Free, but your spare coins help cover costs.
Since the last edition you have donated $51.40 in the collection boxes. Thank you very much.
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER No. 382 JULY 2021
The opening of the new fence at the Yarragon Cemetery took place in June. This was funded by the Yarragon Lions Club.
Thank you to “Stone Federation”, the builder of the gate and fence. Pictured at the opening:
Roy Robbins, Alison Petschel, Graeme Roberts, Peter Petschel, Marie Dores, Russel Gaul, Richard McNeil.
Cemetery Trust Graeme Roberts and Lions Club president, Peter Petschel untying the ribbon to the plaques for the completion of the front fence to the Yarragon Cemetery.
YARRAGON EXPO - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October 2021
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
A community event to learn about the past, find out what is available
now and investigate how we would like Yarragon to look in the
future.
Keep a free timeslot during this weekend to take part.
If you have any contributions or queries please contact:
Jen Lowe, 0428 218 111 or email yarragonnews@gmail.com
.
I am writing the postal and telephone history of the Trafal-gar district network as it was 1959 – 1978 when I started as a PMG Technician at Trafalgar. The district included Yarragon, Trafalgar and eleven other
ex-changes. My first book covering the Moe Swamp – Yulungah and Trafalgar East is presently at the printers.
I am putting a display of postal and ex-change history of Waterloo/Yarragon for the Expo and seeking community help in identi-fying Post-Master Generals Department (PMG) employees that worked at the post office, which opened in October 1878. I am hopeful of being able to have an Yarragon switchboard also on display.
It is my intention to commence writing the Waterloo/Yarragon history sometime next year, after I have exhausted all avenues of research. Presently in am completing Yar-ragon South and Trafalgar West (Sunny Creek) with Trafalgar South. Childers is also under way and Narracan/Narracan East. Allambee research is continuing as is Trafalgar.
I have over one hundred names and positions for the Wa-terloo/Yarragon post office, but know there are still others out there I do not have. I am appealing for descendants,
family or friends of former PMG employ-ees to get in touch with me with the view to possibly providing photos of the em-ployee for the history, and confirming birth places etc. I also have the majority of mail contractors and routes out of Waterloo/Yarragon.
As many staff were not officially appoint-ed, I know I am missing many staff in-cluding night-boys who did the night shift on the switchboard from the 1930s to closure of the manual exchange on 1 February 1976.
I am also interested in any articles or anecdotes that would help bring the his-tory to life.
If you have any information to fit in with the above History could you please con-tact John Hanley. Phone: 0480290674 or by email trafpmg@gmail.com
President’s Report
Roy LindsayMONTHLY MEETINGS
The June Monthly Meeting took place on the 15th and, due to
the latest lock-down and storm damage, mainly consisted of an update to various projects.
This was the first YDCA meeting held on Zoom, and opinions on the success or otherwise were mixed. Members agreed that if necessary due to insurance cover, YDCA would be the main promoter of the forthcoming ‘Yarragon – Past, Present, Future Expo” initiated by Yarragon Community Newsletter, but would only cover costs to the amount of Council sponsorship already secured.
A presentation on the proposed development at Yarragon – Leongatha Road / Rollo Street is being compiled for submission to Council in due course.
COUNCIL BUDGET
I must admit to being disappointed in Yarragon’s Budget Submission which resulted in Council agreeing to spend $60,000 on a ‘Streetscape Vision Design’, when parking is a serious issue brought up at every meeting I attend. YDCA’s contribution to the submission proposed 12 – 15 carpark spaces be created on the Southern edge of the former School Site at a cost of approximately $200,000, however that proposal was trumped by the Streetscape idea at the last minute.
YARRAGON, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE EXPO Planning continues on the proposed Expo, with it now booked to take place over the two days of October 2 and 3. For the ‘Present’ section, Yarragon Primary School and local groups have been invited to display their activities.
Volunteers are still needed to assist in organising and running the event. Please contact Jen on 0428-218-111 if you can assist. Council, supportive of Yarragon as always, have expressed interest in holding a Pop-up Council session during the event. COUNCIL ‘POP-UP SESSION
A number of Councillors and members of Council’s Senior Management Team will be attending a Council ‘Pop-up Session’ at Yarragon Hall between 4 and 6pm on Thursday July 8. I encourage residents to attend when you will have direct access to the decision makers in Baw Baw Shire, and an opportunity to let them have your thoughts and opinions on what matters most.
NEXT SCHEDULED YDCA MEETINGS
Annual General Meeting: Tuesday July 20th at 7pm, CFA
Station, Murray Street, Yarragon – to be followed by Monthly Meeting
All positions will be declared vacant and Office-Bearers for 2021/2022 will be elected by members.
I do not intend seeking re-election, but am proud of what the Association has achieved during my two year tenure as President.
After several years of a marathon project, the Association led the final sprint and was successful in having Baw Baw Shire Council purchase the former primary school site in Rollo Street for Community use. The site is now in the final stages of a Master Plan being compiled by Council, and YDCA has been at the forefront of this
project to ensure a pleasant ‘green space’ remains at the Eastern end of town. Had we failed in our efforts two years ago, it is likely this area would now have been covered by more housing. The Association also led the way in the second ‘fight’ to prevent Jasbe from developing a massive nine acre Truck Stop and Service Centre on the edge of our town. This resulted in a further VCAT Hearing, and the Association also sourced the $15,000 required to engage SD Planning to advise and represent us at VCAT.
Further success was achieved in having Council agree to complete the final stage of the Yarragon Walking Trail (Loch Street between Blackshaw and Murray/McIntyre Roads) after many years. It is envisaged the work will be completed before the end of this year.
Although the Yarragon Community can always produce massive support for the major issues affecting the township, it is disappointing that membership numbers for YDCA continue to stagnate, or even decrease. We have tried many things to encourage increased attendance at the monthly meetings but despite the major successes above, the lack of interest in the Association concerns me both short-term and longer term. I encourage you to participate in the Association – not just for the major issues – but to continue to show Council that the people of Yarragon care.
As I will not be standing again, this is likely to be my last President’s report and I would take the opportunity to publicly thank the Committee of Jackie Shearer, Jen Lowe and Margaret Oliver for their work over the past two years, and those Yarragon residents who have supported us during the period. I would also thank BBSC Councillors present and recent-past, and Council staff at all levels – quite literally from the guy who cleans the Yarragon Public Toilets to the CEO and Councillors. You have been a pleasure to deal with, and your continued assistance and support of Yarragon over the past two years is very much appreciated.
Also, ‘thank you’ to Shannon and Kate at SD Planning who represented us so well at VCAT. Their support for our cause - and for Yarragon - was overwhelming.
I hope my real concerns for the future of YDCA are unfounded, however only time will tell……..
FIREFIGHTERS WARN OF ELECTRICAL
FIRE RISK
With many Victorians embracing flexible working arrangements and spending more time indoors this winter, Victorian fire services are calling on people to make sure their electrical appliances are safe.
In the three years from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020, CFA and FRV attended more than 5,100 electrical fires involving household equipment and appliances. Overloaded power boards, phone and laptop chargers, and electric blankets are of particular concern for fire services.
There are a range of safety measures people can take to reduce the risk of these everyday items leading to a devastating fire.
Check you’re not overloading power boards. Don’t leave electrical appliances like hair straighteners and laptops on soft surfaces. And never leave devices charging overnight.
Switch appliances off at the wall when not in use and turn off heaters before going to bed or leaving home.” Firefighters urge the community to check their home and ensure it is safe.
Victoria’s firefighters often respond to fires that could have been prevented – and on average 18 lives are lost in Victoria each year in preventable house fires. Many people think a house fire won’t happen to them,
but the state’s fire and rescue services have attended around 30 electrical fires per week on average in the last three years. That’s why it’s vital you have a well-practiced home fire escape plan, and that you test your smoke alarms each month. Only working smoke alarms save lives.
“These simple steps could mean the difference between life and death.”
Firefighters have asked all Victorian households to add these four fire safety measures to their household to-do list to reduce the risk of fire this winter:
· Test your smoke alarm monthly and clean your smoke alarms every year.
· Make sure you have a home fire escape plan in place and practice it with your whole family.
· Your home office should be set up safely. Ensure there are no overloaded power boards or loose cables. · Turn off all appliances, including electrical blankets and heaters before going to bed or leaving home. · Have electrical equipment tested by an electrician, and check appliances and electric blankets for damage after keeping them in storage.
Yarragon Fire Brigade
There is a sense of ‘friendliness’ in Yarragon. People who know each other seem pleased to connect when passing in the street. Like most towns and villages, we stop and chat with those we know – in our street, into the shops or at community gatherings. Neighbours are all around us. When we say “Hello” to a stranger, it gives a sense of acceptance.
The Virus has brought an increasing number of locals walking around the streets for exercise and to ‘walk the dog’. And, most locals engage with each other’s dogs during their exercise; this gives shy walkers the chance to feel more comfortable with those they meet, and take an interest in each other’s four-legged friends.
It’s not quite as easy to chat with unknown people in the suburban streets in a city, and we can count ourselves fortunate to be living in Yarragon.
This ‘spirit of goodness’ is uplifting for most villagers and helps to create a greater sense of community. We are more likely to allow ourselves to make new friends, and to hear of where they come from, and what interests them.
Where does this ‘spirit of goodness’ come from? Not all of us are relaxed about making new friends, but when we share our interests with each other, we are helping to create a greater sense of friendliness; we also extend our trust in friends and new neighbours. Some of us can chat to new arrivals more easily than those who are shy – but making the effort to meet new people is a real gift to newcomers.
In earlier times, more folk would have seen this friendliness as happening because of the Being called “God”! These days, less people are likely to say that God has an influence in our being friendly; but the “spirit of goodness” is still with us, whether or not we believe in God; whatever we think, “Goodness” is there for us and for that we can be grateful.
REFLECTIONS By Allan Huggins
Council’s Rural Outreach Program will visit Yar-ragon on Thursday 8 July, giving locals a chance to meet their Councillors and Council’s senior management team.
Residents are invited to drop into the Yarragon Public Hall between 4pm and 6pm to discuss the issues that matter to them, with no appoint-ment necessary.
It is the third pop-up Council in this year’s Rural Outreach Program following successful events in Longwarry and Seaview.
The Rural Outreach Program aims to give resi-dents in rural and regional areas access to their Councillors and senior Council staff by bringing Council to them. The program will continue to Labertouche in September and Noojee in No-vember.
All events will be held in accordance with the COVID-19 restrictions of the day.
When:
Date: Thursday 8 July 2021 Time: 4.00pm to 6.00pm
Where:
Yarragon Public Hall, 7 Campbell St, Yarragon.
Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss “We’re looking forward to talking to Yarragon residents and finding out how we can best sup-port them. Baw Baw Shire is full of unique com-munities, so this is great opportunity for Council to get out and gain a first-hand understanding the issues and opportunities for each district."
Quotes attributable to Deputy Mayor and East Ward Cr Michael Leaney
“All residents from Yarragon and the surround-ing areas are welcome to drop into the session. This program is a great way to remove geo-graphical barriers and ensure all Baw Baw Shire residents are heard and represented, whether they live in the main townships or in the far cor-ners of our Shire.”
Quotes attributable to East Ward Cr Peter Kostos
“We’re delivering some exciting projects in Yar-ragon, like the new Dog Park opening later this year and the upgraded playground at Howard Park, but there’s always more to be done. Come and tell us directly what you want to see Council deliver in your community.”
Quotes attributable to East Ward Cr Darren Wallace
“This pop-up gives residents the chance to speak to Councillors and senior Council staff face-to-face. Come and talk to us about any lo-cal issues, or just pop in to ask a question, tell us your ideas or find out the latest on a project. We’re here to help.”
Council is coming to Yarragon – come and
meet the team
Infrastructure Highlights from Council’s 2021/2022 Budget:
• Bridges and major culverts
Yarragon Lions on Mane Op Shop
Hours open: Wednesday—Sunday 10.30a.m. —2.30p.m.
Phone 0458 408 286
Garage Sales in Hann’s Lane:
Saturday 24th July. 8.00 a.m.—3 p.m.
Every 4th Saturday, monthly.
New stock coming in every month. Come in and have a look.
Yarragon Lions Club last week handed out another $22,000 to various organisations in Yarragon and district.
Once again it’s thanks to our Lions On Mane Op Shop that we can make this possible. A big thank you to all who donate and to those who help in the shop, picking up and sorting.
See the report on the front cover regarding the new Cemetery Fence.
By Peter Petschel
There is a lot happening in the town with a number of businesses. It is sad to see that Hope Farm has moved to Traralgon. We wish them well, and they will be still servicing Yarragon with their great products. We now have new operators at the Yarragon Motel, welcome to Darryl and Sylvana (Sam) Stewart. Sam has been a school teacher and Darryl is a
tradesperson. This is their first venture into the motel business; they came from Queensland after 15 years there.
They selected Yarragon for a number of reasons – Sam has family already living in Yarragon, they feel that the location has growth potential. The motel is the first on the highway out of Melbourne, they like the country feel of the area and town and the operation has the opportunity to introduce some change to enhance its appeal. Please give them a big welcome and all the best for the future.
You may have noticed in town a new activity called PERCEUS , and the first question is what do they do? The name is derived from their aim- PERSON
CREATED SERVICES, which is human capital management. They originally started in Drouin in February, 2020. Their growth was beyond all expectations and therefore had to relocate to bigger premises –and Yarragon was chosen.
They are an organization that provides opportunities for people who are disadvantaged and or
marginalized. It provides an opportunity for those people to participate in the community in various ways.
They do merchandising / promotional
objects ,landscaping/gardening, recycling / creative products from peoples rubbish. They also do car detailing and have a contract with Victoria Police on cleaning their vehicles in East Gippsland. This will be expanding to cover 18 police stations in Gippsland.
As you can see they are a dynamic organization that is calling Yarragon
home. The operation is located at 67-69 Princes highway. Daryl Jones is the Business Development Manager and is keen to hear from anyone in the community.
Security Fence:
Work has now started on the remaining section of the fence separating the highway from the grassed reserve - the fence will go from the toilet block and past the Rotunda.
We were also able to get an amendment to the budget and the following comment was sent by Council “I am very pleased to advise you that as a result of your submission on behalf of the Yarragon Business Association, Yarragon & District Community Association, the Baw Baw Arts Alliance and The Yarragon Fire Brigade, Council decided to amend the 2021/22 Annual Budget to include an allocation of $60,000 for Council to undertake design work for the Yarragon Streetscape Vision”.
How to book a COVID-19 vaccination in Baw Baw
Eligible Baw Baw Shire residents can now book their COVID-19 vaccination on the phone or online.
Residents can book to have their vaccination at the COVID-19 vaccination centre at The Goods Shed, Warragul (located at the Warragul
Railway Station car park off Alfred Street) by: • Calling the Department of Health Vaccination
Hotline on 1800 675 398 or
• Visiting the website portal.cvms.vic.gov.au
You can also book to have your vaccination at a participating GP clinic. A list of GP clinics
offering the vaccine is available at www.health.gov.au
The following people are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine:
• All adults aged 40 and over
• Anyone aged 16 and over with an underlying
medical condition or disability
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 and over
• NDIS participants aged 16 and over • Carers of NDIS participants of any age • Health care workers
• Aged care and disability care residents and staff
• Critical and high-risk workers including
defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.
Residents are encouraged to check their eligibility at www.health.gov.au.
Members of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance’s Mosaic group and management committee recently watched enthusiastically as the concrete plinth for ‘Pat the Dog’ was poured right next to ‘The Station Gallery’ in Yarragon. The plinth will be 90% dry in two weeks and 100% dry in a month at which point the beautifully mosaicked ‘Pat’ will be craned in. A ‘naked’ Pat weighs 500 kilograms but with the
completed mosaic coat will obviously weigh far more; calculations are yet to be completed. Pat’s stunning and brightly coloured coat of tiles has been created by members of the public at various venues,
including the Warragul Arts Market, over a period of approximately two years. Members of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance Mosaic group have overseen the construction of this coat. The Arts Alliance looks
forward to the official ‘opening’ of Pat on August 6, 2021.
Meanwhile do not miss the
regularly changing Baw Baw Arts Alliance exhibitions at the ‘Station Gallery’, Yarragon. All exhibitions commence at the beginning of each month. Coming up in July are two exhibitions by well-known artists Cathy Smith and Ross Jacka. Cathy’s work called ‘The Year of the Ox’ will be displayed in the main gallery space. The primary subjects in this exhibition are bovines explored through a range of media from sculpture, painting, drawings and embroidery. Ross’ work will be hung in the space known as ‘The Wall’. His abstract works in acrylic will brighten your day. Following the artwork of Ross Jacka and Cathy Smith during August, the Baw Baw Arts Alliance’s biennial printmaking exhibition will take place. ‘Yarragon Print’ is designed to showcase the work of novice and established printmakers in Gippsland. The previous exhibition in 2019 attracted a large number of entries, highlighting the need for such a display to take place. This is an ideal opportunity to celebrate and support the art of printmaking. Online entries close on July 28, 2021. Further information can be found on the website https://bawbawartsalliance.org.au
While static exhibitions are a feature of the Arts Alliance’s work every now and then a special event takes place. In order to celebrate the tenth birthday of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance the Alliance is working in conjunction with the West Gippsland Arts Centre to present ‘Past and Present’, an exhibition of work from both past and present members of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance. The exhibition will run at the West
Gippsland Arts Centre from September 7 to October 29, 2021. Details of how to enter are on the
organisation’s website https:// bawbawartsalliance.org.au
yarragonnews.potatoit.com
stores current & previous editions of Yarragon Newsletter.
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JULY
IN OUR AREA
8 Council Pop-up inYarragon
20 YDCA AGM and general meeting
24 Yarragon Craft and produce Market AUGUST
6 Pat the Dog “Opening”
Rainfall Record for 2021 and the five years prior, as recorded
in McIntyre Road, Yarragon.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
2016 74 16 64 40 95 106 148 80 76 131 70 66 966 2017 33 84 35 64 66 42 93 151 191 74 35 120 988 2018 54 15 46 40 141 75 127 106 93 42 143 54 936 2019 12 25 36 43 152 81 117 234 130 65 155 54 1104 2020 138 169 48 161 139 57 80 148 71 135 42 58 1246 2021 69 42 72 76 77 178 514
What You Will Find in this Issue:
Page
New Cemetery Fence 1
Yarragon Past Present and Future 2
YDCA report 3
Yarragon Fire Brigade, Reflections 4
Council Pop-up coming to Yarragon 5
Yarragon Lions Club, Yarragon Business Association 6
All abilities talent show 7
Covid-19 Vaccinations in Baw Baw 8
Baw Baw Arts Alliance 9
Advertising from local businesses 10
Rainfall record 11
R E G U L A R E V E N T S
M O N D A Y S
West Gippsland Mobile Library
2:30 - 5:30pm
Yarragon Public Hall carpark,
Yarragon Fire Brigade
8:00 pm
1A Murray Street,
Captain: Ashleigh Smith 0427 274 666
Email: yarragonfb@gmail.com
Yarragon Playgroup
9:30 - 11:30am
Yarragon Public Hall, Campbell St Contact Ellie 0450833064
T U E S D A Y S
Yarragon Craft Group
9.30am - 12.30pm
Uniting Church Hall, Campbell St Join us for craft and laughs
JAFFAS after school program has been cancelled until further notice..
YDCA Yarragon & District Community Association
Next meeting July 20 2021. 7.00 p.m. Venue Yarragon Fire Brigade building, Murray Street, Yarragon
All welcome.
Secretary Jackie Shearer 0437 966 769
W E D N E S D A Y S
Gardening Group
9 - 10am Yarragon Medical Centre, Campbell Street
Yarragon Lions Club
2nd & 4th Wednesdays 7pm St Jarlath’s Catholic Hall, Rollo St President: Peter Petschel, 0477 342 529 Secretary: Kevin Arnold, 0419 325 923
T H U R S D A Y S
Yarragon Bowls Club
Shady Creek Rd Telephone:
0490 831 283
Social game night only October to April. 1st, & 3rd Thursday,
Followed by a meal, orders to be placed by 5:30 pm on the Tuesday prior.
S A T U R D A Y S
Yarragon Craft & Produce Market
Fourth Saturday 8am - 1pm
Yarragon Public Hall, Campbell Street Or Waterloo Park
Enquiries: Gaye Kent 0427 342 430
S U N D A Y S
St Mark’s Anglican Church, Loch St,
Morning Worship, 8:30am
St David’s Uniting Church, Campbell St
Watch the notice board at the front of the church for details.
St Jarlath’s Catholic Church, Rollo St
Father Bernie Krotwaar, ph: 5633 1166 10am Mass on 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays
M O R E T H A N O N C E A W E E K
Heart Foundation Yarragon Walkers
Starting at ROTUNDA, 9:30am, in all weathers Tuesday and Thursday: approx. 45 min town circuit Enquiries Angela Greenall 5624 3545
Baw Baw Arts Alliance
Station Gallery, Princes Highway. m.0490 173 103 Wed-Sun. 10.30 – 4 EXHIBITIONS, GALLERY & SALES
Classes with Tutors – apply at Station
Weekly drop-in sessions @ Trafalgar Station
Monday- Painting Group
Tuesday – MmaD Group (mixed media) Wednesday- am -Clay group
pm -Just drawing Thursday –Mosaic group Friday – Fibres group
The Yarragon Community
Newsletter is produced monthly by community
volunteers.
Editors: Jen Lowe,
Christine Whiley, Inge Mitchell.
Printer: EasyAzl
Pick up your copy, make donations, or leave items for inclusion in next month's newsletter, at:
Post Office
Foodworks
Yarragon Pharmacy
Fozigobble Café
Contact us:
Yarragon Community Newsletter
PO Box 209, Yarragon 3823
Email: yarragonnews@gmail.com
Phone : 0428 218 111
Items for inclusion may be emailed, or placed in any of the donation boxes. Please include your name & phone number.
Subscribe to receive the e-newsletter version (in colour) by emailing your name & email address to
yarragonnews@gmail.com
Advertising space is available & limited. Please organise advertising with the editor, details above.
The remarks or views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the Editor, Committee of Management, or any volunteer involved in the production of this newsletter. Although every effort is taken in the compilation and printing of this newsletter, no responsibility is taken for any errors that may occur.