The Beauty of a Wingello Summer

All the rain and sunshine during January has resulted in a blooming of colour in Wingello gardens. Rose went out in our yard today and caught a lovely collection of bright colours bringing a smile to all of us.
Wingello - why be anywhere else?

Brrrr. We have finally hit the cold bits of Winter

Ice clearing is fun

We had snow last night!  It wasn't a lot and it fell down in the midst of rain almost horizontally, but it was SNOW!
Being so cold we all went to the warm shop for some yummy Fish and Chips.  The boys dressed up with long jackets, hats, gloves and boots and walked in - because they could!
The fireplace at the shop was very effective and al our guests last night chose to eat in the back area near the lovely warmth.
This morning the sun was up and the sky was bright and clear. Any open water was frozen which meant the children were able to run around and do some ice breaking.  The trampoline was the most fun.  Use a wooden hammer, smash the ice and jump at the same time. Fun!

Warm Hands are even better

Casting Call for extras in a short movie to be filmed in Wingello

Do you know what road on which this photo was taken?

On either the 8th or 15th August Boulevard Films will be shooting a short film in Wingello called "Markers".  More details are on their Kickstarter page, and it looks to be a very interesting and fun project.  For a couple of days the crew will be in Wingello filming in the hall and the shop and surrounding area.
The director, Rhett Wade-Ferrel, was looking for a country town that reminded him of his home town and Wingello had a great small village feel that suited his story.
This is how the director describes the film:

Markers is a short sliver of emotional drama set in an isolated country town in rural NSW called Wingello. The town is so small in fact that there is only one shop, which also acts as the local post office, supply store, coffee shop, gas station and VHS lending library.
Markers is based on a true story that explores the themes of loss, human impermanence, and sentimentality through a modest funeral held in honour of one of the town locals Ron Millington. The story focuses on the singular journey of Ron's fifteen-year-old son Joel as he attempts to arrange a special farewell at the funeral service whereby mourners are asked to step forward and write on his fathers coffin with permanent markers.
The title Markers, aside from its obvious literal meaning, is a cue to the existential theme of human impermanence and our need to leave something behind that can be remembered. It also relates to the idea that traumatic events often leave permanent emotional marks on us. As we all know, death is a dual rite of passage, both for the deceased into the afterlife and those left behind into a new life without them and this becomes the emotional subject matter of the film.
The film is a reflection of my experience of losing my dad with the hope that it can communicate these universal ideas in a way that is heartfelt and sincere. Above all the film hopes to articulate the surreal experience of what it feels like when we lose someone.
Rather than being crammed with melodrama and tear jerker moments, Markers will take a more genuine path to become a carefully crafted cinematic reflection of real life that feels down to earth and poetic.
Here are some photographs I shot in the country town we found to set the film in that are a great reference to the surreal tone of Markers. And yes there is only one shop and it's freezing.
Rhett Wade-Ferrell, Director

The final scene in the film takes place in the hall at a funeral service of a well known local man and requires a number of people to be extras.  If you wish to spend a day being part of a film (Friday 8 August OR Friday 15 August depending on timing of essential cast and crew), why not give it a go?
No money is involved, but lunch will be provided and you will get a copy of the short film when it is completed and you will be part of something unique and fun in Wingello.

What Extras are required?

FUNERAL ATTENDEES IN HALL

The film requires approximately 20 background extras to sit in a ‘funeral service’.

Absolutely everyone is welcome. All ages, ethnicity, families, couples will help make the scene authentic.

The role will require you to react to the funeral scene as if it were someone you knew from Wingello who had passed away. It could be a close friend or someone you knew from town. You will also be required to sing a hymn as part of the service along with the rest of the group.

On the day you will be required to come to the shoot in your normal Saturday casual clothes and bring along 2 options of what you might wear to a funeral – 1 option will be a casual option and the other a little more formal.

HYMN SINGER (FEMALE / MALE)

There is one role in the funeral scene that features a character.

We are looking for a man or woman, approximately in her 50s – 60’s, to lead the hymn Abide With Me as part of the funeral service.

It is not about being the best singer in the world and it is preferred that you hit a couple of bad notes. The singing of the hymn will be accompanied by the piano.

Your wardrobe should be what you would wear to a funeral in Wingello of someone you knew. One casual option and one more formal option would be great.

PIANO PLAYER (FEMALE / MALE)

We will require a pianist to play a very basic version of the hymn Abide With Me. This character will be required more for their musical skill than their acting ability.

You will only be seen in the background and should consider the wardrobe notes above.

If you wish to be an extra, the producer - Carla - requires:

• A close up Photo
  (like a passport photo but you can smile)
• A full length Photo
• Name and contact details

We have Carla's contact details at the shop.

Enjoying Autumn in Wingello

Autumn leaves are fun

The great part about living in the Southern Highlands is that seasons are obvious.  The clear sunny days, the occasional fresh winds, the changing colours - all combine to let us all know it is Autumn.
The Maple trees in Wingello, both in Maple Lane next to the shop and the newly planted trees along Railway parade, are showing various bright shades of yellow, orange and red.
Today, Mothers Day, we have had many visitors treating Mum to a breakfast or lunch at the store and all Mothers today also received a free serve of scones.
Thanks Mum!

The survey for Town Water is now online

Do you want Town Water?

Do you want Town Water in Wingello or Penrose? Whatever your desire you have to have your say.
The surveys have started arriving in the mail and hopefully we willl have some to hand out at the store next week.

You can also complete the survey online here.

Don't dilly dally or your voice won't be heard.

The mystery of the Abandoned Bicycle

A Lure?

Months ago a blue bike appeared in the Village chained to a pole opposite the Bus shelters in front of the Casburn Park sign. Locals have discussed the peculiarity of someone who would chain their bike to a pole in the centre of a busy car parking area rather than either:

1. chained to the railway fence;
2. chatting with the shop and storing it there as many others have done; or
3. putting it anywhere safer.

However, there it sat untouched, undamaged, unmoved. From before the first train left each day and after the last train arrived it never moved.  We have many witnesses who have sen the bike in that same spot at all hours. The most common assumption was that someone had ridden to the station, went to town and died or was never able to return.

The message when the trap was sprung.

Then on the evening of Australia Day (Sunday 26 Jan) the bike was damaged and instantly a sign appeared on it with the message:

To the vile B*** that trashed my only transport to work I hope you get hit by a car along with the lazy worthless parents that bred you. Better yet I hope the town that nurtured you burns in a bushfire!!! 

This required a response. And a bit more investigation as this is no longer a curiosity but an assault on Wingello which must be resolved.  So I had a closer look at this sole form of transport to verify the claims in the note.
Here are some of the close-ups of this prized possession:

A well rusted back wheel and chain. All exposed metal was rusted.

This is the front brake.

This is another view of the front brake

This is the handle of the brake. All rivets well rusted. 

A very weather worn seat.

We do not believe this bicycle is a primary form of transport for anyone.  It hasn’t been ridden for a long time and I suspect has been out in the weather on similar operations in the past.  The rust is throughout the bike and the seat is well weather-worn.  It sat unmolested for months with no-one using it.  Then suddenly, on a public holiday it is damaged - possibly by one of the many visitors we get on public holiday weekends, or by the perpetrators of this operation, and a sign appears on the damaged bike. Amazing!  Instant response to an abandoned bike.  With damage caused on a quiet time on a public holiday weekend.
We believe this is a passive aggressive, unsigned note, by a writer upset that the targeted village did not do what was expected.
The current theory is that the bike was planted in a public spot hoping for a theft or vandalism.  When it didn’t happen, and university is about to begin, suddenly the hoped for damage happens.
The reason we suspect this is a study or sting by a university student is the language in the note. Why do I mention University?  Who uses the word "nurtured" in normal language?  Also, the timing of the start of the University semester is interesting.
The whole situation reeks of deception and a pre-decided antagonism against Wingello.
If you have anything else you can add to this mystery, please let us know at the store, or comment on this post or the Facebook page.  If this was an honest situation, it is highly probable we would have been informed at the store.  But this appears to be done by a non-local or someone who wishes to remain bravely anonymous writing little passive aggressive notes with smug self satisfaction.

We Love Wingello - Entry in My Southern Highlands promotion

Hearts - and heads - spinning in Casburn Park Wingello

We have loaded a "We Love Wingello" slideshow entry into the Southern Highlands Tourism "Share your love of the Highlands"promotion. 
Click here to view and Click here to vote.
The promotion is run to increase awareness of the joys of living in the Southern Highlands.
We created a slide show with snapshots of lots of people enjoying life in Wingello - the entrance to the Southern Highlands.

Thieves about, Wingello watch out!

A few weeks ago, a chair was used to smash one of the rear windows at the shop.  The thief only succeeded in breaking the window, cutting himself and leaving blood in several places.
Police are investigating.
The same thieves attempted to break into Tallong the night before.  The following week the crooks actually broke into Tallong, smashing the window, knocking over the grocery shelves and discovered the till was empty at night time.  So no actual theft just stupid damage.
Other vandalism and petty thefts have happened, most likely from the same culprits.  Perhaps they don’t realise that their fingerprints and DNA evidence are on record and when they are caught in future all of these escapades will come back to haunt them.
The school has also been broken into twice causing much damage and minor thefts.
Your mission:
If you see someone who has cuts to his hands or arm, ask him where he got them.  We want our village to be a safe place to live.  It is thought the crooks are from somewhere between Wingello and Marulan.
Some of you know who is doing these thefts.  Don’t let them get away with it.
Remember.
This is from only a few people.  A very small group that aren’t very bright.  A vigilant Wingello will uncover the culprits.

Playground Success for Wingello

Some of the Wingello children testing out the
new play equipment

The children of Wingello asked the Mayor for a better playground - and he came through! 
Over time the park in Casburn Park has gradually diminished in size as pieces of equipment we removed one at a time.  Each “improvement” in park safety resulted in a smaller and “safer”park that was less used.
So back in April the children of Wingello wrote to the Mayor, each in their own words, requesting an improvement to the park.  I have included here a couple of the letters and a copy of Mayor Ken Halstead’s reply.
And recently, three new pieces of play equipment were installed.  Since then the park use has increased incredibly with children (and some adults) testing out the very well built swinging spinning thing, interesting mobile see-saw and spinning pole.  And the additional great thing about the park is parents can sit in view of the children in the shade of fantastic pine trees.
A sample letter:

Dear Mr Mayor,We need better equipment in the park. We would want a flying fox, a new skate park and a bigger slide in Wingello park. Please can we have these things because we need it.  People have been breaking our swings. 100% of people believe we need better equipment in the park.

Another sample letter:

Dear Ken Halstead,I think Wingello needs a new skate park and a flying fox because :-

• The students don’t have anything to do on the weekends.

• The children will be able to see their friends outside of school.

• We will also be able to take visitors that aren’t from Wingello out to have some fun at the park.

That’s why I believe Wingello needs a skate park and flying fox to put some fun into Wingello.Yours Sincerely.

Mayor Halstead's response:

Office of the Mayor 

Thank you for your recent letter regarding playground equipment in Casburn Park.You and your fellow students  have presented  persuasive argument and have provided many suggestions for different types of equipment that would improve the playground.Having given the various suggestions consideration we are pleased to advise that we will provide additional equipment in Casburn Park. The installation process for the new equipment will commence in August 2011.Yours sincerely 

Ken Halstead 

Mayor

Are you ready for Summer?

Wingello is a great place to live.  Are you ready for this fire season.
Bush fires are a natural part of the Australian environment and occur regularly, but many people fail to prepare for them.  When threatened by bush fires, people will often leave it too late to make critical decisions and often have few safe options left.
So begins the excellent Rural Fire Service’s Bush Fire Survival Plan booklet.
You may recognise some local personalities in the above photo which forms part of the booklet.
On Saturday, 24 September the local fire brigade had an Open Day followed by a very important Community Awareness Meeting.  This was a combined meeting for Bundanoon, Penrose and Wingello but there was a very poor showing.  When there is a sniff of smoke in the air, everyone becomes very concerned.  This is often too late.
Wingello is a beautiful little village, surrounded by forest.  While the forest is a great part of the area’s beauty, it is also the source of our real bushfire risk.
As a resident you need to know how to prepare your home to reduce fire and ember risk, to prepare yourselves and have an evacuation plan in place, understand the fire danger ratings and what to do if a fire is threatening.
The Wingello Fire Captain is a very effective speaker, helping us to understand the dangers that bushfires pose.  The lessons of the recent Victorian bushfire disaster were certainly made relevant to us all.
It is critical that all families and residents have a current Bush Fire Survival Plan. These are available from the Wingello Shop or Fire Station.
The brigade is currently sending out a survey form and hope that everybody will complete and return it to the Wingello Shop addressed to the Wingello Fire Brigade. This survey will assist our fire brigade in defending your property in case of a fire. Shortly the brigade will be visiting properties to help and advise on preparing yourself and property in the event of a bush fire.

Now that’s a stone wall

A justifiably proud Simon next to his new dry stone wall.

A well built stone wall lasts for generations and is a very beautiful addition to any property.
One of the Wingello residents had a Stonewall building workshop and it went very well. Lots of participants had a fulfilling time learning how to build a dry stone wall from what would normally be considered very poor stones.  The result is something all concerned would be proud to have contributed to.

New Memorial Garden

You may have noticed all the work being done at the front of the Fire Brigade.  The David Quinlivan Memorial Garden has been re-established and is looking very good.
During the bush fires in the Wingello State Forest in January 1998 a Wingello tanker was seriously overrun by fire.  This resulted in the tragic loss of the brigade's Senior Deputy Captain, David Quinlivan. The remaining seven crew members who escaped the tanker sustained serious burns and injuries.
On Saturday 8th October the rededication of the David Quinlivan Memorial Garden was carried out by the NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. David’s parents had flown up from Victoria to attend and assisted the Commissioner in the unveiling of the plaque. Thank you to all local residents who attended on the day.

How does the mail work in Wingello?

Wingello is a fully featured Licensed Post Office.  We are not large enough to have Australia Post Electronic Services - we are one of over 300 manual Post Offices around the country.
Mail arrives Monday to Friday between 7:30am and 8:15am.  The letters are then sorted into each resident’s mail folder or PO Box, then parcels are recorded and a red card placed in the appropriate folder or PO Box.
As you know, Wingello is tricky for addresses.  Some streets have alternate names, numbers may be duplicated and some have almost random lot numbers or house names.  We have no choice but to go by names which we match to addresses where we can.  To assist in this matching process we maintain a database of names and addresses which has helped us in delivery.
If you are new to the area, let us know who you are.  If we can’t find a match on the name, mail will be Returned to Sender after 2 weeks.
If you complete a Bill Pay by 3:00pm, it will be included in our reports which are included in the daily mail.  This is sent to the processing area in Melbourne where the details are recorded and the billers are notified.  Although this may take 2 to 3 days between payment time and notification, the official Wingello Post Office stamp serves as proof of payment.  We also take phone calls from billers if they require confirmation sooner.
At 3:45pm the mail is picked up and taken to the Bowral processing centre.  From here it is sent all over Australia and Internationally.
Sometimes mail is delayed.  But as you can see by our timing above, it is caught up in the system outside of Wingello.  We do not hold onto mail.

Pru Goward supports Level Crossing

A great photo of the Wingello Train lines 

by Michelle Luke

Our local MP Pru Goward visited the Wingello Village Store on Saturday 20 August to meet with constituents.
It was an opportunity for Barry Shine, Chairman of the recently formed Wingello Progress Association to raise the issue of the need for safety improvements at the level crossing.
Ms Goward was immediately supportive and has promised to personally  see that all three departments involved (Rail, Roads and Council) are contacted and urged to take action on the upgrading to improve the safety, particularly in view of the growing number of children in the area. However, Ms Goward did warn that it can take about eighteen months to obtain a satisfactory outcome.

Fire Brigade News - Sep 2011

Tess and Lucy trying to hide during the clean up day.

As you may have seen, new radio mast and antennas have been erected and are ready to be put into service. These will improve the reception of the brigade’s communications systems to and from the fire control center and also the mobile and portable radios that are used in every vehicle and in the field. Many thanks to Simon Dickson for helping us with the erection of the mast and also some additional excavation.
A clean up day was held at the Station recently and the station truck and work bays are looking good thanks to the guys and girls that helped with all the work.
Also thanks to Paul Spackman who has been doing some plumbing for us for our new wash down bay for the CABA crew.
The Wingello Rural Fire Brigade is having an Open Day at the fire station on the 24th September. Visit your station and see the work the volunteers have been doing and meet up with your local volunteer men and woman Firies .  There will even be plenty of goodies for the little ones.

Vandals in the Forest

Vandals struck two weekends in a row, felling trees and damaging property
On the weekend of 28 and 29 May, vandals struck at the base camp in the Wingello State Forest.  The very large pine tree nearest the shed was cut down in such a way as to deliberately destroy the structure.  Luckily no-one was in the shed when it was hit by the felled tree.
On the night of Friday 4 June or the morning of 5 June vandals struck again, cutting down six trees in Forest Road about 100 metres in front of the State Forest entrance, blocking access to the Forest.
Today (6 June) Council workers were out clearing the damage and re-opening the road.
Who would do such a thing?
It is thought the vandal is one of three types of person, none of whom thinks very clearly.
A local who is disenchanted that the Forest is so popular, with the increase in traffic interfering with his tranquility.  The response is not very clever as the visitors to the forest are locals as well as others from further afield.  These additional visitors benefit the Village in allowing for increases in services and facilities that would not be viable if we didn’t have such a great resource as the State Forest.  The business generated by our visitors, although not great, is enough to allow for the expanded restaurant and cafe facilities at the shop.  Having no visitors would mean no local hot food or coffee for residents.  The visitors get to enjoy the delights of Wingello and then have to drive away envious of the locals who have such easy access to Wingello all the time.
A visitor upset that the forest was closed when they wanted to use the forest.
All one has to do is visit 
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forests/locations/wingello 
to get all the information on when the Forest is closed for a special event.  Planning ahead is such an easy thing to do.
A bored youth.
If you have any information as to the perpetrators of this vandalism, let us or the Police know. The felling of established trees in public areas is extremely dangerous and we will all be safer when the misguided vandals are stopped.

Wingello Village Hall is Better than ever

Lest we forget

The Roll of Honour in the hall is from the
war of 1914 to 191.  The plaque was never updated
to reflect the end of the war in 1918.

In 1917, members of the Mechanics Institute built the hall and gave it to the community.  Since that time it was managed by local residents and it was the home to many dances, meetings and other events for the community.
One matter affecting the running of the hall was community interest.  Over the years the hall almost fell into disrepair and the management committees were restarted almost from scratch numerous times.
Luckily, each time some people were found willing to donate their time and effort and try to keep the hall available for community use.
Funding for repairs and maintenance was always an issue.  Funds were raised through various means to fix up one thing or another and pay for the necessary building and contents insurance.  This kept going up, especially considering the hall is a wooden building built 80 years ago.
Finally the effects of insurance and public liability claims began to take its toll. Members of the management committee discovered they would be personally liable if someone decided to sue them.
About three years ago meetings of the hall management committee in conjunction with public meetings were held and votes cast to turn over management of the Hall to the Wingecarribee Shire Council.
This has allowed for a proper maintenance regime to be put in place and appropriate insurance cover for the hall and those on the management committee.
Many may complain about the paperwork needed to rent the hall but this is not council’s fault.  It goes back to the courts interpreting claims regarding public liability very broadly, greatly expanding the liability for all concerned.  This meant insurance policies were required.  Each time a multi million dollar claim is brought down, insurance rates go up.
All that paperwork is just the reaction to ensure all appropriate parties are covered in case of a lawsuit.  If other halls aren’t doing the risk assessment and the associated insurance paperwork, the risk to the hall management committee and organisers of events is much higher.
Since the Council assumed responsibility for the hall many improvements have been made including:

• Rewiring and safety switches,
• Air conditioners in the hall and meeting room
• New blinds
• Painting inside and out
• Repaired internal stairs
• New chairs
• Stage lighting and curtains updated as well as a new piano
• Repaired kitchen cupboards and fittings

At least that tells us where some of our rates are going.