39
God Save The Queen...
this edition sponsored by stream services
October 1, 2022
What's inside...
Clermont Telegraph
The end of a remarkable reign...
A CCBG Publication
The world stopped and collectively mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on September 8, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21 April 1926. She was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in September 2022. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest reign of any female sovereign in history. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the second in line to the throne. In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, and their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in 2021. They had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen. Her life changed overnight from that of a young naval wife and mother to a busy Head of State. She was to become known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, and was an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of both crisis and celebration. Over the course of Her Majesty’s reign, the Commonwealth grew from just seven nations to 56 members, representing more than 2.5 billion people, more than a third of the world's population. As queen, Elizabeth was served by more than 170 prime ministers. Her many historic visits and meetings included state visits to China in 1986, to Russia in 1994, and to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, and included meetings with five popes. Queen Elizabeth visited Australia on 16 occasions: 1954, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2011. Significant events included Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively. Support for the monarchy in the United Kingdom remained consistently high throughout her lifetime, as did her personal popularity. The Queen was Patron of over 500 organisations in her lifetime, from charities and military associations to professional bodies and public service organisations. Having Her Majesty as Patron or President often provided vital publicity for their work, and allowed their enormous achievements and contributions to society to be recognised. Elizabeth died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96, and was succeeded by her eldest child, Charles III. The Clermont Community & Business Group were successful in their application for funding for community-based tree planting and commemorative events to honour The Queen’s 70 years of service as Australia’s Head of State. These activities will continue as planned, and the Clermont Community will be invited to be involved in this commemoration. Details will be included in later editions of the Telegraph.
"Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust."
from the editor's desk
edition 20 - october 2022
clermont calendar
coming up
acknowledgement
Disclaimer
october, 2022
written for clermont by clermont
October 4 - Clermont Dolphins AGM October 4 - Gentle Flow Yoga for seniors october 5 - Men's Shed AGM october 5 - Naidoc Opening Day October 7 - Clermont Junior Bears AGM October 8 - Clermont Community Markets October 8 - CWA old time dance October 11 - Gentle Flow Yoga for seniors October 15 - Lilys Mission cure cancer walk/run event October 17 - Seniors morning tea, art session & fashion parade October 17-19 - Heart of Australia former mine workers screening October 18 - Gentle Flow Yoga for seniors October 27 - CCHAOS AGM October 28 - Beef Expo October 28 - Seniors Scam Awareness session
All material in this publication is placed in good faith with no liability accepted by the publisher for the accuracy or legality of the content. All advertisements and material are subject to the approval and possible editing by the Editor, and the opinions expressed by submitters are not necessarily the opinions of the Editor or the CCBG. Submitters must undetrtake to ensure that all material submitted does not infringe any copyright or other laws. Furthermore, submitters agree to indemnify CCBG & its agents of any claims.
We acknowledge our shared histories and remember our elders and pioneers where our stories began. We honour our community leaders, families and individuals, who keep our histories alive and create our stories of today, and celebrate our next generations who will protect our pasts and continue our stories into the future.
November 4 - St Mary's Parish Christmas Fair November 18 - Christmas Twilight Markets November 19 - Clermont Races December 2 - Christmas in the Park December 10 - Clermont Christmas community markets
editor phone: 0448 629 799 email: news@ccbg.com.au
carolyn moriarty
It's just clicked over to midnight on September 30, 2022. My deadline for the paper is looming - it needs to be printing by the morning and I still have a bit to go. But I am reminiscing... This time 15 years ago, we were at the NRL Grand Final between Manly and Melbourne all decked out in our Melbourne gear when we got a call that changed our lives. Rhiannon had gone into labour at 24 weeks pregnant and the risk to the baby, and Rhiannon was so large that they were flying her and Brendon to Townsville. The chances of survival were very low for the baby, and not so crash hot for Rhiannon. They both survived. As fate would have it, on board that RFDS flight was the head of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and two NICU nurses. They were our saving grace as they assessed and managed the situation and gave both mum and baby the greatest chance that could be given in this situation. While we negotiated flights out of Sydney, no easy feat considering the entire city was celebrating a long weekend, the Royal Flying Doctor Service transported Rhiannon and Brendon to Townsville where Oscar Victor Finger was born at 9pm Sunday September 30. He was tiny but alive. He spent the next three months of his life in hospital in Townsville, then Mackay, and finally on January 8 2008, he came home to Clermont. Today, September 30 he turns 15. Happy Birthday to my No 1 Grandson. May it be filled with great happiness!! Writing that story in those few lines doesn't fully encapsulate the absolute desperation, and fear that we lived with as a family every day in those first few months, but that's not my purpose for writing this. Reverend John Flynn who founded the RFDS once said "If you start something worthwhile - nothing can stop it". I believe the RFDS is worthwhile, and I encourage everyone who lives this side of the great dividing range to consider a donation this month to the RFDS for no other reason than we don't want to ever see the service stopped. Here is the link to donate if you want to express your gratitude to the support they offer: https://rfds-qld.giveeasy.org/general-donations Thanks...have a great October!
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stream services
clermont sponsor of the month
Stream Services – helping fill a gap in the community Moving to Clermont for a tree change three years ago led to establishment of a service which has proven crucial to the well-being for families and people living with disabilities locally. Currently helping up to fifty families in the region, Stream Services was established in January 2019 to fill a gap for people living with disabilities in Clermont. Since that time, the service has grown to deliver a wide range of services including in-home and community access supports, allied health and NDIS support coordination services. Founder Alec McConnell said the NDIS was a huge reform for the better in the way Australia empowered people living with all types of disabilities to have meaningful roles within their communities. He said the services provided by Stream Services were diverse – dependant on the needs of individual clients, and when specialised allied health professionals could be secured. “Our lifestyle support workers here in Clermont basically have a half dozen different “jobs” because the make up i of their normal routine day is different depending on the family.” He said each client had different goals and different barriers and the service needed to be flexible in how to deliver the service without creating unnecessary dependancy. Alec said the diversity of communities served within the Isaac and Central Highlands also provided its own challenges. “Even in our small patch the difference in the communities we service is incredible,”he said. “To deliver services in communities you need to be genuine in wanting to be part of that community and that means different things in each town.” For example, Alec said in towns such as Clermont people weren’t considered a true local until a third or fourth generation whereas Tieri halved it’s population a few years ago in the space of a year. “So I think the biggest challenge is delivering NDIS services in a culturally appropriate way which fits in the communities we serve.” He said the NDIS was fundamentally about making long term improvements to society. “The challenge we have set ourselves is trying to work out how to reverse the brain drain of services and businesses leaving communities such as ours.We see bank after bank, store after store, service after service leaving our communities which I believe undermines who we are, or who we should be as a country.” “Communities like Clermont are the lifeblood of our country and need to be supported to thrive.” Alec said Stream Services employed lifestyle support workers locally and were always looking to attract specialists such as allied health professionals either permanently or on a fly in fly out basis. “There is a huge need for more services in our community and many communities like ours.Some of the more specialised services such as behaviourism don’t have any providers closer than Mackay so many people just miss out unfortunately.” Its premises in Clermont can accommodate staff and specialists who visit Clermont and can also provide short term accommodation for family respite.A fleet of four company vehicles are also used to transport clients to Emerald and Mackay for necessary appointments. As the fastest growing sector in Australia, Alec said the demand for workers was huge and even more difficult in small communities where there was competition with mines and other higher paying employers. Alec said people wanting to work in the industry as lifestyle workers didn’t necessarily need qualifications. “What matters most… is their values.Does the person have empathy and a positive attitude to find creative solutions?” “We have had many fantastic workers who come with no background in human services but do have the right attitude.We tend to attract people who want to have a career where they are making a difference in people’s lives and for their community rather than the big dollars off the mining sector.”
stream services builds tony's confidence in woodworking
clermont business
No matter our walk in life, there is no more rewarding feeling than being able to build something with your own two hands. This was the goal for Tony (Anthony): to build something for his home. To make this a reality, Stream Services Lifestyle Support Worker Mosese worked with Tony to plan, obtain materials and travel to the Men’s Shed in Clermont to make this happen. However, there were some hurdles for Tony to overcome. The first being deciding what to build. Tony originally wanted to build a desk for his home, however, after much research and with limited resources they had to forgo their original idea. As Tony had recently been gifted a boxing bag for exercise and stress relief, Mosese suggested building a boxing bag stand instead. After watching DIY Youtube videos, Tony and Mosese planned a trip to Mitre 10 in Emerald to purchase the materials needed for this project. It’s activities like these for Participants of Stream Services that allow them to increase their independence, experience new people and places, and gain the skills and knowledge required to lead a more independent life. Stream Services Founder Alec McConnell said that, with no options in Tony’s town of Tieri, Stream Services reached out to Clermont Men’s Shed to ask if they were able to work with Tony on this project. The Men’s Shed is a great place to connect Tony with technical know-how and also new mates. Tony and Mosese showed up at Clermont’s Men’s Shed with the required timber and chain and a picture of what they wanted to make. Andy Plunkett, a retired manual arts teacher, started Tony off with measuring and cutting the timber, using the sanding bar, and drilling everything in place. As Mosese explained, Andy’s experience as a retired teacher made him ideal for explaining and supervising in a way that Tony was able to comprehend and understand. It was a great learning experience for Tony as he was able to use all the machinery safely. Andy said Tony was quite good when it came to building, as he picked things up very quickly and didn’t mind going through all the safety routines. “It was great for him to be able to connect with various members of Clermont Men’s Shed who will be able to assist him over the coming week to complete his project. It was great that Tony could use all the machinery to start his project which was a great learning experience for him”, Mosese said. While there is still a way to go before Tony completes his boxing bag stand, this is an excellent example of the work that is being done at the Men’s Shed. Stream Services would like to thank everyone involved. Article and pictures published with permission from Tony and his guardian.
stream services welcomes new operations manager
Stream Services is strengthening its capacity to assist participants and wish to welcome on board Michael Pugh as their new Operations Manager. With the new addition Stream Services will be able to continue to build upon their focus on community and long-term commitment to the region. The Operations Manager will act as a conduit between all facets of the organisation to support the daily operations, direction and logistics, so that staff can continue to provide NDIS Participants with the opportunity to attend even more social and community activities. As the Operations Manager, Michael will play a pivotal role to Stream Services ongoing success. Michael has worked and been a part of the Clermont community for the last two years, and is involved in several community groups. “I’m very excited to take this new challenge with Stream Services in Clermont and continue to build on the great services that Stream are doing across the community” Michael said. Providing services in regional QLD can have its challenges, the logistics of being able to provide this requires being able to recruit, deploy and provide the staff and tools needed. As Alec McConnell explained, if we want to reverse the trends currently being seen by communities in losses of community organisations, businesses and government services “we need to take seriously the logistical challenges”. These challenges are not simple or straight-forward, but Michael is motivated to take on the management of these issues with transportation, communication between facilities within the region, and the continued increasing demand for disability services. Stream Services plays a vital role for the people and families in our local country communities. Their outstanding service and ability to coordinate with various community and social groups offers opportunities for people who would otherwise be isolated from participating in our community. Disability services are critical to communities like ours and everyone should have the opportunity to be an active part of Clermont into the future whether they are living with a disability of not. With the appointment of the new Operations Manager, Steam Services is able to provide the perfect opportunity for Michael to continue contributing to Clermont after his successful stint at C-MAC Solutions while being able to support his partner more with the upcoming arrival of a new family member.
Marjorie Frances Topping was born in Bendigo in 1936 to Iris & Jack Topping. Jack was involved in mining, so the family moved around frequently, living in Cobar, Mt Morgan, Tennant Creek, Fiji, Gympie, and of course Blair Athol where Jack was the manager at Blair Athol Mine. Marj returned to Clermont in 1958 with two nursing friends following the completion of their triple nursing certification while working in Melbourne. All three nursed at the Clermont hospital and Marj also applied to work at Longreach hospital for 6 months. From this time, Marj recalls the starched white linen uniforms, the matron who was a very stern woman and living in the quarters. Marj attended a dance at Blair Athol where she met Arthur Wellington. Due to an early shift, Marj left the dance early. Once she left, Arthur and his mate, Frankie Barraclough decided to go out to the car to drink their sly grog. It was illegal to drink alcohol at the dances. On the way back to town, Arthur and Frankie were involved in an accident and ended up in hospital. Marj was very surprised to see them both in there at the start of her shift. This was the start of a courting period which culminated on December 29. 1962 when Arthur and Marj married at the Clermont Anglican Church. Their courtship involved lots of adventures including climbing Wolfang Peak and Lords Table Mountain, fishing at the lagoon, picnics and lots of dances. On Christmas eve 1963, Marj and Arthur moved into their house in Kitchener St. For someone who had moved around her entire life, this was the start of a very settled period in her life. Marj left the hospital to work as the nurse at Dr Farrelly’s surgery, and then left this surgery to work for Dr Flora Griffin. In 1969, Marj & Arthur welcomed their son David into the family. Marj was sadly advised that she could not bear any more children. In 1971, Dr Flora Griffin who by now was residing in Brisbane rang Marj to see if she would be willing to adopt a rather sickly baby girl, and this is how daughter Flora entered the Wellington family. Arthur worked for Dobsons, but decided to open his own vehicle service business in partnership with Bill Ryder. A&B Service Centre was opened in the main street where Choice Service Station currently is. Eventually they purchased the block on the corner of Box & Capricorn Streets currently occupied by Clermont Hydraulics & Bearings. Marj did the books for the business for 25 years, a job she did not enjoy. They sold the business in 1991 to Dalgetys (Landmark) so Marj decided to go back to her first love, nursing. She redid her certification in Emerald and by 1993 she was back, this time working at Monash Lodge. Marj was eventually promoted to manager of the complex. In 2001, she retired so her and Arthur could travel. Sadly, Arthur passed away in 2002. So Marj went back to work at Monash Lodge and worked there until she retired in 2016 aged 80 years old. Life has not been all about working however for Marj. She is a keen adventurer and her travels have led her to experience some amazing places. In her lifetime, she has visited New Zealand, Fiji, Vietnam, Singapore, the Rocky Mountains in Canada, Alaska, South Africa, the pyramids in Egypt, the Antartic, the Arctic, Galapagos Islands, South America, Greece, Italy, and all the states of Australia. Marj has flown over the Zambizi in a flying fox, and visited Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia where islands are made of reeds, and shops and schools are built on these reed islands. Marj even went on a QLD Health funded trip to China to see how aged care worked there. In China, retirement age is 50 and the retired are involved in singing, dancing, craft, and Tai Chi. Marj recalled a 90 year old doing the splits… Marj’s father had surveyed the road from Wyndham to Darwin and Marj always wanted to travel this road so the year she turned 80, Flora and her partner Alan, took Marj for an adventure along this road. They explored the Kimberleys and flew over the Bungle Bungles. Marj loves animals, and has a special affinity for penguins. She loves their little feet on tiny legs, and is amazed they can survive such extreme environments. Many of her travels have been to see penguins in the wild including trips to Phillip Island, the Galapagos islands, and Antartica. Marj is an avid gardener and sunflowers are her favourite. They are happy plants, and yellow is her favourite colour. Marj delivered a lot of local babies in her career. Her reputation as a wonderful nurse continues with many local people still referring to her as Sister, or reminiscing about the care they received from her as patients. Even Marj’s mother in law was showering in praise when she described Marj as the most thoughtful and caring nurse. Marj has seen many changes to Clermont since her arrival here in 1958. When she arrived the Blair Athol township was still in existence. BA Coal Mine closed, then reopened in the 1980s, the subdivision was built and the town of Clermont was doubled in size. Theresa Creek dam was built, and the Clermont power station was supplying power to the town. There was no sewerage, so people were employed to empty the outhouse. Marj hated having to use the outhouse in winter. She estimates that it was in the mid 60s before the sewerage was connected. The footpaths were all dug up to lay the pipes. There was a telephone exchange in town and Goldie Salmon and Betty Spring were the operators for the exchange. Marj used to go into the jewellers owned by Josie Crisp and pierce girl’s ears. Back in those days, a large needle was used. Marj and Arthur were heavily involved in the community. They sat on the hospital board and the ambulance board. They were also involved in the meals on wheels committee. Marj said she noticed a difference in nursing when the requirements for university degrees was introduced. Marj explains graduating nurses were less practical, less hands on and struggled to do the basic care tasks. She recalls one newly trained university student fainting at the sight of blood. She does however acknowledge that the current nurses are very capable. Her words of wisdom to new nurses are listen to the older nurses around you, listen to the patient, be caring, do not talk about the person in front of the person you are treating, remember that your patients are people. Marj is midst packing to move to Rosedale where Flora and Alan live. Her health has not been great, and its time, after almost 60 years in the same house to move again. Marj knows Clermont. It has provided her stability, and it is this familiarity that she will miss the most. Marj has a lot to look forward to. She will have her daughter to look after her. She loves listening to birds and looking at trees, and can’t wait to be sitting on the verandah watching the wallabies and kangaroos. Rosedale is a long way from the High School traffic and she definitely won’t miss the school alarm. It’s a remarkable life, one well lived and one that’s buoyed by an incredible attitude to adventure. If the excitement and enthusiasm Marj has for adventure could be bottled, it would be worth a fortune. Despite her health issues and knowing the future is not going to be easy, Marj conveys such joy and positive anticipation for what lies ahead. It’s that attitude that will ensure a wonderful transition to life on the farm. Thank you, Sister Wellington. Your job in Clermont is now done, and our entire community wish you a wonderful relaxing life ahead in Rosedale with Flora and Alan.
marj wellington
clermont people
Many years ago, I was charmed to hear how a cattle grazing property 30 kilometers from Clermont on the Rubyvale Road got its name and it involves, of all things, an African Zulu man. I wanted to tell you about this remarkable family who took up this property and my memories…. told from my perspective….of the family. ……………………………………………………………………… On the 25th of May 1875 Hubert Amiel Addington Carriston Seton was born in the Riverina region NSW and was educated at the Kings School, Parramatta. His parents ran the post office at Urana. As a young man he was sent to South Africa to fight in the Boer War. He sailed on the “Armenian” on the 23rd of April 1900 one month before his 25th birthday. He served as a dispatch rider… (a military messenger on horseback.) When the Boer War ended in May 1902 Bert stayed on in Africa and was employed as a bookkeeper on the construction of the Beira – Mashonaland Railway. Alice Mary McCulloch, born 1878, was one of 14 children. Her parents owned “Orange Grove” a farm outside Urana. She and one of her sisters travelled to South Africa and Alice and Bert Seton were married. Their first child, Helen, was born in 1906 in South Africa. The Setons returned to Australia and Bert applied for a government land grant. He travelled to Clermont to inspect some land available for selection not far from Clermont. Bert, accompanied by a Mr Bennett from Clermont, travelled out to the block for an inspection. He liked what he saw and so went to the Court House in Clermont and filed for a deed of grant and certificate of title. He was just minutes before Duncan McDonald who also wanted the block. During their time in Africa Bert and Alice had a Zulu house boy employed. When the family decided to return to Australia their house boy wanted to immigrate to Australia with them. Unfortunately, because of the White Australia Policy put in place in 1901 he couldn’t accompany them. Bert promised him that if he managed to get some land, he would name the property after him. In 1910 Bert, Alice and little Helen took up the property and named it “Makonda” for their Zulu house boy. Bert had a house built on the bank of Theresa Creek (same creek as Theresa Creek Dam and Theresa Creek crossing on the Rubyvale Road which is not far “as the crow flies” from Makonda.) Their second daughter Mary Frances was born at Nurse Millicans in Clermont in 1913. We’ve all heard of the great flood that decimated Clermont in 1916…. but we don’t hear of the people and places outside Clermont also affected by this terrible flood. The Setons were one of many families to suffer the consequences of the flood. At that time Bert ran sheep on Makonda. Bert’s shearers walked from Clermont to Makonda and stayed on to shear the sheep as they knew the flood was coming. They helped Bert shift the shorn sheep away from the creek and turn them out onto higher ground. I guess the whole time this was happening it would have been raining and the shearers would have had to walk back to Clermont. Theresa Creek was flooding and breaking its banks. The water was coming into the house, so the Setons climbed onto the roof. The water was rising higher and higher, and they could feel the house starting to move with the force of the water. They climbed out of the roof and into a tree growing close to the house. There the four of them spent the night. Alice and the two girls sat in the branches of the tree and Alice holding 3-year-old Mary, told stories to 10-year-old Helen, to keep her awake through the night. There was no room for Bert in the branches, so he held onto the trunk of the tree all night……. his arms ached for years after. They told of seeing live cattle, floating down the creek. They apparently can blow themselves up somehow and they float with the current. The house washed away but the shearing shed on higher ground was intact. They made the shearing shed their temporary dwelling with their neighbours, the Clein’s, who lived across the creek on “Pink Lilly” and who also had lost their house and outbuildings. The Setons rebuilt a double story house on a rise but still within seeing distance of Theresa Creek. Upstream from Makonda, the Wainwrights home at “Ellendale” (where the picturesque Theresa Creek cement crossing is on the Rubyvale Road) was washed away as well. They also rebuilt on a higher bank of the creek. In the 1980’s when I was in my 20’s the tree that saved the Setons lives was still standing tall on the bank of Theresa Creek………It has since burned down. In 1942 Bert, after years of relentless dingo attacks on his sheep, decided to go out of sheep and into beef cattle. 2022 still sees Makonda as a beef breeding property. Helen and Mary were educated at St. Faiths, Yeppoon. Bert and Alice Seton are laid to rest in the Clermont Cemetery. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… In October 1942 Mary Seton married Robert Hensley from South Australia and they had six children. Robert died from bowel cancer in 1964 and Helen helped Mary raise her children and they both ran Makonda with the help of their children. Helen never married and although I always addressed her as “Miss Seton” I think of her as Aunt Helen (or Notesie as her six nieces and nephews affectionally called her which is Seton spelled backwards). I always think and refer to them as Mrs Hensley and Aunt Helen. Although I knew them both for most of my life, I really got to know them well from my 20’s and until they passed away. Some of my memories of Mrs Hensley and Aunt Helen: I asked Mrs Hensley if she had any memories of the 1916 flood and although she was only three, she could remember the water coming into the house and her mother hurriedly making porridge to sustain them before they made their way into the roof of the house. Little Mary placed her bowl of porridge in the rising water coming through the house and kitchen. She remembered watching the bowl bob around in the water. Aunt Helen and Mrs Hensley had a wonderous, chaotic house garden. Bougainvillea’s, roses and hibiscus flowering in amongst towering paw paw trees and citrus trees and underneath the larger plants a show of flowers, herbs, silverbeet, lettuce, etc planted in old drums, pots, buckets and anything that could hold a plant or two. At the back entrance to the house a cool, wide, vine covered walkway from the back gate to the large back entrance of cool cement and rock pavers with ferns and more plants in pots and in this area was also a high tank stand surrounded by ferns and underneath a covered shower area, used in the summer heat as a cool alternative to bathing in the house. Further away from the house Aunt Helen had a vegetable garden. They also had goats for milk and meat and Mrs Hensley made their own bread in a wood burning stove. They used honey, bought in large containers…. never sugar. We were invited to dinner and one thing I remember is the large slices of Queensland Blue pumpkin and potatoes put straight onto the oven rack of the combustion stove and baked dry. Never have I before, or since, tasted Queensland Blue as beautiful as the pumpkin cooked this way. The potatoes were soft and floury in the middle and the skin was crispy and easy to eat. Not chewy as a lot of potatoes cooked in their jackets are. I’ve tried to replicate this style of cooking in a combustion stove oven, an electric oven and a gas oven with no success. In a time before “eating clean” became a byword for healthy eating Mrs Hensley, in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s and the ongoing years was before her time with her attitude to food and nutrition. (Eating vegetable shoots in a salad and having smoothies consisting of blended vegetables and fruit is quite the “in thing” now.) I first saw the evidence of this when visiting one day. I saw large trays of what looked like green, healthy lawn. It was in fact wheat shoots which the family used in sandwiches, salads and drinks. Whenever I visited, I grew used to seeing, always, trays of wheat shoots growing. They had a juicer, something like the old-fashioned mincer screwed onto the table and with a handle to turn to mince the meat only this had a spout instead of the holes where the mince was forced through. Mrs Hensley and Aunt Helen made me a drink to show me how the juicer worked. I remember it had comfrey (when I found they grew this I was amazed. I’d read about Victorian ladies drinking comfrey tea for their health), parsley, wheat shoots and celery. There were other ingredients, but I’ve forgotten what they were. I haven’t forgotten the taste though. It tasted awful. I couldn’t drink it, much to their amusement. Aunt Helen gave me a newspaper parcel containing comfrey,herbs, etc for me to take home. I put them in a blender and tried to drink it again but with some apple added it was quite palatable. I asked Mrs Hensley what gave her the idea to grow wheat shoots. She said life was hard for her at the time of losing her husband, rearing six children and running a property and she was feeling exhausted. A close friend suggested she try the wheat shoots. In answer to my question “did she feel they made a difference to her health?” she replied that most definitely she felt they made a difference. I was at an afternoon tea gathering of friends and neighbours at Makonda and I saw a wooden kitchen chair hanging from the rafters of the verandah. I asked Mrs Hensley the significance of it and she said it was in the paddock after the 1916 flood and they never found who owned it. Mrs Hensley spoke of going to Clermont, with her mother, in the horse drawn buggy, when she was a little girl. She told of the wet season and of her mother getting the horses into a gallop so they could get through the bogs of water and mud on the road and of her clutching her mother’s skirts with both hands and hanging on for dear life so she wouldn’t be jolted and thrown off the buggy. She spoke of how the hills for miles around Copperfield were bare of trees. They had booked a contractor to build a dam. Aunt Helen was worried the site they’d chosen for the dam would put water over the main access road to the other properties past Makonda. She asked the Capella council to take some levels and they confirmed, yes, there would be water backed up over the road. Aunt Helen wasn’t convinced. She didn’t have a dumpy level so using an empty 200-litre (44 gallon) drum, a spirit level and a 22 rifle she leveled the drum and rifle and shooting into trees all the way she proved them wrong. The dam was built and never flooded the road. In her later years and after Aunt Helen had passed away Mrs Hensley took to walking long distances in the bushland. By then I was seeing less and less of her but one day I was talking to her, and she was telling me about some water birds she’d seen at a lagoon, and I was astonished to realize that she’d walked that long distance to the lagoon, and then back to the house. I asked her if she was worried, she might …………. trying to find the right words without being too blunt…. she finished the question for me…...” die out there?” ……I nodded, “yes” …. she said, “if you hear that has happened…be happy for me.” Now that I’m older I understand exactly what she meant. If I was asked to describe these two incredible women, I would use so many words…. stoic, reserved, intelligent, well read, hardworking, private, at one with nature, quietly spoken, refined ladies. When I was in their company I always thought before I spoke (sometimes not successfully.) I didn’t want them to think the lesser of me because of my chatter. Aunt Helen passed away aged 87. Mrs Hensley passed away aged 95. They are both laid to rest in the Clermont Cemetery. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In 1990 Chris and I approached the then Belyando Shire Council and asked them if it would be ok for us to start restoring the Copperfield Store which was then in ruins. The council gave us permission and so we started the restoration process. When it was completed, I opened the shop to tourists every Tuesday and Thursday for 10 years. They came in coach loads. They visited the Blair Athol mine, the museum, where they were given morning tea, then onto the shop and then to the chimney. The council, by this time, had passed the store into the hands of the Museum. To raise money for the museum, and indirectly, the store, I approached all the old folks of Clermont to write of their memories of the store. I made a little booklet of their stories and sold it to the tourists. This is what Mrs. Hensley and Aunt Helen wrote: ------------------------------------------------------------ Yes, I remember lying on the floor of the buggy, head under the seat and feet warm on a billy goat tied at the other end. At Copperfield Store there was a seventy-pound bag of sugar fitted in on one side of me and a kerosene box of groceries on the other side. Then I felt the lurch of the buggy as my father climbed to his seat, followed by the slow grinding sound of the iron rimmed wheels on the gravel, and the jolt and rattle as the horses broke into a trot. I remember Mother in the two-horse buggy drawing up in front of the Copperfield Store and Mrs Duncan coming out to take our grocery order to save Mother getting down from the high buggy. From up on the buggy seat, we had a good view of the houses and Copperfield School, a few hundred yards to the West of the Copperfield Store and sometimes we could see boys carting wood or water in their goat carts and teams of goats or Mr. Dick Dunstan riding his magnificent cream coloured horse with white mane and tail, always beautifully groomed. I remember sitting high up in the buggy seeing the people who called in at the Store. They came in buggies, buckboards, sulkies, spring carts, a dray and one fellow pushing a wheel barrow. There were the Bettridge, McDonald, Fawkes, Bennett, Baker, Miller, Clein, Finger, Sammon, Albert, Berry, Wainwright, McKean, Conroy and Kildentoff families. If I remember rightly Phillip Bray drove Mrs Duncan’s spring cart to deliver to Clermont people, their groceries from the Copperfield Store and Bill Evans helped Mrs. Duncan serve the customers who came. There were forms to sit on both inside and on the verandah. The riders hitched their horses to the verandah posts where there were special ring and hook rein hitches. The Copperfield Store was where friend met friend and they sat and told their news. No wireless in those days and newspapers several days or even weeks old and few people had telephones. So to meet at the Copperfield Store was a real pleasure. People seemed to have more time then; they moved at a more leisurely pace. The horse era passed, and cars came in. I asked Charlie (my son) if he had early memories of Copperfield Store. “Yes” he said “I remember there was a bowl of sweets on the counter and Ruth (his sister) stretched up and took one. “Did you take one?” I asked. “No, I couldn’t reach, and Ruth wouldn’t get me one, so I missed out.” Jane (one of my daughters) said “I remember the day Pommie, Ruth’s cat jumped out of the car window and hid under the Copperfield Store, and would not come out, but he turned up over a week later at the old house in Clermont where we stayed overnight sometimes.” A black dog used to lie on the verandah of the Copperfield Store. Suzie (another daughter) used to say “Griffin and Co, Capella Street, Clermont. Duncan and Dog, Rubyvale Road, Copperfield.” Mary Hensley. ######################## My father H.C. Seton was in a boarding house in Sydney and having breakfast with two ladies. He asked, “Where you ladies born?” One said Eugoura which he knew. The other said “Oh you would not know my birthplace; it was a little place in Queensland called COPPERFIELD.” Helen Seton. ################################# How proud Mr. Dick Dunstan would be if he knew that 100 years later, we would be reading about his magnificent, beautifully groomed horse.
clermont history
a step back in time
contributed by beth duncan
GW3 have partnered with QCoal Foundation to bring a 1/2 day Mate2Manager workshop to Clermont. Stepping up from “team-mate” to managing your teammates is the most difficult transition of all. The Mate2Manager workshop will teach your key people how to step up to a leadership role with a clear understanding of the challenges they face in the first three months. When: Wednesday 26th October Where: Penny’s Coffee Shop Training Room, Daintree St, Clermont. Time: 8:30am -12:30pm Cost: 80pp To Book:https://www.trybooking.com/CCSED
Greater whitsunday alliance
contributed by leann priestley
contributed by grant oswald
grant's goss
clermont speaks
There goes the first month of Spring, although I am sure that some of us would agree it already feels like summer. Hopefully everybody has enjoyed (and survived) the recent school holidays and is ready for one final term. No doubt this will be a very busy one for all of us with graduations, Christmas parties, Fetes, swimming carnivals and of course school camps all thrown in for the last ten weeks or so. It makes me tired just reading this!! October in the pharmacy will no doubt be a busy one. We are struggling to get consistent supply of quite a few medications so please rest assured that we are doing all we can. We may have to swap brands of a couple of things but as always, we will work with you and do our best so that you can understand what we are giving you. For exciting news though, we have been able to secure the services of Napoleon makeup artist Nathan Kake for an evening on Friday October 28th. For those that have had the privilege of seeing Nathan before, not only is his makeup knowledge and tips one of the best in the industry, the entertainment value is even better. With over 34 years’ experience in the beauty industry, Nathan knows exactly what it takes to make every woman look and feel her absolute best. Having painted the faces of the likes of Cindy Crawford, Megan Gale and Rachel Hunter and worked with iconic brands such as Alex Perry, Dion Lee and Leona Edminston, his makeup repertoire is extensive and impressive. Nathan has worked in Holloywood on up and coming models and on photoshoots for Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar – this invaluable industry experience gives him an edge in the Australian beauty landscape. Most recently lending his makeup artistry talents to The Voice Australia and working shows at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Nathan brings an inspired array of looks and skills to his audience. Nathan is a born educator, having taught scores of students through the Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy, he can translate his makeup language to the beauty beginner and the skilled makeup enthusiast. We are extremely lucky to have been able to secure Nathan’s services and I can promise you that will be a night not to be missed. Plenty of prizes up for grabs, nibblies, drinks and guaranteed entertainment. Places will be limited so please ring and secure your spot. That’s all for this month, until next time, Hooroo!!
clermont kids
clermont community
clermont remembers
L-R Cyril Bryant, Wally O, Lindsay Francis, Bert Russell
clermont sport
Ex-service men gathered at the RSL on Thursday August 18 to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day. Three wives and an extra man also joined for a short service followed by lunch at the Leo Hotel. Vietnam Veterans day was originally called Long Tan Day to honour the bravery of those involved in that battle. it has since been named Vietnam Veterans day to honour all Australians who served in numerous campaigns in Vietnam between 1961- 1974.
L-R Wally O, Lindsay Francis, Bert Russell, Gordon Murray, Cyril Bryant, Peter Kent
clermont rsl sub branch
Clermont Community Housing is helping to provide resources and solutions for challenges residents may face as well as a variety of much needed services to support the Clermont community. These include: •Homeless Housing and Support •Community Housing •Affordable Housing •Emergency Relief •Department of Human Services Agency (Centrelink) •General support, information and referral •Office use for visiting services As an agent for Services Australia, CCHAOSI can provide support to the community to access: Centrelink Medicare MyGov and other Commonwealth Government services CCHAOSI staff are all trained to assist customers with the Self-Service Terminals provided by the department or their own devices with free Wi-Fi available in the office. CCHAOSI focus is to empower customers to use online services as this is the direction of the Department of Human Services (DHS). CCHAOSI provide a new office space or training room for visiting services including: •Employment agencies •Breakthrough for Families – Drug and Alcohol sessions •Central Queensland Financial Counselling Service •Mackay Women’s Service – Domestic Violence •Feros Care Other Services requiring office space or a training room can contact the Administration Officer at CCHAOSI with any booking requests.
New Living Works, Safe TALK trainers completing their training.
Mindfulness Workshop in Clermont
QCWA Clermont Branch News – After such an exciting month of celebrating our 100 years of QCWA in August, last month was relatively quiet. September meeting was held at the hall in Sirius Street, with a good roll up of members, welcome to our two new members, Namoi Holmes and Christy-Lyne Clancy, we are very happy to have you join us. Our new chairs arrived that were purchased with the Federal Government volunteer grant, all the members agreed that they are very comfortable. Elaine Grubb and Jenny Wilby were presented with Quiet Achiever Awards for service to QCWA,nominated by the branch, both were very humbled to received this award, so many women in our organisation deserve to be recognised. It was passed at the meeting that funds from the Centenary dance will be divided up between the State Project Special Purpose Fund, RFDS and the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue. Members agreed that Denise Campbell be Clermonts delegate at State Conference in Toowoomba. There will be an old time dance on the 8th October, hope you can come along and enjoy the evening, always a great way to catch up with old friends. We continue to cater for the cattle sales and this month we had two bull sales as well. Our next meeting will be on the 5th October, at 10.00 am in the hall in Sirius Street, Clermont. All welcome, if you would like any further information, please contact President Linley Hollier on 49581842 or Secretary Denise Campbell on 49832994. For hall bookings contact Dawn Keier on 49831270.
qcwa clermont branch news
Annual General Meeting Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 5th October 2022 at 10am. after morning tea. Any one wishing to pay their membership still $50.00 (which is now due) Bank info Queensland credit union BSB 704-640. Account no 64122348 Or cash paid at the shed.
clermont men's shed
Thanks for a very generous donation of $5,000.00 given by Clayton Stansbie operation manager Glencore's Clermont coal to the Clermont men's shed. This donation will go a long way to improving our Men's shed complex
To advertise in the Telegraph, email news@ccbg.com.au
clermont community & business group
Recently, CCBG President Michael Pugh caught up with Liana Jones, Isaac Tourism Development Officer, who after 18 months in the Isaac, is sadly pulling up stumps to take on a new challenge. Liana has been involved, among other things with the development of tourism experiences and events across the region. Michael asked Liana what she enjoyed most about her time in the Isaac, and she quickly replied ''the people, the lifestyle, the community and of course hiking, camping and being out in the natural environment" Michael said, "Personally, Liana and I have become good mates, and have hiked and explored some of our regions most beautiful and unique places. I was always impressed with Liana's genuine interest and love of Clermont and improving our towns visitor experience and tourism portfolio. Join me in wishing Liana all the best in her future endeavours."
From CCBG President, Michael Pugh The MIW regional community forum sat in Mackay on Monday 26.9.22 The forum started with a welcome dinner on Sunday evening, which was a great chance to have an informal chat with ministers and fellow forum members about issues and concerns relevant to our region. On Monday morning we were given a tour of the Resources Centre for Excellence,before the forum commenced. Some highlights of the forum were: Forum working group report presentations. (I am involved with the workforce attraction and retention workgroup which Emma did a wonderful presentation on) Forum priority exploration – Affordable housing Forum Action plan Workshop I was given the opportunity to address the forum in relation to the Forum Action Plan Workshop. During the forum, I reinforced the ongoing challenges, particularly around workforce attraction and retention our Clermont community faces. I spoke about the Peak Range and geo-tourism opportunities I believe we must explore to improve our regions tourism portfolio and visitor experience, not to mention the vital investment in Clermont these opportunities will bring. I also updated the forum on a few of the great things happening in Clermont, including the formation of the Scouts and Rotary after a lengthy period of inactivity. I mentioned CCBG plans to hold a sailing regatta at the Theresa Creek Dam in 2023. The forum was impressed with our community spirit and the ongoing achievements by many of our residents and volunteers across Clermont, something I often tell people you’ll only find in Clermont. I also thank Dorne Wallace for her positive comments to the forum in relation to just how unique and special Clermont is. I am advocating for a future forum to be held in Clermont, which I believe is possible and will be massive for Clermont. I’m also happy to sit down with members of the community and discuss the forum action plan, priorities and progress relevant to Clermont. If that’s of interest to you, please give me a call on 0491353524.
CCBG executive recently met with Maree Franettovich and Dr Pamela Greet from the LEAP WRQ program to see how we can support them in their endeavours to support female employees/employers in town. The program sees women from three communities - Biloela, Bowen and Clermont - participate in free personal and professional development to further their existing careers, or have the confidence to branch out and try something new. Participants will also hear from others who have achieved goals without having to leave town, or who have pursued non-traditional careers and the challenges faced. If you would like to participate, please register your interest by emailing leap@careerforceaustralia.com.au. More information on the program can be found on the next two pages.
CCBG Treasurer, Danny McKay & Secretary, Carolyn Moriarty with LEAP WRQ Project Managers Maree Franettovich and Dr Pamela Greet.
LEAP WRQ Project Managers Maree Franettovich and Dr Pamela Greet
Recently, we held our monthly CCBG meeting. It was great to see a few new faces at the meeting, with presentations by Nina Hensley, Christine Marteene and Tania Gillies. The group is currently working on numerous projects, including an electronic sign board for Clermont and Sailing Regatta at the Theresa Creek Dam in 2023. Stay tuned for further information and we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
clermont opportunities...
clermont opportunities.....
new pottery group driven by local teen
clermont arts link
clermont creates
A Clermont teen is working hard behind the scenes to re-establish a pottery club in the town – a move which is also seeing a resurgence of interest in the art form particularly among younger people. Angela Chan is a year 11 student at Clermont State High School who is a strong believer in young people developing healthy hobbies at a young age to develop “patience, persistence and lifelong enjoyment” and to help combat mental health struggles. Apart from the social interaction benefits, Angela feels art as an outlet encourages young people to grow more comfortable and appreciative of themselves and ultimately others. “I feel that our mental health can only gain from the time we allow ourselves to express our emotions and make or learn something we can be proud of.” Her interest in pottery has been inspired by the many handmade bowls and vases created by her mother Janis over the years. “In our shelves and cupboards are beautiful vases and glossy clay bowls my mother made years ago, all signed with a year and name. In fact, most have been around longer than me!” Angela said there were challenges of developing a new club in a rural area – particularly providing members with affordable new materials and access to kilns. Clermont once boasted a flourishing ceramics group with a fully set up pottery studio and a now non-compliant gas-fired kiln.The premises have since been taken over by Clermont Artslink which is supporting Angela in her efforts to bring the pottery group back to life. Investigations involving access to, and possible funding of a new kiln are currently being explored. “In the future, I would love to visit and learn from pottery clubs in different towns and hold more events to expand different opportunities to our wider community.” Interest in art forms such as pottery has surged since Covid and Its appearance on platforms such as Tik Tok may be influencing its popularity within a younger following. “Whether you’re making something yourself or watching a pottery Tik Tok, the process is always mesmerising. Like fashion trends and music, I believe good trends and good hobbies will always resurface,” Angela said. Interest locally has been across all age groups with creations only limited by the imagination. Younger potters in particular are not sticking with the traditional homewares, happy to experiment with clay and create funky-shaped plates, mugs and bowls. - including a witches’ caldron, mushroom-covered dish and bowl with Harry Styles’ face on the inside. Angela said creating something functional and with meaning with clay was one of the most rewarding aspects. “Whether I'm on the wheel or hand-building, all my attention is on my clay and what I want out of it; everything else becomes less important. It’s quite soothing to clear your mind and get a bowl or wonky vase back” “Being a beginner potter, I have many techniques to learn before I confidently develop my own style. Though, I adore vintage/antique pieces especially Chinese porcelain vases for their perfect, elegant shapes and intricate designs. I’d love to learn all different styles and skills even including clay sculpture.” Casual pottery sessions are held at 3pm every second Sunday at the Clermont Artslink studio on the corner of Capricorn and Beatty streets. The next sessions are on October 16, October 30 and November 13. People requiring more information or wanting to be involved should join the Clermont Artslink Pottery Facebook group or emailclermontartslink@gmail.com
mature fashion models wanted...
Local residents keen to strut the catwalk are being sought for a fashion parade with a difference this month. Clermont Artslink are hosting a morning tea complete with arts activity and fashion parade to mark Isaac Seniors Month 2022. Highlights of the morning will include a fashion showcase featuring outfits put together by the volunteers at Vinnies as well as an opportunity to create your own painted/decorated terracotta pot complete with potted plant. Flowers for the pots have been grown and donated by Emily from Scented Bliss Flowers. Organisers are keen to hear from potential male or female models of all sizes, shapes and ages who may like to have some fun for the morning and demonstrate how outfits can be put together on a budget.If you are keen please telephone 0457 266 386 or email clermontartslink@gmail.com The event is being held on 17 October at BA Hall, with registration viahttps://speakup.isaac.qld.gov.au– just scroll down to the Seniors Week option.
clermont events
ANGLICAN CHURCH SERVICES ALL SAINTS’ CLERMONT OCTOBER 2022 Sunday 2 Morning Prayer 9am Sunday 9 no service Sunday 16 Communion Service4 pm Sunday 23 Morning Prayer 9am Sunday 30 Ecumenical Service 9am at Uniting Church MARKETS OCTOBER SATURDAY 8 Markets in Church Hall and Grounds, Daintree Street NOVEMBER No Markets to avoid a clash with other community events DECEMBER SATURDAY 10 CHRISTMAS MARKETS in Church Hall and Grounds For enquiries or bookings, please ring Annette Hawkins 0447604992.
CONTRIBUTED BY JENNY MOONEY
clermont cooks
italian meat roll
Ingredients 750 grams fine mince 1 onion chopped 1/2 cup evaporated milk 1 pkt cream of mushroom soup mix 125 grams chopped ham 100 grams grated Mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup chopped parsley Method: Preheat oven to 180 o C .Mix mince, onion, milk and soup mix Use wet hands and pat mixture out on a piece of greased alfoil to make a rectangle 25cm x 30cm Sprinkle with cheese, ham and parsley Use long edge of alfoil to roll up firmly Press meat together at ends to seal in filling. Lift in greased baking dish Bake 50 - 60 minutes Serve with steamed vegetables.
clermont - get involved......
clermont scouts
contributed by david halberg, the computer workshop
clermont technology
under constant attack
We just seem to be constantly bombarded with malicious attempts to gain access to our data whether it is by email of through other electronic devices there seems to be a tidal wave of threats at present, so here is a brief description of some of the threats. Email Phishing– The most common threat we see, is generally a mass email attack attempting to gain access to your user details and data, the emails will often look like they come from legitimate sources and will often be made to reflect well-known business emails in an attempt to fool you. Spear Phishing– This is similar to an Email Phishing attack but is targeted at a much smaller target base, often only a single person that has been identified as a person of influence in a business. There are a number of variations on this theme, but all are basically trying to gain access to either your username and password or data that you may hold. We often see where a business email has been spoofed (email address looks correct but has come from a different source) these often are requesting some form of urgent action, usually to do with finances and often with very little detail. We have even seen the asking for iTunes cards to be purchased and the details be sent to the originator of the email. If your email has been compromised the attacker (or as they are often now referred to the Threat Actor) will most likely monitor your emails and try and identify potential high-value targets and then either use a Man in The Middle or a Spear Phishing attack. Man in The Middle– is literally as it sounds, messages are read by the attacker without the knowledge of the sender or recipient, sometimes used to introduce malware onto a user’s PC but often used to divert emails in an attempt to extract funds by changing payment details on Invoices or misdirect funds in some other way. But of course, it doesn’t end there, the above are all email-related, and you are still under attack on your mobile phone and other phone systems. Vishing– This is scam phone calls, they can be pretending to be from a State or Federal government department (Tax Office, Police State or Federal, etc) or a business that you may legitimately use, like Microsoft or Amazon. Threats for arrest or fines to pay may be the approach or a message saying your payment has been taken and if you have an issue hold and speak to someone, even requests to access your computer to fix an issue (that not only you didn’t know about but doesn’t exist). A note on the above, Microsoft, The Tax Office, Federal or State Police, and your Bank will not ring you, if you get a call like this hang-up and if you think it may have been a genuine call back on a phone number you can find on the caller’s website, not the number they have called from. Smishing– this is where you receive an SMS with a link to click on that takes you to either a malicious site or downloads malware onto your device. I think that is enough for now, have a good day and be aware of those threats.
word of th e month:
kerfuffle an informal word defining a disturbance or fuss typically caused by a dispute or conflict
a bit of fun
How many words can you make from the word 'game'? 0-5: Not bad 6 - 10: Great... 11 - 15: Awesome 16: You're a genius
clermont representatives
2022 has certainly proved to be an eventful year since I was re-elected in May! This month I celebrated 9 years as the Federal Member for Capricornia. It has been my life’s greatest honor and privilege to work alongside my electorate of Capricornia and achieve so much. Thank you all for your support and I am so excited to make Capricornia the very best it can over the next three years. Foremost during this month has been the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. It has allowed for a time of deep reflection as the reign of the world’s longest living Monarch ends and the reign of King Charles III begins.As much as it is a time to mourn it is also a time to embrace our new Sovereign and look forward with confidence and expectancy to a bright future under the Commonwealth. The formalities I attended in Canberra in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, were very special and memorable, I am eternally grateful for the privilege. I would also like to congratulate the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Liz Truss, a great friend to Australia and a champion of stronger ties between our nation. The Tertiary Access Payment Program, TAP is open for application. The TAP payment supports students in regional and remote communities who need to relocate to continue higher level education following Year 12. If you would like to apply or require further information, please go to visit the Services Australia website and search for Tertiary Access Payment. I am planning a trip out to Clermont in early October, so I look forward to seeing you then! Michelle
irc - division 6 councillor
Firstly on behalf of our community, I extend my condolences to the Royal Family on the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. Regardless of your views on the monarchy, there can be no denying that this incredible woman has held her own throughout some of the most economic, social, political, environmental and industrial changes in the history of mankind. Throughout it all, she has displayed remarkable grace, humility and unwavering loyalty. Even though we all knew the end was close, it was still a shock and our hearts broke for the Royal family as they dealt with their grief under the relentless pressure of the world's media. During this month, I participated in a RADF funded workshop with well-known Townsville based artist and public art practitioner Bernadette Boscacci. We created an aspirational concept plan for an Isaac sculpture eco trail that celebrates the flora and fauna in the region. Bernadette spoke about many different projects she has been involved in, and she generated so many ideas to promote public art, I am excited to see where we end up with this body of work. I attended the St Josephs production of Beauty & the Beast during the month, and was really moved by the performances. My first performance on stage was as a six year old playing the piano for a competition on radio station 4LG in front of an audience at the Hughenden Diggers Hall. I still recall sitting up there swinging my legs and playing my heart out. There is nothing quite like performing on stage. It steps you outside your comfort zone breeding confidence, and creates memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you to the teachers and parents for providing this opportunity, and congratulations to the students who performed their hearts out - we all loved it and can't wait for the next one!! I toured the showgrounds with council staff during the month to check out the renovations that are going on up there. The changes to the main pavilion and the breezeway are quite amazing, and I look forward to seeing the final results. There is still a fair way to go to the end, but we are going to have an amazing showgrounds/saleyards/rodeo grounds when it is all done!! Mayor Anne Baker and I attended the Combined Churches thanksgiving service for the life of Queen Elizabeth II during the month. Such a moving ceremony at the Anglican Church with the vases of fresh flowers throughout the church, and the two plush Corgi toys in front of the congregation was such a beautiful touch. It was great for the Mayor to catch up with many of the congregation following the service. On the weekend, it was all about sport. I spent Saturday September 17 at the sportsground for the annual Clermont Battle of the Mines. Mines from around the region and beyond converged onto the Clermont sportsground to compete for the prestigious honour of being the winner. Peak Downs were hoping for their third consecutive win but were pipped at the post by the Caval Ridge Crushers. Congratulations also to the Grosvenor Gator Girls who took out the women's competition. It was such a well organised event with many teams staying over and enjoying the weekend in Clermont. There were so many people in Clermont this weekend, that accommodation venues were hanging out the NO VACANCY signs. But it wasn't just rugby league that brought the sportsmen and women to Clermont. The annual Clermont lawn bowls competition was also on, and I had the privilege of presenting the prizes to the winning teams. This competition has been going on for many years, and this year it was a full contingency!! They came from all over the state to compete here, some of them have competed every year since it first began. Congratulations to the committee - Eddie, Shirl & Cathy for their efforts to ensure a great time was had by all who attended!! This event was a council sponsored event - the bowls club applied for a grant through the community grants program and this provided the funding for the prizes on offer. All NFP organisations can apply for funding through the community grants program. There are two levels of funding - minor grants up to $1000 can be applied for at any time. Major grants up to $5000 can be applied for at certain times of the year. Please check the Isaac council website for details. Council was lenient with the application of guildelines during the Covid recovery period, but now they are being stricter with the deadlines. I would hate to see someone miss out on funding because they did not check the deadlines. If anyone needs more information on the grants program, please contact the council and ask to speak to the community relations officer. Or email me. Apart from these activities, the remainder of the month has been taken up with the usual round of standing committee, ordinary and strategic meetings. There have been some common issues raised by residents during the month so I will provide as much detail as I can to address them. Firstly the weed in the lagoon. Council has engaged the services of an aquatic weed harvester which will remove and dispose of in a safe manner the salvinia weed. Many people have asked why they can't get their boats in the water and remove the weed - a community action to rid the weed from the lagoon. And while this sounds amazing, and would be fantastic, the risk that a boat could accidentally transport a weed spore to Theresa Creek Dam and spread it out there is too high. We've seen how quickly it has invaded the lagoon, imagine the dam...anyhow, the harvester should be here working its magic soon. Stay tuned... The reinstallation of the slab hut is getting closer, fingers crossed. Council have engaged the services of a heritage architect to ensure the rebuild meets current building code and keeps its heritage character, no mean feat...but it's getting closer! As is the reopening of the Copperfield store. Not like it used to be, but open for tourists to be able to look through the doors and see the store as it once was. Both of these developments will be well received by our visitors in the 2023 tourist season. I have created a Facebook page for my council duties, so if you would like to follow what I do on a more frequent basis, then search Carolyn Moriarty Councillor Division 6 Isaac Regional Council.
council corner
clermont library
on the shelf...
contributed by laura crichton
Words for Well Being There is some point in your life where you may feel you’re not quite yourself or may know someone who is struggling with a mental health issue. Isaac Regional Council Libraries have partnered with Mackay Libraries to promote “Words for Wellbeing”. This project has been created to provide people with a list of evidence-based self-help resources that have been recommended by local health professionals and organisations directly involved in healthcare. Any library member can access this collection through Mackay Libraries or by requesting an interlibrary loan through Isaac Libraries. Further information and The “Words for Wellbeing” collection can be viewed at:https://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries/using-the-library-collections/ words-for-wellbeing. Please note that this initiative doesn’t replace seeing medical and healthcare practitioners. What’s on Hoopla? Did you know that your Isaac Libraries membership gives you access to digital movies and TV shows on Hoopla? Hoopla is a digital collection of ebooks, eAudiobooks, movies and TV shows, music and comic books that is accessible through the Libraries, Arts and Culture link on the Isaac Regional Council website. You will need to download the Hoopla app on your device and use your library card to create an account. Hoopla has a variety of movies and TV shows to keep kids entertained during road trips or beat holiday boredom. New Arrivals Recent arrivals in adult fiction include: ·Stone Town by Margaret Hickey –Stone Town’s history is steeped in the gold rush era and it’s now in the headlines after three teenagers find a body in dense bushland. The victim is property developer, Aidan Sleeth whose controversial plan to buy up local land means few are surprised that he’s dead. ·Escape by James Patterson & David Ellis -When five teenage girls are abducted, Chicago PD Detective Billy Harney leads the investigation to find them. ·Deception by Lesley Pearse – After her mother’s funeral, Alice Kent is approached by a man who claims to be her father and was jailed for marrying her mother bigamously. Thirty years on, what does this man hope to gain by telling Alice this? ·The Happiest Little Town by Barbara Hannay -Fourteen-year-old Tilly's world is torn apart when her single mother dies suddenly and she is sent a million miles from everything she has ever known to a small country town and a guardian who's a total stranger. Until next time, stay safe and healthy, Clermont Library Staff
contributed by lloyd marteene
What can we do during the spring and summer months to escape the heat and humidity and entertain the kids without driving the power bill through the roof? We are fortunate in Clermont to have a few options weather dependant. For an afternoon cool down with little travel and at a reasonable cost we have the community pool. Located near the sports ground it offers a large, grassed area and an Olympic sized pool as well as a toddler’s pool. Home of the Clermont Dolphins and usually running how to swim classes, it is a perfect place to set up with the kids for an afternoon of relaxation. If you are inclined to use the time to exercise, there is generally an area to swim laps that is demarcated. A canteen is at the pool and the pool is available for children’s parties. This is a glass and alcohol -free area. I’m sure the pool custodians would like your input into improvements. If more of a bush setting is your preference, you can travel about 20 kilometres from town on the Rubyvale Road to find Theresa Creek crossing. When the river has run and the crossing is full, there is a small sand “beach” just upstream and the water is generally shallow out to a deeper area on the outside of the bend. This is a good spot for a day of kicking back, having a BBQ and letting the kids explore. Downstream of the crossing can be a great area with small pools of shallow water, vast expanses of sand and grassy banks to climb. This has been a popular area for as long as I can remember. Please remember to take home with you any rubbish so that others might enjoy the area as well. This area is suitable for self-sufficient short-term camping but is not a big area and as no ablution facilities. If you prefer to camp at an area that has facilities, a canteen, designated swimming and boating areas then Theresa Creek Dam is the place for you. Located off the Peak Vale Road it is approximately 22 kilometres from Clermont and is a jewel in the crown of the town. The dam is relatively small and shallow but is a water sports mecca. From the manicured grassed area around the playground and café, to the 2 concrete boat ramps and small marina there is a lot for families to do. It is a popular place for campers from Moranbah, Dysart and Emerald as well as the yearly influx of grey nomads, some of whom stay for a couple of months over winter. The dam has been stocked with Barramundi and Yellow Belly, as well as being the home of eel tailed catfish, silver perch, and sleepy cod. I can attest that the Barra are hard to catch as I’ve flogged the water to froth at times with little luck. Having said that, people who spend the time to learn the habits of the fish have more luck/skill and can pick up multiple fish in a session. If fishing is not your thing, you can put in a pot for some red claw although numbers are down as the pressure on them is immense. The marina is a good place for kids to swim near the camp or paddle the kayak under supervision of someone looking out for boats. There is a floating pontoon that the responsible person can sit on that gives a good view of the area. This area is well shaded in the afternoon as well. The Clermont ski club has its club house and a bounded area for members near the main boat ramp. There is a ski circuit shown on the signage. A swimming area is to the left of the boat ramp and it makes a good area to launch a kayak for a longer paddle around the dam. If you have access to a boat, it is worth going up the main arm of the river as I have seen pigs on the bank as well as witnessing a dingo pup trying to take down a small kangaroo. All of this occurred while silently motoring along with an electric motor casting lures. I class them as my Attenborough moments. The café is home to good food and coffee so drop in and have something while the kids wear themselves out on the play equipment. If you prefer there are electric BBQ’s available to knock up that great Aussie staple, the burnt snag on bread. Just remember to put the onion on the bottom to reduce slip hazards ala Bunnings. So, there are 3 places within reasonable travel of town that offer a bit of time out with the kids to burn some energy and cool down swimming. Costs are fair and reflect the facilities available.
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clermont junior motorcycle club