77 September 2019 Merrijig community Newsletter
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<strong>Merrijig</strong> Community <strong>Newsletter</strong> <strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
INDEX<br />
Quote and FYI 2<br />
Calendar 3<br />
Working on the bucket list 4<br />
Gillian Trigg UNHCR Appointment 6<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong> Editor is BACK 7<br />
Fire ready Dance 10<br />
Alex’s Dad Jokes 11<br />
Ryan Daykin new EP 11<br />
Bottle top collection 12<br />
Kinder & Prep enrolments 13<br />
CFA Message 14<br />
Spring poetry - - A word from the shire 15<br />
Time for a laugh 17<br />
"COOL MERRIJIG VALLEY" ........ Photo by Nicola Beautyman<br />
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Quote of the month.<br />
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Back issues of the newsletters can be viewed on the web at<br />
http://www.merrijig.com.au/html/local_news.html<br />
Some articles in this newsletter may be picked up by the Mansfield Courier so consider this if you are<br />
submitting stories you could be sensitive about sharing with the <strong>community</strong> wider than <strong>Merrijig</strong>.<br />
If you‟re looking for a Justice of the Peace,<br />
Laurie Jacob, Buttercup Rd 0439 280 333<br />
Catherine McNish, Sawmill Settlement0429 482 309<br />
<strong>Merrijig</strong> Defibrillators are located at <strong>Merrijig</strong> Motor Inn<br />
& McCormack Park<br />
The procedure in case of an emergency where a person is possibly having a heart<br />
attack is to dial Triple Zero. The call takers at Triple Zero have the location of the<br />
<strong>Merrijig</strong> AED registered and will advise the caller of its location if that is the closest<br />
unit to your location. McCormack Park unit is located in the machinery shed of the<br />
Motorbike Track. If it is the <strong>Merrijig</strong> Motor Inn should be contacted by phone.<br />
The motor inn phone number is 5<strong>77</strong>7 5702.<br />
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◄ August <strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong> October ►<br />
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat<br />
1 2 3 Council tip<br />
6 7<br />
closed<br />
4<br />
Information<br />
session for Prep<br />
parents <strong>Merrijig</strong><br />
School<br />
5 Council tip<br />
closed<br />
Rubbish & Recycling<br />
8 OPEN MIC 9 10<br />
Council tip<br />
closed<br />
Trivia at the Pub<br />
Bush poets<br />
meeting Library<br />
2-4<br />
15 16 17<br />
Council tip<br />
closed<br />
11 12 Rubbish<br />
Council tip<br />
closed<br />
18 19 Rubbish &<br />
Recycling<br />
Council tip<br />
closed<br />
13 14<br />
20 21<br />
22 OPEN MIC 23 24<br />
Council tip<br />
closed<br />
Trivia at the Pub<br />
25 26 Rubbish<br />
Council tip<br />
closed<br />
27 28<br />
29 30<br />
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Working on that bucket list<br />
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Rosemary and Kevin Tyrrell originally from the Hunt<br />
Club Hotel are undertaking their Bucket List trip in<br />
Europe.<br />
After a stopover in Singapore<br />
Kevin enjoying a gin sling at Raffles Hotel Singapore<br />
Rosemary<br />
said, "St<br />
Petersburg<br />
was an<br />
amazing place to visit as was Moscow"<br />
,<br />
"so many amazing buildings and the people were so friendly and<br />
welcoming, totally different to what we expected."<br />
on their way to Russia, the couple arrived in St<br />
Petersburg<br />
to board our<br />
river cruise<br />
to Moscow.<br />
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"After Moscow we flew to Tallinn in<br />
Estonia" Rosemary continued, "We<br />
picked up our home for the next 10<br />
weeks.<br />
*<br />
We have now been through Estonia,<br />
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and are<br />
currently in The Czech Republic."<br />
All the places we have been so far have been amazing but<br />
different from each other. Apart from the German invasions,<br />
we have learnt so much about the Soviet Occupation, all very<br />
interesting.<br />
"We are currently in Prague an absolutely beautiful place,<br />
unfortunately because we are in peak time, the crowds have<br />
been terrible, I think next time we will visit off peeak. We still<br />
have a lot of places to visit, but so far it‟s been an amazing<br />
trip and we look forward to the adventures ahead."<br />
Kind Regards<br />
Rosemary and Kevin Tyrrell<br />
ƸӜƷ.•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ<br />
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More <strong>Merrijig</strong> people on the move<br />
Gillian Triggs appointed UNHCR’s<br />
Assistant High Commissioner for<br />
Protection<br />
Gillian Triggs and her husband, Alan Brown of Buttercup Rd,<br />
<strong>Merrijig</strong> will be setting off for Geneva at the end of <strong>September</strong><br />
following Ms Triggs appointment as Assistant High<br />
Commissioner for Protection.<br />
She will be overseeing the international protection work<br />
carried out by the UNHCR for millions of refugees, internally<br />
displaced, stateless and other people of concern.<br />
In a press release on the agency‟s website, UN High<br />
Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has welcomed her<br />
appointment.<br />
„Ms. Triggs, an Australian national, replaces Mr. Volker Türk,<br />
who left UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in July this year to<br />
assume the position of Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Co-ordination at the United Nations<br />
in New York.<br />
'UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Ms. Triggs, and she is expected to take up<br />
her new position shortly. The roles of High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner, Assistant<br />
High Commissioner for Operations, and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection together<br />
comprise the top four positions in UNHCR‟s senior management structure.<br />
„Announcing the appointment of Ms. Triggs, Mr Grandi noted that she comes to the UN Refugee<br />
Agency after recently completing a five-year term as President of the Australian Human Rights<br />
Commission. She is currently Vice-Chancellor‟s Fellow and Emeritus Professor at the University of<br />
Melbourne.<br />
``During her rich career Ms Triggs has held a number of other eminent appointments. She has an<br />
extensive history of dedicated service to human rights and the refugee cause in Australia, the broader<br />
Asia-Pacific region and globally.<br />
„A highly renowned expert in international law, Ms. Triggs has demonstrated considerable<br />
professional expertise, advocacy and leadership abilities in a number of roles, including as President<br />
of the Asian Development Bank Administrative Tribunal, Chair of the UN Independent Expert Panel of<br />
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Inquiry into Abuse of Office and Harassment in UNAIDS, Dean of International Law at the University<br />
of Sydney and as Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law in London.<br />
“Gillian Triggs brings to UNHCR extensive expertise, knowledge and vast experience in international<br />
refugee protection that will contribute enormously to our efforts to protect, assist and find solutions for<br />
those forced by violence and persecution to flee their homes,” Mr Grandi said. “At this challenging<br />
time when displacement globally is at record levels, this appointment reaffirms our commitment to<br />
international protection as the core of all of UNHCR‟s work on behalf of the world‟s refugees,<br />
displaced and stateless people.”<br />
Ms. Triggs has been closely associated with a number of not-for-profit organisations throughout her<br />
career, including through her current role as Chair of Justice Connect, an organisation that connects<br />
10,000 lawyers to provide pro bono advice to asylum seekers and others in need of legal support in<br />
Australia.‟<br />
She recently released her latest book, Speaking Up.<br />
She said this week that she and Alan were in shock that they should be taking this huge step but<br />
were very much looking forward to this next challenge in their lives. Gillian added they will be sad to<br />
miss the Spring in <strong>Merrijig</strong>. They have been very regular visitors to their <strong>Merrijig</strong> property which they<br />
purchased 20 years ago.<br />
And your <strong>Newsletter</strong> editor is home again<br />
The blown tyre was the only problem encountered, vehicle<br />
wise, on the 7647km - 7 week trip. There were a few running<br />
repairs on old sweet Adeline though, as she was not fond of<br />
corrugated roads. In outback NSW and Qld many of the sealed<br />
roads are corrugated. So it was an extra surprise to open the<br />
door and NOT see something strewn throughout the van rather<br />
than being in a cupboard or drawers. Onetime all the contents<br />
of the drawers were all over the van and the whole drawers<br />
cupboard had pulled up its footings.<br />
Looking for repair parts (somewhere) I ventured into Bunnings<br />
- Oh how I love, and hate, Bunnings. I went in to get a packet<br />
of angle brackets to secure the set of drawers cupboard – they cost $4 - I spent $170 as I also bought<br />
a battery powered drill and some other useful bits and pieces.<br />
That was not the only impromptu expense I had, as although the vehicle was perfect and the van had<br />
a few running repairs, I was breaking down too. It got to a point where I could barely walk more than a<br />
dozen steps before needing to sit, then take off again. Solution, I bought a pull apart mobility scooter.<br />
Fold up versions weigh a min of 24kg to carry people my size, and I couldn‟t lift 24 kg as it‟s arthritis<br />
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that is slowing me down. So I bought one and had a wonderful time visiting gardens and parks,<br />
shopping centres and doing the walking tours around towns inspecting the beautiful old buildings like<br />
a real tourist.<br />
The best part of the trip was seeing all the things I had never had time to stop and check out before<br />
when needing to be at place B by a certain time. So as well as visiting cousins and friends in 3 states<br />
I checked out some of the painted silos, museums and<br />
interesting towns, art galleries and amazing places I had<br />
not known existed when I had flown through various<br />
towns on other trips in the past.<br />
This is how Adeline and<br />
I travelled around – I<br />
am short enough to not<br />
need to pop the top. I<br />
did this twice in Qld but<br />
it became too difficult to fix it down again so it has not gone up since.<br />
I began by checking out the<br />
painted silos on the way to<br />
South Australia where I<br />
would visit my cousins in<br />
Adelaide. These are all only<br />
a day trip from <strong>Merrijig</strong>.<br />
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I spent several days in Adelaide caught up with the SA family including<br />
their grandchildren; we had lunch one day at a marina where, as a real<br />
treat, dolphins came to visit us while we waited for our meals.<br />
I next went to Waikerie<br />
where one time passing<br />
through I pulled over as the<br />
smell of orange blossom<br />
was remarkable. I enjoyed it<br />
so much coming through<br />
the air con I opened the<br />
window to get a better smell<br />
- and was swamped by<br />
blowflies. Up went the<br />
windows. …. It‟s a lovely<br />
town to visit and the<br />
oranges are delicious. Just<br />
because I could I took the ferry across the Murray.<br />
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Next stop was Karoonda, Cyril and I have friends<br />
there but they were not home, I went to the<br />
painted silos where the artist was busy, even<br />
though it was raining. He uses spray cans of paint,<br />
wearing breathing apparatus, and operates the<br />
cherry picker himself.<br />
After leaving Adelaide I tried to get away from the<br />
threatening bad weather and I thought I had when I<br />
came across the sky like a divisive line. It didn‟t last<br />
- the days were cold still for a while longer.<br />
I had been told ages ago that I should visit Mongo<br />
national park, so into outback NSW I went but<br />
although it is a special place and I enjoyed it, poor<br />
old Adeline took a beating on the unsealed<br />
corrogated 130km of road.<br />
Much of travelling the outback of NSW<br />
and Qld is like this. But on a road I‟d not<br />
been on before even this was a joy. The<br />
cloudless sky was a pleasure to be<br />
under.<br />
There are theme trees, like on the Nullarbor,<br />
this one was funny because its Dolphins which<br />
normally require water, but in the poor Darling<br />
River there are only puddles<br />
Pooncarrie Dolphins (torches)….→<br />
I think this is enough for now. But I can<br />
recommend this sort of travel where you can<br />
take your time. Oh and I brought some nice<br />
sunshine back with me.<br />
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<strong>Merrijig</strong> Fire Ready Supper Dance …… planning underway<br />
The 4th annual Fire Ready Supper Dance is set for Saturday, October 12, and planning is well<br />
underway to make sure the event is as enjoyable as ever.<br />
Local band Last Drinks will keep everyone on their toes and again this year the not-to-missed auction<br />
will offer loads of opportunity to snap up a bargain. The dance is an excellent night to connect with<br />
the <strong>community</strong> while supporting both organizations.<br />
Being its fourth year the dance has been held, it now has quite a reputation for an entertaining night<br />
out and for the auction held during the night.<br />
The items for the auction and also the door prize raffle are contributed by local businesses and are<br />
many and varied. If you‟re quick off the mark you can snaffle a ripper bargain.<br />
More detailed information will be posted in the coming weeks including the link to buy tickets through<br />
trybooking.com .<br />
For further info you can contact the hall‟s social events co-ordinator, Peter Deyell on 0413 438 061.<br />
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【ツ】 【ツ】 【ツ】<br />
Alex’s Dad Jokes<br />
As I put my car in reverse, I thought to myself…. ….. “This takes me back”<br />
“This takes<br />
me back.”<br />
I've being saying "mucho" more often while talking to my<br />
Hispanic friends…<br />
…….. It means a lot to them.<br />
What do you call two guys hanging<br />
above a window?<br />
……. Curt and Rod<br />
I started eating clocks in my free time<br />
…………..It’s a time consuming hobby.<br />
Ryan Daykin Ryan Daykin Ryan Daykin<br />
That little boy, who would meet me at the <strong>Merrijig</strong> school<br />
fence to collect the mail, is busy making a real name for<br />
himself on the country music scene.<br />
Both Ryan and his brother Heath attended <strong>Merrijig</strong> school<br />
where their mother Sheena, is the long standing school<br />
secretary.<br />
Ryan has just recently brought out his second EP recording,<br />
which he is naturally very proud of.<br />
Ryan performs around Mansfield as well as gigs around the country and country music festivals such<br />
as famous Tamworth.<br />
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Hard copies of this latest EP can be<br />
purchased from Ryan‟s web page<br />
www.ryandaykin.com or from Edith<br />
and May Florists in Mansfield<br />
His EP can be heard and purchased<br />
via the link below.<br />
https://music.apple.com/au/album/keeping-secrets-ep/1452619540<br />
❀‿❀<br />
Local call for plastic milk bottle tops<br />
Locals are urged to collect plastic bottle tops which will be put to a very worthwhile cause.<br />
The bottle tops are turned into a filament and then 3D printed into prosthetic hands for children. The<br />
side benefit is the bottle tops are not going into landfill.<br />
Local resident Louise Jacob said she would be pleased to be a drop off point for anyone wanting to<br />
help with this amazing project. Milk Bottle tops should be clean, dry and placed in a sealed bag.<br />
Many rotary clubs are behind this. One stated:<br />
Only milk, soft drink and water bottle tops please - no ring pulls, other plastic rings or metal<br />
attached. A wonderful company called Envision Hands uses a muncher donated by Coca-Cola to<br />
turn the tops into the extrusion material used in 3-D printers. They then print out robotic hands and<br />
arms to order, for needy amputees. They mainly go to international recipients, but some go to<br />
Australians in need.<br />
It seems to be the perfect project - no cost, easy to do, and a wonderful outcome. Envision Hands<br />
supports long-term unemployed workers, and removing the tops from the bottles means the bottles<br />
are easier to recycle as well, so less plastic landfill.<br />
More information can be found at: https://werribeerotary.org.au/stories/lending-a-helping-hand<br />
Local <strong>Merrijig</strong>gers can place their plastic bottle tops in a bag in our letter box (it’s grey) which<br />
is at the top of Buttercup Rd where it intersects with the Mt Buller Rd. It’s numbered 271 and I<br />
will make sure they are delivered to Melbourne. Further information call Louise on 0419 346 249.<br />
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๏ ๏﴿ ๏ ๏﴿ ๏ ๏﴿<br />
For kiddies who have completed their kinder year this year parents are invited to and<br />
information session at <strong>Merrijig</strong> Primary School.<br />
This wonderful little school is small in numbers but not in scope offering the children<br />
everything the big schools can and more. Parents are invited to attend to see if this school<br />
would be the best fit for your child to start in in 2020.<br />
Wed Sept 4 th between 5:30 and 6:30<br />
RSVP Kimberly 0422 795 544<br />
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✌⊂(✰‿✰)つ✌<br />
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong> Message:<br />
New CFA advice on smoke alarms<br />
CFA now recommends that smoke alarms be installed in every living area and bedroom, and that they be<br />
interconnected so that all alarms will sound if any one is activated.<br />
Studies have shown that 85 percent of children do not wake to the sound of a smoke alarm. If a smoke alarm activates<br />
in a child's bedroom, the parent's smoke alarm should be interconnected so that it goes off at the same time.<br />
Legislation requires that all new homes (and those undergoing significant renovation) after May 2014, where there is a<br />
need for multiple smoke alarms, they must be interconnected so that if one smoke alarm activates, they all do.<br />
The increase in products and devices that we use in our home these days mean that fire could start anywhere in our<br />
living areas and bedrooms. Modern home designs and the materials used in modern furnishings means that fire can<br />
develop and spread much more quickly than 30 or 40 years ago. Having smoke alarms in every living area and bedroom,<br />
including in hallways and stairs between floors increases the opportunity that a fire will be detected more quickly. This<br />
will give your family the best chance of escape.<br />
Fire-Ready Supper Dance<br />
It's time to break out the party gear and round up your mates for our annual knees-up at the <strong>Merrijig</strong> Hall.<br />
Saturday night 12 October.<br />
Music by <strong>Merrijig</strong>'s own band, LAST DRINKS.<br />
Supper, raffle, auction. Proceeds to the hall and to our CFA brigade (towards replacement of our slip-on with something<br />
more fit-for-purpose).<br />
Look out for more information on tickets and table bookings.<br />
New members<br />
New members are always welcome at the <strong>Merrijig</strong> Brigade. Training is provided.<br />
Contact Brigade Secretary Ross May on 0400 868 456.<br />
Don’t forget to follow the brigade on Facebook. Search for Glenroy <strong>Merrijig</strong> Rural Fire Brigade, or just <strong>Merrijig</strong> CFA or<br />
Rural Fire Brigade.<br />
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Is Spring Nearly Here?<br />
Snow is melting, daffodils are blooming,<br />
Wattle balls are opening,<br />
Lambs and calves dance with each other;<br />
Bursting with life, butting mother's udder to demand more and more milk to drive their<br />
energy.<br />
The willow strings are turning green.<br />
Over-night new changes reveal themselves.<br />
The paddocks are greening, water is seeping out and collecting in the depressions and<br />
refreshing the nearly dry dams.<br />
The Delatite has a fresh in it;<br />
Once dry stones and sand banks are now covered by the silver water running rapidly over them,<br />
Fresh cold mountain-water, is racing down from the melting snow.<br />
Camellias are decorating our gardens,<br />
Violet and Daphne perfume is in the garden air<br />
And the green shoots of the bulbs are spearing up.<br />
I wonder which tree will sprout next?<br />
Dear wombats do be more careful on the road. Your families are grieving, so many deaths.<br />
Lambies<br />
Tottering new-borns,<br />
Skipping day-olds,<br />
Precious white bundles cuddled together,<br />
Closely guarded in their out-door nurseries<br />
By watchful mother ewes.<br />
If disturbed, they test their limbs with scant control,<br />
Tails bouncing, legs askew,<br />
They endeavour to escape whatever threatens, bumping into each other in wild disarray.<br />
Once out of fear's range, it is tummy filling time.<br />
Two or three babies seek nutrition<br />
And, oh, what joy is expressed as they fill up with warming, comforting, mother's milk,<br />
Tails dancing with delight.<br />
Christine Sheldrick<br />
August <strong>2019</strong><br />
Cr Marg Attley:-Your local representative on<br />
Mansfield Shire Council. Available to be contacted on:<br />
5<strong>77</strong>6 2231 or marg.attley@mansfield.vic.gov.au<br />
A WORD FROM THE SHIRE<br />
http://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/home.aspx<br />
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Rates notices will soon arrive in property owners’ mailboxes.<br />
This year they contain major changes including to your general rate (rate variation) and waste<br />
management charges, the <strong>community</strong> waste charge and the effects of a revaluation. These changes<br />
are explained in an information sheet that will arrive with your rates notice, or you can read it on our<br />
website -http://mshire.co/ratesexplained<br />
There's loads of payment options including a newly introduced automated telephone payment option -<br />
details here: http://mshire.co/payoptions<br />
Please give us a call if you have any questions about the changes on 5<strong>77</strong>5 8555.<br />
For the information from the letter …. See link below. Lots of detailed info.<br />
https://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/Council%20Flyer%20for%20rate%20notices%202<br />
019-20%20%20Rate%20variation%20etc_0.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2AjiO7O-<br />
QCjELmZlOvPs04npjG7BrW_X2xyDz1WyS_vJnRIN9UkSJv<strong>77</strong>M<br />
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What is e-waste I hear you ask?<br />
Electronic waste, or e-waste as it‟s known, is any electrical item powered by either a battery or power<br />
cord. Yes, that‟s right! Everything that is operated by some form of power source!<br />
So, how do I dispose of e-waste?<br />
a $6 charge.<br />
All e-waste can be taken to the Mansfield Resource<br />
Recovery Centre for<br />
drop off where it will be<br />
sorted and shipped off<br />
for recycling.<br />
Televisions, computers,<br />
printers and scanners<br />
can be dropped off for<br />
free, however items<br />
such as kitchen<br />
appliances, fans,<br />
vacuums, power tools<br />
and other small<br />
electrical items will incur<br />
As e-waste is banned from entering the landfill stream, it can no longer be placed in your kerbside<br />
wheelie bin for disposal so please, do the right thing and take all electronic materials to the Resource<br />
Recovery Centre.<br />
Looking for a summer time job??????<br />
What an opportunity!<br />
Applications are now open for lifeguards at the<br />
Mansfield Pool who will not only benefit from on the<br />
job skills and experience, but will also obtain their<br />
first aid and lifeguard qualifications at the same<br />
time.<br />
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Not only that, people aged between 16-25 can apply to have qualifications fully funded and we will also be offering<br />
reimbursements to other applicants.<br />
Full details, including how to apply, are available on our website –<br />
* The season is the third weekend in November through to the third weekend in March<br />
https://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/…/employ…/current-vacancies<br />
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Get your business moving - FOR FREE.<br />
Yep, that's right. The Victorian Government's Small Business Bus will be in<br />
town between 10am and 4pm on 3 <strong>September</strong> and they're offering free, 45<br />
minute one-on-one mentoring sessions to Mansfield businesses.<br />
Bookings are essential and you can register via the events section of our<br />
website.<br />
A Facebook problem !!!<br />
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Bye for now Adele<br />
Adele McCormack<br />
67 MacPherson-Smith Dve<br />
Mansfield 3722<br />
☏ 0409 600 655<br />
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