Advantaged an disadvantaged suburbs and towns near Geelong

from w
Some stats came out that reveal advantage and disadvantage in towns and suburbs throughout Australia. Here is the data about local areas - in vicinity of Geelong.  No real surprises there except that Bells Beach came out very high - though how many people actually live there I wonder. I am surprised about Colac East coming out as problematic because the time we spent weekends in Colac we 'judged' the people to be fairly well off in Colac area. Stats can be deceiving of course.  This post is taken from Bay FM Geelong radio station. In the article they didn't give how they arrived at the results.

Victoria’s most disadvantaged – your suburb’s ranking

Thursday, 28 March 2013 21:16

inShare Two local suburbs are at the top of  a list of the most disadvantaged areas  in the state.A new method of measuring  social disadvantage allocates a score  to suburbs, then ranks them from  lowest to highest. Toorloo Arm, near  Lakes Entrance, and with a population of just 127, tops the list with a score of 580. Colac East is second, with Laverton North. In fourth place followed  by Norlane in fifth. Whittington also makes it into the top twenty after being  named in 19th spot. Corio is 41st with Thomson 42nd. Newcomb is in 103rd place, Bell Park is 126th and Mount Pleasant is at 129. At the opposite  end of the scale Bells Beach is ranked at number 1,513, well ahead of Toorak at 1,485. Rippleside is at 1,480, Moriac is at 1,463 with Jan Juc at 1,453. The list was put together by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The full list of local areas and their ranking on the ABS social  disadvantage scale: 2: Colac East 4: Laverton North 5: Norlane 19: Whittington 41: Corio 42: Thomson 52: Laverton 67: Beeac 103: Newcomb 115: Colac 126: Bell Park 139: Mount Pleasant 164: St Leonards 214: Mortlake 242: Bell Post Hill 248: Winchelsea 254: Werribee 265: Portarlington 278: Indented Head 289: Dereel 343: Herne Hill 487: Belmont 492: Hoppers Crossing 525: Wyndham Vale 538: Hamlyn Heights 566: Truganina 623: Geelong West 640: Mount Clear 649: Werribee South 664: Colac West 703: Grovedale 707: Lethbridge 709: Lovely Banks 712: Clifton Springs 758: Fyansford 773: Drysdale 790: Manifold Heights 800: East Geelong 840: Tarneit 847: Lara 852: Barwon Downs 885: Geelong 902: Leopold 928: South Geelong 1029: Lorne 1046: Teesdale 1049: Anglesea 1063: Bannockburn 1071: Inverleigh 1082: Ocean Grove 1139: Queenscliff 1151: Deans Marsh 1152: Gheringhap 1162: Point Lonsdale 1172: Murgheboluc 1193: Newtown 1200: Williams Landing 1212: Mount Moriac 1213: Shelford 1276: Highton 1323: Maude 1332: Torquay 1335: Barwon Heads 1340: Connewarre 1381: Mount Duneed 1411: Gnarwarre 1426: Waurn POnds 1427: Fairhaven 1429: Drumcondra 1430: Batesford 1433: Point Cook 1437: Breamlea 1454: Jan Juc 1458: Curlewis 1463: Moriac 1480: Rippleside 1505: Ceres 1513: Bells Beach

Easter Day

from w
We attended a dawn service again this year overlooking Corio Bay, but this year the sun didn't shine until we had left the bay and gone to have breakfast at the church. Last year the sun rose brightly.

Holy Week

from w
These pictures were based on table decorations for Holy Week, one is from Altona Meadows/Laverton church, the others from Wesley Church in Geelong.

Music for Holy Week

from w

Last night at East Geelong Uniting Church we listened to a wonderful piece of music for the Monday devotions for Holy Week. The Allegri Miserere. It's on youtube. It's not typical Protestant music at all - and listening to it in a Uniting church chapel was inspiring. Thank you Rev Ikani for the choice.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh31j6L95Ok

Allegri - Miserere (best quality)

www.youtube.com

Miserere, by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652), is a setting of Psalm 51 composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably 

Cracked egg design for library

from w
The design for the new library in Geelong has been modified but still looked like an egg. And why so big as most information and even fiction is now on the internet or on DVDs etc. I think the design overpowers it's neighbouring Art Gallery etc. unless they are all going to be modernised.  I do like curved lines though in a building rather than square or oblong block shapes.

From Geelong Advertiser:

Cracked egg turfed out

Peter Begg   |  March 25th, 2013

Concept designs for Geelong's new library and heritage centre.

GEELONG's new library and heritage centre overlooking Johnstone Park has lost its "cracked egg" look as architects develop detailed plans.

In September, City Hall revealed a bold dome design for the library, but the latest images of what architects ARM envisage show it could be quite different.

The latest plans show three flat sides, sides as architects move to maximise available space inside the five-storey structure.

The latest image of what is proposed is the third version of the dome concept, and shows the dome with an overall brown appearance, compared with the original image, which was blue.

In a report to tomorrow night's Geelong city council meeting, which contains an update on the project, the architects are said to have completed studies into the dome's colour and pattern.

The report states the architects believe their latest plan met the city's design criteria and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect's requirements.

"They have recommended a dome made of coloured GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) tiles," the report states.

"The tiles would be coloured in four individual colour tints, be articulated as a series of hexagonal tiles, and be subdivided on their face into three sub-tiles which are parallelograms."

The report said the final four shades would be selected from a range of six colours: inca gold, light sandy beige, champagne, "glo" peach, mushroom and yellow.

Geelong Regional Library Corporation chairman Andy Richards the council has had positive feedback on the design concept for the new library.

"I am very comfortable with where the project is headed," Cr Richards said.

"I like the design of the building, and I am looking forward to making the inside of the building as modern and cutting-edge as possible."

Tomorrow's council meeting will also consider paying for a library study tour to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Cr Richards and council colleagues Rod Macdonald and Kylie Fisher are interested in taking the tour.  Cr Richards said his board had done a lot of work in the past decade to make Geelong's libraries the best they could be. "We continue to search for and investigate the best improvements we can make, to make our libraries even better," he said.

"Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have some of the best libraries in Australia and we will be looking at several new and improved libraries."
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And from Architecture Source:

Could Libraries Become Precinct Hubs?

When considering the design and function of precinct developments, thoughts often naturally run to bars, cafés, sporting venues and theatres. While these spaces are important as community hubs, libraries are taking on a growing role in the world of architecture.

Library developments have gained prominence in recent months, with home developers and interior designers placing heavy importance on private libraries and commercial and government entities investing heavily in the development of public library spaces.

While libraries have traditionally been popular community destinations, their institutional feel led to a dip in their popularity. Those times seem to be coming to an end more recently with the industry strongly backing the new interest in library developments.

The planned $45 million Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is yet another example of the growing trend.

Slated to be built in Johnstone Park, architectural firm ARM Architecture will deliver the major community hub. No strangers to precinct feature design, the architectural firm has recently completed the $136 million Hamer Hall redevelopment project.

Confirmed plans developed by the firm show the building with a highly unique dome-like shape and a façade consisting of a mass of beehive gridding over glass. A tiered glass green roof, which is in effect a jagged cut out from the dome adorns the front of the building.

According to Greater City of Geelong Mayor John Mitchell, the building’s modern aesthetic is a much-desired change of pace for architecture in the city.

“It’s something different for Geelong – it will arguably be our city’s most iconic building that will draw people in and put us on the map,” says Mitchell. “The architects have deliberately gone for a modern design that complements rather than competes with the existing heritage buildings in the precinct.”

While the cutting edge design has earned mixed reviews thus far, Geelong Regional Library Board chair Andy Richards has praised the architects for their modern vision, which he says will give the building added longevity.

“We know modern library services help shape smarter and more connected local communities,” says Richards. “This magnificent, architecturally designed building will not only be a landmark for our city and future generations, it will significantly improve and strengthen library services for the CBD and the entire regional network.”

Work on the building is expected to begin next year, which is expected to be completed by mid-2015.

By Tim Moore

Palm Sunday in Geelong

from w

Today is Palm Sunday and at East Geelong Uniting Church we had a very happy all-age service with the children having a special place in leading a procession, taking prayers, answering questions and making little green trees and some of the men performed a drama. Fae and I played the organ and piano and my grandson Jordan played the drums. Our minister is Rev Ikani Vaitohi who is enthusiastic and gets us doing creative things. Meanwhle back in islands such as Fiji and Tonga, today is Children's Sunday and the chidlren usually dress in white, wear ties and/or flowers and lead in the church services, such as in this photo from Malake Island.

Saying sorry

from w.
Unfortunately the storm in a teacup kerkuffle by members of the Labour Party upstaged the more important event of the day - the speech by the Prime Minister to say sorry for the years of dreadful treatment of girls and their babies when the newborn babies were taken from the young mothers and given away for adoption, often by coercion or trickery. A sad story for many families.
(from one of the media outlets)

Australia says sorry for forced adoptions

AFPUpdated March 21, 2013, 3:58 pm

AFP © Australia says sorry for forced adoptions

SYDNEY (AFP) - The adoptions, driven largely by religious groups in the post-war period, "created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering", the national apology delivered by Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.

"To you, the mothers who were betrayed by a system that gave you no choice and subjected you to manipulation, mistreatment and malpractice, we apologise," she said to applause from 800 people affected by the policy.

"We say sorry to you, the mothers who were denied knowledge of your rights, which meant you could not provide informed consent.

"You were given false assurances. You were forced to endure the coercion and brutality of practices that were unethical, dishonest and in many cases illegal."

The apology also acknowledged "the profound effects" on fathers and the "sons and daughters who grew up not knowing how much you were wanted and loved".

The decision to offer a formal apology follows a Senate inquiry into forced adoptions found as many as 225,000 babies were removed.

Scores of mothers and children gave evidence at the inquiry which looked at the forcible removal of infants between 1951 and 1975 in Australia, then a conservative and predominantly Christian nation.

Given the social stigma attached to unmarried females at the time, young women who fell pregnant were often sent to stay with relatives or at group houses run by churches or other religious organisations.

Babies were often signed away for adoption before they were born. The inquiry found women were pressured to consent, signatures were sometimes fraudulently obtained, and adoption was presented as inevitable.

Women later struggled to reunite with their children. In many cases adopted babies had their birth certificates issued in their adoptive parents' names, on the grounds that a "clean break" was best for all parties.

In a speech at parliament's Great Hall in Canberra, Gillard said "no collection of words alone can undo all this damage".

"But by saying sorry we can correct the historical record. We can declare that these mothers did nothing wrong."

Christine Cole, the head of the Apology Alliance who lost a child through forced adoption, told ABC television the words were long overdue.

"I had my baby taken from me in 1969, and I think the use of the term forced adoption polarises the actual phenomena of what was going on," she said.

"What was going on was kidnapping children, kidnapping newborn babies from their mothers at the birth, using pillows and sheets to cover their face, drugging them as I was drugged, with drugs like sodium pentothal, chloral hydrate and other mind-altering barbiturates.

"It was cruel, it was punitive and then often the mother was transported like I was away from the hospital so you had no access to your baby."

As part of the apology, the government earmarked Aus$5 million (US$5.18 million) so mental health professionals can better assist in caring for those affected by forced adoption.

It also committed Aus$1.5 million to allow the National Archives to record people's experiences through a special exhibition.

"That way, this chapter in our nation's history will never again be marginalised or forgotten again," said Gillard.

In 2008, former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the "stolen generations" of aboriginal children who were removed from their families by the government and Church missions.

Using Picasa overlay

from w

One simple process in making images is to overlay one picture over another using Picasa, so I tried this with some of the eucalypt pictures I posted yesterday.  Different colours emerge but similar shapes. Perhaps two is better than three.

Eucalyptus drawings

from w

In the street where we live there are numerous gum trees so I sketched some of the details of the leaves, flowers and pods.

when a church acts by providing food for the needy

from w,
Tonight I went to Christ Church in Geelong for a service for the volunteers of the Meals and Food program given by this Anglican church.  It was a very good worship service, with many people attending - both volunteers and recipients of the gracious gifts of meals and food parcels/boxes. First Bite is another organisation in Geelong that passes on food to needy people.  It was good to be there tonight and share in supper afterwards, and be able to talk with some of the volunteers as our family  has been a recipient of some of their gifts.

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A website about Geelong’s efforts to assist the poor and needy with gifts

Of food supplies or meals.

[PDF] 

Food Relief Booklet - City of Greater Geelong

www.geelongaustralia.com.au/.../8cf0227fe17552e-..

A list of numerous places in Geelong to obtain a free meal or food supplies.

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An example of an Anglican church in Geelong that is putting faith into practical outcomes such as meals and food relief.  (Notes below are from the Christ Church website.)

Meals and Food Relief - the Christ Church Community Meals

Program

Christ Church provides free breakfast seven days a week throughout the year and an evening meal every Monday and Wednesday. The Community Meals Program is well known and is a respected contribution to welfare in Geelong. Our guests come from a range of backgrounds - street kids, homeless people, schoolchildren, people who need company as much as food, the unemployed, stranded travellers and families. Those who come for a meal are welcomed regardless of their circumstances and for some the meal at Christ Church may be their main meal of the day; for others it is their only meal.

The Meals Programme is run entirely by volunteers, sometimes with the assistance of  students from different local schools. The Program is registered with the Anglican Benevolent Society Inc., and so donations made to the Program when accompanied  by the appropriate paperwork are tax deductible.

BREAKFAST 7.30-9.00AM EVERY DAY - is available to any person. A substantial  breakfast is served 365 days of the year, comprising hot drinks, toast, cereal, and a cooked breakfast.  Approximately 10,000 breakfasts are provided per year. Volunteers and donations to  support this program are provided by many community organisations, several Anglican  Parishes and the St Mary^,s congregation, local community groups and service organisations.

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY - EVENING MEAL

5.00-6.30pm On both Monday evening and Wednesday evening a two course main meal is served in the Parish Hall, with tea, coffee and cordial provided. Approximately 5000 meals are served each year. Service Clubs and the  general public provide funds; Glynn Harvey provides 10kg of peeled potatoes per week  and other goods from time to time. TasmanMeats in Belmont provides a substantial  amount of meat each month.  Both breakfasts and the Monday/ Wednesday evening meals  are served at the Parish Hall.

EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF.  During the hours when Christ Church is open for visitors each week day (usually Monday-Friday 12.00-2.00pm), emergency food relief is available for pensioners,health care card holders, and those in need. Strong demand requires that emergency food relief canonly be accessed by each person once per month. Annually  approximately 350 people use this service. The St. John Of God Lighthouse Foundation  provides items for the food cupboard which are supplementedfrom donations in kind by parishioners and others in the community. Emergency relief enquiries are handled by the volunteers who open the Church each week day for visitors.

If you are interested in volunteering to help at either the Breakfast or evening Meals  programme, or in supporting the emergency food relief program, contact Jan McGowan (Breakfast Programme), Ann Howarth (Evening Meals Programme) or Elva Wise (Emergency Food relief) via the Parish Office.

My favourite song

from w
It's on youtube and a reggae version of a melody in the Organ Concerto by Saint Saens. This one from 1977 and an upbeat version. I play it sometimes on the piano or organ at church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klCvrpy8LwU

Best wishes to our Catholic friends and all people of good will.

from w
The Spirit, well she won this time, over the machinations and musical chairs of the cardinals. A Jesuit - good, a man who wears just white for his introduction - good, knows the Third World - good, chooses the name Francis - good.

ARGENTINIAN Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected the new Pope. He will be known as Pope Francis the First. Pope Francis is 76. He is the first Jesuit to be elected Pope and the first to hail from Latin America. He is the first non-European pontiff in 1000 years.Bells rang across St Peter's Square this morning as white smoke billowed from atop the Sistine Chapel signaling the Catholic Church and its 1.2 billion followers had a new pope.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/world-news/new-pope-jorge-mario-bergoglio-to-be-known-as-pope-francis/story-fndir2ev-1226596864238#ixzz2NSLLAtGZ

A random walk through my day

from w
A random walk through my day - a cool breeze at last, Donation in Kind book - The Secret River, medicine, radio, a broom (nah, wait another day), coffee, water for the rabbit, remains from the birthday party, a Nocturne waiting to be played, etc.

An irreverent look at the papacy

from w
During lunch at Hungry Jack's I read some of today's papers, now in tabloid size. In today's Age the Religious Affairs writer, Barney Swartz has his take on the history of the papacy. I have deleted one section as it's very long.  It's been a history of human fallibility despite the efforts of holier people to make decisions on the leadership of the Catholic Church..

Papal elections...

Date

March 13, 2013

More pics from the holiday in Airey's Inlet

from w

However there is one problem with what look like pretty beach scenes.  Many of the beaches are not supervised by lifesaving clubs and yet people go swimming there.  In some places when I went into the water- just in the shallows, the undertow is very strong. Swimmers can easily get swept past their usual safe depth. In the past week three people have drowned in Victorian beaches - at unpatrolled beaches - at Rye, near Lorne, and down near Sale.

Airey's Inlet a visual treat

from w
Airey's Inlet is a beautiful place to take photos - rather than be a coastline with safe beaches for families. It seems that the undertow makes some of the beaches not quite safe and they are not patrolled. However on the tourist maps there are numerous little camera icons to indicate places with good views. Here are some of the photos I took last week during our holiday. Mostly the coast but some of the Otway forest still showing signs of old bushfires. And one pic of Peceli and Andrew examining the little fish they caught!