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Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong><br />
<strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg<br />
July 2020
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 2<br />
GIRGARRE COMMUNITY NEWS<br />
MOOSIC MUSTER WRAP-UP – MUCH TO BE PROUD OF<br />
The Girgarre Moosic Muster is over – done and dusted for another year. Once again, the all-inclusive format<br />
contained the tried and true, plus many new and exciting workshops, open-mic opportunities, and free events to<br />
the delight of festival goers. The muster’s motto of Something for Everyone has seen it grow from a very small<br />
launch nineteen years ago, to the hugely successful five-day camp it is today. It’s a uniquely winning concept in the<br />
world of festivals, attracting more and more campers and day visitors each year. This year online bookings were up<br />
fifteen percent on previous years, plus over four hundred tickets were sold at the muster. The feedback and<br />
accolades from festival goers, many of them attending for the first time, is heart-warming. The program organisers<br />
and the volunteers who made it happen have much to be proud of.<br />
The deluge days before the festival was due to start did not deter the early bird campers, many arriving during the<br />
week prior to the Wednesday bush dance start-up. The grounds on the reserve were soggy for a day or two, but<br />
campers were obliging and respected the volunteer traffic wardens as they tried to find everyone a dry niche<br />
under the trees.<br />
PUT ON YOUR DANCIN’ SHOES<br />
Led by the local Billabong Bushies Band, (pictured below), the kick-up-your-heels bush dance denotes the official<br />
start of the muster each year. It’s the first of the many free events over the five-day festival. No partner? Doesn’t<br />
matter – there are always willing onlookers who’ll get up and have a go. Lively and great fun, the smiles say it all…
Co-ordinator’s Catch-up<br />
Greetings all,<br />
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 3<br />
I hope this finds you healthy, happy and enjoying the New Year! Well we are back, by the time you<br />
read this we have been reopened for 4 weeks, making my 4 week break nothing but a distant<br />
memory. Well that's not quite true, I had a lovely break, a beautiful Christmas day, various outings here and there<br />
and worked like a Trojan on my house and farm. Both looking spic and span at the moment despite the rain and<br />
the prolific growth of grass and weeds.<br />
We returned and hit the ground running with Australia Day, what a fabulous day it was. We had 70 in attendance<br />
and very worthy winners. Noel Mattei was the winner of both the Girgarre Community Member award and the<br />
Waranga Ward Citizen of the Year. He was the most deserving winner with his outstanding and continuous dedication<br />
to his community. His acceptance speech was heartfelt and had the attendees including his family very moved.<br />
The Rushworth OpShop and Food Bank won the Waranga Ward Community Group of the Year award and truly deserving<br />
winners they are. The support they offer to their community is outstanding and they have an exceptional<br />
dedicated team of volunteers. Congratulations to all involved.<br />
Finally, a huge shout out to all who volunteered on the day from setting up, cooking, serving and cleaning up.<br />
Thank you.<br />
The Cottage turns 40 in June, we will be marking this occasion with a celebration. Watch this space.<br />
Due to the ongoing pressures of the cost of living increases, our work load has tripled. Because of this we have<br />
made the sad decision that we will need to pull back this year on some community events we have run previously.<br />
We are encouraging other groups or community members to pick up these events and are willing to assist in the<br />
transition and facilitation if needed. The events we are pausing this year are;<br />
May-Biggest Morning Tea & Mother's Day Classic<br />
December-Girgarre Town Christmas Carols.<br />
It is with a heart felt apology that we are doing this but as mentioned our workload and restricted hours has made<br />
this impossible. We need to focus on our core operational activities and the health and welfare of our staff and<br />
volunteers. We thank you for your understanding.<br />
That is all from me, take care Kezia. Below left: Noel Mattei. Right: Rushworth Op Shop & Foodbank .Con’t pg 5
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 4<br />
THROW YOUR NAME INTO THE HAT…<br />
GIRGARRE COMMUNITY NEWS<br />
Nothing highlights the uniquely inclusive nature of Girgarre’s Moosic Muster more than the Ed Mahon Memorial<br />
‘Out-Of-The-Hat’ Bands. The ‘come-and-have-a-go attitude is a hallmark of a Girgarre muster, and that friendly attitude<br />
is no more apparent than when one joins a so-called ‘Hat Band’. Lack of musical experience or expertise is no<br />
deterrent to taking part. The randomly-picked members of each six-piece band ensures everyone, from raw beginners<br />
to the more proficient, is equally in the mix.<br />
The Hat Band acts this year offered a variety of styles from old pop and rock to blues and folk. Some were<br />
quite comical, but each band gave it their best as they vied for a sought-after spot onstage at the Friday evening<br />
Soundshell concert. Praise from the participants was unanimous. From Val Rowe: ‘Meg Bundock (Wiltshire, UK)<br />
and I took part in Hat Bands at Girgarre Moosic Muster. Our names were put in a hat along with about another<br />
160 people. Names were pulled out and we were given a leader and a song and told to be ready to perform to the<br />
audience about 2 hrs later (lunch to be fitted in during that time). Loads of fun to do and great to see all the other<br />
groups perform. 29 groups in total...’<br />
Left. The<br />
winning Hat<br />
Band sang<br />
‘Sing C’est La<br />
Vie’.<br />
Below right.<br />
The runnersup<br />
sang<br />
‘Happy<br />
Together’.
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 5<br />
Top:: This Hat Band sang ‘Cover of the Rolling Stone’. Above right:<br />
Everyone gets a go...Nathan from Broken Hill, assisted by his Dad,<br />
David. Nathan loves singing... Above left: The appreciative Hat<br />
Band crowd.<br />
Australia Day: Right: Guest speaker Frank Scopelliti & local Councillor<br />
Adrian Weston. Below: Some of the fabulous volunteers.
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 6<br />
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS - YOU MADE THE MUSTER MAGIC TOO!<br />
Setting up a Girgarre Moosic Muster is no mean feat. There’s a great deal of preparation going on in the lead up<br />
to a muster. Some of it obvious and much more behind the scenes. It is all about teamwork and could not happen<br />
without the many volunteers – both local and muster regulars – who willingly give time and expertise to have<br />
everything in place well before the activities begin. They bring in and set up the portable loos and showers; set up<br />
rubbish bins; see to it that chairs are in their proper settings for concerts and workshops; provide a minibus to<br />
ferry ukulele players back and forth from the recreation reserve (saving many aching legs); man the information<br />
van, and keep the toilets well stocked and clean.<br />
All the delicious fresh sandwiches and slices for morning teas and lunches are provided by volunteers. The<br />
MCs for open mics, those who offered up their expertise to conduct the workshops as well as the three who<br />
worked on sound and stage management – all stepped up to the mark for free.<br />
And that’s without the downpour that created ‘Lake Girgarre’ over on the reserve for a few days. Finding a<br />
dry camping spot was almost impossible until the sun popped out. One camper with a winch worked overtime,<br />
winching rigs out of bogs and resettling them onto dry land, while local volunteers and campers dug little drains to<br />
keep the water moving. The campers endured the upset with humour and a good grace too, making the<br />
organisers job so much easier. A mere ‘thankyou’ is barely enough to honour everyone for their hard work. I Labbett<br />
Below. Volunteering has its own rewards (photos Ken Stewart)<br />
Below. Di Burgmann, right organises all the workshops and Jan Smith, organises just about everything else.<br />
Below: ‘”a rainy day in paradise” (photos Andrea Shepherd)<br />
will resume on Saturday <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 24 th from 10.30 am until<br />
4pm. All are welcome - beginners to the more advanced. Singers<br />
too. Come and join us for a day of musical frolics and friendship.<br />
Entry $5 plus a plate of afternoon tea to share and a BYO lunch<br />
and coffee cup. Tea and coffee supplied.<br />
Contact. Irene Labbett. E: jigarrejammers@bigpond.com. www.girgarre.com.au
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 7<br />
As we are now a CDS partner, we will no longer<br />
be collecting lids, as they can be recycled<br />
through the CDS scheme or your yellow bin.<br />
However we are collecting bread tags. So<br />
please bag these up and bring them in.<br />
AGISTMENT AVAILABLE<br />
FOR 30 YEARLINGS ON WELL<br />
GRASSED DRY COUNTRY WITH<br />
GOOD WATER.<br />
IN THE STANHOPE AREA<br />
CONTACT NUMBER:<br />
0455 578 722
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 8<br />
Don’t peak, Puzzle on page 22<br />
ANSWERS<br />
BIRD – RAID – DRAW – WAND - SWAN<br />
FLORA – FLAIR – LAIRD – DIARY – YARDS - SHADY<br />
GARDEN – DANGLE – ANGELS – ALIGNS – LOSING<br />
– INGOTS - TOXINS
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 9
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 10<br />
Group Name Details Contact name Contact number<br />
The Girgarre Community Group Inc. President Duncan Rodrick 0427 391 706<br />
The Girgarre Community Cottage<br />
3rd Monday 7pm<br />
Coordinator Kezia Talbot 5854 6482<br />
0404 686 344<br />
Girgarre Seniors Tuesdays 10:45am Debra Stelzer 5854 6482<br />
Words on Wheels<br />
Girgarre Cottage<br />
Discuss chosen books<br />
3rd Thursdays 6pm<br />
The Cottage 5854 6482<br />
Gargarro Green Thumbs Nursery Nursery Sales Loraine Warde 0438 546 237<br />
Girgarre Open Garden Committee Open Garden Festival Loraine Warde 58546236/0438 546 237<br />
Girgarre Playgroup 0-5 years<br />
Monday 10-12pm,<br />
Jigarre Ukulele (J-Ukes)<br />
Wednesdays 1:30pm<br />
Girgarre Kindergarten<br />
Begins 2nd week of term<br />
Supper Room, Memorial<br />
Hall $3<br />
Robyn Swan 5854 6482<br />
Lyn Cosham 5859 0297<br />
Girgarre Patchwork Quilters<br />
Fridays 9:30am<br />
Quilters and sewing group<br />
Memorial Hall $3 p/session<br />
Nola Marke 0428 748 226<br />
Girgarre Line Dancers<br />
Thursdays 2pm $7<br />
Carpet Bowls-Thursdays 7:15pm April<br />
to August<br />
Memorial Hall Gloria Atkins 0400 539 778<br />
All ages.<br />
Memorial Hall<br />
Leah (President)<br />
Rob Varcoe<br />
0476302999<br />
0409 975 997<br />
Girgarre Community Kindergarten Lead Educator Robyn Swan 5854 6368<br />
Girgarre Primary School Principal Peter Caldow 5854 6275<br />
Girgarre Returned Services League<br />
1st Tuesdays 7pm. <strong>Feb</strong>-Nov<br />
Girgarre Country Fire Authority<br />
1st Monday 7:30pm<br />
President<br />
RSL Club Room<br />
Captain<br />
CFA Meeting Room<br />
Gary Kitt 0458 548 224<br />
kittbagg@hotmail.com<br />
Shaun Halls 0487 740 001<br />
LIONS caravan for hire Please contact... Avis Weller 5854 6383<br />
Girgarre Community Church<br />
Sundays 9:30am<br />
Christian Church Ron Gregory 5854 6382<br />
Stanhope and District Men’s Shed<br />
Mon, Wed, Fri. 9am-12<br />
Have fun and create.<br />
3 Tivey Rd. Stanhope<br />
Merv Andrew 0457 300 321<br />
Girgarre Facilities Committee<br />
Girgarre Memorial Hall<br />
Girgarre Recreational Reserve<br />
Memorial Hall (Bookings)<br />
Recreation Reserve<br />
Jenny Bassett<br />
Darren Butler<br />
0427 522 816<br />
0427 546 332<br />
Girgarre Development Group (DGD)<br />
Last Tuesday, Jan-Nov 7:30pm<br />
Girgarre Improvements<br />
Memorial Hall<br />
Jan Smith 5854 6283<br />
Gargarro Project Gargarro Botanic Gardens Athol McDonald 5854 6324<br />
Friends of Gargarro Garden -<br />
working Bee 4th Sunday of month<br />
Chairperson Loraine Warde 58546236<br />
0438 546 237<br />
Girgarre Craft Market<br />
2nd Sundays. 8:30-12<br />
Bookings/enquiries Jan Smith 5854 6283<br />
Girgarre Farmer’s Market Bookings/enquiries Jan Smith 5854 6283<br />
Jigarre Jammers. <strong>Feb</strong> to Nov<br />
4th Saturday 10:30-4pm $2<br />
Acoustic Music Irene Labbett 0429 149 246<br />
Girgarre Living History<br />
Book title “Girgarre”<br />
Record of local history<br />
Athol McDonald<br />
Jenny Wadelton<br />
5854 6324<br />
5852 2301<br />
Girgarre Football/Netball Club President Brendon Nicholson 0413 022 398<br />
Girgarre Cricket Club President Mick Coyne 0488 296 566<br />
Girgarre Tennis Club<br />
President<br />
Secretary<br />
Jason Saunders<br />
Fiona Smith<br />
0400 299 942<br />
0408 502 274
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 11
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 12<br />
CLASSIFIEDS & SERVICES<br />
Girgarre Community<br />
Kindergarten<br />
To keep updated on all Kinder information<br />
Every Wednesday<br />
Find us on Facebook<br />
Girgarre Community<br />
Kindergarten<br />
11 -<br />
1pm<br />
FRIENDS OF GARGARRO<br />
CATERING AVAILABLE<br />
Need catering for a<br />
function?<br />
Well, the Gargarro Gardens<br />
Catering Team will be more<br />
than happy to cater for your<br />
needs depending on<br />
numbers.<br />
Phone Bernie Ryan for more<br />
info if you are planning a<br />
function.<br />
Ph: 5857 2407<br />
Mob: 0455 578 722
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 13<br />
Thursday 9-3pm<br />
Saturday 9-2pm
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 14<br />
MARCH <strong>2024</strong><br />
KYABRAM<br />
TOWN HALL GALLERY<br />
OPEN 10-4 Mon-Sat<br />
58521546 0490371641<br />
www.kyabramtownhall.com.au<br />
info@kyabramtownhall.com.au<br />
EXHIBITIONS IN MARCH<br />
YOUTH TEXTILE AND ART EXHIBITION.<br />
This exhibition features work from<br />
young artists of kyabram<br />
paintings & textiles<br />
A IS FOR ANIMAL<br />
Splinter Contemporary Artists<br />
Opens 5 FEB<br />
www.kyabramtownhall.com.au 0490 371 641 5852 1546<br />
BASKETRY & BEYOND. Opens 5th FEB<br />
Work by Northern Plains Basket Makers<br />
LESLIE EDWARDS—Textile Artist -<br />
Colour & Form Ends 5 APRIL<br />
Experiments in Fabric Dyeing
KYABRAM TOWN HALL<br />
Writers’ Group<br />
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 15<br />
A Bob for Bob<br />
One time when I was six, my father gave me a shilling and said, “Go over to Mr Brown and say you have a bob for<br />
Bob.” A mysterious request to be sure, but running errands usually meant new experiences and whys and wherefores<br />
were not to get in the way.<br />
Mr Brown across the road was leaning on his gate. “I have a bob for Bob,” I said, and he took me out to the<br />
back yard where he kept his dogs. One was a happy-faced smooth-haired golden labrador bitch, and the dog was a<br />
gruff and wiry Irish terrier. They were a pair and running around them were some gorgeous blonde pups. Mr Brown<br />
picked one up and held his cute little face right in mine and spoke.<br />
“This is Bob. He’s yours.” Well, the delight was all mine. One of my great desires was to own a dog though I<br />
had never been game enough to ask. Begging for a cat had been hard enough.<br />
Mr Brown was not quite ready to hand over my beautiful Bob. In a few minutes he would deliver the little<br />
bundle to our house himself, he said. He must have thought I would drop him and then maybe the pup might run<br />
away. I was very impatient about it all.<br />
My dad and I waited at our front fence. At last Mr Brown came over and those two blokes got to talking and<br />
talking and Mr Brown kept on holding the pup. Gee whizz. My mother always said men gossip as much as women.<br />
Couldn’t he see I was ready?<br />
“Here,” said Mr Brown, and gave Bobby to me. Finally! Oh, the joy! Bobby had his mother’s sweet face and<br />
some of his pa’s rough hair. He liked me, too. Tried to lick my face. I accepted him like you would a baby, his tummy<br />
on my chest, one arm around him and one hand under his bottom.<br />
Mr Brown eventually left, by which time I became aware that my hand was wet. Had the pup piddled on me?<br />
There are natural reactions to such sensations: I looked.<br />
I can’t describe what happened next. All I remember is the crying and the panic. My hand was all bloody.<br />
Whatever time it took to calm me down and how that was done I can no longer tell. The problem, dear reader,<br />
was the result of a cruel and unnecessary practice that humans once believed – and some still do – that in some<br />
way it enhanced nature to dock a dog’s tail.<br />
My mother put mercurochrome on the pup’s stump wound and in time it healed over. Bobby was a great dog,<br />
a beaut companion who would sit right up next to me, and regardless of how I was feeling, would make me feel<br />
better with just his smiling face. He lived till he was fourteen. I think he had a happy life with us.<br />
The fact that it did not seem to leave psychological scars on the dog has never justified the act – a brutality not<br />
outlawed in Australia till half a century later in 2004. Nevertheless, to mitigate my lingering revulsion when I think<br />
of our first meeting, PETA does receive the occasional donation from me – in honour of a top dog that cost only a<br />
shilling.<br />
© Maria Radanov 2022<br />
Maria is a member of the Kyabram Town Hall Writers’ Group. We have some very interesting and informative discussions while sharing<br />
stories, poetry, and the problems of the writer’s craft. The KTHWs’G has produced a book – Celebrating Women – a collection of original written<br />
works and art from the community – a great birthday GIFT or SOUVENIR of the area – for sale at $20 from the Kyabram Town Hall and online from<br />
the writers’ group link on Facebook and the KTH website: kyabramtownhall.com.au Direct contact: kyabramwritersgroup@gmail.com
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 16<br />
Kyabram<br />
Bakery<br />
135 Allan St<br />
Girgarre Community<br />
Cottage<br />
Keep up to date with<br />
future events and<br />
local information.<br />
5852 1208<br />
SHEPPARTON WORKWEAR & SAFETY<br />
189 – 197 High Street SHEPPARTON VIC 3630<br />
FOR ALL YOUR WORKWEAR CORPORATE WEAR<br />
AND EMBROIDERY<br />
Ph.: 5831 4838<br />
Fax: 5831 1696<br />
Email: sales@sheppartonworkwear.com.au<br />
Website: www.sheppartonworkwear.com.au
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 17<br />
CONTACT THE COTTAGE<br />
Girgarre Community Group Inc.<br />
(The Cottage)<br />
A1601 ABN: 66 944 230 131.<br />
27 Olympic St. (P.O. Box 35), Girgarre, 3624<br />
Phone: (03) 5854 6482 Fax: (03) 5854 6484<br />
http://girgarre.com.au/girgarre-community-cottage<br />
E-mail: girgarrenh@bigpond.com<br />
Coordinator: Kezia Talbot<br />
Connect with us on Facebook. Girgarre Community Cottage<br />
www.girgarre.com.au<br />
The Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong><br />
Do you have something you would like us to share?<br />
Deadline for publication is the 20th of the month<br />
Email: girgarregazette@yahoo.com.au<br />
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Girgarre Post Office. It is also available at: Rob Varcoe’s shop,<br />
228 Allan St Kyabram; Nanneella Store, Rushworth & District<br />
Community Bank; Stanhope and is published on the Girgarre<br />
Website. www.girgarre.com.au<br />
The <strong>Gazette</strong> is produced for the benefit of the wider<br />
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(The Cottage).<br />
Join our email list! Drop us a line<br />
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Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 18<br />
Girgarre Solar Farm – Monthly Project Update<br />
January <strong>2024</strong><br />
Construction Update<br />
Construction works onsite at the Girgarre Solar Farm<br />
are progressing well. Piling, which forms part of the<br />
mounting structure is progressing. Construction of<br />
foundations for power stations and substation are continuing,<br />
and the project will be working towards<br />
installing the solar PV modules in the next few months.<br />
Light and heavy vehicles continue to transit Morrissey<br />
Road, Watson Road, Winter Road, Mason Road as<br />
goods and personnel are transported to site.<br />
During the upcoming weeks, Heavy Rigid trucks with<br />
containers of solar PV modules will be transiting to and<br />
from site on the Girgarre-Rushworth Road (C348) and<br />
the Midland Highway (A300).<br />
About Enel Green Power<br />
You can learn more information on Enel Green Power by visiting the website: www.enelgreenpower.com<br />
For any further queries or feedback about Girgarre Solar Farm please email girgarresolarfarm@enel.com or contact<br />
Community Engagement and Sustainability Officer Giulia Scataglini on 0419 668 522.<br />
Project updates can also be found on our website: https://www.enelgreenpower.com/our-projects/indevelopment/girgarre-solar-farm<br />
MUSIC FOR MENTAL HEALTH<br />
One of the things that most helped many of us cope with the stress of the recent pandemic, was music. It is a wellknown<br />
fact that music can have a positive effect over your thoughts and feelings. If you’ve ever been moved by a piece<br />
of music or felt joy singing along to your favourite artiste, you will understand the power of music to relieve stress and<br />
bring about a sense of well-being. The growth in community music in recent years is a testament to the potential of music<br />
to connect people and bring healing to those who suffer mental or physical health issues.<br />
There is a wonderful example of this right here, on home-turf, with two of our regular muster and Jigarre Jammin’<br />
attendees writing of their experiences of healing through their connection with the musical family in Girgarre. Irene Labbett<br />
Voksy Daesche writes: My psychologist said that coming to Girgarre is the best thing that has happened<br />
to me. Because of my involvement here, and the friendships I’ve made, I am now able to feel at<br />
peace with the world. I’ve come a long way. Since my first muster I have not had a PNES episode. I’ve<br />
pursued as much music as I can possibly fit into my life, and everyone who has asked me to perform<br />
or jam with them has been responsible for my recovery. I’d also like to thank everyone who helped<br />
step forward and make this muster as stress free as possible for me, you’ve all made a very measurable<br />
impact on my wellbeing, and that is something I never forget and wish I could repay.<br />
And Tracy Roberts: The muster this year was a different experience for me. Last year, it was all new, I<br />
sang at a walk-up for the first time …and I spent a lot of time hovering around the folk club tent near<br />
my van, trying to join in. This year it was hours spent walking around, catching up with friends that I<br />
see every month at the Jigarre Jammin’, or at camping weekends and making newcomers feel as welcome<br />
as I was in 2023. I did parking-attendant duties, acted as tour guide and as a general purveyor<br />
of (probable mis)information. A few years ago I had a bad accident, leaving me with an acquired<br />
brain injury. Since recovering, I have memory loss and anxiety issues. Learning the Ukulele, and singing<br />
in two choirs, plus my involvement in the Girgarre music community, has given me confidence and<br />
improved my mental wellbeing considerably.
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 19<br />
Girgarre Community Cottage<br />
can help casuals access sick and<br />
carer’s pay. The Victorian Government<br />
is partnering with<br />
Neighbourhood Houses Victoria<br />
to make it easier to access the<br />
Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee.<br />
The Sick Pay Guarantee provides<br />
up to 38 hours a year of sick and<br />
carer's pay to eligible casual and<br />
contract workers in certain jobs.<br />
If you need help to sign up for<br />
the Sick Pay Guarantee – or if<br />
you know someone who needs<br />
help – get in touch with Girgarre<br />
Community Cottage on (03)<br />
5854 6482.<br />
Workers can also sign up and<br />
claim the Sick Pay Guarantee<br />
online at vic.gov.au/<br />
sickpayguarantee or on the<br />
Service Victoria<br />
app.
MOOSIC MUSTER Con’t<br />
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 20<br />
MEANWHILE – OVER IN THE REC RESERVE – UKULELES RULE!<br />
Look over your shoulder at a monthly Jigarre Jammin’ session or a muster, you will find<br />
someone plucking away at a ukulele! Ukuleles have become so popular in recent years that<br />
we’ve given them their own designated ‘mini-festival’ over at the Girgarre recreation<br />
reserve. It works beautifully, thanks to co-ordinators like Sue Kidd, Brendan Canty, Kim<br />
Burns and the specialty workshop leaders they source each muster, this year welcoming<br />
them from South Australia and New Zealand. Everything ukulele is on the table, from<br />
beginner classes to a ukulele jazz session. The turnout for the workshops is huge, over eighty participants and<br />
growing each year.<br />
The finer points of ukulele playing are eagerly absorbed by the uke-loving folk attending the various workshops.<br />
At the conclusion of the day, they all get together for a huge ‘Ukestra Madness’ session, where all jump into<br />
the fray to learn a four-part harmony piece. As things muster wind down on Sunday, the ukulele players showcase<br />
their growing expertise to the non-uke musicians at an afternoon concert in the Memorial Hall. It’s great fun and<br />
one of the most popular additions to a muster. Di Burgmann<br />
MUSTER CONCERTS<br />
OVER IN GLORYLAND…<br />
Each muster, the sound of voices raised in joyful song rings out across the<br />
street and market. Tony, Riki, Bruce and Kristen of the band ‘Dancin’ With<br />
Angels’(pictured), have been leading old-time gospel- bluegrass style - for this<br />
popular Sunday morning session since it’s inception nineteen years ago. It’s<br />
not only festival campers who fill the supper room to capacity, but members<br />
of the Girgarre Community and other district churches. Occasionally visitors<br />
to the market pop in too, attracted by the sound of the singing.<br />
The Friday and Saturday free concerts at the beautiful Soundshell are a highlight of a Girgarre Moosic Muster. This<br />
year, the large crowd of festival attendees and visitors enjoyed a warm Friday evening of wonderful music, keeping<br />
one eye on the weather as distant thunder rattled around the heavens. Saturday night provided a contrast due to a<br />
chillier than expected wind making jackets and knee rugs the order of the evening. The style of music at both concerts<br />
was broad, ranging from the lively sounds of NQR (Not Quite Right), a lively Jazz band to Australiana by Drongo<br />
and the Crow, (pictured below) to bluesy rock and folk. A relaxing way to wind up a busy day.
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 21
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 22<br />
WORD PUZZLES<br />
Change one letter & rearrange letters at each step to get to the <strong>final</strong> word<br />
(the first step is done for you J)<br />
B I R D<br />
R A I D<br />
Attack<br />
Make a picture using pens or pencils<br />
Magical baton<br />
S W A N<br />
F L O R A<br />
Panache<br />
Scottish lord<br />
Book of private thoughts<br />
Old units of measurement<br />
S H A D Y<br />
G A R D E N<br />
Hang<br />
Seraphs<br />
Brings into line<br />
Misplacing<br />
Rectangular blocks of metal<br />
T O X I N S
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 23<br />
GIRGARRE COMMUNITY NEWS<br />
We have a vibrant seniors group, who meet every Tuesday at The Cottage at 10.30am. W are always looking for new<br />
people to join us. Please find below the list of activities for the first six months of this year. Minimum cost is in-house $5<br />
p/p, meal supplied. Outings transport $5p/p and meal at own cost.<br />
January<br />
16 Outing-Shepparton Club Anthony<br />
23 In house<br />
30 Outing-Colbinnabin Pub<br />
<strong>Feb</strong>ruary<br />
6 In house WOW<br />
13 Outing-Timmering-sunflowers & lunch-Rochester<br />
20 In house<br />
27 Shepparton Club Anthony<br />
March<br />
5 In house WOW<br />
12 Outing-Echuca Taras Hall lunch<br />
19 In house<br />
26 Shepparton Club Anthony<br />
April<br />
2 In house WOW<br />
9 Outing-Lockington museum & pub lunch<br />
16 In house<br />
23 In house<br />
30 Shepparton Club Anthony<br />
May<br />
7 In house WOW<br />
14 Outing-Shepparton Chinese lunch<br />
21 In house Biggest Morning Tea<br />
28 Shepparton Club Anthony<br />
June<br />
4 In house WOW<br />
11 Outing_Barmah pub & cultural heritage<br />
Centre (Nathalia)<br />
18 In house<br />
25 Shepparton Club Anthony<br />
Please contact The Cottage on 5854 6482, if you have any questions.
Girgarre <strong>Gazette</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2024</strong> pg 24