photos, drawings, paintings from Peceli and Wendy about Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsular
Monday, December 21, 2015
Has the Geelong Mayor achieved anything?
from w What do people think of our mayor of Geelong - Darryn Lyons a former paparazzi photographer. Some think he's putting Geelong on the map, others think being so theatrical makes him a comical figure. . Would he win another election I wonder. I don't think he's actually achieved much except a few flower boxes and that bling conical tree, but at least he's got people talking about Geelong.
from w
I was given a very simple nativity scene with red clay figures set into a kind of cave made from redgum wood. Margaret and John gave it to me. I wonder who made the little figures. This nativity I reckon is better than the colourful plastic figures you see everywhere. Actually the best kind of nativity is a live show with people dressed up, a cow, a donkey, chooks, sheep in the scene and even have a village street with carpenters, cooks, etc. They run these shows in the Thornbury area of Melbourne.
Greetings to you from
Peceli, Wendy, George, Bale, Epa, Grace,
Jordan, Andrew, Andrew Snr, Eka
and Linlay. Yes, that’s the lot of us who will be together for Christmas this
year – filling up the two houses and the bungalows and sharing the tidying up
and the cooking. Perhaps a lovo
(underground oven) and seafood. We are reminded of Christ’s birth with the carols, messages,
decorations and the bling conical tree in Geelong that lights up the Geelong
waterfront sky.Let us honour and pray for one another, for
miracles in our difficult world today and may this message of good will
give peace to you.
Our compound, now called Vatuadova
Kisi is busy with the large family and often visitors, so kava is occasionally
flowing. This year Andrew’s 13 year old daughter Linlay came over from Tonga
and started school at Form 2 at Geelong High School. It has been a joy to have a teenage girl join
our household. Young Andrew is also at Geelong High and completed Year 11. Bale
works down at Lorne and Jordan worked there for several months this year. The boys
are now sixteen and eighteen so both do some part-time work.
Health issues for us oldies mean pills and checkups and aches in the night
mean I’m on the internet at 2 a.m. with a hot water bottle and Deep Heat
on my knee.. The young ones in the
family play tennis summer and winter for East Geelong Uniting, touch rugby, a
bit of indoor cricket and Andrew Snr attempts to get them interested in
athletics. Peceli and I still go for drives and simple picnics and some
sketching to enjoy the beauty of the
Bellarine Peninsular and discover new places nearly every week. Peceli gave up
Rotary and we go to fewer Diversitat or
community meetings these days. There were no trips to Fiji this year, just a
few days holiday at Port Fairy which was nice. Our Fiji Friendship Club
continues with dinners and a lovely barbecue/lovo at Rippleside Park in
December.
Peceli continues his relationship with some of the Fijian families in the Werribee
and Altona Meadows/area and I still play music at East Geelong. A Tongan minister, Rev Ikani continues to be
an inspirational leader of our faith community. There has been sadness this year as we
farewelled several friends as age or illness caught up with them.
Friday August 21st was a significant day at our family village
of Vatuadova near Labasa with the opening of the new Methodist Church there. The former wooden church which
opened in June 1998 will be used for cultural activities and a kindergarten. It
was too small for the people nowadays. The building process took three years of
fundraising and then the carpentry team stage by stage built the church.
Congratulations to all concerned. Thank you to the men and women of the former
South Geelong Uniting Church for their contribution of $10,000 to the final
stages.
Loloma and best wishes for the Christmas and
New Year season. Our email is pecr@iprimus.com.au and we’re on facebook.
from w
Just around the corner from our house in Portarlington Road are the old cheetham Salts factory - wrecked buildings and the remnants of fields of salt all the way to Alcoa on Point Henry. Someone bought the property but no-one has yet found a good use for it. I think turn it into a conservation park for birds, but certainly tidy it up first.
Cheetham salt flats development plans revised into giant Moolap
sporting precinct
NATHAN MAWBY, SHANE
FOWLESGeelong Advertiser December 14 2015
A multi-billion dollar sporting precinct
could be built on the shores of Corio Bay. Picture: Janine Eastgate
AN AAMI Park-style sporting precinct is a striking feature of a $4 billion
plan for coastal land at Moolap.Ridley Corporation and Sanctuary Living have revised their vision for the
Cheetham salt flats area, switching focus from creating a golf course development
to a multi-sport facility.
The new plans will be lodged with the State Government, as it opens public
consultation today on the future of the prime waterfront land that hosted the
salt works and Alcoa’s Point Henry smelter.
Sanctuary Living executive chairman Stephen Head said talks with key
sporting leaders had influenced the change in direction.
“The main difference is the creation of about 80ha for a huge, multi-sport
park rather than the golf course,” Mr Head said. “That came out of discussion with people like the Geelong Football Club
and others who gave us a bit of advice.” The park would include three ovals, with the potential to build a small
stadium if there was demand. There is also room for a soccer stadium, rugby fields, athletics track,
hockey pitches, tennis courts and netball courts. “It’s Geelong’s answer to the Melbourne sporting precinct,” Mr Head said.
The 500ha-plus plan would feature up to 3000 homes, a large marina with
retail and commercial businesses and 225ha of built wetlands, parks and green
space.
It is expected to be a key blueprint, as the Government runs a lengthy
consultation process ahead of a draft plan for the site, that is slated for
release in the latter half of next year.
Alcoa’s masterplan for its land, to be called Point Henry 575, will also
be carefully considered.
Several conservation groups, including BirdLife Australia and Geelong
Environment Council, are keen to see the wetlands retained as a nature
reserve, with some believing it provides unrivalled birdwatching tourism
opportunities.
The public has its first chance comment on the plans at an open house
session today, which will be held at the Geelong council chamber from 10am. Another is set to be held at the Newcomb Library from 2pm tomorrow.Workshops will also be held next month and in February, before a release
of a summary of responses and a discussion paper.
As a Newcomb resident I can tell you that we have plenty of
footy ovals,tennis courts and soccer fields.
What Geelong needs is tourist attractions not another housing
estate.
Don't let this opportunity vanish under concrete lets leave
something for future generations.
Don't be fooled,there is nothing to love here.
FlagShare
LikeReply
Jock14
hours ago
@Harry Do you mean something like Flagstaff Hill, in
Warrnambool? Or like Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. could that be what Geelong
needs??? Something similar??? Well, we get Tall Ships (sailing vessels.)
from time to time and that includes The Enterprize. (Which I reckon should
home based, here in Geelong or the Alma Doepel.) Cook's ship next year, woohoo!
from w
From the open window at the old Paper Mill at Fyansford I made two sketches and at home added some orange and more blue biro. Don't compare them with the photos though as I just scribbled here and there. Some of the other pictures below are variations using 'posturize' and 'sepia'.
from w
The old Paper Mill at Buckley's Falls is about 150 years old and now has a new life as an location for arts studios, a cafe, a gallery, and so on. We visited there on Saturday, had coffee and cake in a very strange cafe full of large carved wooden doors from India - maybe from old palaces in Rajastan. They are for sale but not suitable for our little house in Newcomb. We looked into an art gallery also, and I wandered about and found a terrific view of the river below through an open window. One photo below is from a painting I made some time ago of the view of the old paper mill from the other side of the river.
from w
The Carols by the Bay organised by Dennis Walter was a great success this year - last year it was cancelled because of rain. They reckon there were about 10,000 people down at Eastern Beach. Notes from the Addie:
CLOSE to 10,000 residents came together in a festive show of unity at the weekend’s Carols by the Bay.
Performer Denis Walter labelled the night a roaring success and said the coming together of such a large number of locals was touching considering all the challenges currently facing the world.
“There was almost an anticipation ... whether it was because it rained out last year or perhaps with what’s going on in the world, but everyone wanted to embrace the community and be there as one,” he said.
from w
Michael Martinez from Geelong's Diversitat talks about the children's fable of the Poppykettle and links it with the story of refugees coming to Geelong.
Michael Martinez: Poppykettle story proud reminder of compassion
December 3, 2015 12:09pm
Michael MartinezGeelong Advertiser
The Poppykettle Playground on the waterfront
is a timely reminder of this city’s long history of helping strangers to our
shores.
WITH the arrival of December and the increasing appearance of decorations,
I took a moment to stop and think about what Christmas means for me.
It is time spent with friends and family, supporting those less fortunate
than us and thinking of those who are no longer with us. It is ultimately a
time for peace, compassion and reunification.
With the launch of the floating Christmas tree on the Geelong waterfront,
I recently found myself walking past the old Poppykettle memorial. This is a
story I have strong memories of as a child.
It is a story of people arriving on the shores of Geelong after a long and
dangerous journey, having fled their home country, which had recently been
invaded. I recall in my childhood, this was a story we were immensely proud to
have associated with Geelong, and even held an annual children’s festival in
its name.
Although only folklore this story holds extraordinary parallels with the
refugee crisis we see today. Like the Poppykettle, refugees today are seeking
help and protection in a new and strange land. They have travelled long and
dangerous journeys. Geelong can help by opening their arms and hearts in
welcome and protection.
At Diversitat our staff have the honour and privilege of assisting
newly-arrived refugees to settle into the Geelong community. With this also
comes the sadness of stories and experiences recalled of fear and loss.
What resonates at this time of year is the immense sadness of being
separated from loved ones. We regularly hear of stories of families separated
as they flee to safety. Family members who have disappeared when seeking to
assist others. Family members who, due to complex bureaucracy, remain behind in
refugee camps. Family members who remain persecuted and fearful for their
lives.
While some have made it safely to our shores, others are left behind.
The Geelong community has a proud history of welcoming and supporting
migrants, who have gone on to contribute much to our region. Our communities
are made up of diverse cultures and people, from the early days of migration
from Europe to those fleeing persecution today.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the “Norlane Hostel” provided temporary home
to thousands of migrants, many of whom took up work at Ford, International
Harvester and Shell. Today this site is home to the Northern Community Hub, a
shared community space for multicultural communities and the location of our
refugee assistance program.
We see many tragic stories in the news around the world and sometimes that
leads to feelings of helplessness, but there is much we can do right here to
help not only recent arrivals but others who are experiencing disadvantage in
our community.
During this festive season, I set a challenge to everyone in Geelong to
take a little time to support others in need and to show compassion and
understanding to all. There are a large number of community organisations in
the Geelong region, who provide direct support and services to those in need.
Donate a gift to the Bethany Giving Tree Appeal, which supports families
who are doing it tough this festive season. Volunteer for a particular cause or
check out Volunteering Geelong for opportunities. Or find and support the many
other causes that support others in the region and beyond.
At Diversitat we have launched a Christmas appeal with a focus on
providing advice for family members who have been separated due to war and
persecution. We are delighted to have the support of Deakin University as a
partner. It will dollar match public donations up to $7500.
We hope through this appeal to reunite more families so they can celebrate
future Christmas’s together. If you would like to support our appeal go towww.givenow.com.au/diversitatchristmas
In the interim you might like to investigate the Poppykettle story for
yourself with a visit to the Poppykettle Playground on the Esplanade.
— Michael Martinez is the chief executive officer of
Diversitat.
from w
Art students in Coburg were commissioned to paint the walls of an operpass so spent weeks doing this. A day later somebody had painted dull grey over the lot! Perhaps the Council watchers thought it was graffiti. Not happy students you bet.
from w
Apparently there are tertiary courses that just don't fulfill their requirements, and yet they keep open! From the Addie so be aware of this one in Geelong.
Keystone College launches Moorabool St campus in Geelong CBD
Courtney CraneGeelong Advertiser
Keystone College’s new Moorabool St campus in Geelong CBD. Picture: Mitch Bear
A TRAINING provider that last year received more than $35 million in government funding despite graduating only 32 students has opened its doors in Geelong.
Keystone College, which launched its Moorabool St campus last week, is also operating subject to conditions imposed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority after its practices were the subject of an audit.
The national vocational education regulator found the College of Creative Design and Arts — which owns and operates Keystone — had not complied with assessment standards. It will be required to report data back to the ASQA and retain enrolment and assessment records for 12 months.
An Education and Training Department spokeswoman said conditions on its registration would allow ASQA to monitor the implementation of new strategies.
CCDA had a progress rate of 11.7 per cent last year, but received more than $35 million in Government-funded VET FEE-HELP loans and had 3576 students enrolled. Progress rates are an indication of how quickly students are moving through their courses.
Courses also come with a hefty price tag — Keystone charges almost $14,000 for an eight-month diploma of business, while similar courses at The Gordon TAFE cost full fee-paying students $2500.CCDA director Lindsay Hamon said “minor changes” required by ASQA to two assessment checklists had been made and the training provider was “fully compliant”.
Ms Hamon conceded there was “no question that a number of our students are taking longer to complete than first anticipated”.
“The great thing is that we never give up and retain and work with our students for as long as they are willing to put in the effort required to progress,” she said. A number of support initiatives, such as foundation programs, a helpline and pastoral care, existed to enhance outcomes, she said.
Ms Hamon said this year’s graduations would include a number of students who had gone over their 2014 course length and that the active and still progressing rate sat about 66 per cent.
But Keystone, which plans to run Geelong-based courses in leadership and management, community services, business and digital media, will be hit with a financial challenge next year after the Federal Government yesterday announced plans to freeze funding for all private colleges as part a wide-ranging crackdown on unscrupulous training providers.
Barwon Adolescent Taskforce regional youth affairs consultant Leigh Bartlett said she was “shocked” by the college’s poor outcomes.
“As a community, we wouldn’t allow a school to exist with results like this,” Ms Bartlett said. “Why are we accepting these standards?”
Opposition higher education spokesman Kim Carr said the “million dollar diplomas” demonstrated the risks associated with deregulation and privatisation of education.
Senator Carr pushed for the Government to “come down hard” on under-performing RTOs.
Babasiga (pronounced bambasinga) is the dry land of Macuata in northern Fiji - our place in the sun in Fiji. Peceli is from Fiji from the village is Vatuadova and the beach is Nukutatava. Peceli Ratawa passed away on 27th December 2015 so this is Wendy's blog now. Wendy is an Australian and today live in Geelong, Australia.
