axe creek eppalock newsletter issue 41
DESCRIPTION
Summer 2013-2014 issue of the Axe Creek Eppalock NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
[email protected] Issue 41 1
Axe Creek – Eppalock Newsletter
Incorporating news from the Eppalock Primary School, Axe Creek Fire Brigade & the Axe Creek Landcare Group.
Welcome to the Summer Edition!
This issue marks 10 years since the very first Axe Creek - Eppalock Newsletter
was produced. Quite a milestone for all involved!
The newsletter continues to receive regular contributions. Issue 40 was
shared online, and has chalked up over 190 views online! (You can view it
with this link http://bit.ly/1g0HC3V) Plus we now offer to have the newsletter
delivered directly to readers email inboxes.
Our very first news story of this issue is local success in the Bendigo Inventors
Awards. Congratulations to Max Kettle for turning his bright idea into an
award winning product.
Please remember this newsletter is produced to share local news, so don’t
forget to drop an email to [email protected] if you have something
to share with the community.
Enjoy the festive season with your family and friends.
Sam Spence
Edition 41. Summer 2013/4
Welcome
Community Notice Board
Local Success
CFA News
Eppalock PS Update
Axe Creek Playgroup
Landcare’s Latest
Church News
Community News
Kids Corner
Did you know you can now
receive your copy of the Axe
Creek - Eppalock Newsletter
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Send us a quick email to
and we will add you to our
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help the Community
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for a reasonable price, then advertise in the
next issue of the Axe Creek – Eppalock
Newsletter.
Full Page $100
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Fees charged help cover printing costs.
Advertising deadline for future issues:
Autumn 2014 Mar 3rd
Winter 2014 June 2nd
Spring 2014 Sept 1st
Summer 2014 Dec 1st
Contact us via [email protected]
Thank you to this issues
Contributors
John Wells - Axe Creek Fire
Brigade
Marie Mannes - Eppalock PS
Donna Bridgeman - Eppalock
PS
Gillian Wells - Axe Creek Land-
care
Steve Weickhardt - Anglican
Parish
[email protected] Issue 41 2
Community Notice Board
Emergency Contact Numbers
Fire, Police & Ambulance 000 (life threatening or time critical emergencies only)
SES Flood & Storm Emergency 13 25 00
Bushfire Information 1800 240 667
Information & advice about significant fires, total fire bans
Burn Off Notifications 1800 668 511
Poisons Information 13 11 26
Wildlife Rescue Service 0419 356 433
Useful Websites
CFA www.cfa.vic.gov.au
DSE www.dse.vic.gov.au
Vic Roads www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
School Terms
2014
Term 1
29 Jan – 4 Apr
Term 2
22 Apr – 27 Jun
Term 3
14 Jul – 19 Sept
Term 4
6 Oct – 19 Dec
Local Churches
St Stephens Anglican Church
108 Hargreaves Rd, Emu Creek
2nd & 4th Sunday Mornings – 9am
Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church
920 Wellington St, Strathfieldsaye
1st & 3rd Sunday Mornings – 9am
☼ NEW Family Service - 1st & 3rd Saturdays - 5pm ☼
St Joseph’s Catholic Church
Cnr Axe Creek & Strathfieldsaye/Eppalock Rds.
Sunday Mornings – 9am
All Welcome
Axe Creek CFA
Captain Neil Irving-Dusting
5439 6388
Secretary Bob Russell
0448 000 845
[email protected] Issue 41 3
Axe Creek man wins Bendigo Inventor of the Year prize
Local Axe Creek resident Max Kettle has taken out the prestigious $8,000 Bendigo In-
ventor of the Year prize for 2013 with a Bicycle Laser Alignment Tool invention at Fri-
day’s Gala Ceremony at the Capital.
Max Kettle also took out the $3,000 Manufacturing category for his invention which
placed him in the running for the major prize.
City of Greater Bendigo Business Innovation Officer Dawn Holland said the Bicycle La-
ser Alignment Tool is a fantastic invention.
“This tool accurately aligns a bicycle’s steering, seat and frame using laser technology
fitted with a portable device that is suitable for use on any style of bicycle. With the
growing popularity of cycling this tool is definitely a winner,” said Ms Holland.
She said over 300 people attend-
ed the 2013 Bendigo Inventor
Awards Gala Ceremony which
have once again proven to be an
outstanding success.
People attending the awards also
had the opportunity to vote on a
$2,000 People’s Choice Award on
the night.
Ms Holland said approximately100
entries were received for the
awards. From this 25 were
shortlisted as finalists.
“Bendigo is growing its reputation
as an innovative regional City where ideas are born, supported, nurtured and real-
ised.
“The Bendigo Inventor Awards are a fantastic local initiative open to people of all ag-
es that provide a competitive platform that fosters imagination through a competitive
process that identifies supports and promotes original ideas.
“They are important because these ideas can result in economic benefits for the local
community,” said Ms Holland.
[email protected] Issue 41 4
NEW BRIGADE OFFICERS
In the last Newsletter we reported that 1st Lt
Matt DeVincentis had left the brigade, hav-
ing moved overseas. Our new 1st Lieutenant
is Heath Martin, and Greg Henderson has
stepped into Heath's former role as 3rd Lieu-
tenant. Congratulations to Heath, and wel-
come to Greg!
WE'D LIKE YOUR HELP
Over the summer period brigade members
will be conducting a survey of local residents.
What we're after is an up-to-date picture of
the local population: i.e. how many people
live in each part of the brigade area.
The brigade will use this information in plan-
ning fire prevention and suppression opera-
tions, and also as essential background data
for funding submissions for equipment and
facilities.
We are also looking into the feasibility of de-
livering future editions of this newsletter di-
rectly to local households: to letterboxes, by
email or other ways.
Please make our members welcome when
they call on you! They can also help you with
information about our local fire brigade, di-
rect you to the CFA's free Home Bushfire Ad-
vice Service, or point out other useful ways to
keep up to date with fire dangers and how
to prepare for them.
KEEPING OUR FIREFIGHTERS - AND THE
PUBLIC - SAFER
Each year the state government provides funds
to help fire brigades and other voluntary emer-
gency organisations (such as SES, and Coast-
guard) purchase equipment and facilities to en-
hance their capacity to deliver services.
CFA News From Axe Creek Brigade
This year Axe Creek Fire Brigade received
over $2000 towards the cost of an Automated
External Defibrillator. This machine, to be kept
on the fire truck, will enable crew members to
assist anyone who might suffer cardiac arrest,
and thereby greatly increase the chances of
recovery.
Defibrillators are being installed in many pub-
lic facilities such as shopping centres and
sports venues. The brigade's machine will be
on hand at fires or other incidents, where it
could save the lives of firefighters or members
of the public.
A neighbouring brigade, Mosquito Creek, was
funded to help replace its ageing second
tanker with a brand new light tanker, to back
up the CFA-supplied heavy tanker.
All our neighbouring brigades (Axedale, Mos-
quito Creek, Sedgwick, Mandurang, Strath-
fieldsaye and Junortoun) now have up-to-
date second appliances. Together with our
own light tanker, and the Myrtle Creek light
tanker (jointly crewed by Axe Creek and Sut-
ton Grange brigades), these brigade-owned
appliances enhance our capacity to attack
local fires, and represent a valuable
'insurance policy' should any of the heavy
tankers be called away for duty elsewhere in
Victoria or interstate.
AN UPDATED FIREREADY APP
The CFA's FireReady
app for smartphones
is being updated by
the Fire Services Com-
missioner. The new
version, to be
launched soon,
should be easier and
faster to use, and ro-
bust enough to cope
with the level of de-
mand likely to be
seen during summer.
[email protected] Issue 41 5
VICEMERGENCY: A NEW WEBSITE FOR ALL
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
This summer will see the launch of VicEmergen-
cy: a new website designed to give members
of the public with a single place to source infor-
mation and warnings about all emergencies—
fire, flood, and disasters of all kinds.
www.emergency.vic.gov.au
Currently this address will transfer you to the
CFA website, but when the new site has been
launched it will provide integrated information
from all fire agencies and SES about fires and
floods.
In the longer term, the information provided on
VicEmergency will be expanded to cover other
emergencies.
Watch for further announcements. In the
meantime you could save the VicEmergency
address in your browser in place of the CFA
web address, so that as soon as the new site is
operational you will get the most effective ser-
vice.
MAKING OR UPDATING YOUR BUSHFIRE
SURVIVAL PLAN? INVOLVE THE KIDS!
Your family's bushfire survival plan is important
to ALL the family. Although fire and other
threats can be frightening to children, familiari-
ty with preparing the family's response can
help to reduce the children's anxiety.
At first sight it may not be obvious how the chil-
dren can contribute to the plan, but they are
much more likely to feel ownership, and help
to implement it, if they have been involved in
making it.
Their different points of view may well reveal
aspects of preparation that parents would oth-
erwise overlook, but which are important to
the children.
The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre has
released an eBook for parents on how to talk
to children about bushfire preparation and
safety.
The eBook, Making a bushfire plan? Involve
your kids! is based on research by Briony Tow-
ers of RMIT University. It is an interactive book
that can be read on a computer or any tablet
device, as well as printed.
The eBook leads us through Why to involve the
kids, What they can do, and How to engage
them.
Download the eBook from
http://www.bushfirecrc.com/news/news-item/
ebook-first-fire-safety
or just visit http://www.bushfirecrc.com and
follow the links.
[email protected] Issue 41 6
A FEW REMINDERS FOR SUMMER!
Victoria is one of the most fire-prone regions in the world.
Conditions indicate that this summer is going to be another busy
fire season—it was wet in winter and it will be a warm summer,
meaning lots of vegetation growth and lots of fuel for fire. Last
year was similar and we saw more than 4,000 fires burn 190,000
hectares in Victoria.
We’re expecting a higher than average risk of grassfires this season. Grassfires can be
just as dangerous as bushfires. They can spread very quickly, so you may not get any
warning of a fire that starts close by.
Check the Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Ban information every day (CFA website,
radio, FireReady app, Bushfire Information Line). The best way to stay safe is to leave
the night before or on the morning of a Code Red day, or early in the morning on an
Extreme or Severe day.
Talk to everyone you live with and your neighbours about your plans so you all know
what you’ll do on a hot, dry, windy day.
Pack an emergency kit with important documents, photos, medications, money and
clothes so you’re ready to leave early.
Don’t rely on getting a warning—it’s your responsibility to know when to leave so stay
aware of your surroundings over summer. For example, check for smoke in the air and
listen for sirens.
Leaving early means leaving your area before there are any signs of fire—not when
you can see smoke or flames, or smell smoke. By then the roads may be blocked, peo-
ple are likely to be panicking, and you are more likely to make wrong choices and risk
your life and the lives of others.
Decide in advance what you’ll do with your pets and livestock—people have died dur-
ing fires trying to save their animals.
Defending your home requires at least two fit and determined adults, at least 10,000
litres of water, protective clothing, and appropriate firefighting hoses and pumps. Most
homes in high risk bushfire areas are not defendable on Code Red days.
Your power may be the first thing that goes. Make sure you have on hand alternative
lighting—such as torches—as well as a battery powered or wind up radio so you can
stay informed.
Follow CFA on Social Media
facebook.com/CFAVIC Twitter @CFA_Updates
[email protected] Issue 41 7
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Forty years ago the area served by Axe Creek brigade extended into what is now part of Bendi-
go, as far as Edwards Road in Flora Hill. Here is a report of a fire at which Axe Creek brigade was
helped by many others –
Bendigo Advertiser, 8th February 1961
Hundreds Fight Big Outbreak Near Bendigo
Hundreds of volunteer firefighters, dozens of rural and city brigade tankers, and more than 100
tankers owned by farmers yesterday succeeded in stopping one of the biggest grass and scrub
fires near Bendigo for years. Hot northerly winds fanned the fire, which broke out behind the Flo-
ra Hill State School, raced towards the Oral School, jumped Edwards Road, and swept uncon-
trolled through thick scrub towards One Tree Hill. Police and firemen concentrated their efforts
on saving several houses in the path of the flames, and evacuated occupants.
Tanker units, men with knapsacks, beaters and tree branches could not be seen at times be-
cause of the dense smoke. Several were overcome with smoke and had to withdraw. One tank-
er was surrounded by flames and the men abandoned it. However the wind switched and it
was quickly driven away.
Mr Paddy Kairns, who is the spotter on the One Tree Hill Lookout tower, sounded the alarm
about 1pm then watched helplessly as the fire surrounded his home. However firemen promptly
quelled the blaze and averted the danger.
Teachers at the Oral School had telephoned for a taxi to help evacuate the children, but be-
fore the taxi arrived Mr Leigh Williamson, a builder, helped teachers usher the children away.
While firefighters were attempting to stop the blaze reaching Tannery Lane at Mandurang, the
wind changed and swept the flames eastwards toward Strathfieldsaye. Tankers and volunteers
raced along Strathfieldsaye Road to Piepers Hill, and then fanned out for miles along German
Gully, watching for any danger of the fire jumping the road.
Tanker units penetrated deep into the country along tracks as they endeavoured to get to the
seat of the blaze. Later in the afternoon a huge tanker from the State Rivers Commission at Ep-
palock arrived and by itself was able to fill the tanks of dozens of the units.
Black smoke rose hundreds of feet into the air and attracted hundreds of onlookers. When they
were stopped by police from entering the danger areas, cars banked up on both sides of
Strathfieldsaye Road for nearly a mile, hampering the movement of tankers and adding to the
confusion.
Dozens of firemen kept up a ceaseless patrol of the German Gully area and along Tannery Lane
last night in case the fire broke across the roads.
[email protected] Issue 41 8
Eppalock Primary School
Here we are again on the down-hill run to the end of another term and
school year. And what a term it has been at Eppalock Primary School.
Through our community links with North Central Catchment Manage-
ment Authority, Friends of the Bendigo Botanic Gardens, Coliban Water
and the City of Greater Bendigo, our school had the opportunity to par-
ticipate in National Water Week activities. National Water Week is an
annual awareness week that aims to improve community understanding of water issues in
Australia.
The theme for this year’s National Water Week was ‘Living Communities’ and students were
involved in the following activities …
· Macroinvertebrates (Water Bugs)
· Catchment in the Sandpit (Interactive story of a creek)
· Water wise Gardens (what plants are water wise)
· Storm water (what we can do to keep our waterways clean)
Students were also involved in the River Detectives program which looked at the small inverte-
brates that live in our local waterways and the important role these creatures play in the envi-
ronment.
Our annual School Sports Carnival was held at the Bendigo Athletic Centre earlier in the term.
Not only was Eppalock Primary School the overall winner on the day but, more importantly, all
students showed great respect, sportsmanship, care and compassion for their fellow competi-
tors and were great ambassadors for our school. Special congratulations to Abby and Brionee
who received Championship Medals.
[email protected] Issue 41 9
Other highlights of the term include …
Swimming Program held at the Eaglehawk YMCA Indoor Pool over a four-week period
Cricket Clinic conducted by Cricket Victoria provided students with access to an engaging
coaching session delivered by qualified cricket coaches
Hockey Victoria Road Show visited and proved a clinic for all students.
Visit to our school from a Commonwealth Games Athlete and Triathlete who spoke to students
about the great health benefits of being involved in sport and the fun you can have taking
part in a triathlon.
Interschool Sports – Grade 5 and 6 students joined with Quarry Hill PS to participate in inter-
school sports against Kennington PS and Spring Gully PS. This was a great opportunity for our
students to start to build a network for secondary school.
Active After School Program – this term a Tennis program ran on a Tuesday afternoon and a
Dance program on a Thursday afternoon. For the Dance program student made ‘passports’
and visited different countries each week learning about their culture through dance.
Our students will visit Victoria Heights Residential Care during the last week of term to sing
Christmas Carols and present the residents with small
gifts that they have made. This is a wonderful oppor-
tunity for all of us to remember to give back to our
community and fits in with our School Values and
KidsMatter Framework.
2014 incoming prep students and their families joined
staff for a Picnic in the School Serenity Garden. This
provided a wonderful opportunity for an informal get-
to-know- you with everyone thoroughly enjoying the
evening.
Our Graduating Class of 2013 will celebrate with their parents, school staff and School Council
members at a dinner on December 10th.
We congratulations these students and wish them well for their future.
Kobi, Riley, Jordan, Harmony, Nikiah
[email protected] Issue 41 10
WIND OF CHANGE – ELECTION DAY FROM A COUNTRY SCHOOL’S PERSPECTIVE
By Donna Bridgeman
Eppalock Primary School celebrated its 137th anniversary this year and has been the focal point
of our community for a large portion of this time. The old school building has been used, by the
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), as a polling booth for many years. The Parents Club, of
Eppalock Primary School, have traditionally conducted the obligatory sausage sizzle and cake
stall at many State and Federal elections.
Our school was fortunate to receive a grant from the Rudd government’s economic stimulus
package, to construct a new school, which was completed in 2011. A sign at the front gate of
our school heralded the proud achievement: funding from the ‘Building the Education Revolu-
tion’ (BER), provided us with our brand new school.
Planning for the Election Day stall commenced in earnest when former Prime Minister, Julia
Gillard, announced her election date, but stalled (pardon the pun) when Kevin Rudd was re-
elected and was intent on changing the date. We swung into action once the Election date
was confirmed and organised families to bake cakes and rostered parents to staff the stalls.
Friday morning, election eve, everything was ready: the cakes baked and priced; sausages
and bacon chilling in the fridge; local hens had laid enough free range eggs in time; the soft
drinks were on ice and the shade structure had been dusted off. The Officer–in–Charge from
the AEC arrived at school, “You can’t have a stall without a permit and you can’t be within five
metres of the entrance.”
“What? How can this be? Why weren’t we told? It’s an Eppalock Primary School tradition you
are messing with here!” cried distraught Parents Club members. Panicked phone calls were
made and a permit obtained online before the Parents Club breathed a collective sigh of re-
lief. Now back to worrying about the important stuff: the weather and if people would actually
buy what we were offering!
Anxious eyes watched the heavens for any sign of rain as the stalls were set up, bright and ear-
ly next morning. A noticeable omission: our sign. The sign which told everyone the Labor gov-
ernment had funded our new school building, was gone. Ironic really. The AEC had specifically
requested the use our new building, instead of the crowded old school building, it had used
many times before. But Kevin Rudd’s sign had been taken down; a political statement in itself?
Or an omen for what was about to happen?
We spent the morning serving our customers with bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast
and threw some snags on the barbie, as the morning wore on and the sun rose higher in the
sky. No need to worry about rain; forgot the bloody sunscreen!
For such a beautiful day, the mood amongst the parents was … sombre. The Bendigo elec-
torate had been represented by the Labor Party’s, Steve Gibbons, since 1998 and upon his re-
tirement; the seat of Bendigo was being hotly contested. Lisa Chesters, the Labor candidate,
claimed she would continue on with Mr Gibbon’s mission and Greg Bickley, the Liberal Party’s
contestant, proclaimed it was time for change.
Eppalock Primary School has long been considered the school of choice for parents of the …
alternative persuasion. Many of our parents may have been referred to as ‘hippies’, back in
the sixties. Concerns about raising children in a natural environment, healthy food and healthy
life style, are at the top of many of our parents lists. A connection with nature drives most of us
and the fear was evident; if the Labor party loses the election, ‘The Greens’ party would not be
[email protected] Issue 41 11
Mella Psychology Strengths based family practice
Alice Saver
Child Psychologist
Specialist grief & trauma
Ph: 0413477020
ABN 48219610664
APHRA Reg. PSY0001127614
I am a registered generalist psychologist with a Masters in
Educational and Developmental Psychology. I work with
individuals and families and have experience working with
children as young as 3 yrs. old and adults to 55 yrs. of age.
Best practice strategies in supporting children to fulfill their
full potential means that I work closely with parents, family
members and significant others in the child’s life.
I use a strengths based approach and engage with social
support networks because they are crucial for long term
positive changes to people’s lives
If you have a Mental Health plan from your doctor, I am
able to bulk bill my services through Medicare and you
can receive up to 10 free one hour counselling sessions in
a calendar year.
My specific areas of expertise include:
Support & Guidance for Parents
Children’s behavioral issues including Autism & ADHD
Social skills training
Anger Management
Depression or Anxiety (including fears or phobias)
Grief or Trauma
Cognitive & Diagnostic Assessments
Alice has an office in Bendigo as well as a room at
Eppalock Primary School
To make an appointment, call Alice on 0413477020.
as influential under a Coalition regime. It certainly was no co-incidence which saw the local
Landcare group and the Axe Creek Volunteer Fire Fighters set up stalls beside us on Election
Day.
As the crowds began to dwindle and the last sausage sold, the remaining Parents Club mem-
bers packed up the shade shelter and counted the takings for the day. A successful fundraising
day for Eppalock Primary School, but had Kevin Rudd spent his last night as Prime Minister?
This member of the Parents Club went home to watch the footy on the telly and nurse my sun-
burnt skin. As I watched Collingwood and Freo battle it out, I occasionally flicked over to the
Election result coverage. The worst was confirmed for the ‘tree huggers’ of Eppalock, when To-
ny Abbott delivered his victory speech. As we were left to ponder what the future holds under
Mr Abbott’s leadership, Parents Club member’s thoughts had already turned towards a sau-
sage sizzle for the next State election.
Thank you to our generous community members for your support of our Election Day stalls. We
really appreciate your help with our fundraising efforts. Donna Bridgeman
ENROLMENTS FOR 2014
Enrolments are still being taken for 2014 in all grade levels.
You are welcome to contact us on 5439 6366 for an information pack or a tour of our school.
website: www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au
[email protected] Issue 41 12
COMMUNITY NIGHT
Eppalock Primary School Thursday 19
th December – 6.00 pm
Picnic Tea (shared)
Drama Performance by students
Presentation to Graduating students
Visit by a special person
Disco
All families are asked to bring a ‘meat’ dish to share (enough for your own family) – eg
casserole, cold meat platter, quiche, sausage rolls etc. as well as:
Salad (families with surname A-M) Slice/Cake (families with surname N-Z)
BYO plates, cutlery, drinks and chair
ALL WELCOME – COME AND JOIN IN THE FUN
[email protected] Issue 41 13
Axe Creek Community Playgroup
When Wednesday Mornings 9am -11am
Where Eppalock PS – Old School Building.149 Patons Road Axe Creek
(just a few minutes from Strathfieldsaye)
Morning Tea & activities provided
Gold Coin Donation
For further information please phone (03) 5439 6366
email: [email protected]
http://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au
All Welcome
Made in Australia.
[email protected] Issue 41 14
Latest from Axe Creek Landcare
The Axe Creek Landcare Group goes into recess over Christmas and January.
Committee meetings resume in February 2014 and continue until November
at Eppalock Primary School, in the old staffroom
on the first Monday of each month
at 8.00 pm during daylight saving period
or at 7.30 pm for the rest of the year.
We have two or three public meetings during the year, generally with a guest speaker.
Topics in the past have included weeds, pest animals, sustainable soils, gardening, ani-
mal husbandry, grasses. We also hold field days, working bees and excursions.
Members of the community are always welcome to attend any meeting!
HOLLOW PROMISES OR...?
If you were a bird or small mammal whose dream home was a tree hollow, you might find a
shortage of options in our district because our local eucalypt forests were cut down during the
19th and 20th centuries to supply timber for mines and industrial boilers. The trees have re-grown,
but the re-growth is still too young to have developed suitable hollows. (It can take many dec-
ades for good hollows to develop.)
To ease the housing shortage, the Axe Creek Landcare Group has installed wildlife nestboxes at
Stony Crossing Reserve (off Axe Creek Road, opposite Steens Road) and a number of Landcare
members have put wildlife boxes up on their properties.
Arboreal mammals (sugar gliders, possums, microbats and tuans) are dependent on hollows for
protection from predators and for breeding. These animals may use a number of different plac-
es over time and include nestboxes among their choices. Hollow dependent birds (e.g. parrots,
kookaburras, ducks and owls) use natural and constructed hollows for raising young and for
roosting on occasion.
Axe Creek Landcare Group’s aim is to provide nestboxes for protection from predators, shelter,
roosting and nesting sites for sugar gliders, tuans, possums, goannas, microbats, grey shrike
thrushes, owlet nightjars, owls, kookaburras, ducks, parrots, lorikeets, tree creepers, pardalotes
and more.
Of course, there is more to making a wooden box attractive to birds and animals than merely
nailing it to a tree. We must place it in an appropriate habitat (food, water, shelter and mates)
before the potential inhabitants will use it to raise young – or consider it a place to hang out
from time to time.
In some cases we have had to discourage feral honey bees which pushed in where they were
not wanted. There are other pests as well – introduced birds such as mynas and starlings – that
we do not want to encourage. Careful nesting box design and treatment is important. Bees
seem to be discouraged when the inside of the lid is scorched or woollen carpet is secured to
the lid, for example, and mynas tend not to use boxes when the entrance hole is hooded.
[email protected] Issue 41 15
Landcare member, Calum Walker has made lots of different sized boxes and erected them
against his house and in surrounding trees. He said that nearly all of them were occupied within
a year.
Axe Creek Landcare Group President, Steve Wil-
liams, may have set a record recently when a
couple of eastern rosellas laid eggs in a box with-
in 3 weeks of its installation at his place. You can
see from the picture (looking down into the brand
new box) that the parent birds did not go to a
great deal of trouble to make the box cosy for
the eggs.
From his experience Calum made some useful
comments. “Boxes of some particular sizes will suit
a number of different species of birds and small
mammals”, he said, “but other creatures have more specialised needs. Some birds such as
ducks and kookaburras need a landing platform, for example.” He went on, “Ducks and owls
need larger boxes with larger entrance holes. The size of the entrance hole is key to who might
use the box. A large-holed box is likely to be occupied by a brushtail possum, so it is good to
have some boxes with entrances too small for the possums so that tuans, sugar gliders or parrots
can get a look in.”
Several locals have found the height above ground level for the boxes is not critical. Anything
from one metre to four or five metres has been OK.
Erecting wildlife boxes is a feel-good activity. It is exciting to observe a birds going in and out of
a box and see signs of young ones growing up, maybe to look in and see a baby sugar glider
(even though the nest may be very smelly).
However, all the stories are not happy ones. Calum tells of baby pardalotes that were taken
from a box on his verandah by a goanna. Jennifer and Peter Goddard, also Landcare mem-
bers, were rejoicing over sugar gliders in a box at their place when a grey goshawk appeared
and the sugar gliders disappeared. Nature taking its course…
Here is a picture of one of their sugar gliders in hap-
pier times.
If you are interested in having wildlife boxes at your
place, here are a couple of suggestions. You might
like to join the Axe Creek Landcare Group and par-
ticipate in our planned project to erect more nest-
ing boxes. Currently we have an application for
funding to help with this. Alternately, you may do
some research about box design on the web.
Thanks to Calum, the Landcare Group has design
details and box sizes for many different species. We
are happy to share these with anyone who is inter-
ested.
[email protected] Issue 41 16
ST JOHN’S WORT – A NASTY WEED
As we drive around the local roads we can notice that some stretches have interesting patch-
es of native vegetation. At this time of year I enjoy the bright patches of yellow sticky everlast-
ing (Xerochrysum viscosum).
However not all pretty yellow flowers are desirable. St
John’s Wort, for one. This is an introduced perennial weed
that is very invasive. It provides strong competition for na-
tive plants and for pasture species. Given half a chance St
John’s Wort can take over an area completely.
If that propensity were not enough to ensure its condem-
nation, there is more! St John’s Wort can also be toxic to
stock that eat it. It causes photosensitisation of exposed
skin, especially of light-skinned and soft-skinned animals –
horses more than sheep and cattle. It affects the animals’
nervous systems, circulatory systems and intestinal systems.
Eaten at the wrong time of the year, it really sets the ani-
mals back, if it doesn’t kill them.
So, it is not a good plant to have around!
In our district, St John’s Wort has not yet become disastrously established and that is a reason to
pay it particular attention. As with Bridal Creeper and Paterson’s Curse, we still have the oppor-
tunity to manage it so that it never gets more than a toe-hold.
A publication of the Dept. of Primary Industry (DPI, now mutated to DEPI – Dept. of Environment
and Primary Industry) when dealing with the management of St John’s Wort, points out that the
particular measures you would have to take to deal with this weed would depend on the par-
ticular situation. “Lightly infested areas should be cleaned up as soon as possible to prevent
spread. Extensive infestations are best quarantined and tackled progressively over several
years.” – You wouldn’t want to be in the position to have to face that!
Isolated plants are easy to see when they are in flower. – So get ‘em when they first appear!
This picture may help you identify the plant.
Hand pull seedlings when you see them and use hand tools to
dig out larger plants before they seed! It is important to get
most of the roots out and to check regularly for re-growth.
If there is a large-scale infestation, then a combination of con-
trol measures is needed, probably involving cultivation, spray-
ing, pasture management or encouraging competing and
shading plants (because it cannot survive in dense shade) and
even careful grazing.
St John’s Wort is spread by seed eaten or carried by livestock,
by seed or plant pieces carried on machinery or other vehicles
coming from affected areas and also by seed or plant pieces
carried in running water.
Further information is available from DEPI. Their website is a mine of information.
[email protected] Issue 41 17
Bendigo Aged Care Connection Services Offer:
Home Care
Personal Care
Pet Care
Mowing
Gardening
Shopping and meal preparation Assistance
Outings & Appointment Assistance
Aged Care Advice
Financial Advice with professional Financial
Planners
Discreet and Personal Incontinence products
and delivery Service
Contact Corina on 0412 693 415
www.baccs.org
[email protected] Issue 41 18
Church News
Did you know that in the mid-nineteenth century, there was originally just one Protestant
Church in the district? This faithful congregation gathered at the Emu Creek State School
(which was on the corner of Emu Creek Rd and Hargreaves Rd). As the township of Strath-
fieldsaye developed into a community in its own right, a group of families who travelled to
Emu Creek from Sheepwash Creek made a decision to begin their own congregation closer
to home in Strathfieldsaye.
The Church of England was granted an
acre next to the State School on the
site where St Stephen’s Anglican
Church now stands, while the Strath-
fieldsaye Church searched for a Minis-
ter to come and take their services.
Legend has it that the decision was be-
tween a Methodist and a Church of
England Minister, however the Church
of England Minister asked for a bag of
chaff for his horse upon each visit. So
the Strathfieldsaye Church became a Methodist Church while St Stephen’s remained as a
Church of England (now Anglican) Church.
Now these two congregations have come together once again for a combined Sunday
morning service at 9am each Sunday, taking it in turns to host the weekly service. We have
also initiated a Saturday 5pm congregation especially for young families, with children’s par-
ticipation and activities as well as relevant and faithful teaching for adults too.
Our doors are open to anyone who would like to come and join us. For more information con-
tact Rev Steve Weickhardt (Anglican, but doesn’t need a bag of chaff) on 5439 4817, or
Local Anglican/Uniting Christmas Services
4pm Christmas Eve
(Family Church) at Strathfieldsaye Uniting
Church.
7.30pm Christmas Eve
(Traditional Holy Communion) at St Stephen’s
Anglican Church.
9am Christmas Day at Strathfieldsaye Uniting
Church.
[email protected] Issue 41 19
[email protected] Issue 41 20
Community News
Community Gamelan group Mugi Rahayu is your local gamelan (Javanese music and dance) group. We are from Eppalock and we practice weekly and perform at various cultural events and fund-raisers around the district. No experience required and it’s free.
New members Welcome
Practice every Sunday 2:00 pm at 101 Carneys Rd, Eppalock.
Contact Nita or Aaron on: 54392678 email: [email protected]
email us at [email protected]
Mark your Diaries
Strathfieldsaye Community Carols 2013
Wednesday 11th
December (evening),
JG Edwards Oval (behind
Strathfieldsaye Primary
School)
Bendigo Youth Brass Band,
Schools choir, BBQ and (battery) candles for
sale.
A combined activity of the local Anglican,
Catholic and Uniting Churches together.
Poo Pile!
If you need manure
for your garden,
please contact Jan
Mellor on 5439 3144
or email
[email protected] Issue 41 21
Kids Corner
Potato-stamped wrapping paper
This is one for the big and little kids. You do the clean cutting; they do the messy stamping (although you'll have
to do the cleaning up of the mess) Wrapping paper with the mark of the kids is a cute personal touch to family-
member gifts and looks cute and cheerful mixed with an assortment of different wrapping papers under the tree.
You'll need:
Paints
A sponge, cut in half
A potato
A knife
A texta
Paper
Step one. Cut the potato in half.
Step two. Draw your desired shape
on a piece of paper (it helps to trace
around the potato face-down on the paper first so you can fit the shape
exactly into the potato's circumference.
Step three. Cut around the shape from the top and a few millimetres
down the potato too so the shape rises from the rest of the potato.
Step four. Place the sponges on a small plate and squirt paint onto each
sponge. Let the kids loose with the stamps on a large sheet of butcher's
paper or craft paper (we used the Ikea paper rolls). Leave to dry then
wrap!
What do you get if you cross Santa Claus with a Duck? A Christmas Quacker
Which of Santa’s Reindeers has bad manners? Rude-olph!
What do cows say at Christmas time? Mooey Christmas
[email protected] Issue 41 22
Time Capsule
Have you ever made a time capsule to record a
special event? A Birthday, a holiday or maybe even
the year.
Grab a jar, and start adding things that mean some-
thing - movie ticket stubs, a lucky rock, stamps from a
card, photos, lolly wrapper…. You get the idea.
Make sure you have a photo a the front of the jar,
then add it to your display shelf or bookcase.
Here is an idea for the Mums… put a jar by the wash-
ing machine and add "Stuff my family left in their
pockets and then went through the wash."
Cheerio's Christmas trees recipe
These cute little Cheerio's Christmas trees are great
to make with the kids and they will love decorating
them.
Ingredients:
3 cups marshmallows
3 tbsp. butter
Green food colouring
3 cups Cheerio's
Mini M&M's ( just the red and green ones)
Jaffa's
Canola spray
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 40 seconds
Method: In a bowl, place the marshmallows and butter together and melt in the microwave on high for
40 seconds. Mix well with a spoon.
Add green food colouring until you have the colour you like.
Pour Cheerio's into the marshmallow mix and stir well to coat. Leave to cool until the mixture
becomes tacky. You may need to put it in the fridge if it is a warm day.
Cover a tray with baking paper. Spray your hands with canola spray and shape the Cheerios
mixture into cones and place on the tray.
Place in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up.
Remove and decorate with red and green M&M's and place a Jaffa on top. The trees will still
be sticky enough for the decorations to adhere but you may need to use a little icing to stick
the Jaffa on. I used a tube of ready-made writing icing.
Notes
Little ones will need help with the microwave step of this recipe.
These little trees are pale green in the picture as I used pink and white marshmallows to
begin with and then I coloured them with blue food colouring to get the pale green colour.
If this mixture seems a little too wet, cooling it in the freezer is a great way to firm it up.
A light dusting of icing sugar will make it look like you have snow on your trees.
Courtesy of Kidspot.com.au