forrest post september 2014
DESCRIPTION
Winter has ended with a bang with snow in the Otways. The children in town have been very busy and meet our locals, long standing and new.TRANSCRIPT
The Forrest Post is now nine
editions old. We hope you
like the way it is developing.
Please remember we
welcome contributions, so
please email us at
if you know of anything
going on in Forrest.
The Post is a voluntary project of the Forrest & District Community Group. The Community Group has had a big year! Projects have been:
$25,000 secured from Colac Otway Shire to help build the accessible Hall toilet
3 sculptural bike racks installed
Grant St footpath and tree planting
Part-funding the School entrance and Historical Society renovations.
Watch out for our community survey in next month’s Post: we want to know what to focus on next.
Photo courtesy Nick Romanowski
The Otways became a winter wonderland of snow-draped tree ferns and ice-crisped grasses in early August.
Light snows blanketed the higher reaches of the ranges in a day of falling snowflakes, starting as low as Barramunga, just a few kilometres south.
Snow in the Otways is infrequent, but beautiful as the rainforest ferns catch the flakes like giant umbrellas.
In a month of contrasts, winter rains saw the dam again break its banks with millions of litres an hour cascading over the spillway.
Funding for fun in the sun Forrest Learning Centre is to receive a $5000 grant to install a shade sail in the Early Years Learning Centre.
‘This announcement is fantastic news,’ said Darryl Harty, School Principal.
‘As we are a Sun Smart facility, the shade sail will enable our preschoolers the opportunity to play outside protected from the sun, especially in
the high-risk months from September through to the end of March.’
‘We are hopeful of sourcing a contractor as soon as possible to ensure it is in place before summer,’ said Mr Harty.
State Transport and Roads Minister and local member Terry Mulder announced the grant at the Birregurra Kindergarten, which will also receiving funding.
And to end winter, the clouds parted and we enjoyed magnificent sunshine with a promise of spring in the air as temperatures headed toward 20 degrees.
After a winter of variety and beauty, it’s great to look forward to warm weather and sunshine.
It’s snow time!
SEPTEMBER 2014
FFoorrrreesstt’’ss sshhooppss,, ccaaffééss aanndd
rreessttaauurraannttss hhaavvee aallll
rreeooppeenneedd,, ssoommee wwiitthh
ffaacceelliiffttss,, nneeww mmeennuuss,,
nneeww oowwnneerrss aanndd
eevveenn nneeww nnaammeess..
VViissiitt tthheemm aallll aanndd cchheecckk oouutt
tthhee cchhaannggeess!!
Vice President Stuart Baker said that
the men in the club take an active
role in helping others in town.
‘Our men’s shed members go out
into the community as well as work
on site,’ said Stuart. ‘We recently
helped a local lady living on her own
who needed some guttering
Plumbing funding in the pipeline replaced. She bought the materials
and we all chipped in to get the
work done.’
The majority of the build is being
funded from a grant announced
earlier this year and monies raised
by the men themselves.
Sarah Henderson with members of the Forrest Men’s Shed
The Forrest Men’s Shed building
project received a boost with the
announcement of a $6000 grant for
plumbing works.
Federal member Sarah Henderson
announced the funding in August on
the site which is now being cleared
for foundations.
‘Men’s sheds are a wonderful part of
so many communities,’ said Ms
Henderson. ‘They create a sense of
mateship and camaraderie,
particularly in rural communities
where isolation is an issue.
‘I am particularly impressed with
the Forrest Men’s Shed as they will
by opening up the facility for
community purposes,’ she said.
The club is hoping that they can
secure further funding to meet the
$8000 cost of electrical works.
HHHooottt gggooossssssiiippp.........
What’s big and red and eats side mirrors? The new
Forrest fire truck!
Between the truck being a little bigger than the last
one and Birregurra’s side streets a little narrower
than expected, Captain Al Winter collected (and then
arranged repairs for) side mirrors on two cars.
The red truck headed back to Forrest with a red-faced
captain!
The CFA turned on their digital radio network in July
and the Forrest brigade have now had the opportunity
to test all previously known black spots in the area.
‘Even Lake Elizabeth was perfect,’ said Brigade Captain
Allan Winter. ‘It was like they were sitting next to me
even though they were broadcasting from the other
side of Melbourne.’
‘Having clear communication definitely adds to the
safety of the crew and adds to your confidence,’ said
Allan. ‘It’s made a huge difference ahead of this year’s
fire season.’
Unfortunately, the brigade was again unsuccessful this
year in securing funding from the CFA for a slip-on
(ultra light tanker), despite having raised the required
co-contribution. The local Lions Club and Community
Group have each pledged $5000 and the brigade has
raised a further $10,000.
‘The slip-on would allow the brigade to respond faster
to things like car accidents, and access smaller roads for
fire fighting,’ Allan said. ‘It’s also cheaper than sending
the truck to activities that don’t need it.’
The brigade will apply again next year.
Joeys and cubs in the Otways Increasing the range of activities for
young people in Forrest has been the
focus of community members. There
are 39 children in the Forrest Primary
School, and the Forrest Youth Group
identified around 30 teenagers
resident in our area.
Recent discussions with the Regional
Commissioner and the Colac-Otways
District Leader of the Scout
Movement revealed a keenness to
establish a group in Forrest. The
natural advantages of the location are
second to none for outdoor activities.
The working group proposes to
establish joeys (ages 6-7), cubs (8-10)
and possibly scouts (10-14). The
Movement has offered seed funds
take up this opportunity to access and
live better within the bush
surrounding us.
The Broomfield and Freddi families
are prepared to undertake the serious
commitment of leader training and
now appeal to community members
to sit on a committee to support the
leaders and provide oversight for the
program. Four individuals or families
are required to share this role.
If you are willing and able, please
speak with Andrew and Shizhu
Broomfield (0434 551 350) or Jason
and Liza Freddi (0402 773 110) in the
next few weeks. Enquiries and
expressions of encouragement are
also welcome.
and leader training, as well as
personnel to help get a local group
underway.
All is contingent upon parent and
community support. Scouting not only
involves children, but parents and
other community members. The
benefits to the Forrest district will be
social and environmental if people
Beating the black spot
Phone 5243 3579
Forrest’s Learning Centre provides a
distinctive experience in that it
provides a learning and caring
environment for children from babies
through to 12 years of age.
‘I was informed recently that this
model is currently found in only one
other school in Victoria,’ said Darryl
Harty, School Principal. ‘It is an
exemplar being monitored closely and
I feel confident it could be used in
other locations across the state in the
future.’
The model was built on the good work
of previous principal Tara Hulance,
School Council and the Early Years
Committee who had a vision for what
the Forrest community’s needs were
and developed a solution to meet
these.
Families benefit from the opportunity
to have children of varying ages
in the same place for day care,
preschool, primary school and
after-hours care. Aside from
the logistical advantage over
travelling many kilometres
between centres, children
benefit from an environment
where age groups support one
another.
‘The staff are fantastic in
ensuring the family values we
hold dear are promoted at
every possibility,’ said Mr
Harty. ‘For example, playtimes
are coordinated to enable older
siblings to see and play with
their toddler brothers and
sisters on a regular basis.’
There is an economic logic to the
model too. Whilst each group’s
learning program is targeted, the
One with the lot
Kayla Forssman (11) lends preschooler
John Seebeck a helping hand.
The month of August was been a strange one. The weather is beginning to change, the days are getting darker sooner, the trees are beginning to become orange and yellow and the weather is rainy, cold and windy. My host family has told me that with the weather changing like this it means the coming winter is going to be a cold and snowy one.
Jasmine Walsh is a local schoolgirl on a 12-month Rotary exchange in Finland.
This is me and my host dad and uncle at the beach with a campfire, frying sausages.
facility and equipment from
playground to curriculum resources are
used by three age groupings without
the need for duplication.
Forrest’s lock-up has moved again,
this time up the road to the Forrest
& District Historical Society’s new
home in the West Barwon Dam weir
keeper’s cottage.
The lock-up appeared in Forrest in
1913, when a police presence was
first established here. It probably
originated in England, as one of
hundreds of prefabricated kits sent
out to help manage the more unruly
members of the colony. Numbers
can still be seen on the internal
boards to guide the lock-up’s
assembly.
The Forrest archives contain very
little information on inhabitants of
the lock-up, but there are anecdotes
of locals being brought in to cool off
after having had a little too much to
drink. Cool in winter and
fairly stuffy in summer, it
wouldn’t have been a place
where people would have
wanted to stay for long.
However, there is a metal
grid between the internal
and external cladding, and
no escapes were recorded.
The lock-up was located
for many years behind the
police station in Station St,
but in the past 50 years or
so its only inhabitant has
been a haul of marijuana
plants that needed a
secure location.
The lock-up was moved temporarily
to the Men’s Shed around two years
ago, where it was used for storage.
The tale of the wandering lock-up
Open Thursday - Sunday
New spring menu Special single release SMaSH brew using
wild hops Roadnight Creek Bike friendly - kid friendly - dog friendly
Open 7 days across the September / October school holidays
Thursday night is neighborhood night
Serving rockin' PIZZAs from 6.00pm onwards Or join the Brew Crew, on a socially
orientated Mountain Bike ride from 6.15, followed by PIZZA
Take away Pizzas also available
In its current location it will
eventually house an exhibition of
pictures and hopefully some criminal
histories, if the Historical Society can
find any.
Details supplied by
Ken Widdowson and Norm Houghton
How long have you been in Forrest and what brought you here?
I first came here 49 years ago, to visit Bernice
Rourke. We were both at the hospital in Hamilton, I
was a resident physician and she was a trained
nurse there. I asked Bernice whether I could give
her a lift home one weekend, and I immediately felt
at home here. We were married in 1966.
But you didn’t make your home in Forrest for quite a while?
We worked in South Africa, UK and New Guinea,
but Bernice always wanted to come back here. I
finished my psychiatric training and we went to
Ararat for 12 years, where I was superintendent
at the Ararat Mental Hospital. Then I worked as a
psychiatrist in Pentridge, and later an opportunity
came up to work in Canada. I loved Canada, and
stayed on. Bernice came back here and we had a
long-distance relationship for 20 years, just
getting together for holidays and anniversaries.
What do you like about Forrest now that it’s home?
I love the solitude here, and the friendliness of the
people. But Bernice keeps me here. When I go up
to the cemetery I see all her ancestors—her family
goes back five generations to the early settlers in
Forrest. I’m just a ring-in—I’ve only ever really
seen myself as Norm Rourke’s son-in-law. But I’m
digging in now, I’m delighted to say I’ve just joined
the Hall Committee!
Jeff Rosenstock comes from Brooklyn, New York and spent
the whole month of July in Forrest.
Motivation: I came to work with friends, producing their new
album. We wanted an environment that was perfect and found
this quirky place on the internet.
Experience: My most lasting memory will be falling asleep
with the sound of the rain on the roof. And the birds – seeing
the birds every morning. Do you have them everywhere over
here?
Insights: If you had New York slices of pizza, I’d probably
move here! Two days after I moved here I missed my fiancé
and then just below her, I missed pizza!
Verdict: If you were writing a headline for your visit what
would it be?
‘Forrest: a welcoming community’
The people here are so friendly. It shouldn’t be taken for
granted because it’s not like that everywhere else.
What brought you to Forrest?
Liza: We just wanted to get out of the city. We looked around for quite a while – what we really wanted was to find a community and a good place for our boys to grow up.
Jason: It’s getting harder to live in the city without having an enormous amount of money. I was working in construction and was fed up with the hours and the stress. We love camping and then would come home and think how boring it was, so we thought why don’t we invert our lives and live the other way around.
What do you like about living in Forrest?
Liza: I love being able to hear the animals and birds instead of the traffic. Elijah was so funny – the first time we went back to Melbourne he said, ‘Oh I forgot about traffic lights!’
Jason: There is really good diversity in Forrest. People here take an interest in the town and get involved. That doesn’t seem to happen in Melbourne – it’s too big for people to take responsibility for, so they just don’t.
You’ve been here 6 months now and really settling in.
Liza: I got a job at the Brewery before we moved and I picked up some shifts at the Guesthouse as well. Everyone has been so welcoming, it’s a really lovely community here. I’ve joined the Community Group and Jason is running the school play and was invited on the Neighbourhood House Committee.
Jason: I’ve always liked being involved in the community. I was in music and theatre for years,
but I was getting frustrated by the travel and the logistics of getting people together from all over Melbourne.
Reuben, Jason, Liza and Elijah Freddi
You have a new baby arriving soon. What does the future hold for the Freddi family?
Liza: We’re still figuring that out. I’m ready to put some roots down. Maybe we’ll look to settle in town or on some land. I’m building my textile and design business.
Jason: We know we don’t need to look for another town to settle in because this one ticks all the boxes. I want to keep working on my writing and get back to playing music.
Forrest Primary School is midway
through rehearsals for its 2014 school
production, the first for many years.
The play is based on the legend of the
Wild Colonial Boy, Jack Donahue, a
bushranger that terrorized Sydney
during the 1820s. He is Australia’s
answer to Robin Hood: an escaped
convict who robbed from the rich to
sell to the poor.
Involving all of the 39 students from
Prep to Grade 6, the play provides
opportunities for students in
technical and artistic roles as well as
acting.
‘The play is terrific fun, it provides a
mix of the serious and the comic. One
can see their confidence growing
week by week’, says senior teacher,
Craig Donahoo.
Primary play goes wild
The original play was composed by a
parent, Jason Freddi, who has two
boys in the school.
‘I got the idea because my boys love
the Aussie bushranger stories. It’s
hard not to feel sympathetic towards
them,’ said Jason.
Matinee: Tuesday, 16th Sept (1.30pm)
Evening: Wednesday 17th September
(6.30pm).
Where: Forrest Community Hall
The play runs for 70 minutes.
Everyone is welcome - gold coin
donation.
FORREST EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
We offer families a range of services for
children from birth to school age:
3 and 4-year-old Pre-School 15 hours
(including unique Bush Kinder Program)
Long Day Care (Mon-Wed 9am – 6pm, Thurs –
Fri 2 – 6pm)
Out-of-school hours care
Long Day Care and OSHC CCB claimable
A school bus operates in the area for pick-ups
Contact: Forrest Primary School Principal Darryl Harty
PH: 52366 393/0427 366 393
Situations Vacant...
Forrest Brewery has a vacancy for a Head Chef,
Front of House Manager and hospitality & bar staff
with a min. of 2+ years experience.
Head Chef: http://www.seek.com.au/job/26878363
Front of House Manager:
http://www.seek.com.au/job/26891642
Chase the dog...
A riding event in support of Beyond Blue, October 11
www.chasethedog.com.au
Mandy Williams built the very first
mudbrick house in Forrest, back in the
1980s. It is now nestled so comfortably
into the landscape on Roadnight Creek
that most people don’t realise it is there.
Mandy’s first home on site was under just
two sheets of corrugated iron. For the first
year, she made mudbricks while she saved
and searched for second-hand materials.
She chose mudbricks because they were
cheap, and for their thermal properties.
‘It’s a medium that can be used by
inexperienced builders—you can learn the
technique easily.’
Mandy’s own clay was too pure, but Titch Evans
was able to supply usable clay from digging a new
pit at the old Forrest tip. The bricks are all mud,
without cement or straw. ‘I hand-made the bricks,
one at a time. They were all puddled with rubber
boots—I did it the hard way. Then I laid them all: it
was a long process!’
Mandy built the house in a sustainable way, a
rectangle with a northern orientation and thermal
mass in the floor and walls to retain heat, wide
eaves, timber from on site and second-hand doors
and windows. This was partly a lifestyle decision,
but it was mainly economic: ‘It was the only way I
was ever going to afford a house of my own, but I
love the fact that it works. I’m living comfortably, at
Mandy’s mudbricks drying in the sun
a very cheap price. Everything works simply and
together for heating and cooling.’
The house is powered by solar panels—to connect
to the grid was going to cost $40,000, which was
around the total cost of the house! Mandy has
found solar power to be quite adequate. She is
conservative with power, but there’s nothing much
she can’t do.
Mandy had no building skills when she started, but
did a short course, read books, and observed
others. Her partner was not hands-on in the
process, though he helped financially. She had a lot
of help with the carpentry from a friend, Dave.
Together they would fell trees, debark them and
drag them into position.
She describes building as ‘a process of
acquiring one essential, then one
comfort, after another. Because we
were doing everything the hard way it
didn’t happen quickly. But every time
we achieved water on tap, or a toilet,
or another closed wall, it was such a
reward. You felt the power of having
done it yourself.’
‘I’d tell kids they should consider this
kind of thing, rather than having a
massive debt on their shoulders for
half their lives.’
The Forrest Post is an initiative of the Forrest and District Community Group. Every effort is made to remain current, accurate and non-partisan. Feedback, submissions and advertising input are encouraged. Submissions may be edited. You may request an electronic version by email delivery. Contact [email protected]. Editors: Mandy Bishop, Mary Dracup
Anglers will be delighted to hear that the West Barwon
Dam's fish stock was increased by 3000 rainbow trout
during August.
Barwon Water systems operator Glenn Doyle said the trout
were one year old (about 150mm long). Known as triploids,
they had been specially bred to grow rapidly, so should be
around 2kg in 12 months’ time—large enough to make a
good catch.
Glenn hopes the new trout will fare better than the last lot
of trout that were introduced in 2013. These were also
yearlings, but had not been bred to grow fast. There were
few reports of these trout being caught, and he feared that
because of their small size they were easy prey for the
highly territorial brown trout in the dam, as well as birds.
Glenn said Barwon Water stocked the dam with 3000 trout
every year, mainly to give anglers a good stock of fish to
catch, but also to help keep the water quality good as they
ate insect larvae and other grubs.
Rainbow trout (drawing by Virgil Beck,
courtesy Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources, https://www.flickr.com/search/?l=cc&q=RAINBOW%20TROUT)
From little fish big fish grow
Common heath
Common heath (Epacris impressa) is Victoria’s floral symbol, and has been flowering well through the Otways for the past two months.
The flowers hang in dense masses, and come in many colour forms: whites and pale pinks are often seen growing together, but in other places they are always deep pink to scarlet and even crimson.
Their clean, bright colours and the elegant tube shape are designed to attract honeyeaters, especially long-beaked species such as the Eastern spinebill, which are one of its main pollinators.
Even though this is one of the most widespread and often abundant winter wildflowers, it grows and flowers best in fairly open country, for example in recently-burnt bushland. Seedlings may even appear on the bare clay of dams.
You’d think a common plant that grows so easily and flowers so freely would be a popular native that would be available from most nurseries, but this heath is a true wildling and doesn’t seem to produce
much vigorous seed, or perhaps we just don’t know
exactly what the seed needs to get it going. So get out
into the bush over the next few weeks, and enjoy this
wildflower while it is still at its best.
Nick Romanowski
Despite racking up more scoring shots, the
Forrest Reserves kicked themselves out of
contention against Irrewarra in this season’s
first elimination final.
The final score saw Irrewarra progress 10 . 4 .
64 to Forrest’s 4 . 10 . 34.
‘Congratulations to Reserves Coach Greg
(Gibbo) Giblin for getting the team into the
finals,’ said club president Bob Brooks. ‘The
boys put up a good effort, but just didn’t have
the kicking boots on today.’
Forrest netball teams competed in several age
groups for the first time in several years. The
senior football team finished short of the final 5
this season.
‘We’re looking forward to seeing all the boys
and girls back next year,’ said Bob. ‘We’re also
hoping to get a junior football team together.’
Simon Nells breaks an Irrewarra tackle while
Ryan Wheelahan comes in to lay a shepherd
Forrest reserves bow out
Presentation night for all
football and netball teams is at the
clubrooms on September 20.