WoT news and snippets June 2016

Garden feature

A new meaning to a ‘garden feature’! This article in the June edition of Outback magazine features the great story and photos of Peter and Val Dillon’s garden ‘Killarney ’ at Narraport. In 2015 the garden also featured in the Australian Open Gardens guidebook.

Thank you

The Wycheproof community raised $1558.35 during the Wycheproof Cancer Support Group fundraiser in May.

The Biggest Morning Tea raised $822 to go to the Cancer Council for research

The lucky ticket competition raised $736.35 to fund equipment to support cancer patients at our local hospital.  Congratulations to Irene Munro winner of the standard rose.

Thank you WYCHEPROOF

The inaugural Mother’s Day Classic in Wycheproof, hosted by the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre on Sunday 8 May was a great success.

A spot of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits or the determination of the 132 entrants who raised an estimated $2500 toward breast cancer research. Walkers and runners of all ages came from Wycheproof, Birchip, Charlton, Nullawil, Wycheproof, Melbourne  and as far afield as Aireys Inlet .

Locals who lunch

▪ Darin Sheahan with Val Hickmott, John Keane,

 Maureen Brennan and Claire Keane  

Thanks to Tracey and the team at the Mount Wycheproof Café for their hospitality on Friday 20 May. The meals were delicious and we appreciate your extra effort to make us feel welcome.  A highlight of our May lunch was meeting, our new police officer, LsCons Darin Sheahan, along with his wife Narelle and sons Spencer and Mason. Darin introduced himself and his family and then spent time chatting and answering many questions. Narelle will be joining the Wycheproof community with a vision of getting involved. Spencer and Mason had enjoyed a morning at the Wycheproof P-12 College, participating in ‘Free Fruit Friday’ and playing at recess. Spencer likes soccer and Mason thinks he may enjoy hockey. 

The next Locals who Lunch will be held on Friday 17 June at the Terminus Hotel from 12.30pm.

Please RSVP names and numbers to Amanda on 0407 844 904 by 15 June.

Everyone is welcome. If you have visitors bring them along; the more the merrier.

 Rock Up Netball is continuing each week until Thursday 23 June 2016,  10am-11am at the Wycheproof-Narraport Netball courts

(if raining sessions are transferred to stadium at Wycheproof P-12 College)

www.rockupnetball.com.au

Men’s & Women’s Beginner Golf

3-week PlayGolf Clinics  Wednesday 15, 22 & 29 June 

Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Cost: $15 

4-week Two Hour Golf   Wednesday 6, 13,20 & 27 July 2016 Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm.  Cost: $5 per week

To register, contact Julie McLennan on 0407519371  E: julietmclennan @gmail.com

The eagle is landed

On 30 April we heard of the inspirational good news story of the rescue of  Wychie, an injured  wedge-tailed eagle. The majestic bird, a two-year-old male, was rescued by the Jones family in the Bunguluke area. It was  injured when its leg was caught in an old rabbit trap. Wychie made headlines in newspapers and TV news and the Bendigo Advertiser followed the story with   Wildlife Rescue Emergency Service president Neil Morgan and vet Dr Kellie Anset of Passionate Vetcare, who worked to bring Wychie  back to full health.

Wychie was released back into the timbered area along the Avoca River at Glenloth East on Saturday 21 May.

The use or sale of serrated, steel-jawed leg-hold traps is illegal and can incur fines of more than $29,000 plus two years’ imprisonment for individuals, and fines of more than $146,500 for corporations. The only leg-hold traps that can be used to capture rabbits, foxes and wild dogs  are those with smooth jaws and must be padded.

Wychie has been sponsored in his recovery by J&A Logistics who paid for the cost of veterinary treatment, medication and food.  If you find injured wildlife, call WRES on 0427 301 401.

Wychie the eagle back home   Photo courtesy Noni Hyett

Men's Health Week in Wycheproof

Men's Health Week encourages communities across Australia to reach out to men, boys and their families to promote health and wellbeing through engaging activities, events and promotions.

Open day and barbecue On Thursday 16 June the Wycheproof Mens Shed will host a barbecue lunch, open day for new members and visitors and guest speaker from Bendigo Prostate Group. The Bendigo Prostate Cancer Support Group is the biggest support group in the state due, members say, to the benefits the meeting provides. The group meets on the last Thursday of the month; inquiries contact Bendigo Community Health on  5434 4300.

What’s on your plate? is a Men’s Health Week evening event for young men aged 17-40 years, hosted by the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre, on Friday   17 June  from 6pm. EWHS Dietitian Carly Taylor will provide top tips for nutrition and wellbeing for sport performance and general good health.  To book phone WCRC 54937 455.

WOT June 2016 News summary

It was with disappointment that I reported to the May meeting of Wycheproof VISION, that despite our best efforts the ANZ Bank would close on 1 June. The only concession made by the bank was that an ANZ staff member would visit Wycheproof fortnightly for three months after closure. The Bank Group expressed dismay to manager for North and South West Victoria region Mark Genua. The ANZ response and offer to the community is as follows: ‘…encouragement, to visit the Wycheproof branch, prior to the closure date of 1 June 2016 to discuss their personal banking needs and the options available to them using ANZ card-based accounts’; post closure of the branch ‘…an ANZ banker to visit Wycheproof fortnightly for three months on a trial basis’; and a proposal to hold ‘…a number of education sessions at the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre to help educate our customers in digital banking methods and financial literacy’. To assist small business customers, the letter states, ‘…we have recently increased the limit on cash deposits at Bank@Post from $3,000 to $5,000 per day and we are exploring options to use barcoded deposit slips to assist our small business customers’. The response came nine days before Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews was finally able to meet with bank representatives. Our appreciation to Mr Andrews for his interest and support has been forwarded via his advisor.

Streetscape

Consultant Mike Smith and Amanda Treadwell presented preliminary Broadway streetscape plans at a community meeting on Tuesday 24 May. The plans are on display at the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre (WCRC). The consultants have provided some drawings for a public park area outside the Senior Citizens Rooms which includes retaining the palm trees and options for shade, walking path, seating and planting in that area. The group emphasised the need for an improved and safe pedestrian crossing, the need for designated long-vehicle parking, assistance to improve the façade of shop fronts including paint and canvas awnings and improvements to the footpath along Broadway and access to shops that have a step. The consultants wish to know the community’s priorities as any streetscape works will be done gradually. A survey is available at the resource centre or on line at www.wycheproof.vic.au. 

Wycheproof police

It was interesting and heartening to hear about the crime stats for our town and to meet our new police officer LsCons Darin Sheahan at the police forum on 17 May. There was also some good advice from Andrew Downes who is available to speak to groups about community initiatives, such as drug and alcohol programs. 

WOT May update Wycheproof makes submission to ANZ Bank

It is an understatement to say that we were all shocked at the announcement early in March that the ANZ Bank was closing our branch in Wycheproof. The news came when we as a community were on a high. We had just congratulated the team behind Wycheproof Hardware on receiving a national business award and looking forward to the long-awaited opening of the bakery. Congratulations to the team there at Bakery on Broadway opening at Easter and welcome to baker Sean and to pastry chef  Jao and barista Por.

At the time of going to print not all account holders at ANZ Bank Wycheproof Branch had received formal notification of the branch closure. On 22 March more than 100 people met to try to get answers from ANZ representatives. While they couldn’t answer all our questions to complete satisfaction, they did give an undertaking to reply to questions and provide information as requested. One of the outcomes of the meeting was an undertaking by Wycheproof VISION to write a submission to ANZ Bank to put a case for the retention of our bank branch. While I believe we can put a compelling case, the Weekly Times has reported on the closure of 230 banking services in rural Australia.

It is now 14 years since the last major investigation into banking services in rural areas. It is time that all levels of government looked at rural banking and consider banking services an essential service, and as  important infrastructure in rural communities in the same light as telecommunications, roads, transport and utilities.

 In this issue of Wyche On Track we have a short survey so that we can collect data to support our submission to the bank. We are also asking residents to write to the bank outlining why they think the bank should stay and the effect of closing the branch on them personally. Letters can be left at the Wycheproof VISION box at the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre and will be delivered with the community submission. Those account holders who received a letter are also encouraged to use the bank contact details and try to get answers to any questions they may have.

In 2002 Wycheproof and its then new Rural Transaction Centre was held up as a shining example of a new and innovative way rural communities could work with banks to ensure banking services remain in rural towns. We know that our community remains committed to having a bank branch in Wycheproof. Help us to make that message loud and clear to the ANZ Board in Collins St.