Energy lessons in homes
Strzelecki Bushwalking Club
The weather, or lack of it, upset a few planned activities last month resulting in the cancellation of the snowshoe shuffle and the snow camp due to the small amount of snow.
When you’re in the great outdoors, the weather rules. Rain is something that can be managed, if you have the right gear, so although a few showers were forecast, the four brothers walk at Bunyip State Park went ahead with six members enjoying the bush scenery and the physical exertion of the hill climb.
A GPS training day was also held last month, although compasses are still used, the GPS is a very useful tool as well.
The snow might fall in September, so some ád hoc’ skiing days might eventuate, the snow bunnies will be hoping.
The “Father’s day” walk at Holey Plains State Park near Rosedale was a pleasant day and the diverse flora for which the park is known was appreciated. There will be another chance to see early spring flowers at the Traralgon South Flora and Fauna nature reserve, on the Tuesday walk for the month.
A longer walk on the Wirilda Track, following the Tyers River will be held later in the month and the last walk for the month will be an overnighter on the Wilderness coast from Mallacoota to Merrica. This is a beautiful remote part of the state and will be lovely to explore. Whales should be migrating back to Antarctica and hope fully will put on a display.
The focus for the club night will be a presentation from a member who has walked the Upper Yarra track.
If anyone would like further information visit the website www.sbwc.org.au or phone Fran Miller on 5623 3093.
Legacy Widows
Legacy Widows thanked its committee and legatees for providing a special morning tea prior to the last meeting and also for the recent mystery trip, which included an enjoyable lunch at Mirboo North Hotel.
Blumes Fashions will be in attendance at the next meeting on September 8, come along, bring a friend or two and have an enjoyable time.
The annual general meeting will be in October. Legacy Widows would welcome nominations for positions on the committee as several existing committee members would like to take a well earned break.
Warragul Ranges Probus
New member Lyn Conway was welcomed to the club at the August meeting.
Lyn gave a short resume of her journey through life.
In the monthly newsletter produced by Ian Ferris, the club had three pages of very happy Probians in their Australian Icons fancy dress. Everyone agreed it was one of the best days over the past 10 years.
The guest speaker was Ben Soulivas from the Blackwood Centre for Adolescent Development at Hallora.
Ben is a trained primary school teacher who is in charge of the centre who train up to 20 students for six months and have two programs a year. The average age of students is 14.5 years and are in years 7-10 at secondary school.
Students are not sent to Blackwood but it is their choice to attend in the beautiful, isolated rural setting - a sanctuary where they can focus on themselves. Blackwood is a gift for students.
The area covered is from Narre Warren to Traralgon, Neerim South to Korumburra with 90 per cent of students completing the program and 35 per cent joining the 100 per cent club. Students are selected on their potential for change and their home school agree to support each placement.
Blackwood aims to give a sense of belonging, low family stress, healthy body, to expand the mind, build relationships, personal development, improve literacy and numeracy.
With the enthusiasm Ben showed in his presentation, the club is sure that students will benefit greatly from he and the staff in this wonderful addition to the education of teenage students.
The next meeting will be held at the Warragul Country Club on September 22 at 10am.
Warragul BeefCheque
The August meeting of the group was held at Brian and Dianne Davey’s property in Nilma North, and was attended by 20 members.
A long-term, local beef producer, Tom O’Connor, was the guest speaker for the meeting. Tom’s presentation on ‘Beef Marketing and Marketing Opportunities for Small Producer’s’ was very enlightening and informative.
He complemented the theory component of marketing with many anecdotal events that he had experienced over many years marketing cattle. His pragmatic application to marketing, and the associated pitfalls in the beef industry, was a revelation to all members.
The September meeting will be held on Saturday at Carolyn Ferguson and Clancy Batty’s property in Mizpah-Settlement Rd, Buln Buln East.
The topic for the day is ‘weed management’ and the guest presenters will be Bob Wilson from DEWLP and Baw Baw Shire Weed Control director Carolyn Ferguson.
Anyone interested in the group is most welcome to attend as visitors to any meeting.
For more information contact Dianne Davey (president), phone 0423 425 742 or email ddavey@dcsi.net.au, or Jean Irvine (secretary) phone 0429 488 156 or email jaghaven@bigpond.com.
Warragul Camera Club
The Warragul Camera Club is ‘going home’. After a lengthy stay at the Campion building in Drouin East while Mawarra recovered from its fire in May 2014, the club is returning to its previous meeting place for its September meeting.
There is limited parking at the rear of the Mawarra building, after entering from Percy St off Albert St. Ample parking is available in the public car park which can be accessed from Mason St. Park in the northern end of the car park and walk across to Mawarra.
The entrance is via the carport area where the buses park and there is a sign hanging from the roof saying ‘main entrance’. The committee is hoping to have other signs showing the way.
Paul Lucas judged the August competition of any subject. Results: Prints: A grade: 1st Russell Monson, 2nd Jane Woodcock, 3rd Terrie O’Dwyer, Merit Marg Tylee; B grade: 1st David Barton, 2nd Robyn Wright, 3rd David Barton, Merit Robyn Wright.
PDI: A grade: 1st Linda Keagle, 2nd Marg Tylee, 3rd Roger Keagle, Merit Marg Tylee, Roger Keagle, Terrie O’Dwyer; B grade: 1st Nat Peters, 2nd Julie Beasley, 3rd Robyn Wright.
CREX: A grade: 1st and 2nd Linda Keagle, 3rd Roger Keagle, Merit David Woodcock.
Latrobe Valley Camera Club vice president Darryl Whittaker will judge the August nature competition. Darryl started Gippsland Photo Tours and Workshops and released his first book last year.
The September competition will be open subject black and white, with previous black and white entries from this year still eligible.
The club’s 60th birthday exhibition will begin at West Gippsland Arts Centre on September 29 and run until October 24. The aim of the exhibition is to display 60 framed images with at least one print entry from every member of the club.
The official opening will be held on Tuesday, October 4 at 7.30pm. The history booklet 60 Years of Warragul Camera Club will also be launched.
Ice Meltdown Project
The Ice Meltdown Project is holding an open community meeting in Drouin on Thursday.
The meeting will be held at the Drouin Anglican Church Parish Hall, Princes Way Drouin at 7pm.
The meeting invites the general public, local community groups, Primary and Secondary education and medical groups with a need to educate themselves to the addiction issues that the Ice Meltdown Project support people with.
For the past two years The Ice Meltdown Project has supported clients and their families with care during their recovery.
The meeting will have guest speakers, mentors from Foundation 61, a men’s residential rehabilitation facility located in Geelong.
The best defensive you can have is awareness and understanding of how Methamphetamine/ICE affects the person you love.
Poeple are urged to attend to see that there is a local program that is passionate about keeping families and communities involved.
The Ice Meltdown Project continue to support the community and all around Australia with its family supported detox program.
The project then offer the following 12 months of on-going care during the recovery the client wishes to take.
Warragul Senior Citizens
The annual meeting of the WarragulSenior Citizens was held at its clubrooms last month.
Elections for office bearers were held with Melva Ristrom elected president, Keith Hedrik vice president and Trudy Kersten secretary and treasurer.
Eight members were elected to the committee.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci then held an open fourm on any council matters that concerned senior residents of the shire.
He said that he gained valuable information from the open discusssion that he could take back to council.
West Gippsland residents can learn the latest in energy efficiency when three local home-owners open their homes for inspection on Sustainable House Day.
The three properties, two in Narracan and one in Yarragon, feature thermal power, battery storage options and wind and solar generation.
The aim of building more sustainably is to provide a more comfortable environment to live in, cheaper heating and cooling, and reduced pressure on the natural environment.
Household energy use accounts for about 26 per cent of Australia’s total energy use, with the main sources being petrol, electricity and natural gas.
Better design and building products such as double glazing, high rating claddings, insulation and structural wall materials can improve the energy efficiency dramatically.
The expansion and development of off-grid systems is forging ahead with battery technology, and hydro, wind and biomass power.
Passive heating and cooling and grey water management also have a part to play, and reusing building and landscaping materials can also reduce the embodied energy of a house and garden.
The three properties open for the public to view on Sustainable House Day are at 51 McIntyre Rd, Yarragon, 1188 Coalville Rd, Narracan, and 422 Narracan-Connection Rd, Narracan.
The houses are open to view between 10am4pm Sunday, September 11. Entry is by donation.
Between noon and 4pm, you can bring your energy bills to Restore Yarragon for advice on how you can save on your bills.
The day has been co-ordinated by the Baw Baw Sustainability Network.
For more information, visit http://sustainablehouseday.com/