In This Edition: Page April Fool’s Day 2 Earth Day 3 James Harrison 4 Cat Laws 6 World Lab Animal Day 6 World Dance Day 7 Geelong Heritage Festival 7 Osborne House 8 Life… 10 150 Years Ago 11 Handy Tips 12

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Fooled You!

April 1st has traditionally been

labelled “April Fools Day.” Have you

ever fallen victim to a prank on this

day?

The day is marked by the commission of

hoaxes and other practical jokes of

varying sophistication on friends, family

members, enemies, and neighbours, or

by sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.

Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia, and South Africa the

jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an

"April Fool". Elsewhere, the jokes last all day.

The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found

in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). In Chaucer's tale, the vain cock Chanti-

cleer is tricked by a fox. In 1539, Flemish poet Eduard de Dene wrote of a noble-

man who sent his servants on foolish errands on April 1. In 1686, John Aubrey

referred to the holiday as "Fooles holy day", the first British reference. On April 1,

1698, several people were tricked into going to the Tower of London to "see the

Lions washed." (See box above)

Modern pranks:

Considered the best prank of all time, in1957 the re-

spected BBC news show Panorama announced that

thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of

the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoy-

ing a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this

announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling

strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of

viewers were taken in.

Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could

grow their own spaghetti tree. To this the BBC diplomati-

cally replied, "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for

the best."

This year:

On page 2 of the Geelong Advertiser a story appeared

claiming to have clear proof that a “big cat” was

roaming through the Otway Ranges. Readers were

invited to go online to the „Advertiser‟ website to view

video of the creature. Were you fooled?

A ticket to “Washing the Lions” in London from

1857. This traditional April Fools prank is first

recorded in 1698.

Harvesting Spaghetti?

The “Big Cat” paw print?

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Home Lighting

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) use far more efficient lighting technology, with a typical CFL using around 80 per cent less electricity and lasting around 8 times longer than an incandescent light globe. A mandatory phase out of the energy hungry incandescent globe is set for 2010.

Sponsored by the Earth Day Network (EDN), each year on April 22nd, a special day is set aside to draw attention to issues promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This year, 2010. is the 40th anniversary of this event. EDN is committed to educating people earth-wide on matters that affect our health, our communities and our environ-ment, such as air and water pollution, climate change, green schools and environmental curriculum, access to green jobs, renewable energy, and a new green economy.

How can we contribute to sustainable life on our planet?

Water The Victorian government has set a goal for people to use 155 litres per person per day. Over Easter 2010, 144 litres per person was achieved. Typical water use in the home includes: Bathroom-50%, Laundry-22%, Garden-19% and the kitchen-8%. Showers and washing machines use the most amount of water. We can use grey water from our shower, bath and laundry rinse cycle on our gardens to help save water. We can also use a water-efficient shower head and limit showers to 5 minutes to lower water usage.

Shopping Bags

A reusable shopping bag requires less waste of natural resources such as oil, and less emission of carbon dioxide to produce than plastic bags do. Remember, when you go shopping take reusable green shopping bags and help save the ocean and marine life from plastic bags.

Food

Australians throw out 3,000,000 tonnes of food every year– equal to 145kg of food for every one of us. Taking a little more care not to waste our food can save huge amounts of earth’s resources.

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No.1 James Harrison

James Harrison was born at Dunbartonshire, Scotland in 1816. He trained as a printing appren-tice in Glasgow and worked in London before immigrating to Sydney in 1837 to set up a press for an English company. Moving to Melbourne in 1839, he was employed first as a compositor and then editor of the “Port Phillip Patriot”.

When his employer acquired a new press, Harrison bought the old one for 30 pounds and started Gee-long’s first newspaper. The Geelong Advertiser’s first edition appeared on the 21st November 1840. By November 1842, Harrison became sole owner.

In 1850, Harrison became a member of the first Geelong Town Council and represented Geelong in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1859-1860. In 1862 he had to sell the ‘Advertiser’ to escape bank-ruptcy after a libel suit by the Crown Prosecutor George Mackay, whose evident drunkenness on duty Harrison had editorially deplored.

While operating the ‘Advertiser’ between 1842 and 1862 his interest in refrigeration and ice-making began to develop. Whilst cleaning movable type with ether, he noticed that the evaporating fluid would leave the metal type cold to touch.

In 1851 Harrison’s first mechanical ice-making machine began operation on the banks of the Barwon River at Rocky Point in Geelong. In 1854 his first commercial ice-making began production and in 1855 he was granted a patent for an ether vapour-compression refrigeration system.

The bollard depicting James Harrison near Griffins Gully Jetty

on Western Beach.

► Founder of The Geelong Advertiser

► Inventer of refrigeration

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Harrison continued to develop refrigera-tion with the goal of producing a system to allow export of meat from Australia to England. In 1872-1873, at the Melbourne Exhibition, Harrison proposed a system where meat would be frozen in a refrig-eration plant and then stored in an insulated “cold bank” on board a ship. His exhibit carried the sign: “Fresh Meat frozen and packed as if for a voyage, so that the refrigerating process may be continued for any required period,”

In July 1873 Harrison prepared the sailing ship Norfolk for an experimen-tal beef shipment to the United Kingdom. His choice of a cool room rather than the installation of a refrigeration system proved to be disastrous because the ice was consumed faster than expected while travelling through the tropics. The rotting meat had to be dumped over-board. Public confidence was ruined. After the failure Harrison returned to journalism at The Age newspaper.

His journalism included Scientific Gossip, signed “Oedipus” (mythical solver of the Sphinx’s riddle), reported scientific news, discussed Darwin-ism and other international controversies of the day, invited correspon-dence and included a section on current patents.

Harrison’s interest in the development of refrigeration continued, and it wasn't much longer before meat and other products were successfully transported to Europe using refrigeration. Harrison returned to Geelong

in 1892 and died at his Point Henry home in 1893.

His Legacy

The James Harrison Museum committee have acquired land at Rocky Point and are endeavouring to build a museum there.

The Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating’s most distinguished award is the James Harrison Medal.

The James Harrison bridge spanning the Barwon River in Geelong is named in his honour.

Plaque commemorating the invention of refrigeration outside the offices of the

Geelong Advertiser in Ryrie Street.

James Harrison

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The City of Greater Geelong has put into place a cat curfew This means that between sunset and sunrise your cat must be kept indoors or in a cat enclosure. The reasons for this are:

Around 80% of accidents involving cats happen at night.

Cats allowed to roam can be injured or even killed through car accidents and fights with other animals.

Roaming cats can be a nuisance to other wildlife, especially birds. They can also annoy neighbours.

Contrary to popular belief, cats do not have to roam. Cats kept

inside at night generally live three times longer than those let outside. In addi-

tion to keeping the cat curfew at night, all cats have to be confined to their own-

ers property during the day. Any cats caught roaming the street will be taken to

the pound and only released when a fine is paid.

World Lab Animal Day– April 24, 2010 Founded by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) and

recognised by the United Nations, World Lab Animal Day

falls on April 24th. During the last week in April a real effort is

made to make the public aware that, in the opinion of NAVS,

laboratory animal research is cruel, unnecessary and

unethical. Every year 100 million animals suffer and die in

the world’s laboratories. Therefore, World Day for

Laboratory Animals is a time to reflect upon the pain and

suffering caused to millions of animals.

Here in Geelong, we have the world acclaimed Australian Animal Health

Laboratory. This facility is Australia’s frontline defence against the threat

of exotic and emerging animal diseases. We all have benefited from the

research performed at this facility. Yet, do you know how many animals

are experimented on and eventually killed each year doing this research?

Should we even care?

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World Dance Day has been celebrated on April 29th every year since 1982. The date commemorates the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the French dance and ballet master. The intention of World Dance Day is ‘to bring all dance together on this occasion, to celebrate this art form and revel in its universality, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace and friendship with a common language-dance’. In Australia World Dance Day is commemo-rated with Australian Dance Week—a week long celebration that ‘raises the profile, and focuses on the values, importance, and the many cultural contributions of dance to the Australian community. Geelong has a many different dance schools for those who want to learn. For example:

Val Hannah School of Theatrical Dancing Kavanagh Ballroom Dancing Academy Rosland’s School of Dance Keryn Louise Dance Academy

2010 GEELONG Heritage FESTIVAL Sat. 17th & Sun. 18th of APRIL

The Geelong Heritage Festival is supported by the City of Greater Geelong. This month they are celebrating the Centenary of the City of Geelong. The Proclamation was made by the State Executive Council on December 8, 1910.

In 1910 the population of Geelong was 14,636 and there were 3,290 dwellings in the city. To qualify to be called a “city” a town had to have an annual income of £20,000. In 1910 Geelong Town Council received revenue of £21,346.

Today the City of Geelong has a population of 140,000 (212,000 within the City of Greater Geelong boundaries), and more than 92,000 dwellings. This financial year the City of Greater Geelong council expects revenue of $216 million.

Further details of events can be obtained by visiting the following web page.

http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ct/calendar/item/8cc840f90bc402d.aspx

Geelong Classic DanceSport Festival

Ballroom, Latin and New Vogue dancers compete in the inaugural Geelong Classic DanceSport Festival on May 8, 2010. Prizes, raffles and novelty events are all part of the days entertainment. Location: Club Italia Bellarine Highway, Moolap

For more info: Ph 0413 607 913

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Historical Background

Osborne House was built in 1858 for local squatter, Robert Muir-head, who named the mansion after Osborne House in the Isle of Wight, England. Muirhead lived at the house until his death in 1862, with the house being sold the following year after the death of his wife. The house was leased for a number of years, then sold in 1878 to James Francis Maguire. Located on Swinburne Street, the original 1888 subdivision plan of St Helen's estate had it named Maguire Street.

In 1900 the State Government of Victoria purchased the house as a country residence for the Governor of Victoria, although it was never used as such. The Geelong Harbour Trust later purchased the house in 1905 for 6000 pounds.

Then in 1913 the Navy took up offer to use the house as a naval college. After Improvements were made, the college was opened by the Governor General, Lord Thomas Denman on March 1 1013, with Prime Minister Andrew Fisher also present. The college housed 28 cadets, 4 petty officers, and 10 seamen, together with the professors instructors and domestics. It was considered as a permanent location for the naval college as it was close to rail transport and had safe anchorage in Corio Bay, but the college was relocated to HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay in 1915.

During World War I Osborne House was used as a military hospital, and between 1919 and 1924 was used as a base by the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service for the J-class submarine. The Geelong Harbour Trust took control in 1929, with a caretaker being the only resident. In 1937 the Shire of Corio council purchased the house for use as shire offices. Between 1939 and 1945 the Department of Defence took over the site as an army training centre. In 1945 the Shire of Corio regained control of Osborne House, with the Shire purchasing adjoining land in 1947, and remodelling the offices in 1966. The amalgamation of the Shire into the City of Greater Geelong in 1995 saw the house lay empty.

Currently, Osborne House is only used for storage of historical records and artefacts.

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Proposed Future Use

Known as the Geelong Marine Industry Project, the $100 million Osborne House precinct plan aims to transform the area into the state's primary location for recreational boat servicing. The project will include centres for servicing and maintaining recreational boats, along with associated manufacturing and boat sales industries.

The G21 Geelong Region Alliance has said there will be 373 jobs created during construction and an additional 900 permanent flow-on jobs in related sectors. The city council and G21 have been clearing the precinct plan with State and Federal departments for private capital. The city, in its latest update, said the plan would need to attract a private developer prepared to invest more than $100 million. It has said that historic Osborne House would remain open to the public. The Osborne House precinct master plan was signed off by the council early last year after public consultation.

1. Melbourne Road, 2. Osborne House, 3. Stables, 4. Hotel, Cafe, Small Scale Marine & Tourist Retail, 5. Public Boating Facilities, 6. Possible Ferry, Day and Hotel Vessels, 7. Maintenance Industry Marina, 8. Marine Commercial Shops, 9. Travel Lift, 10. Workshops, 11. Heavy Boat Facility, 12. Workshops, 13. Parking, 14. Dry Stack, 15. Marine Industry, 16. Future Growth Potential, 17. Heavy Port Industry.

How should this development be viewed?

For there to be progress things have to change. Yet, Osborne House has a very significant part to play in the history of Geelong. It is of concern that this history is being ignored in redevelopment plans. Emails to council, associated organisations and individuals to express concerns have not even been acknowledged. No-one wants to see Osborne House neglected, but, at the same time, we should not see commercial interests erase the memories associated with this historic landmark.

Osborne House

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We are taught that there is beauty in life, that there is a time for everything to happen within it’s own season, and that there is a reason for all things– a purpose behind it all. Yet, at different times we all become saddened by events in life. Why should this be? I grapple with my thoughts at the sadness that many people have had to endure, including those affected by tragedies that have flashed across our television screens. (See box below) Tragedies like these can leave a person with a defective understanding on why things in life go so horribly wrong. I gasp at the harsh statements made by many who are not deeply moved by suffering, seeing homes destroyed, lives and families ripped apart. I struggle to come up with the right words myself. Do we have the right to be so blatantly insensitive? How do we show empathy if we have not shared the experience, have not walked the journey alongside the down-trodden, nor developed an understand-ing of their life, their joys and sorrows? Are we to place our own opinions upon others, defining how they should come to grips with their thoughts and emotions? Really, does anyone ever recover from a tragedy that has clamed life? It is said that we all have sad moments. True. But for some the sad moments return again and again convincing them through negative thought patterns that life and all things in it are dark and without hope. Many long-term suffers live every day experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. They can be ecstatically happy, full of joy one moment, then extremely low and dark the next. So, how does one seek triumph through the darkness? Are there any real answers? How can any professional therapist, counsellor, or psycholo-gist explain the tragic events in life and give any of us the reason for such things taking place? At Port Arthur in 1996 Martin Bryant went on a killing spree taking 35 innocence lives and wounding 21 others. Among the fatalities two were little girls, Alannah

Tragedies in recent memory Event Date Death Toll Grandville train crash 18/01/1977 83 Lindy Chamberlain mystery 17/08/1980 (Azaria) 1 Ash Wednesday 16/02/1983 75 Port Arthur massacre 28/04/1996 35 Thredbo landslide 30/07/1997 18 World Trade Centre 11/09/2001 2,750 Bali bombing 12/10/2002 202 Indonesian tsunami 26/12/2004 230,210 Black Saturday 07/02/2009 173 Haiti earthquake 12/01/2010 ≈ 230,000

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aged 6, and Madeline aged 3. How can anyone give a reason for the deaths of these two

children? How do we to come to terms with the loss and move forward? Loss of life has been attributed to wild animals, loss of self-control, revenge, or unforseen occurrences. The World Trade Centre in New York was destroyed because of religious intolerance and nationalistic hatred. Can we really under-stand such evil and justify the human response? What does a person achieve but to ruin the lives of the survivors and loved ones of the deceased? Bushfires rejuvenate the landscape we are told. After Black Saturday observers acted with compassion and empathy. They offered relief in the form of clothing, shelter, money and food. Yet, even these acts of kindness could not dissolve the sadness in the eyes of the survivors nor take away the look of grief and loss on the faces of the people who had lost loved ones. People continue to die! Though some try to give a reason for this happening, their comments are usually based more on a desire to reduce the suffering of others rather than fact. There are times when life– and death- make no sense! However, through all the sadness and grief I see the need for a hope that even-tually death will end along with the heart-ache it brings. We always need to see the beauty in life even in hard times, and, though we may be experiencing pain and loss ourselves, may we never forget to extend our hearts to show compas-sion with sensitivity and empathy toward others. -contributed

Geelong– 150 years ago this month

We had another "scene" at the Police-office this morning between the

Mayor and the Police Magistrate. A man named Bertram was accused

of stealing some sheaves of oats. The evidence was certainly not

conclusive of his guilt. The Mayor, who presided, saw no case to send

to a jury; the Police Magistrate did. The Mayor could not think of

committing a man on such testimony; the Police Magistrate could

think of doing nothing else. The Mayor would not commit; the Police

Magistrate did commit. The man applied for bail; tho Police

Magistrate said no, and he was locked up.

Without saying who was right or who

wrong, it is not too much to assert that

these continual interruptions and differ-

ences by the two gentlemen alluded to are

disgracing the town, and becoming intoler-

able. One or other had better remain away

entirely.

(The Argus, Thursday April 5, 1860 p.5)

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About this brochure: This brochure has been produced as a community service by participants in the Work For The Dole scheme at Workskil- Corio branch office. This is part of a Job Services Australia initiative. All comments and views expressed in this publication are the opinions of the participants in the scheme and not necessarily the views of Workskil or Job Services Australia. If you have any comments about information contained in this brochure, or suggestions for future brochures within the Geelong area please write to: Workskil WFTD Unit 1001 Corio Shopping Centre.

Bacchus Marsh Rd. Corio 3214 Ph: (03) 5245 3000

1- There is respite help out there for carers. When you need help- Free call 1800 059 059. This is a 24 hour emergency service.

2- Did you know that tobacco causes 81% of all drug-related deaths in the City of greater Geelong (Cancer Council Victoria.)

3- It is particularly important to vaccinate children, teenagers and young adults as swine flu can spread more easily in these age groups.

4- What to do when someone is bleeding- Check whether there is an object embedded in the wound. If you suspect there is something embedded, take care not to press on the object. Instead press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself. Seek medical help.

5- Avocados are great in salads, as a dip or in a sandwich. To ripen an avocado, place the fruit in a plain paper bag and store at room temperature

until ready to eat, this will usually take 2 to 5 days. Including an apple or banana in the bag accelerates the process, as these fruits give off ethylene gas—a ripening agent.

6- Get it of your chest- Talk about what’s bothering you with a friend or family member. Also, writing down your thoughts may be as effective as saying them out aloud; take yourself out for a coffee to devise a list of ways to address the problem so you can move on.