! The Croaker

Volume 10. No. 2 - March 2017 Editor: Renee Wigley

The Croaker is a not for profit, monthly, voluntary publication and is for general information purposes only. Alternative points of view to those expressed in opinion articles are encouraged and welcomed. Please send news, comments and queries to Renee - email: [email protected] or on-line https://www.facebook.com/thecroaker/ otwayescapes We are certainly not from the real, local stock of Smiths. Ever since arriving from WA. 28 years ago as young We have however always felt welcome. This community parents, the Smiths have been escaping to the Otways. is passionate about causes: The Arts, Landcare, climate We camped all over exploring . It was the Otways change, charities, the cooking group, festivals, and that we fell in Love with: The trees, the birds, the water… Louise’s amazing choir and percussion. I am so looking forward to the ‘Voice For The Refugees’ next year. We bought an old caravan and kept it at When I greet our guests at their Otway Escape, I tell them: the Cumberland River “We now have Koalas in our trees down on Matthews camping ground. Life Creek and Sugar Glider Possums. I tell our guests you will when camping was not hear cars but a symphony of birds. I tell them they simple. A camp oven will marvel at the brightness of the stars. I tell them to sit Christmas is precious! - sit and stare.“ Our next phase of By Christine Smith escape was to buy 20 www.otwayescapes.com.au acres of land backing onto the The Great Otway National Park in Pennyroyal. That was 25 years ago. We built a pole house weekender. I was adamant - no T.V. and no telephone. There were no laptops! We would come down to the Otways to escape the jumble of cars and the chaos of the city. In Pennyroyal we stared over eucalypts and sunsets. We marveled at the brightness of the stars. Life however is never smooth, never perfect. When we had ‘Our Family Crisis’, those priorities that we had modeled into our life suddenly became meaningless. With this family issue we decided to well and truly escape. Life seems simple when camping. We bought 200 Deans Marsh & Surrounds acres in Pennyroyal, sold out of city life, left our careers and moved permanently to the Otways. Brett built our Community SMS Master List: two-bedroom house in the middle of a paddock beside a An SMS test was completed successfully on Thursday 16th dam. We planted over 80,000 trees and established an February. The text message came from ‘DMSMSList’ and extensive garden that is now our own botanical not a phone number. If you are on the list and did not get a wonderland. text from us, please let us know by calling Deb Campbell on 52 36 3298 or emailing [email protected]. You can choose your property but being a part of this Hopefully our test will be the only SMS you get from us community is a privilege! Our wonderful neighbour says this fire season. it takes 20 years to be a local. Maybe?

Vol. 10 No. 2 GOSLING CREEK WINERY Page 1 DEANS MARSH FESTIVAL - SUNDAY 26th MARCH 2017: In its 21st year the festival hopes to welcome over 3000 visitors. The Festival Working Party is to be congratulated and celebrated for all your work. The banners are up, postcards and posters distributed, the stage has been donated by Wheadons Truck Company, the Footy Shed will have local Artists exhibiting and providing demonstrations, Red Cross are back with Devonshire Tea and much more. Thanks to sponsors AKD Softwoods, The Light Station and King Parrot Cottages and Event Centre. The annual Dog Jump and Jack Russell Races are also back for another year, as are the Working Dog demos. Returning this year is the Top Dog Competition including prizes for ‘most like owner’, ‘best trick’, ‘best golden oldie’ and top prize ‘2017 Marsh Top Dog’. Not forgetting the Gumboot Toss, High Catch, The Deans Marsh Gift and Sheaf Toss. The rafle ticket prizes are for accommodation at Otway Escapes, Countrywide Cottages, Hidden Valley Cabins, Port Cottage (Portarlington) and Vine Cottage (all dog friendly). Proceeds to CFA, Primary School, Hall and Memorial Reserve and the Community Cottage. Live Music & Entertainment The following bands are conirmed for the Festival: Rondo Big Band, Mountain Grey, John Waller and Lorne school band, Louise and Brendan Brown and Josh Goddard, Adam Ben Hickman, Flowers on Fire, Josh Rigg, Dada Ono (four piece - electronic indie) and Gullies from . Local Harvest: Beer, Wine & Produce The Forrest Brewery will be in residence at the Footy Shed. There will be plenty of local wine for consumption and tasting. Local produce will be on offer. Market Stalls: The stall places are illing up fast and if you are interested in a stall you can ind more information at http://deansmarsh.org.au/ Kids Activities: Bendigo Bank has provided a grant to establish an Art Wall that will display works of art produced by the Deans Marsh Primary School students. The theme for the exhibition is dogs. There will be a children’s activity area where children can design and make their own pencil cases, create a feathered headband to wear (the Cottage is accepting feathers if you have some please drop them off at 10 Pennyroyal Valley Road, Deans Marsh) and face- painting for kids.

YAN YAN GURT WEST FARM and BAMBRA AGROFORESTRY FARM OPEN DAY: Yan Yan Gurt West Farm will be hosting a tour of the property on Sunday 12th March, including our Bush Food and Flower forest, Historic Woolshed built in 1888 with antique Ferrier wool press and a working dog display. Also a tour of an Earthen (Cob) Cottage, using natural building techniques and a walk around the farm learning about tree growing and sustainable land use and design. If you wish to see a Specialised Agroforestry Farm, Rowan Reid’s farm in Bambra is open in the morning. Rowan is growing everything from walnuts, oaks (with trufles), Californian Redwoods, lots of fruit trees and many species of eucalypts for timber, bushfood, seed and other products while they also provide shelter, erosion control, ire protection and beautiication. Look on the website for tour tickets - agroforestry.org.au The tour tickets are $40 each or if you do both $70. Bambra Agroforestry Farm, 10am - 12.30pm. Yan Yan Gurt West Farm, 1.30pm - 4pm.

Lorne Community Hospital at the DEANS MARSH FESTIVAL: Het Ramp from the Lorne Community Hospital will again be at The Deans Marsh Festival to chat about the Hospital services with members of the community. Look for a white marquee near the children’s activities and face painting. Het says: ‘I love checking peoples blood pressure and having a chat about what the Hospital can do to support the community. We enjoy a great day. I am never sure whether to have Tahli’s delicious Chai, or scones with jam and cream and a cuppa in the hall, so I always do both! See you there.’ Het Ramp Health Promotion Coordinator Lorne Community Hospital

Vol. 10 No. 2 GOSLING CREEK WINERY Page 2 DEANS MARSH DOG TRIALS: INCREASING HAZARDS ON THE DEANS MARSH-LORNE ROAD: We had a wonderfully successful weekend at the trials, competitors coming from all over Victoria, Recreational cyclists are increasingly appearing on rural NSW, SA, QLD and WA. The Open contest for the roads. A good example is the Deans Marsh-Lorne road. Due top dogs was closely contested with 4 points the to the shortage of affordable housing and high price of rental difference between John Tuddenham placing 1st accommodation in Lorne, people are moving further out and and Maurie Burke placing 2nd. commuting. So car, commercial and heavy vehicle trafic is also increasing. The Trailers all commented on the wonderful friendly community atmosphere and said it was In recent months the condition of this road has deteriorated. one of the best-organised trials they attend, Cyclists ride on roads with no formal teaching or having to including the great surroundings and beautifully pass a test. kept grounds. However there is an urgent need for educating all rural road The judge Mr Colin Reid commented on the users. Weather conditions around Benwerrin can change in wonderful sportsmanship of the competitors and moments, resulting in visibility being reduced to around 100 the great organisation of the trials. Around 400 metres. There has already been one potential serious incident spectators turned up over the three days with on a tight bend between the school bus, a semi-trailer and two many commenting on what a wonderful spectacle bicycles riding in opposite direction. the trials present. Yet cyclists generally disobey Vic Road rules as regards rear Mark Fagan and Jill Stewart the organisers would relectors, white and red lights and relective clothing. like to thank all those from the community, the Meetings have taken place with Vic Roads, Victorian Western Trailers and the judge who helped on the weekend. Region Police and Highway Patrol. Also a big thank you to our sponsors: The next step is to lobby such organisations as Bicycle Herds Livestock, Laurie & Marie Millard, Dog Pro, Victoria and the RACV to come on board. By this letter we ask King Parrot Cottages, Otway Greening Nursery, other concerned residents to contact the authors below to Outback Trading, Colac Co Op, Lions register their support for this campaign. Club, Deans Marsh Store, Jules & Kath Marotta, Jim Juliet Beatty, Deans Marsh – Ph. 0419151961 [email protected] Gannon & family, Deans Marsh Cricket Club. Jill Chapman, Lorne - Ph. 0407338904 [email protected]

DEANS MARSH PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORT: EXTRA-CURRICULA EVENTS: 2017 has got off to a very busy start with many extra-curricula events occurring to complement our regular teaching and learning programs. These include: Swimming - Our two-week swimming program was held at the Winchelsea Pool during February. It involved all students completing many activities to boost their water skills and conidence. The children were grouped according to ‘Swim and Survive Victoria’ in groups of about 5. The program concluded with a Swimming Carnival on Friday 24th February with students participating in many traditional swimming events and some events of a different kind. They included freestyle relay, jumping through hoops relay, the dress up relay (where children had to put on, then swim, then then take off various items of clothing including hats, dresses and shorts), noodle relay and for the junior students ‘ill the nest’ where they illed up buckets with loating balls as quickly as possible. The day concluded with the annual Students v Staff relay. We can’t tell you who won this usually hotly contested race, as we needed to submit our information to The Croaker prior to the day of the Swimming Carnival. But we’re pretty conident we can say the staff won the race - only because Mr. Boyd and Mr. Surkitt (not very good swimmers!) left most of the swimming to Mrs. Beatson and Miss Nichol (much better swimmers!). Camp - The Grade 3-6 camp will be held from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th March at Roses Gap in the Grampians. This camp is for students and staff from Alvie PS, Forrest PS and Deans Marsh PS. It promises to be a great camp with many exciting activities, which include Abseiling, Giant Swing, Flying Fox, Canoeing, Low Ropes, Bushwalking and Hut Building. In addition to this the students will be able to use the two basketball half courts, volleyball net, table tennis tables and football ield with football posts and soccer goal posts. Polwarth Sports - On Friday 3rd March all of our students’ will travel to Alvie PS for the annual athletics carnival with children from Alvie PS, Forrest PS, Birregurra PS, Carlisle River PS and PS. During the day children will participate in many activities including Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Sprint, Distance Throw, Shot Put, Discus, Hurdles and Relay. Polwarth Cross Country - Deans Marsh Primary School will host the inter-school cross-country event for Polwarth area schools at Frogwood Arboretum on Friday 5th May. During this event, students will run/walk either 2km or 3km, depending on their age. Thanks to James from Frogwood for allowing us to use his property for this event. Murray Surkitt. Principal. Vol. 10 No. 2 GOSLING CREEK WINERY Page 3 DEANS MARSH COMMUNTIY Deans Marsh Friends of Red Cross (FORC) COTTAGE REPORT: This is just to let the community know that the Deans Marsh Branch Following from the successful start to the year thanks to Jill of The Australian Red Cross has changed to a "Friends of Red Cross" and Mark’s wonderful dog trial event, the main focus for the (FORC) group. This was agreed at our Annual meeting in cottage has been on The Festival. The Festival working group September last year. The paperwork has, at last, been completed has done a wonderful job getting things lined up and and we are now oficial! organised in preparation, with bands booked and stalls This change means that the group is more informal, with less looking great. There is plenty of work yet to be done, so if frequent meetings. We do not have a president, treasurer or you are still interested in helping out on the day please secretary but we do have a contact person. Kathy Steenholdt has contact Rebecca and she can work with you to ind a suitable kindly agreed to be that person this year. job. Thank you again to all of those who have already responded and put their hands up to help out on the working We hope that our fund raising activities for the Red Cross will group. remain the same. As you know, we provided Devonshire teas at the Sheep Dog trials in January and have been asked to do the same for You may have also noted that the applications for the cottage the Deans Marsh Festival. Participation in these two activities has bookkeeper are being sought. Applications close soon, so been made possible by extra volunteers from the community, please contact the cottage if you would like to apply or have helping our members on the day. any recommendations that we might be able to follow up on. If you are able to help at the Festival on Sunday 26th, please contact Lachie Stevens, Chairperson Kathy - Ph. 52 363 406 or Mob. 0427-363-406) or me, Deryn - Past Deans Marsh Community Cottage secretary [email protected]

UPPER BARWON LANDCARE NETWORK: Yarra Gum - eucalyptus yarraensis Do you have this rare tree on your property? The Upper Barwon Landcare Network has funding available to help protect and enhance our remnant population of Yarra Gums, and we are taking Expressions of Interest from landholders who may wish to protect this rare tree on their property. The Yarra Gum is a listed threatened species and the Upper Barwon is one of the few remaining areas in Victoria with a remnant population. These few remaining isolated individuals are declining in number and health and are suffering from die-back, age, and the effects of climate change. The trees are mainly found on roadsides with a small number found on private land. Often as an isolated tree or two in a paddock. The Yarra Gum is often mistaken for the more common Swamp Gum, the buds and fruit are similar and even the bark can be similar. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is the shape of the mature leaf. The Yarra has quite short (50-100mm) leaves, which are oval in appearance. The Swamp has ‘typical’ gum leaves, sickles shape - long and narrow (100- 150mm). Also, the Yarra Gums found in our area generally have unique circular markings on the bark. Known Yarra Gums are growing in the Barwon Downs, Yeodene, Murroon, Deans Marsh, Pennyroyal, Bambra and Wurdale/Wensleydale areas. If you think you have any remnant trees on your property which you would like to protect, please contact us. Funding can provide free seedlings and a incentive payment to partially cover the cost of stock exclusion fencing. As part of our project, we will be collecting seed from as many local Yarra Gums as possible. This seed will be tested by the CSIRO for viability and genetic diversity. We are also keen to map as many of these rare trees in our area as possible. If you know where there are a tree or two either on private land or a roadside, let us know! To register your Expression of Interest or report a Yarra Gum for seed collecting or mapping, please contact Sarah Brien at the Upper Barwon Landcare Network. Email: [email protected] Phone: 52 36 2401 Ofice: 57 Main St, Birregurra

WHAT’S ON: MARCH 2017 Gosling Creek Winery - Victoriana Gaye, Jeff Raglus & Vicki Phillips Sunday 5th March, 2pm - 5pm YYG West Farm & Bambra Agroforestry Farm - Open Day Sunday 12th March, 10am -4pm Martians Cafe - Edward Nass & The Bad Penny's Sunday 12th March, 2pm start Gosling Creek Winery - The Angus Duo Sunday 12th March, 2pm -5pm The Great Ocean Otway Classic Ride - Road Closures in DM Saturday 18th March, 8.30am - 12pm Martians Cafe - Smoke Stack Rhino Saturday 18th March, 7.30pm Gosling Creek Winery - Ray Barrow Sunday 19th March, 2pm - 5pm Gosling Creek Winery - Matty Orchard Sunday 26th March, 2pm -5pm Blakes Estate Winery - Film Night ‘Leon: The Professional’ Friday 31st March, 7pm Martians Cafe - One for the Otways ‘Album Launch’ Sunday 2nd April, 2pm start

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