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They're not the instruments you think they are: Page 8
Warragul & Baw Baw
TWICE MONTHLY // FRIDAY 24 JULY 2015
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Booked out
FUNDS from this year's Yarragon Book Fair fundraiser will pay for a new communications centre for local CFAvolunteers.
Every year the Yarragon and Darnum-Ellinbank fire brigades get together to hold a book fair in Yarragon. Last year the groups raised around $22,000, up from 2013's $18,000. "This year has gone well," Yarra-
gon brigade spokesperson Geoff Conway told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "What we've realised is that last year was a little bit of a one-off, which was brilliant. "We've had good stock and people have been pretty enthusiastic and very happy with what they've taken away. "Certainly the weather has kept a
Yarragon Book Fair 2015 - in numbers
$18,000 Approximate
15,000+
Estimated of number of books sold on weekend
FREE
PLEASE TAKE ONE
amount raised this year
CFA and book club volunteers Jaimie Pompei, Michael O'Toole, Melinda Kemp and John Camm. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN01017
few people away - yesterday wasn't nearly as crazy as the year before but we're on a par with what we did in 2013, which was a great year, so we have no concerns." // Story continues on Page 4
50,000
Approx. number of books donated since last year
Council push for bus and rail improvements BAW Baw will take part in the state government's Regional Network Development Plan consultations as part of a renewed push for public transportimprovements. Councillors supported a motion moved by Warragul ward's Mikaela Power at their meeting on Wednesday asking for council staff to make a submission to the plan. Last month Cr Power and a number of other councillors and staff attended a community meeting run by state body Public Transport Victoria which heard people's key concerns about both bus and rail networks. Issues raised at that
By William Kulich Keening_Product
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meeting were the complete absence of a Drouin town bus service, limited bus services in the rest of the shire and overcrowding of limited rail services to and from Melbourne and the Latrobe Valley. Cr Power's motion requested a submission be made "with particular emphasis on, but not limited to: - Improving intra and inter town bus services in Baw Baw Shire and links with other modes of transport; - The need for more rail services and extra carriages on existing rail
services to and from Melbourne; and - The urgent necessity of duplicating the rail track between Longwarry and Bunyip." Councillors have already touched on the issue of rail services this year. In both March council meetings the issue was discussed - the first asking a letter be sent to transport minister Jacinta Allan highlighting overcrowding and safety, the second calling on a letter to be sent to the minister calling for the duplication of rail tracks between Bunyip and Longwarry. The line duplication motion was in // Story continues on Page 4
Changes could put household solar out of reach Page 5 INSIDE
路 LOCAL NEWS & FEATURES 路 3
The health issues facing Baw Baw 24 JULY 201 5 路 WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN
VICTORIAN Healthcare Association CEO Tom Symondson visited Warragul last week. The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen caught up with him to discuss the health issues faced by the region. WBBC: What are your thoughts
on Victorian Labor's review into health service provision in the region? TS: What we want to see is a proper investigation into the existing capacity and the required capacity of the health system. The Travis Review, the first bit of it has provided some money for some services and some of that money has come here, the second part of that review is about looking at longer-term planning. Dr Travis recommended a 20 year capital and service plan for the entire state and the government accepted that recommendation so now we want to make sure that actually happens and is a real planning exercise that has meaning. WBBC: You have previously mentioned a long-term health plan being required. TS: That's what we hope will come out of the Travis review. The Travis review just recommended that we should have this long-term plan, so now we're hopeful that will happen because at the moment, capital investment into health in Victoria is not planned on a longterm basis. We need to make sure that is the case in the future because we have a very fast growing population, and in places like Warragul the population is growing faster than it is even in the rest of Victoria. We need to make sure that we understand that growth, we understand the demographics of the population moving into the future so is it ageing, is it becoming more medically complex, which generally it is, and how do we ensure we meet those demands.
WBBC: Don't we already know we have an ageing population? TS: We do, but we do not link planning of healthcare to that information. We know what the population will be to a fair degree of accuracy in 10, 15, 20 years time, but we do not have a 10, 15 or 20 year health plan to link capacity to that growing population. WBBC: That seems a bit common sense. Is this something new for Victoria to be doing? TS: Yes. There is currently a broad plan that the previous government put in place, but it doesn't have numbers in it, it doesn't have capital within it, it's talking about the way we might deliver services. It actually would be quite new to have a 20 year plan which maps out capital, maps out demand growth, and links the two together. WBBC: What are the other issues that affect this region in particular? TS: You've got the fact that Warragul and the surrounding areas are actually very close to the far edge of Melbourne, which gives an additional layer of complexity because people on the outskirts of Melbourne can actually choose to go into the city or out to Warragul. So it's not just the growth in population around the hospital, it's much broader than that. You've also got the fact that Gippsland is sort of a long, narrow region with hospitals dotted along the highway, essentially, which means that you've got no clear population centre in Gippsland. If you go to the Grampians you have Ballarat or Bendigo. You don't have that to the same extent in Gippsland, which means it is a lot more complex to come up with a service model that fits for the whole of the region because it's not as simple as saying 'there's a town, and everything feeds into it.' WBBC: It does seem this hospital
covers a larger region than might be expected. TS: As are a number of the health services in Gippsland. WBBC: Is centralisation the goal? TS: It's not necessarily a goal, it's just something that naturally happens if you have a Bendigo or a Ballarat or an Albury. We don't have any community that is as big as any of those in Gippsland and also we don't have a load of towns feeding into another, we just have a highway with mid-sized towns all the way along it. That means the service delivery in Gippsland is completely different to any other part of the state except, perhaps, the south west. WBBC: What are the other gaps in the system at present? TS: The thing we always talk about is investment in community care and prevention. The ideal is people will only turn up in a hospital if it's the right place for them to be. But because of the lack of investment over a long period of time into community-based services, whether it be for older people or mental health and drug abuse, people tend to end up in hospital who could have been treated in a different way. We have very good services... but we need to spend significantly more on that model than we have done because the cost of acute care is going to keep going up and up. WBBC: The Gippsland Medicare Local recently became a Primary Health Network, and as a result some groups like Headspace cannot be funded like under the old model. Was that an oversight that should've been addressed sooner? TS: The change... is something that is still really a work in progress. Those organisations are still establishing themselves and the federal government is still working out exactly how to fund
things like Headspace. WBBC: Shouldn't that have been decided before this all went ahead? TS: Our view is these kinds of transitions, and we've seen it before... are always difficult, and we would like to ensure that the PHNs are the last time it happens. Any sort of change like that causes difficulties and complexities, so as far as possible let's do it less often. WBBC: What could be done to address community engagement issues, especially with youth? TS: You have to have a very sophisticated way of communicating. The risk is that you put so much pressure on health services to do that, they end up taking their eye off the ball of what they're actually here to do. So it's not just for health services to engage those groups, but also local government, schools, everybody. It's fair to say it's a complicated space. WBBC: What role should local government, councils, be playing? TS: Local government has a massive role in prevention and health promotion. They have a legal duty to put together a health and well being plan for their area. The problem is they don't receive significant funding for anything underneath that plan. WBBC: Is the funding currently in the system enough for everything we need it to do? TS: I think the plan that I mentioned needs to happen first, because otherwise we can't answer that question. We need to work out what is the capacity we have... in hospitals, in community health, in prevention, and where does that link to population growth because that capacity might be in the wrong places, and then make sure you have a plan to deliver that. Until we've got that, nobody can answer that question.
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Councillors push for bus and rail improvements // From Page 1
support of a submission from the Gippsland Local Government Network calling for the duplication at an expected cost of around $28 million. Ms Allan responded to the motions with a letter at the start of this month in which she said the Andrews Labor government had purchased a further 21 VLocity rail carriages in addition to the 43 new carriages already on order. That, Ms Allan said, would increase capacity on the Gippsland line. A "commitment to transform the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines," which share tracks with the Gippsland line, would also benefit Baw Baw commuters according to Ms Allan. But when it came to track duplication, Ms Allan avoided making any firm statement. "I acknowledge your request for the duplication of railway track between Bunyip and Longwarry," she wrote. "The government is committed to improving public transport services throughout Victoria, and we are
WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 路 24 JULY 201 5
currently working to prepare a Regional network Development Plan. The RNDP will assess how regional public transport services should evolve to meet the needs of passengers in the short, medium and long term." Speaking to her motion on Wednesday, Cr Power said the response did not clearly state how Gippsland commuters would benefit from the actions already taken. "Ms Allan noted the purchase of extra carriages, but it's for the V/Line network, right across Victoria," Cr Power said. "We don't know when or how many will end up on the Traralgon line." Cr Power stressed the importance of contributing to PTV's review. "Gippsland has never had a regional network development plan, and it's really important we have input into that," she said. "We are happy to provide that feedback and continue providing it until there is an improvement. "I just had a look at the online discussion forum for the review and the Gippsland region is leading the responses. "PTV does take note of what the
community says, but also what councils say. "Drouin is the largest town in regional Victoria that does not have a [town] bus... and Warragul is serviced by buses in the middle of the day. "We lack shelters and bus stops, the Crystal Waters estate is about to get a stop, but Waterford Rise... does not. "We really need to keep the pressure up. If anyone goes over to the west of Melbourne you can see the commitment. I feel that Gippsland has missed out, not only on rail but on connections across the very large region. "It'd be nice to have some services that can get people to and from the rail stations." The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen asked Cr Power if she thought the shire had dropped the ball on bus service provision when it approved the development. "I think it probably should've been included, but it's easy to see things with hindsight and I think our awareness of public transport is probably greater now," she said. "I know a number of people who have spoken to me, particularly kids
but also adults, about getting transport to the train station. "It should've been something we would've been able to predict, I would've thought." Cr Power said adding Waterford Rise to the existing Warragul-Drouin bus service would add five minutes to trips due to there being few places a bus stop could be placed.
day with us yesterday or today just helping out." In addition to the humans and books at the fair, a result of last year's fundraiser was also present. The Yarragon brigade's new light tanker stood proudly at the entrance of the town hall which housed the event. "We've only had that a few weeks," Mr Conway said. "It's only going into service in the next couple of weeks, so we've been training on it and we've been getting the kilometres up for its first service. "That will probably be commissioned [this month]. "The old slip-on, which is 10 years old and getting a bit tired, a bit like the firefighters, that's for sale by tender and we're in the process of disposing of that now. "That'll go off to a good home hopefully." This year the funds will go towards a much-needed refurbis-
hment of a local CFA communications centre. "The one we have got was built in 1980 and it's a bit dodgy," Mr Conway said. "The tin cans and the string is getting a bit frayed and the cans have gone a bit rusty, so we're going to totally refurbish the communications room and rebuild that before the end of the year." With around 50,000 books sorted, of which around 30,000 were put on display and "probably about half, maybe a little bit over" of that sold, the contribution of the volunteers was massive. "There's a lot of work that goes into it and tremendous effort on the part of our brigade and the Darnum Ellinbank brigade members and a lot of other people as well," Mr Conway said. "We're incredibly fortunate with the amount of support that we get from our brigade members and the
community for what we do here. "As we've said before, we appreciate the support CFA gives us, but we understand the constraints that they have to deal with. "Being typical firefighters there's always another toy we can buy and there's always something else that would make a difference to the work we do as firefighters. This enables us to do that without feeling restricted." Stock not sold by the CFA will go on to support other causes.
She also said constituents were raising public transport issues with her "all the time," and disputed claims rail services were not overcrowded. "Even early evening ones have been quite busy," Cr Power said.
Ms Allan encouraged members of the community to contribute to the RNDP. She said people can make submissions online, but provided a dead link in her letter. The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen believes the link Ms Allan intended to provide was goo.gl/3bmEX8 (shortened). The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen is also running a petition calling on the state government to adopt recommendations made in a 2010 review of Baw Baw's bus services. You can sign the petition online at
goo.gl/8FrCep.
CFA book fair raises thousands // From Page 1
Visitors and donors to the fair came from "all over Victoria." "We've gone up to Sale, we've been to Melbourne to collect books, stuff like that," Mr Conway said. "There's a lady in a bookshop at The Basin who gives us a lot of stock, she's just lovely." There have been many local donors too, including former Yarragon bookshop owner Peter Lenders. "He's a great supporter of our book fair, he's been terrific." Mr Conway said the community spirit of previous years' book fairs was as evident as ever this year. "During the week when we were setting up, people who aren't connected with the brigade in any way just dropped in and said 'okay, what can I do to help?' And they'll spend two or three hours here," he said. We'd have people who aren't brigade members spend the whole
"They went to the Brotherhood of St Lawrence last year. This year, there's a big truck coming which will take all the leftover books to Lifeline up in the Latrobe Valley, who run a book fair, so all our leftover stock goes to them," Mr Conway said. "It's brilliant; they just keep going around." The book fair was held on 11 and 12 July .
Council move: 14 to A Word on free office remain in Warragul suites SPONSORED IT COLUMN
JUST 14 staff and the customer service team will be left in the Baw Baw Shire's Civic Place office in Warragul after the council moves around 120 staff to Drouin next month. Baw Baw CEO Helen Anstis told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen most staff will be moved from leased premisis on Warragul's Smith Street and the council-owned Civic Place building to the newly refurbished Drouin office and placed completely randomly throughout. "We're sending over almost three directorates of people; our community assets team, recreation team, planning, social planning, economic development, local laws, our community services portfolio people and finance and human relations," Ms Anstis said. "What will be left in the [Warragul Civic Place] building will be predominantly our governance and our information technology [and] business information people. "There is seating available for 140 people, but that includes hot desks.
Hot desking is where people will be moving between the two offices, so 120 will be the regular contingent of staff. "There will be around about 14 staff located in Warragul Civic Place, but that doesn't include the customer service team. "The downsizing of our organisation [through the recent restructure] has meant we've been able to accommodate that as many people under the one building as we possibly can. "We're sitting people randomly throughout the building. There will be a lot of interaction with our staff, so people will be sitting very close to former team members or sitting next to a planner or engineer. That will open up opportunities for collaboration and innovation." Ms Anstis said, depending on how the new layout works, Cardinia Shire's policy of a different desk for each staff member every day could be considered for local interpretation. Staff will move to the Drouin office on 3 August.
WORD processors and office suites have changed a lot in the last two decades, but many consumers are yet to realise the savings they can make with new software. For many years, Microsoft Office was the industry standard. Other commercial players have come and gone; some readers may remember Lotus' 1-2-3 and there are still some retail alternatives available. One suite which has made a small dent in Microsoft office's market is LibreOffice. LibreOffice is a completely free office suite which is largely compatible with Microsoft's software. It can read and write many simple Microsoft Office files and has equivalent programs for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher and Access. Where Microsoft charges hundreds, LibreOffice gives it away free. And it's not pushing ads or spying on you to
make money either - the software is produced by an army of volunteers who dream of a world of free software. If you are looking for software to complete letters, assignments and most other word processing tasks in, as well as budgets and slide shows, LibreOffice will serve you well. Jon Cavell from ITaffinity.com.au does however suggest you consider what software those you work with use. "If your place of employment or education provider require specific software, it is best to use that," he said. LibreOffice can be downloaded for free at libreoffice.org. If you do not feel comfortable installing the software yourself, most computer retailers can set it up for you for a small labour fee.
ITaffinity.com.au - PC sales and repairs 2 Smith Street, Warragul 0499 999 869
24 JULY 201 5 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN
Beached as: watch the stuck truck get set free
· LOCAL NEWS & FEATURES · 5
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Changes couldputhouseholdsolaroutofreach CHANGES to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation have industry leaders warning household solar could become more expensive, but local political figures are divided on the potential impact. The federal Liberal government has directed the government-owned CEFC to cease investment in wind energy and and rooftop and smallscale solar. Australian Solar Council CEO John Grimes has labelled the move as destructive and having the potential to most impact low-income earners and retirees whose household solar installations would be supported by the CEFC. "[Prime minister] Tony Abbott is keeping people trapped paying higher electricity prices," Mr Grimes told Fairfax media. But local Liberal MP Russell Broadbent has replied by saying household support has not been changed. "The support provided for household and small scale solar PV remains unchanged," Mr Broadbent told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "The Coalition government is a strong supporter of renewable energy, including small-scale household solar. "Currently there are more than 1.4 million households, small businesses and community organisation with solar PV installations. This is in addition to around 900,000 solar hot water systems. "Put simply, more than 2.3 million Australian households, small businesses and community organisations have invested in solar systems. This investment has been underpinned by the Renewable Energy Target scheme. Under the scheme, those installing solar PV are now receiving, on an average sized installation, more than $3,000 in rebates. "This is equivalent to about 30 per
By William Kulich Keening_Product
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cent of the total cost of installation. "The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has received $1.4 billion in finance from taxpayers since its inception. The Government believes that the CEFC should return to its original objective of focusing on new and emerging technologies, rather than using taxpayer’s money to fund well-established technologies, such as small-scale solar, which are better provided by the private sector." Not so, according to Labor's candidate for Mr Broadbent's seat of McMillan Chris Buckingham. "The CEFC was created to facilitate a financial market for investment in renewable energy, which creates jobs, drives investment and reduces carbon pollution," he told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "The Abbott Government’s move to limit the scope of the CEFC is an overtly political move that makes a mockery of the well-established principles used to establish the CEFC in the first place. "In the 2013-2014 financial year, the CEFC invested $900 million in Australian renewable energy projects, attracting an additional $3 billion in private investment. "These projects have employed thousands of people, billions of dollars of investment and supported the development of Australia's renewable energy industry. "The loans provided by the CEFC are being paid back to the government at a rate of seven per cent, making money which is returned to the budget bottom line. "It makes no sense to limit the scope of a successful organisation that is clearly delivering good outcomes."
The suggestion wind and solar
are established technologies is only partially correct, according to Mr Grimes. "Wind and solar are established technologies but they are not mature in terms of financing," he told The Saturday Paper. "This is what CEFC can do create innovative financial mechanisms for investment. "If Abbott continues this way, we're finished. We know that solar and other renewables are competing with coal, and Abbott is intent on protecting that industry. So, this is our WorkChoices moment. We will be mobilising and... campaigning in marginal seats." A spokesperson for Mr Broadbent declined to comment on whether any constituents had approached the MP about the issue, but Mr Buckingham said the electorate was concerned. "Climate change is a big issue in McMillan," Mr Buckingham said. "People are very concerned about the impacts of carbon pollution on our environment. They are frustrated by the federal government’s lack of leadership and commitment to practical measures that will enable our local economy to make the transition. "We cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand. Our region needs investment in renewable energy because it will deliver vital social, economic and environmental dividends. Mr Broadbent did not say if he had been supportive of the decision to direct the CEFC within his party. Asked if he believed driving investment in established renewable energy was something for the public or private sector, Mr Buckingham said it was an issue for all. "Business, community and government must work together to come up with the solutions for climate change," he said.
"Building the renewable energy sector is a shared responsibility. We need to advocate for investment in renewable energy across the electorate and use it as a lever for generation of real jobs." Mr Broadbent said the Renewable Energy Target, which was introduced by the Howard Liberal government and recently lowered by both the Liberal and Labor parties, was what drove solar investment. "Recently there were some changes to the RET passed by the parliament," he said. "These changes mean the legislated proportion of Australia’s electricity supplied by renewable sources will be more than 23.5 per cent by 2020. "That’s a doubling of renewable energy, in all forms, over the next five years." It seems the Labor party has had a change of heart on the reduction the party has announced that, if elected at the next federal election, it would legislate to require half of Australia's electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2030. The present target is 23.5 per cent by 2020, and the Australian Greens' target is for 90 per cent renewables by 2030. More details of the plan are expected to be unveiled at Labor's next conference. A recent poll of Australians' attitudes toward global issues conducted by the Lowy Institute showed over half would accept "significant costs" in fighting climate change.
"
Russell Broadbent, Liberal MP: "The Government believes that the CEFC should return to its original objective of focusing on new and emerging technologies."
" PRN01021
Chris Buckingham, Labor candidate: "It makes no sense to limit the scope of a successful organisation that is clearly delivering good outcomes." PRN01022
"
Read articles referenced in this story:
Government pulls the plug on household solar - The Sydney Morning Herald: goo.gl/uSLQgc Abbott's campaign to kill renewable energy sector - The Saturday Paper: goo.gl/eXKCnx
John Grimes, Solar Council CEO: "Tony Abbott is keeping people trapped paying higher electricity prices." - to Fairfax media. John Grimes photo source: Australian Solar Council website.
6 · COMMENT & SNAPPED · TWEETS, EMAILS, COMMENTS AND LETTERS Too much information
Regarding "Council gender data collection questioned" (WBBC 10 July 2015, Page 5): The council has no right to be asking for gender on any occasion and I would call this discrimination! It certainly has no bearing on parking issues. Lee Pattinson ~ via warragulcitizen.com
A rolling stone gathers no errors
Dear Editor, Tell me it was meant to be a joke your 10 July 2015 front page headline "Baw Baw can't get no satisfaction"? That double negative would win no points in a grammar test but it really does draw attention, so maybe it has an upside! Your paper is not alone in some of this misuse of words. The Warragul Gazette (and just occasionally the daily papers) tell us about horses WHO race, people THAT perform, the AMOUNT of people at a football match and so on. Seems that grammar has become a lost discipline - I hope we don't get to read about "yous" - a word that is certainly creeping into our vocabulary. However, on the bouquet-side, congratulations on a really interesting paper - may is long continue to bring us up to date with different happenings in and around our shire. With best wishes from a pedantic old-timer, "O. Dear," Drouin ~ via mail (Editor's note: the Rolling Stones have been a bad influence on me.)
To Labor a point
Regarding "Broadbent denies Mafia ties" (WBBC 10 July 2015, Page 3): [Labor leader] Bill Shorten is alleged
to have received money from corporations he dealt with as a union official, and it’s worthy of a royal commission. [The Liberal party] is alleged to have received money from the Mafia, and no further investigation is considered necessary. Even if the latter allegations ultimately prove incorrect, why are the former allegations considered so much more worthy of investigation than the latter? "Simon" ~ via warragulcitizen.com (This commenthas been edited. Altered parts appearin square brackets.)
WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 24 JULY 201 5
SNAPPED
Dogs plan no mess
Regarding "Dog days: Baw Baw approves off-leash trial" (WBBC 27 March 2015): Please don’t put all dog owners in the one basket. My friend and I walk our dogs every morning in Brooker Park and we carry our poo bags with us. It is the most relaxing area to walk around in Warragul. It is about time we had an area for dogs to run free, even if it is this small area which seems crazy to me. Ivy Radford ~ via warragulcitizen.com
Truckin' intersection
Regarding the truck stuck on Queen Street last week: Driver would've been following his permitted route. I'm sure he would've liked his day to have been a lot different to what it turned out to be. John Mulholland ~ via Facebook
Flags half mast fo
r plane crash annive The flags outside th rsary on Friday in memore Baw Baw Shire Council's Civic Cent y re in War gul were of th ose killed when Mala over Ukraine one ye at half ast ysia Airlines flightra ar ago. PRN01020 MH17 was shot dom wn
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Caught in the web
f
Who said what and which local social media accounts to follow Baw Baw Food Movement /bawbawfoodmovement
nal day which
There's a groundswell for good, local food in our community. How do we bring it all together? At our Baw Baw Food Movement launch event we called for people to form a steering committee to explore "where to now?" And here they are! Thank you for offering your time, expertise, skills and passion in ensuring we maintain the momentum of this movement. If you'd like to be involved in this exciting committee, it's not too late - we'd love to have your input! Thanks to Community College Gippsland for allowing us to use your space for our meeting this morning.
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22 July 2015
The Criterion - Trafalgar Hotel Search Facebook to find page
Ok folks, so far our fundraising efforts for Maddie Riewoldt's Vision are over $1300 ! Amazing. Thanks to everyone who has donated! In conjunction with our efforts over the last week a few other local activities have been taking place to also raise money with fantastic success. Coming up next week is possibly the biggest one yet. If the price is right, this beard will go ! That's right, you heard it here first, the beard is going to go if the price is right! Drop your donation into the hotel any time this week! 22 July 2015
ch natio ng and cheese ille Day, the Fren fromage Fourteenth July Stacey and Bella noted Bast n of 1789, with French clothi iam PJ Kulich rs rning revolutio Warragul retaile onarchy-overtu m e th es at br le ce th. PRN01019 earlier this mon
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24 JULY 201 5 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN
· ENVIRONMENT · 7
Urbanisation and biodiversity Nature Note with 'Gouldiae'
The loss ofbiodiversity due to urbanisation is well documented. Perform a Google search for ‘urbanization and biodiversity’ and over halfa million articles are quickly listed. How concerned about this phenomenon should we be?
Baw Baw is one of the fastest growing regional areas in Victoria and figures from the shire's website suggest that by 2036 the population will almost double to more than 71,000. When cities or regional centres expand without proper planning, biodiversity can easily decline through loss or fragmentation of habitat. Many faunal species must adapt, which some do, or they must move away or die out. The pollution we create, the introduction of exotic species and weeds, infrastructure like roads, footpaths, housing estates and shopping centres, power lines and so on, all contribute to many native animals and birds disappearing altogether from a region. At very least they survive in greatly reduced numbers. We are beginning to be increasingly aware of these effects and many restrictions are applied and in some instances reserves are created specifically for conserving particular patches of habitat. Some suggest it may be too little too late. Often the newly created ‘sanctuaries’ are neglected and become repositories for weeds and rubbish. According to the Department of the Environment, “the distribution of the Southern Brown Bandicoot has decreased significantly since European settlement mainly as a result of vegetation clearing, introduced foxes and cats, and changes to the frequency of bushfires, (Australian Museum). A study has shown declines in known populations of the species in the Swift Parrot, Heyfield
greater Melbourne area but strong populations in the Koo-wee-rup, Bayles, Cardinia and Garfield-Longwarry areas. These areas are considered important to the continued viability of the subspecies in south-central Victoria.” The temperate south-eastern regions have, according to Birdlife Australia, had the largest bird declines in Australia. Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater populations have been impacted “more than many and are nationally listed as endangered.” Research has shown that for some species, urbanization can enhance survival rates. It is believed that the Rainbow Lorikeet, which once was highly nomadic as it chased the flowering patterns of woodland trees, is now relatively sedentary due to the profusion of native gardens and street trees that can provide the birds' essential nectar diet virtually year-round. Both Brushtail and Ringtail Possums are examples of species that have adapted well to our town parks and home gardens. So long as there exists ‘a few large eucs’ within a vicinity, or in the case of the brushtail, a roof opening or an old shed or garage, these marsupials will happily exist with human activity close by. Lorikeets and possums aside, the general effect of urbanization on our native birds and animals is undeniably a negative one. The author believes that it is incumbent on governments, (at all levels), planners and conservationists, to work together to predict and plan for the effect that increased urbanization might have on our native species.
Words and photos by 'Gouldaie'. For more, visit
gouldiaesblog.blogspot.com
Rainbow Lorikeet, Drouin
Ringtail Possum, Jindivick
Southern Brown Bandicoot, Cranbourne
8 · ARTS & RECREATION ·
WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 24 JULY 201 5
From Bolivia, with love
THOSE walking around Warra- Wilson observed "normally just gul recently might have seen a play guitar." "Most people don't really notbusker playing an unusual set of ice [my instruments], but the instruments. Wilson Hoyle, 20, has been bringing a note of Bolivia to Baw Baw, playing traditional instruments and singing songs of the country. Bolivia is located in South America, covering part of the Andean mountain ranges and bordering Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. When watching Wilson play, what may at first look like a ukulele and pan pipes are not as they seem. "I play the charango and the zampoña. They're instruments from Bolivia," Wilson told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.
"The charango is the 10stringed instrument and the zampoña is the pan flute." Those instruments are not the usual fare of local buskers, who
people who do are really appreciative ofit," he said. And what of his songs? They are not sung in English, though Wilson's pleasing voice makes that irrelevant, but here is a clue as to what they are about: "The songs are mainly about love," he said, quickly adding "and cigarettes and beer." While playing instruments and songs from Bolivia, Wilson is not sure of his own roots. "I've travelled so much in my life I've forgotten where I come from," he said. Wilson has recently settled in Shady Creek and may stay a while. "I'm not travelling at the moment. I've stopped for a while. Getting hooked into a church and all that," he said.
Wilson Hoyle busks in Warragul. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN01018