Axe Creek & Eppalock News Issue 50

[email protected] Issue 50 1

Axe Creek – Eppalock Newsletter

Incorporating news from the Eppalock Primary School, Axe Creek Fire Brigade & the Axe Creek Landcare Group.

Welcome to the Autumn Issue

Welcome to the 50th issue of the Axe Creek & Eppalock News.

For a small community, a 50th issue is quite an achievement. Many

community groups don’t stand the test of time! Clearly the Axe

Creek - Eppalock community is a passionate district.

As we head into Easter and the school holidays, take the time to en-

joy your family before life passes you by in a flash.

Have you stopped to smell the roses lately? There’s a reason this old

cliché is such a favourite. Autumn is a great time to get outside and

enjoy crisper weather. And if you stop to take a closer look at the

world around you, you’ll find a veritable bounty of stuff that can be

used to create an afternoon of great Autumn craft projects. Leaves,

sticks, small seed pods and gumnuts are a fantastic starting point for

Autumn craft activities.

This newsletter is a community project, please forward any contribu-

tions to [email protected]

Sam Spence

Edition 50. Autumn 2016

Welcome

Community Notice Board

CFA News

Eppalock PS Update

Axe Creek Playgroup

Landcare’s Latest

Church News

Community News

Kids Corner

Advertise your Business AND help the Community

If you would like some great local exposure for a reasonable price, then advertise in the

next issue of the Axe Creek – Eppalock Newsletter.

Full Page $100

Half Page $50

Quarter Page $25 Fees charged help cover printing costs.

Advertising deadline for future issues:

Winter 2016 May 30th

Spring 2016 August 29th

Summer 2016 Dec 2nd

Autumn 2017 Mar 3rd Contact us via [email protected]

Thank you to this issues

Contributors

John Wells - Axe Creek Fire

Brigade

Marie Mannes - Eppalock PS

Cathy Watson - Axe Creek

Landcare

Steve Weickhardt - Anglican

Parish

mailto:[email protected]


Community Notice Board

Emergency Contact Numbers

Fire, Police & Ambulance 000 (life threatening or time critical emergencies only)

SES Flood & Storm Emergency 13 25 00

Bushfire Information 1800 240 667

Information & advice about significant fires, total fire bans

Burn Off Notifications 1800 668 511

Poisons Information 13 11 26

Wildlife Rescue Service 0419 356 433

Useful Websites

CFA www.cfa.vic.gov.au

DSE www.dse.vic.gov.au

Vic Roads www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

School Terms

2016

Term 1

27 Jan – 24 Mar

Term 2

11 Apr – 24 Jun

Term 3

11 Jul – 16 Sept

Term 4

3 Oct – 20 Dec

Local Churches

St Stephens Anglican & Strathfieldsaye Uniting

Church

920 Wellington St, Strathfieldsaye

Combined Service - Sunday Mornings – 9am

Family Service - Saturday - 5pm

St Joseph’s Catholic Church

Cnr Axe Creek & Strathfieldsaye/Eppalock Rds.

Sunday Mornings – 9am

All Welcome

Axe Creek CFA

Captain Neil Irving-Dusting

5439 6388

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au


CFA News From Axe Creek Brigade

IT'S BEEN ANOTHER LONG FIRE SEASON

This fire season started with a record heatwave in the first week of October. At the time of

writing (early March) we are still in summer weather, with another heatwave developing.

Southern Australia suffered numerous devastating fires—in WA, SA, Victoria and Tasmania. In

Victoria alone 145 houses have been lost, and hundreds more burnt in WA and SA.

Our district has been fortunate, with no major fires. Keep vigilant, and keep taking precautions:

it may not be over yet!

Up to the end of February Axe Creek brigade had turned out 19 times: to five local fires and

incidents, 12 times to support neighbouring brigades, and twice in strike teams to Lancefield

and Kyneton. Members also helped to crew trucks from other brigades at the Lancefield and

Kyneton fires. Because of the heightened fire danger in northern Victoria volunteers from our

district were not called on for interstate deployments. Crews for those jobs were from Western

Victoria (to SA), East Gippsland and outer metropolitan Melbourne.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Our first extract is the report of a fire near Axedale, which illustrates the community re-

sponse to a bushfire.

The Age, Monday 10 January 1927

Beehives Have Narrow Escape

200 ACRES OF GRASS BURNT

Over 200 acres of land at Axedale were swept by a fire on Saturday. In addition to the

grass, half a chain of fencing and 500 fencing posts were burned. The fires started on

the property of Mr. V. A. Deane, on the banks of the Campaspe River, about 10 a.m.,

and spreading down the river bank into grass paddocks, swept through Mr. Dean's

land, and into the holding of Mr Bennett.

Firefighters attacked the outbreak stubbornly, and it was stopped in Axe Creek within

a few feet of 80 hives of bees on Mr. Bennett's property. The local firefighters were aug-

mented by cricketers from Knowsley and Wild Duck.

It is suspected that a party of campers was responsible for the origin of the fire.

The second extract is from closer to home. Mr H. Dunn was Secretary of Axe Creek Bri-

gade from its formation in 1916 until 1946.

The Age, Tuesday 14 January 1941

The timely warning of a woman and the smart response by members of Axe Creek fire

brigade resulted in a bush fire at Axe Creek being checked before any serious dam-

age resulted. Mrs H. Dunn after giving the alarm attempted to extinguish the fire with

buckets of water from a dam and was on the point of collapse when several members

of the brigade arrived and prevented the flames reaching the homestead.


ARE WE HAVING MORE TOTAL FIRE BANS?

Sometimes it seems that Total Fire Bans are being declared more often than they used to be. I

decided to have a look at the statistical record.

Since 1945, when the CFA was formed, declaration of Total Fire Bans has been the responsibility

of the CFA Chief Officer, who takes advice from the Bureau of Meteorology (weather fore-

casts), personnel from CFA, DELWP and other agencies (fuel loads and dryness), fire behaviour

specialists and others.

Almost 700 Total Fire Bans have been declared in the 70 or so years since 1945. For the first 40-

odd years Total Fire Bans covered whole of Victoria, but from 1986 regional fire bans have

been in place. Here are a couple of charts summarising Total Fire Bans that have affected our

district (Northern Country; formerly North West) over the past 30 years. In this period we had all

together 252 days of Total fire Ban. (There were also 77 bans that did not cover our district.)

On average we've had about eight Total Fire Bans each summer, but in some of the wetter

summers there have been only one (or none at all), while during the millennium drought there

were three summers with more than 15. At the time of writing we'd had 11 this summer.

Now let's look at the numbers of Total Fire Bans in

each of the summer months. Clearly December,

January and February are the peak months, but

dangerous fire conditions often persist into March

and even April.

Our earliest fire bans were on 4th October in 2006,

and 6th October in 2015. The latest was on 28 April,

in 2005.

Almost all the early-season fire bans (October &

November) and most of the late-season bans

(March and April) have been in the last 15 years.

Fire seasons do seem to be getting longer, just as

climate scientists predicted.


AXE CREEK NOW HAS A JUNIOR FIRE BRIGADE

Axe Creek has recently established a Junior brigade for 11-15 year olds. This junior brigade is run

by local volunteers with the support of the CFA and will provide a range of safe and enjoyable

activities for members. The primary focus of the junior brigade will be training for and compet-

ing in junior firefighting championships.

To find out more, contact Brad Knight on 5439 6034 or Captain Neil Irving-Dusting on 5439 6388.

A CHAT WITH FIRST LIEUTENANT BILL ASHBY

Forty-two years ago Bill Ashby's Melbourne job brought him to Bendigo for three months. "I never

went back to live in Melbourne!" he told me.

Thirty years ago he moved with his family from Bendigo to Axe Creek. I asked what prompted

him to join the fire brigade. "I've always had an interest in volunteering. Joining the fire brigade

was part of living in a rural area."

"I still remember my first fire—a small burn-off in Patons Road, that happened soon after I fin-

ished my basic training."

Bill was a member of the competition running team for a number of years, and has been an ac-

tive firefighter for many years. He was 4th Lieutenant for two years, and has been 1st Lieutenant

for the past four years.

What is the role of the 1st Lieutenant? "I take on administrative duties as a back up to the Cap-

tain, who has to make sure the brigade is running smoothly. On the fireground an important role

is to delegate responsibilities to those who have the most experience, not necessarily taking

charge myself."

And what might he do in the future? "I've always been interested in radio. In WW2 my father

was a radio operator on small ships based in Darwin. As younger and stronger members take

over the more active firefighting I might step back a little and work more in incident manage-

ment roles."

Over three decades Bill has seen big changes in CFA and Axe Creek brigade. "CFA is much

more professional. There is more training for members, and it is more accessible. In years gone

by we had to go to Fiskville for advanced training, but now there's a well-equipped training

ground at Huntly. The equipment we use is much better, and all firefighters are issued with their

own protective equipment: overalls, helmet, boots etc.

"Of course there is more regulation—as in the rest of society—but this includes a strong emphasis

on safe practices. In 30 years I have never felt in real danger while fighting fires.

"All rural brigades are struggling to get new members, though there are plenty of people in our

area who could make a valuable contribution to the fire brigade, which of course relies com-

pletely on volunteers."

We're still not finished with what has been a long fire season. How does he see the future of fire-

fighting? "I think we'll see much more sharing of resources—people—between districts and

states. Each year the fire season starts first in southern Queensland, and progresses steadily

through NSW, then Victoria, SA and WA, and finally reaches Tasmania. Interstate assistance

such as we've seen this year is likely to become more common.

"Modernisation of equipment, and the use of large aircraft, both helicopters and fixed wing

bombers, are already making a difference in the way we fight fires, and developments like

these will continue to change how we work."

Finally I asked Bill if he had any advice for local residents. "Yes," he said "Get involved! Whether

in the fire brigade or other groups, you get to meet different people, make new contacts, and

contribute to the community."


VISIT THE BRIGADE'S FACEBOOK PAGE

Have you looked at (and Liked) Axe Creek Fire Brigade's Facebook page? It regularly has news

about Brigade activities, as well as links to all sorts of interesting reports and eye-catching pho-

tos and video clips from all over the place. Check it out!

www.facebook.com/axecreekfirebrigade


Eppalock Primary School

This year we have welcomed 18 new students and their families to the Eppalock School

community—Taryn, Miller, Eddie, Evah, Katie, Will, Connor, Jessica, Annemieka, Evie, Patrick,

Rowan and Chloe (all into Prep class), Bailey C (Grade 5), Paige (Grade 4), Brydie (Grade 3),

Billy (Grade 2) and Charlie (Grade 1).

We have also welcomed some new staff members ..

HOLLY WESTAWAY is our Grade 4/5/6 classroom teacher. Holly studied at Latrobe University

here in Bendigo and majored in Health and English. Holly grew up in country Victoria on a

horse farm and attended a small rural primary school and has always been involved in her

local community. Holly is passionate about education and teaching and is thrilled to be a part

of the Eppalock Primary School community.

SAM MILNER is our PE specialist. Sam comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience

having taught PE and Sport in Melbourne at Hawthorn West PS and recently at Strathfieldsaye

PS. Sam says ‘the best thing about teaching PE and Sport is helping my students improve,

experience and learn new skills, build teamwork and most importantly – have fun!’

KRISTIE WOODWARD – Kristie is co-ordinating and delivering our Music/Drama program in 2016.

Here is a short note from Kristie …

As a singer, actor, director and teacher, I am passionate about Performing Arts education. I

taught classroom Drama and directed the school's Musical Productions at Girton Grammar

School for the past two years. I enjoy performing in community theatre companies and choirs; I

recently performed in "Mary Poppins" with Bendigo Theatre Company and I am a chorister in

the Gisborne Singers. I also teach private singing lessons. I am really excited about meeting all

of the students, staff and families in the Eppalock Primary School community and sharing a

wonderful year of Drama and Music experiences together.

Kristie will continue with the Australian Chamber Orchestra Music and Art Program for the

Grade 4-6 students and co-ordinate our involvement in the Victorian State School Spectacular

as well as organise our end-of-year drama performance

FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY

We are thrilled that we have been accepted into the FRESH FRUIT

FRIDAY program funded and supported by McKern Foundation, JL

King & Co Food Processors Fruit & Vegetable Merchants, Porter Davis,

Adroit Insurance Group and BlueScope Distribution starting this week.

This is a wonderful opportunity and we thank the sponsors very much

for their generosity.


SCHOOL CURRICULUM

The whole school begins each day with a half hour block of reading from 9.00am—9.30 am.

Parents, who are able, are encouraged to come along and listen to children read during this

time. Mindfulness meditation takes place straight after reading for 10 minutes each morning.

As well as our core curriculum areas of Literacy and Numeracy, we are continuing with

specialist programs including –

LOTE Chinese presented by our Chinese Hanban teacher.

Living Green Environmental Program which involves all students in the sustainability,

gardening and cooking activities.

The Mobile Area Resource Centre (MARC Van) is a small mobile library that visits our

school every second week. The MARC van is filled with

picture story books, fictional novels, non-fiction books as well

as teacher resources for students and teachers to borrow.

The borrowing of books is also complimented by a lesson

undertaken by the MARC Van teacher.

PE – students are encouraged to develop their physical

skills and fitness through our Physical Education and Sports

program.

MUSIC/DRAMA – this program is provided once a week

for students in all year levels. Children are introduced to

various styles of music from different cultures as well as given

the opportunities to create their own music. Singing and

drama activities are also included in this program.

Dasha and Archer looking very relaxed reading

SPORTING SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Eppalock Primary School is very excited to be involved with this program in 2016.

Sporting Schools is Australia’s largest school-based sports participation program to help

children foster a lifelong interest in sport.

After kicking off in July 2015, Sporting Schools brings together schools and sports to help get

Aussie children active in their local communities. Sporting Schools is open to all Australian

primary schools, and with quality programs developed by over 30 national sporting

organisations. It offers a fun and supportive environment for children and coaches.

Our Term 1activity was based around the national MILOin2CRICKET program and ran on a

Thursday after school from 3.30 pm until 4.30 pm.

The program encompassed all the skills required to score runs and take

wickets. 30 students participated in the program and each received a gift

pack comprising of cricket bat and ball in a draw-string bag.


Axe Creek Community Playgroup

When Friday Mornings 9am - 11.00am

Where Eppalock PS – Old School Building.149 Patons Road Axe Creek

(just a few minutes from Strathfieldsaye)

Come along and join other families for a cuppa and chat whilst your pre-school children enjoy lots of fun

activities. Fresh fruit is provided.

Morning Tea & activities provided.

Gold Coin Donation

For further information please

phone (03) 5439 6366

email: [email protected]

http://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au

All Welcome

COMMUNITY NIGHT

We had some ‘crazy’ fun at the ‘crazy bingo’ community night recently. It was fantastic to see

so many parents and students enjoying a picnic tea, the ‘crazy bingo’ games and each oth-

er’s company. The weather was hot but that did not stop everyone joining in and having a

great night.

mailto:[email protected]


Latest from Axe Creek Landcare

The Axe Creek Landcare Committee meet at Eppalock Primary School,

in the old staffroom on the first Monday of each month

at 8.00 pm during daylight saving period

or at 7.30 pm for the rest of the year.

We have two or three public meetings during the year, generally with a guest speaker.

Topics in the past have included weeds, pest animals, sustainable soils, gardening, ani-

mal husbandry, grasses. We also hold field days, working bees and excursions.

Members of the community are always welcome to attend any meeting!

One of the absolute best patches of remnant vegetation in the district is on Plaistow at Joyce's Creek.

What makes it so special?

Firstly, there is a super-structure of veteran trees - largely Yellow Gum and Grey Box, some of which must

be 300 years old or more. Secondly there is a diverse shrub layer, added through some successful direct

seeding work over a decade ago. Thirdly, and most importantly perhaps, is that the remnant has been

carefully managed. For example, fallen branches and leaf litter has been allowed to accumulate,

providing a rich assortment of microhabitats for invertebrates. This in turn now supports a rich array of

reptiles and birds, such as the Brown Treecreeper pictured below.



Church News

Hear, here!

Have you ever paused to think about how many voices you hear each day? At home, family

voices. Chatter with friends and sports teams. Work voices. The media – radio, television, even

music on the radio – what are they singing about? Magazines and newspapers. Social media

and the internet, blogs and forums, clips and memes. Even conversations in the shops, the ones

you are a part of, and those you are eavesdropping on (c’mon, you know you do!).

It might just seem like a lot of noise, different ideas, things to agree with, other ones you don’t.

And all the stuff you ignore or reject as irrelevant anyway. We willingly, and unwillingly, hear so

much. How many opinions are you exposed to every day? Are you picking up healthy mind hab-

its or unhealthy perceptions on people you disagree with or how you feel about them?

Who do you listen to? Why?

One of the reasons people say they don’t believe in God is because they say God doesn’t talk

to them, or they can’t see Him, and “if God turned up and blew my mind, then I would believe”.

I don’t believe that is true.

We choose the voices we listen to, and if we are honest, most people in Australia don’t want to

hear what God has to say. I understand this, because I understand that the Church hasn’t been

a good voice for God, and had hidden some dark secrets. Also, I don’t think many Australians

want to hear what God has to say because it would be hard words. We mostly live in the wealth-

iest 10% of the world’s population, but we are busy looking at what we don’t have, or what we

want. So we miss the massive gap between our wealth, health and opportunities and those of

the majority of the world’s mums, dads, children who just want clean water, sanitation and hope.

And if God did turn up to “blow our minds”, history tells us that those who see it would marvel,

and believe, for a bit. All the other voices would soften and we would listen to God’s Word for

the time. But the other voices would get louder again, and the moment would be dimished. I

don’t believe the wonder and belief would last. The busyness would take over again.

God has spoken to the world, through the Hebrews before Jesus (the Christian Bible’s ‘Old Testa-

ment’), and through God Himself in Jesus, and His followers after Jesus’ resurrection on Easter

Day (the New Testament). It is no secret – all laid out in the Bible, freely available (check out

www.bible.com). But to most Australians – even to you? – it is just another voice. Most ignore it.

Some listen. Few act on what they hear. God loves everyone, and especially the faith of those

who listen, and hear, and act. He pours out His Holy Spirit on those who come to Him in faith, ac-

cepting Jesus’ offer of hope.

Try and read a bit of God’s Word, start with a couple of pages of one of the ‘Gospels’, the writ-

ten story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. I suggest beginning with the ‘Gospel of John’. Lis-

ten to the words. Think about them.

And give me a call if you hear something interesting in them, and we’ll talk!

Your local Rev,

Steve Weickhardt (5439 4817)


Community News

Community Gamelan group Mugi Rahayu is your local gamelan (Javanese music and dance) group. We are from Eppalock and we practice weekly and perform at various cultural events and fund-raisers around the district. No experience required and it’s free.

New members Welcome

Practice every Saturday 2:00 pm at 101 Carneys Rd, Eppalock.

Contact Nita or Aaron phone: 54392678 email: [email protected]

Poo Pile!

Need manure for your garden? Bags available from out the front of

125 Axe Creek Rd at $2.00 each or phone

54393144 for a trailer load at $10-$15.00 per load.

All proceeds to Riding for the Disabled Association.

email us at [email protected]

The Strathfieldsaye Community Church has a hall available for hire for small to

medium size groups with heating, kitchen facilities and toilets all under the same roof,

and plenty of parking.

Contact details are on the sign on the front of our Church at 920 Wellington Street,

Strathfieldsaye. Please note that no alcohol is permitted.


Kids Corner

Bird feeder

Connect your kids with nature with this easy bird feeder art and craft kids activity. It's simple to con-

struct and you and your kids can watch the birds eat from it once you are done.

What You Need:

natural found items (leaves, bark, gum nuts)

a 1L milk carton (washed)

stapler

hole punch

a loop of string (any size)

scissors

PVA glue

a dish for glue

a brush for glue

bird food from a pet store

Activity:

Have your child collect leaves, bark, gum nuts or other natural findings from your backyard or even the

park, and explain what you intend to make with them – you may even spot birds whilst you are both

outside.

Staple the top of the carton together.

Punch a hole in the top of the carton and thread the string through, tying a knot to create a loop to

hang the bird feeder.

Cut out an insert/hole towards the base of the carton.

Using PVA glue, get your child to stick the natural found items to the bird feeder, to create a feeder

that can blend in with the natural environment by mimicking the birds’ natural habitat.

Let it dry.

Fill the base with bird food and hang on a tree in your garden, or from a high spot on your verandah or

balcony.

Notes:

You may want to make this outside where you can spot birds and so that the mess is easier to clean

up.

Buying waterproof PVA glue will mean your bird feeder will last longer. However PVA can take a

while to dry, so it is important to allow drying time.

Alternatively you can use a stapler or tape, and if real leaves are proving challenging to work with

then cut out some leaves from green paper.

This activity can be educational if you find out some facts to share whilst making the bird feeder,

about your local bird population.

It also provides the opportunity for you and your child to work together and an experience that

can last several days as you check if the bird food has been eaten.

Documents

Axe Creek & Eppalock News Issue 50