RI Football League

Raymond Island Football Match – yes it’s on again.

Put Saturday 24 September in your diary and make sure you’re ready for to cheer on the Raymond Island Reds and the Raymond Island Blues at 1.30 pm,  A’Beckett Park, Raymond Island.  Once again, all proceeds will go to the Paynesville Ambulance Service.

The Blues were victorious in 2013 and the Reds took away the Premiership Cup in 2014.  The Blues dominated in 2015, so you better be there to see who steals the show this year.

If you want to see lots of girls and boys (and old men) running around the ground, all in the peak of fitness, then this is the event for you.

We will have the Corporate Marquee again, with delicious gourmet delights to please all palates as well as the traditional sausage sizzle with soft drinks available for sale.

Pre match and half time entertainment will be another highlight as well as face painting for the kids and “I Do Massage” offering massages in their spa room.  Other activities will be announced soon.

But the most important ingredient will be the players – so register now!  You must have a reasonable level of fitness, but that is all that is required.  You can register your interest at our email address riflmatch2016@gmail.com and a player registration form will be sent to you. 

And check out the highlights from last year’s match, courtesy of Victor Trofimovs

https://youtu.be/ayffdZo3Xlc   -   Youtube link for the 2015 Match.

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

GATES OPEN AT 12.00

BALL BOUNCED AT 1.30 PM

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Mind games

 Graeme Alexander forwarded this wonderful ferry picture and asks the question: "What could possibly go wrong?"

Cockies' corner.

Farmer Greg bought his first farm at a young age, it was old, run down, abandoned and very unloved with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise.

The paddocks were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling down, the fences were broken. During his first day on the farm the local priest called in to bless the man's work, saying “May you and god work together to make this the farm of your dreams.”

A few months later the priest calls in again to see the farmer. The farmhouse is completely rebuilt, the fences are all strained up,the farm is stocked with prime cattle munching on luscious green paddocks. The crops are starting to head. “Amazing," the priest says "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" “Yes Father,‘’ said Farmer Greg, “But remember what the farm was like before, when God was working it alone.”

Community Garden Group

It’s been a busy few months for the Garden Group. Negotiations are continuing with the Shire to identify a site for a permanent garden but while this is happening we have been given a temporary home at the Raymond Island Hall.

Our group approached Bunnings who in return have been generous in donating and delivering three fully prepared and planted portable garden beds to start us off. When contacted Picnic Point Farm kindly gave us two apple crates which will be transformed into more pop-up beds and planted out at our first morning get together at the hall on Wednesday 27 th July starting at 10.30am.

Other unique and unexpected additions to our patch have been three potted mature fruit trees which we purchased with the help of the Friendship Shed in Paynesville. It’s an exciting time for our small group and it feels like our garden is beginning to take shape. The area on the hall site has been fenced to deter wildlife but the group is happy if islanders would like to investigate the patch – please open the gate and wander in.

At our last meeting the group voted to change our regular meetings to Wednesday mornings at 10.30am on the 2nd and the 4th weeks of each month. We invite all islanders with a love of gardening to come along and join us on these days. Morning tea will be available at the hall and jobs will be found for people of all ages and abilities. If chatting is all you can manage we would be happy to see you too.

As we are presently unfunded the group has decided on a small annual membership fee - $10.00 per person / $20.00 per family which will help fund the setting up phase. If you are interested in our group and are able to help Lucke’s Loyalty Rewards Program tags are available at the Raymond Island Hall.

The Committee will continue to meet at the Raymond Island Hall on the 3 rd Wednesday of the month at 7pm. All members are welcome to attend. Much organisation still needs to be done not only in consolidating our pop-up gardens but also in areas such as workshop ideas for island residents, fundraising for the group to purchase plants, tools and equipment, applying for grants and more than anything helping to keep each other enthusiastic and committed to our cause.

Wishing everyone a productive July in your garden – rug up well! Any queries? Please contact Beth Sheffield mobile 0437 545 145 or email bethsheffield@gmail.com

Happy Hour BBQ

HAPPY HOUR

BBQ NIGHT

FRIDAY, 29^TH JULY

5.00 pm to 7.00 pm

Community Hall

COME ALONG

BYO DRINKS

WHATEVER MEAT YOU WANT TO COOK

AND A SALAD OR SIDE DISH TO SHARE

Invitation to Opal morning tea

The team at Opal Paynesville warmly invite you to an Information Session on Residential Aged Care, followed by morning tea.

In recent months, we have found more families coming to our Homes requiring information around the admission process and costs involved with Aged Care. We will be attending your meeting with information that may assist yourselves, or your family members in the future, who may require Residential Aged Care services as a Respite or Permanent Resident.

We hope you can join us

Date: Monday 8th August 2016

Time: 10.30 am
Address: Raymond Island Community Hall

43-47 Sixth Ave

Please phone Jeanette for details: 5153 8400





0491 217 404

Australian War Memorial exhibition

The Bairnsdale Library is now showing a digital exhibition from The Australian War Memorial featuring First World War photographs taken by Sir Charles Ryan.

‘A camera on Gallipoli’ showcases a series of 39 candid photographs captured by Charles Ryan while serving with the AIF in Turkey in 1915.

In 1914, at the age of 61, Sir Charles Ryan was appointed consulting surgeon to the AIF, embarking from Melbourne in October towards the Middle East and on to Gallipoli. Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, says Charles Ryan’s photographs capture the reality behind the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, depicting a unique and often harsh view of our soldiers experiences.

“Ryan’s photographs reflect the Australians’ true experience of war: the dry, forbidding landscape, tired troops in the trenches, and squalid dug-outs,” Dr Nelson said. “Ryan also managed to capture the true spirit of the Australian soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. Their mateship, stoicism and endurance underpin the photographs and embody the meaning of the Anzac spirit.”

Behind the photographs in the exhibition is the story of Charles Ryan’s remarkable life. He served as a doctor with the Turkish army in 1877–78, treated Ned Kelly at Glenrowan, was a leading Melbourne surgeon and gave long service as a senior military officer. He was extended high civil and military recognition by his peers.

The exhibition is an initiative to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The display will also include a feature a local component with a display of 21 still images of local soldiers who served in the campaigns at Fromelles and Pozieres in France. These pictures have been developed from East Gippsland Heritage Networks’ recent research project and publication on local World War I soldiers – ‘East Gippsland Anzacs’.

Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. c May 1915. Surgeon General Sir Charles S. Ryan standing outside the dugout of the Aide-de-Camp as denoted by the ADC sign above the doorway.

‘A camera on Gallipoli’ will be displayed at the Bairnsdale Library until Monday, August 15.

Bendigo Bank supports Web site

The Paynesville District Community Bank Branch has once again announced the successful applications for its 2016 round of community grants. The grants recognise programs run to benefit the local communities of Paynesville, Raymond Island, Eagle Point and Newlands Arm.

In presenting the grants, Board Chair Martin Richardson highlighted exciting initiatives, such as the Lions Club's Christmas Lunch, the Paynesville Music Festival and a series of awards for young achievers at the Eagle Point and Paynesville Primary Schools. The Raymond Island Web Site was also recognised for its community information role and will receive support to help its continuity for the next 12 months.

Branch Manager Ken Dutton and Board Chair Martin Richardson
 with the Web master.

Happy Hour curry night

Happy Hour Curry Night

Friday July 15

5:00 – 7:00 pm

Raymond Island Community Hall

Winter has definitely set in - Cold nights - Severe weather warnings - Wet feet!


The Raymond Island Community needs to get together and warm up.
Don’t hitch up the van and head north, join the Happy Hour gang for a good old Aussie curry.

Bring a curry to share and enjoy the warmth of good food and pleasant conversation.

Ilbijerri Theatre at the Forge

The ILBIJERRI Theatre Company presents NORTH WEST OF NOWHERE in a FREE PERFORMANCE: Tuesday July 26, 5pm at the Forge Theatre & Arts Hub

One ute, two teenagers and a long road ahead. No looking back now.

East Gippsland has been lucky enough to secure ILBIJERRI’S ‘NORTH WEST OF NOWHERE’ free live performance in Bairnsdale. This is the next instalment from the team behind the multi award-winning shows CHOPPED LIVER and BODY ARMOUR, which have been enjoyed by almost 20,000 people across Australia.

NORTH WEST OF NOWHERE is raw, honest and takes a fresh approach to raising awareness of sexual health and the importance of respectful sexual relationships. Written specifically for secondary school audiences, young people will relate to Wyatt and Nella as they journey from their teenage dreams to proud young adults ready for the world.

This free 55 minutes live performance followed by a Q& A is a fantastic opportunity to see ILBIJERRI, Australia’s leading and longest running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Company. They create challenging and inspiring theatre, creatively controlled by Indigenous artists. ILBIJERRI’s work possesses the power to reach out and remind audiences of every person’s need for family, history and heritage.

Bookings are required as seats are limited. Free tickets can be booked online through the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub section on the Shire website, visitor information centres and at the Forge Theatre box office.   

This event is brought to Bairnsdale by a partnership between ILBEJERRI and partner organisation as well as Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative LTD (GEGAC), East Gippsland Primary Care Partnership (EGPCP), East Gippsland Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council Youth Ambassadors, Four’n Twenty Patties Foods and East Gippsland Water. The organising committee strongly encourage young people 15 years and older as well as their parents and carers to see this incredible one night only live performance.

Newlands Arm walking track

East Gippsland Shire Council has recently completed two projects in Newlands Arm to improve recreation facilities.

The Shire spent $47,000 on extending the Newlands Arm walking track from Dawson’s Cove along the foreshore, and a new fixed jetty was constructed.

Dawson’s Cove and the foreshore are popular locations used for a wide range of recreational and water-based activities, including water skiing, sailing, boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing, and walking. Dawson’s Cove has a number of facilities for public use including a boat ramp and jetty, playground, picnic tables, toilet, car park, bins, and a designated swimming area.

The Newlands Arm Residents and Ratepayers Association contacted the Shire with a design for a new jetty, following recommendations made in the Newlands Arm Foreshore Management Plan.

The Shire and Gippsland Ports used the design as the basis for the new jetty. Gippsland Ports supplied and installed the piles and Shire staff built the jetty.

National Family History Month

Council plan and budget passed

The East Gippsland Shire Council has unanimously adopted its revised Council Plan and passed the 2016-17 Budget following public exhibition and consideration of submissions from the public.

Mayor, Cr Marianne Pelz, said Council was pleased that the rate increase is in line with the new ‘Fair Go’ rates system 2.5 per cent cap and did not elect to apply to the Essential Services Commission for a variation.

“We have further reviewed the way services are delivered and identified operational savings and efficiencies that have enabled us to keep the rates increase within the 2.5 per cent cap, but still maintain service levels to our communities. This is always challenging due to the geographic size of our municipality and the distinct needs of our communities,” Cr Pelz said.

“East Gippsland is equivalent to 10 per cent of the state of Victoria, with around 80 per cent of our land being unrateable. “As Councillors, it is our job to listen to community sentiment and understand their priorities. We have consistently heard that the community values Council’s services, and that Council needs to be financially responsible and keep rates as low as possible. Significant financial impacts on Council include the ongoing indexation freeze of the Financial Assistance Grants and Victorian Government obligations regarding waste services,” Cr Pelz said. “I’m particularly pleased that we have also been able to continue a rebate for eligible pensioners on top of the Victorian Government’s pensioner rebate scheme, and we have also maintained the Farm Rate Differential at 90 per cent of the general rate.”

Cr Pelz said the Budget was also driven by the priorities in the revised Council Plan. “The Council Plan 2013-2017 details steps for Council to take towards achieving its vision and objectives, while continuing to provide the services the community needs. This year is an opportunity for me to reflect on Council’s performance over the past four years, this being the last year of the current Council’s term."

Webmaster notes:

Copies of these documents are available online:

Revised Council Plan and 2016-17 Action Plan
Budget 2016/17 

(The new schedule of fees for the Raymond Island Ferry are on p.120 of the Budget)

Mind games

There's snow on the hills and the fires are lit at home. Time to try a trick with the younger members of your family!

Cockie's corner

Earl the farmer from Texas, was heading back to the Lone Star State. He rang farmer Brian and invited him to have lunch in Melbourne. So Brian travelled up on the train and they met at Southern Cross Station. “This is a very small station compared to the one in Dallas," said Earl. They started walking down Collins Street. "Your streets are very narrow, your side walks are like cattle tracks," said the Texan. Is there anything big in Melbourne?” he asked. They turned left into Elizabeth Street and there before them was a new magnificent state-of-the-art 80 floor office building. Earl turned to Brian and asked “How long has that building been there?” “It wasn’t there yesterday,” said Brian with a chuckle.