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Gippsland Veterinary Hospital has spent more than $1 million in upgrades to its Maffra centre, with the local animal healthcare provider now boasting a world-class, 24-hour veterinary clinic. Six months ago, Gippsland Veterinary Hospital, also known as Fur Life Vet, located on Johnston Street, Maffra, completed the bulk of its most recent upgrades, which has since doubled the centre’s size, now offering animal healthcare services unheard of in regional areas. The improved 24-hour veterinary hospital is now equipped with a CT machine, hydrotherapy pool, pathology and diagnostic laboratory, x-ray machine, surgical facilities, ICU and hospital ward, dental unit and a medical warehouse. Gippsland Veterinary Hospital’s upgrades have been a long time coming as growth and demand for veterinary services in the region have continued to rise. The COVID pandemic led to more households adding ‘fur members’ to the family. Gippsland Veterinary Hospital veterinarian and clinical lead Katherine Snell said they faced a substantial increase in client base and workload. “We had already outgrown our existing clinic prior to COVID; it had been outgrown for years,” Dr Snell said. “It had been a long-term process to get this building planned and underway, but during COVID, the growth was exceptional. That has led us to increase renovations during renovations to service the increased demand we hadn’t expected.” While Maffra’s Gippsland Veterinary Hospital has long been known for its demand in dairy surgery and medicine, Dr Snell says there has since been a shift towards smaller animals. “Maffra has been renowned for its dairy medicine and dairy surgery, but even in my ten years, I have gone from a 70 to 80 per cent dairy caseload to what now is a 70 to 80 per cent small animal caseload,” Dr Snell said. “We still are servicing quite a large number of farms, and we still have significant growth in that area, which is where our Pro Dairy offerings come into play, being able to develop herd-health protocols, preventative herd-health. “But it really has been our small animal family that has grown, in terms of the number of pets people own, but also the level of care they expect their pets to receive. “No longer do they just get sub-standard medical; it is as good or even better than human medical care these days.” Clinical coordinator Tanya Lowe said that offering services not typically available in regional areas, such as a CT machine, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and a hydrotherapy pool, enables the Maffra animal healthcare facility to fulfil people’s expectations. “You go to the hospital, and you wait for blood results for four hours; here, you’ll have them in half an hour,” Mrs Lowe said. “You go for an ultrasound, you’ll have results next week. Here, you’ll have an ultrasound, and you’ll know what’s the plan straight away. “We are very much about if there is an issue, that issue will be solved in-house as soon as possible.” Renovations at the Maffra Gippsland Veterinary Hospital have not only allowed the staff to provide clients with unmatched animal health care, whether that be general check-ups, vaccinations, dental services, surgery, or emergency care, but they have also greatly benefited the community in Maffra and the surrounding area. The Maffra Gippsland Veterinary Hospital has hired eight new veterinarians in the past year, bringing the total number of employees to more than 55, with all 35 support staff from the local community. “What has come into the community has been considerable,” Mrs Lowe said. “A lot of our new vets, who have come from interstate and overseas, have purchased properties in the local area,” Dr Snell said. Maffra Gippsland Veterinary Hospital is one of the few clinics in Australia unscathed by the current vet shortage, boasting a full-staffing roster with a total of 15 veterinarians and still growing. Dr Snell believes the clinic’s success is a testament to the Maffra and surrounding community. “We’ve got a really welcoming community that just embraces new vets and new nurses to town, get them involved in sporting clubs,” she said. “Plus the environment we live in – the beaches, the rivers; if there is an interest they have, there is generally something within our local environment that fills that. “Housing prices are generally affordable; like I said, most of our vets now own houses within the district. Thanks to that, we’ve got a really happy team that is backing the trend.”

Everyone said she was crazy, everyone said she couldn’t do it, but Olivia Sclater is the one who’s laughing now. The kitchen at Seaspray Surf Life Savings Club (SSLSC) has been dormant since the beginning of COVID. What once was the place to be, drawing folks from far and wide, helping transform the streets of Seaspray into a bustling coastal getaway, quickly became desolate – until now. Twenty-five-year-old Olivia Sclater, a hospitality veteran with extensive local and international experience, with fond memories of summers in Seaspray, took on the challenge to reignite the magic at the SSLSC despite persistent misgivings from those around her. “I started working here [SSLSC ] last year, just to make some extra dosh while I’m still studying,” Ms Sclater said. “Normally, the bistro is rented out to someone, and essentially the surf club couldn’t find anyone to do that. “I WENT AWAY, TRAVELLED OVERSEAS FOR A BIT, AND WHEN I CAME BACK, THEY WERE STILL STRUGGLING.” Ms Sclater returned from her travels earlier this year and was told of the bistro’s ongoing difficulties, particularly in recruiting chefs, after speaking with SSLSC president Chris Fleming. Call it a twist of fate, divine intervention or perhaps a good old-fashioned stroke of luck. It just so happened that on her recent international venture, Ms Sclater befriended two English chefs, Sam Valentine and Kevin Douglass Ortega. “When I was living overseas, we worked together, and we talked about how they wanted to come over to Australia,” Ms Sclater explained. “Kevin has been here for about two months, and Sam got here a week before we opened the kitchen – that was super stressful. “As much as we’ve done everything in hospitality, we’ve never launched a business before, so it was like we know what we’re doing, but we kind of don’t.” Ms Sclater, SSLSC general manager, Mr Valentine and Mr Ortega, the newly appointed head chefs, officially opened the kitchen on September 23, serving 210 meals in their first weekend. “Getting it all together, bringing staff on, understanding ordering and how much you need to cover 200 odd people was a lot (to organise),” Ms Sclater said. “I THINK WE DID ALRIGHT IN THE END THOUGH.” Friday, October 14, through Sunday, October 16, was the first weekend the SSLSC was not completely booked out since the kitchen’s reopening. With the SSLSC struggling to recruit members, Yips and Nippers, which is impacting patrols and causing beach issues, the club is banking on the success of the newly-launched kitchen to reconnect the 66-year-old club and the local community. “Now that they have decided to do this themselves as opposed to renting the business out, it means that all the money does filter back into the surf club,” Ms Sclater said. “Having us [Miss Sclater, Mr Valentine and Mr Ortega] here is about bringing some money in for the club but also breathing some life back into the place, with us being quite young. “We have brought a lot of people back in. “There has already been a lot of interest and a lot of young people, like all our staff are 21 and below, which is what the club really wanted. “They are really struggling to get lifesavers, nippers, people through the ranks to essentially take over and look after the club. “So what we wanted was to put some life back into it, put some youth back into it, get some kids in here, get the locals in here and really open it back up again.” SSLSC’s success is just as meaningful to Ms Sclater for other, more personal reasons. “This is only temporary as I am about to change my career completely, I am about to become a teacher, so this is my last gig in hospitality,” she said. “So this has been such a nice ending to 12 years in hospitality. “Me, Kev and Sam walked out of the pub we worked at in England because it was so horrific, they were so horrible and nasty to us. “And I love that I now get to have this last hoorah that is this business I get to make myself and set the tone for,” she said. “Really set a culture and dynamic where everyone comes in and is happy and comfortable.” Not only is Ms Sclater’s latest hospitality gig her last, making SSLSC’s success all the more special, but proving all the cynics who told her she couldn’t do it is like the cherry on top of the ice-cream sundae. “When I started it, so many people were like, ‘you’re crazy, it’s not going to work, it’s going to be awful’”, Miss Sclater said. “THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT IT WERE PRETTY MUCH LIKE, RUN. “I was like, no, there is something here that definitely can be done; there is a community here that is like tough and beautiful in the same way. “I have such a soft spot for this place; I have always had a soft spot for Seaspray because I am such an ocean girl, I just always want to be by it, and having made something out of this venue after so many people said I couldn’t, I’m just a bit like ‘hell yeah’.” Summer is just around the corner, and SSLSC management team has lots installed for Seaspray throughout the season of sun. December welcomes the arrival of a hypnotist, the commencement of band rotations, boasting live music from either a band or DJ every Saturday night with a shuttle bus to and from Sale in the works for ease of transport, and Sunday sippers with live acoustics to really set the atmosphere. “It is a sick venue”, Ms Sclater said, “Summer here could be amazing”. “When I was a kid, and the caravan park was along the foreshore, we used to stay here for like a month or so, we were a Seaspray caravan park family, and they used to do all of this stuff, put bands on, they would run buses, it was mayhem, and now there is just nothing. “It is time to get that back in.”

FAMILY violence complaints allegedly perpetrated by Victorian police officers should not be investigated by Victoria Police, parliament was told last week. A report by public integrity monitor, the Victorian Inspectorate, highlighted failures by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in handling complaints about police. The report, IBAC's referral and oversight of Emma's complaints about Victoria Police, detailed an account of a woman named Emma reporting violence perpetrated by her then-partner, a Victoria Police officer, being referred back to Victoria Police. It highlighted severe risks to complainants from such procedure. Victoria Police responses included leaking the victim's escape plan back to the perpetrator on the grounds of 'member welfare', which resulted in serious and brutal retaliatory violence against her and her children. The Victorian Inspectorate has made four recommendations detailing how IBAC could improve its handling of police complaints, marking only the second time it has tabled a public report since its formation 10 years ago. Lauren Caulfield from Flat Out, a state-wide advocacy and support service for women, trans and gender-diverse people, coordinates Beyond Survival: The Policing Family Violence Project and says sweeping failures are a shocking indictment of a system that continues to see police investigating themselves. "These sweeping failures, and the harm they cause to the victim-survivors – mainly women and children – experiencing family violence by police officers, are a shocking indictment of a system that continues to see police investigating themselves; It's a system that provides impunity to violent officers," Ms Caulfield said. "IBAC, Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog, says they will prioritise investigating and exposing harmful police responses to family violence, including violence and predatory behaviour by police, but their record so far shows serious delays, investigative mishandling and a pattern of referring the overwhelming majority of complaints back to Victoria Police. "Knowing that most complaints will be sent directly back to Victoria Police for investigation makes complaining about police responses to family violence incredibly risky for victim-survivors," she said. "Most victims we work with avoid complaining at all, leaving many harmful police responses unreported and beyond any public accountability. "For family members of police officers who are using family violence against them, the risks of making a complaint are even greater. "This is not about resourcing; it's about a system that continuously prioritises police over the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors and justice for communities," Ms Caulfield said. "The violence and harm that victims are experiencing require skilled family violence and sexual assault response, and one that is both robust, independent and specialised. "Rather than ever-more funding to police responses, and to IBAC investigations that have continued to endorse these – regardless of the harm to victim-survivors – it's time for a system overhaul." Victorian Inspectorate's special report slammed IBAC for disputing the "soundness" of its inquiry and describing the commission's approach to its review as undermining the state's integrity system, detailing a litany of issues with the police-complaints system, posing an ongoing risk to survivors of domestic and family violence. IBAC Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour was quick to release a statement saying, "IBAC recognises that Emma and her children are victims of family violence perpetrated by a Victoria Police officer, and their welfare should be a priority". "Family violence is unacceptable, and there is no place for perpetrators in Victoria Police," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said. "Victims should feel safe to come forward to both Victoria Police and IBAC. "We acknowledge Emma's frustration with the inadequate investigation by Victoria Police and the delays in handling the complaints IBAC referred to Victoria Police in 2018 and 2021. "IBAC completed a thorough review which enabled it to correct several issues with Victoria Police's investigation of Emma's 2018 complaint," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said. "Victoria Police is still investigating elements of the 2021 complaint, and this will also be subject to review by IBAC." IBAC made clear that it supports the intent of the Inspectorate's recommendations, which relate to policies and procedures aimed at better recording of decisions, noting that these recommendations will likely require additional resources from the government to implement. "IBAC is committed to a strong Victoria Police oversight system, which ensures complaints are addressed with both transparency and accountability," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said. "Victoria's police oversight system is a mixed civilian model, in which Victoria Police are resourced to conduct the majority of the investigations of complaints. "Without government reform to IBAC's jurisdiction and funding, which we would welcome, IBAC has little choice but to refer matters such as Emma's to Victoria Police," she said. "Through the government's current review of Victoria's police oversight system, IBAC has advocated for stronger powers to respond to and support victims of police misconduct." Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said the commission "does not wish to detract from Emma's important story, but IBAC is concerned about the process the Inspectorate followed in conducting its review. "The Inspectorate's report does not accurately or adequately reflect IBAC's role and the limitations of the police oversight system in which we operate, and it, therefore, misses an opportunity to make meaningful recommendations for reform," she said. IBAC ultimately accepted all recommendations made by the Victorian Inspectorate after examining how Emma's complaint was dealt with detailed in the report.

It took Max Reeves longer to put his gloves on than it did to add another round-one knockout to his career sheet, flooring his opponent Robin Hazelman in 1.20 minutes at Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Wildfigther Round 10 on Saturday, October 15. The Wildfighter arena turned dark as ring announcer Perry Cale stood at the centre of the fighting stage, introducing the fighter the guests had all been waiting for; “representing Stratford Victoria, this man is undefeated, ranked number 12 in Australia”. “PLEASE GIVE A WARM WILDFIGHTER ARENA WELCOME TO MAD MAX REEVES.” Ticket holders faced the fighter’s entrance in anticipation, bellowing so loud the floor of the ring rumbled underneath one’s feet, and the ropes quivered as if they were jumping up and down with the eager crowd. “Max hasn’t got his gloves on yet,” Cale whispered to the ring attendant, then to the referee and lastly, to Hazelman’s coach. The crowd stood patiently, eyes glued for the fighter’s entrance. With a nod from a member of Max’s team, it was all systems go. Cale returned to centre stage, “give it up one more time, from Stratford Victoria, Mad Max Reeves”. A second surge of deafening cheers filled the Wildfighter arena as the blond-haired, blue-eyed boxer appeared from the shadows, his hooded black silk robe with red trim hiding his face and hugging his broad shoulders. Reeves made his way past the crowd to the ring, exclamations oscillating like a wave as he passed each section of guests. Paul Carrol, Reeves coach and founder of RU Fit Gym, climbed the stairs to the ring, separating the middle ropes, stepping on the lower with one foot and wrenching the higher upward with his hands. Slipping his hood off his head, Reeves ducked through the gap in the ropes as colourful lights flashed above, illuminating the ring in a kaleidoscope of colours. Reeves bounced around gracefully in the ring, returning to his corner before removing his robe and revealing a lean, toned torso as the Round One sign was walked around the ring. “Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to the semi-main event of the evening; six-by-three-minute rounds, super middleweight division”, Cale announced, “when the action begins, the referee in charge is Mr Chris Anderson Senior”. “To my left, fighting out of the red corner, representing the Uptown Funk Boxing Gym, official weight 75.05 kilograms, standing 5’8 inches tall; he has a professional record of 13 fights, five wins, one draw and four by way of knockout; representing Fiji, fighting out of Shabu Shabu, please welcome the Lionheart Robin Hazelman. “The opponent to my right, fighting out of the blue corner, trained by Paul ‘Turk’ Carrol from Eastside Boxing Gym; official weight 76.1 kilograms, standing 185-centimetres tall. This man is undefeated, six fights, five wins, one draw, four by way of knockout, ranked number 12 in Australia; representing Stratford Victoria, this is Mad Max Reeves.” The arena was once again inundated with ear-splitting cheers as Reeves raised his gloves to the sky, before making his way to the centre of the ring for final instructions. Reeves and Hazelman touched gloves, retiring to their respective corners, jumping lightly on their toes in anticipation the opening bell. Fighters met in the middle, gloves held in front of their faces as they danced around the ring. Thirty seconds in, Reeves lands a solid, left-right shot to his opponent’s head. Reeves backs up onto the ropes; Hazelman swings wide, but the Stratford boxer blocks his shot before gracefully manoeuvring off the ropes, simultaneously landing two solid shots to Hazelman’s head and body. Fighters continued their dance around the ring; an unscathed Reeves appeared relaxed as he controlled the fight, anticipating every one of his opponent’s shots. One minute and 20 seconds into Round One, Mad Max Reeves lays a headshot with his right hand, rocketing in a vicious body shot with his left, sending Hazelman to the floor; it’s a knockout. It was a carbon copy of Reeves’ previous fight against Leo Grant in Wildfighter Round 8, back in July. Spectators turned wild, cheering vociferously; some stood on chairs, arms raised, pointing at Reeves as if to say ‘king’. Others jumped up and down in excitement, embracing their neighbours, sloshing beer across shoulders, with the bubbly brown liquid collecting in sticky puddles on the laminated wooden ground. “It came a bit unexpected,” Reeves said afterwards. “I saw an opportunity, and I took it”, he said, “it was a lucky shot”. The undefeated super middleweight boxer said he might be in for one last fight before the end of 2022; “we are just waiting to hear back from a different promotion in November”, Reeves said. “If that doesn’t come, we will just rest up and have a big year next year.” Reeves and Hazelman disappeared into the change rooms, and it was time for the main event of Wildfighter Round 10; Cale took his place at the centre of the ring. “From a sold-out Wildfighter arena in Bairnsdale, ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?” Cale paused, “Bairnsdale, are you ready?” Cheers resounded across the Wildfighter arena as if to answer, ‘heck yes, we are ready’, and the buzzing energy within the four walls of the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre was so intense it stood hairs on arms. “Without any further ado, it’s fight time,” Cale announced. “Introducing first to my left, fighting out of the red corner, official weight 76.4 kilograms, standing 5 feet 7 and ¾ inches tall, 21 fights, 13 wins, two draws and six by way of knock out; fighting out of Nadi Fiji, Siliveni Nawai. “To my right, fighting out of the blue corner, trained by Paul’ Turk’ Carrol from Eastside Boxing Gym, official weight 76.1 kilograms, standing 185 centimetres tall; this man is undefeated, six fights, six wins, two by way of knockout, ranked number two in Australia and the current Australasian Champion, representing Bairnsdale, please welcome Bomber Blake Wells.” Fighters met at the heart of the ring; Mr Chris Anderson Senior reiterated the rules, and opponents touched gloves before returning to their corners to wait for the Round One bell. The bell sounded, and the fight began; Wells and Nawai danced like flames rising from a fire, hot and fierce and dangerous but with a beautiful, hypnotic grace. Wells controlled the fight from Round One, manipulating his opponent as if he were a puppet on a string. Round One was uneventful in comparison to Rounds Two, Three and Four, as Wells laid ferocious shots onto his opponent, knocking him off his feet time and time again. But Nawai was like one of those blow-up noodle men you see out the front of car dealerships; Wells would knock him down, and Nawai would pop right back up. Twenty-eight seconds into Round Four, Wells belts Nawai with a right hook straight to the head, sending the Fijian to the floor, his body grazing the ropes on the way down. Mr Chris Anderson Senior waved his hands, signalling the fight’s end, “it’s all over”, Cale said. The crowd hailed the undefeated champion as Bomber Blake Wells raised his gloves in the air claiming his seventh professional win with a fourth-round stoppage in Wildfighter Round 10 at the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Saturday, October 15. Sale brothers Jhon Cortejos and Peter Pirona put forward reputable fights against their opponents, Izak Handley and Viliami Liavaa, but fell short of a win. Handley and Liavaa took home wins by way of unanimous decision. Youngster Codie Hodges opened Wildfighter X in his second exhibition fight against debutant Max Glover-Hill; Hodges debuted his amateur fighting career in July, fighting Alex Manssour in Wildfighter Round 8. “I definitely felt the nerves on the night, but [it was] unlike last time in Sale,” Hodges said. “Last time, I felt like I was very rushed, especially with my ring entrance, but in Bairnsdale, I made sure I calmed myself down and took my time with my walkout, listening to the song and hearing the crowd cheer me on, so I was focused on the fight. “By the end of the fight, I was proud of my performance, and I had lots of good feedback from my corner and people in the crowd,” he said.

From regarding people as criminals for their identity to legalising same-sex marriage and outlawing gay-conversion therapy, Victoria has come a long way since it decriminalised homosexuality in 1982. Pride in our future: Victoria's LGBTIQ+ strategy 2022-2032 – the state's long-term plan to drive LGBTIQ+ equality and combat discrimination – was released in February this year, committing all parts of the Victorian Government to make laws, policies and services safer and more inclusive for LGBTIQ+ Victorians. Whilst the state continues to take steps in the right direction, the prevalence of systemic discrimination and marginalisation of the LGBTIQ+ community remains, especially in regional Victoria. Ash Goodsell is a queer man who grew up in Sale, Gippsland. He believes improved education from an early age is needed to combat stigma and systemic discrimination, which in turn will create a better, safer, more inclusive environment for the regional queer community, alleviating psychological distress and improving mental health and wellbeing. "I think it comes down to education from a young age that love is love, and you can already see that in some schools or how parents talk with their kids," Ash said. "There is so much deep-seated, inter-generational trauma in regional areas from people passing on these homophobic ideologies from generation to generation, without education to teach people that it is okay, it is just going to continue." Ash endured years of bullying throughout high school and into adulthood. In 2018, Ash was at a local pub when a group of young men he had gone to school with began mocking him. The group's jeers quickly became threatening, as they yelled disrespectful obscenities, including calling Ash a fa***t. "My experience makes me feel scared for the younger generations; it's still very much like if you don't fit into the mould the regional area wants you to be, then you're outcast, and so what do we do? Go to Melbourne to feel like we belong," he said. "Having moved to Melbourne now and being in a semi-long-term relationship, I can walk down the street and hold my partner's hand and not have to worry about getting hate-crimed. "If I were to do that here, I would be on edge 24/7, like 'what's that? Who's behind me, is someone going to throw something at me, am I about to get stabbed?'. "Which is sad because I would love my kids to grow up here, but that's never going to happen because how is this area going to take a kid with two queer dads? What if things are still the same as when I was at school." Minster for Equality Harriet Shing says equality in Victoria is non-negotiable. "We are working every day to make sure LGBTIQ+ Victorians feel safe, welcome and celebrated in every town, every hospital and every classroom across Victoria," Ms Shing said. "We have made the Safe Schools program available to every school in the state - equipping staff to support LGBTIQ+ students so they can be safe and welcome in and out of the classroom." The Labor Government is delivering the Safe Schools program to all schools across Victoria with updated resources and materials, ensuring relationships, sexuality and consent education is LGBTIQ+ inclusive, including supporting resources. Safe Schools is not a subject taught in the classroom, and it is not a part of the curriculum, but rather a program for principals, teachers and school communities. As society began to change and LGBTIQ+ rights moved into the forefront of the media, Ash finished high school, and support services such as the Gippsland Pride Initiative were later launched in 2019. The Wellington Shire Council and the state government have begun employing resources in regional LGBTIQ+ services, such as Gippsland Pride Initiative, a fundamental steppingstone on the path to a better Gippsland for the queer community. But for Ash, accessing these services was out of the question, he still feared for his own safety. "You now have groups like the Gippsland Pride Initiative, but I know for me you wouldn't join those groups because you didn't want to be found out as queer," Ash said. "No matter how secretive they are, you are still not going to go because what if you get caught? And that just leads to a whole lot of pain from everywhere around the town." Mayor of Wellington Shire, Councillor Ian Bye, contends that through the Council's Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan - Healthy Wellington 2021–2025 – the local government has made improving equity in the region a priority. "Through Healthy Wellington, Council strives to reduce barriers for people who are trying to access or feel included in community life and increase community activities that focus on celebrating diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality," Councillor Bye said. "Council will continue to create and maintain physical environments that are safe for the local community, achieved through the design of public spaces and measures such as CCTV (closed-circuit television) and adequate lighting. While opportunities like the Gippsland Pride Initiative have been welcomed, less than five years ago, there were effectively no local LGBTIQ+ services available, and for many queer Gippslanders, the lack of support had a significant, adverse effect. This couldn't be more accurate for another local queer who wishes to go by the name Eliza. "[Growing up in Sale, I felt] pretty unsure and pretty isolated," Eliza said. "Especially growing up with people using gay as a derogatory term definitely didn't help people. It would make you think, push that down, don't think about it because it's not a good environment to explore it or even think about it. "I think I would have known a lot sooner [that I was queer] if I lived in Melbourne or had been around other people; it took me a long time to be like, 'oh hey, that's what it is'. "The resources have been pretty scarce, and there hasn't really been an opportunity to build a community. I have been involved with the theatre, which helped, queer people tend to flock to the arts, but there really hasn't been much of a support network at all." Currently, Gippsland's LGBTIQ+ have access to support and services such as The Queers Are Here, Qspace, Gippsland Pride Initiative, Rural Rainbows, QLife, Rainbow Network and Youth Space. The number of LGBTIQ+ services available today is exponentially higher than ever before; however, for Gippsland's queer community east of Traralgon, support and services are seemingly entirely online. "I know there are satellite hubs of the mental health services that do their best to be inclusive, but there is nothing that is really dedicated [to supporting the LGBTIQ+ community]," Eliza said. "It seems like all of the resources for queer wellbeing are through mental health services, which is sort of good, but it would be nice to have a physical community hub that wasn't specifically for mental health; a place that was more for like events and networking. "Whilst it doesn't affect me directly, there are people I really care about who are trans, and the only gender clinic around here is in Melbourne, so if they want to get any help in that regard, they have to go to Melbourne for regular appointments, so it would be nice to see more services like that available regionally." In 2017, Thorne Harbour Health, a Victorian LGBTI health organisation, updated medical guidelines for trans health, endorsing a model known as "informed consent"; a decision to start gender-affirming hormones can be made between a general practitioner and a client. In 2019, the first state government-funded clinics outside the hospital system opened, centred on the new model to increase access to trans health care in Victoria and have since begun extending to regional communities with a clinic at Ballarat Community Health. "Something like that would be lovely to see," Eliza said. "There are so many facets to what is needed; everyone needs different things. "Having something like a pride/resource centre that encompasses all those different facets, whether it's sexual and reproductive health, mental health support, community support and networking, would be fantastic for the local queer community." According to Minister for Equality Harriet Shing, Victoria's health system is receiving unprecedented funding to ensure equal, quality care. "We are investing record levels of funding into the health system to ensure all Victorians have access to inclusive and LGBTIQ+ tailored health care – including through the new 223- bed hospital we will build in West Gippsland," Ms Shing said. Whilst there have been no discussions to date about building a pride centre within the Wellington Shire region, Councillor Bye says they'd be willing to consider a similar initiative. "Over the past five years, Council has trialled a number of different initiatives to support LGBTIQ+ people in the community," Councillor Bye said. "Council is currently running Axios - an LGBTIQ+ social support group for youth aged 12-18 years. Wellington Shire Youth Councillors have also worked in collaboration with East Gippsland Shire Council's Youth Ambassadors to run the Rainbow Ball, supporting local LGBTIQ+ youth." "The Wellington Shire Council works closely with and supports a number of different agencies and groups to collect information relating to the strengths and weaknesses of the support mechanisms available to the LGBTIQ+ community across Gippsland". Councillor Bye says the Council welcomes anyone to contact him with suggestions or ideas. Increasing LGBTIQ+ representation is another crucial element in developing a better Gippsland for our queer community. Ash and Eliza are among those in the queer community that feel LGBTIQ+ representation is lacking in the region, and Council agrees there should be more LGBTIQ+ representation in the Wellington Shire. "One of Council's strategic directions is for Wellington to be a liveable, engaged, and supported community," Councillor Bye said. "To achieve this, Council has committed to develop and implement a Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and to achieve the Rainbow Tick accreditation for Council services. Both of these actions are to be delivered within the current Council term." Kal, a young transgender man from the Wellington Shire, says having a community, a place to go and meet like-minded people, is crucial for LGBTIQ+ people. "A lot of the time, it's hard to find other people, especially in a smaller town that is so conservative where many people fear judgement," Kal said. "There is not enough support; it is really terrible." The State Government is committing $15 million to strengthen the health, wellbeing, and social and economic outcomes of LGBTIQ+ Victorians in the 2022/23 Budget, and the Wellington Shire is continuing to strive toward a more inclusive LGBTIQ+ community, so why is Gippsland's queer community still facing adversities and marginalisation? Gippsland's LGBTIQ+ community have the solutions; is it time for the rest of society to listen?

Sale Hospital’s special care nursery now has a Resuscitaire, a device to help care for ill babies, thanks to the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation (NICF). Sale man Peter Cursley founded the NICF, which donated the latest piece of equipment. “You have a very sick baby, a very sick baby,” is all Mr Cursley remembers hearing as a nurse at Canberra Hospital tried to resuscitate his newborn daughter, Hannah, in 1993. His partner Susan had reached full-term pregnancy and was nearing delivery when fate intervened. “We were waiting for the moment to go off to the hospital; Susan went and had a shower,” Mr Cursley said. “She collapsed, I heard her scream, I raced her down to the hospital, and Hannah, our little daughter, was born blue,” he said. Staff at Canberra Hospital revived little Hannah, but she wouldn’t live more than 24 hours. “She died in our arms at one o’clock in the morning,” Mr Cursley said. Hannah Cursley was born November 18, 1993, and died November 19, 1993. She was cradled in her mother and father’s warm, loving arms at that time, coming up to 30 years. Peter and Susan Cursley endured excruciating heartbreak, but through the pain, the loss and the grief, they deeply appreciated support from medical staff at Canberra Hospital. “In honour of the staff and in honour of Hannah, we decided to start a foundation (NICF),” Mr Cursley explained. “There are three things we do: funding high-tech medical equipment, nurse education and funding of research.” Before setting any plans for NICF in motion, Peter and Susan and their firstborn daughter Megan took a family trip to Bali, Indonesia, in an effort to move forward with their lives. Returning home from their holiday, just months after the death of Hannah, Susan was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. In August 1995, at the age of 26, Susan died, leaving behind a grieving widow and four-year-old daughter. Following Susan’s death, Peter devoted himself to NICF, fulfilling a promise he made with his wife during anguished moments in November 1993. In 1995, former ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell officially launched the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation, which has since raised millions of dollars to help critically-ill newborn babies lead healthy, normal lives. Since moving to Sale in July 2019, Peter has raised more than $70,000 for the Sale Hospital through NICF, which has provided the special care nursery lactation aids for nursing mums, cot nests, leather electric nursing chairs and a special phototherapy blanket to treat babies with jaundice, known as a Biliblanket. “Things like the Biliblanket are great for the region”, Mr Cursley said, “normally, they’re treated with big lights; the Biliblanket treats the baby the same, but while it’s being treated, the mum can nurse it. “The other benefit with the Biliblanket is they can go in ambulances, so they are great for places like Sale Hospital where they might be going to Maffra to pick up a baby, or wherever else.” A Resuscitaire combines a warming therapy platform with components needed for clinical emergencies and resuscitation. “It’s like a humidicrib with resuscitation equipment on it, so if a baby is born not breathing, then the equipment is all there, ready to go,” Mr Cursley said. The NCIF’s most recent contribution to Sale Hospital’s special care nursery is a Resuscitaire. A Resuscitaire combines a warming therapy platform with components needed for clinical emergencies and resuscitation. “It’s like a humidicrib with resuscitation equipment on it, so if a baby is born not breathing, then the equipment is all there, ready to go,” Mr Cursley said. This year’s NICF ‘Bake for Babies’ annual fundraiser, which received a generous donation from local baker Tamara Hall, contributed to the funds raised to buy the Resuscitaire. Bake For Babies, which officially begins on June 1 and concludes on August 31, has twice been hosted in Gippsland since launching in Canberra in 2017. Mr Cursley said it was a simple concept. “People can bake whatever they like – a cake, scones, brownies, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, biscuits, a slice or maybe charge friends for a seat at a table of a baked dinner,” he said. “We want people to have fun baking, maybe involving their kids, and then sell their baked creations at a price they think appropriate and donate the profits to the NICF,” he said. Bake for Babies and the NICF are helping the community and have attracted praise from Central Gippsland Health women’s and children’s nurse unit manager, Kim Costin. “The women’s and children’s unit staff joined the event, baking and selling goods to visitors and staff,” she said. “Recent monies raised from Bake for Babies contributed to the purchase of a new neonatal Resuscitaire; the need for resuscitation of a newborn cannot always be anticipated. “At every birth, the team must be prepared to resuscitate a newborn,” said Ms Costin, herself a nurse. “The additional new Resuscitaire is situated in one of our birthing rooms. “Staff will now have access to a Resuscitaire in all three birthing suites, our special care nursery, and the hospital’s operating rooms; the similarity of equipment across all these departments will support the provision of optimal care in those vital first minutes of life,” she said. “Staff in the women’s and children’s unit are grateful for the hard work of Peter Cursley and the NICF for their generous support over the past few years,” Ms Costin said. “Previous equipment provided through the NICF are all regularly used in caring for unwell babies and their families.” The NICF has organised two new fundraisers – Bubbles for Babies and Balbals for Babies – to continue raising funds to help sick newborns in east and central Gippsland. Information about the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation, Bake for Babies, Bubbles for Babies or Balbals for Babies can be found at the website: https://newborn.org.au/

The proposal to upgrade an Optus tower in Maffra to accommodate 5G has sparked health and safety concerns among a local consortium calling itself Sale Common Law Group. Following a recent community consultation at Maffra’s Anglican Church about Optus’ proposed 5G tower, Sale Common Law Group members expressed concerns about constructing a second 5G tower in the town. While the group claims Optus’ search for public submissions regarding the 5G tower is “purely a PR exercise and is totally disingenuous,” its primary concern is the level of the Electromagnetic Radiation Density (ERD). ERD is how electromagnetic fields are measured. All radio communications, including radio, television broadcasting, satellite communications, previous generations of mobile networks and 5G, use radio waves to transfer information between base stations and connected devices. Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic field transmitted from devices and received by antennas. Concerns exist that 5G leads to adverse health effects, because 5G uses a band of radio waves, ranging from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. While it has been proven that ionising radiation at high enough doses is associated with an increase in cancer, electromagnetic radiation starts to ionise and becomes dangerous at about three million GHz, nowhere close to 5G’s EMR. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) says, “contrary to some claims; there are no established health effects from the radio waves that the 5G network uses”. Sale Common Law Group says Optus should provide an affidavit stating it has used only employed independent assessments on the risks of 5G. When approached about the concerns, an Optus spokesperson said, “all Optus facilities comply with strict electromagnetic energy (EME) regulations and limits set by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency”. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Food and Drug Administration have declared 5G safe. Christopher Collins, PhD, a professor of radiology at New York University, says for 5G, “the electromagnetic waves have a higher frequency, which allows it to carry more information”. “It also has a smaller wavelength and does not penetrate the body as far as lower-frequency energy.” Sale Common Law Group expressed concerns 5G radiation weakens the immune system, making it easier to contract COVID-19, or that it directly causes the virus. A spokesperson from the WHO emphasised that “viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks”. “COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks,” the spokesperson said. “COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth or nose.” Optus and Telstra comply with the ARPNSA’s strict electromagnetic energy regulations and limits, and the WHO concludes that “studies to date provide no indication that environmental exposure to RF fields, such as from base stations, increases the risk of cancer or any other disease”. You can find more information about 5G, EMR and Optus’ and Telstra’s compliance with national standards at https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/eme/5g-and-eme or https://www.optus.com.au/for-you/5g/eme.

Queen Street Uniting Early Learning Centre in Maffra will permanently close its doors after 60 years of providing care and education to children in the Wellington Shire region. On Monday, August 15, families attending Queen Street Kindergarten received an email from Uniting Victoria Tasmania’s Gippsland Early Years Admin reading: Dear Parent/Guardians, Please find attached, important communication in relation to kindergarten service delivery in Maffra for 2023. Following an extensive review process, a decision has been made to consolidate our two Maffra Early Learning Services, Queen Street Uniting Early Learning and Glassford Street Kindergarten, to the Glassford Street site. Uniting is committed to exploring and assessing the Queen Street site for future Early Learning redevelopment opportunities. The unexpected announcement has sent local families into a spiral, leaving parents apprehensive, frustrated, confused and others scrambling with the nearly impossible task of finding alternative kindergarten arrangements for 2023. When approached about the closure of Maffra’s long-standing Queen Street Kindergarten, Uniting Victoria Tasmania ensured that all children enrolled at Queen Street Kindergarten for the coming year would be transferred to Glassford Street Kindergarten. “Following an extensive review, we have made the decision to consolidate our two Maffra early learning services from January 2023, which includes closing Queen Street Kindergarten,” executive officer Early Learning Uniting Victoria Tasmania, Fiona Balsillie, said. “All children enrolled at Queen Street Kindergarten for next year will be transferred to our Glassford Street Kindergarten, which is just 1.5 kilometres away. “As well as being a newer facility, our Glassford Street service provides a range of other benefits for children and families, including two large program rooms and a bigger playground.” Ms Balsillie confirmed that all staff from Queen Street Kindergarten are included in the amalgamation and would move across to Glassford Street. “There are no waiting lists for either the Queen Street or Glassford Street kindergartens, and all families that have expressed an interest in attending next year will be offered a place,” said Ms Balsillie. Consolidating the two facilities renders changes to the program and models offered for 2023, as all sessions become multi-aged. This means all Glassford Street sessions will have a mixture of children aged three to five year olds. On the second page of the Maffra ELC consolidation letter, Uniting Victoria Tasmania requested that all families from both services reselect their 2023 preferences by 9am, Monday, August 22 2022. That left just a week’s notice before the reselection process began, with families receiving offers from Thursday, August 25. A Queen Street parent, who has requested anonymity, shared myriad concerns sparked by the sudden closure of the centre, emphasising the lack of communication between Uniting and affected families. With an education background and a thorough understanding of different developmental stages, the changes to the program and models, combining children for multi-aged sessions was a particular concern for the Queen Street parent. “The whole amalgamation of it all, consolidating the years, to me, that was a big concern,” the Queen Street parent said. “There are so many kids that are at my eldest’s level and compared to my youngest, there is quite a big gap there. “There are so many different developmental stages and I am worried that the needs of the younger students may not be met, and vice versa, that the needs of the older ones might not be met,” they said. “My youngest will be one of the young ones in the group, having only just turned three, and I am just concerned that they may slip under the radar with a few developmental things. “I am comforted that my youngest will be around my eldest, but if we weren’t in that situation, in particular, I would be very, very concerned as a parent having the one child going in as a three-year-old with threes, fours, almost five-year-olds.” Having had their eldest child attend Glassford Kindergarten this year, the Queen Street parent has no concerns about the teacher’s abilities; quite the contrary, praising the Glassford Early Learning teachers. “The experience we have had at Glassford this year has been phenomenal, they’re amazing teachers, so I’m not worried about that,” said the parent. What does worry the parent of two is Uniting’s lack of communication. “HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE CLASS? THAT HASN’T BEEN COMMUNICATED. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DIFFERENTIATE THE LEARNING?” “That is where I am thinking, from that developmental side of things wanting to make sure they reach those milestones. “They’re all at such different stages and different abilities, even just language and comprehension; I mean at fours kindy, it’s so much more structured because they are preparing kids to go into Prep, whereas threes kinder is much more about socialisation and getting them used to routines. “So how will they implement distinctive learning objectives if they’ve got threes and fours in the same room as opposed to a threes room and a fours room? “I am sure there are heaps of benefits, but again they haven’t been communicated to the families, and I am sure there is an uproar amongst the parents being like, ‘why are they doing this?’ “The ‘why’ has not been communicated. And also, why is Queen Street occasional care closing? Everyone is just speculating about it because nothing has been communicated.” The Queen Street parent gave Queen Street Uniting Early Learning Centre occasional care rave reviews, saying the service was particularly significant for the younger children not ready for kinder and in light of the current childcare crisis. “Having the occasional care there was great because whilst it was more of childcare-based type care, it being a kinder the education officers are kinder-trained, so it was a bit of a mix of everything,” the parent said. “It was fantastic; I am quite upset that they’ve canned it all and are moving it all together. “Having that service, along with Glassford and the relationship that Queen Street has with Glassford, sort of working together, like the kids that go to occasional care mostly go to Glassford, and it just worked really well,” they said. “I can’t imagine for those parents who have two-year-olds and also have kindy kids, like what are they going to do with their two-year-olds, they are going to have to source occasional care or childcare for them now, I just feel so bad for them.” To further highlight Uniting’s lack of communication with families, it wasn’t until the Queen Street parents spoke with the Gippsland Times that they became aware that the Queen Street facility was completely shutting its doors. “Today was the day we found out my kids had a spot next year,” the parent told the Times. “It all got sent out this morning, what groups, what times, what days and what educators, so I know for a fact the educators that are at Glassford will be having the same kids, but I am not sure if that means my kids will be at Glassford or at Queen Street like I’m not sure what facility it becomes now?” The Queen Street parent was shocked by the discovery of the Early Learning Centre’s planned closure. “What, woah! I had no idea,” said the parent. “I DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE COMPLETELY CLOSING IT; I THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST COMBINING IT ALL INTO ONE SORT OF BIG KINDY SYSTEM. “That is so devastating, oh my gosh.” For many parents in the region, the uncertainty of a place in kindergarten next year adds myriad pressures, from concerns about their child’s developmental needs to whether they will be able to continue working. While these strains are induced by a larger, fundamental issue rooted deep within the early childhood education system, the closure of Queen Street Uniting Early Learning Centre, in conjunction with Uniting’s poorly-handled execution of the closure, has left many young families bewildered. The unanswered question on everyone’s mind is: Why? The announcement of Queen Street Early Learning Centre’s closure came just weeks after the state government announced the $9-billion Early Childhood Education and its Care (ECEC) reform program. As of next year, the ECEC reform program entitles all Victorians to two years of free kindergarten programs; a 15-hour per week program will be available to four-year-old children; and a five-to-15-hour program will be available to three-year-old children per week. Currently, there are 50,400 early childhood teachers nationwide, and recent figures from Labour Market Insights project a 21.6 per cent increase in demand by 2026; that is an additional 10,600 early childhood teachers. More than 10,000 additional early childhood teachers are needed for the government to deliver its $9 billion ECEC reform program in the next decade, entitling all four-year-old Victorians to a free 30-hour-a-week program by 2032. The National Skills Commission has identified a nationwide shortage of early childhood educators, with the federal education department data revealing a 39-per-cent decline in Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching enrolments between 2016 and 2020. The data also shows a 24-per-cent decline in early childhood education and Care Diploma completion, suggesting employers’ continued difficulty recruiting pre-primary school teachers. Gippsland locals are being hit hard. In the Sale-Maffra region, there are only a handful of kindergartens without waiting lists for kindergarten positions in 2023. Hundreds of local families are well versed in childcare and early learning inaccessibility. The fundamental issues within the childcare system were highlighted earlier this year with the transition back to in-office work. In January, Gumnuts Education director Brandon Ronan told the Gippsland Times that the demand for their service had grown exponentially. “The demand for our service has grown enormously over the past four years. Every year the demand has got higher for the community wanting to engage our services for the care and education of our children,” Mr Ronan said. “It has been an ongoing growth with our waiting list, but last year it grew at an exceptionally fast rate, with 20, sometimes 30, places a month being added to the list.” The scarcity of available ECH positions in Wellington Shire comes as no surprise considering the data from the Department of Education’s 2020 Victorian Teacher Supply and Demand Report which revealed Gippsland has the second-lowest proportion of early childhood teachers in the state with just 350. The Department of Education’s 2020 Victorian Teacher Supply and Demand Report also showed that Gippsland was granted the highest number of waivers exempting early childhood care providers of EC teacher requirements in the state, totalling 13 waivers. More recently, a study by Dr Peter Hurley from the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University found that parents in regional Australia have the most developmentally vulnerable children but the poorest access to childcare. Dr Hurley’s analysis revealed there are 3.49 children for every one early childhood education position in Gippsland, equating to 59.6 per cent of Gippsland families in a ‘childcare desert’. A ‘childcare desert’ is a scenario in which more than three children aged four and under are vying for each childcare spot within a 20-minute drive. Despite a planned early learning educators and teacher strike on Wednesday, September 7 in a United Workers Union campaign for better pay and conditions, in conjunction with the plethora of additional issues, the Government confirmed the ECEC reform program. With the multibillion-dollar reshaping of preschool learning by the state government, increased demand for early childhood teachers and educators, free-falling numbers of early childhood teaching enrolments and completions, and lack of available services in the region, the closure of Queen Street Uniting Early Learning Centre is another massive blow to families in the Wellington Shire.

Last Thursday, an over-pressured fire sprinkler pipe at the Gippsland Centre began spouting water, shocking the workers at Bakers Delight with an unexpected second morning shower. At about 9.30am, the entire Gippsland Centre was evacuated after the pipe triggered the fire emergency response. Sale Fire Brigade was quick to arrive on the scene, led by Lieutenant Adam Robinson. “What’s happened is one of the sprinkler pipes has over-pressured and started leaking above the oven in Bakers Delight,” Lieutenant Robinson explained. “There is a low-pressure alarm in the sprinkler system, so once the pressure drops down with the water coming out, that sets off the alarms, and the alarms trigger the evacuation for the whole building.” Simultaneous to triggering the evacuation, the low-pressure alarm in the Gippsland Centre’s sprinkler system activated a transmitted signal to the fire brigade. Lieutenant Robinson said there were no fire-related instigators, which caused the pipe to over-pressurise. “Just wear and tear, that’s all,” he said. “The Gippsland Centre have called the maintenance people, and they have a crew already on their way. “It is very important that it’s all repaired and working.” Lieutenant Robinson praised the public and Gippsland Centre management for their response, commending all involved on their direction during the evacuation. “The evacuation in the shopping centre worked very good, and people were indisposed for roughly 40 minutes,” Lieutenant Robinson said. Gippsland Centre manager Marcus Fraser was exceptionally pleased with the prompt response to the evacuation, telling the Gippsland Times that “everyone acted as directed”. “It really was an amazing, orderly response from everyone, which is so pleasing,” Mr Fraser said. “WHAT HAPPENED IS NEVER IDEAL, BUT OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S FIRST PRIORITY, AND WE ARE CERTAINLY GLAD IT WASN’T SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS. “We are sympathetic to Bakers Delight and will work with businesses to help them start trading again.” Mr Fraser anticipated the Gippsland Centre would be operating as usual by that afternoon following an eventful morning. For Bakers Delight owner Matt Stephenson, this would not be the case. When Mr Stephenson thought it would be another regular old Thursday, he was very wrong. It wouldn’t be another day of taunting coeliacs with the delectable smell of freshly baked bread; no, for Mr Stephenson, it would be a day of working with firefighters to ensure his flooded store was safe. It was a day of working with the Health Department and Gippsland Centre to figure out how to move forward. “The water damage has been significant,” said Mr Stephenson. “CFA believes that the sprinkler system went off without a fire, which obviously shouldn’t have happened, but if it’s designed to put out a fire, it was efficient at pouring large volumes of water.” After the incident, Mr Fraser assured the fire sprinkler system was to regulation standard. “The system is regularly serviced on a monthly basis,” said Mr Fraser. “There will certainly be a prompt review into the pipes and sprinklers in the Bakers Delight area followed by a routine check of all the others in the centre.”

Yeah the Boisdale-Briagolong girls! Boisdale-Briagolong Football-Netball Club’s A Grade netball team is making history, after winning their semi-final last weekend against Wy Yung 49 to 39 and securing their spot in the East Gippsland Football Netball League 2022 Grand Finals for the first time. Since switching to the East Gippsland League from the Riverina Football Netball League, Boisdale-Briagolong’s A Grade netball team have never made a grand final, winning their last premiership in the now extinct Riviera FNL in 2001 – more than 20 years ago. Will 2022 be the year that Boisdale-Briagolong finally make their mark on the premiership board with their first-ever Grand Final win? Only time will tell. Leading Boisdale-Briagolong to the premiership round is none other than A Grade coach Sarah Gardiner. Formerly a Sale Football-Netball Club player, Gardiner has been playing A Grade netball for Boisdale-Braigolong FNC coming on five years, with this year marking her second year as playing coach. Despite being young in her coaching career, not only has Gardiner formed a new team and guided, mentored and supported them from their very first game together in Round 1 through to the Grand Final, Gardiner has a team whose close bond is indisputable, whether on or off the court. Watching Boisdale-Briagolong play with their quick, fluid movement down the court, their composure, communication and collaborative play, you would have guessed this team had been playing together for years, not weeks, so kudos to Gardiner for her coaching abilities. A shout-out should be made to Boisdale-Briagolong FNC, as the entire A Grade netball team sang praise of their club’s inclusive and supportive environment when speaking to the Gippsland Times in the lead-up to the EGFNL Grand Final. Before Boisdale-Briagolong’s EGFNL Qualifying Final on Saturday, August 20, the Bombers were yet to win a game against Wy Yung, having lost to the Tigers 49 to 38 in Round 14 and 52 to 36 in Round 7. The only other team to beat Boisdale-Briagolong this season was Lakes Entrance in Round 8, scrapping a 48 to 42 win. As the EGFNL qualifiers approached, the Bombers prepared for battle, ready to fight; and fight they did. “Wy Yung had beat us in the rounds, and we beat them for the first time last weekend to get into the Grand Final,” Gardiner said. “It was awesome; we came out high intensity, ready to go and just got it done. “WE PLAYED REALLY WELL, PROBABLY THE BEST WE’VE EVER PLAYED. “Going into the game, we knew it was going to be physical; we are quite a young team, and we really stepped up our fight.” Boisdale-Briagolong’s A Grade netball team is practically bursting with excitement for this weekend’s Grand Final at Bairnsdale. “We are all so excited and all so positive; the vibes are high,” Gardiner said. With Wy Yung being one of the league’s most physical teams and having everything to prove in the Grand Final, the Bombers are prepared to step up their fight against the Tigers even further. With Rachel Weatherley, Gardiner in goal attack, Linley Bertacchini as centre, Ashlee McDonough in wing attack, Huts as goal shooter, Elly Weatherley as goalkeeper and Emerson Connolly in goal defence, will Boisdale-Briagolong A Grade netball team finally claim a premiership?

Victoria will create the nation’s first independent authority to oversee First Nations Peoples’ Treaty negotiations following a historic vote in the state parliament on Tuesday, August 16. The Treaty Authority, which was introduced to Parliament in June by the minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gabrielle Williams, is an agreement reached between the First Peoples’ Assembly and the Victorian government to establish a Treaty Authority that sits outside the existing state structures and does not answer to the government. Under the First Peoples’ Assembly agreement with the government, the Treaty Authority will have its own authority and the freedom to operate in a way that reflects and embodies Victoria’s First Peoples communities, culture and ways of being and doing. The Treaty Authority and Other Treaty Elements Bill 2022 passed the upper house of state parliament by 31 votes to three on the evening of Tuesday, August 16. Five Aboriginal leaders will be selected to manage the independent body. Victorian Leader of the Democratic Labour Party and Member for Western Metropolitan Region, Bernie Finn, and Liberal Democratic Party members of the Victorian Legislative Council, Tim Quilty and David Limbrick, voted against the bill. Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council Bev McArthur abstained. Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation, Marcus Stewart, said the establishment of the Treaty Authority was about stepping outside of the colonial system and putting First Peoples’ lore, law and the cultural authority at the heart of the journey to a treaty. “This is another huge step forward and one that mob all around the country can take inspiration from,” Mr Stewart said. “WITH THE ASSEMBLY, OUR PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE. WE ALREADY HAVE TRUTH-TELLING UNDERWAY, AND NOW TREATY IS VERY MUCH WITHIN REACH.” The Treaty Authority will be made up of First Peoples and perform its role in a way that respects, observes and upholds Aboriginal lore, law and cultural authority. Assembly co-chair, Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, said it was encouraging to see the public and politicians willing to have the hard conversations and finally make space and listen to the needs and hopes of First Peoples. “When people tell me this sounds like a very different way of doing things, I think good,” Aunty Geraldine said. “Treaty needs to be done on our terms because our people need to have faith in the path forward. “WE’VE BEEN LET DOWN TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT NOW THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF HOPE GROWING. “Hope that this country is ready to reckon with the past and make amends so we can create a better future together.” The Treaty Authority is the first in a three-step process of treaty negotiations. In the coming months, the First Peoples’ Assembly and the state government will seek to agree on the ‘Treaty Negotiation Framework’, which will set ground rules and processes for treaty negotiations and a self determination fund. Once the Treaty Negotiation Framework is complete, formal treaty negotiations can begin. Aunty Geraldine said nothing was off the table and that Treaty needs to respect and uphold First Peoples’ Culture and correct the economic disadvantage inflicted by dispossession. “This generation has the opportunity to right past wrongs by making sure the future is one we can be proud of,” Aunty Geraldine said. “WE HAVE HERE IN THIS PLACE WE ALL CALL HOME, THE OLDEST LIVING CULTURE IN THE WORLD. IT’S BEAUTIFUL, AND WE WANT TO SHARE AND CELEBRATE IT WITH EVERYONE. “All we ask in return is that we regain the freedom and power to make the decisions that affect our lives and our land.” Kaylene Williamson of the Gunai Kurnai people, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Member for the South East region, said the Treaty Authority was a clear pathway for Gippsland First Peoples to negotiate what they want in local treaties. “It’s a process where our people can start thinking of what they want in a treaty or treaties, without having to think of what the government will allow or press upon them,” Mrs Williamson said. “IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIPPSLANDERS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, PUT ALL OF THEIR ASPIRATIONS ON THE TABLE AND HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS. “They can have trust that this authority, independent of government, will help to mediate and resolve any disputes which may arise throughout the negations between Gippsland communities and the state, ensuring that our culture, lore, and law are included.” Mrs Williamson said the passing of the Treaty Authority and Other Treaty Elements Bill 2022 was a clear direction that the government was taking the right steps toward Treaty. “We have established a truth-telling mechanism and now we have established an independent authority to oversee First People’s decision-making and negotiations,” she said. “THE PASSING OF THIS BILL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF EMPOWERING FIRST PEOPLE’S TO MAKE DECISIONS WHICH IMPACT FIRST PEOPLE’S.” Ms Williamson said Parliament’s next steps were to provide First People’s with the resources, time, money, and energy to focus on their community’s aspirations. “Parliament needs to accept our history and recognise the voice of our First People’s, take this information and walk with us to deliver treaties for our communities,” she said. “Think outside the traditional government frameworks and look into First Peoples’ cultures and learn from how we collaborate and make decisions in our own cultural system. “Work with us in every aspect to make the two worlds come together equally as one with no divide.”

Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was named best captain in the 2022 AFL player awards held on Wednesday. The former Sale footballer and Collingwood veteran was honoured as the competition’s best captain for the second time since 2020, adding yet another accolade to his decorated 17-season career. After debuting for Collingwood in 2006, Pendlebury has captained the Magpies since 2014 and has gone on to be the club’s games record holder. According to Collingwood, Pendlebury has aged like a fine wine. Not only is he the games record holder, he has also captained the most games by a Collingwood player. He played his 350th match earlier this season, and is set to lead the Magpies into the finals tomorrow afternoon. Collingwood plays Geelong in the Qualifying Final at the MCG. Since his debut 16 years ago, Pendlebury has kicked 185 goals and has a career average of 26 disposals, 4.4 clearances, four marks, 4.8 tackles, 13 handballs and 12.9 kicks. The 34-year-old has one of the best CVs of the modern era and is clearly in the conversation for best Collingwood player of all time. In 2006, after overcoming glandular fever that derailed his first pre-season at the club, Pendlebury made his debut against Brisbane at the MCG in Round 10. He kicked his first goal after Nathan Buckley rocketed a ball to him inside 50 and finished his debut match with 11 touches. Pendlebury made eight more appearances in his first season. In 2007 Pendlebury was named the AFL Coaches’ Association’s best first-year player, and in Round 6 of 2008 marked his first 30 disposal game, amassing 33 touches in front of 88,999 people at the MCG. Pendlebury is one of four players in AFL/VFL history to record more than 9000 disposals, and holds the record for most handballs at 4562. In 2010 Pendlebury won the Anzac Day Medal and the Norm Smith Medal after collecting 29 disposals and 11 tackles in the Grand Final against St Kilda, marking the Magpies’ first flag since 1990. Pendlebury has won best-and-fairest five times at Collingwood’s Copeland Trophy night and six blazers at the All-Australian awards. In Round 18, 2020, Pendlebury played his 314th game, overtaking Collingwood icon Tony Shaw and breaking the Magpies games record. He is contracted for 2023, and in the eyes of most, 400 games is certainly not out of the question.