$9.90 AUS (gst included) TheKeeping Last the Anzac SpiritP Alive o st REGIONAL MATTERS: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MUDGEE MILK BARS Interviews with LAYNE BEACHLEY EDUCATION & THE ANZAC SPIRIT JIM KEAYS WALFORD ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS LUKE SAVILLE KILDARE COLLEGE + GREAT SUMMER READING FROM JULIA MAY, MURRAY WALDING, MARTIN FLANAGAN & OTHERS By The Hon. Julia Gillard ForewordPrime Minister of Australia The holiday season is a time for rest and relaxation, for family and “To all celebration. But amid these busy weeks, we should also pause to reflect on what really matters. Australians at Right now, hundreds of Australian service personnel are on duty overseas, away from their loved ones, protecting our interests and values. They serve with the same courage and dedication as those who served home and across before them, and many of their mates have made the supreme sacrifice in our country’s name, and sadly there will be too many homes where there is the globe, I little joy this Christmas. Here on our own shores, thousands of Australians continue to work tirelessly in their communities – especially our police and emergency wish you a very service personnel, paid and volunteer alike. They represent so much which is good about Australia, and many of them will be on duty as we enjoy the happy and safe festivities. As I travel throughout our nation and around the world I am always struck by the positivity and resilience of the Australian spirit. It is a spirit that has Christmas and a enabled our great nation to achieve so much. So at this important time, please take a moment to remember and thank New Year that those who have and continue to serve our nation and our communities. To all Australians at home and across the globe, I wish you a very happy and brings peace and safe Christmas and a New Year that brings peace and prosperity to all. prosperity to all.” From the PublisherGreg T Ross ome with me”, Mum says, “To the born in Concord California and responsible BElow IS A takE ON summER library. Books and summertime go for such left of centre greats as Take Five, Blue From stuDENT LawaNNA Holt. Ctogether.” So said Lisa Schroeder Rondo a la Turk, Time In and Bossa Nova USA. and when you look at the book giveaways Australian singer and entertainer Daryl Cotton Summer we have this summer the focus is very much also died earlier this year as did well known Summer is hot season. on giving readers and subscribers the chance and respected ‘Shark expert’ Ron Taylor. Bryce Summer is a really wonderful weather. to take advantage of the huge free book Courtenay, American singer – songwriters Summer is when you eat a lot of ice cream because it offers we have from Allen and Unwin. The Terry Callier and Joe South. Hal David, the cools you off. respected international publisher has given wordsmith to Burt Bacharach’s great tunes Summer is when you can lay out to get a tan. us a truckload of books that are to be given were others that left us during the year. Summer is when school gets out. to the first subscribers who email details Summer is the season for swimming. through. Harper Collins too have forwarded In this Christmas/Summer edition, we look at Summer is the season for vacation trips. copies of the new and respected ‘The Lost Mona Vale Bowling Club and the way they’re Summer is when you have lemonade. Diggers’ by Ross Coulthart. Two copies going about attracting younger members. Summer is when you have parties and sleepovers. of this book are also there as a Christmas We interview Australian icon Rolf Harris, Summer is when the pretty and wonderful flowers present to subscribers who email through female surfing superstar Layne Beachley, come out. mentioning Ross’ book. Music legend and ex-Masters frontman Jim Summer is when you work out in the yard or outside. As a well known Aboriginal proverb goes, Keays along with young up and coming tennis Summer is a happy and fun season. ‘Summer is a time for dreaming and those star Luke Saville. We have great summer Summer is when you wear shorts and sleeveless tops. who lose dreaming are lost’. We all hope for reading from Julia May, Murray Walding, Summer is when you wear sandals. our moments of dreaming during the summer Michael Short, Martin Flanagan and others. Summer is when you can relax. solace and on through Autumn when the Along with that we have the usual features Summer is when you hang out with your friends. weather cools. We may find that in our own - Education and the Anzac spirit, Regional way but may those dreams be on themes of Matters, Whatever Happened To...... and Cheers, positive outcome. a look at the great work being done by Australian Red Cross. Indigenous runners Since our last edition Dame Elisabeth disappointed after the cancelation of the Murdoch has passed away, in December, famed New York Marathon now have been aged 103. “We’re here to help others” was given the chance to compete in the Tokyo her call and that was one of spirit, strength Marathon. It is a dream come true for those G r egGreg T Ross and to care for others. Dame Elisabeth was a involved and we have news on that also. Have Publisher, ‘The Last Post’ great community, leader, charity worker and a great Christmas and summer, whoever and [email protected] philanthropist. Jazz great Dave Brubeck also wherever you are. died, on the same day, Dec 5th. Dave was “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” - Henry James “One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.” - Henry David Thoreau Thanksthanks... on this edition to –Her Excellency the Governor-General of Australia, the Australian Prime Minister’s Office, the Federal Department Veterans Affairs, the Office of the New Zealand Prime Minister, The Australian War Memorial, Simon Crean and Regional Australia, Mark Butler the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, The Minister for School Education and Deewr, Walford Anglican School for Girls, Kildare College, The Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Pat Scammell and RSL Promotions, Mark Lee and RSL Corporate Communications, RSL Tasmania, Pat Lake-Smith and Rolf Harris, Kirstie Wyatt, Tony Tirri and the ANZ Bank, Troy Cassar-Daly, Ricky Ponting, Scarborough RSL Sub Branch, Richard Green and Finsbury Green, Martin Flanagan, Segue Financial, Murray Walding, Bridie Smith, Michael Short, Julia May, Fairfax Media, News Ltd, Australian Red Cross, Tennis Australia, Luke Saville, Tennis SA, the South Australian Government’s Department of Veterans Affairs, Townsville State High School, Wild Fox Wines, The Mona Vale Bowling Club, Jacob Stein and Robert Stein Vineyards, Holly Manning and Mudgee Tourism, Judy Sarris and Gourmet Traveller, John Bullock and Christchurch City Council, The Brotherhood of St Laurence, Parkinsons NSW, The Salvation Army, Outward Bound Australia, Layne Beachley, The Surf Travel Company, Legacy Australia, Palliative Care Australia, Akubra Hats P/L, Ausglobal Travel Group, Allen and Unwin, Jim Keays, Harper Collins, Geelong RSL, Two Wells RSL, City of Wagga Library, Hutt Street Centre, IMP. FEATURES 9 Christchurch. A City of the Future. Big, Bold and Beautiful. 32 Jacob Stein of Robert Stein Vineyard - Gourmet Traveller Wine ‘Young Winemaker of the Year 2012’ ‘The Last Post’ magazine is owned 38 Christmas at Hutt St Centre And published by GTR Publishing, 41 Greenhorns by Will Swanton contentsa subsidiary of B4E Pty Ltd, 6 Way 60 Here comes the future, please adjust your set. - The Zone’s Michael Short talks Ave, Myrtle Bank 5064 to Tommy McCubbin, digital media strategist 62 The Wildest Discotheque Of them All - Murray Walding MANAGING DIRECTOR AND 71 Australian’s role in Human Rights Act undervalued - Martin Flanagan PUBLISHING EDITOR 72 Can we save the Reef by controlling crown of thorns starfish? Greg T Ross 78 Remembering the greatest Australian tragedy of the Second World War - Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp GRAPHIC DESIGNER 84 The new age of old age - Julia May talks to Alexandre Kalache Kirstie Wyatt 0419 035 000 [email protected] REGIONAL MATTERS 28 With a foreword from Regional Australia’s Minister Simon Crean, ADVERTISING The Last Post takes a look at Mudgee - Fun for the Whole Family Greg T Ross 0419 165 856 PEOPLE SUBSCRIPTIONS 14 Luke Saville [email protected] 42 Layne Beachley 0419 165 856 52 Rolf Harris 80 Jim Keays PRINTING Finsbury Green 1A South Road, Thebarton, South Australia 5031 EDUCATION & THE ANZAC SPIRIT 19 Foreword from Minister Garrett 20 Walford Anglican School for Girls ENQUIRIES 25 Kildare College GTR Publishing 6 Way Ave, Myrtle Bank 5064 08 8379 7919 FINANCE www.thelastpostmagazine.com 66 Segue Financial Services - Australia is Headed for a Retirement Savings Disaster. Are You Headed for a Retirement Savings Disaster? COVER Front Cover Image: Layne Beachley YOUR RSL AT WORK 65 Two Wells RSL WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...? 77 Milk Bars C h i l d n e r Amanda and her children were headed for a life of poverty At the age of only 18 Amanda became a mother to very premature twin girls. A few months later the girls’ father left and she was suddenly a single parent. Without any education to fall back on, Amanda was plunged head-long into Chr tm the demands of adult life. Despite a long work history in low-paid jobs she could not go back to work immediately; her vulnerable babies needed her around the clock. Teegan and Tenille were deeply loved but Amanda, without a strong support network and the ability to hold down a job, found it hard to provide for her children.