Apollo Bay, what's happening in paradise!

APOLLO BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS WRECK OF BLACKWITCH II
The wreck of the Blackwitch II is currently exposed at low tide on the Apollo Bay beach just north of the board walk from the Information Centre car park. Care should be taken while swimming in the area as there are a number of wooden and iron pieces of the wreck sticking out of the sand.
Blackwitch II was a 70 foot wooden boat with a beam of 14 feet built in 1924. Originally HMAS Cerebus, she was used as a custom boat in Adelaide and then to service Kangaroo Island. Around 1955 she was purchased by Jim Anderson of Apollo Bay and converted for fishing as a replacement for his first boat Blackwitch I which was wrecked in the harbour. She came to Apollo Bay around 1956 when the new harbour was opened. In 1958 when harbour entrance sanded up she was anchored outside the harbour and was washed ashore during an easterly gale. When attempts to refloat her failed an attempt was made to drag her up the beach. This also failed but in the process the stern was damaged and she was left as a wreck.
Ted Stuckey

Have your say on infrastructure improvements
Colac Otway Shire's Infrastructure Unit will be stationed at the Apollo Bay Community Market on Saturday, March 10 from 10am to 2pm seeking suggestions from residents for the development of an infrastructure improvement program for the town. Council would like to hear people's ideas for improvements to the town such as drainage improvements, intersection treatments,
road safety and traffic issues or street amenity improvements for example.
General Manager of Infrastructure, Gary Dolan said Council would consider and investigate all suggestions for infrastructure improvements for inclusion in a multi-year development program for Apollo Bay. A number of concepts for the township entrance signage will also be available on the day for people to make comment and provide feedback on. If you are unable to come down to the foreshore on the day and would like to provide input please contact Leanne Brooker on 52329481 or email leanne.brooker.vic.gov.au

Police News
Public assistance is required regarding the damage that was done to the Surf Life Saving Equipment on the Foreshore on Saturday night/Sunday Morning. (03&04).
Surf Life Saving Victoria held the Victorian Titles at Apollo Bay over the weekend and Equipment, boats and tents were left on the beach in front of the SLS Club rooms. Between 5.00 pm 03/03 & 7.30 am 04/03, unknown offenders have attended at this location and proceeded to create havoc. 2 x Surf Boats (Approx $30,000 each) were dragged into the water and pushed out to sea. 3 x SLS Paddle boards (Approx $1,000 each) were pushed out into the sea. 3 Sweep Oars were either broken or are now missing (Total $2,700). 5 x Tents/Marquees (Total $9,000) were damaged beyond repair. A Trailer ($500) and a 15ft Carbon fibre oar ($750) was also pushed into the ocean. The total value of someone's mindless actions is approximately $75,950.
If anybody knows who is responsible for this crime, contact either the Police at Apollo Bay on 52376750 on the CIU at Colac on 52 312613. Whether you think the information you have is minor or irrelevant, Please contact us as it may be the piece of information we require. On the up side, if there is an up side, I'd like to thank the anonymous fisherman who found the 3 boards some 20k out to sea and returned them, and also to the members of the Apollo Bay Ocean Rescue who recovered the Surf Boats when they were spotted 8k out to sea.
Dave Hand, Sgt 21036

APOLLO BAY BADMINTON CLUB
We are currently having practice nights for the
Autumn comp.
Teams will be chosen in the next week or two, so if
you wish to play badminton, and have not yet been to
a practice night, and put your name down, you will not
be chosen in a team.
If you would like to know more, or are considering
playing for the first time, come to the Leisure Centre
at 7.30 pm on a Wednesday night or phone Shelley
Robb 52377181

Parents & Friends Easter Raffle
Our first fundraiser for the year, to raise funds for:
1. 30 whiteboards for primary school
2. Laminator for Primary area
3. Speakers for 4 datashow projectors - Rooms-1,37,T2, S1
Details
• Each child brings in an Easter egg to put in a basket
• Three baskets, each including an 'Adult Music Festival ticket
• Eggs due by Tuesday 27th March
• $1 per raffle ticket
• All raffle tickets & money in by Thurs 29th March
• Drawn on Thursday 29th March, after Lunch
• Each child will receive a small raffle book - keep an eye out in their school bags
A big thank you to Lyndi Whalen for updating the
Parents & Friends Group web
site, www.apollobay. com/parentsfriends, our
achievements & healthy tips.....
Pres: Sheryl Van Someren

ABP12C Parents & Friends Group
Monday the 5th March, was our second general meeting for the year. Thank you to the parents that attended the meeting and to those that phoned in with apologies. It makes a world of difference when you are supported in this way.
'School clean up day" on Friday, 2 March 2007 was a huge success due to the great turn out of parents. The students enjoyed the active afternoon filling up utes, trailers with cuttings, weeds and rubbish. The amount of gardening achieved was sensational. So thank you all that made an effort to clean up our school. It was agreed during our meeting to continue a Friday clean up, we thought the last Friday of every month, 27th April would be the next garden clean up day, so pencil this your diary. To keep the weeds and sand/soil in the garden beds shrubs and ground covers are needed, so if you have any suitable species that you would like to donate, bring them along to the next garden clean up day.
We now have 8 class room representatives in Primary School. Many of you are possibly thinking, "Ok, what does that mean"? Class reps volunteer to take on the voluntary role as a class representative they can, provide support to the class teacher, establish an essential communication link between parents/carers and school, welcome new families into our community and organize social gatherings.
• Grade Prep,1&2 -Suze McBride, Tana Nicholls, Di Earl
• Grade 3 &4 - Pauline Nolle, Janine McKenzie, Marion Bukker
• Grade 5 - Deb Tovey
• Grade 6 - Heather Frost

A new business and new jobs for Apollo Bay
A new business in town, new jobs and a boost to the
local economy, all in Apollo Bay.
According to Apollo Bay & District Community Bank®
Branch Steering Committee Chairman Lance
Matthews, that's exactly what a Community Bank®
branch can bring to the area.
With the local committee now looking toward the
feasibility study, Mr Matthews said a Community
Bank® branch would bring a new business and
healthy competition to Apollo Bay.
"Community Bank® branches across the country
have injected funds into their local communities and in
some cases have seen a return of confidence in a
town," he said.
He said one great example of this was the small
community of Henty, in New South Wales.
The branch committed $1.25 million in profits to the
town's new civic centre and injected more than
$200,000 into other projects like a community-owned
pub, nursing scholarships for local young people and
landscaping at the town's brand new hospital.
And, since the opening of the Community Bank®
branch in 1998, confidence in the town has soared - a
new hospital has been built, business has prospered
and a brand new $15 million aged care facility will
soon be built.
Another example is at Winchelsea and Anglesea. The
community company that opened the Winchelsea
branch is so successful that it has not only returned
about $20,000 to the community, but also opened
another Community Bank® branch at the nearby
Anglesea.
Mr Matthews said once the Apollo Bay branch
opened, residents could feel confident moving their
banking to the branch.
"Under the Community Bank® model, our branch will
offer all the products in Bendigo Bank's range," he
said.
That includes everything from everyday transaction
accounts, credit cards and home and personal loans
to margin lending, business banking, term deposits
and foreign currency services.
"Plus, our branch will offer financial planning advice
and a range of insurance - even health insurance," Mr
Matthews said.
Bendigo Bank is one of the top 150 companies in
Australia, is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
and has almost 350 branches across the country.
That includes 190 Community Bank® branches,
which have:
- Returned $7.1 million to community projects and organisations
- Paid more than $5.2 to shareholders in dividends.
- More than 940 branch staff
"Supporting our campaign, and eventually our branch, is an investment in our town's future - I encourage everyone to get involved," Mr Matthews said. For more information, contact Lance Matthews on 5237 6278 or 0419 391 150.
WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY MICHAEL. ALL OUR LOVE & BEST WISHES. HAVE A VERY HAPPY DAY. Nanna, Mum, Peter, Jacqui, and Alex.

- Understanding of community capacity building
- Communication skills, including writing and interpersonal.
- Computer skills for communications
- Formal qualifications in a related field is desirable.
- Must have a current licence to drive in Victoria. Conditions: This is a casual position starting as soon as possible working each Wednesday until. June 30th 2008. Remuneration will be $22 per hour paid on casual rates for 7.6 hours each work day. Superannuation will apply. Probationary period applies. Operates from an office in Apollo Bay. A shared vehicle is provided for work use when required. Reports to our Landcare Co-ordinator and Chair of the SOLN HR Committee on behalf of the Committee of Management
Further information: Telephone enquiries to Denise Hooke,
SOLN HR Chair on 03-52376097 from 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Applications:
Applications close 18th March at 5.00pm. All applications will be
acknowledged. All applications must be emailed to
denisehooke@fastmail.fm
.2 (1 day per week) LANDCARE PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICER
Location: Landcare Support Centre Apollo Bay
Job Purpose: This position will assist in promoting
landcare and provide support for the Southern Otway
Landcare Network (SOLN) and its four landcare groups
through the development of our community capacity
building programs, activities and resources.
Key Selection Criteria and Responsibilities:
1. Water Quality Education and Monitoring: Further develop resources and programs with landcare groups, Barwon Water and the broader community and deliver Water Watch training.
2. Education Resources: Further develop education material and its delivery to the Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill P-12 Colleges.
3. Production of Flora information sheets matching seedling orders with the production of a booklet for distribution to project sites explaining best location, soil type, heights, spread etc
4. Seed identification chart and development of seed collection times, cleaning and storage information creating a resource booklet for SOLN
5. Interviewing and writing a collection of Most Significant Change stories
6. Creation of a project scrapbook for each funding year starting in 2006 and working backwards towards the start of SOLN showcasing the work of the 4 landcare groups.
Skills and Experience:
- A demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Landcare.
- Knowledge of the area covered by the Southern Otway Landcare Network
- Understanding of community capacity building
Computer skills for communications, project planning and presentations
- Communication skills, including writing and interpersonal. -Business management skills, including project management.
- Formal qualifications or experience in a related field is desirable.
- Must have a current licence to drive in Victoria. Conditions: This is a casual position starting as soon as possible working equivalent to one day (7.6 hours) per week, maybe worked in blocks to suit tasks, until June 30th 2008. Remuneration will be $25.50 per hour paid on casual rates for 7.6 hours each work day. Probationary period applies. Superannuation will apply. Operates from an office in Apollo Bay.
A shared vehicle is provided for work use when required. Participation in some weekend and evening meetings and functions may be required, with equivalent time off during ordinary hours. Reports to our Landcare Co-ordinator and Chair of the SOLN HR Committee on behalf of the Committee of Management Further information: Telephone enquiries to Denise Hooke, SOLN HR Chair on 03-52376097 from 6.00pm to 10.00pm Applications:Applications close 18th March at 5.00pm. All applications will be acknowledged. All applications must be emailed to denisehooke@fastmail.fm