ISSUE 7 | 5 OCTOBER 2012
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No Bull: Turnbull talked to TWC By William Kulich. Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband Malcolm Turnbull was in Drouin in August to officially activate the first high-speed internet connection at housing estate Jackson’s View. Mr Turnbull flew in by helicopter to switch on the connection from commercial operator OptiComm. Despite pushing the option as a viable service, during a demonstration Skype call to Tasmania the connection
So long, and thanks for all the fish
dropped out several times. The Warragul Citizen interviewed Mr Turbull after the demonstration, asking why he believes the Coalition’s policy of letting markets drive broadband investment will benefit regional Australia. “We will certainly eliminate any barriers to competition,” Mr Turnbull said. “That’s not to say we can’t make people install competitive fixed-line networks if they don’t want to, [cont. P8.]
In the deep end with Baw Baw
Space for Easy Az
Come swimming in The only two councillors superannuation on to not re-nominate, Tony Page 8. Wolfe and Adam Tyson, Pirates, kids and talk to The Warragul bad horror Citizen. Pages 2 and 3. Reviews on Page 6. Subscribe to FREE regular news updates from The Warragul Citizen via Facebook, Twitter and email!
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WHEN nominations for Baw Baw’s 2012 council elections closed, two names were notably missing from the candidate lists; those of present councillors Adam Tyson and Tony Wolfe. The two are the only sitting councillors not to renominate. Cr Tyson announced he would not be standing some time ago, but Cr Wolfe’s decision was made much later.
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Councillor Tony Wolfe might “I guess that’s been my not have renominated for feeling probably for the last Warragul ward, but he’s not couple of months maybe. ruling out a return in the future. “I certainly would never rule it (a return) out, just at this “I guess it was right down moment I think for me, for my to the last minute,” Cr Wolfe professional development if told The Warragul Citizen. you like, it probably is better “I’d made my mind up that I’m not involved in council at I wasn’t going again, but I just this stage. wanted to be certain and not Cr Wolfe will be watching say one thing and then this year’s election from the change my mind at the last sidelines, and has a warning minute.” for new candidates. “It wasn’t [a decision] I took “I guess my best advice to lightly.” them [is] to be aware during Cr Wolfe has been on the their campaigning that it’s council representing extremely dangerous to one, Warragul ward since 2008 bag other councillors or other and is leaving after one term candidates, and two, bag the for his career, although he is organisation,” Cr Wolfe said. not ruling out a return to local “If you’re going to go out government in the future. bagging the organisation that “I guess the main reason you’re going to in part be in I’ve decided not to continue is charge of, you’ve got a lot of that I’d like to pursue my repair work to do before you professional career a bit earn back the respect. more,” Cr Wolfe said. “And the other candidates, “I enjoyed it that much that you’re going to have to work I could’ve stuck my hand up with those people if you get again and gone again… but it in, so you don’t want to build wasn’t 100 per cent so I enemies in your lead-up to thought oh well, go with the making a harmonious working gut feel (sic). group.
As the election approaches, Cr Wolfe says some present councillors will use their position to project their profile in the community. “Grandstanding’s the wrong word, it’s not grandstanding, but people try to become a little more vocal and try to get out there – it’s about raising your profile coming into an election period,” Cr Wolfe said. “We’ve got two (at time of i’view) council meetings to go… and everybody’s out there trying to raise their profile sot they can get reelected. “It’ll be interesting to watch from the perspective of not needing to do that.” The highlight of Cr Wolfe’s four years happened before the first budget. “I was pretty happy, I’ve got to admit, the first year I was on and we managed to get [the] Shaping the Future [program] up in our first budget,” Cr Wolfe said.
Read more online at www.warragulcitizen.com
LETTERS Send your letter in through the website: www.warragulcitizen.com/submissions. and perhaps more frequent than your average community-minded resident who runs for council. The Act requires a councillor to be scrupulous in identifying and declaring It’s a sign of a working democracy potential conflicts of interests or face when we 26 candidates for nine tough penalties and ruined positions in the upcoming council reputations. This means making sure elections and a competition in every that any private interests will not affect ward. While it’s wonderful to have so public duties and that a councillor many people keen to represent us, it’s never uses their position for the benefit interesting to take a look at the of themselves, relatives or friends. The candidates and ask how many of these Ombudsman has investigated want-to-be-councillors are either real community complaints and the courts estate agents or property developers. have prosecuted a number of Or, how many candidates manage a councillors across Victoria over the business that has property developers past four years since these tough or real estate agents as their regulations came into force – all of customers? Surprisingly, there’s quite them failed to declare a direct or a few! indirect conflict of interest. This may not be such a bad thing. By the very nature of their jobs, Business owners from a variety of some of the potential candidates in the backgrounds can bring different views upcoming elections could perhaps to the table. However, as a previous have a number of conflicts of interest councillor with the Baw Baw Shire, I around many of the issues council wonder how many of these candidates deals with on a day to day basis. For realise the tightrope they will need to example when council sits down to walk if elected when they will have to discuss or approve a proposal put deal with the tough Conflict of Interest forward by a developer for a large provisions under the Local residential housing development, this Government Act. The Act is very clear could impact on councillors who are that councillors must not participate in developers or real estate agents any council decision-making when themselves. If half the councillors have they have a conflict of interest or they to frequently remove themselves from can be prosecuted, fined, convicted the debate it could potentially make for and even banned from being a poor decision making and ineffective councillor. If your business is selling councillors. Something to think about. property, developing land (or if you’re working with those that do or even Ruth McGowan, related to someone who does) your Former Councillor and Mayor of Baw potential conflicts of interest as a Baw Shire, Jindivick. councillor are likely to be very different
Conflict of interest
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Twitter: @WarragulCitizen Baw Baw’s youngest councillor and Mayor, Adam Tyson, is leaving politics after seven years. “The highlight firstly was getting elected in 2005, so that was great, I didn’t expect that.” It’s farewell after two terms for Drouin ward councillor Adam Tyson, who joined the council at the age of 32...
The Warragul Citizen
5 October 2012 | Page 3
Continue reading the interview with Adam Tyson online: Head to www.warragulcitizen.com and click the Issue 7 stories link.
Baw Baw below average for female representation Female representation in council elections across Gippsland is slipping, with the number of female candidates in Baw Baw dropping by nine per cent. The Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) says the average number of female candidates in Victoria is 33 per cent, however the percentage of candidates in all six Gippsland councils combined is 28 per cent. Analysis by The Warragul Citizen shows just 23 per cent of candidates for this year’s Baw Baw Shire Council election are female, a drop from 32 per cent of candidates in 2008. Fifty-one per cent of the population of the Baw Baw Shire Council is female.
There are six female candidates in this year’s Baw Baw Shire Council elections, down from eight in 2008. The VLGA says the City of Latrobe is a “stand-out” in the region, with 41 per cent of candidates being female. Across the state the number of female candidates has risen from 614 in 2008 to 664 this year. Although disappointed by the slide in Gippsland, the VLGA remains positive. “There has been a reduction in the percentage of women candidates, yet a positive result is that the spread of women candidates is more even,” VLGA CEO Maree McPherson said in a media release. Unattributed stories by William Kulich.
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WARRAGUL POT SHED Shop 6 McLennan’s Arcade, Warragul
Surveys probe candidates Two surveys from lobby groups have been sent to candidates in the upcoming Baw Baw Shire council elections. Music Victoria is surveying candidates in all Victorian councils on their attitudes to local music. The survey asks candidates if they will support the development of a council music strategy and what they consider the biggest issues facing musicians and live music in their municipality are. Candidates are also asked if they are aware of live music regulatory issues and what initiatives they would consider to support local music if elected. Responses to the survey will be published on the Music Victoria website, and candidates must make their
submissions by October 12. A survey from new lobby group Baw Baw Community Alliance asks candidates if they will support an audit of the council’s finances. The survey also asks candidates if they will adhere the Local Government Act, by which all Councillors are legally required to abide by.
ELECTION COVERAGE ONLINE News || Interviews || Analysis Extended candidate statements
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Real Estate Guru With Carmen Christie from SallyJ Real helps compensate other expenses going Estate up, so our cost of living is about the same if not less. Historically the Warragul area for WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE MARKET? Real Estate has mostly had a steady The media talks all doom and gloom. increase. We don’t have the big peaks Our political parties are the poorest they and troughs like Melbourne. have been, large companies closing with So what’s happening with the prices people losing their jobs, electricity costs in the Warragul Area? Pretty much going up and, of course, “what’s nothing. They are stable, they are happening with China”- that’s meant to certainly not going up and realistic affect us as well. The whole global vendors are selling. economy is also talking doom and gloom I don’t have a crystal ball but I cannot while the Melbourne Real Estate market see prices moving either way for some has dropped 30 per cent. time now. All this makes you scared to walk out So, if you’re thinking of selling and your front door. you have had your property longer than I think we need to look at our own three years now’s a good time, and if you backyard first. are buying in the same market you’re Ask yourself: not losing. - Is your job stable? If you’re a buyer, it doesn’t seem like -Have your interest rates gone down? it will get cheaper, so now is a good time Yes yes & yes, and it looks like they are to get into the market. going down again soon. The state of the market is stable – Overall with interest rates down, your good time to sell or buy. repayments will have gone down. This Hooroo from The Guru - CC
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Zoning reforms ‘the worst of American retail planning’ By William Kulich. PROPOSED reforms to Victoria’s planning zones have been condemned by Baw Baw Shire Councillors and officials, but the State Government is standing by its methods. A report by council officers on what the changes would mean for Baw Baw criticised “unclear” changes to business and residential zones. Baw Baw Director of Growth and Development Melissa Harris told The Warragul Citizen the council’s main concern is a business zone change which removes some restrictions on
what can be built in large-scale retail areas. “Council is concerned that this change may undermine established retail strategies and encourage retail uses currently located in CBD areas to relocate to areas where land and lease costs would be lower,” Ms Harris said. “This could have the effect of fragmenting town centres and threatening the viability of established retail areas.” Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy however argues the council’s concerns are “out-dated”.
“The planning fraternity [has] very rigid and out-dated views about what forms a town and about what forms an activities area, that are really linked to the 1970s and 1980s,” Mr Guy said. “This romantic notion that the only area where a place of employment should be able to open is in a defined area or part of a town [is] just an out-dated point of view.” “I cannot imagine why a small business would leave the central part of Warragul to open up in a new industrial estate half way to Nilma [when] their market is in the central part of Warragul”.
This month last year
But that is exactly what could happen, according to RMIT University Professor and former Department of Planning and Environment senior manager Michael Buxton. “It’s really going to mean the death of many regional town centres,” Prof Buxton said. “It will make it much easier for larger retailers to set up their big box retail outlets out of town and [for] the associated small businesses [to come with them.]” “What we’ll tend to get is retail moving out of town, and town centres being used for office and residential.” Prof Buxton said Mr Guy’s suggestion that planners must progress from the 1970s is irrelevant. “It has nothing to do with 1970s planning,” Prof Buxton said. “What he (Guy) is doing is throwing away the rules to advantage big retailers and big developers.” “This is the worst of American retail planning, or lack of it.” But Mr Guy said it is unlikely retailers will leave town centres. “No Coles or Woolies is going to… make a million-dollar or multimilliondollar investment where there are no people, but that’s what’s kind of being put forward”. Councillors Patricia Jones and Adam Tyson criticised some of the proposed changes at a council meeting last week, with Cr Jones accusing the Department of Planning and Community Development of forgetting regional Victorians. “Metropolitan policy makers, not understanding regional [towns, have drafted zones with] unforeseen difficulties for those living in alternate areas,” Cr Jones said.
The Warragul Citizen has been publishing in print and online for over a year. These stories are from www.warragulcitizen.com.
Western Park Peter Kostos sworn in as new Baw Baw Shire continues Mount Worth Ward Councillor performance satisfaction slide BMX Track opened The survey used for the 28 October 2011. 4 October 2011. FORMER Lardner ward councillor Peter Kostos (right) has been sworn in as the Baw Baw Shire’s new Mount Worth Ward representative. Councillor Kostos replaces former councillor John Durrant, who announced his retirement from the position on the 23 September. The Victorian Electoral Commission announced Cr Kostos had accepted the role on September 30, however the it had to determine if he Peter Kostos Photo: Council was still eligible for the position. representatives for the Mount Cr Kostos joins Cr Bill Worth ward. Harrington as one of two More: warragulcitizen.com
A REPORT released today by the Baw Baw Shire Council shows “significant” and “widespread dissatisfaction” among community members in areas of public participation and representation. The Baw Baw Shire Council Community Survey Report issued in July this year is the fourth of its kind since 2007 and shows the gap between issue importance and the shire’s performance widening. The performance satisfaction is declining in the same areas as in previous surveys.
report asked 312 respondents to rate how they felt the Baw Baw Shire Council had performed in several areas outlined in the survey. The report gives a mean gap score for each issue, with a score of or above 1.90 being “significant,” and a score of 3.00 or above “generally pointing to widespread dissatisfaction.” The area “Opportunities for the community to participate in decision making” performed the worst with a mean gap of 3.05. This area has had the greatest gap in every report of this kind. More: warragulcitizen.co
8 October 2011. VIDEO. WARRAGUL’S newly redesigned BMX track in Western Park was officially opened today, giving a new home to the Warragul Wyld dogs and a competitive edge to local aspiring BMX champions. Watch: warragulcitizen.com
Ashley McCutcheon Img: Video
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5 October 2012 | Page 5
Community Groups COMMUNITY GROUP?FEATURE HERE AND ONLINE FOR FREE! Email editor@warragulcitizen.com for deets.
Australia Day awards
Songwriting workshops
Supplied by the Baw Baw Shire.
Supplied by Wild@heART.
Nominations are open for the 2013 Australia Day Awards, with local awards presented in five categories. Baw Baw Shire Council is encouraging residents to nominate citizens who have made a noteworthy contribution during the current year. The awards consist of five categories; Citizen of the Year award; Young Citizen of the Year award; Australia Day Medallion; Community Event of the Year and Community Contribution. All nominations will be reviewed by the Australia Day Committee once applications have closed. Nominations are open until Friday 2 November 2012. Nomination forms are available at the Baw Baw Shire Customer Service Centres and on the Council's website at www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au For more information contact Chloe Prince on 5624 2411 or email
Wild@heART Community Arts in partnership with the local Mental Illness Fellowship presents a series of song-writing workshops running every Friday in Warragul until 9 November. Music and song writing is a way for participants to express themselves, and share their creativity and stories. This is a chance for anybody to learn how to write and record their own songs in a friendly environment, with beginners welcome. Wild@heART Community Arts provides opportunities for people with diverse abilities and those living with mental health challenges to tell their stories through high quality arts making in music, dance, video and performance.
When: Friday’s 21 September – 9 November 11-3pm Where: Wesley of Warragul (62 Victoria St Warragul.) chloe.prince@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au Cost: Each session is $5 per week.
29 Smith Street Warragul www.thefashiongallery.com.au
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REVIEWS
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, came from. Boy starts before Dahl is even born; it has the history of how By Roald Dahl. his parents met, before moving on to his first few memories. The novel spans through his childhood and onto his teens. It finishes as he becomes an adult. Stories such as The Great Mouse Plot are still funny to those in my own generation and to those in the generation after mine because the humour of a small child is timeless. Every child should receive the gift of reading this novel, as it is an inspiration to know that one can take everyday events and turn them into novels one Review by Lia Marshall. day. It shows children that ROALD Dahl’s novel Boy is anything is possible. one every child should read. This timeless creative nonTheatre fiction work about Dahl’s life is still relatable to this generation and will be for many more. By Robert Louis Dahl has a certain gift of speaking to children through Stevenson. his novels, as if he too were a child telling them the story. When you read his stories you are instantly sucked into the world that he describes around him. His tales of childhood show exactly where the inspiration Review by Drouin West for his novels, including Primary School students
Literature
Boy
Treasure Island
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Jacqueline Glasscock, Georgia Henderson and Indiana Petrov. ARR, me hearties! If you love pirates, you would have enjoyed the exhilarating Treasure Island performance at the West Gippsland Arts Centre! It’s all about pirates, pirates here, pirates there, pirates EVERYWHERE! Even on the ship YO-HO! There were two actors from the Queensland Theatre Company, performing 16 characters. We all LOVED how the actors could change voices and characters so quickly and fluently. We jumped out of our skins, laughed our heads off and sat on the edge of our seats! This performance was about a boy called Jim Hawkins who encounters lots of gruesome pirates, such as Long John Silver and Billy Bones! The entire set was made in only one week, so it was remarkable how all the little gadgets could pop out of it. One thing we would say is they needed a few more actors so we could follow the story line better; sometimes we got a bit lost! Treasure Island is an engaging, suspenseful story with lots of pirate language.
We would recommend this adaptation for all ages above 7. If you go and see this splendid performance you’ll surely have a mighty good time! Arrr, me hearties!
Bad horror
Blades Directed by Thomas R. Rondinella.
Music
My Kind of Pain By Crow.
Review by William Kulich. SYDNEY band Crow is not a band you can easily categorise, coming off as a Midnight Oilinspired refined grunge band. Their first album, My Kind of Pain, has a distinctive Australian rock feel, but with complex melodies and discordant sound. My Kind of Pain is not as energetic as some of the band’s later albums, lulling into the beautiful ‘Love Hate Love Heart’, not unlike work by modern band Red Sparowes.
Review by Luke Woodhouse. THE FIRST published update on our VHS horror mission is Blades, a film about a killer lawn mower (not a killer with a lawn mower, but a lawnmower itself) that goes about killing golfers at a local golf course. The best thing about this film is the performance by the lead actor, a man in his early fifties whose constantly erect nipples poke through his various golf shirts in every scene. His limited facial expressions vary from troubled through to concerned, and it's only as more people die that he seems to lighten up a little. *No, of course not
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In the deep end with Baw Baw By William Kulich. It’s the 1940's superannuation fund that is now sinking council plans for infrastructure development. The Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (LASF) is unusual. Closed in 1993 by then-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, legislation requires councils to keep the scheme fully funded through payments every three years if required. It was expected to die quietly, but its unique structure made it was more susceptible than most to the effects of the Global Financial Crisis; liabilities went up and this year the Baw Baw Shire Council was told it had to pay close to $4 million by July next year to meet requirements. The council had been told by fund manager Vision Super to expect much less, and the scheme abandoned two decades ago is now limiting the abilities of councils across the state to work on planned projects. When the bill hit the desks of the Baw Baw Shire Council, it crossed paths with a review sanctioned by councillors in March to investigate the financial impact of a planned new outdoor pool in Warragul. The package of a 50m x 25m outdoor pool and refurbishments to present indoor pool had been allocated $2 million in borrowings to pay for early stages of development, but last month councillors agreed to council officer reccomendations to reconsider this funding in light of the unexpected debt. For Warragul Outdoor Pool Lobby spokesperson Kerry Elliott, the delay is understandable but frustrating. “There’s no doubt council has to live within its means and those means aren’t great at the moment,” says Ms Elliott. “The proposed monies are going to be diverted to the superannuation; again, unavoidable, but that’s the second lot of major amount of money we have lost that was provided for the outdoor pool.” The pool funding deferral is the only policy change recommended by council staff to cover the costs of the superannuation top-up so far, with decisions on more expenditure cuts to be presented to the new council shortly after it is elected next month. “I think we’ll brief the new council on it relatively early, give them the options for payment which aren’t fully laid out at the moment,” says Baw Baw Shire Director of Compliance and Corporate Services Tim Frederico.
Sinking feeling: The Baw Baw Shire Council has to cut expenditure, including delaying funding for a new outdoor pool, after a four million dollar superannuation call threw budgets into disarray.
“At the moment the options we’ve got are; borrow the money, severely cut back on the capital program or look at an instalment payment, but we don’t know at what interest rate that’ll be charged at.” A rate rise is “not on the table.” “Councils need to raise revenue and one of the major area of revenue is rates, but I’d like to think we’d explore every other option first.” Mr Frederico says the new council will have to determine how long to delay projects like the outdoor pool as this might not be the last large payment asked of councils. “The biggest issue we face is that this isn’t the last call. “This is going to be an ongoing issue for quite a few years yet, I understand that the youngest member of the scheme is in their mid-thirties.” But this is not the only way out for councils; the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has formed a working group to address the issue. Although Baw Baw is not a member, it is watching closely. “I think the biggest problem is it’s a legacy that’s been left to us and the legislation around that legacy is quite difficult to work around,” says MAV President Councillor Bill McArthur. “What the taskforce is trying to do is examine options to assist local government to minimise the current liability and also look for longer-term opportunities to shield councils from future shortfalls. “It requires a change in legislation for the fund to go back into a typical public sector fund. “That is not an easy task, it needs agreement of the state and it then needs to be agreed to by the commonwealth at the same time. “We’re advocating for that to happen. It’s early days and I won’t pre-empt the outcome, but we are in discussion with both levels of government.” Cr McArthur says there is no popular approach councils are taking to this issue, but most will have to revisit their budgets.
say that they’re able to pay another hit that’s almost the same size within the twelve month period. “We certainly are in a bit of a dilemma, because four million dollars isn’t lying around just to be paid.” Cr Blackwood said it would be “logical... to think we’re borrowing those funds,” and the new council will have to reconsider projects. “The next council will have to make the final decision how we progress with any capital works because it’s certainly making an impact on that. “Our infrastructure gap is growing by the day and we’re not able to put significant funds to the types of projects to make any headway... so it’s really difficult to explain that we’re dealing with something we really have no control over.” Cr Blackwood said the $4 million call was a shock. “The call had been made in previous years and we had made allowances in budgets for about $750,000, which is a bit more than we had been asked to pay at the last call in 2010. “So we thought we had it covered, but certainly the four million dollars was a bit of a shock. As council looks for cuts, Councillor Julie Grant, whose motion to reverse the construction of the outdoor pool was only narrowly defeated in late March, says the council could find longterm savings by investing elsewhere, if it had the money to invest. “Council is spending a small fortune renting and continually upgrading space for its library, service centre and offices,” says Cr Grant. “I believe it's time to construct a multi-purpose building on the Civic Centre site that we own and that will serve the community and save money long into the future. “Council's financial obligations for superannuation mean this important project will not even get past first stage in the foreseeable future.” Cr Grant says facilities in Drouin should provide what those looking for outdoor swimming need. The sense of defeat is not only felt by councillors; some in the Outdoor Pool Lobby are not expecting action to be taken any time soon. “Everybody says you’ll never get an outdoor pool, you’ll never get it. Well maybe they’re right,” says Ms Elliott. Vision Super could not be reached for public comment.
“They (councils) will have to review what they’re delivering service-wise [and] what they’re delivering capital improvement-wise. “They’ll also have to look at their buying capacity and as councils move into caretaker this week (at time of interview); this will be a decision for councils after the elections and it’ll entail a budget review process which is quite detailed. The State Government seems to be on the same page. “The Minister for Local Government (Jeanette Powell) has written to the federal minister, Simon Crean, asking him to consider options to limit the effect of the superannuation shortfall on councils and discussions with the federal minister are ongoing,” says spokesperson for Ms Powell Greg Charter. “The Victorian Government is considering a number of other courses of action, but no decisions have yet been taken. When decisions are made, they will be communicated to the relevant stakeholders.” Mr Charter is playing down the role of State Government in helping councils. “The Defined Benefits Superannuation Scheme operates under federal legislation and is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority. As a consequence, any changes would have to be made by the federal government." Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Diane Blackwood says the size of the call is comparable to the funds required for the unexpected closure of the Trafalgar Landfill last year, which was one of the reasons for the shire imposing the largest rate rise in the state. “It is a huge impact on a council the size of us. “This council decided to increase the rates to be able to fund the five million dollars of the Trafalgar Landfill rehabilitation, so that’s the size of the rate rise to deal with money of that calibre. “Certainly there wouldn’t be support from the ratepayers to News online: warragulcitizen.com
Turnbull launches connection From Page 1... but at the moment the Government’s created a lot of barriers to it.” Mr Turnbull identified wireless as an area where competition will increase, however said it would not deliver all the services offered by the Government’s National Broadband Network. “Wireless is not going to be a cost-effective means... of watching masses of HD television,” Mr Turnbull said. “It depends on the bandwidth you’ve got. In some parts of Australia you’ve got very very good bandwidth 4G. When asked if he believes wireless could be the solution for West Gippsland, Mr Turnbull said “if you’ve got the infrastructure deployed, wireless can deliver anything... but the question is all about the cost. “It’s not religion, it’s what is the most cost-effective in each location. Interview continues online.
Watch online:
Mr Turnbull interviewed by The Warragul Citizen. Also includes footage from press conference and connection drop-out compilation.
Late breaking news: Neerim South property and stud cattle manager Cameron Cutler has won the Matther George Young Stockman Award for 2012. The award will give Mr Cutler the chance to undertake an overseas study tour to investigate beef cattle breeding practices. For more on this story visit www.warragulcitizen.com
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Gippsland Explorer By Lia Marshall. Fancy a walk in the park? Linear trail Burke Street Warragul A beautiful park with two playgrounds for the kids, a barbecue area and plenty of room to run around and get some exercise! The kids will love running from one mosaic to the next and you will enjoy getting out of the house and spending time with the family. History anyone? The Court House, Smith Street Warragul Built in 1887, The Court House is classified by the National Trust. The museum has plenty of local history and dairy exhibits. If you’re interested in anything
AS THE environmental movement has become more prominent in recent years, more and more “environmentally friendly” products can be found on shop shelves. I don’t put ‘environmentally friendly’ in inverted commas to suggest that these products aren’t, as they claim to be, good for the environment. I put the term in inverted commas because do you really need a new recycled-plastic pen if you have a draw full of perfectly functional pens at home? It is much better to get the full use out of things you already own than to continue consuming items that consumed precious energy and resources in production. A big problem facing the environment is the grand scale of production and the masses of waste created as a result. So before you buy something new, think about whether or not you really need it. Of course there are times when it really is a good option to replace things that are unsustainable or inefficient, but sometimes even environmentally friendly products can trick you into thinking you need them when what you really need to do is reduce consumption. On the other end of the spectrum comes the issue of ‘greenwashing’. Greenwashing is the phenomenon of labelling items as ‘green’, ‘fairtrade’, ‘recycled’, ‘organic’ and so on when the product may barely be any of these things. The concept of greenwashing first came about in a 1986 study that explained how hotels tell their patrons that they are saving water and energy when they reuse their towels, but in reality this is just glossing over an action that already takes place. It is putting a green spin on something to gain larger profits when in reality no real effort is being made to back up the greenwash. Many big companies today are big on greenwashing. In the 2000s, BP spent over 200 million dollars on rebranding so the company appeared more
5 October 2012 | Page 9
The Warragul Citizen
about Warragul’s history this is the place to go! A relaxing time at the vineyard? Ada River Vineyard 2330 Main Neerim Road Neerim South Ada River Vineyard specialises in Chardonnay, pinot noir, traminer and cabernet sauvignon. Cellar doors are open 10am-6pm daily. More wineries, you say? Wild Dog Winery 3km south of the freeway on Warragul-Korumburra Road, Warragul This Winery is a producer of Shiraz, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, Riesling and rose. Cellar doors are open from 9am-5pm. Would you like to see a show? West Gippsland Arts Centre Civic Place, just off Albert Street, W’gul
environmentally friendly. Despite their new ‘green’ image, the fact that remains that their enterprise causes devastating damage to the environment. A lot of products on supermarket shelves dabble in a bit of greenwashing too. A classic example is laundry detergents and powders; many brands will advertise that their product is concentrated, meaning you use less of it, meaning less resources are needed to create the product. Concentrated products are good, but the amount of chemicals that go into those powders and detergents to remove super-powered stains in one wash are making contact with your skin with every wear and flush into the waters of our environment. For your own health, the health of your family and the health of vital ecosystem functions such as clean water, it is a good idea to switch from products with high chemical contents to environmentally friendly brands (here is an example of really being ‘environmentally friendly’, but use up what you’ve got at home first) that are concentrated and free of nasties. So how does the average member of the public overcome greenwashing? The solution is, like most things, education. Know the difference between the walk and the talk when it comes to companies trying to sell you things. Think about whether what the product is claiming to do sounds legitimate. With some quick research you can figure out which companies to support and which to avoid. This is not just an issue of environmentalism, but also about company transparency and accountability to consumers. To purchase a copy of the Ethical Supermarket Shopping Guide visit www.ethical.org.au or download the ‘Shop Ethical!’ app for a quick and easy way to check up on brands’ while doing your weekly shop.
Just arrived in Warragul and wondering where to go? Lived here all your life and never explored? Well here’s what to do!
West Gippsland Arts Centre offers a wide variety of shows, from primary and secondary school concerts to competitions and shows from famous actors and comedians. A full list of what will be showing soon can be found at www.wgac.org.au Hiking? Mount Worth State Park 15km south of Warragul One hundred and sixty-four hectares of land recovered after logging overlooks the
valley to the north and the twisting creeks to the south. The track starts at the Moonlight Creek Picnic Area and is a one-hour circuit of the mountain through the forest. And for the kids? Warragul offers many activities for the kids in the CBD. The bowling alley is one popular option with its own miniature arcade. The Warragul Cinema Centre is also a popular destination, with three cinema rooms
and all the newest movies playing. Civic Park offers many playgrounds and a wide running space for the kids. The Warragul Leisure Centre has a separate swimming area for the kids as well as its own basketball court and canteen. Just across the road from the Leisure Centre is the Burke Street Park Skate Park, offering many hours of fun.
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Lost cat. Went missing from Warragul-Lardner Road near Butlers Track. Grey and white, roughly 13, a real talker. Needs medication. Call Alison on 0407 303 327. Free classifieds. Clearly not fully utilised. Next published
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ALL LADIES’ HANDBAGS ONLY $20 WITH THIS COUPON, OR GRAB A PURSE FOR $15 From Warragul Pot Shed Shop 6 McLennan’s Arcade, Warragul Valid until 5/11/2012
15% OFF FOLDED PRODUCTS (Excl. multiple booklets, qty up to 1000, discount off standard prices only.)
From Easyaz Print PH: 5623 3261 E: sales@easyaz.com.au www.easyaz.com.au 2/132 North Rd Warragul One per customer. Valid until 15/10/2012
10% OFF STOREWIDE ON PRESENTATION OF THIS COUPON From Warragul Baby Shop 25b Victoria Street, Warragul PH: 5623 1566 Valid until 5/11/2012
FREE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS when you list your property with SallyJ Real Estate (Offer only available when you list exclusively with SallyJ Real Estate.)
Call Carmen on 0402 042 120 Valid until end of December 2012
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$8 OFF COUPONS WHEN PURCHASED WITH ADVERTISING From The Warragul Citizen editor@warragulcitizen.com www.warragulcitizen.com One discount per customer. Valid until 3/12/2012.
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Page 10 | 5 October 2012
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The Warragul Citizen
COMMUNITY RADIO GUIDE Weekday programming only. Schedules may change due to unforeseen circumstances.
West Gippsland Community Radio - 103.1 3BBR FM MONDAY 7am-6pm 6pm-8pm
TUESDAY
(Weekend guide at www.3bbrfm.org.au) WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
The Sounds of West Gippsland (Includes News, Weather and Community Programs.) Music Cafe
Geof’s Country
8pm-10pm
The Catch Up / Golden Classic Rock Corner / Planet Mega-Mix* Music*
10pm-12am
Night Sounds of West Gippsland
Night Sounds of West Gippsland
Move ‘n Groove / Sam’s Alternatives*
Turn Up Your Radio / All Stars Jazz Festival*
Soul Connection
Prog Spectrum / Wednesday Night Live*
A Musical Patchwork / Trad Jazz@Oak Street*
The Dance of Life
Night Sounds of West Gippsland
Play It One More Time
Time Traveller
TUNED IN:
12am-7am Night Sounds of West Gippsland *Shows alternate every month or every fortnight. For fortnightly shows, the show listed first is on the first week of the month.
Sounds of success: 3BBR FM gets licence renewal WEST Gippsland Community Radio can continue to broadcast until 2018 after its license renewal application was successful. Secretary Lynn Wells told The Warragul Citizen the renewal process was demanding. “The Licence Renewal process is a
complete audit of our management and “Listeners will be happy to know that 3BBR planning, repeated every five years,” Ms FM’s place on the airwaves is secured until Wells said. 2018.” “Success is a tribute to all our volunteers, The station will have to go through the and to the listeners who supported our case license renewal process again in 2017. for renewal. You can tune in at 103.1 3BBR FM. First published at warragulcitizen.com on 27 September 2012.
Vision Australia Radio (Warragul) - 93.5 FM (RL) = Repeated Later (R) = Repeat (Weekend guide at www.visionaustralia.org.au) MONDAY
6am 6.30 7.30 8am 8.55 9am 9.05 10am 10.05 10.30 11am 11.05 12pm 12.10 12.50 1pm 1.05 2pm 2.05 3pm 3.05 3.30 4pm 6pm 6.15 7pm 8pm 8.30 9pm 9.30 10pm 10.30 11pm 11.30 12am
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Insight for Living Eye Opener with Robyn Winslow: early news, TV highlights, newspaper previews and special features The Age News Movement to Music News The Herald Sun News The Herald Sun (continued) A Morning Conversation (RL) Hear This (RL) News The Australian The World: News Round-Up The Australian Financial Review Stock Market Report News Letters to the Editor: Warragul and Drouin Pakenham and Berwick South Gippsland The Weekly Times: Gippsland newspapers Gazette/Trader Gazette Sentinel Times Gippsland news News Afternoon Live: Short Story at 2.05 and Horoscopes at 2.50 News Bits and Bytes Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday Feature(RL) West Gippsland Talking to Gippsland History Time of Your Life (RL) Talking Vision Philip Island Advertiser Today in Focus with Arthur Higgins: includes Community Spotlight with Stock Market report at 5.50 Vic News Today in Focus: (continued) sport and special features The AFL Show Opinion Hour: Letters to the Editor from The Age and Herald Sun Talking Law: includes Music World Get About Age Green Guide Travel (RL) ‘Rumpole’ reading Health 8.15 New Horizons Consumer Talk Planes, Trains & Automobiles Behind the Scenes(RL) The Uncertainty 8.30 Don’t Hold Back The World Around Us Principle As it Happened... Education Book at Bedtime People of Note The Entertainers People of Note A Morning Conversation (R) The Funny Side (R) Hear This (R) Money,Money,Money(R) Wednesday Feature (R) Time of Your Life (R) Hear This (R) BBC World Service (until 6am)
Twitter: @WarragulCitizen
The Warragul Citizen
The
Boredom Filler
More inspiration for The Gippslander
Gardivalia a must for West Gippslanders By David ‘Wombat’ Lyons.
With guest cartoonist Chris Emmerson Concept: Richard Howlett
sad-garden.blogspot.com
Word hunt
Enter your words to get your name in the paper as a pro! wordy@warragulcitizen.com
Words must be at least four letters long and include the central letter.
___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________
Sudoku
___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Congratulations to Chris Emmerson, who found the most words in last issue’s word hunt. He found eighteen words, including the nine letter word; suggested.
Solution on Page 12.
5 October 2012 | Page 11
Every year in October a committee of keen volunteers bring the community one of the biggest festivals in the region, Gardivalia. A mix of open gardens, workshops, art exhibitions and community events, the festival links commercial gardens and galleries and tourist business with grass roots community groups and green thumbed locals. The 2012 festival guide, which can be found online at www.gardivalia.com.au or at local businesses, shows this year’s event to be one of the biggest run by the group, featuring 29 gardens. This year the festival has a wide spread of gardens across West Gippsland. Gardens are featured in Neerim South, Jindivick, Buln Buln, Drouin, Warragul, Darnum, Lardner, Yarragon, Trafalgar, Willow Grove and Hill End. These gardens include a number which have been open in past years, many new gardens and gardens which have not been opened in many years. Two tourism giants of the region, Brandy Creek Wines and Wild Dog Winery, are opening their gardens this year. Brandy Creek, who are open on all four dates of the festival, are offering visitors
Don’t forget to write! FINISHED WITH THE Boredom Filler and have nothing to do? Try your hand at writing an article for The Warragul Citizen! Opinion articles (including reviews), fiction, essays, news articles and just about anything that can be put to print is accepted! You are welcome to include a two-sentence bio, through which you are welcome to plug businesses and websites. To submit, head to: warragulcitizen.com/submit
the opportunity to "stroll around the terraced vegie and herb garden beds on the hillside beside the vines." Wild Dog are also opening on all four dates with a wetlands boardwalk giving visitors the opportunity to view tree ferns and remnant forests. On the community side of the festival, Angela and Rob of Archilbald Crescent in Warragul are opening their "family garden" on Saturday October 28 for the benfit of the Warragul Scout Group. The guide describes the garden as having a veriety of native and exotic plants. Many of the gardens opening are promoting sustainability with the support of the Baw Baw Sustainability Network, including gardens like that of Tom and Nerelie, which I viewed in 2011 and highly recommend. Their place in the housing estate area of Trafalgar proves that no matter how small your garden is, you can grow a huge range of vegetables. Take the time to meet Tom and talk to him about his green house and moon phase planting; the ideas are inspiring. In Yarragon, Doug and Alene, who many will know from the Yarragon Craft and Produce Market, are opening the garden which creates those tasty veggies and fresh eggs. The guide highlights the use of aquaponics in this garden, a very productive way of growing fruit and veg in West Gippsland's environment. The sustainable gardens are opening on Sunday the October 28, a date that will see over 90 per cent of all the gardens in the festival open. In 2010 and 2011, I had my own garden at Yarragon Goats open, so haven't seen many of the other gardens, however this year I am looking forward to a few open gardens I have seen past festivals or events like the open studios event. Tanjadale in Willow Grove will be known to many who visit the open studios as the garden around the workspace of Alene. Open on the weekend of the October 27 and 28, this garden is large with great
views across this rich beef and cattle farming district. The garden is based around a lovely walk with many native plant highlights. Willow Grove also has two other gardens open, so well worth planning a trip up the hills as part of the festival. Art is a large part of this festival and a key art location in West Gippsland is the Laurie Collins Sculpture Garden in Jindivick. Open all days of the festival, it showcases Laurie’s metal and mosaic artworks while another leading local artist, Lucy Chapman, is displaying a botanical-themed exhibition at Lillico Glass. The studios already have an impressive garden created by Cathy and John. Workshops on dry stone walling, potting for kids, moon gardening and growing herbs are all part of the event. Rowes Nursery will demonstrate composting and the Drouin Library will host a unique event for book lovers. Full details of this part of the festival are in the event guide and there is something for every one. Before ending, I would like to highlight an event for children in grades 5 and 6 being run by the Trafalgar Youth Centre called creative plant containers. It will be held on Thursday October 18 between 4 and 5pm. Young people can bring an old boot or shoe and transform it into a quirky garden feature. As a committee member of the Youth Centre, I am completely biased in saying this will be a fantastic event, but don't let that obvious favouritism keep you from this great activity for your children or grandchildren. Gardivalia has something for everyone, from plant lovers to artists. It’s a great place to pick up new ideas, meet locals and see some of the most creative gardens in Australia About Mr Lyons in his own words: “David Wombat Lyons is a goat farmer at Yarragon Goats, and a hobbist artist and a youth worker - remember to like the Yarragon Goats facebook page and wombat encourages everyone to participate in the creative community of Gippsland.”
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