RAISING THE FLAG ON VOLUNTEERING

Press release from United Way
Volunteers from all over Ballarat braved the cold, blustery conditions this morning to witness the raising of the National Volunteer Flag at the Ballarat Town Hall.
Councillor Judy Verlin and Volunteering Ballarat’s Geoff Sharp did the honours raising the flag high above Sturt Street where it will proudly fly for the rest of National Volunteer Week.
At a morning Tea hosted by the City of Ballarat and Her Majesty’s Theatre was held in the Long Room where Councillor Verlin expressed her admiration and thanks to those organisations represented. Certificates were presented to the following:
Ballarat Community Health
The Ballarat Gold Museum
Ballarat Health Services
Ballarat Hospice Care
Ballarat State Emergency Service
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Highlands
Child and Family Services Ballarat
Lead On Ballarat
Pinarc Disability Support
Royal South Street Society
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Smart Living
Sports Central
The Soup Bus
The City of Ballarat Library Volunteers
The City of Ballarat Volunteers
United Way Ballarat
UnitingCare Ballarat
Vision Australia
Voice FM

Speaking at the event Geoff Sharp paid tribute to the amazing effort of the many thousands of people who volunteer their time regularly in our community.
Here is the link to the fabulous photos taken by Pam McKee – http://www.flickr.com/photos/unitedwayballarat/sets/72157629717205182/

Revisit your Childhood Memories this weekend

Visitors to Heritage Weekend this Mother’s Day weekend, 12 and 13 May will relive their ‘Childhood Memories’.  There will be a range of photo opportunities available throughout the weekend for media. Some of the highlights include:

One Minute Memories:
Visitors can share a treasured memory of Ballarat throughout the weekend in the Mining Exchange, 9am to 5pm both days. The Ballarat Historical Society will be recording memories that will contribute to a bank of digital stories to be archived.

Pedal cars display:
20 cars from the 1930s to the 1960s will be on display in the Mining Exchange.

Carousels and puppet shows:
Experience the magic of a traditional carousel and watch a Punch and Judy puppet show at Alfred Deakin Place, between 10am and 5pm both days.

Double decker bus tours:
Visitors can enjoy a free 30 minute double-decker bus around the CBD. The bus will depart outside the Ballarat Mining Exchange.

Carnations for mum:
On Sunday, in celebration of Mother’s Day, carnations will be given out to mums who visit Heritage Weekend.

Frock tales fashion parade:
View a fashion parade of 20^th century fashion at the Art Gallery of Ballarat at 2pm on Saturday.

Horse and carriage rides:
Free horse and carriage rides will depart from the Town Hall around the CBD.

Games and Nursery Rhymes:
A variety of school yard games will be set up in Town Hall Lane throughout the weekend.

Her Majesty’s Theatre Tours:
Tours will depart 10am, 11am, 12pm and 6.15pm on Sunday only.

High Tea:
High Tea will be served at Craig’s Royal Hotel at 2pm and 4pm (Saturday) and 11am, 2pm and 4pm (Sunday).

Steam Train Rides:
Steam train rides will depart the Ballarat Railway Station for Sulky at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm both days.

Please note that this is just a selection. To find out more the event program can be downloaded from www.ballaratheritageweekend.com

Have you been involved with ABC Open activities and projects?

Voice FM is happy to help promote Marc Eiden’s work with ABC Open.  Here is an email from Marc for your information.

Hey folks
Hope you are all well
We have heaps of ABC Open activities and projects coming up:

• ABC Open will be presenting a multimedia  exhibition at Ballarat Heritage Weekend.
• Mothers Day is fast approaching. We want to hear how great your mum is.
• New Open photo project. Do you have a photo of an interesting sign?
• 110% sport filmmaking project gets active

EXHIBITION TIME
ABC Open will be presenting an exhibition of Moment Behind The Photo videos at the upcoming Ballarat Heritage Weekend.
Last year I held workshops throughout the Ballarat region for ABC Open’s The Moment Behind The Photo project – maybe you even came along to one of them.
This weekend the video stories made by community contributors at those workshops will be on display at the Ballarat Mining Exchange in Lydiard street.
The mining exchange will be open from 10 to 5pm on the 12^th and 13^th (Mothers day)
Look for the orange ABC Open banner, and hopefully I’ll see you there.
You can read a blog about the exhibition here: http://open.abc.net.au/openregions/vic-ballarat-42Tn7FB/posts/exhibition-reveals-hidden-history-51wd6gq

MOTHERS DAY SPECTACULAR
What is (or was) your mum good at?
This Mothers Day ABC Open is collecting stories about all the things that mums are good at. Not just cooking and cleaning up – after you!
But all the other skills mums have. Maybe your mum is a great singer, or maybe she’s handy with a wrench.
She might be good at seeing the funny side of things, or at being a great community advocate.
My mum is good at seeing the best in situations and staying positive.
Share your mums great skills and talents at ABC Open. Join in at the ABC Open Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/abcopen

If you use Instagram, share a photo and a few words about your mum using the hashtag MumsGoodAt.
And it’s the same hashtag for twitter – #mumsgoodat.
Or if social media isn’t your thing, leave a comment on the ABC Open site…where you can watch a great little video featuring stories about mums from regional Australia

http://open.abc.net.au/news/what-s-your-mum-good-at-57ph3uv

ABC OPEN MONTHLY PHOTO PROJECT
Snapped: Signs
In this photography challenge we’re looking for the signs that mark your place and your Australian travels.
Share the iconic sign that sums up Ballarat and surrounds, the road sign with unique adornment you chanced upon in the middle of nowhere, or capture the beauty in the peeling paint of signs from long ago.
http://open.abc.net.au/projects/snapped-signs-94sa8fh#/about

110% Video Project
Looking for people interested in making a short video about someone who is 110% passionate  about their sport.
Check out the project details here: http://open.abc.net.au/projects/110-09kk3ol#/about
If you want  to get involved and learn some filmmaking techniques. Give me a call or email (details below).
Cheers

Marc Eiden – ABC Open Producer, Ballarat, VIC

Tel. 03 5320 1062 Fax. 03 5320 1099 Web. abc.net.au/open

Queen of the Tea Cosies joins Cancer Council’s tea party

This May, Queen of the Tea Cosies and best-selling author, Loani Prior, is calling on Victorians to tea up their friends and families and get cosy over a cuppa in support of Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.
To celebrate her role as an official tea party ambassador for the Cancer Council, the Grand Purl Baa of knitting has poured her creativity into creating the first official Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea cosy and pattern.
The official tea cosy is the only one of its kind in Australia and was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of the 6266 Victorians who will host a morning tea this May in support of the fight against cancer.
The design features the Cancer Council daffodil, which is the international flower of hope, and the blue and yellow colours of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.
The official tea cosy pattern is suitable for knitters of all abilities and is available free for download at www.grandpurlbaa.com.
Loani encourages all crafty locals and knitting groups to get their needles working overtime and knit the official tea cosy pattern to show off at their events this May.
“Everyone loves a tea cosy. They are funny even when they are not meant to be funny.  And this one with its great big oversized daffodil ought to draw a few smiles.
“I’m hoping that knitters – and that includes anyone who has ever picked up a set of needles – will knit Daffy up to give, raffle, sell, or just keep your tea piping hot at your Biggest Morning Tea this year, and for many years to come,” she said.
Since publishing her third book with Murdoch Books earlier this month, entitled ‘How tea cosies changed the world’, the Grand Purl Baa of knitting has rocketed herself to the top of the best-seller lists with her witty knits and crafty creations.
But what’s the Queen of the Tea Cosies’ favourite brew?
“There are usually seven or eight teas to choose from in my kitchen, black and herbal.
“Choc chai is pretty damn nice for something sweet, green tea mixed with lemon grass is a calming balm, and peppermint with honey is a safe bet anytime,” Loani said.
May is Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea time and there’s never been a better excuse to switch the kettle on, tea up your friends, family and workmates and help tip the balance in the fight against cancer.
All you need to do is sign on to host an event during May and start planning! Visit www.biggestmorningtea.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85 to find out more.
Whether it’s a simple morning tea with workmates, a sophisticated high tea with friends or a school bake sale, you’ll be helping the one in two Victorians who will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85.
All funds raised from Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea support our vital work in cancer research, education programs and patient support services.
Thursday, May 24 is the official date of the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea, however morning teas can be held any time throughout May or early June.

Mother’s Day Special Effort Result

Thank you to everyone who participated in our “Mother’s Day Special Effort”.  Nola called into the studio this afternoon to draw the winners that were then announced on “That’s Country” just after the 2pm news.

Rose Bridges won first prize which had:

• the stunning basket containing 23 Lavender Products – donated by Nola Conroy
• four tickets to The Cabaret Club and a CD – donated by Wayne Johnson

Glynda Robinson won second prize:

• a large posy of flowers – donated by Jan Skewes
• four tickets to The Cabaret Club and a CD – donated by Wayne Johnson
• home made pavlova – donated by Marg Hendy

Noel Stingers won third prize:

• Chocolates – donated by Marlene Plater
• two tickets to The Cabaret Club and a CD – donated by Wayne Johnson
• 3 cds – donated by Mary Allison

Facebook Joins The Organ And Tissue Donation Campaign

Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King joined with Facebook today to launch a way for Australians to start a conversation about their wish to become an organ and tissue donor.
“Australians can now indicate that they have registered as an organ and tissue donor on their Facebook Timeline. This information will appear in the news feeds of their Facebook friends which can help to start a conversation about their organ and tissue donation wishes,” Ms King said.
“It is vital that all Australian families know each other’s’ donation wishes as the family will always be asked to confirm the organ and tissue donation wishes of the deceased before donation for transplantation can proceed. With new research commissioned by the Organ and Tissue Authority showing that one in four Australians have never discussed their donation wishes, finding new ways to prompt the conversation is important,” said Ms King.
Facebook is an important tool for increasing awareness of organ and tissue donation, with the DonateLife Facebook page now having close to 50,000 fans. Australians are increasingly sharing their organ and tissue donation and transplantation stories and asking questions about organ and tissue donation on the DonateLife Facebook page.
To indicate you are a registered organ and tissue donor on your Facebook Timeline, click on “Life Event”, select “Health and Wellness” and choose “organ donor”. And if you have not registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register, make sure to click on the “sign up here with the appropriate registry” link to make your decision to be an organ and tissue donor official.
“The Facebook Timeline does not replace the need for Australians to register their decision to become an organ and tissue donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR), Australia’s only nationally recognised register for organ and tissue donation for transplantation,” said Ms King.
The AODR ensures your donation decision can be verified 24 hours a day, seven days a week by authorised medical personnel, anywhere in Australia.
Chief Operating Officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg said, “What’s consistently amazed us over the past eight years is how people use the power of sharing and connecting on Facebook to address issues and challenges in their communities. We believe that the new organ donor tool can help drive broader awareness about organ and tissue donation and prompt more families to discuss their donation wishes.”
Facebook users choose whether to share this information about their organ and tissue donation wishes and also how widely or narrowly to share it. Australians can share their intention to become an organ donor with just their friends, with their friends of friends, with an even wider audience, or they can choose to keep this information private.
For more information please visit www.donatelife.gov.au or email facebook@n2n.com.au

Clunes Booktown Festival 2012 an ‘amazing success’ with record attendance.

Rachel Kinscher sent through the following:
Please find attached Media Release and images documenting the success of the Clunes Booktown Festival 2012 – The Gold Rush era village of Clunes was recently awarded as the first International Booktown in the Southern Hemisphere.

CHILDREN’S book author Hazel Edwards summed up the Clunes Booktown Festival with just a few words.
“There are so many book-lovers here, it’s wonderful,” she told the packed Narnia- themed library as she prepared for a session reading her picture book There is a hippopotamus on our roof eating cake. “There are millions of ideas in this town today, in the books and in people’s minds.”
The streets of the historic hamlet were lined with book sellers – including publishers – peddling their wares, and visitors were eagerly filling up their bags with new and secondhand purchases. The energy was palpable as people wandered around the main street enjoying the roving entertainers, food stalls, children’s shows and general ambiance. They happily lined up to have their treasured books valued, inspect rare pieces from the State Library of Victoria and meet publishers.
The festival attracted more than 9000 people on Saturday alone as crowds flocked to enjoy the packed program of talks, workshops and seminars from a host of literary types, including the Scottish poet Ryan van Winkle, Gina Perry – who wrote about the famed shock machine experiments – author Peter Goldsworthy, cartoonist Sam Harmer, musician Earl Leonard and even politicianturned
writer Tim Fischer. Professor Geoffrey Blainey was always destined to be a popular session as he discussed gold with Clunes’ historian Andrew Reeves.
Van Winkle, clearly surprised by the number of people who turned up for his poetry workshop, proved a popular guest who guided his audience through a free-writing session. “I’m going to guide you through my process to help with your process,” he said, before urging them to touch their faces while listening as though stroking an imaginary beard, and nod their heads appropriately. The
audience was suitably impressed and took on their poet roles with abandon.
Tim Fischer’s discussion about the survival of books and the survival of trains – he’s written a book called Trains unlimited in the 21st century – was lavish in his praise for the Clunes event. “This is a special book festival,” he said. “It has the capacity to knock off Byron (Bay Writers’ Festival) within four years, if Byron is not careful. The backdrop of Clunes is just perfect.”   Fischer also noted that Clunes had been declared an International Book Town – a first for Australia.  “This Clunes Booktown Festival now has international recognition and I’m delighted to be here as a writer. The joy of Clunes is it keeps anchored to the goldfields – with an international flavor,” he said, before noting that famed writer Mark Twain came through Clunes in 1896.  As for the survival of the book in its current form, Fischer said there was nothing to worry about.  “The book is here for the long term. You need no gadget to read it. It’s a work of art – it becomes an object of art.”

Justice In The Grampians

Residents across the Grampians region will be able to get advice about consumer rights and access to a wealth of other justice-related information and services during Law Week in May.
On Tuesday 15 May the Mobile Justice Service Centre (‘Justice Bus’) will visit Bridge Mall in Ballarat to highlight Justice Services to the community. Experts from a range of agencies will be on hand to answer all your justice related questions.
Between 10.00am and 4.00pm representatives from Consumer Affairs Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid, the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Centacare’s Victims Assistance and Counselling Program and the Central Highlands Community Legal Centre will be at the mall to help answer all your consumer and legal queries. There will also be show-bags and a sausage sizzle.
Department of Justice Grampians Regional Director, Catherine Darbyshire, said this is a great opportunity for people to find out about the Victorian legal system and the range of Department of Justice services on offer.
“The Justice Bus delivers a range of Department of Justice information and services directly to the public in a relaxed and informal environment,” Ms Darbyshire said.
“From the courts to consumer affairs, the Victorian Justice system encompasses a vast array of agencies and the bus will bring them together in the one place where Ballarat residents can come and learn about their rights and responsibilities.”
“People will be able to get assistance applying for a birth certificate, talk to Department officers, get advice about dispute settlement services, and access a range of other information.”
“If you have any questions or need information about any of the Department’s services then this is your chance to come down and ask.” From Monday 14 May to Friday 18 May, Department of Justice Information booths will also be set up in two locations
- the Central Highlands Regional Library, 178 Doveton Street North, between 11:00am and 3:00pm.
- the Horsham Plaza Shopping Complex, 40 Darlot Street Horsham between 10:00am and 3:00pm.
The Information booths will have advice, information and publications on a range of topics relating to Consumer Affairs Victoria, Births Deaths and Marriages, Community Corrections, Sheriffs, Dispute Settlement Centre Victoria, Centacare’s Victims Assistance and Counselling Program, Victoria Legal Aid and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
For more information about consumer matters visit consumer.vic.gov.au
To contact Victoria Legal Aid call 1800 677 402

Calling All Contemporary Visual Artists, Designers, & Makers

The City of Ballarat Backspace Gallery is now accepting submissions for its 2013 exhibition program. Backspace Gallery is an artist-focused initiative of the City of Ballarat Arts & Cultural Development, dedicated to showcasing quality contemporary art, design, & craft. The Backspace program is balanced between showing exemplary work by local and regional artists, and by others whose significant practice can contribute to the discourse and professional development of our region’s creative community. Submissions close Friday, 15 June. For application guidelines and details, contact Deborah Klein deborahklein@ballarat.vic.gov.au

Forget Dieting – Focus On Healthy Living Instead!

On International No Diet Day (6th May 2012), health experts are encouraging women to ditch restrictive diets and to focus on healthy living instead.

They say simple, everyday lifestyle changes are a more realistic and effective approach to managing weight and to preventing long-term weight gain.
“International No Diet Day doesn’t mean that we can sit and eat cake all day long. It’s more about deciding not to participate in a culture where everyone constantly discusses dieting and food and is preoccupied with their weight,” says Terrill Bruere, dietitian at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health.
“Dieting helps some people but it’s usually a short-term fix. It’s not an effective or healthy long-term solution. Aim to stay active, fit and healthy and your weight will naturally drift to where it should be, and you’ll prevent that slow, kilo creep. Don’t focus on diets to try and lose weight. Live well in the world instead.”
Young women are one of the groups in Australia gaining weight fastest – they’re gaining an average 7 to 10 kilos every decade. Over 20 to 30 years, that adds up and increases the risk of serious health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and joint problems.
But Bruere says the solution to preventing this kind of weight gain is not found in diets.
“Dieting is often very black and white with a focus on energy in and energy out but that is a very simplistic answer to what is usually a complex emotional issue for people,” says Bruere.
“The human body is complex, too. Genetics, hormones, our lifestyle, stress and how much sleep we get play a role in how our body functions. So our weight is the result of many factors. Losing weight isn’t as simple as the energy in and energy out equation.”
Professor Jane Fisher, Director of Research at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, says women often have an anxious relationship with food, which is only exacerbated by dieting.
“It’s important for people to acquire the ability to eat what they like to eat in moderation, and to eat all sorts of foods. We shouldn’t feel there are foods we can’t have, and we shouldn’t be worried or ashamed about eating certain foods,” says Professor Fisher.
“We need to have a confident relationship with food – not an anxious one. I’d also like to see women becoming more confident with their body and focusing on a healthy lifestyle instead of trying to achieve what they believe is a ‘perfect’ appearance.”
Terrill Bruere says while women today lead a busy life, simple changes day-to-day can benefit our body and our health.
“A few simple lifestyle changes in how we eat and in how much physical activity we do each day can prevent kilo creep – and help you avoid a lifetime of dieting,” she says.
• Keep healthy snacks close by – fresh fruit, nuts and low-fat yoghurt.
• Keep it simple. You don’t need fancy, packaged snacks.
• Take more control if you buy food out – ask what the food contains and ask for less sauce, less cream, less spread, less cheese or oil etc.
• Remember that you don’t have to eat everything on your plate.
• Reduce portion sizes. Most food servings are bigger than they need to be.
• Eat slowly and stop when you start to feel satisfied – not full. Young children are experts at this. They eat when they are hungry and stop when they’ve had enough.
• Try not to eat on the run or in front of your computer or TV screen. You’ll be distracted and won’t notice your body’s signals that you’ve had enough.
• Have an afternoon snack so you don’t arrive home starved at the end of the day and eat the first thing you can find.
• Don’t mistake thirst for hunger. Have a glass of water first and if you’re still hungry, eat.
• Any physical activity during the day is important. It keeps your metabolism working so you burn energy and fat.

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