Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen 25 September 2015 edition

Off-grid in Baw Baw Low-cost green house design: Page 5

Warragul & Baw Baw

Citizen

TWICE MONTHLY // FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2015

Warragul wins

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EDFL reserves final coverage: Page 4

Holidayhorticulture OurnewPM

Want the kids off the couch this school holiday? The Warragul Community Garden has the perfect activity.

Kids in the Garden sessions are being held at the Eastern Park garden, with educational and fun activities for little green thumbs.

There was a good response to this week's activities. The next Kids in the Garden day will be held on Wednesday 30 September from 10:00 to 13:00. Everyone is welcome and donations are requested.

Seen above are Claire McAll with her kids Chester and Willow at this week's session. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN:01047

Photo by William PJ Kulich. PRN:01046

Australia has a new PM. Find the local reaction on Page 2

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Council tells state to pay its way BAW BAW // COUNCILLORS have demanded the state government make the CFA pay for fire plug maintenance in the hope a positive decision will help its push against "grossly unjust" responsibilities.

At their meeting on Wednesday councillors present unanimously backed a motion moved by Mount Worth ward representatives Murray Cook and Peter Kostos, who argued the Country Fire Authority could pay for the emergency infrastructure through the Fire Services Levy. Councils presently pay for the maintenance.

Speaking to the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen after the meeting, Cr

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Cook said he did not know how much fire plug maintainance cost Baw Baw, but it was an issue ofprinciple.

"Regardless of the price, we just have to set out exactly where we stand and who does what and who pays for what," Cr Cook said.

Cr Cook's motion described the CFA charge as a "grossly unjust" result of water industry restructuring in the 1990s.

Another issue he told WBBC was an unfair burden on councils was kindergarten funding.

"We just see as a common sense thing that kindergartens should have equal status with primary schools, as should the teachers," Cr Cook said.

"It's not just the money, it's who should do the job and do the job best."

"It's not just council, it's too much responsibility put on families. Like, out at Willow Grove you've got young mums running around trying to raise $10,000 a year with a population of a few hundred people."

Cr Cook said a discussion over who should maintain drainage, rivers and streams was also needed.

Continued on Page 4

Greens select candidate Page 3 Mountains ofmosaics Page 7 INSIDE

2 · NEWS ·

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 25 SEPTEMBER 201 5

NewPM: the local reaction

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McMILLAN // LOCAL political figures have responded to the swearing in of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister following a Liberal party leadership spill which saw Tony Abbottkicked to the backbenches.

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Mr Turnbull won the ballot last week with the support of 54 party colleagues. However 44 voted to keep Mr Abbott, one of whom was local MP Russell Broadbent.

"With a long held principle of always supporting the elected leader, I voted to support Mr Abbott," he said in a statement provided by his office.

"Mr Turnbull won that ballot... and is now the leader of the Liberal Party.

"I maintained my principled stand, but have assured Mr Turnbull that he will have my whole-hearted support."

Labor's candidate for the seat, Chris Buckingham, was upbeat about the change in leader.

"It is promising to see the Prime Minister has picked a more diverse cabinet with greater representation from women," he told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

"The community now expects the Liberal Party to shift the focus from its own problems to meeting the needs of the electorate.

"There are pressing issues with public transport infrastructure, proper implementation of a patchwork NBN and loss of job stability. Can the new cabinet rise to the challenge?

"Households across McMillan are looking intently to see if the leopard can change its spots.

"A number of current federal government policies hit the people in our society who need the most support.

It is time for the very wealthiest people in our society to make a fair contribution to the tax base.

Mr Broadbent did not respond to questions from WBBC on climate policy and the next election, but a spokesperson confirmed he did not seek and was not offered any positions in the new ministry.

Find more coverage online at warragulcitizen.com/nat.

Just email the five digit photo reference number or a description and page number of the photo or photos you want to admin@warragulcitizen.com and we will get back to you.

WEST GIPPSLAND // A $5,000 bequest from local man Dr Robert Lowell has allowed the Warragul Libraryto createanewreferencesection.

The books were officially added to the collection on Thursday of last week with a dedication ceremony.

At the ceremony a number of people who knew Dr Lowell spoke about their memories of him. Many acknowledged his kindness.

"This gesture is typical of Robert's thoughtfulness, consideration. And I'm grateful we are acknowledging him," one speaker said.

"He was one of the most careful thinkers. I've never heard him be uncouth in any way," another added.

"There was something about Robert, there was a humanity. He was a real pleasure to know."

Former librarians recalled talking to him, while another person who worked with him said he also had a tendency to give councillors a hard time.

"People who didn't know him very well would have thought he was a very sober, humourless person. But he was a great guy," they said.

Mount Worth ward councillor Murray Cook worked with Dr Lowell and noted his modesty: "I don't think we would've got Robert here today" were he still alive.

The collection is large and a great gain for the Warragul Library. Principal librarian Kathie Olden told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen it will be of great use to the town.

"It's just a significant collection," she said.

"There's a number of items that are fairly costly, so we normally may not be able to add those items to our collection, but it gives everyone access to these really high quality materials.

"There are art books, architecture, sculpture, history, politics, and there's a little bit of other interesting material there too about railways."

A few cooking books also feature in the collection, as well as many books on modern art - everything from Arthur Boyd and books on classic comics to the art of the present day, as well as historical art.

"Our collection services team did a little bit of research to find out what some of his interests were, and they tried to reflect those interests in their purchasing, and I think they've done a splendid job," Ms Olden said.

"I don't actually recall meeting him. I wish I had, because when you look at the books, I sort of thought 'gee this would be an interesting person to sit down and talk to.'"

You can look through and borrow from the collection at the library, where for now the new books are being displayed separately.

Unlike most books owned by the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation which float between libraries, Dr Lowell's books will always be shelved at Warragul library.

safety for all users."

Princes Way between Francis Avenue to Bank Place will be slowed, as well as Young Street between Hope Street to Bank Place, Bank Place and Hope Street.

The new limit will also apply to all laneways and side streets in Drouin's CBD. "With an average of 15,000 cars travelling across Princes Way between the Bank Place and Main South Road intersections each day, reducing the speed limits in the CBD is the first tangible step to making the town centre safer for our community," Cr Brown said.

The council worked with VicRoads on the speed limit changes.

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Drouin in the slow lane DROUIN // PEDESTRIANS and cyclists in Drouin will be safer after the Baw Baw Shire reduces the CBD speed limit to 40kmph in the next six weeks.

The $15,000 project, funded from the council's Traffic Improvement Works budget, follows last year's review into pedestrian safety in the town.

Mayor Debbie Brown said several requests from the public and prior community consultation showed the need to reduce the limits.

"During the consultation more than 73 per cent of submissions were in favour of lowering the speed limits in and around Drouin's shopping precinct to the proposed 40kmph," Cr Brown said in a media release.

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Cr Brown said she believed lower speed limits in high pedestrian activity centres would prove useful in reducing the risks to pedestrians and cyclists when navigating high volume traffic.

"The increased traffic through the town in recent years has made it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to negotiate the traffic and safely cross the roads," Cr Brown said.

"It is anticipated the changes to the speed limits in this area will improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists crossing roads in the CBD, as well as improving the general road

Baw Baw seeks feedback on projects WARRAGUL // THE BAW Baw Shire is planning to invest $3.8 million in street scape improvement within Warragul's CBD.

You can now purchase high quality digital copies of many photos taken by the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

Dear doctor gives knowledge

Warragul Library staff with part of the new collection. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN:01049

The council will undertake the rejuvenation works in Warragul's retail precinct to meet the goals of the Warragul Town Centre and Station Precinct masterplans. Construction will start this financial year and will be implemented in stages over future years.

The final stage of the Warragul CBD Streetscape Project is scheduled to be completed by 2019/20 financial year.

Works scheduled for this financial year include a review of the concept design for works in Queen Street Park and pedestrian areas between

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Smith Street and Gladstone Street, as well as reviews of other planned projects.

Two Smith Street pedestrian crossings between Palmerston and Albert Street will also be finalised, having been on trial for several years.

Designs for Palmerston Street streetscape works will also be finalised this financial year.

"This major project will help to support Warragul’s retail industry and provide a flourishing central business district that all community members can enjoy and be proud of," Baw Baw mayor Debbie Brown said

in a media release.

Cr Brown said the council was welcoming of feedback from the public on how areas could be improved.

"The valuable contributions and feedback we will receive from the community will assist us in producing a final design that represents what our community wants," Cr Brown said.

The council will undertake consultation on the desired outcomes of the project with relevant business owners and occupiers and key stakeholders in the next few weeks.

Feedback from the consultation process will be considered to be incorporated in the project design.

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LONGWARRY // THE BAW Baw shire has planted eight fruit trees in Longwarry following overwhelming public supportfor the idea.

The trees, planted at Hackett Park and the park in Stockman's Way, are part of the Food for All Baw Baw Project, which aims to create opportunities for locals to access fresh, locally grown produce.

The council paid $224 for the trees from a local supplier and will maintain them organically.

Mayor Debbie Brown said if the trial was successful similar plantings could take place across the shire.

"Not everyone has enough room in their backyard for a fruit tree, so it makes sense for the council to plant a few fruit trees in our local parks for everyone to enjoy,” Cr Brown said in a media release.

Cr Brown encouraged everyone to only take their fair share.

“When the trees mature enough to bear more substantial quantities of fruit, we encourage residents to take only what they can carry in two hands to ensure there is enough to go around for all,” she said.

Fruit varieties planted include apricot, plum, lemon, lime, nectarine and orange.

A community garden and orchard is also being developed next to the Longwarry Public Hall by local volunteers.

“The [garden is taking] shape and will be a great place for residents to connect, build their skills and produce their own food,” Cr Brown said.

25 SEPTEMBER 201 5 路 WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN

Greens go for Donna

路 NEWS 路 3

McMILLAN // LEONGATHA teacher and tour guide Donna Lancaster has been chosen as the Australian Greens candidate for McMillan.

Ms Lancaster was selected earlier this month and will face off against sitting Liberal member Russell Broadbent and Labor candidate Chris Buckingham at the next federal election, which could be up to a year away.

Talking to the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen, Ms Lancaster said she had put her name in the ring because she was "concerned about a lack of investment in renewable energy, such as solar technology" and she was "aiming to get the needs of Gippsland residents out there."

"I don't want Mirboo dug up for a coal mine or turned into a gas field," she said.

"If elected, I would also seek federal funding for public transport projects and further investment for renewable energy."

Ms Lancaster grew up in Leongatha and studied outdoor education and teaching. As well as working in the education sector, she has been heavily involved with the Greens. She was a campaign assistant in the party's head office during the 2007 federal election, ran with now-Melbourne MP Adam Bandt on his Melbourne Council ticket in 2008 and ran the party's eastern metro campaign in 2010.

Her knowledge of the natural world has been put into practice through a long career as a tour guide.

"Ask me about penguins and I should know the answer," Ms Lancaster said.

At the 2013 federal election frequent Greens candidate Malcolm McKelvie earned 7.6 per cent of the vote, down from his vote of 9.72 per cent in 2010.

Harveywalks for the homeless Harvey in Warragul on Tuesday. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN:01048

NATIONAL // AFTER twice losing his mining job in Western Australia, Steve Harvey was faced with a choice: become homeless or start a campaign.

So on 15 June he set out on foot from the western town of Mandurah toward Sydney. With a swag of gear weighing over 30kg on his back he meant business, and has been busy raising funds for homelessness charity Swags for Homeless ever since.

"Instead of making it about me, I wanted to make it about someone else, and because I couldn't find work I was going to become homeless and wanted to support the homeless cause," Harvey told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen when he arrived

in Warragul on Tuesday.

Harvey started his trip to highlight the plight of homeless people in Australia and has received a terrific response.

"Everyone has been trying to get behind me and helping me get from A to B," he said.

"It's the fourth month now and I haven't even had to sleep on the street for a month. It was designed to give people a bit of a glimpse of what it's like to be homeless but people have been so kind and invited me into their houses and given me showers and meals."

On his way Harvey has met many homeless people who he says just want to be treated like human beings. Asked what the issues they have

identified are, he said there was no consistency in tackling homelessness in Australia.

"Some places will support you until a certain point and then they stop, and that's generally where these people fall apart," he said.

"We need... someone who helps them all the way from A to B without stopping half way. There's nobody who covers that full range, and many are like 'we'll help you out once you are able to geta house, butnotbefore it.'"

While in Warragul he was recognised by a stranger - not easy behind a heavy jacket, cap and sunglasses - and given $10 to help his unfunded trip.

You can donate to Harvey and Swags for Homeless via his Facebook page, facebook.com/harveyswalk.

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4 · NEWS ·

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 25 SEPTEMBER 201 5

State, feds must pay up: council BawBawbacks callfor From Page 1 "The state government is pretty keen to pass onto local government the responsibility for flood mitigation, and that has been an expense in the past borne by state government," Cr Cook said.

"Three per cent of public money comes out of rates and 97 per cent comes out of state and federal level taxes; that's where the money is.

"This cost shifting is ongoing and we have to be vigilant."

Cr Cook said local government was "at the bottom of the food chain."

"State and federal government make the rules that we play by so they've definitely got the upper hand and we are always on the back foot, but that doesn’t say we can't advocate on the behalf of our community as to what should be paid out of rates and what should be paid out of taxes," he said.

The pressure is on from all levels for councils to spend as efficiently as possible, and Baw Baw recently protested the federal government's freezing of financial assistance grant indexation. Mayor Debbie Brown said the freeze was losing Baw Baw $250,000 per annum.

"The loss of funds... has impacted not only on the quality of essential services and infrastructure that Baw Baw Shire Council provides, but we're now having to make some tough decisions on what services to cut back to adjust to the reduced revenue levels," Cr Brown said in a media release.

"Our community [must] wait longer to see important reconstruction and renewal of roads and drainage, major culverts, recreation, buildings and laneways programs.

"Our top priority [is] to get...

Canberra to restore indexations."

toughersentencing LOCAL GOVERNMENT // BAW Baw councillors have voted to support a motion from Whitehorse City Council to the Municipal Association of Victoria requesting mandatory sentencing for serious attacks on council staff.

If the motion is successful at the MAV, the group will lobby for a specific offence to be created in the Local Government Act that applies to causing serious injury or the death of a council appointed authorised officer.

The motion will call for the introduction of significant fines or imprisonment for causing serious injury to officers doing their duty in addition to any existing legal penalties.

Baw Baw mayor Debbie Brown moved the support motion during general business at the council's Wednesday meeting. She told the

New memorial

By JackLacy

Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen she was passionate about seeing this reform enacted, but it was not a serious issue in this region.

"Whitehorse has brought this up and we've had one more [violent attack] recently in South Gippsland," Cr Brown said.

"People are becoming more and more violent, that's what worries me, and it's our compliance officers that are usually out there on the front line.

"We want to make sure [violent people] don't get a slap over the wrist for causing serious injury. [There are situations] where they can get away with a $500 fine and a 12 month good behaviour bond, and I mean take to someone with an axe and still only get a very light sentence.

"It's making sure we're protecting our staff."

BAW BAW // WORKS have begun on a new ANZAC Centenary Memorial on the former Albert Street outdoor pool site in Warragul.

"The ANZAC Centenary Memorial in Warragul will provide the community with a place to gather and reflect in personal commemoration into the future," Baw Baw mayor Debbie Brown said in a media release.

Construction will include a memorial walk, which will commemorate the 73 soldiers from Baw Baw who have been killed in service.

The memorial will also serve as an educational resource for local students and as a focal point for future ANZAC commemorations.

The memorial was funded by the national ANZAC Centenary Grants Program and the Warragul RSL. The official opening will be on 18 October.

Dusties smash Cora Lynn to take EDFL reserves final title · SPORT · AUSSIE RULES ·

At the siren

EDFL // AN OUTSTANDING performance from the Warragul Industrials' reserves team at last weekend's EDFL grand final has coach Peter McKennaexcited aboutfutureseasons.

The Dusties kept Cora Lynn to just one goal to win the reserves premiership 7.7.49 to 1.17.23.

Starting the second half with no goals and a score in single digits, Cora Lynn was no match for the Dusties' finals spirit.

It was not until the last 10 minutes of the game that Cora Lynn finally found a goal at their home ground.

"They will certainly rue that," McKenna told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen after the game.

"Our pressure was massive. A lot of [their misses] were just caused by our pressure at the stoppages and that they rushed their kicks."

Cobras fans were excited by the chance of a second goal late in the game, but the ball hit the post and bounced back into the field.

McKenna said the Warragul team was in great form.

"Just an unbelievable bunch of boys to coach because of their leadership and their work ethic," he said.

"We got on top just purely out of aggression and endeavour, an unbelievable feeling.

"We felt like we were really balanced all across our ground.

"We pulled out a surprise move to

Warragul Cora Lynn

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 25 SEPTEMBER 201 5

7.7.49 1.17.23

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bring our ruckman back, who had had a dislocated shoulder, so we stuck him in for the last game at the last minute and he was just unbelievable, an outstanding player."

Dusties player Scott Lindsay was awarded Best in Game.

The successful team has put opponents in next year's season on notice.

"The club's in really good shape in terms of our junior development," McKenna said.

"We've got really good fourths and thirds coaching, all of those boys are coming through – we'll have a few retire out of the seconds but there's probably eight or nine players out of that two side who will play senior football next year."

Conditions on the day were excellent and the tiny township of Cora Lynn was drowned in the cars of match-goers. The ground was, according to one frequent attendee "the best I've seen it all year."

McKenna thanked the fans who turned out on the day, as well as throughout the season.

"A massive thank you to all our supporters who came," he said.

"We've had a massive support network, which has helped with the netballers as well.

"The fans have just been brilliant."

Photos: William PJ Kulich. PRN01050, PRN01051, PRN01052, PRN01053

LIFE

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BAW BAW'S LIFE & LIFESTYLE PAGES // FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2015

Andrew and Kim with kids Zali and Flynn outside their home in Lardner.

The house was built using straw bales as a building product and is incredibly well insulated. Coupled with a vegie patch, a brood of happy chickens and solar power, the family lives as green a life as possible.

Photos by William PJ Kulich. PRN01054

DIY comfortable green living LIFESTYLE // MANY people dream ofdesigning and building their own home. Andrew and Kim Musgrove actually did it.

With a strong desire for sustainable living, the couple built their family home in Lardner with many sustainable features out of materials with a low environmental impact. Well insulated with straw bale construction, the house remains a comfortable temperature year round. What's more, the house is offgrid, powered by a small solar array on the roof.

Covered inside and out with a clean white render, the green home has all the fixtures and fittings of high end, modern conventional houses. In fact, if it were not for a small window in one wall to show off the straw

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within, many would not know they were inside anything but a conventional three bedroom house.

The couple frequently invites people into their home to show off their work and the construction process. Earlier this month they hosted around 100 people for the Baw Baw Sustainability Network's Sustainable House Day event. The Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen caught up with them at the end of that day.

WBBC: How did you come to set up this house?

Andrew: My wife and I were passionate about the straw bale building so we researched for a few years and pulled it all together. Kim

designed the layout of the plan and I had to get my head around how to build it because I'm not a builder. I did some courses in straw bale building and had a go at it from there.

WBBC: Was it difficult to figure out the construction?

A: Not being a builder, it had to be simple for me to get my head around it. This style, which was found through [a straw bale construction group], and I adopted that and applied it to our own design.

WBBC: So people can build their own well insulated house just after a few short courses?

A: Definitely, I'd say so. I had little experience in building, but this I understood all the concepts and how it all goes together quite easily.

It structurally meets all the requirements and, more importantly, I understood it – it wasn't technical or difficult to get to know.

WBBC: If you were to describe the construction of your house to someone, what would you say?

A: The construction of the house is called the hybrid method, which means it doesn't have load bearing posts and things around the corners; the structure of it is in the door and window openings where it has posts that go floor to ceiling.

WBBC: And the rest is bales?

A: Yep, even the corners are just interlocked with bales, and then 50mm of render on the outside of each bale to protect it.

WBBC: You have some lovely wide windowsills out of that, but it

looks rather like a conventional house.

A: The perimeter of the house is the unique part of it. Everything internal is fairly standard with stud walls, and we chose pine lining as opposed to plaster, but the outside construction is what creates the protection and insulates you from the outside temperatures. The 550mm wall is quite thick.

WBBC: How long have you lived here for?

A: About two years now, and spent the previous three building just on the weekends and stuff.

WBBC: You have solar here?

A: Yes, we have solar power and solar hot water.

Continued on Page 6

6 · BAW BAW LIFE · COVER STORY ·

From Page 5

WBBC: And you're off grid, so in terms of energy consumption you'd be looking to not use heaters and air conditioners?

A: That's correct. It stays cool enough in the summer – it doesn't get hot and we don't need an air conditioner. We had a week of 40 degree plus and the house only got to 22.5, and that's with no air conditioning and being careful shutting doors. We're super efficiently using a 1.75 kilowatt power system, which is pretty small, and the house performs really well.

WBBC: We've just had one of the coldest winters we've had in a while – how was the house through that?

A: Inside it was beautiful. The range of temperature in here at the coldest has been about 17 degrees, and up to 22 at the peak of summer.

We do have an Esse stove for running in the winter, and that's enough for the whole house and provides our cooking, our ovens and our hot plates, and it also provides hot water to the header tank which gravities back to the taps.

WBBC: Your kids are seven and nine; how have they found growing up here?

A: They haven't really known any different. It's quite interesting listening to them explain the house to other kids. They had their school come out and have a look over it

and they explained what we are talking to their friends. As much as you don't think they get the concepts, they've probably heard us repeat it enough they pick it up.

They really enjoy what we're doing.

WBBC: Do you need to use a generator?

A: Over winter if we have four or five days of cloudy weather it doesn't provide good solar, so the generator just supports that in those times. One or two times a week in the depth of winter we might have to kick the generator to back up our power so it doesn’t draw down on the battery system which is quite expensive.

WBBC: What were your reasons for going off grid? Environmental, financial or both?

A: Probably a mixture of both in the end. We were primarily motivated environmentally, then we got quotes to get power extended to the corner of the block and that only justified a monetary value to the system.

WBBC: What was the cost you had quoted on that?

A: It was about $19,000 to bring power about 200 metres down the road, so it made a standalone system very economical and I don't regret it. It was the best decision we've ever made. We just love having a small system that does everything we need.

WBBC: What are the other key

WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 25 SEPTEMBER 201 5

things you have implemented to green up your home? Tank water?

A: We had an energy rated system of 8.3 stars for the design of the house, and I guess the thing that's supported such a small power system is gravity – we've been able to gravity feed water from the header tank, and that takes away the need to pump water around the house. Kim says it's just enough to rinse her frizzy, curly hair in the shower.

WBBC: You open your house up quite often – how do you find people respond?

A: It raises eyebrows just in the simple things that are quite achievable by anyone in any design. They see we're just a normal family doing normal things and it just plants seeds in people's minds, particularly when you see we're surviving off such a small system for a normal family, that's really great. I love that.

WBBC: You work as a Parks Victoria ranger and Kim is a primary school teacher, so neither of you are builders. What would you say to those considering going off grid?

A: It's very achievable. Kim and I love showing people this setup because it just highlights a normal house in terms of cost, which is always a big question for people. For the same house we could've built in the same layout using standard methods we worked out it would be the same cost. We don't have any bills for water and power, we have a

bit of internet.

WBBC: So it's just rates, internet and rubbish removal?

A: Yes, it's nice. We had a guy come down when we were constructing with power saws going off asking where the power meter was, and we had a fair bit of pride telling him there wasn't one. He actually got a bit angry because he thought we were pulling his leg a bit and got a bit frustrated and stormed out. It is achievable, and the more houses that can be built in this style the better.

WBBC: Kim, you had training from the federal government to educate people on greener living?

Kim: At the time there was a government initiative called the Green Loans program, which is a bit of a funny name, but what it was is they trained up home sustainability assessors who could go into people's homes and work out what was working for them, why their house was getting too hot in summer, what was good and bad and from there come up with some improvements. While I could do that and help other people, it was also an awesome way to gather the knowledge so when we designed ours, we got it right, instead of wrong like all these other homes I'd been going into.

WBBC: So what do people usually get wrong?

K: Often it's the orientation of the

house, very fundamental. It's like someone's picked it up and plonked it to face the road and it isn't idea.

And often it's been a quick build that's had to go up quickly and the thought hasn't gone into the quality of say the windows and how thick the insulation is. There are some really simple things you can change that make a massive difference.

WBBC: Besides insulation, what else can people do?

K: If it's an existing home it depends on how far they want to go.

If they do some works in their kitchen and they expose a wall, that wall was probably never insulated if it's an older home so straight away you can add insulation and improve one wall at a time. And then right down to small things like LED light globes and a lot of people, I find, actually need an external blind because their house is facing the wrong way, they can't pick it up and spin it, so where the summer sun does hit the glass you need to put something outside to stop it.

WBBC: You've been here when school groups come into your house. How have those kids reacted?

K: A lot of the time they can't pick what is different. I think when they hear they're going to a straw bale house they're expecting something that looks like the little pigs live in.

They really need me to show them how it is different and why we have done it.

New season stock in store now

The latest men's and women's fashion is now available at Warragul's home of Australian Made, Port Phillip.

Browse our range in store on online.

1a Barkly Street, Warragul 5623 4369 www.portphillipshop.com.au

25 SEPTEMBER 201 5 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN

· ARTS · BAW BAW LIFE · 7

Unlimited videos!

SPONSORED IT COLUMN

Mountains of mosaics

Some of the more two dimensional mosaics on display in Yarragon. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN:01055

YARRAGON // THINK you know mosaics? Think again.

An exhibition on display at the Baw Baw Arts Alliance's Yarragon Station Gallery until the end of the month has a wide range of mosaics on display.

Many people exposed to mosaics in school will only be familiar with two dimensional collages of coloured tiles. This exhibition features some fine works of 2D art, but also shows the versatility of the medium.

Works incorporating household objects like cups and spoons, both for form and decoration, sit alongside advanced structures recreating real life places. 'Chasm,' by Dot

Thorne, is a prime example of this.

As the name would suggest, the sculptural mosaic depicts a deep chasm in the earth. Using tiles, rocks and beads, the ragged landscape is depicted with the flow of a waterfall also shown.

Another work, a ceramic bird in a mosaic nest, rests on a mug featuring cats looking up.

There are many clever applications of tiles on display, including town maps of Warragul, Drouin and Yarragon as well as mosaic flowers with stamens which stand out from the image.

This exhibition is one not to miss - see it before it closes.

Imagine having a mega video store with no late fees in your very own home. Well, with the rise of streaming content and massive leaps in hardware which allows you to watch what you want, when you want from the comfort of your couch are easier to find than ever.

Many people are familiar with Netflix; the American streaming service recently launched here in Australia but has been so popular overseas many Aussies were finding tricky ways to pay for access to the US service. For $8.99 per month you can access a massive database of film and TV streams which you can watch.

Preempting the arrival of Netflix in Australia, several players in the Australian television market pushed their own subscription offerings: Stan, $10 per month, and Presto, $14.99 per month for full access. Both have their own large databases of content from around the world.

They joined the free ABC iView and SBS OnDemand platforms, both of which have vast video libraries and good mobile apps.

For many, the choice of which service or services to sign up for boils down to what each is showing.

Not sure what a streaming service is? Chances are you have watched videos on YouTube before, and these services are relatively similar, albeit not all free. You are not able to download and keep the content, but you do get unlimited access to their databases during your

subscription.

There are many reasons to use a streaming service in Australia: poor TV reception and simply wanting to watch something that is not on the box are two good ones.

Of course, watching TV at a computer does not appeal to most people, and notebooks are only comfortable for so long.

But happily, the methods of delivery have multiplied and dropped in price and size in recent years.

You can purchase devices not much larger than a flash drive which run Windows and stream well for around $200, as well as tiny full PCs that could fit in your jacket pocket for around $600. These can plug into the back of your TV and give you access to these worlds of entertainment as well as light games, the internet and more.

Many TVs also now feature the ability to stream content as a factory feature – Smart TVs have become the norm for midand high-end screen offerings.

Of course, it is worth checking your internet usage before signing up for anything – for the occasional movie buff a 50GB monthly plan limit could be enough, but if you think the online offerings could replace the antenna on your roof you will likely need something more.

Ask your local internet provider if you are unsure.

ITaffinity.com.au - PC sales and repairs 2 Smith Street, Warragul 0499 999 869

8 · BAW BAW LIFE ·

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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 25 SEPTEMBER 201 5

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Find these stories and more at the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen's website: www.warragulcitizen.com