Axe Creek Eppalock Newsletter

Incorporating news from the Eppalock Primary School, Axe Creek Fire Brigade & the Axe Creek Landcare Group.

Welcome to the Autumn Edition!

It only seems like a couple of weeks ago when we were celebrating Christmas with family and friends, now we are ready for the Autumn leaves to start falling from the trees, not to mention the chocolate overload that is Easter! This summer was a busy one for our Fire Fighters, and I encourage you to use the link provided in the CFA update to see just how our local CFA members handle grass fires. Id like to introduce a book review section for the younger readers. Kids reviewing kids books! So if you are a young reader and would like to become a book reviewer, please email us at axecreeknews@gmail.com and we will supply a few questions for you to answer on a book of your choice. Please remember this newsletter is produced to share local news, so dont forget to drop an email to axecreeknews@gmail.com if you have something to share with the community. And of course, if you would like to receive a copy of the newsletter directly to your inbox, you can! Just send us a quick email letting us know, and we will add you to our growing email list. Until next time,

Edition 42. Autumn 2014

Welcome Community Notice Board CFA News Eppalock PS Update Axe Creek Playgroup Landcares Latest Church News Community News Kids Corner

Sam Spence

Thank you to this issues Contributors

Advertise your Business AND help the Community

If you would like some great local exposure for a reasonable price, then advertise in the next issue of the Axe Creek Eppalock Newsletter. Full Page $100 Half Page Quarter Page $50 $25
Fees charged help cover printing costs.

John Wells - Axe Creek Fire Brigade Marie Mannes - Eppalock PS Cathy Watson - Axe Creek Landcare Steve Weickhardt - Anglican Parish

Advertising deadline for future issues: Winter 2014 Spring 2014 Summer 2014 Autumn 2015 June 2nd Sept 1st Dec 1st Mar 2nd

Contact us via axecreeknews@gmail.com

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Community Notice Board

Emergency Contact Numbers
Fire, Police & Ambulance
(life threatening or time critical emergencies only)

000
13 25 00 1800 240 667 1800 668 511 13 11 26 0419 356 433

SES Flood & Storm Emergency Bushfire Information

Information & advice about significant fires, total fire bans

Burn Off Notifications Poisons Information Wildlife Rescue Service

Useful Websites
CFA
DSE

Local Churches
St Stephens Anglican Church
108 Hargreaves Rd, Emu Creek 2nd & 4th Sunday Mornings 9am

www.cfa.vic.gov.au
www.dse.vic.gov.au

Vic Roads www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

School Terms 2014

Term 1 29 Jan 4 Apr Term 2 22 Apr 27 Jun Term 3 14 Jul 19 Sept

Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church

920 Wellington St, Strathfieldsaye 1st & 3rd Sunday Mornings 9am NEW Family Service - 1st & 3rd Saturdays - 5pm

St Josephs Catholic Church

Cnr Axe Creek & Strathfieldsaye/Eppalock Rds. Sunday Mornings 9am

All Welcome

Axe Creek CFA

Captain Neil Irving-Dusting 5439 6388 Secretary Bob Russell 0448 000 845
2

Term 4 6 Oct 19 Dec

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CFA News From Axe Creek Brigade

A BUSY SEASON FOR THE FIRE BRIGADE
Do you remember last November when Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley warned Victorians that 2013-14 had the potential to be a very bad year for fires? The reasons behind his warning were quite simple. Two of the most important factors that determine the danger from fire are the quantity of fuel and the weather. Winter and spring growth had left plenty of grass around the statemuch more than in 2008, in the lead-up to Black Saturday. Once dry the grass would be readily available fuel, and after a prolonged spell of hot, dry weather and then strong wind it would burn fiercely and spread quickly. Finally, every year Victoria experiences thunderstorms, some of which generate lightning without much rain, so even without human activities fires were going to start. Well, it happened, just as predicted. We endured day after day over 40 in January, and more hot weather in February. Lightning started fires, and so did people. Some of the resulting fires were devastating: in Western, Northern and Eastern Victoria, and on the outer fringes of Melbourne. Our part of Victoria was not spared, though fortunately there were few houses and other assets lost. Axe Creek Brigade attended many more local fires than usual, and also worked at larger fires at Sedgwick, Mosquito Creek, North Harcourt, Junortoun, Redesdale, and Tooleen. The Brigade tanker was sent with strike teams to the Mallee and Gisborne, and brigade members went with other strike teams to the fires north of Melbourne. Up to the end of February Axe Creek Brigade turned out 27 times to local and district fires, and with strike teams.

A VIEW FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT

Did you ever wonder what it was like to be in a fire tanker at a running grass fire? Kyneton Fire Brigade have produced a video clip with footage taken at three grass fires this summer using a video cameras mounted in the cabins of their vehicles.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5PpGJXxtbI You can sit in the front seat and watch the tanker chasing the edge of a fire. You'll see the jets of water directed by crew on that back of the truck knocking down the flames just ahead of it. Luckily there weren't many rocks or ditches hidden in the grass where they were working! (Or perhaps they edited out the bits where the truck jolted uncomfortably?)

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BEHIND THE SCENES - THE OTHER SIDE OF FIREFIGHTING

Red tankers race along the road with lights flashing, firefighters in yellow overalls squirt water onto burning grass, helicopters dump huge loads of water on to burning foreststhese are familiar images from the television news. But there's another side to the story, one that's rarely told. The very visible front-line action is possible only because of the activities of hundreds of support workers, many of whom are volunteers, and by months of planning. Pre-season planning Long before summer starts there is planning on a local level, considering what will be the greatest fire risks, and how fires in particular locations can best be fought. At regional and state levels, plans include the allocation of resources, strike teams, potential interstate and international support, and much more. On high-risk days during summer The Bureau of Meteorology works closely with the fire agencies to produce detailed advice on expected weather conditions several days in advance. When a high-risk day is forecast everybody starts to prepare. Brigades check that crews are ready for local fires and for possible strike team action. Plans are made for relief crews, in case there should be a long-running fire. Incident management teams are assembled at incident control centres. Other agencies (such as SES, police, municipal authorities, Department of Human Services) coordinate their preparation with CFA and DEPI. When a fire breaks out on a hot day Phone calls to 000 are routed to the dispatchers in Ballarat, who activate brigades via pagers, and also alert support teams. By the time the first crews arrive at the fire analysts have produced initial estimates of the potential direction and distance the fire could spread. These predictions inform decisions on whether additional brigades need to be activated, and whether immediate advice or warnings need to be issued to the public. The incident controller at the scene devises a strategy for attacking the fire, directs crews, and if necessary calls for further assistance. For a small fire one person can maintain effective control, but if the fire gets too big there's too much for one person to think of at once. The fire is divided into 'sectors', each of which is managed by a sector commander, who reports in turn to the incident controller. After that the behind-the-scene stuff gets going in earnest. For a large fire the incident management team can grow to 30 or 40 people. Their work includes keeping track of the situation on the fire ground and evaluating strategies for controlling the fire, allocating vehicles and crews to different sectors and tasking them according to the control plan, issuing and updating advice and warnings to the public and keeping the media informed of developments, organising support such as equipment, meals and accommodation, first aid and medical attention, and much more. Bulldozers and graders are needed for fire breaks, water tankers to refill fire trucks, mobile communications and IT facilities for ground operations, repairs and maintenance are needed for trucks and other vehicles (some of the terrain they work in is punishing for fire trucks), plans and maps for crews and commanders must be printed and distributed...and so the list goes on. For a prolonged fire, or even a long fire season, fatigue becomes a real issue. People cannot operate effectively and safely at high pressure for long periods without adequate rest. So another consideration is to manage the workloads of both paid and volunteer firefighters and support personnel over the summer periods. We have to have reserve capacity, or bring in people from regions that don't have high levels of fire currently. This includes interstate and overseas personnel - for both fire ground and support roles

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

Other summers have seen devastating fires. Here's a report from seventy years ago

Bendigo Advertiser, 17th January 1944

A small roadside fire then the greatest blaze in the history of Bendigo district
A fierce north wind of blowtorch intensity was driving into the face of Ravenswood resident A. Bickford when he saw a fire burning near the Calder Highway, 10 miles south of Bendigo yesterday. Bickford noted the time about 2 o'clock. Speed was essential, the great drought was still on and the hot summer had made the country tinder-dry. Further south hundreds of weary men battled for hours against a five-mile wide inferno that had swept for miles around Harcourt, Sutton Grange and Redesdale. On that awful Friday the wind abated but when daylight came it swung into action with unrelenting fury and drove the flames forward under a giant blanket of smoke that prevented many from seeing the actual blaze until it was on top of them. All that day and the next firefighters sweltered in their grim struggle. Bendigo was like a city besieged. Free petrol was ladled out to volunteers who rushed south to join the hordes of men from district centres. Women worked like Trojans preparing refreshments for their labouring menfolk. The little settlement of Sutton Grange had been engulfed in a wall of flames that had literally leap-frogged across the hills. Seven homes had been lost. Dozens of homes saved by almost super-human efforts on the part of the firefighters, there were acres and acres of smoldering ruin. In the scorched paddocks lay thousands of blackened, bloated sheep, pathetic remains of out sheds and haystacks. In the orchards

clumps of twisted brambles that were once

apple trees.

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Eppalock Primary School

What a fantastic start to the year we have had! All the children have settled in beautifully to their new grades and all teachers have commented on how happy they have been and how well they are working. Congratulations and well done to all. Thank you also to all the parents for supporting their children and preparing them so well for the school. Our eight little prep students Banjo, Pippa, Hamish, Asher, April, Hannah, Cooper and Sienna have settled in to school routines with ease and it is wonderful to see all the other children, from grade 1-6, looking out for them and making sure they feel happy and safe at school it is a pleasure to see! We also welcome Emma, Tilly and Ella in grade 1, Bridie and Amelia in grade 2, Bella and Josh in grade 3 and Levi in grade 4 and their families to the Eppalock PS community. Our values focus for Term 1 is Care & Compassion. At assembly each week we acknowledge students who are working hard to be caring and kind towards others. To go along with this we continue with our Random Acts of Kindness. The idea is for students, teachers and parents to write about Random Acts of Kindness that they have witnessed and place in the box. Some of these are shared every Monday at assembly and are placed in the newsletter. We are really encouraging students to show kindness and empathy towards others and to do good deeds without needing to get anything back in return.

JUNIOR SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS

Nicole, Henry, Jesse, Chloe, Jack

EPPALOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL FUNDRAISER TUPPERWARE PARTY WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH 7.30 pm
Not only will this help raise money for our school, but it will also give everyone the opportunity to purchase lunch box items to support our new Nude Food policy. Supper will be provided and a lucky door prize will be drawn. Come along on the 19th - we would love to see you.

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LOTE - Mandarin
New to the curriculum at Eppalock PS for 2014 is the Chinese language, Mandarin. Students from Prep to Grade 6 participate in this program for one hour a week to learn the Chinese language, Mandarin. This program has been developed in conjunction with Bendigo Senior Secondary College (BSSC) to provide an extended learning challenge for all students. As part of this program, we welcome our two Haban teachers, Jing and Hui who will introduce us to Chinese Culture and Customs. This term will see our students learning basic greetings in Chinese and also being exposed to the Chinese number system.

LIVING GREEN ENVIROMENTAL PROGRAM

This provides a sustainability, garden and cooking program for all grades. Our term 1 focus is on waste and as part of this we are implementing a nude food policy where we strongly encourage children and parents to pack as little rubbish in lunch boxes as possible. This includes soft plastics such as glad wrap and packaging from snacks such as yoghurt, chips and muesli bars.

Inquiry Based Learning

Our Inquiry Based Learning and the Inquiry Model enables our students become better thinkers and have greater ownership of their learning. As part of this we have our Wonder Wall in the foyer where we will be asking students to place their questions or wonderings to begin the thinking process. (picture next page) What Is Inquiry? Inquiry learning is a dynamic process of being open to wonder and puzzlement and coming to know and understand the world. Inquiry is based on the belief that understanding is constructed in the process of students working and conversing together as they pose and solve problems, make discoveries and rigorously test the discoveries that arise in the course of shared activity. The inquiry study stems from a question, problem or exploration that has meaning to the students and it allows them to build knowledge that leads to deep understanding. The inquiry study encourages students to develop habits of mind that encourage them to ask questions of; evidence (how do we know what we know?) viewpoint (who is speaking?) pattern and connection (what causes what?) supposition (how might things have been different?) why it matters (who cares)

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Inquiry Based Learning continued.

The study requires students to address a semi-structured question, issue or problem, relevant to curriculum outcomes, but grounded in the life and work beyond the school. It requires them to develop organizational and self- management skills in order to complete the study and leads students to acquire and use competencies expected in high performance work organizations (eg. team work, problem solving, communications, decision making and project management).

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Axe Creek Community Playgroup

When Where

Wednesday Mornings 9am -11am Eppalock PS Old School Building.149 Patons Road Axe Creek (just a few minutes from Strathfieldsaye)

Morning Tea & activities provided Gold Coin Donation For further information please phone (03) 5439 6366 email: eppalock.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au http://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au

All Welcome
Playgroup is a place for you and your child to interact with other mums, dads, grandparents and caregivers and their children. Playgroup provides opportunities for play and learning. Your child will develop new skills and gain confidence by interacting with other children. No child is too young for playgroup. All children from 0-5 years, including babies, love new experiences and benefit from developing sensory, social and communication skills through activities at playgroup.

Made in Australia.

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Latest from Axe Creek Landcare

The Axe Creek Landcare Committee meet at Eppalock Primary School, in the old staffroom on the first Monday of each month at 8.00 pm during daylight saving period or at 7.30 pm for the rest of the year. We have two or three public meetings during the year, generally with a guest speaker. Topics in the past have included weeds, pest animals, sustainable soils, gardening, animal husbandry, grasses. We also hold field days, working bees and excursions. Members of the community are always welcome to attend any meeting!

Nesting Boxes
The Axe Creek Landcare Group has received a generous grant from the NCCMA to build and establish 100 nesting boxes on private property in the Axe Creek area. Regular feedback to the Group will be expected re the "happenings" in the nest boxes, such as occupancy. Changes in the occupants reflect the changes in the landscape and environment. Nest boxes are to be numbered to assist with monitoring. The grant includes a training day re positioning the boxes in the most suitable positions and grouping them to encourage the greatest use.

Goodbye to Record Breaking Hot Temperatures for this summer, we hope!

The extreme hot weather is hopefully behind us now, for a while. However, the lack of rain and the continuing warm days make life tough for our native animals. With just a few simple actions we can make life more bearable for our wildlife. 1) Provide a source of cool water - this could be a bowl, bucket or birdbath. 2) Bury containers in the ground if you can as it helps to keep the water cool. 3) Make sure that whatever container you use allows smaller animals to escape. Placing sticks or rocks in the water can ensure animals don't drown whilst drinking or bathing. 4) Dams can be hazardous as they begin to dry out. The waters edge can quickly become muddy or sticky. By placing boards, old carpet or something similar across muddy areas you will provide a safe exit and access point.

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Church News
St Stephens Emu Creek and Strathfieldsaye Uniting Churches Working Together.
Think you know all about church? Every Saturday afternoon at 5pm there is a special Church service for families with children from 0-99 years old (I fit in the lower half of that scale). A couple of weeks ago it was so hot on Saturday afternoon that we had a simple dinner together, and threw about three hundred water bombs at each other, while some enjoyed standing in a small wading pool literally cooling their heels. Other weeks we watch a short fifteen to twenty minute DVD then have time chatting about it, while the kids sing songs, go on scavenger hunts, share a Bible story and work hard to convince the teachers to hand over any chocolates or goodies they may have. We also run more recognisable Church services every fortnight when we pray, hear from the Bible, sing modern Christian songs with a band, and hang around for food and a drink, sometimes even an ice cream cone. And we would like to personally invite YOU to come along and check it out. It happens every Saturday at 5pm, at Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church (look for the banner and flags). We are also running another holiday program for Primary school aged kids on April 14-17 (the week before Easter). This will be an active program each morning with games, craft, challenges, stories and some good healthy food. For more information contact Rev Steve Weickhardt on 5439 4817, or steve@southeastbendigo.com

Local Anglican/Uniting 2014 Easter Services

18th April: 9am Good Friday service at St Stephens Anglican Church (Emu Creek) 19th April: 5pm Easter Saturday (Family Church) at Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church. 20th April: 9am Easter Day Holy Communion at Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church.

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Community News
CHANGE THE CLOCKCHANGE THE SMOKE ALARM BATTERIES
Remember to fit new batteries to your smoke alarms when you change your clocks at the end of daylight saving. Be ready for winterthe prime time for house fires. Daylight Savings ends Sunday April 6th. Working smoke alarms save lives!

STRATHFIELDSAYE BOWLS CLUB

welcomes all new members, men and women. We are particularly in need of ladies who would like to play during the week so there would be a specially enthusiastic welcome for them. If you are interested in finding out more about the Club, ring Anne Butler, ph. 5439 3678 (ladies) or Adrian Morris, ph. 5449 3799 (men).

Poo Pile!
If you need manure for your garden, please contact Jan Mellor on 5439 3144 or email jan_mellor@iinet.net.au.

Dont forget! Sunday, May 11th is Mothers Day

Community Gamelan group

Mugi Rahayu is your local gamelan (Javanese music and dance) group. We are from Eppalock and we practice weekly and perform at various cultural events and fundraisers around the district. No experience required and its free. New members Welcome Practice every Sunday 2:00 pm at 101 Carneys Rd, Eppalock. Contact Nita or Aaron on: 54392678 email: bagus_kan@yahoo.com

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Kids Corner
Homemade paper photo frame
Once you know how to make these homemade photo frames, youll be looking for excuses to make them again and again. You can stick them inside cards or tie them onto presents either way, they always look impressive! What you need:

A square piece of paper (origami paper or any paper measured into a square) Photos Activity: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Fold the opposite corners of the paper together and press. Then open the paper and fold the other corners together. Open the paper (the non patterned side of your paper should be visible.). The lines will be your fold guides. Fold the corners to the centre. Repeat with all four corners. Flip the square over, and fold the corners to the centre again. Do the same with all four corners. Flip your square over. You should have four square flaps. Fold each flap up to the corner. Tuck the triangle flaps inside or fold them backwards to make a band of white around where your picture will sit. Cut your picture a little smaller than the frame and carefully slide it in.

Notes:

These photo frames are easy to make, so your children can make lots of them. The frames even stand up on their own! www.kidspot.com.au

Volunteers Wanted - Kids Only! Attention Kids - Do you enjoy reading? Would you like to share your thoughts on a recent read with other young readers? Contact us at axecreeknews@gmail.com to express your interest in becoming a Book Reviewer for the Newsletter.
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Bunny Shaped Egg Recipe

A kid-friendly hard boiled egg recipe thats fun to eat, healthy and perfect for an Easter snack!
Ingredients:

Hard boiled eggs Carrots for ears Snap peas for nose Cabbage for tail Cheese for eyes

What to Do:

1. Hard boil eggs and let cool. Remove shells. If your bunnies will not be presented in an egg
dish, then cut a very thin slice from the bottom of the egg (lengthwise) so egg will not roll around.

2. Cut thin carrot slices and shape into rabbit ears with a knife, making sure one end is very
pointy. Insert pointy ends into egg for ears. Cut off tip of snap pea for nose. Push the pointed end into the front end of the egg. Make a small round tail from a white piece of cabbage, once again making a pointed end to push into the back of the egg. For eyes, cut two small little circles, using a small straw as a cutter, from your slice of cheese. Make sure the egg is not wet when you set the cheese eyes in place or they may slide out of place. 3. Other veggies may be substituted for the nose and tail. ziggityzoom.com

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