Background information on East Timor

The Wangaratta Rural City Council has a formal friendship relationship with the East Timorese sub-District of Lacluta (being part of the District of Viqueque). That brings the current problems in East Timor closer to home. But what do we know of the people of Lacluta?


Lacluta is located in the hills just 39 nautical miles from Dili and the people there would be in imminent danger todat. This community has been through hell in the past.

On 19th January 2006, Sian Powell wrote an article in The Australian titled, Forced march ended in massacre discussd the "fence of legs" campaign in 1981, which rounded up civilians - young and old, sick and hungry - and made them march across the island. Around 500 people were massacred.

These people will need all the support they can get. The RCoW has recently formed a "Friends of Lacluta" committee and when we are asked, we need to get behind them. The committee charter is to support and promote:

• Human rights and social justice for all people
• Gender equality
• Sustainable social and economic development
• Good governance and active citizenship
• Community empowerment and civic participation
• Consultation, collaboration and joint agreement on projects

The City of Geelong is also supporting this district with their Geelongeast Timor Friendship program. Their web page shows the practical ways they have been able to help the District of Viqueque. Let us hope we can do as well.

Easier payment options for gun licences

Rural Victorians will have more options to pay their firearms licence according to Bill Sykes, Nationals Member for Benalla.

Currently the form for renewal of firearms licences indicates that payment may only be made at Westpac Branches or the Police Licensing Services Division.

Dr Sykes said, “Although the option is there to use other financial institutions, it is not indicated on the renewal form. This oversight is now being rectified and applicants will be able to make payments at other institutions at the discretion of that financial institution.

“This issue was bought to my attention by a resident from Rosewhite who was required to travel to Wangaratta, a round trip of 120 kilometres to renew his licence. Upon my writing to Tim Holding, the Minister for Police, other methods of payment are now being considered”.

Dr Sykes continued, “This has been a commonsense decision by the Bracks Government that has been long overdue. Farmers and others that have legitimate reasons for owning firearms have been forced to drive to large regional centres to pay their license renewal fees”.

Dr Sykes explained, “Arrangements have been made to amend the payment notices and guides to include the new options for payment.

“It would seem to me that another practical option would be to allow payments to be made at Australia Post Offices, seeing as most country towns still enjoy the facilities of the local Post Office. This would alleviate the need for many regional Victorians to travel distances of up hundreds of kilometres to pay their fees”.

Dr Sykes concluded by saying, “The Licensing Services Division is also considering the possibility of other payment options such as online credit card payments.

He says that he will continue to ‘keep an eye’ on this issue and make sure that regional Victoria has a fair go”.

RCoW presents Indigenous Forum - May 31

As part of Reconciliation Week 2006, the Rural City of Wangaratta is presenting an Indigenous Forum: Discovery and Dialogue. The forum is free to attend and aims to bring together a range of indigenous and non-indigenous members of the community to discuss local indigenous heritage and culture and how the local region can better acknowledge our indigenous heritage.

Dr Ian Gawler Benalla presentation - June 8

Dr Ian Gawler OAM MCouns & HS, BVetSc Founder and Therapeutic Director of the Gawler Foundation, is coming to the Benalla Bowls Club Inc, Arundel St Benalla 8th June 2006.

Tea & Coffee provided.
Drinks available at bar prices
Bookings are essential and are to be made through
Peta Clark Ph W 5762 2100 H 5762 5262
Tickets on Sale at
Dr Bill Sykes Office, 2/55 Carrier St, Benalla
Benalla 31 Primary School, Waller St, Benalla
Violet Town Community House
Wangaratta Oncology Unit 2nd Floor, Wang Base Hospital
Green St, Wangaratta
$10.00 per ticket
All proceeds from this event will be donated to
The Gawler Foundation and local community support services.

Dr Ian Gawler is one of Australia's best known cancer survivors and advocates a healthy lifestyle. His story offers hope and inspiration to people across the country.

The self-help techniques that he developed have helped many to convert hope into sustained health and peace of mind. A pioneer in Mind-Body Medicine, Dr Gawler is known for his clarity and good humour.

With a gift for translating ancient wisdom into a modern context, and having appeared widely in the media, Ian has played a major part in popularising meditation and other Mind-Body Medicine techniques in the western world.

Ian is the author of four bestsellers and has edited another seven books on Mind/Body Medicine. He has produced a series of tapes and CDs to support his writings.

In 1987 Dr Gawler was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to the community. In 1998 Ian completed a Masters degree in Counselling & Human Services.

As Pritikin's name became synonymous with a particular approach to eating, so the Gawler name has become well known and respected throughout Australia and overseas as representing a particular approach to health, healing & wellbeing.

Extract of Bulletin article 06/05/02

Ian Gawler was a 24-year-old veterinary surgeon and decathlete when the Grim Reaper first appeared. The doctors had just told him the swelling in his right leg was a highly malignant cancer of the bone (osteogenic sarcoma) and he had little chance of being alive in five years’ time.

As a young vet working in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Gawler had sometimes been forced to amputate the legs of dogs with osteogenic sarcomas to stop their cancers spreading. He could see now from the X-rays that his own femur was a splintered and bony mass, like a hand grenade in the early stages of exploding. He knew, therefore, he was in big trouble, and that amputation was his only option.

Two days after his diagnosis, and just before he was wheeled into surgery, he wrote the following farewell letter:

To my leg,

How well you have served me for nearly 25 years. I remember long treks through the mountains of Gippsland and how you led the way to jump over six feet four. That soaring feeling you gave rise to as you swept up into the air, leading the rest of my body into flight. Just the joy of running was so dear I was fortunate you were so strong and co-ordinated. I guess I shall never again feel my mobility to be normal …

My mind wanders over the many happy times. There are no complaints as the only time you fell short of my expectations was when my pride and ambitions were too great.

That you are to be lost to me in a few hours leaves me feeling empty. I feel drained of feeling. I hope I can still go forward with expectation. I am apprehensive and fear I may shrink before the challenge …

The challenges were far from over. In less than a year he was diagnosed with secondaries in the lymph nodes. Curiously, even though he was told he now had probably three to six months to live, Gawler took heart. The secondaries were not in the lungs, the first place they would normally have travelled to, indicating to him that the meditation was probably working.

Following his amputation, Gawler had taken up meditation in the belief it might mitigate against the cancer. Upon being diagnosed with secondaries, he visited the pioneering Melbourne psychiatrist, Ainslie Meares, who reinforced that view.

A world expert in hypnotherapy, Meares was at the time positing the novel theory (to westerners) that meditation could restore the body to its natural state of health. He believed that from a point of stillness, the body could correct the chemical imbalances brought about by stress and disease. Heart rates, blood pressure, indeed the entire immune system, could be altered by regularly practising meditation.

Gawler embraced his practice with renewed vigour. He also accepted the proposition that his preference for a high meat diet and frequent takeaway meals had been detrimental to his health. For the next three months, with daily meditation and a rigorous vegetarian diet, his cancer stopped growing. Then, suddenly, he went into decline again. His kidneys became blocked, his weight fell away and his face turned jaundiced. Later the cancer began spreading to his pelvis and lungs. He began coughing up shards of bone.

In desperation, but still clinging to alternative therapies, he went to the Philippines in search of a faith healer, or “psychic surgeon”, as he calls them. “I was more than three-quarters dead,” he says now. “The [western] doctor didn’t think it was even worth operating on me because I was so sick. He thought I would only live for a couple of weeks.”

That was 25 years ago and Ian Gawler’s story has since become the stuff of legend, written up in the Medical Journal of Australia, reported on A Current Affair, trumpeted far and wide as a shining example of a man’s victory over a dreaded illness. ... full Bulletin article here

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If you would like further information contact Peta Clark on this email address. Leave your phone number a I will give you a call with further details as they come to hand. Please forward this information to any other groups in your area that may be interested.

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Over the fence - news & gossip

Qantas serves up Valley wines

A bit of news is that Pizzini Wines is supplying QANTAS business class with the 2004 Sangiovese and also 2002 Il Barone.

Also their 2004 Sangiovese was chosen as one of the top 6 Sangiovese wines from around the world in a specific section for non Tuscan Sangiovese. The wines are to be shown to media from around the world at the Ruffino Sangiovese Symposium held this week. We look forward to hearing the result.

About Sangiovese 2004

It has savoury aromatics of spice, leather and chocolate on the nose. The palate is thick and rich. The wine has lovely round soft tannins that go from start to finish. Red berries provide a sweet front palate, the mid to back palate has bitter cherries finishing with savoury notes. The wine is powerful, with a generous mouth feel and length.

“The best Aussie version of this style, which offers all the flavours and characters of the real thing’
Stuart Gregor Sunday Magazine July 2005

“this is one of their best wines. It is complex, savoury and well structured, with firm tannins. Serve with Italian sausage and lentils.”
Sally Gudgeon Sunday Life Magazine July 2005

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MP has cunning plan
By Geoff Adams - May 15 2006 - Country News

Some Benalla district farmers have seen an opportunity to make some money from State Member for Benalla Bill Sykes.

Since Dr Sykes announced his offer to pay $1 for every fox tail delivered to him, a few fox shooting farmers have quipped that they can now get their hands on Dr Syke's money.

Dr Sykes has been joined in his campaign by State Member for Rodney Noel Maughan, who will pay $1 for every fox tail delivered to his electorate office at 26 Percy St, Echuca, between Monday and Friday from 9 am to 4.30 pm, from now until the end of May.

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Downer against guest worker program
By Nonie Stava - May 15 2006 - Country News
A grower group fears Federal Government comments have dashed the Goulburn Valley's chance of getting Pacific Island workers to help with fruit harvest. Foreign Minster Alexander Downer said any guest worker program would eventually be regarded as Australia simply sucking cheap labour from the Pacific.

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Winemakers succeed at competition in Asia
May 15 2006 - Country News
Taminik winemakers Michael and Nancy Reid have tasted success with their reds at a recent competition in Singapore.

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What's on around Wangaratta - Edition 67

This summary is extracted from the RCoW E-Newsletter "Cultural Capers". If you would like to subscribe please email m.mcgann@wangaratta.vic.gov.au indicating your request. For event details, Click here to be transferred to the RCoW web page.

What's on around Wangaratta

- Not Just Dots (Aboriginal Art Exhibition) 6 - 21 May 2006.
- Indigenous Forum, Discovery and Dialogue (Cultural Evening) 31 May 2006.
- King Valley Art Show (Art Prize and Exhibition) 10 - 12 June 2006
- Wednesday Night Live @ the Northo (Live Music) 6 May & 10 June 2006.
- Gathering (Textile Exhibition and Workshop) 12 May - 3 June 2006.
- Mt Buffalo After the Fires (Photography Exhibition) 17 June - 2 July
2006.
- Masterclass Dinner Series (Fine Dining) 16 May - 5 September 2006.
- Cathedral Music (Live Music Series) 19 May - 17 December 2006.
- Riley Lee & Marshall McGuire (Live Music) 19 May 2006.
- Library Week (Library Workshops) 22 - 28 May 2006.
- Rosalie Ham (Book signing and discussion) 24 May 2006.
- Flow (Art Exhibition) 27 May - 11 June 2006.
- Happy Birthday Henry (Live Classical Music) 28 May 2006.
- Biting Dog Theatre Festival (Live Youth Theatre) 31 May - 9 June 2006.
- Wangaratta Theatre Season (Subscription Packages Available)
- Artists Residency Opportunity (Artist Opportunity) June 2006.
- Kid's Art Classes (Children's Art Workshops) 1 - 9 June 2006.
- Comedy Festival Roadshow (Live Stand-Up) 2 June 2006.
- Flow Open Workshop Day (Art Workshop) 4 June 2006.
- William & Winifred Bownes Photography Prize (Art Award) Entries Close 2
June 2006.
- Life's A Stitch (Textile Exhibition) 17 June - 16 July 2006.
- Illustrator Visit (Library School Holiday Program) 21 June 2006.

Global oil vulnerability exposed this week

SUMMARY: This week, tensions between the USA and Venezuela have shown the global vulnerability of the supply of oil. Venezuela's Chavaz has been goading the US with Bush retaliating by stopping arms sales to Venezuela. Whilst Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has described oil prices as "fair", the rest of the world is paying through the nose.

Here in Australia, our governments are starting to get serious about oil prices with grants to the car makers to investigate alternative fuels - as if that was needed with General Motors already producing multiple fuel vehicles around the world. The links below will give you a better understanding of our oil vulnerability.

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Full Tanks Put Squeeze on Working Class
Published: May 13, 2006
MIAMI BEACH, May 12 — Giving up the occasional rib-eye steak hasn't been the hardest part for Ana Lopez, although her husband is a red-meat man. More difficult are having to tell her 11-year-old son that he cannot go to the movies, and swearing off Sunday visits to her sister in Pembroke Pines or to her brother in Miami Lakes. These are the sacrifices required now that it costs $US60 to fill her aging Toyota 4Runner.

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Israeli gasoline supplier to Palestinians cuts supply
From Wikinews, May 12, 2006
Israeli company Dor Energy, the sole supplier of gasoline and cooking gas to the Palestinian territories, cut off all deliveries on Wednesday, citing US$27 million in unpaid bills.

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Australian senator to oppose petrol deregulation
From Wikinews, May 15, 2006
Australian senator Barnaby Joyce (Nationals, Queensland) has moved to oppose the government's planned changes to the country's petrol retail industry.

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Dementia and fuel to drive care
BY HOWARD JONES
A POSSIBLE cure for dementia and rising petrol prices were factors that would influence aged care in future, an expert told an Albury conference yesterday.

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Fuel rises spur new crop strategies
PETER HEMPHILL 10may06
GRAIN growers have cut back on fallowing and fertiliser in a bid to slash their costs as fuel prices skyrocket, according to farm consultants.

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Petrol excise cut bad policy: Minchin
Last Update: Sunday, May 14, 2006. 9:28am (AEST)
Federal Finance Minister Nick Minchin says it would cost the Government $3 billion to cut the excise on petrol by just 10 cents.

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Last Update: Tuesday, May 16, 2006. 3:14pm (AEST)
$50m in grants for Mitsubishi, GM Holden
South Australia's two car makers are to get nearly $50 million in Federal Government grants for research and development. "It allows us to look at introducing alternative power train and alternative fuel opportunities not only for local cars but potentially for markets overseas as well," he said.

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Last Updated: Sunday, 14 May 2006, 00:43 GMT 01:43 UK
Chavez to ignore Blair on UK trip
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is to arrive in Britain for a private visit. But he will not meet Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he has called a pawn of the "imperialist" US. Mr Chavez controls a country with the world's fifth largest oil supply. On Friday Mr Blair urged Venezuela to use its energy resources responsibly.

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Last Updated: Sunday, 14 May 2006, 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
Chavez warns US over Iran policy
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned the US that any attack on Iran will have devastating consequences and send oil prices soaring.

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Last Updated: Monday, 15 May 2006, 22:24 GMT 23:24 UK
US bans arms sales to Venezuela
The US is imposing a ban on arms sales to Venezuela. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the ban "doesn't matter to us at all", saying it confirmed that Washington wanted to trample on smaller countries.
Bush bans arms sales to Chávez... The Guardian

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Last Updated: Thursday, 18 May 2006, 00:06 GMT 01:06 UK
Chavez talks oil on Libya visit
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has described oil prices as "fair" and said he would work to maintain them, during a visit to Libya.

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Chavez offers oil to Europe's poor
Sunday May 14, 2006 - The Observer
Venezuelan President promises fuel to the needy and proclaims 'final days of the North American empire' before visit to Britain today. This past winter, Venezuela delivered cut-rate oil to low-income Americans through Citgo, the Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.

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Chavez: Imprison 'genocidal' Bush
Monday, May 15, 2006; Posted: 11:58 a.m. EDT (15:58 GMT
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused George W. Bush of committing genocide and said the U.S. president should be imprisoned by an international criminal court.

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Venezuela may sell U.S. jets to Iran, others
Tuesday, May 16, 2006; Posted: 1:17 p.m. EDT (17:17 GMT)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's military is considering the possibility of selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, a Venezuelan military official said Tuesday.

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The current price of a barrel of oil ($US)

This chart is continuously updated by Yahoo with data taken from the New York Stock Exchange

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Sykes supports Salvo's Red Shield Appeal

Be generous with your support of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Door Knock Appeal – that’s the message from Bill Sykes, The Nationals Member for
Benalla.

The Red Shield Door Knock Appeal this year runs from Saturday, 27 May until Sunday, 4 June, and the Salvos hope to raise in excess of $2 million across Victoria.

Dr Sykes said, “The Salvation Army does outstanding community work – as my Dad used to say, you can always count on the Salvos – they were at the front line in both world wars and they are still on the front line assisting communities today. I work closely with the local Salvos addressing issues such as youth homelessness and helping families in crisis.

Dr Sykes continued, “Individuals and clubs can help the Salvo’s Red Shield Door Knock Appeal by forming a door knocking team or doing a collection at a major sporting event and other community gatherings. Donations can also be made by mail, phone, internet or at my office”.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I urge everyone to give generously and also to help with the appeal”.

For more information contact Salvation Army, Captain Peter Ellis on 5762 6547 or 13 Salvo (13 72 58) or by visiting www.salvationarmy.org.au

The Eldorado Mining Disaster - 1894

One hundred and eleven years ago, the Wangaratta district had it's own mining disaster with 18 men trapped underground. Just before 4.00 am on Saturday 20 July 1895, tragedy struck the McEvoy Company. Unfortunately, six of the miners were killed by rising mud and water.

The story is told on the excellent website Simply Australia and is reproduced here. You can also access the song, The Fields of Eldorado with mp3 sound together with the lyrics

The Beaconsfield top 40 pop chart

It doesn't take long to turn a crisis into a celebration. Here's the first of the light hearted emails that are sure to flood your computer. Interestingly, Rock around the Clock by Elvis is not included. The chart must have been designed by a youngster.

Push for improved transport in country Victoria

On 14 November 2005, the State Government unveiled Moving Forward, the Bracks Government's $502 million action plan for growth in Provincial Victoria. This initiative promised a public transport bus service to connect Whitfield with the Hume Region.

Apart from the initial press release and a report in The Chronicle, we have heard nothing more. In February, The Watchdog published a follow up article, Public Transport to the King Valley which offered some alternatives.

Now, with fuel prices climbing higher, and the RACV reporting that rural Victoria has the worst transport options in Australia for people who cannot drive, it is an opportune time for the community to start asking, "Where is our bus service?"

Catlemen Return - Treasure Family Protest

Originally published on Bundarrah Days 10 May 2006

The Treasure family, a pioneering Victorian High Country family, drove cattle into the Alpine National Park on the Dargo High Plains today as a protest against the cancellation of their high country grazing licences.

The President of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria, Doug Treasure, said the protest has been strongly supported by mountain cattlemen all round the high country.

He responded to suggestions that the family had been compensated by saying that any money just covered short-term transitional expenses.

"Nothing can adequately compensate mountain cattlemen for the way we have been treated," he said.

Doug Treasure said, “The protest highlights my family's fear that country which has been in our care for 125 years will be devastated due to the Government's decision to ban grazing. The blanket ban does not take into account different land management needs of various High Country areas.

"Our cattle run sits 1000 feet below areas such as Bogong and is made up of sturdy basalt country that is below the tree line, yet the Bracks' government is treating all high country regions the same – this is not good land management practice.

"We're taking the personal risk of putting the cattle back out onto our former runs because we know our mountain spurs and gullies will suffer the same fate as other Victorian weed infested and charred National Parks. The ban has been a political decision, not an environmental one and we're grieving for the future of our mountains. "

Mr Treasure said his family was investigating Tasmanian Government legislation which deems cattle grazing as an integral part of the management of sensitive Parks areas, such as the delicate coastal areas of Tasmania's Arthur Pieman River and the world famous Cradle Mountain area.

"The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife quotes science that shows grazing makes sense. Parks management enlists the help of cattlemen to graze the Parks, not because of traditional practice, but because it benefits the land and it is the most economical way of management.

"Cattle will this year graze the pristine Cradle Mountain Park because it increases diversity of plant species and reduces the fuel load for fires. In their studies they've found that areas periodically grazed carried 240 native plant species including wild flowers, versus areas restricted from grazing which had less than half that number.

"The Tasmanian system is also based on local people managing the areas they know and have a lifelong vested interest in. The committees are made up of representatives from each user group so that the best interests of the land is upheld."

Mr Treasure said the Tasmanian system advocates grazing and is documented within the Arthur Pieman Conservation Management Plan. This plan has been legislated by Tasmanian Parliament and has worked on both a community and environmental level for years.

"We are calling for the same sensible structure in Victoria. And that's why we have taken cattle into our formerly grazed areas. We have to maintain this link, not for the sake of our economics, but for the sake of our land. If Parks Victoria were progressive, they would enrol our skills to help in land management including advice on cool fuel reductions burns."

Doug Treasure's daughter-in-law and best selling novelist, Rachael Treasure said city-centric decision making had devastated the Dargo High Plains area.

She said, because cattlemen had been banned by bureaucracy from traditional fuel reduction burns for 30 years the 2003 fires decimated the Park area to the point where many areas will never regain its original bio-diversity.

"This ‘top-down’ land management regime by the Department is not working. Land management decisions should be bolstered by the knowledge of well informed locals such as the process used in Tasmania," Mrs Treasure said.

"I was on the ride in January when the MCAV took cattle into the Wonnangatta
National Park as a protest. I was horrified to see Parks had allowed thousands of hectares to become choked with weeds and the area carrying a massive fuel load.

"Our family know that our treasured Long Spur, Kings Spur, Lanky's and Omeo Plain where we ran cattle will suffer the same fate.

"It's clear our family and other cattlemen have been picked off as a minority group and held up as an environmental evil. In reality it is the opposite – we're protesting because the environment will suffer if our family and our cattle are taken away.

"It's devastating because we could have a system like the Tasmanian one where Parks Victoria see us as allies and they can enlist us in helping both the environment and boosting the tourist dollar."

"It's crippling to think my husband John, who grew up on those mountains won't be able to show his kids or any other Australian where Angus McMillan, discoverer of Gippsland, blazed a tree to make a trail or where the best orchids grow.

"And now there'll be no reason to saddle up a horse, put on a backpack of spray and go down into the gullies to fight the weeds.

"We'll have to leave it up to the Parks Victoria employees who don't spray further than the reach of their 4WD vehicle's hose or further than the meagre weed control funding they get. It would be nice to think we will still be around to help them out and show them where all the trails once were."

NOTE: The Maguire and Connley families of the Southern Bogong High Plains have not accepted any compensation from the Victorian Government over alpine grazing and will not do so in the future. Nor do we accept that our licence areas are gone.

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ABC Goulburn Murray | Local News | Story
Liberals support mountain cattlemen
Thursday, 11 May 2006. 14:14 (AEDT)

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Bill Sykes personally puts a bounty on foxes

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, is funding his own fox tail bounty scheme during the month of May.

This follows on from Melbourne Labor’s rejection of National Party calls to reinstate the highly successful Fox Bounty Program which resulted in 170,000 fox tails being handed in when the bounty last operated in 2002.

Dr Sykes said, “My Nationals colleagues and I are serious about the fox bounty which we believe encourages the control of foxes and therefore the protection of lambs and native fauna.

“In my case, foxes killed or maimed over 10% of my lambs last year – and that is in spite of having alpacas with the lambing ewes and undertaking a fox baiting program ahead of lambing time.

“I found it extremely distressing last Spring when one rogue fox was just crushing new born lamb's heads, fracturing their jaws and skulls but not causing their immediate death.

“It is heart wrenching to find maimed little lambs bleating pathetically, unable to feed and with their mother standing guard over them.

“I find killing these little lambs one of the most distressing things that I’ve had to do in 30 years as a farmer and veterinarian.”

Dr Sykes continued, “With such close personal awareness of the cruelty of foxes, I strongly advocate the reinstatement of a fox bounty as part of a coordinated State approach to fox control.

“I will pay $10 to the first person in each of the locations listed below who delivers a fox tail to me and $1 each for every other fox tail delivered to me in May.

“Any constituent in the Electorate of Benalla is eligible to collect the bounty on foxes which they have killed in the Electorate of Benalla. Simply deliver the tails to any of the following locations:

Benalla - Electorate Office, 2/55 Carrier Street, 19 May 9.30-10.30am
Bonnie Doon - Post Office 22 May, 12.30-1.30pm
Eildon - Shopping Centre 22 May, 2.30-3.30pm
Myrtleford - Shopping Centre 23 May, 10.30-11.30am
Bright - Post Office 23 May, 2.00-3.00pm
Mt Beauty - Post Office 24 May, 11.00-12.00pm
Moyhu - Store/Post Office 24 May, 2.00-3.00pm
Nagambie - Post Office 26 May, 1.00-2.00pm
Avenel - Post Office 26 May, 2.30-3.30pm
Euroa - Post Office 26 May, 4.00-5.00pm

Dr Sykes concluded, “I and my Nationals colleagues will continue to pressure the city based Bracks Government to reintroduce the fox bounty in the interest of the well-being of our native fauna and little lambs.”

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Watchdog Comment:

This is a great initiative by our local member and I am sure it will provide plenty of ammunition to take back to the Victorian Government.

However, here are a couple of alternatives for Bill to recycle the fox tails he collects.

First, they could be donated to a local fly fishing club where they would be utilised in fly tying. The picture here shows a red foxtail nymph which is very effective in catching trout in our waters.

The second is a little more farcical where the fox tail is being used a Computer Plug-in, made of the tail of an Australian red fox. The tail, which is designed to connect to an unused ethernet socket, is part of Max Wolf’s range of fetishist accessories for playing with while sitting in front of a computer.

The Watchdog looks forward to seeing how this initiative plays out.

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What's on around Wangaratta - 5 May 2006

This summary is extracted from the RCoW E-Newsletter "Cultural Capers". If you would like to subscribe please email m.mcgann@wangaratta.vic.gov.au indicating your request. For event details, Click here to be transferred to the RCoW web page.

What's on around Wangaratta

- Travelling Film Festival (International Film Festival) 5 - 7 May 2006.
- Not Just Dots (Aboriginal Art Exhibition) 6 - 21 May 2006.
- Friends of Lacluta Meeting (Community Initiative) 8 May 2006.
- But That's Another Story (Heritage Exhibition + Short Films) 13 April - 6
May 2006.
- Beechworth Drum Circle (Music Activity) Thursday Evenings.
- Windmill Baby (Live Professional Theatre) 29 April - 5 May 2006.
- Margret Roadknight (Live Music) 5 May 2006.
- Margret Roadknight (Workshop) 6 May 2006.
- Super 8 Film Day (Film Making Workshop) 6 May 2006.
- Not Just Dots Coffee Morning (Exhibition Floor Talk) 10 May 2006.
- Wednesday Night Live @ the Northo (Live Music) 6 May & 10 June 2006.
- Gathering (Textile Exhibition and Workshop) 12 May - 3 June 2006.
- Masterclass Dinner Series (Fine Dining) 16 May - 5 September 2006.
- Cathedral Music (Live Music Series) 19 May - 17 December 2006.
- Riley Lee & Marshall McGuire (Live Music) 19 May 2006.
- Library Week (Library Workshops) 22 - 28 May 2006.
- Rosalie Ham (Book signing and discussion) 24 May 2006.
- Flow (Art Exhibition) 27 May - 11 June 2006.
- Happy Birthday Henry (Live Classical Music) 28 May 2006.
- Biting Dog Theatre Festival (Live Youth Theatre) 31 May - 9 June 2006.
- Wangaratta Theatre Season (Subscription Packages Available)
- Artists Residency Opportunity (Artist Opportunity) June 2006.
- Kid's Art Classes (Children's Art Workshops) 1 - 9 June 2006.
- Comedy Festival Roadshow (Live Stand-Up) 2 June 2006.
- Flow Open Workshop Day (Art Workshop) 4 June 2006.
- William & Winifred Bownes Photography Prize (Art Award) Entries Close 2
June 2006.
- Life's A Stitch (Textile Exhibition) 17 June - 16 July 2006.
- Illustrator Visit (Library School Holiday Program) 21 June 2006.

Government warns of $2 petrol

From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
By Darrell Giles - April 30, 2006

PETROL will top $2 a litre in Queensland by the end of the year, the head of a special State Government committee has warned.

Andrew McNamara, the Member for Hervey Bay, said soaring international oil prices would lead to rises much more drastic than the $1.50 a litre predicted last week.

The Labor backbencher is chairman of the Government's energy committee, which is investigating Queensland's vulnerability in the oil crisis.

He expected oil would skyrocket from recent highs of $US75 a barrel to more than $US100 before the end of the year.

"The price of petrol -- and pesticides, plastics, pharmaceuticals, packaging and food -- is about to go into a price surge," Mr McNamara said.

"That will produce a recession that won't end until we reshape our economy and society to reduce our reliance on oil, in proportion with the growing gap between production and use."

The Sunday Mail reported last week that economists believed petrol prices could soon top $1.50 a litre for unleaded petrol. Prices jumped from $1.18 in Brisbane on Wednesday morning to $1.36 by the afternoon.

"These rises are not temporary. This is the beginning of the end of cheap energy," Mr McNamara said.

He based his comments on belief world oil production would peak and then decline over 10 years.

This represented the "most serious and immediate challenge" to our prosperity, as alternative energy sources could not make up the shortfall.

Copyright 2006 News Limited.

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Fuel crisis bulletins for the week

SUMMARY: With high petrol prices here to stay, the Public Transport Users Association says Melbourne’s outer suburbs would become “financially unviable” unless car dependence was reduced. South American countries are nationalising their energy resources whilst farmers and car makers are talking ethanol and biodiesel as alternatives.

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US car maker in ethanol embrace
CAR manufacturer General Motors is building 20 service stations in the US state of Michigan to sell 85 per cent ethanol blends of petrol. The E-85 blend can be used in "flexible fuel vehicles" -- cars which can use straight petrol or ethanol blends of up to 85 per cent.


Biodiesel oily pulse hope
By KIM WOODS - 26 Apr 06
A SOUTHERN Riverina farmer is encouraging research into a winter dryland pulse crop on the back of the burgeoning biodiesel industry.
Bruce Smith, of Cootamundra, north of Wagga Wagga, said a winter-active grain-only pulse of significant oil content was needed to supplement canola.

The Age: Petrol price sky high, pressuring rates
Alex Makin - Councillor for Maroondah (Victoria) - Thursday, 27 April 2006
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Alex Makin said it was obvious that petrol prices would keep increasing — and repeated the call for better tram, train and bus services. He said Melbourne’s outer suburbs, which are heavily car reliant, would become “financially unviable” unless car dependence was reduced.

ABC NEWS Online
Last Update: Monday, May 1, 2006. 11:20am (AEST)
High petrol prices 'here to stay'
The US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman says soaring petrol pump prices are here to stay for at least the next couple of years and the US Government can do little in the short term to mitigate it.


Ethanol's Promise
Editorial -Published: May 1, 2006
The political scramble to find quick answers to rising oil prices has produced one useful result, which is to get people talking about substitute fuels that could make us less vulnerable to market forces, less dependent on volatile Persian Gulf oil producers and less culpable on global warming.


By PAULO PRADA - Published: May 2, 2006
Bolivia Nationalizes the Oil and Gas Sector
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 1 — President Evo Morales of Bolivia ordered the military to occupy energy fields around the country on Monday as he placed Bolivia's oil and gas reserves under state control.


Published on Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Cheap Gas Fuels Fracas in Caracas
Three-cents-a-litre has its downside
Low price has service centres fuming
by Tim Harper
At three cents a litre, Venezuelans have the cheapest gas prices in the world, a fraction of the 56 cents they would pay for a litre of bottled water or the 70 cents they would pay for a litre of milk.

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Friends of Lacluta committee being formed

Hi Everyone,

Please find below, details of the next Friends of Lacluta (East Timor) meeting. I would appreciate you circulating it to your networks. If you can't make the meeting but would be interested in finding out further information or being involved in the group and some of its upcoming initiatives please feel free to contact me.

Regards
Maz McGann
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Rural City of Wangaratta
T : 5722 9065 or 0402 883 387
E : m.mcgann@wangaratta.vic.gov.au
F : 5722 2969

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Local Government in Australia has a long history of support to East Timor and a number of municipalities have established ‘Friendship Relationships’ with East Timorese towns and districts.

These ‘Friendship Relationships’ are long-term commitments based on a community-to-community philosophy that involves many individuals and groups, as well as the councils. These relationships are guided by a ‘Statement of Principles for Local Governments Working in East Timor’, which was signed on 4 May 2000 by the President of East Timor (then the leader of the CNRT) Xanana Gusmão, the Victoria Local Government Minister, the VLGA, and the MAV.

The friendship relationship between the Wangaratta Rural City Council and the sub-District of Lacluta (being part of the District of Viqueque) had its origins in September 2004 following a proposal by Abel Guterres, Consul-General to Australia, at a meeting of Wangaratta Councillors in which he proposed the concept of friendship relationships between Australian and East Timorese communities. This resulted in a request to send an official party from Wangaratta Council to visit Dilor, one of Lacluta’s main ‘sucos’ or towns.

There was a great deal of interest from staff of the Rural City of Wangaratta, and the staff undertook to provide worked up time to allow three staff members to participate in the visit. There was also an undertaking by staff to allow use of some funds held in reserve that were a result of in-house business units equities from the compulsory competitive tendering activities between 1998 and 2001 to defray costs of the visit. A selection process was undertaken and the staff selected were Mr Malcolm Styles (Deputy Chief Executive Officer) to lead the visit, Mr Mike Hillenaar (Information Technology Officer) and Ms Emily Bissland (Stormwater Education Officer). The Mayor of the day, Cr Roberto Paino was the Councillor selected to represent Council.

A friendship agreement was negotiated with the assistance of Mr Abel Guterres.

The delegation visited East Timor between 21 September 2005 and 2 October 2005. There was a signing ceremony held at the Suco of Dilor in the sub-district of Lacluta on 25 September 2005.

In order to ensure that the principles of the Friendship Relationship are maintained, the Charter requires Friends of Lacluta to support and promote:

• Human rights and social justice for all people
• Gender equality
• Sustainable social and economic development
• Good governance and active citizenship
• Community empowerment and civic participation
• Consultation, collaboration and joint agreement on projects

At a community meeting held on 8 February 2006 (after an information and informal meeting held in December 2005) those present requested that Council favourably consider the establishment of a special committee as provided for under Section 86 of the Local Government Act 1989.

Now, it is your turn! Come along, join the committee and get involved.

Whitlands High Plateaux region, an ego trip?

The vineyards are the economic lifeblood of the King Valley community. Yet, there appears to be no economic benefit in separation for anyone - including the four Whitlands growers. ... see Border mail article below


Grape region row in court
BY BRAD WORRALL - Border Mail - 1 May 2006

A BITTER dispute among grape growers in the King Valley has been playing out in front of a federal judge.

Four grape growers near Whitlands want to secede from the King Valley winery district, which includes about 75 vignerons.

Their proposal seeks to include another seven grape growers and three vineyards under the Whitlands High Plateaux region umbrella.

The Border Mail understands some of the grape growers and wineries oppose plans to create this separate region.

At present the King Valley region encompasses the watershed of the King River.

The King River joins the Ovens River at Wangaratta and the King Valley runs south through the Oxley Plains for 25km to Moyhu before entering a number of narrow valleys in the foothills of the alps.

At its northern end is Milawa, which is at the lowest point of 155m.

At the southern end is the Whitlands plateau, at 800m, one of the highest wine grape-growing areas in Australia.

Rainfall at Milawa is about half the 630mm annual total at Whitlands.

It took more than eight years for the region to be declared last September and the matter is now being challenged in the Australian Appeals Tribunal.

A source, who did not want to be named, said it would be a mistake to have different regions existing within the one valley.

“Some wineries will end up with grapes from two different regions, literally kilometres apart,” the source said.

“We need to keep the King Valley together in its entirety.

“This decision will be very important for the future of the valley.”

The matter is being heard by Federal Court judge Garry Downes and is expected to be completed by the end of this week.

A ruling is not expected to be made until next month.

... original article here

Watchdog Comment
This dispute appears to be a threat to the future viability of the King Valley wine region. The four grapegrowers involved in this action should remember the transition of the King Valley region from a tobacco growing district to recognition as a grape growing region.

The region was developed by large organisations, such as Brown Brothers, contracting the farmers to grow grapes when the tobacco industry stalled. None of the Whitlands group of growers would have been established in the first place without this input of the larger winery companies.

Separating the district into the highlands and the lowlands regions will create an "us and them" mentality that will extend beyond the wine industry into the local community as well - and God knows, we need none of that.

The vineyards are the economic lifeblood of the King Valley community. Yet, there appears to be no economic benefit in separation for anyone - including the four Whitlands growers.