A falcon's story

It's YOUR web site!

RINET gives individuals and groups opportunities to provide information about their activities on the Island. It also links to information that is of interest to islanders and is available through other sources. The site is independent from any group or organization and is a service provided at no cost to contributors. 

We want to keep the site alive, fun, and a terrific way to build our community on the Island - so your feedback about what you want to see on the site is important!

Please take a couple of minutes to complete 5 questions that tell us what you'd like to see on the site in our survey (it's anonymous unless you leave your name and email with your feedback!)

Cheers,
Jane
Webmaster

Fire preparedness workshop

Are you, your family and property prepared for the coming summer fire season?
Not sure what to do?

The CFA is here to help!

On Sunday November 30, 2014 come along to the (brand spanking new) Raymond Island Fire Station to learn how you can safe guard the things most precious to you.

Where: Raymond Island Fire Station – Tenth Avenue

When: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Fire station opens

Last Sunday the new Raymond Island Fire Station was officially opened. Islanders enjoyed morning tea and then the official opening.

A successful start to our preparations for this year's fire season!

Acoustic music jam and singalong

Ferry Park Saturday 20 December

Hi folks,
All acoustic musicians welcome to meet at the Ferry Park on Saturday for a Jam and singalong session from noon. Bring friends and family (audience participation welcome) - Spread the word! BYO: BBQ food/drinks /chair/ instrument/copies of sheet music with lyrics and chords).

Recent jammers enjoying a session.

For more information phone Kay on 0427686347.

Christmas cakes for a good cause

Barbie's Xmas Cake Fundraiser.

Order now for Xmas.

$20.00 each.

Xmas Cakes can be delivered or can be picked up by 20 December or earlier if required.

Contact Barbie Richardson on m: 0434 374 210 or t: 5156 0465.

All proceeds will go to Skippy's Wildlife Refuge.

Skippy's Wildlife Refugee is a new shelter for injured or orphaned kangaroos on the island or in the East Gippsland area. So please contact me if you have any concern for an injured kangaroo.

(You can also ring Susie Pulis m: 0447 470 905 in emergencies - Susie and I have a great working relationship and are both here for the animals.) 

Thank you
Barbie Richardson

What's buzzing on Raymond Island Net

 Raymond Island's website is getting ready for bigger and better things in 2015, with the launch of a fresh look that will make reading easier and introduce new features and sections for visitors:

• photographic exhibitions
• guides to local plant and animal life
• regular traveller postcards
• reader polls and comments
• review and recipes
• swap meet
• rain gauge
• favorites from the old site revisited

Coming over summer!

Island fire station opens

Koala program update

Cuddles in the rain

Leona Waldegrave-Knight reports on the recent Koala Program. 

In total there were 106 captures.  We sterilised most of the new Koalas caught and some that had previously been caught but not sterilised. the only exception was the females with young. Regardless of a few issues on day one, the program ran extremely well. 

I want to thank all those involved; especially Lou for her excellent catering. The Gunai Kurnai rangers who were invaluable this year and can now be considered 'experienced'. Ethos for volunteering for the day. The excellent veterinary assistance from Main Street Vet clinic and Di and Jo from DEPI. Thanks to Colleen Wood for assisting and helping us have the extra team running. Harrie Fletcher and Stephen Manning also for volunteering (one day you will get paid for this work). Dave and Louie for again making themselves available for the program as tree climbers.   And I would really like to thank Susie Pulis and the volunteers for the effort they put in each day, they were there long after many had gone home for the day ensuring the Koalas recovered and for looking after the Koalas taken into care. It's very much appreciated. In fact, I also thank those that travelled, worked late, helped in preparation and all that were involved - thank-you. 

Leona Waldegrave-Knight / Wildlife Management 
Environment, Natural Resources & Fisheries, 
Gippsland Region | Department of Environment and Primary Industries

Flagging in the wind

Stella Sakkeus captured a wild day on the Strait...

Hello,

On returning from the display at the Community Hall a few of us got caught out on the way back to the ferry as an almighty wind gust came through (followed by many more) and we nearly got knocked off our feet. In a brief lull I took this image of the flags stretched to the limit as the ferry was buffeted. Well worth the effort to cross the stormy waters to see the Anniversary display. 

Many thanks to all who are involved.
Cheers!

Ferry's 125 anniversary

  Celebrations were held at Raymond Island over the Melbourne Cup Weekend at Raymond Island with many residents and visitors attending the events that commenced on Friday night with the History Exhibition in the Community Hall open during the weekly Happy Hour. 

Raymond Island History Group proudly supported by the Shire of East Gippsland and Raymond Island Community Association Inc held the celebrations to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the first wooden punt (vehicular service) that commenced in 1889. Ferry driver Ian Lewis decorated the ferry with commemorative 125th banners and the Australian flag as a centre piece with smaller flags along the cabin making an eye-catching sight.

 

With strong winds and rain on Saturday morning, the proposed Ferry Park activities were transferred to the Community Hall where Master of Ceremonies, Peter Markwell, welcomed guests and introduced dignitaries and thanked the sponsors and supporters of the celebrations. Event organiser Andrew Bould gave a short history of the Raymond Island Ferry Service and a Roll Call of Current and Past ferry drivers was made for each of the five vehicular ferries.

The Roll Call was completed with drivers and crews of the water taxi services. Reverend Edie Ashley of the Abbey of St Barnabas read from Midge Beesley’s Raymond Island- Past, Present and Future book written in 1986 with a few paragraphs of the uniqueness of the Island before making the first ‘Blessing of the Ferry’ with Reverend Geoff Pegler from Paynesville Uniting Church. East Gippsland Shire May, Cr Mark Reeves along with two long residing residents of the Island, Mrs Irene Bould and Mr Frank Hailey unveiled the 125th Anniversary Plaque which will be fitted to the ferry at a later date.
 

The cutting of the 125th Anniversary Cake was made by past ferry contractor Rod Wharton, current ferry contractor Ian Lewis and Warwick Hall, President of the Raymond Island Community Association Inc.
 
Following the formalities, a sausage sizzle lunch was provided to a very large crowd and entertained by the local entertainers, Moore Fiddling Around – Kay Moore and Don McColl, Stuart Hughes, Colin Wilson and Martin Richardson. 

The History Exhibition was then open and many enjoyed browsing the extensive ferry history records from the first service of a row boat in 1888, the first punt in 1889 to the present ferry. Several photograph display boards also provided interest to many past Islanders as they recalled their experiences with the ferry service. An interview with Mrs Irene Bould was made into a special feature video by Islander Victor Trofimovs combining history images and an interview with RICA President, Warwick Hall (See the presentation online). 

EGSC David Radford had the Shire archives team search for suitable ferry related artefacts from the Shire’s Archives and a video made by Crib Point Engineering in 1996/7 of the building, transporting and commissioning of the current ferry was found and converted for digital viewing. Paynesville Mens Shed had recently restored an old row boat of similar size to the original 1888 ferry boat and was on display as a replica at the entrance to the Community Hall, and creating many discussions about the early transport to Raymond Island.

The History Exhibition was open on both Sunday and Monday with many local residents from Paynesville and Raymond Island coming to the Community Hall and overall despite the bad weather on the Saturday, the entire weekend was a great success. Raymond Island History Group would like to thank the Shire, all sponsors, supporters and especially the community volunteers who made the celebrations such a great event.

Shelter fundraiser rocks

 Susie Pulis reports on DJ Derek's fundraiser - a huge success!

The Shelter recently had a dance night fundraiser at the Paynesville Yacht Club. The venue was almost a sell-out with 113 tickets sold. Some presold and the rest sold on the night. With raffle tickets, balloon prizes, silent auction and door prizes everyone had a fantastic time. The night was a huge success with $3148.00 raised.

 

Thank you to the many residents who attended from Raymond Island, Paynesville, Newlands Arm, Banksia Peninsula, Eagle Point and Bairnsdale. Without the generosity of the Sponsors & Guests the night wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you to the many volunteers who organised and helped throughout the evening. Of course last but not least a big thank you to Derek Nuttall who provided us with the entertainment all night.

Money raised on the night has gone towards medical and veterinary expenses owing and the remainder will go towards a new enclosure that we urgently need and future veterinary care. The shelter is currently running at full capacity and desperately needs more facilities to house our Koalas.

The Shelter wishes to thank the long list of sponsors for the night and ask that we support these local businesses that have supported us.

Plant of the month: October

Rain man or woman wanted!

Do you live on Raymond Island and have a rain gauge in your garden? 
I've had several requests to publish a weekly rain summary and am seeking a volunteer who is prepared to record a weekly rainfall total for the Island and email/text it to me in time for our news update.
If you're interested helping, shoot me an email: RaymondIslandNet@gmail.com.
Cheers, Jane Ponting (Webmaster)