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Royal flush for Ken (Kenny) Parnall at Exchange Hotel Foster

At the weekly poker game held at the Exchange Hotel Foster on Wednesday evenings at 7pm and after a year’s absence due to Covid-19 and not wanting to catch it, Kenny Parnall after much encouragement from some other regulars, turned up to the regular weekly event.

Kenny had some great hands early on and managed to have some convinced that he was a “newbie” poker player and that let him in to steal the pot with some well disguised hand obtain is called a royal flush. A royal flush is made up from the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. The odds of having such a hand is around 40,000 to 1. In other words, one does not see many in their poker career.

Bendigo Bank ATM to close in Meeniyan

Bendigo Bank spokesperson said:

“ Whilst we recognise this decision may impact some customers, due to growing customer use and popularity of ‘tap and go’ payments – and the acceptance by and preference for card and mobile payments by nearly all local retail outlets – usage of the ATM in Meeniyan has been declining steadily year on year. Regrettably, this means that the Bank has had to make a decision to remove the ATM at the end of this month with the exact date yet to be determined. The nearest Bendigo Bank branches with ATM facilities are located in Leongatha and Foster, both of which are 20 minutes’ drive by car from Meeniyan. Customers in Meeniyan can also continue to transact as normal at any Bendigo Bank branch or ATM, via internet banking, our mobile app or via phone banking on 1300 236 344”

Bourekas with fennel and cheese

This is relatively simple and very tasty dish from Israel. The Middle East has been a melting pot of different cuisines with unique flavour sensations.

Bourekasare a popular Israeli pastry of Sephardi Jewish origin. It is understood that the Turkic tribes migrated from Central Asia to what is now Turkey to form the Ottoman Empire. They brought with them their cuisine. This included a dumpling called bureg. The name of this dish may have contributed to the name of bourekas. Bureg later evolved into a pastry called börek and was similar to the empanadas, a Sephardic Jewish pastry.

Nationals’ push to carve farming from a net-zero target is misguided and dangerous

Prime Minister Scott Morrison might be warming to the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, but federal Nationals leader Michael McCormack has thrown a spanner in the works by suggesting agriculture be excluded from the target.

On Sunday, McCormack told Sky News the Coalition government will not “whack regional Australia” just to meet a climate target. He went on:

‘The disease of kings?’ 1 in 20 Australians get gout — here’s how to manage it

I awoke one morning late last year to find a bright red bauble at the foot of my bed. It wouldn’t have looked amiss adorning a Christmas tree. But it felt ready to explode. It was my big toe, and this was my first encounter with gout.

In good company

With a history spanning more than 4,500 years, gout is among our earliest recorded diseases. Hippocrates, traditionally regarded as the father of medicine, called it “the unwalkable disease”, because it was very painful for people with gout to walk.

Many famous historical figures suffered with gout, including Christopher Columbus, Henry VIII, Benjamin Franklin and Beethoven. It became known as “the disease of kings”.

Bass Coast Council Takes Quarry Fight Up To The Victorian Government

The SAVE WESTERN PORT WOODLANDS group commends Bass Coast Council for taking the battle to protect its remaining coastal forest up to the Victorian Minister for Planning Richard Wynne.

Council Wednesday voted to reject plans by Dandy Premix to expand its sand mining pit at Grantville. It proposed instead an alternative motion laying out a range of stringent conditions which will be submitted to the Minister in writing and form the basis for its panel submission.

Statement from the Premier

From 11:59pm tonight, we will largely return to the previous rules – while keeping a watchful eye on some of the riskier settings.

There’ll no longer be four reasons to leave home. The five-kilometre restriction will no longer apply.

Restaurants and retail can reopen. Same too with community facilities, entertainment venues and all other public places – although some additional limits on crowd sizes will be in place.

Greek Mushroom Moussaka

As a child of the 60s and 70s I was there when the 1st wave of vegetarianism come into play. While I always enjoy some meat I’m not adverse to enjoying the many and varied forms of vegetarian cooking. In the 70s Molly Katzsen published the “Enchanted Broccoli Forest” and the “Moosewood” cookbook which adorns many student and in hippie houses of the of the 70s. Cuisine comes from her famous Moosewood restaurant in Ithaca NY. The ideas of these recipes originated in the homes and imagination have many people who cook and have cooked there over the years.

Pipis Art Gallery Launch.

The Tarwin Lower & District Community Health Centre, offering modalities for health and wellbeing, is excited and proud to launch Pipis Art Gallery. Featuring intriguing, beautiful, artwork created by local artists, the grand opening takes place on Saturday February 27th from 5.30 – 7pm and Saturday 28th from 11am – 1.30pm. Light refreshments and nibbles will be available to enjoy.

There’s no such thing as ‘alternative facts’. 5 ways to spot misinformation and stop sharing it online

The blame for the recent assault on the US Capitol and President Donald Trump’s broader dismantling of democratic institutions and norms can be laid at least partly on misinformation and conspiracy theories.

Those who spread misinformation, like Trump himself, are exploiting people’s lack of media literacy — it’s easy to spread lies to people who are prone to believe what they read online without questioning it.

The State of State politics in Victoria-a historical perspective, and why the Nats are cactus longer term.

Traditionally, Victorian politics came down to just the 3 parties-Labour, Liberal, and the Country party or Nationals. Occasionally an independent would stand but until around 1980 onwards, it really was just the two groups, red and blue.

Council officers decide to ignore a resolution of Council.

After printing the article in issue on Jan 25th, 2021 (Councillor good governance action plan Versus the adeministrators one), this newspaper asked Council about bringing the Good Governance Action Plan to the February Council meeting. The response from the Director Performance and Innovation informed us that Council will not be complying with that Council resolution.

Council hoping for a change of luck in the annual Community Satisfaction Survey.

South Gippsland Shire Council is getting ready for the 2021 Community Satisfaction Survey to commence for the eleventh year running.

The yearly survey, which is distributed to a random sample of community members by independent consultant JWS Research, is one of the key ways Council checks the pulse on how it is tracking in the eyes of the community. The objectives of this research are to assess satisfaction among South Gippsland Shire residents in relation to services, facilities and other activities of Council, and provide insights into how Council can best invest its resources to improve residents’ satisfaction with its overall performance.

Our Local Dog Whisperer

Christine Grant, a passionate, wise, caring woman, has treasured a unique connection with canines since early childhood. She adores the four-legged creatures and could not image her life without them. Born and raised in Leongatha, Christine worked as a disability support worker for many years.

In 2000, after her daughter had left home, an opportunity arose too good to refuse. Christine, her partner and two cherished Labradors headed north on a road trip to work on a small cattle property in New South Wales.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia in March 2020, the Morrison government took bold and imaginative action.

The most notable examples were its income support programs – JobKeeper, paying a A$750 weekly subsidy to employers to keep workers on the payroll, and JobSeeker, which doubled unemployment benefits relative to the Newstart allowance, frozen in real terms for nearly 30 years. These measures were announced as temporary. The government has already begun winding them back as the economy recovers from the worst impacts of the pandemic. On January 1 the JobSeeker supplement (being paid to about 1.3 million Australians) was cut from A$250 to A$150 a fortnight. It will cease in March.

In this series, we explore how food shaped Australian history – and who we are today.

Australia’s tastes in cheese has developed alongside our taste in other artisan foods, too.

Statement from Premier-stage 4 lockdown introduced from midnight tonight (Friday Feb 12th) for 5 days

I won’t waste words: today hurts. Victorians know, better than anyone, just how deeply.

But as we’ve seen – here in Australia and around the world – we are facing a new kind of enemy.

A virus that is smarter, and faster, and more infectious.

And until we have a vaccine, we need to do everything we can to keep this virus at bay.

In the past 24 hours, five new cases have been identified.

Soil Organic Matter – The Ultimate Droughtbuster

Soil Organic Matter and its Soil Biology affect the water holding capacity of our soils.

The lack of topsoil, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), its microbes, and the lack of a wide diversity of plants protecting and nurturing them are the most significant factors to our country’s increased desertification. Built-up areas without plants, monocultures, overgrazed paddocks, bare soil, lack of plant diversity contribute to the loss of topsoil and subsequently to the dryer, warmer soils, less humidity and increased temperatures.

Roasted butternut squash with lentils cherry tomatoes

This is a Middle Eastern dish inspired by the new master chef Ottolenghi. It has a Moroccan/Israeli style flavour to it and can be used both for a salad and a main course. Yotam Assaf Ottolenghi is an Israeli-English chef, restaurateur, and food writer. He is the co-owner of six delis and restaurants in London, as well as the author of several bestselling cookbooks, including Ottolenghi, Plenty, Jerusalem and Simple. Simple is for beginners; the others are complicated to say the least. This is my adaption of one of his Simple recipes.

A tale of two O’briens

State Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien has backed new jobs in Gippsland, supporting calls for more water availability to expand irrigation in the region. Mr O’Brien visited Gippsland last week meeting with a number of farmers, small business people and other local groups. Mr O’Brien and The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien met with Latrobe River Irrigators who are concerned about water security in the Latrobe system. The Leader of the Liberal Party backed the view that no water should be taken from irrigators or the environment as plans are finalised to rehabilitate Latrobe Valley coal mines as pit lakes.

Paddock To Plate Option On The Table For Kangaroo Harvest

The Andrews Labor Government is improving access to sustainable food and supporting sustainable jobs, with changes to the Kangaroo Harvesting Program that will see more meat available for Victorians to enjoy. Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas today announced the 2021 quota allocation for the Kangaroo Harvesting Program – which has risen due to a notable increase in the estimated statewide kangaroo population in the last three years.

Cutting The Cost Of Energy Bills For Struggling Victorians

The Andrews Labor Government is reducing the cost of energy for Victorians doing it tough, with a one-off $250 payment to help with their energy bills. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced today that low income households can now apply for the new Power Saving Bonus.

The bonus is available to any households with a Victorian electricity account who holds a pensioner concession card or receives JobSeeker, Austudy, Abstudy or Youth Allowance. It will be available for 12 months and provide immediate financial relief to more than 900,000 Victorian households.

South Gippsland misses out in vaccine rollout

The first stage of the Commonwealth’s coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination program will be ready to be rolled out in Victoria for high-risk, priority people at nine suburban and regional health services across the state as soon as a vaccine is available.

Victorians at greatest risk of COVID-19 will be provided with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine at Victorian public hospital vaccination hubs at Western Health, Austin Health, Monash Health, Barwon Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe Health, Bendigo Health, Ballarat Health and Albury-Wodonga Health.

Tradies Pick Up The Tech Tools To Build Local Businesses

A Melbourne-based app made by and for tradies to help manage their businesses is one of eight new providers to join the Andrews Labor Government’s Small Business Digital Adaptation Program. Trade Trak provides a cloud-based comprehensive tool for trades and services to manage onsite safety, job scheduling, quoting, invoicing and contractor management.

Poker returns to South Gippsland

After a lengthy break of nearly a year due to Covid-19 poker made a start at Foster Golf Club on Jan 5th. Since that day, a further 4 events held weekly have been run and last week the Exchange hotel also cam back online in the real world with its first event for 2021.

The turnout is lower than pre Covid-19 as some players take a cautious path towards a post Covid-19 world.

Poowong history, past, present, and future

The small parish of Poowong nestled in the rolling hills of South Gippsland, like much of the district was covered in dense rainforest. Early European settlers spend many hard years clearing the vast forest of giant trees, ferns, swordgrass & undergrowth until the township was established in the 1870’s. Poowong’s population declined from around 600 in 1921 to around 300 and remained steady until 2011.

Great Southern Bale Trail

The Great Southern Bale Trail (GSBT) is an exciting new initiative that will join art and agriculture together to create an art trail featuring six installations made from silage, old farm machinery, fencing or sheds. Local farmers and artists who would like to be involved are encouraged to submit an expression of interest with Council.

The project, which will launch in autumn, is being coordinated on behalf of the South Gippsland Shire Council by Louisa Vale, a mum of two who runs a 110-acre beef property in Toora North. An artist in her spare time, Louisa is excited about the new project and the chance to combine her love of art and farming.

Thai red chicken coconut curry

Thai Red Chicken Coconut Curry

I was first introduced to Thai cooking by a friend in Melbourne in the early 1970’s. The cuisine was amazing and different with its emphasis on fresh food, coconut milk, Thai basil, and coriander. The first Thai restaurant in Australia was the Bahn Thai, in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road in June 1976. It was closely followed by the ‘Siam’ in Sydney, and another Thai restaurant in Perth. The Patee Thai restaurant, in Fitzroy, is the oldest Thai Restaurant still operating in Melbourne. It opened in 1983. By the end of the 1980s, Thai cuisine began to rival Chinese as a casual dining choice.

Our coastlines need our help.

On Tuesday the 19th of January, a group of passionate, local conservationists gathered at Anderson Inlet foreshore, off Doyles Road in Venus Bay, to learn the ins and outs of mangroves. Tarwin Landcare invited enthusiasts to attend a mangroves presentation delivered by Greg Parry from Western Port Seagrass Partnership. The presentation was followed by the planting of a small pilot trial of mangrove seeds, which had been collected from local mangroves.

Are We Playing With Fire Hosting The Australian Open?

It’s been one year since the corona virus hit our shores and made itself known in dreadful, fatal ways. We’ve experienced periods of prolonged isolation, loss of employment and many businesses sadly folding, not to mention loved ones lost. Our economy is consequently suffering in view of 2020 with rising unemployment and high government debt.

Our mental and emotional states were tested across the board. Travel plans were cancelled and mandatory masks became a normality. We perceived the feeling of disconnection through much of turbulent 2020 and learned to decipher what’s most valuable and important in life.

Why is South Gippsland Missing Out on Growth?

South Gippsland Action Group (SGAG) has promoted the concept of increased residential growth in the Shire since 2018. We pushed the Growth for Reduced Rates concept and found some support from the previous Council. When Administrator Brown made his initial speech to Council in July 2019 he also accepted the Shire needed growth. SGAG over the past 2 years have presented Council with a great number of ideas to stimulate growth in the Shire. All these ideas appear to fall on deaf ideas.

Fighting erosion with mushrooms-Stefanie Hildmann

The importance of organic matter in the topsoil cannot get overrated. Without organic matter, there is no life – neither below nor above ground. This is valid for all kind of properties – farms, gardens, footy ovals – you name it.

We already had a look at how Soil Organic Matter and its Soil Biology are in charge of biodiversity and nutrient density in our foods.

Breaking News Toora ViPlus to layoff 31 staff

Toora ViPlus has announced the laying off of 31 of its workers. The company employs 124 workers and says it will make the redundancies over the coming weeks. In part, the company blames the lack of a rebound in business since the pandemic and ViPlus Dairy chief executive Jon McNaught said that this has forced the company to lay off 25% of its workforce.

Most of Viplus exports go to around 13 countries across the Middle East and Asia.

The union has been quick to blame the Federal Government and concerns have been raised as to the timing and possible correlation to the ending of Jobkeeper subsidy. Jobkeeper is scheduled to cease at the end of March.

OSMI secures Cubico as its long-term investment partner for Delburn Wind Farm

Cubico Sustainable Investments (Cubico) has been announced as the principal project investor for the Delburn Wind Farm. Cubico, a leader and global investor in renewable energy with investments in 13 countries and an installed capacity of around 4 GW, has joined OSMI Australia as joint development partner in the

Delburn Wind Farm and will purchase 100% of the project prior to the commencement of construction.

Samos Spanakopita Triangles

In the 70s there were a few Greek restaurants in Adelaide and cafes. One of my favourite cafes served red and white wine on Sunday in coffee cups before Don Dunstan liberalised the liquor laws and opening hours. It was extremely popular with young people and it introduced Greek foods to a new generation. Tess Mallos 1979 “The Complete Middle East Cookbook’ inspired me to cook Greek Food as did Kate who had run one of the first restaurant in suburban Canberra in early 1970s at the height of the Whitlam revolution. Again, unique tastes that were a far cry from the meat and three veg regime of 1960s Australia. Enjoy!

Meeniyan Covid Compliant Australia Day 2021

The Meeniyan Progress Association with the fine work by Tanya Wilson organised our first Covid complaint Australia day. It was shorter, smaller but just as passionate. Covid compliance allowed few frills. Kathryn Smith chaired the meeting and acknowledged the indigenous custodians of our land celebrating our shared histories of the oldest continuously occupied continent for 80,000 years.

Just Transition Group South Gippsland invited to present to Parliamentary inquiry

Just Transitions South Gippsland has been invited to give evidence to the parliamentary inquiry by the Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy into the Zali Steggall Climate Bills. The hearing is scheduled online on February 1 at public hearings conducted in Canberra.

Police Briefs-Jan 25th 2021

Korumburra collisions

Two cars collided on the South Gippsland Highway at Kardella on Tuesday, January 26. One vehicle travelling between Leongatha and Korumburra lost control after braking to avoid a driver who had turned on to the South Gippsland Highway. Consequently, the vehicle swerved into the opposite lane and struck an oncoming car. No injuries were sustained by either party. Korumburra police said a careless driving charge applied to the driver who swerved into oncoming traffic.

A second, one car collision occurred on the same day at the intersection of Brumley Street and Ogilvy Street, Korumburra. A vehicle came off the straight section of road in the wet and collided with a large tree. The driver was initially trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by SES. Head injuries and other undetermined injuries were sustained by the driver, and they were taken to Latrobe Hospital for treatment. Korumburra police said they were still investigating how the vehicle left the road and were yet to receive an update on the driver’s condition.

Tarwin Lower & District Community Health Centre – east meets west

This distinctive building in Tarwin Lower, situated on sizable, leased shire land, was opened in 1991 and has since taken on a prominent role within the town and its surrounds. A union of conventional western medicine, traditional eastern medicine and various alternative therapies have increasingly become available, embracing a holistic approach toward the well-being and spiritual needs of the community.

Why Is Biodiversity Important?

I keep pointing out the importance of Soil Biology, and the impact its disappearance in our soils has on our lives. Today’s focus is on Biodiversity.

In simple words, Biodiversity refers to all the variety of life on Earth – plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms as well as the communities that they form and the habitats in which they live.

Big Brother is Alive and Well in South Gippsland Shire-Letter to Editor

I have just obtained a copy of the syllabus for the Community Leadership program being conducted by the Shire. Remember this concept was a concept of the Belts and Roads Labour State Government. The Chinese leadership run a totalitarian state where one has to accept what the government decrees. The Community Leadership program being run by Shire employees is pushing for similar behaviour by our future leaders. Just accept what “Big Brother” (read Shire Administration) says you need to do. Do not ask critical questions and do not rock the boat. We have seen this in action already where the proposed Community Engagement Policy is being presented to the people of the Shire without any real input from the community. We have a policy which suits the Administration and not the residents.

The Oxford vaccine has unique advantages, as does Pfizer’s. Using both is Australia’s best strategy

On Sunday, federal Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said most Australians will be offered a vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca. Australia currently has agreements in place to receive 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca shot, and 10 million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech.So how do these two vaccines compare, how will they be used in Australia, and what can we learn from other vaccines?

Australia Day Awards-South Gippsland Shire

Nominees for the 2021 Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year awards were invited to a private celebratory dinner with Chair Administrator Julie Eisenbise, Administrator Christian Zahra AM and South Gippsland Shire Council CEO Kerryn Ellis, on Wednesday Jan 20th.

At this dinner, the overall winner was announced in both categories. The winner of the Citizen of the Year is Janet Auchterlonie and that of the Young Citizen of the Year is Danni Amore.

Worried about Earth’s future? Well, the outlook is worse than even scientists can grasp

Anyone with even a passing interest in the global environment knows all is not well. But just how bad is the situation? Our new paper shows the outlook for life on Earth is more dire than is generally understood. The research published today reviews more than 150 studies to produce a stark summary of the state of the natural world. We outline the likely future trends in biodiversity decline, mass extinction, climate disruption and planetary toxification. We clarify the gravity of the human predicament and provide a timely snapshot of the crises that must be addressed now.

Calling all movie buffs to support precious South Gippsland history.

The Tarwin Lower Mechanics Institute Hall was built in 1890 and is believed to be the oldest building in the South Gippsland Shire. Nestled within the town overlooking the Tarwin River, the hall sits on crown land and is heritage listed by the shire. Unfortunately, however, the shire is not responsible for the historic building. Consequently, the town hall’s five-member volunteer committee applies for available state and federal grants to cover necessary, critical hall upgrades and maintenance. Grant applications are scarce and competitive; therefore, the committee is not always successful.