Flinders Events
FLINDERS ANNUAL DINNER 2012 - another resounding success
Tony Barber scintillated as MC, and entertainingly interviewed about his life by Ranald Macdonald with auctioneer extraordinaire Stephen Fogarty loosening wallets.
There were silent auctions, special prizes and a major raffle plus the auctioning of three generously donated "experiences”. Guests were recently appointed MPS Mayor and Red Hill Ward Councillor, Frank Martin with Lady Mayoress, Dianne.
FCA President Peter Hall thanked those who donated and those who worked to make the night happen so smoothly and enjoyably. And particular thanks to Pam Commons and Ranald Macdonald for all the planning and organisation!
The "special experiences" were
Jim Fogarty’s two Master Classes in garden design and plant selection for the Flinders area. He is, of course, the internationally renowned designer with successes at the Chelsea Flower Show and elsewhere.
A day at the MCG for a Collingwood home match of your choice with a certain former club president – we wondered whether the winner wished to see their team humiliated and sit among "the faithful", but it turns out she was a Magpie supporter!
And a morning for two at local resident Neil Mitchell’s 3AW radio show generously donated by him – chats, snacks and actually seeing the preparation, being in the studio during it and listening to the after-show assessment.
Meeting on 21 May 2011 in the Community Hall at 4pm
Managing the Health of Western Port Bay; a Review of the Science.
A Summary by Peter Chew who will speak about the seminar
A one-day seminar, organised by Melbourne Water, was held in Pakenham on 5 April, 2011. It was attended by about 200 people, who listened to talks by a group of eleven research scientists from six Universities and other institutions. The review, which is led by Professor Mick Keough of the University of Melbourne, will recommend future research directions, and will help us better predict the vulnerability of Western Port’s marine ecosystems to future changes in population growth, land use, and climate. A full collection of all the slides used during the lectures can be visited at www.melbournrwater.com.au/westernportreview , and is well worth reading for a comprehensive picture of what is currently known, where are the knowledge gaps that are roadblocks to progress, and which are the urgent priorities in meeting threats.
The following are a few personal observations, which I will enlarge upon at the FCA meeting in the Hall on 21 May:
• Despite much work, there is still much more to learn about the true flushing and dispersion of tidal action and run-offs into and through the five different sections of Western Port (WP)
• Whilst run-offs are measured for flow of water, there is (surprisingly) no regular measuring of nutrients, pollutants, and sediments either entering WP or how they pass through WP
• The role of sea-grasses is vital as a habitat former; their interaction with sediments is complex; the extent of sea-grasses has improved somewhat since the 1970s
• Mangroves and saltmarshes have suffered in extent and quality; perhaps 10% less round WP, and 40% less in the inlets, since 1840s
• The longer term effect of climate change, particularly sea level rises, is regarded as important, but a second order priority. The scientists seemed to be unaware that sea levels at Stony Point have been falling, not rising, thus suggesting the Peninsula may be lifting (but not hurriedly !)
• The largest (about 20000) Australian Fur Seal colony in the world just outside the western entrance, on Seal Rocks, is thriving. As are the weedy Seadragons around Flinders pier
• Not much is known about trends in fish abundance since the restrictions on commercial net fishing; concerns are rising over the growth of recreational fishing
• 17 out of 37 species of birds measured have declined since 1974 (drought? roosting disturbance? land reclamation in Korea?); black swans abundant (c.12000)
• WP’s environmental health gets far less attention than Port Philip’s
• The possible effects of Hastings becoming a container port were not on the agenda of the meeting; the research will be important feed-in to any decision
• Concerns are recognised about the effect on the NE parts of WP arising from the population growth in Cardinia, and water quality in Corinella; the part of WP off Flinders seems to be in good nick .
Peter Chew 5th May 2011.
Flinders Annual Dinner - 2011
History Quiz for Annual Dinner 2011: the Quiz was devised by the Flinders District Historical Society - click for more detail of the Society
HISTORY QUIZ ANSWERS 2011
1. What was previously on the site of the golf course?
a) portions of the golf course were used as a race track until the 1920s. Race meetings were held on New Year’s Eve and St Patrick’s Day.
Chinese market gardens were down on the foreshore towards the yacht club. Fishermen’s cottages were later located along the foreshore, but demolished in the 1940s as part of the wartime precautions..
2. Where was the cable station?
c) Above the pier on top of the cliff. There is a plaque located there which reads as follows: "These foundations mark the site of the original Flinders Cable Station. The Flinders Cable Station was the mainland terminal of the submarine cable laid in 1869 connecting Tasmania to the mainland telegraph network.”
As a matter of interest, half way up the cliff above the pier was the cable station staff house known as Happy Valley. This was where the morse code messages were decoded and carried by foot messenger to the government office station at the top of the cliff.
3. Why did they need a cable station?
d) to connect Tasmania to the mainland telegraph network.
4. What was the name of the Aboriginal tribe that lived in this area?
c) The Boonwurrung people used to wander through the area from Werribee to Wilson’s Promontory.
5. Names one of the two families who owned the present general store?
Long serving proprietors of the present general store included the Murray and Commons families.
6. What did the European settlers first call Shoreham?
c) Stony Creek – the creek which runs through Shoreham. The name was changed to Shoreham in 1882 (after the west Sussex coastal village).
7. When was/is Shoreham’s 150th?
a) In 1859 the Assistant Government Surveyor signed off on the township reserve, and therefore in 2009 we celebrated the 150th anniversary of European settlement.
8. Which was not a guest house?
d) Bass Lodge was built in Bass Street in the 1920s by John Cox Ritchie, the founder of the grocery chain.
9. What was previously on the site of Balin’s Surf Shop?
b) Hopcraft’s Garage.
The Melrose Tea Rooms was where the glass studio is now, and the Mechanics’ Institute was where the Flinders hall is now.
10. What was the name of the Tuck poet?
d) Henry. His mother was Catherine, and William was his son.
The FDHS has published a collection of Henry Tuck’s poems, available for the very reasonable price of $10. The poems were described at the launch as “a little time capsule”, which take us back to the time of settlement, with its hardships and joys.
11. In which year did Flinders sail into Westernport Bay?
c) He didn’t. George Bass sailed into Westernport in 1798, in a whaleboat.
12. Who owned the original run?
This is a somewhat tricky one. The area covering Flinders and Shoreham was called Manton’s Creek Run, after Charles and Frederick Manton. They claimed this run when the area was opened up for settlement, and took out a grazing licence. Henry Tuck senior, father of the poet, took over the lease in 1846, and subsequently bought much of the land with money he made on the goldfields. The correct answer is a) Tuck. The Tucks were the real pioneers, and Henry Tuck’s descendants still farm this area.
13. Which European first visited the Flinders area?
a) Lieutenant James Tuckey of HMS Calcutta arrived with a walking party from the Collins Settlement at Sorrento in December 1803, searching for water.
14. Why did some Chinese prospectors land at Flinders during the gold rush?
c) Because they were tax evaders. They were allowed to land at Flinders on their way to the diggings, to avoid the 10 pound immigration tax levied in the ports of Melbourne and Geelong.
Notice of Flinders Community Association AGM and Annual Dinner "Celebrating Life at Flinders", (Please print this page and mail to The Secretary, FCA, c/o Flinders Post Office, 3929. Or you can pay using the PayPal Donation facility on this website, but please also copy this form onto an email, complete the details, and send to one of the addresses on Contact Us) Please reserve:----- -places or --- tables (10 places per table, $60 per head)
Saturday 22 January 2011.
The AGM of the Flinders Community Association will be held on Saturday 22 January at 4.00 pm in Flinders Community Hall. Following the AGM we will be holding the inaugural Flinders Community Association Annual Dinner at the Flinders Golf Club from 6.45pm with dinner at 7.15 pm.
The dinner is proposed to be an annual event following the AGM. Members and friends are invited to come and enjoy an entertaining evening with the theme of "Celebrating Life at Flinders". This will not be a fund raising event but rather a get-together of members and friends who enjoy Flinders with its special character and history.
TV Host Tony Barber, who has recently returned to live at Main Ridge and is a Flinders Golf Club member, will headline this first Flinders Community Association dinner. Good locally sourced food will be provided (4 courses: appetizer, soup, mains – fish or steak, followed by fresh berries) with a complimentary wine or beer. Nibbles will be served on arrival from 6.45 pm. All included cost at $60 per person (most drinks extra). Vegetarians can be catered for; just let us know when you book.
Do come - it will be fun – and there will be many surprises throughout the evening.
Late news - Confirmed bookings have ensured the evening is a sell out - so only accepting on a wait list basis if there are cancellations. Email Ranald on
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For the inaugural Flinders Community Association Annual Dinner
Flinders Golf Club, Saturday 22 January 2011 from 6.45pm with dinner at 7-15 pm.
Name Dr. Mr. Mrs. Ms………………………………………………………………..….
Address …………………………………………………………..Post code………………..
Contacts Evening phone:……………………………………..Daytime Phone:…………………………….
Email…………………………………………………………………
I enclose my Cheque for: $................
(payable to Flinders Community Association) My guests are listed below:
42nd FLINDERS ART SHOW - next weekend
This well supported event will be held again over this Queens Birthday Weekend .... Tickets for opening night, Friday 5 June, will be available at the door @ $25 per head commencing at 7.00 pm. This is a most popular event on the Flinders calendar and continues to draw excellent crowds. Funds raised over the past 7 years exceeded $150,000.
Guest artist demonstrations will be conducted from 11.00 am on Saturday and Sunday.
Opening hours June 6,7, & 8 2009
Saturday 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
Sunday 10.00 am - 5.00pm
Monday 10.00am - 3.00pm
Enquiries Felicity Lain 59 89 0030
Jill Crowcher 59 89 0870