At the home base of Rochester District Anglican Club last week the installation of a kitchen sink and start of cabinetry work in the corner of the group’s clubhouse was one such victory.
The club’s Rochester Recreation Reserve was one of an estimated 1000 homes and buildings that were inundated with flood water and required a complete re-fit before they were again fit for use.
As the calendar approaches the 12-month anniversary of the flood, last week’s installation of the club kitchen was being hailed by club executive members Tom Reid and Gordon Wellington that a return to the location is not all that far away.
Funding assistance from a Fosterville mine donation has allowed the club to reach this point and soon it will be able to restore the building to its former glory.
For now, though, the club will continue to meet in the sheds of its Rochester homes and use those same storage facilities to keep the memorabilia and equipment that was saved from the clubhouse safe.
Like so many clubs the activities of the angling club have been thrown into chaos, only a few of the 15 active members back in their homes.
The angling club has been operating for almost 30 years and, like so many others, the focus has been on returning to a normal life rather than having the angling club back up and going.
A return to the building they have operated from since the 2011 floods will, however, be welcomed by all members
The building they were housed in prior to then was condemned following the floods of 12 years ago.
With one member who is 96, another who is 92, and a few others in their 80s, the return to regular meetings will be a highlight of the year for the club.
Meanwhile, though several continue to chase redfin and yellowbelly in the Campaspe river or at the polarising Lake Eppalock.
And the club executive have stayed across all the recent news, explaining that the Campaspe river was now home to three big cod — who may be the target of angling activities come the December 1 opening of cod season.
“There are three big cod in there now, 95cm, 100cm, 105cm cods which were old breeding stock from Snobs Creek are now in the river,” Tom said.
The pair said while fishing trips were a focus of the club, it was more important for the members to come along and have a chat.
“The club in Elmore closed down, but apart from Kyabram there aren’t a lot of clubs around,,” Gordon said.
The club lost its fridge, all utensils, cabinets and other fittings. What is left is stored in r sheds.
“We still grab a mate and go fishing,” Tom said, explaining Waranga Basin had been a go-to location in recent times.
• In other good news for the club the Andrews Government has announced the opening of the Stronger Fishing Clubs Grant Program, welcoming angling clubs and associations across northern Victoria to apply for grants of up to $10,000.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the grants were available under the $1.2 million program to help strengthen and increase club membership, and to promote participation in recreational fishing. Applications for round one of the program close on December 6.
This program delivers on the Andrews Government’s election commitment to help fishing clubs attract new members, encouraging more families to take up fishing, and is part of the government’s record $96 million package to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture.
Projects eligible for funding include events that provide recreational fishing tuition for women, multicultural groups, First Nations Peoples and all-abilities, alongside open days, training and events, and guest speaker nights.
Projects involving IT upgrades, website development, clubroom improvements, and equipment that will benefit all members are also eligible for funding.To apply online or learn more visit vfa.vic.gov.au/strongerfishingclubsQuote
Ms Symes said: “We want to help our local fishing clubs grow because they support newcomers to the pastime of fishing and share generations of knowledge amongst members”.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny said the Stronger Fishing Clubs Grant Program would ensure clubs to attract local members and support them to enjoy all the benefits that come with spending time on the water with family and friends.
And, only days after National Threatened Species Day (Thursday, September 7), SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, in partnership with the North Central and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA), has released the once declared extinct, zombie fish (aka southern purple-spotted gudgeon), into McLarty’s Lagoon, a natural wetland on the mid-Goulburn River, Victoria.
The collaboration not only provided a secure haven for breeding but also space for educating visitors about the crucial role of wetland conservation.
“We are proud to release our very first cohort of southern purple-spotted gudgeon which were born and bred at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium following the establishment of this exciting breed for release initiative. Now that the fry (young) have developed to around 2-3cm long, we have returned them into pest-free ‘surrogate’ sites in the wild to expand the population,” said Samuel Fawke, curatorial supervisor at SEA LIFE Melbourne.
“This is the first time SEA LIFE Melbourne has bred and released native fish into the wild. We hope to be involved in more programs like this in the future to help conserve both marine and freshwater species, particularly those that are endemic to Victoria.”
