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1 PLEASE DO NOT DISCARD - Give this paper to a friend or neighbour to read. HISTORIC WILLIAMSTOWN THE ADA WRITING COMPETITIONS 2015 THE RUINED CHRISTMAS PLAY page 3 page 7 page 14 This month the Macedonian cultural festival danced its way into Williamstown. The annual event attracted more than 14,000 visitors last year, so this year the festival was split into two places – Williamstown and South Morang. There was a lot to see and do. There was a master class on Macedonian cooking with a feast of kebabs. Lovely sweets called ‘Indijunki’ and ‘Tulumbi’ tempted the locals. Children had fun playing in the ‘walk on water’ balls, enjoying the carnival rides with lots of happy laughter and screams of delight. There was an animal farm where children could feed the chickens, rabbits, ducklings, and geese. The longest queue was outside a food stall, where people waited patiently to savour traditional Macedonian spinach and feta cheese rolls. In other stalls you could buy sausages, kebabs, many different types of Balkan sweets, Orthodox icons and even art. A Macedonian woman standing next to me told me that in Macedonia peppers are one of the most popular vegetables that people pick, dry, and hang them on the verandah. In Macedonia the drying peppers make a spectacular sight, especially with red peppers. They also roast the peppers, peel them, fry them and nally pack them into jars, to make into ajvar (pronounced ‘ayvar’). Ajvar is then used as relish or pepper paste. The rich Macedonian culture was also on display on stage with colourful traditional costumes and lively music. The dancing and musicians were amazing. More information about “Macedonians in the Aussie Land” can be found on Channel 31 every Sunday at 11:30am. The Macedonian festival followed the other multicultural festivals in Melbourne, such as the Spanish Festival in Fitzroy, the successful Polish festival in Melbourne CBD, and wonderful Dewali in Werribee. More information about multicultural events is available at: http://www.visitvictoria.com/ Regions/Melbourne/Events/Multicultural Macedonian Cultural Festival in Williamstown
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Around Williamstown 02

Apr 06, 2016

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Community Newspaper Issue 02, December 2014
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Page 1: Around Williamstown 02

1PLEASE DO NOT DISCARD - Give this paper to a friend or neighbour to read.

HISTORIC WILLIAMSTOWN

THE ADA WRITING COMPETITIONS 2015

THE RUINED CHRISTMAS PLAY

page

3page

7page

14

This month the Macedonian cultural festival danced its way into Williamstown. The annual event attracted more than 14,000 visitors last year, so this year the festival was split into two places – Williamstown and South Morang. There was a lot to see and do. There was a master class on Macedonian cooking with a feast of kebabs. Lovely sweets called ‘Indijunki’ and ‘Tulumbi’ tempted the locals. Children had fun playing in the ‘walk on water’ balls, enjoying the carnival rides with lots of happy laughter and screams of delight. There was an animal farm where children could feed the chickens, rabbits, ducklings, and geese. The longest queue was outside a food stall, where people waited patiently to savour traditional Macedonian spinach and feta cheese rolls. In other stalls you could buy sausages, kebabs, many different types of Balkan sweets, Orthodox icons and even art.A Macedonian woman standing next to me told me that in Macedonia peppers are one of the most popular

vegetables that people pick, dry, and hang them on the verandah. In Macedonia the drying peppers make a spectacular sight, especially with red peppers. They also roast the peppers, peel them, fry them and fi nally pack them into jars, to make into ajvar (pronounced ‘ayvar’). Ajvar is then used as relish or pepper paste. The rich Macedonian culture was also on display on stage with colourful traditional costumes and lively music. The dancing and musicians were amazing. More information about “Macedonians in the Aussie Land” can be found on Channel 31 every Sunday at 11:30am.The Macedonian festival followed the other multicultural festivals in Melbourne, such as the Spanish Festival in Fitzroy, the successful Polish festival in Melbourne CBD, and wonderful Dewali in Werribee. More information about multicultural events is available at: http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Melbourne/Events/Multicultural

Macedonian Cultural Festival in Williamstown

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 22

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

In everything I did, I showed you

that by this kind of hard work we

must help the weak, remembering

the words the Lord Jesus himself

said: ‘It is more blessed to give

than to receive. - The Bible

It has been an absolutely fascinating month after the launch of the fi rst edition of the Around Williamstown community newspaper. We have received very warm welcomes and a lot of good wishes and support from the public. Thank you! This month I met so many wonderful, talented, and lovely people. I would like to thank those who have stretched out a hand of friendship and given the paper tremendous support. Williamstown certainly has no lack of friendly people and smiles. A big thank you to all our advertisers for their kind support of the paper. The website and app are on their way, so stay tuned! This month we have some fascinating articles about the history of Williamstown. “Historic Williamstown”, and “the Warmies” are two of the highlights for this month. We include an exciting invitation to join the Big Bay Swim together with world record champion Chloë McCardel. If you are a budding writer, you might be excited to read about the Ada Cambridge writing competition. Stephen Bell gives advice about safely shopping online during this Christmas season. This month also introduces the Opinion Piece section, for more controversial topics. We have John writing about his interesting view on climate change. The Williamstown hospital opportunity shop has written an article about their amazing volunteers and work that they do.

A big thank you if you have written an article, and we are still looking for local people and clubs to contribute articles! I look forward to bringing you more exciting stories in the new year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! CheersJasmine Hill

Rambling with the Editor

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 3

Williamstown is a virtual outdoor museum, with many sites of historical signifi cance. It is the oldest continuous settlement on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The fi rst white settlers in 1835 were organized by John Pascoe Fawkner around the same time Melbourne was getting started on the banks of the Yarra.People, however, had been living here long before Europeans took up residence. These were the Yalukit-willam clan of the Kulin tribe, Bunurong language group. The Aboriginal name for this area was Koort-Boork-Boork, meaning “clump of she-oaks”. The famous escaped convict, William Buckley, lived with the local natives for 32 years after absconding in 1803 from the penal settlement that Lieutenant Colonel David Collins tried to establish at Sorrento, before abandoning the place and moving to Hobart. Buckley was found here by settlers brought by Fawkner and John Batman. He was later employed by the government to liaise with his Aboriginal “One-Talks”. The native population declined quickly after 1835 due to white incursion and a typhoid epidemic.The fi rst known visit by Europeans was in 1803, the year of the Sorrento fi asco. The Governor of NSW, Philip Gidley King, sent the schooner Cumberland commanded by Acting Lieutenant Robbins RN with an exploring party led by Surveyor-General Charles Grimes.

The fi rst sale of land was in 1837. This was for a town site chosen by NSW Governor Sir Richard Bourke KCB. He named it William’s Town in honour of King William IV (1830-37), known as “The Sailor King”. This site had been named Port Harwood by John Batman, Melbourne’s founder, after the captain of one of his ships. At the same time Governor Bourke solved Melbourne’s identity problem by naming that town after the then British Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. It had been called “Bearbrass”, then “Glenelg”.

Historic Williamstown

continue page 4

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 24

Williamstown grew. It was proclaimed a municipality in 1856, a town in 1886, and a city in 1919. The fi rst census in 1841 recorded a population of 259, but it is thought that there were a lot more. The 2011 census recorded 13,203. Williamstown and what became Geelong were considered as capital of the new colony. Melbourne was chosen because of its reliable fresh water supply. Williamstown was, however, developed as a major port, and remained so until the late 1800’s. A lighthouse, fi rst in wood, was built at Point Gellibrand in 1840. The later stone structure became the timeball tower. By 1839, a great deal of port development had taken place, including a pier and government stores, all built by convicts. Nelson Place was the business centre. About 100 buildings, including two hotels, the Ship Inn and the Woolpack, were built. The convicts were housed in hulks anchored off Point Gellibrand. Victoria’s fi rst cemetery was laid out at Point Gellibrand at this time.

In 1840, a Water Police Superintendent was appointed. Williamstown remains the base of Victoria’s Water Police.

Williamstown can claim several historical fi rsts:

• Australia’s fi rst telegraph line in 1854 between Melbourne and Williamstown;• First government railway line in 1857 between

Spencer Street and Point Gellibrand; and• Victoria’s fi rst suburban newspaper, The Williamstown Chronicle, in 1857.

Williamstown has played an important role in both Victoria’s and Australia’s maritime history. The HMVS Victoria, the colony’s fi rst naval vessel, was based here for many years. A ship repair facility, a slipway, was built in 1856. The Alfred Graving Dock and dockyard were completed in 1874 at a cost of 300,000 pounds, a major piece of infrastructure in those days. Destroyers, frigates and corvettes are among the many ships built at Williamstown for the Royal Australian Navy. A giant helicopter carrier has been the latest naval building project undertaken. The notorious American Confederate States raider, the CSS Shenandoah, underwent repairs here in 1865. This breach of neutrality by Victoria in the American Civil War proved costly for the British government. Louis Brennan, later head of Whitehead Torpedo Factory, invented his fi rst torpedo whilst resident here in the 1870’s.

If you take a walk along Nelson Place and venture in any direction a short distance from there, you will fi nd that it is like a trip into the past. A lot of Williamstown’s history has been proudly preserved, particularly its role in the romance of the sea.

Jack Nystrom

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 5

WORLD record holder Chloë McCardel is urging open water swimmers to join her in the annual Jalna Big Bay Swim from Port Melbourne to Williamstown on Sunday, February 22.

The 3.2km swim will start at the new time of 10am next year, followed by the Jalna Big Bay Festival on Commonwealth Reserve.

McCardel recently pushed through the pain barrier of jellyfi sh stings and hypothermia to swim 126km in 42 hours in The Bahamas, setting a new world record. She’s Jalna Big Bay Swim Ambassador for the third year running.

The Jalna Big Bay Swim and Festival is organised by Williamstown’s Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand, which meets weekly at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Nelson Place.

About 300 swimmers will take the plunge at Sandridge Lifesaving Club, swimming across the bay to Williamstown. And there’ll also be a Nippers’ Dash before the big swim begins. Prize money and spot prizes are up for grabs.

The after-party Big Bay Festival will follow with carnival rides for kids, music, entertainment, lifestyle market stalls and free Jalna smoothies and yoghurt tastings on Commonwealth Reserve.

Swimmers’ inquiries: Mario Vella, 0418 326 610 or go to www.bigbayswim.com.au (from early December).

Jalna Big Bay Swim on again

Chloë McCardel, World Record Holder - Longest Solo Unassisted Marathon Swim

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 26

Welcome to our fi rst message in Around Williamstown. Congratulations to the newsletter’s team of volunteers for the hard work they’ve put in: Jasmine, Bill, Will, Daniel, Carlos, Tina, Louise, Jack, Melissa and Kyla-Jayne and Dawn. And thank you to all the community organisations that have and will continue to support it.

Each month we will provide you with an update on some of the projects, initiatives and events in the Strand Ward, an area that covers Williamstown,

Newport, Spotswood, South Kingsville, and parts of Altona North.

Drive down Douglas Parade and you will notice a healthy lemon scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) taking pride of place on the roundabout at the Ferguson Street intersection. The gum, known for its strong, upright growth, its attractive bark and its lemon scented leaves, will stand tall amidst the low growing succulents and local bluestone decorating the base of the tree.

Our trees are a much-loved part of our municipality. Increasing the tree canopy is an important part of our planning for the future and we strive to ensure there is always a net gain in street trees. Our annual elm tree renewal program is coming up and we are mindful of how much our elm trees mean to the community. On that note, there is a special new tree worth mentioning.... In addition to 11 November being Remembrance Day – and in addition to it being Ned Kelly’s last day on earth - it is also the day of Victoria’s separation from New South Wales. There were many celebrations that week but one particular party took place in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens underneath a river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). One hundred and sixty four years on and Council was honoured to receive a sapling from the Separation Tree under which the early settlers partied. Where this special tree will be planted will be given careful consideration over the next few weeks.Some other things happening in the ward: work has now started in Paisley Park to connect the Altona Badminton Centre access road to the entrance to the golf course. Once drainage and construction is completed, lighting will go up with works scheduled to be fi nished by the end of the year.

We have also begun works to install an automatic irrigation system for the eastern half of J T Gray Reserve. The irrigation, which reduces the impact of leaks, will be controlled by Council’s central control irrigation software. If there is a leak anywhere it’s picked up by sensors and that section of irrigation is stopped immediately. If everything goes to plan, works should be fi nished by February next year.

Enjoy the festive season and look out for our next message in January’s edition.

Cr Angela Altair - 0419 762 267 [email protected]

Deputy Mayor Cr Paul Morgan - 0488 828 880 [email protected]

Cr Peter Hemphill - 0419 762 266 [email protected]

Message from the Strand Ward Councillors

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 7

Tucked away in a shadowy corner of the Williamstown Town Hall foyer is a small plaque put up in 1946 to honour one of Williamstown’s most famous daughters, Ada Cambridge.

Ada was the Anglican vicar’s wife who became one of Australia’s fi nest colonial writers. Her name is immortalised in the Williamstown Literary Festival’s annual writing competitions.

Ada loved Williamstown. She spent 16 happy years here, penning some of her most memorable lines at her fi rst fl oor desk in the Holy Trinity church vicarage, overlooking Hobsons Bay. “And now here I was living by the sea at last, - the desire of my heart from childhood,” she wrote in her famous memoir 30 Years in Australia. Check out her inscription on the stone wall in front of Williamstown Library. The Ada Cambridge short story and poetry awards are a top attraction of Williamstown’s famous book

festival, which is the biggest of its kind in the West and the longest-running. The Prizes give aspiring writers and poets from the West the chance to win cash prizes and expose their work to a wider audience.

Past winners, such as Maxine Beneba Clarke, have since built outstanding careers. The unique prizes are open to everyone who lives, works or studies in the western suburbs of Melbourne. For 2015 two new categories have been announced: the Young Adas Short Story and Graphic Short Story prizes. Each winner will receive $250.

The Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize is in its tenth year and a signature event of the Williamstown Literary Festival. The competition is ideal for up-and-coming writers who are looking to gain exposure for their writing and to get their name out into the highly competitive industry. First prize winner receives a $1000 purse and the winner of the Ada Cambridge Poetry receives $500. Entry is free. Go to www.willylitfest.org.au for more details and to download entry forms. Entries close Sunday 1 March 2015 and the short-list in each category is published in an Anthology. The winners will be announced at the 12th Williamstown Literary Festival, 13 – 14 June 2015.

The Ada Cambridge Writing Competitions 2015

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 28

The team at The Williamstown Hospital Opportunity Shop have found themselves busier than ever lately with word getting out that it’s the place to fi nd that little gem you’ve been searching for. Situated in Williamstown’s popular shopping precinct and stocking women’s, men’s & children’s clothing and shoes, books, CDs and DVDs, artwork, bikes, jewellery, handbags, manchester, kitchen items, china and much more, it really is a fun spot to spend an hour. Thanks to the hard working and dedicated team of more than 40 volunteers, the shop raises over $100,000 each year for The Williamstown Hospital. Volunteers Roz and Kim, neighbours from Altona North, spend Monday afternoons helping in the shop. Roz enthuses, “I love the team, the wonderful rapport, caring and understanding. It’s a joy to come and volunteer here and I love the fact that when I do I’m helping our community.” Kim added, “we always have a good laugh with the customers and both the volunteers and customers feel great that we’re raising money for our hospital.” The volunteer team will be taking a very well earned break over the Christmas period and so the shop will be closed from 4pm Tuesday 23rd December until 9am Monday 12th January. We would be most grateful if you could please not leave any donations

outside the shop in this time as they could make footpath access dangerous. Please also note the shop will remain closed to donations until 1st February thereby allowing a much needed clear out.

To join the volunteer team please contact Nicky Cooper on 0401 684 977 or [email protected] you so very much for your continued support.

Terrifi c Team At The Williamstown Hospital Opportunity Shop

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 9

Do you remember the 80s, before the advent of the internet, before emails, Facebook, Skype and the interconnected world we live in now? What did we do leading up to Christmas? This was the time we wrote cards and visited shops for gifts. Have some of us been left behind in the age of the Internet?

So for those that are still living in the 80s, or perhaps before, is it time to move forward? There is much to be gained by embracing the new technologies. I recently was privileged to set up a computer for a client, Frank, whose daughter had kindly bought him a computer for his 80th birthday. It was a little challenging at fi rst for him to learn how to use the mouse, but nothing solitaire couldn’t fi x. Within a week he had worked out how to do online shopping enabling him for the fi rst time since the turn of the century to shop by himself. Within a fortnight his computer was loaded with viruses and he had to cancel a credit card due to fraud. So all the concerns that the baby-boomers have are true. Right? They don’t need to be.

Frank was unlucky and perhaps a little too trusting. What we need to learn to do is differentiate between the electronic equivalent of the van-in-the-car-park

selling cheap stereos and a real store. We also need to pay safely to protect ourselves. Here are some pointers.

Shop at reputable outlets; all the big retailers have an online store. EBay can also be a safe option. How to make things safe? PayPal is a good option as it covers any loss or refund quickly. Also you can check with your bank what their policy is if you lose money when you use a credit card online.

If it’s a less known outlet, send them an email and ask about the product; if there is no reply, don’t trust them. If popups occur that are unrelated to their page, avoid them. Also, follow friends’ recommendations. Or use Google and search for the name of the online store plus the word “review” after it. Have a look at: http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/onlineauctionshoppingscams#h2_31 which is a government site explaining what to watch for.

So, stay safe with online shopping, or support the local communities and enjoy walking round to get your shopping.

Stephen Bell

Do You Still Shop Like It Is The 80’s?

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 210

My name is Melissa Longo, and I am a Christmas junkie. I can happily admit that I have a problem, and it is not one that I intend to fi x.

As soon as the shopping centers put their decorations up, I am all over it. I bake, I decorate, I listen to Christmas Carols; I own two Christmas trees and entirely too many silly hats. I refuse to wait until December 1st – why should I delay happiness!

I have always been this way. I recall putting on Christmas concerts for my parents as a little girl. I would make them sit through, what must have been an overly long, painfully bad rendition of every Christmas tune I knew.

I know that some people fi nd the whole process exhausting, but I revel in it. I don’t want to avoid the shops at Christmas – in fact, I prefer to shop as late into the season as possible. I don’t mind the hustle and bustle - that just adds to the atmosphere!

I have a daughter, which has simply amplifi ed the issue, because now I am not only excited for my Christmas, but for her Christmas as well. She is four and really starting to understand how this Christmas caper works. Her enthusiasm is infectious.

Tradition is something that plays a pretty big part in making the festive season special. There are things that have to happen every year and I take these responsibilities very seriously. I must see the Myer Christmas Windows; I must eat the mince tarts from Bakers Delight; I must attend at least one local Christmas Carol event, (if not all of them).

Christmas pretty much dominates my life for the better part of 50 days. I love the city at Christmas time and try very hard to keep an eye on what is going on – I hate to miss anything at this time of year. VIP shopping days, Christmas Markets, Fairs and Concerts – the city is a hive of activity.

If you feel your inner Grinch getting the better of you, here are some tips to add a little extra sparkle to your holiday season:

• Charity is very important at this time of year. Wrap a present and pop it under the Kmart Wishing Tree – it costs so little to make a stranger’s day. • Send out Christmas cards – it is worth the effort to embrace this fading nicety.• Smile! Look around you and soak up the glitter of it all. Search the faces of children for inspiration and remember that life is short.

Merry Christmas!

Melissa Longo

Confessions of a Christmas Junkie…

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 11

1. Introduction and some basic background

Readers will know that a bitter debate has been going on for some years about climate change. On one side are those who believe that man’s emissions of (mainly) carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels are likely to cause disastrous global warming over coming decades. At the very least they believe that there will be an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, such as storms or droughts. On the other side are those who maintain that any warming caused by human activities is likely to be comparatively moderate and slow, so that its effect can be managed over time by adapting to the new conditions. Those people might go further, and say that the world is likely to cool down because the sun is entering a period of low activity after a so-called “grand maximum” in the latter part of the twentieth century. I don’t think anyone can say for sure whether that will happen or not.

It seems to me that these two views are now converging into some sort of middle ground, even though there is still, for the most part, little love lost

between the two sides. Let’s look at one of the main temperature series used in analysis of the climate, the HadCRUT4 Global series, issued by the Climatic Research Unit (University of East Anglia in the UK) in conjunction

with the Hadley Centre (at the UK Met Offi ce). That is shown on the graph above. We can see the fl at bit on the extreme right of the graph, which is the “global warming pause”, or “hiatus” that has been written about so much in the media. Before that, between about 1975 and about 2002, there was a warming period. It was this that fi rst drove concern about climate change and man’s emissions. Then before that, between about 1945 and about 1975, there was a period that was fl at, or perhaps cooling slightly, not unlike the current pause. Before that again, from about 1910 to about 1945, was a warming period like the one between 1975 and 2002. And fi nally, between about 1880 and about 1910, there was a fl at/cooling period like the one between 1945 and 1975, and like the current pause. The bit in blue to the left of about 1900 concludes a period called the “Little Ice Age”, an abnormally cold period that had been with us, to a greater or lesser extent, from the end of the medieval warm period in the fourteenth century, until the nineteenth century.

So, from the graph, it looks as though we have had steady warming since about 1880 (at least), with some cyclic cooling and warming superimposed upon it. The period of this cycle (peak-to-peak or trough-to trough) seems to be about 60 to 65 years. Cycles with a period of this order of magnitude are characteristic of natural changes associated with the world’s oceans (for example, the Pacifi c Decadal Oscillation, PDO). The PDO went into a cooling phase in about 2005.

John Hill is not a climate scientist but an engineer. These pieces do not address the detailed science of climate change, but simply refl ect upon the implications of come well-known data.

To be continued… (1 of 4)

The content of the Opinion Piece doesn’t represent the opinion of the newspaper. The public are welcome to submit their opinion piece to [email protected]

Climate change(Part 1 of a series of 4)Opinion Piece

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 212

It was a wonderful surprise to receive an unexpected call from a local resident telling me that he had received a copy of the paper. He was excited to see a local community paper, something he had been waiting for since he was young. His name is Jack, a lovely man, who had picked up a copy of our paper from Williamstown RSL. It really made my day when Jack pulled out a comprehensive list of historic places around Williamstown and Newport, he had spent lots of time on, all neatly typed.

Jack and Val very kindly offered to go for a little drive to see some of those places. On Sunday morning four of us headed down from Newport, touring around, stopping in a few places. It was a fascinating, eye-opening tour, guided by this kind local couple, who had lived the history of Williamstown area all these years.

Among the highlights was the “warmies”. The warmies are located on the west side of the Westgate bridge along North Road. The “warmies” are where the warm outfl ow from the Newport power station mixes with the rest of the Yarra River. It was a dangerous place to swim, because of the swirl, but a good place to fi sh, with lots of snapper to be caught here.

Jack told us that he used to work across the river in the aircraft factory, where he started as a toolmaker.

There used to be a ferry across the river not far from here, costing just one penny to cross. The ferry was drawn across the river using two chains. On occasion, during high winds, the ferry had even come adrift.

Many people, like Jack, used to ride to and from work, and so in the morning and the evening there were hundreds of bicycles fl ocking into work, and back again, to the power station, the railway or the aircraft factories.

The old power station was not as clean burning as the new one is. Val told us that living close the power station was not bad though – the chimney was tall enough that locals didn’t get the pollution, but if you lived further from the smoke stack, you did.

Jack’s father had worked in the power station itself. He didn’t need to fi sh. Fish used to get caught in an intake grill, and so sometimes his father would come home with fi sh for the family and the neighbours.

The tour ended with a yummy healthy meal at the Odd Spot Café that I highly recommend. It was a real pleasure to meet Jack and Val, the lovely and friendly couple. We had a good laugh.

The history of Williamstown and its surrounds is rich, and knowing its story makes the suburb come alive.

Jasmine Hill

The Warmies

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 13

In 1889 a group of Williamstown residents held a meeting and identifi ed a need for a local hospital.The increasing risk of accidents from a busy port, the railway workshops and the growing industrial area of Newport, Spotswood and Footscray led to the community establishing Melbourne’s fi rst suburban public general hospital.Over the years it has continued to grow and adapt, and Western Health is proud to have played a part in its great tradition.

Around Williamstown Community Newspaper

congratulates Williamstown Hospital for its

120th anniversary!120th anniversary!

Lions Clubs Cakes are now available from - our street Sausage Sizzles, ‘Three in One Fashions’ shop, ‘A Natural Image Hairdresser’ salon, Williamstown Lions Club members, Anne (0413277737), Philippa (93971914) or Terry (93970092).

1kg cake sells @ $12.00, the 1.5kg cake @ $16.00, packaged cake slices @ $2.00.

Lions Clubs Cakes Available Now

Page 14: Around Williamstown 02

Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 214

Wallace Purling, a boy of slow mind but warm heart, fancied the idea of being a shepherd with a fl ute in the Christmas pageant. But the play’s director, Miss Lumbard, assigned him to a more important role. After all, she reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines, and Wally’s size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.

And so it happened that the usual large audience gathered for the Church’s yearly extravaganza of crooks and beards, crowns and halos, and a whole stage full of squeaky voices. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wally Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performance with such fascination that, from time to time, Miss Lumbard had to make sure that he didn’t wander onto the stage before his cue.

Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop. Wally the Innkeeper was there, waiting.“What do you want?” he said, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.

“We seek lodging.” Wally looked straight ahead but spoke vigorously, “Seek it elsewhere! This inn is fi lled.”

“Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain,” replied Joseph. We have travelled far from Nazareth, and are very weary.”

“There is no room in this inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern as he said his lines.

“Please, good Innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely

you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.”

Now, for the fi rst time, the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment. “No! Begone!” the prompter whispered from the wings.

“No!” Wally repeated automatically. “Begone!”

Joseph sadly placed his arm round Mary, and Mary laid her head upon her husband’s shoulder, and the two of them started to move away. Wally, the innkeeper, did not return inside his inn, however. Wally just stood there in the doorway, watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eves fi lling with tears. And then, this Christmas pageant suddenly became different from all others.

“Wait,” Wally called out. “Don’t go, Joseph! Bring Mary back.” And Wally Purling’s face grew into a huge, bright smile. “You can have MY room.”

Some people in town thought that the Christmas pageant had been ruined – it didn’t go according to the script in the Bible. Yet there were others - many, many others - who considered it the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants they had ever seen. Why? Because it displays the child-like faith and compassion without which, Jesus said, no man shall see the Kingdom of God.

Rev Bruce RidingWilliamstown Presbyterian Church

The Ruined Christmas Play

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 15

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 216

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 17

Adam graduated with a B.A in Performing Arts from the University of Ballarat in 1993. Since then he has worked professionally as an Actor in Film, TV and Theatre. Adam has had roles on ‘Comedy Inc’, ‘Frontline’, ‘Neighbours’ & ‘A Country Practice’ to name a few and most recently playing different crazy characters pranking kids on ABC3’s ‘Prank Patrol’. Adam has been teaching Acting & Drama since 1999 and opened his own business in 2011. He holds classes for Children, Teens & Adults and caters for Beginners to Advanced. Past students have had great success, scoring lead roles in Feature Films and TV shows such as “Neighbours”, “The Elephant Princess”, “The INXS

Story”, “As the Bell Rings” & “Underbelly” to name a few.Classes will place emphasis on self-development whilst building professional Acting skills.Subjects include: Audition Preparation, Acting Technique, Creating a Character, Improvisation Intensive, Stage & Screen Technique, Industry Classes and much more!Class Locations include: Altona Meadows – MondaysYarraville - TuesdaysHoppers Crossing – WednesdaysEssendon – ThursdaysWilliamstown - SaturdaysClasses are from 5pm weekdays & from 10am on Saturday in Williamstown. Each term runs parallel to the school term FREE TRIAL CLASS for New StudentsWeb: www.adamturnbull.comEmail: [email protected] Adam on 0419 593 257 for all Bookings & Enquiries

Here’s a puzzle: Are there two places on the exact opposite sides of the world with exactly the same temperature?It turns out the answer is “yes”. Let me explain why.Think about the equator. Singapore is on the equator, and the opposite side of the world is Quito, in Ecuador. If you subtract the two temperatures, then you get the temperature difference between the two places. If Singapore was hotter than Quito, you’d get some positive number. If it was colder, the difference would be negative. If they were the same temperature, which we are looking for, the difference would be zero.Imagine we went on a trip around the equator, plotting the temperature difference with the exact

opposite side of the world. As we go around, the temperature difference only changes slowly, with no jumps: it is continuous. You could always draw the graph without taking you pen off the paper.If the temperature difference were positive on one side of the world (Singapore is hotter than Quito) you would get a negative in the opposite (Quito is colder than Singapore). But you can’t get from a positive to negative on the graph without going through zero somewhere, unless you take your pen off the paper.So somewhere along the equator, the temperature difference has to be exactly zero. There are always two places on the exact opposite sides of the world with exactly the same temperature.

The Williamstown Geek

Geek Corner

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 218

Christmas BellsH.W. Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas dayTheir old, familiar carols play,And wild and sweetThe words repeatOf peace on earth, good-will to menAnd thought how, as the day had come,The belfries of all ChristendomHad rolled alongThe unbroken songOf peace on earth, good-will to men!Till ringing, singing on its wayThe world revolved from night to dayA voice, a chime,A chant sublimeOf peace on earth, good-will to men!Then from each black, accursed mouthThe cannon thundered in the South,And with the soundThe carols drownedOf peace on earth, good-will to men!It was as if an earthquake rentThe hearthstones of a continent,And made forlornThe household bornOf peace on earth, good-will to men!And in despair I bowed my head;“There is no peace on earth,” I said;“ For hate is strong,And mocks the songOf peace on earth, good-will to men!Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,God is not dead; nor doth he deepThe Wrong shall fail,The Right prevail,With peace on earth, good-will to men!”

(Williamstown Chronicle, Saturday, 25th December 1869)

Hobsons Bay Arts Society will be holding its Tutors/Students & Little Gems Exhibition.Date: 12th - 21st DecemberVenue: Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre, 5 Sargood Street, Altona. Bump-in will be 11th December from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m. Launch will be Friday evening 12th December at 6.30 p.m. Gallery hours will be Monday to Friday 10 am. to 4.00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Hobsons Bay Arts Society Inc.www.hobsonsbayartssociety.org.au

From The Past

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 2 19

Christmas PomPom Garland(Courtesy of Coral Gavrilidis)

(For Ages 5+)

You will need: Christmas Coloured Wool, Plastic Fork, Plastic Craft Needle, Scissors Step One. Cut a piece of wool 20cm long and place between middle prongs of a plastic fork. Step Two. Wrap a longer piece of wool around the side edges of the fork until desired thickness is reached. Step Three. Take string previous placed in prongs of fork and tie a knot while pulling wool off the fork. Once removed, tighten knot. Step Four. Cut through loops with scissors to form

pompom. Open, fl uff and neaten any long ends of string. Pompom is made. Repeat steps 1-4 until you’ve made a few pompoms.

Step Five. Take three different coloured strands of wool and plait them together. Thread onto a plastic needle.

Step Six. Thread needle through the middle of the pom pom. Thread as many pompoms on to the plaited wool until you have created your garland.

Have fun! And a Happy Christmas.

Kayla-Jayne Rajah

Williamstown Kids Hi Williamstown Kids,

This month we have a fabulous craft so you can make your own

decoration to hang either on your tree or the community Christmas

tree at your local library

String in Middle Prong of Fork.

Tie String while Pulling Wool from Fork

Cut through Loops

Your Christmas Garland

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Around Williamstown Community Newspaper Issue 220

Around Williamstown Community Newspaper, ABN 54 145 436 804.Postal Address: P.O. BOX 389 Williamstown 3016, Stories: [email protected]: 0435 166 576 or [email protected], 0448 240 597 or [email protected]