The Great Southern Star - September 27, 2016

www.thestar.com.au TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 - $1.40

Joy and despair AN amazing come from fourth premiership win by Leongatha’s B Grade netballers saved the day after the disappointment of Leongatha’s losses in all three football grand finals on Saturday at Moe. The girls fought long and hard all match against favourites Maffra to get up and win the flag.

Over at the football field the day started badly when the fourths lost followed by the Reserves, who had been undefeated all year until Saturday.

For the Leongatha seniors the heartbreak continued for the second year running as it went down to Maffra by 21 points.

Back to back: the Leongatha B Grade netballers completed back to back premierships with its great win on Saturday, defeating Maffra 4437. Pictured is the winning team, back from left, team manager Karina Kerr, Maddy Kerr, Georgia Riseley, Kathy Reid, Beth Dunne, Kate McCracken, front from left, Abby Dowd, Kate Sperling, coach Alisha Hemming, captain Jackie Smith, Rachel Cameron and Kate Rankin.

FULL GRAND FINAL COVERAGE Pages 48-51

SICK TURNED AWAY Hospital unable to treat people in need

By Brad Lester PATIENTS are calling for changes to the way the State Government funds hospitals, in the wake of patients being turned away from the urgent care centre at the new $30 million Leongatha Hospital.

Patients say they are being diverted to emergency departments at Wonthaggi Hospital and Latrobe Regional Hospital at Traralgon, despite having non-emergency ailments requiring prompt medical attention.

One patient reported the urgent care centre at Leongatha Hospital did not have adequate staff to cope with an influx of patients. The patient said

Health emergency: some patients are not able to receive treatment at Leongatha Hospital’s urgent care centre. they were left unattended for nearly three hours.

Ambulances with local patients are continuing to be bypassed from the Leongatha Hospital and sent on longer journeys to Wonthaggi, Traralgon and Warragul hospitals.

The significant workload the urgent care centre requires of general practitioners is also discouraging new GPs from staying in South

Gippsland.

A disgruntled patient felt the way urgent care centres operate and are funded by the State Government needs to change to ensure centres were staffed adequately.

“Clearly the current system just doesn’t work, leaving patients feeling stranded,” the patient said.

Continued on page 14.

PAGE 2 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 3

Ratepayer backlash Record field rises up against council

By Brad Lester and Tayla Kershaw A RECORD field of candidates will contest next month’s South Gippsland Shire Council elections in what could be a sign the community is fed up with the current council.

At the close of nominations last Tuesday, September 20, 32 candidates had nominated in South Gippsland Shire and 24 in Bass Coast.

The fields of candidates were the biggest seen in South Gippsland Shire since the new shire was formed in 1994.

At the last election in 2012 election, 13 candidates stood in South Gippsland Shire and 26 in Bass Coast Shire.

South Gippsland Shire Council has been plagued by in-fighting among councillors, while Bass Coast Shire Council has made many controversial decisions, most recently voting to close the Inverloch transfer station.

Ian Nicholas, a candidate in South Gippsland’s Strzelecki Ward and a former council employee, said many people were unhappy with the current council’s performance.

“The council has committed to spending $30 million on a municipal precinct that is not required,” the Outtrim man said.

“The farce with the caravan parks is probably on a lot of people’s minds and I just think the council has not done enough

Vote for us: from left, South Gippsland Shire Council candidates at the ballot draw in Leongatha last Tuesday, September 20, Ben Corcoran, Philip Murphy, Ian Nicholas, Aaron Brown and Andrew McEwen. to look at the cost of the bureaucracy.”

Mr Nicholas felt the CEO’s package of $300,000 was “on the nose”.

“The general staffing is okay but it’s the amount of management they think they need to manage the staff,” he said.

“It is just costing too much money for very little return.”

Coastal-Promontory Ward candidate Matt Sherry of Port Franklin said the current council had not performed.

“The high rates and lack of transparency and accountability are the main reasons,” he said.

Tarwin Valley Ward candidate Meg Edwards felt the number of candidates reflected the many people who cared about the shire’s future.

“I would like to work with them either as a councillor or as a fellow community

member,” she said.

Strzelecki Ward candidate Aaron Brown of Wattle Bank believed there was mood for change.

“Some of the towns are looking a bit tired. There is still a lot of economic stagnation and different people think a new council would contribute different ideas,” he said.

Tarwin Valley Ward candidate Ben Corcoran of Leongatha believed voters wanted new councillors.

“People want to see the council work together with the community to get the job done,” he said.

Cr Kieran Kennedy, the only South Gippsland councillor to not renominate, felt the large pool of candidates reflected community opposition to the proposed new council offices. Many candidates have

He thanked his wife Frances for her support.

“She’s been an absolute rock and behind me all the way. She’s a fantastic ally and has been a great strength,” Cr Kennedy said.

South Gippsland Shire Council CoastalPromontory Ward Frank Oostermeyer Jill Wilson Alyson Skinner Matthew Sherry Mohya Davies Jeremy Rich Jeanette Harding Ray Argento Vincent Morfuni Strzelecki Ward Andrew McEwen Viv Pepper Lorraine Brunt David Wanless Ian Nicholas Robert Newton Aaron Brown

Frank Hirst Jim Forbes David Amor Tarwin Valley Ward Graeme Heath Philip Murphy Di Tod Nigel HutchinsonBrooks Steve Finlay Graeme Winkler Rosemary Cousin Maxine Kiel Ben Corcoran Don Hill Kim White James Fawcett Meg Edwards

Bass Coast Shire Council Bunurong Ward Les Larke Mohan De Run Jessica Harrison Julian Brown Peter Dalmau Brett Tessari Neil Rankine Max Wells Mark Robertson Island Ward Michael Whelan Maurice Schinkel Val Ogier

Kimberley Brown Rodney Spottiswood Phil Wright Stephen Fullarton Pamela Rothfield Ruth Partridge Western Port Ward Geoff Ellis Bruce Kent Mikhaela Barlow Clare Le Serve Bradley Drew Ashley Lamers

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four separate occasions and I only went to the council table with the community in mind.

We achieved quite a lot as the community CR KIERAN Kennedy will not wished,” he said.

Among his personal highlights were recontest the October council achieving pathways in Tarwin Lower and Veelections after four terms with nus Bay, giving farmers more opportunity to South Gippsland Shire. develop to benefit their superannuation under The one time mayor was the only sitting the Rural Land Use Strategy and liaising with councillor to not put forward their name when the community. nominations closed last Tuesday, September “It’s been fantastic working with some re20.

Time for a break: ally good council employees who really put “It’s been four terms in 13 years so I will Cr Kieran Kennedy in a lot of work,” he said. take time off and look at other ventures,” he As mayor in 2013, Cr Kennedy helped said, saying he was still working on his next will not seek re- lay the groundwork for the Karmai Communomination to South nity Children’s Centre now under construcproject.

Cr Kennedy has thrown his support be- Gippsland Shire tion in Korumburra by meeting with politihind candidate Vincent Morfuni QC, who has Council at the Octo- cians in Canberra to seek federal funding. property at Venus Bay. He would have liked to have achieved ber council election.

Mr Morfuni has pledged to abandon the more for Korumburra, saying the centre was new council offices and land sales program, and introduce “the only real progress that Korumburra has had for the optional kerbside garbage collection for Venus Bay. last 20 years”.

Cr Kennedy said, “He’s very experienced in all legal Cr Kennedy will leave council still opposing the sellmatters and if he gets in I think council will benefit from ing of council land and the new council offices proposed it. for the future.

“To have someone of that ilk will be really positive for “I believe the new council will close the chapter on this shire. I believe he has a good chance of getting in. this,” he said.

“Venus Bay deserves a councillor because we are the “Sure, revamp and modernise the existing offices but third largest town in the shire.” to build new offices in these uncertain economic times, I Cr Kennedy said he told his fellow councillors in 2014 have not found one person who agrees with it.” he would not contest the 2016 election and said his deWhile he will take a break from community affairs, cision was not influenced by internal tension within the Cr Kennedy said he hopes Venus Bay’s park on Jupiter current council.

Boulevard is transformed into an all weather park for the “I have had the trust of the community to elect me on community’s benefit.

THE Victorian Electoral Commission last Tuesday drew the ballot for how candidates will appear on ballot papers, due to hit voters’ mailboxes from October 4.

They are:

vowed to abandon the project.

As for whether the community was fed up with the existing council, Cr Kennedy said that would be determined by the election.

In Bass Coast, Bunurong candidate Mark Robertson believed interest was high due to the new wards.

“I don’t know how much difference having nine councillors will make but having more people actively representing an area can only be a good thing,” he said.

“The community seems to have an ‘us versus them’ view of the council, so having more people showing community interest is a wonderful thing.”

Fellow Bunurong candidate Peter Dalmau said the large pool of candidates was inspired by the lack of consultation and poor decision making by the council.

Mr Dalmau was a councillor with the former Shire of Woorayl and believed having more councillors per ward would benefit the shire.

“Right now we have a situation where councillors are either incompetent or pushing their own agendas on their wards,” he said.

“I am hopeful – due to the nature of the people who are standing – the council will operate efficiently after this election. There is a balance of candidates with experience and candidates with vitality and connections which will create better outcomes.”

Voting papers will be mailed to voters from October 4. Voting closes at 6pm Friday, October 21.

All elections will be declared by Friday, November 4.

Kennedy farewells council

By Brad Lester

Your candidates

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PAGE 4 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Interlude: from left, Snug (Bruce Grainger), Tom Snout (Barry Paterson), Peter Quince (David Tattersall), Nick Bottom (Jeremy Curtis), and Francis Flute (Maximilian Sutterluty) perform the interlude during the play.

Right, g Mischievous and bouncy: y the role of “Puck” was performed p well byy Hadassah ah Wanstall.

Dream show for Lyric PUTTING the h fun f into i Shakespeare h k may seem an impossible dream but Leongatha Lyric Theatre has done just that and a lot more in its latest production.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream was enjoyed by 90 people when it opened at Mesley Hall, Leongatha on Friday night.

In this the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death, Lyric has given one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays a fresh makeover, injecting some true blue Aussie flavour.

In shifting the setting from Athens to a 1970’s Australian town director Bernadette Grainger injects freshness into Shakespeare’s tale of tangled lovers. She picks up the Athenian lovers and mischievous fairies and dumps them out in the sticks and the fun begins.

Forget Athens, Grainger’s superb casting of some 30 talented performers, a mixture of award

” er p a sp ew n y it n u m m co r ou “Y

36 McCartin Street, Leongatha 3953 Postal : PO Box 84 LEONGATHA 3953 Telephone : 5662 2294 Fax : 5662 4350 Web : www.thestar.com.au Editor Brad Lester : news@thestar.com.au Advertising Manager Joy Morgan : advertising@thestar.com.au Find us on Facebook Produced and published by Giles Newspapers Pty Ltd and printed by Latrobe Valley Express, Morwell.

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winning performers and stars i i f d young bbudding ddi seem perfectly at home in this brave but successful show.

Lovers Hermia, played by Julia Enter and Lysander, Jacob Beckwith were outstanding in their roles and moulded their knowledge of Shakespeare’s words into a flowing performance.

With so many experienced Lyric performers added to the mix this show was professionally executed, headed up with fine efforts from King Oberon (Bruce Grainger) and Queen Titania (Christine Skicko), with a standout effort by “Player” Jeremy Curtis as Nick Bottom.

Helena (Anne Marshall) and Demetrius (Billy Wilson) also handled their difficult roles well as did head of the “Players” David Tattersall as Peter Quince, the mischievous and bouncy “Puck” was handled well by Hadassah Wanstall and Michael Hogan did a good job as Theseus, Duke of

Athens. h Special mention to Maximilian Sutterluty, taking on the role of Francis Flute and having to play the role of a woman in the “play within a play”.

The creative playfulness Grainger has brought to the play has made it a thoroughly entertaining show with a simple yet effective set allowing the show to run its course with ease.

The young fairies and elves looked very at ease and happy to be performing in this show.

The relationships build as the show moves forward with audience laughter evident.

If you wish to take a look at the show then check out upcoming performances this Thursday, September 29-Saturday, October 1 at 8pm.

Matinees are at 2pm on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2.

Tickets online at www.lyrictheatre.net.au

Director’s call: congratulating the two lead males, Jacob Beckwith, left, and Billy Wilson, right, on their fine performances was director Top show: Julia Enter, centre, who played Hermia, is pictured at Friday’s gala opening with Claire Enter, left, and Kaitlyn Herrmann.

Bernadette Grainger.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 5

Emergency rush Ambulance response time varies between shires

By Stuart Biggins TRIPLE zero calls in Bass Coast Shire will see an ambulance arrive five minutes earlier than ambulances in South Gippsland Shire.

Ambulance Victoria has just released its response times for the past financial year and the data shows disparity between the two shires, with Bass Coast having significantly better response times.

In Bass Coast Shire, under 15 minute response times were achieved on 64.5 percent of first responses (2591).

In South Gippsland Shire, 15 minute response

times were achieved on only 42.1 percent of first responses (1659).

The average waiting time in Bass Coast – measured from receipt of the 000 call until the paramedics arrive – was 14.34 minutes while in South Gippsland it was 19.38 minutes.

Those times were for Code 1 incidents which require lights and sirens.

Code 2 response times – those not requiring lights or sirens – show Bass Coast with an average response time of 29.37 minutes and South Gippsland 33.20.

A spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria said response times were influenced by factors including traffic, road and weather conditions, distance required to travel, availability of ambulances and

demand for services.

Each call is assessed on clinical need and an ambulance is always prioritised to respond to the sickest patients first, especially those with life-threatening conditions.

Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker said, “Our performance is improving year on year. Code one response times have improved state wide for the last three years. We responded to 75.2 percent of code one patients across the state within 15 minutes in 2015-16, an improvement of almost one per cent on the previous financial year.

“We have improved our code one response in 70 of the 80 local government areas in the last three years and this shows our approach is making a difference, despite our increasing workload.

“We have seen a 5.7 percent increase in triple zero calls and 3.8 percent growth in emergency incidents.”

Mr Walker said code one response times to cases in South Gippsland had improved over the past 12 months.

“In South Gippsland we attended 42.1 percent of code one cases under 15 minutes with an average response time of 19:38 minutes in 2015-16, compared to 40.8 per cent and 20:07 in 2014-15,” he said.

He also conceded that more can be done and said equity of ambulance care for all Victorians remains an aspiration for Ambulance Victoria.

Mr Walker acknowledged the Leongatha Ambulance Station would require replacement in coming years but was unable to provide a timetable.

Vietnam vets commemorated

A PHOTO montage now hanging in the foyer of the Leongatha Memorial Hall features photos relating to the battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War. The commemorative montage was bought by South Gippsland Shire Councillor Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks earlier this year and he donated it to the South Gippsland community at a commemorative evening held to mark the Battle of Long Tan, and honour all Vietnam veterans and their

families and friends on August 18 this year – the 50th anniversary of the battle.

Leongatha RSL approved the hanging of the montage in the foyer of the Leongatha Memorial Hall to accompany the existing historical photos from World War Two. A plaque on the montage states, “Presented to the people of South Gippsland by Cr Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks (Capt. Royal Engineers Ret’d) on the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan 18 August 2016”.

Remembering them: from left, South Gippsland Shire Councillor Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks presents a framed montage of photos of the Vietnam War to Leongatha RSL Sub-branch president Steve Wisdom.

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PAGE 6 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Traffic lights confusing motorists THE new traffic lights installed in Leongatha have caused some near collisions according to more than one Star reader.

The lights were “turned on” just two weeks ago.

Leongatha resident Lance Lancaster said he was approaching in his car to a green light on Saturday about midday and proceeded along the Ogilvy Street direction towards the overhead bridge.

However just as he was nearing the middle of the intersection a car turning right from the overhead bridge went straight in front of him instead of giving way to his vehicle.

“And almost straight after a second car did exactly the same thing,” Mr Lancaster said.

“I reckon once the schools go back and more traffic and buses are in play we’ll see some accidents here,” he said.

“And another thing, why do they have a right turn arrow on the Long Street corner and not one coming from the overhead bridge direction?”

In another matter reported to this newspaper one car stopped right in the middle of the intersection to allow a motorist to turn left coming from the Koonwarra direction.

Another said the line markings were hard to follow along Ogilvy Street with the traffic proceeding straight through having to veer left at the intersection.

Another reader complained about how “rough” the road was turning into Koonwarra Road and hoped the job would “be finished off properly with correct and clearer line markings.”

The traffic lights are no different to hundreds in Melbourne but it is believed some motorists are still used to the road working how it used to be and turning at the wrong times.

So take care at this new intersection and remember to obey the traffic signals just like you would in Melbourne!

Two car smash in Wonthaggi THE two drivers of a white sedan and orange Izuzu four wheel drive were lucky to escape serious injury after a nose to tail collision on Bass Highway in Wonthaggi on Wednesday, September 21 around 6.10pm.

Senior Constable Stuart Button from the Bass Coast Highway Patrol said driver distraction was the cause of the accident that saw a passenger transported by ambulance to the Wonthaggi Hospital for observation

Near misses: it will only be a matter of time before there’s a crash Driver flees say some residents.

A UTE driver from Toora fled the scene of an accident after he collided with a tree early on Sunday morning.

The accident occurred at 1.50am between Corinella Road and Soldiers and there were three occupants in the Road in Coronet Bay, and on Woodleighute.

St Heliers Road in Woodleigh.

The 29 year old Toora driver lost The main objectives of these projcontrol of the ute and veered into a ects are to address run off road crashes tree. by providing clear marking to assist Residents and passersby stopped drivers and motorcyclists judging their to assist and helped driver and two position on the road, and reducing the passengers out of the ute before it was severity level of crashes. engulfed in flames.

Design and survey works have All three sustained injuries. The started on both projects, with construcpassengers – one from Foster, the other tion anticipated to be completed by June from Port Franklin – were transported 30, 2017. to the Latrobe Regional Hospital.

The driver fled the scene but was later found in Welshpool.

He returned a positive breath test and was interviewed. He will be interviewed again at a later date about Contrary to what some have said in other traffic matters relating to this acrecent days, sweeping speed limit chang- cident. es are not planned. Infrastructure changes Foster Police thanked the residents are the priority, and speed limit changes and passing motorists who stopped to would only be considered where there is help at the scene.

Black spot funding for Bass Coast BASS Coast Shire Council has begun works on two road safety projects in the shire after receiving funding from the Federal Government.

Council received almost $1.5 million in Federal Government funding under the 2016/17 Federal Government’s infrastructure investment black spot program for the two projects on Agar Road

Saving lives Health Insurance now available GMHBA Retired Discount for home & contents 63 Bair Street, Leongatha Phone 5662 4222

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I WRITE to address recent commentary the Towards Zero Action Plan 2016-2020 means drastic speed limit changes on country roads.

A key part of the strategy is fixing high speed rural roads, where 44 percent of deaths and 20 per cent of serious injuries happen. We cannot accept this as our price for getting around.

As humans, we do make mistakes from time to time – the Towards Zero approach will create an environment where drivers and riders’ mistakes aren’t fatal.

On country roads, this means looking at innovative, comprehensive solutions to build the safest roads possible. It also means driving the safest cars we can afford and taking on our shared responsibility to be safe road users.

a strong evidence base to support doing so, including crash histories and other local factors.

The Goulburn Valley Highway is a case in point where the speed limit was reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h, following a tragic loss of five lives in five months.

Once centreline barriers have been installed and other improvements made, the limit will return to 100km/h.

More information about the Towards Zero Action Plan can be found at towardszero.vic.gov.au.

Joe Calafiore, CEO, Transport Accident Commission.

Car rolled A CAR overturned after hitting a power pole in Ranceby on Saturday night.

The 36 year old driver from Poowong East failed to make a right turn and lost control of his car at 6.20pm along the Korumburra-Warragul Road.

The car slid off the road and into a power pole, then rolled onto its roof.

The driver suffered minor injuries and received treatment at the Warragul Hospital.

Police are still investigating whether alcohol, speed or distraction caused

and treatment of bruising and one of the drivers later attended the hospital. SC Button said both were later released.

the incident, and are waiting on blood tests to return before interviewing the driver.

Charges are pending.

Collision under investigation A WOMAN sustained minor injuries after colliding with a tree on Sunday at 6pm.

She was travelling along the Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road when she lost control of her car and crossed to the other side of the road on the Mirboo North side of Thorpdale.

The 59 year old from Mirboo North was trapped in her car and was extracted by CFA and SES members.

She was transported to the Latrobe Regional Hospital, where her minor injuries were treated.

Leongatha Police are appealing for any witnesses to this accident to contact the station.

Investigations are ongoing.

Police gear up for footy final OPERATION Scoreboard will be put in place throughout the AFL grand final long weekend.

This is a tier one state level road policing operation, and the State Highway Patrol will be coming down to assist local police.

Starting on Thursday morning and finishing at midnight on Sunday, road users can expect to see an increased police presence.

Police will be running random breath and drug tests, and will be targeting speed, seatbelts and distraction.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 7

Cancer scare

By Tayla Kershaw

WONTHAGGI’S Jessica Harrison wants to see the herbicide glyphosate – a possible cause of cancer - phased out of key areas of Bass Coast Shire.

Concerned for the health of children, pets and council workers who could be impacted, Ms Harrison believed glyphosate should not be used in schools, childcare centres and parks.

The chemical is commonly used to kill weeds and Ms Harrison said International Agency for Research on Cancer found glyphosate may be carcinogenic.

Correlations have been found between the herbicide and various cancers including nonHodgkin lymphoma.

Glyphosate exposure has also been linked to respiratory problems in farmers.

Ms Harrison said there has been a big international response to phasing out glyphosate and Bass Coast Shire Council should jump on board.

“One way to do it is to use soft fall matting in playgrounds. At the moment our playgrounds use bark chips, which can be soaked in glyphosate,” she said.

“It’s important for Bass Coast to be respon-

sible and keep people as healthy as possible.”

Cr Neil Rankine said he uses a frog friendly form of glyphosate. Ms Harrison said this could potentially be a safer product, but would depend on the percentage of adjuvants present in the glyphosate formula. Adjuvants are additional agents that increase glyphosate’s toxicity.

“The effects of glyphosate are going to be argued long into the future,” Ms Harrison said.

“It’s up to us to set up a pilot scheme to phase out glyphosate.”

Ms Harrison put together a petition, which calls for council to review its duty of care for the health and safety of citizens – children in particular – and assess chemical free weed control – such as weed steaming and Bioweed – in areas where children play.

The petition also calls for the phasing out of glyphosate based herbicides near schools, playgrounds and children centres, and funding of a pilot scheme using alternatives to glyphosate as a first step.

Council received the petition at its meeting last Wednesday. It will lie on the table until the next meeting in October.

Cr Clare Le Serve thanked Ms Harrison for raising the issue, saying it took many years to highlight the health risks of substances such as asbestos.

Phase out chemicals: from left, Wonthaggi’s Liz Glynn, Jessica Harrison and Norm Glynn want to see glyphosate phased out of sensitive areas like schools, children centres and parks to protect the health of people and pets.

Skate ramp splits Venus Bay

By Brad Lester A DISPUTE over an illegal extension to Venus Bay’s skate park is causing tension within the community.

Skaters have wanted to update the skate park on the grounds of the Venus Bay Community Centre, but before an agreement was reached and the necessary planning approvals sought, a local resident skater built his own extension to the ramp, even paying for materials.

South Gippsland Shire Council is now seeking to contact the builder to find out how the extension was built, before determining its next course of action.

Council has also received an online petition calling for the extension to stay.

In the mean time, council has made the site safe by placing para-webbing around the area under construction.

The Venus Bay Community Centre’s Facebook page states, “The skate park was originally constructed with funds raised by community members, and in response to a group of young folk who got together to provide a public area for recreation…an excellent outcome for our whole community.

“It has been identified that the skate park needs improvements, it needs to have better flow and cater for all abilities of users.

“This has been on the radar of the community centre for some time. We have submitted a number grant re-

quests for funds to support this; we have tried to engage the community in the design of the improvements, we have liaised with the shire to get these improvements started…this all takes time and is frustrating for community members who just want to see it happen.

“Over recent weeks, a community member has started construction on the western end of the skate park…he has designed and undertaken this work himself, he has paid for the materials needed. Making a contribution to our community is to be applauded; this is how many things get started; from the enthusiasm of one or more passionate individuals.

“When the work was started, the community member was advised that this was not approved by council; that while the work is desperately needed, the community centre as the leaseholder, has responsibility to liaise with the shire about any work undertaken; to acknowledge the guidelines in place for a public facility.

“At this point, the work undertaken has not had the appropriate safety approvals; it will have to be out of bounds until a solution is found.

“This is a great opportunity to work together as a community to get this work finished and perhaps even extended. Currently the centre is liaising with the shire about how to get the construction retro approved, but unfortunately, this may take time.

“It is a shame that it was not undertaken in this way in the first instance, as this now puts the community centre, and all the programs and activities for our community at risk regarding the lease with the shire.”

‘The Final Straw’

PUBLIC RALLY COMMUNITY RALLY TO PROTEST THE APPALLING PERFORMANCE OF BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2016 at 12NOON INVERLOCH RECREATION RESERVE Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association Inc. (A0096952H)

BAS0000001

Shire wide: Excessive rate hikes and wasted $100,000’s on failed schemes Pioneer Bay: Unnecessarily destroyed a sealed residential road Wonthaggi: Secretly decided to close the Visitor Information Centre Phillip Island: Closed the community’s waste transfer station and now the final straw...

Inverloch: Last month councillors decided to close the transfer station despite the clearly demonstrated wishes of the community to keep it open!

Come and hear four brief presentations by speakers from across the shire outlining how Bass Coast Shire Council has failed their community.

Sign the petition and add your voice to tell Council that enough is enough.

PAGE 8 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Stage curtains steal the show The old curtains dated back to the 1950s

Show stoppers: from left, Inverloch Rotary Club president Rosa Turner shows off the new curtains at the Inverloch Community Hub with hub officer Trish Hogan of Bass Coast Shire Council, and Inverloch and District Lions Club’s Klaus Edel, tickling the ivories.

Sentencing of would be murderer delayed THE sentencing of a Turtons Creek man found guilty of the attempted murder of two South Gippsland Shire Council workers has been delayed until October 24.

Jonas Black was found guilty of attempted murder at the Supreme Court on Friday, June 24.

He was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and of perverting the court of justice after a two week trial.

Mr Black was to be sentenced last Tuesday, September 20 but the matter will now be considered on October 24.

The judge adjourned the sentencing to give Mr Black time to make a submission in relation to plea mitigating materials.

Mr Black’s charges relate to an altercation on his property where he attacked council’s manager regulatory services Matthew Patterson and local laws officer Justin Eades on May 25, 2015.

The council officers were inspecting the property after Mr Black failed to comply with council’s request to demolish unpermitted buildings on his land.

and were riddled with holes.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s hub officer Trish Hogan said, “When we had weddings here, the decorators used to say ‘What are we going to do with those curtains?’

“The new curtains will be really good for when we have performances and they’re wool, fire retardant and of beautiful quality.”

The project was funded by council ($9000), Inverloch Rotary Club ($2500) and Inverloch and District Lions Club ($3029).

Lion Klaus Edel said, “There were old curtains here that were 30 years old and they weren’t sliding. This is a fantastic venue to have in the middle of town and so we needed

to do something.

“Anything we raise goes back to the community and the hub is important to the community.”

Rotary was keen to support the project, given the hub’s community value.

Club president Rosa Turner said, “This area is now something that can be used by the community for productions, for weddings and for when Rotary has its markets here.”

The hub will be the major venue for a Lions conference from October 14 to 16.

The next Rotary craft market will be on the Saturday of the Melbourne Cup long weekend.

Dog stolen

and 2pm, a vehicle was left parked in Leongatha Road, Korumburra.

An offender removed the front registration plate 1FI 4QX. Between 9.30am and 10am on Wednesday, a driver left his 2006 Holden parked in Church Street, Cowes, while he shopped in Coles across the street.

The vehicle was left locked, but with a window partially left down because his dog was in the vehicle.

A passing thief reached in through the open window and unlocked the doors.

This set off the alarm system, but the offender was able to steal a wallet and video camera valued at $200 before the owner could return to his vehicle.

The dog was left outside the car but was unhurt by the offender.

POLICE are searching for a dog taken from South Gippsland Shire Council’s Mr Black attacked Mr Eades, then Mr Patterson, with a piece of scaffolding pipe before pound at Korumburra early, Monday, threatening to kill them when they ran from the September 19. scene.

Mr Patterson sustained lacerations to his head while Mr Eades sustained more substantial damage to his skull, which included concussion.

Mr Black was found guilty of the attacks in which he was believed to have intended to kill both council workers.

Mr Black’s other charges, for perverting the court of justice, relate to Mr Black’s attempts to dispose of his work boots during the investigation.

Mr Black made a number of calls to his girlfriend while in custody last year, during which he asked her to dispose of his work boots while she was on a trip in Melbourne.

It is believed Mr Black may have worn the boots while he dug a large hole near his property before the attack.

Jurors came to the conclusion Mr Black had presumably intended to use the hole as a grave for the victims.

Police have obtained video footage showing three men wearing hoodie jumpers entered the pound at the Korumburra Veterinary Clinic between 1.50am and 2am.

They cut the padlock to a cage containing an Alaskan Malamute and took the dog.

They also released five other dogs that were later seen by a passing motorist on the South Gippsland Highway.

Police believed these animals could have been hit by traffic but they were returned to the pound.

The Malamute was impounded by council officers after being found on the streets of Nyora.

It was initially stolen from a house at Dandenong North.

Korumburra Police would like to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle parked at the veterinary clinic in Langham Drive around the time of the incident.

Thieves hit cars THIEVES continue to target cars in the region.

On Monday, September 12, between 7am

House robbed BURGLARS stole a Panasonic TV, DVD player, guitar and glass table with a total value of more than $2000 from a house in The Gurdies recently.

The offenders smashed a front window on the house on The Gurdies-St Heliers Road between September 9 and 15.

Anyone with information should contact Bass Coast Crime Investigation Unit or Crimestoppers.

Art to reignite Wonthaggi history A COLLECTION of more than 600 artworks valued at over $1 million will be transported to and exhibited in Wonthaggi.

Collected by Geelong artist Robert Smith, the collection includes works by Noel Counihan, who visited Wonthaggi in the 1930s and captured the town in his social realism works.

Bass Coast Shire Council unanimously voted to fund the $38,321 required for transportation and setup costs at its meeting last week.

“This is a great opportunity and a generous gift from Robert Smith. In accepting this collection, we are setting up our heritage and our ability to develop tourism through the arts,” Cr Clare Le Serve said.

“We are very privileged to have this opportunity and I would hope it helps to re-establish a hub of arts and culture in the town.”

Cr Neil Rankine said he hadn’t understood the significance of the artwork until he visited Gee-

long, and now believes it will be a significant asset in Bass Coast.

“It depicts the conditions people lived in and there’s a big connection to Wonthaggi,” he said.

“It will be a drawcard for tourism, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a well thought out collection – he spent his life collecting the pieces – and it could only help us generate the funds for the arts centre. It’s one more arrow in our quiver and it ticks all the boxes.”

Cr Phil Wright thanked local artists John and Wendy Crellin for presenting this opportunity to the Bass Coast community.

The Crellins befriended Robert Smith many years ago, and bringing the collection to the town has been a decade in the making.

Ms Crellin said she was thrilled with council’s decision to bring the artworks to Wonthaggi and was excited about the amount of interest the community is already showing towards the upcoming exhibition.

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“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 9

Nominations for South Gippsland and Bass Coast shire council elections closed last week. The Star presents an insight into some of the extensive field of would-be councillors ahead of postal voting packages being delivered from the first week in October.

A new voice in council Organic farmer nominates

DIANA Tod has nominated as a candidate for Tarwin Valley Ward in the South Gippsland Shire Council election.

She moved to South Gippsland 10 years ago, buying, and then converting a turnout block into what is now a mixed organic orchard and farm stay cottage small business.

The orchard sup- Business background: plies several local or- Diana Tod will draw her business ganic businesses and on farmers markets, while background if elected the cottage brings tour- to South Gippsland ists to the area.

Shire Council.

“Achieving this was challenging and involved working up to 12 hour days for seven days per week. This farming community has presented me with many opportunities and much support which I’ve grown to both love and identify with over the years,” she said.

“I would now like to take the opportunity to put a little of that support and kindness back into the community which has taken me in.

“I understand and appreciate the challenges and long hours that farming of any sort presents, and I’ve experienced firsthand the pressure, heartache and frustration, the fear and loneliness, the worry and angst of challenging seasons and tight budgets that accompany working the land.”

Describing herself as “passionate and tenacious”, Ms Tod is running for council to promote social cohesion, community belonging and inclusiveness.

“If elected I would dedicate my energy into fostering a better sense of cooperation and trust between council and our local community,” she said.

“We live in increasingly challenging times and as history has repeatedly shown, at such times what is of crucial importance is that communities function well in a spirit of mutual support, understanding and respect.

“Sadly, in my time here, I have experienced, and have heard others also express, a degree of frustration in dealings with South Gippsland Shire Council, particularly in the planning department.

“I fully realise the many statutory demands and financial constraints facing councils today, and there are no quick-fix magical solutions, however if elected to council, I would work to the best of my ability to change the ‘them and us’ mentality that I perceive to currently exist in some areas.

“I will work collaboratively towards fostering a genuinely more open, friendly and cooperative spirit between council, councillors and community stakeholders at every level.”

Ms Tod hopes to: • undertake a detailed and open analysis of where rates money is spent to eliminate duplication and wastage; • stop the $32 million council building program which she sees as an enormous and unnecessary drain on ratepayers’ money; • develop a 15 year plan for the region to maximise long-term sustainable development, employment, growth and community wellbeing; and • create a forum whereby community and individual grievances can be speedily addressed.

“I have no hidden agendas and no allegiance to any group or body, but do strongly believe this council needs an injection of new energy, new faces and a different perspective, with genuinely independent councillors prepared to work in a spirit of real collaboration, trust and openness in order to build and grow this unique and wonderful South Gippsland region,” she said.

R O S E M A RY Cousin, an organic farmer from Allambee South, has taken up the challenge to stand for South Gippsland Shire Council in the October council elections.

“Many are calling for positive change in South Gippsland Shire.

Ready to rise: RoseI share their conmary Cousin wants cerns,” she said.

“As a small South Gippsland Shire’s business manager economy to grow. and organic farmer, I see very positive prospects for our local economy. But major blockages are holding us back from success.

“The state of our local roads, footpaths and verges is poor. Council is stuck in the past. It lacks focus on economic and community development, environmental awareness and openness.

I’m tired of the internal bickering. “ Ms Cousin said the lack of forward looking focus was hindering council’s ability to grow the local economy.

“We face serious challenges from the economic, social and environmental impacts of climate change. Council needs to help the community prepare for this,” she said.

“A proactive council is what this community needs.”

If elected, Ms Cousin promised to foster positive change across council and promote values of customer service, respect, teamwork and value for money. ”I question the proposed $32 million expenditure on new council offices when so many shops are vacant in Leongatha,” she said.

“Surely we can come up with feasible alternatives that don’t indebt council for the next 20 years.”

Ms Cousin said council needed to establish clear performance criteria especially for all services and capital works, remove wasteful expenditure, and involve communities directly in council budget priority setting.

“Dairy farmers in the shire have recently suffered a major economic crisis due to the collapse of the global price of milk and mismanagement

by Murray Goulburn and Fonterra to this market change,” she said.

“This has knocked the wind out of our local economy, but it also has significant impacts on the demands placed on council’s community services and our community wellbeing.

“The shire needs to lift its game. It needs to play a role in strengthening our region’s ability to keep up with changes in global markets and climate change. It has a major role to play in positioning businesses in the region to grow. Up until now it has been missing in action.

“Council has a development role to help the community to focus on ways to capture new market opportunities, to improve economic and social wellbeing and to nurture our unique local natural and environment. “

Nicholas promises change

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“Council has been very quick in the past to blame government cost shifting for increasing costs. It is about time council looked at its own service delivery methods before blaming others,” Mr Nicholas said.

“As with Community Satisfaction Survey results, they fail to accept responsibility and accountability.

“I will be standing for change, accountability and transparency.”

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Having witnessed the performance of the current council over the last four years, Mr Nich- Rates too high: Ian olas of Outtrim believed Nicholas will be it was clear there a need standing for change, for decisive change. accountability and “Council has contin- transparency. ued to increase rates at unsustainable levels and only when the State Government introduced rate capping has there been an attempt made to introduce restraint,” he said.

“The proposed Municipal Precinct in Leongatha will be nothing short of an outrageous and unnecessary impost on ratepayers for decades to come.

“The current municipal offices are adequate to meet council’s needs and if a majority of councillors will support a full and complete review of the council bureaucracy, efficiencies in accommodation needs may be achieved.

“Council also owns ‘office’ space adjacent to current council offices that would be easily renovated to improve accommodation if required.”

Mr Nicholas said recent reports of the council CEO’s remuneration package now exceeding $300,000 were mind boggling.

“This absolutely obscene situation is signed off by our councillors. It is very clear they have no sense of how the general ‘punter’ in the community is dealing with current economic circumstances,” he said.

Efficiency in the delivery of all core services is paramount, he said, and called for tough decisions to be made on service delivery in non-core areas.

COL110382

AFTER much consideration, Ian Nicholas has decided to nominate for the Strzelecki Ward in the upcoming South Gippsland Shire Council elections.

PAGE 10 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

SWEET DELIGHTS: it was great to see the green and gold decorating shops in Leongatha last week and Thornton’s Bakery went all out with a lovely green and gold window display and proud Parrot supporter baker Darren McInnes made some delicious green and gold neenish tarts and donuts. Staff member Leanne Van Lieshout shows off the tasty treats in the Leongatha Parrots team colours last Wednesday.

FAMILY SHOW:

Car crazy: admirers of Model T Fords were in their element at Coal Creek on Sunday when more than 500 people attended to admire the 102 vehicles on display. There were a huge variety of the Fords most of which had been meticulously restored by their owners. The huge turnout delighted all who work at Coal Creek with the public suitably impressed by the vehicles.

Above, OPENING NIGHT: Newhaven College students Julia Gatto and Lyra Hackett both of Wonthaggi enjoyed the opening night of Wonthaggi Theatrical Group’s latest musical Little Shop of Horrors at the State Coal Mine on Thursday.

COME along to the opening of the latest exhibition at Meeniyan Art Gallery this Sunday, October 2 at 2pm.

Find. Save. Keep. by Jenny Peterson will from Friday, September 30 to October 27.

The gallery is open from 10am to 4pm week days (closed Tuesday) and 11am to 5pm weekends.

Ms Peterson’s work investigates the art of collecting and uses found objects as printing plates. She aims to reveal the history of the objects.

She collects broken road signs and other objects found during road trips in the local region. Scratched and dented metal surfaces are fixed as traces of memory into soft paper.

A FEATURE at this Saturday’s (October 1) Koonwarra Farmers Market will be a presentation about fruit tree and edible plant propagation.

Rachael McGlead from Foster will present an information workshop to be held in the Koonwarra Hall, starting at 11am.

The talk will allow people to ask questions on propagation and maintaining healthy plants. Rachael has 23 years’ experience in the horticultural industry, and 10 of those has been growing and grafting fruit trees for Diggers Club.

Now she grows them for people of Gippsland.

Recently Rachael has been attending local farmers markets selling a large range of selected bare rooted fruit trees. There will be a $10 entry fee with a coffee and cakes provided.

THE Dumbalk community is investigating how to best run the Dumbalk Community Centre. Members of the Dumbalk and District Progress Association and the centre management sub-committee visited the Tarwin Lower Community Centre.

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They also have been in touch with the Smythesdale Community House, which runs a community centre similar to that aspired to by the Dumbalk community.

The centre could host such activities as playgroup, book club, yoga, tai chi and painting, and will be officially opened on Wednesday, October 26 from 1.30 to 3pm.

ROTARY Club of Korumburra will sponsor two exchange students to head overseas next year. Natasha Turton will visit the Netherlands and Bridget Keily will head to Italy.

BASS Valley Primary School students celebrated the last day of term with a student disco. Children danced the day away dressed in the colours of the favourite football team, and staff took on grades 5 and 6 students in a game of football.

Photograph spring CAN you capture the uniqueness of the Prom Country region during spring?

Prom Country Regional Tourism is encouraging local photographers of any age or skill level to get out and about and take a photo that embodies the theme ‘Spring in Prom Country’.

The competition will run from now until October 31. with prizes awarded for best image and people’s choice.

“The Prom Country region is a photographer’s dream,” said Philip Botte, chair of Prom Country Regional Tourism.

“We look forward to seeing how different people interpret the spring theme and look forward to a variety of entries. Prom Country can provide amazing inspiration.”

After the entry period closes, there will be a public voting period from November 2 to 27 for the people’s choice category, with winners announced on December 1.

Prizes include a two-night accommodation package for two at Toora Tourist Park (valued at $290) and a $200 Moo’s at Meeniyan meal voucher.

For more information, or to enter, please visit: www. promcountryphotocomp.com.au

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president of the Leongatha Historical Society Robert Sage presented Lola Bailey with a life membership at the society’s annual meeting on September 14. Lola has been volunteering with the society for more than 20 years and has previously been the president and the vice president. Robert said Lola was the sort of person you need to have on your committee. She regularly mans the rooms on Thursdays and Fridays, pays attention to small details and always finds something that needs to be done. Lola is a third generation Leongatha resident and loves to explore the history of the town she loves.

“THE STAR� Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 11

Putting the Island first STRONG campaigner for a better deal on Phillip Island, Stephen Fullarton, will stand for the Island Ward in the upcoming Bass Coast Shire Council election.

Born and schooled on Phillip Island, the Phillip Island Progress Association president has run a successful building design business in Cowes since 1975.

He lives in Cowes with wife Kerry, has two sons Sam and Scott, two daughters Bronwyn and Trudi, and is no stranger to local government.

He was a councillor with the former Phillip Island Shire from 1983 to 1989, and is more than ready to roll up his sleeves and make big changes that will see major improvements on the Island.

Not at all happy with the current council’s neglect of Phillip Island, Stephen helped established the Phillip Island Stand Alone some two and a half years ago and has been pushing the Island’s cause to break away from the Bass Coast Shire.

Stephen said he is determined to successfully campaign for Phillip Island and still sees the Phillip Island Stand Alone push as imperative.

While Stephen said if elected he will be working for better outcomes for the whole shire, his primary concern would be for better outcomes for Phillip Island.

Not happy with what he sees as 22 years of neglect of Phillip Island from the Bass Coast Shire, he will be fighting for some big ticket items for the Island that have been in the too hard basket for too long.

Stephen said he would demand a tip was reinstated on the Island; the establishment of a permanent, state of the art 24 hour a day, seven day a week accident and emergency facility; the much needed aquatic centre; more entertainment facilities for youth, including a skatepark in Cowes; a whole redevelopment plan for Cowes and urgent works on the Cowes foreshore.

He said he would reinstate the Inverloch transfer station as well.

Island fix: Cowes businessman Stephen Fullarton has nominated as a candidate for Bass Coast Shire. He has pledged urgent works to address erosion on the Cowes foreshore and to beautify the town.

As for the Phillip Island tip being closed, Stephen said he has heard from many local residents and holidaymakers expressing their anger at having nowhere to dump their rubbish.

Another big ticket item Stephen sees as a must do is to make sure Phillip Island finally gets the proposed aquatic centre.

“This simply must become a reality. The Phillip Island community has been fundraising since the early 1990s, with no help at all from the Bass Coast Shire Council,� he said. “Phillip Island now has a population of some 11,000 and has been crying out for this facility for decades, and so it was with total astonish-

ment this current Bass Coast Shire approved $20 million for a redevelopment of the existing Wonthaggi pool and following its completion Phillip Island could have an indoor pool to the value of $10 million to $15 million. “The Phillip Island funding was promised on the condition the community raise 50 percent in cash towards the aquatic facility.�

To say Stephen is not happy with this arrangement would be an understatement.

He has pledged to fight for immediate funding from the community, council, and State and Federal governments for a state of the art aquatic centre to be established in the near future on the Island.

Stephen said it was only since the Stand Alone Group was formed that council had offered any funding at all.

He also said for far too long the Cowes township has been presented in a Third World manner. “Cowes needs to reflect the status of an Australian premier town, a showpiece to attract tourists and a place of great pride for the local community and visitors,� Stephen said.

As to the poor state of the Cowes foreshore, Stephen wonders how long the orange barricades, erected on the beach in the centre of town, will remain. “If these remain much longer it could end up attracting a heritage listing,� he said.

Stephen sees the Cowes foreshore as another urgent project that he will be fighting hard for Shire funding to not only help save the beach from further erosion but to beautify the whole area.

Since Stephen chose to nominate as a candidate for the Bass Coast Shire he has been inundated with great support from the local area and beyond. “The support has been amazing,� he said.

The election is by postal votes and forms will be sent out during the first week of October.

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PAGE 12 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

OPINIONS

Mayor unimpressed

BLESS my father, a peasant from Italy who made it to Grade 2, then had to go and work on the farm, live through a war and start all over again in Australia.

Whenever I tried to argue a point with him, he would say, “Go away, get your facts, learn more about the topic then come back and argue with me”.

I thought of my father’s words when I read a recent editorial (August 23) in The Great Southern Star newspaper which attacked the record of the current councillors in general, and me in particular.

The author referred to decisions made about the Rhyll and Inverloch transfer stations, dogs on beaches and the Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre. Every reference was factually incorrect.

To recap briefly: The Rhyll tip.

The decision to close the Rhyll Transfer Station was made in 1991 because the site is adjacent to a Ramsar listed wetland.

Subsequent councils permitted extension after extension, until in 2013 this council resolved to close the tip and set up an alternative site as part of our waste contract tender process.

When only one tender was received, we were advised to seek more.

This will happen next year under the new council. I stand by the decision on environmental and economic grounds.

The Inverloch tip.

Councillors voted six to one (not unanimously, as stated in the editorial) to close the transfer station. Again, a decision with environmental and economic benefits. Wouldn’t you prefer a park on this prime site near Screw Creek and Anderson Inlet? Treat yourself to a trip to the city and walk around some transformed landfills, such as All

Nations Park in Northcote.

Dogs on beaches.

The editorial accused this council of “closing beaches to dogs”, echoing the hysterical misreporting of this issue.

We have not closed beaches to dogs; we have introduced time-share arrangements so that we can all – dogowners, non-dog-owners, people who don’t like dogs and our endangered hooded plovers – share our beaches, particularly over summer when our population swells.

In the winter, my family, like many others, enjoys a run on the beach with our dog.

Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre.

The same edition of The Star that criticised the council for ‘closing the information centre’ reported that a local consortium was interested in managing the centre.

So a new home for our arts and business communities, lower costs for council (which everyone wants), the retention of our information services, and our beautiful Centennial Centre being used more. That seems worth celebrating.

I accept that a newspaper editorial is an expression of opinion. As the Press Council of Australia makes clear in its statement of principles, however, an editorial should not be “based on significantly inaccurate factual material or omission of key facts”.

I am a frequent target of a hardcore trio and peripheral duo in letters to the editor. They are of an age, gender and political persuasion, reiterating the same lies and half-truths, week after week.

The negativity and irrationality turn off positive, future-thinking people.

The role of a newspaper is to chal-

Letters to the Editor

lenge standards, to raise the consciousness of its readers, to talk to knowledgeable sources, and to present all sides to an issue.

The great news is there are so many intelligent, articulate, fact-thirsty citizens in Bass Coast who would welcome such a change.

Cr Jordan Crugnale. mayor, Bass Coast Shire Council.

Council gives value for money AS we approach the council elections, now is a good time to think about this Bass Coast Shire Council’s performance and achievements.

We have managed to achieve a remarkable, largely unrecognised turnaround. A good way to illustrate this and respond to the nay-sayers, who are cherry picking the numbers, is with a graph. The graph tracks dollars spent by council per $100 paid by ratepayers. This measurement is a useful way of comparing apples with apples over time. Essentially it shows the quite dramatic shift in the way council spends your money.

Your rates get spent in two ways: operational expenditure (mostly salaries) and capital expenditure (maintenance, renewal and building of community assets).

It was immediately clear to me on taking my position on council that very few dollars had been spent on capital expenditure, over a long time.

Streets looked shabby, very few new community assets built, existing assets were run down.

Although there appeared to be capital expenditure increases, these were largely only keeping up with inflation, really just holding a very tenuous position, with distribution of funds quite ad hoc; one year a bit of maintenance, the next a minor contribution to a new project.

So with rates increasing between

6.5 percent and 8.5 percent annually for many years we were still only barely treading water. Arguably this has influenced a steady decline in community confidence and optimism for the future.

In order to address the situation we needed to do some research into what was happening at other similar councils (benchmarking).

This revealed how inadequate previous financial management had been. An average, over the previous four years, only $6.38 in every $100 of your rates was spent on capital where other similar councils were spending around $20.

In addition, finances were so grim we couldn’t get significant grants as we had no money to put on the table for matching state and federal money.

The new CEO was charged with addressing the situation of inadequate capital expenditure versus excessive operational expenditure.

This couldn’t mean ‘slashing and burning’ staffing numbers because that would involve massive payouts and we’d be no better off. The objective was to see the graph grow toward that $20 per $100 of rates.

Every service council delivers is being reviewed; we are over half way through that process now.

Thus far operational savings of $3 to $3.5 million have been achieved and are likely to reach $5 million within a year.

Currently we are spending two and a half times as much on capital compared to the previous council ($16.23 per $100). This represents close to a 10 percent turnaround inside three years.

Conversely operational expenditure (main component salaries) has decreased by the same nearly 10 percent.

It’s important to note this is a saving which continues year on year, freeing up finances for important community asset building and maintenance.

What does this mean?

We now have a forward capital

E D I T O R I A L Urgent care review needed THERE is no doubt the staff at Leongatha Hospital, and broader Gippsland Southern Health Service, do a fantastic job in caring for the sick and injured in our community.

The same goes for the diligent doctors, nurses and administration staff at Leongatha Healthcare, who work closely with the hospital to look after South Gippslanders in their times of need, particularly at the urgent care centre at Leongatha Hospital.

But there seems to be an opportunity to improve the way people in need of urgent medical attention are treated in South Gippsland.

Yes, we are lucky to have a round the clock emergency department at Wonthaggi Hospital, staffed by dedicated doctors and nurses with access to high level diagnostic equipment.

We also have urgent care centres at Leongatha, Korumburra and Foster hospitals serviced by nurses on duty with the help of doctors on-call when needed.

Ever since the new Leongatha Hospital opened, The Star has received reports from concerned patients and paramedics about the Leongatha urgent care centre being on bypass when inadequately staffed or overwhelmed by patients, meaning patients are referred to emergency departments at Wonthaggi, Latrobe Regional and Warragul hospitals.

In some situations, this results in better outcomes for the patient when their ailment warrants further investigation as they have access to more comprehensive x-rays and the like.

However not all conditions warrant such serious treatment and then there are other conditions that require prompt medical attention without the delay of having to travel 30 minutes or even an hour to another hospital, particularly when a new $30 million sits high on a hill, overlooking Leongatha, as the pride of town.

Nurses and doctors typically lead hectic working lives and it seems more funding or a different operating model is needed to employ additional staff – even part-time, casual or on-call - to ensure urgent care centres are more accessible to patients.

At the same time, this would ensure the centre/hospital was not so understaffed that nurses and doctors working there are under undue pressure or have to leave patients lingering for up to three hours without treatment – as The Star reports this week - or send them across Gippsland for treatment.

It’s likely that with an urgent care centre on bypass, patients are left to self-assess and could in fact forgo medical treatment if they are uncertain whether to worry about seeking treatment and are deterred by the prospect of a long drive to another hospital.

The community knows Leongatha Hospital is unlikely to ever have a fully staffed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week emergency department like Wonthaggi’s as the cost would be too great. The community is not asking for that.

However, the way urgent care centres now operate needs to change for the sake of the community’s health and that change needs to be made at a state-wide policy level.

Proving point: a graph by Cr Neil Rankine which he says shows ratepayers are getting better value from Bass Coast Shire Council now than in the past.

Email: letters@thestar.com.au Post: PO Box 84 Leongatha 3953 Fax: 03 5662 4350

works financing plan for the first time, which includes developments like a Wonthaggi aquatics and courts complex ($24m), Cowes Civic Complex and foreshore works ($17.5m), Bass Valley Children’s Centre and tourism projects, etc. This has never been possible before.

We can now propose some big community projects to government as financial partners. We can commit to meet fully, our asset maintenance plans and renewal as needed: road and footpath repairs, drains working, painting toilet blocks, re-roofing halls and so on.

Our research shows Bass Coast a low rating council, with low operational costs compared with other similar councils. Even staying within the State Government 2.5 percent rate cap has barely compromised our forward plans for a positive future.

Cr Neil Rankine, Hovell Ward, Bass Coast Shire Council.

Candidates beware!

ALL South Gippsland Shire Candidates have received a very basic survey purporting to come from the South and West Gippsland Transport Group, trying to gain support for the return of rail from Cranbourne to Leongatha.

Although I am sure all candidates would support this notion in principle, I certainly do, PLEASE be aware that there are some traps in the wording that, if you are elected, could put you in an invidious position at a later date.

Firstly, how can one possibly answer such a broad and complex issue with yes or no answers? The accompanying blurb spends several hundred words trying to explain the background, yet demands a simple one word answer. This is a lack of procedural fairness.

Secondly, it is not an arm’s length questionnaire, as it was drafted by one of the candidates in the election, to use for a particular purpose during and after the election.

I trust that that candidate will declare his conflict of interest and involvement in drafting the questionnaire in the interests of transparency.

The first question is not just asking if you support the return of rail to Leongatha. It is asking if you support it as a “priority Council project” which has a very particular meaning of which many candidates might not be aware.

It should properly read “Council Priority Project”. These projects, usually five, are selected each year by Council for it to concentrate on promoting with State and Federal Governments, so as not to spread Council’s aim too wide.

Council has to select these “Priority Projects” from a potentially long list. How can you, as a potential Councillor, commit yourself to this particular project when you don’t know what other possible projects might be required for the next four years which are of far higher priority than the return of the rail?

How can a potential Councillor commit themselves to the expenditure of $40,000 of ratepayers money to support four other unnamed Councils, to prepare a plan for which there is no brief, and with no information as to what other priorities for expenditure you may find if you are elected to office.

Have these other Councils committed themselves? Has the State Government for fifty percent of the total cost? Is this budget realistic? etc etc.

Then there is the sting in the tail. It says you are REQUIRED to respond

by Tuesday 27/9. Required? Says who? How about a please somewhere? But there’s more.

Then there is a threat. Responses will be put in the local press in the following week, “...which will indicate all candidate responses – or lack as the case may be.”

This is a trap. If you answer yes, you will be held to that at some time in the future when it might not be appropriate to do so, and it will allow one candidate publicity at your expense.

If you answer no, it is implied you will be criticised by this group for not supporting them in the run up to the election.

And if you do not answer, there will be an implied negative criticism in the run up to the election as well. This sort of behaviour took place in the last Council as well. (Proof can be provided if required).

The State Government has only recently released a rail transport outlook which says that the Leongatha rail corridor should remain in place for the next twenty years. That is good.

But as the sleepers are substantially rotted out, the rail will have to be lifted any way.

Why not use the road bed as a rail trail for the next twenty years?

So I will not be giving a one word response to the questionnaire. This statement is my reply. In summary let me be clear. I would like to see the rail returned to Leongatha. I always have.

But I will not commit to making it a Council Priority Project until after the new Council has considered all other potential priority projects.

And I will not commit to any expenditure of ratepayer funds at this time, again not until after the new Council has been able to review the present year’s budget, and considered items to be included in next year’s budget.

It is my opinion that some members of the S&WGTG might not realise that this survey has been hijacked for electoral purposes.

The promoters of this survey should be very careful not to imply any other response from me other than what is contained in the whole of this letter.

And sadly, I do not believe the rail will return in my life time. I hope I am wrong.

Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks Candidate for Tarwin Valley Ward

VOXPOP! VOX

The council elections are coming up. What do you think about your current council’s overall performance?

“They’ve been visionary, but I haven’t agreed with some of the decisions they’ve made, including their waste management and the closure of the Inverloch transfer station.”

Gary McAinch, Inverloch.

“There’s a lot more they could’ve done for the town as far as bringing more business in and creating employment opportunities. I also think the (heavy vehicle) bypass is ruining the town.”

Lyn Bowler, Leongatha.

“I think it’s a good thing they are fixing the netball courts in Wonthaggi because it’s something that needed to be done. I think, though, it might’ve been a better idea to build a big stadium so people could play netball, basketball and other sports.”

Grace McRae, Wonthaggi.

“I would’ve liked to see our roads fixed. We live on a gravel road and something needs to be done,” Olivia Cope, Middle Tarwin.

OPINIONS

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 13

Letters to the Editor

Clear choice

Digital economy opens doors

THE Bass Coast Shire Council elections are almost here. In Bunurong Ward alone there are nine candidates.

I am glad to see some people running who have some business background as I also have. Council is not a corporation and is not driven by profit motives but like any organisation, it absolutely must live within its means.

Some may believe local government debt is no big deal. I do not agree with that. After all, when budgets are balanced we actually have money to spend on programs which people want to see.

There will be a clear choice in the election between those who believe that the environment is an important thing (as I do) and those who believe it is the only thing.

I read with interest where one candidate for Western Port Ward argued “council has stubbornly remained reliant on rates and government grants” and is looking for more creative ways of getting even more revenue.

I think otherwise. Rates always form the bulk of council income. I don’t think residents should be paying significantly more in rates.

We don’t have a revenue problem. We are not using the money we already have in the best way as evidenced by our low capital works.

I commend concerned resident John Swarbrick for having the interest and knowledge of audit matters to make recent comments in his letters to the editor.

He makes many prescient points especially in his comparison between how Bass Coast Shire uses its income and how councils like Baw Baw Shire spend their income.

Finally, I would like to say that I have not been endorsed by any political party nor have I sought endorsement.

I hear that quite a few candidates may be doing preference deals. That is their choice. The system does allow for that. I have chosen not to do preference deals despite having my own opinions on who are good candidates and who are not-so-good candidates.

It is possible that I may turn out to be the only candidate in Bunurong Ward who chooses not to do preference deals. That is my choice. But at least it is a clear choice.

I trust residents to make their own decisions about who will best represent their area.

Julian Brown, Inverloch.

Candidate for Bunurong Ward

THE digital economy refers to the devices most of us use each day such as computers, phones and game consoles.

It includes the online maps that we consult, the web searches that we do to find information and our electronic banking. If adopted in the right way it can help drive growth, employment and future opportunities for the next generation: • economic growth and diversity; • strong skilled, and engaged community that participates in the global economy; • accessible public services that connect communities to people so they can have their say; and • a connected, liveable and desirable location to live, do business and visit.

We need to enhance digital infrastructure in our towns, nurture a digital culture and build stronger digital skills in our community, particularly with our older residents.

Jeremy Rich, candidate for Coastal-Promontory Ward, South Gippsland Shire Council, Walkerville.

Vote wisely RATEPAYERS have a golden opportunity this October to elect a council which will address the many issues which have caused the Bass Shire council in the past to be so maligned.

It is of interest to note that an outstanding candidate for Bunurong Ward has, among other matters, identified accountability and financial transparency as two areas that need attention.

The ratepayers need a clear statement from council as to why it is essential to pay large fees to outside consultants on various issues while we pay Council Staff employed in positions which cover those issues?

Accountability requires council to account for every action taken, not just some and the ratepayers rely solely on the councillors to ensure this is achieved.

Hence the need for councillors to be steadfast in ensuring they have council act accordingly.

There are many areas where it is essential that council provide full financial transparency of all allocated expenditure.

It is ratepayers’ money with which they are entrusted to use for the benefit of the community. For

example, the rapid growth in population has been met with an increase in sub-divisions, mainly of agricultural land, re-zoning and a new approach to planning, where existing town blocks can now be sub-divided into two or three smaller blocks.

This increases the rates collected without Council spending a penny, so one has difficulty in understanding how they justify rate increases. The new councillors must ensure full financial transparency in all such matters is readily available to the ratepayers. Audit reports must be made available to the community.

Surely it is our money and we are entitled to know if it is being mishandled To achieve this we must look to qualified and experienced candidates who can professionally analyse all matters arising and ensure the CEO is steering the council in the right direction so we can have comfort the ratepayers money and interests are correctly and wisely administered.

Ian Bulloch, Inverloch.

Email: letters@thestar.com.au Post: PO Box 84 Leongatha 3953 Fax: 03 5662 4350 fool all the people all the time.

Keep up your letters to the local and metropolitan papers, the radio stations and the TV channels to voice your disapproval about this incompetent mob.

Ross Smith, Inverloch.

Council disapproval WELL at last a sitting Bass Coast councillor has come out of the bunker and tried to justify all the bad decisions made by this current crop of incompetents.

Cr Rankine, who only got into council on former Cr John Duscher’s second preferences, has tried to justify all the bad decisions made since 2012 in his letter to the editor of last week.

And I’ll list just a few of these bad decisions – shutting the highly successful Wonthaggi information centre, bumping up all the rates excessively, closing the Inverloch transfer station, the waste of ratepayers’ money on the Surf Parade Inverloch chicane and the $500,000 wasted on the special charge scheme.

Cr Rankine is always looking back over his shoulder instead of looking ahead to the future of the shire.

What a hide! Anyway we’ll see how many supporters this current lot have got, at the well publicised protest rally being organised by the Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association at the Inverloch Reserve on Sunday, October 2 at noon.

Let’s give this council the biggest vote of disapproval ever, at the October election and remember to put sitting councillors last on your ballot papers.

There’s two down so far but five more to go, in cleaning out this mob.

We want a new broom through council, so the administration will also get the message that they can’t

ADVERTISEMENT

Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association Inc. (A0096592H) Following many requests from our members, and from other community members, the following information is being published for people who wish to know the voting preference of the Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association committee. The committee has considered information provided by candidates, together with other publicly available information, in determining this preference information. Please note that the committee has not approached any candidate to seek their endorsement of this information. This information is provided for information purposes only.

Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association Inc. - VOTING PREFERENCES REMEMBER: For your vote to be valid you must place a number for each candidate on the ballot paper.

BUNURONG WARD

ISLAND WARD

WESTERN PORT WARD

1 LARKE, Les

7 WHELAN, Michael

4 ELLIS, Geoff

2 DE RUN, Mohan 8 HARRISON, Jessica

3 SCHINKEL, Maurice Christian 4 OGIER, Val

2 KENT, Bruce 6 BARLOW, Mikhaela

4 BROWN, Julian

9 BROWN, Kimberley

3 LE SERVE, Clare

6 DALMAU, Peter

5 SPOTTISWOOD, Rodney

5 DREW, Bradley

5 TESSARI, Brett 9 RANKINE, Neil

8 WRIGHT, Phil 2 FULLARTON, Stephen

1 LAMERS, Ashley

3 WELLS, Max

1 ROTHFIELD, Pamela

7 ROBERTSON, Mark

6 PARTRIDGE, Ruth Authorised by Judith Lawrence, 16 Beach Road, Rhyll, V ictoria, 3923.

HM3134

PAGE 14 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Community fights for cinema

By Tayla Kershaw THE Bass Coast Fine Film Group appealed for the future of the Wonthaggi cinema at Bass Coast Shire Council’s community question time recently.

Representing the group, Larry Hills said the cinema should be seen as of greater value to the town.

“After the retirement of (former

Cinema wanted: Bass Coast Fine Film Group’s Larry Hills and Marny Javornik want the cinema to remain an important part of Wonthaggi.

projectionist) Keith Stevens, the big question was whether the equipment would stay with the cinema,” he said.

“We believe it should. If it disappears, it could take years to replace.”

Mr Stevens independently manned the cinema for 17 years and owned the equipment used during this time.

To keep the equipment with the cinema, Mr Hills and fellow Fine Film Group member Marny Javornik have called for support from council, as well as crowd funding and other fundraising methods.

“We will chip in but we want support and certainty that the cinema will remain,” Mr Hills said.

Mayor Cr Jordan Crugnale said she was confident the cinema would continue and said council had been working with Mr Stevens.

“We certainly value the cinema and we can see it has the support of the whole town,” she said.

The draft business plan for the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre was presented to the community late last month, and council’s coordinator of recreation and culture Mark Lindsay was adamant a cinema would be incorporated in the plan.

Community input on the draft plan closed yesterday (September 19).

All feedback will be considered before a final report is delivered to council.

Hospital unable to treat people in need Continued from page 1.

The patient recently attended the Leongatha Hospital for a scheduled 4pm emergency appointment but self-discharged – without being questioned by medical staff - after not being seen by a doctor for nearly three hours.

“The bureaucracy is just getting in the way of patient care around here,” the patient said.

“I was disgusted.”

The patient said the doctor and nurses appeared under pressure.

“I understand there is not an emergency department at Leongatha but they supposedly have an urgent care centre,” the patient said.

“Surely you should have a reasonable timeframe for when a doctor is going to see you.”

Another patient told The Star they were unable to obtain an appointment at Leongatha Healthcare and was told Leongatha Hospital was not taking patients either.

They were unable to see a GP at a Wonthaggi clinic and so went to the Wonthaggi Hospital emergency department in urgent need of pain relief.

“I did not like taking valuable time and a bed in the emergency department but was left with no other option. Wonthaggi ED was fantastic,” the patient said.

“I have also had a very positive experience in Leongatha Hospital where the care was great because the doors were open.”

• Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien.

Gippsland Southern Health Service chief executive officer Mark Johnson said urgent care services, such as those provided at Leongatha and Korumburra hospitals, were run by nurses and supported by local general practitioners oncall.

“It is not feasible or appropriate for every rural hospital to provide the same level of access to specialist treatment and diagnostics,” he said.

“Specialists and their teams need to undertake minimum numbers of complex procedures to maintain their high skills, but if they are at sites that do only small

numbers of those procedures, they risk reducing their skills in that area, which can put patients at risk.”

Health service board Mark Holmes did not wish to comment.

Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien urged the State Government to consider the level of health services required in South Gippsland.

“The State Government should continuously review the data and ensure that appropriate services are being offered if the level of demand changes,” he said.

Mr O’Brien said Leongatha Hospital was “an excellent facility that generally provides a high level of care for local residents”.

“I appreciate the frustration that some people experience that it is not an emergency ward but I understand there is simply not enough demand for there to be a permanently staffed emergency department in Leongatha,” he said.

Labor’s Eastern Victoria Region MLC Harriet Shing said the State Government would consider improving urgent care centres as part of its development of the Statewide Services and Infrastructure Plan now underway.

“I’m happy to hear from anybody that could have been admitted to the urgent care centre but they were not,” she said.

“It may come down to the number of people that are in the Leongatha care centre already and so it’s at capacity, or they may not have the staff available.”

a year.

• Gippsland Southern Health Service CEO Mark Johnson.

Doctors strive to treat LEONGATHA Healthcare practice manager Judy Robb said the clinic’s doctors service the Leongatha urgent care centre 24 hours a day, 365 days

A doctor is rostered to that role, in addition to consulting patients at the clinic during the day.

The doctors also provide the same cover for obstetrics and in-patients and on many occasions the clinic’s GP anaesthetists are called to provide urgent assistance.

“It would be a very rare occasion when we do not have a doctor available for urgent care,” Mrs Robb said.

She said retention of GPs was difficult due to the demands of the on-call roster to service the urgent care centre.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said staff at Wonthaggi Hospital emergency department believed there had been “a slight increase in presentations from Leongatha, Korumburra and Foster over the past five months”, but added this “had not placed undue stress on the department”.

“In fact our performance over the past months against the national targets has improved, despite a slight increase in presentations which is the result of excellent work by the team,” she said.

Ambulance Victoria group manager Eddie Wright said Leongatha paramedics care about their patients.

“Paramedics usually take patients to the closest hospital unless they require a higher level of care,” he said.

“Judgements about the most appropriate destination are made in line with our clinical practice guidelines.”

Baw Baw Shire Council elections Your Council, Your Vote Postal election: check the mail for your ballot pack Ballot packs containing voting material will be mailed to enrolled voters from Tuesday 4 October 2016.

This is a postal election.

If you do not receive your ballot pack by Wednesday 12 October please call 1300 597 418 during office hours to arrange an alternative.

Candidates Candidates who have nominated to stand for election will be listed in the ballot packs and at vec.vic.gov.au. Where provided by candidates, a photo and a statement will also be included.

Responses to the candidate questionnaire, where provided, will also be available at vec.vic.gov.au.

How to vote correctly You must complete your ballot paper correctly for your vote to count. Put the number 1 in the box next to the candidate you most want to see elected, then number ALL the other boxes in order of your preference. You must number EVERY BOX and only use each number once.

vec.vic.gov.au

/electionsvic

How to return your ballot material Post your completed ballot paper using the reply-paid envelope provided, or hand-deliver it during office hours to: Former Community Assets Building, 1 Civic Place, Warragul

Voting is compulsory Voting is compulsory for voters who were on the State roll at 4.00 pm on Friday 26 August 2016.

Enrolled residents may be fined if they do not vote — this includes homeowners and tenants.

You are encouraged to vote (but won’t be fined if you don’t) if: • you are aged 70 years or over OR • you live outside this council area OR • you applied directly with Council to be on the roll.

Phillip Robinson Returning Officer Former Community Assets Building, 1 Civic Place, Warragul Tel: 1300 597 418 for general enquiries Office hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm weekdays until Wednesday 19 October 9.00 am to 8.00 pm on Thursday 20 October 9.00 am to 6.00 pm on Friday 21 October

@electionsvic

Authorised by W. Gately, AM, Electoral Commissioner, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

1300 597 418

Your completed ballot material must be in the mail or handdelivered by 6.00 pm Friday 21 October Register for SMS and email alerts at vec.vic.gov.au

Victorian Electoral Commission 690650E

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 15

Historic site: Ponte Vecchio in Florence is a famed bridge in a charming part of Italy.

Festive adventure: from left, Jill Carmody of Leongatha Travel and Cruise and Joy Morgan at St Vilnius Cathedral, Prague, during the Christmas Markets of Central Europe Exclusive departure. Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.

Discover Europe, UK, with Trafalgar THINKING of travelling to Europe and the UK? Then 2017 is the year to realise your dream, with never before seen savings available through Trafalgar Tours to celebrate their 70th anniversary and the launch of the new season.

Travel in style: Tiffany Stephenson of Panthers Mensland can you help you choose a great new suitcase for your next trip away.

Come in to the Leongatha store and select from the new Tosca range now available.

As a family run business celebrating 70 years in the industry, Trafalgar CEO Gavin Tollman sums up the passion behind Trafalgar’s guided holidays by saying, “after 70 years of us refining how you love to travel, it’s never been so effortless, authentic and fun”.

Having been on many Trafalgar tours herself, including escorting the popular Christmas Markets group departure in December 2015, Leongatha Travel and Cruise’s Jill Carmody could not agree more.

“Trafalgar Tours is one of the leading tour operators, not just in the UK and Europe, but worldwide,” Jill said.

“Trafalgar pride themselves on offering passengers a stress-free travel style, unrivaled value and unmatched local knowledge. I have experienced for myself just how wonderful these guided holidays can be.”

For the coming season Trafalgar tours has launched its “eight ways to travel” which ensures there is a guided holiday to suit your age, travel style and interests .

The Country Explorer and At Leisure programs see the pace of your holiday slowed right down, with The Country Explorer giving you and in-depth look at a single country, and the At Leisure program offering you a slower pace holiday, giving you plenty of time to act like a local.

The Hidden Journeys program is quite unique, with a focus on smaller group sizes and getting you off the beaten track, this option will see you discover a country’s hidden treasures.

Family Experience holidays ensure everyone in your family can experience Europe together and the Special Interest holidays will ensure you immerse yourself in some of the many special events celebrated throughout Europe every year.

If getting out and exploring is more your style or you are limited for time, then the Discoveries and Regional

Explorer programs are for you.

The refined 2017 program offers an average price reduction of 15 percent across all tours and for the first time, Trafalgar Tours is offering fly free deals across a variety of airlines, depending on the duration of the tour booked.

“This promotion is exciting for us in the travel industry because it is rarely offered by touring companies,” Jill said.

“It gives our agents the opportunity to source the best deal using the fly free and/or early payment discounts available.”

Trafalgar has been generous in the savings available to celebrate the launch of the 2017 season.

“For one tour, there will be the choice of fly free or early payment discount, whichever is the greater saving,” Jill said.

“For two or more tours, clients will have the opportunity of flying free on one tour and the early payment discount on the other. All of these savings are often com-

binable with past passenger and multi-tour discounts as well, depending on the duration of the tours.”

The experienced team at Leongatha Travel and Cruise, having experienced the Trafalgar product form themselves, are well placed to advise you on, help you plan and book, your 2017 European getaway.

To celebrate the launch of the 2017 season and make the most of the incredible savings, Leongatha Travel and Cruise is running a film and information evening with a Trafalgar Tours expert to discuss the new program.

Join them on October 25 at 7.30pm in Meeting Room One at Leongatha Memorial Hall and be inspired by all that Trafalgar Tours has to offer you and your dream European holiday.

Leongatha Travel and Cruise is excited to be launching the itinerary for its 2017 Christmas Markets Tour which is exclusive to the agency.

RSVPs are essential for catering purposes, so please contact the team at Leongatha Travel and Cruise by Friday October 21 on 5662 3601 to secure your place.

YOU’RE INVITED Learn and be inspired by the experts at this exclusive event and receive unbeatable savings.

Date: Tuesday, 25th October 2016 Time: 7:30pm Venue: Meeting Room 1, Memorial Hall Leongatha

TT5011 TT50 11

PAGE 16 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Kitchen scraps appeal to council

By Brad Lester SOUTH Gippsland Shire residents could one day receive an organics waste collection service from their kerbsides.

South Gippsland Shire Council officers flagged the option recently, to reduce the amount of kitchen compostable and green waste entering the Koon-

warra landfill, filling precious space, and emitting gas and leachate.

Council has set aside $20,000 in the 2016-17 budget to investigate the viability of a full organics collection in the future.

“What is regarded as best practice will involve major changes in collection and in people’s behaviour,” council’s waste management supervisor Pete Roberts said.

Reducing waste: from left, South Gippsland Shire Council’s sustainability coordinator Geoff McKinnon and waste management supervisor Pete Roberts discuss the possibility of introducing an organics waste collection service in the shire.

Bass Coast Shire Council will introduce a kitchen organics service that will entail households receiving a bin with cornstarch liners that break down, and South Gippsland could do the same.

Bass Coast will collect garbage fortnightly and green waste/organics weekly, given that waste produces more odour.

Mr Roberts did acknowledge people already composting would have some concerns about the cost of the service.

Mayor Cr Bob Newton suggested a user pay system so as ratepayers would not pay for a bin they do not use or even suggested a service to be shared among neighbours.

“The only other way we could do it is to change the local law and let people have pigs and chooks in their backyards,” he quipped.

Council introduced a fortnightly kerbside green waste collection service in July 2014, but an organics service was not, due to the need to send such waste to a licensed processing facility, the nearest being at Dutson Downs near Sale.

The green waste service removed 1700 tonnes of green waste during its first year, far above the 1000 tonnes that had been anticipated.

Green waste is taken to Pinegro Pty Ltd in Morwell for composting and Mr Roberts was pleased to note no loads from South Gippsland Shire had been turned away due to contamination. Waste is composted and turned into soil conditioner that is sold.

The service has reduced the amount of kerbside waste to landfill from each property from 411kg to

337kg a year a – reduction of about 18 percent.

Spring is the peak time for green waste collection, with 9026 bins collected in October, above the monthly average of 7218 green waste bins.

Properties receiving green waste paid $78 for the service during the 2015-16 financial year and this has risen to $79.35 in 2016-17.

“The introduction of the service has led to a significant reduction in the volume of green waste dropped off at all transfer stations except Walkerville where the service is unavailable,” a council report stated.

“Overall there was a 23.5 percent drop in green waste volumes dropped off at transfer stations since the service began compared to 2014-15.”

That reduction is equivalent to 4976 cubic metres.

“The reduction in green waste volumes at the sites has led to savings in green waste mulching and management costs of approximately $30,0000 but also a drop in green waste disposal income of approximately $23,000 compared to 2014-15, creating a net saving in transfer station management costs of $7000,” a council report stated.

Kerbside waste composition 2014-15: recycling 2091 tonnes, garbage 4086 tonnes;

Kerbside waste composition 2015-16: recycling 2225 tonnes, garbage 3890 tonnes, green waste, 1700 tonnes.

Power to the locals

“They should end up with more rates being spent in their areas. My trial would see the whole shire being covered by local area boards.”

Cr Hill said boards would comprise local representatives and councillors, and they would receive council administration support.

He said board members would receive a small allowance and be elected to their positions by the community.

Cr Don Hill, who is seeking re-election Cr Hill said his idea was based on the to Tarwin Valley Ward, is proposing an program implemented in New Zealand’s elected local board similar to the former Local focus: South Thames-Coromandel District Council, Mirboo North Shire that would be responwhere community boards are in place for sible for determining and delivering local Gippsland Shire Coun- each ward. cillor Don Hill wants to area services to the community, “rather “They had a six percent reduction in than having these decisions made in Le- implement a local board their rates overnight when they started ongatha”. in Mirboo North that this. They find the local area boards are Council already has in place a Comgetting more done for less dollars, like munity Capital Works Allocation project, will be responsible for the current recreation reserve committees delivering council serwhereby the community will have a say do,” he said. in how an extra $400,000 will be spent on vices to the community.

“They tend to have more local supcapital works in Mirboo North, Foster, Koport and get more involvement from the community. They rumburra and Venus Bay in 2017-18. People were recently work on projects the community has identified as opposed invited to express their views by being involved in online to some asset manager.” forums.

The NZ model was presented at a local government Cr Hill said, “The model I’m proposing is there would conference Cr Hill attended some years ago and he has be elected boards of locals and there would be services since joined a group that is considering how the NZ model they would be responsible for. could be implemented in Australia.

A SOUTH Gippsland Shire councillor has defended his plan to return decision making powers to the Mirboo North community as original, saying his proposal is different to that already in train by council.

Children’s hub on schedule

By Brad Lester THE Korumburra community is on track to have a new children’s hub by early next year.

Construction of the Karmai Community Children’s Centre is due for completion by the contract date of early December 2016, with the fitout expected to take place soon after.

The $5.345 million centre comprising childcare, kindergarten, and maternal and child health was the flagship of South Gippsland Shire Council’s 2015-16 engineering capital works program, valued at $12.92 million.

Council’s manager engineering and assets John Moylan proudly informed councillors of the program’s success recently.

The Karmai centre is being jointly funded by council ($2.045 million), the Federal Government ($1.6 million), State Government ($1.6 million) and the Korumburra community ($100,000).

Wonthaggi firm TS Constructions is completing the project and due to the competitive price, extra items have been added, including a staff carpark for 15 vehicles and drainage in nearby Little Princes Street.

To coincide with the project, council also brought forward the reconstruction of Princes and John streets, Korumburra, to minimise the impact on neighbours by completing this project, and the children’s hub, in the same year, rather than over two years.

Up to 60 variations to the original design have been made due to small changes that have arisen.

Other capital works projects of note included: • two new public toilets at Tarwin Lower and Waratah Bay; • footpath renewal, including Shellcot Road and

James Street, Korumburra; Jupiter Boulevard, Venus Bay; Walkerville Road, Tarwin Lower and Turner Street, Leongatha; • new guardrail contracts, including new bridge barriers on Spencers Road Bridge, Leongatha North, over Coalition Creek, following a truck accident in 2014; • completion of the new Leongatha skate park; • recreation projects: soccer lighting at Mirboo North, resurfacing of netball courts at Mirboo North, Yanakie Recreation Reserve improvement works, Meeniyan Recreation Reserve youth space (new skate park and playground), new synthetic bowls green at Korumburra, and Korumburra Training Centre of Excellence indoor cricket project; • rural road rehabilitation program: LeongathaYarragon Road, Wooreen; Buffalo-Waratah Road, Buffalo; and Dollar Road, Dollar.

• reconstruction of A’Beckett Street, Leongatha; Station Street, Korumburra; • sealing of Grand Ridge Road, Trida and Carmodys Road, Leongatha; • extension of the Great Southern Rail Trail between Koonwarra and Meeniyan. Savings were directed towards the reconstruction of the trail from Welshpool to Port Welshpool, and the construction of a new asphalt path along the foreshore in Port Welshpool. New rail trail signs are expected to be in place by November this year; and • Koonwarra landfill. Completion of entire Cell 4 completed in one session, saving council $700,000.

Mayor Cr Bob Newton said he would like to see one of the new bridges on the Koonwarra-Meeniyan section of the rail trail named in honour of Eric Cumming, who undertook significant work in establishing the trail.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 17

Region gives to women in need SHARE the Dignity volunteers are “blown away” and extremely privileged by the generosity of the community in response to its August campaign.

The effort raised a large sum of cash and significant donations of what the organisation terms “luxury items”.

Volunteer Emma Baido of Korumburra said the response to the organisation’s drive to collect sanitary items for women and young girls living in poverty or suffering domestic violence, in South Gippsland and the Bass Coast, had been fabulous.

The extent of the problem, which she describes as “massive in Australia,” has been an eye opener to many people.

Cash and sanitary items were received at collection stations set up around the South Gippsland and Bass Coast shires and included a $500 donation from the Karingal Ladies Service Club in Korumburra, $100 from Mandy and Fred Truscio from Serafino’s Pizzeria Leongatha and more than $100 from ALDI Leongatha.

Other donations were received from Inverloch Community Hub, Bass Coast Youth Assist Clinic Wonthaggi, Family Recourse Centre Wonthaggi, Mitchell House Wonthaggi, Salvation Army Corps Wonthaggi, The Hub Koo Wee Rup Youth Centre, Youth Access Clinic Korumburra Medical Centre, Milpara Community House Korumburra, Salvocare Leongatha and Korumburra Community Mental Health Services Funds are continually needed and while Share the Dignity runs a collection drive in April and August, Ms Baido said the Wonthaggi Baptist Church is taking donations during September.

“Sanitary items are a right not a privilege.

Our next drive, ‘It’s In the Bag’, will be ahead of Christmas from November 19 to December 3,” she said.

“We will be collecting packs of ‘luxury items’ for women experiencing hardship who would otherwise go without over Christmas.”

She said people, including those who would like to help out as volunteers, can find further information at www.sharethedignity.com.au and invites supporters to ‘like’ the organisation on facebook and/or instagram.

Last year several schools in the area became involved and Ms Baido hopes more will join the cause in 2016.

“Periods are real,” she said. “We can’t avoid them and need to make menstruation less of a taboo topic.”

Share the Dignity is hosting a comedy event, #ISTANDUP against domestic violence because it’s just not bloody funny, on Thursday, October 13 and Friday, October 14 at the Athenaeum Theatre, Collins Street, Melbourne.

With more than 78 women killed last year due to domestic violence, money raised from the Friday show will go towards helping to pay for the funerals of victims to ease the financial burden of grieving families.

While a long term goal is increasing the amount of crisis care accommodation for women fleeing domestic violence, Share the Dignity is currently working on installing ‘dignity’ vending machines in public bathrooms and under resourced schools.

Korumburra Youth Access Clinic will be working at the Korumburra Secondary College next term with a doctor and nurse in attendance.

They will also be taking receipt of donations of sanitary items.

Ms Baido’s fundraising page can be found at http://www.mycause.com.au/page/135465/ emma-baido-istandup-day

Giving generously: from left, Bev Hall from the Karingal Ladies Service Club, Emma Baido from Share the Dignity, Cassie George, store manager ALDI Leongatha, Isabella Hermit of Karingal, and Mandy and Fred Truscio from Serafino’s Pizzeria in Leongatha at ALDI Leongatha, one of Share the Dignity’s collection points in the region for donations of sanitary care items for women in need.

ROLLING COLOUR EFFECT

REVERSING 5

TOP-TO-BOTTOM WINDOW

FLYING EASTERN SPINEBILL

TACTILE FEATURE

Australian banknotes are among the safest in the world and, to keep them that way, the Reserve Bank is introducing a new series of banknotes.

The new $5 banknote is now in circulation. It has many innovative features designed to make our banknotes clearly more secure. Importantly, all existing banknotes can continue to be used.

Discover more at banknotes.rba.gov.au or call 1800 633 220

FEDERATION STAR

PAGE 18 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Lions roll out red carpet INVERLOCH and District Lions Club hosted a special double event recently.

The club welcomed first vice district governor Andrew McMahon for a supper meeting and also inducted new member Mohan De Run at the Inlet

Hotel, Inverloch.

Mr De Run will join Lions from across the world in providing humanitarian assistance to those in communities in need. Lions will next year be celebrating 100 years of helping people around the world and locally.

Welcome to Rotary: from left, Jill Moor, new Rotarian John Moor, Rotarian Marilyn Sim and club president Peter Biggins at Mr Moor’s induction to the Rotary Club of Korumburra.

Rotary’s membership grows THE Rotary Club of Korumburra inducted new member John Moor on Tuesday, September 20.

He has volunteered for several Rotary activities over the past few years and did not hesitate when he was formally invited to join Rotary.

Mr Moor has recently retired from business

and felt he wanted to give to the community.

Mr Moor was nominated to the club by Marilyn Sim and inducted by president Peter Biggins.

Mr Moor was accompanied by his wife Jill to witness this special occasion.

The Rotary Club of Korumburra was thrilled to be able to welcome the couple to the club.

Welcome to Inverloch: from left, Inverloch and District Lions Club president Linda Aly, with third vice president Greg Dyke, new member Mohan De Run and first vice district governor Andrew McMahon.

Rubbish feat caps off council’s year S O U T H Gippsland Shire Council collected more recyclables than landfill waste for the first time in council’s history.

Council collected 3924 tonnes of recyclables, compared to 3890 tonnes of waste.

That feat is one • South Gippsland of the highlights Shire Council mayor of council’s draft Cr Bob Newton.

2015-16 Annual Report, which recognises the achievements of the organisation during the last 12 months.

The report will be presented to council at its

meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

The draft annual report captures council’s achievements throughout the year, which also included: • advocating to VicRoads for major repairs to the South Gippsland Highway; • investing $6.2 million in local road resealing and $15.3 million into road maintenance; • completing the Black Spur section of the Great Southern Rail Trail with new signs and marketing to be introduced; • commenced construction of the Karmai Community Children’s Centre with the official opening planned for early 2017; • built a new skate park in Leongatha with involvement from 800 young people; • developed a business case for a regional equestrian facility at Stony Creek; • increased the number of visits to council’s pools to an average of more than 3200 per week; and

• developed an Arts and Tourism Policy in partnership with the arts community.

Mayor Cr Bob Newton is proud of the achievements made by council in the last year of its term.

Despite perceptions to the contrary, this annual report demonstrates the hard work, service and commitment to provision of excellent facilities that council provides to the community each and every year,” he said.

“The results in the annual report are the outcome of great future planning and the dedication of council staff who successfully implement these plans and ideas.

“We hope the community can recognise the outstanding work that can be achieved when council and the community work together to benefit the whole of South Gippsland.

The annual report can be viewed on council’s website: www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/annualreport

Traffic jam A NEW intersection in Leongatha is already causing traffic problems.

That’s the view of concerned Leongatha resident Gary Nelson, in the wake of traffic lights at the revamped intersection of Bair, Ogilvy and Long streets, and Koonwarra Road coming into operation recently.

Mr Nelson is concerned about the lack of a right turning arrow for traffic entering Koonwarra Road from Bair Street.

He said traffic wishing to turn must wait for oncoming traffic from Ogilvy Street.

“The cars are banking up and they’re causing a traffic jam right up to the service station, when you’ve got three or four cars waiting to turn right,” he said.

“Twice now I’ve come through and found myself in the queue. A couple of cars get through and then the lights change and you just end up with mounting traffic.”

VicRoads did not offer any hope of the traffic lights being improved.

VicRoads operations manager Henry Lam said VicRoads would continue to monitor traffic and signal operations to optimise safety.

“Traffic is not operating to ultimate arrangements at the moment because of continued works, but we know the intersection has operated extremely well as a cross road before the signals were turned on, and we expect this will continue now signals are in operation,” he said.

South Gippsland bites down on loose dentures WORLD class denture expertise has arrived at Leongatha’s QuickSmile Dentures clinic, with the appointment of internationally trained denture clinician Timo Ohlsen.

Known in the trade as a dental prosthetist, Mr Ohlsen is one of the latest expert arrivals to QuickSmile Dentures’ Lyons Street practice, a clinic specialising in full and partial dentures.

After originally training in Germany, Mr Ohlsen expanded his qualifications at RMIT Melbourne, bringing an impressive skill set to Leongatha, enabling rapid full and partial denture construction and maintenance service.

“It’s a privilege to be able to bring this level of quality denture treatments to a regional area like South Gippsland, where access to best practice dental service is just as important as everywhere else,” Mr Ohlsen said.

Mr Ohlsen said he would endeavour to ensure QuickSmile Dentures can process same day repairs for walk-in clients with existing dentures.

Building on existing levels of flexible serFirst class: Leongatha’s QuickSmile Dentures clinic’s denture clinician Timo Ohlsen has a vice, Mr Ohlsen’s arrival to QuickSmile Denthorough knowledge of dentures.

tures will bolster the popular and well utilised ‘Come to You’ home service for housebound and nursing home patients.

“I’ll be working closely with the team of expert dentists at South Gippsland Dental, so we can ultimately play a significant role in bringing this exciting Implant Retained Denture’ concept to the region,” Mr Ohlsen said.

“Finally, we can promise denture wearers a new found biting confidence along with much greater comfort.

“This is great news, especially for those who have suffered long and hard with forever loose dentures.”

Mr Ohlsen will work closely with Dr Taehee Lee of South Gippsland Dental to bring the world class service to South Gippsland.

“We are so lucky to have this option available, bringing revolutionary denture service right to our doorstep that’s going to have real tangible benefits for our clients,” Mr Ohlsen said.

For appointments and further information phone QuickSmile Dentures on 5662 0012 or drop into the clinic at 7 Lyon Street, Leongatha.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 19

Spring magic rewards gardeners

By Karen Haw, The Town Centre Nursery

drained soil.

In winter, when they are dormant, feed heavily and add lime or dolomite. There is a huge range of colours and some of the newer Japanese hybrids have exceptionally large stunning perfumed flowers.

It looks like we are in for another long hot and dry summer, so it is important to ensure the soil is in good

THE early spring bulbs have finished flowering, but as we are hitting mid spring there is a load of plants ready to tempt with their brilliant display of colour and perfume.

First off there is the all time favourite, the rose. Roses can survive just about anything but if you want a rose to thrive it needs a bit of tender loving care.

Roses love fertiliser and water, and to get maximum flowers the treatment for roses and large flowering clematis is similar.

Both plants respond to heavy fertilising before flowering, then love a trim after the initial flowering, followed with another feed after flowering.

Roses can survive drought but if given water when dry they will continue to flower and produce top quality flowers.

Climbing roses and large flowering clematis combine well together. The spring flowering Montana clematis are tough and robust and fantastic for covering tree stumps and fences.

At this time of year, with fresh lush growth, roses are a great temptation for aphids. They can be sprayed with a hose or sprayed, and there are products available in ready to use and concentrated that will treat bugs, mites and fungal problems with one spray.

Some plants are capable of perfuming the whole garden, especially when the evenings are warm.

Over winter the boronias will do this, whereas at this time of year the best choices there are heliotrope (or cherry pie), philadelphus, jasmine and portwine magnolia.

Others have delightful perfume if brushed against or when the flowers are sniffed, such as roses and lilacs.

At this time of year it is nearly sensory overload with the range of colour and perfume in the garden.

Heliotrope or cherry pie is a delightful old-fashioned addition to the home garden everyone should seek out and try.

The fragrance of this plant is an intoxicating vanilla-cinnamon-fruit scent that is most noticeable in the morning and early evening.

I have this plant in my garden and though it likes a position in full sun, it survives well in a shady area and flowers non-stop nearly 12 months of the year, emitting a delightful fragrance. The only downside is the flowers do not last well when cut.

The foliage is dark green and crinkled and flowers are produced in clusters of violet to mauve flowers.

There are several varieties available one with golden foliage and another with white flowers.

Another old fashioned perfumed plant that is making a big comeback is lilac. There are many varieties of lilacs.

Syringea vulgaris is the common lilac and this is

health and rich in organic matter, as this helps water penetration and retention.

Use mulches such as sugar cane or peastraw that break down and add humus back to the soil.

In places where the soil is dry and/or sandy, add plenty of compost and products such as Wetasoil will help.

Up close: Vicki Sinclair (left) and Rosemary Langmore admire the tree peony Gunpoden. always sold grafted onto privet. If not grafted this shrub will sucker terribly and often get out of control.

Their colours range from white and creamy yellow to lilac, blue and purple, and may be single or double.

All are sweetly scented, are tough, hardy and deciduous.

Lilacs are happy in most well drained soils and benefit from some added lime or dolomite. Prune by removing their old flowering wood immediately after flowering. There are many species of lilacs and these are generally not grafted.

All have single flowers, are more shrubby and often smaller growing than the well known large flowered lilacs.

Mollis azaleas are the real show offs of the plant world. These are fairly twiggy shrubs (1.5 – 2.5m tall) until they come out in a mass of colour.

The colour range is a glorious one from soft pastels to riotous reds and outrageous orange, and being deciduous they seem to suffer from less pests and diseases that evergreen azaleas suffer.

One of the main pests azaleas suffer from are lace bugs, which are small soft bodied insects with large lacy wings which cling to the underside of the leaf surface.

The bugs are so small they are usually not detected until damage is noticed on the leaves when the leaves develop pale coloured speckling on their upper surfaces, giving leaves a greyish cast.

When damage is severe enough, the whole leaf appear white and drops early. To control, spray in spring with a confidor spray or use confidor tablets.

Mollis azaleas thrive in well drained, humus rich, slightly acid soil. Mulch them well at the time of planting and then each spring. This will help retain moisture over the warmer months and prevent damage to roots as they are fairly shallow.

Another show off flowering now are the tree peonies. Tree peonies are not difficult to grow and there are some old specimens in Leongatha.

They like morning sun and some protection from the hot afternoon sun in a sheltered position with well

Welcome: from left, Nathan Millett has joined Luke Jones’ team at Shield Master that is expanding its concreting division.

Concrete’s popularity rises CONCRETE has grown an increasingly sophisticated profile in recent years.

At one end of the spectrum it is the floor of the shed.

At the other, the upper end it is the surface of choice for the interior designer searching for a finish with the maximum impact.

Whether your project is commercial or domestic, Shield Master in Leongatha is the one stop shop for all matters concrete.

The long established family owned business has marked the expansion of its concrete division by welcoming on board Nathan Millett, a locally born and bred concreter with 20 years experience.

Shield Master’s Luke Jones said, “If you think your concrete is beyond repair it probably isn’t. We are happy to do onsite inspections to discuss the

treatments available.

“Cracking can usually be easily repaired or otherwise old surfaces can be re-levelled or overlayed.”

Shield Master has 30 years’ experience in protective coating, including polished concrete and decorative coating.

The latest top of the line equipment can be used to grind and expose unsuspected character, or why not apply a new look pebble coating for that designer look.

From garden paths and driveways to factory sheds, it is worth entrusting the job to the experts who know the incredibly diverse applications of concrete available.

If you had not considered customised concrete polished benchtops for your kitchen or bar, then perhaps it’s time you did.

PAGE 20 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Boats are in: vessels at rest on Grassy Harbour, King Island.

Couple finds bliss in island life

By Brad Lester THEY once called Leongatha home, but the serenity and natural beauty of King Island beaconed Charles and Ros Pearce for a second stint.

Five years on from relocating to the Bass Strait island, spanning some 70km in length by 26km width, they are in no hurry to come home to South Gippsland.

“We first came here in 1992 as dairy farmers and stayed until 1995. We fell in love with the island then, loving the close knit community, the lifestyle, the freedom to be able to explore hidden places and also the climate,” Charles said.

Island living: Charles and Ros Pearce, forThese days, Charles works at the famous King merly of Leongatha, have found heaven on Island Dairy cheese factory as safety, wellbeing and King Island. environmental advisor, and Ros is working several part time jobs: personal assistant to a local writer, and in administration for the community house and a local natural resource management group.

“If you want to be able to go to a mega shopping every weekend, you will not be able to unless

BY DAY he works at the renowned centre you own a plane,” Charles said.

King Island Dairy cheese factory.

“If you want cheap cost of living, think again, By night, Charles Pearce is part of the band however you can grow some amazing crops in the 40 degrees south. garden thanks to the climate. We have a banana tree

Music makers

Lead singer Tim Woodburn moved to King Island a few years ago with his family from England where he had had a start in the music industry.

Also playing acoustic guitar and ukulele, he was soon joined by drummer Tim Leo, guitarist Troy Smith, bass player Daniel Baer, Charles on horns and Charles’ wife Ros on vocals and hand percussion.

On the band’s soon to be released debut album, Charles plays a diversity of instruments, such as trombone, flute and saxophone, The group’s music is largely folk rock.

“Some songs are quite loud and rocky and are done in a Rolling Stones or Foo Fighters feel.

Others are very laid back acoustic guitar and harmonica; others indie rock,” Charles said.

Check out: www.facebook.com/FortyDegreesSouth or to listen to the first single, go to http://fortydegreessouth.bandcamp.com/track/ antidote-2

Grand sight: Cape Wickham lighthouse, the tallest stone lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere.

in the backyard that is three years old now and not in a green house or shelter shed.”

Fishing is wonderful and often the couple walks along the beach at night with their dogs.

“Some people who come here find the isolation gets to them and they just have to leave,” Charles said.

“Personally I don’t really care about the isolation. Yes, it can get frustrating waiting for goods to arrive on the weekly supply ship, but that just takes a bit of additional planning.

“Ros says it’s a bit like Leongatha used to be when she was growing up. The pace of life is slower than on the mainland. There’s no need to hurry as the island is only 70 kilometres long. Rushing does not get you anywhere much more rapidly.

“I drive 30 kilometres to work each day and most days I do not see another car. I might

“Ros says it’s a bit like Leongatha used to be when she was growing up.” see up to 100 wallabies, but not many cars.”

Despite being in the middle of Bass Strait, where the wind meets the first land east of South Africa, the island has a pleasant climate.

“Yes, we get some winds here, but in reality they are often the same gales and storms that batter the coast of South Gippsland,” Charles said.

“The summers are cooler than Gippsland. I think we might have hit 40 degrees once recently. Furthermore the winters are warmer, frosts are very rare, and then only zero or minus one degrees in low lying areas.”

Apart from the weather, the Pearces love the atmosphere, the community spirit and the freedom to explore.

“Kelp harvesting roads have been developed to give access to much of the west coast, and what a place to go on a warm still summer’s evening to fish the waters of Bass Strait, dive for abalone and crayfish, or just watch the sun set into the sea,” Charles said.

“Alternatively, drive along that same stretch of kelp track in the middle of a howling gale, dodging the wave surges up the beach, and just watching the power and majesty of the Southern Ocean in all its glory.

“I am not a surfer yet, but we have some really

spectacular beaches and breaks.”

Nature lovers will be enthralled by the wildlife, from sea eagles and penguins to the amazing short tailed shearwater.

There are species unique to the island, such as the King Island Currawong.

“We have no foxes, no rabbits or hares and no wombats, but what we lack there we make up for in wallabies and possums,” Charles said.

“The landscape of the island is surprisingly varied; no mountainous areas such as you can see on Flinders Island, but we do have a couple of respectable gorges where rivers flow off to the sea and lots of gently undulating areas with tall tea tree and native gum trees.”

The amazing coastline has recently attracted two consortiums that have developed world class golf courses; the course at Cape Wickham is now sitting at number 24 in the world and is rated among Australia’s best.

Like many remote, rural communities, King Island survives on volunteers. Many people have two or three jobs.

“You bump into someone working in the post office who might serve you dinner in a restaurant later that night,” Charles said.

“There is a really quaint custom here where all drivers wave, or more correctly raise a finger in salute when passing another car. It’s really obvious when you pass a tourist who doesn`t wave.

“It also gets embarrassing when you leave King Island and try to salute every car you meet on the road in Victoria or Tasmania! I love the community here.”

The community is self sufficient, with neighbours often helping neighbours in need.

Three years ago, the Pearces purchased a 10 acre property near the township of Grassy towards the island’s south and are now establishing a lavender farm, with a view to adding a cafe and developing a tourism business.

“We now have just over 600 lavender plants planted in the rows. These are English, or culinary lavender and the plan is to harvest and use in cooking and also to extract essential oils. At some stage in the future we will open a cafe on the property selling foods infused with lavender,” Charles said.

“We also have some French and Italian lavender varieties. These are not suitable for use in cooking, but will yield flowers for drying and putting into lavender bags.”

Flood insight needed DO you have information about flooding in your area? If so your valuable input into the West Gippsland Regional Floodplain Management Strategy is needed.

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s (WGCMA) Adam Dunn said the strategy would help the community, government and emergency services better prepare for future flood events.

“This document will help us understand the likely costs of flooding and the costs and benefits of different options for managing our exposure to flood risk,” he said.

“The recent rainfall we’ve been experiencing across our region and Victoria shows how important a strategy like this is.

Get involved: the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is seeking locals’ in“The strategy will include a three year works put into flooding impacts. plan that includes actions for agency and local

government.

“We are preparing this document in partnership with the five local councils in the region and VICSES. “In preparing the strategy we will be able to explore a range of flood mitigation measures and prioritise actions according to the level of flood risks.”

Input is currently being sought from community members with information about the location of flood hotspots in their area and ideas about how flooding should be managed. The draft plan will be released for consultation in mid-2017 with the final document complete at the end of 2017.

You can provide input and give feedback by visiting www.wgcma.vic.gov.au and following the links from our homepage, by visiting the online mapping tool at http://arcg.is/2bOQj33, calling the WGCMA on 1300 094 262 or emailing westgippy@wgcma.vic.gov.au

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 21

STAR Real

THE GREAT SOUTHERN STAR

Incredible family opportunity Page 24

Leongatha

PAGE 22 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

STAR Real

ADVERTISING FEATURE

LEONGATHA

GJG2190011

Welcome home.

Wednesday 12noon - 3pm and Saturday 2pm - 4.30pm or by appointment 5952 2150

14 Watt Street Landmark Harcourts Leongatha Glenys Foster 0477 622 297

$370,000

113-115 Parr Street, Leongatha

4

2

1

Timeless quality with dual living P

ERFECTLY positioned and only a short walk into town, this much loved split level brick veneer on 1251 sqm offers an exciting new chapter for its new owners.

This home has been uniquely designed and can be adapted to accommodate the growing family or a separate space for an aged parents/ guest accommodation or it may even provide an income.

Overall the very well kept home is offering four bedrooms, two bathrooms including a comfortable lounge with ducted heating and a reverse

cycle air conditioner and expansive rear ‘activities’ room with a separate entrance to the back garden.

The kitchen has everything you need with timber doors, electric hot plates, wall oven and dishwasher.

There is a choice of outdoor entertaining areas and an expansive backyard to create the garden of your dreams.

This warm hearted home now offers potential to create an exciting new beginning and enviable lifestyle rewards.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 23

STAR Real

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Art deco features W

ITH its original design features intact, this classic home could be beautifully restored.

Given its location on the edge of the retail precinct and across the road from Woolworths, its development potential is also appealing.

Either way, this property represents a solid investment in one of South Gippsland’s strongest towns.

LEONGATHA 20 Smith Street Alex Scott and Staff Leongatha 5662 0922

$299,000

3

1

1

Geometric stained glass windows and double glass doors are unmistakeable features of the art deco era, along with its curved brick entry.

It offers three bedrooms, lounge with fireplace, and a 1970s inspired kitchen/dining room.

A current permit exists for use as medical consulting rooms.

This is a project that will yield future benefits.

PAGE 24 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

STAR Real

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Generous space for the family I

DEALLY located in Carr Avenue this 34sq home was built with families in mind.

The hub of the home is open plan with loads of space to entertain.

The kitchen is all electric with generous preparation and bench space and loads of draw and cupboard space.

There is also a butler’s pantry that can be accessed from the double garage.

Accommodation is by way of four bedrooms, plus a fifth guest bedroom that also doubles in this instance as a study.

The master bedroom boasts a large walk in robe and ensuite, all the three family bedrooms have built in robes and are central to the family bathroom and separate toilet.

Other features of the home are a formal

lounge, reverse cycle air conditioner, outdoor entertaining deck off the dining area, tiled floors to heavy traffic areas and generous storage areas.

The block is 893m2 and level, access from outside is via the double garage complete with rear roller door that offers good clearance, a gate could also be easily installed into the colorbond fence to gain side vehicle or trailer/caravan access.

The yard is all lawn allowing for new owners to start with a blank canvass when it comes to vegetable gar-dens.

All in all this property iss definitely worth an inspection.

For more information pleasee contact Peter Bellingham att SEJ Leongatha.

SEJ Real

LEONGATHA Contact agent for location Estate Leongatha 5662 4033

$450,000 $475,000 5

2

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“THE STAR� Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 25

STAR Real

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The magic of Misty Ridge O

FFERING complete privacy, a residence crafted to the highest of standards, featuring the most beautiful of gardens and on just under two acres, Misty Ridge presents a wonderful lifestyle opportunity.

All rooms including the bathrooms and laundry are spacious.

Large windows are found in nearly every room that capture superb garden views.

The master suite in one wing features a huge ensuite with corner spa, walk in robe and separate toilet.

North facing living areas includes a sunroom/ rumpus room, formal lounge and fantastic main room. ffamily/living Beautifully fitted with B eextensive breakfast bar, ooversized walk-in panttry, St. George double wall oven and new hotw Insight Real Estate pplates, the kitchen of5662 2220 ffers plenty of work and

BERRYS CREEK

14 Foster Road

$629,000

4

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storage space.

A beautiful bay window here and in the family section frame stunning garden views.

Through double doors off the dining area, built in cupboards line one whole wall of a sizable home office.

Zoned heating, solid fuel heating, a new reverse cycle air conditioner and solar power are just some of the many extras.

Outdoor living is catered for with a lovely covered alfresco area and long shady verandas.

The surrounding house gardens are stunning, containing masses of colour, many varieties of cottage plants, exotic and native trees.

Exquisite birdlife is prolific, water for home, gardens and pets plentiful.

Other improvements include a recently refurbished circular driveway, extra high double carport, three bay shed with three phase power, chook shed, garden sheds, covered vegetable patch, numerous varieties of fruit trees, berries, dam and two small paddocks for a pet or two.

Inspect to appreciate this highly desirable property, conveniently located midway between Leongatha and Mirboo North.

PAGE 26 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Good Life

Your LOCAL guide to Art and Entertainment

Spooky night out at Coal Creek GET ready to be scared!

Coal Creek Community Park and Museum will be hosting its annual Halloween event on Saturday, October 29 and it could well be the scariest night of your life.

The Korumburra park will be full of ghosts, monsters, witches and other creepy characters as visitors dress up for the occasion.

Free activities will be offered, including apple bobbing, a bonfire, monster bash disco and a reptile show, plus buildings will be decorated in Boo!: a family dressed to scare at a past Halloween event at Coal Creek Community Park a haunted style.

Prizes will be awarded in the best dressed

and Museum, Korumburra.

Run along to see sports biographer IT’S impossible to know what Essendon icon Dick Reynolds would have thought of the doping ban that has relegated his beloved Bombers to basement dwellers in Dan 2016.

Be inspired: Eddy, who wrote a biography about Essendon great Dick Reynolds, will speak at the Coal Creek Literary Festival.

Next best thing though is to ask his biographer, Dan Eddy, who is one of the presenters at October’s Coal Creek

Literary Festival, at Coal Creek Community Park and Museum, Korumburra, on October 9 from 10.30am to 5pm.

Eddy’s book, King Richard the Story of Dick Reynolds, was first published in 2014.

Three time Brownlow Medallist, Dick Reynolds (1915-2002) played for 19 seasons and 320 games with the Bombers, captained and coached them to two premierships and two more as a non-playing coach.

Just days before his death in 2002, Dick was announced as Essendon’s best player of all time.

Dan Eddy was inspired to write the story of Dick Reynolds after meeting him in 1996, spending roughly four and a half years on writing his book from 2009.

He was keen to read a biography of the Essendon icon, but when he realised there wasn’t

one, he decided to do it himself.

This work is hardly a one-off, Dan is developing a name for himself as someone who writes with a passion and in great detail on not just Australia’s great game but other sports as well.

Dan’s book on Dick Reynolds was originally a Master’s Thesis and he is currently undertaking a PhD on a more recent football icon, Alex Jesaulenko.

Dan is currently writing a book about Carlton’s 1979-1982 premiership era, his second book (again on football) was published earlier this year, and has also ghost written aerial skier Lydia Lassila’s updated autobiography.

For a presentation that’s bound to be more Offsiders than The Footy Show, Dan Eddy is a must see at the Coal Creek Literary Festival.

competition in the divisions of best dressed five years and under, 15 years and under, best female and male open, best family costume group (with a $100 prize) and best overall winner open age (also with a $100 prize).

Tickets are just $5, with trick or treat tickets for children aged up to 12 years and ghost train ride tickets also available (limited tickets available).

More activities will be announced soon.

Come along to Halloween at Coal Creek from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. An entry fee of $1 per person applies. Food and drinks will be available.

Calling writers WRITERS are being urged to enter competitions being held as part of the Coal Creek Literary Festival.

The Bert van Bedaf Memorial Award offers a $500 prize and a trophy for the winning short story of 500 words.

The Open Poetry Prize carries a $200 prize for a poem in free or rhyming verse of no more than 20 lines.

Both prizes are open to all ages and entries closed Monday, October 3.

Entry forms can be found on the Literary Festival website: www.coalcreekliteraryfestival.com Entry fees are $15 for the Bert van Bedaf Memorial Award and $10 for the Open Poetry Prize.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 27

The Good Life Talented trio: from left, the all dancing all singing Little Shop of Horrors trio Meg Jinnette, Jade Dalton and Alana Reid spiced up the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group’s latest production on opening night last Thursday at the Wonthaggi Coal Mine. (Supplied by Geoff Glare.)

o e o Your Y our LLOCAL OC OCAL OCA OC CA CAL ALL g A guide uide tto o Art Art and and Entertainment En E nttertta n ainment

Standouts: Wonthaggi Theatrical Group’s Little Shop of Horrors leading lights Will Hanley (Seymour Krelborn) and Kerryn Moren (Audrey) shone on opening night last Thursday at the State Coal Mine. (Supplied by Geoff Glare.)

Little Shop of Horrors blooms again LITTLE Shop of Horrors, the cult, comedy rock musical revival, opened to huge applause on Thursday night at Wonthaggi Theatrical Group’s stunning new performance home at the State Coal Mine.

First staged by the group a decade ago, award winning director Karen Milkins-Hendry has breathed new life into this production and along with her talented cast is certain to gain a new generation of fans.

Perfectly staged in this intimate performance centre, the upbeat music, wonderful singing, amazingly creative sets that continued to excite with pops of colour as the show progressed, the lighting and brilliant casting have all ensured a real crowd pleaser.

The Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s 1982 Little Shop musical centres around the somewhat dorky, love sick hero Seymour Krelborn (Will Hanley), an orphan who works as a florist assistant at Mushnik’s florist shop on Skid Row with his boss, Mr Mushnik (Jay Nelson). The boss is ready to close up shop permanently when Seymour’s love interest, the ditzy shopgirl Audrey (Kerryn Moren) and he suggest Mr Mushnik display one of Seymour’s beloved exotic plants in the window. The weird-looking plant dubbed Audrey II (voice Elly Poletti) just happens to be a bloodthirsty and sinister fiend.

Performances across the board are first rate and topping the list are the leading lights, the brilliant Will Hanley (Seymour) and the glamourous and sweet sing-

ing Kerryn Moren (Audrey).

Will throws himself into his role and shines as the hapless botanist, his singing and acting generating much laughter and raucous applause from the appreciative audience.

Kerryn makes the perfect down-trodden girlfriend (Audrey) and injects considerable emotional charge into her part. She is funny and vocally spot on with two of her best being Somewhere That’s Green and Suddenly Seymour and with the whole cast, Skid Row (Downtown).

While there was no seeing the ever talented Elly Poletti, her amazing voice rang out once again as she brought Audrey II, the carnivorous plant, to life with her bloodcurdling songs and dialogue.

The delightfully ritzy girl group of Jade Dalton, Meg Jinnette and Alana Reid rocked the show with their rousing singing and captivating moves.

Topping off the supporting cast are Jay Nelson (Mr Mushnik) who performed one of the best numbers with Seymour, Mushnik and Son. Chris Jobe (The Dentist), was a little bit too convincing as the repellent, gas guzzling and sadistic villain. Samuel Bowden (Wino, Customer, Bernstein, Skip Snip, Mrs Luce, Patrick Martin), did a great job with his cameo roles as did Dave Milnes (main puppeteer), Frankie Murray-White (puppeteer) and Hannah Lilleyman, Raf Pyka and Brock Niess (ensemble and puppeteers).

Wonthaggi’s Little Shop rocks, surprises and is quite simply a dazzling show for the now and the amaz-

Gardening delight THE Gippsland Garden and Home Expo run by the Drouin Lions Club has become established over the last 15 years.

The expo is now the second largest of its kind in Victoria and attracts thousands of visitors.

This year, the expo will be held on October 8 and 9 at Lardner Park, Warragul.

Check out beautiful plants from 50 general and specialist nurseries, plus about 50 exhibits displaying garden features, products, equipment and machinery.

The home section has about 50 exhibits from building products and house plans, to materials, screens, windows, furniture, spas, vacuums, linen and furnishings.

Vasili Kanidiadis, presenter of television show Vasili’s Garden to Kitchen, will present on both days.

He has more than 20 years’ experience in the gardening industry and will be joined by fellow speaker Dr Mary Cole, recognised internationally as a leader in research

Come along: Vasili Kanidiadis, presenter of television show Vasili’s Garden to Kitchen, will speak at the Gippsland Garden and Home Expo.

into plant pathogens.

Other speakers will cover making a Kokedama, lavender, heritage fruits and straw bale gardening.

There will be musical entertainment and magic shows. Children can pot a plant to take home and there will be refreshments available.

Entry is adults $10 and children under 16 free. EFTPOS is available once visitors are through the gate.

Check out www.drouinlionsclub.org.au/gardenexpo for more information or phone 5625 4589 for enquiries.

ing take on the awesome Audrey II puppet has to be seen to believed.

The cast, design and direction make this new look, lively Little Shop highly entertaining.

Be sure to catch one of the shows during the school holidays on September 28, 29, 30 and October 1 at 8pm and October 2 for a matinee at 2pm. For tickets go to www.wtg.org.au

Top show: from left puppeteer Frankie Murray-White with carnivorous plant Audrey II, Will Hanley (Seymour Krelborn), Jade Dalton (Trio) and Jay Nelson (Mr Mushnik) all played their roles perfectly in the Little Shop of Horrors in Wonthaggi on Thursday night.

PAGE 28 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 29

Firefighters celebrated LONGSTANDING firefighters were celebrated at the Kongwak CFA’s awards night held in Korumburra recently.

Operations officer Michael Cherry presented service awards representing 150 years worth of service to the CFA. The brigade’s 26 members have provided 582 years of service to CFA and the community, and will strive to continue to provide that service for many years.

The brigade always welcomes operational firefighters and non-operational support people who the brigade will train and provide ongoing support.

Come to the fire station at 1500 KorumburraWonthaggi Road, Kongwak every Sunday from 9am to 10am to have a chat about joining the brigade or for any general fire prevention advice.

People can also contact brigade captain Ross Olden on 0429 976 251.

The brigade is holding another ladies safe night out at which brigade members will present fire prevention information for the home, car and work environments, with hands on fire extinguisher and fire blanket demonstrations, followed by a sampling of local wines and cheese.

This will be held at the fire station on October 13 at 7.30pm.

Firefighting honours: from left, award recipients at Kongwak CFA are Peter Xuereb, five year certificate; Ian Brown, five year certificate; Gary Dorling, five year certificate; Karen Ryan-Cowell, five year certificate; Dallas McKenzie, 15 year service medal; Albert Jolly, five year certificate; Brian Brown, 50 year service medal; Michael Cherry, CFA operations officer; and Don Allan, 55 year service medal. Absent: Melanie Durkin, five year certificate; Owen Billing, 20 year service medal; and Ian Gibson, 20 year service medal.

PAGE 30 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Photographic heroes revealed AMAZING images of the beautiful Tarwin Valley were submitted for a photographic competition run by The Tarwin Valley Development Group to highlight the amazing people, places and events of the Tarwin Valley.

The best in show was for the photograph, Beau and Polly, Beach 3, by Karli Ray of Somerville.

“This dreamlike photo of Beach 3 inarguably captures the magic of the South Gippsland Coastline, Venus Bay,” Karli said.

“The formidably vast but striking skies form a picturesque rooftop over the wild waters, pristine, golden sands and the serene but soaring sand dunes of the Venus Bay shoreline; most definitely a magnificent and heroic backdrop for the visitors and locals of the Tarwin Valley.”

Runners-up in the adults class were: Promised Land by Janine Clark of Nerrena East, Summer Grasses by Kerry Spokes of Fish Creek and Father and Daughter on Beach by Mary-Ann Todesco of Huntingdale.

Best juniors were: Sand Imprint by Taylah Murie

Traralgon, Wombat at Fish Creekk by Liam Wille of Traralgon of Canberra, and Sophie September 2015 by Sophie Glasson of Melbourne and Venus Bay. Jenny O’Sullivan, president of the Tarwin Valley Development Group thanked all participants for their entries and particularly Ken Spence from the Camberwell Photographic Club and Gary Monahan from the Foster Photographic Club for being independent judges of the competition.

She also thanked Andrew McEwen for coordinating the competition. The photos can be seen on the Tarwin Valley Facebook page.

Tarwin Valley Development Group aims to promote the sustainable development of the Tarwin Valley and district.

The Tarwin Valley includes the eight townships of Fish Creek, Meeniyan, Stony Creek, Tarwin Lower, Venus Bay, Koonwarra, Dumbalk and Buffalo.

It is nestled in the foothills of Foster, Mirboo North and Leongatha - the heart of South Gippsland’s Prom Country.

The photo competition was supported by South Gippsland Shire Council by a community grant. For more information contact Jenny O’Sullivan on 0419 153 377.

Standout photo: the winner of the Heroes of Tarwin Valley Photo Competition, Beau and Polly, Beach 3, by Karli Ray of Somerville.

Amazing sight: Promised Land by Janine Clark of Nerrena East captures a grand South Stunning setting: among the best juniors was Sophie September 2015 by Sophie Glasson of Melbourne and Venus Bay. Gippsland scene and was named a runner-up.

Left, ARLO Louis Millard-Brittain was born on September 12 at Leongatha Hospital. Arlo is the first son for Clint Brittain and Jane Millard of Welshpool.

Below, KNOX Jack McRae was born on September 21 at Leongatha Hospital. Knox is the third son for Nathan and Emily of Meeniyan and a brother for Reece, 4, and Fletcher, 2.

Above, DEAN Purton was born at Bass Coast Regional Health on July 26 to Daryl Purton and Michelle Henry of Wonthaggi. Dean is a brother for Hayden, 5, and Leah, 2.

Left, CHARLIZE Shirley Potter was born on September 15 at Leongatha Hospital. Charlize is the second child for Daniel and Leonie of Tenby Point and a sister for Carmichael, 2.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 31

Farmers covered at Browns Stockfeed THERE are a large range of options for farmers preparing for the upcoming harvest season at Browns Stockfeed Leongatha.

Silage season is a busy time for farmers across the region, and there’s no better way to get the season started than with a quality range of products and expert advice.

Browns Stockfeed has the answers, offering a complete range of silage products including the unique pink silage wrap supporting the community based Glenn McGrath Breast Cancer Foundation – and a large range of net wrap, covers and silage plastic designed to preserve this year’s silage haul.

Browns distribute the exclusive range of Farmwrap Silage plastic in both black and green, which is available to South Gippsland clients at competitive prices.

As the sole distributors of Silo Guard, a natural preservative applied to increase dry matter recovery , reduce mould and heating and retain nutrients, farmers are encouraged to talk to Browns

Stockfeed about their silage and hay program.

Once again, Browns Stockfeed will be featured in the South Gippsland Dairy Expo to be held in Korumburra this week, and will be showcasing its range of summer crops.

One of the many fodder crop options includes Pasja II for quick growth that is suitable to be grazed at six to eight weeks.

Browns Stockfeed also feature an exclusive product Spring Forage Blend, which includes a combination of Pasja II, Chicory, Red and White Clover (sowing rate is 8kg/ha).

For those who might miss Browns at the dairy expo, there is always time to receive expert advice on crops.

Call in to Browns Stockfeed and talk to Cameron Kindellan and Tim Sargant to pick up the right advice.

Browns Stockfeed is open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 12pm on Saturdays; so drop by and find your one stop shop for all your farming needs this summer.

Plenty of options: from left, visit Tim Sargant and Cameron Kindellan at Browns Stockfeed Leongatha and set yourself up with everything you will need for the upcoming harvest season.

Smart storage preserves silage

By Frank Mickan, fodder and pasture specialist, Agriculture Victoria.

STORING large square bales of silage under sheets of plastic should be cheaper than being individually wrapped.

However this is often not the case because many bales are mouldy when unsealed. These mouldy bales usually occur due to air in the stack.

Mouldy silage represents a loss in dry matter and silage quality. The moulds, fungi, bacteria, yeasts and the like multiply profusely in these ideal conditions and feed on the energy and proteins.

For stacks above ground, seal enough bales for about 14 to 16 days feed in each compartment. If stacking large square bales into pits in the ground, use plastic sheets to seal stacks into compartments containing 16 to 20 days feed.

This is suggested because if the top of the sheet is holed by cattle, rabbits, dogs, kids and the like, then only the holed compartment will ‘go off’, provided the seal between compartments is

effective. When you start feeding out, the air can only go back to the next compartment.

Putting dirt around the edges of the stack and or down the pit sides will help to form a good seal.

If the plastic is billowing in windy conditions, too much air is probably entering somewhere.

Use proper plastic tape specifically made for silage film. Grey duct tape is no good. Ensure the plastic is dry, clean and cool before applying plastic to holes. Cut tape to length, let it shrink back and then apply it.

Using dirt to seal at the bale-ground interface can ensure an excellent airtight seal. Dig a trench before or after the stack is built. Place the plastic sheet into the trench, folded so the edge sticks back up out of the ground trench.

Dirt is then placed into this trench against the plastic. The jutting plastic sheet edge is then easily pulled up when unsealing the stack.

An alternative is to lay the sheet edge on the ground and cover it with dirt, ensuring the film edge is covered.

PAGE 32 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Harrow powered to impress SET yourself up for a smooth sowing season with the new folding Powerharrow available from Claas Harvest Centre, Leongatha.

Heavy duty: from left, Claas Harvest Centre’s Scott Sellings and Anthony Blackshaw showcase the new folding Powerharrow.

While the powerharrow ranges from two and a half to six metres working widths, the new rotary cultivator model at Claas Harvest Centre has a five metre folding width.

Stronger than other harrow models, this cultivator boasts 300 horsepower and still combines the same design features farmers are accustomed to.

Its main gear box is equipped with three speed lever change and rapid adjustment of the tine speed.

The heavy duty machine includes a 500 litre GreenDrill seedbox, which runs a hydraulic fan and allows you to sow immediatle after creating a seedbed Optional packer rollers are also available to appropriately suit various land conditions.

Universal for all soils is the wedge ring roller.

Excellent in all weather conditions, this roller sows seeds in reconsolidated strips and provides optimum seed cover.

The folding powerharrow and its compact design allows for use in small paddocks as well.

In dry or firm paddocks, the cultivator works to break up the soil without causing damage and simultaneously incorporates the straw.

It is designed for one pass operations and is finished off with a loading board and step for easy access to fill the seed hopper and to carryout any maintenance on the seeder, which can be easily adjusted to suit individuals.

Claas Harvest Centre offers on site services and professional advice during trading hours.

Drop in to Claas Harvest Centre and get a head on start on a smooth sailing season.

ROTARY CULTIVATOR FINANCE FROM

0%*

Power Top up Spread

*Standard CLAAS Financial Services terms, conditions and fees apply. 0% pa available with 30% deposit and 12 monthly repayments in arrears.

Offer valid until 31/12/2016 or while stocks last.

AMAZONE KE & KG Rotary Cultivator Optional rollers to suit ground conditions Quick change blades Models from 2.5 m - 6 m working widths 220 hp gearbox (300 hp option) Green Drill ready for catch crops Easy adjustable levelling boards

SOUTH GIPPSLAND 2/4 McPherson Street, Leongatha Anthony Blackshaw 0419 591 620 Scott Sellings 0417 591 600

claasharvestcentre.com

A better business decision.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 33

Allen’s offers quality service EFFICIENT, reliable and great value for money is how you would describe Allen’s Contracting.

The second generation family business has been contracting in the South Gippsland area for more than 50 years.

Mike Allen said the business does its best to remain efficient.

Five experienced operators handle 90 percent of the workload and when the pressure increases, part time operators have been working for the business for many years.

“I like to keep in contact with our customers as much as possible and encourage them to tell me of any problems or concerns they may have from the start to the finish of the job,” Mike said.

“I can’t fix things and improve our service if they don’t tell me.”

To keep the fleet of more than 30 machines and implements reliable, the business has full time mechanic Aaron Healey on board.

Aaron is experienced in all aspect of machinery and carries out all the servicing, and rebuilds and maintains the machinery so Allen’s Contracting can respond as quickly as possible.

“We are constantly updating our machines to help us remain reliable to productive,” Mike said.

“Value for money is probably most impor-

tant. By keeping the business running efficiently and reliable for our customers we can provide good value for money across the range of earthmoving, agricultural, cartage, quarry materials and delivery services.”

For the 2016-17 season, Allen’s Contracting has purchased an automatic Goweil 3010 static round and square bale wrapper that will be available for hire.

The business has added tedding to its exten- For hire: Allen’s Contracting will hire this Goweil 3010 Q static round and square bale sive list of services with a new Krone tedder. wrapper to farmers throughout the season.

Allen’s Contracting has updated its rake to the new Krone TC 760 twin rotor rake, which does a quicker and cleaner job than the previous model.

Two Krone MX 350 silage wagons are also run by Allen’s Contracting and carry up to 60 cubic metres of compressed grass on huge 800 millimetre wide tandem wheels.

For rolling the silage on stack or in pits, Allen’s have updated their 15 tonne Volvo loader, which had clocked up 14,000 hours, to a later model fitted with an automatic inoculant application system.

Hay cartage and sales are also available.

For the first time, the Allens will be offering big square wrapped silage for sale from their own farm.

For more information or to discuss this season’s discounts on offer, call Mike on 0417 550 On the job: Allen’s Contracting is running two Krone MX 350 silage wagons this season.

568.

The wagons are pictured with a Fendt tractor and a Case IH tractor.

PAGE 34 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Drive in comfort this silage season WITH the silage season well on the way, it’s important to ensure your tractor is up to standard.

This includes checking the air conditioner, as these are on important asset summer or winter – but more so in the summer months.

If you feel the unit is not working properly, call in to Stuart Slee Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service, Leongatha, or give him a call.

The local family business operates from Tilson Court and has long provided a reliable service to the community.

Stuart Slee services all air conditioners,

domestic and automotive, and is particularly skilled when it comes to working with tractors, trucks and earthmoving equipment.

Stuart offers an onsite service in Leongatha’s industrial estate, but he is willing to travel across the district to provide a mobile service as well.

With 20 years’ experience, Stuart is well qualified and puts in long hours to deliver customer satisfaction.

Stuart Slee Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service’s office hours are between 8am and 5pm on weekdays.

Book in quick before the season’s rush.

Improve your tractor: if your air conditioner is not up to scratch for this summer cropping season, call in at Stuart Slee Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service.

Mow and wilt for quality silage

By Frank Mickan, pasture and fodder conservation specialist, Agriculture Victoria.

ASSUMING you are after high quality silage (>9.8 MJ ME/kg DM), then you will need to harvest perennial rye grass/ white clover pastures two to five weeks before normally harvesting hay.

This early in the season, the ground may be damp, air temperature cool to warm, and the skies often overcast.

Try to harvest at the desired dry matter percentage but if rain is coming, harvest ASAP. To harvest high quality silage, where soil types allow, may require extra machinery and some management changes in fodder conservation.

Consider working in with neighbours who have machinery that you do not have, using contractors or buying a crucial piece of machinery.

Forward planning, on such matters as having machinery serviced, fences cut, holes filled, tracks graded, tree and holes marked, harrows moved out of paddock and plastic seal on site, as well as communicating with others involved, will help greatly.

Morning versus afternoon mowing It is true plant sugars are highest in the plant by mid afternoon. However I believe the extra wilting gained by earlier mowing, albeit at a lower sugar content level in the plants, is more than offset by the disadvantages of mowing mid-afternoon.

A crop cut in the afternoon will be higher in energy (sugars) but will undergo a much shorter wilt before nightfall. These plants with higher moisture content, fuelled by the dew, will have increased quality losses overnight due to their greater respiration rates.

It is also highly possible that an extra day’s wilting may be required to reach the desired dry matter content.

Ensiling at lower dry matter contents than desirable will result in a less favourable fermentation with some loss of quality and reduced palatability.

Mowing and wilting Below are three scenarios of preparation of the crop up to the harvesting stage, depending on the machinery on hand.

In all cases the suggestion is to start mowing mid to late morning, after the dew has lifted, and finish if possible, by mid-afternoon. Dews can contain two to three tonnes water/ha and dries much faster from a standing crop.

Operations on day two should also start after the dew has lifted. Harvest based on dry matter percentage if possible, starting a fraction early to avoid harvesting over dry material later in the day.

Try to harvest 24 to 36 hours after mowing and avoid delaying longer than 48 hours. The timing suggested below are ideals. Weather, crop yields, machinery break downs, labour availability and contractor arrival will dictate the practical.

Day one: 1. Mowing only. Mow the crop with a rotary disc mower.

Many steps: mowing is the first step to producing quality silage and quality wrapping is just as important.

Consider using two mowers to get crop cut ASAP to allow a longer wilting period.

2. Mow and spread. Mow the crop with a rotary mower.

Spread/ted the mown crop with a tedder or tedder rake as soon as possible after mowing. Travel slowly to spread all material evenly. Set tedder so that tynes do not dig into the ground.

3. Mower-conditioner. Mow with a mower-conditioner.

The tyned types are best for pastures. Leave the windrow as wide and thin as possible. If using a roller type mower-conditioner, travel slower rather than faster to allow the conditioning rollers to have full effect. If the crop is heavy, the inner portion of swath may not be crimped if travelling too fast or rollers set too far apart.

Day two: 1. Mow only. Consider ‘flipping’ the windrow if you have a suitable rake. This is not ideal and not worthwhile doing if windrows become ‘ropey’. If long chopping (five to 15cm, eg. loader wagon) or precision chopping (one to five centimetres) into a stack, start late morning. If fine weather is forecast, possibly precision chop later with increased dry matter percentage. Baling is unlikely.

2. Mow and spread. Respread once the top few leaves show signs of wilting. This tedding can be at a faster speed. Depending on weather conditions you may not need to respread on day two if long chopping. Start harvesting about late morning. If precision chopping or baling, the second and possibly even a third tedding, may be necessary. The second tedding could be done mid to afternoon on day one sometimes. Start precision chopping or baling about early to mid afternoon.

3. Mower-conditioner. Harvest early to mid afternoon if long chopping. If precision chopping or baling, consider starting mid to late afternoon when pasture is drier.

If confident of fine weather continuing, start mid to late morning on day three.

Day three: 1. Mow only. Rake into windrows one to two hours before harvesting to allow further wilting of bottom material.

Harvest regardless of dry matter as losses are now escalating dramatically.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 35

Filling and sealing silage stacks

By Frank Mickan, pasture and fodder conservation specialist, Agriculture Victoria.

THERE are no short cuts when sealing stacks of forage harvested silage.

Sticking a few tyres on top to hold the plastic down and throwing a bit of dirt around the edges is not a suitable airtight seal.

If mould is present when the stack is opened, then air is present or has been. The more air, the more mould.

Many farmers can open a stack up at feeding time to reveal perfectly stored silage with no visible signs of waste from decomposition or mould. How do they achieve this?: • silage made at a suitable dry matter (DM) content; • stacks are tightly compacted by rolling during harvest; • stacks are sealed straight after harvest; • plastic sheet on top of the stack is well weighted; • stack is sealed airtight at the edges of the plastic; • holes which occur are fixed immediately; • stock damage is prevented by well constructed fences and gateway; and • crops harvested with loader wagons, double choppers and the like which harvest relatively long chopped material (about five to 15cm) should be harvested at about 28 to 35 percent DM. If the material is much drier than this then compaction by rolling is much less effective unless an extremely heavy machine is used. Not enough air will have

been excluded.

Precision harvested material (about one to five centimetres) can be ensiled at about 40 to 50 percent DM as its length allows easier and better compaction, but the stack must be well sealed or the benefit will be lost.

This shorter and drier material will require about one third less storage volume.

If material of either length is becoming too dry due to machinery delays or dramatically rising temperatures, spread loads of freshly cut or lightly wilted material.

This will ensure better compaction and air exclusion.

Roll the stack slowly to allow the weight of the tractor to compress the material. Spread the material thinly in layers of about 150 to 200mm.

Large clumps or thick layers will not allow complete expulsion of the air despite rolling. If the stack is above ground and has no support walls, be aware of rolling the edges.

Use the front wheel to compress the edges by driving to and from the edges on a slight angle, turning the front wheel along the stack, but stopping when the rear wheel approaches the edge.

For cement bunkers, if the top of the stack will finish below the tops of the walls, thus making sealing difficult and possibly allowing water/air into the stack, consider building stack edges higher than the middle.

The resultant depression in the middle of the stack will allow water to run off and allow the tractor’s weight to compact the edges.

It is preferable to pull a plastic sheet over the stack at night. Place tyres around the stack edges and a few in the middle to weight down the plastic. This will reduce the amount of air gaining access to the stack at night.

Take time: a thorough job of sealing silage stacks will result in a better product. Photo courtesy of Australian Fodder Industry Association.

Ideally, the stack should be completed within one to three days. If at any stage you see steam rising from the stack when the silage face is lifted, or high temperatures are felt upon inserting a hand into the stack face, losses of energy and protein are becoming high.

This is often noticeable when filling a stack over longer than three days, if rolling is inadequate, or the material too dry.

Seal the plastic sheet at the edges to be airtight. The folded plastic edge ensures an airtight seal and is easily pulled out when the stack is opened. If the dirt does not

cover the edge of the plastic, air entry into the stack is highly probable.

Overlap plastic by at least 0.5m and preferably seal with a tape specifically designed for silage films. The film must be dry, clean, cool and the tape allowed to shrink before applying it to the plastic sheet. Weight the plastic all over with tyres, dirt, thin layer of soil with grass seed sprinkled on top.

Fence off so stock cannot stray onto the stack and cause holing in the plastic sheet. Seal any holes as soon as they are noticed.

Don’t risk human and herd health

By Frank Mickan, pasture and fodder conservation specialist, Agriculture Victoria.

ANIMAL and human health problems associated with silage can occur.

Animal health problems can appear as decreased intake and resultant decreased production, abortions, scouring and even death.

The good news is that most incidents need not occur.

Proper silage harvesting and storage will minimise any such problems, so be sure to: • harvest quickly (24 to 36 hours ideally); • ensure dirt, manure and dead animals are not incorporated; • compact the stack or bale very tightly; • seal the stack or bale airtight with plastic or alternative as soon as possible after harvesting is completed; • regularly check and repair any hole immediately; • feed out at least 150mm of silage face each day (300mm every second day); and • ensure baled silage is eaten by day three once opened.

Hazards can be caused by undesirable micro-organisms such as Enterobacteria, Listeria, Clostridia, moulds/ fungi and by mycotoxins.

Rapid lactic acid production in anaerobic conditions is the desired type of fermentation. It is when this environment does not occur, or is later changed, that most problems occur.

Undesirable micro-organisms Undesirable micro-organisms can enter the silage storage by soil and livestock waste during harvest or increase in numbers by an environment suited to them in the silage storage.

With Enterobacteria, also known as coliform organisms, the most important micro-organism in this group

is Escherichia coli (E. coli) species and can cause diarrhoea and death.

E. coli and other related enterobacteria (Bacillus and Clostridia species) become a greater risk when effluent is applied to paddocks closed for silage.

Effluent sprayed onto paddocks closed for silage must be well washed in by rain before harvesting.

A slow fermentation favours the growth of enterobacteria and so these guys can compete more strongly for the water-soluble carbohydrates with the more desirable lactic acid bacteria in the early phase of fermentation.

The result is that less lactic acid is produced and the desired rapid decrease in pH, that is increase in acidity, does not occur.

Leguminous crops such as balansa clover and lucerne have a higher buffering ability than grass type silages and pH decrease can be slow.

That is, they are less inclined to undergo a satisfactory fermentation once ensiled.

However wilting leguminous crops quickly to 33 to 40 percent in dry matter for chopped silage and 40 to 55 percent baled silage will reduce this problem.

Listeria Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil, faeces and rotting vegetation and can reproduce at low temperatures, as well as in heating silage.

It is more commonly found in the out layers of baled silage although it may occur in the layer just below the plastic sheet in chopped stack silage.

Slow air entry via holes, poorly wrapped or insufficiently wrapped bales and plastic degradation can lead to this problem.

As the silage breaks down the silage pH rises, that is becomes less acidic, and upon air entry, water, carbon dioxide and heat are generated. The moisture, rising pH and slow air ingress favours the Listeria blighters.

If possible avoid feeding the obviously mouldy silage to pregnant animals. Do not feed it to sheep as they are par-

ticularly vulnerable to Listeriosis. Prevention is the most effective cure by following the proper harvesting and storage requirements mentioned above.

Clostridia The direct effects of clostridial fermentations on animal and human health are less evident than those on silage composition quality.

Clostridai bacteria could grow in wet silages which have a pH above 4.6, which can occur in pit silage where air has gained entry.

The silage is not pleasant to smell. The bales are often shrunken, effluent is present in the bottom and sagged heavily.

Costridia affected silages are less palatable, have a lower digestibility, and results in reduced intakes and possibly signs of acetonaemia in high yielding cows in early lactation.

Moulds/fungi Fungal spores pose health problems in two ways: firstly as airborne spores affecting mucosal surfaces of the lungs and respiratory passages, and secondly as metabolic

disorders from ingestion of fungal mycotoxins.

Respiratory problems are more common in mouldy hay.

Mycotoxins Mycotoxins are products of fungal metabolism and can be found in silage, hay and any feed that has deteriorated during storage. Signs of mycotoxicosis in animals are reduced feed intake, decreased animal performance, poor fertility, and increased incidence and severity of disease.

Think ahead: dairy herd health can deteriorate due to silage affected by micro-organisms. Photo: Agriculture Victoria, Facebook.

QUALITY BP LUBES DON’T JUST DELIVER PERFORMANCE THIS HAY & SILAGE SEASON. THEY DELIVER GIFT CARDS. Grab your BP Lubricants from any Evans Petroleum Depot, Retail Site or Online, and get an Evans Petroleum Gift Card.

Buy 2x20L drums of BP Lubricants and get a $20 Gift Card!

EVANS PETROLEUM

001

Gift Voucher can only be used at Evans Petroleum Depots or Retail Sites and must be used before 30th November 2017. Any unused amounts after this date will be forfeited. Gift Cards are non-transferable or exchangeable for cash. Offer valid 1/10/16 - 30/11/16.

EVANS PETROLEUM

GIFT CARD

$20

be Sites and must Depots or Retail will be forfeited.

Evans Petroleum after this date only be used at Gift Voucher can Any unused amounts November 2017. for cash. used before 30th or exchangeable Gift Cards are non-transferable

Buy 1x205L drum of BP Lubricants and get a $50 Gift Card!

FILL ONLINE ORDER YOUR NEXT EUM.COM.AU AT EVANSPETROL 2217 5662 OR BY PHONE:

SALE | 5143 1030 1138 TRARALGON | 5174 2999 LEONGATHA | 5667

GIFT CARD

$50

001

SALE | 5143 1030 TRARALGON | 5174 1138 LEONGATHA | 5667 2999

be Sites and must Depots or Retail be forfeited.

Evans Petroleum after this date will only be used at Gift Voucher can Any unused amounts November 2017. for cash. used before 30th or exchangeable Gift Cards are non-transferable

FILL ONLINE ORDER YOUR NEXT EUM.COM.AU AT EVANSPETROL 2217 OR BY PHONE: 5662

SALE | 5143 1030 1138 TRARALGON | 5174 2999 LEONGATHA | 5667

ORDER YOUR NEXT FILL ONLINE AT EVANSPETROLEUM.COM.AU OR BY PHONE: 5662 2217

PAGE 36 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Farming Insight Kelvin eyes brighter future for MG

By Sarah Vella

HAZEL Park dairy farmer Kelvin Jackson has been nominated for a directorship on Murray Goulburn’s board of management.

Mr Jackson will be officially appointed to the board at the annual general meeting on October 28.

This is his first time on the MG board.

“I want to bring stability and experience to the board, because quite frankly, in my time in the industry I have seen a lot happen, some good and some not,” he said.

As a director, a focus for Mr Jackson will be to ensure the crisis situation that was imposed on farmers in April does not happen again.

“The industry doesn’t always seem to learn from the mistakes of the past,” he said.

As a director, Mr Jackson’s focus will be on rebuilding the trust and confidence of farmers in the cooperative and its board.

“The lack of trust and confidence is a major issue,” he said.

“MG announced the drop in milk price late in the season, when most fair minded people thought it should have been addressed earlier.”

Mr Jackson said the milk supply support package (MSSP) is another issue facing farmers.

He said MG’s choice not to crash the price in

May and June like Fonterra did was the responsible thing to do.

“In hindsight, delaying repayment until the market recovers would have been a better option,” he said.

“To make farmers repay the debt in a year when the milk price is below the cost of production is a pretty bitter pill to swallow.”

Mr Jackson said the MSSP is currently being reviewed.

“In my opinion the responsible thing to do would be to get rid of it and the company should pay it off itself in better times, instead of calling it a loan the farmers have to pay back,” he said.

“We won’t get farmers coming over to MG while the MSSP is in place.”

MG’s opening price for this season was one of the lowest, compared to other milk processors which Mr Jackson said could have been a result of the previous seasons’ profit downgrade.

“Was it too conservative? Probably, but you can’t pay a price that is not there,” he said.

Mr Jackson said while there are still challenges in the market, there are positive indicators as well.

“At the last three Global Dairy Trade auctions, we have seen three rises in a row. There are good signs out there,” he said.

“China is buying more now than it has for some time and production has come back in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America.

New ideas: Hazel Park dairy farmer Kelvin Jackson is the newest representative from Gippsland to be elected to Murray Goulburn’s board.

“All of that leads to positive signs for major buyers.”

As a director, Mr Jackson said he would like to see the cooperative become more transparent and open.

He said once all the investigations are complete, MG needs to open up about why the company downgraded its profit and then present the clear message that it won’t happen again.

“I support the value added strategy, but it has to deliver back to the farmer. You can’t implement a strategy with increased costs and not see a return back to suppliers,” he said.

Mr Jackson said as a director it is important to know the business and what management is trying

to achieve, but also have the ability to question and “perhaps debate” the benefits.

“MG has done a lot of talking, now it needs to make absolutely sure it delivers,” he said.

Mr Jackson joins Craig Dwyer, Lisa Dwyer and Harper Kilpatrick from Western Victoria, as new supplier directors on MG’s board.

“New people bring new ideas and hopefully a lot of enthusiasm. The new board members won’t be impacted by the past season and farmers will hopefully feel confident in the people they have elected,” he said.

“To have four new supplier directors on a nine person board is significant. I am looking forward to it.”

Dairy cows dominate yarding THERE were approximately 1100 export and 150 young cattle penned representing a decrease of 220 head week on week.

There was a full field of buyers present and competing in a mostly dearer market.

Quality was good in the grown steers and bullocks along with the limited selection of trade cattle while the cows were mostly dairy lots with very few well finished beef cows.

Trade cattle were mostly a few cents dearer.

Grown steers and bullocks improved 6c to 11c/kg.

Heavy weight grown heifers showing good finish jumped 36c/kg with better quality and stronger competition both drivers. Heavy weight Friesian manufacturing steers gained 15c for better quality while the crossbred portion lifted 5c/kg.

Dairy cows sold firm to 3c easier while the handful of heavy beef cows showing good finish sold up to 14c/kg dearer. Heavy weight bulls lifted 4c to 5c/kg.

A limited selection of yearling trade steers sold from 360c to 370c/kg. Yearling heifers to the trade made between 335c and 380c/kg.

Grown steers sold between 345c and 379c/kg.

Bullocks made from 349c to 373c/kg. Heavy weight grown heifers sold from 310c to 365c/kg. Heavy weight Friesian manufacturing steers made between 296c and 328c with the crossbred portion between 289c and 349c/kg.

Most light and medium weight cows sold between 200c 268c/kg. Heavy weight cows made mostly from 240c to 309c/kg. Heavy weight C and B muscle bulls sold from 289c and 321c/kg.

The next sale draw - September 28 & 29: 1. Elders, 2. Phelan & Henderson & Co, 3. Landmark, 4. SEJ, 5. Alex Scott & Staff, 6. Rodwells.

Prime Sale - Wednesday, September 21 BULLOCKS 13 Von Pace Pastoral P/L 1 H. & A. Brice, Cobargo 12 C. & M. Carpinteri, Moe 11 J.L. Morris, Kardella 18 O’Loughlin Bros, Meeniyan 14 C.T. Ferguson, Longford

584.6kg 600.0kg 579.6kg 606.8kg 704.7kg 596.4kg

368.6 372.6 372.0 372.0 371.6 370.0

$2213.35 $2235.60 $2156.05 $2257.36 $2618.75 $2206.79

STEERS 1 Seaview, Glen Alvie 1 B. Ellen, Traralgon 14 C.T. Ferguson, Longford 1 W.N. & P.A. Joyce, Jumbunna 2 D. Douch, Traralgon 6 Calerjero Nominees, Yarram

415.0kg 435.0kg 540.0kg 390.0kg 410.0kg 540.8kg

380.0 370.0 370.0 370.0 370.0 355.0

$1577.00 $1609.50 $1998.00 $1443.00 $1517.00 $1919.96

HEIFERS 1 Powles Family Trust, Cowes 2 M.G. Harrison, Dumbalk 5 W.N. & P.A. Joyce, Jumbunna 10 Kilbar Nominees, Leongatha Nth 1 Seaview, Glen Alvie 4 Yarrabee Rise, Korumburra

355.0kg 392.5kg 330.0kg 445.5kg 455.0kg 402.5kg

381.6 380.0 376.6 366.6 355.0 355.0

$1354.68 $1491.50 $1242.78 $1633.20 $1615.25 $1428.88

COWS 1 I.G. & R.M. Hayes, Towamba 4 I.R. McCraw, Jumbunna East 2 G. & R. Tett, Cobargo 1 P.F. & K.J. McLaren, Krowera 1 T. & L. Leppin, Bena 1 Z, Redpath, Waratah

590.0kg 572.5kg 602.5kg 690.0kg 500.0kg 620.0kg

308.6 308.6 308.6 303.6 296.6 287.6

$1820.74 $1766.74 $1859.32 $2094.84 $1483.00 $1783.12

1165.0kg 850.0kg 955.0kg 1060.0kg 1080.0kg 745.0kg

320.6 314.6 311.6 309.6 309.6 300.6

$3734.99 $2674.10 $2975.78 $3281.76 $3343.68 $2239.47

BULLS 1 G.W. & G.J. Bland, Yarram 1 B. Hinson, Traralgon 1 D. Sim, Hazelwood 1 Sunrise, Cowes 1 A.J. & N. Caithn ess, Koonwarra 1 Scott Pugh, San Remo

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 37

Farming Insight

Treasurer tackles tunnels Announcing the funding Mr Pallas said Victoria is in a very good position financially, running the biggest surplus of any state and reducing debt.

He was highly critical of the Federal Government and the only thing the Turnbull Government is interested in is Melbourne Metro.

The treasurer said the State Government does not need federal money to build the metro which is financed already in forward estimates.

The federal government is playing childish games he said.

He said Victoria with 25 percent of the country’s population and 25 percent of the country’s income Barnstorming: it was a day out of the office in jeans for a relaxed looking State Treasurer, receives just nine in Gippsland to announce funding for cattle underpasses. From left, Berry’s Creek farmer percent of national Mark Dowling, the treasurer Tim Pallas and Victorian Farmers Federation vice president transport funding.

Meanwhile

THE State Government sent the Treasurer Tim Pallas to Mark Dowling’s farm at Berry’s Creek to announce $3 million in funding for the Cattle Underpass Scheme or CUPS.

AIJF is investing in projects across rural and regional Victoria that drive economic growth, create jobs and boost the productivity of our food and fibre sector.

Under the scheme dairy and beef farmers around Victoria can apply for grants of up to $50,000 to enable them to move stock across their property unhindered by dangerous road crossings.

The treasurer said, “We’re helping our farmers with the infrastructure they need to get their produce from paddock to port.”

The CUPS program was initially established by the Bracks Government in 2000 since which time some 500 have been built.

The Victorian Farmers’ Federation (VFF) will administer the scheme.

The project is funded by the Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund (AIJF) a fund made possible through the lease of the Port of Melbourne.

John Vesterden at a Strzelecki Highway underpass built with grant funds in the 1990s.

Angus bulls top $8000 BULLS sold to a top of $8000 at Yancowinna Angus’s on property sale on Monday, September 19.

Frances Toohey of Sandy Point, who recently topped a VLE Leongatha store sale with a steer of Yancowinna bloodlines, making in excess of $5 a kilogram.

The Yancowinna sale averaged $5238, with

23 of the 24 bulls offered by the Cape Paterson stud selling to as far as East Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula, with many repeat buyers from across South Gippsland.

The top bull was sold to David Pilkington and The second highest selling bull, which made $7250, went to a Somers property owned by Chinese businessman Shin Tan of Aqua Drops Pty Ltd. “We were pretty happy with the roll up.

There would have been in excess of 30 registered buyers,” stud principal Dennis Ginn said.

The stud’s average for a previous spring sale was about $4800 and the Yancowinna team is now preparing for the next bull sale in March 2017, where about 40 young sires will be offered.

Another client, Dennis Stringer of Johnsonville, recently topped the Bairnsdale store market with a progeny of a Yancowinna bull.

Bulls are guaranteed by Yancowinna Angus and delivered to clients for free.

Like many cattle producers, Mr Ginn is enjoying the current buoyant beef market while it lasts.

“The demand for protein, especially from Buying quality: from left, Rob Ewing of Yancowinna Angus, top priced buyers Frances out of Asia, is quite strong and the national cow Toohey and David Pilkington of Sandy Point, Yancowinna principal Dennis Ginn and herd numbers are down a little, but there will be a Michael Glasser of GTSM, who conducted the stud’s sale at Cape Paterson. Photo courtesy correction (to prices) sooner or later,” he said.

of Stock and Land.

Apply for grants now Farmers, MORE than 60 expressions of interest have been received for projects to revegetate land, fence off waterways, conduct land trials and protect remnant vegetation within the West Gippsland CMA region.

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s (WGCMA) regional Landcare facilitator Sam Shannon said the EOI process closed soon.

“Expressions of interest for a broad range of works through each of the local Landcare networks closes on 30 September,” he said.

“Landcare networks have a range of funding subsidies available for projects including revegetation with native species, remnant protection, fencing off waterways from stock, and sustainable agriculture activities such as soil, pasture, effluent and grazing improvement.

“Filling out an EOI lets your local Landcare network know what sort of project you are inter-

ested in. The EOI program is open to both Landcare and non-Landcare members.

“If your project matches our guidelines, your local Landcare network will contact you within a month to chat more about your project.”

Mr Shannon said projects would be assessed and ranked by a range of criteria, and supported if there was available funding.

“If you miss out on funding, don’t get disheartened – your Landcare network will keep your details on file and be in touch in the future if more funding becomes available,” he said.

All expressions of interest must be submitted

by September 30. To find out more contact your local Landcare network or visit www.wgcma.vic. gov.au.

Submitting a form is an expression of interest only and does not guarantee funding support.

Funding for the works are from a range of sources including the Victorian Landcare Grants.

consider your health

FARMERS are urged to take time out for their health when they visit the South Gippsland Dairy Expo at the Korumburra Showgrounds this Wednesday and Thursday.

Free health checks will be offered by the staff of The National Centre for Farmer Health.

The 20 minute checks will include blood glucose levels, cholesterol, blood pressure, eye testing, body mass index (BMI), bowel cancer, and wellbeing and mental health.

Look out for centre staff in the Rural Finance marquee.

The checks will be for men and women.

CUPS should help ease the back log of cattle underpass applications across Victoria.

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria Vice President John Versteden said the CUPS program gets over-subscribed very quickly and dairy farmers need to keep their eyes out for more information on how to apply.

He said the schemes have taken thousands of cows off the state’s roads resulting in improved road safety, improved workplace safety for farmers and their employees, improved farm efficiency and productivity and the removal of impediments to the expansion of dairy farms and growth of the industry.

PAGE 38 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

public notice

Leongatha Uniting Church

public notice

public notice

situations vacant

GATHA ROCK

Rock ’n’ Roll DANCE LESSONS LEONGATHA DAKERS CENTRE Thursday nights 7.30pm start No partner necessary Enq: John & Judy 0418 586 324 New classes starting October 6 Cost $7

presents a

Fashion Parade

COOK/SUSHI CHEF A cook/sushi chef is required by a Japanese restaurant in Inverloch. The successful candidate must have suitable qualification and experience in food preparation, cooking and sushi making with passion and commitment to high standard of food quality.

To apply please email your resumé and qualification documents to: tomo-modern-japanese@hotmail.com

Customer Satisfaction Survey 2016 South Gippsland Water values feedback from its customers. Your input is important as it helps us improve water and wastewater services across the region.

We have a variety of avenues through which customers can provide us with information, including our customer satisfaction survey to be conducted during October 2016.

Customers will be randomly selected and contacted by phone to participate in the survey.

by

“Influence on Dusk”

An independent research company, Fieldworks, will conduct the phone survey. You can participate in the survey anonymously & confidentially.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 7.30pm St Andrew’s Uniting Church 16 Peart Street, Leongatha

We look forward to using the survey results to benefit our customers and region.

$12 per head includes supper Anita 0458 442 750 or Glenice 5662 3959

Philippe du Plessis Managing Director

MEENIYAN ART GALLERY Main Gallery

vicroads.vic.gov.au

By Jenny Peterson Access Gallery

INSPIRED BY SOUTH GIPPSLAND

By Joanna Schmidt, Mari Zirngast-Cause & Tahnee Cause Exhibitions from Sept 30 to Oct 27 Opening Sunday October 2 at 2pm Phone 5664 0101 – Open 10am - 4pm weekdays, 11am - 5pm weekends – closed Tuesdays Sponsored by Meeniyan IGA plus Liquor

vicroads.vic.gov.au

Help shape road safety improvements on the South Gippsland Highway: Leongatha to Meeniyan VicRoads wants community members to help shape road safety improvements on the South Gippsland Highway between Leongatha and Meeniyan*.

Help shape road safety improvements on the Princes Highway East: Sale to Bairnsdale VicRoads is seeking community input into shaping road safety improvements on the Princes Highway East between Sale and Bairnsdale

Ideas could include audio-tactile centre and edge lines, wide centre-line, flexible roadside barriers or centreline wire rope barriers. All ideas will be considered when it comes to road safety.

Better health, Better lifestyles, Stronger communities

VicRoads is also working with their road safety partners Victoria Police to support a region free of fatal and serious injury crashes into the future.

Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) is one of the largest community health providers in Victoria. We provide professional and career development, salary packaging, an employee assistance program, work life balance and much more.

Community members can provide feedback to VicRoads on email towardszerogippsland@ roads.vic.gov.au or by phone 0413 703 951

Gambler’s Help Community Education Officer (22283)

All feedback will be reviewed and considered in the development of a proposal for safety improvements that will be taken back out to the community for comment.

Ideas could include audio-tactile centre and edge lines flexible roadside barriers. All ideas will be considered when it comes to road safety .VicRoads is working in partnership with Victoria Police to support a region free of fatal and serious injury crashes into the future.

Submissions and comments will be received until 5pm Friday 21 October 2016.

situations vacant

situations vacant

GRADER OPERATOR & LABOURER ZO661014

Submissions and comments will be received until 5pm Friday 21 October 2016. *Please note that the realignment of Blackspur curves near Koonwarra is being considered separate from this project.

Permanent, Full time

Classified advertising closes 12 noon Mondays

All feedback will be reviewed and considered in the development of a proposal for safety improvements that will be taken back out to the community for comment.

Applications are invited from Registered Nurses interested in joining the District Nursing & Palliative Care Team at Bass Coast Health.

You will demonstrate: • Well-developed clinical skills and palliative care skills • Ability to work autonomously as well as in a team • Strong inter personal skills • Minimum 3 years post-graduate experience • Current driver’s licence For further information please contact Barb Harrison on 13157.

Applications, including a cover letter, resumé and 2 professional referees should be addressed to: Barb Harrison, Nurse Unit Manager District Nursing & Palliative Care Service and forwarded to Barb.Harrison@basscoasthealth.org.au

This section of highway has been identified in the Towards Zero 2016-2020 Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan as one of the State’s top 20 highest risk rural road segments.

This section of highway has been identified in the Towards Zero 2016-2020 Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan as one of the State’s top 20 highest risk rural road segments.

Community members can provide feedback to VicRoads via email towardszerogippsland@ roads.vic.gov.au or phone 0413 703 951.

Permanent Part-Time 0.73 EFT LSL Replacement 0.42 EFT – Fixed Term 12/12/16 to 29/01/17 LSL Replacement 0.84 EFT – Fixed Term 21/01/17 to 27/08/17

Applications Close on Friday 14 October 2016

ZO661013

FIND. SAVE. KEEP

situations vacant

A1 Civil Pty Ltd are currently seeking suitably experienced persons to fill the following positions for work in the Leongatha area: • Grader Operator • Civil Construction labourer/plant operator Applications by email to dave@a1group.com.au stating relevant experience, competencies, references and contact details.

We are seeking applications for an experienced educator to join the Primary Prevention Team on an ongoing full time basis.

The Gambler’s Help Community Education Officer is responsible for the implementation of targeted health promotion programs to address prevention of Gambling related harm.

As part of this role you will deliver a range of education activities and provide information and resources to the community, schools and sporting clubs. Applicants will need to be motivated and have a sound understanding of the harms related to problem gambling, a relevant degree in Community Development or Health Promotion would be beneficial.

For more information please contact Christina Rush, Manager Primary Prevention on 0438 018 384.

Applications close 11pm, Sunday 2 October 2016.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply • For further information and copies of each position description visit our careers page www.lchs.com.au/careers • Applicants must address the Selection Criteria and lodge their application online.

• No late or hard copy applications will be accepted.

ZO612106

public notice OUR client is one of Australia’s largest personal care and home help service oganisations operating for close to 30 years.

They employ over 3,500 people nationwide who provide a diverse and varied range of in-home care solutions for those in-need, helping them to live their lives their way.

We are seeking Support Workers for a large NFP organisation in the areas of Leongatha and Korumburra region.

Please contact Catalina on 1300-131022.

Call 1800 242 696 or visit www.lchs.com.au

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 39

situations vacant

situations vacant

situations vacant

situations vacant

situations vacant

situations vacant

LIFEGUARDS

RE GRADE 3: $24.70 PER HOUR South Gippsland SPLASH and the South Gippsland Outdoor Pools are seeking suitably qualified, experienced and enthusiastic lifeguards to join the team. Flexibility in shifts, a strong customer focus and excellent attention to detail are essential.

Please direct CV and cover letter to adrian.paino@ymca.org.au to apply.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 30 OCTOBER

MOTOR MECHANIC Edney's of Leongatha is seeking a qualified motor mechanic to join its expanding Nissan/ Hyundai dealership. The successful applicant will be given the latest dealership training throughout their employment while working in a friendly, modern environment.

You will also have the opportunity to expand your skills with RACV road service. A 4th year apprentice will be considered.

Forward hand written applications to: Edney's Leongatha Attention: Nick McRae PO Box 72 Leongatha 3953 Applications close Thursday, October 13

To learn more, visit us online at:

www.victoria.ymca.org.au/about/careers

Start a career with The Star as a

Hospitality and Retail Staff

Payroll Officer – Job Share Part Time (3 days per week) (Job Ref # HR0901) Contact: Ali Dobson, HR Manager PH: 5667 5503 or ali.dobson@gshs.com.au

Registered Nurse – Koorooman 0.84 EFT Permanent Part Time (Job Ref # ND0902) Contact: Brenda Satchwell, Nurse Unit Manager.

Ph: 5667 5553 or kooroomanhouse.chargenurse@gshs.com.au

Administrative Assistant Part Time .8 EFT or Full Time (Job Ref # AD0901) Contact: Daniel Smith, Director Ambulatory Care PH: 5667 5696 or daniel.smith@gshs.com.au Full details, including the position descriptions are available at www.gshs.com.au.

Email applications, quoting relevant reference number to jobs@gshs.com.au no later than Monday, 10th October 2016.

GBS Recruitment currently has a number of positions available for motivated and committed people to work in a retail and cafe environment located in Tidal River, South Gippsland. These roles range from Monday through till Sunday and are dependent on weekly requirements.

To be successful in this role you will need: • Experience in retail hospitality or willingness to learn • Live within proximity of Tidal River/Wilsons Prom • Have own reliable transport • Confident to handle cash sales and deal with customer needs • Work well within a team • Willingness to learn new skills including pricing and restocking shelves, barista skills and food preparation • Be respectful of the environment and working within a national park • Candidates with food handler’s certificate are preferred.

Training is provided and own transport is a must!

How to Apply Please apply via our website www.gbsrecruitment.com.au, Job #2003237.

Please call Bridget McGrath or Elle McNair at GBS Recruitment on 03 5174 2665 for a confidential discussion.

Applications are invited from suitably experienced persons for a fixed-term position of

Teacher for 2017 Full time for Semester 1, with a reduction to part time, job share for Semester 2.

This is a maternity leave position under the Victorian Catholic Education Multi Enterprise Agreement 2013.

The successful applicant will have a demonstrated commitment to Catholic education and to the safety and wellbeing of children.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate capabilities in the following areas: • Inquiry learning • Positive behaviour management • Highly skilled in literacy and numeracy pedagogy • Teaching Religious Education The successful applicant will be appropriately qualified, demonstrate enthusiasm and ability to deliver the appropriate curriculum to a range of educational abilities, and be able to provide care and support for students whilst supporting and respecting the ethos of the school and its environment.

The successful applicant will hold Victorian Institute of Teaching Registration.

Graduates are welcome to apply.

Application form can be accessed from www.cecv.catholic.edu.au/Positions-Vacant/ Teacher-(1) Please email completed application form, letter of application and resume including the names and contact details of three phone referees to: principal@sjkorumburra.catholic.edu.au Applications close at 5pm on Friday 7th October 2016.

CADET JOURNALIST You will be paid on the job as you train with us for a cadetship.

This is a great opportunity to begin your career and work and live in South Gippsland.

An interest in being part of a vibrant community would be an advantage.

The position will commence immediately.

All enquiries can be directed to: Helen Bowering, manager on 5662 2294.

Resumés to: helen@thestar.com.au The Star will contact only those applicants required for an interview

Limited Term Contract Equivalent to 1.0 EFT over an 8 month period from 1 November 2016 Variations to this EFT and timeframe can be considered Applications are invited for an experienced Social Worker / Welfare Worker with extensive experience, with assessment and case management skills to work in the Integrated Family Services team. This position requires in-home support and counselling for families in the Bass Coast Shire. This team is a member of the South Coast Child First and Integrated Family Services alliance and works closely with Community Child Protection. Attendance at multidisciplinary team meetings is required.

Competence in family and child wellbeing assessment, counselling, family conferencing and group work is a requirement.

Enquiries and requests for Position Description can be directed to the Community Support Services Manager, Noel Sibly on 5671 3278.

The Position Description is also available on BCH website and intranet.

Applications need to include: a cover letter; current CV, including the name and contact details of at least two recent professional referees; a separate statement addressing each selection criterion. This can be emailed to: noel.sibly@basscoasthealth.org.au Applications close COB Tuesday 11 October 2016

South Coast Taxis are seeking Taxi drivers. The positions would suit both those looking to earn some extra income or those looking for more regular shifts.

The shifts are available from our Wonthaggi Depot working the areas of Wonthaggi and Leongatha.

The successful applicants must be experienced drivers, be available to work a mix of days, nights and weekends and hold the appropriate licences including the Taxi Driver Accreditation.

Please send your resumé by either email: taxis@southcoastbus.com.au or post: PO Box 946, Cowes, 3922

Executive Manager Health Planning & Commissioning Be part of the leadership team contributing to …a measurably healthier Gippsland For further information go to www.rosemaryhardham.com.au

LEONGATHA LITTLE ATHLETICS is currently seeking a

Volunteer On Track Coordinator for the 2016/17 season The position requires working with Under 6 and Under 7 athletes. The On Track program focuses on developing motor skills in a fun, learning and progressive manner, through to athletic skills.

The Saturday morning program will run for 10 weeks from the 8th October. No prior experience with athletics necessary, but will be an advantage.

Training for the position is provided.

For further information please call Ben Cruickshank, Leongatha Little Athletics President on 0438 551 976

EEN Permanent Night Duty and casual shifts available

FRAMES FABRICATOR

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL KORUMBURRA

situations vacant

TAXI DRIVERS WANTED

Would you like to join a rapidly growing PHYSIOTHERAPY / CLINICAL PILATES BUSINESS based in Inverloch?

Are you prepared to work flexible part time hours, with the opportunity to grow your client list, and move into a full time role down the track?

The successful applicant will need to possess a friendly, professional manner, with experience treating musculoskeletal and sports injuries.

The position comes with an existing client base, offers an excellent remuneration package, and will benefit the person who is self-motivated, and conscientious.

Clinical pilates experience is also preferred, but not essential.

For expressions of interest, please contact us on 0490 489 088

situations vacant

An opportunity exists for a suitably qualified person to join our Frames production team.

Experience is preferred but not essential. Full training is provided.

The successful applicant will have the ability to work unsupervised, have excellent communication skills and be able to work in a busy team environment. The ability to be accurate and have an eye for detail are key requirements for this position.

Applications close on Friday October 7th 2016 and should be forwarded to: Peter Sheerin C/- Capeview Building Products, P.O Box 115 Wonthaggi 3995.

Email: peter.sheerin@cv-bp.com.au

Carinya Lodge is currently seeking passionate and knowledgeable EENs who are available for casual and permanent AM, PM and Night shifts.

Carinya Lodge offers employees salary packaging and are committed to employees professional development.

EENs with experience in supervising care and are able to work night duty are encouraged to apply. A genuine interest in aged care is a must.

Applicants must be willing to undergo a Police Check and provide atleast 2 referees.

For a copy of the position description please contact administration on 5655 2125 or admin@carinyalodge.com.au. Please send applications and cover letter to Belinda Egan HR Manager, Carinya Cresent, Korumburra 3950 or email to belinda@carinyalodge.com.au

Law Clerk/Assistant Birch Ross & Barlow has a vacancy for an experienced Law Clerk/Assistant.

Duties will include administrative support to two of our busy lawyers, preparation of documents and correspondence, file management, diary management, preparation and filing of court documentation, general administrative duties and client liaison. This is a full time position.

Please forward your application to the Recruitment Manager, Birch Ross & Barlow, 50 Bair Street, Leongatha or email hmaclean@brblaw.com.au.

Applications close Friday 30 September 2016.

BIRCH ROSS & BARLOW Lawyers 50 Bair Street, Leongatha 3953 Phone 5662 2275

VACANCY FOR CASUAL COURSE MAINTENANCE WORKER Leongatha Golf Club requires a casual course maintenance worker for an October start. Hours and days are flexible, but early mornings and weekend work will be required. Pay is as per the Registered & Licensed Clubs Award. This is a short term position to help over the busier Summer months.

The successful applicant should have their driver’s licence and experience driving machinery such as tractors and mowers. Duties will include watering of greens and tees, mowing of fairways and greens and setting up the course for competition play under the direction of the Course Superintendent.

Please send a resumé and cover letter to apply for this position to Josh Hall – josh@leongathagolf.com.au Applications close 5pm Friday 7th October

PAGE 40 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

situations vacant

QUALIFIED

ROOFING PLUMBER Required FULL TIME For both general and roof plumbing Phone Matt 0407 044 430

RELIEF MILKING POSITION AVAILABLE North of Leongatha 40 unit rotary with ACRs Currently milking 300 cows Experience and reliability essential Phone 0427 451 090

Most photos that appear in The Star can be purchased by calling 5662 2294

Group Facilitator – Leongatha/Wonthaggi MAX Employment provides integral solutions through employment, health and training services. With the belief that a job can change a person's life; we empower job seekers and connect them to support, opportunities and sustainable employment. We work closely with employers and community partners to provide job seekers with a strong foundation for success.

What will you be accountable for?

• Motivating and engaging with jobseekers in a group environment • Preparing and delivery of the workshops in a clear, precise, timely and inspirational manner • Ensuring completion of the session from all participants • Meeting KPI's in accordance with company guidelines • Administering detailed and accurate data entry What are we looking for?

• A passion for supporting job seekers to achieve their employment goals • Previous experience in a facilitation and/or leadership role is desirable • Understanding of or experience working in diverse industries • Proven experience working with diverse client groups • Resilience and your ability to influence What is the role?

As a Group Facilitator you are highly skilled at building group dynamics. You will facilitate group sessions of job seekers across a range of diverse client groups. You will encourage supportive group behaviours and attitudes, and influence and motivate job seekers in a positive environment with productive peer support. A key component of your role is to assist participants to job search and gain sustainable employment.

What are the benefits in joining MAX? • Ability to participate in a comprehensive range of learning and development opportunities • Participation in competitive bonus schemes for individual and team performance • Guaranteed annual salary increases as specified in the Enterprise Agreement • 5 weeks annual leave after 3 years of service We are committed to a high performance, engaging team culture and investing in our people enables a rewarding career with MAX. If you have what we are looking for email application to leongatha@maxemployment.com.au

situations vacant

DAIRY FARM WORKER Required at Mardan Experience in calf rearing, milking up to 320 cows, feeding out, silage and hay making.

Includes some weekend roster work.

Must have driver’s licence.

Email applications only to: gallienne@dcsi.net.au with resumé or phone 0407 863 493

for sale FIREWOOD - local messmate/stringy bark, cut, split, dry. Discounts on bulk loads. Free delivery available. Pick up or delivered. $100 per cubic metre. Ph: 0437-176187.

tenders

for sale

for sale

used vehicles

in memoriam

FIREWOOD, redgum & local wood, Ph 0408980-711, A/H 56625175.

POWERTECH portable inverter generator, 4 stroke, 2KVA, electric start, only 2 hours work, $700. 0418-384468.

2011 FORD Ranger XL 4x4 diesel, 5 speed auto, dual cab, 10 months registration, RWC, 1BF8AF, $22,900.

Ph; 0403-403609.

COPE - Dawn.

A year has passed and not a day goes by where you are not in our thoughts.

Forever loved and missed.

garage sales

Jim and family.

HAY - wheaten, oats, vetch and straw. Top quality, shedded, feed test available.

For delivered price call Greg 0429-822544.

2 MARY MACKILLOP summer dresses, size 12. Never worn.

Accidently bought wrong size. Were $84, selling $75 each. Ph: 0428-308844 AH. Or text any time.

MEGATONE 7 piece drum set, VGC, $200.

Ph: 5662-5623.

OLD PORT POULTRY FARM Delivering 18 week old Isa Brown laying hens to your area on Sunday, October 2, $21 each. 0438832535.

tenders

LINTON COURT ELDERLY PEOPLES HOMES SOCIETY INC INVITES TENDERS FOR BUILDING WORKS INVOLVING The extension and renovation of Units 21 & 22 plus adjacent storeroom and double carport at Linton Court Retirement Village, Foster.

Plans and Specns. can be obtained from Lloyd McKenzie 5682 1293 / 0439 559 579 or Leonie Clyne 5682 2711 / 0429 191 166.

Tenders close at 5pm on Wednesday 12/10/16 Tenders to: Lloyd McKenzie, PO Box 263, Foster Vic 3960

meetings

meetings

BASS COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Monday October 24, 2016 - 6pm Coffee Collective, 50-52 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi A number of Board positions will be declared vacant. All retiring Directors are eligible for re-nomination.

Nominations for Board positions on the official Board nomination form will be received until Friday, October 7, 2016.

All items of business are to be received by the Foundation no later than Friday, September 30, 2016.

Please direct all enquiries or requests for nomination forms to info@bccf.org.au or 0457 786 868.

Better health, Better lifestyles, Stronger communities Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) is one of the largest community health providers in Victoria. We provide professional and career development, salary packaging, an employee assistance program, work life balance and much more.

Clinical Lead – Dental Services (22295) Latrobe Valley, Permanent

A great opportunity is available for the position of Clinical Lead – Dental Services at LCHS. Reporting to the Manager Dental Services, your role will be essential in the operation of 4 dental sites across the Latrobe Valley providing supervision for over 24 clinicians and student clinics.

WOORAYL LODGE INC. LEONGATHA

To be successful you will need to possess the following; excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a strong ability to lead, listen and influence, a commitment to promoting best practice standards and the provision of high quality services and sound knowledge of the functionality of both the public and private dental sectors.

Aged Hostel and Flats

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Dentist – Private/Public (22294) Latrobe Valley, Fixed Term

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated Dentist who is committed to best practice and achieving positive patient outcomes, to join our team under a Public or Private Agreement.

With the opportunity to work across Various LCHS dental clinics, the suitable applicant requires excellent interpersonal skills coupled with a focus on teamwork and effective time management along with 3 – 4 years experience. A demonstrated ongoing commitment to professional development of self and others is also essential.

As part of dental services, you will enjoy a positive environment which promotes participation, fosters teamwork and encourages personal growth.

If you are looking to step into a challenging new role, this is an opportunity to become part of an innovative and dynamic team.

For further information please contact Jenny Juschkat, Manager Dental Services on 0407 757 134.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply • For further information and copies of each position description visit our careers page www.lchs.com.au/careers • Applicants must address the Selection Criteria and lodge their application online.

• No late or hard copy applications will be accepted.

Call 1800 242 696 or visit www.lchs.com.au

ZO612112

Application will close 11pm, Friday 14 October 2016

of Contributors to Woorayl Lodge Inc. will be held at Woorayl Lodge, 71-73 McCartin Street, Leongatha 7PM ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 Business: 1. To confirm Minutes of the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

2. To receive the President’s Report and Reports under Section 34 of the Retirement Villages Act and Section 96 of the Aged Care Act. 3. To elect four members to the Committee of Management. Persons nominated must be contributors. Mr Graeme Evans, Mr Andrew Dowthwaite and Robert Bruce retire in accordance with the Rules and are eligible for re-election for a three year period.

4. To elect an Auditor.

5. To transact business of which at least seven days notice in writing has been given.

6. To adopt new Association Rules for Woorayl Lodge to comply with Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012.

Nominations on the approved form for positions on the Committee of Management and that of Auditor must be lodged with ‘The Chair’ at Woorayl Lodge, no later than noon on Monday, October 17, 2016.

SLEEPERS, treated pine, 200 x 50 x 2.4 $12.10 each, 200 x 75 x 2.4 $16.75 each, 200 x 75 x 3.0 $ 20.90 each.

Free delivery for pack lots. Phone Joe 0417530662.

TIMBER Kiln dried blackwood, silver wattle, cypress, celery top pine, most sizes for furniture and craft, also slabs and structural pine. Ph: 5681-2261.

CHAINSAWS We stock the largest range of chainsaws in South Gippsland, including - Stihl, McCulloch and Husqvarna

from $199

Professional repairs and services to all makes of chainsaws.

We also have a large range of secondhand chainsaws available.

MOTORCYCLES & POWER EQUIPMENT

38870

situations vacant

Cnr Allison & South Gippsland Hwy, LEONGATHA Ph: 5662 2028 L.M.C.T. 2714

free OLD TYRES suitable for covering silage stacks.

0438-574300.

livestock BULLS for hire or for sale. Friesian, Angus, Hereford, Limo or Jersey. All sound young bulls. Hire or sale. Phone 0447-331762.

Classified advertising closes 12 noon Mondays

meetings Leongatha & District Netball Association

AGM Monday October 17 6.30pm Bairs Hotel Dinner 7.30pm AGM

AGM To be held at

MEENIYAN FOOTBALL CLUBROOMS Hanily Street, Meeniyan

At 7pm on Wednesday, October 26 We are inviting newcomers to join our committed team of committee members.

If you feel you could add to our great football netball club then come along to share the experience.

All welcome

Car Boot SalE and market day Book your parking spot or Market stall - $15

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22 Strictly 8.30am to 1pm CHAIRO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 101 Horn Street, Leongatha Numerous stalls of new and old wares and food Please contact Wendy/Karen 5662 4355

GARAGE SALE The “STAR” can help you promote your event with our

$27.50 GARAGE SALE KIT KIT INCLUDES 5cm x S/C advert (valued at $33.00) • 2 x A4 Garage Sale Signs • Garage Sale Tips (dos and don’ts) • Sheet of Price Stickers • Star Carry Bag

Total package valued at $41 ADVERTISE by calling 5662 5555 or emailing classifieds@thestar.com.au or call in to 36 McCartin Street LEONGATHA to pick up your kit when you place your advertisement

birthdays Happy 18th Mitch Schelling!!

It’s the beginning of many wonderful and amazing things in your life and it’s all just starting to unfold. Don’t waste it. Surround yourself with loving, positively driven people and work hard to reach your full potential!

We hope to see you soon.

Love Dad, Joelene, Ryan, Nae and their families.

marriage celebrant PAM HERRALD 5662 2553 0438 097 181

Wendy Rutjens

Weddings ~ Funerals ~ Namings

0429 688 123 e: rutjenswendy@gmail.com

Jenny Milkins All areas - 5672 3123 jenny_milkins@hotmail.com

COPE - Dawn.

There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. There are moments when I wish I could bring you down from heaven, spend the day with you, to hear the sound of your voice, give you one more hug, kiss you goodbye, and one more chance to say I love you.

I miss you as much today as I did the day you passed away.

I just miss you.

Carol, Ernie, and family.

COPE - Dawn.

2.10.2015.

The hardest part of losing you Mum is living every day afterwards.

Missing you terribly, loving you always, Neil and Jo, Chloe and Rebecca. XXXX COPE - Dawn.

October 2, 2015.

Mum. We miss you, your smile, your laugh and your voice.

It’s been a long 12 months since you left us, but it seems like yesterday.

You’ll always be missed and we’ll forever treasure the memories.

Always in our hearts.

Dorothy, Justin, Hughie, Aiden and Teagan.

XXXXX

Email your adverts to The Star ads@thestar.com.au deaths GALE - Colin Paul.

Passed away September 12, 2016.

Loved cousin of Mr and Mrs N., Timothy, Christopher, Andrew and Robyn, and their families.

JOHNSON -Thomasena Frances Joyclyn (Joy).

Died peacefully on September 21, 2016 at Lower Templestowe.

Loved wife of Rev. Gordon Johnson (dec) and mother of Alvin, Trixie, Westan and Kingsley.

In God’s care.

OLSEN - Roderick Lorenz.

Passed away September 22, aged 75 years.

Adored son-in-law of Charlie (dec) and Roma Mitchard.

Loved and respected brother-in-law to Heather and Jim Lowe, Shirley and Ken Barnes, Graham and Rosemary Mitchard.

Very much loved uncle and great uncle to all his nieces and nephews.

We will all miss you deeply.

Now resting peacefully.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 41

thestar.com.au

| SPORT

thestar.com.au

Island girl now elite deaths

deaths

POPE Graeme Edward.

02.06.1946 - 19.09.2016.

Formerly of Yarra Glen.

Late of Inverloch.

Passed away peacefully after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Dearly loved and loving husband of Margaret, devoted father of Adam, Lauren and families.

Words can’t express how much he was loved and will be missed.

Forever in our hearts.

SYMONS Nancy Estelle.

Passed away peacefully at Koorooman House, Leongatha on September 16, 2016 aged 97 years.

Dearly loved wife of Jack (dec).

Dearly loved mother of John (dec), Barry (dec), and Ross.

Dear loved Nan of Trenton and Jaki, Danielle, Renee and Dale, Benjamin and Lauren, Rebecca and Sam. Proud great grandmother of Baylan, Mackenzie, Alice, Emmerson, Eve and Jack.

=SYMONS - Nancy.

Treasured memories of our dear friend Nancy.

Pearl and family.

THORNBY - Jenny.

Loved sister-in-law and aunt of Peter, Lorna, Ken, Noel, their partners and families.

Now resting peacefully.

funerals SYMONS - The Funeral Service for the late Mrs Nancy Estelle Symons will be held at the Presbyterian Church, Leongatha on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 commencing at 2.30pm.

The funeral will leave after refreshments for the Leongatha Lawn Cemetery.

Classified advertising closes 12 noon Mondays

Loved daughter of the late Albert (Bert) and Mary (Polly) Bruhn, loved stepdaughter of Harold Rogers.

Loved sister of John and Thelma Rogers, Chas and Jan Rogers and Jack (dec).

Loved aunt to their respective families.

deaths

FIFTEEN year old Phillip Island surfer Lannia Fostin has been selected as one of eight young surfers nationwide to be participate in the Hurley Grom Journey.

She will travel to Casuarina Beach in Northern NSW to receive training at the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre (HPC).

Lannia is the youngest grom selected and is riding a fast upward wave, having only started competition 12 months ago.

She said, “I am super stoked to have the opportunity to head up to the Hurley high performance centre as it’s a great opportunity to be trained by some amazing coaches and surfers.

“There have been ups and downs but I love every moment of surfing so to be given this opportunity to travel, meet new surfers my age and develop my surfing further is really exciting some warm water will be nice too!

“I know this experience will give me a boost to push harder for the next level.”

She has already placed runner-up at this year’s Victorian Junior Surfing Championships.

The Hurley Grom Challenge will kick off this Friday, September 30 and finishes on October 2.

The Hurley Grom Challenge takes a group of unsponsored young surfers (grommets or groms for short) through an intensive training camp at the HPC. It’s an experience that has been created for kids who show promise and potential but don’t yet have mainstream support/sponsorship or coaching – they’re seen as the next generation of surfers on the cusp of breaking through.

The challenge is designed in consultation with the Australian Institute of Sport and features state of the art education facilities, a surf specific gymnasium, testing and treatment room, auditorium and onsite accommodation.

Freedom: Lannia Fostin on the beach at Woolamai. The fifteen year old is riding a wave of success at the moment and could be one of the next generation of local surfers to make it big on the national, if not the international circuit.

Exposing the surfers to the best coaching and training facilities in the world, the challenge inspires the surfers to take on new techniques and skills.

Lannia said, “I’m excited about competing in the Aussie titles at the end of year and want to give it everything I can so this experience at the

HPC will help me push up the rankings and continue improving my results.

“Surfing has become an addiction to me; it’s freedom!

“I love every surf as it is always different every wave and what you can do on it, creates room to improve.”

Allambee, Mirboo and District Tennis Association deaths

Paul & Margaret Beck Proprietors

Caring for our Community, personal dignified service to all areas 5662 2717 Pre-need Funeral Plans available Office and Chapel: 24 Anderson Street, Leongatha hfs1@vic.australis.com.au MEMBER OF AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

Scott and Sharon Anderson With care & dignity we serve South Gippsland and Phillip Island Main Office: WONTHAGGI / INVERLOCH 5672 1074 176-178 Graham Street, Wonthaggi 3995 Fax: 5672 1747 email: randm33@bigpond.net.au PHILLIP ISLAND 5952 5171 15 Warley Avenue, Cowes 3922 (by appointment only) Pre-paid & pre-arranged funeral plans available CARING & PERSONAL 24 HOUR SERVICE www.handleyandandersonfunerals.com.au MEMBER OF AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

THE tennis season has all but arrived with the 20162017 competition commencing on October 8.

Mardan is the host club this season and Grant McColl and the committee hope it is a good season for all clubs.

Some younger players are starting in Senior tennis and all clubs must ensure the season is one they

enjoy, both on the court and socially.

This season will see the introduction of cut throat finals (first versus fourth and second versus third with the winners playing off for the premiership).

Draws are being printed and will be to the clubs for the beginning of the season.

Good luck to all clubs and players.

The road ahead: the hand cyclist’s view of the road ahead. Alex Welsh, named an ambassador for the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge to held in November, is out on the road training for many hours each week and said, ”The Bass Coast region is one of the best places in Frank Arndt and Clive Hope 55.36. the word to ride a bike.”

South Gippsland Bridge WITH an excellent score of 63.19 percent, the ever reliable pair of John Sullivan and Alan Johnston was first in the Pairs competition at Inverloch on Friday, September 23.

With a fine 57.64 John Sutton and Mike Dooley were second while third place was claimed with a well contested 56.25 by Arendina Drury and Jack Kuiper.

Fourth were Philip Chapman and Althea Drew 53.47 Pairs on Tuesday, September 20 was at Tarwin Lower and won with the outstanding score of the week 70.24 by John Sullivan and Alan Johnston.

Second were Kathryn Smith and Colin Cameron 61.90 and third

Clive has recently returned from overseas and we welcome him back.

Monday Pairs was at Meeniyan and Pat West and Barbara Axten won with a commendable 61.46 followed closely by Susan Ruffin and Clive Hope with 59.38.

Third was the pair of Rachel Brown and Anne Williams 52.08.

The club will host the annual South Gippsland Bridge Club Congress on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday 6 at the Dakers Centre in Leongatha.

Register at bridgeunlimited. com or contact Neville Chapman on 56783323 or Carol Sowden on 5662 2936.

There are great prizes and a wonderful two days of pairs and teams Bridge.

Under 16 footballer suspended AS a result of a tribunal hearing last night to hear the case of Darcy Loughridge of Dalyston FC of Unbecoming Conduct towards Brett Jones of Kilcunda-Bass FC the charged player was found guilty and suspended for four (4) matches, to be served at the beginning of the 2017 season.

The charge was laid as a result of an investigation into an incident in an Under 16 elimination final.

Welsh honoured as ambassador AUSTRALIA’S current hand cycle race and time trial champion for class H3, Alex Welsh, has been announced as an ambassador for the 2016 Bass Coast Cycle Challenge, to be held on November 12, 2016 in Inverloch and the beautiful surrounding areas.

Welsh joins five-time rowing world champion and triple Olympic Gold medallist Drew Ginn and longstanding ambassador former Australian cyclist David McKenzie.

The local cyclist from Korumburra is excited to be a part of the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge.

“I’m supporting the Bass Coast Cycle challenge because I believe cycling is one of the best ways for people get fit, stay healthy and to socialise with lots of different people. I also think that the Bass Coast region is one of the best places in the word to ride a bike.

“I encourage people of all abilities and disabilities to be part of the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge. No

matter what course you choose to ride, the views will be spectacular and you will have a great day out on your bike.” He added.

Welsh competes in the H3 classification on a handcycle.

He began competing in 2011 and is currently the Australian road race and time trial champion in his class.

Combining a busy training and racing schedule with studying bachelor degree in education at Federation University as well as competing in some triathlons and athletics events, Alex still manages to find the time to ride around 200km per week around the Bass Coast and South Gippsland regions.

“My favourite parts of the Bass Coast to ride would have to be coast road between Cape Paterson to Inverloch or the top of Mt Misery is really nice too.”

He has some big goals that include competing for Australia at the World Championships in 2017 in South Africa, becoming the most successful athlete he can be and to inspire others to work hard and achieve their goals.

PAGE 42 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

SPORT | BOWLS

thestar.com.au Meeniyan

In Loch: from left, aggregate winner of the indoor bowling tournament at Loch Maggie Hunter, club vice president Shirley Turton, secretary John Kennedy and Singles Champion Gay Garry.

Loch indoor THE Loch and District Bowling Club end of season indoor bowling tournament on Saturday, September 11 resulted in a win for Gay Garry, the new singles champion.

Max Crawford was the runner-up.

In the pairs, John Kennedy and Maggie Hunter proved the team to beat and Paul Clifford and Val Kennedy came in second.

The Thursday aggregate competition 18 days winner was Maggie Hunter with 36 points from nine wins.

The runner-up was Bev Bowcher 28 points from six wins (16 days) and third, Jim Stinson 28 points from five wins (18 days).

Kitty Killers were Paul Clifford and John Kennedy both with six.

The Saturday aggregate competition 18 days winner was Maggie Hunter with 40 points from 10 wins and two draws (18 days).

The runner-up was Val Kennedy 29 points, six wins, two draws (15 days).

Kitty Killers: Maxine Crawford nine and Patsy Polson nine.

Double Loch: from left, Pairs winners Maggie Hunter and John Kennedy and runners-up Val Kennedy and Paul Clifford.

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 Point Lonsdale

SEPT / OCT Time

height (metres)

Add one hour for daylight saving

28 WED

29 THUR

30 FRI

1 SAT

2 SUN

3 MON

4 TUE

0200 0923 1435 2129

0.49 1.36 0.71 1.28

0315 1024 1558 2239

0.54 1.36 0.68 1.31

0430 1121 1707 2344

0.55 1.38 0.60 1.37

0534 1213 1802

0.54 1.41 0.52

0039 0726 1356 1947

1.44 0.52 1.45 0.44

0226 0809 1433 2026

1.51 0.50 1.47 0.37

0306 0846 1505 2101

1.56 0.49 1.48 0.33

All times shown in 24 hour clock 0001 - 1200..................AM 1201 - 2400..................PM

WE have polished up the bowls, tried on the gear (sometimes it’s mysteriously shrunk), welcomed some new members and farewelled those who have retired.

Our summer season began officially on Friday, September 16 with the traditional casserole tea.

This was followed on Saturday by our first game in uniform; new members Chris Kelly and Matt Hogan rolled the jack and played the first bowl.

Tuesday Pennant, Division Two, had a practice against Tarwin Lower and the team is in battle today, away to San Remo for its first game of the Pennant.

Next week’s game is at home versus Inverloch.

Saturday 24 was our annual challenge for the shield

Inverloch WEDNESDAY Social Bowls was a Triples event with two games of 10 ends played. With this being the day after our Pennant pre-season match, the numbers were lower than normal as bowlers are slowly getting their match fitness up.

There were two teams that won both games with 33 points.

Our runners-up on 14 shots up were Joan Clark, Chris Gillman and Sue Nation. Congratulations to our winners on 20 shots up, Ann Lye, Marlene Jenkins and Carol Hughes.

Thursday social bowls was played in Pairs with two 12 end games in pleasant weather.

The winners with 35 points were Bryan Hensley (s) and Doug Archer.

Runners-up with 33 points were Mal Marshall (s) and Keith Cousens.

Next Thursday, September 29, the normal social game gives way to a Turkey Triples event, the second this month.

Social bowls returns the following Thursday, October 6.

On Saturday, Burgie’s Bus transported fifty-odd bowlers and others from the club to the large and prosperous Mulgrave Country Club for a Pennant practice match in an event which should become an annual fixture in the preseason calendar. Currently, Mulgrave fields ten Pennant teams in a strong Eastern Suburban competition so Inverloch knew it was facing serious competition.

The visitors were offered refreshments and welcomed

by Pat Phelan, Mulgrave’s bowls manager.

Ross Gabb, chairman of selectors, responded on behalf of the visiting team. Inverloch players were delighted to catch up with Harry Rybalka, looking well and sporting a brand new head of hair replacing what was recently lost during his treatment.

Needless to say Harry bowled up a storm in one of

which was played at home in superb conditions. The visitors were too strong and retrieved the shield from us.

This Saturday is our grand final bowls and traditional footy lunch with a 10.30 start.

Wear your team’s colours Saturday begins on October 8 with Division Three away to Wonthaggi and Division Five home to Foster.

Tarwin AFTER an opening day intra club game on Sunday, September 11 Tarwin Bowls Club is looking forward to the new season.

We welcomed some new members and wish them every success in their bowling career.

Wednesday Triples has commenced with our next game at 9:30am on September 28.

Our annual Ladies Medthe Senior teams.

Mulgrave won the day 268 - 213 and this will be a spur to bigger and better things from Inverloch in the proposed return match.

Inverloch bowlers wore black arm-bands as a mark of respect to our friend and colleague Graeme “Doc” Pope, our former chairman of selectors, who sadly passed away last week.

Saturday Pennant playing members are reminded to attend the annual pie night at the club rooms on Wednesday, October 5 for the announcement of team selections.

Members and visitors are reminded of the annual grand final day gathering at the clubrooms on Saturday, October 1.

A game of bowls will commence at 11am.

This 12 end mixed social game will be followed an Aus-

ley was held last Thursday and from all accounts it was a great success with many requesting their teams be entered for next year’s event.

The winning team from Leongatha was skipped by Mary Jipson with Bev Thomson, Liz Beale, Sue Symons, Glenda Trotman and Marlene Rayson.

Wendy Braun skipped Phillip Island, our runner-up, with Nola Brown, Jan Dyer, Maureen Oates, Gloria Caille and Pat Davis.

Our novice entrant, Susan Smith played extremely well against Francene Smethurst from Korumburra with a nail biting finish to their game.

Congratulations to Fran who won the Novice title, 21 shots to 19, and good luck in the next stage of the competition.

Our social Fridays have commenced with practice from 3pm. tralian Rules style lunch from 1pm in time to watch the AFL pre-game entertainment.

Cost is $5 meal only or $10 for meal and game and all are welcome.

Names are required on the attendance sheet before Friday for catering purposes. Let’s watch the Bulldogs break their 62 year premiership hoodoo on the big screen.

Please note that our local contractor will commence the soil removal next week, possibly as early as Tuesday, in preparation for our new synthetic green.

Whilst soil removal is underway all bowlers must enter from the jetty end gate.

We are scheduled for the contractor to commence works on laying the new synthetic green the week commencing October 3 weather permitting.

New members and visitors are welcome to join us in a roll-up followed by drinks, nibbles, members’ draw and raffles.

Mardan Indoor A NIGHT of full on competition this week with 16 members all playing a very tight fought night.

The teams of four by four played two games of ten ends and there were some top bowls played throughout the evening.

Everyone bowled really well at some point during the night and it was reflected in the final outcome.

One match in the first half of the night ended in a low scoring draw.

The other was tight until the last few ends when one team got away with few ends

Leongatha FIRSTLY an apology for no report last week, however better late than never.

Friday, September 16 saw the club hold its season’s opening dinner night with some 60 plus folk attending the night, and according to all reports a good night was had by all.

Wednesday, September 14 saw the midweek social bowls in action with the winners being Ollie Crouch (s), John Richards and Lynne McIntyre.

Runners-up were Ken Williams and Peter Gelisum, however the scores were not shown on the report sheet.

Saturday, September 17 saw both the pennant practice and social bowls in action. The winner of the pennant practice was the team of Wayne Walker (s), John Turner, E. Coulter and B. Fisher with two plus five over 11 ends.

Runners-up were John Hall (s), Jeff Pendergast, Lance Lancaster and Gary VanSinderen with two wins plus 22 over 11 ends.

Social bowls winners were Fred Sauvarin (s) and Joanna Schmidt with two wins plus 22 and the runners-up were Adrian Kempster (s) and Anne with two wins plus 17.

remaining for the other team to pull back the deficit.

In the second half of the evening both games were low scoring and both came down to the last end for the final outcome to be decided.

At the end of what was an enjoyable and tightly fought competitive evening it was the two teams who drew in their first game that we looked to for the result.

Both games were in single figures and the final end was the decider in both games.

Winners with one win, a draw and 12 ends were Lorna Roberts, Graeme Trease, Cliff Smith and Vito Serafino (s).

Runners-up with one win, a draw and eight ends were Bert Bright, Robert Campbell, Jeanette Grady and Ian Hasty (s).

Wednesday, September 21 saw a social day bowls event ‘mix and match’ and the winner was Ken Williams with 58 points, second Graeme Washfold with 56 pts, Jeff Pendergast with 50 pts and Rod Jackson with 49.

Saturday, September 24 saw our pennant teams play a practice game at Korumburra with Division 1 winning the day, Division 3 had a draw on the day and Division 4 lost to the ‘Burra.

Social bowls saw the winners being Bev Thompson (s) and Bev Ellison with three wins plus 15, runners-up were Sheryll Kempster (s) and Marj Pearson.

Reminders: Tuesday, September 27 sees the start of the women’s pennant with Division 1 ladies at home to Phillip Island and Division 3 also at home to Loch and District.

October 8 will see the start of the men’s pennant with Division 1 away to Lang Lang, Division 3 away to Foster and Division 4 at home to Phillip Island.

Also don’t forget the first of the season’s Kitty Club teas will be held on Friday night, October 7 at 6pm.

Until the next report, good bowling - ‘Jackhigh’.

Close the gap: from left, runners-up at Thursday social bowls were the Keith Cousens and Mal Marshall at the Inverloch Bowling Club.

Happy chaps: from left, Bryan Hensley and Doug Archer are all smiles after claiming victory at Thursday social bowls at Inverloch Bowling Club.

Triples: from left, Carol Hughes, Marlene Jenkins and Ann Lye were the winners at Inverloch Bowling Club’s Wednesday social bowls.

Friendly competition: Berrys Creek’s Bev Ellison and Leongatha’s Don Paterson participated in Leongatha’s social bowls afternoon on Saturday.

Just for fun: Leongatha’s Lynn Robertson and Dot Jarvis played a round of social bowls at Leongatha Bowls Club on Saturday.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 43

| SPORT

thestar.com.au • Leongatha Knights Football Club

A bright night for soccer UNDER a beautiful sunny sky Leongatha Knights strongly encouraged to consider signing up for the Senior teams; hosted Junior Presentation day on Saturday, September congratulations to all players and parents for another wonderful season.

24 followed by the Senior awards in the evening.

Over 100 players and parents turned up to celebrate another wonderful season that saw exceptional growth in Junior numbers within the Leongatha Club.

With everyone packed tight into the clubrooms, medals were presented to all Mini Roos players and a coach’s award and best and fairest were awarded to both Under 12 and Under 14 age groups.

Under Seven coach Jack Bainbridge kicked off the presentations with his celebration of a wonderful group of first year players.

As this was Jack’s first year coaching, he is to be commended for his dedication and passion for the task.

Club president and Under 9 coach John Wilson presented medals to his enthusiastic players. Under 11 coach Paris Buckley, with assistant coach Lorcan Henghan, presented participation medals to a record breaking number of Under 11 players.

This age group has seen unprecedented growth in the last two years.

Under 12 coach Ethan Bath gave his coach’s award to Charlie Wilson and Eddie Colwill won best and fairest.Ethan is another first year coach within the club as well as a senior player.

He has done a magnificent job coaching this year.

Under 14 best and fairest went to Evie Bath with Harvey Chandler receiving the coach’s award from Under 14 coach Michael Phillips.

At the conclusion of presentation and following a well deserved barbecue the players and their parents took to the pitch for the club’s annual parents versus Evergreen: The club’s most prestigious award, the Don Morkids match.

It was a tight game with ris Trophy, went to committee goals being scored from member and canteen manager both sides. There were im- Mandy Bonger for her hard work pressive moves being pulled and dedication volunteering for by some parents who were the club.

Over 60 members turned up that evening to the Knights spruced up clubrooms to celebrate the end of the season and Senior presentations.

Club president John Wilson introduced the night by listing the club’s numerous achievements over the season including a history making All Female Football Federation Coaching Course and club renovations.

Fergus Warren took out the Seniors Best and Fairest award and was the only player to be noted on the Gippsland Soccer League’s Reserves and Senior top ten players in the league lists.

Womens Best and Fairest for a second year in a row went to Kathy Zacharopoulos who was also the leading goal scorer for the Gippsland Soccer League for the second year in a row.

Bright Knights: from left, Under 14 best and fairest Evie Bath, Under 14 coach’s award Harvey Chandler and Under 14 coach Michael Phillips.

Seniors: from left, Fergus Warren received his best and fairest award from his coach, Nick Meadows.

Coach’s award: the Seniors’ coach’s award went to Curtis Rintoule. It was presented by the Senior coach Nick Meadows.

Women’s: Kathy Zacharopoulos was a popular recipient of the Women’s teams best and fairest, presented by team coach Coach’s award: from left, Stuart McNaughton presented Peter Milkin. Absent: Women’s coach’s award, Bethany Reserves: from left, coach Stuart McNaughton congratulatJack Bainbridge with his coach’s award. ing the Reserves best and fairest, Brian Gannon.

Milkins.

Under 12: from left, the Under 12 coach Ethan Bath presentUnder 16: from left, best and fairest, Alejo Lacanaria and Under 16: from left, Adam Watchorn received his coach’s ed Eddie Coldwill with his best and fairest award. Absent: the Under 16 coach Glenn Bainbridge. award from Glenn Bainbridge.

Under 12 coach’s award Charlie Wilson.

PAGE 44 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

SPORT | GOLF Leongatha Men SATURDAY’S Stableford was contested by 63 golfers in ideal conditions.

A Grade was taken out by Andrew Smith with 36 points, B Grade went to John Moor with 38 points and Ed Kosciuk won C Grade and the Super Comp with 36 points.

NTP: Nick Lafferty on the fourth hole, Bryan Roylance on the seventh, Peter Jaspers on the 14th and Ross Evans on the 16th.

DTL: Ron Findlay, Brett Windsor, John Simon, Frank Gill, Bryan Roylance, Craig Hams, John Eabry, Ken Wardle, David Barrack, Jon Smith, Rod Mackenzie and Denis Wallace.

On Tuesday of last week 50 golfers took part in a Par competition with Rod Brown taking the A Grade honours with three up.

B Grade was won by Geoff Tyson with a very good score of four up and C Grade went to Gary Sharrock in a countback with one up.

NTP: Gary Sharrock on the fourth, Andrew Smith on the seventh, David Forbes on the 14th and John Payne on the 16th.

DTL: Ian Caine, Keith Finney, Denis Wallace, Frank Smedley, Doug Clemann, John Dalton, Andrew Smith, John Simon, John Payne, Alan Kuhne and Les Newton.

On Thursday Ian Murchie had 36 points to win A Grade, Merv Stubbs won B Grade in a countback with 37 points and Frank Gill took C Grade also

Leongatha ladies EVERYBODY’S favourite stableford event was played last week on a course that has held up admirably despite the wet weather.

Anne Blundy and Cherry Tree Organics sponsored this competition.

Toni West (11) continued her steady play to win A Grade with 34 points.

B Grade was won by Marea Maher (28), also showing some recent good form, with 38 points.

Karen Bear, a recent player in the 18 hole stakes, had another win this week with 37 points.

with 37 points.

NTP: Dan Poynton on the fourth, Brian Fennessy on the seventh, Rob Smith on the 14th and Ian Baker on the 16th.

DTL: Craig Hams, Allan Edney, Ray Burton, Andy Bassett, David Vorwerg, Peter Hobson, John Simon, Paul Luck, Fred Debono, John Moor, Neale Gillin, Dan Poynton, Peter Waters and Bryan McCorkell With warmer weather around the corner and the course in sensational condition come along and enjoy Gippsland’s Premier Golf Course.

Visitors are welcome; just ring the club on 5664 3314 to book a tee time.

There is a Stableford on the grand final eve public holiday next Friday and round one of the club championship will be held on the following Saturday.

Woorayl ladies ON Wednesday, September 21, a drawn partners team event was played.

The winners were Shirley Thomas, Jo Fennell and Fay Maynard with 28 points.

Balls down the line went to Ann Poole, Elsie McBride and Inge Giliam with 25 points.

Nearest the pin on the eighth went to Shirley Thomas, 11th Heather Sullivan and on the 17th Jo Fennell.

Next week is a Flag Day (stroke).

Woorayl

a 4BBB stableford competition, with trophies supplied by SportFirst.

A Grade: T. Marotti (2 hcp), R. Gallagher (17 hcp) 43 pts on countback from N. Spargo, P. Vanagtmaal 43 pts, T. O’Neill, N. Perks 42 pts.

B Grade: (20 hcp) L. White, B. Pope (13 hcp) 41 pts.

Nearest the pin: 1st P. Vanagtmaal, 7th N. Perks, 10th P. Hornibrook, 13th T. O’Neill.

Tuesday’s winner was M. Belvedere 35 pts and Thursday’s winner was G. Wilson 36 pts.

Mirboo North Golf Club THURSDAY results: Competition: Stableford.

September 22: Day winner: Ray Thompson (24) 32 points.

DTLs: Jeff Hughes 31 and Joe Kus 31.

NTP fourth: Ian Blencowe.

Saturday results: Competition: Stableford.

September 24.

Day winner: Simon Duff (7) 40 points C/B. DTLs: Mal Payne 40, Ray Hoskin 37, Doug Taylor 37 and Tom Whitelaw 37.

Second shot NTP first hole: Simon Duff.

NTP fourth, sponsor Gippsland Solar: Richie Taylor.

NTP sixth, sponsor 1st Tee Motel: Terry Bradshaw.

NTP 13th, sponsor C and D Earthworks: Simon Duff.

NTP 16th, sponsor Ken Graeme Motors: Simon Duff.

Next week is Stroke Monthly Medal – Count Putts.

Mirboo North Ladies MIRBOO North Ladies played Stableford Multiplication on Wednesday.

Rhonda Evans and Chris Gunn won with 58 Points.

NTP: Sandra Hughes on the sixth and Chris Gunn on the 13th.

Korumburra

Melinda Martin won a ball down the line with 35 points, followed by Jan Brownlie 34, Julie Howard 33, Sue Bowler 32, Dot Stubbs 31 and Karen Orford 30 points.

Toni West and Maxine Eabry were closest to the flag on the 14th and 16th, and Karen Bear and Melinda Martin were closest on these same holes with their second shot.

Saturday, September 24: Winner: Jessica Harry (39)38 points.

Down the line: Marea Maher 36, Jan Brownlie 31, Dot Stubbs 31 and Wendy Parker 30.

Fiek with 69 net and C Grade went to John Diaper with net 75.

We gave balls to J. Howard, G. McKinnon, R. Winkler, T. Hogan, K. Miles, P. Wallace, D. Hunt and G. Price.

Nearest the pins to Danny

Wonthaggi Ladies ON Wednesday 13 pairs played a qualifying round of 4BBB Par for the Rira O’Connell Board event where the top four pairs qualify for the next knock out stage.

There was a runaway pair who showed a clean pair of heels to the next contenders with Allison Adams (13) and Leonie Bentick (30) carding a magnificent card of nine up.

There was a bun fight by three pairs all on two up for the runners-up honours.

The runners-up on countback were Anne Walker (11) and Catherine Bolding (31) from Ivy Ruby (28) and Christine Hamilton (30) and Marg Johnson (14) and Maree Anderson (30).

The NTP on the 17th was won By Christine Hamilton and the birdie was only worth one win, but if she had been playing Stableford would have been a massive five points.

The Pro Pin on the eighth was won by Irene Walsh, whose buggy and clubs went for

a swim on the 15th when the storm blew them into the lake.

Luckily young Harry Adams (caddying for mum Allison ) rescued them from never being seen again.

BDL: Ivy Ruby and Chris Hamilton two up, Marg Johnson and Maree Anderson two up, Betty Bowmar and Julie Evens square, Robyn Wilkinson and Jacqueline Loughran square, Dot Garry and Helen Williams two down.

Allison Adams was also presented with the Singles Knockout Trophy which she won earlier this year in the final when she defeated Marg Ryan.

The Annual Ladies dinner was a success on Monday with a lovely meal enjoyed by all and entertainment provided by producer, director extraordinaire Annie Tschiderer and her merry band of troupers.

Keep an eye out for lady beginners’ classes planning to start in October 2016.

More details to follow.

Knockout: Allison Adams was presented with her trophy as the Singles Knockout Champion for 2016 on the Wonthaggi golf course which was looking a knockout itself.

Top Qualifiers: from left, Leonie Bentick and Allison Adams carded a magnificent nine up to become the top qualifiers for the Rira O’Connell Board event.

Wonthaggi ladies

THERE were 30 players on Saturday, September 24 for

Winners: Karen Bear took out C Grade and Toni West was the champion of A Grade at the Leongatha Golf Club last week.

THE trophies for our medal day were provided by The Shed.

Our medallist and winner of A Grade was Danny Dwyer with a net 66, B Grade to Bo

thestar.com.au

Top pair: Lynette McIvor and Marg Young were the Doris Chambers Foursomes winners at Korumburra last Wednesday.

Korumburra ladies LAST Wednesday, 11 pairs competed in the Doris Chambers Foursomes event and one golfer played a nine hole Stableford round.

Fortunately, the rain held off so everyone finished without the need for wet weather gear.

Congratulations to the winners Marg Young (23) and Lynette McIvor (18) who had a score of 25 points and will now go on to play off in the state final at Gardiner’s Run, Lilydale, later in the year.

Betty Thomson (31) and Lee Clements (12) were runners up, on a countback from Corrie George (28) and Carie Harding (22).

The September Monthly Medal will be played next Wednesday, as it was washed out earlier this month.

There were just six women on the course last Saturday; making the most of the perfect golfing weather.

Judy Webb (18) was the winner with 26 points on a countback from Chris Rickard (19).

Chris was NTP on the first and 13th and Lynette McIvor

Dwyer and Geoff McKinnon.

The ladies event went to Pauline Lancaster with a ball to Janet Thompson.

The ball raffle to ‘Slug’.

A lot of players played

had the closest second shot on the seventh green.

The RB Stroke event is rescheduled to October 8.

Next Saturday, October 1, is a stableford competition, with a shotgun start at 9.45am for all the golfers.

Please add your name to the signup sheet in the foyer and tee allocations will be made by the men’s captain Chris Clements closer to the day.

If anyone cannot start play at 9.45am, they will be catered for at another time that day.

Everyone is welcome to come along during the afternoon to watch the AFL grand final on the big screen and the televisions. The social committee has novelty competitions during the footy, planned a sausage sizzle and the regular bar food will be available.

There is a complimentary sausage in bread and drink for all those who entered the tipping competition during the year.

Thank you to all those involved in the preparations and serving of the meal for the darts dinner on Saturday night.

There is much involved in catering and your assistance is greatly appreciated by the club. early because of a certain birthday.

Next week is football grand final day, a stableford, with trophies provided by the club.

Monthly medal: from left, George Evans and John Dia- On the green: from left, Rod Goodwin, Ash Turner, John per soaked in the sun and contested in the Stroke event at Bolge and Graeme Calder polished off another Monthly Woorayl Golf Club on Saturday.

Medal event at Woorayl Golf Club on Saturday.

ON a lovely day, the club had a great field of players travelling to Wonthaggi to play a two person Ambrose to celebrate Friendship Day. The A Grade winners with a lovely score were Toni West and Sue Bowler 81 (10.75) 70.25 net from Leongatha, the runners up were another Leongatha Pair of Loris Clark and Faye Quilford 89 (12.25) 76.75 net.

B Grade winners were Jeanette Swan and Peta Barlow 94 (14) 80 net from Welshpool with runners up Marg Ryan (Wonthaggi) and Marg Facey (Cranbourne) 95 (13.5) 81.5 net.

NTP went to second Di Walker (Welshpool), NTP 13th Marg Young (Korumburra) NTP 17th Loris Clark (Leongatha).

BDL went to Shirley Thomas and Inge Giliam (Woorayl 77), Irene Walsh and Jacqueline Loughran Wonthaggi 78.25, Leonie Bentick and Anne Walker (Wonthaggi) 78.75, Jan Beaumont and Kathy Geyer (Wonthaggi)

78.75, Shirley Welsford and Dot Stubbs (Leongatha ) 78.75, Beryl Brown and Lee Clements (Korumburra ) 80.25, Maureen Masterman and Heather Sullivan (Wonthaggi ) 80.75, Marg Young and Heather Grist (Korumburra ) 81.

Friendship Day: B Grade winners were Jeanette Swan and Peta Barlow from Welshpool Golf Club and A Grade winners were Toni West and Sue Bowler Leongatha Golf Club.

Matchplay is not over until it’s over THURSDAY, September 22 saw the final of the 2016 Hyland Cup, Leongatha Golf Club’s Men’s handicap matchplay competition.

From the original 39 entrants the cup was decided by a final between Barry Stevens and Colin Bear.

The front nine was shared and both players tested each other out with some great golf.

Bear then won the long par four 11th hole to go one up.

Both players then halved the 13th and 14th.

Stevens put his drive from the 15th tee into the trees on the dogleg and had to chip out sideways, while Bear played down

the middle and won the hole to put him two up and with only three to play, looking for all the world like the winner.

On the tricky par three 16th hole, Stevens put his tee shot to within one metre of the pin, while Bear was off the green to the right.

Bear got his ball up and in for a par but Stevens sank his birdie putt to cut the lead to one down.

The 17th saw both players about 20-30 metres short of the green for two.

Bear used his Texas wedge to putt his ball within about five metres of the flag and two putted.

Stevens chipped, finishing closer to within one metre of

Match point: from left, Colin Bear congratulates his opponent and winner of the 2016 Hyland Cup, Barry Stevens at the Leongatha Golf Course on Thursday.

the flag.

Again Stevens sank a lovely putt to win the hole and square the contest.

At this stage the golf was first rate and worthy of the Hyland Cup final but the pressure was building on both players.

Then came the 18th hole.

Both players hit good drives to the right of the fairway before Bear hit a long second shot to an ideal position, left on the fairway at the dogleg, leaving a perfect approach position to the green.

Stevens pulled his second shot right and short of the corner and could only chip his third shot past the corner and his ball came to rest behind the bunker.

From there he skinnied his chip shot over the bunker and through the green towards the clubhouse, quite some distance from the green, and was in trouble.

Colin Bear was a chip and a putt away from taking out the Hyland Cup. He played his pitch shot towards the green but came up short and put his ball in the bunker left of the front of the green.

He took four shots to get out and make the green.

Barry Stevens is not one to miss a second chance and played a great chip shot up the embankment and finished within a metre of the hole and Colin conceded.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 45

| SPORT

thestar.com.au

Tarwin circles its best TARWIN Football Netball Club was effectively a sell-out for both Senior and Junior presentation events.

nior football coach Nick Leechino and Senior netball coach Kaz Deppeler.

The Tarwin Football Netball Club annual general meeting is on Sunday, October 9.

All players and not only those receiving awards received a thank you for being part of the club.

The club’s Under 10 made a special visit with each player receiving a first game medal.

The club was honoured to induct two new life members in father and son Bill and Vaughan Van Dillen; Bill as a long serving trainer and Vaughan for not only playing 350 games but also for his coaching and club service.

Andrew Guymer received the Best Club Person title for his dedication to the club and also this year his great effort in getting the Under 10 team off the ground.

The club was more than excited to present the two new Senior coaches for 2017 to the crowd: Se-

A Grade: from left, Kaz Deppeler, runner-up best and fairest; Tayla Robb, A Grade coach; and Amy Robinson, best and fairest.

Under 10: Andrew Guymer the coach of the Tarwin Valley Sharks Under 10 team.

C Grade: from left, Laurissa Falls, equal best and fairest, Amanda Cann, C Grade coach; and Kate Turner, equal best and fairest. Absent: Tamara Hill, best in finals and Seventeen and Under: from left, Milly Ellen, Marianne Bloye, runner-up best and fairest. best and fairest; Michelle Burggraaff, coach; and Rani Knight, runner-up best and fairest.

B Grade: from left, Bec Cooke, B Grade coach; Anna Harris, runner-up best and fairest; Kelly McRae, best and fairest; and Alyce Houston, most improved.

Fifteen and Under: from left, Hayley Geary, best and fairest; Kate Turner, coach; and Zali Hill, runner-up best and fairest. Absent: Amber Turner, coach’s award.

Joffa Ellen award: Rebecca Owen presented Stu Norton with his Joffa Ellen award.

Thirteen and Under: from left, Shayla Guymer, most consistent; Samantha Schnoor, most defensive; Molly Turner, rising star; Kelsey Schnoor, most improved; Zalia Cowell, most versatile; Tayla Cann, best team support; Heidi Tieman, most determined; and Ada Hill, Best club person: Kieran O’Loughlin pre- Life members: three new life members were best team support. Absent: Ruby Adkins, best team support and Ashlin Guymer, first year sented Andrew Guymer with the best club announced, from left, Vaughan Van Dillen, medallion.

Russell Ellen and Bill Van Dillen. person award.

Seniors: from left, Blake Slater, players’ best forward; Ben Ellen, rising star award; Stu Kilsby, players’ best defender; Paul Hinkley, best and fairest, Thorson Medal and players Reserves: from left, Joh Giliam, coach; Kyle Robinson, runner-up best and fairest; Alex best midfielder; Nathan McRae, runner-up best and fairest and players’most valuable player; Chadwick, coach’s award; Jordan Bell, most improved; Nick McRae, best and fairest. AbChris Kyriacou, coach; and Luke Thwaites, coach’s most valuable player. sent: Josh Carmody most determined and Rhett Boscombe-Hill, most consistent.

PAGE 46 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

SPORT |

thestar.com.au

Storm raises Shae’s star GIPPSLAND Storm Elite Netball Club’s Shae Kyle is a rising star in every sense of the word.

Shae started playing for Gippsland Storm as an Under 15 in 2015.

The team won a premiership at Waverley and Shae won the best and fairest for the club In her second season with Storm the team finished runner-up and Shae was the club’s runnerup best and fairest.

Shae is part of the Eastern Zone Academy her local club being the Alberton League’s Korumburra Bena Giants where she plays Under 17 and A Grade.

Shae had a successful season in 2016 becoming the Alberton League’s best and fairest and its rising star.

She was also the club’s Under 17 best and fairest player.

At present she is playing in the Gippsland Storm open team guided by a fantastic coach Machaela Dwyer and playing alongside some very talented VNL players from Monash University Storm (Gippsland Storm’s sister club) which is helping her take her netball to the next level.

A highlight of Shae’s Gippsland Storm pathways she said has been training and playing with the Monash University Storm U19 VNL side this year.

She also praised Simon O’Shanassy and all the other coaches at Gippsland Storm for helping her achieve so much in her netball journey.

Shae said, “Storm has given me confidence, guidance and good discipline skills.

“Coaches have worked with me on areas that l needed to improve on.

“Their encouragement and support to reach my full potential has been amazing.”

Stepping up: since joining Gippsland Storm Elite Netball Club, Shae Kyle from Korumburra Bena has been doing incredibly well at the sport she loves. One of the highlights of 2016 she said was playing with Monash University Storm’s Under 19 Victorian Netball League side.

Works begin on Wonthaggi netball courts NETBALLERS in Bass Coast will be able to play on brand new courts next season with construction of seven netball courts at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve beginning this week.

The $757,000 project, which is part of Bass Coast Shire Council’s 2016/17 capital works program is a major investment in sport and recreation facilities in Wonthaggi and will create a high quality netball facility for Bass Coast.

There are currently over 600 users who regularly access the courts, and construction of new courts will provide a high quality playing surface that is compliant with Netball Victoria guidelines, improved access and perimeter fencing, minor improvements to lighting for training and an opportunity to increase participation in the sport within the community.

The project will also give Wonthaggi the potential to host netball finals for the local netball leagues, in turn providing an economic benefit to the community.

Bass Coast mayor Cr Jordan Crugnale acknowledged the high level of contribution and commitment from the Wonthaggi and District Netball Association and the Wonthaggi Power Netball Club to make the project a reality.

The Wonthaggi and District Netball Association contributed $80,000 and the Wonthaggi Power Netball Club contributed $20,000.

Elite Development Netball Club

Storm tryouts for season 2017 3 Do you have a passion for netball?

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AT Traralgon’s Premiere Function Centre last night the young talent of the Gippsland League gathered for the end of season vote count.

Two dates – different venues: For selection you must attend both sessions

Pakenham First Tryout – Sunday 16th October 2016 Cardinia Life, 4 Olympic Way, Pakenham 2-4 pm 13 & Under group; 3.30 - 5pm 15 & Under group 5-7 pm 17 & Under & Open (Arrive 30 mins prior to each session)

Traralgon Second Tryout – Sunday 23rd October 2016 Traralgon Sports Stadium, Catterick Crescent, Traralgon 12 Noon –1.30 pm 13 & Under group 2-3.30 pm 15 & Under group 3.30 – 5 pm 17 & Under & Open (Arrive 30 mins prior to each session) Over the years hundreds of netballers have benefited from our development system, many have represented Victoria and one currently plays with the Australian Diamonds. Also our merger with VNL Monash University Storm offers a unique opportunity – a seamless pathway for players to get involved with the Victorian Netball League.

“The netball association and the club have done an incredible job to contribute a substantial amount to the renewal of their courts,” Cr Crugnale said.

“Council’s considerable contribution of more than $557,000 and the State Government’s $100,000 to the Wonthaggi netball courts highlights the value we, and the community we represent, have for our sporting facilities and playing field standards.

“Wonthaggi has not been able to hold finals due to the substandard surfaces of the courts and this changes now.

“Facilities need to be indicative of the regional town status that Wonthaggi now has.”

Council appreciates that these works may present an inconvenience to key recreation user groups and the wider community, especially when much of the work is determined by the weather conditions.

It is expected that there will be some minor delays to traffic during the works period and the contractors will take all necessary steps to minimise delays to road users.

Appropriate traffic and pedestrian control measures will be implemented onsite during these works, and the nearby playground will also be closed during the construction of the courts.

Council asks for your patience and the contractor will make every effort to minimise disruptions to motorists, schools, residents and businesses.

For more details about this project, please contact council’s infrastructure delivery team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or 5671 2211.

Sponsors

If you are serious about taking that next step in your netball development, then get involved in our tryouts for 2017.

See our website for more details or call: Cindy Armstrong 0408 126 173, Pauline Spain 0417 524 500 or Brendan Murnane 0408 122 844

Pre registration is encouraged. Go to our website: www.gippslandstorm.com.au

Leongatha 17 and Under player, Taylah Brown was voted runner-up in the best and fairest count.

In August Taylah captained the bronze medal winning School Sports Victoria team in the Under 15 School Sports Australia Netball Championships held in Adelaide.

Her cousin, Chloe Brown was the 13 and Under runner-up best and fairest.

Maffra’s Hudson Holmes took out the Wilkinson Medal as the league’s Under 18 best and fairest and Bairnsdale’s Ben McKinnon claimed the Shaw-Carter Medal as Under 16 best and fairest.

Traralgon pair Jacob Van Iwaarden (71 goals) and Luke DiCiero (46 goals) claimed the Under 16 and Under 18 leading goal kicker awards respectively.

The Senior medal night will be held at the Premiere Function Centre on Monday, September 19.

Talented cousins: from left, Leongatha Football Netball Club players Chloe Brown, runner-up best and fairest Under 13; and Taylah Brown, runner-up best and fairest Under 17 at the vote count in Traralgon on Wednesday night.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 47

| SPORT

thestar.com.au

Tigers’ pride roars MIRBOO North Football Netball Club held its annual awards presentation on Saturday night.

B Grade: from left, Diana Mueller, coach; Christina Stoerterbecker, players’ player; Stacey Harriage, coach’s award; Steph St Ellen and Ashlee Hilliar, equal best and fairest; and Aliesha Loh, runner-up best and fairest.

D Grade: from left, Emily Robertson, runner-up best and fairest; Mikaeli Hilliar, best and fairest; and Katie Symmons, coach’s award. Absent: Riannah Irwin, players’ player award.

Mirboo North’s four football teams, and three of its six netball teams reached the Mid Gippsland finals with a third consecutive premiership won by the Thirds.

Paul Pratt thanked club sponsors for their ongoing support and dynamic club workhorse, Joe Piper, received the inaugural Tigers’ Infrastructure Award for his hands-on project management of the tennis and netball complex upgrade.

The Best Club Person Award for 2016 was shared

by Jessie Holland and Stacey Harriage for their outstanding achievements on many administrative and organized social fronts while the netball secretary Kate Anton won the George Clark Memorial Netball Award.

Senior football playing coach, Clancy Bennett, reflected on his first year in charge of the Tigers and spoke passionately about the club’s exciting prospects for 2017.

The Juniors presentation night, where the Thirds football premiership team was loudly applauded, took place the previous evening.

Former Mirboo North 2013 and 2014 Senior premiership player, Liam Nash, has added another medallion to his collection on Sunday when he made a key contribution to Footscray’s 31 point VFL grand final victory over Casey Scorpions at Etihad Stadium.

Nash also represented Mirboo North in its 2007 Under 12s and 2011 Thirds premiership teams.

Top right, Reserves: from left, Zac Porter, most consistent; and Sam Pratt, best and fairest. Absent: Michael Green, runner-up best and fairest, Patrick Doyle, most determined and coach’s award; Brandon Bradshaw, most improved; Adam Miller, best utility; and Brendan Weston, best in finals.

A Grade: from left, Dani Hilliar, coach’s award; and Emily Loh, players’ player. Absent: Jess Le Page, best and fairest and best in finals; and Alice Pratt, runner-up best and fairest.

C Grade: from left, Lexie Andrews, best and fairest; Kiara Gervasi, runner-up best and fairest; Amy Dyke, players’ player; and Tegan Bell, coach’s award.

Seniors: back from left, Riley Oddy, trainers’ award; Josh Taylor, best and fairest; Dom Pinnerim most determined; Hudson Kerr, best first year player; Clancy Bennett, runner-up best and fairest and best in finals; and front, Mitch Wightman, most improved; Tristan Salerno, coach’s award; and Zach Kilgower, best utility. Absent: Kal Nash, most consistent.

Club awards: Stacey Harriage, best club person; Joe Piper, infrastructure award; Jessie Holland, best club person; and Kate Anton, George Clarke award.

The engine room returns IT must have seemed like forever but banned Essendon players have returned to the club in a training capacity.

Leongatha’s standout Essendon footballer Dyson Heppell has fans the length and breadth of the state and many of those are too little to understand why their hero disappeared from the football ground.

Well, not for much longer, he’ll be back on the ground in 2017.

Yes, the Bombers are back.

Dyson said, “Stoked to be home!’ and thanked Mark Jamar, the ‘big

Russian,’ for taking care of his locker.

(Jamar is called the Russian because back when Daniher was coaching, Jamar used to tip his hair blond and when he came into training one day Daniher thought he looked like Drago from Rocky 4 and said “Here comes The Russian.”)

Dyson was at Moe on Saturday cheering on the Parrot teams in several grand finals.

Dyson Heppell joined Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking, David Myers, Tom Bellchambers, Travis Coyler and Ben Howlett back at the club.

The players won’t be able to participate in club media or marketing activities but can use the club’s training facilities until their doping ban ends on November 13.

While away from the club the players have continued to train as a group away from the club at St Bernard’s College.

Bombers football manager Rob Kerr said, “Over the next couple of weeks they’ll undergo medical testing, speak to conditioning staff about their pre-season program and also receive an overview of the football program.

“There are still a couple of months to go before the full suspension parameters are lifted, so it’s important we respect the restrictions in place, but it will be exciting seeing the players around the club on a more regular basis.”

Bomber: Dyson Heppell proclaimed on his facebook page that he is “Stoked to be home.”

Banned players have returned to the club in a training capacity only until their doping ban ends on November 13.

PAGE 48 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

SPORT |

thestar.com.au

• Gippsland League U16 Grand Final

Parrots outplayed for premiership LEONGATHA’S Fourths fell short to a strong Moe side in the premiership final in Moe on Saturday.

The boys came out strong in the first quarter, getting 19 points up on the board and keep-

ing Moe to just one point.

Moe found its legs in the second quarter and tipped the scale, putting Leongatha behind by five points.

The opposition picked up steam from there and took home a 39 point win.

Moe were strong in

all aspects and worked together well to outplay the Parrots. The team came away with more inside 50s and more opportunities at score.

The defensive end was working well to.

Leongatha achieved plenty of run into the forward line, but Moe’s backline worked hard to

repel the ball.

“We ran out of legs and Moe handled the ball well down the field,” coach Craig Reid said.

“It was a hard fought campaign. Moe are a great side and everyone out there played well.

There were just not enough stoppages and

we gave Moe too much room.”

The final score was Moe 73 to Leongatha 34. It was a fast, highly skilled game played in fantastic weather conditions.

Jake van der Pligt, Jack Hume and Mitch Bentvelzen were named among the best players in the Parrots team for both their skill and for not giving up throughout the whole game.

Craig said he was thrilled with the level of calibre the boys demonstrated throughout the season and expects the club has not seen the last of the talented side.

“It was a learning curve, that’s what U/16s is all about,” he said.

“They are full of potential and it’s great for

the club to have such a high level of skill coming through the ranks.

Their position in this year’s premiership was well earned.”

Right, Goal: Cameron Olden puts on score on the board in the final quarter in the premiership game against Moe. Below, Great effort: Leongatha Fourths coach Craig Reid (right) congratulates captain Jordan Hill on a successful season.

UNDER 16 Moe 11.7.73 Leongatha 5.4.34

Driven: from left, Cameron Olden and Kyle Reid sprint towards the ball as it bounces into their forward line in the final quarter of the premiership match.

Handball: Leongatha’s Jack Hume seizes the opportunity for a quick pass in the premiership match against Moe.

Family pride: Leongatha’s Tegan Renden (centre) found the perfect spot around the Moe ground so Sadie (left) and Harlow could watch their dad and Reserves captain Joel Renden play in the grand final. They also barracked on their uncles Fraser Kelly in the Reserves and Rhett Kelly in the Seniors.

Green and gold: from left, Chloe Goff, Lily Hume, Alice Reid, Zara Littlejohn and Ella Littlejohn donned the Parrots’ colours as they cheered on Leongatha in Saturday’s grand final.

Moe goals: H. Pepper 6, R. Baldi 1, G. Cocksedge 1, N. Balfour 1, T. Baldi 1, L. Connolly 1.

Leongatha goals: J. van der Pligt 1, M. McGannon 1, K. Reid 1, C. Olden 1, B. Hastings 1.

Moe best: R. Henkel, H. Pepper, S. Burns, B. Smith, G. Cocksedge, J. Galea.

Leongatha best: J. van der Pligt, J. Hume, M. Bentvelzen , J. Hill, B. Motton, B. Patterson.

Brilliant set up: from left, Karen Pedretti had prime seating as she watched the Leongatha Parrots battle it out in the grand final.

Leongatha lads: back from left, Lachie Wright, Oakley Kerr, Sam Embry, Jake Mackie, Aaron Heppell, front from left, Jude Fixter and Xavier Bolge gathered in Moe to support all the Leongatha teams playing in the premiership matches.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 49

FOOTBALL | SPORT

thestar.com.au • Gippsland League Reserves Grand Final

Reserves down after amazing season AFTER a magnificent season not dropping a match until the grand final, it was another heart wrenching moment for the Leongatha reserves when it lost the one that mattered most.

Despite a stirring last quarter when it looked like the momentum was shifting its way, it wasn’t to be as Traralgon won the flag by 20 points.

The writing may have been on the wall in the second semi-final when the reserves really should have been defeated by Traralgon.

This gave added incentive to the Maroons who could sense vulnerability in the Parrots.

Traralgon got away to a good start in the match and led by 3.0.18 to Leongatha’s 1.1.7 The Maroons kicked four straight in the second with a Lochie Wright goal late in the term keeping the Parrots in touch.

Half Time Traralgon 7.0.42 to Leongatha 3.3.21.

The third quarter started badly for Leongatha when a Traralgon player was felled and the umpire awarded a free and 50 metre penalty; giving Traralgon a gifted goal.

When Leongatha’s best player Nick Ar-

gento was tackled high his resultant goal saw only one goal apiece for each team as the Parrots tightened the screws. At three quarter tie Traralgon still had a good break 8.5.53 to Leongatha 4.4.28 It would take a herculean affort from here but Leongatha did rally.

When Clint Johnston goaled early the Parrots were gaining momentum and Traralgon looked tired.

However the next two forays forward resulted in behinds, one into the post before a pass from Jack Ginnane to Johnston resulted in another. Suddenly the Parrots were just nine

Pace: Jackson Harry speeds off with the ball for Leongatha.

points down.

The Maroons steadied the ship with a goal from just 25 metres out.

The Parrots had a chance to hit back when Blake Moscript roved beautifully but his running shot was just wide.

With time running out Traralgon got a goal and the margin was back out to 20 points and a certain win to Traralgon with the siren not far off.

Nick Argento was the best for the Parrots with Ben Chalmers, Caine Salmon, Grant Fleming, Chris Rump and Blake Moscript all playing serviceable games.

RESERVES Traralgon 10.6.66 Leongatha 6.10.46 Traralgon goals: N. Rowley 3, T. Mustoe 2, R. Loprese 1, D. Brooks 1, L. Phillips 1, B. Marshall 1, C. Dunn 1.

Leongatha goals: C. Johnston 2, B. Vanrooy 1, T. Olden 1, N. Argento 1, L. Wright 1.

Traralgon best: J. Bishop, N. Rowley, L. Phillips, H. Akram, J. Zuehlke.

Leongatha best: N. Argento, B. Chalmers, C. Salmon, G. Fleming, C. Rump, B. Moscript.

Top skills: Nick Argento was Leongatha’s best player in the reserves grand final.

Power girls fight to the end HIGH quality netball was played out in Moe on Saturday, but Wonthaggi Power’s U/15 side fell short of defeating Maffra.

Into the ring: Wonthaggi Power’s goal shooter Chloe Cengia indicates for her goal attack to run into their goal circle.

The girls went into the game prepped for a tough battle and gave it their all, only going down by eight goals.

Maffra got the jump on the Wonthaggi girls early, taking an early lead in the first quarter by seven goals.

Wonthaggi – keen to show the cheering crowd what they are made of – bounced back in the second quarter and left the margin at just one goal by half time.

Some strong play was demonstrated in the second half, but Maffra stayed on top. Wonthaggi were down by three goals going into the last quarter, but Maffra’s shooters weren’t to be beaten.

Wonthaggi had lost to Maffra twice during the home and away season, but had defeated the side in the semi finals, sending them straight into the grand final.

Wonthaggi coach Fiona Cengia said the girls knew the challenge ahead and she was not disappointed in the end result. She was proud of the team effort the girls displayed throughout the game.

“As a club, we have a lot of respect for Maffra,” she said.

“The girls played really well and it was a very exciting game.”

The final score was Maffra 47 and Wonthaggi 39.

Strong effort: despite a loss in the premiership, back from left, Zali Anderson, Chloe Cengia, Annabelle Williams, Chelsea Bowman, Ellie Bates, coach Fiona Cengia, Felicity Bates, assistant coach Sharon Anderson, front from left, Isabelle Tiziani, Macie Gilmour, Erin DeSantis, Lara Garry and Bella Anderson had a successful year in the U/15s Wonthaggi Power side.

Sensational grand final by our umpires UMPIRING associations work in rotation when it comes to officiating at grand finals.

The Gippsland Football Netball League Seniors Grand Final this year was the turn of the South Gippsland

Ready for the big game: goal umpire Paul Bauer has the flags ready for the senior grand final.

Umpires Association.

And on Saturday at the Grand Final these umpires acquitted themselves extremely well, having to do a lot of ball-ups due to the nature of the tight, pressure in and under football played by both sides.

And as they usually say if you didn’t notice the umpires, they have done a fine job!

One of those umpires and better known to many as reverend of the Leongatha Uniting Church, Paul Bauer is something of a veteran when it comes to umpiring grand finals.

His first was in 1994 and he rates his biggest as a Ballarat Football League Grand Final, a nail biter in 2008.

Mr Bauer has also umpired at the State League level in Tasmania.

He is a goal umpire coach and his advice to his team on grand final day is that nerves are a good thing; you don’t want to be blasé.

When you arrive at the ground and see all those people though, the excitement is very real and Mr Bauer said, “Your breath gets taken away - you do get lifted.”

“Once over the initial adrenalin rush it is another game of football.

“You don’t want to think about making a mistake.

“I said to my congregation, if I make a mistake which costs the Parrots a flag, you won’t have a minister; I’ll be run out of town!”

His focus on Saturday was on arousing the attention of no-one. That means Paul Bauer will have done his job well and will return home a happy man.

Honoured: the South Gippsland Umpires Association was proud to have officiated in the senior Gippsland League Grand Final at Moe on Saturday; back row from left, Matt Wright (goal), James Brown (field), Murray Lynch (field), Brian Landsdown (field), Jesse Boyd (field), Paul Bauer (goal), front row from left, are the boundary umpires, Harrison Marshall, Zayden Kemp, Hamish Beecroft, and Doug Mancarella.

PAGE 50 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016

SPORT | FOOTBALL

thestar.com.au

• Gippsland League B Grade Netball Grand Final

Parrot flag flies for netballers A RESCHEDULED match against Maffra is credited for giving the edge needed for the Leongatha B Grade team to go all the way and win the premiership.

The girls took their game to a whole new level to take out the flag running

away from Maffra to win 44-37.

With the late season fixture being abandoned due to flooding of the Maffra oval, a rematch was scheduled a few weeks later at Traralgon with both clubs wanting to play.

In that match on a Sunday Leongatha defeated Maffra despite both teams having played the day be-

fore, giving Leongatha the confidence going into the grand final.

Leongatha coach Alisha Hemming had confidence in the team despite the Parrots finishing fourth on the ladder after the regular season. That feeling was shared by Leongatha’s netball president Renee Littlejohn.

“We are all so proud

of our netballers coming from fourth, they are all so fit. It was like a switch was flicked for the finals and they just played tough netball right through,” Mrs Littlejohn said.

“They really intimidated the opposition with their fitness and determination. The team really gelled in a nice way and played for each other.”

The best on court was named as Abby Dowd at wing attack but really all players give it 100 percent.

“They played and looked like champions against quality opposition, some of whom won or were runners-up in the league best and fairest.”

Mrs Littlejohn said the match showed how important netball was to the Leongatha Football Netball Club.

“It highlights how netball is vital to the proper functioning of a combined football/netball club.”

Hundreds of Leongatha Cup time: holding up the B Grade premiership cup spectators lined the courts, are Leongatha coach Alisha Hemming and captain many sporting the green Jackie Smith. and gold, and urged the team on, giving the club a win on the day which was so desperately needed.

For the record it was captain Jackie Smith’s sixth premiership for the club in eight years while Maddy Kerr has now won five flags.

Right, We did it: Georgia Riseley hugs a teamBest on court: Leongatha’s Abby Dowd reaches to Medal time: Kathy Reid goes forward to receive mate after the stunning win. pull in the ball. More action at www.mdphotos.net her victory medal for the Parrots in B Grade.

Grand final results A Grade: Drouin 56 d Traralgon 46.

B Grade: Leongatha 44 d Maffra 37.

C Grade: Traralgon 54 d Moe 45.

Under 17: Moe 47 d Sale 27.

Under 15: Maffra 47 d Wonthaggi Power 39.

Under 13: Sale 30 d Bairnsdale 25.

Goal attack: Leongatha’s Kate Sperling pulls this pass in strongly.

Right, Celebration time: Georgia Riseley was happy to parade the B Grade netball premierBig support: netball is a huge force in football clubs now as hun- ship cup around for all dreds of supporters line the courts to watch Leongatha B Graders the Leongatha supporters to see. compete for the flag against Maffra.

Parrots upbeat despite losses DESPITE the obvious disappointments there was plenty to like about the Leongatha Football Netball Club in season 2016.

Leongatha FNC’s Dale McCahon told The Star that while there was certainly a mix of emotions after Saturday’s loss, there’s a more philosophical, positive side to it all.

For starters the club fielded teams in finals in

Popular winners: Brother and sister Tom and Nicola Marriott took out their respective club best and fairests on Sunday.

all levels of juniors and seniors from Under 10’s, Justin Pellicano and Caine Salmon, U18s: Tim Kate Rankin, C: Grade: Kate Gourlay, U17s: 12’s and 14’s, and fourths right through to the se- Sauvarin, U16s: Bailey Patterson.

Taylah Brown, U15s: Zarly Rogers, U13s: Chloe niors as well as the successful introduction of the Netball - A Grade: Nicola Marriott, B Grade: Brown youth girls team.

The Leongatha Under 12 Green team managed to get into the grand final as too did the Seniors, Reserves and Fourths, the Thirds making it through to the preliminary final.

On the netball courts the B Grade team won the premiership with the 13 and Unders making finals and the A and C Grade teams narrowly missing out.

“The results on and off the field speak for themselves. The rooms were full on Saturday night and we had a big turnout for the vote count on Sunday,” Dale said.

“We’ve had really good support for all our social functions and I feel the community and the club have engaged better this year.

“Attendances to the games this year have been excellent as well.”

The other positive is the reappointment of senior coach Beau Vernon for season 2017, giving Leongatha immediate certainty going forward.

Brother and sister combination Tom Marriott, seniors, and Nicola Marriott, A Grade, won Leongatha’s best and fairest at Sunday’s vote count.

Not again: the Parrots seniors gave it their all but just couldn’t get on top of Maffra in Saturday’s

Results

senior grand final. Players and officials show obvious disappointment as they watch Maffra col-

Football - Seniors: Tom Marriott, Reserves: lect the victory spoils. Good news is that Beau Vernon will coach the Parrots in season 2017.

“THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - PAGE 51

FOOTBALL | SPORT

thestar.com.au • Gippsland League Grand Final - Leongatha v Maffra

Grand Final pain-again!

Parrots fall at consecutive grand finals

By Tony Giles HAVING reached its second grand final in a row Leongatha once again fell at the final hurdle, this time at the hands of Maffra in a match that was close all day.

In scenes that were strikingly similar to 2015 against Traralgon, the defeated Parrots players and faithful could do no more than look on forlornly as the Maffra players accepted the medals and gathered to hold up the premiership cup.

What made it even more painful this year was the fact Leongatha gave it a genuine crack and played on a level with Maffra all day, the Eagles just proving too solid all ‘round.

The final margin of 21 points didn’t reflect how close this match was either with Maffra getting two goals right at the end of the game. For the most part two goals separated these teams for the entire day however the Eagles just managed to keep its nose in front almost all game.

Maffra played similar tactics as in its victory over Leongatha in the second semi final by harassing, pressuring and tackling Leongatha from start to finish, hardly allowing the Parrots a clean break.

But Leongatha was up to the challenge this time as the recent game against the Eagles told them it was going to be more of the same. This time Leongatha was able to match the pressure and physical stuff and didn’t allow Maffra to bust the game open like it did in the third quarter, two weeks prior.

However Maffra didn’t allow Leongatha the opportunity to run freely such was the relentless pressure applied.

The problems started at first in the middle; the huge Maffra ruckman Trent Knobel was able to control the centre tapouts and hence Maffra was able to secure the bulk of the clearances.

Leongatha’s Luke Bowman and Zac Vernon were the Parrots’ best around the contest but the best player for Leongatha was co-captain Chris Verboon who played superbly up forward with strong marks and goals at crucial times to keep the Parrots in the match. Aaron Hillberg was another of the Parrot forwards who tried hard.

The Parrot defenders had their hands full and fought gallantly with the best of these being Jason Tomada and Aaron Coyle who performed solidly despite the crucial loss of Joel Sinclair, injured in the preliminary final.

Danny Butcher and Kelvin Porter ran amuk for the Eagles picking up loads of possessions to be their best players along with big man Knobel, Sam Walker and up forward the presence of Daniel Bedggood, four goals, and Mitch Bennett, four goals, was invaluable given how hard it was to score goals.

Forward focus: Leongatha’s Aaron Hillberg takes a safe mark. Chris Verboon was the best of Leongatha’s forwards with Hillberg having a solid contribution.

Match Details Sunny conditions prevailed at Moe and the ground was in perfect condition for the grand finals with a slight breeze blowing across the ground.

Leongatha would suffer two selection blows when it was revealed Brock Davidson was out with a broken arm and key defender Joel Sinclair had a leg injury.

This paved the way for the inclusion of Lochie Du Mont, returning from injury, and talented Under 18 player Kaj Patterson came in.

The match started with good intensity as Maffra managed the first three goals of the quarter with Mitch Bennett bagging the first and Daniel Bedggood the second.

Aaron Hillberg was getting several touches for Leongatha but Maffra’s harassing technique was evident early.

It took until the final minute of the quarter to bring up the first major for Leongatha with a run down the centre opening the way for a Zac Vernon goal. Quarter Time Maffra 3.3.21 to Leongatha 1.2.8.

The dangerous Danny Butcher combined with Andrew Petrou and Lachlan Channing for another Eagle goal.

Chris Verboon stood up for the Parrots with a crunching tackle which landed him the free and a subsequent goal. Verboon would continue his class up forward all day as Leongatha started to lift.

A free kick downfield landed Verboon his second goal within minutes and he narrowly missed another attempt.

Jason Tomada marked a beauty on the last line for the Parrots and up forward Dunne shot a point after a mark.

It was a solid second term by Leongatha, trailing by two points at half time; Maffra 4.4.28 to Leongatha 3.8.24.

Early in the third term Aaron Coyle marked strongly down back for the Parrots and a chain of possessions saw Verboon narrowly miss.

But Verboon bobbed up again and he passed to Hillberg for a Parrot major and the Parrots led for the only time in the match.

Soon after Maffra would begin a purple patch which would include four unanswered goals; while Bedggood missed the first easy attempt, he made no mistake only a minute later. Further goals to Renooy and two to Mitch Bennett would see Maffra out to the biggest lead of the game as the Eagles seemed to own the centre clearances at this point.

Leongatha stopped the rot soon after fortunately when Ben Willis shot the ball over to Chris Verboon and on to Cade Maskell for a pressure relieving goal.

When Pat McGrath and Chris Dunne combined for

Best Parrot: with a giant leap and a rock solid mark, Chris Verboon was easily the best Leongatha player on the ground, backing up these marks with three goals. More photos at www.mdphotos.net a major the Parrots were on the way back. Hopkins with a free for too high unfortunately missed a very gettable shot while Hillberg scored two behinds from set shots.

This may have put Leongatha on level terms or even in front at the final break but it was still close at the last change; Maffra 8.7.55 to Leongatha 6.11.47.

A costly mistake in defence saw a Leongatha player caught and a resulting goal to Mitch Bennett for Maffra to start the last quarter.

Chris Verboon received a free and with a long kick goals to lift the Parrots hopes.

The ball was going end to end but it was Maffra which goaled to open up a 13 point lead midway

through the final term.

Marriott and Maskell combined for a top, long goal to Maskell and the Parrots were just eight points down.

Bedggood marked and goaled at the 21 minute mark and at 13 points up the Eagles looked to have done enough.

However the last roll of the dice for Leongatha saw Hopkins dribble one through for a goal and suddenly it was eight points again; agonizingly close but seemingly impossible to reach.

But the Eagles were able to answer every challenge and a couple of late goals, one to Bedggood again, saw them deliver a 21 point victory.

Best midfielder: the Parrots’ Luke Bowman proved to be the best of the centre players making the most of the limited number of centre clearances going Leongatha’s way.

SENIORS Maffra 13.10.88 Leongatha 9.13.67 Maffra goals: M. Bennett 4, D. Bedggood 4, K. Renooy 2, W. Gieschen 1, L. Channing 1, S. Pleming 1.

Leongatha goals: C. Verboon 3, A. Hillberg 2, C. Maskell 1, J. Hopkins 1, Z. Vernon 1, C. Dunne 1.

Maffra best: D. Butcher, K. Porter, T. Knobel, S. Walker, D. Bedggood, S. Pleming.

Leongatha best: C. Verboon, J. Tomada, L. Bowman, A. Coyle, A. Hillberg, Z. Vernon.

PAGE 52 - “THE STAR” Tuesday, September 27, 2016