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Issue 26, April 2015

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4 12 14page AUSTRALIAN

INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AT AVALON

2015 WYNDHAM MULTICULTURAL FIESTA A SUCCESS!

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Cheese and Cider go together like bees and honey.

This statement was proven factual on Sunday 15th March, at Wyndham City’s second annual Fromage A Trois Festival.

With the glorious Werribee Mansion providing the perfect back drop to this relatively new event, the people of Wyndham turned up in their thousands to sample the wares of over 50 exhibitors.

The weather started out a little grey, but eventually the clouds gave in to the sunshine. With a stage for live music, the atmosphere was brilliant.

Picnic rugs and hay bales dotted the lawns of Werribee Park; umbrellas provided shade from the glorious sun.

Lawn games and photo booths gave the day an old-world charm that was impossible to resist.

Watching children enjoy a game of croquet, or table tennis, whilst grown ups relaxed near-by, made a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the modern world we live in.

With a demo stage set up, industry experts taught the more serious foodies the ins and outs of a gourmet kitchen.

Being a part of the Melbourne food and wine festival, this event really was all about the gourmet.

I enjoyed Caprese skewers, and pulled pork sliders and some chili cheese that made my taste buds do a little jig.

The Maggie Beer cider was a highlight for me, but with so many options for sampling, there was never any doubt as to how much I would enjoy the day.

The event was brilliantly organized and executed.

I look forward to making this a regular fixture on my calendar and I cannot wait to sip some cider from my Fromage A Trois glass – a perfect keepsake, from a perfect day.

HELP KIDS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

FROMAGE A TROISby Melissa Longo

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will@aroundhopperscrossing.com

Louise 0403 191 084

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FROM THE EDITOR

PUDDLING WITH THE PUBLISHERAustralia’s Gallipoli sacrifice -

8709 dead; 19,441 wounded;

It being Gallipoli’s 100th anniversary, we remember and salute those of our brave countrymen who put themselves in harm’s way, especially those who gave their all for “king and country” and loyalty to our Motherland. We remember the families and loved ones of those numbered among the terribly tragic statistics; 8709 dead; 19,441 wounded. Lest we forget. I am sure none of us will. I know I shan’t.

I’ve seen documentaries where wave after wave of troops were sent ‘over the top’ to be mowed down by machine guns and artillery before reaching the Turks’ trenches. Whole regiments, were almost wiped out in mad charges that achieved little or nothing. Tragically, this slaughter was repeated again and again in Flanders and on the Somme.

I still have a mental picture of a general back at his club with a cigar in one hand and single malt in the other whilst his troops fought in the mud and the blood! Fortunately, not all generals were like

that: Australian generals Monash and Chauvel for example. British General Birdwood (“Birdie”) was often seen in the front Aussie trenches at Gallipoli.

I once worked with a Colonel friend who told me a story about his General. He walked into the General’s office one day and there was a new cartoon hanging on the wall. The balloon said ‘There go my troops, they are a fine body of men, I am their Leader, I must catch them’.

So if you think our debt of loyalty to the ‘Old Dart’ is paid in full, you may think it is time to ask Malcolm to step up to the boss and suggest that it is time to once again put the Republic question to the voters, this time with bipartisan support.

Bill McPherson

It has been a very busy month!

Check out my Australian Airshow Article (not sure which page yet). That was an excellent show, I hope that some of you managed to get there to enjoy this truly remarkable event. We are lucky to have it occur so close to home. People travel from around the globe to see it!

We had a great meeting with most of the writers for the papers. One of our longest serving supporters, Peter, has been kind enough to offer to print up some business cards that will no doubt make life a lot easier in terms of getting stories to print.

Easter is not far away now, so prep your body to gain a few kilos here and there due to the vast amounts of chocolate that will no doubt be consumed! Well perhaps that is just me?

Ok thanks for the ongoing excellent efforts of our contributors and supporters. I hope you enjoy your read, please send me your feedback if you like a particular article and I will pass it on to the writer.

Have a fantastic month.

Daniel Allen

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GIVE US A CALL:

Will 0449 834 359 will@aroundhopperscrossing.com

Daniel 0408 659 940 aroundsell@gmail.com

Louise 0403 191 084

2015 WYNDHAM YOUTH FORUM

MP for Lalor, Joanne Ryan played host to over 200 students at The Grange P-12 Senior Campus on Wednesday 11th March, at the 2015 Wyndham Youth Forum. With student representatives from 26 primary and 11 secondary schools across the region, the aim of the day was to provide a voice for the potential leaders of tomorrow.

Hoppers Crossing Secondary College was strongly represented with school captain, Toby Armour, leading a team of 10. Taking the day very seriously, the students seemed honoured and inspired by proceedings. Toby was keen to learn from other schools, hoping to assess his council’s efforts, and implement any new ideas gathered from the forum.

The forum focused on getting to the heart of what it means to be a part of this community. The students were asked to really think about their values and culture, and how they can begin to affect positive change, so that no student should ever have to feel isolated.

Wyndham is still the fastest growing community in Australia and the diversity of our population is most evident on a school level. Learning to communicate, listen and truly understand each other was a key message. By sharing stories, our youth are able

to create a supportive environment and a sense of belonging. Teaching these skills to our students bodes well for our future leaders.

Ms. Ryan understands the power of a strong education, having started out as a teacher, then going on to become a principal. This experience clearly assisted at the forum, as she commanded the attention of the room. The MP hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the community that she has represented passionately since 2013, through listening to the needs and thoughts of its students.

Melissa Longo

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Well sometimes being an editor/writer for a community paper does have its ups as well as its downs. On this day I found myself waiting in a media only queue just prior to the gates opening at the 2015 Australian International Airshow. I left home early of course to avoid the traffic and managed to get there in good speed.

I chose a rather interesting day to attend. One hundred years ago to the day, the Bristol BoxKite was flown in Point Cook. Point Cook RAAF Museum had a major tent at the show and received a great plug in the MC’s daily introduction of flight displays.

As I sat down with the camera out, the MC indicated the show would “Trace the history of aviation from Gallipoli to the present day,” and so it did.

One of the stand-out static displays was the Global Hawk (pictured). This is one serious Drone, and it is the first time that this machine has been flown into an Airshow in Australia. Incidentally the pilot flying and landing the plane was sitting at a base in California.

But it was not all about planes! There was other hardware there in abundance, and whilst I will mainly.

Daniel Allen

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AT AVALON – WHAT A RIPPER!

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1) A year of hard work pays off2) Bombsquad3) Reenactment

4) Bigfella5) Piloted and landed from a base in California

6) Drone7) Condition of the engine prior to the restoration8) A vastly improved engine bay

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TWO WAR MEMORIALS IN ALTONAIn September 1946 it was decided that a war memorial in the form of an obelisk would be built in Altona Park, on the corner of Pier and Queen Streets, to record the names of Altona servicemen who had lost their lives whilst in the services. The cost was estimated at 250 pounds, with Werribee Shire donating 50 pounds, and the balance to be raised by public subscription.

These funds were raised by performances by local schoolchildren, a promenade concert, ball, picture night and house to house canvassing.

After a couple of delays the memorial was opened on the 15th December 1946, by Major General Ramsay, of El Alamein fame. He took the salute from a large group of ex servicemen and women, who marched along Pier Street to the park, accompanied by several bands. Three hundred and sixty ex servicemen

received wallets to commemorate the occasion.

At some stage this obelisk was removed from Altona Park, but I cannot find out for sure when it was shifted and what happened to it. There is a common belief that the base of the obelisk was cut up and used as the base of the eternal flame outside the council offices in Civic Parade, but again I cannot find any evidence to support this, even though I was told it by several independent sources.

The eternal flame in Civic parade was built in 1964 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Anzac day, and is one of only 4 eternal flames in Australia. If you ever wanted to go to a dawn service but haven’t, this Anzac day, the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, at one of the 4 eternal flames in the country would be the one to go to.

The eternal flame is located at the Hobsons Bay council offices, 115 Civic Parade. The dawn service starts at 5.5am, and if you want to join the march there from the Altona RSL, the march leaves Sargood Street, Altona, at 5.45am. Check the RSL’s website before hand in case of last minute changes to the timings.

Greg Milne

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SUSTAINABILITY EXPO IN HOBSONS BAYA varied and exciting Sustainability Expo is due to be held at Altona’s Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre (28 April -10 May).

The event aims to raise awareness of sustainability and environmental issues among the wider population within Hobsons Bay and beyond.

To this end, a number of diverse activities will be on offer for adults and children alike throughout the expo.

Come and listen to two free presentations by organisations and experts specialising in sustainability and the environment.

Saturday 2 May, 1.00pm

Positive Footprints, designer and builder of sustainable

homes, will give a presentation on

cost-effective sustainability

for new and established homes

Saturday 2 May, 2.00pm

Altona resident and RMIT’s Professor

Mark Osborn leads research on the impact

of microorganisms in rivers, seas, agricultural

soil and drinking water pipes.

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He will talk about plastic pollution in our rivers and seas and its current and longer-term impact.

Readers are invited to attend these presentations, ask questions and engage in discussions with the speakers about these very current and relevant issues.

Also come and see:

Saturday 2 May, 11.00amA demonstration on how to make recycled jewellery from everyday items

Saturday 2 May, 3.30pmA demonstration and discussion of food preserving

Sunday 3 May, 11.00am and 12.30pmOpen House by Positive Footprints

Tuesday 5 May, 6.30pmA water tank information seminar (My Smart Garden)

Saturday 9 May, 1.00pm

A workshop for children of all ages on recycling old into new to make Mothers’ Day gifts.

Also come and see the plastic bottle wall, edible garden displays and much more throughout the event.

All activities are free and everyone is welcome. Bookings are essential.

To book, phone 93982511, email admin@louisjlcc.com.au or visit www.joelgallery.com.au.

For more information on plastic pollution, email Prof Osborn at mark.osborn@rmit.edu.au or tweet @MicrobialLife.

Fabienne Chevalier

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A SILENT BATTLE – BUT NOT WITHOUT SUPPORT

Mental health isn’t a casserole illness.

When someone suffers from depression, a personality disorder, or anxiety, it is highly unlikely to have a months worth of dinners delivered to your door. It’s not an obvious physical illness.

If someone with a mental health disorder manages to get out of bed in the morning and make it to work, no-one asks about Friday night’s psychiatric appointment.

The kids at school don’t ask to sign your cast.

Mental health is very much of a silent illness, yet so many people are affected by it.

In Australia, it is estimated that 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

One in six people will experience depression, and one in four people will experience anxiety at one point or another in their

lives.

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Only in recent years have associations such as Beyond Blue and Reachout become fridge-magnet material.

With the help of such organisations, education and acknowledgement of mental health issues can be a community-wide endeavor.

Mental health is a story that needs to be told. The general population may feel distant from the issue; but for many, it is a reality we face on a daily basis.

By bringing mental health out of the blue and into the spotlight, we can come to accept it; not avoid it.

By coming to terms with mental illness, we can treat it, and not avoid it.

For those of us who experience mental health issues, a new take on mental health by the public that includes hope for treatment and a better standard of living, can eliminate the negative stigma associated with mental illness.

Wyndham is fortunate enough to home a number of mental health service facilities, including, but by no way limited to:

Phoenix Support GroupMeets at the Salvation Army Centre, 209 Watton Street, Werribee

Mental Illness FellowshipWestern Region Health Centre and Yarra Housing, 4/3 Synnot Street, Werribee(03) 9742 9600

Werribee Mercy Mental Health ServiceLevel 1 Footscray Plaza Building, Cnr Albert & Paisley Street, Footscray 3011 (03) 9928 7444

ISIS Primary Care (which encompasses the Primary Mental Health Team, Crisis Assessment and Treatment Services, and Orygen Youth Health)117-129 Warringa Crescent, Hoppers Crossing 3029 1300 657 259 (Triage) -24 Hours

Headspace Shop 13, 5 Duncans Road, Werribee 3030(03) 8001 2366

Bailey Allen

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SAILING IN A TWILIGHT RACE – WITH SAILOR ANN

When daylight savings time finishes, the summer sailing season and twilight races on a Wednesday evening stop too.

The twilight races conducted by the two Williamstown yacht clubs , begin at 6.00pm on the northern part of Port Philip Bay.

The fleet of yachts race around laid buoy markers. My first twilight race as a boat owner was scary. I had two other crew with me on Paramour.

Fortunately we didn’t have the big colourful spinnaker sail flying when a really strong northerly wind gust blew through the fleet as we were heading down wind...whooooaah. I was quietly shrieking expletives!

All around us there were bigger boats out of control and spinnakers sails being torn. There was even a man overboard incident nearby.

We could see two other Division C boats Tandeka and Nunyarra ahead of us, still racing.

We rounded the bottom mark and headed out for the east side of the course to avoid the ‘traffic’ coming downwind towards us.

The Division C boats had gone over to the west side of the course. We sailed our yacht over to join them and began to ‘cover’ our competition –“keep between them and the finish line”.

The result was that Paramour crossed the finish line three minutes ahead of Nunyarra, to gain 9th place in our Division C of 14 boats. A happy ending for our first twilight race.

There a more stories of breezy adventures under sail in Ann’s published book found on www.blurb.com/bookstore/sports&adventure titled “Going About”.

Ann Goodwin

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FINDING OUR ANZACS - THE CONNOP BROTHERS

Two of the sons of John and Margaret Connop of Little River, went off to the First World War and did not return.

The younger brother, Edward Joseph, enlisted on the 19th July 1915, and arrived in France in late March 1916.

He was concussed by a shell at Pozieres in August, but after six days recovering he re-joined his unit, the 7th Battalion.

Edward was involved in the fighting around Menin Road in September 1917 when he was badly wounded. He died of these wounds three weeks later.

Back in Australia, less than two weeks before Edward stepped ashore in France, his brother John Edmund was enlisting in the 29th Battalion.

John followed his brother, arriving in France in November 1916, probably unaware that his brother had been promoted to Sergeant only weeks before.

In early March 1917 John was wounded in the back,

and spent some time at the 1st Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge before re-joining his unit again in France. Only 5 days after his brother Edward died of his wounds, John was also wounded and died the following day at the 17th Casualty Clearing Station.

In 1920 the Army requested from the family inscriptions for the graves of John and Edward. Their mother chose some inscriptions and sent them to the army. For John she chose-

“Oh for a touch of the vanished hand, Oh for the sound of the voice that is still.”

And for her son Edward, Margaret chose- “ Eternal rest give unto him Oh Lord. May his soul rest in peace.”

The Army wrote back saying that John’s inscription was too long, and it must be limited to 66 characters, with the space between words counting as a character.

Margaret replied, changing John’s inscription to “Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on his soul.” Although she had given two sons to the war, in this letter Margaret also apologized to the army for the inconvenience she had put the army to, by putting in an inscription that was too long.

The two brother’s names are recorded on the soldier’s memorial in Watton Street, Lest We Forget.

Greg Milne

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HELP GET KIDS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES SOME IPADS

Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities Inc. (ADEC) has been supporting people living with disabilities as well as their carers for over 30 years.

We are now undertaking our first crowdfunding campaign so that children can gain confidence; and improve their communication and social skills using technology.

Digital Respite is a program that innovatively blends the magic of computer games, educational software, and new technology.

It provides enjoyable, engaging, and valuable social respite time for children and their carers.

Digital Respite also allows participants to make new friends, play, and laugh together, colouring their imaginations, while crafting their skills as they grow.

Make a small, one off, affordable donation to assist ADEC in providing the best digital respite experience possible.

Every cent of every dollar you pledge will go directly to the Digital Respite effort to obtain some iPads for this cause. Your contribution is vital to enabling ADEC’s fun-loving youth to make life-changing discoveries in our amazing world.

There is more information available on the fundraising webpage.

Act today, pledge your support now by visiting our fundraising page: letsact.com.au/projects/ipads-4-kids-with-digital-ability

It may be easier to just goto letsact.com.au and look for our project on the front page.

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AUSTRALIAN PELICAN(Pelecanus conspicillatus)

The Australian Pelican is a large waterbird common and widespread on Australia’s coastal and inland waters. It is also found in New Guinea, Fiji, parts of Indonesia and, occasionally, a stray bird is seen in New Zealand.

If you spot a very large white bird with black wings and a huge pink bill paddling about on, for example, Cherry Lake, you can be sure it’s a pelican.

However, by pelican standards, the Australian species is only medium sized. It has a wingspan between 2.3 and 2.6 metres and it weighs from 4kg to 13kg. Even by pelican standards, the pale pink bill is enormous. In fact, it’s the largest bill in the avian world. The male bill can reach as much as 50cm in length while female bills measure around 35cm at maturity.

Pelicans are commonly seen on large expanses of open water such as large lakes, reservoirs and rivers as well as estuaries, swamps and coastal lagoons. Australian Pelicans follow the availability of food rather than be in a certain place at a particular time of year.

The occurrence of drought frequently determines movements. When the normally barren Lake Eyre floods, only a handful of pelicans remain in coastal areas, but when the lake dries again, the population disperses once more and thousands of birds migrate to the coast.

A social bird, the Australian Pelican works in groups to drive fish to shallower water, thus making them easier to catch.

Birds are particularly fond of introduced species such as goldfish, European carp and European perch, but will eat native fish whenever possible, a favourite being Leiopotherapon unicolour, an Australian perch.

Birds also feed regularly on insects and aquatic crustaceans, especially shrimps and the common yabby.

Pelicans also take birds such as the silver gull and grey teal, including eggs, nestlings, fledglings and adults, and reptiles and amphibians when available.

In southern Australia, Pelicans breed in spring, their nests being a shallow depression in earth or sand, sometimes with a grass lining. The one to four eggs are chalky white and often appear scratched and dirty.

Incubation is 32 to 35 days and the chicks are naked when they hatch. Young pelicans fledge at around three months of age.

Helene Wild │ helene.wild@optusnet.com.au

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2015 WYNDHAM MULTICULTURAL FIESTA A SUCCESS!

The Wyndham Multicultural Fiesta can be summed up in 4 F’s – flavourful, fun, fiery and fabulous.

FLAVOURFUL – this one day activity on March 22 2015 is surely a taste of various cultural influences. The performances of the live entertainment are a good glimpse on what each cultural group can offer. The costumes are authentic and colourful. Every

song and dance is top-notch. Performers are crowd-pleasers. Never was there a dull moment.

FUN – there’s lots to do catering to guests of all ages. There are some booths offering activities and hands-on workshops. Under the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun, families can enjoy a picnic under the cooler and shaded areas of the Werribee Park.

Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company

People and Places

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Kids are entertained by roving balloon maker, face painters and so much more. Crafts sold by various groups showcase talents and skills native to their heritage.

One can also enjoy sightseeing along the frontage of the Werribee Mansion!

FIERY – food offered by different stalls and food businesses also provide a flavour of their culinary expertise.

An interesting mix of picnic food is also on offer.

FABULOUS – where can you find at least 17 performances representing their cultural groups, big time guests and speakers, 12 major sponsors, around 48 groups representing businesses and organisations that have participated through stalls, exhibits, and sports clinic and demonstrations?

A cast of hundreds gathered together on one magnificent blending of sights, sounds, colour and language. Truly an event that can be considered a success!

Mimi Laurilla

Alegria Latin Carnival

Dempsey Irish Dancers

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HEALTHY EATING TIPS FOR EASTER

‘Laughter is brightest where food is best.’ – Irish proverb

1. Keep calm and eat chocolate

Treat chocolate as a luxury – in moderation after a meal or snack. Chocolate hasn’t made it as a food group! (yet ;)

Pick dark chocolate: it’s good for your heart! That’s the findings of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

2. Go on that Easter egg hunt

Get the whole family out of the house, away from the tv and the stash of Easter eggs.

Take in the sunshine, fresh air, and fun on that Easter Egg hunt, visit the Werribee Zoo, or frolic at the beach. Visit ExperienceWyndham.com.au for what’s on.

3. Variety is the spice of life

Try a few new recipes with a range of colourful and seasonal ingredients. Bake, grill, and steam instead of frying. Use olive oil instead of margarine or cream.

Use less salt, more herbs, and more vegies. Play with funky ingredients like quinoa, chia, lentils, chickpeas, and lychees. Visit taste.com.au for ideas.

4. Eat, drink, and be merry

Easter is the perfect time to catch up with loved ones over food. Linger over breakfasts, plan picnic lunches, and look forward to bbq dinners.

Take turns to cook, or… go on, a little take away won’t hurt! Explore jamieoliver.com or kidspot.com.au for quick, tasty, healthy meals even the kids will adore.

Above all, sit back and savour fresh, tasty food cooked with love and shared with good company throughout the Easter break.

HAPPY EASTER!

- Cynthia Marinakos

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Laugh Out Loud

GETTING OLDER

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true," she wanted to know, "that the

medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?" "'Yes, I'm afraid so,"' the doctor

told her. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, "I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is

marked 'NO REFILLS'.."

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An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anaesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. "Yes, Dad , what is it?" "Don't be nervous,

son; do your best, and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is

going to come and live with you and your wife...."

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Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it. This is so true. I love to hear them say "you don't

look that old."

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The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

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Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! I want people to know why I look this way. I've travelled a long way and some of the roads weren't

paved.

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When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

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One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being

young.

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Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

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First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull up your zipper... it's worse

when you forget to pull it down.

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Two guys, one old, one young, are pushing their carts around- Wal-Mart when they collide.

The old guy says to the young guy, "Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't

paying attention to where I was going."

The young guy says, "That's OK, it's a coincidence. I'm looking for my wife, too... I can't find her and I'm

getting a little desperate."

The old guy says, "Well, maybe I can help you find her... what does she look like?"

The young guy says, "Well, she is 27 years old, tall, with red hair, blue eyes, is buxom...wearing no bra, long legs, and is wearing short shorts. What does

your wife look like?'

To which the old guy says, "Doesn't matter, let's look for yours."

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OUTLAWSLegendary outlaw Robin Hood

Used to hide out in Sherwood Forest.By the Sheriff misunderstood,

To help the poor, Rob did his best.

Switzerland’s hero William Tell,Whose aim with a crossbow was sure,

Sent an Austrian tyrant to Hell,And gave his name to an Overture.

The famous pirate Captain Kidd,As a privateer sought glory.

Poor Will was hanged for what he did:An exceedingly sad story.

Renowned highwayman Dick TurpinWas really a nasty piece of work.

The Law ended his life of sinWhen he was hanged by the neck at York.

There’s Jesse James and brother Frank;Cool courage these boys did not lack

When robbing trains and the odd bank.A coward shot Jesse in the back.

Hone Heke of the Shaky Isles,As a rebel kicked a few goals.

Amongst Maoris there were many smilesWhen he chopped down those British flagpoles.

The tale of our own Ned Kelly,His kid brother Dan and their gang,

Has been told in books, films and telly.At Melbourne Gaol brave Ned did hang.

Bonnie and Clyde liked to live fast;For their crimes they had no regrets.They robbed and killed until at lastThey died in a hail of cop bullets.

Dangerous man John DillingerWas not at all afraid to die.

One night this daring gunslingerWas gunned down by the F B I.

What is it about an outlaw,Highwayman, pirate or gangster,

That their names live on in our folklore?A flaw in human character?

By Jack Nystrom, 10.9.14

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Hoppers Xing kids

Calling on Hoppers Crossing Schools and Parents to share photos, art, stories, writing for this page.Email your contributions to will@aroundpointcook.com or post to the PO Box 1145 Altona Meadows 3028

Hi Kids

Cook’s Chocolate Bunny Droppings

Happy Easter. Or it would be if Mython the Python hadn’t banned Easter. Outright. Just like that. She’s the Matron here at the Institute for Performing Humanimals, where I live.

It’s Squidge’s fault – it was her note passed around during decorum lessons, even when everyone knows ‘one must pay attention in class, at all times.’ (even when they’re snoring!)

Now there’s no Easter egg hunt this Sunday after Mass. But, I’m not worried.

(‘cuse I found a recipe for Chocolate Bunny Droppings in the scullery when I was on dishes duty. And now, I can’t wait. I just know I’ll find an eggstra special treat in my semolina pud come Sunday supper.) Yumbo. Scrumbo. I hope so.

Cook always thinks of us humanimals. (especially when Python’s being mean.) Uh oh. Matron’s coming. Don’t tell the adult-humans. If word gets back we’re having an Easter treat, there’ll be hell to pay! ‘Til next time. Mweow for Ciao.

C.A Thornton

COOK’s RECIPIE for Chocolate Bunny Droppings

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of Dark or Milk Melting Chocolate

1½ Tbsp of crushed twigs - walnuts or peanuts

1½ Tbsp of shredded grass - coconut

1 Tbsp of chopped fruit – sultanas

6-8 Mini Patty Pans

METHOD

1. Put chocolate in a jug. Place jug in a pot of water on the stove. Simmer water to melt the choco-late over the heat.

2. Once Chocolate melts, slowly stir in walnuts, coconut and sulta-nas.

3. Take jug out of pot and place on a warmed towel waiting on bench.

4. Fill the Mini Patty Pans with chocolate mix. Sprinkle with crushed walnuts and place in the fridge for an hour or so.

5. When set, take droppings out of Patty Pans and enjoy with a glass of milk!

20 Please redistribute rather than discard.