Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen 10 October 2014

Warragul & Baw Baw

MONTHLY // FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2014

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POLL SAYS BAW BAW WANTS WALHALLA IN LATROBE: Page 6

PA IN T OW T T HE N WH Baw B ITE l a u n c a w ­b a s e d h ed b an

dM i ts n the O ew EP, So ercury Wh &H l a i s t w e p h i s ti c a te , te For m eken d at o . m u s i c r e p h o to s fr o d a r ts a o w n l o a d s m th e g i g , n d en a f te r ta n d l o ts m r e e to P a i n m e n t, h o r e g e 13 ead .

Baw Baw's bulge

By William Kulich WHILE data suggests the number of overweight adults in Baw Baw is rising to almost half of the popul­ ation, a proactive locally­run healthy living program has reac­ hed the end of its funding period and is decentralising its campaign.

The Being Healthy Baw Baw program, funded through a grant from the Council of Australian Governments obtained by the Baw Baw Shire Council, ended on 30 June. The program aimed to educate the people of Baw Baw of the importance of healthy and sustainable eating through marketing, events and projects, including street parties and

Better than rest but still 48.9% overweight community gardens.

Projects started by the program will now be maintained by groups including the West Gippsland Healthcare Group, schools and clubs.

A spokesperson for the Baw Baw Shire said the council and most affected agencies would continue to monitor health data and "new evidence­based initiatives to ensure our approach best meets the needs of the community," however the impact of the new decentralised model on the high obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes rates which prompted the creation

Yarning together Page 2

of the program remains to be seen.

Obesity is a serious problem for Gippsland. Data supplied by the Latrobe Community Health Service suggests the Gippsland's "overall rate of overweight and obesity in adults is at 75 per cent," however Baw Baw fares much better.

"Baw Baw’s prevalence of overweight and obesity is 48.9 per cent, compared to the state average of 49.8 per cent, according to the preliminary findings from the Victorian Population Health Survey 2011­12," LCHS Manager of Primary Prevention Christina Rush told the Warragul & Baw Baw

Cook will not contest Page 3

Citizen.

"We believe these figures are high in Gippsland for a number of reasons, including not meeting the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables, sedentary behav­ iour and alcohol consumption."

"High levels of soft drink consumption is also a big factor – 13.3 per cent of Gippslanders consume soft drink every day compared to the state average of 12.4 per cent; however, this rate in Baw Baw is lower than the state average at 9.7 per cent."

Ms Rush said obesity and its associated diseases "puts a strain on

public funds and acute health services."

"For example, in recent years, non­urgent patient presentations at West Gippsland Hospital have increased by almost 23 per cent.

"Health prevention, including maintaining a healthy weight, can help take pressure off emergency departments and keep people out of hospital for longer.

"People can take control of their health by making small changes.

The current Live Lighter campaign, supported by Healthy Together Victoria, Cancer Council Victoria and the Heart Foundation, aims to increase understanding of the risks associated with poor lifestyle choices. Continued on Page 4 >

2 | THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 10 OCTOBER 2014

LOCAL NEWS

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Clear goals set in Yarning Together report A REPORT prepared on behalf of the Kurnai Nation Company by members of the local Aboriginal community has made clear recom­ mendations on what can be done to improve services for and recog­ nition of local indigenous people.

The Six Generations Yarning Together report, launched on Tuesday by authors Linda Mullett and Lisa Williams, explores the bac­ kground of policies and attitudes toward the Kurnai people by settlers in Australia while making sugge­ stions on how present conditions can be improved.

The key recommendation of the report was that a Healing and Culture Centre be established, with a view to delivering "a holistic approach to the health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal people by increasing participation in services and delivery and incorp­ orating employment and training opportunities for the community."

The creation of "a place to connect" was, according to the report, "seen as a vital health and wellbeing need, particularly when Aboriginal people have such deep spiritual needs to connect with family, community, their beliefs, practices and country, which for the most part have been taken away from them."

Cultural awareness features strongly in the report. Another reccomendation suggested "all...

service providers develop a reconciliation action plan or policy" and government organisations commit to ongoing cultural awareness training in consultation with Aboriginal Elders.

The creation of programs to reduce barriers to accessing services and participation in programs was also labelled as an important step to improving service delivery.

Programs designed to "support and guide Aboriginal students at all levels," to be developed by Elders and parents have also been suggested by the report. Those programs could include all school staff in Baw Baw undergoing compulsory yearly cultural awar­ eness training and the improved access to Aboriginal culture and history programs.

Health and financial wellbeing were also key areas addressed by the report. Recommendations for service improvement included: • "a review of service delivery models with local Aboriginal leaders to achieve... health prevention [outcomes] and monitor actions to manage chronic disease."

• "the development of a local housing group that links with Aboriginal housing support workers and services."

• "the establishment of a group within one year consisting of representatives from agencies including Centrelink, Job Network

agencies, Baw Baw Shire, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, secondary schools and local Elders to address employment and training issues."

• the employment of "a team of four Aboriginal Liaison officers to work in the management structure [of] organisations and service providers to ensure existing policies are made aware of and adhered to."

• the funding of "a local Abor­ iginal Community Liaison person to assist in building two­way relations­ hips between Police and the Aborig­ inal community... aimed at reducing mistrust of the police force."

Linda Mullett told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the report's release was an important step in addressing issues.

"What it means is we're telling our story, and the struggles we have," she said.

"We are six generations on and there has been slow outcomes that haven't improved the health and wellbeing across all levels across all these key areas.

"We need to share this story so we can get change. The community are wanting change for their own community so this report really says it in that way.

"We've come from the past, where we've come from, we're at the present and now we want to work toward the future, so that's what the report details."

Lisa Williams (front left) and Linda Mullett (right) and members of the Kurnai community with Narracan MP Gary Blackwood (back left) and Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Tim Bull (back right).

Linda Mullett addresses local, state and federal government representatives at the report's launch on Tuesday.

DCSI not happy with data retention

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DIRECTOR of Warragul­based Internet Service Provider DCSI Mark McKibbin has expressed concerns about the federal govern­ ment's proposed metadata reten­ tion laws.

The Abbott government's prop­ osed data retention legislation would require telecommunications companies to retain users' metadata for potential use by law authorities.

The exact nature of the inform­ ation the government could ask companies to keep has not yet been clarified, however it could include details including names and addr­ esses and bandwidth usage.

But the only data Mr McKibbin thinks the government would seek would be web history.

"Well, that's as far as I can see, what else is it? What else are they going to get? They want to know where you've been, so it must be browsing history," he told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

"But it doesn't matter what I think it is, it's [the definition that] goes down in the law.

"I'm just against it. I think it's just all wrong. I don't trust who is going to end up with this information, that's the problem.

"It doesn't matter what they collect, they're collecting it from everybody. One day you will have somebody in power, or someone in the intelligence services, who decide they need to lean on you for some reason and they'll find something in

there that is unsavoury and that'll be it."

Past discussion of internet filters and monitoring has raised the prospect of ISPs footing the bill for the data storage. Mr McKibbin said there has been no indication of the potential costs of the proposed data retention laws for ISPs. "I don't know how much it's going to cost, I have no idea how big it's going to be. At the moment we don't retain anything and prefer it that way.

"If they want to put a big box on the edge of Australia where everyt­ hing comes in and out that's fine, that's their business. But if they want me to do it it's going to cost money, and it's going to cost ever­ yone money for something that's not going to do anything except red­ uce our civil rights.

"Also, it must slow the internet down a bit if you're going to start retaining information ­ it's more stuff between you and where you want to go if there's some big server skimming everything off the top.

"I know in America they do this and it's proven to be a complete failure. I don't think they've arrested one [terrorist], and so it's just a complete waste of time."

But not all federal internet policy changes have gone down badly with Mr McKibbin ­ he said reductions to the scale of the National Broadband Network will see Baw Baw connected sooner.

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Cook likely to hand mayorship to Brown

NORTH Ward councillor Debbie Brown is likely to be Baw Baw mayor heading into 2015 with present mayor Murray Cook not planning to stand again in next month's mayoral election and other councillors showing little interest in taking the role at present.

The election will be held next month. Mayoral elections in Baw Baw are conducted among councillors with no public vote undertaken, similar to the selection of leaders in many state and federal political parties.

Cr Brown has spoken publicly about her desire to become mayor since she joined the council at the same time as Cr Cook in 2012, and a survey of councillors undertaken by the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen suggests no other councillors are seriously considering contesting the position this year.

Reasons given ranged from no desire to hold the role to the amount of time away from other work holding the position would require.

Cr Cook has held the position since he was elected to the council for Mount Worth ward two years ago, with Cr Brown his deputy for the entire time. At the time of his re­ election as mayor in 2013, Cr Brown said Cr Cook's second term was appropriate.

"We have this year spent a lot of time, a lot of energy… getting policies looked at, getting to a stage where we’re now ready to start kicking some goals and I think that’s not fair to have Murray do a lot of the hard work as interim mayor and have [me] step in and take all the glory," she said in 2013.

Cr Cook recently told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen he was ready to hand the position over to someone else.

"I've had two years as mayor. It's a seven­day­per­week job," he said.

"It's like a sponge, it will take as much as you're prepared to put in.

"We're working as a team and I think we will continue the four year term in the same manner as has been set by the first two years, so I'm quite confident on the behalf of the public that the last two years will continue in the same way."

Cr Cook said he might step into the role again if circumstances required him to do so, however he would not be pushing to take the job again.

"Never say never, but at this stage I know we've got a good team and I'm sure that the new mayor will, with the support of the other nine councillors, the same support that I've had, rise to the occasion," he said.

Cr Brown was clear in an interview with the Warragul & Baw

Baw Citizen she planned to stand for mayor this election.

"I've made that knowledge since last year that I would be having a go this year, and I'm still going to," she said.

"It's always making sure what's best for the community, and having Murray there for this year has been fantastic, but I've said from the start that I want to have a go at mayor, and hopefully I'll have the support of the other councillors.

"I am well and truly ready to have a go this time, it's just timing, and I'm always big on timing."

Cr Cook said the key concern for anyone replacing him should be on securing funding from other levels of government.

He also said the highlight of his two years in the role had been a financial review conducted early on.

"We saw the need for the policy review of our finances, getting our finances so we're confident of the way we're heading was an impo­ rtant first step," he said.

"The whole thrust has been trying to get our organisation running more efficiently, and I think we've started that well."

"There's still a lot of work to be done, it's a big ship to turn around as they say, but I'm pleased with the progress we're making and hopef­ ully the momentum will keep going even quicker.

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4 | THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 10 OCTOBER 2014

LOCAL NEWS

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Getting hyped about Mental Health Week

HYPE Baw Baw, Headspace's new group focused on youth leade­ rship, development, empowerm­ ent and events, has been busy engaging with the community for Mental Health Week.

Starting with a launch event for both the HYPE Team itself and Mental Health Week called Lift Off at the Warragul Skate Park on Sunday, the group has been involved in a number of activities during the week, including a prese­ ntation to Baw Baw councillors about youth issues on Wednesday.

Mental Health Week has seen an increase in people contacting Headspace Central West Gippsland, which the HYPE Team has been keen to take advantage of.

"We've seen steady numbers come through. We've had a couple of general enquiries and people just seeking more information, which is always fantastic," Team Leader of Youth Programs Bonnie Healey of Headspace Central West Gippsland told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

"It's people just wanting to know more about what's out there and lots of people from the wider com­ munity, not just young people, wanting to know more about youth issues.

"We had lots of engagement at the Lift Off event."

HYPE committee member Zanzii Bowers of Warragul said the prog­ ram was about giving young people a voice.

"HYPE is basically the young people giving the young people a voice," she said.

"We put on what they want. It's not necessarily what we want, but [directed by] the feedback we get.

"For example Lift Off didn't exactly have the best turn­out in the world, so hopefully it gives us more of an insight into what we can do for upcoming events."

Zanzii said there were three key focuses of the group.

"There's the FReeZA component,

Ms Healey said the positive environment of Mental Health Week was helping people to seek help and discuss mental health issues and responses.

"People are definitely coming in seeking more information," she said.

"I think it's the coverage Mental Health Week's had just in the local newspapers, radio, the ABC, and I think people are more interested because of that. It has become less stigmatised."

"Mental Health Week always is a really busy week for us and it's great that the message is getting out to the community about mental hea­ lth, not necessarily mental illness, but keeping your mind healthy and things like that."

Zanzii said awareness of the importance of good mental health was also improving.

"Awareness is going up a lot because it is popping up a lot more with modern technology keeping

everyone inside, so everyone's just becoming more aware of mental health and mental health issues," she said.

"It's tips for a healthy head space," Ms Healey added.

"What can you do? Go and take the dog for a walk, go outside and kick around in the garden, play your guitar.

"It's about looking after your head space and making sure you're in a good space to operate so you can work, go to school and operate.

"So yeah, we love Mental Health Week."

The group is planning to improve its reach through partnerships with sporting clubs, religious groups, Committee for Gippsland and the Young Farmers Federation, in addition to existing partnerships with groups including the YMCA, Baw Baw Shire, local bands, schools and the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

The partnerships with the Arts Centre and local bands will soon be very visible; Zanzii has been heavily involved in organising the Rad­Ur­ Day all­ages concert which will be held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on 25 October. A number of Gippsland­based artists including Crimson Drones and Secret Academy have been named as participating.

Zanzii said she and other members of HYPE were keen to have more young people between the ages of 15 and 25 join the committee.

"Anyone's welcome to join," she said.

"We've got about 12 members at the moment and we're just hoping to expand.

"If you want to come down to Headspace Warragul and sign up, you can."

The committee meets at the Headspace Warragul building on Queen Street.

HYPE Baw Baw has funding support until 31 December.

and see changes made to comm­ unity infrastructure and facilities to encourage exercise and healthy eating.

In the final Healthy Baw Baw report, presented to councillors last month, organisers said it was hoped the Being Healthy Baw Baw

Networking Group which was established at the commencement of the program would continue to meet and promote healthy eating in the area.

It is also hoped a number of "community champions" will continue to advocate for healthy

living, and the new infrastructure created during the operating period of the Being Healthy Baw Baw program will continue to serve and encourage the community.

The West Gippsland Healthcare Group declined to comment for this story.

HYPE Youth Team committee members Alex Ionascu and Zanzii Bowers with Headspace Central West Gippsland Youth Programs Team Leader Bonnie Healey.

so we put on the events, the Youth Reference Group, and also youth leadership and inclusion.

Ms Healey said the group was trying hard to engage with the community.

"The HYPE youth team is a team of young people who have come together and decided they actually want to run events," she said.

"They want youth opportunities, they want to showcase young people in Baw Baw, and they're really, really active."

"They're out there talking to the councillors... about what's happe­ ning for young people in the area.

The councillors responded really re­ ally well to that."

"We see it as a bit of a responsibility to highlight things to the councillors that are coming up

for young people. It's actually the youth organising a lot of these programs, I'm kind of the admin."

Alex Ionascu of Drouin, also a member of the HYPE committee, said the group was well placed to talk about local issues with councillors and youth.

"What better way to know what young people want than to actually have young people on the commit­ tee?" He said.

"I think it's a very smart thing to do."

happen by cutting back on certain things, like salt, sugar, alcohol, saturated fats and the amount of time spent sitting."

That goal is remarkably similar to what Being Healthy Baw Baw was pushing for, though that program was also able to take the initiative

Stigma dropping through talking

Being healthy in Baw Baw "Some ways <from Page 1 people can introduce changes into their lives are by increasing some things, such as by eating two portions of fruit and five portions of vegetables a day, and by being more active.

"Positive changes can also

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Drugs forum identifies issues

A FORUM about drugs and add­ iction, especially the drug "ice", was held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on Wednesday.

A number of representatives from key law, drug and mental health organisations spoke at the event, which was timed to tie in with Mental Health Week.

Ambulance Victoria South Coast group manager Eddie Wright, spo­ ke of the issues his staff and other emergency services face when responding to patients on drugs, and said the common word for crystal methamphetamine, "ice," was not appropriate.

"I think we give ice a name that we shouldn't use," he said.

"Methamphetamine is what we should refer to. By calling it ice we start indicating it's useful to us, which it's completely not.

"The problem we are starting to see in ambulances is it's going to have an affect not just on the person using it, but on the broader community. It has an effect on the emergency services.

"One user can have an effect on a whole community, hospitals."

Mr Wright said his staff were being put at greater risk by addicts.

"One of the things we're actually starting to see is assault on ambu­ lance staff. As the manager of the

Ambulance Victoria South Coast group manager Eddie Wright speaking at the forum.

district... one of my concerns now is my staff getting assaulted in these sorts of events.

"These people go from being in a calm state to fight or flight, they're bouncing. We don't know how they're going to behave and that's why we're beginning to see the violence."

Mr Wright showed images of how the drug is often packaged.

"This is the stuff we are starting to see in our industry," he said.

"That's one tenth of a gram. With that small a quantity, we see people in our industry now calling for us to have a system because [users are] mixing it with other drugs, alcohol."

"Gippsland ambulance call­outs were about 76,000 last year. Twelve thousand of those related to drug and alcohol­related events.

"So that's 12,000 people who probably ended up in police care or into a hospital system. The flow­on effect from that you can imagine ­ beds are tied up."

Headspace Central West Gipp­ sland centre manager Sally Walker said drug abuse was one of many responses to situations some youth may turn to, and common misin­ formation was not helping.

"Young people need to have good information to make good choices, and for us what we see commonly is young people who have found information from Doctor Google, Facebook sites, information from friends, and the accuracy of that information is often the thing that leads to young people being at risk."

Ms Walker said Headspace can help people between the ages of 12 and 25 find help and other ways of coping.

"We really encourage young people to come and seek inform­ ation, and family and friends who want information too.

"We provide a wrap­around service. So if a young person presents and they want to see a GP about a particular issue, then from that discussion they might say 'oh, maybe I'll talk to a youth worker or maybe I will seek some help for a referral."

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6 | THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 10 OCTOBER 2014

COMMENT

GUEST COLUMNIST Mary Aldred Committee for Gippsland CEO

Numbers stack up for a new hospital

Bow down to the LAST month's Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen front page story, "Walhalla 'rotting' in Baw Baw: tourism heavyweight says town would be better in Latrobe City" has, unsurprisingly, had a massive response.

The story looked at a number of arguments put forward by Walhalla & Mountain Rivers Tourism Association president Michael Leaney for the town to change councils, including strong business links to the valley and a poor economic case for investment from Baw Baw. One of the first and most detailed responses received was this:

Steve Wandmaker

...own great product but nobody has yet worked out how to sell it.

We fought long and hard to keep our piece of the world away from the Latrobe region, because if you call it part of the Latrobe Valley people can’t differentiate and will think it’s where the power stations and open cuts are.

By all means the Latrobe Valley should feed off what the Mountain Rivers Region has to offer, and the people there can use a lot more support from all quarters, but don’t take away the reason these people have have battled for years without fanfare to accomplish.

outcomes for their stakeholders.

My compassion goes to all who put their faith in someone who is still regurgitating the same demands and complaints for more than 15 years. Clearly not much achieved during a long reign.

Now on to Neerim South's new bower artwork, pictured above shortly after its erection.

As is always the case with public art, there were strong responses from both lovers and haters:

Bruce Wallace

Via WBBC's Facebook page

Posted at warragulcitizen.com

I was the instigator of the formation of the Mountain Rivers Tourism group back in about 87­88 and its first president, so I think I’m qualified to comment on this subject.

When I first put forward to bring all the businesses and Towns in the Mountain Rivers District together to help promote our natural areas, tourism and business opportunities available we were met with disregard from the Latrobe City Council and were offered no assistance to get things rolling. Any help we received initially was from the Latrobe Regional Commission in the form of marketing ideas and contacts within Tourism Victoria.

The help we received from Baw Baw Shire was in the form of consultation, monetary, grants and promotional activities which was by far more supportive of our ideals.

It wasn’t until Latrobe Valley Tourism got up and swinging that they figured it was too hard to promote themselves as a destination, they started looking towards the mountains as a way of making their product look greener. It’s simple, the Latrobe Valley is an industrial­style tourism product which doesn’t fit in with the beautiful serenity and excitement that the mountains can offer up.

The Latrobe Valley has its...

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?

But not all respondants agreed with Steve.

Maree Hall

They are an absolute eyesore.

Seeing those blue shards against a green environment is visual pollution. Pull them down.

THE Committee for Gippsland recently asked internationally renowned demographer and social commentator Bernard Salt to pay us a visit and paint a picture of Gippsland's future by numbers.

The picture painted was a bright one. For example, Mr Salt said that over the last two census periods, there was growth in 17 out of 19 of Gippsland's industry sectors including construction, food, education, and manufacturing, among others.

At the top of that list was healthcare, which is growing exponentially in response to a growing population.

Within and beyond the region, Baw Baw Shire is one of the fastest growing regional municipalities in Victoria.

The other message Mr Salt drove home was that by population, Gippsland is the 9th largest market in Australia – in other words, we are just too big to ignore.

Combining those points – a growing population, demand for more healthcare services in the region, and Gippsland's dominance beyond our borders, leads to some interesting conclusions.

These points aren't new for many of us. That's why the Committee for Gippsland has been advocating for a new hospital for West Gippsland since 2011. The proposal now has broad support in both local and state government.

The reasons are compelling. In the last 12 months alone, the West Gippsland Healthcare Group (Warragul Hospital) has delivered 960 babies, treated over 20,000 patients in emergency, undertaken 3,521 procedures, and provided

Posted at warragulcitizen.com

Walhalla should have been transferred to Latrobe City when councils amalgamated. Facilities and infrastructure are much closer in the Latrobe Valley.

'wilful'

Posted at warragulcitizen.com

I’m a Baw Baw ratepayer and I don’t really care either way which municipality Walhalla is in, but it does seem a bloody long way away from Warragul and Drouin, much closer to the Valley.

Latrobe City has too much money and zero tourist attractions. Walhalla would be better off with them.

However there was no holding back from former North ward ­ the ward Walhalla is situated in ­ councillor Mel Neil.

Simon Loveless Via WBBC's Facebook page

Beautiful.

Any haters can suck it, this is great.

Angie Accardi

Via WBBC's Facebook page

Ian Muir

The Committee for Gippsland represents industry in the region and is based in Warragul.

Polling LAST month WBBC asked readers whether they thought Walhalla would be better placed in Latrobe City than Baw Baw. Here are the results: YES

Gigantic Mutated Cameltoes Via WBBC's Facebook page

BEHOLD MY SENSORY TENTACLES!

NO

124 votes

16 votes

89%

11%

Posted at warragulcitizen.com

We have always enjoyed driving into Neerim South. It is a pretty town with a natural honesty.

It’s still the same town but now it has a pile of blue steel at its entrance.

Why did they do it?.

William Langoor

Posted at warragulcitizen.com

Real visionaries and real "heavyweights" in any sphere actually get things done, move forward and create sustainable

And a final word on the piece from a fake account with a sense of humour which all public art should be approached with:

I hope it's safer and lasts longer than 'Cloud' did.

Mel Neil

Via WBBC's Facebook page

Posted at warragulcitizen.com

William Blackburn

palliative care to community and inpatients.

But the existing hospital site is small and was originally built in the 1940's. The infrastructure and many of the buildings are extremely old and costly to operate and maintain.

Already, sheer population demand is placing significant strain on the current ageing and inadequately­sized hospital building.

There is a solution though. The West Gippsland Healthcare Group purchased 23.64 hectares of land in 2007 at Lardners Track with funds from a donation. So in other words, rebuilding on a new site won't require the costly acquisition of new land. The hospital already owns it.

A new hospital would offer significant improvements, including direct access to ambulance bays and the emergency department, an energy and material efficient building design, improved clinical facilities and patient amenities, easy pedestrian access, plus much improved car park facilities, provision of a dedicated EMS helipad, and more employment opportunities for our local community.

Bernard Salt was right about Gippsland – we have a broad­based economy, sustainable population growth, and a bright future ahead.

But to succeed we need our community infrastructure to keep pace, and that means securing funding for a new hospital in West Gippsland.

I quite like it , congratulations to all involved.

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PROPERTY & LOCAL LIVING

8 | THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 10 OCTOBER 2014

PROPERTY & LOCAL LIVING

Citizen of the Month A COMFORT cushion handed to Warragul woman Paula Summ­ erfield after a breast cancer operation led her to a life of full­ time volunteering.

Paula underwent radiotherapy and had a lump removed from her breast in 2002, after which a nurse handed her a cushion designed to make things more comfortable.

"A nurse came up and she gave me this cushion. I thought 'I can sew, I can make some for the other ladies'," Paula told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

She has since amassed a group of between 80 and 90 volunteers from across Gippsland who help her make breast cancer comfort cushions, as well as bags designed to help post­op.

"They give a bit of comfort, especially after the operation," Paula said.

"Even when you're going through the radiotherapy, because you get burnt so badly.

"Ladies will even use it for when they're travelling in the car with the seatbelt because that gets really tight."

The cushions are designed to help after both small and large operations.

"Some ladies, when they get their breast off, they need that comfort at night time, because you lie on it and find 'oh, I haven't got a boob there any more.'

The group produces a massive number of cushions, which are sent to hospitals across Gippsland,

Paula Summerfield

Paula Summerfield helps women who have undergone breast cancer treatments get comfortable.

Melbourne, and even in Queensland, with all interest driven by word of mouth.

The enthusiasm of the group is not entirely driven by personal experience ­ only around two people in the group have undergone a breast cancer operation.

Paula co­ordinates her massive group of volunteers, who work both

in groups and alone.

"It is a full time job," she said.

The group receives "heaps" of responses from people who receive the cushions, and often receives donations in return.

"Ladies post me a parcel, and sometimes they give me about four lots of material, and sometimes they give me wool, and we get cheques,"

Paula said.

"One lady just recently gave us some material and $100 cheque!

"We also get our money through the Country Women’s Association or Lions Club or Rotary Club, even op shops.

To raise further funding for the group, Paula will be holding the Breast Cancer Comfort Cushions

High Tea fundraiser at the Warragul Downtowner on Pink Ribbon Day ­ 27 October 2014.

Last year a similar event raised over $6,000 for purchasing mate­ rials.

"We do use that money to go to­ ward making more cushions," Paula said.

"We are hoping to raise around $3,000 or more. We are hoping to attract 150 people, and have around 95 booked already."

Anyone interested in attending the fundraiser, at which the organi­ sation shows off what it is about, should contact the Downtowner on 5623 4520.

Paula also fundraises by attending markets, including the Warragul and Lardner Park Craft Markets, where she sells aprons shopping bags, kids' bags, peg bags and more.

Unfortunately, Paula said demand for the cushions was increasing.

"We have noticed this year that the number has increased," she said.

"It's now almost 30 cushions per month, it used to be only 20. That's one per day.

"It really has gone up this year."

Paula said anyone interested in joining her network of volunteers, either as part of a group or working from home, is welcome to do so.

Contact details, links to social media accounts and other informat­ ion about the group can be found at breastcancercushions.com.au.

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ENVIRONMENT NATURE NOTE

10 OCTOBER 2014 THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN | 11

The value of wetlands 1

2

3

4

Words and photos by 'Gouldiae' SWAMPS, billabongs, lakes, dams, lagoons, marshes, bogs, mangroves, even a temporary inundated paddock or a sewage farm ­ wetlands come in many guises.

They may be natural or artificial and the water within a wetland can be static, flowing, fresh or saline.

Image 1: The rare Freckled Duck on Lake Guyatt in Sale Wetlands are a critical part of the natural environment. They can act like a sponge and mitigate flooding. They filter sediments, recycle nutrients and increase oxygen levels. Wetlands provide habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Some species are completely dependent on wetland habitat for their survival. They provide space for recreation and many wetlands have cultural and historical significance.

In the past, wetlands were thought to be useless unproductive areas and many were deliberately drained. Half of Australia’s wetlands disappeared after European settlement. Wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems.

Image 2: Red­necked Avocet in a flooded paddock at Sale The Gippsland Lakes and fringing marshes were listed a Ramsar site in 1982. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands took place in 1971 and broadly aims to stop the loss of wetlands worldwide through international cooperation and to conserve existing wetland areas with wise management strategies, policies, and so on. Australia

became a signatory to the convention in 1974 and there are over 60 Australian Ramsar sites today. Other Ramsar sites in Gippsland include Corner Inlet and Westernport.

Of the many flora and fauna species dependant on healthy wetlands, migratory birds are perhaps the most significant. Latham’s Snipe (Image 3, at Maffra Swamp) breed in Japan during our winter. They arrive in Australia each September and move down the eastern seaboard, occupying freshwater wetlands and mudflats as far south as Tasmania.

5

The Sharp­tailed Sandpiper (Image 4, at Marlay Point) is an even greater long distant migrant, with many birds flying to and from their breeding grounds in Arctic Siberia, a round trip of about 25,000 km!

When they get here, the ‘sharpie’ will take up residence for the summer on mudflats and grassy edges of fresh or saline water bodies, sometimes even far inland.

Background/ 5: The picturesque and popular Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Reserve The entire global population of Latham’s Snipe and a very high proportion of the world’s Sharp­tailed Sandpiper population rely on Australian wetlands for their survival. Enough reason surely to preserve and conserve our precious wetland ecosystems.

For more by the author visit gouldiaesblog.blogpot.com

EVEN MORE

ONLINE FIND WBBC'S ARCHIVES AND BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WARRAGULCITIZEN.COM

12 | THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 10 OCTOBER 2014

ARTS & RECREATION

What's on in Baw Baw

GIG GUIDE IN ORDER OF PERFORMANCE DATE SAM & ZACH 10 Oct @ Middels, Drouin Free. Starts 17:00

LOBES OF JULIA 11 Oct @ The O&H, Warragul Free BAW BAW BLUES CLUB JAM 12 Oct @ Royal Hotel, Drouin Free. Bring instruments Starts 14:00. Story on Page 14 GINA & DAVE 17 Oct @ Middels, Drouin Free. Starts 17:00 CHARLEY JENKINS & THE ZHIVAGOS 18 Oct @ Old Drouin Butter Factory Tix: $40 online/ $45 at door.

Starts 19:30 THREE OAK ROAD 18 Oct @ The O&H, Warragul Free. Warragul­based group ADAM HARVEY ­ FAMILY LIFE TOUR 24 Oct @ West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul With a career spanning almost twenty years, half a million album sales, gold and platinum albums and eight Golden Guitar Awards, Adam Harvey is one of Australia’s most popular & enduring recording artists. His new album ‘Family Life’, follows the outstanding success of ‘The Great Country Songbook’.

Full: $39/ concession: $37/ youth: $15/ family: $95.

Starts 19:00. Tix: wgac.com.au

Time: 14:30.

Tix: trybooking.com/104113 SWEETLIP DUO 21 Nov @ Middels, Drouin Free. Starts 17:00

HAVE A GIG COMING UP? Get it listed here. Email deets to editor@warragulcitizen.com.

The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen supports local live music.

MARKETS ROKEBY COMMUNITY MARKET 11 Oct @ Rokeby Reserve Times: 08:00 to 13:00 DROUIN CRAFT AND PRODUCE MARKET 18 Oct @ Civic Park, Drouin Times: 08:00 to 12:30 Phone: 0419 428 564 WARRAGUL ARTS MARKET 18 Oct @ Civic Park, Warragul The Warragul Arts Market is back at Civic Park Warragul for its 2014­2015 season.

Browse and purchase fine art and craft from local artists, enjoy performers and buskers and join in an artist activity.

Painters, ceramics, photography, sculptors, jewellery, pottery, printmakers, author/illustrator and much more!

Times: 09:00 to 13:00 WARRAGUL FARMERS' MARKET 18 Oct @ Civic Park, Warragul Times: 08:00 to 13:00 W: warragulfarmersmarket.com.au

EMILY MURDICA 24 Oct @ Middels, Drouin Warragul­based artist Free. Starts 17:00

YARRAGON CRAFT & PRODUCE MARKET 25 Oct @ Yarragon Public Hall Times: 09:00 to 14:00

RAD­UR­DAY FEATURING KEENAN WARDROPE, SECRET ACADEMY, CRIMSON DRONES AND MORE 25 Oct @ West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Tix: $15. Time: 19:00 ­ 22:00.

Tix: wgac.com.au

JINDIVICK COUNTRY MARKET 01 Nov @ Jindivick Country Kitchen grounds Come along and enjoy the country atmosphere of Jindivick’s Country Market. Features a wide range of produce including teas, honey, hats, flowers, cakes, cookies and wine tasting.

Times: 08:00 to 13:00

THE POTBELLEEZ 31 Oct @ The O&H, Warragul $23. Search "Potbelleez O&H" for tix. Story on page 16 SWEETLIP DUO 31 Oct @ Middels, Drouin Free. Starts 17:00

LONGWARRY FIRE BRIGADE MARKET 02 Nov @ Bennett Street, Longwarry

RUSSELL MORRIS 05 Nov @ BANK Warragul

ROKEBY COMMUNITY MARKET 08 Nov @ Rokeby Reserve Times: 08:00 to 13:00

EMILY MURDICA 07 Nov @ Middels, Drouin Free.

HILL END MARKET 16 Nov @ Old Hill End School Times: 08:30 to 13:00

NICK PARNELL ­ VIBES VIRTUOSO 07 Nov @ West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Celebrated as one of the most exciting vibes players in the world today, Nick Parnell makes old music new again, injecting energy into a repertoire that might be familiar to some. With a spirit of recklessness, Parnell takes one of the newest of classical instruments and gives it a genre­bending makeover.

Times and tix: wgac.com.au JULIA HASTINGS, PIANO 16 Nov @ Wesley of Warragul Full:$20/ concession and students:$15/ primary:$5

EVENTS EXPOS AND FESTIVALS BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR FESTIVAL • 12 Oct: Great Garage Sales begin at 8 am. Maps available at Trafalgar Newsagency. Contact Angela Montgomery 0417139 862.

• 12 Oct 14:00 ­ 16:00: High Tea with Music. Celebrate the opening of our New building, St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Contingent St Trafalgar. Contact Sue Jacka 0409757170 • 13 Oct: Taekwondo Open Night – Old Gym Waterloo Rd Trafalgar.

Contact Adonis Mazzarella 0412498480 Free entry • 16 ­ 17 Oct: Trafalgar High School Production at Trafalgar Public Hall – “The Trafalgar High World Ear Revue” Contact 5633 1733. Tickets $20/ Concession $15.

Curtain rises 19:00.

Tickets include ration­style food for each table.

• 18 Oct: Pet Parade 10:00 ­ 12:00: at the area between the hall and the uniting church. Gold coin donation.

Contact Traf Vets on 5633 1327.

• 18 Oct: Opening of the Holden Museum. See deets under "Other Events".

• 25 Oct: RSL Supper Dance at the Trafalgar Public Hall. Starts 20:00. $25.00 per head.

Contact Ray James on 5633 1162 Deets: battleoftrafalgar.com.au

SUGAR ART ­ DAVID LYONS Until 17 Oct @ West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Is a photo of sugar being added to a cup of tea really art? What role does subject have in making photography art? How do we determine 'what is art'? wgac.com.au NEERIM BOWER ARTS FESTIVAL 26 Oct @ Neerim South Recreation Reserve The Neerim Bower Arts Festival is being held on Sunday 26 October in celebration of the Neerim Bower and art, food and wine in Neerim South.

Will include official opening of Neerim Bower by the Minister for the Arts.

• Community­based and aimed at community having fun • Program of performing arts • Exhibitions • Children’s art activities • And more...

Time: 10:30 ­ 16:30. neerimbower.com.au GARDIVALIA ­ FESTIVAL OF GARDENS Until 31 Oct @ various locations Annual month­long festival featuring open gardens, garden tours, demonstrations, workshops, Drouin Lions Baw Baw Garden Expo & Home Show, art and sculpture displays and ‘poetry in the garden’, all complemented by gourmet food and wine.

Almost 30 gardens will be on display. These gardens, many open to the public for the first time,

range from small suburban plots to large country gardens. gardivalia.com.au BOTANICA ART EXHIBITION Until 2 Nov @ The Station Gallery and Community Arts Hub, Yarragon Station To coincide with the Gardivalia Festival, The Station Gallery & Community Arts Hub will showcase flower and garden related artworks.

Featured artists include Joan Bognuda, Barbara Gogerly, Margaret Koopmans, Celia Collins, Lucy Chapman, Ingrid Thomas and Alene Bonser. bawbawartsalliance.org.au BOTANICA ART EXHIBITION 5 ­ 29 Nov @ The Station Gallery and Community Arts Hub, Yarragon Station Official opening: 8 Nov 14:00 ­ 16:00 An exhibition of oil paintings by Judy Mackintosh. bawbawartsalliance.org.au THEATRE

ASSASSINS 14 & 15 Oct @ West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul Amidst the lurid debris of a traveling carnival, a Proprietor invites nine would­be heroes to step up to the mark and hit a target in return for a glittering prize. As he hands out guns with a glib invitation, 'c'mere and kill a president', we are introduced to a collection of America's most disturbing characters, from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald.

This killer black comedy takes a provocative lens to the dreams, distortions and delusions of nine infamous Americans. Following a sell­out debut season in Melbourne, Watch This are delighted to recreate this production for regional audiences in 2014.

Tix: full $56/ concession $50/ members $48/ youth $30.

Times and tix: wgac.com.au OTHER EVENTS SPRING INTO NATURE 11 Oct @ Uralla Nature Reserve, Trafalgar.

Free. RSVP to 0437 589 317.

Trust for Nature’s Uralla Nature Reserve provides an experience of the varied forest habitats that once covered the Strzelecki Range foothills. Purchased with assistance

from the RE Ross Trust, the Reserve is managed by Baw Baw Shire Council and Friends of Uralla Nature Reserve and supports endangered Shrubby Foothill Forest, Damp Forest, Strzelecki Warm Temperate Rainforest and a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Activities include: • 10:00am: Fauna survey display and discussion with wildlife ecologist Ann Williamson.

• 11:00am and 1:30pm: Guided nature walks and bird watching with naturalists and wildlife artist, Nicolas Day. • Dusk until late: Spotlighting for nocturnal fauna..

Time: 09:30 to late 14TH ANNUAL DROUIN LIONS CLUB GIPPSLAND BAW BAW GARDEN & HOME EXPO 11 ­ 12 Oct @ Lardner Park (Field Days site).

Adults: $8. Kids under 16 free.

Demonstrations by experts throughout the day. Held in three huge pavilions and surrounds.

Time: 09:00 to 16:00 both days RIDE TO WORK DAY 15 Oct TRAFALGAR HOLDEN MUSEUM 18 Oct @ 74 Waterloo Road, Trafalgar.

From saddles to pedal cars, aero engines to motor vehicles... discover the incredible journey of Australia's iconic brand.

Regular opening times 10am­5pm Sat & Sun weekly from 18 Oct. LAWRENCE MOONEY ­ STUPID LIAR 31 Oct @ West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul The inimitable host of ABC2’s Dirty Laundry Live ­ Lawrence Mooney is back with some outrageous fibs, tall tales & hilarious theories on the myths men need just to stay alive.

Lawrence Mooney is a Stupid Liar is an examination of the functional stupidity of this man as he seeks to guild the lily, smooth the bumps and oil the machine of modern life.

On occasions the best intended fibs get out of control and take on a life of their own. This is Lawrence doing stand up and telling stories in his much celebrated style about some mega fails in the social stakes.

Tix: full $39.90/ concession $34.90/ youth (u18) $34.90.

Time: 20:00

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Gallery: Mercury White EP Launch Continued from Front Page

David 'Wombat' Lyons' exhibition is pretty sweet.

Wombat's sweet question Mercury White.

Support: Berwick­based band The Controllers' lead singer.

A QUESTION most people don't often think about is "what defines art?" Yarragon man David "Wom­ bat" Lyons has rented exhibition space at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul to ask us just that.

Wombat has created an exhibition consisting of photos of sugar being put into cups of tea.

Called "Sugar Art," the exhibition is on display at the Arts Centre's foyer until 17 October.

The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen asked Mr Lyons why he put on the exhibition. "'Why not?' is probably the better question" Mr Lyons said.

"I don't think I have an answer for that one.

"A friend of mine , Daniel, and I were sitting in a café, and he was picking on me for [my artistic style].

"At the time there was the foodie trend where people were taking photos of food, and both of us felt that they were taking credit for other people's work, because the chef would bring it out to the café and they would take a photo of it and put it on their Facebook.

"It was looking at that, but also, I do a painting style called mark making, which Daniel doesn't really

Is this art? David 'Wombat' Lyons wants to know what you think.

This image by David. think is very much art, and so this is challenging those concepts of what makes art, what is art, how valuable a subject is to photography, and so on.

"I have my own personal view on what is art, I think anything you declare to be art is art. I think creativity can be expressed in many different ways and I don't think a photo has to be beautiful, I don't think art has to be aesthetic, but they're my answers. People can have all sorts of different positions and part of this exhibition is finding out what people's answers are.

"There are canvases which people can write on and add their opinion to, there are business cards people

can write on and post back to me or leave here at the Arts Centre, and it's a chance for people to, as they come in to go to the café or see a play, to see the works and ask themselves those questions.

"Whatever conclusion they come to is correct."

Asked why he went out of his way to pay to put on the exhibition, Mr Lyons said: "I think if I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it to the fullest extent. This started with the photos being taken, being put on Daniel's Facebook page and him being asked the questions of 'is it art?' 'Is this creative?' 'Is this better than my paintings?'"

"Then it went out publicly, so we have a Facebook page which is a collection of all these photos that anyone can see."

"And putting this on as a public exhibition in a public space is the next step."

Mr Lyons said the reaction to the idea of the exhibition had been good.

"As I was hanging it there was quite a lot of opinion, and what I found interesting was a lot of it was positive, which I wasn't expecting."

"I was expecting pitchforks and being run out of Warragul."

Try this on for size...

An ad this size in the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen would cost you just Support: formerly Trafalgar­based singer Emmalee.

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD You can download Sophisticate

by Mercury White for free. Just head to http://goo.gl/f1r8t4

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14 | THE WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 10 OCTOBER 2014

ARTS & RECREATION

Backyard Tourist

Journey to Jindi

Oh no, they got Kamahl! Wendy Olsen stands with a small selection of her octopus­ed items.

Jindivick's old post office is now in use as a gallery.

It's a family affair for Greg Pretty as he takes a look at what the small town of Jindivick has to offer.

IN A little farming town, not far from anywhere in the Baw Baw Shire, you'll find fine collections of antique furniture and an eclectic selection of art pieces.

Jindivick's only two stores for decades were run by the Pretty family. My grandparents, Bert and Mabel Pretty, operated the general store until they handed it over to son Jack after opening the post office and milk bar in 1952. After the senior Prettys passed on, the post office was operated by their daughter Lorna Parke.

In more recent times, the post office closed and both stores passed into other hands. But the former post office building is now back in the Pretty/Parke family with its purchase by Lorna's daughter, and my cousin, Faye Parke.

Faye opened the gallery B'zarte of Jindivick in 2010. There are eight rooms, each with its own unique appeal and array of treasures to discover.

B'zarte offers a charming select­ ion of artworks, including many by local artists. There is also furniture of different styles and eras, along with jewellery, glassware, Stuart Crystal, Carlton Ware, Royal Albert, Doulton & Staffordshire pieces.

Faye also hosts the annual Jindivick Antique and Collectables Fair in the town's public hall.

Among the many stalls each June is a variety of antiques, glassware, crystal, pottery, china, books and furniture.

The gallery is a welcome addition to the other attractions of this small farming town.

The restaurant Jack's at Jindivick is directly opposite B'zarte of Jindivick and, in fact, used to be the house of Faye's uncle, Jack Pretty.

The restaurant is named for him and features dining areas including the 'Pretty Room' and the 'Music Room.' Jack Pretty is an accompl­ ished player of the double bass.

Sadly the restaurant is not currently operating, but with luck it will soon be back.

The barn behind Jack's home is now a restaurant and providore called Jindivick Harvest Kitchen.

Alongside that is the Jindivick Country Gardener, which offers rare and unusual plants, antiques and garden and interior design services.

Jindivick also has a café and take­away food shop located in what used to be the residence of the general store.

The little town is easy to get to, just a short 15km drive north of Drouin. Well worth a weekend visit.

For more by Greg Pretty visit www.greatergippsland.com

Red Fox spreads tentacles around the world DROUIN gallery and café The Red Fox's upcoming exhibition has caught the eye of people around the world, and it isn't even finished yet.

Artist and proprietor Wendy Olsen has been busy painting octopuses on everything from furniture and trolleys to paintings and records, all sourced from local opportunity shops.

Ms Olsen told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the previews of the exhibition she had posted online had resulted in interest and sales from people across the world.

"Everything that I've shown on the internet so far has sold or had commissions taken from it," she said.

"I've got several paintings going to America and one going to Wales.

"Some of my pictures have been copied and shared by several people and put onto international octopus art collection websites. I had no idea

[those existed] until I got an email from one of my Facebook fans."

Asked what her inspiration for the exhibition was, Ms Olsen said she wasn't sure.

"I'm not 100 per cent exactly sure why I chose octopuses," she said.

"I was going through the op shop and I saw a picture and I thought 'that looks like it needs an octopus,' so I bought it and several others and have slowly, over the last couple of weeks, added octopuses to everything.

"I like that they can blend into any situation, they are very flexible, they have eight arms ­ they can do lots of stuff!"

The cephalopods do indeed blend well into many of Mary's subverted paintings, which look as if the newly­added octopuses were always a feature of the works. But this style of art is new for Ms Olsen.

"This is a new direction in upcycling," she said.

"I like the idea of turning something old and discarded into something that's new and aesthetically pleasing."

It's a direction she has enjoyed taking, and will look to undertake similar projects in the future.

"I've got a million ideas racing through my head at the moment."

Ms Olsen said while people liked the idea, not everyone was fond of the subject matter.

"Some people find octopuses really gross," she said.

"They're kind of mysterious and creepy, there's no visible mouth, they just seem to be eyes and tentacles."

If you want to see Ms Olsen's octopuses, you can visit the Red Fox Gallery at the Old Drouin Butter Factory from Thursday 16 October to Saturday 29 September.

You can also find a small number of previews of her works at the Wendy Olsen Art Facebook page.

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'Pair of mates' head Star's new morning show

Cooper Dodge has released a new single, Black Sun. Artwork by Nicholas Keays, image by William Kulich.

RADIO GA GA with Greg Pretty PEOPLE who do FM breakfast shows don't have last names. So, meet Brad and Mandy, Star FM's new team to help start your day.

I met the new morning hosts at a café in Warragul, surrounded by little pots of chamomile tea. It took no time to realise they are genuine, down­to­earth people. They like to have fun and they like to share that fun with their audience.

"I think the best thing we can do is just be ourselves," Brad said.

Mandy agrees. "We're just a couple of average people who love life and want to make the most of what comes our way."

And some good things have indeed come the way of this pair who are only three weeks into a career in commercial radio.

Brad and Mandy first met four years ago at volunteer community station SYN in Melbourne. They were put together for a weekly timeslot and quickly got in sync with each other as radio performers.

From there they went to the narrowcast dance music station Kiss FM where they ended up getting used to early morning alarm clocks.

"It's there that we really became mates," said Mandy.

"Yeah, we're really good friends," Brad continued.

By moving into commercial radio just a stone's throw from Melbourne, they're thrilled their radio partnership can continue not far from home.

Brad said it was good to have a job that was also a lot of fun.

"We're just a cheeky, irreverent, self­deprecating pair of mates," he said, "and we don't take ourselves too seriously. We're here for a good time and a long time and we just want other people to hear our friendship and let them be included in our circle."

Brad said he and Mandy would be laughing from the moment they arrive each morning. According to Mandy, they laugh on air but even more so off air. They bring to the radio what they do in life.

"I'd rather sit around a table with a bunch of mates and have a laugh than go out clubbing," she said.

"I like to interact, have fun and laugh."

"I think I'm the same," Brad added. "I think I'd much rather go to a bar and have a conversation than go out and get trashed."

You can become Brad and Mandy's newest friends, 6­9am weekdays on 94.3 Star FM. Greg has worked in the radio industry for 38 years.

Jason Lives in the Espy Basement WARRAGUL­based punk band Jason Lives will headline a show at the iconic Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne, later this mo­ nth.

Lead singer and bassist Luke Woodhouse told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the show, to be held on Saturday 18 October could lead to even bigger shows for the band.

"If we get a good size crowd that will lead to more and bigger shows," he said.

Jason Lives will be performing with support from False Kingdom, Medicine Dog, Grey the Sky, Anti­ Violet and Black Diamond.

The band got on the bill after impressing organisers at a previous show.

"It's put on by a company called Gunn Music who organise a lot of shows," Luke said.

"We played some competition

shows for them earlier this year and although we did not win they liked us and said they would be keen to give us at more gigs.

"This is our first show for them and they have given us headline spot on a Saturday night at the Espy."

The band sees the show as a major promotional opportunity.

"We plan to film the show with multiple cameras so it's important to get a good size crowd to help the footage look good."

As such, the band is encouraging people interested in coming to make contact via Facebook or jasonlives.net for cheap tickets.

Jason Lives has not played a local show in "at least seven years," performing in Melbourne instead.

Luke said he was keen for the band to be a part of the new local music scene growing in Warragul, either as a support or headline act.

Life under a Black Sun

COOPER Dodge may have thousa­ nds of people following his music, but finding an audience has never been one of his priorities.

The Drouin­based musician and DJ, who goes by the moniker "SBMRGE" for his music, recently released his latest single, Black Sun, to the delight of over 3,000 followers on SoundCloud and over 1,100 Facebook fans.

His online audience may be large for a musician based in Baw Baw, but that popularity is only a side­effect of his personal musical interests.

"I don't really write music for anyone else to listen to, I write it as a sentimental thing just beca­ use I love writing music," Cooper told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

"SoundCloud is just a great platform to share your music with other people. I thought, 'well, if I'm producing music I might as well share it with everyone else.'"

"I don't really follow the reactions of people to my music. I check up and stuff like that, but it's not really something I care about as much as writing actual music."

Cooper has taken a long route to the ambient, wistful music he releases, and what drove him to start producing is "a tricky quest­ ion."

"I used to listen to a lot of hard­ core and punk, and all of a sudden I started listening to lots of 90's instrumental hip hop, which really just drew me in," he said.

"I got interested in writing that kind of stuff and sampling (grabbing sounds from songs and other sources for use in other songs) soul and jazz tracks and stuff like that.

"I've played drums since I was really young, so writing hip hop tracks was just a no­brainer really.

From there I found a lot of chilled out electronic stuff, which really inspired me to write that kind of

music.

"From there my sound's progressed to be my own."

"There's a guy called Shlohmo who was the reason I [decided] I wanted to start producing music. I think he's a musical genius, and the atmospheres he makes really draw you in and it's like going on a musical journey for me, listening to Shlohmo."

Cooper said his sudden popul­ arity on social media and music publishing websites came as a surprise to him. He only began producing music just over a year and a half ago.

"It's really weird, it just happened extremely quickly, especially with SoundCloud ­ it's just a really great way to share music I reckon," he said.

"It's just such a big audience.

"For me I'm just writing music and all the other stuff is just in addition, all the shows and things."

Cooper has played a number of live DJ sets and went on an "unofficial tour" earlier this year.

"It was just a band of four shows; I played [in Melbourne,] on the Sunshine Coast, Bendigo and in Sydney," he said.

Cooper also said his style of music and how he releases his music means producing from Baw Baw was not a hindrance.

"If I was playing in a band or something like that, of course it would be a lot harder, it's hard to push that kind of stuff," he said.

"But when there's a lot of people doing production it's a lot easier to network.

"It's not really a problem, living out here."

The idea for Cooper's new single, Black Sun, came together quite quickly after a short period of inactivity.

"I just went through this really bad bout of writer's block and all of a sudden I just sat down and it just came to me in a day or so," he said.

"I ended up finding an African choir vocal sample and that completely changed how I wanted to write the song.

"I was just happy with the sound, I guess, and [made a big thing of releasing it because] I was just happy to have something to release, I guess."

"The process of writing a song is basically weeks, maybe months of writer's block, and then sitting down, maybe on the way to work on the train, and it usually starts with just a bassline or a melody, basically just the tiniest idea that will actually spark something.

"I do have to prepare to actually sit down and write something.

Asked to describe his sound, Cooper said: "Some of my stuff has a nostalgic sense, I think."

"To me it's nostalgic because a lot of my stuff is inspired by earlier stuff I used to listen to. For someone who hasn't listened to it before though? I would say drea­ my, almost, I don't really know."

Although he produces music for himself, Cooper is still keen to have a career in music.

"Definitely. it's something that if I could make a living out of I would do."

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD

You can download Black Sun by SBMRGE for free. Scan the QR code on the right or head to http://goo.gl/2Erb9M

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