Songs of innocents
The American-born Hills says his outsider status allows him to look at the Gallipoli legend and Anzac Day more objectively. By Catherine Watson April 11, 2015 “I CAN'T help comparing the music to the...
Down memory lane
Catherine Watson was disappointed to discover that Wonthaggi’s rates rose 68 per cent in four years while modern-day rates crusader Alan Brown was mayor. March 14, 2015 LAST week former Liberal MP...
Milk, the Aussie way
The dairy industry has sold us a myth about milk, and we've lapped it up. By Catherine Watson March 7, 2015 SOME 15 years ago, I had a freelance job visiting Victorian dairy farmers, usually couples,...
A battle of wits
For almost 50 years, Margaret Hancock has been on the front line of a war between developers and conservationists for the heart of Phillip Island. It’s serious business, but it’s also been a lot of fun,...
Let's talk about the T word
Given how vital tourism is to Bass Coast’s economy, there’s been remarkably little talk about it in the lead-up to the election, says James Archibald. By Catherine Watson OCCASIONALLY James Archibald...
Vote of confidence
By Catherine Watson THE middle-aged man strides past us, rejecting the proffered how to vote cards. “They’re all f...... c....,” he hisses furiously. “Don’t hold back!” the woman from the ALP calls...
Political prisoners
By Catherine Watson I SAW a photo of Greg Hunt the other day and was shocked. What happened to that idealistic young man we sent off to Canberra 13 years ago to do good things for the world? The photo...
A play about us and them
How do you make a play about asylum seekers interesting? Facing her toughest challenge, Gill Heal turned to the old master, Bertolt Brecht, for help. Stormy Waters Written and directed by Gill Heal,...
The gift of seeing
As illness slowed her down, Heather Gardner gradually saw more. By Catherine Watson SHE had always been a walker and an observer but it was illness that made all the difference. Forced to slow down,...
The thoughts of Rob
“Almost nothing I say is going to please you,” said Rob Maclellan, and proceeded to insult, antagonise and amuse his Phillip Island audience. By Catherine Watson “ALMOST nothing I say is going to please...
Introducing our new cartoonist
Painter, print-maker, engraver, jewellery-maker, window dresser, boogie boarder, cartoonist ... Natasha Williams-Novak is a woman of surprising parts. By Catherine Watson NATASHA Williams-Novak’s friends...
Portrait of a provocateur
There are times when Patrice Mahoney feels like a lone voice in the wilderness, but that’s not going to stop her from speaking her mind, in words and images. By Catherine Watson RECENTLY someone asked...
A big noise on a small island
This year, there will be 72 “quiet” days at the Phillip Island racetrack. The other 293 will be loud, louder and very loud. CATHERINE WATSON reports. FOR many years I lived in Collingwood, a place not...
Far from the limelight
This year, dozens of Victorian and national touring shows will visit Warragul, Traralgon, Sale and Bairnsdale, but they won't be coming to Bass Coast. Jordan Crugnale and Wendy Crellin in the auditorium...
Guardian artists of the bay
In his 80th year, artist John Adam decided it was time he got serious about protecting the environment. He invited six local artists to join him. By Catherine Watson OVER the past few months, as John...
The missing $9 million
Every year power companies in the Latrobe Valley pay millions of dollars to the council in lieu of rates, while the operators of Wonthaggi’s desalination plant pay nothing. By Catherine Watson AT A...
Them and us
It’s difficult to find common ground with people from an alien culture, but in Reconciliation Week CATHERINE WATSON gives it her best shot. ON THURSDAY I received a call from a local farmer who’d...
Things that go bump in the night
An alien invasion rattles Catherine Watson. I’VE had a month of strangers in my house. They sleep all day and at night have what sounds like very loud group sex in a confined space accompanied by prolonged...
Many are called but few are convinced
When the Federal Government of Australia called Catherine Watson with an offer too good to refuse, she found an elaborate storyline with multiple layers of meaning. ON THURSDAY I got a call from a man...
Beautiful, difficult words
After half a lifetime of silence, Adam Cope has an extraordinary story to tell. By Catherine Watson April 12, 2014 WORDS are everything to Adam Cope. In Life, his new book of autobiographical poems,...