company owner Les Dick, said the expanded operations would create more work for the existing service companies in South Gippsland.

“We used to carry thousands of cattle from King Island to Port Welshpool but it seems to have dried up a bit, but we are hoping to start it up soon,” he said.

Les believes the service between Port Welshpool and Flinders Island is little known and has the potential to expand.

His 55m barge is capable of carrying up to 900 tonnes and runs between Port Welshpool and Launceston via

Spectacular setting: the rolling rocky coast of Flinders Island resembles that of Wilsons Promontory.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 9

Strait crossing: Hayden Turner of Peter Stoitse Transport loads farm gates bound for Flinders Island.

Lady Barron on Flinders.

The one-and-a-half day trip between Launceston and Port Welshpool can be “wild and wooly” at times, but the perils of Bass Strait have not dissuaded the seaman.

“It’s a significant part of our business.

We are keen to grow our business through Welshpool and are very interested in developing the service between Launceston and Welshpool,” Les said.

“The service is very important to Flinders Island and the island’s economy relies heavily on accessing cargo from the mainland via Welshpool. If someone buys a lawnmower from Victoria, the only way to get it here is from Welshpool.”

Southern Shipping is the other company travelling the Flinders to South Gippsland run, operating the vessels, Matthew Flinders III and Southern Condor II. The Federal Government offers transport subsidies to encourage development on Bass Strait islands.

Steve Cole is a real estate agent on Flinders and working for Elders, has a grasp on the livestock job. More than $10 million worth of sheep and cattle leaves the island each year, most destined for Port Welshpool.

“South Gippsland used to be the

source of most of Flinders Island’s farmers. There used to be an airline from South Gippsland to Flinders Island but not anymore, so the number of people coming over has slowed up,” he said.

“People from South Gippsland come to Flinders because the weather is similar and the price of real estate is attractive.

The best farmland on Flinders would be about $1500 an acre and comparable land in South Gippsland would be $8-10,000 dollars.”

Many farms are now for sale but there is little interest. Usually neighbours buy next door, dropping the number of farms by a quarter over the last few years.

Angus and Herefords are the predominant beef breeds on Flinders, their big frames filled by lush pasture despite a low annual average rainfall of 28 inches.

Steve has lived on Flinders on and off since 1964. His family moved from Tallangatta in northern Victoria to run a dairy farm and he has been drawn by the people, the landscape and the chance to dive and fish.

“More people move here from Victoria than Tasmania. Few Tasmanians come to Flinders, even for holidays.”

PAGE 10 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

MORE than 300 people attended Carols at the Creek at Coal Creek Heritage Village last Friday night.

Performers included South Gippsland Wind Orchestra, Anne Larkin and Meredith Freeman, Turning Point

(Tish Hanks, Tara Hendry, Robin Simpson, Kerrie Tudor and Tarnya Wilson).

Korumburra art dealer Doug Kane was emcee. Volunteers helped children make Christmas decorations. The Apex club raised funds

December occurred on the third and again on December 31, New Year’s Eve. It will not only be the end of the year, but also the end of a decade, so come and say farewell to 10 years of The Noughties and party in style to the music of the popular dance band Soul Purpose.

For details, call Eric Mould 5664 7376 or jazzbo@dcsi. net.au.

- Christmas Day; Saturday, December 26 - public holiday; Monday, December 28 - public holiday; Thursday, December 31, from 4pm - New Year’s Eve; and Friday, January 1 - New Year’s Day. Poowong Library will be open from 2-4pm on Thursday December 24 and 31. Management and staff wish everyone a safe and happy festive season.

A SCHOOL reunion is being organised for past students of Leongatha High School / Leongatha Secondary College (Year 7 1985 – Year 12 1990), for Saturday, June 12, 2010.

An email / contact list is being compiled. Please forward contact details to michelleseuren@hotmail. com, or mobile 0423 757 877.

ST Peter’s Anglican Opportunity Shop committee met early in December to allocate funds in time for the festive season. Those included this time were St Peter’s Church and its missions, Bishop of Gippsland Christmas Appeal, hamper assistance for St Peter’s and Anglicare, SES ‘Light Towers Appeal’ Leongatha, Angel Flight Australia, Prison Fellowship Victoria, GSHS palliative care.

These donations amounted to $13,000. In spite of a year of people being called on often, we are very pleased to have been able to donate for the year $25,000.

POOL enthusiasts better watch their Ps and polish their cues, because the knock-out pool competitions at McCartins Hotel in Leongatha will start again next year, on January 15. Played on Thursday nights, registration is at 7.15pm, with a 7.30pm start. Entry is $5 with the winner taking all.

THE Meeniyan Blue Moon New Year’s Eve party will coincide will a full moon.

A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in a month. Full moons in

ALL West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation libraries will be closed on Thursday, December 24, from 4pm - Christmas Eve; Friday, December 25

Nicola Allen is turning 10.

Best wishes for December 27. Hope you have a wonderful day. Love always, Mum, Dad, Sophie, Chelsea and Erika.

through their sausage sizzle and Santa was serenaded by the Turning Point singers and exited in a police car from the Korumburra station. Abbey, Milley and Xavier (pictured) are enjoying the entertainment.

The buildings at Coal Creek Heritage Village will be decorated with Christmas lights. The village will be open from 9-11pm every night including Christmas Eve. Santa will be in the front foyer to have his picture taken with visiting children. Visiting the village is a great way of keeping the kids busy while parents work out the final details with Santa on the presents.

Entry to the village is free.

THE opening of the Girl Friday exhibition at Gecko Studio Gallery in Fish Creek attracted a varied palette of fellow artists last Sunday. A group exhibition by (pictured from left) Amanda Thompson, Kate Zizys, Elisabeth Scott and Lyndy Lord, the gathered included Peter Cole, Marilyn Ardley, Kim McDonald, Winsome Richards, Anda and Yannis Banikos.

Hosts Michael Lester and Kerry Spokes were kept busy with sales. Several prints were sold, available at affordable prices, which Kerry pointed out, would make ideal and original Christmas presents. For inquiries, call 5683 2481.

SANTA came early to Tammy Lee Photography in Leongatha, posing with all creatures, great and small, human and animal in the last two weeks. Kiersten Allen, of Leongatha, had her pet dogs pose with Santa, who took it all in a day’s work. Pictured are, on Santa’s lap, left, Tosh, the toy poodle; with Yoda the imperial Pomeranian Chihuahua cross, on the right, and; below, Bailey, the old heeler cross. With special thanks to Kevin Slater as Santa.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 11

Arsonists always there

By Matt Dunn AS undercover police patrol South Gippsland’s fire-prone regions looking for arsonists, many old time CFA members say firebugs are simply part of the landscape.

Last summer fires were lit around the Mirboo North region, resulting in the destruction of 30 homes. Other fires were lit in Toora, with the convicted arsonist still living in the town.

But the expected and quite justified anger that many would expect from those who put their lives on the line to fight the fires others chose to start, is not there.

For local CFA members the threat of the firebug is something that has always existed and always will.

“You get that sort of activity with structural fires too. It’s a sickness and it’s just the way it is,” CFA brigade support officer Gary Burns said simply.

“It’s always been there. It seems to go in spasms,” CFA South Gippsland group officer Neville Pulham confirmed.

“It’s too early to tell how bad things will be this year. The scrub’s going to be dry. The coastal strip

will burn any time. We shouldn’t be complacent, but it’s in the lap of the gods.”

For Neville, one of the more experienced local members, deliberately lit fires have certain hallmarks.

“You get a gut feeling at the fire yourself. Over the years we’ve been alerted to take more notice of whether it could have been suspicious or not,” he said.

“Where we used to say, ‘Cause unknown,’ we don’t’ do that now. You tend to look a bit further.”

Long time member and group officer for Korumburra and Leongatha, Col Stockdale, said firebugs have always been a part of the summer scene.

“It was going on 60 years or more ago around here, because my parents told me a bloke would ride into Leongatha every year on his horse. He’d say, ‘Oh, there’s a fire out there.’ He’d have a candle with him or whatever,” he said.

“They just let it go and it would burn. You’re never going to stop it. You’re never going to stop those sick people from doing it. They always pick the worst days and you can guarantee that every total fire ban day it’s going to be a bad day.

“If we have the same weather conditions as that

Hard to take: fire fighters fear another summer battling deliberately lit blazes.

Saturday last summer, we’ll lose lives again. You just can’t stop those fires and the same thing will happen again – and we live in Victoria where it’ll happen. People have to accept that.”

But neither does he think people should simply sit back and do nothing.

“Just through the summer, during some of those

bad days, people need to be very vigilant with what’s going on. If people see cars in strange places they should write down the number plates,” he said.

“Firebugs are very hard to catch, but if you can put someone in the wrong place a few times you can help secure a conviction.

People should be very vigilant in the summer.”

Firebugs targeted as towns left without fire refuges Continued from page 1.

We’re doing the same ourselves, driving around and checking who’s camping and who’s in the bush. DSE is doing the same and Parks is doing the same.”

Thirty houses were burnt down in Mirboo North, Boolarra, Yinnar, Delburn and Darlimurla during January 28 and 29, in a blaze that was deliberately lit. A local man was charged with lighting the fires, but was released on bail in September.

“Everyone’s very much on edge now. Before this year no one really did much. Now they’re reporting absolutely every car in the bush or people walking through. They’re watching out,” Mr Birkbeck said.

With the holiday season in full swing, there are still only two coastal towns with official places of last resort during bushfires.

The CFA has designated only two areas as Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) in the region, which need to be ratified by local councils.

South Gippsland and Bass Coast Shire Councils have a CFA-designated site each; the foreshore of Waratah Bay in South Gippsland and at the Inverloch Community Hub, which is on the intersection of A’Beckett and Reilly streets in the town centre. Bass Coast has ratified its safer place. South Gippsland is yet to do so.

No safer places will be designated in the popular holiday spots of Venus Bay, Sandy Point and Walkerville, ironically, because of their high vegetation.

CFA community safety manager Mark Potter said the Venus Bay, Sandy Point and Walkerville locations had been considered in consultation with the South Gippsland shire, but “unfor-

tunately there is not enough clearance of vegetation to select those places.”

Mr Potter said Tarwin Lower did not offer an alternative for Venus Bay. “People might have to drive through greater vegetation and enter into greater danger.

“Safer places are identified to protect people from radiant heat, but there is too much vegetation, especially the type of vegetation with high clusters of tea-trees, for those areas to be identified as neighbourhood safer places, or places of last resort,” Mr Potter said.

Mr Potter said the focus was to encourage residents “to focus on their own survival plan.

“A safer place is not an option in the plan, but whether to stay and defend or leave early. People might choose to install a bushfire shelter.”

Mr Potter he said he was aware

of the great influx of holiday makers, staying at holiday homes, flocking to the three hot spots and he said Tourism Victoria has held workshops with tourism operators to create greater awareness of fire measures.

“We don’t want people to stop coming. Many operators rely on that (holiday) income,” Mr Potter said. “But we need to ask people to take responsibility for their own actions.”

Mr Potter also suggested people should “think outside the square about what other options are available to be identified as a safer place. There might be a neighbour who has a large block that can be a safer place.”

Mr Potter regretted that identification of places was left so late, just before the hot weather and holiday season started.

“It is a bit late. We’d rather have

done it six months ago, but it took some time for the Bushfire Royal Commission findings to be handed down in August/September,” Mr Potter said.

South Gippsland Shire Council chief executive Tim Tamlin, said in practical terms no NSP existed as yet in the shire.

“We do not have any Neighbourhood Safer Places designated as yet in our shire. Council has received an assessment from the CFA indicating that the Waratah Bay Foreshore is compliant (with requirements),” Mr Tamlin said.

“It is now up to council, having adopted the Municipal NSP plan last Wednesday, to assess this location for its suitability as a designated NSP according to the process outlined in the municipal plan.”

To report suspicious behaviour call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

PAGE 12 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Thanking you Rest in peace FOR those of us brought up in a time of peace, it is hard to imagine the shattering impact of a war on those left behind at home.

The story of Lark Force, a unit made up from the 2/22 Battalion is just a small vignette in the tragic saga of World War II. But the impact on South Gippsland from the events of early 1942 would have been devastating.

Six young local men were massacred and their bodies never found as part of a mass killing near the town of Gasmata on the island of New Britain off the east coast of New Guinea.

More died on an unmarked prisoner of war boat which was torpedoed while steaming towards Tokyo.

In towns like Nerrena East and Dumbalk, the loss of lives would have been devastating to the wider community beyond their immediate family.

A friend, colleague, team-mate or neighbour was taken in the prime of his life.

But the hurt would have been compounded by the lack of knowledge of their fate and the lack of a proper memorial in lieu of a grave.

A campaign by relatives of the Lark Force soldiers has started to agitate for a renewed effort to identify exactly how the men died and where their remains lie.

It is every soldier’s wish to be looked after properly if he is killed. It is the duty of those who send them into battle to ensure that this is done.

Let us hope that the Federal Government can see fit to recognise that more work needs to be done to close this tragic chapter of Australia’s war history.

The South Gippsland Citizens Advice Bureau and Visitor Information Centre is writing to thank the people of Leongatha and surrounding areas for their generous support in purchasing charity Christmas cards this year.

Bible study

Tony Abbott’s call for Bible Classes to be taught in schools should be heeded.

Has the secular liberal left establishment ever stopped to reflect on why our moral and social order is in terminal decay?

They need look no further than in the mirror.

Tony Abbott is absolutely right.

The West rose to greatness on the back of Christianity. It is now falling to its abyss on the back of amoral secular humanism.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn gave this very message to the West when he was finally released by the atheistic “Evil Empire”.

While Tony Abbott is no new age Messiah, his message needs to be embraced if we are to have any chance of reversing our decline.

Brian Handley Gippsland

We are so sorry that we ran out earlier than expected due to your overwhelming response.

Best wishes to all the community for the festive season and the New Year.

Maureen Sivyer Co-ordinator PS: We are open every day over the holidays except Christmas Day. And yes we do have copies of the new bus timetables.

VOXPOP! VOX

Season’s greetings

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

THE Star wishes all its readers a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Thank you for your support in 2009. We enjoy putting out this journal of local happenings and we hope that you enjoy reading it.

Our next edition will be on the streets in 2010 – we’re already looking forward to it.

Letters guidelines ALL letters should be kept to 400 words or less.

The Star reserves the right to edit all letters for length and style.

Writer’s details, including full name, address and phone number (not for publication), must be included.

The Great Southern Star Address: 36 McCartin St Leongatha, 3953 Ph: (03) 5662 2294 Fax: (03) 5662 4350 Editor: Danny Buttler Email: news@thestar.com.au

Advertising Manager: Joy Morgan Email: advertising@thestar.com.au ACN 006507580 ABN 61 318 952 541 Print Post 336735 10006

To lose those five kilograms.

I have to go to the gym three times a week instead of twice.

Zel Svenson Nerrena

To have a better and enjoyable year, including financially. I’ll do a little bit of study, work a few more hours and hopefully some overtime.

Reece Stubbs Leongatha

To try to spend more time with family because sometimes you get so busy you lose track of doing things together and having time for each other.

Sam Wearne Leongatha

A bit more travel. Now I’ve retired I’ll plan some travel at my leisure to see friends in distant places.

Barb Fleming Leongatha

Alex Welsh trust fund

Big win: Anthony Golding who won the motorcycle with Marriotts’, Adam Dean.

A RAFFLE was organised through Korumburra Motorcycle Club and Marriotts Motorcycles and Power Equipment to raise funds for Alex Welsh, who was injured in a motocross accident.

The first prize went to Anthony Golding, who taught Alex at Leongatha Secondary College.

The prize was a KTM 50 SX senior mini bike valued at $5090.

Jack and Nikki Stockdale won the second prize, which was a Husqvarna 455 Rancher chainsaw valued at $1100, and the third prize was a Stihl pressure cleaner, won by Keith Lensdale.

For more information phone Jim Walsh at Marriotts on 5662 2028.

Handy prize: Nikki Stockdale, Jim Walsh and Jack Stockdale inspect the Husqvarna chainsaw that was the raffle’s second prize.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 13

CMA merger worry

By Jane Ross THE merger of catchment management authorities and coastal boards threatens to sideline local input.

Here to help: Taehee Lee will be based in Leongatha.

New dentist from NZ SOUTH Gippsland will be served by a new dentist from January 4 and the search continues for another.

Taehee Lee will become a partner in Lekander Dental Clinics and the business will be temporarily renamed Lekander Dental Clinics-Bass Coast Dental Clinics.

Dr Lee will be based at the Leongatha clinic in Lyon Street and will bring with him five years experience working with computer-aided design of complex restorations of damaged teeth.

He will join Dr Torsten Lekander, a partner in the business since 1985.

The clinic will also soon offer CEREC dentistry technology, enabling such restorations as crowns, onlays and inlays to be performed on the premises, saving patients time and hassle.

Dr Lee will relocate from New Zealand to become a partner in the firm, after a worldwide search to find a new dentist.

The young man is a graduate of the University of Otago in NZ and has gained accreditation to perform implant surgery in Australia.

In the longer term, the clinic will relocate to the previous premises of Dr Trevan in ANZ Arcade and expand into the adjoining shop facing the IGA carpark.

The new premises will enable six surgeries instead of the current three-and-a-half.

Dr Tonya Kirk will continue with the practice and Mr Neil Harris will continue to provide dentures and mouthguards. Dr Jenny Kirkland is currently working at the clinic as a locum.

Dr Lekander is continuing to seek an additional full-time dentist.

The move will create giant natural resources “peak bodies” that will be responsible for rivers, erosion control, salinity management and coastal strategy.

One entity will cover the whole of Gippsland.

“We’re very concerned,” said Jenny Tame, acting executive of the Gippsland Coastal Board.

The worry is that the new body will focus on vegetation and catchment management and the coasts and estuaries will be “badly unrepresented”.

“We’re quite perplexed as to how these issues will be addressed and we’re quite nonplussed, as coastal management has been seemingly ignored.”

The coastal board has written to Victorian Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings expressing that view.

The mergers are set out in a State

Government white paper called Securing Our Natural Future.

West and East Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities will merge with the Gippsland Coastal Board and Gippsland Lakes Taskforce, to form the Gippsland Natural Resource and Catchment Authority.

The Victorian Coastal Council, to which coastal boards have been answerable, will be taken over by a Statewide Natural Resource and Catchment Management Council that will oversee all the merged bodies.

There will be five Natural Resource and Catchment Authorities in Victoria.

Jenny Tame’s concerns are echoed by the Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change Mary Wooldridge, who said the amalgamations would “deny local communities their rightful say in the management of local catchments”.

Coastal boards and CMAs have functioned thanks to governing bodies of local people with local knowledge.

And that, according to Nationals Leader Peter Ryan, will be the key to whether the bigger authorities are

successful.

The new authorities will have similar boards but Mr Ryan said the government had not yet announced how many people would be appointed to them.

He cited Duncan Malcolm who chaired the Gippsland Coastal Board for years, as an example of a skilled person with local knowledge who has served the region’s coast very well.

Mr Ryan said the mergers would result in pluses and minuses.

He said he had long advocated for a better system of management of the Gippsland Lakes “and there is the prospect of that being achieved”.

“But one of the worries is the extent to which we have lost elements of local control.”

Bass Coast Shire CEO Allan Bawden is worried about that too.

He said the Victorian Coastal Council had developed “very effective” coastal strategies that have been reflected in the shire’s planning schemes and structure plans.

“The big question is how will the new bodies be resourced and will they still be on top of local

issues?”

West Gippsland CMA CEO Geoff Hocking told The Star the bigger entity would not be in place until July 1 2011.

He said he did not think the changes would have a major impact because the two CMAs involved already shared many responsibilities such as accounting, payroll and strategic planning.

The West Gippsland CMA has a staff of around 61 effective full time, and because the white paper hasn’t taken any functions away, Mr Hocking didn’t think there would be job losses apart from his.

“It’s an interesting time for us.

The trick will be to make sure community engagement is maintained.”

Mr Hocking said the CMA offices, including the one in Leongatha would be retained.

CMAs were formed in 1997.

The West Gippsland CMA has an annual budget of between $20 and $25 million, with 80 per cent derived from the State and the rest from the Federal Government.

Roadworks nearly finished IT’S been a long haul.

Roadworks on the Bass Highway and Lower Powlett and Webb roads leading to the Wonthaggi desalination plant site, are nearly finished.

The upgrading has been done in conjunction with the Wonthaggi town entrance works that include drainage and kerbing.

The whole job is costing around $15 million and it’s been a terrible headache for those who live or work nearby.

Tony Cuzzupi of Wonthaggi Toyota and Holden, said he’s very glad the end is in sight.

He said construction workers had been helpful, but there were times when witches hats pre-

vented access to the two entrances to his businesses and the dust collected relentlessly on cars in the yard and under the bonnets too.

“It will all look very good when it is finished,” he added stoically.

Meanwhile the new pavement on Lower Powlett Road has started breaking up.

PAGE 14 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

VCAT lures dogs

By Bert van Bedaf

SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council voted in favour of the establishment of a greyhound kennel in Tarwin, west of Meeniyan, because it was considered a legitimate enterprise to be conducted in the farming zone.

Council granted the applicant, Gavin Knight a permit despite numerous objections from neighbours and a ruling that Mr Knight cannot build a dwelling on the property because the land is less than 40ha, which makes it prohibitive to build a house in the farming zone.

The application already appeared before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on October 23.

Mr Knight applied to use the land for a dwelling, a dog keeping facility and horticulture (growing hydroponic tomatoes).

With dwelling already refused, and no permit needed to grow tomatoes, which is an agricultural pursuit suitable for the farming zone, Mr Knight asked VCAT to amend his application “to refer to only animal keeping, breeding and training of up to 12 greyhounds”, which council approved last Wednesday.

It had already been determined at the October 23 hearing the case would go back to VCAT on January 15, because no matter which way the decision would have gone, an appeal was already on the cards.

If council had refused a permit the applicant would have appealed against the decision, but now the objectors will appeal.

Having appeared at VCAT

on behalf of the objectors, Jayne Scott, of Leongatha, spoke at last Wednesday’s council meeting outlining why the property on Hanilys Rd was inappropriate for a greyhound kennel.

Mrs Scott said there were serious waste issues, with the proposed kennel next to the Tarwin River. There is no indication a waste system will be on-site.

Noise, smell and traffic were also believed to be problems and because a dwelling was not allowed, the dogs would be on their own most of the time. They had to be fed twice a day and animal welfare issues also played a role.

Mrs Scott said the objectors had moved into the area for a lifestyle after having retired from farming. They had not expected to be living next to an enterprise and have their property values and amenities eroded. Also, a similar enterprise was already operating

in the region and another one was not needed.

But the bottom line was that the activities are suitable for the farming zone and as such, a permit was warranted. Cr Mimmie Jackson moved the motion to grant a permit, seconded by Kieran Kennedy.

Cr Warren Raabe added a clause to the conditions, saying that a waste management plan must be approved by council before the applicant can start his kennel.

With Cr David Lewis an apology on the night and Cr Bob Newton voting against, the motion passed seven to one.

But the issue is by no means resolved and will now go before VCAT again on January 15, 2010.

Planning go-ahead BROADBEACH Resort Village has been given the go ahead with changes to its planning amendments.

Bass Coast councillors approved these, with conditions, at their December meeting.

The alterations will allow the owners, Omni Property Group extra parking, a reduced number and different mix of dwellings and the ability to open the village community complex to outsiders.

Originally built as a retirement hub, Broadbeach has had a chequered history.

The village has one entry point in Lindsey Close, which residents say is too narrow to accommodate the traffic that will eventuate.

But Omni has promised to consider another entrance, should Bass Coast Council suggest one that is feasible.

Conditions on the changes include a decree that the car park on the western boundary remain unaltered from its current approved design, extra landscaping be undertaken, a “traffic calming device” be installed in Lindsey Close and proposed buildings must not be located in areas where flood waters are expected to be deeper than half a metre in the event of sea level rises.

New truck, old members MEENIYAN CFA officially launched its new light tanker vehicle at a ceremony at the station on Sunday.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Johan Scheffer handed over the keys to brigade captain Paddy Eldred, who said the new vehicle would allow better and faster access to fires.

The ceremony also saw awards for long service given to a number of local brigade members.

Doug Webb received an award for five years of service.

Paul Buckner and John Hattam for 10 years.

Justin Griffin, Denise Poletti, Malcolm Price, Sandra Young and Philip Zukovskis for 15 years.

Roy Beaumont, Dean Delaney and Paddy Eldred for 25 years.

Robert Spokes was awarded after 20 years, while Colin Young received an award for 40 years of service.

New recruit: Veteran brigade members Justin Griffin and Robert Spokes welcome their new recruit, a 4WD tanker, to the Meeniyan CFA.

Behind the wheel: Malcolm Price tests out the new light tanker vehicle.

Family affair: Young Lochlan Webb checks out the fire trucks with parents Alison and Doug.

Well done: (from left) Johan Scheffer, Malcolm Price, CFA regional chief Malcolm McKenzie, Robert Spokes, Justin Griffin, John Hattam, Paddy Eldred, Denise Poletti, Paul Buckner, Doug Webb, Sandra Young and (kneeling) Colin Young.

Safe driving: Paddy Eldred receives the keys from John Scheffer MLC.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 15

Drunkards watch out PUBLIC drunken behaviour will not be tolerated in Bass Coast Shire over summer.

GOLLERS Lane in Leongatha echoed with shrieks of delight as kids cuddled furry animals and Santa made a surprise appearance with Mrs Claus at his side.

A jumping castle and face painting were the main attractions, but the mobile animal farm, Rain Hayne and Shine, with its cute piglet, tiny goat, guinea pigs, pet rats and fluffy ducks stole the show.

That was until Santa appeared and everyone wanted his or her picture taken with the jolly man and Mrs Claus, Animal delight: Victoria Tuckett, 8, cuddled a tiny furry guinea pig, while her which also came with a presbrother Cameron, 10, and sister Chey, 9, cradled a baby goat. ent of lollies afterwards.

Face painting: Renae Carmody, of Artzillery in Leongatha, was kept busy, with Ella Rutjens, 2, getting her chubby cheek decorated.

Family affair: Ella’s sister Mathilda, 4, had already been given a facepaint and was waiting on mum Siobhan Rutjes’ lap for her sister to finish.

Merry Christmas: Mary and Santa wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Jack Barry, 10, and brother Ethan 8, enjoyed having their picture taken.

Left: Pet rat: Six-year-old Tom Crocker, of Korumburra, enjoyed stroking a pet rat at the animal farm, but was more concerned that the little goat would eat his t-shirt.

The shire council’s community safety manager Peter Laydon, has made this clear. He said Victoria Police had declared

public drunkenness would not be tolerated in Melbourne and the same standards apply to Bass Coast.

“Our local police will fine people on the spot if they are drinking in a public place,” he said.

PAGE 16 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

ORGANISERS of this year’s Carols at the Drome are branding the event the best yet.

Leongatha’s velodrome was the venue for this annual event on Saturday night and from start to finish it was something special.

The night started earlier this year, with a family picnic and plenty of children’s activities.

The carols themselves kicked off with the Combined St Laurence’s and Leongatha Primary School choirs, singing under the direction of Bronwyn Kent.

The faces of the children lit up as Santa arrived on a motorbike to greet the 700-plus crowd.

The “Aussie” themed Christmas story narrated by Malcolm Fletcher reminded those gathered of the true meaning of the festive season. Well done to all the actors concerned.

Another highlight was the singing by the choirs and soloists led by special guest

Denis Walter, with other guests including Russell Hemming, Paul Sykes, Katie Cantwell, David Durrant and Megan Aitken.

“Denis was a real drawcard for us and was a wonderful person to have. The interactivity between Denis and Megan Harris from 3GG with the crowd worked really well,” one of the organisers, Margaret Aeschlimann said.

The South Gippsland Shire Brass Band was again the centrepiece of the music, ably led by Martyn Scrimshaw for the last time. Martyn will be missed by all for the energy he gives to these events. Martyn and family will relocate to Bendigo with the Salvation Army in the New Year.

The special night was concluded with a magnificent fireworks display.

The event was staged by the Combined Churches of Leongatha and the South Gippsland Shire Brass Band, with major sponsorship provided by the South Gippsland Shire, Michael’s IGA and The Great Southern Star newspaper.

No reindeers: Santa left his reindeers at home and instead arrived at the carols on a motorbike!

Special guest: Denis Walter interacted well with both the choirs and crowd. He is pictured before the carols with the Combined Schools’ Choir.

Safe hands: Martyn Scrimshaw (left) will leave the area soon, but will hand over the baton of the South Gippsland Shire Brass Band to Jeff Coote.

Farewell Martyn: leaving for Bendigo soon, Martyn Scrimshaw certainly left his mark on Leongatha as he led the band at the carols on Saturday night.

Fun times: Howard Stephens helps Sophie Allen with the stilts as part of the children’s activities before the carols.

Round and round: Tiffany and Tina Tran have a shot at the hoola hoop.

Here’s Santa: the reaction on the faces says it all; Santa makes his appearance at Leongatha’s carols on a motorbike; pictured from left, Conner McQuarrie, Merrin Giles and Mitchell Scrimshaw.

Silent Night: the carols were special for all members of the family.

YOUR PHONE MAY NOW BE USED TO DELIVER EMERGENCY WARNINGS. During times of emergencies such as bushfires and extreme weather events, your landline or mobile phone may now be used to deliver a critical warning. This ‘Emergency Alert’ phone or text message is another way

DJ011/G

for authorities to inform you on what you may need to do. If you don’t understand the message, ask a family member, friend or neighbour for assistance. Learn more about this system at emergencyalert.gov.au

Do not call 000 (TTY 106) unless you are in critical need of emergency services (police, fire or ambulance). Do not rely on a telephone warning to act.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 17

Fired-up for 40 years

By Jane Ross ALLEN Miles was in a lather.

His house was ablaze and the local fire brigade was taking a long time to turn up.

“I was going crook!” he said.

But when he had calmed down, another thought occurred to him – maybe the brigade needed some more manpower.

So he went to the old Nissan hut that served as Inverloch’s fire station to offer his services.

That was nearly 40 years ago.

Next year, after more than three decades as captain of the Inverloch CFA, Allen Miles will hand over to his sonin-law. He’s called Allan too, although the spelling is different and his surname is Williamson.

How does the brigade cope with two senior officers with the same Christian name?

Easy. One is “Milesy”, the other “Woody”.

The nicknames reflect the family atmosphere that is an integral part of CFA life.

Inverloch brigade members are part

Big project: Inverloch CFA captain Allen Miles (right) with captain-designate Allan Williamson, discussing plans for the long awaited new fire station. of the wider CFA – they belong to a cluster of five brigades – and their own unit is a kinship too.

That’s true in more ways than one.

The Miles family for example, has all been involved. Allen, his wife Joyce, son John and daughter Kim. “All firefighters work together,” said the captain.

The members at Inverloch eagerly await the building of a new station.

It’s been more than six long years in the planning. Tenders closed last

week and once he can see that the project is finally underway, Allen Miles will stand down.

This will be the fourth fire station for Inverloch. Three were built by the members themselves. Now it’s time for the CFA to come to the party.

The current station, just up from the newly-designated Neighbourhood Safer Place in the Inverloch Hub, looks pretty good from the front. But the red brick is just a façade for two large tin sheds.

They aren’t adequate for today’s needs.

The brigade has 22 active members and Allen would love to see more young people join. If you’re interested, ring 5674 1524, 5674 3393 or turn up to training at the station at 7pm on Tuesdays.

Allen has calculated that in his 40 years with the Inverloch CFA, he’s been to 1500 fires, many out of the town.

He’s never been injured on the

job and neither have any of his colleagues.

“We rely very much on safety here,” he said proudly.

One of the worst South Gippsland fires he fought was at Venus Bay in 1979.

“We lost three or four houses, that was a bit crook.”

Serving in the CFA has been Allen’s way of helping the community.

“It’s meant a great deal for me personally.”

He and his colleagues draw special pleasure from a tradition that Allen instituted 25 years ago. It’s the Santa run, where families provide the gifts. Two fieries dress up in full Santa regalia, complete with proper Alaskan beards.

They drive around town in the fire trucks on Christmas Eve, ho, ho, hoing as they deliver the presents to delighted children. They take lots of bags of lollies too, so that the youngsters whose families haven’t taken part, don’t miss out.

There’s always a crew and a back up Santa on standby, just in case the brigade’s primary purpose is suddenly called on.

Inverloch CFA is ready for the fire season. It has four trucks, two of which are owned by the wider fire authority. The others were bought by the brigade through its own fund raising.

“We couldn’t ask for a better community as far as money is concerned,” said the seasoned captain.

And the community can be grateful too; these days, the brigade has a fourminute turn out.

STAR journalist Matt Dunn recently spent a day in Wonthaggi Magistrates Court waiting to report on a case. Sometimes the goings-on of a courthouse can be a fascinating glimpse into a world of pain and sorrow that is, thankfully, punctuated with moments of black humour.

Courtroom drama

By Matt Dunn

A DAY in the Wonthaggi Magistrates Court is a day observing the rawest aspects of humanity.

While some go before the court with trembling knees and quavering voices, others treat it as a second home.

Arriving, you see plenty of those about to stare down the barrel of another reprimand, another prison sentence. They smoke and chat like office workers on a break.

The Wonthaggi Magistrates Court, before the solemnity of the proceedings, is a happy meeting place.

“What are you in for?” is the polite enquiry on many people’s lips.

A day in the court is like some sort of tragicomic soap opera.

One woman who came before the court was fighting to have her children returned her.

“Have you straightened yourself out?”

magistrate Eddie Batts enquired.

“Yes your, honour,” she replied, tears in her eyes.

“And where is the father of the children?”

The DHS worker representing her piped up: “There are two fathers, your Honour. One’s in Queensland, the other’s on the run from the police.”

The woman gratefully accepted the magistrate’s decision to have the children returned, vowing to do better in the future.

Another man, who was the sole carer of seven

children, was battling to stay out of prison for yet another drunken misdemeanour.

“How’s your alcohol consumption?” asked the magistrate.

“Good, your Honour,” he said seriously.

A man who was trying to get his licence back after a drink driving charge, did not know how many years he was supposed to drive with a zero blood alcohol level, essential knowledge for getting your licence back.

“Is it three years?” the magistrate asked, “If you don’t know these things I can’t give you your licence back.”

The man shook his head, clearly not having studied these things.

“Would you like to phone a friend? Is it three years, sir? Can we lock that answer in?” Mr Batts teased.

Most of the day is taken up with people wanting to slap restraining orders on former partners or present foes.

One woman took the stand to tell of the violence visited against her and her partner.

She pointed to her partner, who sat near the back of the court. His face was swollen with bruises.

The magistrate called the two men accused of the crime to stand before him.

One protested: “It couldn’t have been me, your Honour. I was in prison at the time.”

“Well that’s a good defence.”

A man who was trying to gain access to his three-year-old son denied claims he had told his former partner he was going to burn her house down and kill the child.

A dope-smoking taxi driver claimed that the 280-odd grams of marijuana and several ecstasy tablets police had found inside a guitar case in his home were for personal use.

As if there wasn’t enough going on in the court, a woman fell down a short flight of stairs, people rushing from everywhere to offer help.

She was okay, if slightly embarrassed.

For others, like the man I had come to see sentenced to a jail term, the fall is rather more dramatic.

PAGE 18 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

By Matt Dunn FORMER Leongatha Secondary College student Andrew Clift has lived a life inspired by love.

While the doctor could well have lived a comfortable lifestyle through his vocation, he has instead chosen to endure poverty and hardship to help others.

But much of his good work has been inspired by his wife Dawn Cornish, who he longs to be with all the time.

Andrew opened an orphanage – The Children’s Sanctuary - in Siem Reap, alongside the Siem Reap River, Cambodia, with Dawn, caring for that country’s most desperate children.

The couple shares their life with the very first child who came to the orphanage, the now two-year-old Rith, whom they adopted.

“He was very ill when he first came to us.

He was in hospital for a while with pneumonia and malnutrition,” Andrew said.

“He took his first steps on Australian soil two weeks ago. He’s running around in central Victoria.”

Andrew was speaking to The Star from Cairns, while Dawn was down south with Rith. It was the first time she had been in the country for two years.

“I met Dawn in Cairns at the base hospital and I was doing remote work with an Aborig-

inal community. She was a surgical nurse. I kept on going off doing outreach in a lot of the communities up north and in the Gulf, places like that. We spent a lot of time apart from the beginning,” he said.

“We moved to New South Wales and that was the only time we actually spent living under the same roof. Since then we’ve seen each other for a week a month if we’re lucky.

“It’s difficult like that. It’s less difficult because we’ve been doing it since we’ve known each other. It’s still not ideal by any means. It can’t go on. It’s not a lifestyle you want forever.”

But other problems abound. Life caring for children who have found themselves homeless in Cambodia presents its own unique challenges.

“You could give up 50 times a day, really.

If you want to find reasons not to do something you can. You’ve got to get over that and look at the bigger picture, I suppose,” he said.

“We know what to expect and we’ve been through the worst of it. If you’re naïve and think everything’s going to be smooth sailing and people are going to bend over backwards for you, you’re going to fall flat on your face.

“It’s not smooth sailing by any means and there’s a lot of issues and it’s got a long way to go.”

Because there was a perception in Cambodia that the orphanage was operated by wealthy Westerners, children had been forced

toward the orphanage, playing along with the pretence they had no families.

“It turns out down the track that’s not true at all. They can hang around with the Westerners and get sent to a good school, get three meals a day. It’s fair enough they want the best for their kids and they’ll do what they can for them,” he said.

“Unfortunately our resources aren’t infinite.”

He said the children found them, rather than the other way around.

“It’s a pretty good bush telegraph they’ve got going. There’ll be a kid standing there by the front gate. That’s the standard,” he said.

“There’s a couple of children with AIDS, who were in appalling condition. There was a kid who was so malnourished that he has brain damage and heart problems. Others have been well dressed, but the parents just can’t care for them any more. It does vary.”

Aside from the day to day running of the orphanage, raising enough money to fund the orphanage is a constant problem.

“We’ve started our own business to help fund it. We’re also getting a lot more donations now, which is great,” he said.

But Andrew could not say where the couple will be in five years.

He has only one wish: “Hopefully we’ll be living in the same country and the same house.”

Above: Loving couple: Andrew and Dawn on their wedding day in Bangkok, 2007.

Home at last: orphans Vichet and Makara were taken in by Andrew and Dawn.

The pair are pictured outside the Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

No longer alone: orphans at The Children’s Sanctuary have a day out for the birthday of one of the children, Vichet.

Leongatha PS makes a splash LEONGATHA Primary students from Grade 4 and 5 enjoyed an end of year party at South Gippsland Splash last week.

The students rampaged over the inflatable pontoon, having a great time as they said farewell to another school year.

Afterwards they enjoyed a barbecue on the grassed area beside the pool.

Big smiles: Kaili Pritchett and Lily Akers having a good time.

Farewell 2010: Zoe McEachern, Brock Jones, Tom Brew and Brock Watchorn.

Left: Filling up: Sarin Barnard refuels after a big swim.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 19

Smith’s fighting words

Ryan ready for election

MEMBER for Bass Ken Smith has hit back at State Government claims that he was not truthful about the emergency accommodation crisis in Wonthaggi.

MEMBER for Gippsland South and Leader of The Nationals, Peter Ryan has announced he will contest the next Victorian State election, to be held on November 27, 2010.

Speaking to The Star last week, Minister for Health and Community Services Lisa Neville, said a petition presented to State Parliament by Mr Smith that called for emergency housing was scaremongering.

Mr Smith was angered by Ms Neville’s comments that the petition was an attempt by the Opposition to “mislead” and “scare-monger”.

“The Minister was quoted in last week’s Star as saying petitions I have handed her pleading that long-term housing for single people with a chronic mental illness be urgently provided on the Bass Coast are a ‘typical’ tactic of the Opposition to mislead and scare-monger, rather than come up with a policy of our own to house vulnerable Victorians,”

he said.

“With just one sentence she has shown how much in contempt she holds the almost 900 people who signed the petition and how little interest this Government has in hearing from the people it claims to represent.

“It is all very well to attack the Opposition, but by placing so little importance on one of the few ways citizens have to lobby their government, Ms Neville has shown enormous disrespect.”

Mr Smith said that while Ms Neville and Housing Minister Richard Wynne loved to spout that the Government was spending record amounts on investing in public and social housing across the state, the fact is that very little is going into rural areas.

“Ms Neville also says the Office of Housing supports people with a mental illness to access public housing through its Gippsland office and mental health agency SNAP,” he said.

“But typically Ms Neville has

no comprehension as to the relationship between Bass Coast and East Gippsland. I’m sure SNAP does do good work, but it only has nomination rights to 25 housing units located in Bairnsdale, Sale and Lakes Entrance and provides day programs in Bairnsdale, Sale, Orbost and Yarram – nowhere near Wonthaggi.

“She needs to take the time to listen to the agencies and people who know. I have not taken up this issue because it is politically expedient. This is a huge issue in the whole Bass electorate, and Ms Neville needs to pull her head out of the sand and deal with the real world.”

Mr Smith was adamant the Opposition, if elected, would spend more money on the problem.

“As for the Coalition’s policies, they will be announced soon enough. And I can assure you public housing will not be ignored.”

Ken Smith

Mr Ryan, who yesterday completed 10 years as leader of his party, said he was looking forward to continuing his representation of the Gippsland South community, should people see fit to re-elect him.

“I have had the great honour to represent the people of this wonderful region for some 17 years in the Victorian Parliament and I would love to continue,” Mr Ryan said.

“From a state perspective I believe Victoria needs a change of government and I look forward to being part of the team which will defeat Labor at the next election.”

ELLA Olivia White was born on December 10 at the Leongatha Memorial Hospital. She is the first child for Anthony and Catherine of Koonwarra.

ISAAC Michael Stokes is finally home from the Royal Children’s Hospital enjoying lots of cuddles from big brother Liam and sister Meg. The third child of Linden and Victoria of Leongatha was born at Leongatha hospital on November 23.

HARVEY Kai Richards is another beautiful boy for Brendon and Michelle of Boolarra. He was born at the Leongatha Memorial Hospital on December 14. Harvey joins 3 ½ year old Archer.

On behalf of Council and staff I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas. The buzz is already in the streets as shoppers hunt for last minute presents and far flung family members start to gather back here for the holiday season.

Christmases for our family have always been a travelling road show, with the kids unwrapping presents at home, and then we were on the road to Melbourne to feast with other branches of the family while folks here were already starting to have their first tipples.

They were long days, but memorable.

Unfortunately Christmas isn’t always a happy time for everyone, and as a caring community I encourage you to consider including someone who might be on their own, or struggling in one way or another, to join in your celebrations. It may be just another chair and cheer to you but it could mean a

CHARLIZE Maree Hawkins was born at Leongatha hospital on November 20. She is a first child for Holly Hawkins and Rory Bluett-Boyd.

lot to them. On the bright side there’ll be less leftovers to live on for the rest of the week!

Council offices will be closed from Christmas Eve until January 4. Details of holiday arrangements and emergency contact numbers are outlined in this week’s Noticeboard ad in this paper.

There are lots of markets and activities on over the holidays, and a list of these can be downloaded from www. visitpromcountry.com.au. Coal Creek and the Visitor Information Centres at Foster and Korumburra will be open on all days except Christmas Day. The mayoral elections for all Gippsland Shires have been held, with new faces in the chair in all areas except here, so GLGN (Gippsland Local Government Network) will have a fresh team to pursue regional interests in 2010 and I look forward to progressing our issues within that forum.

Please note January 21 in your diaries for the Australia Day Awards Ceremony in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Fourteen candidates have been nominated in the categories of South Gippsland Citizen, Young Citizen and Community Event of the Year.

It’s a terrific event to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of so many people in our community and we’d enjoy your support to show our appreciation. The first Council meeting for 2010 will take place on February 3.

Please consider safety in all your holiday activities – on the roads, in the water, hiking and extreme heat, to name a few. No one ever expects to be a statistic, so let’s lessen the odds.Best wishes for a great 2010.

Cr Jim Fawcett Mayor

PAGE 20 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Change of habit

SISTER Agnes Nunn, a former principal of Leongatha’s St Laurence’s Primary School will leave South Gippsland and start her new life in Melbourne.

Sister Agnes has been part of the St Joseph’s convent for 61 years and taught for 40 years at Maffra, Omeo, Leongatha, Hastings, Lancefield and Yarram.

After a lifetime in the job, Sister Agnes Nunn has heard enough jokes about her name and occupation to see her through another life.

But she is not joking when declaring the Yarram community will be hard to leave when on Christmas morning, she farewells the town she has called home for the past 12 years.

Sister Agnes is retiring from her role as pastoral associate to St Mary’s Parish and returning to Hawthorn East in Melbourne.

There, she will assist at the nursing home for sisters known as Mary MacK-

illop Residence, now home to her dear friend and former Yarram colleague, Sister Eileen Carr.

Sister Agnes was farewelled by 60 members of the St Mary’s congregation at a luncheon at the weekend.

Also there to say goodbye was Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil, the priest at St Mary’s Yarram who is returning to his native India.

Looking back on a life well lived, Sister Agnes smiled.

“I would not change my life for anything. It’s been wonderful. It’s been very interesting, rewarding and challenging,” she said.

“It’s been a great gift from God. I was taught by the sisters, and had two aunts in the order and two first cousins who were sisters.”

While at Yarram, Sister Nunn has visited sick and elderly people in their homes and at Crossley House and St Elmo’s nursing home; met parents of St Mary’s Primary School students; hosted scripture

and bereavement groups; and sat on the parish finance committee.

“It will be difficult to leave the people of Yarram. They’re wonderful, supportive people and geographically the area has beauty everywhere. I will certainly miss the country,” she said.

But perhaps one of the most significant moments in her career is the likely declaration of sainthood for Mary MacKillop. She was the founder of the order of the Sisters of St Joseph to which Sister Agnes belongs.

“I am very happy, proud and privileged to belong to this order.

It would be exciting not only for the church but for the whole of Australia, being the first Australian to become a saint,” she said.

Her replacement at Yarram is yet to be announced.

New adventure: former St Laurence’s Primary School principal Sister Agnes Nunn will return to Melbourne to continue God’s work.

It’s Christmas time in Inverloch FESTIVE spirit fell over Inverloch on a recent Saturday night, when the annual Christmas in the Glade concert was held.

Staged by Imagine Church, the concert drew a large crowd to hear a superb concert featuring the church band, Wonthaggi Citizens Band and University of the Third Age choir.

The concert featured a variety of traditional carols such as O Come All Ye Faithful and Hark!

The Herald Angels Sing, to modern pieces like A Saviour Will Come.

Family occasion: Christmas in the Glade attracted an audience of all ages.

Traditional sound: Eric Cross and Marty Waters and other members of the Wonthaggi Citizens Band worked their brass magic.

In harmony: University of the Third Age choir members pleased the crowd.

From pages past Historical snippets from The Star One year ago, December 23, 2008 A former South Gippslander is trying to make a name for himself as a composer in Europe. Paul Clift is in Paris and performances of his pieces have already been received positively.

Five years ago, December 21, 2004 Mirboo North golfer Todd Alexander is making an impression on the international stage. The 15-year-old recently travelled to Fiji to contest the Aaron Baddeley Junior World Cham-

pionship, finishing 27th overall.

10 years ago, December 21, 1999 Gippsland South MLA Peter Ryan has been named leader of the Victorian National Party. He has vowed to reinstate the voice of country Victoria in the house.

30 years ago, December 24, 1979 Councillors from the rural areas of Woorayl council have united to call for a larger share of money to be spent on roads. They believe Leongatha is attracting more than enough roads

funding and prompt council attention, at the expense of outlying districts. **** A rural fire brigade will be formed to service areas beyond the Leongatha town boundary. Ken McInnes has been appointed captain; Jack Rayson, John Turner and Keith Wightman are lieutenants; Eric Thompson the apparatus officer; George Witherow is communications officer; and Don Strong is secretary.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 21

PAGE 22 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Rewarding a big year LEONGATHA Secondary College held its end of year presentation nights last week.

The senior campus ceremony was on Tuesday night followed by the junior campus one on Wednesday morning.

Assistant principal Leonnie McCluskey said it was a very exciting time for the college.

“No pain no gain is what I keep telling the students,” she said.

“The prospect of a new school in two years is something to look forward to.”

Senior campus principal’s award winner: Carla Fletcher and LSC principal Brett Windsor.

Year 9 quiet achievers: Serena Cope and Tye McGannon.

Leadership contribution award: Rachel Franklin and Aaron Heppell.

Tunes talent: music award winner William Dutton and music encouragement award recipient Mariya Renden.

Interschool sport: Lauren Goldie won the Victorian Secondary Schools’ Sports Award.

Junior campus success: principal’s award and performing arts award winner Bronte Robb of Year 9.

Lachlan Hanks: won the Jock Dowling School Community Service Award.

Record breaking award: Matt Borsch is the junior campus sports star.

Year 7 quiet achievers: Crystal Taylor and Jack Doyle.

Stronger road Year 8 quiet achievers: Jordan Bolge and Amberley Whelan.

Meals roster (Leongatha) Reformed Church Ladies, Mr & Mrs Hogan (Dec 28, 30, 31 & Jan 1), National Bank (Dec 29) and St Peter’s Ladies Guild will be responsible for the delivery of meals on wheels, the week beginning December 28, 2009.

A SECTION of Lower Powlett Road Wonthaggi is being reinforced with concrete to accommodate the 50 tonne trucks that will shift soil at the desalination plant site.

The concrete is necessary because the trucks are too heavy for standard road surfaces.

The soil is being moved to construct a dune system that, according to Thiess Degremont, will eventually form part of the coastal park surrounding the plant.

Thiess Degremont is part of AquaSure, the consortium constructing the plant. Thiess Degremont’s project director Greg Miller, said the trucks would begin crossing Lower Powlett Road early in January. The reinforcing work will be paid for by Thiess Degremont and is not part of the $12 million worth of desalination plant roadworks being undertaken by Bass Coast Council on behalf of the State Government.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 23

STUNNING views are a highlight of this unique property at Korumburra South.

Read about this Prom Country First National listing on page 26.

PAGE 24 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Leongatha Federation stunner T

HIS Federation homestead is privately tucked away on 1.76 acres in the township of Leongatha.

You’ll be greeted by an explosion of colour from the beautifully landscaped gardens.

This quality home has been cleverly positioned on the block to take full advantage of the northerly aspect, whilst still providing a view towards the Nerrena valley.

The kitchen has Blackwood timber doors, granite bench tops and Bosch appliances.

Some of the many other features include three bedrooms plus study, en suite and walk-in robe, formal lounge/dining area with open fire and timber mantle and large open plan living.

There’s also a bull nose verandah, large garage with workshop and a lock-up shed.

The property also lends itself to a subdivision of a half acre block (STCA).

It’s an easy walk to shops and schools.

At a glance Location: 8A Louise Simon Court, Leongatha.

Price: $600,000-$630,000.

Agent: Stockdale & Leggo, Leongatha.

Contact: 5662 4211.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 25

DUMBALK ~ retro opportunity

FOSTER NTH ~ sweet sixteen

GATHA/KOONY ~ 1 acre magic

Why bother building? 3 amazing living spaces including a theatre room, massive informal lounge and a rumpus opening onto al fresco dining area.

Stunning kitchen with adjoining “butler’s pantry”.

Don’t pass this buy!

Set in a quiet street with rear rural views you’ll find this classic 1950’s, 3 bedroom home surrounded by colourful plantings. Big rooms incl. farm-size kitchen, decorative cornices, original finishes and 10ft ceilings. A retro lovers dream!

Executive country residence on 16 acres with option to buy extra 16 acres on sep title. Four bedrooms, study, 2 bathrooms, 3 huge living areas, new hostess kitchen. Brick workshop, double garage, hay shed, dams, fencing, landscaping.

On a private acre with beautiful gardens and easterly outlooks across neigbouring farmland, this character filled home, professionally rendered, offers light, spacious living, generous car accommodation under roof line. Plenty of room.

Inspect! By appointment Address 5 Eleanor Court, Leongatha For Sale $385,000 - $410,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 19 Miller Street, Dumbalk For Sale $165,000 - $179,500

Inspect! By appointment Address 2 Falls Road, Foster North For Sale $525,000 - $575,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 4 Beilby’s Road, Leongatha For Sale $375,000 - $410,000

STONY CK ~ 2 ac with the lot

LEONGATHA ~ executive style

LEONGATHA ~ a fine romance

FISH CREEK ~ 4 acres in town

Resort style living or home based business. Open plan 3 bedroom home with spa ensuite, huge workshed plus showroom or rumpus room!

Covered outdoor deck, resort-style lagoon with beaches, timber decks & Balinese style hut!

Elegant and spacious executive living in central Leongatha. 3 double bedrooms, huge formal lounge & dining, rooms, lovely kitchen with meals/ family area, rumpus, double carport, secure high fence and huge rear yard. Quality period fixtures.

Spacious and gracious Victorian WB home set in a magnificent half acre garden. Features bow-front windows, high ceilings and cast-iron verandah lace work. 7 large rooms, + 2 bathrooms, kitchen, laundry and cellar. Walk to schools and amenities.

Country residence in the village of Fish Creek.

24sqs, 4 bedroom plus study immaculate open plan home. Koala corridor, wetland ponds, platypus colony, bird life abounding. Right in town, stunning natural environment.

Inspect! By appointment Address 21 Dollar-Stony Rd, Stony Creek For Sale $300,000 - $330,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 26 Ogilvy Street, Leongatha For Sale $475,000 - $525,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 27 Turner Street, Leongatha For Sale $560,000 - $615,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 2 Falls Road, Fish Creek For Sale $430,000 - $460,000

MIRBOO NORTH ~ invester!

MIRBOO NTH ~ 1.5 acres

Elevated rural views, and rented at $200 per week, offering excellent returns. On 591sqm (approx), MEENIYAN family favourite on almost an acre in town!

3 bedrooms, lounge, updated kitchen. Across the Town properties suited to families are not often for sale in Meeniyan. So this new-to-the-market road from the Sec College, with walk through four bedroom home with oodles of space inside and out will be sought-after. Special features include access to Strzelecki Hwy. You can’t go wrong! renovated timber kitchen with 900mm range, new above ground decked pool and spa, open fire, wood heater, 2 air conditioners, spa bath, and powered bungalow with plumbing to suit studio or Inspect! By appointment Address 5 Castle Court, Mirboo North teenage accommodation! Many more features, top location.

For Sale $325,000 - $350,000 For Sale $150,000 - $165,000 Inspect! By appointment Address: 65 Whitelaw Street, Meeniyan

You can have it all in this character 2 bedroom cottage minutes to shops. Historic home with original timber features, hardwood floors, picture rails, magnificent views! Plenty of shedding, fruit trees, 2 sep living rooms. Elevated deck for views!

MIRBOO NTH ~ buy the bank

PORT ALBERT ~ sea change

KORUMBURRA STH ~ 23 acres

KOONWARRA ~ 15 acres

Residence and freehold combination from this beautiful historic building. Six large rooms, kitchen, laundry. Rear ROW access. Ideal for your own enterprise, or investment opportuity. Consider restaurant, accommodation, antiques, and more!

Freehold and residence combination from this c1856 restored original. Existing cafe, gallery with B&B options. Artisans’ retreat - or simply a fresh sea change. Rear ROW access, rear yard, a very unusual and thought-provoking opportunity.

Stunning views toward Wilsons Prom & the Bass Coast, 3 dwellings including substantial main residence with “great hall”, RAL home with elevated outlooks, and 2 room bungalow. Ideal exec holiday or lifestyle property: water, space....!

4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 large living rooms, hostess commercial kitchen, separate 3 bedroom cottage, 6 acre vineyard, comprehensive winery facility, extensive productive gardens & orchard, dams, 15 mins to Inverloch & Leongatha.

Inspect! By appointment Address 60 Ridgway, Mirboo North For Sale $310,000 - $340,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 71 Tarraville Road, Port Albert For Sale $550,000 - $600,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 275 K’burra Sth Road, K’burra Sth For Sale $580,000 - $640,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 370 Koonwarra Road, Koonwarra For Sale $1,400,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 50 Giles Street, Mirboo North For Sale $310,000 - $339,000

Lands of Opportunity KOONWARRA 13 Koala Drive - 1/2 acre $160 - $175,000 17 Koala Drive - 1/2 acre $190 - $210,000

TOORA 380 Lamont Drive $180 - $190,000

KARDELLA ~ 150 acres

BENA ~ ultra mod on 5 acres

MIRBOO NTH ~ 4 acres

Less than an hour from Berwick, on a bitumen road, this150 acre property will inspire. Original country farmhouse atop a rise of 360 degree views, 2nd dwelling suit B&B, dairy infrastructure, 11 dams, fertile rolling hill pasture. Endless appeal...

New home on amazing acreage. Easterly vantage, northerly aspect to expansive open plan living zone. 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms. Timber deck, large garage, abundant water, fenced paddocks, thriving plantings. Rural surrounds, views to live for.

Amidst country gardens, an expansive, pictureperfect homestead with 2 distinct zones. Offering tea rooms and residence combo, or convert to B&B, OR dual living accomm. 2 kitchens, 3 living zones, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, verandas.

NERRENA

Inspect! By appointment Address 530 One Chain Road, Kardella For Sale $750,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 832 Andersons Inlet Rd, Bena For Sale $440,000 - $480,000

Inspect! By appointment Address 3370 Strzelecki Hwy, Mirboo North For Sale $625,000 - $675,000

DUMBALK

93 Whitelaw St, Meeniyan

promcountryrealestate.com.au

Meen-Nerrena Rd 13 acres + permit $175,000

21 Miller Street $52,500 - $59,500

5664 56 664 0 0224 224

m e r r y chr istm as an d a happy ne w yea r. .. s ee yo u in 20 10 !

LEONGATHA ~ family frolics

PAGE 26 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Beautiful Corrymeela WITH stunning views across South Gippsland’s trademark rural scenery toward Bass Coast and Wilsons Promontory, “Corrymeela” is a beautiful 23 acre property (approx) that will suit a multitude of lifestyles.

The best way to describe this truly unique property is to describe the different components and let your creativity kick in to determine its match with your vision.

As an overview, there are three separate main buildings plus farming infrastructure and eco credentials too.

The main building: The design brief to the architect was, well brief: to simply “create a north-facing home with attractive outlooks from every room”.

Renowned architect Peter Corrigan, delivered that plus a whole lot more when he created this impressive home of some 210 square metres, where contemporary-meetsnautical-meets-mediaeval.

Without doubt, the focal point of the home is the dramatic “grand room or banquet hall” – a 133sqm open plan space with an elliptical or “wave-inspired” timber ceiling, high-set elliptical windows, and exposed heavy timber rafters that have more than a hint of the mediaeval.

The space houses a 20 seat refectory-style dining table (which is included in the sale), a wood-fired heater and living area… with room to spare… and did we mention the

views?

Located in the adjoining “tower” and servicing the banquet hall, is the seven-sided kitchen where 180 degree views from the north-east to south-west can be savoured.

Directly below is the wine and/or root cellar, with direct access to the garden.

There are two private, retreatsized bedroom suites opening off the main hall, with their own access to the outside garden.

Another space to retreat is the library with open fireplace, also opening off the grand room, down a short flight of steps.

The alternate residence: Accessed by its own driveway a short distance from the main building and framed by native plantings, is the RAL-designed home which has an elevated deck to take in the exceptional views across the alpaca paddock, revegetated creek and beyond.

Carefully considered, the one bedroom home features many “green” feature including a rainwater tank, heat pump hot water service, and state-of-the-art composting toilet.

The studio: In between the two residences is a two room studio, ideal for use as a music/art studio or hobbies bungalow.

This well-sited studio overlooking a mini-vineyard could also be used as guest or WWOOFer accommodation.

Toward self-sufficiency: Collect your own eggs from

the“Corrymeela” happy chooks who, when they’re not laying for you or your guests, are working hard in the orchard and vegie garden.

There are numerous varieties of fruit trees, including exotics such as loquat and quince, berries, olives and the aforementioned wine-making grapes, all to be harvested and whisked into the aforementioned cellar.

As well as rain water being collecting for house and garden, a dam may also be utilised for the garden or for stock needs.

The farm; There are about 23 undulating acres for stock, with a section of creek that has been revegetated with 3000 indigenous natives for water quality and shelter.

Two large sheds provide space for hay storage, workshop and vehicles.

There is also a loading race at the property entrance.

Translated, “Corrymeela” means “Hill of Harmony” and is very aptly named.

As well as offering harmony, it also offers a vast range of configurations and possibilities to fulfil a number of different visions. What’s yours?

The property is offered for sale by negotiation at $580,000 - $640,000 and can be inspected by contacting Allen Bartlett of Prom Country First National Real Estate on 5664 0224, or 0417 274 624.

At a glance Location: 275 Korumburra South Road, Korumburra South.

Price: $580,000 - $640,000.

Agent: Prom Country First National, Meeniyan.

Contact: Allen Bartlett 5664 0224, or 0417 274 624.

New era for Alex Scott & Staff, Inverloch THERE is a new era for Alex Scott & Staff in Inverloch with the acquisition of Rescom, Inverloch and the desire to grow their existing sales team to include a separate and professional property management service.

The team at Alex Scott & Staff, including the four partners: Dennis Ginn, Dawn Hughes, Tim Harris and Michael Wrigley, believe strongly in the future of the town and region as they embark on a new and exciting journey.

First and foremost has been the opportunity to welcome Rescom employee Kristen Licis, who comes highly qualified with a strong desire to succeed within the new structure.

The Alex Scott team welcomes all the existing Rescom clients on board as they look forward to a buoyant and successful summer with strong holiday rental demand and large numbers of prospective purchasers looking to enter the Inverloch market.

They also welcome the patronage of

other property owners who are seeking a professional property management or a dynamic sales service into the future.

The Alex Scott & Staff team congratulates the previous Rescom owners Ross Splatt, Doug Muir and Marty Prior on the sale of their well established business and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Those who have grown up in town may be interested to know that Dennis Ginn is embarking on yet another chapter of his real estate career.

But he is quick to note that he is returning to his old office, this time as a partner in the business and not the sole owner.

One of the real estate offices will be used for marketing, sales and projects while the other handles property management and accommodation.

Dennis will work between the two.

After 33 years servicing clients’ needs, his philosophy is that real estate is simply about helping people with a professional and confidential service.

New beginning: Rescom employee Kristen Licis is welcomed to the Alex Scott & Staff team by partner Dawn Hughes.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 27

PAGE 28 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Presentation is everything L

OCATED on one of Leongatha’s most popular streets with a level walk to the CBD, this ultra neat home is bursting with features.

With a complete overhaul, you will find a new kitchen, bathroom, laundry, flooring, appliances, and split system.

Situated on a corner block, this home comprises three bedrooms - master has built-in robes and ceiling fan, and features tiled roofing and cladding on the walls.

The renovated kitchen with its gleaming white laminate cupboards and drawers and dark laminate bench top has been finished off with stainless steel gas oven, dishwasher and range hood, and

timber flooring.

The new bathroom has a bath, toilet and single basin vanity with a coffee coloured feature tile, while a separate second toilet is located off the laundry.

The lounge room features a builtin electric heater with mantle piece on top, new carpets, and a reverse cycle air conditioner and is located off the entry hall which has a beautiful leadlight timber entry door and timber flooring.

Outside offers immaculate gardens, an enclosed outdoor entertaining area, carport and a garage workshop.

With access to the backyard off Olympic Court, this home offers value for money.

At a glance Location: 56 Ogilvy Street, Leongatha.

Price: $299,000.

Agent: Alex Scott & Staff, Leongatha.

Contact: 5662 0922 .

Exclusive Walkerville South coastal location Y OU have an opportunity to purchase a property in a very exclusive coastal area.

This Walkerville South home has about 22 squares of easy living and will be auctioned by Alex Scott &

Staff, Venus Bay on January 16.

The property boasts panoramic ocean views from a triple level home.

There are huge living areas with a separate lounge and a library that could be a third bedroom.

Two large bedrooms

lead on to an extensive deck overlooking scenic gardens and ocean views.

The top level boasts a huge living area leading to extensive decking and brilliant views.

Other features include two bathrooms, hydrondic wall heaters throughout,

a mixture of carpets and polished floors, and garage with automatic doors.

This property has many features that must be seen to be appreciated.

The home is situated just a few minutes walk to the safe pristine beaches of Walkerville South.

This is an opportunity you cannot afford to miss.

Prior offers considered.

It will be open for inspection on December 27 and January 2, 3, 9 and 10 from noon until 1pm.

On the day of the auction inspect from noon until 2pm.

At a glance Location: 9 Casuarina Grove, Walkerville South.

Auction: January 16 at 2pm on site.

Agent: Alex Scott & Staff,Venus Bay. Contact: Robb Lawrie 5663 7111.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 29

Retreat to the hills TAKE a look at this 56 acre lifestyle retreat near Mirboo North.

The four bedroom, brick and timber residence also has feature timber and brick inside, plus soaring cathedral ceilings and highlight windows.

A huge open plan lounge can fit a piano as well as sitting area.

In the kitchen you’ll appreciate the slow combustion stove that is complemented by an electric wall oven and hotplates.

The main bedroom has a parent’s retreat and access through that area to the bathroom.

Down the other end of the residence are three bedrooms with a central bathroom.

Two of these bedrooms have built-in robes Also inside are a gas heater and air conditioner.

Wide verandahs surround the residence, while living areas look through a fernery out onto the gardens, which include a gazebo.

A 40 feet x 20 feet workshop has a sepa-

rate office with telephone line and mezzanine floor for storage.

Land on the property is steep and has stunning views.

Horse lovers will be impressed with the arena, stables and tack room, as well as undercover parking for a horse float.

One of the two dams has an electric pump to move water to the paddock troughs and garden.

The property is five minutes to Mirboo North via the Strzelecki Highway and 15 minutes from Leongatha.

At a glance Location: 185 St Hellens Road, Mirboo North.

Price: $469,000.

Sole agent: SEJ, Leongatha.

Contact: 5662 4033, Lyle Miller 0408 515 665 or Barry Redmond 0418 515 666.

Demand for blocks Auction SUCH is the demand action for housing blocks THE former site of Camp Japlock near Mirboo North was sold for $388,000 on December 12.

in Wonthaggi that 20 blocks to the value of $3,000,000 were snapped up in 48 hours.

It was a rate recovery auction for the 16.3 acres zoned rural living.

Five parties made 31 bids after bidding opened at $100,000.

The property was eventually sold to local developer Bernie Koolstra.

There were almost 100 people at the auction.

Auctioneer for SEJ Leongatha, Barry Redmond said it was a very satisfactory result on the day.

There was a lot of interest locally and from Melbourne in the property.

An auction for 1-2 Lewis Street, Port Welshpool that was also due to be held on December 12 was postponed.

The date for another auction is still to be decided.

Rescom Wonthaggi tried to auction 47 Campbell Street, Wonthaggi on December 12, but it was passed in.

The fully renovated, three bedroom home, which is close to the hospital, shopping centre and schools, is for private sale at $220,000.

Alex Scott and Staff’s Phil Hanley said the Kingston Rise Estate in north Wonthaggi had seen unprecedented demand.

The Estate started selling stage one more than four years ago, with 18 blocks sold.

Buyers have been anxiously waiting for the release of stage two, which

comprises 65 blocks, which gained approval for subdivisional works at last week’s Bass Coast Shire Council meeting.

“Our instructions with the developer were to sell the first release of 20 blocks,” Mr Hanley said.

“The whole 20 blocks were taken under contract within 48 hours.

The second release of 20 blocks will take place from July, 2010.

“My feeling is we may have all this pre-sold before the July, 2010 release date,” Mr Hanley said.

PAGE 30 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Taking stock of Constitution

By Bert van Bedaf PEOPLE who take the law for granted do so at their peril.

A dozen people heard an intriguing lecture on the Australian constitution in Korumburra on December 8.

The speakers were Darryl O’Bryan and Peter Gargan, both of the Community Law Resource Group, based in Glebe, NSW. The meeting was convened by C48 Watchdog member Ken Irwin, of Foster, and supporter Gerard Donohue.

Mr Irwin is fighting the C48 amendment that stops him from building a house on his 3.5-acre block in the farming zone. The amendment was imposed on South Gippsland Shire Council by the State Planning Minister Justin Madden in May. He said that members of the Rural Property Owners Group had “shown a lot of interest in what we had to say in relation to a different line of attack on the State Government, using our Constitution as a basis to get what we want as we are legally entitled to”.

A group against the Wonthaggi desalination plant also got in touch with him “a month ago”.

Mr O’Bryan said few Australians knew their constitution, while many Americans did know theirs.

The Magna Carta, 1766, stated, No free man shall be taken or imprisoned, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed, unless by lawful judgment of his peers.”

These fundamentals are being eroded by new laws, “stealthy legislative enactments or Court-made prerogatives”, replacing the main rule of law.

He said before federation, the

Learning your rights: At the back, from left, are convenors Gerard Donohue and Ken Irwin, with in front, from left Darryl O’Bryan and Peter Gargan, of the Community Law Resource Group, who explained the need for understanding the Constitution.

States were like “little kingdoms” with conflicting laws.

In 1900 a referendum was passed that gave Australia its constitutional independence. “All common laws come from it. No conflict can exist,” Mr O’Bryan said.

Mr O’Bryan asserted that State and

local laws that contradict Commonwealth laws can be challenged.

There are three powers in Australia; executive power (Queen and Governor-General), Parliament (Upper and Lower House) and the Judiciary.

“Enshrined in the Constitution is the separation of those powers. If not,

the Government is corrupted and is no longer a democracy,” Mr O’Bryan said.

He said State courts were “misbehaving” by not adhering to the Constitution and the laws of England.

He said only a trial by jury was legal and a Magistrate’s Court amounted

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 8202

Church Times ARIES - March 21 - April 20

Your hunches are weak. Question all impulses and follow plans more rigidly. You may feel you are being pulled in every direction - take a stand. The accent is on creativity all weekend.

TAURUS - April 21 - May 22

Relatives play an increasingly time consuming role. It seems that daily compromises will have to be struck. For the sake of health and your career, it’s important that you look and feel great.

GEMINI - May 23 - June 21

The combination of critical relatives and nagging colleagues doesn’t get the week off to a great start. Luckily, the trend doesn’t continue.

Finances improve and so does your love life.

CANCER - June 22 - July 22

Your lucky cycle continues this week and it’s a great time for starting any size job. Extra time is required in looking after the welfare of a loved one.

LEO - July 23 - August 22

This is time to move into the future and not to dwell on past events.

Romance can be on your mind much more than usual. Your social schedule stresses quantity over quality.

VIRGO - August 23 - September 22

Children and old friends make this a fun week. Strange correspondence gets your mind wandering. Read newspapers with added care - you may be pleasantly surprised.

LIBRA - September 23 - October 22

The time is ideal for a major creative expression. Watch out for absentmindedness around Friday and sloppiness with numbers on the weekend. Join a health group for controlled exercise.

SCORPIO - October 23 - November 21

Be cautious with documents all this week and don’t lend any papers without retaining a copy. Joint ventures are spotlighted and an offbeat partnership can prove a great success.

SAGITTARIUS - November 22 - December 22

Key phrase - be demonstrative. This is the time to show your feelings and not keep them hidden. Risks are not wise from Thursday on.

Relatives come calling, especially when they’re involved in domestic hassles.

CAPRICORN - December 23 - January 20

Tighten those purse strings and avoid gambling, especially on ‘sure things’. But if sprees are out, friendship and compatibility are in. At work, scruples pay off.

AQUARIUS - January 21 - February 19

Petty jealousies among friends disturb you and snoopy neighbours likewise irritate you. There is good news financially, around Friday perhaps a chance to earn a substantial bit of cash PISCES - February 20 - March 20

Simplification and modification are the week’s keywords. People with your best interest in mind may not be offering the smartest counsel. Expect delays Saturday or Sunday.

BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK

Your bravery and leadership qualities are legendary - as is your impulsiveness and stubborn nature. Good companionship and surprise travel highlights the coming year.

ANGLICAN: Wednesday, December 23: 11am St Peter’s Mid-Week HC. Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): 5.30pm St Peter’s Crib Service; 7pm St David’s, Meeniyan, Christmas Service; 11pm St Peter’s Midnight Service.

Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day): 9am St Peter’s Christmas Service; 10.30am Union Church, Tarwin Lower Christmas Service.

Sunday, December 27: 8am St Peter’s HC; 10am St Peter’s Family Service; 10.30am Union Church, Tarwin Lower, MP. Wednesday, December 30: 11am St Peter’s Mid-Week HC. Friday, January 1: 7.30pm St Andrew’s, Dumbalk HC. Sunday, January 3: 8am St Peter’s HC; 10am St Peter’s Contemporary Worship with HC. ST MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Mirboo North. Phone 5668 1346. Holy Communion 8.30am: Worship and Sunday School 10am.

ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Korumburra: Sunday 9.30am and Wednesday 11.30am. Poowong: Second and fourth Sundays, 11am.

ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Wonthaggi. Sunday, 10.30am: Holy Communion & Sunday School; Monday, 7.30pm: Holy Communion; Wednesday, 8.45am: Christian prayer & meditation, 10am: Holy Communion.

CHURCH OF ASCENSION: Inverloch, Sunday, 9am: Holy Communion & Sunday School; Tuesday, 9am: Christian prayer & meditation; 10am: Holy Communion; Thursday 7.30pm: Holy Communion. 5th Sunday services, alternating at Wonthaggi & Inverloch, contact Rev Bruce Charles for details, 5672 3984.

THE CHURCH AT ARCHIES CREEK: Meeting every Sunday at Archies Creek. Morning Communion Service 11 am: Evening Holy Spirit Revival 6pm: Phone: Ps. Chris Chetland 5674 3867 or 5672 4660.

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD: Prom Coast Community Church Inc. - Foster Community House, Station Street, 10am: Sunday. Sunday School and Creche operates. Pastor Bill Watson 5686 2248.

A.O.G. Inverloch - Cnr Bear and McIntosh Street, Inverloch. Sunday Service 10am; Imagine Christmas Day Service 9am. Contact: Jeff Robertson, 0418 125 832 or Imagine Burwood 9888 7466.

Korumburra Southern Hills A.O.G. - 4 Mine Rd, 10am and 6pm: Sunday. Also Children’s Church and Creche. Contact: Pastor Vic Butera 5655 2478. Youth: Neville Stuart ph.

0407 343 219.

Leongatha South Gippsland

Liberty Fellowship - 17 Michael Place, Leongatha.

Sunday services: 11 am and 7pm.

All enquiries contact Pastor David Stegmann 5662 2785. Office: 5662 3100.

Wonthaggi A.O.G. - Billson Street, 10am: Sunday. Contact: Pastor Barry Smith 5672 3984.

CHRISTIAN REVIVAL CRUSADE: 40 Hughes Street, Leongatha.

Sunday, Morning Service 10.30 am: Inspirational Service, 6.30pm: Children’s Church 10.30am: Home cells weekly; Kids Club Thursdays 4pm Guide Hall. For all enquiries contact 5664 5455.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST: Saturdays, Church service 10am., Leongatha Sabbath School - 11.30am.

CATHOLIC: St Laurence’s Parish Leongatha: 5 pm Mass Saturday, 11am Mass Sunday.

Tarwin Lower: In St Andrew’s Union Church, 5pm winter, 6pm summer Mass Saturday.

Meeniyan: 9.30am Mass, 1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays and 11am, 2nd and 4th Sundays.

Mirboo North: 11am Mass, 1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays and 9.30am Mass, 2nd and 4th Sundays.

St. Joseph’s Parish Korumburra: 9.30am Sunday Mass.

Loch: 5pm/6pm Daylight saving Sunday Mass.

Wonthaggi: Saturday evening 6.30pm: Evening Mass; Sunday, 10.30am: Mass. Inverloch: Sunday 9 am: Mass.

KORUMBURRA’S WOMEN’S AGLOW: First Monday every month at Korumburra Day Centre, Korumburra Hospital, Bridge St., Korumburra at 7.45pm. Inquiries phone 5657 2214.

GIPPSLAND CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: Strongly family oriented church meets at the Senior Citizens Centre, Mirboo North, Sundays: 4-5.10pm Communion, 5.15-6pm Bible Studies for Adults, Youth and Children. Friday evenings: Home Fellowships 7.30pm; Youth Activities. Enquiries: 5668 2226 Bob Stevens.

SALVATION ARMY LEONGATHA COMMUNITY CHURCH meets at 52 Anderson Street (South Gippsland Highway) - Sunday: Family Worship at 10am: Kid’s Club - Tuesday, 4 - 5pm; mainly music, Thursday 10am. All welcome. Please contact Captain Martyn and Heather Scrimshaw, ph. 5662 5122.

SALVATION ARMY WONTHAGGI COMMUNITY CHURCH meets at 149 McKenzie Street every Sunday at 11am for Family Worship.

Kids' Club - every Tuesday at 4 pm, Women's Group - Wednesday at 1.30pm, and Playgroup

- Friday 9.30am. Evening Ladies' Fellowship - First Monday each month and Youth Groups held monthly. All welcome. Please contact Lt. Robyn and Max Lean. Ph. 5672 1228.

PRESBYTERIAN: Weekly Worship Service 10am Sunday, corner Bent and Turner Streets, Leongatha. Phone Rev. Dr D. Clarnette 0409 236 981 or elder Col Rump 5662-2107.

CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH: Reformed Church meeting at the corner of Peart and Brown Streets. Sunday family service at 10.30am.

(10am daylight saving time), creche and Sunday School available. Teaching service at 7.30pm.

Fortnightly youth activities. Home Bible Fellowship groups. Contact 5662 2762. Minister: Rev. Ron Nauta.

UNITING CHURCH: Leongatha: Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, 9am; Tarwin Lower - Anglican.

Sunday, December 27, Combined Service 10am. Tarwin Lower: 10.30am. Mirboo North: 9.30am.

Meeniyan: 10am. Wonthaggi: Sunday 9.30am, Family Service, all welcome. Inverloch: Sunday 11am: Korumburra: Sunday, 9.30am: Rev. Geoff Smith and Rev. Jim Foley, 5655 1997.

BAPTIST CHURCH KORUMBURRA: 39 Mine Rd, Korumburra. Service and Sunday School 10.30am. Pastor Ian Wilkinson.

Phone 5658 1366.

BAPTIST CHURCH WONTHAGGI: Cnr McBride & Broome Crescent, Wonthaggi. Morning Service & Children’s Activities, Sunday 10am. Weekly activities see www.wonbaptist.org.au, Pastor Geoff Pegler 5672 4769.

MEENIYAN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: Sunday, 10am: Meeniyan Youth Club Hall.

COMBINED CHURCHES WONTHAGGI / INVERLOCH: 4th Sunday each month at 7pm.

SCOTS PIONEER CHURCH: Mardan South. Pleasant Sunday Afternoons on the last Sunday of each month at 2pm. See occasional ad in this paper for details. For enquiries phone 9853 6627.

FISH CREEK UNION CHURCH: 1st & 3rd Sundays, 9am; 2nd & 4th Sundays, 7pm. Contacts: Fran Grimes 5683 2650, Sue Poletti 5663 6325.

to what was known as the Star Chamber. Introduced by the Stuarts, it became prominent under the Tudors as a one-judge court which would control its subjects.

It became hated because of its increasingly draconian rulings. It became a byword for tyranny and was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1640.

“Australia can only succeed and survive as a free and egalitarian society if its laws are honestly made, justly applied and protected from corruption,” Mr O’Bryan said.

The law resource group claimed there are many enemies in society, “among them those who would corrupt Australia’s Constitution by stealthy legislative enactments or Court-made prerogatives; those who would replace the Rule of Law with their own Rule of Rules for the convenience of administrators to the detriment of people’s true rights; those practising civil conscription (incarceration and/or compulsory labour ordered by public servants and even private contractors to Government agencies); those guilty of non-implementation of existing law

by Government bodies for reasons of popularity; those abusing public office for personal gain or self-gratification, and those who coerce people to accept un-Constitutional practices, usually on that grounds that such “practices” are established by acceptance over time.”

For information, call the CLRG on 0407 341 366, or infoo@CLRG.info

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ACROSS Face (11) Soon (4) Height (8) Canal (6) Cigar (6) Entreaty (6) Entrance (6) Glue (8) Metal (4) Thoughtful (11)

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DOWN Dilemma (8) Layers (6) Grab (6) Unite (4) Numb (6) Dance (5) Perpendicular (8) Lessen (6) Fruit (6) Rather (6) Higher (5) Bird (4)

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 8202 ACROSS 6. The distance Len won by? (4,1,6). 7. As is proper, having a soft edge (4). 8. Realised the murderer was outside the building (6,2). 9. Write “No” and point to the flag (6).

10. The vegetable is hard to digest (6). 12. With silver snow falling round the vehicles (6). 15. Storm - sheltered in gulf (6). 17. Because being back in the money’s great (8). 19. Flimsy can, hard to fill (4). 20. Seem likely to allow one to see the guarantee (4,7).

DOWN 1. The bird is a wild duck (8). 2. Getting cooler and cooler, dance (6). 3. A problem? He’s onlykidding! (6). 4. It’s frightening, so turn back (4). 5. Secures from the mountains (6). 6. Mount, holding the rain pipe (5). 11. What a well-made cote should do? (8). 13. Stop to take to the station (6). 14. Remains, or walks heavily off (6). 15. Very keen to squeeze the other day in 3-3). 16. When the wrong one’s imprisoned, one makes a hue and cry (5). 18. Measure the fellow up, too (4).

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 31

PAGE 32 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 33

Ready for Gallipoli THREE Leongatha students travelling to Turkey next year attended a briefing session and cocktail party in Toorak earlier this month.

Ready to go: Nicole Clark (Leongatha Secondary College), Olivia Fiddelaers (Mary MacKillop College) and Jayden Stratton (South Coast Christian College) with Digger Bears at the Turkisk Consul General’s residence in Melbourne.

Well done, Alex NORM and Lyn Burchell of Leongatha, are proud of their 10-yearold granddaughter Alex, who has been recognised for her computer skills.

The younger daughter of Anne and Neil Quick, Alex goes to Reidy Park Primary School in Mt Gambier.

She won the South Australian/North-

ern Territory section of an International Competitions and Assessments for Schools conducted by the University of New South Wales. Ten countries take part in the contest which assesses the skills students need in various curriculum areas.

Alex was presented with a trophy during a ceremony at the Adelaide Town Hall.

Clever girl: Alex Quick with her parents Anne and Neil. She has won an international competition recognising her computer skills. Alex is the granddaughter of Norm and Lyn Burchell.

It was hosted by the Turkish Consul General Aydin Nurhan and his wife at their residence.

Members of the Melbourne Turkish community also attended.

They were particularly keen to talk to the students and offer them insights into Turkish life.

Accompanying Olivia Fiddelaers (Mary MacKillop College), Jayden Stratton (South Coast Christian College) and Nicole Clark (Leongatha Secondary College) were their parents, and RSL and Rotary representatives.

The Leongatha Gallipoli Project is a joint venture between the Leongatha RSL, the Rotary Club of Leongatha, the three secondary schools and families.

They will travel with about 15 other students from around Victoria to Turkey in April 2010.

The students will spend almost two weeks at Ayazaga Isik Lisesi school in Istanbul where they will be billeted with Turkish families.

Then they will travel to Anzac Cove to participate in the Dawn Service on Anzac Day 2010.

Olivia Fiddelaers said students who had travelled to Turkey for Anzac day last year spoke at the evening.

“From our hosts we were informed on some of the things that would be experienced on the trip, and the different schools the students would attend in Istanbul; the flight the students would be on, a gift and information to inform us about what the students would be experiencing whilst staying over there,” she said.

The cost of the trip is being shared between the RSL, Rotary Club, schools and students.

It is hoped that this trip to Turkey will become an annual event.

It aims to provide the opportunity for a student from each of the secondary colleges to visit Turkey.

They hope to raise enough funds to support a return visit by students from the Turkish school that will host our students.

Fundraising events will be held to assist with the costs of the students attending as well as to support the return trip by Turkish students.

To assist with the fundraising required, a dinner dance has been organised for February 14 at the Mardan Hall.

Anyone interested in supporting this project should mark the date on next year’s calendar now.

The group would like to thank Dyson’s bus lines for their donation of a 22 seater bus and the fuel for the trip.

Factory sold THE former Toora butter factory has been sold, four years after closing.

Pending settlement, Fonterra has sold the site to the operator of an excavation company outside of South Gippsland.

The site was established more than 100 years ago and was the former home of Bonlac Foods Ltd. Plant from the factory was relocated to Melbourne in 2005, where Cadbury Schweppes continued to manufacture the dental ingredient Recaldent.

Bonlac had made Recaldent at Toora in 1998 and stopped dairy production there in July, 2001.

In September 2002, the Recaldent business was sold to CadburySchweppes and Bonlac Foods entered into a one-year agreement to produce Recaldent at the plant.

That contract was extended to December 21, 2004, then to April, 2005 and then July 1, 2005.

Fresh start: the former Toora Bonlac factory could re-open as a new venture.

Fonterra took over Bonlac Foods in 2005. Further information

about the new owner’s proposed use for the site has been released.

PAGE 34 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Murder, they play

NEVER to shirk from a murder, Foster Amateur Music and Drama Association has chosen another mystery for its next play.

Dinner at Hugo’s, performed last April, proved a highly appetising whodunnit with a great twist at the end, and the coming one, scheduled for May, 2010, is simply mouth-watering.

FAMDA has chosen Australian playwright Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues, which enmeshes the unpredictable and complex emotions

of romantic relationships in an intricate, tightlyconstructed piece of drama about love, infidelity, mistrust and mistakes. When a woman disappears, four marriages become entangled in a web of love, deceit, sex and death. Who will survive?

Will there be murder?

It was adapted for the screen in the movie smash hit Lantana, starring no fewer than awardwinning Anthony LaPaglia, Oscar-winning Geoffrey Rush, Seachange’s Kerry Armstrong and Hollywood star Barbara Hershey.

Andrew Bovell is one of Australia’s most acclaimed playwrights. He is a recipient of a Centenary Medal for his contribution to Australian theatre and film. He won the 2001 inaugural Harpers Bazaar screenwriters’ prize and was the 2002 London Film Critics’ Circle scriptwriter of the year.

His plays include Holy Day and Who’s Afraid of the Working Class. He also co-wrote the screen play for Strictly Ballroom (1992) with Baz Lurhmann, of Moulin Rouge and Australia fame, both

with Nicole Kidman.

Using four actors, who play nine fatally entangled characters between them; the play runs the gamut of relationships. Stale marriages, illicit passions, betrayal, loneliness, mistrust; all of these are displayed in the emotional damage that humans inflict upon each other and themselves in the eternal quest for love, lust and fulfilment.

Anyone interested in acting or participating in production can contact the director Max Hastings on 5682 2293 or mjh@dcsi.net.au

Society show Taste of summer THE major 2010 production by Leongatha Lyric Theatre is moving into a higher gear.

Director Peter McAlpine is now looking to cast the roles for the enduring Broadway hit High Society, which Lyric has chosen for its May production.

“We require nine elegantlooking singing/acting principals to carry the action, while 12 ‘servants’ will act as ensemble, chorus and commentators,” Peter said.

With music and lyrics by

Cole Porter, High Society made a world splash when Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly starred in the 1950 film version.

But the original musical also received much public acclaim, with such evergreens as True love, Just one of those things and Who wants to be a millionaire becoming major hits.

The comedy involved a high society woman whose wedding eve is interrupted by her former husband.

Among other characters are a philandering father, a drunken

uncle, two nosy reporters and a precocious 13-year-old sister – who will play that role?

The musical will open on April 30 and run until May 15, 2010 for 10 shows. Lyric will again make use of Mesley Hall on Nerrena Rd, Leongatha, which has been home for several previous productions.

An audition information night will be held on January 6, at the theatre group’s Eagger Studio, 7.30pm. For inquiries, call Peter on 0407 538 245.

WITH the start of the summer season, Stockyard Gallery will bring together a group of local artists for a major combined exhibition that will offer a great variety of art works.

Work on exhibition will include paintings, sculpture, photography and textiles by Helen Bristol, Pat Dale, Jan Gallacher, Sue Gilford, Tina Jacobson, Linda and Roger Keagle, Suzette Lavette, Bee Mellor and Ann Perry.

Called Summer Salts, the exhibition will open on Saturday, December 19, 7pm, and run until January 5.

The gallery is open seven days a week, from 10am to 4pm. For inquiries, call 5682 1125.

Group exhibition: Leongatha artist Pat Dale is one of 10 artists participating in an exhibition at Stockyard Gallery in Foster.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 35

Vision splendid shared THE Meeniyan Art Gallery has a rare treat in store, which will delight regular visitors as well as the occasional enthusiast.

Not only will MAG curator Winsome Richards put her own work up for viewing, she has surrounded herself with three of the finest textile artists around, in Marion Dawson, Carol Monson and Yvonne Renfree.

Called Shared Visions in Textile Art, the exhibition will open on December 26 and run until January 28, 2010. The official opening is on Sunday, December 27, 2 to 4pm.

Marion Dawson and Yvonne Renfree have teamed up a number of times. Exhibiting under the banner of The Fabulous Felt Group Marion and Yvonne, they participated in an Orbost art event, Seldom Seen, on Cup Day weekend, November 1, together with several other artists.

Precisely a year ago, on December

22, 2008, they featured at the highly specialised Lumina Fibre Art Gallery in Melbourne, together with another well-known local exponent of fibre art Meg Viney, the founding MAG curator, now operating her studio out of Stony Creek.

Their expertise is demonstrated in a variety of work, including scarves, jewellery, sculpture, wraps and wearables.

Silk scarves by Yvonne can be seen at East Gippsland Art Gallery. She has also exhibits at the Great Alpine Gallery in East Gippsland, working in a variety of media, including jewellery. Yvonne is also known for her massive decorative wall rugs.

Meeniyan art gallery is on Whitelaw Street. For inquiries, call 5664 0101.

Shared vision: Meeniyan gallery curator Winsome Richards will share her vision in textile with three other artists in a joint exhibition.

Closing time TIME is running out for artists to submit their entries for the great Southern Portrait prize 2010; the closing date is Friday, January 8.

All entries will be exhibited in the foyer of the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre over the weekend of January 16-17 in conjunction with the Tastes of the Prom Country Food Festival.

Following theses dates a curated show will move to Stockyard Gallery Foster from Monday, January 18 until Tuesday, January 26.

The combination of Art and Food has drawn large numbers of both participants and audience to the weekend. This is the fifth annual Portrait Prize, with previous years attracting exhibitors from all over the Gippsland

region and further afield.

Known as South Gippsland’s Archibald, butchers, supermarket workers and neighbours have all been depicted in a wide variety of styles and mediums in the competition.

It also includes work in other media, allowing sculptors, photographers and digital media artists to contribute to a dynamic exhibition. A condition of the competition is that the subject of the portrait must be a resident of the Gippsland region and is required to be based on a live sitting.

The judges are photographer Kellyann Guertz, artist Mark Reyment and art historian Christopher Marshall.

The main prize is $1000, second prize $500 and popular choice, voted for by the attendants over the weekend and onto the stockyard leg

of the show, is also $500.

The junior section (under 16), has a first prize of $50 and a popular choice of $50.

For inquiries, call Jane on 5683 2621 or Anda on 5687 1206, or download an entry form at www.promcoastarts.org.au

PAGE 36 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 37

PAGE 38 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Challenge of volatility

THE recently appointed Murray Goulburn chairman is Swan Hill dairy farmer Grant Davies.

He has been involved in industry leadership over the past 10 years and joined the Murray Goulburn board in 2004.

He was appointed deputy chairman in 2007.

Last week he spoke to Star reporter Chris Brown.

Tell me a bit about your farm.

My wife, son and our employees milk about 550 cows on irrigation land in north-west Victoria. We started off this season with another failed spring, but conditions have started to turn around somewhat, with water allocations that are far better than were pre-

nies the farmer doesn’t have a say. We do have 2500 owners, and their ideas and thoughts are fed through our directors, and ultimately the directors along with management make the final decision, but at least as farmers we have a chance to influence the future of our co-operative. Murray Goulburn sets the price for milk in Australia, you have to remember.

dicted, and hay and grain prices are more in line with where milk prices are.

Why did you want to become chairman?

I never really had an ambition to become chair of Murray Goulburn. I put my hand up to be a director, which I felt was an extension of my farm and being involved in an industry I really enjoy.

Dairying has been really good to me and my family over the years. And my family has always been involved in community activities and I saw it as a great opportunity to represent my fellow farmers on the board. Then my fellow directors saw fit to install me following the retirement of Ian MacAulay.

Do you think Murray Goulburn is a bit

Grant Davies: Murray Goulburn chairman. of a dinosaur competing against more flexible companies or small businesses?

No, in the true cooperative spirit the farm-

ers have a say in our future. It’s our company, it’s our co-operative. We have a say in the direction of where we go. In the propriety compa-

What are you going to do to make Murray Goulburn a better cooperative for the 2500 owners?

Obviously milk price is the major one of all farmers and we’ve experienced a huge amount of volatility in the market. I don’t’ think we will ever take out all that volatility, but we need to try to take some of it out. We need to continue to explore avenues where we can value add our raw milk into higher returning commodities and Murray Goulburn has done that well in the past and we will continue to do that during the future.

What’s the future of

dairy?

It has a great future.

Certainly we’ll have the volatility and the ups and downs. Dairying has been pretty good to my family and I think if people take a hard look over the long term it’s been pretty good. Short term there’s been a fair bit of volatility and it’s hard to manage a business with that level of volatility.

Why would you stay in the industry?

Why wouldn’t you stay in the industry? It’s a great business with a lifestyle attached to it.

There’s demand for our products. As I said before there’s demand for our product and people have to eat. If you enjoy dairy farming it’s a great industry to be involved in and we have great networks of people and support.

What did you think of Ian MacAulay’s reign?

At MG we had to be really thankful for his leadership over the last 11 years as chairman.

MG has developed into one of the true agricultural leaders. We’re the only

true dairy-based co-operative in Victoria and particularly Australia. We’re the biggest exporter of processed milk through the port of Melbourne.

We handle a significant proportion of Australia’s milk and create huge wealth for Victoria.

Have you had much to do with South Gippsland?

No I’ve never lived down here. My involvement on MG and the board are what my fellow directors tell me. I have a pretty steep learning curve to see the issues that affect people but as deputy I’ve been around the state to supplier meetings and the like to get a feel of what are the issues. Urban sprawl in your part of the world is one of the major issues, and the other one is dairy wash down licence and water on farm, and in recent times it’s been milk prices that have been a major concern to farmers.

Whereas in the north it’s been a completely different set of issues.

Confusion on water licences SOUTHERN Rural Water is asking owners of dairy farms to think carefully about who applies for their new Dairy Shed Water Licence.

It follows confusion among people in agriculture about who needs to apply.

The amnesty, which runs until February 26, allows dairy farmers to either upgrade their licence to reflect how much water they actually use, or apply for a licence if they don’t have one.

The amnesty is being run by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Licences will be issued by Southern Rural Water.

Southern Rural Water’s Manager Groundwater and Rivers, Craig Parker, said that where dairies are run by sharefarmers or man-

agers, owners need to think carefully about who applies for the licence upgrade or new licence.

“In most cases, it is usually the farm owner who needs to apply for the water licence,” he said.

“However, the information package may have gone to your sharefarmer or farm manager.

“Each party needs to make sure that someone is applying.”

Anyone who did not receive a package can phone the DSE customer service centre on 136 186 or visit www.ourwater.vic.gov.au, which has all the documents, and links to water corporation websites for more details.

Southern Rural Water is also offering an “early bird prize” to dairy farmers to encour-

age early applications, and avoid a last-minute rush.

“All applications received by 4pm Friday, January 29 will automatically go into a draw to win a Grundfos JPRain 3 pump valued at $470, which can be used for multiple purposes from bores or rainwater tanks,” Mr Parker said.

“The pump is self priming, has strong suction capacity and an automatic on/off switch.

“We encourage all dairy farmers to get their applications in early. This is a great opportunity to properly licence the water you use in your dairy.”

For more information about Dairy Shed Water Licences, phone Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510.

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“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 39

Stronger demand; higher prices

Stony Creek property sold

THE last market at VLE, Koonwarra until the new year saw a slight fall in supply, partly influenced by the previous week’s poor results.

The penning of both young and grown cattle included a lot of good to very good quality yearling heifers, grown steers and some cows, and this led to price averages rising.

Demand was strong and some cattle were 2c to 4c/kg dearer, and others were dearer because of the good quality.

Lightweight cows showed a genuine increase of 5c to 9c/ kg after the very poor sale the previous week.

There were 65 vealers penned, which were very mixed in breeding, weight and condition. Prices were between 150c and 180c, with most others making from 115c to 152c/kg depending on breeding and quality.

Most of the 165 yearlings sold were heifers, which made from 133c to 150c for C muscle cattle, with a B muscle heifer making 155c/kg. Around 20 grown heifers were sold here also, which made from 107c for dairy breeds to 135c/kg for beef breeds of good quality.

Approximately 320 grown steers and bullocks were penned, and once again a number of very heavy and very fat bullocks were yarded. Prices for the prime C3 and C4 bullocks and grown steers were between 148c and 159c, which was 2c to 4c/kg dearer. Prices for the very fat extra bullocks were from 106c to 139c, and a pen of Friesians weighing 903kg made 133.2c/kg. Most other manufacturing bullocks made between 128c to 146c/kg.

Price averages for good quality beef cows were 1c to 2c higher, but with a lot of these PTIC empty, and in very good condition, prices would be unchanged at the abattoirs.

Most cows sold at unchanged rates, making from 110c to 134c, but lightweight and poor quality cows improved up to 6c to make between 76c and 118c/kg.

Wednesday, December 16 BULLOCKS 7 L. Giardina, Mirboo North 6 J. Murdica, Korumburra 24 G.L. Holt, Korumburra 4 R. Savige, Kongwak 8 M.A. & B.J. Hall, Loch 6 M. Gottstein, Korumburra

633 602 744 681 701 710

159.2 158.6 155.0 155.0 155.0 154.6

1007.00 954.00 1153.00 1055.00 1086.00 1097.00

STEERS 1 L. Germano, Mirboo North 1 I.G. & G. Balbo, Yarram 3 89th Goblin, Balloong 1 M. Babos & S. Cross, Leongatha 13 J.L. Gengoult-Smith, Anderson 1 A. Marshall, Mirboo North

410 435 422 645 565 400

179.0 162.0 158.2 156.2 155.0 142.6

736.36 704.70 668.76 726.33 876.00 570.40

COWS 1 I. & R. Hengstberger, Stony Creek 3 C. Littlejohn, Mirboo 2 Maxray Nominees, Buffalo 9 K. Sellings, Yarram 1 D. Francis & A. Savva, Mardan 3 I.K. & L.L. Greig, Meeniyan

555 600 683 598 710 703

133.6 133.6 133.6 130.6 130.6 130.6

741.48 801.60 911.82 780.70 927.26 918.55

455 595 362 635 320 453

162.0 155.0 154.6 150.0 150.0 150.0

737.10 922.25 559.14 952.50 480.00 678.75

660 1005 895 875 825 960

155.6 153.6 148.0 145.0 144.6 144.2

1026.96 1543.68 1324.60 1268.75 1192.95 1384.32

HEIFERS 1 L.A.M. & F.R. Seuren, Doomburrim 1 Maxray Nominees, Buffalo 3 Meadowview Properties P/L, Boorool 1 Elm Valley P/L, Kardella 1 M. Babos & S. Cross, Leongatha 2 S. Mattern, Tarraville BULLS 1 Moruya, Walkerville 1 G.E. Goding Kindergem P/L, Welshpool 1 D.J. & L.B. McNaughton, Loch 1 K.A. & J.E. McAlpine, Leongatha 1 F. Edwards, Boolarra 1 L.M. & K.L. Argento, Wooreen

VLE LEONGATHA KOONWARRA

Sale Draw January 6 & 7 1. Rodwells 2. Elders 3. David Phelan & Co 4. Landmark 5. SEJ 6. Alex Scott

A STONY Creek property sold for $6100 an acre on Saturday, December 19.

Open day: at Riverbank Stockfeeds were cow nutritionalist from “Feedworks” Ian Sawyer, owner Peter Bozzo, farmer Rob Calder, farmer Kevin Brislin, Riverbank Stockfeeds sales representative David Pearn, and Novus sales representative Stuart Court.

Stockfeeds open day A RECENT open day at Riverbank Stockfeeds was a great success, with beautiful weather and a large turnout of clients and friends.

Ian Sawyer from Feedworks and Stuart Court from Novus Nutrition were on hand to answer farmers’ feed questions, along with Riverbank’s

resident nutritionists Charles Pearce and David Pearn.

Mill tours were in huge demand, with farmers actually able to watch their dairy mixes being made.

They gained an understanding and appreciation of the expertise and technical systems, as well as the state of the art plant and equipment it takes to produce quality feed.

On the barbecue: Simon Mayo and Rob Meyer at Riverbank Stockfeeds open day.

The 220 acres had a four bedroom house.

About 80 people watched as three people bid for the property.

There was an opening bid of $5200 per acre, then the auctioneer placed a vendor bid of $5500 per acre.

Two new bidders took the bids to $6000 in $100 rises then $50 rises took the bid to $6100 where it stopped.

The agents consulted the vendors and announced the property was on the market.

There were no further bids so the property was sold to local dairy farmer Peter Hanrahan. The agents were Kristen Richardson and Damien Minogue of Rodwells, Leongatha.

Vendors were R. D. and D. F. Potter.

PAGE 40 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Classifieds

Sell it in the "Star"

PHONE 5662 5555 P FAX 5662 4350

public notices

public notices

SURF & SAND FUN RUN Sunday, January 3 8am start 10 & 5 km Runs 5km Walk Inverloch Surf Beach Help support the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club Building Fund www.islsc.org.au

public notices

public notices

public notices

public notices

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2009 New Year’s Eve – 9.30pm reworks: This year, reworks displays will be held at Inverloch Recreation Reserve, Cowes Pier – Foreshore, Cowes and Coronet Bay Foreshore. All displays start at 9.30pm and will run for approximately 10 minutes.

Many animals get distressed by reworks.

Please make sure they are in the house or garage or safely restrained during the display.

For further information contact Council on the number below.

Bass Coast Shire Council, 76 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi VIC 3995 | DX 34903 Wonthaggi | PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995 | 1300 BCOAST (226 278) for standard call cost | basscoast@basscoast.vic.gov.au | www.basscoast. vic.gov.au

Mardan Family Dance MARDAN HALL 8pm - 12.30am $20 family, $8 single

Great night assured Rhonda Richards’ music Please bring a plate of supper

KONGWAK MARKET Sunday, December 27 From 10am Inside and out Rain or shine!

Collectables, vintage, retro, pre-loved designer wear, stuff, books, plants, some craft, produce, wine, coffee, Italian food, live music and more...

Bring a bag for your goodies and lots of change!

For more info 0417 142 478 It's fun - come!

Kongwak Market is a smoke free event

PROM COAST ARTS INC. Presents

THE GREAT SOUTHERN PORTRAIT PRIZE 2010

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS The Board of Directors, Management & Staff of South Gippsland Water wish you and your family an enjoyable Christmas and a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.

CHRISTMAS OFFICE HOURS The office at 14 Pioneer Street Foster will be ■ ■

Closed at 12 noon, Thursday, December 24, 2009 Re-opening at 8:30am, Monday, January 4, 2010

All our emergency and out of hours services will operate normally during this period.

For service difficulties & faults call:

1300 851 636 or 5682 0444 24 HOURS A DAY

public notices

Gippy Waste Cleaning • Septic Tanks • Portable Toilets • Water Tanks Phone Stephen

0422 998 025 1800 611 368

FRIENDS OF LEONGATHA LIBRARY

BOOK SALE LEONGATHA COURT HOUSE

Thursday, January 7 Friday, January 8 10am - 4pm

CHIROPRACTOR

Garry Harrison 19 Moonah Street Cape Paterson

Publication Dates Tuesday, December 29 No paper this week

Tuesday, January 5 First issue for 2010 OFFICE CLOSED: From Wednesday, December 23 OFFICE REOPENS: From Wednesday, December 30 Season’s Greetings to all our advertisers, readers and contributors

For a portrait in any medium of a Gippsland region resident, based on a live sitting and completed in the past 12 months.

First Prize $1000 2nd $500 Popular Choice $500 Junior (under 16) $50 Junior popular choice $50 To be exhibited in Foster in January 2010, Judged on Sunday 17th For details and entry forms contact: Anda 5687 1206 or Jane 5683 2621 or visit www.promcoastarts.org.au

Email your adverts to “The Star” ads@thestar.com.au

Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday By appointment Ph: 5674 8290 CHIROPRACTOR NORMAN G. VRADENBURG “NON-FORCE PRACTITIONER” 28 Reilly Street, INVERLOCH HOURS - Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday by appointment Phone and fax 5674 3666 South Gippsland Chiropratic Services & Adjunctive Therapies P/L

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 41

public notices

FREE CAR REMOVAL Trucks, tractors & farm machinery ALL AREAS 5658 1577 Complete vehicles

BOAT LICENCE COURSE (incl. PWC end)

INVERLOCH Monday, January 11 6 - 10.15pm LEONGATHA Tuesday, January 12 6pm - 10pm Bookings essential

Phone Bob: 0417 524 005 Approved Marine Safety Vic. course Australian Boating College.

Provider No. 3399

Classified advertising closes 12 noon Mondays

situations vacant

public notices INVERLOCH Family Christmas Carnival, Recreation Reserve (opposite Foodworks in Reilly Street), December 26, 2009 until January 22, 2010. Open every night 6pm - 10pm.

THE ORGANIC HAIR & BEAUTY SALON: 150 Bald Hills Road, Tarwin Lower, Deanne Dakers. Ph. 5663-5439, website: www. theorganicbeautysalon. com

situations vacant

Building Sub-Contractor A position is currently available for a qualified carpenter with a local builder.

Work is mostly local.

Reasonable hourly rates.

Applicant must have current driver’s licence and own car.

Applications should be forwarded to smac08@bigpond.com

situations vacant

agistment

for rent

AVAILABLE for cattle, 20-25 head, 60 acres high pasture, stockyard and crush, $6 p.h. pw.

Leongatha South. Ph: 5674-5685.

situations vacant

for sale

for sale

VILLA, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, d/garage, new, suit elderly couple, $270 pw. neg. Ph: 0419-899715.

SHED 3.5 x 3 x 9 metre, 4 sides, 1 door, still in kit form. Half price, $1,255 ONO, Mirboo North. Must sell. Ph: 0419-696655.

SIBERIAN HUSKY, 9 w.o. male, black with white, vac. and vet checked, $600.

Ph: 5662-3719 or 0428623719.

situations vacant

MILK SCHEDULER required

SLEEPERS, treated pine, 200x50x2.4 $12.10 each, 200x75x2.4 $16.75 each.

Free delivery for pack lots.

Phone Joe 0417-530662.

Progressive transport company requires experienced person to schedule farm milk pickup, milk transfers and attend to sundry transport requirements in the Leongatha area.

Please send resumé to: russell@stoitse.com.au or fax to 5688 1580.

For any queries please ring Steve on 5688 1367.

TIMBER - kiln dried blackwood, clear pine, silver wattle. Most sizes for furniture and craft. Also builder’s graded structural pine. Phone 5681-2261.

WINCHBAR, suit HZJ-75, good condition $500. 0429687283.

Phone 0438 745 593

VACUUM CLEANER Repairs DUST BAGS

Sales

FREE

QUOTES

WONTHAGGI SEWING CENTRE 167 Graham Street, Wonthaggi (opp. Ritchies IGA)

5672 3127 Local civil construction company seeks

EXPERIENCED SCRAPER OPERATOR MONDAY - FRIDAY Phone 5662 5552 Email admin@goldsmith.com.au

APPRENTICE DIESEL MECHANIC We have a position for a 1st year Apprentice Diesel Mechanic in our workshop located in Leongatha.

Please forward your resumé by email should you be seeking a career in this industry.

Ph: 5662 5552 Email admin@goldsmith.com.au

MARYVALE PRIVATE HOSPITAL CLINICAL CODER Permanent Part-Time Maryvale Private Hospital is a 45 bed acute surgical / medical hospital situated in Morwell.

We require the services of an additional clinical coder to meet our increasing coding demands.

Requirements for the position include: • Diploma of Clinical Coding or equivalent • Experience preferred but not essential • Effective communication skills • Commitment to Quality outcomes Applications including C.V. to be forwarded to: Ms Marlene Stephens Chief Executive Officer Maryvale Private Hospital P.O. Box 348, Morwell Vic. 3840 Or email to: marlene@maryvaleph.com.au Applications close: Monday, January 11, 2010

marriage celebrant

Jenny Milkins All areas - 5672 3123 jenny_milkins@hotmail.com

Leongatha 5662 4191

FREE

PART TIME or FULL TIME Due to changed seasonal conditions an additional person who enjoys working with animals is required for 1 milking per day and general farm work, tractor driving etc.

A safe well maintained work place for an honest, reliable, literate and fit person.

Experience is preferred but not essential.

Paid weekly by the hour.

Punctuality and reliable transport essential.

KOONWARRA AREA

DIAMOND Anniversary.

31/12/1949.

Congratulations Pat and Albie Rodwell on 60 yrs of marriage.

Through good times and bad, you have been there for your family and for each other. Our love and appreciation to you both.

Your children, Jennifer, Les, Linda, Debra, and their partners. Your 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

CAM ABOOD

free

DAIRY FARM HAND

anniversaries

BERRIES, BERRIES. Pick your own at Yileen Berry Farm, 1345 Yarragon/ Leongatha Road, Hallston.

Closed Christmas Day. Ph: 5668-5268.

FERABOLI round baler, good condition, $4,000.

0438-741227.

FIREWOOD, redgum & local wood, Ph 0408-980711, A/H 5662-5175

Pick-up and delivery in Leongatha/Meeniyan areas for MOTOR MOWERS,

CHAINSAWS AND STATIONARY ENGINES ETC. Repairs and services

Phone JOHN GOULD 5664 0012

lost TREASURED brown short haired Jack Russell, microchipped, reg. Arawata / Kardella. Ph: 5659-8187.

used vehicles

FREE CAR REMOVAL Will pay up to $300 for complete car Buyers of scrap metal All machinery Bins provided

GREENFIELD ride-on EIII 32 Deluxe, diff lock, 13hp.

Will deliver. $1,100. Ph: 0423-623807.

Bass Coast Metal Recyclers

GREENFIELD ride-on lawn mower, 12.5hp Briggs & Stratton motor, 32” cut, good condition, reliable mower. $1,200 ONO. Tel: 5662-3510.

HOLDEN VT Commodore wagon, RWC, 12 mths reg.

RXQ249, $5,900. 0400824696 or 5674 8083

HAY New season oaten, small sq. and 5x4 rounds.

Top quality. Ph: 0438056987.

HAY - 800 square bales $8 each. Will separate. Tarwin.

Ph: 0408-836885.

HAY - round bales, this season, good quality, Outtrim, $60 each. Ph: 0419-313483.

HEN HOUSES, fox proof, good quality, 6-8 chooks.

The Perfect Henhouse. Ph: 5664-2443.

PUPPIES, ready for adoption. Ph: 5688-1626 or 0417-564851.

QUEEN size beds (2), $250 each. Tuckerbox freezer $100. Ph: 0408-131485.

5672 2946 0417 556 593

HOLDEN Frontera 4x4, V6, 1999, a/c, auto, t/b, gas, $8,000 ONO. TGO667. Ph: 0418-569386.

wanted to buy FURNITURE: Parker, Noblett, Tessa, Chiswell, Moran, or any quality brand name used furniture. Phone Wendy on 0409-234482.

G R E E N H O U S E / Hothouse. Looking to buy a secondhand greenhouse in the small to medium size range. Call 5664-7420.

message of hope JESUS replied, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst.” John 6:35.

MERLENE STRATTON Leongatha 5662 2574

births

TAYLOR - James and Chelsea are delighted to announce the safe arrival of William Christopher on December 13 (weight 8lb 9oz). A beautiful little brother for Jasmine. With many thanks to MarjoryJane, Linda, Ben, Dr Linton, Mary, Faye and the wonderful staff at the Leongatha Memorial Hospital.

in memoriam

ROBJANT - Colin.

Passed away December 24, 2008.

Not a day goes by that you are not in our thoughts and prayers. You will remain in our hearts forever.

Love you always.

Maggie, Brendan, Kim and Mark.

SINCLAIR - Craig Alan.

27/12/08.

Our hearts are forever broken, but our deep love and precious memories of our darling precious son and loving brother live on with us forever. Miss every day.

Mum, dad and Troy.

SINCLAIR - Craig Alan.

December 27, 2008.

In loving memory of an unforgettable and wonderful 9 year old boy who we all miss dreadfully.

You touched our lives in a way we can never forget.

Life without you will never be the same, our loss is inexpressible.

From your N.Z. Whanau: Grandma and Grandad Jones, Uncle Evan, Uncle Phil, Aunty Frene and cousins Lisa and Adam.

SINCLAIR - Craig.

Thinking of such a special little man of Stephen, Caz and Troy.

With love Jack, Michelle, Ben and Libby.

PAGE 42 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Let the good times roll

Pet rabbit: Philippa Littlejohn, 11, was happy to cuddle this furry black rabbit at the Gollers Lane carnival on Saturday.

Three’s company: (from left) Amy Robertson, Brandon Embury and Amber Stanfield enjoy the pool day with LPS schoolmates at SPLASH last week.

Guinea pig: Victoria Tuckett, 8, loved holding this cute little guinea pig, which trustingly nestled in her arm at Saturday’s Gollers Lane carnival.

Face painting fun: Jessica Coote (Stony Creek) is making Luke look great at the Li’l Rascals party last Friday.

Jumping castle: Eight-year-old boys Mason McGannon (left) and Will Littlejohn were about to hop into the castle for some serious jumping at the Gollers Lane Carnival.

Classifieds PHONE 5662 5555 P FAX 5662 4350

birthday remembrance FARRAR - Jack.

26/12/23 - 7/7/09.

If words could build a stairway and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again.

Everlasting love, Lilly.

FARRAR - Jack.

Passed away 7/7/09. Aged 85.

In loving memory of your 86th birthday, December 26.

You smiling face will never be forgotten. You will always be in my heart.

Your loving daughter Jacqui.

Classified advertising closes 12 noon Mondays

deaths BIRD (Hodge - nee Smythe) - Anne Elizabeth (Betty).

Passed away peacefully on December 16.

Loved mother of Charlie, mother-in-law of Heather (dec. Feb. 2009). Grandma of Greg, Philip, Susan (Herrald), and Vivienne (Fairweather); great grandmother to their six children and great great grandmother to their four children.

In her 100th year (aged 99 years and 10 months).

A life well lived.

deaths THOMPSON Adele Elenora.

Passed away peacefully at home in Korumburra on Monday, December 14, 2009.

Dearly loved wife of Gordon. Loving mother of Cindy and Shelley, loved mother-in-law of Greg and Wayne. Nanny of Kylie, Chloe and Brad; Timothy and Matthew.

Sadly missed by Brutus.

Always remembered with love.

THROCKMORTON Reyna (Remie).

Passed away peacefully at Prom View Lodge Nursing Home, Toora on December 18, 2009.

Aged 69 years.

Loving wife of Allen (dec.).

Adored step-mother of Neil and Rose, stepgrandmother of Steven, Peter and Matthew.

Sister of Linda, Uring, Jess, Nori, Letty, Alex and Donna.

In loving memories.

funerals

Cuppa time: Denise Poletti, Col Stockdale and Paddy Eldred catch up over a cup of tea at the launch of Meeniyan CFA’s new light tanker.

THROCKMORTON - The funeral service for the late Mrs Reyna (Remie) Throckmorton will be held at Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Lane, Traralgon on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 commencing at 1pm.

Christmas party: Mackenzie, Karen Dickens, Aphra and Leah at Li’l Rascals in Leongatha on Friday evening.

GIPPSLAND FUNERAL SERVICES AFDA FOSTER 5682-2443

crossword solutions CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 8202 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, Half a length. 7, P-rim. 8, Ca-shed. 9, Pen-noN. 10, Radish (anag.). 12, W-Ag-ons. 15, Rav-in-e. 17, Prof-ound. 19, T-H-in. 20, Show promise.

Down - 1, Flaming-O. 2, Can-can. 3, Teaser. 4, Ogre (rev.).

5, Chains. 6, Ho-r-se. 11, Dovetail. 13, Arrest. 14, Stumps.

15, Re-d-hot. 16, No-I-se. 18, F-oot.

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 8202 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, Countenance. 7, Anon. 8, Altitude. 9, Panama.

10, Havana. 12, Prayer. 15, Portal. 17, Adhesive. 19, Iron.

20, Considerate.

Down - 1, Quandary. 2, Strata. 3, Snatch. 4, Knit. 5, Deaden. 6, Conga. 11, Vertical. 13, Reduce. 14, Raisin.

15, Prefer. 16, Above. 18, Erne.

Four decades: Colin Young is congratulated on his 40 years of service by captain Paddy Eldred after the official launch of the Meeniyan CFA’s new 4WD tanker on Sunday.

Aleesha, Bryce, Shania and Brock were in the animal nursery at the Li’l Rascals Christmas party.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 43

PAGE 44 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Adam Kok lifts silver

By Brad Lester WEIGHTLIFTER Adam Kok is closer to representing Australia at the World Junior Weightlifting Championships in May.

The Port Welshpool lifter recently returned from New Caledonia with a silver medal in the Pacific Cup International Weightlifting Tournament.

The 19-year-old set a new personal best of 130kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 290kg, surpassing his previous best lifts of 120kg snatch and 155kg clean and jerk.

Adam must lift an extra six kilograms across the two events to qualify for the world junior championships.

He is confident, after lifting unexpectedly high weights in the Pacific Cup. “I was just surprised because the weather over there is very hot. The training was very hard. I never suspected it would be,” he said.

“I nearly cleared 165kg in the clean and jerk but just missed the jerk, so I just missed out.”

Adam placed second in the senior category to Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Itte Detenamo of Nauru.

As a member of the Australian Commonwealth Games Junior Development Squad, Adam was invited to contest the Pacific Cup and take part in a week-long training camp as a guest lift-

er by Oceania Weighlifting president, Paul Coffa.

Adam was just one of two lifters from Victoria to attend and learn lifting techniques and training methods designed to improve athletes to Commonwealth and Olympic games standards.

“They train twice a day six days a week in a hot climate over there and eat lots of beef, rice, chicken and eggs because they’re training so hard and have to eat that much,” he said.

“It’s hard training, but if I want to be of Commonwealth Games status one day, then this is the training I need to do.”

Adam credits the training camp to the dramatic improvement in his lifting ability, a major step-up from the 118kg snatch and 155kg clean and jerk recorded at the Arafura Games in Darwin this year.

“They work on squats to build their leg strength up, because it’s all in the legs,” he said.

His success in the sport this year resulted in Adam being named the winner of the Gippstar Award for December by the Gippsland Sports Academy.

This year, Adam also won two gold medals and a bronze at the Oceania Games and Arafura Games in Darwin, and his third Victorian weightlifting title - the Under 20 championship.

A member of the Phoenix Weightlifting Club in Melbourne, Adam trains under Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Ivan Katz.

TIDES Here is an easy guide to tides in your area.

To determine tides for a particular area, add or subtract periods of times as shown below.

Earlier Minutes Apollo Bay ...........................25 King Island (Grassy) ...........10 King Island (Surprise Bay)....40 King Island (Franklin) ...........40 Lakes Entrance .................... 170 Lorne ...................................... 20 Mallacoota Inlet.................... 158 Rip Bank ................................ 15 Snowy River Entrance ......... 170 _______________________ Cape Schanck, Flinders, Mornington Ocean Beaches, Seal Rocks, Venus Bay, Waratah Bay, Woolamai ....... nil _________________________ Later Minutes Altona ................................... 195 Barwon Heads Bridge ........... 15 Carrum ................................. 195 Corinella ................................. 68 Cowes Pier............................. 50 Dromana .............................. 195 Frankston ............................. 195 Geelong ............................... 210 Hastings ................................. 66 Hovell Pile ............................ 195 Inverloch Pier ......................... 15 Melbourne ............................ 200 Mornington ........................... 195 Newhaven Jetty ..................... 30 No. 1 West Channel (Annulus)........................... 50 No. 2 South Channel Light .... 70 No. 8 South Channel Light .. 150 Port Albert Pier ...................... 90 Portarlington Pier ................. 190 Portsea Pier ........................... 80 Port Welshpool (Rabbit Island .................... 10 Queenscliffe Pier ................... 30 Rhyll ....................................... 60 Rosebud............................... 195 Rye Pier ............................... 170 St. Leonards Pier ................. 190 Sandringham ....................... 195 Sorrento Pier........................ 130 Stony Point ............................. 40 South Channel Pile Light ..... 190 Swan Island Dock ................ 120 Tooradin ............................... 105 Warneet.................................. 84 Williamstown ........................ 200 Welshpool Pier....................... 90

At Port Phillip Heads

DECEMBER Time

height (metres)

Add one hour for daylight saving

23 WED

24 THUR

25 FRI

26 SAT

27 SUN

28 MON

29 TUE

0045 0719 1334 1907

0.23 0.87 0.36 0.76

0116 0746 1407 1951

0.26 0.87 0.33 0.75

0148 0814 1444 2038

0.29 0.88 0.30 0.75

0222 0844 1523 2129

0.34 0.87 0.28 0.74

0302 0915 1607 2228

0.40 0.87 0.25 0.74

0349 0951 1658 2343

0.47 0.85 0.22 0.74

0447 1035 1757

0.53 0.84 0.19

All times shown in 24 hour clock 0001 - 1200..................AM 1201 - 2400..................PM

Junior awards: Back row - Junior Most Outstanding Dancer of the Year, Rubi Box, Shining Star award, Jack Balagh and Most Outstanding Dancer of the Year for Intermediate Tap, Chelsea Tuckett and for Pre Intermediate Modern Jazz, Sara Riseley. Front row: Most Outstanding Dancer of the Year for Junior Ballet, Kaitlyn Gale, Junior Modern, Tanya Turvey, Pre Junior Modern, Amber Turvey and Junior Tap, Mitchell Scrimshaw.

An icy tale Trophy proof: Adam Kok shows off his silver medal, won in New Caledonia.

Meeniyan basketball Men Results - December 8: Goatriders 34 (T. Manne 17) d R & R 31 (A. Good 8); Amberfluids 50 (C. Johnston 18, J. Kennedy 39) d Young Fellas (T. Finlay 11); Travelling Gilmores - bye.

Results - December 15: R & R 62 d Young Fellas 46; Travelling Gilmores forfeited to Goatriders; Amberfluids - bye.

Women Results - December 9: Bench Warmers 31 (J.

Frassenei 11) d Mixtures 19 (B. Eygenraam 10); Test Tubes 24 (M. Linvingstone 8) d Gunners 14 (K. Schelling 8); Hogs bye.

Students and teachers have been working since June to put together this intricate tale of good and evil told through dance.

All students put in a fantastic performance to a sellout crowd on Saturday, December 12. Dance co-ordinator, Miss Bronwyne Kent, thanks all the teachers, parents and committee for their hard work and commitment to this production.

Classes resume in February, 2010.

Ladders Men Amberfluids ....................125 R & R ..............................130 Goatriders ....................... 111 Travelling Gilmores .......101 Young Fellas.......................61 Women Gunners...........................173 Hogs .................................131 Test Tubes........................201 Mixtures ............................39 Bench Warmers ..................60

18 14 8 8 2 16 14 13 8 5

South Gippsland Bridge Club MEENIYAN – Monday evening: 1st Faye Rowlands, Frank Arndt. 2nd Kathryn Smith, David Baggallay. 3rd Barbara Axten, Pat West. 4th Susan Ruffin, Clive Hope.

Tarwin Lower – Tuesday afternoon: 1st Jack Kuiper, Alan Johnston.

2nd Anne Gibson, Althea Drew. 3rd Frank Arndt, Clive Hope. 4th Faye Rowlands, Pat West. 5th Norma Hannay, Ann Dujela. 6th Margaret Smith, George Geekie.

Inverloch - Friday afternoon - North/South:

CARE 2 Dance recently held their annual concert An Icy Tale at Mesley Hall, Leongatha.

1st Jack Kuiper, Dina Drury. 2nd Kathy Geyer, Leila Bell. 3rd Frank Arndt, Clive Hope. 4th John Sutton, Peg Brook. 5th Bruce and Anne Gibson.

East/West: 1st Colin Manley, Shirley Stewart.

2nd Faye Rowlands, Pat West. 3rd John Sullivan, Alan Johnston. 4th Margaret Bray, Ian Leonard.

5th George Geekie, Dawn Jolly.

Note: bridge commences at Meeniyan on Monday, January 4, Inverloch on Friday, January 8 and Tarwin Lower on Tuesday, January 12.

Senior Awards: Back row Most Outstanding Dancer of the Year for Senior Ballet Laura Browne, Pre Senior Tap, Tayla Delaney, Pre Senior Modern, Jazz Renee Eddy, Senior Modern Jazz, Kate Hulls and Lisa Richards. Front row: Music Theatre award, Matilda McNeil, Shining Star award, Sophie Thomas and Outstanding Dancer of the Year Senior Tap, Georgia Riseley and Intermediate Modern, Lauren Baudinette.

The Snow Bunnies: Makenzi Gourlay, Meaghan Richards, Emma Trease and Zara Krutzburger.

Cricket umpire Central Gippsland Cricket passes Round 9

THE LDCA Umpires lost one of their long serving umpires last week.

John Williams was an active member of the umpiring panel, having umpired on the Saturday, he fell ill on Sunday and passed away on December 14.

John was 81 but still enjoyed his umpiring. He has umpired since the early 90s and he will be sadly missed among the umpiring ranks.

This was probably going to be John’s last year, but that had been the case for a couple of seasons.

He was actively involved in the LDCA Womens Cricket team, umpiring several games.

Newborough Bulldogs 152 (Wayne Fleming 37 Tom Long 3/27) d Moe 9/151 (Joel Jacovou 35 Barney Webber 3/42).

Newborough batted first and were all out for 152 and Moe were 8/125 and a 26 run partnership between Jayden Mathison and Brad Grima came to an end when Moe needed one to tie and two to win off the last ball of the day and Brendan Brincat bowled Jayden Mathison to give the Bulldogs a win.

Latrobe 8/140 (Ian Kennedy 39, John Kus 33) d Mirboo North 8/114 (Joe O’Loughlin 36, James Grande 34, John Kus 4/34).

Latrobe were 0/64 chasing Mirboo North’s score of 8/114 and slumped to 6-93. 7/110 before John Kus got them over the line again and he was dismissed on the last ball of the day.

Morwell 5/206 (Mark Cukier 66, Brad Soutar 37, Zac O’Connell 4/21) d Yallourn North 122 (Ryan Nelson 30, Shane Gniel 3/22,

Mick Higgins 3/27 ).

Ladder

Newborough Bulldogs ......82.66 Latrobe ..............................75.49 Moe ....................................60.60 Morwell .............................51.09 Mirboo North .....................49.09 Yallourn North ...................30.72

Round 10

One day on January 9 Latrobe v Newborough Bulldogs at Maryvale Reserve; Moe v Yallourn North at Racecourse Turf; Morwell v Mirboo North at Keegan Street Turf.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 45

Safety first on beaches

By Bert van Bedaf IN THE months between June 2008 and 2009 two people drowned in the Gippsland district.

This may not be an alarming figure, but any drowning is a tragedy too many.

Life Saving Victoria surf lifesaving clubs patrol 67 of Victoria’s most popular and hazardous beaches, which includes South Gippsland’s most popular holiday beaches of Inverloch, Venus Bay, Sandy Point, Cape Paterson and Woolamai Beach.

A patrolled beach can be identified by the red and yellow patrol flags, and visitors are asked to swim between the flags to maximise their safety.

This summer the State Government has again embarked on its major safety

campaign, called Play It Safe by the Water, which is designed to create public awareness to keep families safe “in, on and around the water”.

The State Government contributes $2.5 million each year to water safety programs in an effort to keep fatalities and incidents down.

When launching the campaign, Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron urged Victorians to take notice of safety warnings and “help reduce drowning deaths, which have halved over the past 12 years”.

Victoria’s 22,000 lifesavers, from 67 clubs across the state, will protect an estimated 10 million beachgoers.

“Last year, Victorian lifesavers conducted 572 rescues, an average of 2.6 rescues per 10,000 beachgoers,” Mr Cameron said.

“Our lifesavers do an outstanding job protecting Victorians and encour-

aging safe behaviour in and around the water.”

Mr Cameron said summer holidays and expected soaring temperatures again would see many visitors head to the beaches in South Gippsland.

“As people flock to our beaches, they need to remember to be vigilant in and around the water,” Mr Cameron said.

“The message for Victorians this summer is a simple one: whether you’re headed to the local pool, down the coast or to a lake, river or dam, make sure you Play It Safe by the Water.”

Mr Cameron said the 2008/09 drowning report showed that in the 12 years since the Play It Safe by the Water campaign began, the rate of drowning deaths in Victorian waters had more than halved.

“Last year, there were 35 drowning

deaths in Victoria, which was six fewer than the year before,” Mr Cameron said.

“Since Play It Safe by the Water began, the drowning rate has dropped from 1.38 people per 100,000 to 0.65 per 100,000.

“While that is an outstanding longterm achievement, one death in the water is one too many and we can all do more to reduce this even further.”

Mr Cameron said the report showed that males, toddlers and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities were over-represented in drowning statistics.

“Males are three times more likely to drown than females, accounting for 27, or 77 per cent, of all drowning deaths in the past year,” Mr Cameron said.

The campaign emphasises several key precautions; never swim alone; never turn your back on your children;

always watch them around water; and look before you leap (to avoid spinal injuries).

“Following these basic rules could mean the difference between life and death.” Mr Cameron said.

Clubs in the region are the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1960; Venus Bay on Beach No.1, founded in 1961; Waratah Beach on the foreshore of Sandy Point, formed in 1963; Wonthaggi on the Cape Paterson Bay Beach, founded in 1938; Woolamai Beach, founded in 1959, patrolling the most exposed beach on Phillip Island; and Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, formed in 1997.

The club received a $500,000 grant as part of the State Government’s Community Facility Funding Program to build a new clubhouse and other facilities to improve patrolling one of the coast’s busiest beaches.

Learning to surf rescue IT was bronze medallion camp time at Inverloch and Venus Bay last week.

Candidates must obtain the qualification before they can join surf lifesaving patrols.

They were spending the whole week learning the finer points of their important beach role.

Many of the participants live in suburban Melbourne.

First aid, resuscitation, the human

body, surf awareness, radios and patrols were among the topics covered at Venus Bay. There were 21 bronze camp participants at Inverloch.

They were camping at Wonthaggi Lifesaving Club for the week.

On Saturday they were to be tested on board and tube rescues, run swim run, CPR, spinal and radio.

Students who pass can patrol the beach over summer.

Bronze camp: Max Rounds and Sam Synan (both of Leongatha) at the Inverloch bronze camp.

Looking for trouble: back: Cheryl Thatcher (Traralgon), Cheryl Walhuter (Mitcham) and Cheryl Watt (Traralgon); front: Cheryl Lampett (Traralgon) and Jacinta Bogan (Churchill) at Venus Bay.

Testing time: These young women participated in the bronze medallion camp at the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club on the weekend. They went through their running and swimming paces to pass a qualifying test on Saturday.

Water lovers: Zac Kennedy (Venus Bay), Angie Wilton (Balwyn), Kimberley Stewart and Britt Wilton (Balwyn) at the Venus Bay bronze camp.

Staying afloat: Jordan Stevnenberg (Wheelers Hill) on a board.

In the boat: Tom Kefford (Venus Bay) and Simon Gee.

Beach patrol: Inverloch surf lifesaver Peter Nettelbeck mans the control room overlooking the patrolled beach at Inverloch.

PAGE 46 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

No surprises in Division 1 pennant WITH four rounds left before the finals commence, round 11 saw no surprise results come out of Division 1.

Inverloch White (home) scored an easy 48 shot victory over Inverloch Blue.

Wonthaggi (away) travelled to Foster to bring home a 25 shot win and 15 of the 16 points on offer.

This win still gives the club the slimmest of hopes for a berth in the finals. Their fate is clearly in their own hands.

Leongatha (away) travelled to Korumburra

Above: Inverloch trio: Bryan Hensley, Ron Rees and John Madden were ready for competition on Saturday.

Results

Phillip Island four: from left, Snow Lacco, Don Graham, Reg Excell and Howard Green were preparing for battle with tough Inverloch opposition on Saturday.

Inverloch bowls A MUCH better result in our pennant matches last Saturday, winning three out of a possible four.

Our Division 1 teams, the Blues and Whites, played each other and the result saw the Whites take the match by 48 shots, but not before the Blues put in some very good ends.

Lew Caile’s rink only trailed by one shot late in his game against Keiran Gardiner’s rink, but Keiran and his boys rallied and went on to take the match by 12 shots.

The other two rinks established good early leads and went on to win comfortably, but Gavin Butler’s rink deserves some praise for a good effort against the powerful Ron Burge rink, only going down by 13 shots.

Division 2 travelled to San Remo hoping to consolidate their second place on the ladder, but failed to do so, losing narrowly on each rink. Kevin McIntosh’s rink just failed to take their match by one shot.

We have a favourable draw in the last three games, so it would be disappointing if we did not at least hold our place on the ladder, or even sneak into second place, which would give us a second chance in the final series.

Division 4 had a big win in their game against Phillip Island on our green, despite losing by two shots on Nick Van Grunsven’s rink. This rink trailed for a lot of the game, but a seven shot end put them in the lead late in the game, but failed to hold onto that narrow lead.

Highlight of this match was on John Madden’s rink who scored a very rare maximum eight shots on one end in their huge 32 shot win in their game, only allowing their opponents 12 shots while they amassed the great score of 44 shots. Well done fellas, I hope you all get your ‘8’ badge.

Jack Miller’s rink put in another good team effort to score a well deserved 20 shot win.

Division 6 was down at the tea break but staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, getting up to score a great win in the last two ends of Malc Scott’s rink when they scored two fives on the last two ends of their game, and not only won their game but took the match by 18 shots which will keep their final four hopes alive. Their other rink trailed by a big margin early but only lost their game by two shots.

Rain caused the postponement of our monthly triples last Thursday after three games into the second game.

The match committee decided they

to score a narrow 11 shot victory and 14 of the 16 points.

Phillip Island (away) travelled to Mirboo North and recorded the largest victory of the year in Division 1 by 72 shots.

In Division 2, San Remo (home) got back on track with a narrow, but decisive victory of 12 shots to claim the 16 points on offer.

Leongatha (home) maintained their position on top of the ladder with a four shot victory over Meeniyan.

Lang Lang (home) proved too good for Toora with a 17 shot victory, and in the battle for relegation Tarwin Lower, playing their first home game on their new synthetic surface easily accounted for Wonthaggi by 31 shots.

would fan the first game winner’s card and draw a winning skip, second and lead, and the result of the draw was: skip M. Griffin, second J. Cook, lead D. Massier.

The same was done for the runners-up and those winners were: skip R. Howard, second P. Tainton, lead P. Bolge.

Each of these six winners received very generous gift vouchers from our sponsors of the day, Murray Goulburn, to whom our club expresses their sincere gratitude.

The lucky draw prize was won by the Phillip Island team of J. Stuart, P. Forrest and J. Newcombe.

The winners with the best score in the first: M. Yates (ld), R. Rees (2nd) and J. Sutcliffe (sk) with 23 points, received bar vouchers.

The current season’s series of business bowls was finalised last Wednesday evening when the two teams finishing on top of the table, The Inlet Hotel and Sure Constructions, competed for the Jim Perrett memorial trophy.

The winners were The Inlet team consisting of W. Parks, D. Purvis and Nick Chapman, with a 14 shot to nine over their opponents.

The other teams competing during the season played the usual 10 ends and the winners were The Big 4 team with 18 shots up. Runners-up, decided on percentage, were Espy 5 with 13 shots up.

As in past years the proceeds from this series is given to a charity. This year it was given to the Jason Beale appeal for one of our local young children who is suffering from leukaemia.

Around 60 members attended a special meeting last Monday evening to discuss the future of the clubhouse building project. The members agreed to the committee’s new proposal to do major renovations and additions to the present building.

The committee has had plans for their proposal drawn up which were on display at this meeting.

This building will be 50 years old in 2010 and members feel it is well and truly time something was done to bring our clubrooms up to the standard of our fellow clubs.

Ladies I WOULD like to start this report by thanking Sarah Gasson and George Sneddon for their sponsorship for the Betty Sneddon 6s Medley held last Sunday, December 13.

We appreciate their continued support over the years.

Speaking about that day again, did

you see the “tangerine ladies”, they looked very smart, must be an exclusive club. I wonder what the joining fees are?

Last Tuesday, December 8, saw our Division 1 and 3 teams with a win.

We were very pleased with Division 3 as Gloria Growse was skipping for the first time and from all accounts handled the position very well.

Unfortunately Division 2 suffered another loss, but went down fighting.

Wednesday December 16 was to have been our sponsored monthly triples but due to the excessive heat of the day the triples were cancelled and rescheduled for next month.

The State Pairs were being played at Korumburra and Inverloch on this hot day.

Congratulations to Robyn Dennis and Cynthia Hensley for getting through to the last round.

Saturday saw five ladies and three men playing social bowls, playing 24 ends.

The winners were Gloria Growse as skip, Bob Pritchard, Graeme Dunlop and Pam Sutcliffe.

As this is my last report until next year, I would like to compliment all the new bowlers for their effort this season.

So many of them entered the novice singles and were prepared to give it a go, putting their names down for club championships and there were some surprises there too.

The sixes medley gave a few of them some good experience in playing different positions also.

We have some excellent bowlers in the wings, so us older ones will have to watch ourselves or we will be left behind.

Thanks to the match committee for their efforts during the year, not an easy year trying to fit in all the championships.

It has been a very difficult year also for the selection committee, with illness etcetera, not forgetting some of our ladies who have suffered falls recently.

I don’t know if it has anything to do with Christmas cheer, maybe they should water it down a bit.

We hope that 2010 will be a better year for the last remaining pennant matches and we hope to see Division 1 in the finals.

Lastly we would like to thank Veronica and her committee for all their work during the year and making it the success that it was.

Div 1: Inverloch Blue 0-51 lt Inverloch White 1699; Foster 1-55 lt Wonthaggi 15-80: Korumburra 2-52 lt Leongatha 14-63: Mirboo North 0-37 lt Phillip Island 16-109.

Div 2: San Remo 16-76 d Inverloch 0-64: Leongatha 14-67 d Meeniyan 2-63: Lang Lang 15-66 d Toora 1-49: Tarwin Lower 16-76 d Wonthaggi 0-45.

Div 3: Loch 14-89 d Fish Creek 0-54: Leongatha

Leongatha TUESDAY, December 15 saw our Division 1 ladies at home to San Remo, again though not in the winner’s circle, and Division 3 away to Phillip Island, also not in the winner’s circle.

Next round, December 22 sees Division 1 away to Foster, and Division 3 at home to Toora.

This will be the last of the ladies pennant before the Christmas/new year break and will resume on January 12, 2010 with Division 1 at home to Lang Lang and Division 3 away to Inverloch.

Tuesday evening saw the last of the business bowls, with the grand final play-off between The Shed and Gatha New and Used, which saw The Shed take off the crown with a 16 point win over Gatha New and Used, while in the encouragement award a play-off between Kilmany Uniting Care and the Star, with Kilmany taking the crown with a 14 point win.

If any team would like a copy of the final business bowls ladder please contact me on 5662 2151 leaving your name and address and I will arrange a copy for you.

Finally, a big thank you to ‘H’ (Harry Forrester) and his team at the Leongatha Bowls Club for another job well done.

Wednesday, December 16 saw 16 players take to the green in a pairs teams event, with the winners on two games,

0-50 lt Wonthaggi 16-87; Phillip Island White 4-70 lt Foster 12-80: Corinella 0-66 lt Phillip Island Blue 16-92: Div 4: Port Welshpool 16-81 d Korumburra Maroon 0-61: Korumburra Gold 14-69 d Mirboo North 2-57: Inverloch 14-106 d Phillip Island 2-56.

Div 5: Meeniyan 16-91 d Tarwin Lower 0-50: Loch 14-74 d Wonthaggi 2-69: San Remo 16-87 d Fish Creek 0-54.

Div 6: Inverloch 12-43 d San Remo 2-35:Phillip Island 14-58 d Toora 0-34; Meeniyan 14-65 d Lang Lang 0-47; Wonthaggi 2-44 lt Foster 12-50.

With Christmas less than one week away, the pennant season now enters a recess period for four weeks and a welcome break from the weekly grind of the pennant season.

Therefore, it gives me the opportunity to wish all pennant players and bowlers in general a very happy and peaceful Christmas, and the chance to catch up with family and friends.

Ladders Division 1 Leongatha ....................235 Inverloch White ............186 Phillip Island................. 195 Korumburra ....................-1 Wonthaggi .......................-42

161 132 115 89 69

plus nine shots being Bill Fisher and Peter Bolge.

The runners-up on two wins, plus six shots were Fred Sauvarin and David Bee. Sponsors for the day were South Gippsland Insurance and the club thanks them for their valued support.

Saturday, December 19 saw Leongatha Division 1 teams away to Korumburra and were winners overall by 11 shots.

Division 2 were at home to Meeniyan in a very tight struggle, with again the home team scraping home by just four shots.

Division 3 were also at home to Wonthaggi and were like our ladies, ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’, and went down to Wonthaggi by 37 shots.

There will now be a break for the Christmas/ New Year period, with men’s pennant resuming on January 23, 2010. Division 1 will be at home to Phillip Island, Division 2 away to Lang Lang, and Division 3 away to Phillip Island White at the Island.

This will be the last report for 2009, with your scribe also taking a wellearned break and resuming again with reports for our papers on January 12, 2010.

On behalf of the president, Alan Rayson and our ladies president, Glenda Trotman, to all bowlers and their families the club extends season’s greetings and best wishes for the new year 2010.

Foster.............................-172 52 Mirboo North ...............-182 49 Inverloch Blue...............-219 37 Division 2 Leongatha ......................-26 126 San Remo ........................49 106 Lang Lang ....................... 11 98 Inverloch ..........................-8 91 Meeniyan..........................40 86 Toora ...............................-21 83 Tarwin Lower ...................74 60 Wonthaggi .....................135 54 Division 3 Phillip Island Blue ........322 163 Foster............................... 70 117 Wonthaggi .......................45 108 Fish Creek .......................56 95 Loch ................................. 11 79 Phillip Island White ......-51 70 Corinella.........................-67 67 Leongatha .....................386 10 Division 4 Inverloch .......................154 132 Korumburra Gold........ 110 131 Korumburra Maroon ....-32 90 Mirboo North .................-71 79 Phillip Island ....................-53 74 Port Welshpool ...............-108 70 Division 5 San Remo ......................137 133 Meeniyan.........................80 120 Loch ................................-18 96 Fish Creek ......................-10 93 Tarwin Lower ..................-49 70 Wonthaggi ......................140 64 Division 6 Phillip Island.................137 107 Lang Lang .........................79 99 Foster..................................-8 86 Inverloch .............................9 89 Wonthaggi .........................13 75 Toora ...................................-9 71 Meeniyan..........................105 62 San Remo ......................... 116 34

Tarwin Lower

THE ladies returned to Inverloch last week to play Korumburra, who proved too strong for our home side, going down by 21 shots.

The inaugural pennant game on the new synthetic green was played by the men in Division 2 versus Wonthaggi. This saw Tarwin coming away with a 31 shot win; well done men.

Unfortunately Division 5 was not so successful, suffering a considerable loss to Meeniyan at Meeniyan.

On Tuesday the barefoot bowls resumed with mixed feeling regarding the new green, but everyone enjoyed it, the Wood ducks coming away with the win.

Raffles for the night were sponsored by The Riverview Hotel, the Venus Bay General Store and Tarwin Lower Takeaway.

This Tuesday sees the ladies play their first game on the new green against Port Welshpool, this will be followed by our traditional Christmas lunch, good luck ladies.

On Saturday night more than 50 members and guests attended our annual Christmas dinner which was prepared and cooked by Robyn and Bev. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all, thanks for their tireless effort.

Thanks to Marian for the table decorations which were tremendous.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 47

Meeniyan

ON Tuesday, December 15 Division 1 ladies travelled to Phillip Island, going down on all three rinks. Threes had the bye.

This week ones played Inverloch at home and threes played Phillip Island, also at home.

Ladies pennant resumes on Tuesday, January 12, with three matches left for the season.

Our Christmas hampers were won by Peter Wright (Toora) and Cam Dowling (Leongatha North). Mark and Kylie Burns (Leongatha) won a weeping cherry donated

by Cootamundra Nursery, Meeniyan.

Tuesday night was the last of our six week corporate bowls, with the winners NuMix 1 and The Dees as runners-up. Double Trouble received a special award.

The final four was NuMix 1, Mac Attack, The Dees and Double Trouble. An encouragement award went to Mitre 10. A special thank you to the many sponsors and club members who helped.

A new season of corporate bowls is scheduled to begin

on Tuesday, January 5 and Wednesday, January 6. Enquiries to Doug Kuhne 5664 7221.

On Wednesday, December 16, 15 people turned up for social bowls. We played one game, and because of the heat, cards were fanned.

Trevor Bidwell won the lucky draw and we welcomed Jillian Meikle (Doreen’s granddaughter).

Saturday, December 19 was the last pennant round for 2009. Playing away to top team Leongatha, Meeniyan took it down to the wire, losing by four shots with one rink getting the points.

At home Division 5 had an all rinks win against Tarwin Lower by 41 shots.

Also at home against top team, Lang Lang, Division 6 had an 18 shot win, with both rinks successful.

Saturday pennant resumes on January 23, with three rounds remaining.

Members are reminded that the break means they have a good opportunity to play club matches.

Meeniyan Bowling Club wishes everyone compliments of the season and a happy and healthy 2010.

Loch and District bowls ALL three of our pennant teams, playing at home, won over the past week.

The ladies had a great battle against the Port Welshpool team, and the men won both their divisions against Fish Creek and Wonthaggi. Maybe the aroma of the meat roasting for our Christmas function was too much for the opposition?

Wednesday night’s twilight winners were Andrew Kirkham, Brendon Knox and Heather Reid; these sessions will swing back into action on Wednesday, January 13.

Due to Val, Gay, Jenny and Angie playing in the State pairs, Thursday bowls was not held. Unfortunately the girls were drawn to play in the same section, with Jenny and Angie going on to the next round.

With the first day incomplete due to heat, and the second day plagued by rain delays, it was a struggle to compete. Well done to all four ladies anyway. Thursday bowls will recommence on January 7.

On Saturday evening over 50 people enjoyed a meal and entertainment run by the social committee. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make the evening a success, especially the two men who played pennant while keeping the meat cooking.

Thank you to Alan Stone for his bush yarns and ballads, and to Gay and Val for the duet, and John for leading the singing. It was great to see so many of our newer bowlers in attendance.

The cake went to the Turton

Champs of the year: A Grade Club champions for ladies and men’s section at Korumburra Bowling Club were runners-up Keith Button and Joan Blogg and winners Debbie Williams and Ross Besley. The event was played on Sunday, December 20.

Christmas fun: Santa Tom sits on the knee of Peter Hearn at the Korumburra twilight bowls break up.

home for the second year in a row, as did the IGA Poowong hamper to the Provis/Nettle household. Barb Scott (Meeniyan) is the recipient of the wine and chocolates.

On Sunday afternoon, mixed triples was played, with the runners-up being Geoff Barber, John Kennedy and Kath Moss, and the winners being Margaret Fraser, Charlie Hodge and Brendan McNamara.

On a sadder note we learnt of the passing of a foundation member, Grace Davenport. Although Grace had not played for a number of years, she is well remembered with affection by our longer term members.

Grace was president of the West Gippsland Ladies Bowling Association in the mid 1970s and also a loyal member of Loch, serving in many capacities and also as our president.

Our sympathy goes to Wilma, Don and Roy, and the extended family.

Sympathy also to Chas and Greg Hodge on the sad loss of a mother and grandmother who was two months short of her telegram from the Queen.

Our best wishes to another of our original and current members, Olive Loughridge. Olive has not enjoyed good health in recent times, and we wish a return to better health soon.

Best wishes to all our friends in bowls over the festive season and we will see you on the greens in 2010, with our men’s tournament to be played on January 2 and 3.

Buffalo indoor bowls MERRY Christmas and a happy New Year to all.

Our last night and Christmas supper was December 16. A fairly hot night, with water and lollies through the games. We played two games of 10 ends, fielding six teams.

In sixth position (LL) nine ends: skipper Graeme Tobias, Barbara Kappes, Steve Teylor and Col Densley.

In fifth on countback (WL) eight ends -8: skipper Andrew Hanks, Peter Heldens and Tamara Teylor.

Fourth (WL) eight ends +2: skipper Rod McConchie, Toni Heldens and Mary Tumino.

Still on countback third (LW) 10 ends -1: skipper Karl Kappes, Glenis Densley and Joe Occhipinti.

Then second (LW) 10 ends +5: skipper Ian Benson, Joyce Occhipinti, Sybil Breen and Gemma Poletti. But in first place and undisputed (WW) 13 ends: skipper Charlie Tumino, Peter Tiziani and Carolyn Benson.

Best first game Charlie 17-7, best second game Karl and Ian, both 15-6. Some excellent bowling.

A very special thanks to Andrew for donating prizes for the first and last teams for the night.

Lucky ticket winners were everyone, so we had a lovely cuppa and some wonderful supper.

A big happy birthday to Col, and also to Graeme who is celebrating a special one this year.

Thank you to everyone for coming and bringing a little something to share. A great night was had by all. We’ll see you all again next year, we will be fired up for bowling again on Wednesday, January 13.

I hope that you all stay safe over the Christmas period and look forward to seeing you all again in 2010.

South Gippsland Bowls Association THE South Gippsland Bowls Association Pairs Championships reached the quarter finals and semi finals stage at Wonthaggi Bowls Club last Sunday.

Whilst the qualifying rounds are sectional play over 15 ends, the quarter finals, semi finals and final are ‘knockout’ over 18 ends.

The finals were played in magnificent conditions for any sport, let alone bowls, and the front green at Wonthaggi Bowls Club complemented the location for such an important event.

In the quarter finals Chas Buccelli and Ron Burge (Inverloch) defeated Mick Dillon and Ross Gabb (Mirboo North).

Bill Francis and Howard Spencer (Phillip Island) were no match for Peter Kennedy and Russell Trotman (Leongatha).

The Coram connection of son Mick and father Cliff (Inverloch) accounted for Harry Rybalka and Kieran Gardner (Inverloch).

Peter Shaw and Ron Burge enjoyed the morning off with a ‘bye’.

Following lunch, the business end of the competition got underway with the semi finals.

In the early stages of the Cliff and Mick Coram match against Peter Shaw and Ron Lawson, it looked as though the match was going to be over in no time as the Corams were 13/3 in what appeared to be no time at all.

The experience of Shaw and Lawson then began to show through as they nibbled away at the score, pulling back to within six shots.

The Corams showed they were going to be a real threat in the final as they held on for

an 18/10 victory.

The second semi final was just as ‘nail-biting’, with Chas Buccelli and Ron Burge going ‘nip and tuck’ all the way and the lead changing on many occasions.

In the end, it was victory to Chas Buccelli and Ron Burge by two shots, 17/15.

The final date or venue will be played early in the New Year.

Pairs bowls: semi finalists runners-up Peter Shaw and Ron Lawson with winners Cliff Coram and Mick Coram and umpire Ray Anderson.

Fish Creek bowls OUR ladies were not quite good enough for the Phillip Island ladies last week, and there will be no more pennant for a month.

Both men’s teams were beaten on Saturday. Division 3 were beaten at Loch, while Division 5 were beaten at San Remo. Only three games to go, but they are a month off.

Our winning champions are (men) Robin McKenzie who defeated Tim McLean, (ladies) Faye McKenzie who defeated Lynn Harper.

Our Christmas break-up was a huge success and the winners of the raffle were Eileen Bell (the hamper), Grace Poletti (cake), Elysha Shaw (ham).

We ask bowlers to now make time to play their 100-up games as soon as possible.

• WOMEN’S A GRADE BASKETBALL

Midgets on march AFTER a few good weeks and no more forfeits, Midgets have moved into fourth spot on the Women’s ladder.

They were pushed for most of the game by Diamond’s who struggled to find the ring at times. New recruit for Midgets, Tracey Richards certainly made her presence felt, finishing as equal top scorer with her niece Jess Swift.

Diamonds fill-in Alana Bassett worked hard up both ends of the court and perhaps didn’t get the results she deserved.

Second side Opals also gave Phoenix a basketball lesson, with strong play up both ends of the court. They had a handy 15 point lead at half time and played the second half

with as much intensity.

Stacey Staley and Tamara Rendell were both top shots for Opals.

Top side Bingi let bottom side JCs know why they are at the top of the ladder in the first half, going to the break with a 25 point lead. In the second half JC’s five players found the basket a little more and put a more respectable 36/31 score on the board.

Youngster Lara Dunkley again played a cracker of a game for Bingi, rebounding well at both ends and finding plenty of ring. There were seven, three pointers shot from these sides for the match.

A reminder matches start again on January 28. Merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year to you all.

Results

Round 10

Midgets 28 (Jess Swift 12, Tracey Richards 12, Alex Rodaughan 10) d Diamonds 25 (Alana Bassett 8, Chelsea Paterson 6, Chelsea Griffen 6).

Opals 27 (Stacey Staley 13, Tamara Rendell 10, Rebecca Janssen 6) d Phoenix 11 (Toni Rowley 4).

Bingi Storm 65 (Lara Dunkley 26, Belinda Crawford 17, Shannon Leggett 16) d JCs (Raylene Kee 10, Robyn Knight 9, Gemma Martin 8).

Ladders Bingi Storm ....202.56 Opals...............163.07 Phoenix .............69.73 Midgets ...........158.06 Diamonds ..........66.45 JCs .....................46.56

29 27 20 18 15 13

PAGE 48 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Right: Stableford event: Woorayl Golf Club president Graeme Winkler said with more than 50 competitors (men and women) the event proved a popular drawcard.

Left: Awesome foursome: from left, Anne Forsyth, Pat Harvey (and daughter) Sharon Lagden, and Marg Harris, all from Leongatha, were giving the stableford an awesome drive.

Leongatha

SCORES were good in Saturday’s stableford event, especially in B Grade where Kevin Eastwood and Steve Hansen both came off the course with 41 points. Kevin won the countback over an unlucky Steve.

John Eabry won A Grade on 36, again after a countback from Ken Wardle. Peter Horman’s 38 points secured outright victory in C Grade.

Micah Berry won propin and Greg Hartland was close to a hole-in-one on the 16th for nearest the pin.

Ball winners were: S. Hansen 41, D. Hanna 40, N. Gillin 39, G. Hartland, K. Wardle 36; B. Stevens 35, B. Cathie, H. Sedelies,

Mirboo North THERE were 27 starters for the stableford event on Thursday, December 17.

The CCR was 69.

A Grade winner was Peter Chapman (13) 44.

Down the line: Wayne Reynolds (13) 43, Joyce Dyke (29) 41, John McFarlane (15) 41, Connor Williams (26) 40.

Birdies: Wayne Reynolds 4th, Andy Van Zuylen 6th, Noel Fox 4th, Tom Traill 4th, Mal Payne 4th and 6th.

December 19 There were 36 starters for the monthly medal played on Saturday. The CCR was 69.

G. Burt, B. Hutton 34.

Tuesday Ted Bruinewoud followed up a strong round from a couple of weeks back with another fine effort to record the day’s best of 40 points. David Vorwerg took the runner-up prize on 38.

Peter Blackney, in his farewell game, won nearest the pin on the 14th, while Bill Phillips won on the 16th.

Ball winners: T. McCarthy 37, B. Phillips, J. Smith, N. Cairns 35; J. McCarthy 34, A. Cairns 33; J. Arnott, J. Curtis 32, R. Burton 31.

Thursday Is the course getting easier? Four pairs achieved a score of +10 or better, and that is not a normal

situation. It’s good to see that two young teenagers were involved in the good scores.

Bob Jamieson and John Eabry (+11) won the day on a countback from Ian Watson and Bob Cathie.

Nearest the pin winners were Ian Sutherland (14th) and Jack Cutts from Yallourn on the 16th.

Ball winners: J. McCarthy, B. Hutton +10; G. Maher, N. Cairns +10; B. Stevens, D. Bethune +7; P. Hartigan, J. King +7; K. Scott, P. Hartigan +6.

All competitions for the rest of 2009 are stableford.

Remember to book a time slot for midweek events before 9.30.

To all our golfers and readers, have a very happy Christmas and come out swinging in the new year.

New club for golf association

Woorayl LAST Saturday the men played an aggregate stableford event sponsored by Rod and Judi Spokes from Leongatha Fresh Meat and Fish.

The winners with a combined 82 points were B. Wilson and R. Walker. They won from the father and son combination of Glenn and Ben Fitzpatrick who had 81 points.

Balls went to: P. Burgess, T. Ryan; C. Salmon, C. James; O. Vandervorm, B. Challis and G. Fennell, M. Wood on a countback. Nearest the pins were won by I. Atcheson and P. Wallace.

The ladies played a single stableford event and the winner was S. Lagdon with 48 points. This is not a mistake, and I did say that the ladies played a single stableford event.

Balls went to: P. Lancaster and mother of the winner P. Harvey. The ladies nearest the pins went to S. Lagdon and A. Grist.

The Thursday bar voucher went to Glenn Fitzpatrick with 45 points and balls to John Diaper, Bruce Challis and Roy Fisher. The rain again decimated the chook run.

Next Saturday, December 26 we will play a stableford event sponsored by Retire and Wealth.

Don’t forget that on Monday, December 28 we have an open day, with men’s and ladies’ fourball events sponsored by Kelvin Johns Retravision. The time sheet is on the board.

Have a merry Christmas and don’t forget that all putts that finish short of the hole don’t go in. There’s a new year’s resolution for you all.

First ball: on the opening of “Toonallook Wetlands” at the Meeniyan golf club in late November, Dot Christie had the honour of hitting the first official ball off the men’s 18th tee over the new wetlands.

Pictured are Dot Christie, Cr Bob Newton and Meeniyan golf club president Graham Hoskin.

This ball was later picked up from the middle of the 18th fairway and with the help of Col Sperling, a trophy was made to hold the ball.

This trophy is similar to one in the clubhouse that holds the golf ball Dot’s dad Stan Standfield hit to officially open the new 18 hole Meeniyan golf course in 1969.

A Grade and monthly medal winner was John McFarlane (14) net 66. B Grade was Ritchie Robbins (16) 68.

Down the line: Joe Kus 66, Phil Stimson 68, Terry Bradshaw 69, Peter Sanderson, Jeff Hughes.

Nearest the pin: 4th Wayne Reynolds, 6th Brian Randall, 13th Mike Higginbottom, 16th Peter Sanderson, 2nd shot 1st hole Tony Goldie.

Pro pin: Brian Randall.

Birdies: 4th Ian Evison, 6th Phil Stimson, Tom Trail; 13th Joe Kus, 16th Peter Sanderson.

THE South Gippsland District Golf Association has a new club.

Aussie Golf Ranch on Phillip Island was affiliated with the association on December 1.

The club can now hold official competitions and set official handicaps.

The course was built in July, 2006, but water restrictions meant it needed to be resowed before reopening in December 2007.

Competitions for South Gippsland members at the course will begin early next year.

The club will enter a men’s pennant team next year in Division 4 and a junior pennant team.

The Aussie Golf Ranch is a full length, nine hole championship course with par three holes in a links style.

There are plenty of bunkers on the Ross Watson designed course who is considered the nation’s best golf course architect.

Golf course owner Rohan Walker, said golf was his passion. The aim of his course is to make the sport more accessible for people.

Foster SATURDAY, December 19 - three ball Ambrose, PBE trophy, Christmas breakup.

Winners: Rodney Coughran-Lane, David Knee, Brenton McKenzie (9⅔) 56⅓ net.

Down the line balls: Chris Foulds, Norm Cooper, Ray Prain (7⅝) 59⅛ net, Owen Kindellan, Athol McGrath, Phil Nightingall (9) 60 net.

Nearest the pin: fourth Tony Vanin, sixth Brenton McKenzie, 13th Andrew Boyd, 15th Kevin Flett, 17th Jim Parry.

Thanks Greg for organising a great breakup feast.

Ladies Saturday, December 19 - two ball Ambrose winners: Pam Witheridge and Judy Fah 63 net. Down the line balls:

Leongatha cycling THE pre-Christmas breakup night was raced on Friday night in perfect conditions for racing at the velodrome.

Riders enjoyed some different events followed by pizza and a social time.

Unfortunately a few riders were missing and they will now have to wait until January 15 to race at club level again.

First event for the night was a one lap time trial and best effort was Tom Dudley with a 33.14 second time.

He was followed by Ben Patterson with a 34.88 sec and then the big improver for the season, Matt Dudley with a 35.61 sec.

The B Grade riders saw Mitch Gin record a 38.53 sec, which was just ahead of Thomas McFarlane with a 38.80 sec lap, Will Lumby with a 39.95 sec and James Scott on his heavier bike with a 43.49 sec.

The second event was a one lap handicap and James led off with a 75m handicap, but Thomas and Will quickly closed the mark, taking a fast starting Matt Dudley with them.

Into the finish straight it was a wall of riders, but Matt Dudley finished best to grab the win from Will and Thomas with a flashing scratchman in Tom Dudley finishing fourth.

Will and Thomas were giving it everything and bumped into each other as they crossed the line, but both managed to stay on the bike.

After a brief recovery period they were all on the bike for a two lap handicap.

This time James started from 220m and rode strongly to just stay ahead of the fast finishing bunch and claim the win; Tom Dudley was second and Matt Dudley third.

With some new shirts the riders were split into a red and a green team for a couple of events.

The first was a teams elimination

sprint event.

This event went to the green team of Tom and Matt Dudley and Thomas McFarlane.

The following event, a progressive points scratch race over eight laps saw the first rider over the line each lap score progressively more points.

Again it was a win to the green team.

With the motorbike on hand, the racing finished with some motor paced scratch races. The A Grade was over eight laps and Tom Dudley won narrowly from Ben and Matt.

In the B Grade event over five laps it was a win to Thomas from Mitch and Will.

Last Wednesday Thomas McFarlane competed in the Junior Austral meeting at the Hysense Arena track.

Thomas won his elimination event and placed in several others, showing his current good form is right up with the best in his age group.

Barbara Warren and Ineke de Graaf. Nearest the pin: sixth Judy Fah, 15th Barbara Warren, 17th Ineke de Graaf.

Friday, December 18 twilight stableford winner: Don Cripps (19) 20 pts.

Down the line balls: John Ellis (15) 18 pts, Ross McKenzie (25) 18 pts, Kevin Witheridge (13) 18 pts. Nearest the pin: fourth Sheron Cripps, sixth Geoff Eddy.

Thursday, December 17 - par. Winner: Geoff Eddy (20) +6.

Down the line balls: Denham Grierson (23)+5, Bernd Amesreiter (22) +5, Chris Foulds (24) +4.

Nearest the pin: 13th Denham Grierson.

Wednesday, December 16 ladies summer competition - stableford.

Winner: Barbara Britton (44) 41 pts.

Down the line balls: Wilma Scheerle (16) 35 pts, Mary Ellis (30) 32 pts.

Nearest the pin: 17th Wilma Scheerle.

Tuesday, December 15 - stableford winner: John Mathers (16) 45 pts.

Down the line balls: Kevin Flett (10) 41 pts, Chris Foulds (24) 41 pts.

Nearest the pin: sixth John Ellis.

Coming events

Tuesday, December 22 stableford.

Wednesday, December 23 - summer comp, stableford.

Thursday, December 24 - stableford.

Saturday, December 26 - Boxing Day men’s and ladies stableford.

Ladies Saturday, December 26 - Boxing Day stableford.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 49

Poowong squash summer pennant finishes All Poowong Squash summer pennant grand finals were held on Wednesday, December 9.

In Section 2 the lower ranked Guppies played the Mollies in a very tight battle.

Mick Bayer and Wendi

Rahilly, the number ones, started off the evening’s play.

Mick’s game has improved as the season has progressed and he played aggressive, strong squash, winning the first game easily.

Wendi rallied in the second and despite a heavy crash into the side wall, she managed to

win the second game. In the third and fourth games, Mick regained his composure, speed and strong serves and defeated Wendi three games to one.

Barb Stewart played as a reserve number three for Rowan Smith, who is currently overseas, and Barb had her work cut out against the tall Leigh

• SOUTH GIPPSLAND MIDWEEK LADIES PENNANT TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Grand final winners Tuesday December 1 at Leongatha.

Section 1 - Inverloch Sand: Virginia McEntee, Sarah Smith, Sue Coglin, Debbie Wells (pictured) defeated Leongatha, Marion Francis, Anne Westaway, Giulia Joyce, Kellie Simpson.

Section 02 - Inverloch Madfish: Sue Clark, Jenny Bond, Kaylene Chapman, Ruth Harvey, Tracie McInnes (pictured) defeated Wonthaggi Kit Kats, Kaye Churchill, Kathy Geyer, Karen Sheerin, Janet Chambers.

Patman. Leigh won the first two games but Barb was not willing to give in and despite Leigh being well placed in the third, Barb’s strong serves saw her win the game. Leigh’s hard hitting shots and good length placement of the ball won him the match in four games.

With the scores at one all, strong newcomer Trent Breen, playing for the Mollies, would have a battle against the thoughtful young Stewart McKenzie. This was a very even match with many handouts, both players moving well around the court. Trent won the first game and Stewart was up 8-2 in the second when Trent increased the power of his serves. Stewart struggled momentarily, but played good, thoughtful, tight length to his advantage, winning the second game. The third game was a tight 10-9 to Trent and a close fourth game gave Trent the match.

Ambidextrous Albey Mathews always had his opponents guessing this season and casual Matt Hancock allowed Albey to win their first game.

It had been expected that these number two players should have had a closer match, and in the second, the score was very even at eight all.

Matt managed to think more about his game plan and won 10-8. Now at one all, both players were desperate to win the match and fought hard for every point. The crowd was well entertained, with both players covering the court well and stretching out the next two games to 10. A hard loss to take, with scores 6-9, 10-8, 108, 10-8 to Matt.

The Mollies defeated the Guppies 3 Rubbers to 1 to win Section 2.

In Section 1, the Tulips were up against the Snapdragons and the players followed the regular 4,3,2,1 order of play. Cagey Joe Chessari, with his band of supporters was too strong for Shane Anderson.

Ando has filled in for Section 1 and has improved as a result but Joe’s excellent length prevented Shane from playing his game and Joe won 3-0.

Intelligent player Fred Kasper had no answers against the athletic Mark Hutchison.

Despite all Fred’s attempts, Hutch was too fast and wanted control of the match. Fred did

however sneak back in the third game, taking it to 10, but Hutch came back aggressively, winning 3-0.

Now at one game all, a fitter Michael Bracecamp was very determined in his match against Matt Johnson. Despite Matt’s great start, Bracey fought back, winning the first game 10-8. Matt’s unforced errors prevented him from getting back into play and Bracey’s tight drop shots assisted his 3-0 win.

An interesting situation for the top player in the competition, Mark Cecil, who could only concede a few points if his team the Snapdragons were to win. This was a fantastic, entertaining match and Allan Cameron was fighting for every point. Each player was determined to use all the court, play excellent length, and rally hard and long. Despite many handouts, Allan didn’t gain much in the way of points and Mark won 3-0. Allan did however win enough points for a team win to the Tulips in Section 1.

Awards Summer 2009 Section 1: Most Consistent - Mark Cecil.

Most Improved - Brian Wright.

Section 2: Most Consistent - Rowan Smith.

Most Improved - Matt Hancock.

The Ron Fleming (Chooka) Encouragement trophy, an annual perpetual trophy was awarded to Skye Douglas.

Illness, injuries and distant work commitments have been rife this season, so congratulations to all players for making this difficult season work.

The club was devastated by the passing of Glenn McLean in August. Glenn has been a tough number one competitor at the Poowong Squash Club for many years and we will all miss his humour, sportsmanship, fair play and good friendship. Glenn was a role model to us all.

Anyone interested in joining the Poowong Squash Club can contact Matt Johnson on 5659 2015 or 0418 526 344.

The next season begins in February.

Award winners: back row, Mark Cecil and Brian Wright; front row, Matt Hancock and Skye Douglas.

Section 2: back row, runners-up, Guppies; from left, Mick Bayer, Stewart McKenzie, Albey Mathews (absent) Barb Stewart (absent); front row, winners, Mollies; from left, , Matt Hancock, Leigh Patman and Trent Breen, Wendi Rahilly (absent).

Section 1: back row, runners-up, Snapdragons; from left, Mark Cecil, Matt Johnson, Mark Hutchison and Shane Anderson; front row, winners, Tulips; from left, Allan Cameron, Michael Bracecamp, Fred Kasper and Joe Chessari.

Moe tennis championships LOCAL junior tennis players travelled to Moe again to contest the schoolboy/schoolgirl tennis championship held at Latrobe Indoor Tennis Centre, Moe. Section 3 - Inverloch: Debbie Fowles, Rhonda Evans, Denise Burke, Anne Leongatha’s Justin Krohn and Thornby, absent - Leanne du Plessis (pictured) defeated Phillip Island Pen- Meeniyan’s Sam Wilson defended guins, Helena Leslie, Liz Sablotny, Jeanette Coutts, Helen McCormick.

their doubles title, which they have won three years running.

It’s a fantastic result and they are surely the young Woodies of Gippsland.

Sam went on to win the Boys 15/ Under singles titles 8/5 against Jamie Kemp, a worthy opponent from Maffra, who did very well in his 16/

Section 4 - Corinella: Kerri Chamberlain, Rosemary Burgess, Thelma Churchill, Lena Tumino, Jan Chisholm, Sue Graham defeated Wonthaggi 15/Under boys doubles: Justin Krohn and Sam Wilson (pictured) d Jamie Kemp and Daniel DigGold, Michelle Todd, Shelley Harvey, Kaz Donohue, Kristy Geyer. nan 8/5.

Under matches.

Justin won the 15/Under consolation match against Conor Pederson.

This tournament is worth getting involved in and any 18 and Under players can contact Marie Owens on 5137 8080 to get their name on the mail out list for next year.

15/Under boys singles: Sam Wilson d Jamie Kemp 8/5.

PAGE 50 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

• LDCA A GRADE DIVISION ONE

OMK, Imperials go down TWO of the top three teams in Division Two cricket went down on Saturday, throwing open the battle for supremacy in this grade.

The much anticipated clash between OMK and Wonthaggi Workmens saw the Workers too good with the ball.

Batting first Workers made 9/172, with Tim Hooper smashing it around to make 69 with Gavin Britt 27 and Ryan Thomas 23 not out.

In reply OMK was all out for 135 with one ball left in the innings. Opener Tim Miller was top score with 31 then Jason Wilson on 24 but, after that, the innings fell apart.

Glen Alvie has been knocking on the door and they claimed another scalp, third placed Imperials. Glen Alvie 3/180 defeated Imperials 9/161.

The opening stand of 120 between Michael Roberts 64 and Andrew Donohue, 76 not out, set up victory for Glen Alvie who batted first.

A number of Imps players got amongst the runs, including opener Gary Sauvarin 35 and Mark Lafferty 36, but none of the bats could go on with the job.

Donohue claimed three wickets and Simpson two in

Glen Alvie’s win.

Nerrena again disappointed, going down to Inverloch 8/160 to 6/176.

Nerrena batted first and signs were good early, with Tim Wightman 20 and David Trotman 34 combining well.

Symmons held up his end and scored 43.

Enter Dylan Clark for Inverloch, who managed to bowl beautifully to claim 6/35 and decimate Nerrena’s middle order.

Inverloch’s Dylan Clark continued his “man of the match” performance by hitting 52 runs to combine with Daniel Ruffin 68 not out in a 70 run partnership.

In the final game Miners 7/144 defeated Korumburra 105.

Weerasinghe top scored for ‘Burra with 29 but not enough Korumburra batsmen could make a decent score to challenge the target set.

Cricket takes a break for Christmas, until a Sunday round of matches on January 10 with the district match set down for Saturday, January 9.

Glen Alvie will play Korumburra in their match a little earlier, on Saturday, January 2.

Details OMK v WONTHAGGI WORKMENS 1st Innings

Wonthaggi Workmens D. Brann b. K. Rothier ...............3 C. Harvey c. P. Harper b. J. Wilson ..............................7 T. Hooper c. T. Miller b. P. Dell ................................69 G. Britt c. J. Wilson b. P. Dell ................................27 G. Bolding c. J. Wilson b. B. Wyatt ...............................9 R. Thomas n.o. ........................23 J. Sherrin b. B. Wyatt .................0 M. Thomas r.o. L. Van Rooye ....5 R. Geyer b. ................................8 L. McGuirk c. J. Wilson b. P. Dell ..................................4 Extras .......................................17 Total ....................................9/172 Bowling: J. Wilson 2/21, K. Rothier 1/21, L. Van Rooye 0/54, B. Wyatt 2/41, P. Dell 3/30.

1st Innings OMK T. Miller c. D. Brann b. G. Bolding .........................31 N. Creed lbw. b. G. Bolding.....16 J. Wilson c. D. Brann b M. Thomas .........................24 K. Rotheir c. R. Geyer b. T. Hooper ........................... 11 D. Creed c. T. Hooper b. J. Sherrin ............................10 R. White stp. R. Geyer b. J. Sherrin ........................... 11 B. Wyatt c. G. Britt b. M. Thomas ..........................1 M. Grabham r.o. G. Britt ............2 P. Dell r.o. R. Geyer ...................5 P. Harper c. D. Brann b. M. Thomas ..........................8 L. Van Rooye n.o........................0 Extras .......................................16 Total .......................................135 Bowling: S. Williams 0/13, L. McGuirk 0/26, R. Thomas 0/21, G. Bolding 2/26, T. Hooper 1/9, M. Thomas 3/21, J. Sherrin 2/14.

WONTHAGGI MINERS v KORUMBURRA 1st Innings Wonthaggi Miners Total ....................................7/144 Bowling: M. Olden 0/15, M. Patching 3/35, K. Dorman 1/5, D. Wyhoon 0/26, D. Scott 1/19, U. Weerasinghe 1/42.

1st Innings Korumburra D. Salmon c. J. Trevisi b. M. Johnson .......................28 M. Olden b. R. Thomas ..............0 I. Osman c. C. Thomas b. M. Johnson ........................12 U. Weerasinghe c&b. J. Helman .....................29 P. Edwards c. C. Thomas b. R. Birkett .............................7 B. Hayes c. C. Thomas b. R. Birkett .............................1 K. Dorman c. J. O’Reilly b. M. Johnson .........................5 D. Wyhoon c. J. Helman b. J. Trevisi ..............................9 D. Scott c. B. Mattock b. J. Trevisi ..............................0 A. Balfour n.o. ...........................1 M. Patching b. J. Helman ...........1 Extras .......................................12 Total .......................................105 Bowling: Not available.

INVERLOCH v NERRENA 1st Innings Nerrena M. Clark r.o. D. Ruffin ...............4 T. Wightman c. W. Taberner b. A. Hall ...............................20 D. Trotman b. D. Clark ............34 D. Symmons b. D. Clark ..........43 C. Friebe c. A. Hall b. D. Clark ............................. 11 C. Rump c. L. Rankin b. D. Clark .............................19 J. Renden lbw. b. D. Clark .........0 T. West n.o................................12 R. Clark c. J. Smith b. D. Clark ...............................1

Solid knock: In D Grade one-day action, Gavin Gilliam provided an outstanding knock for Nerrena, top scoring 87 before being caught against Inverloch on Saturday. It did not prevent a loss. Nerrena won the toss and decided to bat first, but Inverloch finished on top, 6/180 against Nerrena 7/162 after its 40 overs.

J. Trease n.o................................0 Extras .......................................16 Total ....................................8/160 Bowling: N. Cant 0/34, C. Millison 0/2, A. Hall 1/26, L. Rankin 0/18, J. Smith 0/41, D. Clark 6/35.

1st Innings Inverloch W. Taberner c. ...........................0 S. Brayley c. ............................14 D. Ruffin n.o. ...........................68 J. Smith b. .................................4 D. Clark stp. ............................52 W. Rankin c. ..............................0 N. Cant b. ..................................8 A. Ware n.o. ...............................9 Extras .......................................20 Total ....................................6/176 Bowling: C. Rump 3/37, R. Clark 1/29, T. Wightman 0/32, J.

Trease 1/32, M. Chackochan 0/25, C. Friebe 1/8, D. Symmons 0/1.

IMPERIALS v GLEN ALVIE 1st Innings Glen Alvie M. Roberts c. D. Davis b. M. Malloy .........................64 A. Donohue n.o. .......................76 P. Jordan c. G. Sauvarin b. M. Malloy ...........................6 A. Simpson b. M. Malloy.........14 S. Lowe n.o. ...............................1 Extras .......................................19 Total ....................................3/180 Bowling: A. Eddy 0/24, J. Pellicano 0/10, N. Eddy 0/14, X. Davis 0/31, G. Forrester 0/26, M. Malloy 3/44, M. Lafferty 0/27.

1st Innings Imperials G. Sauvarin c. L. Gennicarro b. J. Beasley ..........................35

L. Rogers b. P. Roberts.............12 X. Davis lbw. b. L. Gennicarro ......................3 T. Williams c. C. Tait b. A. Donohue ......................31 D. Davis c. M. Roberts b. A. Donohue .........................6 A. Eddy c&b. K. Simpson .........0 N. Eddy b. K. Simpson ..............0 M. Lafferty b. A. Donohue.......36 J. Pellicano b. A. Simpson .........2 M. Malloy n.o. ...........................8 G. Forrester n.o. .........................1 Extras .......................................18 Total ....................................9/161 Bowling: A. Simpson 1/38, P. Roberts 1/18, L. Gennicarro 1/11, J. Beasley 1/11, K. Simpson 2/30, A. Donohue 3/45.

• B GRADE

• CRICKET

Rose and Walker hit big for OMK

Junior LDCA trial game

OMK gave Wonthaggi Workmens too much to chase, when it made 239 runs on the weekend.

With the team’s top order in scintillating form, OMK amassed an impressive total of 239 runs in its 40 overs.

Rose (82) and Walker (72) were at the top of their game, scoring quickly and keeping the run count constantly ticking over.

And while Workmens’ opener Brann scored well, finishing with 48 runs, few others could match the pace.

With a bowling attack led by Creed, Paterson, Jeffries and Wyatt, OMK was functioning well on the pitch and in the field.

Wicketkeeper Rose took three catches.

Phillip Island v Korumburra Phillip Island was much too good for Korumburra, who was all out in the 29th over.

The Island’s Cleeland continued his good form, notching up 77 runs. He was a standout performer on a day when big totals were hard to come by.

The Island’s Kleverkamp (3/11) and DL Johnston (3/33) were best with the ball.

Foster v Nerrena Foster cruised to victory over Nerrena, who was all out for a paltry 87.

Best batsman for Foster was Jongebloed with 44 runs.

Telfer was still there at the end of the innings, with 33 not out.

Telfer was even better with the ball, taking 3/3.

Imperials v Glen Alvie Imperials batted well to secure an easy victory over a Glen Alvie team that had few standout performers.

Imperials bowlers Connelly (4/28) and Collins (3/14) were on target with the ball.

Glen Alvie batsman Tiziani

was a solid contributor with the bat, notching up 38 runs.

Details OMK v WONTHAGGI WORKMENS 1st Innings OMK A. Rose c. D. Britt b. L. Sawyer ..........................82 K. Kerr c. N. Tessarri b. M. McCall .........................30 M. Walker c. S. Huitema b. A. McLean.........................72 J. Van Rooye c. D. Britt b. N. Tessarri ........................18 D. McMeekin n.o. ....................27 Extras .......................................10 Total ....................................4/239 Bowling: A. McLean 1/43, M. McCall 1/62, N. Tessarri 1/64, L. Sawyer 1/38, A. Sartori 0/26.

1st Innings Wonthaggi Workmens S. Brann c. N. Adams b. D. Jeffries ..........................48 S. Bolding c. A. Rose b. T. Creed ...............................9 D. Britt lbw. b. D. McMeekin ..12 C. Harvey c. T. Wyatt b. J. Paterson ...........................9 L. Sawyer c. K. Kerr b. J. Paterson ...........................6 S. Huitema c. A. Rose b. T. Wyatt ...............................9 J. Bolding r.o. J. Van Rooye .....23 A. McLean stp. A. Rose b. T. Wyatt ...............................2 M. McCall c. J. Paterson b. D. Jeffries ............................5 N. Tessarri c. A. Rose b. T. Creed .............................40 A. Sartori n.o. ...........................13 Total .......................................176 Bowling: T. Creed 2/32, N. Adams 0/12, K. Kerr 0/22, D. McMeekin 1/26, J. Paterson 2/24, D. Jeffries 2/19, T. Wyatt 2/41.

PHILLIP ISLAND v KORUMBURRA 1st Innings Phillip Island J. Johnston b. L. Williams ..........9 R. Cleeland c. K. Rigby b J. Cook ..............................77 R. Velardi c. L. Williams b. A. Meade .............................5 E. Richards lbw. b. M. Loader .19 M. Cleary b. M. Loader ...........14 D. Johnston n.o. .........................8 J. Kleverkamp n.o. .....................2 Extras .......................................26 Total ....................................5/160 Bowling: A. Meade 1/18, L. Williams 1/24, K. Rigby 0/20, S. Phillips 0/35, M. Loader 2/27, J. Cook 1/28.

1st Innings Korumburra K. Rigby b. J. Kleverkamp.......13 J. Cook b. J. Kleverkamp ...........3

C. Smith r.o. .............................13 C. Bailey lbw. b. J. Johnston ......0 H. Wyhoon lbw. b. J. Kleverkamp .....................0 M. Loader c. B. Johnston b. D. Johnston .........................6 C. Mileto c&b. E. Richards........0 C. Stevens c&b. J. Johnston .....19 S. Phillips c&b. D. Johnston ....10 L. Williams n.o. ..........................3 A. Meade c&b A. Emery..........13 Extras .........................................2 Total .........................................82 Bowling: R. Cleeland 0/11, J. Kleverkamp 3/11, J. Johnston 1/8, E. Richards 1/9, D. Johnston 3/33, A. Emery 1/8.

FOSTER v NERRENA 1st Innings Foster G. Wagstaff c&b. B. Croatto ....17 R. Johnston b. B. Castles .........20 M. Comben b. B. Castles ...........3 B. Coates c. S. Checkley b. Z. Trease............................25 J. Gurnett c. B. Croatto b. V. Sasikumar .......................7 J. Weston lbw. b. W. Telfer .........1 L. Kyne lbw. b. W. Telfer ...........0 S. Westaway b. W. Telfer ...........0 B. Tilley c&b. V. Sasikumar ......0 J. Staley r.o. B. Castles, W. Telfer ..................................0 D. Clearihan-Jervies n.o. ............2 Extras .......................................12 Total .........................................87 Bowling: L. Brandon 0/15, Z. Trease 1/13, B. Croatto 1/28, B. Castles 2/12, V. Sasikumar 2/12, W. Telfer 3/3.

1st Innings Nerrena T. Trotman b. .............................0 L. Jongebloed c. ......................44 W. Telfer n.o. ............................33 L. Brandon c.............................13 B. Castles b. ............................19 S. Checkely c. ...........................0 A. Harrison n.o.........................15 Extras .......................................15 Total ....................................5/140 Bowling: B. Coates 2/35, R. Johnston 0/13, J. Staley 2/23, B. Tilley 1/27, D. Clearihan-Jervies 0/14, J. Weston 0/9, G. Wagstaff 0/14.

IMPERIALS v GLEN ALVIE 1st Innings Glen Alvie G. Chappell c. J. Forrester b. Degennaro .........................13 R. Bolding c. T. Jans b. M. Collins ...........................2 D. Tiziani c. T. Jans b. D. Connelly .......................38 J. Hales b. D. Connelly ..............3 M. Huitson b. D. Connelly .........0 B. Tiley c. D. Connelly b. A. Degennaro ......................3 G. Grant b D. Connelly ..............1

S. Nippers b. M. Collins...........15 M. Hull b. M. Collins .................0 J. Wheeler n.o.............................1 A. Hamilton b. N. Slater ............5 Extras .......................................17 Total .........................................98 Bowling: M. Collins 3/14, D. Connelly 4/28, C. Roughead 0/21, A. Degennaro 2/12, N. Slater 1/16.

1st Innings Imperials B. Casbolt r.o. G. Grant............37 K. Gray b. J. Wheeler...............23 D. Connelly c. J. Wheeler b. S. Nippers..........................10 D. Langstaff c. G. Chappel b. J. Hales ..............................21 T. Burgess r.o. S. Nippers ..........0 T. Jans c. G. Chappell b. R. Bolding ...........................0 J. Forrester b. R. Bolding ...........5 N. Slater n.o. ..............................0 M. Collins b. A. Hamilton..........6 Extras .........................................7 Total ....................................8/109 Bowling: J. Hales 1/12, S. Nipers 1/15, M. Huitson 0/21, R. Bolding 2/31, J. Wheeler 1/4, D. Tiziani 0/18, A. Hamilton 1/6.

C Grade Wonthaggi Workmens 9/180 (M. Turton 56, B. Osborne 49, S. Coldabella n.o. 18; G. Adams 5/19) d OMK 8/131 (B. Nation n.o. 40; M. Dalton 2/17).

Koonwarra RSL 6/145 (G. Logan 63, J. Moore n.o. 32; C. Dooney n.o. 13; J. Loos 2/27, D. Jagoe 2/40) d Wonthaggi Miners 96 (J. Moore 4/18, G. Davison 3/17).

Town 168 (M. Borschman 57; L. Mercer 2/13, C. Harris 2/26, S. Riley 2/21, M. Olden 2/25) d MDU 111 (S. Riley 37, A. Kaushik n.o. 13; L. O’Brien 2/3, W. Turner 2/17, J. Schelling 2/12).

Fish Creek/Tarwin 5/119 (G. Buckland n.o. 48, W. Cocksedge n.o. 19; M. Holloway 4/10) lt.

Poowong/Loch 7/166 (I. Jenkins 44, G. Poynton n.o. 39; C. Fisher 4/16, J. Spokes 2/10).

D Grade Koonwarra RSL 8/83 (L. Hughes n.o. 29; M. Francis 2/5) lt.

Phillip Island 8/105 (J. Black 27, J. Blackwell n.o. 24; M. Pickersgill 4/19, G. Matthies 2/14).

Town 9/114 (G. Young 57; S. McKenzie 3/7) lt. Korumburra 147 (G. Barrett 35, T. Allen 35; J. Burge 4/30, J. Bolge 3/16, G. Fleming 3/2).

Nerrena 7/162 (G. McGrath 33, G. Giliam 87; W. Holmes

4/27, I. Smith 2/15) lt. Inverloch 6/180 (I. Fowler 73, W. Holmes n.o. 11, W. Williams n.o. 14; K. Clark 3/31).

Imperials 113 (N. Hodges 40, S. McLennan 32; R. Oould 4/28) lt. Glen Alvie 10/162 (S. Beasley 45, J. Huitson n.o. 10; S. McLennan 3/33, G. Wright 2/22).

E Grade Poowong/Loch 4/140 (J Garnham 44, T. Lancaster 36, T. Singh n.o. 26; I. Rutherford 3/34) d Town 112 (G. Pouw r.o. 23; S. McKinnon 2/27, G. Birnie 2/14, S. Magnusson 3/26).

MDU 71 (E. Proudlock 17; P. Dower 2/8, A. Angwin 2/7, M. Da Costa 2/14, J. Chaseling 4/6) lt.

Foster 8/202 (B. Youl ret. n.o. 37, M. Da Costa 59; A. Hill 2/53).

Phillip Island 110 (G. Marshall 27; R. Provan 2/11, B. Brewer 2/21, D. Wylie 2/28) lt.

OMK 8/152 (K. Houghton n.o.

102; B. Young 2/24, S. Loiacono 2/10).

Wonthaggi Miners 9/98 (D. Wylie 26; S. Mitchelson 2/18, R. McGuirk 5/14) lt. Wonthaggi Workmens 5/137 (D. McGuirk 48, R. McGuirk n.o. 22, S. Steer n.o. 23;).

Under16 East Imperials 6/110 (D. Westaway 31, B. Davidson n.o. 22; S. Brett 2/16) d Foster 34 (L. Bromley n.o. 13; J. Stewart 2/4, R. Higgins 3/5).

MDU 5/74 (M. Wight 2/10, J. Raabe 3/9) lt. Korumburra 5/76 (N. Allen n.o. 19, J. Meade n.o. 20).

Koonwarra RSL (B. Tomada 39; T. Wyatt 2/16, C. O’Brien 2/9) d OMK 65 (T. Wyatt 47; W. Egan 4/5).

Town 6/96 (N. Moore ret. n.o.

41J) d Fish Creek/Tarwin 8/89 (Z. Redpath 31; N. Moore 2/16, M. Borschman 3/2).

Under16 West Inverloch lost on forfeit Poowong/Loch.

Phillip Island 6/145 (B. Johnston 36; J. Piasente 3/31) d Wonthaggi Miners.

OMK bye.

Glen Alvie 90 (J. Bowler n.o. 52; M. McCall 2/11, B. Van Agtmaal 2/21, L. McLean 2/15) lt. Wonthaggi Workmens Gold 4/143 (J. Sheerin 34, S. Huitema 27, L. Gennaccaro n.o. 18, J. Liddle n.o. 18).

THE Under 14s and Under 15s played a trial game against Warragul at Leongatha on December 20 in preparation for Country week.

It was a good work out for both teams, with some players getting their first look at turf and in the Under 14s most boys were representing the LDCA for the first time.

The boys all showed glimpses of their ability, they now know what level they have to achieve and what skill areas they have to work

on. The Under 14s made 154 and the Under 15s 123.We thank Warragul for coming to Leongatha and hope this will be an annual warm up for Country Week.

The junior committee thanks Imperials Cricket Club for their support in staging this day, preparing the turf wicket and the use of their facilities.

Under 12 and 13 A game has been organised for February 21 for LDCA under 12s and 13s teams to play Warragul at Warragul. Further details to clubs for selection of teams.

• COUNTRY WEEK CRICKET

Junior teams announced THE Leongatha and District Cricket Association has announced teams for Junior Country Week at Bairnsdale, running from January 4 to 8.

The following sides have been selected: Under 15: Coach, Darren Scott, Korumburra.

Team manager, Dave Harris, MDU. Thomas Wyatt, OMK (captain), Eli Richards, P. Island (vice captain); Nathan Allen, Korumburra; Daniel Britton, Fish Creek; Jake Cochrane, Poowong/ Loch; Ben Foon, Wonthaggi Miners; Daniel Gordon, MDU; Cam Harris, MDU; Jason Meade, Korumburra; Nick Moore, Leongatha Town; Ryan Olden, MDU; Jarryd Scott, Korumburra; Brendan Tomada, Koonwarra/RSL; Beau Van Agtmaal, Wonthaggi Workmens.

Under14: Coach, Mark Manteit. Team manager, Geoff Wyatt. Michael Manteit, P. Island (captain); Jarrod Black,

P. Island; Brodie Johnston, P. Island; Brok Davidson, Imperials; Pierre Dunlevie, Korumburra; Jack Flanders, Fish Creek; Tom Hamilton, Wonthaggi Miners; James Honeysett, Wonthaggi Miners; Alex Officer, P. Island; Jai Prain, Foster; Ashwin Raveendran, Inverloch; Jakeb Thomas, Wonthaggi Workmens; Daniel Turton, Wonthaggi Workmens; Darby Walker, Fish Creek/Tarwin.

Under the rules in Under 14s we are obliged to play four Under 13s in our squad.

Matches are played at Wy Yung (Mon - Tues), Lindenow (Wed), Paynesville (Thur), Lucknow (Fri).

If there are any sponsors interested in supporting the boys in their endeavours at Bairnsdale please contact Geoff Wyatt, home 5659 8225, work 5674 9300. Sponsorship can start at $50.

The boys are very proud to be representing the Leongatha Cricket Association and have been training hard to put their best foot forward.

“THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - PAGE 51

• LDCA A GRADE DIVISION 2

Poowong / Loch wins thriller POOWONG / Loch won by a run in the last over, chasing Fish Creek / Tarwin’s total of 128.

Fish Creek / Tarwin batted first and seemed on target, with Watkins making an impressive 59.

The trouble was the rest of his team fell for single figure totals.

Poowong/Loch’s Mitchell was outstanding with the ball, ripping a hole through the Fish Creek/Tarwin batting order.

Mitchell finished his spell with 6/23.

Team-mate Nestor was best with the bat, with a knock of 32.

Phillip Island v MDU Phillip Island continued its impressive form on the weekend, with a hard fought win over MDU. The team was led admirably by Murphy, who hit 111 not out and Manteit, who scored 65.

MDU batted well, but fell 25 runs short of a win.

The Island’s Wilson was among the best players, knocking up 30 not out and claiming 3/37 when he bowled.

Koonwarra / Leongatha RSL v Wonthaggi Miners Koonwarra / Leongatha RSL has smashed its way to victory over a lacklustre Wonthaggi Miners outfit.

The Wonthaggi Miners’ top order fell cheaply. The team retained some dignity through a middle order assault.

Koony’s Peters was deadly with the ball, coming away with 3/19.

With Wise (112 not out) and Moore (71 not out) both playing their shots, an impressive total of 226 was amassed in response to the Miners’ 144.

Town v Inverloch Town has returned to form, with a big win over Inverloch.

With an even spread of attacking batsmen, Town had little trouble passing

Let go: Imperials batsman Gary Sauvarin leaves this one alone during Leongatha’s run chase at the Recreation Reserve.

Inverloch’s total of 108. Ash Hickey was best with 44 runs.

He had done well with the ball too, claiming 3/33. Fast bowling sensation Nathan Johnston was on target too, taking 4/10. Johnston took the first three wickets for just one run.

On the other side of the ledger, Inverloch’s Williams was a standout for his team, making 27 runs and claiming 3/44.

Details PHILLIP ISLAND v MDU 1st Innings Phillip Island M. Wilson lbw. b. M. Dower .....2 K. Murphy n.o. ....................... 111 T. Hornsby c. T. Harris b. M. Dower ............................0 A. Manteit c. C. Le Page b. T. Harris ............................65 A. Matthews c. A. Baillie b. M. Dower ............................6 C. Viljoen stp. J. Sinclair b. S. Arnup ..............................0 C. Wilson n.o............................30 Extras .......................................10 Total ....................................5/224 Bowling: M. Dower 3/45, T. Harris 1/26, S. Browne 0/42, C. Hoober 0/36, S. Arnup 1/73.

1st Innings MDU S. Arnup c. M. Price b. A. Dimech .........................18 J. Sinclair c. M. Price b. S. Kirton ............................30 C. Le Page b. A. Matthews ......38 M. Le Page b. C. Wilson ..........16 C. Hoober b. C. Wilson ............12 W. Prosser b. S. Boyack ...........18 A. Baillie b. C. Wilson .............27 M. Dower b. S. Boyack..............1 B. Spokes r.o. K. Murphy ..........9 S. Browne n.o.............................2 T. Harris n.o. .............................0 Extras .......................................29 Total ....................................9/200 Bowling: A. Dimech 1/37, S. Boyack 2/17, A. Matthews 1/41, S. Kirton 1/23, M. Price 0/29, C. Wilson 3/37.

WONTHAGGI MINERS v KOONWARRA RSL 1st Innings Wonthaggi Miners M. Wright c. B. Anderson b. B. Davison...........................4 G. Kent b. J. Peters.....................1 P. Hammer b. J. Peters ...............8 G. Shaw c. L. Sperling b. J. Peters ................................7 J. Armstrong b. S. Sperling ......36 R. Jones lbw. b. T. Davison ........4 L. Jones n.o. .............................22

D. Barlow c. L. Sperling b. C. Wise ..............................10 P. Cornelis n.o. .........................36 Extras .......................................16 Total ....................................7/144 Bowling: J. Peters 3/19, B. Davison 1/22, B. Moscript 0/43, T. Davison 1/19, S. Sperling 1/17, C. Wise 1/21.

1st Innings Koonwarra RSL C. Wise n.o. ........................... 112 B. Moscript c. B. Andrighetto b. J. Armstrong ........................9 S. Moore n.o.............................71 Extras .......................................34 Total ....................................1/226 Bowling: J. Armstrong 1/34, P. Cornelis 0/20, R. Jones 0/50, D. Barlow 0/51, P. Hammer 0/36, W. Howson 0/12, L. Jones 0/22.

TOWN v INVERLOCH 1st Innings Inverloch T. Thornby c. R. Templeton b. N. Johnston .........................0 C. Bulter lbw. b. N. Johnston .....1 R. Clark b. N. Johnston ..............0 J. Courtenay c. C. Bruce b. A. Hickey ............................2 N. Willians lbw. b. C. Bruce ....27 J. Ogden b. A. Hickey ................0 A. Brayley c. M. Smith b. N. Johnston .........................1 B. Phillips b. S. Ellicott............12 G. van Beek c. N. Johnston b. A. Hickey ............................3 J. Jackson b. C. Bruce ..............27 N. Goodall n.o. .........................12 Extras .......................................23 Total .......................................108 Bowling: N. Johnston 4/10, S. Ellicott 1/23, A. Hickey 3/33, C. Bruce 2/31, B. Moore 0/8.

1st Innings Town R. Templeton c. J. Courtenay b. G. van Beek........................29 M. Warren c&b. J Ogden ...........8 L. Bowman c. J. Ogden b. N. Willians ........................36 M. Smith b. N. Willians ...........24 A. Hickey r.o. ...........................44 N. Johnston c. J. Ogden b. N. Willians ..........................2 C. Bruce n.o. ............................20 B. Moore n.o. ...........................27 Extras .......................................42 Total ....................................6/232 Bowling: J. Ogden 1/31, J. Courtenay 0/39, G. van Beek 1/20, J. Jackson 0/30, R. Clark 0/27, N. Willians 3/44, A. Brayley 0/17, C. Bulter 0/12.

POOWONG/LOCH v FISH CREEK/TARWIN 1st Innings Fish Creek/Tarwin G. Watkins lbw. b. C. Knox .....59 M. Watkins c. P. Duffus b. D. Brain ...............................8 J. Shaw c. A. Jenkins b. B. Hancock..........................3

Surf champions to visit

By Chris Brown

TWO surf lifesaving champions will be at Venus Bay in early January.

Ky Hurst and Phil Clayton will hold training sessions and present a motivational talk.

Excitement is building at the Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club, which has organised the visit.

Ky Hurst has won seven Australian ironman titles and is a member of Surf Lifesaving’s Hall of Fame.

He competed in the 10km open water swim at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he finished 11th.

Ky began competing in the Uncle Toby’s Super Series at the age of 15.

Phil Clayton is Ky’s coach at Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club and Queensland surf lifesaving club professional coach of the year.

Phil was the 2000 World Ironman Champion and has won 11 Uncle Toby’s events.

He is the current world and Australian Board Rescue Champion.

People 13-years-old and above from surf lifesaving clubs from across South Gippsland who have obtained their bronze medallion are invited to the special trainings with the ironmen.

There will be sessions at Venus Bay number one surf beach on

January 5 and 6.

Swimming, surf ski paddling and board paddling are likely to be covered in the practical water focused sessions.

It’s free to attend a training session, but participants must register with David Cumming 0438 831 376.

On Tuesday, January 5 Ky and Phil will be giving a motivationaltype speech at the Venus Bay Surf Lifesaving Club at 7pm.

The event costs $25, which includes finger food.

Those wishing to attend must book by calling 0429 902 996.

Venus Bay SLSC junior coordinator David Cumming said it was a huge event for the club.

“When I spoke to Ky Hurst originally I said it was probably one of the great things to happen to this lifesaving club and the area,” he said.

“Victorians don’t get these opportunities because they are all based in New South Wales and Queensland.

“I think it’s hard for Ky Hurst to comprehend that he is looked up to so much in Victoria, because in Queensland it is taken for granted.”

Also at Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club the nippers program begins on December 27 at 9.30am.

The club is still taking registrations if anyone is interested in taking part.

South Gippsland visit: ironman champion Ky Hurst will be at Venus Bay in early January.

Warm-up time: In A1 Grade action, Glen Alvie and District wicket keeper Stuart Lowe warmed up after his side had finished its innings against Leongatha Imperials on Saturday.

N. Wilkins c. B. Hancock b. S. Jenkins ............................7 G. Webster c&b. B. Mitchell......3 B. Anderson c. C. McCurdy b. B. Mitchell ..........................8 N. Bergman c. S. Jenkins b. C. Knox ...............................0 J. Staley c. A. Jenkins b. C. Knox ...............................8 M. Lynch n.o. .............................3 S. Rabbitt b. B. Mitchell ............3 D. Rubenis n.o............................0 Extras .......................................26 Total ....................................7/128

Bowling: A. Jenkins 0/21, R. Greaves 0/10, B. Hancock 1/18, D. Brain 1/31, S. Jenkins 1/17, B. Mitchell 6/23.

1st Innings Poowong/Loch P. Duffus c. J. Staley b. S. Rabbitt.............................2 B. Hancock b. S. Rabbitt............1 R. Greaves c. M. Lynch b. N. Wilkins .........................12 K. Nestor c. G. Watkins b. M. Watkins ........................32 C. Knox lbw. b. N. Bergman ......4 P. Dyer lbw. b. N. Wilkins ..........3

B. Mitchell c. G. Watkins b. N. Bergman .......................24 C. McCurdy n.o........................23 S. Jenkins stp. M .Lynch b. M. Watkins ..........................1 A. Jenkins r.o............................ 11 D. Brain n.o. ...............................0 Extras .......................................16 Total ....................................8/129 Bowling: S. Rabbitt 2/23, N. Wilkins 2/24, N. Bergman 2/23, J. Staley 0/30, B. Anderson 0/15, M. Watkins 2/10, G. Watkins 0/4.

Girls day at ‘G CRICKET Victoria is looking for 10 girls (9 – 11 years) to spend Ladies Day at the MCG at the Boxing Day Test (Day 2), Sunday, January 27.

The girls will take part in the On

Field Entertainment (modified cricket game) during the lunch break and each girl will receive entry for themselves and one accompanying adult.

The first 10 to contact Rob Wood on 0408 820 582 by mid morning, Wednesday, December 23 will be “in”.

LDCA ladders A Grade Division 1 Won Workmens ...............123.19 OMK.................................108.41 Imperials ..........................103.92 Inverloch ............................79.16 Korumburra .........................78.76 Won Miners .........................78.27 Nerrena ...............................54.65 Glen Alvie ...........................51.09 A Grade Division 2 Phillip Island ...................164.65 Koonwarra RSL ..............129.87 Poowong/Loch .................124.13 Fish Creek/Tarwin ............92.18 Town....................................91.07 MDU ...................................53.77 Won Miners .........................39.95 Inverloch .............................22.39 B Grade Phillip Island.................... 118.47 Nerrena ............................ 113.19 Foster..................................92.64 OMK...................................84.18 Glen Alvie ...........................81.34 Won Workmens ...................76.17 Imperials .............................71.46

Korumburra .........................29.83 C Grade OMK.................................108.90 Town .................................107.99 Koonwarra RSL ..............103.66 Poowong/Loch ...................94.70 MDU ...................................80.99 Won Workmens ...................70.81 Fish Creek/Tarwin ...............56.25 Won Miners .........................45.42 D Grade Town ................................ 118.32 Inverloch ..........................107.55 Nerrena ..............................95.93 Phillip Island......................93.66 Korumburra .........................79.92 Koonwarra RSL ..................53.29 Glen Alvie ...........................53.13 Imperials .............................44.03 E Grade Phillip Island....................108.37 Poowong/Loch .................106.24 Foster..................................99.85 OMK...................................91.10 Won Miners .........................72.80 Won Workmens ...................72.13

MDU ...................................53.39 Town....................................34.94 Under 16 East Imperials ............................93.06 Korumburra ......................89.26 Town ...................................71.53 Koonwarra RSL ................ 45.11 Foster...................................42.73 MDU ...................................18.46 Won Workmens ...................16.19 Fish Creek/Tarwin ...............15.70 Phillip Island .......................14.98 Won Miners .........................14.44 Glen Alvie .............................2.63 OMK .....................................1.85 Inverloch ...............................1.72 Poowong/Loch ......................0.00 Under 16 West Phillip Island......................72.49 Won Workmens Gold........62.53 Wonthaggi Miners.............54.51 Poowong/Loch ...................50.58 OMK ...................................39.98 Glen Alvie ...........................21.85 Inverloch ...............................3.77 Won Workmens Blue ............0.00

PAGE 52 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Catch me if you can: Mitchell Golby has a lot of dash, something the Lions were impressed with.

By Matt Dunn GIPPSLAND Power players Jack Weston and Mitchell Golby will play AFL football after being selected by Geelong and Brisbane in the rookie draft last week.

Jack is from Foster FC and Mitchell is from Kilcunda/Bass FC. For the 18-year-olds the selection is the fulfilment of a boyhood dream.

Jack was with a friend at home during the draft, watching his fate unfold on TV. Was he happy? “Definitely.”

“Geelong had shown a bit of interest in me throughout the year, but I hadn’t really heard anything after the season, so I wasn’t too confident,” he said.

“But then when they read my name out I was just excited to go down there. They’re a good club and obviously in a good position.”

Congratulations quickly came from Power coach Damien Carol, Jack’s manager and his friends.

“It’s basically been a blur since then,” he said.

The club was quickly in contact too, keen to organise things. Jack will move in with a host family to help him settle in.

He was ready to travel to ‘The Cattery’ courtesy of a lift from another young recruit, Yarram’s Nathan Vardy.

Although things have been moving quickly, the new Cat is just taking it one week at a time.

“I’m not really going down there with any expectations. I want to go there with an open mind and meet everyone, work hard, earn the respect of all the boys, and just see what happens,” he said.

“I’ll see what happens from there. My Ready to deliver: Jack Weston was a standout playing for the Gippsland Power. The Cats have family’s been a great support through the years, taking me to the games. I kicked the

high hopes for the teenager.

footy with my dad, brother and sister in the backyard – even mum every now and then.”

The support of Foster coach Dean Duursma also played a big part in Jack’s development as a footballer.

Jack played a couple of seasons at Toora during his junior years, but returned to the Tigers, where he starred in the seniors under the guidance of Dean.

“That’s where I got my big break, at Foster,” he said.

Although Jack grew up in a North Melbournesupporting family, father Peter has clear memories of his young son pretending to be Gary Ablett Snr. He now has the chance to play beside Gary Ablett Jnr. “I remember when he was six or seven he used to run around thinking he was Gary Ablett, taking speccies over his brother and his old man,” Peter said with a laugh.

“He’s probably had a bit of a dream since that age.”

Mitchell was much the same. Like Jack, he now has a chance to live the dream.

“It’s been pretty much my dream to play AFL footy since I started playing. This puts me a step closer, so I’m really excited. I’m pretty pumped, a bit nervous – but I can’t wait,” he said.

Mitchell was talking just a day before catching a flight to Brisbane, to meet coach Michael Voss and the Lions players.

“I’m really excited Brisbane has given me this opportunity,” he said.

“I want to play a really good year of football in their twos, if that’s the plan.

Hopefully, if I can get a good year together, I’ll get elevated into the seniors. I’ll take it from there.”

He said friends and family had shared in his excitement.

Likewise, home club Kilcunda/Bass was revelling in the moment.

“My aunty’s the secretary of the club and I was with her when I found out. They’ve all wished me the best. That was really good,” he said.