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Tell him he’s dreamin’
November 22, 2019
 
What an excellent expose Catherine. That old adage, ' Never stand in between developers and a bundle of dollars', community, Councillors and ratepayers would all be crushed in the rush.
Yvonne McRae
 
Thank you for your comprehensive report. I have been following the story in the AGE with a good deal on interest, however you report is excellent. On another issue completely I would be grateful if you could start questioning our BCSC Councillors on what the are doing to fix the $600 million plus shortfalls in infrastructure spending in the BCSC. Please remind Mayor Tessari that Conservatism is one thing but the lack of footpaths is an accident waiting to happen.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Yes, indeed - thanks so much for this excellent article, Catherine!
Great journalism like this is more important than ever.
It's so important that we keep what is precious in the Bass Coast shire, from its natural beauty to the community feeling and manageable size of our various towns. Let's hope our Councillors remain brave enough - and smart enough - to keep Woodman and his silver-tongued, dollar-driven ilk away from our shire.
Robyn Arianrhod
 
Robyn, I sat through this lazy, arrogant presentation and was so appalled by his demeanour that I lodged an official complaint. In the article it states that we didn't ask any hard questions - that wasn't from lack of wit on our part it - it was difficult to take any of it seriously. Put in a Marina and make Anderson Inlet great again LOL.
  I agree re Bass Coast natural beauty and assets and even the swamps need protection, That's why we advocated for the DAL.
  It isn't a matter of bravery when you have the backing of the community. We're all in that chamber for our community and future generations. None of us are there for the money or the benefits.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
Lock all those councillors at Casey up I say.
Let's hope there are no Bass Coast 'Ratepayers Groups' with ulterior motives.
Neil Rankine
 
Good to see an ex-councillor still fighting the good fight.
Geoff Ellis
 
wow Neil are you really prepared to go down that road
Levinus Van Der Neut
 
So pleasing to see that the endangered whitebait and migratory birds will be spared the excesses of these greedy developers who value profits above our priceless coast. Hope this is a lesson to them all, and thanks to our level-headed and incorruptible councillors.
Mark Robertson
 
The great divide
November 22, 2019
 
Words fail me that people still have these attitudes in 2019. And then try to disguise them as a concern for "multiculturalism".
James
 
wow James and what are these attitudes that you mention.My objection has nothing to do with a concern for multiculturalism but more about the arrogance of the developer to openly admit in their proposal that they know that what they want to build does not meet the planning regulations of the Bass Coast Shire .But they still want and expect that council will pass it
Just my opinion
Levinus Van Der Neut
 
Here here Craig.
Not right for that site.
Jackie Petrie
 
I value the sense of community here in Coronet Bay and agree that this development is wrong for the proposed location due mainly to it’s large size and the impact that the number of vehicles and visitors will have if this stretch of coastline and it’s surrounds. As Craig stated with the proposed development being fully self sufficient surely a more easily accessible site that won’t directly impact the coastal environment or the locals (both human & animal) would be a much more sensible option.
Responsible development will enhance the Bass Coast region for all. Irresponsible development will ruin it for all future generations.
Helen
 
I’m not across any of the detail, but from the content above, it makes me question “how is this dissimilar to the current state of attracting people to Phillip Island to (not) spend money in the region”?
It appears that you have an investor that intends to be self sufficient (again), with no intention to spend money and provide benefits to the wider Bass Coast region. Perhaps if they had proposed no (or limited) internal restaurants,etc to encourage those staying at the resort to interact with the wider commercial community, might be one way in which they could provide benefit to the community? In addition to lots of other Issues no doubt.
It seems obvious they have no intention to provide any greater benefit.
In terms of the disparity and disconnection to the existing community, it has similarities to “The Cape” development in Cape Paterson. Whilst on a different scale/scope, here they provide NO connection to the existing community. So at the very least, you should be seeking inter-connectedness and benefits to the wider community.
Currently many tourists to Phillip island (particularly international ones) spend no money in Bass Coast - how will this be different if the resort is self sufficient? All you will get it the negatives of the development.
G Day
 
The council will get the rates. Local people will be employed. Local business will get contracts. People buying an ice cream and some tourist tatt in San Remo and a Happy Meal at Maccas on Bass Highway don't add a whole lot to the community either.
James
 
The more development the better the roads its a win win this would be Great for the region. Bass Highway will no longer have Rough Surface Signs along it as VicRoads would have to lift its game
Philly
 
Margaret the Magpie
November 22, 2019
 
It's a sad ending but a well written story. Such is life...
Jane
 
How sad, and how does one run over a magpie? I wish drivers would be more careful, especially this time of the year.
Sunny

Vive la difference
November 8, 2019
 
Congratulations Ali. There are very few feelings, if any, better than a sense of belonging. There are very few feelings worse than a sense of being on the outer, especially when it's because of who you are.
John Coldebella.
 
Bass Coast Shire Council should be commended for their forward thinking and especially for CEO Ali Wastie, the Councillors and the staff.
When Bass Coast Shire Council voted to support Marriage Equality in 2018, thousands and thousands of members of the LGBTQI community and general community applauded this very strong statement about ACCEPTANCE, DIVERSITY and INCLUSIVENESS.
We thank everyone because it has taken a life-time to achieve this equality.
Phyllis Papps
 
Another great week of contributions! I’m venturing here where wiser souls would fear to go. Isn’t Ali Wastie pre-supposing that staff wanting to avail themselves of this opportunity for openness have, in fact, come out or are comfortable talking about their sexual orientation with their workmates? One's individual sexuality isn’t generally on the agenda of workplace discussions, is it? Hopefully it is among friends and family.
I guess Ali is declaring that if you want to talk in her workplace about how you spent your weekend with your same-sex partner you are guaranteed to have support of the management and its working group.
But people are people and the inner workings of their psyche are unfathomable, sometimes even to themselves! I imagine that in any circumstances, ‘coming out’ requires courage. Ali is saying we understand that, and we will back you all the way. But CEOs come and go.
John Gascoigne
 
John, my reading of it is that at least the possibility of “otherness” is being raised at the council, which may cause staff to question their own assumptions and gives individual staff the opportunity to announce their status or discuss their experiences should they choose to. My guess is that older LGBTI people will be more comfortable about coming out and that at least younger LGBTI will know there is support there if they need it.
For all LGBTI people, there are multiple coming outs, or not. For a long time, while I was out to close friends and my family, I was not out at work. Like most people leading a double life I self-censored – “I” instead of “we”; “they” instead of “she”. Several times I was tempted to come out, once to try to shut up a very homophobic boss, but a close friend begged me not to because she was well aware of the consequences for me.
It was only when I went to work for a gay newspaper and was surrounded by gays that I realised how liberating it was to be part of the majority! My workmates were so brave and so funny about their oblique lives. I realised this was my tribe, or one of them.
I’ve never really gone back in the closet since then. Not that I make a grand announcement but I no longer prevaricate.
My most recent experience of coming out at work was on a country newspaper after one of my more redneck workmates pontificated “Bloody lesbians. They’re all trying to be men.”
“Speaking as a lesbian, Keith,” I said, “I can reassure you that I’ve never wanted to be a man.” There was dead silence from Keith and laughter from everyone else in the office. It was one of the better coming outs I’ve had.
As I’ve got older, I’ve realised the true value of coming out is that it gets rid of the sort of people you really don’t want to know.
Catherine Watson
 
 
Wonderful article. Thank you Bass Shire Council and Ali for being actively inclusive. And Catherine for publishing the conversation and your important comment.
Camilla Myers
 
Thank you Catherine for your brilliant article and your response to a comment related to your article. As you said in your final statement to a comment from a somewhat biased reader:
"As I’ve got older, I’ve realized the true value of 'coming out' is that it gets rid of the sort of people you really don’t want to know."
There are still so many people out there in our community (homophobic, transphobic etc. etc. etc.). I hope I don't meet them.
Phyllis Papps
 
Once again the Bass Coast Post facilitates an essential conversation and hearty thanks to Catherine W for her efforts and her sharing of lived experience.
  How many times does a person have to come out each day?
  My take: I am proud that BCSC, as a major employer in Bass Coast, leads by becoming a safe space in which everyone can be proud of who they are and not have to strategize every single sentence to avoid the burden of an unguarded comment.
  Wonthaggi itself has a proud history of welcoming and including others.
  Great leaders have to come and go as their example lights our path. Keep at it Phyllis, Catherine and Ali.
Geoff Ellis
 
​The great wall of Grantville
November 8, 2019
 
This project was the most rewarding and gratifying projects I have ever been involved in. The team with their Leader Janice Orchard were totally devoted to this project and I am so so proud to have been part of it.
Heather Reid
 
A fine line
November 8, 2019
 
Well done Cate, first for recognising the need to get out and try something new and being game enough to do it, and second for bringing us this inspiring piece describing exactly why exercising in a group is so beneficial on so many levels, which you have encapsulated precisely. I hope your writing inspires many others, and Marion's classes fill to capacity.
Miriam Strickland
 
Bay defenders hailed
November 8, 2019
 
 
On behalf of Watershed Victoria I would like to congratulate the Westernport Warriors on their efforts to protect our special and fragile marine environment from incessant and ongoing inappropriate development. It takes a huge amount of energy and intellect to stand up to the corporate machine - well done to you all. I would like to add a couple of recent observations to your fight. I recently attended an AGL event at Grantville,.When I asked the senior engineer about dredging I was advised that there would be a small amount of sweep dredging to a depth of 14 m. in the port area. When I later read the glossy brochures, it clearly stated that there would be no dredging. They obviously have got something wrong. I asked the environmental "expert " about whales, and was shown - briefly -a map of sightings within the western arm of the port. What about the sightings in the eastern and western appproaches ?(ie. Bass Strait ,where all the massive ships will be transiting) "No data available."... I know that Preserve Westernport has access to our hundreds of whale sightings from our Winter Whale Watch program, collected as part of our desalination protests. It appears that the "experts" are once again following the line of "if you don't look you will not see". Not good enough! Lisa Schonbergs' astoundingly evocative photos should be front and centre in any environmental study. As an aside, I note that there have been several dead whales found at Kilcunda in the past several years, both of them when the "environmentally-benign" desal plant has been operating.. I cannot recall any others before the plant appeared on our coast. Our strident concerns about environmental impact were simply ignored, but are proving to be quite accurate. Our community is passionate about protecting our natural treasures, highly-educated in the mechanisms of environmental studies -through many years of practice - and need to be properly heard and respected by those who aspire to profit from our coastal home.Mark Robertson. President, Watershed Victoria.
Mark Robertson
 
Thank you Mark Robertson. I get the frequent whale sighting texts and was on the Kasey Lee when we saw two whales off Bushrangers Bay so I will ensure this source of information is included in the EES.
Karri Giles
 
Job done
November 8, 2019
 
I would like to give an acknowledgement to Miriam and all the work she has done over the years AND especially her wonderful, inspiring articles written in Bass Coast Post.
Miriam you are a great inspiration and we salute you !!
Also we look forward to your next adventure in life.
Phyllis Papps
 
Thank you Phyllis for your kind words. It has been quite a journey...and not finished yet. The adventures continue!
Miriam Strickland

Back in action
Oct 25, 2019
 
Good on you Neil. Here's hoping more of us will care enough to contribute to future XR events. But it will take a lot more than smugliness concept of "hope by the quiet Australians".
Onya mate, B.
Bernie McComb
 
Thank you Neil
Trish Hogan
 
Thank you Catherine, thank you Neil.
The Big Bang occluded around 13.5 billion years ago. The Earth was formed around 4.5 billion years ago. First life on Earth formed around 3.5 billion years ago. Homo Sapiens (wise man) evolved 200,000 years ago and there is not much of the Earth that he has not touched and changed. In only 200,000 years Homo Sapiens is destroying a system that took billions of years to develop. I agree with Neil that we all need to come together to take action on climate change. We need to elect regulators that can make the tough decisions to enforce action on climate change.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Thanks for this. A great story, a great action on the part of a softly-spoken man.
Vincent Di Stefano
 
Thank you for standing up for action against climate change, Neil.
Alison Brewster
 
Thank you, Neil, for your genuine compassion and courage. You are such an inspiration.
Sue Saliba
 
Thank you Catherine for a great story and thank you Neil for having the courage of your convictions. Well done.
Joy Button
 
Great to read this detailed report on someone prepared to put his neck on the line for future generations. Well done Neil and everyone else trying to get urgent action on climate change.
Tony Peck
 
When we lived in Wattle Bank I was proud that Neil was our councillor. These day's I am proud that he is one of my constituents.
Geoff Ellis
 
Well done Neil you rock! I am so happy that Neil is back to work so to speak even though reluctantly. Having met him a few times I think he is a wonderful warm intelligent person who is an inspiration, reading more about him has inspired me more to act. Thank you.
Sunny
 
Catherine Watson wrote a heart-warming article about our former Mayor, Neil Rankine. I opposed Neil when fighting for our right to dirt roads at Cape Paterson, but I applaud his courage and commitment in being part of Extinction Rebellion.
  We do have a climate emergency, or rather what a colleague of mine has
called a 'socio-ecological' emergency. Poverty, repression, wage theft
and stagnant incomes are part of a global economy which is destroying our childrens' future through atmospheric heating. We must find a way to a new terrestrial economy with fair distribution of wealth, and economic growth that does not threaten our biosphere. Our political leaders are not listening, so the new politics will be on the streets.
Nicholas Low
 
Thanks for taking us on Neil's journey, Catherine. Libraries, well-maintained public spaces, clean streets and rubbish recycling are important, but if we're all dropping from heatstroke 30 years hence ... you get the picture! Your head may be under a bonnet, Neil, but as an echo crusader you're high above the rest of us.
John Gascoigne
 
Thank you Catherine for this story and thank you to Neil for your actions - you are another climate hero. Australians of all sorts including the quiet ones are stepping out of their comfort zones so that the urgency of the climate crisis message is acknowledged by our leaders.
Robyn Hermans
 
What a wonderful tribute to Neil Rankine. Thank you. Having spent a few days at the Spring Rebellion myself, I have great admiration for the XR arrestees and the movement. Non-violence is a great attractant and the creative strategies of XR has at last got politicians talking about the issue; although to be fair, they have tended to favour sinking the boot into demonstrators than meaningful responding to the climate crisis.
Angela Crunden
 
Dodgy bosses leave bad taste
Oct 25, 2019
 
Thank you James for addressing this growing and concerning practice that has developed gradually in recent years to alarming proportions. I know of many people in the area who work for cash in hand and are underpaid and do not also get the required rest breaks. A 12 hour shift can often mean only toilet breaks. Not many jobs in Bass Coast and often people feel compelled to take these jobs. Wage theft ...... is still theft and should be eliminated from our culture as it is not okay.
Joy Button
 
Absolutely Correct James. This year in February, I left a correct paying job to start a new job in the same restaurant industry (for a guaranteed 20 hours per week) and then was paid $20 an hour for both Saturday and Sunday on the weekend and public holidays. Needless to say, I queried this and was told it was correct - I left after two weeks and took them to Fair Work Australia, which they then paid very quickly. I was furious as the guy who employed me for his family business is ä fine upstanding man" who works for one of my friends. Needless to say, they have sold up and moved on, leaving loads of workers left not paid correctly.
Michelle

It's OK to cry. Wayne said so
Oct 25, 2019
 
Congratulations (if that's the appropriate word) to all involved in this recent forum, and to Geoff for writing this article. The zero comments after four days since publication says a lot about what a painfully difficult subject this is to engage in. Former Bass Coast Councillor Drew Bradley and his wife are also to be commended for their initiative in a dark subject that invariably affects all of us.
John Coldebella.
 
Suicide has such a major impact on peoples lives. Throw a pebble in a pond and see the waves that spread. Starting from family, friends, colleagues and the community in general. The impact is horrendous and devastating. Also it has a lasting impact for so many decades for those involved.
What a waste of someone's precious life when it could have been prevented.
It is absolutely essential to provide support services and counselling for everyone affected. The community is starting to feel very safe that these services are now provided (as opposed to the 1960s, 1970s.)
BUT we all must be very mindful of someone who is possibly 'at the edge' or in a 'black hole.'
To say: "Are you ok? probably is TOO simplistic.
I don't have any answers.
I'm sure there are many people who will react to my comment.
Phyllis Papps
 
Phyllis I am replying to your comments as you asked for some feedback. I have lost a daughter through suicide and actively involved in a local group under the auspices of Support After Suicide for those who have lost someone through suicide. Personally, there is just not enough beds and services available to support people to get back on their feet. The nearest beds are in Traralgon and there are just not enough for the growing townships.
There just needs to be places for people to go to to receive support and help in getting back on track. At present you hear really sad stories of people being discharged far too early because of lack of beds.
I support all the publicity and discussion about suicide and the effects, but there is still not enough support out there to help people. And that is sad as mental health is still not a priority in health care.
Joy Button
 
Thank you Joy for your very insightful comments. The article you wrote in 2018 about your daughter is embedded in my brain.
Unfortunately- depression, mental health and suicide prevention aren't perceived as major health care issues by any level of government or the health industry.
  It then becomes the responsibility of individuals and support groups in the community-similar to the one you are involved in.
  Also it is very difficult living in growing townships and rural areas to receive the support services, medication, treatment and on-going support and care that is required.
  You are also right about the importance of open discussion, publicity, promotion about suicide and its effects.
Phyllis Papps
 
 
​Mum’s the word on special day
Oct 25, 2019
 
Is Councillor Larke going from bad to worse? In more than 30 years, progress on climate change by National governments has been hopelessly weak. Where's the science to support LNP call for 26% reduction in our emissions was ever going to be adequate? Will LNP ever have a climate policy or plan, or just fragments, for Energy, Drought with nothing about land clearing, agriculture, transport, building efficiency etc etc? How can Councillor Larke be satisfied with this huge scale if dereliction if duty?
Bernie McComb
 
Whose fault is it? It’s our fault in failing to elect regulators that have the backbone to take action on climate change. The voters voted in Les Larke on the basis of his financial accounting skills and on the fake news that the Bass Coast Shire finances were in a bad way. It’s been over three years since the last council elections and the word on the street is that the Bass Coast Shire finances are in good shape. I am looking forward to the next elections to bring in some new councillors.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
great cartoon if it was a fight it would have ended in a knock out or the ref would have stopped the fight and held up Natashas hand in victory brilliant retort
Luciano Prisco
 
A cook’s journal
​Oct 25, 2019
 
Thanks Jan. I have a family lunch in a couple of weeks and this will be one of the dishes. An oldie but a goodie.
Yvonne McRae
 
​$1.15m package for beach works

October 18, 2019
 
Geotextile? In other words, polypropylene or polyester bags in the ocean, just like the ones used in an attempt to stave off the erosion from the earlier surf club observation post. They all split, fell apart and got washed "away", just like these new ones will. The authorities (BCC or Parks) did the same on the path near Townsend Bluff, and they have been washed "away" also. But there is no "away" - the plastic shards stay in the ocean and don't degrade, as we all know.
Help from the state government is to be applauded and welcomed, but PLEASE find an environmentally appropriate way of doing it.
No more plastic!
Robert Kenyon
 
Very good but this is a case of the squeaky wheel getting the oil. The area on front of Cowes yacht club is is just the same precarious position. The erosion is barely away from the back fence and the trees are falling onto the beach just to the right of club.
A rock groin is urgently needed there as well.
Ronnie Bauer
 
Managing Beaches: around the Southern Coastal Places, Gippsland Lakes to Esperance, have trialled measures to assist retention of sand. Eastern Coast towns Orbost, the entire Saphire Coast to near Sydney also notice change to their beaches. South and north of Perth, top end so Broome to Cairns and Gulf of Carpentaria do also notice change/s. Coastal response to beach lost is often left to each local Government, responses Rock/Sand walls, Bays placing attenuations small scale also found, sand keeps moving with Tides, weather/storm one of events, which can combine with other factors. It is possible to consider the outcomes the many beaches and coastal places find pre and post management attempts, how such could be funded and any given 1,2,3 or 10 yr interval. There are some who take a longer view, sums spent now are helpful, sums spent now can be a Rate or Tax Payer choice? Would some Engineers, Geomorphologists, Historians and Knowledgeable people be able to contribute to an Enduring Solution?
Jillian Verhardt
 
Not sure if it’s just the perspective of the photo, but it looks steeper than 45 degrees and if so, I hope council has put up barriers (not only on top of the slope, but also below). When the sand falls to a more stable angle, we don’t want anyone to be standing below the slope.
Georgina Day
 
Has sheet piling been considered? Piling of a heavy section in Corten steel to resist corrosion, with adequate stabilising returns to prevent movement due to wave action would surely cost a lot less than $1,150,000, and outlast sandbags, which have been tried before and found wanting.
Carl Fischer
 
In good old days before sea level rise and strong storms, wave energy always ran out against the slope of beach.
  When wave manages to hit vertical face, whether concrete, rocks or sand, what whacks up must come down again. When it does so, acceleration of water down and then horizontally, causes "toe scour", sucking sand from below vertical face such that rocks submerge, as at Cowes yacht club, and even concrete will be busted.
  Interesting permanent solution at Glenelg SA, by Danish method, pipeline with big pump to return sand along beach, to restore slope so wave out of energy before it hits vertical concrete.
Bernie McComb
 
That's true and Glenelg where I used live for 18 years before coming back to Vic, Glenelg fared better with that pump which we here definitely need. I watch a lot of the coastal in southern of Adelaide erode in some parts but where there's pipe and rock it hasn't been too bad
Chelle Destefano
 
I expect given the variable coastal profiles in Victoria and indeed around Australia, an appropriate localised response needs to be put in place.
John Peck
 
Other Bass Coast residents will be glad. Meanwhile....
Jam Jerrup foreshore being eroded at 2m per year with 14m between the water and the road. The sea wall in Grantville fell over years ago, stairs at the back of Lionel Rose car park (Kilcunda) have been washed along the dune...............squeaky wheel?I agree with Ronnie so it must be an emergency of some description............ watch these spaces too? Please
Geoff Ellis
 
Great to hear steps have been taken to action this issue.
I am sure we will have many members welcome this progressive announcement.
Amy Easton, Secretary, Wonthaggi Business & Tourism Association
Amy Easton
 
Its not rocket science.Just have a look in front of the Inverloch Bowling Club and the over flow carpark next to the pier. You just need a little incentive . Perhaps a multi million dollar law suit from the Life Saving Club would do the trick.
Neville Drummond
 
So many bags have corroded within 10 years on the Australian coast its a joke MP Jordan Crugnale , Look up in NSW concrete pilots are the go for life
ALF
 
Who was the bright spark that authorised the location of the building on an unstable sand dune fronting an ocean beach.
Philby
 
Why not a permanent rock wall ? Sand bags will finish up in the ocean like the last lot did .As they disintegrated they washed out to sea to become a hazard to all sea creatures large and small. Beach clean up day is tomorrow.
Susan Hall
As a follow-up to your 'news flash' on the Inverloch beach erosion, I thought you may like to see these photos I took on the rail trail at Kilcunda last week.
  These are taken at the Lionel Rose Car Park where the "new" steps have been totally lost. I say "new" because they replaced the previous steps that were washed away about 10 years ago.
  The first photo (6102) shows that the rail trail path is about to be undercut by the erosion. This will be very expensive to repair if it is allowed to continue.
  I will send you a second email with some photos I took in early September showing the concrete footings at the base of the dune exposed. These were taken mid-way between the trestle bridge steps and the Lionel Rose car park steps which were already badly damaged. I have only been at Kilcunda since about 2005. Maybe you could ask your readers if anyone can recall how the base of dunes first came to be reinforced with concrete. It would be interesting to learn what it was like originally and how the work was done.
Stephen Wilbourne

$19m cultural centre approved for Cowes
October 17, 2019
 
Congratulations BCSC, this is wonderful forward thinking and l wish you all the best for the funding process. An exciting venture that can only add to the wellbeing of residents and visitors alike.
Josephine Kent
 
Congratulations to the Bass Coast Council for finally giving the go ahead for this new Cultural Centre in Cowes which will make a huge difference to the residents and visitors of Phillip Island and surrounding areas. It has been long overdue and time The Island had a building as such considering the amount of income we bring to the Shire. Great news!!!
Sandra Thorley
 
The main hall needs to accommodate at least 600 patrons for the hall to attract higher quality artists and make some money for the events promoter. That has been said many years ago and still be hit the 400 crutch
Joan Woods
 
Wow, how exciting, fifteen years on the Island and finally a decent hall. Congratulations to the Shire, I am overwhelmed.
Lorrie Read
 
This is fantastic news! It was much needed and maybe potential for an annual art prize partnership and arts residency partnership with other art bodies/trustees with this cultural centre
Chelle Destefano
 
Looks like a wonderful project for Cowes. They are very fortunate. Sadly though we are the ones to get that Shoebox library Geoff.
Heather Reid
 
I would be delighted Heather to have a library in the Waterline that currently exists in Cowes and is referred to, with contempt, as a shoebox. We are being offered a broom cupboard with a loss of size and items of 75%. Does a reduction in services of 75% equal the ''enhanced service'' that Councillors promised us and which was minuted. Perhaps access to grants etc., for library services gets complicated in Bass Coast Shire when shared services are utilised .... something to ponder.
Joy Button
 
We all pay ridiculous rates to build monuments to folly like this that will be used by 1% of the rate payers. For that price we could bus everyone up to Melbourne to see a show once a year and still have plenty of change to reduce rates.
James
 
Could not agree more James once again the noisy minority are being pandered to.. If we must waste ratepayers funds then why is it not situated in Ventnor Rd providing proper parking and access to all Island residents. It is high time the adults said no to the children.
Philby

The Downgrade - Waterline Region:
Population 4500, loses its mobile library service, replaced by an inferior $30,000/35 square metre library, as follows:
Library Floor Space (replacement) = 0.0077 square metres/per capita
BCSC Investment = $6.66 per capita.

(all bar one of the Waterline towns lose their library service. The replacement floor space is less than the mobile library, with just 1000-1500 items compared with 4000 items currently available from the mobile library).

The Upgrade - Phillip Island Region:
Population 11,000, $19 million/650 square metre library, etc
Library Floor Space = 0.06 sq metres/per capita (780% higher than Waterline)
BCSC Investment = $1727 per capita (2,590 % higher than Waterline. Say, 1300% given the library is one half of the building).

Spot the difference?

If the Waterline were to obtain per-capita equivalence with Phillip Island (heaven forbid), it would be the 244 (not 35) square metre Waterline Library. This can mean only one thing. Waterline rates will be be underwriting the operation of the Cowes (and Inverloch) regional libraries, not the Waterline Regional Library.
Whilst our Waterline (Westernport) Councillors (Ellis, Le Serve, Kent) have enthusiastically delivered an almighty upgrade to Phillip Island, they have also been party to an almighty downgrade of the Waterline library services. The region they supposedly represent. Whats the old saying, 'charity begins at home'?
​Pete Granger
 
Plaza rally ban irks refugee group
October 11, 2019
 
It doesn't take a lot of thought to see what is wrong with the attitude of the writer. The single issue group who imagine they are changing the world whereas in reality they are just inconveniencing people who are trying to get their shopping done. What a terrible thing that people have made up their own mind! And how dare they disagree with you?
James
 
In our years outside the Plaza, we talk to many local people - as well as supporting refugees, they donate to us for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, showing compassion is alive and well in Wonthaggi.
Jessica
 
Sounds like the owners of the arcade have been very tolerant of your activities which provide no benefit to their shoppers. You should thank them and move on. Perhaps a public park where people who are interested can seek out your counsel.
James
 
Our grassroots, Australia-wide nonpolitical movement seeks justice for asylum seekers and refugees; decent treatment of people who run from torture and bombs and come to ask us for help. We respect all opinions based on facts and are happy to discuss any issue. We are careful to stand to the side of the doors and make an effort not to inconvenience anyone.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
It sounds like you are not really interested in other people's views but just forcing your own views on others. Good luck with your mission, wherever it takes place.
James
 
If the Group complied and paid their Public Liability insurance they could sit inside, but, no, that idea is not in keeping with their wish to be publicly seen to be "virtue signalling".
Liz
 
We do have insurance, Liz, I wonder where you get your information. The point is to gather in public spaces with the Wonthaggi community to share facts about refugees and asylum seekers as well as current news.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
I wonder what our shopping area would be like if every fringe group did the same. I guess others have more respect for the rights of the public to go about their business unimpeded.
James
 
They may say they stand outside "away from the doors, making sure we do not block the foot traffic", but that is not the case in reality. Even the photo above shows they are causing shoppers to have to walk right into and around them, being directly confronted with them. The public have a right to choose to hear a message - or not.
Imagine if a preacher was stationed there telling people about the love of God. There would be an outcry!
They can have a table inside like every other group, meaning that members of the public can actually make a choice if they want to receive the information, instead of having it pushed upon them.
But they won't do that.
The lack of community support they accuse Coles of has nothing to do with allowing private lobby groups to confront shoppers who are innocently trying to do their errands.
I write all this, and yet I agree with their message. I just don't agree with their methods.
Deborah
 
We do make a point of standing to the side not be obstructive. The displayed photo is from over two years ago and as we agree with Deborah that we should not block people's access, the group resolved some time ago, to stand discreetly to the sides and around the supporting pillars. Again we agree with Deborah and make a point of not confronting but do welcome people who approach. The idea of a community is mingling in groups rather than sitting separately behind a table.
Oh and Deborah I am so glad that you agree with our message. You are cordially invited to join SGRAR and help us formulate our action plans.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
So not only do you tell people what they should think about asylum seekers but also what constitutes a community. Very much into the idea of telling people what to think and do I see.
James
 
While I have no issue with the group or their message I can't see why they have to use the space in front of the Wonthaggi Plaza.
Why not use the public spaces such as Apex Park or the park at the top of McBride Avenue. Plenty of room for a large group without being a nuisance. Or perhaps SGRAR could do what every other community group has to....pay for a meeting room.
I tend not to listen to any group who I find confrontational.
The attitude of the writer does not help change my mind.
Janice Orchard
 
Janice, you seem to be missing the point completely; these are not internal meetings, they are meetings where we can meet the public and present a point of view and if people want to discuss, do that.
Peter Ghys
 
Can the public not meet you at the public park? Of course they can but you know nobody would turn up. You don't have a right to force your views on others. It speaks volumes that you still defend your actions based on an annoying self righteousness that you are doing the rest of us a favour!
James
 
Peter, I don't think that Janice is missing the point at all, in fact I think that its you guys that are missing the point.
Go and do your thing in Apex Park where you can meet the public and present your point of view, if they care to listen to it, and not on Private property.
And I so agree that the attitude of the writer does not help your cause one little bit.
Rob
 
Totally agree.
Liz
 
I’m always thrilled to see people standing up for and raising awareness of the challenges faced by others. Each time I see this group I feel lucky to be part of such a caring community. It is disappointing that Plaza management has made this decision, and I hope they reconsider as meeting outside and offering conversation and education is a much more pleasant community experience for everyone. I’ve only ever seen this group be respectful, and I’m grateful for their efforts.
Wendy Davis
 
I want my community to show compassion to less fortunate humans, and a group of caring and respectful people standing quietly outside the Plaza for a couple of hours a month is hardly a threat or an inconvenience to me. If I'm not interested in a message someone offers me, I just say "no thanks". Rural Australians for Refugees wants the public to know the facts (eg 95% of people stranded on Nauru by the Australian Govt have been determined to be genuine refugees according to UN criteria, but are being punished indefinitely for being forced to leave their homelands). I'm very disappointed with Plaza management's decision, and hope they reconsider.
Alison
 
Agreed! I’ve never once been inconvenienced Or approached by this group, but their presence made me feel like I live in an empathetic and compassionate community. It seems that so many people these days have a hard time thinking about anyone other than themselves.. it’s a rare thing to see people donating their time and energy advocating for less advantaged groups, and I applaud them for putting themselves out there.
Marci
 
This particular group has been raising local community awareness about ongoing policy issues that severely impact asylum seekers on a regular basis. They have done this utilising a variety of methods (meetings, speakers, films) for many years. Plus provided much needed support of all kinds to asylum seekers and refugees in our community. SGRAR’s respectful, public presence adds life to asylum seeker issues in a Shire that officially ‘welcomes refugees’. I’d like to see this kind of visible public reminder to continue in a space that takes into account the legitimate rights of all parties.
Mary Schooneveldt
 
I am really saddened to read some of the aggressive comments directed towards SGRAR. We are so lucky to live in such a lucky country when so many in other countries have had to flee their homes and families in tragic circumstances. We live in a society of free speech. Life is short ..... show a little kindness. Please.
Joy Button
 
Perhaps SGAR could start handing out a range of tiny, plastic asylum-seeker figurines.It might align more closely with the Plaza's corporate values. Felecia and supporters, save your valuable emotional energies for the bigger fight, that of ending our govenments cruel and heartless treatment of refugees. Your efforts are making our world a kinder place.
Mark Robertson
 
Some of the writers here should read other articles in this edition of the Post where the way Wonthaggi people used to all talk, get on and help each other out are discussed. That attitude is still here in Wonthaggi, let's all just get on, accept each other’s differences and perhaps put up with a little inconvenience.
Neil Rankine
 
If you've ever sat in a history class learning about historical human right abuses and wondered what you would have done had you been there, then maybe you would be doing what we are doing now.
Among other actions, SGRAR gathers once a month for an hour to continue to highlight the human right abuses happening under the Australian Government's indefinite offshore detention policy.
We do not want to upset, or even inconvenience, people but we do want the public to be aware of the human right abuses embedded in our Government's asylum seeker and refugee policies.
Nicky
 
Keep it up Felicia and team. I suggest you not respond to the trolls who use your post as a way to express their aggression. Your article puts a point of view it is open for them to express their views reasonably but they choose abuse, do not respond they do not warrant it,
Michael Whelan
 
I moved to Inverloch 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with the community spirit in both Inverloch and especially Wonthaggi. Of course people hold many different views and discussing these views is what makes the community. I was so pleased at the last election when I gave out how to vote cards that everyone handing out cards, even though our political views were diverse, had very friendly chats with each other.
  As for RAR, this group has met at ApexPark sometimes, but rain makes this unsuitable on many occasions. Having a regular, dry place to meet is far better. The group discusses refugees with those who approach them. I have occasionally joined the group outside Coles and people have approached us because they wanted to talk to us and find out more. I remember, in particular, one man who approached me who believed that ‘boat people’ should not be allowed into Australia. Neither of us were going to change our minds, but we still had a great discussion.
It is such a shame that similar discussions will not be able to take place in future. I appreciate the offer for 1 or 2 people to sit inside, but part of what RAR does include everyone who wants to attend. With a small table, this would not be possible.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
How disappointing to hear such churlish comments from people, who are not being harassed; are not being impeded in their movements; are not being told what to think. Rural Australians for Refugees are reminding us all of the inhuman treatment being accorded to people who sought sanctuary from us, from the hell of war or despots that would torture, incarcerate and murder citizens who would express contrary views to or challenge unconscionable behaviour of governments. How fortunate we are that in Australia, we can take such action and so we should when we truly believe our government needs challenging. This small group's presence once a month at the local shopping centre may or may not change minds but they do us a service reminding us of the facts of an iniquitous situation that must be challenged.
Maddy Harford
 
Thank you, Felicia. Your gentle manner, generosity of spirit and determined commitment to advancing the cause of asylum seekers, is an inspiration and a true labour of Love.
Lynda Paskas
 
It seems that some of the commentators don't care about anyone but themselves and their tiny piece of the world. When I see injustice being done I will not keep quiet, I will not ignore it. I will do what I can to learn about it and to help others do the same. I will fight for justice and humanity no matter if you try to shut me up or spread disinformation. People who are unable to thrive because of terror, war, hunger, racism, beliefs or any other form of supression need our help wherever they are in the world.
To those who are against these protests, how lucky are you to be able to voice your minority opinion? Imagine if you were driven from your home - your country - because of it. Lucky for you I would be out there, in the public domain, protesting your treatment and demanding you be given the opportunity to live your life as you choose
Pam Maag
 
Keep at it Felicia. I shop and I care.
Geoff Ellis
 
Hear hear to all the above thoughtful and insightful comments of support to the writer of this article. I, too, say thank-you, Felicia, for reaching out to the community, explaining the intolerable situations that so many of the world's people have fled, and how they are being treated by us and our government. And thank you, too, for reminding us of Wonthaggi's history as a place of community, public discussion, and support for the disadvantaged.
Robyn Arianrhod
 
Once again compassion being dictated to by consumerism, albeit for one hour a month. It saddens me. Keep up the good and caring work SGRAR.
Tina
 
An hour a month isn't much, I certainly wouldn't find it an inconvenience - I find the non-local groups asking for donations more unpleasant
Such a shame to lose an opportunity for community engagement, whether an issue you believe in or not, being able to discuss issues respectfully on neutral ground builds a stronger community. And I thought it would've been good for business too ... I'll now be doing my shopping somewhere else.
Helen
 
Good to see signs of compassion in society....“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Tony Goodfellow
 
Thankyou SGRAR for your important and compassionate work. It is all to easy to overlook this serious problem from the privilege of our comfortable lives. Seeing you out the front of Coles has been a genuine inspiration. It makes me feel like a part of a community that cares and steps up in support of our world citizens. I do hope Coles will reconsider.
Lily
 
This group show all the commitment and integrity our community should value. I might point out just because a community space is privately owned doesn’t make it any less of a community space. Keep at guys and ignore the silly “virtue signalling” messages. You have the moral high ground and history will judge your work kindly. Keep at it.
Jeanette Pierce
 
I wonder if this is a change of policy when centre management says 'we do not allow ANY group to hold a rally outside the shopping centre'? SGRAR have been meeting there for two years, so I wonder what has changed. Have they been allowing SGRAR to meet despite their policy or has it changed to get rid of them? Have there been complaints? If so it would be good to invite complainants to meet with the group and engage in further discussion. I believe that the majority of the community would welcome any other groups in the metaphoric market square who represent community perspectives if they were to put their point of view as respectfully and non-invasively as SGRAR does, even 'a preacher ... telling people about the love of God'. I applaud the work of SGRAR and the patient and inclusive approach they take to informing the community about the iniquities of the federal government's treatment of those who seek asylum on our shores.
Marg Lynn
 
Thank you to the work of Felicia and those committed to the SGRAR mission. Compassion towards other human beings, especially those who are extremely vulnerable and traumatised such as asylum seekers is an expression of humanity and open heartedness. I have been to two SGRAR gatherings and have never witnessed obstruction or harassment by the members involved towards shoppers. Many community members are interested in the issue and stop and chat. It is important to note that it is not Coles who manage the centre, they are just tenants. Keep up the good work SGRAR. Wonthaggi has a long history of collective action and solidarity. Keep it up!
Cait
 
Do you consider Felicia & members of SGRAR to be selfish, self-interested, unpatriotic even, for standing up in public to inform us of the plight of refugees whose lives we can't imagine? No doubt they would rather be shopping themselves, or out in the garden.
But they are the kindest of people who cannot let the unkindness & injustice being inflicted on people who have committed no crimes, be hidden from public view.
Hands up if you think the world would be a better place if we all showed more kindness & caring...
Aileen
 
Thanks Felicia and co for all that you contribute toward making our world more humane and compassionate.
As you rightly say "Even though the plaza is privately owned it is where the public is invited to spend their money" ... I wonder why we accept that invitation; I for one will no longer do so.
Michael Nugent
 
Felicia (and SGRAR). Thank you and please keep reminding us that there are human beings all over this planet, suffering. They need our support. And that our Federal Government (and opposition) are part of the real problem.
The opening comment started "It doesn't take a lot of thought..." That's the real problem here.
Not a lot of thought beyond the immediate. And bugger all media coverage beyond reactionary stereotyping.
That's why we need SGRAR and The Post everywhere. Every day.
Geoff Ellis
 
While the plaza’s decision to banish SGRAR saddens me it doesn’t surprise me. Corporations feel no community responsibility - only responsible to shareholders. I will also shop elsewhere. Well done SGRAR for the respectful, & even positive way, you have approached informing & interacting with the wider community. You are giving a voice to those who are unable to make themselves heard.
Julie Newton
 
I support this group and find it admirable that they offer information and also care so much for all human kind and specially for those who do not have our free life.
Keep going, Felicia
Verena
 
Thank you to Felicia and the people of the SGRAR. Your compassion and good will restores hope in an increasingly self absorbed, consumer driven and xenophobic world.
Thanks for all that you do to draw attention to the sad and desparate plight of others. In the spirit of community I wish you well in your search for a new location. I hope you get the support that you deserve.
Leanne Aitken
 
We have nothing but praise for Felicia and her group for their quiet patience and dedication in continuing to inform those who are interested in the terrible plight of refugees and asylum seekers. These people are so much less fortunate than we are and we should surely do all we can to support them in all possible ways. Keep up the good work Felicia.
Mandy and Jeremy Evans

The way of truth-speaking has never been easy, particularly in such degenerate times as the present. It has been said that perseverance leads to miracles.
A big thumbs-up to your constancy and perseverance in the cause of the good and the true.
Vincent Di Stefano
Totally support Felicity and the groups right to promote community awareness about grave injustices. I believe the community cares about these issues. These actions are a service to our community and should continue. Shame on Coles!
Karen

Because somewhere is a privately owned space, dedicated to the noble goal of financial profit, we allow them to promote ideas and practices which are unhealthy and a direct cost to public health and our community. Supermarkets discount unhealthy items more frequently and by a higher percentage than healthy ones. Essentially, they have no problem getting in our faces to promote heart disease and diabetes. They advertise their profuse unhealthy items in loungerooms and other private and public places in our community. We accept this intrusive, irresponsible corporate advertising and practice but can not tolerate a few people 'selling' compassion and understanding. This is a clear message from the arcade management that they are not interested in supporting our community or indeed those most vulnerable. A table with two people inside the arcade may seem like a reasonable concession, but it is insufficient and of a completely different quality to the public engagement opportunities that have previously taken place without incident. It seems that to engage with the public outside large private retailers you need to be either selling barbequed sausages, or be a paid seller of raffle tickets or some other consumption based fundraising activity. Dare to try to share a message without selling a rubbishy token and you will be at best offered a table to contain and limit you. We need to shift our communities priorities!
Daniel
 
All in a day’s work
October 11, 2019
 
As always , the editors moral compass is reading truly. Our magnanimous federal government is just as guilty as the greedy shop owners, as they continue to underpay newstart recipients, especially those of us too ill to hold down a job. Their incessent calls to make it even more difficult for their "employees" - drug testing , cashless welfare cards and rapacious private job agencies - put even the shonkiest cafe owner into the also-ran category.
Mark Robertson
 
Thank you for this great poem. Speaking up for the kids is the best thing. I saw an article in todays abc feed extolling the virtues of house sitting as a great alternative to renting for young people, what it didnt cover is the fact that young people get older and that kind of activity gets tiring, is unpredictable, often short term and if your not regularly working doesnt allow you to save money because there are still bills to pay, food to buy, medical expenses and transport costs. As a solution to stable and affordable housing it is a joke which exploits individuals into being responsible for other peoples property and spits them out when things go wrong, when they are older and much poorer and when the home owners plans change on a whim. There is no substitute for stable work with good conditions and affordable housing availability for creating the foundations of a safe and stable community. Middle class aspirations and access to achieve safety of home and work are the most important safety mechanisms in civil society. Once removed its everyone for themselves, which suits exploiters now but, as well demonstrated in todays adveserial populations throughout USA and UK, France and Hong Kong, with entrenched poverty simmering on the outskirts of every town and within the families of those baby boomers who just made it out of poverty in the 80's - only to find their kids back in it now. Times churn on.
Kaz
 
I remember having my employment terminated because I was a married woman. Each era has it’s good and bad points. I started work on $6 a week. Fortunately I belonged to a Union and although we had to strike, things eventually improved. Look what the unions did for the miners! No one belongs to unions today.
Anne Bevis
 
When Matt and I owned our little pub one of the hardest things we found was to find people who were prepared to go on the books. As we could only offer a few days a week - there was frankly no advantage for those on Newstart as for anything over (I think) $65 a week ate into their allowance. Yes we always paid according to the Award but goodness it was hard. Often times staff were paid more than Matt and myself. I am a strong supporter of what is fair - but if staff are in hospitality which means by its nature working on weekends and public holidays it is difficult to run a business when penalty rates impose such high hourly rates. Surely we are no longer a society that centres around 9 - 5 Monday to Friday.
And every time the government thinks it is a good idea to have a public holiday because a bunch of footballers parade in front of their fans must make every small business owner groan with the additional cost it will mean.
And with every change in government the issue of penalties is back on the table with so many grandfathering arrangements that it is hard to keep up.
I am not excusing the owners who do not pay the appropriate wage - they should - but perhaps people should now be looking at the broader picture - and that is - can small business in hospitality really afford penalty rates?
Liane
 
Liane, you make some very good points. I know running a small business is a difficult balancing act. Two points: those businesses that don’t pay properly have a commercial advantage over those that pay according to the award.
Second, if everyone is paying the same then it comes down to supply and demand. Cafes and restaurants and even pubs might decide it’s not profitable to open at weekends and on public holidays. That increases the patronage at the places that do open.
I saw an interesting example of this in Cowes on grand final Sunday. A friend and I were in the main street looking for somewhere to have coffee at 3pm, when it seemed as if every café was just bringing in its signs and stacking the chairs. My friend said “That’s why I don’t go out for coffee in Cowes.”
Then we stumbled across a new specialty café doing a roaring trade. There must have been 50 people inside and spilling out onto the footpath. Despite the busyness, our coffees (good) were delivered within five minutes. Those staff were certainly earning their penalty rates, and then some!
Incidentally Brunettis, the big city café, charges a 10 per cent surcharge on public holidays. It doesn’t seem to affect their business.
Catherine Watson
 
Fully agree that: "those businesses that don’t pay properly have a commercial advantage over those that pay according to the award" and "if everyone is paying the same then it comes down to supply and demand".
I would also add that paying cash under the counter deprives the community of tax revenue needed to provide the government services we all expect and deserve.
A Fair Wage sticker would be an excellent solution - if the unions can't/wont provide this, I wonder if there are trusted local/community organisations who could?
Michael Nugent
 
The problem is that small business always looks at wages as the problem instead of lobbying government to provide reduced tax incentives to run business with under 10 staff members. Really big business doesnt pay a fair share of taxes here using the excuse of being big employers to justify tax evasion. Government could give small business a big break by providing insurence coverage, cut price electricity, or even cheap fuel deals like it has done in the agricultural sector, to assist small business in retaining staff. Really big global business get huge tax breaks, dot com companies like Amazon and Google pay no tax at all but market products and engage in business Australia wide. Small business owners could choose to support workers by making political remonstrations to local membets, State and Federal Government regarding how they can better support local business to better support local workers. Also, currently the Government (The Department of Employment) will pay 6 months of a long term unemployed persons full wage if they are given a job under the Employer Incentive Scheme. This would seems a pretty good incentived to hire someone who is on Youth Allowence or Newstart and give them a chance while easing some capital flow problems in a small business.
Kaz
 
I do not believe the Government grants to employ someone works, once their time is up they make an excuse, sack them and get someone else, so they end up with free staff.
Sunny
 
Make mine a double shot and keep the change.
I was privileged to hear the Author deliver "I Worked Hard" at the annual Mayday rally under the Whistle in Wonthaggi in 2018.
I suspect that things have gotten worse since then.
I agree that if cafes advertised the fact that they pay award (or above!) people would make the ethical choice. We do it for chickens (free range v craven) why not do it for our people who get up so early and work so hard so that we can socialize across the breakfast menu.
Also, exploitation locally is the tip of the iced coffee berg - there is child slavery at the other end of the supply chain. (https://medium.com/@MarinaTMartinez/coffee-slavery-destruction-and-shortage-c915d430390e)
I look forward to hearing more people speak out about workplace exploitation and other issues (climate, refugees, discrimination, aged care et al) at the 2020 Mayday rally under the Whistle.
Geoff Ellis
 
I think your 'fair trade sticker' is a fabulous idea Catherine. I and many people I know would certainly take notice. I believe that the decline of the working pay and conditions stem largely from degrading unions power over the years. Industrial relations favour the employer leading to the truth of your tragic poem. As you say the employer will not get punished and will repeat his transgression. I think that you need to propose your 'fair trade sticker' to the unions. Thank you for your article.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Hospitality Workers have formed a union called. Hospo Voice. Members are building a powerful movement to fight back against wage theft, bullying and sexual harassment. They've already had some big wins and dodgy bosses are on the back foot. Now is our time to stand together and turn the tables on this industry for good.
Want to know the truth about your local café? Some venues do the right thing and look after their staff. But there are others who are creeps and rip their workers off on the regular. And now you can do something about it.
Introducing FairPlate.org.au. It’s a website created by hospitality workers where you can see what’s really happening under the table. Don't be afraid to ask the people serving you if they are getting a fair deal. The consumer has all the power in this relationship.
Cr Geoff Ellis

Disappointing to see there are no venues in Wonthaggi or Inverloch on www.fairplate.org.au.
Michael Nugent
 
True. We'll have to make some enquiries and follow them up with posts. Wouldn't be hard to audit an entire town over a weekend.
Geoff Ellis
 
This issue is just the tip of the iceberg. Today every for profit company is about maximising shareholder value regardless of its effects on the society they operate in,.
Consider this...The combined market capitalisation of Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon is greater than the GDP of most countries on earth. In fact there are only five countries that have a larger GDP. These companies are totally out of control. They are tax avoiders and because they don’t pay their fair share of tax we all need to pay more. The Governments around the world need to treat these companies the same as they treat any large corporation and hold them to account.
In my view every human being is entitled to a wage that covers all reasonable living costs....food,housing,medical and education. You might say that this is impossible, however it’s not if the regulators modify the tax systems so that there is a fairer distribution of wealth.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Wonthaggi's book of dreams
October 11, 2019
 
My family have been here since it all started - Grandfather Joe Asquith a Yorkshire coalminer came to Wonthaggi and stayed once married - moved from a house on the corner of Bilson and Watt St to this the site I live on in Hicksborough and call home. Five generation have lived here and we call it Home. Proud of mine town and the people that had the foresight to set it up as an amazing place and a Social Model that might ahve survived - We will never know - Shame it didnt go on.
Rosemary Loughnan
 
Thank you Carolyn, for a heart warming description of a progressive Wonthaggi community which planned for a united, sharing and helping society. I think that some of the commercial newer arrivals are undermining that close knit, sharing spirit.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
New horizons
October 11, 2019
 
Chère Etsuko,
Merci pour ces réflections (thoughts/observations) sur le voyage.
J’aime votre écriture remplie d’anecdotes personnelles qui donne envie de sortir de son quotidien comfortable et qui nous pousse gentiment à aller découvrir ce monde.
Continuez, avec vos mots, à nous faire plaisir.!
Félicitations.!
“Voyager rend modeste. On voit mieux la place minuscule que l’on occupe dans le monde.” (Gustave Flaubert )
Bernadette
 
Chere Etsuko. Merci pour votre mots. Quelle marvelleaux a retrouver avec Peter. Quelle a coincidence! J’adore a voyager, mais c’est tres tres bien rentre a chez moi! Lois
Lois
 
Chere Etsuko
C'est un article qui parle a moi. Je suis tres heureuse pour vous et je comprends votre joix de voyager. J'aime vos mots et c'est bien de les lire. 
Verena
 
Chère Etsuko,
Moi, aussi, j’adore voyager et trouver les endroits nouveaux. Vos mots m’inspire faire plus de voyages en Australie parcequ’il y a beaucoup à voir dans notre pays.
Robyn
 
Oui, l'Australie est grande et belle. Il y a tellement de endroites à explorer. J'espère voir l'Australie occidentale dans un proche avenir. Merci d'avoir lu.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Plant medicine
October 11, 2019
 
What an interesting article on the benefits of house plants.
Many years ago I was advised to have a wide leaved pot plant in my studio as these are known to absorb the fumes of turpentine and paint which they transport down into the soil. They then freshen the area with clean air. I have been doing this for years. Now I am off to buy a Mother in laws tongue for the bedroom!
Janice Orchard
 
Engagingly informative and I reckon there will be a queue of readers at plant nurseries across Bass Coast this weekend. Great photos.
Geoff Ellis
 
Fine art of the absurd
October 11, 2019
 
Great article. I had no Idea. Thank you Marian.
Natasha Williams
 
Thank you Catherine and Marian. An excellent and accurate article.
John Spon
 
My pleasure John - A fascinating story and I learned a lot!
Marian Quigley
 
This working life
September 27, 2019 
 
Thank you for sharing, I never realized it was so bad, the working conditions of Australians need a shake up before we end up like the USA where many are working but sleep in their cars due to not making enough to pay the rent. CEO's are making too much money at the expensive of workers lower down the rung. We need a universal base wage as a safety net, then pay tax on what you earn above. The gig economy, contract and temporary work is being also counted in the unemployment numbers so it looks good for the Government but is not realistic.
Sunny
 
Such a well written article, so sad, but so true. How can the Goverment justify spending millions to support the Americans in their Space Program and make no increase to Newstart, not to mention improving working conditions.
Lorrie Read
 
It would help you to understand what the Government is doing to "support the Americans in their Space Program" if you read the news reports. The money is being spent, over five years, to support Australian companies, repeat Australian companies, to participate in the space programme. That means the Government is helping Australians to participate. The money is not going to the Americans.
The answer to Newstart is to create more jobs, which investments of this type will do.
Pamela Jacka
 
Jobs creation is the answer. The issue is jobs are not being created. Most industries downsize as much as possible and require workers to maximise output. This was well documented in the findings of the recent aged care review which exposed a chronic shortage of staff required to do the work of three people over their shifts. How many jobs do you think an Australian version of NASA will create? There are plenty of sectors in need of staff which are chronically underfunded. The space race is an old chestnut, its has been traditionally funded most when governments require a popular distraction from wars and famines as demonstrated through USa and Russian history.
  Just to add to my previous comment - paying America to participate in trade with them is questionable. The US economy dwarfs ours and it will be interesting to see if any jobs at all are created through this transaction or if it is a cut and dried global export deal which will boost GDP figures through big share market profits while making minimum employment opportunities on the ground. Can you find out the finer details of this transaction so we can really assess its worth as an investment?
Kaz
 
Your story reminds me of George Orwell's excellent book 'Down and out in Paris and London', written close to a century ago. Yet our society still lacks a just distribution of wealth where COEs earn millions yet some work at three jobs and can barely survive and our Government sends debt collectors to society's most needy!
Felicia Di Stefano
 
It’s worth going to Australian economist Bill Mitchelles website to read about the way the economy is manipulated by business politics, particularly notions of 'surplus' and how austerity economics is preventing real growth in the jobs market. Its a big website to explore, starting with the daily quiz could be fun: http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/
Kaz
 
Here's the link that may help you understand the "transaction" https://www.industry.gov.au/news-media/australian-space-agency-news/australia-to-support-nasas-plan-to-return-to-the-moon-and-on-to-mars
Pamela Jacka
 
Hi Pamela, thank you for the link, I see it is a government industry news media promotion piece and as such contains a lot of rhetoric. I am not against investment in future industries which promise employment, my own digging suggests 20,000 jobs will be created in 10 years’ time- where the jobs will be located is unclear although by the tone of the media piece I reckon they will be for technically educated peoples such as engineers and scientists. All good for futures techs and science grads but it makes little difference to me and thousands like me who are fundamentally broke from a lifetime of being short shifted, which begs the question of what is being done now to assist those of us with no super, or no stable housing or who are facing chronic illness who are are still likely to live into old age for another 30 or so years and what happens to those young people who are currently growing up in a highly casualised workforce who are unlikely to get space jobs in 10 years. Underemployment is growing, not reducing, 10 percent of women in today’s workforce are underemployed out of around 1 million underemployed people. We need solutions right now, not in 10 years’ time.
Kaz
 
Ah well, you've made up your mind and there is nothing that will change that or even perhaps make you think that perhaps there are some good things happening.
You and I have a very different attitude to life's opportunities. I don't whinge about the walls I've had to scale during my working life (nearly 50 years until early redundancy and the loss of potentially 200,000 in superannuation) but make the most of what I've got. When things get tough, I revert to one of my motto's, "a problem is an opportunity for a solution" or I pour a glass of red (cask) and move on.
Good luck in your future endeavours.
Pamela Jacka
 
Thanks Pamela, good luck in yours too. Maybe you should have a whinge every now and then though, alot of people are sharing the same boat and our problems
are social policy problem which can be addressed politically. I will take a liberty and assume your superannuanion loss was a result of the stock crash in the early 2000's? That was a man made catastrophy which was entirely the fault of neoliberal economic policy and is tied in with poor employment opportunities and the casualised workforce. I reserve my Australian cultural right to whinge out loud and clear and so should you.
Just an afterthought, caling people who rely on welfare to make ends meet whingers is an example of the Australian cultural trait observed by Frank Hardy during the susso years, its a way of getting the boot in!
Kaz
 
I have read and re-read all the comments to the excellent article written by Kaz and it re-affirmed my very strong belief that we are all entitled to have different points of view regarding broad issues related to Australia, U.S.A., China, the economy, politics, government, the environment, religion, gender, race, sex, the legal system, jobs, unemployment etc. etc.
Then on a more personal level which is how to financially survive on a day-to- day basis and over the next few years, whilst still contributing to our community.
It's broad issues versus specific and personal issues.
  If anyone is so passionate about the issues raised in the article please feel free to enter the Bass Coast Prize for Non-fiction.
Phyllis Papps
 
Katz, precarious employment is a scourge as you story shows and I wish it wasn't the case. I notice that wage and super theft is now a crime that can be committed with little sanction. I also notice there is a push by the government to steal superannuation increases from workers. The logic is that people should get the proposed increases as wage rises now rather an increased super balance. Hollow promise with wage rates have been stagnating for 5 years and will continue to do so.
Working people are slowly by surely being done over and nothing seems to be able to stop it.
PeeBee
 
Hi PeeBee, superannuation seems to be a really slippery fish these days, its really complex and there are so many clauses you need a lawyer or a financial advisor to help understand your rights regarding managing it. Changing jobs can alter clauses and costs too. It is so much more confusing than a State provided pension system which could see everyone pay super into a well managed Government fund and the wealth redistributed equally across all retirees and low income workers to ensure a basic living standard for all of us, bit like a basic living wage. Its pretty shocking there are more than 100, 000 homeless people right now in Australia and that a good proportion of these are youth and elderly people. The Bob Hawke era goal of 'no child in poverty' in Australia really tanked and now those children he was talking about are getting old!
Kaz
 
How do you like that view?
September 27, 2019 
 
Fines and penalties need to be imposed on home owners that do this...and council needs bigger signs or even an ugly continuous fence to restrict owner's views where they have been proven to have removed vegetation. Radical thought.
Nola Smith
 
Hear, Hear, it is about time. We must start NOW protecting what is left of our Foreshore vegetation. Signs, fines, prosecutions whatever it takes.
Lorrie Read
 
Totally agree. Foreshore vegetation removal is a serious act of vandalism of our fragile environment.
Council need to budget for erection of large signs as displayed regardless of "WHO" removes the vegetation, and supplemented by replanting with staked trees recorded by drone images for a permanent record.
With the cost effective use of drone imaging it is now possible for Bass Coast Council foreshore management officers to carry out an economical aerial survey of all Bass Coast inhabited foreshore on a regular basis, at least every three months.
The foreshore is public property to be respected and preserved for all not the few
Ian Samuel
 
The thought of anyone mad enough to clear vegetation from the foreshore at Inverloch makes me laugh.   With the sea advancing inland 5-8 meters per year (this year’s figure) many home owners will soon have a beach front property.... and not long after that they will need a boat...
The fines are so small … show me the money when the litigation starts
Edward Buckingham
 
Thorougly agree with all the preceding comments - "how dare they!......"
Liz Glyñn
 
 
Thoroughly agree with Nola and Lorrie. The fines need to be stepped up and increased to reflect the damage to our environment. This is a serious issue with some developers flaunting breaches of removal of trees.
Joy Button
 
Tell-tale signs
September 27, 2019 
 
Didn't think they had a theatre - obviously they are capable of anything
Joan Woods
 
My faves are the two from Orbost. Vomiting and reverse parking seem to be important issues, hence the people need special directions
Sue Packham

The ongoing need to communicate...leaves nothing to the imagination.
Felicia Di Stefano
Wonderful collection. I laughed out loud at the before and after of the cassawarry!
Deb Watson
 
a great collection my fave is the airstrip wouldn't know it was there without the sign !
Neri
 
Cemetery historian in good company
September 27, 2019 
 
What a fabulous honour for you Pam. It's amazing how life works in mysterious cycles.
I was heavily involved and one of the instigators in the Victorian Community History Awards many decades ago. The name might have changed since then. But I feel a great sense of pride that they are still continuing to give acknowledgement to wonderful researchers and writers.
  Really looking forward to reading Part 2 of your book that will be launched in April at the 150th Anniversary.
Phyllis Papps
 
Thank Phyllis. I really appreciate your support. I am so thrilled to have the work acknowledged in the Victorian Community History Awards - as you know these local history works are a labour of love!
Pam Rothfield
 
Hi Pam, I would love to buy this book and also have a walking tour of the cemetery.Please let me know when the next tour is. Can I purchase the book from the Rhyll General Store or the Historical Society? Please let me know when the next tour is. I am at Rhyll part time.
Julie Beamish
 
Hi Julie, If you leave your contact details at the Rhyll Store - or the Phillip island and District Historical Society - I will make sure I let you know when we will do the next one. Possibly in late Febuary - or March. Yes - both the store and the Historical Society have copies of the book. Cheers Pam
Pam Rothfield

Flights of fancy
September 27, 2019 
 
Thank you for lovely photographs and story, Sue. Retirement should come much earlier in life!
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Really lovely story Sue and love the photographs. Hope to visit on Sunday. Thank you.
Joy Button
 
In for the long run
September 27, 2019 
 
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Phillip Island Festival of Running. What a fantastic event. !!
Life is not about winning, but how you play the game.
Phyllis Papps
 
Hills painting hits the spot
Sept 27, 2019 –
 
Many thanks to artists, judges and organisers. A must see display.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Congratulations to all involved and wonderful to see the exhibition in the foyer of the Wonthaggi Arts Centre.
Mel
 
Surf club on brink
September 14, 2019
 
Have suggested Shire hedge it's bets by only building path just passed Pt Norman carpark where track to Lohr Ave comes out. People could then use Lohr Ave for rest of journey. When\If dunes stabilise then build the rest. Suspect they've got the govt grant and intend too use it come hell....or high water. South Warilla Beach
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wFG9HgkeQ7UY3uks9
Jeff Sim
 
A bit late I' say, maybe 12 months ago something might have been put in place, the warnings wete certainly there. In fact the warning signs about erosion in the estuary and the surf beach have been about for a few years. And of course it's a coastal dune system, geological ephemera, and as in many places round the coast you build on at your peril. Remember that the gully between beach Parade and Lohr Ave. was not so long ago a swampy semi tidal lagoon. Ask some of the not so old residents that grew up in the town.
Jeff Cole
 
Hard times
September 14, 2019
 
Thanks You speak for many of us .come to our south gippsland action group rated protest meeting on weds night in the Poowong Hall at 7pm.Be great to meet you .
Marie Gerrard -staton
 
Thanks for sharing, more people need to share their stories. Your weekly expenses seem a lot, $50 per week for phones, I pay $10 a month for a 28 day plan (sim card only), and also your electricity is high, shop around and why is your petrol so high, I never go anywhere, you need to live like you are in poverty and not expect the same lifestyle.
Sunny
 
Ian, new start allowance is meagre, but it is not meant to replace your salary. It is a welfare safety net. You are fortunate because of your employment history and because of the highly paid managerial positions you held, you should have a large super balance. You should be accessing that (and most probably that of your wife) to help you make do.
PeeBee
 
When income support was actually set up by Robert Menzies he said people should have the same right to make a claim for income support with the same dignity as any other insurance policy they had paid into their entire lives.
  In no way did that have a sub clause of using up all of ones resources that are supposed to save them from claiming so much from the old age pension. So when do you want them to use that vs claiming against this insurance policy as they’re well entitled to???
Hayden
 
We all seem to agree that the Newstart allowance is meagre. What I question is the assumption that this is somehow an incentive for people to find work.
  Ian's story is very typical - he is definitely seeking work, he wants a job. But who's hiring older jobseekers?
  It would seem that only employers who receive Government subsidies. And, as Ian experienced, when the handout runs out, the job runs out.
  How long will we have a system that punishes people for the Federal Government's failure to create reliable pathways to accessible and meaningful employment?

  When will Scot Morrison provide that fair go for those like Ian who are having a go?
Leslie
 
PeeBee … what’s a salary? I work in a gig economy, most contracts are short term, have few salaried workers benefits like sick leave or ongoing superannuation, between my current contract and my last one I was two years on partial Newstart which supplemented short term, low paid unstable temp work. I am 49 and have 20,000 in Super I can't access and sometimes travel 2.5 hours to get to a 3 hour shift job. Talk about salaries when the Gov guarantees some are available and I will take your comment seriously.
Kaz
 
Both Sunny and PeeBee are missing the point. Newstart is below the Henderson poverty level of $507 and actual poverty level is now close to $700 per week. Superannuation is designed to be used at retirement age not to support periods of unemployment. As Kaz commented, travelling 2 hours for 3 hour shift isn’t cost effective. If he could access super it would soon erode.
Ian
 
Ian, I was not missing the point, I actually said he has to live like he is in poverty. I already know Newstart is below the poverty line, and he needs to adjust his living expenses. I doubt this Government will raise Newstart. They are more interested in cashless cards and drug testing unemployed, which will cost more to implement than to raise Newstart.
Sunny
 
People keep missing the point ... the Newstart allowance is exactly that, an allowance. It is not a pension and is only intended to assist people subsidise their own savings while seeking employment. At the age of 62 I found myself in a new State, in a regional area without a job although somehow I had had the foresight to buy an investment property while still working in Sydney.
I had been made redundant over the years (the perils of the early computer industry) and generally managed to find employment as the market place was bigger and healthier. Also I wasn't too proud and took whatever looked interesting even if it wasn't in my preferred area of employment.
I applied for twelve jobs after arriving in Wonthaggi but, hey, I'm not local, I was judged as over qualified and I was nearing the end of my working life, so voila! I found volunteering work to meet my requirements under Newstart and waited for the pension to kick in.
I was having trouble handling my money after I spent my meagre superannuation on extending the investment property to make it liveable. Fortunately, I found a very helpful woman at the local ANZ bank who introduced me to budgeting!
To make a comparison to Ian's figures, my weekly budget is -
South Gippsland Rates $11.00
South Gippsland Water $17.50
Insurances (Home & Car) $27.00
Electricity $17.50
Food $150.00 (including $15 for the magpies!)
Telephone/Internet $16.50
Gas $16.50
Sewerage is included in Rates
Petrol $9.00
It is quite apparent that Ian has a different lifestyle to me and good on him. However, regardless of whether we are relying on the Government for support or our own savings, we need to be aware that neither are a bottomless pit.
Changes need to be made occasionally. Let's move on from the victim mentality and be thankful that we live in a country that provides us with all types of support. Nothing is going to match being employed full time but I've found that my needs have changed quite a bit since "retiring" and my expenses have reduced significantly. Life is not hard, it's just different and it does take a little while to adjust.
PeeBee is right.
PeeJay
 
You are lucky to have an investment property, many have nothing. And many pay rent, more than half of my income goes to rent (yes investors like you), so yes you can be thankful that people pay rent, though many are living the equivalent to homeless. In the USA wages are so low that working people are sleeping in their cars. We do not want that to happen here do we? Life is hard and harder for some. You did not have to wait long for the pension but there are many in their 40s and 50s who cannot get work for various reasons. I think we have to also look at why there are so many people on the DSP getting a lot more money and this is rising, Newstart people need more money to even be able to afford to look for work, your petrol costs might be low but when you are driving long distances to seek work you can spend a lot more, not to mention the maintenance costs on your car, and not everyone is driving a new or fairly new car.
Sunny
 
Hello Sunny, I rented until I was 62 but fortunately had the sense at the age of 52 to realise that I needed to do something more permanent for my retirement. It was called an investment property because I wasn't going to live in it at the time. It was only $70K and I often think that many could have afforded that as well but it's a state of mind, isn't it? It was not a brand new sparkling house, so probably deemed as not attractive enough for some. I would not describe myself as an investor. I was buying a house to either upgrade from or live in when I retired.
  I spent a lot more on petrol while fulfilling my Newstart commitments because the volunteer hours required were not available in Wonthaggi. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long until I reached pension age but in the meantime I used the savings I had, which is what it is all about. We should not presume that governments owe us a living, unless one is a public servant, of course.
  No luck involved in my outcome, I worked for it and planned for it.
  This is not America, so no comparison. My car is twenty years old and I pay more to insure than its "agreed value".
  Yes, there are some hard luck stories out there but it's not because of the Newstart Allowance.
PeeJay
 
PeeJay, I am staggered at the number of people who do not save for a rainy day. This may be in part because they are financially educated by people who make money out of them. They are bombarded by advertising telling them to spend by sports betting, banks or anyone who has something to sell. It is good that you share your story to show people what can happen and how to cope.
PeeBee
 
Ian I have looked at your figures and I have to question your rates of almost $4000 per year, how much is your property actually worth? I run 2 phones with a total of 100 gb in data for $20 a week, I insure house and contents ,1 car,1 motorhome for under $2000/year .
Stacking shelves in supermarkets is work that seems to be always available and I am sure it pays well above the Newstart. Did you not save anything after 26 years in well paid work or have you invested it all in a new house and land? I agree with others Newstart is not and should not be a replacement income instead of paid work. There are plenty of jobs out there.
Philby
 
Re stacking supermarket shelves, this is one of the most sought after jobs there is! Perhaps because there are so many people out there who would rather deal with boxes of cereal than people. I've applied for a couple of these jobs and never even got a reply. I note that shelf stacking is done by kids after school at my local IGA. People who are not looking for work tend to assume the world is full of jobs for the taking. It isn't so.
Catherine Watson
 
Catherine, we have hundreds of thousands of overseas people working in Australia. A cruise through Delmore during asparagus picking season shows hundreds of Vanuatuans doing the work. The caravan park at Hillston is full of backpackers working to extend their visa (and earning over $20 per hour). These are backbreaking jobs (I know as my life started as an agricultural labourer), but the jobs are there and being done by people will to do them.
PeeBee
 
Catherine I know of two people who very recently left their self employment. After a short intended break they both obtained work in the area I suggested. There is work available and sometimes all it takes is a positive attitude.
Philby
 
Growing, growing, gone …
September 14, 2019
 
It was an awesome day and moment. Total confirmation that we the people can fund climate action. We can make the difference
Moragh Mackay
 
fascinating stuff!! as a beef farmer, i'm watching with interest
Annie Chisholm
 
Inspirational (and I know those people!)
Greg Johnson
 
Thank God for Carbon the element of life.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon.
Read this to see how big and beneficial Carbon is to our world.
Philby
 
CO2 and carbon are different states of the same thing. The first is stable gas which can be liquidified and the second is an element. Carbon farming is fancy term for carbon capture, trees have been doing this job for millennia, and science is developing new carbon capture techniques, not least using developments of the humble air conditioner. But carbon trading is the way to go as is 5 to 15 hectare tree plantations distributed through the shire and elsewhere.
Rod Gallagher
 
The people have spoken
September 14, 2019
 
I do not understand how Cr Larke, or anyone else for that matter, could view the erosion that has occurred recently and still be in favour of building the path along Surf Parade. When the meetings were held, most people would not have imagined that the erosion that has taken place would be so extreme and certainly not happen so quickly. Common sense demands that the path is not built. Expert opinion from an ecological perspective must be sought if the problem is not obvious to some Councillors, and if Councillor Clarke is so determined that the path be built because of public feedback, surely the public should be given a second chance after they have viewed the latest erosion and the implications of this for the future.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
Bron, Council had access to expert opinion but chose to ignore it. The Inverloch Coastal Resilience Study undertaken by the South Gippsland Conservation Society used very credible experts, a botanical ecologist and geomorphologist. It was available but not considered. Council chose to rely on its own commissioned studies that were written in support of the shared pathway. It is pertinent to note that the option of one way for part of Surf Parade was not part of the public consultation.
Michael Whelan
 
Hi Michael,
I am not sure that’s exactly correct, the shire has been commissioning independent reports in relation to the proposed pathway for over a decade. Done by completely reputable and highly recognised in their field companies.
   In relation to the removal of vegetation to build the path, the following from their most recent report.
  In terms of the impacts on vegetation associated with path alignment, the following key points are made:
"The alignment has been located on the landward side of the foreshore vegetation abutting existing cleared and developed land. This is the most appropriate location for the alignment for the following reasons:

The vegetation abutting the urban development is subject to edge affects including the incursion of exotic species.
Vegetation within the middle of the reserve is likely to be ‘cleaner’ and contain higher quality vegetation.

The removal of a strip of land on the urban edge provides an opportunity to remove the exotic species and to enhance the quality of this edge vegetation.
  In relation to the current erosion crisis and the pathway it appears to me that the same people who have been so strongly against the proposed path for over a decade now are using this to further push their position.
  If the erosion ever reaches the proposed pathway alignment surely we have much more significant and critical problems in relation to the property owners along Surf Parade who all were allowed to build legally.
It seems to me it’s time for Inverloch to start addressing the erosion issues like the rest of the country and draw a hardline as to what our coastline will be.
  We all know that community infrastructure has been built on parts of the Inverloch foreshore that are subject to the changes we are now seeing. We also know that decisions we made back in the 1980s and before to plant non indigenous species on our sand dunes has impacted on nature’s ability to replenish.
  As a society we have made mistakes, we have also decided to build infrastructure such as lifesaving clubs and the road to Cape Paterson in these locations and we as a community value them.
  I support the stance taken by Cr Larke. We need a balanced social, economic and environmental approach towards all aspects and decision making within our shire.
  The pathway is vital piece of community infra structure long overdue for our town and it needs to be built.
  So does a legitimate erosion and coastline plan that will protect and maintain the community assets we currently have along our foreshore.
Max Wells
 
A family affair
September 14, 2019
Gorgeous story Miriam, thanks for sharing, how do you tell a male from a female magpie? Magpies have good memories and once you befriend them they will never swoop you.
Sunny
 
Hello Sunny, I believe you can tell a male from a female by their pure white feathers on their back, the females, feathers on their back are grey. The young also have grey feathers on their back but are easily told by their persistant "eeh eeh" cry!
Miriam Strickland
 
Thank you so much Miriam, that is so helpful to know. Just like any birds the brighter in color they are usually male, females are all the dull ones. Goes to show in most species males are always trying to get attention lol.
Sunny
 
For hours I've been writing to MPs and Senators urging them to accept NZ's offer of rescuing the PNG refugees from their seventh year of imprisonment.
Your article brought me much joy and was a balm for my tired brain. Thank you Miriam, it is a gift to be open to nature's revelations.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Thank you Miriam your words brought huge smiles to our faces. We have enjoyed a family of magpies for 20 years and never tire of the young ones antics. Never have we been swooped but we are serenaded often. Each breeding season brings utmost joy.
Philby

​​This one's for Seamus, Eliza and Thomas
August 30, 2019
 
Thanks, Michael Whelan. Yes, the future of our planet is so important. Good article, but can you explain, please, how the Surf Parade concrete path takes the emergency into account. Sorry, I wasn't able to be at the council meeting, so maybe you voted against it.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
Hi Bron Yes I did.
Michael Whelan
 
Hi Bron, The detail of the vote on the pathway is on page 67 of the draft minutes which are on the BCSC website at https://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/council-meetings
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
Great work Michael and thank you to the councillors who supported. Proud of this decision.
Samiro Douglas
 
Thank you to all those councillors who can see what we need really need for our future. Thank you also for being courageous and taking a stand on beginning to set standards for a more sustainable future. It is heartening to see enlightenment in council.
Tricia O'Brien
 
you led the way and other valuable councillors joined in. We are lucky
Daryl Hook
 
I would be interested to hear Cr Julian Brown's thoughts on how the wording of this motion might be amended and improved in order to bring it closer to something that his conscience would enable him to embrace. I would also be interested to hear Cr Les Larke expand on his concerns regarding the authenticity, credibility and ethics of this motion, as well as an explanation of how the motion fails sections of the Local Government Act.
John Coldebella
 
English Summer Failing To Meet Alarmist Expectations (Again)
Date: 02/08/19 Paul Homewood, Not A Lot Of People Know That
After all of the fuss about a couple of days of sunshine in Britain, reality brings us back down to earth with the monthly CET figures: Average mean temperatures for July ended up at 17.5C, meaning that last month was an unremarkable 45th warmest since 1660, tying with years like 1847, 1870 and 1923. It was also 1.3C cooler than July 1783. This is known as CLIMATE CHANGE.
  Taking both June and July together, this year’s ranking drops even further, to 82nd, in a tie with 1706 and 1878. Top ranking goes to 1976, followed by 2006 and 1826:
With disappointing numbers like these, it is no surprise that the Met Office were so desperate to trumpet one day’s weather.
Phil Hagley
 
Straight back to business as usual
August 30, 2019
 
Thanks for writing this, Ed. I was unable to attend the council meeting, but read about the declaration of the climate emergency. I cheered and believed that Councillors would now take that into consideration when planning. But no. I then read about the concrete path and the chopping down of trees for the path. As you say, Ed, how can Councillors agree that there is a climate emergency, and then ignore this emergency? It just doesn't make sense. Let's hope that Bass Coast CAN can enlighten the council about the implications of the emergency and that the council will understand the paradox.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
Thanks Ed, You have raised great points. As you say, the vote was 5-4 on the pathway and 7-0 for the Emergency.
  In the interests of transparency, I called for divisions on both of those motions, so that who voted 'for and against' would be recorded in the minutes. You will find this information on Page 67 (Pathway) and Page 24 (Emergency) of the minutes which are available on line or in hard copy.
  In the near future we will live-stream and post our meetings on-line, so that people get a fuller understanding of who voted, and why, on all matters that come before council.
Cr Geoff Ellis

That’s a great idea to live stream and post so rate payers know where individuals stand.
To keep Bass Coast the beautiful semi natural place it is surely the environment has to be top priority . Sure it’s great having new supermarkets better roads but I didn’t leave the centre of St Kilda for that! As the surburban push increases the demand for city lifestyles overwhelms the beauty of the wonders of the natural world our ‘environment’
Neri Melsmith
 
Perhaps the landowners on the other side of Cape Patterson road could be persuaded to give up a slither of their land for the walking path.Wouldnt it increase the value of their properties. Go Ed.
Daryl Hook
 
Reflections on the nature of a climate emergency
August 30, 2019
 
Congratulations to the Shire for declaring this an emergency, and so it is. The next problem is having this emergency acknowledged by the Morrison Governemnt. Until we have a National, then International plan, we have limited ability to halt the devastation. But for the future generations we must keep trying. People power has made an impact before, let's work together to change the opinions of the powerful elite.
Lorrie Read
 
I have to wonder if we are looking forward enough. While the declaration of a climate emergency is the right step for now, what about what comes next?
The geological history of our planet shows that there has been a natural cycle of Ice Ages followed by global warming followed by another Ice Age and so on over millennia as our planet follows its historical orbit path moving further away from the heat radiated by the Milky Way and into deep space. . Shouldn't we be preparing our grandchildren and all future generations for the next big freeze that is coming? Will mankind be able to evolve with the changing condition that will surely come?
Janice Orchard
 
Janice, I share your concern for the wellbeing of future generations, however while the polar caps are melting rather than expanding, I'm inclined to prioritise problem solving with regard to warming rather than a big freeze. It will be a long time before the cycle reverses and if it follows past patterns, today's grandchildren will be long gone when that occurs. Fortunately for us, as the expanding universe moves us further from the centre of the Milky Way, the sun comes with us.
John Coldebella
 
Congratulations to Bass Coast Council for having the maturity to undertake this action. Some will say "what will this achieve?" but i say we have to do what we can in the avenues available to us. This is a powerful action. THank you Laura for explaining so much more about Councils decision.
Kay
 
Thank you Bass Coast. Now join the Students Strike on Friday 20th Sept 2019. Or start one. SS4C. Or Extinction Rebellion.
Grace McCaughey
 
What remains
August 18, 2019
 
Etsuko, such a beautifully written piece. 
Your analogies and vivid descriptions with pods, poppies, proteas and possums is so moving when related to the death, pain, pining and loss of loved ones. Then after that, the grief that follows.
  You put so much heart in whatever you write. 
  But never forget that there is always re-growth and re-generation in Spring. Then the colour green is seen everywhere.
Phyllis Papps
 
Etsuko, the original seedlings you planted may have been ‘hybrids’, (biologically engineered) which would mean you are unable to produce plants from the seed you thought you might have saved. Even possibly that the seedlings did not produce seeds because of their hybrid status.
Mel Marks
 
Etsuko, as a gardener, I am very familiar with the ache of which you speak, having experienced it many times. Having said that, there have also been times when, having accepted the loss, I have later discovered that a seed from a lost plant was deposited somewhere else on my property, and the joy in the discovery of a second chance is beyond words. Like loss, it is confined to the vocabulary of the heart. Regarding poppies, I never pick a pod for seed storage till it has dried out. The seeds take time to form. Give the pod a shake now and then till you hear the seeds rattling around inside, then pick. At this point, I also tip out some pods where the plant was growing. They come up like weeds. Be at peace, Etsuko. You're not alone. Ps. There's a cherry guava and sage brush in my garden with your name on it.
John Coldebella.
 
My dear Etsuko, Such beautiful words and so eloquently put ..conveys such a rich tapestry of emotions.
  So wish I could just wrap you up in my arms till the heartache dissipated. I know grief is a journey travelled alone.. eased by others. 
  You have such a beautiful soul and an inspiration to us all. Thank you for sharing with us.
Ian Thomason
 
Etsuko-san, Vous avez beaucoup de talent pour exprimer vos profonds sentiments avec des mots qui touchent aussi le lecteur. Cet article est magnifique!
Bravo! A bientôt.
B.Stevens
 
Etsuko, your writing touched my heart. You're a very brave and talented lady.
Lynne Craven
 
On catastrophe
August 18, 2019
 
Well said and written, Ed. Best wishes to you and your family. There is no doubt that developers have a triple bottom line - profit, profit, profit. Where I live in Wonthaggi is a planning application for a 93 lot subdivision on 52 acres of farmland. Our street is a no through road adjoining vast wetland/bushland and the huge coastal reserve. In the case of a bosh fire imagine hundreds of people, cars, pets fleeing along the single road with the emergency vehicles racing in the other way. Disaster waiting to happen. The Bass Coast Shire Council have voted 3 times that this development NOT proceed so now the developers are at VCAT trying to force agreement through this channel. Roll on Brave New World.
Yvonne McRae
 
Well written Ed. When hurricanes Sandy hit New York City, combined forces raised sea level to 14 metres above normal. More recent hurricane in Cuba then Florida was 11metres above normal, even had to shutdown nuclear power stations, unprotected. 
  In USA they prolong the agony for folks living on beach frontage by offering taxpayer subsidies to property owners for flood insurance. Why do banks offer finance for beach front properties? 
  Are all our leaders such optimistic thinkers because they're on drugs? Prozac was sold on capability to make you a "better person" even if you didn't need it for treatment.
  How sad is it that so much of the Climate Emergency enthusiasm is undermined by disastrous Federal Government tactic of all focus on nothing more than Energy? Are they already planning on Wonthaggi Desal water pipelined to River Murray?
Bernie McComb
 
Good, thoughtful article. We need to remember though, that the Bass Coast is also at risk of bushfires and grassfires, so we can't be complacent about any climate threats.
Susan Ross
 
Always thoughtful and factual,  Ed. This time it is about you and the worry your family faces now. I live at Surf Beach 1 road width from a small coastal reserve which helps keep in place a small cliff of about 15 metres to the bass strait tide line. 
  Yes the sea view is spectacular with 180 degrees from the always majestic and beautiful Cape Woolamai to the dramatic Pyramid Rock. The sunsets are remarkable. Never the same, natures paint brush providing a daily delight. I’ve been here 24 years and still marvel. Sea eagles, whales, shoals of fish with sea birds diving greedily. I could write more. 
  My memory is that the Bass Coast Planning scheme allows for sea flooding (within next 50 years) from Westernport Bay near Forest Caves as well as other land areas on Phillip Island. (part of Phillip Island Golf Links)
  The pace of global warming and loss of polar and Antarctic ice is frightening. 
Iceland held a funeral ceremony last week for a glacier that has totally melted and disappeared. Hundreds more are melting. 
  Coastal dwellers have a lot of wonderful enjoyments, but- the future is coming - fast. 
the world's inhabitants must do what we can to impede the rate of global warming. The reality of the Pacific Islands meeting last week was alarming and the Prime Ministers actions to water down the Communique was shameful. Pacific Islanders are facing their Armageddon now! 
Kay Setches
 
​A cry from the arts
August 18, 2019
 
Totally agree Marian. We missed a wonderful opportunity when Coles moved to their new building - the council could have rented the old building for an arts hub and library combined. I had a letter in the local paper at the time but no one took it on. Hard to know where to suggest now. The old kindergarten has problems with the building and would probably have to be demolished and rebuilt. Then there's the problem of where PICAL is going to go. We should have been planning for these basic community services years ago.
Christine Dianne Grayden
 
For PICAL, how about, finally, a worthy new building on Olive Justice Place? If they want more parking, how about the block sold to BCSC for $1, then costing $100,000 to remove Dept Fisheries light timber building because it couldn't(!) be underpinned. This is the block below the cop fortress.
Bernie McComb
 
Almost every year for the past ten I have been privileged to enjoy the the ASPI's high quality art exhibition at the Phillip Island Cultural Centre in Cowes. I wholeheartedly support ASPI's bid for a well appointed adequate place to call home.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Throughout the age’s visitors to a region found that the values of a community are realized in the work of its local artists. Often this is by way of public art but more often it is the work of local artists who portray their environment and exhibit their work locally that attracts people to the region. 
  There is growing evidence in current literature and research that the arts play an important role in all manner of public and community activity. Arts and cultural initiatives contribute to personal healing, building communities and galvanises community authentication and unity.
  To have a region as important as Philip Island unrepresented without a prominent public gallery and artist’s workspaces is not only inconceivable but it doesn’t support the
aspirations held by our own Bass Coast Shire. 
John Mutsaers
 
One night in Walwa
August 18, 2019
 
Fascinating read Geoff, thanks.
Josephine Kent
 
Great read. I understand why they don't provide heating. At my AirBnB over winter my heating bills are running at $300+/month for a small 2 bedrm apartment. Seems once people aren't paying directly for energy they just turn the heater up full to 26C for 24 hours a day and walk around in their summer pjs. One lady managed to use 75KWhrs in 3 days! So I can see why they spring that little "surprise" on their guests. Bet that electric blanket gets a workout though. Could be a good idea next winter!
James
 
We stayed at the camping ground at Walwa in May; it’s a beautiful place, but even then appallingly cold! We dined in the pub one night; from the article I’m very glad we didn’t stay there!
Peter Ghys
 
On our trip one of the places we slept in was a tent, not comfortable but at least it was in north of Cairns. Sadly the more comforts we have the more detrimental to our earth. Re rewriting history; on the same trip several guides told us that Aboriginal people were nomadic hunter gatherers. I did strongly recommend they read Bruce Paco's 'Dark Emu'.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Our natural treasures 
August 18, 2019
 
Thank you, Greg, for a lovely elegy to trees. I have childhood memories of trees from another land as well as particular giant friends among them casuarinas and lemon scented gums, that grow in my Glen Forbes home. Good luck with the registry.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Thanks Greg for describing so beautifully the many ways trees are important to us. A Register of Significant Trees of Phillip Island and Churchill Island is a much-needed initiative. Thanks to local branch of the National Trust and the Phillip Island Conservation Society for leading the way. I hope everyone takes notice of the trees they walk or drive past every day and gets involved in the project. As Joni Mitchell wrote “You don’t know what you’ve got till
it’s gone”.
Linda Cuttriss
 
Well done, Greg Buchanan! On behalf of all our voiceless, disrespected, lifesaving trees, I recommend the novel The Overstory, by American writer Richard Powers. A homage to trees and those who would protect them, it's a cautionary tale that deserves to be force-fed, if necessary, to every politician/dictator on Earth.
John Gascoigne
 
A thoughtful description of the importance of trees in our local environment Greg. Often they are overlooked as we rush through life; it’s important to stop now and then and appreciate their historical and aesthetic value. A tree register is an excellent idea for this and other coastal communities.
Jenny Høegh
 
The sands of time
August 18, 2019
 
Thank you Linda.
Tim Shannon
 
Thank you Linda for reminding us that the Esplanade Cowes is a special place. With its magic sea vistas and its early European history, it must be valued and respected. It is our responsibility into the future.
Anne Davie
 
The fine art of mending
August 18, 2019
 
Just read about this wonderful service at 3.30pm Sunday!
My sister in Albury often sends me news of a similar ‘fixit’ operation, and it is great news that we are fortunate that one is starting in our area. Please let us know when the next day is, Thank you.
Mel Marks
 
A great initiative, not just saving waste but building community. Will cafes be run on a regular schedule?
Michael Nugent
 
Hi Michael. Yes, they will be held every third Sunday between 11am and 2pm.
Catherine Watson
 
What a marvellous concept! We place too much emphasis on 'recycle' in the waste hierarchy. This idea is where we should be concentrating - 're-use' and 're-purpose'. Great stuff.
Liane Arno
 
Have we got a deal for you!
August 3, 2019
To take up just a few points of the Mering Corporation’s proposals:
  Anderson Inlet is highly dynamic at the entrance and is unsuitable for larger boats. Now they are proposing to dredge the entrance. As a species we’ve been very good at disrupting natural systems. The consequences of dredging the inlet are totally unknown and unpredictable. 
  The little beaches around Anderson Inlet are used by the international wading birds of Siberia and subject to two international wader bird agreements, the Japan-Australia and China–Australia Migratory Bird Agreements, which require protection of their habitat from disturbance and development. We can’t just decide to turn it into a beautiful beach!
  Anderson Inlet is a wetland that has important land and marine habitat for wader birds, sea grasses and mangroves that are vital fish nursery. With increasing sea level rise all these habitats will need to migrate inland if they are to survive. The mangroves and sea grasses are where the fish nurseries are. If we lose them we lose our fishing.
Dave Sutton, South Gippsland Conservation Society
 
I dont live down there anymore, but as a "veteran" of the Hastings Container Port saga, every time I see yet another "boom" development proposal, the hackles go up on the back of my neck. They stand upright when I see the word "dredge".
  I don’t know a lot about the hydrodynamics of Anderson's Inlet, but to me it seems like a miniature Western Port. If you muck around with its natural state, you are asking for trouble.
  Yes the developer has "done" Martha Cove and Werribee, but in the benign almost no tidal Port Phillip. Dredge Andersons Inlet and wait for the first winter gale and then see what happens to the tidal "breakwatered entrance"
  Let’s go back to when the channel at San Remo was narrowed to allow construction of the bridge. Wiped out the Back Beach. They dredged the mail channel of Port Phillip and wiped out Portsea beach.
  And if it all went ahead and went pear shaped, just who would pay for trying to "fix it". Methinks us mug tax/ratepayers and not the developer...
  As I repeatedly stated during the Hastings saga, "dredge it and you'll stuff it".
Kevin Chambers
 
I think it’s a fantastic idea. The inlet has filled with sand in the last few years and difficult even to paddle board let alone go boating. Development can work with nature if done correctly.
Allison Martin
 
Another development for the rich to enjoy, I cannot see much community benefit that warrants destroying natural habitat.
Sunny
 
Dear Allison Martin,
As has already been pointed out, the entrance to Anderson's Inlet is highly dynamic and is most unsuitable for dredging. Reminds me of the constant effort to keep the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes navigable.
  You say it would be Ok if it was done "correctly". In the instances I have already quoted above, those in charge thought they were doing things in this manner. Now neither Portsea or San Remo Back Beach have one..And the only thing stopping the San Remo Caravan Park from ending up in the water is that huge expensive rock wall.
  Simply put, "dont mess with nature" or the whole ecosystem and community suffer.
Kevin Chambers
 
I agree with the arguments of everyone who has wrote that we must not allow developers near Mahers Landing and I won't duplicate their arguments. A couple of weeks ago I went there for a walk. It was so peaceful and there were many different birds enjoying the area. I stood there for a long time just relaxing and thinking how lucky we are to have this dynamic place. I felt quite sick reading the propositions of the developers and hope that the Councillors are not tempted to sell their souls. Surely they do not want to be voted out at the next council election, leaving a sabotaged area as their legacy.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
If our councillors and officers have learned anything during their tenure it should be that our coastline is particularly fluid in behaviour, and that our attempts at environmental 'improvement ' usually lead to unforseen and expensive side-effects. Our special ecosystems seem to be the losers all too often. This proposal needs to be treated with utmost caution and carerful thought for what could be lost. Perhaps Mr. Yeap and his team of experts could be reminded that this is the Bass Coast, not the Gold Coast........
Mark Robertson
 
Hi Mark,
Our fragile coastline has taught this councillor heaps - you only have to look at the scouring at the end of the rock wall at the Jam Jerrup foreshore. 14 metres from the incoming tide to the road. Crisis? Emergency? Words. Action?
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
I have seen a few developments & "improvements". They all change the existing benthic zone. Sand piles where never before, channels scour anew & vegetation changes. All changes,changes all.
Thomas Appleby
 
Such a proposal flies in the face of what is we are learning about coastal dynamics and the rapid changes occurring to the beach and Anderson's Inlet, which are most likely linked to the warming of the planet and consequences of that. Inverloch is loved for its natural beauty and attempts to turn it into another Gold Coast should be resisted.
Judy Taylor
 
Where did our beach go?
August 3, 2019
Allison Carol et al thanks for highlighting a problem of the Coast of Concern and your initiatives to come...my concerns are ...
1.How do we define native plants? and do we use historical records ?and the wonderful most logical EVC 'remember its only a guide'.
2.I hope it remains as a coastal headland scrub and not becoming a woodland environment with invasive species and high dense canopy, just to follow the old outdated ecological theory of Alexander von Humboldt. 
3.Also there is little evidence that logs and dead wood helps the diversity and ecosytems . In fact there are published papers recently showing the diversity of Ants is reversed and predators appear especially if canopy is dense.
4.The dunes and low Grasslands should be left to grow and propogate and also perhaps use the time proven method of Indigenous land owners Wurrk tradition minmal intervention .
Putting indigenous conservation policy into practice delivers biodiversity and cultural benefits published evidenced.*
5.Over planting species and species with known warnings published in the ecology literature *would be sad so called "natives" such as the Casuarina which grows beyond the sapling stage, it ceases to trap sand because of the lack of low, shrubby vegetation around the trunk. Casuarina monocultures are usually flat without dune-swale topography and lack diversity in understory vegetation. The shallow root systems of the trees makes them susceptible to toppling during storms published in peered reviewed literature *and as fact visible along the visible along the western side of the anthropogenic Forestration Corinella Foreshore over the last 15years. 
I wish you all well in this endeavour to save the shoreline but there are many reasons the changes are happening and what your community wants is not to make it worse with lack of proven modelling and lack of evidence and not using the newer ecological data and world evidenced best practice as coastal ecological managers.
GAV and on behalf of others.
George Varigos
 
The coastal degradation along the shore line has spedup considerably in the last couple of years. I live on the Smyth point side of the inlet and we are facing simular problems. A large part of what we are seeing is degradation due to human foot traffic and other beach activities ie. Digging playing sport and walking dogs. It seems like peoples activities should be restricted in order to conserve some of whats left.
Michael Buckley
 
Tall tales and true
August 3, 2019
Mel Marks
Thank you to all the amazing committee who put together the Festival of Stories last weekend. I felt so fortunate to be able to attend a wide cross section of the programme, and the weekend left me informed, challenged, and amazed at the experiences that fellow humans have had to deal with in their lives .... and I wanted the weekend to continue for at least another two days. Roll on next Festival!
Mel Marks
 
It is 8 sleeps since the Festival and I am still on s high. I thought of staying to enjoy a glass of wine after splitting my sides laughing at Denise Scott, but chose to go to the beach and reflect on the amazing stories I had heard. My only regret was that I couldn't split myself I three to attend all the sessions. A massive thank you to all concerned.
Lorrie Read
 
Meg and Tom Keneally giving a voice to the women of the Parramatta Female factory. The cruelty and misery dealt out to the most powerless subjects of empire is revealed and the courage and tenacity of these survivers is unveiled.
Geoff Ellis
 
Library network takes shape
August 3, 2019
No mention of San Remo? Wondering what will happen when the mobile library stops going to Sani?
Sunny
 
San Remo are in discussions with Council and the library board for their own community library.
Michele Hardy
 
The banana files
July 20, 2019
​
I feel an episode of "Utopia" coming on!!
Stanley Mcgeagh
 
Hilarious article, Maddy! Yes, just right for an episode of "Utopia"! 
  Surely we all want to keep pests under control, but since when did this country become so authoritarian? Can't imagine what it must be like in a detention centre.
  On the up side, I think Harry's already done his community service, though, with all his (and your) work for BCAL, U3A etc!
Robyn Arianrhod
 
Well Harry, I'm very disappointed in you for giving the Bass Coast area such a bad name - leaves a bad {banana] taste in my mouth. 
And of course you both hid that banana specifically to later share it because you couldn't bear being bereft of bananas. 
Please don't disappoint me again!
Sue Packham
 
My mind boggles at the thought of what else you might have intended to do with the banana, other than eat it. Perhaps some other readers may have suggestions for me. Just for future reference of course.
Graeme Charles
 
Oh Harry, I can't wait until the Bass Coast Chorale resumes after our winter break to question you further on the case of the hidden banana. Was it B1 or B2? I, too would like to know what you intended to do with 'said offender???' What a shame you were not quick enough to grab it and shove it down your throat. Problem them solved! What BANANA???
Sandra Thorley
 
Harry, If you need a reference let me know!
Geoff Ellis
 
A great tale of officialdom gone mad, Maddy The reason it makes us laugh is that things like this don’t happen to “law abiding” white middle class people. I suspect those who are young, Aboriginal, homeless, poor or people of colour are quite familiar with this sort of treatment from officialdom. Innocent mistake or “wrong place, wrong time” wouldn’t cut it for them. Anyway happy travels you two. No doubt the NT police have been told to look out for you.
Catherine Watson
 
My husband travels the country far and wide, and the quarantine stations cause many gutsing sessions where as much fruit as possible is eaten by the group before they bin their hoards. Planning and previous experience means they often have a quarantine curry the night before. Everyone's veggies in the pot for cooking, eating and refrigeration. There have even been exchanges of honey and other products to travellers going in the opposite direction so as not to break the rules. Such is the general respect for protecting the country and industries. But you have to laugh at this bureaucracy-gone-mad official. Perhaps he'd just been bitten by a bull ant! OR on payment by quota
Jeannie Haughton
 
A breath of fresh air
July 20, 2019
 
Thank you Joan - yes, we absolutely must keep Wonthaggi's green spaces! We do not want the town to become just another suburb. And as you say, green spaces (and surrounding bushland) help our air quality and our sense of relaxation, and keep our connection with the earth, and with our First Nations people. Valuing these things surely has to be the way of the future, just as it was for thousands of years in the past.
Robyn Arianrhod
 
Apex Park is not much of a "park" - more just a grassed space; ideal for the monthly Rotary market and other such events where clean space is required. If an attractive park for community relaxation is required that would mean a totally different mindset: landscaped plantings, seating, perhaps reinstatement of the BBQ. It has to be decided which is more important - the money the Shire gets from commercial events or the unmeasurable aesthetic value from a visually appealing public space. Still, perhaps a GOOD Landscape Architect could manage to give us both. Here's hoping.
Liz Glynn
 
A great summation and I agree with much that you say. Getting the drainage right and turning that bit of the rail trail between Big W and Safeway into a second Apex would be a great start. I'd be happy to see a Speakers corner and a few more seats in Apex park itself and leave it as a place to rally and gather.
  One of the difficulties is to respect the intangibles and recognise our first nations people.
Geoff Ellis
 
What do we value?
July 20, 2019
 
My comment regards the project is why is it being conducted when so many residents have 'flocked off' up north for the winter months as I am sure many of them would also like the opportunity to contribute as well. I don't think this is the best time to be conducting these sessions.
Sandra Thorley
 
Little festival pulls some big names
July 20, 2019
 
The global village! For a moment, Cowes is the village where creativity filters in and refracts globally. Forums like this one -- in Cowes or California -- deliver truth and enlightenment in an age of fake news and dumbing down. And, bless it, the Coast Post is a clarion village voice.
John Gascoigne
 
Think big
July 20, 2019
 
Thanks Phil for highlighting the problem.
Particularly of concern is the current planning to continue using the Phillip Island tourist road past Amazing things, Koala centre and Newhaven College as the major route to Cowes. It is glaringly obvious that this route is restricted and presents unacceptable safety hazards and congestion for current and future traffic growth.
The need for a broader road plan is overdue and needs be considered and planned now.
Ian Samuel
 
What about pedestrian access to Cape Woolamai, Surf Beach and Sunderland Bay bus stops - all are dangerous crossings.
Joan Woods
 
VCAT, your bias is showing
July 5, 2019
 
Good on you for standing up for standing up for sustainable development in beautiful Bass Coast. I support you one hundred percent.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Your considerable time and effort expended on fighting this inappropriate and horrible development is supported, I'm sure, by all those who appreciate the uniqueness of this special part of Bass Coast. The never-ending war against money-grubbers goes on.
Liz
 
Good on you and your band of objectors, you surely are unsung heroes to try to keep developers in line. Our greenery and landscapes are seen as projects for profit not for community. Keep up the good work and fight the good fight. We need stronger Design and Development Overlays to support and respect community concerns.
Carmen Bush
 
Thank you all for your persistence in fighting this matter. This is the first ive heard of this building proposal and i also strongly oppose such a development in that area.
I'd be happy to help you all during the time away from home for the hearing. Is there an account to donate into? Keep up the good fight. Best wishes.
Emma Draper
 
Well done Peter and your intrepid band at VCAT. The old story people in the City making decisions on the livelihoods and amenities of country communities. For the long hearing perhaps there are readers who have a flat in the city where our folk could be accommodated for the duration. (or part thereof).
Yvonne J. McRae
 
Hi Peter, 
It takes some vigilance to remain involved wit Vcat process not mention the charges they now put in to original objectiors if they want to remain involved. 
  It must be costing Bass coast as there are other developments at vcat - one I’m opposing is the 200 plus site caravan park at Forest caves on the left on the main Phillip island road - no shops no infrastructure on a pretty dangerous beach. Heading up to the third or could be the 4 th hearing in Oct. 
  I’ve opted out of the hearings at this point as others continue. You have my great admiration it’s exhaustng work
Neri Melsmith
 
Thanks for your excellent article outlining the difficulties of opposing inappropriate development, and for having the persistence to keep fighting!
Alison Brewster
 
‘Jobs safe’ as councils merge services
July 5, 2019
 
Let's hope that amalgamation of records doesn't result in more document losses like there appears to (conveniently) have been when Bass Coast was formed from the last amalgamation.
Peter Ghys
 
I do not believe that the sharing of services suggested in the article has the desired effects for communities and in fact reduces accountability and commitment for services as a result of such a shared service. My experiences, particularly recently with the loss of library services in the Waterline townships, and involving the current library agreement between Baw Baw, South Gippsland and Bass Coast Shire, has resulted in a lack of communication, consultation and commitment. The bottom line has been the refusal of senior Council officers, and Councillors, refusing to , acknowledge or respond to written requests to discuss the dilemma of lack of library services. 
There has to be a better way for government bodies, be they State, Federal or local government, to deliver services and to be committed to provide an equitable and fair service to the communities that they service. After the experiences that I have had over the last eight months, I am very concerned and cannot help but wonder why we have local government at all when services and commitment seem to be decreasing and decisions regarding important services which affect the whole communities, are made without any input from the people who will be ultimate affected by these decisions and who pay for the provision of these services. 
I would like to hear a far better proposal than is being suggested as I believe local government also has to have a commitment to provide services for the people that they say that they are there to serve and to advocate for equity in the delivery of such services. . I think shared services are leading us down the path to the self-service that the retail outlets are wanting us to use and I, personally, walk away from that service. I am also walking away from the lack of service and commitment that is currently on offer with the delivery of libraries and books within our Shire.
Joy Button
 
While I totally disagree with Minister Somyurek's recent proposal that all councils should revert to the outdated one councillor per ward system, I can see that there will be benefits arising from sharing of some services. 
  The financial support that BCSC is getting means that we can proceed in a measured way. Other LGAs will not have this luxury and, once again, our advocacy team has delivered a big win.
  The traumatic amalgamation of the councils last century was, hopefully, a lesson learned and hindsight is a gift to be cherished as the state government finds other ways to consolidate local government.
  The impact of the rate cape - council's are disadvantaged as the fundamental indicator of rate capping - the CPI - is based on a basket of goods that is dissimilar to the basket of goods a council purchase, so our costs rise at a different rate. 
  This is forcing councils to be lean. Sharing services, such as payroll, provides opportunities and frees up resources for other services and programs.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
​Seeing stars
July 5, 2019
​
What a long way to come from winning the school speaking competition in year seven to giving your excellent inaugural speech in the Victorian Parliament. Thank you, Jordan, for letting us in on the life of an MP. Sounds rather fun except for sitting in Parliament especially during question time. Wishing you a long, productive incumbency.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
I hope that the endangered southern right whale was in an awesome mood a it travelled eastwards along the bass coast.My guess is that it would have been disgusted when it encountered the footprints of the great white elephant near Williamson's beach.....
Mark Robertson
 
What a refreshing voice! And not very parliamentary, being free of ego, bombast, or politicking. Instead a lady who's big on multi-tasking and stretching herself -- not just in the goalmouth. Keep your freshness and energy, Jordan. And as a wise pollie once said, don't let the bastards grind you down.
John Gascoigne
 
It is so refreshing to hear our elected representative keeping it real and remaining part of the community. No one cares if you are clever at taking down the opposition in parliament or passing snide remarks to your colleagues. That is not why we voted you in. Jordan your passion for issues in the community and being part of the community is what matters, don't ever lose sight of that.
Joy Herring
 
The wordsmith
June 26, 2019
 
Thank you so much Roger for everything you did on behalf of the Waterline community and beyond.

The written word, photos and images last so much longer than human lives. So your life is totally embedded in our lives.

AND you contributed so much and left a great legacy for the future.
RIP dear friend but Do keep on writing in the next world.
Phyllis Papps
 
Thank you Roger for the support you gave to our group, South Gippsland Support After Suicide. It meant so much to have your help and support. Thank you.
Joy Button
 
lovely man and will be missed by me
Rosemary Loughnan
 
In all the years I have been living on the Bass Coast Roger seems to have been around , first as editor of the Bass Valley News and then of The Waterline News which I look forward to each month. Recently after my husband died I sent Roger his obituary. He responded despite his own battle and to my delight it was published in the last edition he contributed to. A brave courageous man contributing in so many ways to our Bass Coast way of life.
Vale Roger! Well done!
Margaret Lee
 
Love the Waterline news. Forever grateful to our one and only dog whisperer. Maxie and Peppa miss you
Michelle Graham
 
Roger Clark was a good friend to me and to The Society of Women Writers Victoria of which I am a member. To our mutual advantage, he welcomed and published members' stories, articles, poems and photos in The Waterline News. A brave and inspiring man Roger had a vision and, against many odds, made it a reality. This he left as an incredible legacy to the community.
Meryl Tobin
 
Power to the people
June 26, 2019
 
I loved reading Catherine Watsons dreams and ideas for our future.Lets hope all three levels of government get moving in the direction of renewable energy.
Daryl Hook
 
Where exactly is excess energy left over from at power hungry Wonthaggi desal plant?
Bernie McComb
 
Fantastic, thanks Catherine.
Jan Fleming
 
Moving mountains of waste
June 26, 2019
 
From the bad comes the good. Thanks Pam for the positive approach to recycling.
Recycled plastics are now being processed as an environmental neutral component for planking, structural beams, outdoor furnishings and fencing.
The many Australian companies advancing the use of our discarded plastic need to be supported by both Governments and community preference .
Ian Samuel
 
Bass Coast Shire is to be commended on its 3 bin collection system and its approach to recycling in general. We on Phillip Island look forward to the new transfer station. The only thing the council has to look at is the collection of the land fill (red) bin weekly. Especially in the hotter months over summer.
Ronnie Bauer
 
Catch my drift?
June 26, 2019
 
All true and fascinating Mark. We, humans, as a species are SO stupid. Insisting ludicrous projects like the desalination plant are fabulous while the multi-nationals that own it laugh all the way to the bank with Victorian taxpayer's money. Even when not sucking in the sea and tons of lifeforms to produce toilet water for Melbourne the 'owners' collect $1.6 million of taxpayer's money EVERY day!. The Web of Life in the sea depends on the tiniest lifeforms right through to the huge whales. How many people will starve to death in the future as fish stocks around the world decline and virtually disappear. No food 'chain' no fish. But Governments don't care they are only always looking to the next election NOT into the future. I am another always beating the drum about the idiocy of Homo Sapiens destroying the world we live in. Remember there is no Planet B.
Yvonne J. McRae
 
Mark, what a brilliant piece. After lulling me with the beautiful image of tiny squid feeding among drifting golden brown tendrils your message hit me like a tonne of bricks.... make that 40 tonnes (per day), 15,000 tonnes (per year). All that food for fish, penguins, seabirds and whales just rotting away. Yes, this is one of the big reasons to fight against the AGL gas plant proposal in Western Port.
 
Linda Cuttriss
 
Guaranteed to cure
June 26, 2019
 
I would do anything Mrs. Lemp says with a stare like that! Enjoyed the ailment descriptions of yesteryear. Thanks Carolyn.
Mel Hayes
 
Thanks Carolyn, I love the old fashioned cures for ailments.
Recently I used Vicks Vapor Rub on a mouldy toenail I had...... it worked!!!!!
Jan Fleming
 
Good as new
June 15, 2019
 
This is SUCH a great idea, I would have loved to come but I’ll be away. Hopefully it will be a regular thing.
Nalin
 
Hi Nalin - thanks for your comment. We will run the Fixit Cafe as a pilot project for 6 months (once a month) in the hope that it will become a fixture. Perhaps you will come to a future session, either bring something or bring a skill (however basic!) Hilary
Hilary Stuchbery
 
This is a great idea and interestingly, I was just reading about how 'material repair generates a deep sense of care, pride, belonging and civic participation.' The Conversation: Mending Hearts: How a repair economy creates a kinder, more caring community.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
Absolutely amazing - well done Hilary and all 'others'. I hate the throwaway society we have become, everything these days has built in obsolescence so the Earth is groaning under the billions of tons every day of people's 'waste'. Unlike any other of the millions of species on the planet Homo Sapiens is ensuring its own demise - at an ever increasing rate. Wake up everybody! It costs approx. $398 BILLION to put one person into space - take your pick of the 'ugly' alternatives to our glorious Earth and weep. Our world governments cannot find the 50 cents to inoculate the world's children individually against diseases everyone thought were 'gone', so don't start packing for Space unless you have $398 billion.
Yvonne J. McRae
 
We hear you Yvonne - we're just trying to 'be the change we want to see". Looking forward to you dropping in.
Hilary Stuchbery
 
Amazing that this has started, I have been watching The Repair Shop on the ABC lately and thought how wonderful it would be if these places were everywhere. We are throwing away far too much and often some things only need a little fixing. I hope too it will expand and be running on a regular basis.
Sunny
 
Looking forward to being part of this new initiative, meeting new people, delivering some basic services, and seeing people widen their own skill sets.
  Hoping to run a mower repair workshop in the lead up to Spring, so that people will have the knowledge, and skills, to take care of their own machines. Perhaps with a focus on repairing garden tools, as well.
Ash Stuchbery
 
I am looking forward to joining this movement as I detest throwing away useful equipment and try to maintain my own as much as possible. I would love to join your group and contribute with my skills if possible, as well as meeting new locals seeing that we are moving to the cape in the near future. I have an electrical background with regards home appliances and also some mechanical capacity. Look forward to seeing you then.
Glenn Satur
 
This island paradise 
June 15, 2019
 
'Pests' of the past and present on Philip Island:
Foxes, rabbits, ducks, deer, Cape Barren geese, mature trees, etc. etc.
What next? People?
Phyllis Papps
 
Philip Island - paradise for people, WHY? Because of the fauna, flora, landscapes, scenery etc. So endangered species are pushed into 'people' spaces as the climate dries and gets hotter. Let's get real here. If you want to be native species free move to the City OR enclose your vegie gardens with wire fences and nets. As for school ovals take a lesson from the French vineyards and install noisy deterrents that work randomly, so animals don't get 'used' to the noises. I agree with Phyllis - PEOPLE are always the problem - we want everything our way and anything that gets in our way - cull it, expel it and let people live wherever THEY want. The way Homo Sapiens is destroying the entire Planet the Cape Barren Geese will have the last laugh. There is no Planet B.
Yvonne J. McRae
 
Phillip Island Conservation Society have teamed up with the National Trust to develop a Significant Trees and Vegetation Register for Phillip Island. We will be presenting our draft proposal to Council next month. We will then hold a public forum later this year and encourage our community to be engaged with the process including discussing the identification criteria, controls required, nomination process and role of our community and Council. We are committed to conserving, protecting and defending our significant Phillip Island vegetation.
Jeff Nottle
 
I cannot see how they have become a pest, only for the farmers it seems, maybe they should take their farming elsewhere. I would love to see Phillip Island turned back into a complete natural haven for all wildlife, imagine a place that would be a sanctuary and beauty for all future generations to enjoy. Maybe even help the koala's re-establish like they used to be on Phillip Island, you are lucky if you get to see any, when we used to see them all the time. Why is it the wildlife become pests, when in fact it is humans that are the real pests.
Sunny
 
Goosey Goosey Gander
Where do you wander?
Anywhere there's green grass.
Thanks for the plunder.
John Adam
 
Hospital deal nets $3 million for council 
June 15, 2019
 
Great news. It is congratulations to the Council and a breath of fresh air that our newly elected State Government and local representative Jordan Crugnale MP has responded so rapidly to community concerns and honoured their election promises.
Ian Samuel
 
Thank you Catherine. A fast response to people's need as a result of an astute state representative in Jordan Crugnale, a state government that listens and cooperates with local council. We could have had similar results federally. Instead we have "Australia is the most oppressive of the western democracies,” (Guardian Australia Jun 5) threat to journalistic freedoms, threats to the independence of our national broadcaster, threats to whistle-blowers and vulnerable people who came to us to seek peace and freedom, locked up indefinitely on tropical islands.
Felicia Di Stefano
 
Fantastic news..... for the ever growing Phillip Island community and the tens of thousands of people who holiday here . Congratulations to Jordan Crugnale and the State Labor Government for this much needed Community Hospital for all . It can't happen soon enough, bring it on.....!!
Gillian Armstrong
 
An Inverloch holiday in grand style
June 15, 2019
 
Wonderful to read this essay and see the photos. At last, I know what those remnant gate-posts led to and I get a good idea of the meaning of Pine Lodge. Thank you, Inverloch Historical Society.
Carolyn Landon
 
Thanks for telling this story of Pine Lodge. I visited Pine Lodge as a kid with my Dad as our families knew each other but you have filled in a lot of background I didn’t know. I was in awe of Pine Lodge as a child in the 60s. It was rambling and a bit run down but there was still a sense of grandeur unlike any other building for miles around. I remember old Cal as a kind and generous man. At primary school it was a thrill to spend an afternoon in the Pine Lodge pool. As a teenager I learnt ballroom dancing in the magnificent ballroom. I still feel sad every time I pass the lonely gate-posts but am pleased there remains an air of mystery about where the overgrown driveway leads. I am thankful Pine Lodge’s history hasn’t been completely obliterated by a multi-storey apartment building.
Linda Cuttriss
 
Thank you for the story on Pine Lodge - a building I admired and am so sad that it has been destroyed.
Anne Bevis
 
Born to run
June 15, 2019
 
Hello once again Etsuko,
what another great part of your life you have shared with so many others.
Running means freedom and I'm so glad you now feel accepted and especially in your community. AND have a new lease of life and goals. Looking forward to you getting the purple T-shirt and reading about your 100th Run.
By the way, you are an excellent and very powerful and emotive writer. A second career that is distinct or parallel to your art career?
Phyllis Papps
 
Thank you Phyllis for taking time to read my writing. I'm lucky to have many passions in my life. Your words 'very powerful and emotive writer' mean a lot to me because writing is the core of my existence. I may not reach my 1000th run/walk in 20 or 25 years time, but it really doesn't matter. As long as I can write, I'm content. I would like to write till my last breath.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Love songs for whales
June 15, 2019
 
How do I get on the text list? I have lived in the area for 18 years and still have not seen a whale!
Sunny
 
Sculptures by the Sea 
June 15, 2019
What a lovely perspective of a beautiful area, makes me want to go and have look, has been a while. thank you.
Sunny
 
‘The woes of capitalism’ ​
June 1, 2019
 
Can it help get more support to include inequality into Newstart campaign? More folks are doing it tough with even more to follow. The book Price of Inequality by Joseph Stiglitz is a good read, drawing attention to ways in which inequality is false economy. Why dehumanise unemployed by less than survival welfare when supposed savings afford stuff like gold, as much use as suppositories, for wealthy folks. Survival money for less wealthy people buys immediate activity in the economy because they still won't be able to sit on any savings. Any chance COALition can recognise false economy?
Bernie McComb
 
I have no doubt at all that an increase in Newstart is needed after a freeze for so long. Jessica is obviously doing a great job highlighting this need. It interests me that the Deloitte article said raising the Newstart allowance would "deliver 12,000 new jobs" and create millions for the local economy because of "an increase in consumer spending." There's no evidence or research presented on how they came up with that information? I find it drawing a long bow.
  People I know on Newstart are struggling to pay basic essentials so I can't how see an allowance increase would set them off to spend more at the hairdressers or at a cafe. And how exactly will it deliver new jobs? Perhaps more money for a job applicant's internet services, to email more job applications, to obtain a job quicker? It's a long bow.
  The Newstart allowance is called "new start" and is just that: to assist needy people on their way to a new start - find a new job. 
  I think we can just say that an increase in the Newstart allowance is well overdue to help people who need it during a difficult period of their lives.
Nathan
 
Thanks for your comment that the Newstart rate has been kept low for too long. The details of the study are here:https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DAE-Analysis-of-the-impact-of-raising-benefit-rates-FINAL-4-September-...-1.pdf
Jessica Harrison
 
Jessica is spot on with her comments about raising Newstart and something that also needs to be ensured is a person's right to spend that money as they see fit. 
  The non-change of government might facilitate expansion of the cashless Welfare Debit Card. This card is being trialled in places like Ceduna, to ensure recipients only spend their meagre financial support on a 'acceptable' items.
  Across all trial sites, but most recently the Hinkler site, people are struggling as mental health declines, while anxiety, stress, depression, sense of worthlessness, increases as people are stigmatised when using the card - public comments when people are seen using the card like " oh that's one of those cards for druggies and alcoholics etc, oh that's that druggy card" etc. When the majority of people forced onto this card have no such problems. 
  We need to ensure that these trails are stopped, not encouraged. And we don't want them trialled here. Our people have a right to spend their money as they chose to.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
Sorry Cr Ellis but I don't agree with your "it needs to be ensured a person's right to spend that money as they see fit." The money belongs to tax payers. It is provided for a period of time to assist someone to find a job. It's not a wage. It's not their money and their "right" to "spend how they see fit." We need to all have the right mindset and attitude. Millions of people get up every day to work and pay to help others with that money. They have a right to see it is spent wisely.
Nathan
 
 
The Newstart Allowance is just that, an allowance. It is intended to support people while they search for a job. It is not their money. The Government has a right to ensure that the money they provide to support job seekers is spent responsibly.
  I was made redundant, for cost saving reasons, at the age of 62 and it was embarrassing going to Centrelink because I had worked all my life. Instead of campaigning for people to stay on welfare how about campaigning Local Councils and State Government for more jobs.
Pamela
 
Pamela, you should not have felt embarrassed. We pay taxes all our lives, plus every time we shop. The welfare system was set up as a safety net for us all. Unfortunately, due to the present government's changed policies, sick people are forced to apply for Newstart and search for jobs instead of being able to access disability support pensions.Of course we lobby for local jobs as well !
Jessica Harrison
 
Jessica, I was embarrassed because as a mature aged professional, I felt I should have been able to support myself. Nothing wrong with a bit of pride or the wish to not be a burden on society. I have certainly earned the pension which I have since upgraded to!
Sadly, quite a few of those on the Newstart allowance have never had the experience of having a job and being independent to do whatever they want to do. It's a hard rut to get out of, I'm sure, and the best way to help those on Newstart is to create more jobs and opportunities. Decentralisation, for example. Of course, it's easier to simply demand more money.
Pamela

​‘Despair is for fools’
June 1, 2019
 
Felicia, you are a true champion of compassion, fairness and humanity. I feel your pain also with the result.
N Smith
 
And contrary to popular misguided belief, compassion, fairness and humanity are not sources of fatigue. And any pain associated with them is a source of strength, and can lead to a resolve to courage in the midst of any inclination towards despair.
John Coldebella
 
A faint glow on the hill
June 1, 2019
 
Marg, Well considered and inspiring words, emblematic of the collective efforts and leadership of BCSGRG over many years. 
  I agree that there is great hope when/if our Aboriginal community is in charge of it its own destiny, empowered and the broad community listens. 
  Ken Wyatt - all the strain of a parliamentary life underlying the need to be an exemplary role model, champion his people's rights, be a cultural ambassador, get real action on closing the gap and get the Uluru Statement to the top of our agenda.
  That's a huge load and I hope his department gets the resourcing it needs and that he gets the support in cabinet he needs and his people deserve. The past week (Reconciliation Week) was headlined Grounded in Truth and we all need to carry that message into the future.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
‘One for the silent majority’
June 1, 2019
 
Well said. I had a gut feeling weeks before the election that Scott Morrison would win. Labor ran a poor campaign: did not explain what they were going to do in detail, and Bill should never have been seen out running in public. Bad advice on all fronts. Yes, what a relief.
Liz Glynn
 
A ‘double whammy’
Enjoyed your article. When the going gets tough the tough get going. You have the runs on the board so keep struggling for justice.
Daryl Hook
 
The eyes have it
June 1, 2019
 
A couple of pinprick dabs behind the lenses and a Mona Lisa smile bring Malcolm to vibrant life. These are the eyes of someone I feel I've known. And if not, I'd like to! Despite Mrs Bain's reservations, I'd have the portrait at least among finalists at that 'other' competition, the Archibalds.
John Gascoigne
 
Simple fix for disappearing beaches?
June 1, 2019
 
Good on you Bernie. Great to see people offering practical, local solutions and advice. This is certainly a well-reasoned solution.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
Definitely worth a trial. The use of geotextile bags and cloth overplanted with indigenous coastal plants and grasses are a proven method of stabilizing dunes and beaches. This method is in use throughout the world and is neutral to the environment
Ian Samuel
 
A cook’s journal 
June 1, 2019
 
Sounds absolutely delicious although I would use the gourmet sausages locally made by the butchers in Wonthaggi.
Yvonne J. McRae
 
Council on the wrong path
May 17, 2019
 
A footpath pales into insignificance compared the march of the sea water - the road wont survive much longer IMPO ...............better to build a big sea wall
Rosemary Loughnan
 
Waves are washing around the ends of the fences at the SLSC, eroding the dunes. It needs to be all or nothing with the fences.
Jeff Sim
 
As far back as l can remember Anderson Inlet has always been in a state of change. Much less water in the Tarwin River basin means less sand is washed away. Aileen Venning’s analysis should be considered by all authorities making decisions about our coast. Go Aileen!
Daryl Hook
 
Aileen, thank you for this very enlightening article and for keeping us up to date.
Leonie Smith
 
The vision thing
May 17, 2019
 
Ed, stability? Really? How quickly people appear to have erased the memory of the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd comedy. One could say that was the episode which started the period of instability as people saw how self-interested politicians can be.
I hope you don't include Turnbull senior in your statement that "the best have left" the Liberal party, although one now wonders whether he was planted by the left, his preferred party. I believe the best remain.
I think PM Morrison has surprised quite a few people and I wouldn't say that he's been doing anything on the run. Quite the contrary.
"Male, pale and stale"? Don't be so hard on yourself Ed.
Pamela
 
Feels like home
May 17, 2019 
 
That's an absolutely beautiful story Miriam!
Katara
 
What an uplifting story! As a person who experienced the same sense of loss (leaving Melbourne) and growth (chose to live in beautiful Bass Coast), I agree with your words totally. I'm so glad our paths have crossed not at St Kilda but in Wonthaggi. Wonderful to see you so happy in everything you do and continue to evolve. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays.
Etsuko

Let the battle for Monash begin

May 4, 2019
Thank you Catherine for the useful information on the candidates and were and when we can vote. It is tempting to vote next week so we can switch off from all the noise.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
The Greens preference to the Liberals are you sure that is right?
Sunny
 
Quite right, Sunny. I was asleep at the wheel. Of course the Greens will preference the ALP ahead of the Liberal Party.
Catherine Watson, Editor
 
As a busy councillor, I am often confronted by the number of items in my virtual in-tray - there were 80 this morning - and when the Bass Coast Post in that pile I always skip to it first.   Keep up the good work, our community deserves independent journalism and analysis.
Your efforts are greatly respected.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
I have nothing personally against Russell Broadbent, I'm sure he is a decent person. But as an older, white male myself I despair when I see yet another candidate who looks just like me. The Bass Coast is a diverse place, increasingly so in recent years, time for our MPs to reflect that.
James
 
From little things big things grow
May 4, 2019
Congratulations to all involved in this community solar project! It is putting theory into practice and is a practical response to an important issue of our time. And what a brilliant idea to use solar power to run a coal mine! As John Coulter commented: “The past and the future. Old energy, new energy. How good would that be?”
Let's hope other citizens, bureaucrats and politicians and anyone else with clout to make things happen take note.
Should any body, such as Bass Coast Shire Council, for instance, wish to invest in more such community ventures, I am sure there are retirees and others who would be prepared to invest in them if they were well-run. It is an excellent way to invest in our children's and grandchildren's futures.
Meryl Tobin
 
Hi Meryl. The Energy Innovation Co-op has spent several years, getting ready- developing the skills, background documentation and on-line capacity to organise and deliver just this kind of investment project. The idea is to find a suitable roof/ ground host (high day-time energy use, preferably seven days pw, short of capital to do the work themselves), organise up to 20 community investors to provide the capital, then pay a return to investors, give the venue clean power, then eventually turn the system over to the host. Check our website, maybe sign up to join or just for newsletter, and stay in touch ! https;//eico-op.org.au Susan
Susan Davies
 
What a beautiful irony - a disused coal mine being powered by solar energy.
Robert Kenyon
 
Thanks Catherine for writing up our event yesterday so quickly. It was important to the Co-op to mark and celebrate this occasion. And it thanks Meryl and Robert for noting the ideas appeal and the future opportunities. The EICo-op is also co-ordinating development of a Renewable Energy Roadmap for Bass Coast & South Gippsland Shire areas. This will be a strategic plan for a renewable future shaped by people of the region. Please come to workshops and fill out online survey if you can. As Meryl highlighted community investment & ownership of renewable energy is definitely part of the mix. See www.eico-op.org.au for more details.
Moragh McKay
 
A sign of the times as coal turns to renewables across the country. Great achievement by everyone involved. We also need to make sure the network infrastructure is in place to connect renewables to the grid no matter where they are located - local communities generating their own electricity and selling it to the grid keeps both power prices and carbon emissions down.
Andrew Shaw
 
Welch hits the right note
May 4, 2019
It was a wonderful weekend of musical learning, listening and singing. Exhausted but on a high for a day or two later. I still can't stop singing 'O Love' in my head and in my sleep!
The Bass Coast Chorale Committee are to be commended for a fantastic job of organizing such a big weekend. Congratulations to all involved.
Sandra Thorley
 
I learned so much. Such a fantastic weekend. Thankyou to all those behind the scenes and the delicious catering by the Anglican Church women.
Janet Luckett
 
A voice for the Valley
May 4, 2019
I had never heard of John Verhoeven until I received a flyer in the letterbox. his comment "Nothing Australia can do will affect global climate changes" is ludicrous. Who is this man? Why do we always wind up with this type of person running for political office... He disagrees with alternative energy??? wants to continue to use Coal... Australia needs to wake up and understand we are reaching a global crises and action needs to be immediate. To even suggest we can do nothing is obscene. I sincerely hope this man never ever gets a voice in the political arena...we have enough idiots there already.
Sue Carrigan
 
Secrets of the salon
May 4, 2019
Are you going to stand up against the AGL gas port in Western Port Bay? Will you support a raise in Newstart and Youth Allowance?
Sunny
 
​It’s party time in Ventnor
May 4, 2019
 
Great description of the wild ( life) party that ranges far and wide among our once favourite plants and stripped vines
Ian Samuel
 
A market with a heart
May 4, 2019
Corinella has needed something here for quite some time. We hope we can have the locals support.
Gwen Bowden
 
​Signs of the times
May 4, 2019
Hard to vote for someone who is not in the Bass Coast area and also is a supporter of coal fired power.
Sunny
 
Planning certainty essential 
April 18, 2019
 
Brett, good to hear some balance here. "I am for development but it has to be done in the context of what we love about Bass Coast Shire. 
"Phillip Island people have indicated they want to restrict growth on the island. We have to be careful with our small coastal hubs."
  The distinctive areas landscape strategic plan for Bass Coast will hopefully set clear parameters.   Developers understanding accurately what they can and can’t do before they get here is a win-win for everyone.
Nat

I agree with the previous contributer to the Bass Coast Post. Councillors with big ideas of increasing the boundries of the shire when existing developments are still not finished. All councillors from years back should hang their heads in shame for not biting the bullet and
going ahead with all the un-made roads througout the shire. This has not only allowed the cost to rise but it is also, a big burden on the home owners. 
Why i ask didn't the Shire use VCAT that's what they are there for. .
This does not alter the fact that this infrastructure has to be done sooner rather than later.
Pamela J Gill JP
 
The mayor and councillors represent the residents of Bass Coast, not property developers who don't even live here. Meanwhile in places like Jam Jerrup it has been almost 50 years and still no sealed roads or pavements let alone mains water or sewerage.
James
 
Brett I am also pro development that is done in a sustainable way and that protects the environment for everyone.
Infrastructure issues in the Bass Coast are a major issue and needs to be addressed in a long term plan.
We need to use the strength of the Shires Balance sheet to borrow funds and fix the dirt roads in Cape Paterson and other areas as a priority.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Brett great work by all concerned the BCSC attitude does proud to walk on Country respectfully Caring & Protecting.
We rhe people need to take same responsible care in 2019.
Anthony Egan Bunurong Boon Wurrung Traditional Custodian Bass Coast.
 
The bald and the beautiful
April 18, 2019
 
I had the privilege of meeting Deb at the Bass Coast Shire's 2019 Citizen of the Year Award. 
After the Awards ceremony, we spoke together for about five minutes and she shared information with me about surviving Breast cancer. What a wonderful 'Warrior Woman' who contributed so much to the community.
Phyllis Papps
 
A well-written piece, Liane. You’ve caught the mood well.
Dad
 
I miss her smile
Craig
 
A stunning human
Tricia Hogan
 
May Day in Wonthaggi 
April 18, 2019
 
Thank you, Frank, for this inspiring story! 
  This passage particularly resonated with me: "Wonthaggi was an isolated place, with time and space around campfires and on the job to continue the discussion about how to do things better. In such a setting, mutual assistance was evolving as the basis of a civil society. From the beginning, this ethos became embedded in Wonthaggi’s cultural mindset." I think this feeling is still alive here - may it grow and develop! We need it more than ever in these complicated times. 
  And thanks to Catherine and Bass Coast Post for your role in keeping our community connected, and providing a place where we can continue the kinds of discussions those early miners had about making their community a better place.
Robyn Arianrhod
 
Thanks Without the union my family would not have the opportunities of education and a chance to have a say. My father grandfather and great grandfather sacrificed their lives working in Coalville Outtrim and Wonthaggi and were involved in the numerous strikes and campaigns so to give their families a better life and future to them I am grateful and I hold no secret I too are a unionist Now the struggle is to maintain conditions they were obtained withe the sacrifice of others.
Kerri Allen
 
Early success in shaping democracy, by Unions, in Australia, should be well known but to be informed that pivotal events happened right here should give us all hope that we can bring about change, especially with Climate Emergency.
Bernie McComb
 
Great article Frank, we tend to ignore the early Wonthaggi years where people from other continents lived in tents. They adapted, survived and flourished.
  Intriguing photos show how the people rallied around the word socialism - which is a now a word of insult. Our health systems, schools, roads, beaches, parks are all "free" - isn't that socialism.
  For 60 years of my life, I have felt that the ALP was challenging a Conservative party that was the “natural” incumbent. Even when in power, Labour were the permanent outsiders whose grip on power would always be temporary. 
  Free Market economics backed by social prestige – and the entitlement of the right to assume that they are always right, reinforced by media barons – has been a powerful force.
  The Vic state election and hopefully the upcoming federal election will help more people come out of the darkness and stand up for social values. The only way forward is for business and well-off families to pay taxes and council rates that deliver a better community, More TAFEs less jails, 
  There is an inevitable failure of societies where inequality increases unchecked. Are we mature
enough to reverse the trend and adopt "ëarly Wonnie values" ?
  Thanks Frank for a great insight and raising questions about what it is to be Australian.
Phil Wright
 
The shape of things to come
April 18, 2019
 
A lovely call-to-clay, Catherine. Working with clay puts you on a spectrum somewhere between the tactile artisan and the artist, who crafts reality from imagination. My first encounter with clay at a work bench was at school in New Zealand where my pinching and prodding produced, rather than the human bust I intended, a Homo habilis whose face had been pummelled by a woolly mammoth (me). But it was my very own muck-up, and years later when I learned my brother used it as a paperweight in his office, it was as though the Louvre had called with a request to display it.
John Gascoigne
 
Checking out
April 18, 2019
 
What a brilliant and thought-provoking article. I totally understand what Etusoko says and why she says it.
  Ultimately it IS the deeper connection we have with our special friends and NOT the superficial quick one-line or two-line message or emoji. 
  Let's hope we get back to the days when our TRUE friends wrote us a 'real' hand-written letter or sent us a card. (a well thought-out Email is acceptable, and of course phone calls and personal contact.) BUT I suppose I am 'whistling in the wind.'
Phyllis Papps
 
Thank you Phyllis for your comment. My experiment definitely changed my relationship with Facebook, and cultivated more mindful approach. You may say 'whistling in the wind', but I would like to believe we can change by creating critical mass.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
What a great experiment, Etsuko! Thank-you for sharing your experience, and for your thoughts on the nature of connectedness (and disconnectedness).
Robyn Arianrhod
 
I highly recommend this to anyone, even just for a month. I can assure you that you gain so much in this process. Thanks for your time reading my writing, and posting your comment.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
This just confirms to me that I did the right thing by resisting to open a facebook account. Once a friend asked "are you on facebook?" I said no if you want to see my face you know where I live. She never came to visit and even moved town, which I found out a couple of years later. So I don't hear about everything but does it really matter? Hasn't it become a way of promoting oneself or your business? I have a lot more questions but will save it for now.
Sunny
 
Over the years we tend to collect so-called Facebook friends who are more acquaintances rather than true friends. People come and go through our lives regardless of having social media accounts or not. To keep friendships alive, we all need to make an effort. Facebook certainly can be a practical medium to keep up to date with friends for some people, but as you can read from my article, I prefer face to face contacts. Thanks for taking time to read my writing, Sunny.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Thank you so much for your great insights Etsuko and the very thoughtful replies to your wonderful article. One day we shall meet BUT not on Facebook or Twitter !!!
Phyllis Papps
 
Yes we shall. You can catch me every Saturday 7:45 am at the stump for parkrun unless I go to Koonawarra or Churchill Island, and Wed 7:15 pm & Fri 9:30 am at the YMCA for Bodybalance. Otherwise I'm often on my bike, riding around Inverloch to the library.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Well said Etsuko, I have always found actual reality to be far more interesting than virtual reality. Social media is a shallow con job, and far more can be gained by a close study of your surroundings, some may call it zen, I would call it life in its simple glory 
.It is so easy to over think and analyse our reality. Pleased to have you joined the luddites!
Mark Robertson
 
Thank you for taking time to read my writing. 
  Twitter posts were initially limited to 140 letters (now doubled), and Instagram is only photos. Out of three, I found the noise of blowing one’s trumpet is the loudest on Facebook. I think it’s because the posts are often addressed to a broad audience, not an individual. Trying to get ‘hits and likes’ makes it a numbers game. I have grave concerns for the diminishing respect for written words in those social media. Not only are careless spelling mistakes widespread, but fundamental grammar is often not observed. Written language is becoming more like slang. I believe in the power of words, especially written words, therefore it's very sad to see proper care and thought not going into those posts or comments. 
  I’m not a luddite fully as I embrace modern technology for creative designs by the way. 
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Round the bend
April 18, 2019
 
I agree that roundabouts will not solve much especially in San Remo, there are many shops empty and struggling due to no parking and the flow of traffic into and our of San Remo, it does need traffic lights that should operate at least on weekends and the busy seasons.
Sunny
 
I agree Bernie roundabouts are not a good answer if traffic coming from all four directions like the ones you mention as you travel on Thompson Rd and the flashing lights vicroads put up for peak times are ridiculous .
Having driven in most capital city's fit my work in national job I've seen roundabouts thstvwork well where they have full sets of traffic lights only working at peak times and test of day they work as normal roundabout so your not sitting st traffic lights with nobody coming which drives all motorists hate. 
It works well in some of busiest areas in Sydney and could work here. We owned property at Cape Woolamai from early 70's and it was impossible to get out at holiday time but even more dangerous at non peak times with traffic speeding over the slope at you with no vision of them coming. Why as traffic safety expert Mike Hammond said wasn't slope removed much cheaper than roundabouts and more effective ?
The issues in San Remo are far more complex and as VicRoads is finding out you try to fix one problem and it creates two more problems.
There really is no answer as there simply not enough room to find a solution that assists those trying to get through town as against those living there trying to access the shopping centre precinct.
The extension of town boundary's should never have happened unless Bass Coast Council and Vicroads agreed to proceed with the recommendations of the access strategy the council and state government appointed and paid for. Instead of that they basically never talk to each other.
Good reason again to ask why do we have 3 levels of government it certainly does nothing for the Australian people except cost billions of dollars. If you were in business and ran like the various governments you would go broke.
The incompetence of having several Victorian Government dept and ministers responsible in a small town like San Remo is farcical and the blame game between them never ending yet their all in the end responsible to the government and premier of the day.
Chris Day
 
I remember living in Cape Woolamai banked up for 1km trying to do right hand turn onto Phillip Island - it was murder. At least if I went to the supermarket in Newhaven - I could go via the roundabout back through the back streets of Newhaven instead of waiting near the bridge to do a right hand turn onto Phillip Island Road. Cape Woolamai and San Remo have hours of bumber to bumber traffic over the January and Easter period. A roundabout in either town is the best way to stop the traffic to allow entrance onto or off Phillip Island Road. Cowes, Inverloch and Wonthaggi seem to manage quite well with roundabouts
David Norton
 
My thoughts are, now that Newhaven College has gone from Newhaven it would make sense to remove that roundabout (no longer required for school buses) and for anyone that lives on the Island you would agree that once you are past this point the traffic flow picks up. The other two roundabouts make sense on the way in to Cowes, however leaving the Island there will be a problem as the 2.5km of four-lane divided highway will have to merge to a single lane bridge. See the problem, the thought went in to getting people on the Island but this plan may impact getting off. Just an observation folks.
Braxton
 
Thank you for this Bernie and in particular the point that we are supposed to give way to traffic already on the roundabout.Too often vehicles approach and glance to the right then keep going often at speed and vehicles waiting to enter are unable to do so without being hit. A policeman on duty at any roundabout would write a small fortune in tickets.
Ken Barnes
 
Tall tales and true of San Remo
April 18, 2019
 
What a terrific initiative, So many stories to tell, so many legends And an audience who'll love what they hear.
Best wishes for the launch.
Gill Heal

What's a tree worth?
April 5, 2019
 
Thanks so much for the words and photos. So many people are upset by what has happened. You have expressed my thoughts and the thoughts of so many others, so well.
Bronwyn Dahlstrom
 
Loved the photos and the video
Annette Wilkiinson
 
A similar thing at the Pound Creek Reserve.A giant messmate tree which has watched over Pound Creek ,sucked in carbon dioxide and emitted oxygen for us to breath ,plus our farm animals and pets.Also oxygen for our cars ,trucks,motor bikes,lawn mowers ,blowers etc.What did Thi tree do wrong?Yes it did drop a branch which smashed the TV antenna and damaged the Fire Station.For this it was severely pruned but that was not enough for sone people.Its now been cut off at ground level.
Daryl Hook
,
We were outraged when the Council cut down the trees in Thompson Ave to provide us with the "Town Square", shadeless open space that no-one uses with $50 grands worth of largely unused bells! But the people elected to represent us took no heed. They cut down the trees behind the Council buildings to provide a car park. Some one wrote a song about that, "cut down all the trees and put them in a tree museum and charged all the people a dollar and a half just to see them. 
  What leadership? Why are they so disconnected? Didn't they get the message when they cut down the trees at the front that we were cross. Now they have cut down the trees at the back and I for one am even crosser. How do we get the message over to people who live far away and never visit our part of Bass Coast?
  Why do we have to be constantly on guard to stop OUR council doing things that we find repulsive? Have you driven along Back Beach Road recently? The mangeling of the trees and bushes on the roadside with a slasher is just disgraceful! 
  This is the road that takes hundreds of thousands of international tourists to Victoria's number one Tourist Attractions - The Jewel in the Crown - that earns the State Government millions of $, a Nature Park? You have got to be on some other planet! 
Ruth
 
Myself and my son went to the memorial organised by the lovely big hearted Camille Monet, I listened to the speakers and the singers. 
We were told we must be vigilant and watch that the council is doing the right thing..... perhaps if these peaceful giant trees were given the same asset value as a pipe in the ground. The council could watch itself. Bitterly disappointed with the entire incident.
Jeni Jobe
 
I cannot understand why Councillors did not step in to stop the destruction of these beautiful trees. The world just needs more trees and this is appalling. The latest group of Councillors came to office promising communication and consultation but issues arising in Western Port Ward and Island Ward recently clearly show that Councillors are tired and just not interested in what issues their communities think are important. Sad ….
Joy Button
 
'Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot" 
Joni Mitchell

Clearly the choice was between paradise or progress. 
Paradise is lost so Phillip Island needs to accept "progress" at full tilt, including a four lane divided highway all the way to Cowes Jetty and also all the way to the Penguin Parade. This will bring in masses more visitors who will need ever bigger car parks. 
But just think of all the jobs and growth...!
  Money will flow in an ever increasing torrent and never mind the stress of coping with the traffic and the crowds, either deal with it or leave....as I have done to a quiet rural location with no parking lots and no crowds, but lots of trees.
Doug Willmott
 
I'm thinking along these lines too Doug. 
Progress seems unstoppable - though I did help save those old eucalyptus trees along Linacre Road in Hampton a long time ago. 
What we can do now is plant as many trees as our properties allow - sensibly not dangerously - to compensate for those oldies that have been sacrificed. And also read current books like 'The Hidden Life of Trees' by Peter Wohlleben, which reports on scientific discoveries describing how trees communicate, support each other by sharing nutrients with those that are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. 
And we must keep communicating our knowledge to those who have the power to decide the fate of these giant beings that have survived for centuries against incredible odds.
Sue Packham
 
 
The Wastie way
April 5, 2019
 
Thank you Catherine for a nice introduction to our new CEO and a warm welcome to Ali Wastie. Like all of us that are fortunate enough to live here, Ms Wastie will find that the Bass Coast Shire is a very very special place that is growing but this needs to happen at a sustainable pace and in way that preserves that ‘specialness’.
Good luck Ali.
Frank Schooneveldt.
 
With each new CEO there is the opportunity to review and refresh with new ideas and directions.
A pressing issue for Bass Coast, particularly Phillip Island and San Remo, is retaining the very essence of why many of our residents and tourists come here, accepting that population growth threatens both the environmental and social environment that is a critical part of our community.
There is an urgent need for council and the CEO to address this issue with definitive plans and legislation by State government to protect the rural and natural environment of Bass Coast by limiting future urbanization and destruction of our natural resources. .
Ian Samuel
.
Thanks for the interview Catherine and Ali. Interesting to hear what you have to say, Ali. I'm glad to know that you are concerned about plastic, but while we still allow any plastic bags, even those we pay 15 cents for, and allow excess packaging, there will be a problem. It would be fantastic if could become really plastic bag free.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
I am excited! Together with our open and progressive shire council I feel that our future is bright. Welcome Ali.
John Mutsaers
 
As I read this, I thought of Bob Hawke’s urgings for state governments to be replaced by councils enlarged in size and remit. Ali’s instincts for collegiality and co-operation fit with Hawke's nostrum. Her many fresh ideas include “joint procurements or contracts with a larger council”. Although the "super-councils" would require the expertise of an enlarged public service, that cost would pale beside the budget and taxes that prop up six state governments. Hawke always hit the nail on the head, as when he said in his 1979 Boyer lecture: “What we have today represents the meanderings of British explorers across the Australian continent more than 200 years ago.” Whenever the republican debate launches in earnest might be the time to bracket it with this even more pivotal idea.
John Gascoigne
 
A road to chaos
April 5, 2019
 
The pin has been pulled on development. Fishing paradise, nature environment island all has been dumped by allowing unrestrained development to occur. It's time for Council to really know where it wants to go.
The pin has been pulled on development. Fishing paradise, nature environment island all has been dumped by allowing unrestrained development to occur. It's time for Council to really know where it wants to go.
Joan Woods

Let’s stand by them
March 22, 2019
Wouldn't it be better if the children received an all around Education at School, first with a heavy emphasis on hard science practical reality and consequences; before being subjugated to various Belief systems/Religions by their Elders/Teachers?
Stefan
 
Stefan, please put your assumptions aside and listen to what the students are saying. Now more than ever is the time to hear and to act for their future.
Moragh Mackay
 
I agree with you Stefan. It seems to me that the grownups have decided no-one is listening to them anymore so they've brought in the emotional angle. Adults should be setting an example for young people instead of using them as fodder. My research also shows that this march was not organised by children. It was backed by School Strike 4 Climate Action and the primary backer is the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, a non-profit company registered as a charity with an all-adult board and 68 adult staff. Some of the protest signs were obviously provided by a professional organisation.
  School children are still learning and I worry for the future when I see them being coerced into action like this without the benefit of experience. We are continually seeing prophecies of "climate change" not eventuating or being changed to suit the results. Emissions and world population are the problem, not climate change. Let the kids stay in school and learn how to be well-rounded adults.
Pamela
 
Thanks Moragh I was so proud of these young people speaking up on their own behalf. I was there with Mary, my daughter Celia and grandson Thomas who is 10 weeks old. Thomas has more at stake than most of us and I know he will one day thank these young people for acting on his behalf.
Michael Whelan
 
Congratulations to all the kids who marched, and the ones who didn't but would have liked to. In the absence of organised protest from other sections of society it is great to see school children taking the initiative. Well done, and thanks for a great article.
Lorrie Read
 
The future looks a whole lot brighter with young people taking the lead.
Daryl Hook
 
We’ve got work to do
March 22, 2019
 
Well said, Michael. A country is defined by how it treats it's poor, sick, homeless, disenfranchised and strangers. I support wholeheartedly the council making this decision.
Jacqui Paulson
 
What these "rich" and the government don’t seem to realise is that if NewStart was given a decent boost there would be more items purchased creating demand, creating jobs and increasing profits. The best way to support the wealthy is to give the poor more money.
Adrian
 
Well written Michael, it always frustrates me that the unemployed are suffering the most, no matter how they got there they should not be punished like this. Housing is the number one issue. Once you become unemployed, who can afford to pay their mortgage or pay rent? If it is a welfare to tide them over until they get a job it is not working, they spend all their savings, have to sell possessions and end up in the biggest hole they cannot get out of.   There have never been enough jobs and more and more are going overseas. Many people are in the GIG community and live week by week, then there are those on contracts, missing out on superannuation and holiday leave. Chemist Warehouse employees want to work but are striking currently for better more permanent hours and wages. This is the example of what is happening in the workforce. Raising Newstart means people can feel better, eat better, have a roof over their head and then make more effort to find work while they spend the money back into the community. It helps everyone. No one on Newstart is hoarding their money.
Sunny
 
Thanks Michael and Catherine, great article. Good to hear that common sense prevailed and BCSC councillors voted unanimously to support the motion to raise Newstart. Thanks again, and for your ongoing support with this issue.
Julie
 
I was working in the building industry. Having work; then not having work. SELF EMPLOYED-2 dirty words that the government doesn't like when it comes to Newstart. Having very little work I applied to get an increase in my allowance. Not only did they take that small allowance away they took it away for 3 months. Nothing.(apologized later but no back payment.) Half my life savings went in that 3 months. Another time they paid me $30 a month! (because Newstart thought I was doing ok). That's 8 coffees. They don't take into consideration the costs in running a business, only what you earn. Then if you miss an appointment with Newstart you can wait as much as 2 hours on the phone to re connect with the system. Young people especially, people with children, single mums or dads are desperate for a better deal and better thinking from government. Things have gone very wrong in our society in the recent past. We need them corrected, and fast. Are you listening Prime Minister? 
Peter
 
Great article Michael and I fully agree. People are being punished for the lack of jobs in our area. According to VCOSS there are over 2700 people living in poverty in our shire. Our unemployment rate in Bass Coast is 6.5%.
  People on Newstart can't afford to travel and any increase in payments would obviously bring a boost to the local economy. 'Trickle up' economics would work and we also need to get away from the adversarial and punitive nature of compliance. 
  It's nearly a year since a woman passed away in one of our foreshore reserves after she had been cut off from Centrelink due to losing her medical certificates.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
An oasis on a crowded planet
March 22, 2019
 
I agree with all of this article. The old mantra - 'Never stand between a developer and dollars'. They cannot see past their bottom line - only PROFIT matters to them.
Yvonne McRae
 
We have enough tourists already, the roads are clogged in summer, and Forrest Caves is a beautiful place that should be left as it is, the creation of a park there will be devastating. I hope VCAT makes the right decision and stops this development, we do not need more caravans on the road, traffic is already too slow and crowded. And how do the other caravan parks in the area feel about this proposal?
Sunny
 
Phil, I resonate well with the phrase ‘the tyranny of small decisions’ from my time with (the then) DCNR. Every small encroachment on valuable conservation resources may by itself not seem significant, but the cumulative effects of a number of such decisions can be disastrous over the longer term. The proposed development at Forest Caves is one of those proposals which just does not stack up environmentally. Let the proponents buy up existing caravan and camping parks, not establish new ones in fragile environments.
Walter Broussard
 
Well said Phil. A strategy should include a comprehensive review of the sensitive airspace above Cape Woolamai and the rest of Phillip Island which is overwhelmed with private operators cashing with helicopter and airplane scenic flights. These operations diminish the experience for everybody on the ground.
Doug
 
Mobile library to go, but not yet
March 22, 2019
 
Having read the story and its quotations, I'm confident there will be a library for the Waterline areas. Not necessarily IN those areas. What about a council-provided minibus service making weekly or twice-weekly trips from small-community centres to a permanent library? Whatever eventuates, the underlying, adhering principle must be that libraries are an essential service.
John Gascoigne
 
I agree, "Whatever eventuates, the underlying, adhering principle must be that libraries are an essential service." and also shows that the community of the Bass Coast is passionate about its library service and the council hopefully sees that the libraries are one of their most loved services.
David Wombat Lyons
 
And what about San Remo?? A high number of users are elderly and the kids who pop in after school are often not recorded as users. The elderly often do not use the internet. Having to travel 40 minute round trip to either Cowes or Wonthaggi is going to be costly. Will the council consider a free bus service for those who cannot travel by car or those who cannot afford the petrol costs? Also I have often heard new residents say they never knew about the mobile library, because when do they advertise it? More consultation should have been in place to see if it would get used more from new residents not just the existing users.
Sunny
 
As I relied on transport by a friend for the Council meeting on Wednesday, I found myself in Wonthaggi with two hours to spare. I decided to go to the Wonthaggi library to pass the time. As I have lived in Coronet Bay as a permanent resident for 12 years, I must say, and say with no malice intended, that I had forgotten what it was like to spend time in a public library. There were people in the library in their thirties reading newspapers, working on laptops and possibly studying. Senior citizens and younger people accessing the computers. As school ended there was an influx of school aged children who popped into the library chatting and gathering and also accessing the computers and games. In this time more people had entered the library to read or to browse the books. There was an occasion previously where I saw a young mother who I know, being taught chess by her young son. There were four librarians in attendance who also participated in varying conversations that were being held. There was also an elderly couple in the library and it was clearly obvious that the husband had dementia. His wife was reading the Phillip Island Advertiser to him and from overhead conversations it was clear that this couple lived in Wonthaggi, and visited the library two to three times per week. Sometime their treat was a taxi ride home but on Wednesday they were walking home. There were no massive borrowings going out the library in comparison to the supposedly low rate suggested by Councillors with the mobile library. My two hours in the library flew by and made me realise even more that the service that we have with the mobile library cannot be compared with a small room, some have called it a broom closet, which is being talked about at Corinella Community Centre.
  The challenges ahead for the Council and West Gippsland Library Corporation is to return goodwill to the Waterline residents and to recognise their need for a library service that residents in Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Cowes have the opportunity to enjoy five to six days per week. To actually involve the users in the Waterline would be a marvellous thing. In the time I spent in the library I felt in a safe and community environment and my two hours went far too quickly before I had to leave the library to hear the disturbing news that the mobile library had been lost.
Joy Button
 
What a lovely comment Joy, thank you for sharing how important libraries are and pointing out that statistics do not always tell the real stories. My son who is now a teenager remembers fondly of our time going to the mobile library and especially those years we did not have a car, it was something he treasured and was an early reader and still reads every day, yes from books not devices!
Sunny
 
Totally agree with your comments Sunny ….. the benefits, usage and value of a library service cannot be measured in throughput of books or by dollars. This is what we deal with when we have an accountant in a bureaucratic role rather than a curator or custodian in a professional library role. 
Joy Button
 
$$ signs and statistics can never portray the true value the Mobile Library has brought to The Waterline communities. A very disappointing indication that our Councillors have been swayed by such shallow figures when they should have been looking at the overall value the Mobile Library has brought to these townships over so many years.
Janne Morrison
 
Very sad day indeed. Our councillors are not in touch with the unique needs of communities in the waterline area. Growth has been incredible over the last 5 years yet infrastructure remains minimal to say the least. Services, especially in the isolated towns of Corinella & Coronet Bay are not even bare minimal with 100s of homes being built across both towns. Had there had been reputable community consultation from the get go and a commitment from the library, usage in these communities could have been increased. Poorly advertised service, no alternative times trialled and removal of the truck’s visit to the local school some time back was a destiny towards failure. Had the community been involved in a meaningful way I am sure half the funds at least could have easily been raised to replace the mobile library and extend visit times.
  Maybe we should seek to be adopted into Casey or Sth Gippsland shires. The only way this can move forward is to have the people designing the new service along with a plan for the CDCC be supported with their weathered and outdated facility?
Sharz
 
Thank you to the 2,453 people, most of whom live in the Waterline, who signed the petition to retain a mobile library service. Thank you to the Pioneer Bay, Grantville, Tenby Point and Coronet Bay ratepayers, residents, progress and business associations for writing letters of support to all the Councillors. Unfortunately, none of you got a mention at the Council table. Thank you to the many local businesses who also supported the retention of a mobile library service. 
  I’m sorry that 40% the Waterline community who cannot or do not have access to the internet, were ignored when being told their mobile library service was out of date. 
  I’m dismayed that not one Councillor was able to explain how “the” replacement service would be superior or even what “the” replacement service would involve. 
  I was disheartened to hear Councillors refer to flawed statistics and support vague concepts as acceptable. 
  I’m sorry that this whole issue was dealt with in secrecy and that the Councillors did not trust their community enough to talk to them first, before making such a monumental decision. 
  There is a profound sense of injustice permeating the Waterline towns at the moment. 
Veronica Dowman
 
 
The weed warriors
March 22, 2019
 
There needs to be a greater push for councils to control weeds on crown land and Vic roads on their land. I have customers paying me to spray for noxious weeds along the highway in front of their property because Vic roads isn’t doing it. All members of the community and all levels of government must be actively involved. The land around the transfer station in Wonthaggi is a disgrace.
Hans Steevens
 
The pleasure of puzzles
March 22, 2019
 
I love Suduko too, have been doing it for years, stick with it, it really gets challenging as it gets harder, I find the easy ones too easy now. It helps me to wind down at the end of the day, really takes your mind off everything.
Sunny
 
Thanks for the encouragement Sunny, I'm about to start on level 2!
Miriam Strickland
 
I've been buying the Woman's Day Super Puzzler for absolutely years. Once you get over the embarrassment of buying it, you enter a world of wonder! My favourites are Cypher Squares and Fills-ins. Being retired now, I spend a leisurely half-hour after breakfast doing puzzles. A habit I caught from my mother but I didn't persevere with the cryptic crosswords and still avoid them.
Pamela
 
‘This is Bass’
March 8, 2019
 
A wonderful inspiring speech. Well done Jordan!
Dr Marian Quigley
 
Brilliant.
Tim Shannon
 
Your speech made me cry, Jordan. I am so glad that you were elected. Well done.
Jacqui Paulson
 
Jordan,
a fantastic and very inspiring speech where you acknowledged your heritage and the heritage of Australia. It was a glorious, well-deserved win: for you, your family, all your faithful and hard-working supporters AND the entire community of the Bass Electorate. 
  We all look forward to a wonderful future- irrespective of age, gender, sex, race, nationality, politics, religion, education, financial situation, etc.
Phyllis Papps
 
A wonderful speech Jordan. Congratulations.
Joy Herring
 
An inspiring speech Jordan. You'll be very good for Bass.
Greg Johnson
 
A new Labor woman MP for Bass! Jordan you have stated clearly where you have come from and what values have informed your long journey through life and your varied experiences in many lands and situations. We are very fortunate to have an MP that has over so many years, faced and worked successfully in so many challenging roles. The ALP Government can only benefit from such diversity and learned knowledge. Jordan this speech only strengthens our high expectations of your time as the MP for Bass. Thank you Jordan. 
Kay Setches
 
Impressive inaugural speech Jordan. I look forward to you representing me and redressing the inequalities at Bass through years of inaction by your predecessors.
Lou Pecora
 
What a wonderful speech! Interesting, sincere and 
positive. Well done congratulations!
Carolyn Goldberg
 
Well done and a very moving speech, Jordan.
Clare Le Serve
 
"Adversity and hope, gratefulness and compassion, family and community." 
What wonderful values Jordan from your own life to start the journey representing and advocating for the people of Bass. I know you'll make us proud.
Mary Whelan
 
Congratulation Jordan, this is truly an inspiring speech. It comes from the heart and offers such hope for all. Thank you for your support of our community.
Pamela Rothfield
 
Well done on being part of the Labor Machine Land Colonizers JC., Labor does not acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Labor has a disgraceful record on Environment cultural Heritage protection, Look at the ongoing fight to save sacred trees along the Western Highway in yictoria Labor are killing the trees on Djabwurrung country no chance of Treaty with this racist colonizer state now " Core values of fairness, inclusion and opportunity & Social justice ALP, hypocrites
Lex
 
 
It’s funny about the fire
March 8, 2019
 
It's funny how the media has failed to mention the influence of climate change. Drought plus heatwaves equals more frequent, larger bushfires!
Peter Gardner
 
Glad you stayed safe Allison,where too many properties were lost.I would love to know what can be done to reduce the fuel load that contributes to these raging fires? We can't control lightning strikes,but surely more can be done to reduce the fuel load?
Michelle
 
It’s also funny how many people complain about the smoke, impact on native fauna etc. when fuel-reduction/ecological burns are conducted Michelle. The authorities are damned if they do and damned if they don’t!
  Carrying out ‘controlled burns’ is also very risky business... particularly in areas that have homes scattered throughout!
Brett
 
Sadly our old growth rain forests have been logged, there is now nothing to stop wildfires.
As for the fuel load, small animals need the grass for shelter and food.
Jan Fleming
 
How do old growth forests ‘stop’ wildfires Jan? The Aussie Bush has evolved to burn and Mountain Ash, Blackwood etc that dominate these ‘rainforests’ you speak of rely on fire to regenerate.
Brett
 
Beautiful words, and how true. We also have grandchildren in our care and packing what they could to move out. The little 5 year old packed his teddys and Snacks, can't leave with our cereal, and chips. 😂🤣😂
James Lugosi
 
We lost our house to the fire and I somehow think it's funny how it really irks me that the media can't get the name of our place right. It's Yinnar South.
Elke
 
Sorry for your loss Elke, and the error, which was mine. It's been rectified now.
Catherine Watson, Editor
 
​Dogs versus birds no contest
March 8, 2019
 
The PICS suggestion is just an ambit claim with a raft of dreamy wishes. Why don't t they come out and ask the Shire to phase out all future dog and cat ownership on the Island and make it into a true wildlife sanctuary. We know this will NEVER happen. It is currently a very restricted environment for dog owners and there is a real need for at least another 2 beach areas for such use.
Liz Glynn
 
What a great article Jeff - written on behalf of the Phillip Island Conservation Society and the Bass community in general.
  What I think we need to work out is how to find a delicate balance between the dreams and passions of the environmentalists and conservationists, versus the sometimes very selfish and irresponsible dog/cat owners, versus the needs of our very best dog/cat friends.
  I am, and always have been, a very responsible dog owner since we moved here to Phillip Island in 2001 and even before.
  Dogs on leashes at all times. YES.
  Cats inside (especially at night and always with a bell collar). YES, because they are killers of our wonderful bird and wildlife.
  Let's try to find the right balance AND always make sure that the millions of visitors and holiday home owners are aware of how to protect and respect our environment. That is the reason why they come here.
Phyllis Papps
 
Dogs do need to run, but they are happy to run anywhere. It's the owners who want to walk on the beach, but that's where dogs often harass wildlife and annoy beach-goers. More inland areas should be chosen for off-lead dogs, and beach regulations should be enforced.
Jenny Skewes
 
I am not a pet owner but I love dogs. I do not like their poo. I do not like that they are killing wildlife. I am sick of the neighbour's cat killing birds in my backyard. I am sick of picking up dog poo left in bags on the beach and in the bushes. I once spoke to someone who was reading the dog restriction sign at San Remo and looking a bit confused, and they told me they found it on an app that it was a dog beach. I always see dogs on beaches without leashes, everyone ignores the restrictions. I never see rangers EVER. No point in having laws if they are not policed. More signage is needed, more information to locals and tourists, more control. Once they get that done then give them a couple of beaches and off leash areas somewhere else. And hurry up with the laws to keep all cats inside or in cat runs, they kill the most including feral cats.
Sunny
 
​Study hub a game changer
March 8, 2019
 
I certainly hope the university hub is opened. It will be life changing for some people.
Jacqui Paulson
 
Reminiscences of The Gurdies
March 8, 2019
 
Always find reminiscences like this very moving. A snap-shot of an earlier generation, dealing with life's challenges, observing the district and their neighbors - scenes which will never return. Thanks.
Greg Johnson
 
Interesting to note how Father coped with a 'savage' fire by placing his daughter out in the open on a ploughed patch. They bred 'em tough in those days!
Anne Heath Mennell
 
Buckley signs off
February 22, 2019
 
Firstly let me say that I understand Mr Buckley wanting to protect his legacy.
That said, I have never questioned the form and content of Bass Coast Shire Council’s financial statements, however I have reservations about its financial sustainability and that is a key function, role and responsibility of Council and its Councillors.
In December 2018, the Victorian Auditor General reported that Council was at higher risk in three areas, namely:
- Adjusted Underlying Result – medium risk
[This measures Council’s ability to generate surpluses from its ordinary activities]
- Renewal gap – medium risk
[This measures the rate of spending on existing assets]
- Capital replacement – high risk
[This measures the level of spending on new and renewed assets]
The Adjusted Underlying Result is arguably the most important indicator, as it determines whether Council will be financially sustainable and able to maintain services on an ongoing basis. The indisputable fact is that Council will incur accumulated underlying operating deficits over the 7 financial years to 30/6/19 in excess of $20m.
It is akin to any business or family household incurring $20m of expenses in excess of its business and/or PAYE income.
Further, Council, in my opinion, uses an outmoded book entry accounting technique known as ‘Reserve Accounting’. The Victorian Auditor General has stated in writing “…At the outset I must say that I concur with the proposition of Local Government Victoria that the creation and reporting of non-statutory reserves in general purpose financial statements is generally to be discouraged. Many would argue that such ‘reserve accounting’ is an anachronism; …”
As a result, Council’s financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2018 were amended to include the following statement:
“…The existence of the reserves does not mean that Council has the cash funds available to allocate to the reserves purpose…”. In my view there is approximately a $10m shortfall in Council’s cash to fund such reserves. 
In my judgement, as a consequence of the accumulated operating deficits of $20m over recent years and a shortfall of $10m set aside to meet non statutory reserves, Council will need to generate and utilise future operating surpluses and borrow substantially to fund its capital expenditure program and to address the renewal gap and capital replacement risks.
This, in my opinion, is the ‘big picture’ financial legacy and challenges inherited by our new CEO.
Cr Les Larke
 
Thank you Catherine for your interview. Thank you Paul for your leadership over the past five years and good luck with your future. 
I have studied the Bass Coast finances and can report to the people of Bass Coast that the finances are in good shape. I agree that we need to spend a lot more on infrastructure. With record low interest rates it’s a good time to borrow money. Councillor Les Larke has misled the people of the Bass Coast over the state of the Bass Coast finances and inexplicably continues to do so. It’s time he moves on.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Paul and Catherine, this interview was a treat to read. An audio would be great too if it's available.
  Marginal seat, more permanent residents, good ATAR scores and competent local government, and decent debates on council all good for the Bass coast.
  And if I may suggest .... Indulge me (and other cyclists) with a bike path from Wonthaggi to Inverloch (through the fields not on the road). And protect the old boys home on Phillip Island from that negligent owner.
Edward Buckingham
 
If Aquasure could be persuaded to pay their rates, estimated to be approx. $12 million per. year, Bass coast shire could easily afford to establish some tertiary education facilities. Watershed members met with Paul soon after he took on the CEO role, and he promised to get back to us " in a couple of weeks". Five years later we are still waiting for a ...... Perhaps the new CEO could raise the issue again with the new member for Bass. Brumby/ Holding university has a certain ring to it.
Mark Robertson
 
Many thanks to Catherine and Paul for a wonderful and insightful interview. Bass Coast is a stunning place to live and has an exciting future ahead guided by people of vision, planning and leadership. Best wishes to Paul.
Ursula Theinert
 
I would like to post my congratulations to those responsible for the interview with the retiring Bass Coast CEO Mr. Paul Buckley.
  This is no doubt the best scripted interview that I have seen for some time. However I am not sure how Mr. Buckley allowed the question on communication to be delivered as it was.
His answer clearly indicated that the council deliberately targeted people in the age group of 18 - 34 and by inference did their best to ignore those over 35. This is also evidenced by the deliberate and cynical refusal of council to include this demographic in their decision making processes over the past three years at least
Trevor Brown
 
Beware: four lane highway ahead
February 22, 2019
 
Another try for sanity
The proposed project in Newhaven, Phillip Island, with 4 lane divided highway and 3 large, dual lane roundabouts makes less sense than ever.
  The budget is $40Million a big swag, much needed for more deserving purposes. The length of the road, containing the 3 roundabouts, is just 2.5km. 
  The first half is 60km/h with the second half at 80km/h. If the full length was 80km/h, transit time could be as fast as 2 minutes. You can rarely travel at full speed because of a wide range of distracted, visiting drivers cruising slowly, so, at average 60km/h, transit time is 3 mins. Visiting Melbourne, it’s amazing how many roads now have reduced speed limits, surprisingly many 40km/h, permanently. But none on Phillip Island. 
  If the 2.5km was reduced to 40km/h, transit time would then be 4 minutes. Would this put anybody out? In terms of cars per hour, if we want more visitors, optimum appears to be 60km/h. Any faster and we leave bigger gaps between cars, so cars per hour is the same, perhaps less.
  If the whole thing was 40km/h permanently, there’s no danger of serious injury or fatal accident. At 40km/h, traffic flows smoothly, vehicles give way to one another. So there would be no need for divided highway or big dual lane roundabouts or waste of $40Million, some of which could be spent on improving existing road surfaces. 
  The big project might be justifiable if divided highway allowed petrol heads to race all the way to the track. For just 2.5km, in middle of small period township, removing mature trees, more of them, making life difficult for pedestrians and cyclists, difficulty crossing and parking, for residents and businesses on both sides of the highway, how can this project make any sense? 
  Would anything like this get more than split second attention, before being laughed out of town, if proposal was for highway through a place like Maldon?
  Is any difference possible, with four lanes v 2 lanes, into such short, dead end road, with not enough car parks, when so many drive so slowly?
Bernie McComb
 
We are going to kill what makes visitors want to come here and community members want to live here: the natural attributes of this unique island. If we wanted it to be the Gold Coast - we would live there! Please let’s band together and make Vicroads listen. Cr Whelan: what’s the next step to ensure we are heard?
Nat
 
I totally agree with you Nat. The San Remo and Phillip Island area will be changed forever and not the reason why we decided to become permanent residents here just on 20 years ago. Pave paradise and …
Sandra Thorley
 
Jane Jobe
I agree too, Nat. VicRoads has a narrow mission re managing the arterial road network and road safety, so it's enormously frustrating, but not surprising, that it doesn't see the bigger picture. If we want to be heard about protecting the natural attributes that make this island attractive and drive our visitor economy, we need to talk to our state and federal representatives.
Jane Jobe
 
Hi Nat. Next steps? Council adopted the Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study in 2014 that sets out transport priorities and approach. Since then a Community reference Group has worked on these issues mainly focussing on the critical safety issues presented in the likes of the Woolamai intersection. Vic Roads has been an excellent partner on getting those issues addressed. It is how the growth issues are handled that is important as the next stage and that is where the risk of the loss of character of the Island gets caught up. The Council Visitor Economy Strategy specifically discusses the value and appeal of the Island's open spaces. The proposal in question directly attacks this notion by seeking to put the road about 50 meters into farmland at Surf Beach. Council must insist that out strategies are properly considered in the plans for the future, my comments the other night were to reinforce this. The PIITS CRG meets tomorrow at 7.oopm at Newhaven meeting room - you would be welcome to attend.
Michael Whelan
 
I am a resident of another off island small coastal town.
Don't let the engineers get a hold of this, but as an Island Population that's facilities often rely on the cash injection from holiday populations to finance the rest of the year be careful what you wish for.
  And then of course there's the bridge, the narrow San Remo approach and the roundabout at Boys Home road. Four lanes on the island are a bit useless with those as they are. At easter and Xmas etc traffic backs up to Grantville.
Jeff Cole
 
There are 365 days in a year and on how many of these does serious congestion occur? Even without the other very good reasons, the scale and cost of this project would be disproportionate.
Julie Thomas
 
Nat has spoken for all of us. VicRoads imprints its preference, bestowing on our community an eyesore -- what most visitors have wanted to leave behind them.
John Gascoigne
 
Totally agree with all of the above
Vicki
 
 
As a regular monthly visitor to the island it would be good to have 2 lanes each way all the way from grantville to Cowes. Getting onto the island at peak times is tough and with young kids a very tough drive if it ends up taking 3 hours from Melbourne. Phillip island tourist toad needs to be 2 lanes, I don’t get the issue here, although the one issue Vic roads hasn’t addressed is the one lane through San remo and the bridge. It’s not just Christmas that visitors come, it’s most weekends throughout the year
PI regular
 
A 4 lane highway going into a 2 lane bridge....
How does that improve the traffic flow?
A 4 lane highway needs a 4 lane bridge and 4 lanes through San Remo.
And only two lanes into Cowes!
Where is the Island traffic management plan.
Trevor White
 
I am a local of 14 years, I drive everyday into Cowes from San Remo and i fully agree with you Trevor! (I used to live in Cowes) It doesn’t make sense! 
A 2 lane bridge going into a 4 lane onto the island? 
Then coming off the island from a 4 lane road to a 2 lane bridge and road will get backed up unless 4 lanes are added from Bass HWY straight into Cowes and over the bridge. I feel that this hasn’t been thought of thoroughly and properly. If anything we need the roads re-fixed! Ha ha!! Could another bridge be built? Have one that goes onto the island and one that goes off? Just a thought!
IslandLocal
 
What sense does it make to spend millions on 4 lane bridge when road to San Remo is 2 lane all the way to and from Bass? Does traffic on Island ever travel as fast as 80 kmh, even on a quiet day? How much difference can it make to get cars to Cowes faster when the only plan to park them is a whole 200 spaces at Transit Hub? How much incompetence does it take for construction of something as simple as a car park to take until Christmas?
Bernie
 
The islands roads only go to and from the bridge "fact" at times congestion is a problem for road users. Fire truck Ambulances Police and other emergency services are greatly impacted. With the growth in population and the suburban sprawl getting closer the traffic from Fridays to Sunday is growing. “The council has adopted three different plans that express the community’s desire for alternatives to private car use on the island. These include improved public transport, works to encourage active transport (cycling and walking), a reduction in inappropriate speed limits to protect people and wildlife, and limits on visitor numbers at busy periods.”
Public transport bike riding will not solve the problem. The utopian view of an idyllic life has past, embrace change for without change the island would still be a wilderness (with no residents) Why did Coles, Woolworth and Aldis come to the island? Because they was a need. Tourists that stay on the island don't come to the island on a bus, or a bike it inconvenient. They bring their children their belongings their caravans. Stop dreaming, face the fact, live in the real world. The roads are needed, they are coming and that’s that.
Steve Denise
 
Agree that a 4 lane solution across the Island is not desirable for many reasons and it won't solve the problem of congestion at the bridge.
The bridge is 2 lanes and the road on the San Remo side is 2 lanes. There is a school crossing at Newhaven and twice a day there is a 40k speed limit. One simple solution would be to extend the 40k area from the bridge to the Newhaven roundabout at all times.
The safety of wildlife, pedestrians and cyclists should be priorities in planning traffic solutions. (I've never seen signs anywhere but at Cowes telling me as a pedestrian to give way to cars!)
We also agree that reliable public transport, must be considered as a solution to road congestion.
Mary-Lu and Eric Burt
 
I recall that a vehicular ferry was going to provide a miraculous panacea to the island access problem. Is our council still throwing our rates revenue at this folly? Without a serious upgrade to the bridge I feel that the multi-lane VicRoads improvements will simply prove to be a very expensive carpark.
Mark Robertson
 
Gosh next there will be a proposal for a regional standard skate park with a four tower lighting set up for night time use for our precious little green foreshore space opposite the supermarket in San Remo. Ooops! it has already been proposed much to the chagrin of soooo many locals who only found out about it after the grant of $650,000 was granted to the Skate Park lobby just before the last Federal Election. The Bass Coast Council have a great deal to answer for due to the lack of Community Consultation and are now trying to make it look like they are listening to ' the people!' Not good enough!
Sandra Thorley
 
In 30 years you will wish it were so. The roads are bumpy and noisy too and a smooth quiet ride is what is needed. Most wildlife jump at the bumping along of a car on uneven roads and minimum a new quite modestly widened path is needed. 60 is a pain in the arse and 40 will just frustrate many locals as we have not got sensible speed limits. It’s about a balance and preparing for the future regardless of local stigma.
Bobthebuilder
 
Not happy Jan about this 4 lane road in the middle of the island, the skinniest part as well and an area that is a haven for wildlife particularly our beautiful shearwaters. What hope will they have when they fledge at end of April? It's bad enough now that cars do not abide by the 60 km/h limit, particularly the food transport trucks, the tourist buses and impatient weekend warriors who arrive to the Island with their Melbourne road rage.
I agree the road condition needs to be improved. It does NOT NEED TO BE A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. Why isn't the blue line implemented on busy weekends? What's the problem with this? Proof is in the pudding, it works!!!!
It's about time VicRoads listens to the local community instead of ploughing ahead regardless.
Maxine
 
About time. Finally will help with the ridiculous congestion of traffic over the holiday season and when big events are on. 100% all for this. From San Remo with a second bridge to Cowes should have been converted to 4 lanes years ago and seen off the stupid blue line scheme. Bring this on as soon as possible.....
Jesse
 
Will Vic Roads ever move into The Twenty first century spend some money to get rid of the Roundabout at Lang Lang along South Gippsland Hwy & build an overpass ....
Alf
 
The triangle revisited
February 22, 2019
 
Tim, thank you for the opportunity to be more appreciative of the spaces we move through and the meanings we endow them with.
Gill Heal
 
What a joy to read another of your erudite yet playful pieces again Tim. 
I will appreciate that space between 3 points at Cowes Jetty all the more for you having walked me through it.
Linda Cuttriss
 
Thanks for your comments Tim. My personal Jettty Triangle has always included the significant Baron Von Mueller Moreton Bay Fig on the edge of the Esplanade in front of the Isle of Wight and the wonderful Band Rotunda, built by locals in 1935. For me the Rotunda tells of the community spirit that prevailed on an Island that had no connection at the time,with the mainland. People gathered at this place to be informed and entertained. The Jetty Shed, built in 1870 to store produce bound for Melbourne completes my triangle with the Cenotaph prominently and proudly in its centre.
Anne Davie
 
First steps for $19.6m coastal park and walk
February 22, 2019
 
Exciting news. We have a beautiful coastline and what better way to appreciate it. I've walked the Great Ocean walk from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell. It will be wonderful if we can have one locally that embraces our spectacular coast too!
Cathie
 
I don’t want this walking track at all. The farmland comes almost to the cliffs leaving only a narrow wildlife corridor. Just the building of it will be totally disruptive to the animals let alone too many feet and too much rubbish. I have seen that many out of area visitors do not do the right thing. Dogs off leash is a certainty and impossible to police. Our nature is more important.
Janet Luckett
 
Rubbish along this Coastline is going to be a Big Issue. Anyone who sees rubbish dumping should take details like vehicle registrations, description of persons involved, and the time, date and place and report it immediately to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or the Environment Protection Authority on 1300 372 842
Alf
 
Riding a wave of goodwill
February 22, 2019
 
Etsuko, thank you once again for a most enjoyable and incredible reading .
I was reading your story in my warm lounge, sitting on my very comfortable reclining chair with my laptop , then somehow I felt being transported all the way to Inverloch on that black ski and icy cold day.
  You are truly a very inspiring person and a wonderful writer. Thank you.
Josephine bueno
 
Thank you, Josephine. Your words mean a lot to me as a writer. Yet I'm a mere conduit in delivering the story, and if I can take my readers to the world of my writing, then my mission accomplished. Both you and I believe in the power of written words.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Wonderful words Etsuko. You have captured the commitment of our local community to ensure that everyone enjoyed this very special event. The smiles on DSA participants’ faces kept us all warm, on a such an unseasonable cold day, and keen to join in again and again!
Kath
 
Thank you for your kind words, Kath. You are right. When we witness others joy, our hearts are always warm. I particularly loved your expression 'commitment of our local community'. It was truly an amazing effort by all involved. Everyone's smile says everything. Thank you for taking time to read my writing.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Thank you for sharing. Inspiring community and story. You carried me along with your emotions. What a ride!
Pip
 
In my mind's eye, I can clearly picture you in the water, helping others with your big heart, if you were with us, Pip. Thank you for taking time to read my story. Much appreciated.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
My first bushfire
February 8, 2019
 
Anne Heath-Mennell encapsulates what many of us experienced and felt over the four days of the Grantville Fire emergency as did Geoff Ellis with his photography. Thanks, Anne and Geoff. Without the quick response of authorities and firefighters to the emergency, there could have been a very different outcome. At Saturday's Emergency meeting at the Grantville Transaction Centre, locals gathered together and expressed their great appreciation of what was being done to save their area from the devastation so tragically experienced by Black Saturday victims almost exactly 10 years previously. We owe our firefighters both in the air and on the ground and the authorities behind them an immense thank you. We would not have come out relatively unscathed without them.
Meryl Tobin
 
Meryl, I totally agree re the immense thank you to our firefighters and the hundreds of people who all did whatever they could to support the people who put their bodies between us and the inferno. 
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
​​Time and tide
February 8, 2019
 
Coasts have been eroding for millions of years man just needs to learn as he has in the past to adjust and not try and fight Mother Nature!
Stefan
 
In high school a sage Geography teacher taught us that every thing above see level was eroding and everything below was being pushed back up on the edge of the tectonic plates - a multi- million year plus cycle.
Geoff Ellis
 
Climate change is real and the consequences are real.
The time to act is now and not to leave it to future generations. The beaches belong to the people so it is necessary that all people contribute to the cost of maintaining them. The Federal Government could introduce a special levy that is distributed to local governments to maintain the beaches etc.
In the meanwhile we could introduce parking fees at the beaches with all money raised to be used to maintain the beaches. Budgets at all levels of government must factor in climate change action. 
The time to act is now.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Well said Frank and I totally agree though I'd suggest that the crisis extends into the hills where landslips, biosecurity hazards, drought, floods and all the other challenges for farmers need to be addressed. 

As well as the social and physical impacts of this emerging crisis, the long term financial consequences for all levels of government, particularly local need to be planned for now. 

Jam Jerrup is a great example of how a hundreds of thousands spent today could save the millions related to road closure, power line relocation and the threats to houses, farms and people,
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
Frank have a look at this article reference below - a rehash of a good idea killed off by Abott. But instead of the money going to individuals it went to the community to look after those in energy cost stress and to take community initiatives to combat climate change and adapt 
https://insidestory.org.au/cashing-in-on-carbon-reduction/
Michael Whelan
 
Thank you Michael for the information.
I am a great believer in the law of singularity.
What is the simple thing that we can do to start to fix the problems. Perhaps by increasing taxes or introducing parking fees. I have always liked the Kiss principal.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Geoff, AGL is not the existential threat but a representative of the behaviour that has led us to one. The existential threat is represented by the totality of global warming, it rests in our inability to cooperate globally and right through to community level. It is fuelled by materialism and we are distracted by fear, evilly manipulated by self-interested politicians – Tony Abbot and Scott Morrison come to mind. It manifests in industry with coal reserves and plays out in the jobs versus the environment argument. 
Adaptation measures that you mention will be important but until we tackle the burgeoning threat by reducing our emissions across the board and undertaking serious draw down of
carbon we are destined for failure.
Michael Whelan
 
I totally agree that global emission reductions are imperative and essential and also suggest a fresh look at the definition of progress on a planet with finite resources. I have often heard the strains of Joni Mitchel's Big Yellow Taxi echoing from your side of the chamber and it's it tragic poignancy is ever more resonant.
Geoff Ellis
 
And here's me thinking I'd be one of the first to comment on this!. Good morning to "those that have gone before me", especially Geoff** and Micheal.
  As many have said, at local level its the AGL's and container port porposals are/were the immediate threat, but it's global warming that will eventually destroy the low lying parts of Western Port shorefront. Malcolm Drive Grantville will cease to exist inside ten years and the ones who will complain the loudest are every chance to be the ones who pulled out the mangrove seedlings.
  So do what you can at BCSC local level, but ultimately its up to the Feds and State Govts for the ultimate solution and that's to stop burning coal for starters.
  I do hope to see this occur in my lifetime but as I'm past my "3 score and 10" maybe that's hoping too much!!!
Kevin Chambers
 
Kev C ! The Gurdies isn't the same without you! 
I well remember your "Erosion Tour of Grantville" and that tree toppling into the water as the sand washed away from it's roots. 2016 and that was a real eye-opener for me..... Have to catch up in March, eh?
Geoff Ellis
 
UP FOR DEBATE
Every time I hear people speak of climate change I ask myself the questions was it climate change that covered the land mass between Tasmania and Victoria? Was it climate change that made all the ocean disappear around the Bacchus Marsh region? The floods in Townsville, how do they know it is the worst flood that city has ever seen? What is climate change? Is it a realty or is it governed by greed. People who saw an opportunity to fool the people and make billions of dollars from it? How do we know what happened 500 or 1000 years ago when we didn’t have the industry we have now? Perhaps someone out there knows the answers.
Margaret Murray
 
I'm guessing you don't know much about nuclear fusion, black holes, genetics or how the Moon was formed but it doesn't mean scientific theories about these things are up for debate.
James
 
Spot on James - I can't explain how an electric light works - I just know when it's on, or off.
The reality for Jam Jerrup is that there is 14m between the high tide mark and the road and then another few metres to their front fences. Part of that foreshore is washing at 2m per year. It's an equation, not theory.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
50 years of exits and entrances
February 8, 2019
 
Our first performance after we had arrived in Bass Coast, was 2011, Cabaret. We were astounded at the quality for every aspect of the performance. We assumed that various professionals - performers, singers, directors and the like - had been contracted from Melbourne and were even more impressed to learn that all were locals. as new arrivals - 'refugees' from Melbourne - we had assumed we would be travelling back to Melbourne regularly, for various cultural activities and events. Not so!
  Gill, you have done a wonderful job of capturing the journey of te WTG. We look forward with relish to the launch and subsequent 'festival'.
Maddy Harford
 
The first show we saw was Singing in the Rain …. loved it and go every show now. Really looking forward to reading the book you have written Gill as I know it will be absolutely filled with so many memories as only you can deliver. 
Joy Button
 
Pitching in
February 8, 2019
 
How proud I am Mark, your eulogy was first class. Mum
Barbara Robertson
 
Quite some times and quite a family. Best, Neil
Neil Rankine
 
Thanks, Mark, for this beautiful tribute to your father. What a rich life Bill lived, as did his good friend and mentor, Jim Glover. Both men taught at Wonthaggi High School. Neither was rich or famous. But they nailed the good life: family, community, meaningful work, comrades, creativity. 
  Their wider commitment to the community enriched their lives. In an age of discontent where most people have retreated to home and family, perhaps we should look to Bill and Jim for a model of how to live a contented life.
Catherine Watson
 
It was touching, though not surprising to see so many former students I recognised at Bill's send off. Conversations I overheard while waiting for the service to begin suggested there were also more than one from before my time. Some had travelled considerable distances. What many of us had in common was our receipt of one on one tuition in leather craft aside from general woodwork and pottery classes. Bill was respected. Not all teachers were. Fond memories of encounters with Bill in subsequent years, whether in the street, or over a coffee and cigarette in Veeland while waiting for the car that Mark was working on. A smile to remember.
John Coldebella
 
The forgotten people
February 8, 2019
 
Can't you let it go for another year Marg? 
  Realistically there were maybe 40,000 protesters at the #ChangeTheDate marches across Australia. Which means only about 5% of Indigenous and 0.1% of no Indigenous people felt sufficiently strongly to turn up and protest. 
  And why would they? The majority recognise that in modern Australia, regardless of its history, they have the opportunity to live their lives as they wish and embrace those aspects of their ancient heritage they choose to. A choice their ancestors never had. 
  The date Jan 26th is not celebrated for its origins but a convenient end of summer school holidays. If they changed the date to say Jan 30th I wouldn't really care that much. But this year the organisers of the march made clear it was about abolishing Australia Day altogether regardless of the date. So good on you if you marched and support that. 
  Australia is not perfect but has so many good things going for it can we not have one day to celebrate that and feel good about ourselves? And the doomsayers stay indoors and maybe pick a particularly cold, wet winters day to get out and protest with their miserablist friends.
James
 
Marg Lynn presents Noel Pearson's logical case for changing the date for Australia Day. Empathetic people sensitive to others are likely to see this as acceptable. Maybe those who can't could do as others have suggested and consider the scenario if Australia had lost WWII. Should the Japanese or some other victor have 'occupied/settled' our land and treated us the way 'European settlers' treated and some still treat Australia's First People, would we have rejoiced and happily joined in celebrating an Australia Day if the day chosen was the day Japan won the war and they or another victor took possession of our land? Congratulations on your wise and well-written article, Marg and thank you for sharing it.
Meryl Tobin
 
Most of us of a certain age will have known someone who 'made a meal out of a bereavement or some other significant loss,, to the point that even their friends began to stop feeling sorry for them.
  There comes a point where someone ought to tell them, but no-one does, because the person has so much invested in their grief & pain, suggesting that they start to move on will only cause them further grief & anger.
  So in the end, even their friends get tired of it & they move on.
  The 'Sorry Story' in the end is a disempowering narrative for indigenous people, but it keeps a whole tribe of non indigenous (and nearly non indigenous people) in the stipend rich business of administering suffering & the status quo.
  As capitalism rolled itself out it radically disrupted 'business-as-usual' everywhere it went, & forced everyone it touched to radically adapt. Most people did with varying success. It wasn't easy for anyone, including the bulk ofothe ruralf peasantry who lost their land during the enclosure movement in Britalin during the 1780s.
  But it wasn't just a disaster. New opportunities appeared as well & there would not be a country in the world that offers the opportunities to any hard working, focused & enterprising person that Australia does. That is why it is a rather popular place to migrate to, especially from places that put Aboriginal sufferings into some kind of perspective.
  At some point aboriginal communities are going to have to admit to themselves that the Sorry Story has made a real mess of their journey into the modern world and there is no alternative but to embrace it the best way they can by including themselves in....& letting their traumatic past go.
  If they continue to fail in this, the only beneficiaries will be their white (or just off white) liberal, humanitarian 'benefactors' who not only thrive & prosper on the compassion & empathy train, but get all the jobs in running it.
Christopher Eastman-Nagle
 
I apologize in advance to the editor for posting this comment - I know the Post has a policy of not facilitating personal abuse but .......
  Anyway According to a site I just found in a sad little corner of the web, there is a whole industry based on "The preparation of ideological lifeboats to meet the contingency of the emergence of post-modern times; storm proof, self righting, compassed, determined and secular; a practical guide for when all else fails, which is what one expects from a protracted history of living wildly beyond the available means and relentlessly moving from unsustainability to postremocide......
  I'd suggest the parrot in that cage needs to clean its mirror.
Geoff Ellis

The Campbells of Kernot 
February 8, 2019
I first met Sheila and Bruce in 2016 when I was researching the Kernot Church and they are the embodiment of community spirit and neighbourly good will. They are role models for the rest of us. 
Cr Geoff Ellis
 ​Time and tideThe bald and the beautifulLove songs for whales​A cry from the arts$19m cultural centre approved for Cowes