Around williamstown issue 13 for web

1PLEASE DO NOT DISCARD - Give this paper to a friend or neighbour to read.

SKYLIGHT PLAY REVIEW

page

3page

6page

14WILLI MUSO HITS THE RIGHT NOTE IN COPENHAGEN

KATE MAKES HER OWN TRANSITION

Congratulations to our Willy Seagulls!!

Congratulations to the Williamstown Seagulls for the recent success beating the very strong team, Box Hill Hawks to win the 2015 VFL premiership! Winning marked a signifi cant event for the town as many cheered on the team during the competition, and our great standalone team took out the premiership.

Around Williamstown had the pleasure of interviewing the CEO of the club, Jason Reddick, and asked him about the fi nal.

“It’s great for the community that our football team that represents Williamstown and the Hobson’s Bay community was able to win the VFL premiership as a standalone team with no AFL connections. Our community should be quite proud of the club and its achievements, and the fact that the community actually got behind the team as well. At the game, there was a lot of support with people attending the match, from Williamstown, the local football clubs, to the community, schools and the junior clubs all got behind us. Local traders in Douglas Parade, Ferguson Street, and Nelson Place had “We Stand Alone” posters put up the windows.”

Jason would like to thank them for their support, “We are really proud to be able to deliver such a good result. We would also like to acknowledge the development team winning its premiership as well.”

“As a club we couldn’t be prouder of our players. We

want to be the club that people want to come to, to get to the next level.”

A highlight of the season was that seven senior players were selected in the VFL Team of the Year, namely Mitch Banner, Sam Dunnell, Peter Faulks, Andrew Galluci, Ben Jolley, Adam Marcon and Nick Meese.

Sam Dunnell fi nished runner up in the 2015 Liston Trophy for competition best and fairest and Ben Jolley was third. The VFL’s Fothergill-Round medal, which is presented to the U23 VFL player most likely to play AFL football, was awarded to Adam Marcon. The A.Todd Medal for the Development League’s Best & Fairest was won by Dylan Conway Tyler Curtis was runner-up. Andrew Gallucci was one of only 4 VFL players to receive an invitation to the State Screening, which takes place under the eyes of AFL recruiters in a couple of weeks and we wish him well with that.

This year marked a dual success on the fi eld: The Senior Team beat the Hawthorn aligned Box Hill Hawks by 54 points at Etihad Stadium to claim our club’s 16th Premiership, while the Development Team beat a previously undefeated Box Hill Hawks side at North Port Oval to win the Premiership by a single point in extra time.

The club is engaged with the local community. continue on page 3

Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 132

Around Williamstown Community Newspaper, ABN 19 879 723 863.Postal Address: P.O. BOX 389 Williamstown 3016, Stories: [email protected] Advertising: 0435 166 576 or [email protected], 0470 117 889 or [email protected]

Rambling with the Editor

Free Heritage Walking Tours8th September to 27th November

Step Back in time and unlock the secrets of Williamstown with free guided heritage walking tours. Meet at the Hobsons Bay

Visitor Information Centre, Commonwealth Reserve, Nelson Place, Williamstown. Walks take place Tuesdays at 2.15pm,

except Tuesday 3rd November, or Fridays at 11.45 am. For further information, contact Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre on

9932 4310 or visit www.hobsonsbaytickets.com.au

We are offi cially one year old now! Happy Birthday to Around Williamstown paper! Thank you all for your tremendous support throughout this fi rst year. Without your support and friendship, I could not imagine how this paper would be at all possible. A big thank you goes to our keen readers and contributors, our amazing writers, our hardworking paper deliverers and sales team, our graphic designer, and our faithful advertisers. Without your support this paper is simply not possible.

We have lots of exciting stories this month. I believe you are still excited about the winning of the VFL premiership this year. You will also be so proud to read the stories about our former Willy Juniors Footballer Carl Coleman, marking his amazing footsteps into Europe – as a footballer and singer-songwriter.

I believe many of you enjoyed the many events during last month’s Senior Festival. Sue Davies has written a story unveiling some of the Willy pub mysteries, be sure to check it out! The Streets with Stories article, you really don’t want to miss, there are many more interesting stories and of course the always very informative Strand Ward Councillors’ column is a must read!

One of the biggest highlights of this month: Hobsons Bay is going to host a world class sporting event with the International Disabled Sailing World Championships (IFDS Worlds), taking place at Williamstown over 8 days from Thursday 26th Nov to Friday 3rd Dec. Also don’t forget this month Peter Cliff is going to launch his autobiography “Dare to Dream” on Saturday the 21st at Williamstown Little Theatre, 2 Albert Street.

One of the best things about being the editor is to catch up with our writers and our local community

members. Often we share common interest in serving and making the community a better place to live through sharing of information and supporting each other. This month’s paper features our youngest teenage writer, a 13-year-old girl, Ella Crowley (she’s turning 14 this November, Happy Birthday Ella!). Hopefully her writing, Skylight Play Review, will encourage more people to write for the paper and become one of the published authors in our paper.

I would like to end my column by thanking those who have been so supportive to me and to the paper itself throughout this one whole year. The community in Williamstown is a truly blessed bunch, for you have such a wonderful personality, friendly smiles, full of wisdom and humour, and always so readily and generously stretching your helping hand to one another.

Till next monthJasmine Hill

Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 13 3

They introduced a kids’ activities zone at the home matches, which proved to be a real winner for families and kids coming to the games. Many small footy games went on at half-time at the ground at each of the home matches. Local clubs at Spotswood, Newport, Williamstown Junior and Altona all came to play at half time.

“We support White Ribbon Foundation with the awareness program, raised money for the Ladder Foundation which was about youth homelessness. We also did tin rattling, collected donations and held BBQs to raise money for the Les 20th Man Youth Fund to put a person into the Hobson’s Bay area to work with youth aged between thirteen and

eighteen.”

“We want to be the best engaged club with our local Hobsons Bay community.”

Speaking of the goal as a new CEO in the VFL club, Jason sets goals to get strong fi nancial resources for the club, strong on fi eld and very engaged with the local community. He said, “That’s the life blood of the club. We would like to align ourselves with charities and community ventures that will make an impact in our backyard in Hobson’s Bay.”

“Our goal is to be the best football club outside of the AFL.”

continued from Page 1

Willi Muso Hits the Right Note in CopenhagenFORMER Williamstown Juniors footballer Carl Coleman has been making his mark in Denmark – as a footballer and singer-songwriter.Based in Copenhagen for fi ve years, he soon found his way into the Danish Australian Football League, as a left-footed fl anker with the Copenhagen Crocs.Lately he’s making his presence felt in Palace Winter, an Aussie-Danish indie music duo that’s been aired around the world with their single Menton.Just when you thought Danish-Aussie alliances don’t get any better than Princess Mary of Tasmania and Crown Prince Frederick, along comes Palace Winter.The talented duo, hailed as Copenhagen’s emerging stars, materialised after Carl Coleman (guitar/vocals) and Caspar Hesselager (synth) met on tour in Europe.Hesselager (Rumour Said Fire and My Heart The Brave) and Coleman (Sink Ships and Halasan Bazaar) had played in other bands and share similar musical tastes. So Hesselager, a classically-trained pianist, began mixing and arranging songs sung and written by Coleman.Danish indie record label Tambourhinoceros signed them, releasing their debut EP Medication in October. One of the songs, Menton, has had airplay on BBC Radio, in Seattle and on New Zealand Radio,

as well as receiving 107,000 hits on SoundCloud, many in the US and Canada.Respected BBC Radio 6 host Tom Robinson (who’s co-written songs with Peter Gabriel and Elton John) said of Menton: “Nothing ground-breaking stylistically, yet somehow irresistible. Palace Winter sound they like they mean it”. Menton also received favourable comments in UK’s The Guardian and NME (New Musical Express).The fi ve-minute song has a rolling indie guitar groove, accompanied by a keyboard hook that makes

you want to get up and dance.Palace Winter are working on their fi rst album in between live shows in Paris and Copenhagen, and an upcoming gig in London. When he’s not performing, rehearsing or recording, Coleman works as a barista in a trendy Copenhagen café and follows the fortunes of the Western Bulldogs on his laptop.He misses his AFL footy and loves coming home at Christmas to catch up with his mates in Williamstown and watch the Doggies train. You can listen to Palace Winter’s music on SoundCloud, itunes, or visit www.palacewinter.com.


Going to school (continued Part 2/3)

Weekends in Willy (Part 3/3)

Wiltshire’s grocery was our friendly neighbour on the Princes Street corner. From the outset I was sent to buy groceries for my mother when staples like butter, still required coupons after the war. While waiting for the order I would be given a biscuit or I might nick a piece of ham or bacon left on the table of the slicing machine. Sometimes, I could even watch

Mr Wiltshire bottle wines and spirits he drew from large casks in the store room. The pungent smell of his exotic cavern remains with me because alcohol was taboo in our home. In the back yard of his shop was a stable for the one horse the affable Mr. Bennett drove to deliver grocery orders in a canvas covered four wheel wagon.

On Saturdays, we went to the pictures to see westerns, cartoons, superman or swashbuckling pirates. After, we would dawdle home noting the bookies and their helpers plying their trade in the lanes close to the hotels. Although it was illegal and practised widely, the police were quite unable to fi nd them. On arrival home we would arm ourselves with wooden swords or toy guns for the re-enactment of the picture we had just seen.On Sundays the incessant noise of our industrial suburb stopped, as did the movement of most traffi c. Sunday’s were eerily quiet. It meant going down to the horse paddock to clean stables and feed the horses before my brother and I were cleaned up for Sunday school. Although Christened Church of England, my family were members of the John Street Methodist Church which in many ways was an important component of our lives. In addition to religious instruction we attended the Boy’s club which later became the junior order of Knights that served to underline the principals of good behaviour.Both my Grandfather and father were members of the Masonic Lodge which was also a factor in our social life. By 1951 I was in the sixth grade at school so attended the Saturday Morning School at the lodge hall in Electra Street for a revision of the past week’s school lessons. This was a help to me for I lost a lot of time at school due to sickness as noted on my school reports.In summary, I look back with affection on a childhood that I feel gave me an appreciation of the hard working, thrifty people of Williamstown. A people who performed a diversity of essential tasks for our country during the war and later, as it began

to recover. It is with pride that I look back on a childhood that was so stimulating it inspired me to further education.

* * *Dr Peter Cliff grew up in Williamstown during the period 1941 to 1954. He lived in the home attached to the bakery, which was built by his Grandfather and is now the home of the Williamstown Little Theatre (WLT), with whom he has arranged to launch his autobiography ‘Dare to Dream’ on Saturday 21st

November at WLT, 2 Albert Street Williamstown. His father, Stan Cliff, bought the business from his grandfather in 1944 and he grew up at a time when the bakery was delivering bread to almost all of Williamstown and Newport. WLT has generously allowed him to use the premises as an exciting opportunity as the theatre celebrates its 70th birthday in 2016.


Pub walk unearths Williamstown pub mysteriesBy Sue Davies

In October, during the Seniors Festival, some lucky seniors were treated to a free pub walk showcasing historical hotels around Williamstown. The day was unusually hot, ideal for a thirst quenching drink at one of the hotels we heard so much about during the short tour.Our guide John, a Williamstown local, was a mine of information. He regaled us with stories of drunken sailors and streams of lonely visitors who used the hotels as a refuge from their problems. Sadly some stories had a tragic ending. It is not surprising people came to Williamstown to drown their sorrows, nineteenth century Williamstown was a very different place to what it is today. It was a bustling naval centre, and the point of disembarkation for many diggers headed for Victorian goldfi elds in search of the elusive gold. And there were many hotels to choose from. From

1838 to 1900, Williamstown apparently had over 500 hotel licencees, with 40 hotels open at one time. Many hotels have since closed as licences were revoked. Many old hotels were built in blue stone, easily sourced from a local quarry. The SteamPacket Hotel has a fi ne heritage and is one of a dozen hotels in Williamstown still trading. Its predecessor – The Ship Inn was Williamstown’s fi rst licensed hotel. The Ship Inn relocated to Nelson Place in 1844, where it became a boarding house for many years. In 1853 its new licencee renamed it SteamPacket Hotel. It was re-built on the original site of the Ship Inn Hotel in 1863 following a fi re in 1861.Williamstown is a pretty seaside suburb with an unforgettable

vista of the Melbourne skyline, enjoyed too briefl y by visitors, but its rich heritage is fascinating. A short walk around its streets is just the beginning.

Steampacket Hotel Williamstown

Plaque from Williamstown Historical society


Kate Makes Her Own TransitionA founding member of a grassroots community group working to inspire a strong and healthy future for our community is soon to leave her much loved neighbourhood of Newport. Kate Leslie, founding member of Transition Hobsons Bay, is now transiting herself to the western district of Victoria, where she and her partner, Jason, will be building their own straw bale house and setting up an organic herb farm on a cooperative community setting. Kate’s interest in sustainable living grew out her desire to move away from carbon polluting fossil fuels, especially as she learnt about peak oil production and the impact this has on communities that continue to rely on a declining non-renewable resource. Whilst Kate is keenly interested in renewable energy and systems to support a clean and healthy physical environment, her passion extends to the inequity of the current fossil fuel driven systems that will displace and disadvantage communities that have a high reliance on a declining energy source. To help grow a Transition Group in her local community, Kate applied to Hobsons Bay City Council to see if they knew of anyone interested in making a change toward a low-carbon, socially-just and healthier community. Kate was put in contact with other like-minded community members, who then collectively decided to hold their fi rst meeting in February 2010. Transition Hobsons Bay or THB as it is colloquially known, has been meeting regularly ever since and currently has around 460 Facebook group members. The philosophy of the group is based on Transition themes, where we need to move to more sustainable energy systems to live harmoniously. Transition Groups are also about making connections in a community, encouraging people to engage with problems and solutions, to develop shared action, and to strengthened relationships. As Kate describes, “who wouldn’t want to meet up with fun and motivated people.” The meetings are all about an exchange of ideas, where members develop solutions to local opportunities; they share foods and skills and have a good time.The Transition Movement has many key themes and philosophies, and these are often incorporated into the monthly meetings in Hobsons Bay. Some of the regular

sayings include: it only takes 2 people to create an event; the right people always come; and, go where the energy is. The group has no offi cial affi liations and is fl uid in what projects and initiatives it explores, with many individual members involved in other community groups

and activities outside of Hobsons Bay. The group’s key themes are around transition and permaculture, and group members have been involved in activating projects, such as, food swaps, a local trading scheme, a community garden space, compost shares, community celebrations, discussion groups, pot-luck dinners and working groups. The meetings have typically been held in people’s homes and are on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm. All the information about the group is available on the THB website http://transitionhb.weebly.com and other information can be found on https://www.facebook.com/groups/transitionhb/

Kate’s involvement in developing a more sustainable Hobsons Bay includes her involvement in setting up many of the food swaps in the area, including the Newport, Altona and Williamstown Food Swaps. Kate also ran a skill share group called Fermenting Fridays that explored a different fermentation process each month. Traditional cultures have associated fermented foods with good health and this was a great way for people to not only learn new skills and recipes, but to make friends and have some fun. Over the past fi ve and half years, Kate has been sharing her vision for a more sustainable future through her involvement with THB; she has been visionary, as well as practical and hands on, often typing the meeting minutes, grant writing, door knocking, etc. Her passion was acknowledged in 2013 when she received a Hobsons Bay City Council Inspirational Women Award for her signifi cant community involvement.Kate’s contribution has made the local community a richer and more connected place. One of her legacies in Hobsons Bay will be the establishment of a community group who are motivated to create a better world. As Kate describes, “before THB, we really didn’t know each other, but now we do, and we have a space for us all to meet.”

By Lisa Field


Last month we held the night of nights for our local businesses with the 2015 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards. The awards celebrated our local business and the important contribution they make to both our community and to the Hobsons Bay economy. Congratulations to all businesses that entered the awards and to Altona-based Inver Engineering for winning Business of the Year. And well done to the other Strand Ward winners: Compton Green (Professional Services), Captain’s Retreat B&B, Cottages and Apartments (Retail and Hospitality), Seaworks Williamstown (Tourism), Jim’s Self Storage (Transport and Warehousing) and Kun Communications (Home Based).Para WorldsAnd we’ll have more winners and champions coming to Hobsons Bay when the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria hosts the 2015 Para World Championships from 24 November to 3 December.Competitors will travel to Williamstown from around the world, with approximately 30 countries represented. As the fi nal qualifi er for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, expect competition to be strong! If you would like to consider volunteering for the event, details can be found on www.ifdsworlds2015.com Chair of the 2015 Para Worlds Organising Committee and Paralympic gold medallist Michael McLean will mark the occasion with a talk at Williamstown Library at 6.30pm on 19 November.Nelson Place parking trialStrand Ward Councillors have been working for the past months with a group of Nelson Place business operators to get a greater insight into some of the factors that

infl uence trade in our lovely waterfront precinct. A big thanks to those business owners who have volunteered their time for the working group meetings on behalf of Council. We look forward to seeing some of the ideas that come forward.Ada Cambridge Writing Workshops Biography with Dr Josiane Behmoiras If you’re more of a literary rather than sporting type, come along to one of the Ada Cambridge writing workshops. We have Biography with Dr Josiane Behmoiras on Saturday 14 November from 10am to 12.45pm and Poetry with Dr Christopher Ringrose on Saturday 21 November from 10am to 12.45. Both workshops will be held at The Gallery, Williamstown Library. Places are limited so bookings are essential, book via http://libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.auBudget consultationFinally, it’s time to talk budget 2016-17! You can get involved by joining Participate Hobsons Bay, the Council’s online engagement hub; by coming along to the Williamstown Town Hall on Wednesday 18 November (6pm to 8pm) to hear from Councillors; or by suggesting an idea to Council. Individuals and groups who submit an idea by Friday 13 November will be able to present their idea to Councillors on the night. Anyone wanting to get involved can register online at participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or contact [email protected] you all there.Until next time please feel free to contact your Strand Ward Councillors for more information about these and other activities.

Message from the Strand Ward Councillors

Cr Angela Altair - 0419 762 267 [email protected]

Deputy Mayor Cr Paul Morgan - 0488 828 880 or [email protected]

Cr Peter Hemphill - 0419 762 266 or [email protected]


Friends of Williamstown Wetlands

The Hobsons Bay City Council (HBCC) is supported by numerous Friends’ Groups, helping to protect and enhance environmentally signifi cant areas. The Friends of Williamstown Wetlands Incorporated is one of them. Its activity zone stretches from Bayview Street in the east to Maddox Road in the west. The area, known as the Jawbone Conservation Reserve, is rich in native plants and wildlife. Over 160 species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals have been recorded there in recent years. The Bay, tidal fl ats, mangroves and salt-marsh, freshwater lakes, coastal shrub-lands, grasslands and mown areas all provide homes and/or food for wildlife. Because of these varied habitats, during any one visit you can hope to fi nd over 60 species.

The group was established nearly three decades ago when, after a century of operation, the Williamstown Rifl e Range was transferred from the Commonwealth to the State of Victoria, for the development of housing. Initial plans involved development right to the water’s edge, including a new road to Altona and a boat harbour. Local people recognized that the coastal strip had been ‘protected’ by operations on the rifl e range and was essentially in pre-European condition. They urged that the mangroves, salt marsh and other native vegetation should be protected. Friends of the Rifl e Range came into being and led the resistance to the plan and eventually saw it modifi ed to what we see now. Along the way, the residents’ organization morphed into a ‘nurturing’ organization: the Friends of Williamstown Wetlands Incorporated.These days our group is still a strong and vibrant one. But to maintain and fulfi l our charter for the next three decades, we need to recruit new members.On the last Sunday of each month, we have our activity day. We meet for two hours (10 to 12 o’clock) to do the work we have planned, and fi nish off with a cup of tea. Our jobs are numerous and consist mainly of gardening work; occasionally we build a path, do a bit of fencing or carpentry.As part of our activity day program Friends of Williamstown Wetlands have, over the years, held a number of fl ora and fauna education days. These usually take the form of a bird or plant walk. They have often been well attended and provide an interesting and detailed insight into the work the group has been doing, protecting and improving habitat for wildlife.We check the water quality of our freshwater lakes as part of Melbourne Water’s Water-watch program.Our Committee plans the activity days, makes applications for grants and co-operates with HBCC, Parks Victoria, and other friends’ groups. Over the last few years we have worked on many projects including the Jawbone Arboretum and the Paisley-Challis Wetlands. The Jawbone Arboretum showcases indigenous plants. It is a beautiful, tranquil spot, close to the Jawbone boardwalk, providing a fantastic view over the salt marsh and the bay. We maintain the Arboretum by planting, mulching and cleaning up generally.

The Paisley-Challis Wetlands area is a unique spot for the wider community to see and enjoy many resident and migratory birds, such as red-necked stints, sharp-tailed sandpipers, pied stints and Australian gannets. The birds utilize the wetlands throughout the year for fi nding food and shelter. We have created a bird watchers’ paradise out of a little forgotten area, at the mouth of Kororoit Creek. The tidal mud fl ats and shallow waters form a wonderful habitat for many species.All are welcome to our monthly activity days. Our next activity day is published on our website at www.friendsofwilliamstownwetlands.org.au and on our Notice Board at Jawbone Reserve.

Phone: 9399 9022 Fax: 9399 9022www.wadenoonan.com.au

Wade Noonan MPMember for Williamstown District

Wade Noonan is here to work for you.

As your local Member in State ParliamentWade can help you with a range of issues:

Assist with State Government matters such as Health, Education, Public Transport, Roads and Consumer Affairs

Raise an issue with the appropriate Minister on your behalf

Help access a range of programs, services and benefits

Support your organisation to access grants and funding

Arrange congratulatory messages from the Prime Minister and Queen for major anniversaries

Wade Noonan MP101 Douglas Parade, Williamstown VIC 3016Phone: 9399 9022 Fax: 9399 9022www.wadenoonan.com.au

This advertisement is funded from Parliament’s Electorate Office and Communications Budget

9Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 13

Avalon Gets Comfortable!Avalon Airport has just unveiled its latest exciting project – a $200,000 upgrade of the terminal and departure lounge.

The refurb has been timely, with direct fl ights to the Gold Coast to begin from 26 October, as well as the very recent Jetgo announcement of a temporary fl ight schedule to and from Dubbo from 27 October.

The make over means the airport has become incredibly functional as well as comfortable.

“This upgrade will signifi cantly increase passenger comfort in what is already a very accessible and friendly airport,” says Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings. “We want the people of Melbourne’s west to be proud of their local airport by providing facilities and access which exceeds expectations.”

It begins with a new lounge outside check-in for early arrivers or people who are waiting to pick up passengers.

The terminal lounge is now bordered by pristine white work benches, with power and USB charging stations the entire length, so that travellers may recharge their devices, without having to fi nd and unplug the nearest massage chair – as is known to happen in airports around the country!

Travellers can stay connected with free wifi , which is delivered through a partnership with Deakin University. Students can also access eduroam though this feature.

Lounge seating by the window makes for a relaxing start to any journey, and by Friday afternoon (with the café’s Friday Slider special each week) the place is vibrant and humming.

Stay in touch with Avalon Airport news by following on Facebook, Twitter (@AvalonAirportAU) and Instagram (@avalonairport).Book fl ights to Gold Coast or Sydney: www.jetstar.com/auBook fl ights to Dubbo: http://www.jetgo.com/


Book from Tom Soon after Williamstown was settled, the fi rst horses were swum ashore in 1836 and a few of these raced at Batman’s Hill in 1838. Settlers rich enough to own a thoroughbred raced their horse in match races against each other often for high stakes. Two sources claim that race meetings were held at Williamstown in the early 1850s but in 1857 ratepayers of the

recently created Borough of Williamstown petitioned their Council for a racecourse in the district. Their initial request was for an area of land which was just beyond Williamstown’s municipal boundary in the Shire of Wyndham and north of Kororoit Creek. When this request was refused, permission was given for an area of land south of Kororoit Creek where the fi rst Public races were conducted on Boxing Day 1859 until 1864 when the land was acquired. Thereafter the initial request was granted and races were held there from 1865 until 1940. Earlier in October, 1859 a Williamstown horse won the fi rst Champion Stakes at Flemington. After the success of a Williamstown race meeting in 1867 the Williamstown Racing Club was formed in 1868 but it was not until Easter 1871 that the Club held its fi rst meeting. Annual races were held throughout the 1870s. In 1880 there were two meetings, a situation which continued to 1885 when four meetings were held during the racing season.The success of the WRC continued to grow. By 1887 there were seven meetings, a magnifi cent grandstand was constructed, and the running of the fi rst Williamstown Cup took place in 1888. When the Depression came in the 1890s Williamstown was the only club which managed to maintain its high stake money. In 1915 the WRC decided to devote the profi ts from its race meetings to patriotic and charitable funds for the duration of the War and this policy applied during WW2.Floods in 1902, and 1918 caused transfers of some meetings to Moonee Valley and Caulfi eld. In 1920 electric trains which replaced steam trains ran to the Williamstown Racecourse Platform and in 1921 a

new bridge was constructed over Kororoit Creek with access from Kororoit Creek Road.The advent of the totalisator in 1931 saw a decline in the number of bookmakers on the course and that year Phar Lap won the Underwood Stakes at Williamstown. Three grandstands with a total of 600 feet fronted the straight, running descriptions of races were broadcast over amplifi ers to patrons on the course and radio broadcasts had become regular event.The last races at Williamstown took place in February1940. The Commonwealth Government took over the racecourse shortly after and all its facilities for defence purposes from 1940 until 1946. The WRC then began a nomadic existence from 1940 to 1948 holding its meetings at Flemington, Moonee Valley and Mentone. In 1948 the WRC was forced into an amalgamation and ceased to exist. There is very little evidence that there was once a magnifi cent racecourse, the home of a Legitimate Racing Club which once ranked third behind the VRC and the VATC. It is worth a visit today just to stand and listen: you may hear the thunder of hooves of famous racehorses of the Australian Turf, hear jockeys voices as they urge their mounts to the winning post, cries of bookies calling the odds and the roar of excited spectators.Copies of the Book are available from the Williamstown Historical Society.


Streets with Stories

It was such a pleasure to fi nally meet Brian Haynes at the “Streets with Stories” event held by Williamstown Historical Society including a presentation called “Airspying On Williamstown”. It was a full house at the presentation room with the crowd coming from far and near to trace their family history in Williamstown. Brian enthusiastically offered an extra session after his fi rst talk. The following is what he kindly shared with our readers:

In the 1920’s aerial photography was in its infancy and the State Library of Victoria website contains many hundreds of high resolution aerial photographs from a number of aerial photographers. But the photographer who has left us our best legacy of a past Williamstown is Charles Pratt. Born in New Zealand and serving in W.W.1. Pratt became a test pilot at the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. combining his military piloting experience with aerial photography. The project was known as ‘Airspy’ and his collection is a wonderful record of our cities and towns in Victoria,

a snapshot of the past. One of my favourite aerials is of the Williamstown beach circa 1939/40. It shows the remnants of the old Williamstown Baths that was destroyed in a storm in 1934 and the extended shark net plus some old favourites, the racer and diver platforms. What is now a foreshore reserve was the Centennial Carnival that was a permanent fi xture on the foreshore for nearly 30 years. It had a small scenic railway, skating area and many other activities. Also in the photograph is the Empress Theatre that, in its early days of 1900’s, consisted of side show activities such as rocking horses, merry go round, soda and ice cream parlours and a skating rink before becoming a picture theatre until around 1960.

In the near foreground is Smiths wool mill operations that commenced in the 1870’s as the Alfred Woollen mill. And it the foreground are the ordinary houses showing their back yards, an insight of how our ancestors lived several generations ago.


Skylight Play ReviewThe tale of two past lovers who come together and process grief together. I left this play absolutely in awe. I am going to fi nd it really hard to say anything against this play.

The whole play is set in a London apartment in the not-so-nice part of London, designed by Bob Crowley, with Kyra Hollis, (Carey Mulligan), is inside. Unexpectedly she gets a visit from Edward Sergeant (Matthew Beard) who asks for help with his father and wants her to talk to him because he believes something is the matter. Later on that evening she gets another visit, strangely, from Tom Sergeant (Bill Nighy) who is Edwards’s father.

I found this meeting a bit coincidental, seeing as his son visited Kyra what only would’ve been a few hours ago.

Tom is Kyra’s former lover. She worked for him and his wife, who is now deceased. They had an affair that lasted for over six years behind the wife’s back. When the wife found out Kyra resigned and disappeared without any explanation. Tom has come to fi nd out why she left. And also, even though you don’t fi nd out at fi rst, is hoping to maybe get Kyra to love him again.

She starts to make dinner as the pernickety Tom

lags around being passive aggressive about things he didn’t like about the pasta Kyra was making.

He begins to point out her pretty rough house and wonders why she puts up with living there and having the job that she has, which is being a teacher at a school that has kids that are less fortunate and have worse social skills. Carey Mulligan does an amazing speech on social justice and afterwards everyone, including me, applauds. They talk about their relationship and almost get back together, but Kyra says that she loves him, but will never trust him. The play ends with Edward coming in the morning with bags of breakfast for her. They eat together while it starts to snow until the lights fade out.

Carey Mulligan does a simply amazing job as Kyra, she is spunky, passionate and transparent. Bill Nighy is hilarious and is perfectly cast as Tom, in the play Tom is signifi cantly older than Kyra and it is a fi ne line between a beautiful and creepy relationship but Bill Nighy is not creepy. David Hare’s script is well-written, cheeky and informative. Stephen Daldry’s directing is stunning, he has Kyra cook the pasta live and it makes you feel like you are in the kitchen with them. Natasha Katz’s lighting design as usual breath-taking.Rating: 10/10

By Ella Crowley


Be part of something bigger.

Drop into your nearest branch at 15 Douglas Parade, Williamstown or phone 9399 9266 to find out more.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879. S48246-4 (260519_v1) (15/07/2015)

Pink Brekkie raises $10k for a cause

ROTARY’S Pink Breakfast in Williamstown this month attracted 160 local women and raised nearly $10,000 for breast cancer research.The women paid $55 a head for a champagne breakfast and showbags, and heard Dr Kara Britt, a research fellow at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, speak about her work and the loss of her mother to breast cancer.Breakfast was served by a dozen male members of the Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand, who acted as waiters.VIP guests included world champion swimmer and triple-English Channel crossing legend Chloe McCardel, who told of her mother’s struggle with breast cancer. Rotary District Governor Julie Mason

also attended.The popular Pink Breakfast, held annually at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown, has raised $43,000 for breast cancer research in the past fi ve years.The Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand, which hosts the event, is seeking new members to help it continue the community service work and fundraising it does for local and international Rotary projects. The club meets for dinner every Tuesday night at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Membership inquiries: Stephen Los, 0478 221 812 or Faye Lanyon 0409 677 127.Media inquiries and pics: Ron Coleman 0411 723 669

Relaxing into my cocoonOf multi-coloured string

I see a squadron of pelicansFlying overhead

Like an arrowheadPiercing the clear blue sky.To my left a delicate spider

Works on its web,A fragile bridge between two shrubs.

Above them, a butterfl y fl uttersAnd beneath me

Ants march in regimented lines Across the paving stones

With only an occasional rebel Veering out of formation.I close my eyes, smiling,

And hear birdsong and beesA faint moan from the clothesline

And the light fl ap of sheetsIn the mild breeze.

A plane drones in the distanceAnd the clear voices of children

Walking home from schoolCarry in from the surrounding streets.

The sun is warm on my faceThe black screens Behind my eyelids

Flash bright colour and movement.I am wasting timeAnd it feels good.

From my hammockHelene Richards


IT CornerUnplugged

For the last 6 months we have hidden inside, attached to our smart phones, laptops and televisions. We have Facebooked, tweeted, blogged and surfed (not in the true sense). We have stayed in our little bubbles of warmth with the heaters blasting away to ward off the bitter cold of the Melbourne Winter. Now it is Spring. What will we do?The truth is many of us will make little or no change to our lives. We will stay plugged in. Instead of saying it’s too cold to go outside we will say it’s too hot.Why don’t we want to change?Perhaps we honestly don’t like the heat and we actually spent the winter out in the elements instead. More likely, we are actually addicted. What is the longest period we have gone without being connected? Can we manage a day without checking emails? What about an hour? When did we last log into Facebook? Do we have it constantly open? Do we glance at our smart phone regularly just to see if there are any messages?There are a number of reasons technology is addictive. If you subscribe to Tony Robbins’ 6 human needs, you will fi nd that a computer is as addictive as cocaine (http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/internet-and-computer-addiction.htm). If you prefer a different approach, there are multiple studies showing just watching a monitor (this includes screens on phones) is in its own right addictive and changes our body rhythms.

Facebook itself is deemed to be addictive - for some people replacing real social interaction. It has been cited as contributing as much as 30% to all marriage splits http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/facebook-relationship-status/story?id=16406245/). This alone should be a good reason to unplug.Why do we need to unplug? Perhaps we are not married and worried about splitting up? There are a host of other benefi ts that can be gained. Most of them are health related in some way.We could get some exercise, outdoors, and gain essential vitamin D, along with improving our fi tness. This might alleviate the long hours we do spend sitting in front of a computer. Those troublesome back problems might just disappear from that extra bit of movement.One could get out and actually meet real, rather than virtual, friends and gain some social interaction. Perhaps go to a park for a picnic? Or a café (not the Wi-Fi enabled type) and catch-up with those friends we haven’t seen for months.We may well have an addiction to being plugged in as well that needs to be broken. You might argue it doesn’t and there is nothing wrong with being connected. But as a fi nal note, try to resist the urge to look at your computer or smart phone for half a day. Can you do it? No? Then perhaps you really do need to unplug!


Now that we are enjoying longer, lighter, warmer days, it’s a great time to become more active (if you fi nd, like many, that you become more lethargic, sluggish and physically less-active during the colder months of the year). The following is a lovely little energising practice that takes only 10-15 minutes. It’s great to do fi rst thing in the morning, but it can be done anytime of day (best down on an empty stomach or at least 2-3 hours after a light meal). Also, if you have any health concerns or are pregnant, please speak with your doctor before attempting any yoga practices.

***Tap the body all over – standing comfortably with the feet hip width apart, bend down and start tapping all over the top of the left foot. Then tap all around the ankle, shin, calf, knee, thigh, hip, buttock, lower back, left side of the abdomen, chest, left shoulder, armpit, left upper arm, elbow, lower arm, wrist, hand and fi ngers. Travel back up the arm, tapping the left side of the neck, throat, chin, jaw, cheek, forehead, top of the head, left side of the head, back of the head…then start to tap down the right side, following the same sequence

as for the left side, in reverse.Stale air remover – take legs wide apart, inhale through the nose, stretch the arms up overhead, pause for a moment, then exhaling fall forward, letting the outbreath release through the mouth. Hang down for a couple of breaths. Then repeat two times.Bouncing – feet hip width, legs bent, arms dangling loosely by your sides. Gently start to bounce up and down on the spot. Eyes closed if you feel

comfortable. May like to sway gently from side to side (1 minute)Standing fl owing spinal twist – feet hip width, begin to swing arms freely around your waist, turning to look over each shoulder. After a few times, let arms

fl ow around at chest height, and then take the arms up overhead. Reverse arm movements and return to centre allowing the arms to slow down (one minute). Flowing bird – feet hip width, inhale raise arms up overhead, exhale bend legs,

sweep arms down to fl oor and take arms up behind you. Then inhale reverse directions coming all the way up to stand, arms overhead, and exhale back to the start position (7-12 times).Flowing balance – feet hip width, inhale raise arms above head, fi ngertips touch and lift up onto tiptoes,

pause for a moment, exhale lower heels and bring hands down through your centre (5-7 times). To conclude, stand quietly for 30 seconds–1 minute with eyes closed, and observe the effects of the practice – physically, mentally and emotionally. You may like to bring your hands together into namaskara mudra (prayer position at the heart space) and

bow your head down towards your heart – honouring and congratulating yourself for making the time to practice yoga at this time.

***Hi, my name is Fiona Hyde and I am the Principal of Williamstown Yoga and Meditation, 109 Douglas Parade. I’ve been part of the Willi community for 25 years and I have two children at Willi Primary School. In each edition of Around Williamstown, I offer a few yoga tips that may be of interest. If you would like more information on any of these, feel free to contact me on 0431 080 157 or check out our website: www.williamstownyogaandmeditation.com.au

Reenergising Ourselves With Yoga

‘As Told By Jade’

Melbourne University Arts Graduate and current Monash University JD law student, with a passion for journalism and writing.

Local resident with lots to say and the smiliest person around Williamstown.

This month I have a refreshing new style for you, going to try my luck with a bit of a descriptive piece of poetry.

What follows will include the answer in next weeks edition and thus will the be the topic of next weeks column.

I’ll have you guessing until next months edition.

Ready. Set. Go.

I’m rich to each and every sense, and for the less ambitious I’m super intense. Those who like me, I know why,you're back for seconds every time.

I take a while to get ready, And for this exact reason I’m pretty heavy. I smell of an odour “oh so strong”,Covered in the likes of brandy or rum!

Some disapprove of me in despise, especially the tummy, hips and thighs. But for want of tradition and celebration,I’m kept in hiding, from those who love me all the time.

The time as come,“It’s my big day!”The songs of laughter and cheering I hear,As you watch me slowly disappear.

What am I?What can I be?You’re just going to have to wait and see.

Till next time folks!


Williamstown Kids

Where in Williamstown?

Congratulations to last month’s winner, Patrick Ehhsergay.Answer: The timeball tower was built in 1839-1840 as a light house before served as timeball tower in1934. Thanks to all who have participated in last month’s contest, good try!

How well do you know your local area? This photo was taken in Williamstown. Do you know where was this photo taken? Email your answer to the Editor at [email protected] or write to P.O. Box 389 Williamstown 3016 VIC. The winner’s name will be published in the next edition. Please note only the fi rst winner’s name will be published.

Hi Kids, Did you know that the Timeball Tower was named so because the ball at the top of the tower actually told the time? Well, it was the same one every-day. Can you

guess which one it was? That’s it – One o’Clock. The timeball was invented in the early 1800s, long before electronic time signals were discovered, and was very helpful for shipmasters. At 1pm every day the ball would drop from the top of the tower so that navigators in Port Phillip Bay could

adjust their ship’s chronometers – marine clocks. The paintings sent in for this issue were inspired by the Timeball Tower at the Point Gellibrand Reserve. They were all painted by pre-schoolers (aged three to fi ve years old) who attend Sandra’s Art-in-motion art classes. The children used

cardboard stencils to create the picture of the seagull and Timeball Tower and then they painted it in. If you’ve completed a painting or drawing or other artwork and

you’d like to see it in print, you can send it in for inclusion on the Kids Page

Best Wishes, KJ Rajah.


1 Australian has a heart attack every

Heart attack signs aren’t always what you think

(symptoms vary and they may not always be severe)

Source: Heart Foundation Australia

10 minutes

call us on 1300 935 952 today

Cardiology referrals from All GP’s accepted

100% Bulk Billed. No Gaps. Our practice locations:

Bulk Billed

Around williamstown issue 13 for web

Documents

Transcript of Around williamstown issue 13 for web