On the odd occasion, I take the time to think about how certain inventions have helped (or in some cases, hindered) us as we go about our daily life, either at home or in the workplace and in one of these pensive moments, I began to consider the humble stapler and to find out exactly when someone came up with this helpful device.

Apparently, a guy by the name of George McGill was the first to come up with the staple itself and then a year later in 1867, he was granted a patent for a press which inserted the staple into paper. Whilst one could well and truly think that that clears up the question of who and even when, some regard Henry Heyl, the inventor in 1877 of a device that both inserted and clinched the staple, as the true inventor of the modern staple.

Having continued to work on refinements to his original device, George McGill patented the McGill Single-Stroke Staple Press in February 1879 and this was basically the first commercially successful stapler. The device weighed in excess of one kilogram and loaded a single 500 mm wide wire staple which it could drive through multiple sheets of paper. Although I have used the word “stapler” throughout this description of the above events, this word itself was not actually used in this sense until 1901 when it was used in an advertisement describing a machine which could be used to fasten sheets of paper with a thin metal wire.

From that time onward, there have been many advances in stapler designs and this includes the most commonly used version today which is the Flat Clinch version, the electric stapler, the automatic stapler which is incorporated into some copying and collating machines and even the compressed air driven staple gun which is an essential item found on construction sites.

The use of staples has also been adopted very successfully by the medical profession and is the preferred method to be used in some types of major surgery. I wonder what Mr McGill and Mr Heyl would have to say if they could see just how their humble inventions have been adapted for use in so many ways that help us keep it all together.

Helly’s celebrities of the 20th century – Princess Anne

Celebrities of the 20th Century

David Sweedman

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May 12, 2018

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Helly’s celebrities of the 20th century – Princess Anne

Tags: Celebrities. Famous people. Actors. Princess Anne

MORE UNEXPECTED ROYAL MOMENTS Princess Anne

They were the uninhibited, casual London days of the 60’s, when you bought public transport tickets for your dogs to take them on trains and buses. Your dogs could accompany you everywhere even in restaurants, stores and offices. And I took my dogs with me wherever I went.

Since the day I was born my favourite toys had always been fluffy dogs. But both growing up in Vienna and during my first marriage in Sydney, always living in small flats, did not allow me to have a dog. Once single again, moving to London and buying my first house dictated the immediate company of a dog. I fell in love with my new puppy even before I met him. I was having a drink in an extremely crowded English pub, with people literally pushing against each other, standing in front of the packed bar, when I was surprised to find an empty circular area right in the middle of it all.

And there he was, an Afghan Hound, spread out on all fours in spacious luxury, and fluffier than my childhood dreams. His owner introduced me to the breeder and the same week I owned this dog’s identical brother and named him Ramo – an incredible creature who never learnt to walk or run. He simply floated through the air as though he were a bird. My most loved London shopping street was the famous Kings Road in Chelsea, which included my favourite shoe shop with a bizarre layout. As you walked into the boutique from street level the shoes were displayed in the normal fashion.

But halfway through the shop, and that you could not see from the street, a narrow, spiral staircase snaked itself steeply one floor further down. And that room was the spot with all the special shoes. Ramo, on a very long lead as he preceded me, literally floated down the spiral steps, and I heard a girl squealing with pleasure admiring and chatting to my dog. I did not take too much notice, as this was the usual reaction when strangers confronted this aesthetic looking hound. But as soon as I sat down on the seat opposite this teenager, I realized it was 19-year-old ANNE, THE PRINCESS ROYAL.

Dressed simply and neatly, her long fair hair tied with a band at the back of her neck, she looked like everybody else in the boutique. And I figured if she could chat up my dog, I too could speak to her. I bent across the seat and handed her my business card, asking if I could interview her one day.

As she perused my card, Princess Anne’s security officer, who had been standing against the wall a couple of yards away, rushed across to us. But what surprised me was that he actually snatched the card aggressively out of the princess’s hand, not mine. She looked at him strangely but said nothing. The officer returned to his wall. Princess Anne raised her eyebrows, shrugged her shoulders, smiled at me and said, “Well, I suppose you have to go through the regular channels!”

So I did – four years later. And it wasn’t even my idea at that time. I was writing features for Woman Magazine, when Roland Weiss, the magazine’s Feature Editor, who became my mentor and a true friend, suggested I research the complete background of Mark Phillips, as Roland was convinced that Mark and The Princess Royal would become engaged that year. I spent weeks at the Daily Express cuttings library finding dozens of contacts for Mark’s family including his mother and grandmother, his friends, his ex-girlfriends, his teachers and even his headmaster.

I interviewed them all. The unexpected day when the official engagement was announced by Buckingham Palace, I was the only writer with a major feature ready for the presses. WOMAN MAGAZINE (as per the opening paragraph of the attached photograph) and some 27 other countries worldwide published my feature immediately. Just 5 days before the engagement was announced, I had invited Mark’s Mum for a second luncheon interview. She declined, saying she already had a lunch appointment that day.

Did I smile when I discovered Mrs. Phillips forgot to mention that this lunch was with Her Majesty the Queen. And just like Her Majesty, Mrs Phillips carried her handbag over her arm in her village garden in the tiny hamlet of Gt. Somerford in Wiltshire, south-west of London, as she greeted her guests for a press engagement celebration party to which I too was sequestered.

Busy Fingers Second Hand Store – Whats going on.

Local news and articles

David Sweedman

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May 12, 2018

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Tags: Bribie Island. Second-Hand Store. Grant of assistance. Charity.

BUSY FINGERS

Some customers have told me that the shop is really looking good now; this is all due to the hard work of our manager Sonia and her staff and volunteers. Sonia still has some more changes to complete before she’s happy with the full layout of the shop floor, she hopes to have it all completed soon.

Sonia and our wonderful volunteers are constantly working to keep the shop neat and tidy endeavouring to make it easier for our customers to wander around and find exactly what they are looking for. We sincerely thank our customers for their patience when they come and find things being moved around and sometimes finding yellow taped off areas due to safety.

We have always tried to minimise the inconvenience to our customers by working outside shop hours but sometimes that is not possible and we have to forge ahead during opening hours. So thank you all for your continued support during these times. Since Christmas, our committee has continued to assess requests for help from within the Bribie Island community and I thought you may like to know how your support of Busy Fingers has enabled us to support the island.

We are all proud of our great Life-Saving Club at Woorim, so we were pleased to be able to assist in obtaining 2 new spinal boards which are used to remove unconscious swimmers from the surf. We also purchased 10 junior boards to assist the youngest members being instructed in life-saving, these youngsters are preparing to ensure our beach safety continues into the future.

The Bribie Island Netball Club has received some equipment required to continue their recruitment and training of young people in the sport. House of Happiness at Woorim required some ceiling fan lights which we have been able to supply. We have also assisted the BI Community Arts Society in upgrading their outdoor area; and some maintenance requirements for the BI Girl Guides and shirts for the BI Road Runners and Walkers Club. We have also supplied equipment for the BI Retirement Village and Nursing Home to ensure the continued quality of life for the residents.

We continue to support the VMR and the BI-Moreton Hospice palliative care unit on a monthly basis. We sincerely thank all our supporters, whether you are donating your preloved items or shopping with us, for your generosity which enables us to continue to assist the many associations, schools and kindergartens on the island. We cover a wide range of ages and situations, starting with educational equipment for our youngest at the kindergartens, through the schools and sporting groups and clubs and finally onto the aged care with medical equipment.

Hopefully, this ensures a continued quality of life of all our island residents. If you are a member of a club or association on the island and require assistance please let us know. We try to assist all non for profit associations and sporting clubs, we also assist the police, SES, VMR and the BI Hospice. Our President is quite happy to come along to your club and present our aims and goals and how your club can apply for assistance.

Please call 3410 1920 or email [email protected] if you wish to have a presentation or if you wish to apply for a grant of assistance. The shop currently has many sales on including Books $5 a bag, which we haven’t been able to do for awhile but lately, we have been receiving quite a few books and our shelves are full. We have our continuing sale of lounges and also some dinner sets and various other household items for 50% off. So please drop in and search for a good bargain.

Our noticeboard is being used now to advise customers of events happening on the island, so if your club or association is having a function, please feel free to ask our Cashier to put your notice up. We will leave it there until the day after the function then remove it. Other notices will be removed after 14 days to make room for new notices. Last week we had to arrange for a truck to remove all the unsaleable items that had been dumped after hours, this is an expensive exercise.

In the past, we were able to do several tip runs a week in our own vehicle but due to the increase in our free pick up and low-cost delivery service, we are unable to keep up with the rubbish disposal. SO PLEASE do not bring any unsaleable items to us, please take them to the tip at Ningi yourself, we are not allowed to take rubbish to Ningi, we have to go to the Caboolture refuse station, which is very time-consuming. When the gates are shut we ask people not to leave donations on the footpath outside the gate, as over the last month items have been taken during the night.

Also when the gates are open overnight, we have had problems with someone going through our industrial bins, these bins have broken or dirty items in them, so please do not go into them. Plastic bags are in short supply and will eventually be phased out, I am trying to arrange for some reusable bags for the shop, but I suggest you start bringing your own bag for your purchases in case we have no bags on hand.

I would like to thank Mavis Howard again for her supply of children’s lucky dip bags they love them. Also the continued support of Richard Whetlor and his merry gang at the Bribie Islander, they have not only continued to support us but also other associations and businesses on the island, keeping to their motto of “Let’s keep it local” the paper is a great read and keeps us up to date on what is happening on the island – Thank You, Richard. Hope to see you in the shop soon. Sandra.

The art of wine making white wines and red wines

The Bribie Winelander

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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The art of wine making white wines and red wines

Tags: Winemaking. White wines and Red wines. Wine.

THE BRIBIE WINELANDER

No politics this month just wine you will be glad to know but you can now be aware there are elements out there trying their hardest to sour your enjoyment of your favourite beverage.

This month we shall look at the art of winemaking white wines and red wines. Making wine isn’t difficult as it can be made just relying on nature to ferment the sugars within the crushed grape working with yeasts floating around in the air add a bit of warmth and an alcohol beverage is the result, however making very good wine is an art that encompasses everything in the vineyard including the soil and climate in which the vines are grown and the term for this is “Terroir”.

In Australia, the picking of the grapes will usually start in February in the warmer areas such as The Riverland South Australia, The Riverina New South Wales and The Swan Valley in Western Australia. In cooler climates such as The Great Southern Western Australia and Tasmania, it could be April or later before the grapes are picked. In the warmer areas, the vines are watered on a regular basis and in the past, too much water led to cheap wines with little flavour but producing huge quantities, the grapes were machine harvested and were usually put into flagons and casks, however nowadays the vines are irrigated by drip feeding and these regions are producing a lot of very high-quality wines at reasonable prices.

In the cooler area, many wineries have little or no irrigation if they have reliable rainfall and the quantities produced are are a lot less, often from ancient vines that produce less fruit and juice, the grapes being handpicked with intense flavour which contributes to paying a higher price. As the grapes approach the time for picking the winemaker will measure the sugar quantity in grape whilst the fruit is still on the vine so he can measure what the conversion to alcohol will be as each degree of sugar will convert to a degree of alcohol and decide when to pick the grapes.

This is the when things can go wrong because if the weather turns bad whole crops can be ruined as excess rainwater can be absorbed by the grape splitting them and allowing the juice to become oxidised overnight. Once the grapes have been collected the fruit is transported to the winery where it is de-stemmed and the grapes are crushed. With white wine, the juice has little or no skin contact and the yeast is added then transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation, a few white wines such as Chardonnay and Semillon will be stored in barrels for additional oak characters to add complexity to the finished wine. Nowadays certain yeast strains have been found to work better with certain grape varieties taking the guesswork out of the final product making sure you get a perfect final product.

With red wines the crushed fruit is left with the skins, this is known as the must, and this is where the colour comes from and the skins are left in contact during the fermentation process which is known as maceration. It is possible to produce a white wine from red grapes by having no skin contact as happens with some sparkling wines especially Champagne where one of the major components are The Pinot Noir grape. Premium red wines are often left in open-top tanks for a couple of days with the skins to extract as much colour as possible, the must is then pressed carefully to extract the juice in the same way as white wine, during fermentation the yeast cells feed on the sugars which produced carbon dioxide and alcohol and temperature plays its part, the carbon dioxide goes off into the atmosphere.

Premium red wines then find their way into barrels of various sizes for whatever the winemaker thinks is the right length of time to produce the style of wine he is trying to achieve, the wine is then filtered, bottled, labelled, packaged and sold, however in the case of Penfolds Grange it will not be released to the market until five years after the grapes were picked.

Rose wines are made from either red grapes which are given the slightest skin contact to give them a blush colour or even blending white wine with red wine. In the cheaper end of the market, red wines will be fermented in stainless steel tanks and oak chips will be added to give the wine complexity, this can also occur with cheaper Chardonnay but if the wine is well made even experts can sometimes be caught out when reviewing the wines. Red and White wines that punch above their weight even though they are often sold below $10 are The Wyndham Estate Range, Bin222 Chardonnay, Bin 444 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 555 Shiraz, Bin 888 Cabernet Merlot and 999 Merlot.

These wines are made by Pernod Ricard who also make Jacobs Creek, George Wyndham wines and the excellent Jacobs Creek Reserve range. They also make the St. Helga and St. Hugo wines which are superb for a special occasion.

Another range which frequently is sold for under $10 is the Houghton line range which has recently undergone a label refresh. Alongside the ever-reliable Classic White is their Shiraz which took out the award for the top red at last year’s Perth Wine show and often sells for $7-$10 which is an outstanding value, in fact, all the range represents great buying.

Cheers, Philip Arlidge [email protected]

Benjamin Franklin circa 1700’s

“The discovery of wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.”

Basil Fawlty, Fawlty Towers

“I can certainly see you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn’t know the difference between a Bordeaux and a Claret”

(Claret was the old-fashioned term the British gave to wines from Bordeaux, well done Basil!)

MONEY TALK WITH PETER DALLIMORE – Financial Councillor

Money Talk

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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MONEY TALK WITH PETER DALLIMORE – Financial Councillor

Tags: Financial advice. Finance. Money. Councillor. Bribie Island

UNAUTHORISED AND MISTAKEN BANK TRANSACTIONS

Author: Peter Dallimore is a volunteer Financial Counsellor at the Bribie Island Neighbourhood Centre

The ever-increasing availability of electronic funds transfer devices make it easier to spend money and easier for fraudsters to access your accounts and make unauthorised transactions. It’s also easy to make a mistake when entering transaction details in a withdrawal or funds transfer form. Keeping a regular check on transactions is essential to alert you to a problem so you can act and keep in control.

The sooner you report a problem the more likely you are to get your money back. You should be able to get your money back if it is clear that you haven’t contributed to the loss and your payment service provider has signed on to the ePayments code which is a voluntary code of conduct regulating electronic transactions.

Transactions falling into the money back category include where a forged, expired, faulty or cancelled PIN/ password or card was used, the transaction was fraudulently made by an employee of your financial institution or merchant, a merchant incorrectly debited your account more than once or that someone else used your PIN or password without your consent. Before you report an unauthorised or mistaken transaction, check if your payment service provider has signed up to the ePayments Code via www.asic.gov.au.

If they subscribe to the Code, they must have processes in place to return your money, in the circumstances outlined above. If they are not a subscriber, you should still raise your concerns with them. Contact your payment provider as soon as you become aware of a problem. Explain the problem to them, note the day/time of your call, obtain a reference number for the call and confirm the details in writing. Where it appears that there has been fraudulent activity taking place you may need to put a “stop” on your account to prevent further transactions.

There is less chance of getting your money back from an unauthorised transaction if you acted fraudulently, didn’t keep your PIN or password secret, unreasonably delayed telling your financial institution that your card was lost or stolen or that someone else may know your PIN or password or you accidentally left your card in an ATM.

However, even in these circumstances, the amount you are liable for is subject to certain caps. Similar to an unauthorised transaction if you have made a mistaken payment the sooner you contact your payment provider the better. If you put in the wrong BSB or account number, or chose the wrong payee, you are likely to get your money back if you contact your account institution within 10 business days and the money is still in the recipient’s account.

Your account institution will need to be satisfied that the mistake is genuine. It will be a slower process if you report the problem after 10 business days, but you should still get your money back if the money is still in the recipient’s account. If it is more than 7 months, and the money is still in the recipient’s account, then the recipient has to consent to the return of your funds before you can get your money back. And so the world of electronic banking offers many benefits in terms of convenience but it requires constant vigilance to ensure that your money is not being misused or misdirected.

Check out moneysmart.gov.au for more information on how to stay in control.

Peter Dallimore can be contacted via email at [email protected] or you can make an appointment to see him by calling 3408 8440. The Financial Counselling service is free. Other free Neighbourhood Centre services include family counselling and courses for parenting, anger management, personal empowerment for women and depression and anxiety courses.

A small Emergency Relief Program, a Debt Relief Service and Neighbourhood Harvest (free food once a week) are also provided. In addition the Centre hosts outreach services including Centrelink, Job Search, hearing services and supports some great initiatives including Tax Help and Broadband for seniors. A small onsite Bargain Shop has super low prices. The Neighbourhood Centre is located at 9 Verdoni St Bellara.

History – 2018 ANZAC CENTENARY

Our History

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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Tags: History. ANZAC. Military. Australian Defence Force. Centenary.

Who from Bribie answered the call? Bribie Island Historical Society received a grant from Queensland Anzac Centenary Grants program to identify all enlistees in WW1 and WW2 who were born or lived on Bribie Island or Pumicestone Passage when they enlisted. From an original number of three WW1 enlistments our research has now identified 18 from this area who answered the call. Considering that the population of Bribie Island in 1915 was about 40 and assume the same “up the passage” 18 is quite significant. So who were these men? Three of them paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Featured Image(above): Pic — Photo of Walter Henry Mills and Ada Burrell on their wedding day – 17 May 1919. [Source: Ancestry.com – Kunde family tree –
owner: suma328]

Arthur William STORR, 1899 – 1917, a surveyors assistant when he joined 9 Battalion (Bn) 14 Sep 1915, Tragically killed in action (KIA) France 26 Mar 1917 and remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Picardie, France. He gave his next of kin (NOK) address as “Bribie View, via Caboolture”. William GOSLING, c1898- 1918, the youngest enlistee age 18y10m and a farmer when he enlisted 26 Bn 11 Sep 1915. NOK living at Bribie Lightkeepers residence, North Bribie Island. He was KIA in France 8 Aug 1918 and is buried Villers- Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Villers- Bretonneux, Picardie, France.

The third was Alexander Thomas DAVIS 1892 – 1919, a fisherman when he joined 42Bn on 1 Oct 1916 and served in France until seriously wounded 9 Jun 1918. He was evacuated to England and then Australia where he died of wounds 5 May 1919.

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Left), and Memorial (Right) Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.

Arthur William STORR had two brothers also enlisted. Harold Francis STORR, b1893. He was a plumber when he joined 15 Bn on 16 Sep 1914. He gave his NOK address as “Donnybrook, via Caboolture, N.C.Line”. 15 Bn landed Gallipoli 25 Apr 1915.

He was wounded on 7 May 1915 treated in hospital at Mustapha and returned to his unit 17 Oct 1915. He remained with the Bn when it went to France and returned to Australia in Jul 1919. Charles Allan STORR, b1896. He was a butter maker when he also joined 9 Bn 16 Sep 1915. He returned home 17 Jul 1919. He gave his NOK address as ““Bribie View, via Caboolture, N.C.Line”. The eldest enlistee was 37yo Alan Layton, b1886. He joined 4 Pioneer Bn on 29 Nov 1916 and served in France. He was a storekeeper, married with family living on Bribie in 1916. Reginald Joseph CAMPBELL, 1896 – 1976, enlisted into the Navy 16 Apr 1917. It appears that he served in Australia.

Reg was born and died on Bribie Is. Reg was also an oysterman, a fisherman, and eventually a storekeeper. His last address was 7 South Esplanade Bongaree, Bribie Is.

Reg Campbell (possibly after WW1 when he worked on SS Koopa).

Two brothers, both fishermen who enlisted were Edward Henry FREEMAN, 1896 – 1957, who enlisted 11 Bn 7 Sep 1916 and William FREEMAN, b1890 , who enlisted 3 Machine Gun Bn 17 Sep 1916.

They both served in France and returned in 1919. William also served in WW2 Another family had three sons enlist. Walter Henry MILLS, 1886 – 1961, was a carpenter when he enlisted 25 Bn 20 Jan 1915. He was born Woorim 23 Sep 1886 and is the earliest known Bribie Island birth. John Robert MILLS, b1893, enlisted into 2 Remount Unit 5 Nov 1915. He served in Egypt until repatriated with deafness in Apr 1916.

Caption from Lyn Sach: WIlliam Freeman in uniform(left image) and Caption from Lyn Sach: Edward Henry Freeman (on right with the axe and his legs out in front of him). Photo taken in Western Australia. (right image)

He and third brother Thomas James MILLS, b1891 joined 15 Bn 19 Nov 1914. He also served in Egypt and returned to Australia suffering rheumatism 29 July 1915. Both were born at Toorbul. Maurice Alexander BISHOP, 1892 – 1973, enlisted 11 Depot Bn 26 Apr 1916, did not serve overseas and was discharged 18 May 1916. He was born at Toorbul. Walter Herbert BONNEY 1896 – 1976.

Outdoor portrait of Australian Prisoner of War (POW) 944 Private (Pte) Walter Henry Mills, 25th Battalion, from Eumundi, Queensland. He was captured at Pozieres, France on 29 July 1916 and spent the rest of the war in German POW camps. He survived and was repatriated to England in December 1918. Pte Mills arrived back in Australia on 25 April 1919.

Pic — Photo of Walter Henry Mills and Ada Burrell on their wedding day – 17 May 1919. [Source: Ancestry.com – Kunde family tree – owner: suma328]

A carpenter when he joined 26 Bn 18 Oct 1915 served in France and transferred to 2 Division Signal Company in Jul 1918. He was born at Toorbul also. Bertie DUX , 1896-1973. He was a railway porter when he joined 11 Bn 15 Jun 1916 and served in France where he was wounded. He was born at Toorbul. In Jul 1919 he was granted leave to work with a coach building firm in London for a few weeks to gain experience before coming home. George Leslie GOLLAGHER, 1894 – 1964.

A bullock driver and was living Toorbul when he enlisted 2 Nov 1916. He joined 31 Bn and served in France. George Ernest JACQUES, 1890 – 1962. He gave his occupation as machinist was born at Coochin. He joined 49 Bn 15 May 1916. In the early hours of ANZAC Day 1918 in France the 49th participated in the now legendary attack to dislodge the enemy from Villers-Bretonneux.

Pic — Walter Herbert Bonney’s [Snr] Toorbul home, 1902. [Source: SCL_P87452

Thomas Martin TRIPCONY,b c1890, He was a farmer and joined 49 Bn 22 Nov 1915. He was then living at Cowie on Pumicestone Passage. He was wounded in Oct 1917 which resulted in him being returned to Australia in 1918.

Pic — “Cowie Bank” The Tripcony homestead in Pumicestone Passage 1892.

If any reader is family or has information to add please contact [email protected] Currently there is not a memorial of any description on Bribie Island which pays tribute to WW1 and WW2 enlistees from this area who enlisted. Using funds received from Queensland Anzac Centenary Grants program those above and those identified from WW2 will be acknowledged on two separate plaques soon to be displayed on Bribie Island.

Do not miss the Bribie Island Seaside Museum exhibition commencing 27 Feb to 17 May called – Remembrance: The Australian War Memorial.

APRIL @ VMR BRIBIE ISLAND – Whats happening and boating safety tips

Voluntary Marine Rescue (VMR)

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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APRIL @ VMR BRIBIE ISLAND – Whats happening and boating safety tips

Tags: Voluntary Marine rescue. Bribie Island. Brisbane. Boating safety Tips and advice.

APRIL 2018 @ VMRBI BRIBIE ONE SEA PEN

VMRBI recently purchased a sea pen, similar to that of Bribie Two, to reduce maintenance costs for de-fouling the hull and damage against the pontoon for our prime rescue vessel. Photos below show a bit of fun was also had by those involved!

Featured Image(above): L to R VMR Bribie Vice Commodore Liz Radajewski, Bribie Island Bowls Club Treasurer Kerry Muller, VMR Senior Coxswain Bob Skinner, Bribie Island Bowls Club General Manager Kevin Bertwistle and VMR Commodore Nathan Gundry under the new Bribie Island Bowls Club. sponsorship signs on the VMR gangway. Picture Peter McNamara.

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SUNSET DRINKS

Friday 23rd March 2018 Over 100 members and guests attended with the Social Committee serving up 85 delicious hamburger meals for just $5. The usual raffles were conducted, the first prize a ham was won by Joan Nicholls and second prize a bottle of wine with Easter chocolates was won by Bec Gibb. Once again Trevor Botham provided music and vocals for the evening.

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BRISBANE to GLADSTONE YACHT RACE Good Friday –

Bribie 1 assisted VMR Brisbane and Redcliffe Coast Guard to maintain a clear track for the vessels in the traditional Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race on Good Friday.

YEARLY RADIO ROOM STATISTICS To 22nd APRIL 2018

3923 Calls, 1098 vessels logged on, 95 Vessel Assists, 433 Sitreps, 210 Requests, 33 Overdue vessels, 6 Vessel Tracking, 5 Securite Broadcasts. VHF calls 77.1%, – 27MHz calls 10.1%

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APRIL VESSEL ASSISTS:

SUN 01/04 0736am – 2.75m Tender (reported stolen), for vessel moored in front of Sandstone Point Hotel, tender was recovered from beach next to Bridge less new outboard motor.
SUN 01/04 1625pm – 6.4m ½ Cabin member, motor not cooling, required tow from Caboolture River 4th marker to Bellara Ramp.
MON 02/04 1157am – Tinny over-turned off Turners Camp, required re-floating and tow to Turners Camp Ramp.
MON 02/04 1328pm – 9m Full Cabin member with broken hose, required tow from White Patch to Pacific Harbour.
MON 02/04 1522pm – 2 Jet Skis stuck on bank near Avon Wreck, required tow to Bellara Ramp later at high tide, completed 2119pm.
TUE 03/04 1045am – 6.5m ½ Cabin nonmember with flat batteries required jump start at Bulwer
SAT 07/04 1055am – Dinghy non-member tied to 3rd green marker at Whitepatch no POB. Water Police requested us to investigate, relayed rego to them owner was out of fuel and OK.
SUN 08/04 0705am – 3m Jet Ski member with motor problems, required a tow from Red Beach to Bellara Ramp.
SUN 08/04 0834am – 4.5m ½ Cabin, member with motor problems required a tow from Donnybrook to Bellara Ramp.
MON 09/04 1033am – Assisted water Police with SAR at North Point Moreton Island, over-turned vessel, person was rescued by helicopter.
TUE 10/04 1135am – 7.3m Sailing Yacht nonmember aground mid channel Toorbul/White Patch required resecuring near Spinnaker Sound.
WED 11/04 0904am – Pontoon drifting 250m South of Bribie Bridge, recovered to Base.
FRI 13/04 0915 – 4m Catamaran nonmember becalmed in Shipping Channel overnight requiring tow to Spinnaker Sound Marina.
FRI 13/04 0915 – 4.5m Tinny non-member with motor problem required tow from Turners Camp to Bellara Ramp.
SAT 14/04 1129am – 4.5m Tinny nonmember with motor problems, required a tow from South of Bribie Bridge to Donnybrook.
SUN 15/04 10916am – 8m Larsen nonmember with motor problems, required a tow from North of Donnybrook to Spinnaker Sound Marina
MON 16/04 0738am – 16m Cruiser member, taking on water, required pumping out. MON 16/04 1253pm – 4.75m Tinny non- member had run aground South end of Moreton Island required re-floating.
TUE 17/04 0640am – 9m 5ton Shivers wont start required tow from Dunwich to Spinnaker Sound Marina.
TUE 17/04 1114am – Vessel broken down and beached at Skirmish Point required tow to Spinnaker Sound Marina.
TUE 17/04 1129am – 4.5m Runabout nonmember with motor problems required tow from Buckley’s Hole, restarted OK but failed to inform us.
TUE 17/04 1810pm – Jet Ski member stuck on sand bank North of Mission Point, required tow back to Spinnaker Sound Marina.
Tue 17/04 2028pm – 6.5m Cuddy Cabin drifting from Tangalooma mooring towards shipping channel past the wrecks. Owner had found vessel beached near Cowan Cowan just prior to VMRBI’s Bribie One arrival.
FRI 20/04 1114am – 6m Cuddy Cabin nonmember with motor problems required a tow from Dux Creek to Spinnaker Sound Marina,
FRI 20/04 1230pm – 9.9m Bay Cruiser member lost steering required tow from Woody Point to Brisbane River.
FRI 20/04 1534pm – 6m ½ Cabin nonmember with motor problems required a tow from Tangalooma to Toorbul.

DRAGONS ABREAST BRIBIE ISLAND CHRISTEN NEW BOAT:

9 am Saturday 7th April 2018. Dragons Abreast Bribie Island who paddle out from Spinnaker Sound Marina held a boat christening ceremony on Saturday morning 7th April at 9.00am for their new boat “Spirit of Bribie II.” VMR Bribie was invited and Vice Commodore Liz Radajewski presented them with a new hand-held VHF Radio for the new boat, as the ladies log on with our Radio Room on every outing.

Dragons Abreast Bribie Island was founded in May 2009. Consisting mainly of cancer survivors, they paddle 3 times a week on the Pumicestone Passage, early Monday morning, late Thursday afternoon and early Saturday morning. They have 2 other dragon boats— ‘Spirit of Bribie’, a 20 seater, and ‘Little Spirit’, a 10 seater.

Voluntary Marine rescue. Bribie Island. Brisbane. — Vice Commodore Liz Radajewski presenting the new hand-held VHF Radio at
the Christening.

HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY 13TH April 2018

30 members and guests turned out for the Happy Hour, with nibbles and the usual great prices for drinks.

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SANDSTONE POINT HOTEL RAFFLES – SUNDAY 15TH April 2018

It was White Saturday Crew who were rostered to provide ticket sellers for the Sandstone Point Hotel Raffles this Sunday. A beautiful day of around 30 degrees and the wonderful setting at the hotel made for a pleasant afternoon. Many thanks to the Comiskey family for allowing VMRBI to conduct these most valuable fundraisers nearly every Sunday of the year.

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Common Safety Concerns Witnessed by VMRBI skippers

Compiled by VMR Coxswain Simon Middap

Bow Riding – this is our biggest concern The number of people putting themselves at risk of death or serious injury, by sitting or standing on the bow of boats that underway seem to be increasing. This practice is an accident waiting to happen. Bow riding is dangerous anytime, however lots do it in choppy conditions, at high speeds and turning sharply or cresting waves to increase the ‘thrill’ of the ride.

If your passenger slips off and goes under the moving boat, the skipper has no time to react, even if a lifejacket is being worn. Lifejackets won’t protect a person from propeller strike injuries or being hit in the head by heavy vessel. Worst case, it may result in death. Bow riding means:

• Extending any part of your body outside the perimeter of a power-driven vessel that is making way, or

• Being on the bow in a position that increases the risk of falling overboard. It is an offence that relates to both the offending person (fines apply). Bowrider designed boats, on the other hand, provide safe seating in this area of the boat and are just the ticket if you want to have some boating fun with the family riding up front, without any hands and legs outside the boat.

Anchoring or setting crab pots in a narrow passage, channel, or fairway – As with parking a car, you’re not allowed to just anchor wherever you like. It’s an international law that vessels are not allowed to anchor in a channel, therefore a vessel engaged in fishing must not impede the passage of any other vessel navigating within a narrow channel or fairway. It’s a dangerous activity for both the skipper of the moving vessel as well as the anchored vessel.

Larger vessels must maintain speed to steer, and in most cases, they must stay in the channel – it’s the only place deep enough for them to operate. A large vessel cannot manoeuvre as easily and normally creates a good size wake. Please take care not to anchor in channels to avoid potential for collisions, damage, injury or death. The same goes for the laying of crab pots. Although not an offence, it’s still a cause for concern. Once again, for both the skipper of the moving vessel but also the crab pot owner. Navigational channels tend to be the deeper, faster moving water.

This means crab pots and their attached lanyard and floats are more affected by the moving current, and more prone to moving or being hit by the moving vessel.

Travelling too fast when close to other objects or the shoreline – A power vessel’s speed limit of 6 knots applies within 30 metres of boats anchored, moored to the shore or aground. It also applies to a jetty, wharf, pontoon, boat ramp or the shoreline, as well as people in the water. PWC’s (Personal Water Craft/Jet Ski) which must not operate at more than 6 knots within 60 metres for the same objects as above.

Wash can create serious safety hazards for other boats, especially in marinas and anchorages where there is an expectation of calm conditions. Wash can also create damage to pontoons, jetties, vessels moored to these structures, vessels in shallow water or anchored on a foreshore and most importantly, shorelines and river banks. Even at slow speeds your boat will create wash.

Responsible skippers look behind to ensure their wash is kept to a minimum. Be aware of the impacts of your wash.

Young children not wearing life jackets – Queensland Legislation states it is compulsory to wear a lifejacket if you are under 12 years old (from 12 months old and up to, but not including, 12 years old) in an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length and underway. The jacket must be suitable for the size of the child and worn correctly. A complete article on life jackets will be addressed in a subsequent article.

For further information about Lifejackets from Maritime Safety Queensland see https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Safety/Lifejackets.aspx

Watch out for VMR Bribie Island’s information sessions on boating and safety at our website: http://www.vmrbribie.com/

Always remember to LOG ON and LOG OFF with MARINE RESCUE BRIBIE for your safety.

Own a Boat?

You can join VMR Bribie Island online at www.vmrbribie.com, phone (07) 3408 7596 or call in person at Marine Parade Bellara, and enjoy many benefits including:

• breakdown assistance.

• vessel & contact details recorded in our database in case of emergency;

• access to first aid, radio, navigation courses plus safety/boating information sessions;

• regular social events;

• reimbursement up to $100/per year for tows by other VMR/Coastguard units; and

• overnight/weekend secure car & trailer parking at the base.

Always remember to LOG ON and LOG OFF with MARINE RESCUE BRIBIE for your safety.

An essential item to have

Local news and articles

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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Tags: Bribie Respite centre. Wallum Action Group volunteers. Bribie Island

(WITH THE HOPE THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO USE IT)

Over the past few years, the Wallum Action Group has used the profits from it’s Community Nursery to assist so many worthwhile causes within the community and as a follow on from donating a number of defibrillators in 2017 to various groups, another of these was handed over to the Bribie Respite centre recently.

Featured Image(above): Dutch work experience student Jeroem van Velsen watched on as Wallum Action Group Volunteers presented the defibrillator to Joanne Allison-Schouw from the Respite Centre

When accepting the defibrillator from Wallum Action Group volunteers, Respite Centre representative Joanne Allison-Schouw said that this was an item that the centre had been wanting for quite some time and, whilst it was so good to finally have one on hand, she hoped that it never had to be put to use.

On hand to observe the presentation was an unfamiliar face at the nursery and this belonged to a young man who is assisting the other volunteers for three weeks as part of an overseas work experience initiative by his school at Alphen aan den Rijn in South West Holland. Eighteen-year-old Jeroen van Velsen explained that, from when he was little, he has been interested in nature and the animals that he saw on the Discovery Channel and coming to Australia is like a dream come true.

‘It is a really wonderful opportunity for me to expand my cultural horizons and to come in contact with the fascinating animals and the wondrous nature here,’ he said. The Wallum Action Group Community Nursery relies solely on the money raised from plant sales to continue the assistance that it provides within the community and this has included funding the purchase of diabetes pumps, wheelchairs and making a large donation to Camp Quality each year.

They have an absolutely amazing range of plants available and I would recommend a visit to the nursery which is right next to the Orchid House on First Avenue. Opening hours are from 8 am until 11 am each weekday and if anyone would like to enquire about becoming one of the volunteers who are responsible for the total operation of the nursery, 0407 699953 is the number to call.

AUSTRALIAN PIED OYSTERCATCHER – HAEMATOPUS LONGIROSTRIS

Wildlife

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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AUSTRALIAN PIED OYSTERCATCHER – HAEMATOPUS LONGIROSTRIS

Tags: Wildlife. Australian. Birds. Queensland. Animals

By Marj Webber

Handsome black and white waders with bright red eyes, red bills and legs are commonly seen walking, feeding alone, in pairs or in small groups along the sandy beaches of Bribie Island and the Pumicestone Passage.

They are 42-51 cm in length and weigh between 400 and 780g. Their strong red bills are used to prize open molluscs, dig in the sand for worms and to catch insects. Young Oystercatchers have to be taught by their parents to open shells and obtain their food. Australian Pied Oystercatchers are beach-nesting birds and breed usually between August and January along our shores and beaches all around Australia.

Pairs remain together for many years but will change partners. Nests are mere scrapes in the sand just above the high tide mark. Female Oystercatchers incubate the 2-3 brownish speckled eggs which hatch in about 28-32 days. The young, when hatched, are tiny, brown, striped chicks which leave the nest within a few days. Adult oystercatchers will defend their nests by pretending to be injured and luring the predator from the eggs or chicks.

Managing with one foot.

They will sometimes dive bomb from the air. During the 42-48 days before the chicks can fly they face many perils. To protect themselves when danger threatens they will often hide in grass or foliage on the beach until it becomes safe again. As the nests are out in the open on sandy beaches they are very vulnerable to predators such as raptors, off-leash dogs and cats. Nests are very hard to spot and it is easy to step on them while walking on the beach.

If the parents become too disturbed they will often abandon the nests with the loss of eggs or babies. People using the beach on horses and in 4WD vehicles are a huge threat to beach-nesting birds. There are five species of beach-nesting birds in Australia four of which are found on Bribie Island.

Pied Oystercatchers, Beach Stone-curlews, and Red-capped Plovers breed on our beaches while Sooty Oystercatchers are not common but can sometimes be seen from the roost at Banksia Beach or on the beach near Buckley’s Hole. Beach-nesting birds have a very poor breeding success because of the popularity of our beaches. In Victoria, Birds Australia has a programme in place to save the Hooded Plover which is a beach-nester and an endangered species but not found on Bribie Island.

Small group

Australian Pied Oystercatchers are not migratory waders but are locally nomadic. They are territorial and claim a strip of beach of about 200 m and will move if need be. Their call is high pitched and sounds a little like a squeaky toy. I sometimes hear them calling as they fly over during the night. Conservation status – federally secure but vulnerable in NSW.

And the kilt waggles on

Community Events

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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Tags: Bribie Island community events. Entertainment. Shows.

I suppose that the question that automatically comes to mind because of the above heading is, “What makes a kilt waggle?” and, for anyone who doesn’t know the answer (all of us), I would suggest going along to the Bribie Island Recreation Hall on June 2nd at 1.30 pm when that popular group of entertainers, the Bribie Gleemen, will be holding one of the ten concerts that they are scheduled to perform this year.

The concert has been named “The Waggle of the Kilt” and naturally will be an afternoon of songs with a strong Scottish influence. Bribie Gleemen Publicity Officer John Gaffy said that to create a true Scottish theme, there will be a piper accompanying many of the afternoon’s ‘Kilt Waggling’ songs and he expects that as usual, the concert will be very well attended. John also told me that the Bribie Gleemen are always happy to welcome new members to the group.

‘We would really like to see some new faces coming along, especially a few younger ones,’ said John.

‘Anyone who is interested should give me a call on 3405 1837,’ he added. The Bribie Gleemen have a longstanding reputation for putting on great entertainment so I would strongly suggest that if you enjoy listening to the music of Scotland, you get along to “The Waggle of the Kilt” on June 2nd at the Recreation Hall.

By the way, if anyone thinks that a front row seat at the concert might give them the chance to solve an age-old mystery, forget it, the Gleemen won’t be wearing kilts.

Make your Move

A Look at Life (Nikita Chee)

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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With Nikita Chee

Hello Bribie-ites, You know that saying that goes something like, “One day I will…”. Or, “One day soon I’ll…”. Or just simple, “One day…”. What’s with that? Why do we say One Day? Whatever, that One Day, is about, it must be something we really want to do, otherwise, we wouldn’t say it. But why put it off? It’s kinda like that assignment for uni I should be working on, “One day soon I will get to analysing that advertisement through semiotics which is promoting hegemony and Western ideology…”.

Hmmm, but Pinterest is so much more fun! Anyway, what I’m thinking is that why can’t today be the day? Why can’t you be the first one on the dancefloor? Why can’t I start that new hobby I’ve been thinking about doing, today? We are such a cautious society. Always watching what other people are doing, waiting for them to make the first move before we make ours. Putting this or that off to retirement. Waiting for someone to introduce us first before we say hello.

Why are we so afraid and introverted? On the other hand, I realise that wisdom and patience are important life skills that carry through our decision making. And that impulsiveness can be a major character default. But there’s a difference between appropriate reservation and self-centeredness.

Unfortunately, people in leadership whether that be through official positions or in informal social situations (because there are always leaders at parties – you know the ones), cop a lot of flak for their outgoing-ness. I believe the reason for this being that their decisions end up affecting the lives of others in some manner, but, well, someone’s got to make those decisions right? We should give them more credit for taking steps to create life and maintain protection over groups of people and just make something happen really, especially if they do it with a sincere heart.

I suppose what I am getting at is that everyone has something to offer to the world. It might be your personality, your talent, your knowledge, skill or even just your presence. Don’t wait for someone else to share themselves first though, YOU do it. And watch the chain reaction of everyone else coming alive and the party starts! It is actually a brave and sacrificial thing to give of yourself first, and yes, it can make you feel vulnerable or even embarrassed, but you have to block that out and go for it!

You’ll begin to grow as a person and invite new people into your life. I mean, who knows where that could lead for you! I’m excited 😀 Go for it, babe. Go make LIFE! x

The Bribie Islander Pet Pics May 2018

Pet Care & Pet Pics

David Sweedman

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May 11, 2018

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Tags: Funny Pet Photos. Images. Pics. Animals

Do you want funny pet photos? You’ve got them! I love animals, they have a mind of there own and ultimately remind us of ourselves. These funny pet photos are brought to you by The Bribie Islander – Local Newspaper and Blog.

Featured Image(above): This month’s winners.

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THE BRIBIE ISLANDER PET PICS
Share with The Bribie Islander your funny pet photos!
It’s all ‘fun and games ’til someone has to wear a cone! Email photos to [email protected]

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