Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen 13 February 2015

Warragul & Baw Baw

Citizen

TWICE MONTHLY // FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2015

WARRAGULCITIZEN.COM

F

/WARRAGULCITIZEN

FREE PLEASE TAKE ONE

L @WARRAGULCITIZEN

ALL THE NEWS FROM THIS WEEK'S COUNCIL MEETING INSIDE

ANIMATORS ADAPT THE ANIMATORS celebrated the launch of the band's latest EP, Adaptations, with Mercury White and Lobes of Julia in Warragul late last month.

The bands played to one of the largest gig turn­outs the O&H has seen in recent months. It was also The Animators' first local gig in some time, having played across Victoria and New South Wales over recent years.

WBBC caught up with the band's songwriter, singer, keyboardist and producer, Drouin local David Cuthbertson, to discuss his songwri­ ting, the band and the new EP. WBBC: What can you tell me about this release?

DC: Adaptations was written in 2013, mainly while I was in Sydney to study. I wrote it all in the bedro­ om. Back home here I've got myself a nice little studio and a space to m­ ake music, but up there I had a bed­ room and laptop. Basically I got ba­ ck to really basic songwriting. Lots of ideas, and it evolved from there.

WBBC: The style of this EP did seem more downtempo compared Story continues on Page 5 >

Pictured: David Cuthbertson playing at the O&H EP launch gig last month.

Photo and article by William PJ Kulich.

Milking climate change Baw Baw reappoints

By Saúl A. Zavarce L SaulZavarce BAW Baw faces harsher fire weat­ her, a greater frequency of hotter days and less rainfall according to the latest CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology's Climate Change in Australia report.

According to the CSIRO, the projections are the most compre­ hensive ever released for Australia.

Information has been drawn from simulations based on up to 40 global climate models.

“There is very high confidence that hot days will become more fre­ quent and hotter”, CSIRO principal research scientist Kevin Hennessy said in a media release.

The increase in mean temperat­ ure will also reduce the number of frost risk days, where the minimum temperature is under two degrees

Broadbent's swipe at 'whingers' Page 3

celsius.

Australian Dairy Farmers Ltd released a report in 2007 on how climate change had already affected the region's dairy farmers and will continue to do so.

“Dairy farmers in Gippsland have noticed that pasture growth patt­ erns have changed and that spring now starts about two to four weeks earlier than it used to,” it read.

The drier climate brings oppor­ tunities for farmers to adapt. Fewer frosts will mean greater pasture growth rates and earlier warmer temperatures mean it will be possi­ ble to sow summer crops earlier.

Greater investment in crop storage and irrigation technology will, however, become necessary in order to adapt to the hotter weather.

Farmers who rely heavily on buying feed may need to secure supplies six to 12 months in

advance, and those that grow their own may need to cut more silage and hay to manage the risk of less predictable summers.

Heat stress on cows can have a negative impact on milk production, meaning investment in evaporative cooling may be necessary.

GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen feed availability and other land usage changes as a result of a changing climate could affect local dairy farmers in the future.

"Yes, the effects could be positive or negative," he said.

"A positive example is that Gippsland may benefit from the Story continues on Page 7 >

Heat off the rails Page 7

Local music news & gig guide Pages 5&6

CEO ahead of challenging times

By William Kulich BAW Baw's councillors have voted to reappoint Helen Anstis as the council's CEO for the next five years.

The decision was made in a clos­ ed meeting on Wednesday afterno­ on and made public at the general meeting that evening.

Ms Anstis has been Baw Baw's CEO for almost five years and may­ or Debbie Brown said the council needed to keep her in the position to deal with challenges on the horizon.

"One of the biggest things we've got that we're facing at the moment is the rate capping and the grants

Nature note: birds of summer Page 7

freeze from the federal government, and we want to have the best person in the seat for what we're going to have to be doing in the next 12 or 18 months and into the futu­ re," Cr Brown told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen on Wednesday.

"We've got a lot of hard decisions and, as far as I'm concerned, you Story continues on Page 4 >

What does the council CEO do anyway?

WBBC explains on Page 4

2 · LOCAL NEWS ·

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 FEBRUARY 2015

Brett keeps watch

Parents for portables A GROUP of concerned people in the Warragul North Primary com­ munity will again face off with the state government over the future of one of the school's portable buildings.

A spokesperson for the "Save Our Classrooms" group, which is conce­ rned the removal of a two­class­ room prefabricated building will set the school back given the growth in a growth area, said on social media the group would fight the Depart­ ment of Education.

"We were successful last year in stopping them, so let's rally together again to save our classrooms!" they said.

"There are petitions located in the WNPS office foyer.

"We needs lots and lots of names and signatures."

Late last year the group was succ­ essful in preventing the removal of the classrooms after a strong camp­ aign, as well as support from Baw Baw Shire councillors also conce­ rned about population growth.

THE POPULAR local police co­ mmunity engagement Facebook page "Senior Constable Brett" has been folded into a new page.

Taking a lead from other police service areas across the state, the new "Eyewatch ­ Bass Coast and Baw Baw Police Service Areas" page has been established to service the local community with police news.

Senior Constable Brett Godden, who unsurprisingly administered the old page, has become an admin­ istrator of the new page.

The Facebook page is used to distribute information about local issues and operations, missing pers­ ons, bail breachers and more.

Emergency Report plan adopted highlights THE NINTH version of the Baw Baw Municipal Emergency Plan was adopted by councillors on Wednesday.

The plan outlines the prevention of, response to and recovery from emergency events in Baw Baw and incorporates the Municipal Fire Management Plan, the Municipal Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan, the Relief and Recovery Plan, the Heatwave Response Plan, the Mun­ icipal Emergency Animal Welfare Plan and the Municipal Public Health Emergency Management Plan.

The plan undergoes a review annually and after major events.

Consultation by the council was conducted internally as well as with community and external agencies.

Public versions of all the plans are available on the council's webs­ ite for viewing.

baby boom

The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen can help promote your business to an audience of thousands.

With an eighth page full colour ad costing just $80 incl. GST, a quarter only $138, $275 for a half and $550 for a full page, WBBC has options and prices to suit everyone with something to sell.

Basic ad design is free and front page options are available. Contact admin@warragulcitizen.com

DATA in the Baw Baw Shire's qua­ rterly performance report shows a massive increase in the number of births in the region.

Birth notifications increased fr­ om 51 in Q2 2013/14 to 135 in Q2 2014/15.

The number of visits recorded for the council's Key Age and Stage asseessments increased from 476 to 1,161 in the same periods.

Children provided with day care rose by 27 to 186, while the number of educators rose by four to 24.

Kinder enrolment applications dropped by 30 from 101 to 71.

More from the report below.

By Jack Lacy L jack_m_lacy

and submitted to the state government.

Community Assets • A new initiative of joint inspe­ ction teams from Local Laws and the Fire Management Team from Latrobe City Council has allowed further inspections into strategic risk areas indicated by the Victoria Fire Risk Registry assessments, across both the Baw Baw and Latrobe localities.

• A trial of the application of dust suppressant additives in lieu of the “black re­sheet’ program to manage dust issues on unsealed roads.

Works have been completed on the Labertouche North Road and East West Road with good results.

Growth and Development • A total of 96 footpath trading permits have been received.

• The Public Health Unit issued 728 renewals of registration for all food, accommodation, hair/skin and beauty community groups and businesses in October for the 2015 registration period.

SUSTAINABILITY Gippsland has officially launched its new online business directory.

Gippsland residents are now able to locate people who deliver a range of sustainable services in the region using the website.

The directory allows Gippsland­ ers to create listings, write reviews and support local, sustainable busi­ nesses.

Businesses listed in the directory are categorised under 13 different tags, which include Biodiversity, Sustainable Gardening and Renew­ able Energy.

Sustainability Gippsland is a not­ for­profit partnership project which was formed by the Gippsland Clim­ ate Change Network and all six Gippsland shires.

The new online tool has been designed to engage and support individuals, community groups, local government, organisations and businesses to coordinate and promote activity in the sustainability sector.

Sustainability Gippsland is parti­ ally funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Pla­ nning.

You can find the directory at sustainabilitygippsland.com/ businesses.

Report serviced

By Jack Lacy L jack_m_lacy

Great ad rates

BAW Baw Shire councillors accep­ ted the Q2 2014/15 Quarterly Per­ formance Report at this week's council meeting.

The aim of the report was to brief the shire and the community on the council's progress in achieving the objectives outlined in the 2013­2017 council plan.

Council plan projects highli­ ghted in the report included: • From the 37 initiatives that were identified in the council plan and budget, seven were achieved and 28 are currently in progress.

The remaining two have not yet commenced.

• Implementation of completed service reviews continues. Of the 126 identified improvement actions, 46 have been achieved, 52 are in progress, 24 are not yet commenced and two have been deferred.

Corporate performance measures

• There was a noted increase in work cover hours, decrease in the time taken to decide planning permit applications and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Community Services • The Arts Centre hosted 33 community productions or events, 10 commercial productions and 11 productions presented as part of the arts program, compared with 37 community, 13 commercial hire and 11 arts program events in the same period last year.

Corporate Services and Organisation Development • Implementation of an enter­ prise budgeting solution was consi­ dered, which would enable enhanced budgeting for controlling approved salaries and full time approved staff positions.

Community Information and Advocacy • A trial report for the first quarter of 2014/15 was prepared against the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework

It's office­ial

New car park defective

THE Warragul & Baw Baw Citi­ zen has moved into a new office on Victoria Street.

Situated between Subway and Planet Surf and using the same door as Dragons Ink at 5­9 Victoria Street, the office is open for people to discuss advertising options in the now twice monthly paper.

Copies of the paper are also available from just inside the door.

CONSTRUCTION company Thiess has advised commuters the Warr­ agul Station car park will be par­ tially closed for almost two weeks while defective asphalt is repaired.

The eastern section of the car park will be closed from Thursday 19 February to Wednesday 25 February, and the western section will be closed from Thursday 26 February to Tuesday 3 March.

One section of the car park will remain open at all times, however parking availability will be limited while the works are carried out.

The bus interchange and pedes­ trian access to the station will not be affected.

During the closure the existing road surface will be cut away, the base layer reworked, a new road surface laid and new lines painted.

Sustainability network launches directory

Satisfactory response THE Baw Baw Shire's 2015 Community Satisfaction Survey is underway.

Residents will be contacted by phone at random as part of the state government­run survey.

JWS Research and National Field Services are conducting the survey.

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 FEBRUARY 2015

Broadbent's swipe at refugee groups LIBERAL MP for McMillan Russ­ ell Broadbent has described comp­ laints about the government's immigration policies from refugee support groups as "whinging" and suggested the groups could be more constructive.

The federal MP, alongside two Liberal colleagues, famously threat­ ened to vote against what he saw as cruel refugee policies pushed by then­prime minister John Howard in 2006.

Talking to the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen, Mr Broadbent said he would support the hardline policies of Tony Abbott until he was given an alternative.

WBBC: The policies coming out at the moment are being highl­ ighted by refugee action groups as being inhumane and you seem to be supporting those policies.

RB: Well they are inhumane, they are supported by both parties at all levels, and my question to those refugee action groups, after they've had their scream, after they've whinged about human

rights, after they have acknowled­ ged that there are flaws in Austra­ lia's treatment of refugees, I then say to them: what is your solution?

WBBC: I think a lot of them have a solution of on­shore proc­ essing and integration into the community.

RB: Yes, but we have to have very strong border protection which I've always advocated for. We have to have a system that's fair on all people, and we have to have a system that does not allow people who are not refugees at all into this country, which has happened. I know the refugee action groups say this is appalling, I agree! But we must have a responsible answer to Australia's immigration.

WBBC: At the moment there are people who are legitimate refugees who are ending up in PNG and not Australia under this government's policies.

RB: There're legitimate refugees all over the world, they're called displaced persons. That's an issue that Australia as a nation has to

grapple with. It's a complicated issue, I'm quite prepared to have long discussions with people about it. But I'm very interested in their solution, not just their criticism of the federal government.

WBBC: Are you hoping there will be a change of policy with the change of minister, or are you hap­ py with the policies as they stand?

RB: I've never been happy with the policies as they stand, but I'm also seeking solutions.

WBBC: Some people will look to your history of taking a stronger stand and will wonder what it is you're doing at the moment?

RB: That is exactly what I'm doing, I'm saying to people criticise me, criticise [the parties], but give me a solution.

WBBC: There are solutions bei­ ng offered.

RB: There are not solutions being offered. There are suggestions that we take in more people, that we take it from 13,000 to 30,000. Good idea! What do you do with 30,001?

I'll leave you with that.

Gippsland Water digs progress GIPPSLAND Water has annou­ nced its $13 million sewer upgrade project is on track.

The water and sewerage services provider recently finished digging more than 100 metres under Princes Way and the railway line to facilitate a new pipeline.

The completion of the dig completed the second of three stages of the upgrade, according to

Gippsland Water communications manager Paul Clark.

"This investment allows for future development of [Warragul, including] fast­growing areas to the west and south of [the town]," he added in a media release.

"Previously un­sewered prope­ rties close to the Warragul CBD will also be serviced."

The new sewer main means

· LOCAL NEWS · 3

Gippsland Water is able to decom­ mission two pump stations to the west of Warragul.

The next major works will be conducted on Howitt Street, expected to be completed by the end of March. The construction of 4km of new underground sewer is expected to be finished by June.

Traffic and parking disruptions during this time are expected.

Sign in the name of love SIGNS with tear tabs offering love, joy, peace, patience, courage, und­ erstanding, kindness, goodness, self control, passion, strength and freedom were taped up around Warragul's CBD late last week.

The signs, titled "Please take what you need", quickly lost tabs to passers by.

4 · LOCAL NEWS ·

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 FEBRUARY 2015

cap warning from Tanks tank Rate reappointed CEO

Wetlands rise EXCAVATION and formation wo­ rks on the new wetlands at the Waterford Rise estate to the west of Warragul are running ahead of schedule.

The first stage of the project involves the construction of five separate ponds for the wetlands.

Dirt excavated during the constr­ uction of the ponds is being used to form the base for planned recre­ national space, but some material is being disposed of off­site.

Drainage structures and pipes are also being built and vegetation planted.

Baw Baw community assets dire­ ctor Phil Cantillon said the project is on track for completion in April.

"The works are progressing well and the project is actually running ahead of schedule at the moment due to the fair weather conditions," he said in a media release.

"Approximately 4,000 cubic metres of a total 23,000 cubic metres in earthworks have already been carried out. Earthworks for the first pond are complete and work on the second pond is almost completed.

"The future recreational space is currently being filled and compa­ cted with the excavated material as well.

"Wetlands offer better drainage management and water quality.

When completed, the wetlands will provide Waterford Rise Estate residents and the general public with an open public space where they can enjoy the natural environment long into the future."

FindWBBConline Search Facebook for "Warragul Citizen", follow @WarragulCitizen on Twitter and Instagram, add warragulcitizen on Snapchat, or subscribe for email updates at warragulcitizen.com/email

SEPTIC tank applications for pro­ perties in Drouin East and Trafal­ gar East have been refused by Baw Baw Shire councillors.

Councillors rejected a tank proposal for a property on Paterson Street, Drouin East, on the advice of council staff.

Assessors said in a report to the council "the lot is considered high risk in that [it] is only 725m squared in size."

Assessors acknowledged that while secondary treatment would be used, "the house design and amount of land developed through the hou­ se construction will place pressure on the site to contain all the effluent."

Officers recommended the refusal of the septic tank permit "until the proposed building layout is redesigned to maximise the area of land available for treatment and disposal of effluent and to minimise the potential nuisance for neighbo­ uring properties."

"The required setback distances to property boundaries and site cuts will be difficult to meet. Unless a smaller house with less rooms that could be used as bedrooms is constructed, the site is highly likely to create a nuisance in relation to effluent discharging off site."

The property owner told counci­ llors at Wednesday's council meet­ ing he understood the plan to be within regulation and the rejection was based on the potential for additional bedrooms to be added to the building at a later date.

An amendment to the motion to reject the application made by War­ ragul ward councillor Mikaela Pow­ er stated that an alternate design with a reduced footprint and hard stand area may be supported, and councillors encouraged the owner to

continue discussions with council staff to work toward approval.

North ward councillor David Balfour said it "gives the applicant the opportunity and ability to come back and talk to our staff."

"I'm sure they will come up with an alternative design."

State Environment Protection Policy requires septic tank wastewa­ ter systems to treat and dispose of effluent within property boundaries.

Trafalgar East A septic tank proposal for a dwelling on Hillbricks Road, Trafa­ lgar East, suffered a similar fate but for different reasons. Councillors voted to refuse the permit after it emerged other building permits were required first.

"The site's definitely large enough to contain it, the issue we have is there is no evidence of either the planning or building permits required," Cr Power said.

Council officers said in a report to councillors "the building was a converted barn that had been fitted out with a bathroom, kitchen, living area and an upstairs section. A toilet was not yet installed, although the plumbing had been installed."

"These works require planning and building permits. A review of council records indicates that these have not been obtained. These per­ mits must be obtained prior to issu­ ing a septic tank wastewater permit to avoid council providing approval for [the] works conducted."

Mount Worth ward councillor Murray Cook was positive about the future for the applicants.

"This is purely a process situa­ tion, and if the applicant follows the process I think it (the septic tank application) will be successful."

< from Page 1 don't hire monkeys. I want to make sure we've got the best, and that is in Helen.

"She's passionate about the com­ munity and she is very good with the skills and knowledge she has."

Ms Anstis said she was looking forward to the next five years, but noted the same impending challe­ nges Ms Brown did.

"Local government's a changing environment at the moment," she told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen on Wednesday.

"The introduction of rate cap­ ping, the freeze on assistance grants from the federal government, it's a very dynamic environment that we work in at the moment and so from that point of view I think it's really important we work together as a team."

Ms Anstis said the rates freeze could be a big problem for a rural council like Baw Baw, and the state government had already advised councils to not raise rates by much this year before the cap comes into play next year.

"It's a very big deal for local government, not just the Baw Baw Shire but for all local councils," she said.

"We have large infrastructure assets that we have to maintain, they cost a lot of money. If rates are capped at CPI, which is usually based around a shopping basket at the supermarket, well, we don't buy

So what does the council CEO do?

By Jack Lacy L jack_m_lacy

Ready to lead YARRAGON Primary School's student leaders for 2015 have been chosen. Gaige and Eemaan will take the school captain roles, and Kye and Viv are the new vice captains. New house captains and school councillors have also been chosen. For more visit the Yarragon Primary School Facebook page.

Photo supplied by Dee Wheller

Gap far from closed MEMBERS of the Kurnai comm­ unity are concerned by slow prog­ ress on addressing the issues iden­ tified in Closing the Gap report on indigenous health equality.

A post on the Kurnai Nations Facebook page after the latest repo­ rt was released on Wednesday said:

"Tony Abbott has released the 2015... report, and let's say things are 'profoundly disappointing'.

"The report isn't on track and if we compare those features of the report to our community, there needs to be a lot of work done to get ground level results."

concrete or asphalt from a super­ market. The cost of our inputs... are quite large and our infrastructure is quite old, [and] the only way we can raise revenue in a rural enviro­ nment is generally though rates."

"So we have to be a more efficient business. Our organisation is extr­ emely lean, it is extremely efficient, but there's going to have to be more that we do to be able to maintain our assets as well as deliver services to the community.

"There's a whole lot of change that's going to have to be discussed with the community around the services we provide and the level at which we provide those services, because we can't be all things to all people at the level they expect."

Other changes from higher levels of government are also expected to pinch.

"The cost of administration und­ er the Local Government Act, all of the things that we have to do, we've recently been asked to do perf­ ormance reporting. That's a costly exercise," Mr Anstis said.

"Our organisation is looking at shared service opportunities with other local councils. We have to look at every aspect of our business, and that's going to be the challenge moving forwards."

Ms Anstis thanked councillors for her reappointment and said she was looking forward to working with the council team, staff and residents into the future.

BAW Baw Shire CEO Helen Anstis was awarded her position by councillors in 2010, but many in the community may be wondering what her role is.

When the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen ran the news of Helen Ans­ tis' likely reappointment online last month, a number of readers critic­ ised the decision, blaming Ms Antis for what they saw as poor council decisions.

But many of those responses were based on misunderstandings of the council CEO role.

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the council's admi­ nistrative management.

The CEO provides advice to cou­ ncillors, seeks to ensure council dec­ isions are implemented legally and without delay, establishes and mai­ ntains an appropriate organisatio­ nal structure and is responsible for the management of council operati­ ons in accordance with the council plan.

In addition to general organis­ ational management, the CEO also has the ability to appoint, manage and dismiss council staff and repre­ sent the council at events.

But the CEO has no formal role

in the creation of council policy and follows the direction of councillors.

Municipal Association of Victoria CEO Rob Spence told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the influence of the CEO was no greater when a large number of councillors are newly elected or inexperienced, as is the case in Baw Baw. Mr Spence compared the CEO's role to that of the staffers in state and federal cabinet, where the politicians make policy decisions.

Documents from the Municipal Association of Victora show the idea the CEO creates policy is the most common misconception of the role.

The reappointment process

The responsibility to employ a CEO rests with the council and is outlined in the Local Government Act. In the six months leading up to the expiration of the CEO's employ­ ment contract the council must pass a resolution to reappoint or replace the CEO. The act allows a council to reapp­ oint a CEO without accepting appli­ cations, which is what Baw Baw's councillors have chosen to do.

The council must also give the public notice of its intention to vote on the resolution 14 days before, which has also taken place.

Plaque for Jack Minor sales problem

Walhalla's number's up

A MEMORIAL plaque to John Henry "Jack" Cuthbertson will be unveiled as part of Ficifolia Festival celebrations on Sunday.

The plaque will recognise Jac­ k's contributions to the local dairy, logging and construction industr­ ies and his gentle nature.

The unveiling will occur at the Brynwood Avenue entry of Civic Park, Drouin, at 16:00.

PROPOSED new street numbers for Walhalla will be presented to residents over coming weeks.

The new numbers, if approved, will cover one of the main priorit­ ies for Walhalla set out in the To­ wns and Rural Communities Plan 2014/15.

A Baw Baw spokesperson said in a media release the numbering was required to help emergency

THREE of 44 Baw Baw businesses tested as part of a council survey earlier this year sold tobacco to a person under 18 years of age.

The council employed a student under the age of 18 to visit tobacco retailers across the region and ask for tobacco products, the sale of which is restricted to adults.

When a sale was made, a coun­ cil officer conducted an interview

with the salesperson and a letter of infringement was issued.

Baw Baw conducts the survey of tobacco sales to minors annually.

In last year's survey, conducted in July, two of the 45 businesses tes­ ted sold tobacco to a minor.

When the council started testing in 2010, 21 of 52 retailers sold toba­ cco to a minor. Mayor Debbie Bro­ wn said the reduction was pleasing.

services, utilities, services and vi­ sitors find people and places.

Maps of the proposed numbe­ ring will be available for viewing at the Walhalla Post Office, the council's Facebook page and the council's customer service centre at Civic Place, Warragul, until Friday 27 February.

Letters will be sent to affected property owners.

Left: The Animators. All photos taken at the Animators EP launch in Warragul on 24 January

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 FEBRUARY 2015

· ARTS & RECREATION · 5

Above: David Cuthbertson playing with The Animators

Below: Mercury White

David Cuthbertson: animated < from Page 1 to your previous releases.

DC: I suppose over time your music changes, it would be a bad thing if it didn't. I come up with a lot of ideas, and I suppose for me only maybe 50 per cent of that fits what I would call The Animators as a musical entity.

WBBC: What happens to the other half of it?

DC: Most of it just sits on a hard drive and doesn't get released. I have tried to start a side project, but then I wasn't really ringing true. It may surface. But more than anyt­ hing I think it's good to just refine the sound you want to make. I thrash out different ideas, some fall by the wayside but it does make the stuff you end up going with a lot stronger.

[Simon "Sub" Michalski] has had quite a big influence on the sound. I say that most of it comes from my head, but really, in terms of the finished product on the record, there's a lot of collaboration. This record is really an adaptation of the original idea.

WBBC: So how do you go about writing your music?

DC: I'm a keys player and a vocalist first before any other instruments, and coming from a production background as well, I tend to write either with piano and vocal, or completely within the pro­ duction environment – programm­ ing synths, programming beats, different strange sounds and ideas.

I don't have a set process in terms of putting the words and music toge­ ther or anything like that. Somet­ imes the words come first, a lot of the time it's some weird melody or some weird beat or bassline.

WBBC: What do you listen to?

DC: Funnily enough, I don't listen to all that much new music.

And for that matter I don't listen to any particularly classic music on the other end of the scale. When I buy an album I usually thrash it to death. Recently I bought the new LAMB album and I've finally been getting into that, so they're an influ­ ence I'd say. The trip­hop style actu­ ally doesn't creep in as much as it should, I think, into The Animators.

But it will in the future – I've been writing again and the trip­hop thing has always fascinated me. It's kind of cathartic, I think, especially the way LAMB do it. Radiohead have always been something I've listened to a lot of...

WBBC: I was going to say, espe­ cially vocally, you seem to draw a bit from their sound.

DC: I suppose vocally you have to work with what you've got sometimes, but yeah, Thom Yorke's vocals and the way he does falsetto and then comes down into his normal singing voice is awesome.

Music is, for me, about good art. It can overwhelm the senses, and you can send really broad brush stroke messages, but with such great med­ ium because you can totally overwh­ elm the senses.

WBBC: So when you do someth­ ing live, what kind of mindset do you take to it?

DC: It's slightly different. In fact it's more than slightly different.

That's not really a deliberate thing, it's just the way you do it. Our mantra is just energy, for live. It's about getting out there. If you pour energy off stage into the audience, okay you have to play your instrument well and whatever and

learn the songs, but your audience generally reciprocates. If you give them energy they will either hate it, or they will be absorbed by it and reflect it. You have this huge sound you can create and a lot more dynamic you can work with.

WBBC: You mentioned produc­ tion earlier, and that's your job, right?

DC: I do live production for a job, pretty much because studio production is a hard thing. I do do studio production, and when I started out I did a lot more. Partly the reason why The Animators was formed was I was thinking “I've written music, maybe I can put that same production effort I put into another person's record into my own work.”

WBBC: Now, the two year gap between this EP and the last release...

DC: The study blew a bit of a hole in the timeline. We didn't start recording Adaptations until the start of 2014. I got a bit of block, I wasn't sure about the track listing, and came up with what I think was the best result for that EP. There's no point putting something out unless it's going to be good. I think the next record is going to be quicker – I'm already writing. Now the live band's back and playing regularly things will come along a lot easier.

WBBC: So, what's it like for you to do a home gig?

DC: Awesome! We used to make a point of coming home at the end of the year. There's a little less pressure I suppose, but in a way that's probably not such a good thing sometimes. But really, it's just a nice and comfortable crowd. It is a

little challenging because I'm not a very serious guy, but we play pretty serious music, and when you look out and can see all your friends you're like “oh, I know this person likes this one or this person hates this one, oh I made a mistake.” If we could do it more often we would.

WBBC: Looking at the local scene, there is more live music hap­ pening here now.

DC: Yeah, I think it's, to be honest, just something that takes energy. There's no good times or bad times; there's always going to be young musicians coming thro­ ugh, it's just a matter of whether or not there's an outlet for it and whether or not they've got the energy to get up and give it a push.

And be good, you have to be good.

WBBC: How long have you been making music for?

DC: The Animators started in 2009. The first EP [we] weren't going to play live, but a friend of mine picked it up and wanted all the music for his film and we had to do it live at the premières. Before that, since I was a kid. I started playing piano when I was three, gave it up for the first time when I was 10. I studied classical piano, gave that up when I was in my teens. Started elbowing it, kicking it, and the classical teachers didn't like that. I was into a lot of Ben Folds when I was growing up and in my teens and I loved the way that was visceral, and the technique was second to the feeling.

WBBC: You're also a member of Liquid Horse, which is kind of like a local covers supergroup.

DC: That's such a whole lot of fun. I have no idea about any of these songs when I'm walking in

New project for Drouin's synth star COOPER Dodge, the man behind the popular synth project SBM­ RGE, has created a new title for himself to venture into a new sty­ le of music.

The Drouin muso told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen his new project, Peruw, was created to show his house and techno side.

"I chose to do this new material

totally separate from SBMRGE for now," he said.

"I would like to keep SBMRGE as something I can work with simply for the fun... whereas I'd like to develop Peruw into..., very possibly, a live act."

"The name Peruw stemmed from a crazy story I shared with [friends] on Australia Day about a man I met the night before who

had just moved from Peru to Australia.

"SBMRGE will stay a project.

I'm sitting on a few unreleased tracks at the moment and am piecing together another featuring the vocals of Tanya Batt (BATTS).

Cooper's first song under the new name, "Moons", was released earlier this month and has already had almost 900 streams on

SoundCloud. His fixation with the style developed quite recently.

"In the last year or so my I've developed a somewhat crazy love of house and garage music. The idea of making Peruw a thing came around probably two and a half months ago."

You can hear "Moons" and future Peruw releases online at soundcloud.com/peruwmusic

because it wasn't the music I listened to. It's almost blasphemous to say that, but these are amazing songs and amazing bands, I just never really got into it. We get in there and just jam out covers. To be in more than one band, to have another outlet where you just turn up and play, it's refreshing.

WBBC: What's next?

DC: We're going to be recording, it's going to be an album.

WBBC: You played something new at the gig in Warragul.

DC: That's called Slow Descent into Happiness. It probably won't remain called that. We do that from time to time. It's funny, some songs that we play live we've never relea­ sed. The song called Overdrive that we played the other night, we've tried to record that three or four times and I think that lends to the whole live vs produced difference. I think it's awesome, but people have trouble talking about it, “why do you sound different live?” It's a different energy. You go to put down a song you predominantly wrote for live, crowd loves it, and you just go “where is it?” On the tape it doesn't jump out of the speakers at all.

WBBC: How's the new EP been received?

DC: Good. Everyone I've spoken to has liked it, the radio stations and community radio have been great.

There's a certain element of putting music out there after you've been out of it for a while that is a little difficult. You have to be bloody good now for people to like it!

You can hear The Animators' new EP and all other releases from the band online. Simply head to theanimators.bandcamp.com

6 · ARTS & RECREATION ·

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 FEBRUARY 2015

What's On in Baw Baw GIG GUIDE IN ORDER OF PERFORMANCE DATE BEN SMITH 13 Feb @ Bank Warragul From 20:00 EMILY MURDICA 13 Feb @ Middels, Drouin Free DOM FINLEY 14 Feb @ Bank Warragul From 20:00 NOMAS TEGRO 14 Feb @ The O&H, Warragul Free NOMAS TEGRO 15 Feb @ Yarragon Hotel Free SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE GARDEN 15 Feb @ Warragul Community Garden, Eastern Park Time: 16:00 ­ 20:00 See story on right Free SWEET LIP DUO 20 Feb @ Middels, Drouin Free LOBES OF JULIA 21 Feb @ The O&H, Warragul Free.

LUKE MATTHEWS 22 Feb @ Yarragon Hotel Free LEO SAYER & BAND 26 Feb @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 Leo Sayer has embarked on a very special series of shows in Regional Victoria and New South Wales this month.

Tix: $64.90 from wgac.com.au BOOM CRASH OPERA + 1927 + TAXIRIDE + MICHAEL SPIBY 01 Mar @ 155 Burnt Store Road, Lardner Time: 12:00 ­ 18:00 "Rock in the Park" event Tix: $59 presale, $65 on gate trybooking.com/115893 CHRIS FINNEN 04 Mar @ Euphoria/Bank Warragul Blues & Roots Club gig Tix: $15 presale from Bank, $20 on door DAN SULTAN 06 Mar @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 Leo Sayer has embarked on a very special series of shows in Regional Victoria and New South Wales this month.

Tix: $64.90 from wgac.com.au KEN NICOL FEAT. DOMINIC FINLEY 12 Mar @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 Ken Nicon's music covers the spectrum from blues to rock,

effortlessly taking in folk, jazz, ragtime, ballads and more along the way.

Tix: $25 for adults. More deets at wgac.com.au

CALIFORNIA DREAMING ­ THE MUSIC OF THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS 14 Mar @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 Their music weaved its magic across the world and epitomised the 1960’s and the flower power movement. Now 40 years after the tragic death of Mama Cass Elliot, California Dreaming ­ The Music of the Mamas and the Papas, is a tour de force concert celebrating all things Mamas and Papas.

Deets at wgac.com.au THE HEARTSTRING QUARTET 19 Mar @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 Direct from Ireland. Two renowned duos, two gifted sisters, two extraordinary guitarists, a multi­faceted, unique quartet.

Deets at wgac.com.au AT LAST ­ THE ETTA JAMES STORYT 28 Mar @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 Deets at wgac.com.au CHRIS WILSON + SHANNON BOURNE 01 Apr @ Bank Warragul Tix: $15 presale from Bank, $20 on door JON ENGLISH 15 Apr @ Bank Warragul Tix: $25 presale from Bank, $30 on door HAVE A GIG OR EVENT COMING UP? Get it listed here. Email deets to editor@warragulcitizen.com.

The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen supports local live music.

EVENTS DROUIN FICIFOLIA FESTIVAL Until 15 Feb @ Drouin Civic Park and township Drouin Ficifolia Festival Celebrate all things Drouin with the 2015 theme “I love Drouin”. See story below.

Free. Web: ficifoliafestival.org.au E: jess.mckellarelec@bigpond.com SEASONS OF PAIN ­ SUMMER 14 Feb @ Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort Multisport athletes, fitness fans and families alike can experience the amazing summer conditions at Mt Baw Baw on 14 Feb when they participate in the second round of the expanded Seasons of Pain multisport series held on Mount Baw Baw. For more information and to enter visit seasonsofpain.com.au/next­ race

SHAKESPEARE IN THE VINES: MACBETH 15 Feb @ Wild Dog Winery

Above: Macbeth and the witches.

Image supplied The acclaimed Essential Theatre Company will tour its Shakespeare in the Vines for its lucky thirteenth year and the Wild Dog Winery leg will go ahead. Sophie Lampel, Director of the Essential Theatre Company said their choice of Macbeth was a welcomed break for audiences who have seen all the comedies multiple times.

"It’s a bit dark and moody and not your usual romp through the vines but we thought our thirteenth year would be a great excuse to do something a bit different," she said.

Time: From 1700 Tix: macbethwilddog.eventbrite.co m.au BAW BAW SPRINT TARMAC RALLY 21­22Feb@MtBawBawAlpineResort A closed road tarmac rally event utilising the road from Icy Creek to the Baw Baw Resort run by Mountain Motorsport.

For more information visit mountbawbaw.com.au All day event

Gems of the show THE WARRAGUL and District Lapidary club hosted the Gippsland Gem Show at the Yarragon Town Hall last month.

The event attracted rock collecters and fossickers from across the country. Pictured above are showcase winners Joy Medew, Trevor Pickering, Tylah, Cynthia Holderness, Tait Cornwall, Joe Placido and Peter Mostert.

Sing to the vegetables THE Warragul Community Gar­ den will play host to a new musical event on Sunday.

Situated in Eastern Park, the garden has already established itself as a hortilogical centre for locals. Now those involved with the garden are hoping to expand its appeal to those interested in music.

The Sunday Music in the Garden event will run from 16:00 to 20:00 and will feature a number of local musicians.

A Growing Together Baw Baw spokesperson said in an email to

supporters the free event could lead to more like it in the future if this weekend's show proves popular.

"Bring along your picnic and a blanket and sit back and listen to fantastic local musicians within the beautiful surrounds of Eastern Park and our wonderful Community Garden," the spokesperson said.

"This is a great opportunity to listen to some of Baw Baw's talented musicians for free, and you get to wander around the garden and marvel at how it is growing.

"If successful this will be the first of many such musical evenings."

BAW BAW SPRINT TARMAC RALLY 07­09Mar@MtBawBawAlpineResort Everything for the trail run enthusiast from a marathon length run from Walhalla to a 12km night run and even a 5km family run.

All day event mountbawbaw.com.au for deets THE PARIS UNDERGROUND 18 Mar @ West Gippsland Arts Centre Time: 20:00 The Paris Underground Cabaret is a subversion of the classic French cabaret and variety show, bringing together a diverse range of performers.

Tix: $35 for adults. More deets at wgac.com.au

This little kitty went to market

PERFECT REVENGE BURLESQUE SHOW 20 Mar @ Euphoria/Bank Warragul Tix: $20 from Bank

ANN Leslie took her adventurous 17 week old kitten, Zevran, to the Warragul Farmer's and Arts Markets last month.

Zevran was happy to meet many fans at the markets and spent time both on a leash and in a comfortable catpack ­ a strong backpack with mesh sides designed for carrying cats.

WARRAGUL NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL FETE 22Mar@WarragulNorthPrimarySchool Time: 11:00 ­ 15:00 Featuring laser skirmish, charir­o­ plane, obstacle course, devonshire tea, face painting, BBQ, silent auction, trash & treasure, craft, food, a fire truck and more.

Unlimited ride wristband: $20 pre purchased or $25 at gate.

You can find this event on facebook, just search "Warragul North Primary School Fete".

Grid correction IN THE 16 January 2015 edition of the Warragul & Baw Baw Citi­ zen we published a story about Warragul muso Mark "Grid Meth­ od" Angerame's latest album, Cir­ cle in a Square.

Toward the end of that article, we mistakenly wrote "Grind Method."

That may not seem like much, but we did that in the SoundCloud URL.

The correct address was soundcloud.com/GridMethod In other Angerame news, his second album of Beatles covers, "Let it Beatles Vol 2", is now available on his SoundCloud page.

Volume one was uploaded late last year. You can listen to both releases and more from Grid Method on that SoundCloud page.

Ficifolia snuggles up to Drouin for love­themed festival

By Jack Lacy L jack_m_lacy DROUIN'S annual Ficifolia Festi­ val has begun, and this year will explore a Valentine's Day­timed theme of “I Love Drouin.”

Ficifolia Festival committee pre­ sident Jessica O'Donnell told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen this year's festival wias about showing Drouin to those who are not fami­ liar with the town and what it has to offer.

“The festival is about Drouin

residents banding together and showing their community spirit.

We are a small town but a tight­ knit community,” she said.

“There are so many new people who have recently arrived in Drouin. We wanted to put the spotlight on Drouin and showcase everything within our town, inclu­ ding the various groups and clubs the town has for the newcomers.

“I began living in Drouin three years ago, after moving from Traralgon. I fell in love with the festival. There is really nothing like

it.”

The Ficifolia Festival was started in 1988 by a group of Drouinites who wanted to celebrate the bloom of the flowering ficifolia gums on the town's main street.

That group decided to hold a festival to celebrate the flowering during the second week of Febru­ ary, which would attract extra people to town and drive business.

Every year the festival includes a street parade, which is seen by thousands of local spectators.

Once the parade concludes, Civic

Park plays host to the annual “Party in the Park”.

Ficifolia's Party in the Park features a series of market stalls, offers musical entertainment, food and drinks, as well as activities which are fun for the whole family.

Ms O'Donnell said she hoped this year's cooler forecast would mean a greater number of people would attend.

“We had over 5,000 people attend last year's festival due last year's hot summer weather. We are hoping that this year's festival can

attract around 7,000 people.”

Ms O'Donnell said she hopes people from outside of Drouin will be attracted to the festival.

“We are aiming to attract people from all over, including from the other side of Melbourne.”

The Ficifolia Festival kicked off with the Drouin Bowls Club Competition last Friday and will conclude on Sunday 15 February with the Drouin Combined Church Service.

The full festival guide can be found at ficifoliafestival.org.au.

· ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE · 7 Nature Note with 'Gouldiae'

Noisy summer visitors

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 FEBRUARY 2015

TO MANY of us, noisy summer visitors are an annoyance. These three are welcome in my area anytime.

The Fan­tailed Cuckoo in this area is a visitor from sometimes as far north as New Guinea and New Caledonia. This bird has several calls including a diagnostic “mournful trembling cascade of descending notes,” mostly repeated twice. It is not like the European cuckoo­clock sound. Male birds advertise their territorial presence by repeating their call throughout the day, often from a convenient vantage point.

This species will occupy a variety of habitats – open woodland, densely timbered gullies, wetland fringes, even parks and gardens. Their favourite food is caterpillars.

In classic cuckoo style, the Fan­tailed Cuckoo parasitises the nests of other birds – they lay an egg in the nest of another species, leaving the unaware host to hatch and rear the cuckoo chick. Favourite nests chosen by the Fan­tailed Cuckoo in this area include those of the Brown Thornbill and White­browed Scrub­ wren.

Amazingly, these little birds are less than half the size of the cuckoo and the host parent often ends up feeding a chick much larger than itself.

The Rufous Whistler prefers open forest or

woodland habitat and upon arriving here in late spring or early summer, the males establish their breeding territories with song battles. Up close, the Rufous Whistler call of “pee­pee­pee­joey­joey­ joey” and finishing with a drawn out “eeee­chong” is quite powerful but tuneful.

Whilst the Rufous Whistler is a summer migrant in this region, its close cousin the Golden Whistler will often over­winter here.

Both whistlers feed mainly on insects and their larvae in the tree canopy.

The third noisy summer visitor can be found in the reed beds of many wetlands. The Australian Reed­warbler announces its arrival with a clamorous “clutch­clutch­clutch­dsee­ dsee­quarty­quarty­quarty,” and other variat­ ions which again are used for advertising a claim of territory in a favourite patch of reeds.

More often heard than seen, this secretive little bird can be caught at times singing loudly from the top of a clump of cumbungi or phragmites. They feed on insects and small aquatic life and build very clever nests by interweaving strips of reeds and lining them with fine grasses and feathers.

One person’s noise is another person's music!

Words and photos by 'Gouldiae'. For more, visit gouldiaesblog.blogspot.com

e:

d Cuc

koo

Right: a R

Ab o v

­taile a F an

ufous Wh

istler

Above: an Australian Reed­warbler

Climate change's risks and opportunities for Baw Baw dairy < from Page 1 dairy industry knowledge associated with dairy farms in subtropical areas. Selection of pasture grasses from Queensland may help ove­ rcome any changes in Gippsland climate.

"A negative example may be that other regions currently producing grain may not be able to continue to meet our full needs. Again, we are already seeing grain being grown in our own region now. I don’t believe the region could be self sufficient yet for grain production, but we continue to adapt very quickly in order to sustain our industry."

He said farmers in Baw Baw had already begun to adapt.

"Whilst many may not attribute specific changes to climate change, there have been shifts in practice as

a response to seasonal events," he said.

"We have seen an increase in chicory sown as it persists as a summer feed, some farmers have shifted calving pattern as the grass growth curve shifts, shade and she­ lter plantings on some farms, feed pads to manage drier summer con­ ditions and wet soils following extreme rainfall events."

"Climate change may cause a subtle change in the way industry operates, however I think the other factors, [biosecurity, financial secur­ ity, the global financial crisis and Australian dollar, international tra­ de agreements and so on,] will ove­ rshadow climate change and it will be very difficult to attribute any particular change directly to long term climate change."

Mapping change: these maps from the CSIRO show the expected change in annual mean temperature from now (a) to the late 21st century (b). The solid black contours on both maps mark 14C, 20C and 26C.

More hot days could mean slower trains

By Saúl A. Zavarce L SaulZavarce PROJECTED increases in mean temperatures and more extreme temperature days due to climate change could affect commuters on the V/Line rail network.

Trains slow to 90kmph from 160kmph in temperatures above 36 degrees celsius due to the exp­

ansion of the steel tracks.

The CSIRO and Bureau of Mete­ orology's Climate Change in Aust­ ralia report predicts that extreme weather days are set to increase in Victoria from 1995's 11 days over 35 degrees to: • a projected 12­15 days a year above 35 degrees by 2030, and • a projected 19­32 days a year above 35 degrees in the worst

projections by 2090.

V/Line spokesperson Ebony Jordan told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen: "V/Line recognises the climate has the potential to im­ pact on our operations and we currently implement a range of measures to reduce the impact on our customers."

"V/Line staff spend several mon­ ths each year on a summer read­

iness program to improve travel co­ nditions during the heat.

"As a result we activate our hot weather plan, which includes a hot weather timetable to show realistic travel times and replacing trains with coaches in some instances."

Passengers are encouraged to travel with bottled water, wear cool clothing and delay travel if they are feeling unwell on hot days.

8 路 WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 路 13 FEBRUARY 2015

NOW TWICE MONTHLY IN PRINT

NEXT PRINT EDITIONS Friday 27 February 2015 Friday 13 March 2015 Friday 27 March 2015 Distribution across Baw Baw. Printing 5,000 copies.

ADVERTISING RATES Prices below for full colour and incl. GST Eighth page: $80 Quarter page: $138 Half page: $275 Full page: $550 Front page top: $230 Front page bottom: $110 Basic ad design is free!

find us on Facebook: facebook.com/sallyjrealestate

Interested in advertising? Email admin@warragulcitizen.com.

ABOUT Formerly The Warragul Citizen Editor: William PJ Kulich editor@warragulcitizen.com PO Box 1111 Warragul, VIC, 3820 Also designer and owner Page 2 picture of editor by Harriet Kulich.

Articles and photos without author credits are by the editor.

Please support those who support WBBC Know something you think WBBC should cover? Please email your suggestion to editor@warragulcitizen.com