Letters To The Editor - June 7, 2018

Thanks to the Anglesea community

Dear Editor,

My husband and I are not locals, as in having lived in Anglesea for generations.

We are only newcomers of 20 years or so. Yet we have often spoken of how lucky we feel to be so welcomed and included.

Some months ago, I was unfortunate enough to suffer from a serious health issue.

We could not have foreseen just how wonderful this little community is.

Even in a big city it could be expected that close neighbours and friends would rally around and offer support. This duly happened – but far more than that.

The Post Office staff kept a close watch on mail, in case there was something urgent, the chemist offered to organize medications to make things easier, the newsagent sent home returnable magazines to help with rehabilitation and relaxation, the florist made an extra enormous bouquet on Mother’s Day, the supermarket staff helped interpret the scribbled, garbled shopping notes, the lovely staff at Stabb’s sent smiles and so on all down the shopping strip.

The ladies from tennis sent flowers and cards and rang weekly. The bowls club people stopped and sent good wishes. The young man across the street brought over freshly caught fish because “fish is good for you!”. The local tradies we had dealt with pulled up to enquire was anything needed. The frozen swimmers at the beach in the early morning group asked for reports whenever Peter could get there.

The RSL checked regularly. All of this in spite of the fact that we are not really “joiners” or social occasion people.

We just like to be part of the community and say hello.

Things are looking up a little now and it is time for both of us to say a big THANK YOU COMMUNITY – our wonderful close neighbours and friends and all the lovely people out there who cared. It has been overwhelming.

As more and more homes in Anglesea are sold for holiday rentals and development, it might be wise to reflect on how much can be lost from a close-knit, caring town such as this one.

Kath and Peter Sharp
Anglesea

No peace in Anglesea

Dear Editor,

Will I ever experience any peace in Anglesea ?

Last Wednesday (May 30), there was a disturbing explosion from the Alcoa power station that shook my home. I received no notification of this planned demolition.

Nearly 40 years in this home, putting up with noise, smoke and dust from this wretched power plant.

Will it ever end?

Michael Roper
Anglesea

Unstoppable force meets immovable object

Dear Editor,

It was the day every high spot around Anglesea was occupied by expectant locals seeking something spectacular, ex-employees recalling congenial working days, and opponents of coal eager to witness the end of a symbol of pollution.

Then at 12.36pm there was a great ka-boom! accompanied by an impressive cloud of dust…but the full blast was not enough. So now we know what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object – not very much!

At the end of the day we all saw it not being blown up on the TV news.

Ah! Well, Guy Fawkes probably doesn’t feel so bad now.

The Alcoa Power Station was obviously constructed from good old Australian steel.

The boom was heard in Ocean Grove, and umm, incidentally a mini earthquake occurred that afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula. Could it have been connected to our dud explosion?

Anglesea’s blockbuster has now turned into a serial event; so stand by for the next exciting episode.

Melva Stott
Anglesea

One of the lucky ones on the train

Dear Editor,

I was one of the lucky ones to get a ticket for the latest production by the Torquay Theatre Troupe. Strangers on a Train was quickly booked out indicating the popularity and the quality of the theatrical experience provided by this hard working and talented company.

At the end of the production, the audience leaves, as usual, thrilled with their evening and discussing the merits of the play and comparing it to those seen over the years.

However, I understand, this is not the end of the evening for the company. As the venue, the Senior Citizens building is often needed for something else the following day, the scenery, seating and props have to be packed away.

I can only imagine the exhaustion at the end of a night presenting a play, then having to restore the hall, and the season lasts three weeks!

I am full of admiration for members of The Torquay Theatre Troupe and thank them for giving so much pleasure and hope they are enjoying a well-earned break.

Rosemary Faris
Torquay

Sports grants open for local clubs

Dear Editor,

I remind local clubs and community organisations in Western Victoria to lodge applications for the current round of sports grants.

The state government is giving grassroot sporting clubs a historic boost to fund modern, inclusive and safe facilities, grounds, equipment and uniforms.

There are a range of different sports grants rounds currently open, and I am keen to see clubs in Western Victoria get their share. The grants open are:

Community Sports Infrastructure Fund, which funds facility upgrades such as clubrooms, ovals and lights;

Female Friendly Facilities Fund to ensure Victorian women and girls have the facilities they need to play the sport they love;

Sporting Club Grants Program, assisting clubs to purchase uniforms and equipment;

Better Indoor Stadiums Fund, to build multi-sports venues like basketball stadiums; and

Defibrillators for Sporting Clubs and Facilities Program, which allows sporting clubs to acquire a defibrillator for their club or facility.

In addition, there is also $100 million available in the Community Sport Infrastructure Loans Scheme, which provides low interest loans to fast track important community sporting facilities that might otherwise fall short on funding. This scheme will open later this year.

These grants form one of the biggest ever investments in sport and recreation by an Australian state government.

For more information about all these grants or to apply online visit sport.vic.gov.au. If my office can be of any assistance in helping your club apply, please get in contact on 5224 2088.

Gayle Tierney MP
Member for Western Victoria

Stay #firesafe this winter

Dear Editor,

Nothing says winter more than lamb shanks, a glass of Bellarine Shiraz and a wood-fuel fire. Except perhaps for hot, buttered crumpets with lots of honey.

While both these scenarios are comforting and help beat the winter blues, they are in and of themselves potential fire hazards.

Recently, CFA members from Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads attended a flue fire in a home that had got into the cork insulation in the ceiling. It is a timely reminder to check and maintain fireplaces, chimneys, fireboxes and flues for cracks and debris.

Many house fires start in the kitchen, so it important to reduce potential hazards, such as regularly cleaning the crumbs from your toaster.

As you settle in for the long weekend, here are our top tips for staying #firesafe this winter.

Keep clothes, toys and curtains at least one metre from heaters and fires
Make sure heaters and the dryer are off before going to bed or heading out
Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every use
Never leave cooking unattended and keep tea towels and pot holders away from the stove top
Keep a fire blanket in the kitchen
Check for kinks in electric blankets, and only turn them on for 30 minutes before going to bed.

Importantly, every family needs to develop a home fire escape plan and practise it. Your plan should include two ways to escape each room of the house, and a designated safe meeting point, such as the letterbox.

And always remember to call 000 in the event of a fire or emergency situation. For more information, head to cfa.vic.gov.au.

Andrew Mahoney
Chair, CFA Bellarine Group Community Safety Committee