Stay Connected – Upper Plenty September 2010
Supported by VBAF
Email: shack AT upper plenty . com
Snail Mail: 175 Clarkes Rd., Upper Plenty 3756
Ph: 5783-1661
SEPTEMBER, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Well, a lot has happened in the three months since the last newsletter. Quite a few new homes have been started, some finished with their owners moving back to the area – that is so good to see.
Spring & Summer are coming – thank goodness! The rain has been wonderful but like many people I would like to see a bit more sun (I feel so guilty saying that, but I am SO over the rain and cold!!).
The sound of chainsaws resonates through the area as people are finally finding the energy to tidy up their properties & remove dead trees, either to cut them up for firewood or just burn them. It seems like a waste, but there is just too much to use for firewood alone.
Residents are still having the opportunity to get together on Friday nights. The August 13 get together was the most fantastic Curry Night (pasta for those who don’t eat curries). We have some VERY good cooks in Upper Plenty – this is an event which will bedefinitely repeated. The crowd was also treated to some great foot-tapping live music from Robin Mifsud & friends. Unfortunately, the weather has just been too cold & wet for some people to get out, particularly when they have young children. Spring is coming….
AND NOW – IT’S OFFICIAL !!! Upper Plenty has been given $234,098.00 from the Bushfire Appeal Fund to assist with Bushfire Recovery and Rebuilding.
Some of you may not be aware that this is the result of a lengthy process, largely driven by Hayley Day & Alison Holmberg. These two women put up their hands very soon after the Black Saturday Fires to volunteer their time to assist Upper Plenty residents identify what is needed to support our community’s recovery. They have worked very hard to reach out to residents to find out what you see as being important to achieve recovery from the trauma and loss resulting from the bushfires. The Friday Night monthly Community Get-Togethers and this newsletter hopefully have helped get information out to you and helped you have your say in this process. The result of all this activity is the development of our Community Recovery Plan (CRP) which was submitted to VBBRA for approval. Alison & Hayley have worked really hard to get maximum possible funding for Upper Plenty – their motto being, “if you don’t ask, you won’t get”. It has worked very well – we now have $234,000.00 which will be spent on, and around, the Shack which is our only community building / hub. Mitchell Shire Council, which is holding and administering the funds, asked that the Community Advisory Group formalise their structure to become a Community elected Committee in order to make sure the community’s wishes are represented and followed through. A meeting was held on May 13th to elect a Committee to oversee the expenditure of the VBAF funds and to ensure that the community’s wishes are represented. Any resident is most welcome to attend the meetings – times & date for 2010 are listed under Events at the Shack.
The CAG Committee members are:
Alison Holmberg – 5783-1950
Hayley Day 5783-1141 hayleyday AT conxx . com
Rose King 5783-1661 roseking_55 AT hotmail . com
Stephen Patton 5783-1644
Deirdre Payne deirdrempayne AT hotmail . com
Nicole Kanderovskis shanimax AT hotmail . com
Christine Ogilvie 9716-2612 ogilvie AT live . com
Glenys Broderick 5783-1579
Gillian Anderson gilliananderson AT hotmail . com
Now, while Committee members would love to come and visit you all personally, drink cups of tea and sample your baking, that is just not possible. They are all volunteers with families, commitments, properties, and ongoing bushfire issues to deal with, so, they are going to make sure that the information about how the money will be/ is being spent is available to you in a number of ways.
The Committee is making the assumption that if you are interested in what is happening you will take the opportunity to keep yourself informed in one of the following ways.
- Contact a member of the Community Advisory Group Committee.
- Read the now quarterly Upper Plenty – Stay Connected Newsletter.
- Visit the Upper Plenty website at www.upperplenty.vic.au
- Come to the Friday Night Community Get-Togethers held on the 2ndFriday of each month – usually the Friday before Wallan Market.
- The Upper Plenty Hall column in the monthly What’s News Magazine.
Cheers, Rose.
WHO IS WHERE AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
Upper Plenty Primary School – were visited by the Premier, John Brumby, the new Chairperson of VBBRA, Ian Dicker, and various other people on Monday, 6th September. The purpose of the visit was to launch Landcare Week and announce the Grocon Steel Recycling Grants. The School received a grant of $5,000 to establish a vege garden and some native plantings. Very exciting!
Bonney & Graeme Francis (Lords Rd) – have finally moved into their rebuilt home. As for so many people it has taken months longer than projected and, of course, there is still so much to do once moved in.
Margaret & Chris Christodoulou (apologies if I haven’t spelt your name correctly) are about to become grandparents (possibly are by now). Chris & Margaret are STILL having ongoing hassles with their insurance company resulting from the February floods.
The Hullin Family (Mahadys Rd) – Greg & Mary and boys, Dylan & Lachie, are doing well in their shed. They have just received their Building Permit and are looking forward to starting building once things start to dry out.
Lou & Vin Drofenik (South Mountain Rd) – Lou’s next novel Cast the Long Shadow, which won the 2010 North Central Review Literary Award, is in the publishing process. Son, Peter, & his family are currently sailing around the islands north of new Guinea. They are having some amazing experiences, stopping at remote places and meeting with locals – a fantastic experience for them all!
Christine & Gordon Ogilvie (MahadysRd) – Daughter, Caitlin’s, 21st birthday party will be held on the weekend of 4-5 September – congratulations to all.
Rita & Keith Millar ( (Clarkes Rd) – the new house is coming along. Rita & Keith & Ian are spending weekends clearing felled trees . So much to do…
Nancy Lawrence – Upper Plenty’s Postmistress until the closure of the Post office in 1964 recently had a fall and needed to be hospitalised. She has now returned to the hostel in Kilmore.
The Sawmill – Mahadys Rd – The VICAT hearing to determine the outcome of Mr. Knott’s appeal against Council’s decision to disallow his sawmill will be heard early September.
Ross Mugavin (Mugavins Rd) – wishing you a speedy recovery, Ross, and hope to see you back in action soon.
Sandra Lackas (South Mountain Road) – the slab for the new house was laid in early September. She and son, Bailey, are very excited about getting building underway and are hoping for completion by March 2011. Sandra thinks Stephen, who they lost in the Black Saturday fires, would be proud of what she has achieved so far.
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JOKES
Yesterday I was at my local Woolworths buying a large bag of Purina dog food for my loyal pet and was in the checkout queue when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.
What did she think I had – an elephant? So, since I’m retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in hospital last time, but that I’d lost 4kg before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.
I told her it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two each time you feel hungry . The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again.
(I have to now mention here that practically everyone in the queue was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked me if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped of a curb to sniff an Irish Settler’s arse and a car hit us both.
I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.
I’m now banned from Woolworths.
Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of daft things to say!
WHAT’S ON AT THE SHACK?
Friday Night Community Get-Togethers – 2nd Friday of the month (usually the Friday before Wallan Market). Starting 6.30pm
Friday September 13th – Pie Night. Live music with Robin Mifsud & friends.
Friday October 8th Octoberfest
Friday November 12th BBQ
Friday December 10th Christmas Party – fully catered.
RSVP essential to ensure enough food! (To Hayley)
Community Advisory Group Committee meetings-
Wednesday 8th September 9.30am
Friday 8th October 1.00pm
Monday 8th November 9.30am
Friday 10th December 9.30am
All residents welcome.
****ANOTHER VERY LARGE GARAGE SALE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, 6TH NOVEMBER (at The Shack) starting 9.00am****
