Finding peace and well-being at Bargara………by Sherry Barnes

Mira Koopman first came to Australia from Holland in 1989 as an exchange student, spending a year at Ipswich High School under the care of her parents’ close friends, Bert and Conny De Wit.

“I loved Australia from the very first – I feel so good here,” she said.

Mira studied hotel management in Holland, returning to travel the rest of the country in 1993 and doing bar work including Ipswich Race Course Hotel and Pump House Brewery Tavern at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

She later married Fedor, a golf professional in Holland who was tragically involved in a car crash. He endured a six-month coma and was in Mira’s care for two years until his death, leaving her with a daughter Isa, now aged nine.

In 2007 she headed straight to Bargara where Bert and Conny had relocated and began establishing her own health and wellness business. “I was determined to give Fedor the best quality of life I could during those two years and learned a lot,” she said. 

Mira has also been heavily involved with Youngcare, an organisation committed to improving the quality of life and alternative accommodation for young Australians having to live in Aged Care facilities.

She is also a Water Ambassador for Zazen Essential Water School Program. For every five filtered alkaline water systems sold, a school is supplied one to each classroom, plus ongoing replacements.

“So far Zazen gives students of 27 schools access to fresh healthy water with St Lukes and St Josephs in Bundaberg recently supplied,” she said.

Last New Year’s Eve she realised it was time for some “Mira Care”.

“ I really missed hospitality, I wanted to create something and when Bert and Conny bought Bargara Berries Café I become Managing Director.” She said.

As well as lunches, morning and afternoon teas, Mira’s Café has Friday Night Tapas from 5pm to 11pm.

Mira, who lives on a nearby Lavender Farm with Isa, is already planning a Festival of Health and Well Being in September.

Book Review ………..by Sherry Barnes

Like A Lizard Lapping Dew…by Coleen Heathwood

Boolarong Press, rrp $17.95

“this story about me is a poem – it is the story of every lizard you see”

Author/photographer/poet and former primary school teacher, Coleen Heathwood has produced a whimsical, yet educational and authentic journey for young children into the world of lizards – just like the ones they find in the back yard, the schoolyard or the park. What are they thinking (when they’re not flat out drinking) and where are they going next? Who are their predators?

 Photography by Coleen herself is superb – from huge goannas and frilly-necks to a mother laying eggs. “It’s the little things that kids notice, they see birds, little flowers, and they’re always finding lizards,” she said. “Children have wonderful imaginations and can make up their own stories – there’s so much out there and beauty in little things.”

Coleen has included an educational activities page listing possible topics of conversations and their curriculum connection – science words, personal development, adjectives and verbs. 

This will be a popular and valuable literary tool in the classroom combining poetry-style prose and visual stimulation.

It also combines the various loves of the author herself – poetry, photography, nature and teaching children who are sure to love it.

Read it to your grandkids– I did.
 

On a wing and a prayer……………by Sherry Barnes

When you fling one of Merv Hansen’s beloved pigeons into the air to fly free you can be assured she’ll come home again.  Because that’s what homing pigeons do.

With the Bundaberg Racing Pigeon Club since 1974, Merv used to fly up to 100 birds, now keeping just 36 as stock birds.  “Some of our 22 members race 100 to 150 birds with our next race in June taking off from Monto,” he said.  “They’ll be under two hours coming home; from somewhere like Winton they can take about two days.”

His passion for pigeons began aged seven when his uncle gave him two birds from his flock.  “They accidentally got loose one day and I thought I’d lost them when my uncle rang to say they’d simply flown back home to him.”

Thus began Merv’s accumulation of knowledge, experience and understanding of the intricate, at times complicated and mysterious hobby (at times lucrative) of pigeon racing.

 It’s all in the smell

Scientific research into how the birds are able to fly hundreds of kilometres to find their loft shows that the instinct relies on an acute sense of smell. A team of biologists found young pigeons deprived of the chance of smelling the winds around their loft were never able to learn how to fly home.

Larger federations have the birds micro-chipped to determine the exact second it returns, with the Bundaberg club using the Pigeon Clock – an intricate, timed to the second device as the bird’s ankle ring is removed and dropped in place.

“At meetings the clock readings are very involved, very meticulously calculated,” said Merv.  “Sitting in the back yard watching for your bird to come home is special – it really gets you in.”

Two particular wins are special to Merv – First Place in Sires Produce in the 321km St George race when his pigeon took six hours, 20 minutes to get home;  the other shared with his then seven year old son Tony for Second Prize in Marlborough. ( Sadly, Tony passed away at the age of 17).

Though supportive, Merv’s wife Fay is not as passionate about pigeon racing. “I’m not really interested,”she said.  ‘She once bred a pigeon that won $1000 though,’ added Merv.

I do, I do….again!………….by Sherry Barnes

Fred and Lyn Nightingale loved Las Vegas so much on their first visit 20 years ago, it was the obvious choice of location to renew their wedding vows.

“Lyn had been thinking about it for a few years so we decided our 30th wedding anniversary would be a good time and we said “let’s go to Vegas”, said Fred.

“It’s more relaxing and family-oriented now with every security taken and we saw no problems at all.”

At the famous Little White Wedding Chapel (where Joan Collins also married) their moving 20 minute ceremony was conducted by a Pastor and witnessed by a Chapel staff member.

 
“I love your uniform”

“Next day I went back to pick up the wedding DVD and there was a young couple Rory and Jen, about to be married for the first time,” said Lyn. “Apparently he had a problem with his card and could only pay for the ceremony, with not enough for a bouquet.”

Rory gratefully took up Lyn’s offer to pay for the bride’s bouquet and also asked if she would be their witness, not having arranged one.

“He was a beautifully spoken, handsome young man from England, in full RAF uniform, from the same regiment as Prince William and knew him well,” she said.  “It all happened so quickly with the Chapel asking "Is this your mother?”

Lyn, who now has her signature on Rory and Jen’s marriage certificate is eagerly awaiting a photograph of her taken with the couple.

“We might even write to Prince William and tell him all about it,” said Fred, who with Lyn has been well known in the Bundaberg bakery business for 38 years, now running their pie and pastry shop in Svensson Street.

 

 

Powerful help for gambling addiction……….by Sherry Barnes

“If this helps just one person handle and overcome addiction to poker machines it’ll all be worthwhile..that would give my own experience positive value, that it wasn’t a total waste”

Phillip Fresta is the author of Poker Machine Warrior, an online book and website dedicated to providing practical advice and a hard-hitting insight of one man’s experience with gambling addiction.

Suffering depression following his father’s illness then death, Phillip found having the occasional go on the pokies at his local club took his mind off his problems.

“The first few times you win it’s an adrenalin high. “God this is easy, I can do this” he said.  “My first sign I had a problem was going over my budget and to the ATM to get more,”

“Then when I kept losing more and more I’d go emotionally zero, leaving a machine with an almost physical ache,” he said.

It took Phillip three years to seek help for his “Catch 22” situation. “Gambling fuelled my depression and to escape the depression I turned to a poker machine screen,” he said.

“Too raw and too real to be fiction”

During recovery due to professional help, Phillip wrote Poker Machine Warrior, helpful information plus real-life stories gambling addicts shared with him, tied together in a work of fiction.

“This is too raw and too real to be fiction,” said prospective publishers who were convinced he’d written his autobiography.

“Frank the lead character is not me, although I shared his emotional journey but not his experiences,” said Phillip.

Lifeline has congratulated him on the website and requested theirs to be linked. Two of his Top Ten Tips are “Don’t keep it a secret, you must tell someone’ and “Set a budget; the minute you go to the ATM for more, that’s a warning.”

For a powerful insight into the destructive world of poker machine addiction and information about his online book, visit www.pokermachinewarrior.com.au.

Former actor and media sales representative, Phillip now works in the Bundaberg sugar industry. ‘I can honestly say I do help make the world a sweeter place.”

The world’s her oyster……..by Sherry Barnes

Ime Britz has packed a lot into her 22 years and there’s more challenging adventures to come. Self-assured, hard working and enthusiastic about whatever life throws her way, Ime came to Bundaberg from South Africa five years ago with English as her second language.

“I spoke only Afrikaans in South Africa and it was a huge adjustment and completely different mindset I encountered here,”said Ime, who completed Years 11 and 12 at St Luke’s Anglican School.

“Over there, death is a reality every day while here there is no sense of immediate danger; people are so privileged with so many opportunities.”

After Year 12, Ime got her Degree in Business Management, specialising in Human Resources at UQ and while representing the National Student Leadership Forum, met then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and members of Cabinet.

 
It’s raining men

Then followed 12 weeks as Human Resources Vacation Student with Wesfarmers Mines at Curramine in Blackwater.

“It was the best decision ever, giving me real hands-on Human Resources experience;  the Company was wonderful and there were so many men in Blackwater,” she said.

“I went to the gym and was the only girl there among 80 guys.”

In Blackwater Ime also received a crash course in outback Aussie vernacular to add to her now excellent grasp of the English language.

 “How was your weekend in Woop Woop?” I asked one guy who thought it was hilarious,” she said. “Well he told me he came from out near Woop Woop so I thought it was a real place.”

As floodwaters rose Ime managed to fly out of Rockhampton for Christmas in Bundaberg and got out of Brisbane just before it too was inundated.

“Everywhere I went it rained,” she said.

Wonderful world of Disney

Ime now works full time in a Brisbane coffee shop while preparing for seven months in Disneyworld Florida as part of the UQ – Disney International Student Program Alliance.

She’ll be staying at the campus onsite at Disneyworld, studying and working within the Disney Corporation.

“Uni graduates on the Student Program are from countries all over the world and as well as corporate business I’ll be at the Disney Palace, wearing some kind of costume –I don’t know which character I’ll be yet,” said Ime. “It will be a great adventure, but also very positive for my career which I see being in Human Resources.”

“From South Africa to Australia to the USA – I’d still like to visit South Africa again one day. “After all 17 years of my life is still there.”

 

 

 

 

 

Bundaberg Aero Club turns 75

On November 15 1935, Alderman Fred Buss (later Mayor) called the public meeting that founded the Bundaberg Aero Club, establishing a great tradition which has continued to inspire others into the future.

The milestone was celebrated at the recent Annual Dinner with guest speaker Andy Anderson who began his aviation career in Bundaberg in 1969. He now operates an Airbus A380 for Singapore Airlines.

President Les Routledge said there have been many changes over the years with most members now owning their own aircraft.

Honorary Life Member and Past President, Graham Stutchbury said in compiling the club’s history, achievements of Bundaberg’s Bert Hinkler must be recognised as inspiring municipal fathers and budding aviators to allot a patch of wallum bordering Childers Road as an aerodrome in 1930.

In the beginning

 First Committee – President Dr Len McKeon; Vice President H Finemore; Cyril Courtice, G Wilson, Cliff Nielsen (later Mayor) Bob Howard, Harry Trevor and R Hartnell.

 1936 – club house was built fronting Childers Road near the present CQU.

1939 – Due to World War II led to the club’s going into recess for four years with the RAAF using the aerodrome as a service base.

1951 – Allan Peterson who served during the war as flight instructor became RQAC Instructor based in Bundaberg continuing until 1981 in that role; later the Aero Club’s Chief Flying Instructor.

1959 – Graham Stutchbury elected President, continuing until 1974.

1964 – The Cessna VH APK was bought from Air Planters Pty Ltd ; by 1974 the club had secured considerably more aircraft with increased interest in learning to fly from recreational pilots and those seeking Commercial Licences.

1989 – the infamous airline strike saw huge interruptions to air travel with club fortunes also affected by the downturn in aviation.

1996- 99 – the club enters the ultralight scene with the marvellous Jabiru aircraft built by Rod Stiff and Phil Ainsworth. Ultralight instructor David Eyre operates Bundy Flying School from the club premises.

Entering the next century another change affecting the club was the Council decision to upgrade the airport allowing access to jet RPT aircraft with the relocation of the clubhouse that had been home for nearly 60 years.

 Meanwhile, their guiding aviator Bert Hinkler looks down from his photograph in the in the Club’s Hall Of Fame.

 For the complete history of the Bundaberg Aero Club compiled by Graham Stutchbury go to www.coastlinenews.com.au

Some early photographs of the Bundaberg Aero Club which was started in 1935.

And the livin’ is easy

Hugh Gilroy became well known for his marathon 15,294 kilometre motorcycle ride around Australia earlier this year raising money for prostate cancer research.  After 46 days he returned to the perfect place to relax, the beautiful property he shares with wife Winifred on the outskirts of Childers.

“Wattlebark” consists of 18 acres with its own island in the middle of a large lake bought in 2004. Hugh built a cabin, followed by an open-plan living steel frame kit home with an outdoor living area of 100 square metres.

 It’s on this deck overlooking the island where all the hard relaxation takes place with Hugh and Winifred still living in the original cabin just adjacent.

 “We leave the home for visitors and family and spend as much time as possible on our deck which has curtains all around to simply open in the morning and close at night,” said Hugh.

 He now keeps busy since completing his motorbike ride, by brush cutting the island, looking after the seven acres of lawn surrounding the deck, tending to lush gardenias and bougainvilleas, while chatting to Turk, a faithful scrub-turkey who took up residence three years ago.

“He has a girl-friend somewhere but she’s too shy to come and be introduced to us,” he said.

Sir Peter takes a break after Commonwealth Games…by Sherry Barnes

Sir Peter Heatly, Life Vice-President Commonwealth Games Federation is enjoying a well earned break at Bargara with daughter Jane McRae and her family before going home to Edinburgh.

He said it’s been very enjoyable catching up with family, friends and attending school functions including the St Lukes formal with grandson Alexander.

“Overall it was a very successful Games;  we all knew about the terrorist scare and how concerned the Indian officials were and fortunately nothing happened,’ he said. “There’s been similar scares in the history of previous games and the short answer to whether proper security precautions were taken is “yes”.

 Despite earlier concerns in the media about the inadequate state of accommodation, Sir Peter said when he arrived in Delhi, the village, seating and facilities presented very well with sporting achievements and results of an excellent standard.

“At the games we have a lot of young people, all in a high state of anxiety about to compete and sometimes minor things can appear overwhelming,” he said.

Diving into the record books

 Sir Peter was champion diver in springboard and highboard, becoming Scottish Champion. During training, his Pool Guard was another Scot was would become famous in a different sphere, Sean Connery (former 007 James Bond).

 Turning his diving career into Sports Management, Sir Peter was Knighted at Buckingham Palace in 1990 and inducted as one of the first members of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

 As Chairman of the Scottish Sports Council and hosting Commonwealth Games functions, he’s met the Duke Of Edinburgh and the Queen from time to time, and is currently member No 1 of the Edinburgh Rotary Club with the Duke No 2.

“It’s by simply surviving and not resigning. I was 150^th when I joined but as time goes by you go further up the list,” he said.

Sir Peter said the announcement of Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton was welcome good news from the Palace. 

“A very pleasant situation, I suppose we all expected they would have to come to that point.”

He now looks forward to his commitments with the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“It’s just 45 miles from home so it’ll be difficult to keep me away.”

Something to contemplate………..by Sherry Barnes

Rector of Anglican Parish Bundaberg, Father Cliff Greaves who moved here earlier this year from Maryborough in Victoria, believes we all need refreshment of the spirit from time to time.  Every Wednesday from 12, Christ Church in Woongarra Street is open to a contemplative group seeking just that.

 “It’s planned to have the church open for a couple of hours every day for anyone who needs this time alone,” said Fr Cliff who knows the value of contemplation from his three years in a monastery just after finishing high school.

 “I have very fond memories of my time at Society of the Sacred Mission - absolutely,” he said. “I probably entered a bit young and needed a year off to experience the world.  That’s when I fell in love with my wife Pat and you can’t exactly go back into monastic life after that.”

 He then joined the Air Force and travelled extensively before entering the corporate world specialising in developing organisational changes. “It’s my principal area of expertise I suppose,” he said. “Then about eight years ago a family friend, a Bishop told me it’s about time to return to the church.”


Facelift for St Peters

 Fr Cliff said St Peters Church Hall at Bargara had been unloved for a long time and since re-painting is now more open, welcoming and friendly. “It lets in more light and space, all glistening while the actual church next door looks tired and old in comparison – so it’s next on the list.”

He also wants to re-establish the Anglican Liturgical Culture and rebuild the Christ Church choirs with more younger members. “We want more vibrant young voices who in turn need the guidance and depth of adult voices,” he said.

 

Accolades for young artist …………by Sherry Barnes

And she’s only just begun. 14 year old Chernee Sutton was approached by Central Queensland Indigenous Development to hang some of her paintings in their Win Towers Quay Street offices.

 
The Kepnock student had only just begun painting when she won first prize at the Yoorellgoo Art Competition held at the Railway Hotel earlier this year.

“I was very surprised, really excited and judge Roger Saunders encouraged me to keep going, it made me want to keep on painting,” she said.  Chernee won with “The Connection of Lawurl” (the indigenous word for spirit).

 
Her next showing was at this year’s Bundaberg Arts Festival selling “Our Home Our Land” to a Bundaberg lawyer.  “I probably prefer working with the connective indigenous themes and I’m halfway through another one at present” said Chernee, whose brother Jesse 4, and sister Brooke 6 are also keen artists. “They’re really awesome,” she said.

 
She said her mother Judy had always encouraged arts and crafts, currently creating garden mushroom ornaments on sale at the Shalom Markets.

“I have all three children painting now and I sometimes look at their artworks and wonder what I’m going to do with them all,” she said.

“I’m very proud of Chernee and that the CQID want her to show by her paintings, just what young indigenous people can achieve.”

 
She has also created a sign (pictured) incorporating the new logo of CQID which will be given to CEO Jason Field, based in Rockhampton, as a surprise Christmas gift.


Bundaberg Manager Betty Lappin said the new logo will be used on business cards and office uniforms. “She’s captured it beautifully and Jason is going to be thrilled.”

 
While also a keen drama student and performer, Chernee finds creating works of art her favourite means of escape. “It’s really fun as well and I hope I always keep painting.”