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$2 Thursday 24th February 2022 Issue 4 BLUE LIGHT COMMUNITY CHARITY BALL RAISES OVER $20,000 By ASHLING SPAIN On Saturday February 19 2022, the historic Cummins Theatre, Merredin was transformed into a ballroom, ambiently lit with strings of lights and burning candles to accompany the grandeur of the building itself. The room was lled with the soulful sounds of Sophie Jane who provided music throughout the night. Guests arrived in stunning gowns and suits ready for a night of elegance with the view of fundraising for a number of worthwhile causes. Upon entry, guests were greeted by roaming entertainment providing a stunning light show across the ballroom oor. A picturesque grazing table created was on oer throughout the night followed by delicious and succulent range of canapes and small meals. Aendees were addressed by Assistant Commissioner Daryll Gaunt, who also holds the tle of Board Member of PCYC WA. Mr Gaunt took the opportunity to present Merredin Police Staon a Cercate of Excellence having made the top 10 nalists of the Police Excellence Awards. In addion, he presented an award to acknowledge the work of members of the Blue Light team at Merredin who have moved to new work locaons. On oer throughout the night via both a silent and live aucon were an array of appliances, electronics, sports memorabilia and spectacular artwork. Local auconeer Jarrad Hubbard provided a fun, entertaining and excing live aucon which had guests on tenterhooks! Shortly thereaer, guests were treated to a spectacular light show, the two performers infusing dance and circus using a range of light props to create a magical and memorable experience. At the conclusion of the ocial proceedings, Sophie Jane, joined now by her band provided an array of songs and tunes for guests to dance the night away. The atmosphere was through the roof as the danceoor began to ll. Alas, unl the end of the silent aucon neared! While some connued to dance and eat, many were grappled by the last-minute suspense of bidding for their desired items. Distracon techniques and secret bidders were rife as the last minutes fell to seconds. As the end of the night neared, the danceoor was lled with dancing, singing and some all-me classic hits. Aucon items (Connued on page 4)

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 24th February 2022 3 Produced and printed fortnightly by Merredin Community Resource Centre 110 Barrack Street, Merredin Ph: 9041 1041 Fax: 9041 1042 Deadlines Arcles, Adversements (including Classieds) 5pm Monday before publicaon date Content/producon Kirsty Rochford administraon@merredincrc.com Content/producon Debbie Morris merredin@crc.net.au Adversing administraon4@merredincrc.com Upcoming Edions 10th & 24th March 2022 www.phoenixnews.com.au The Phoenix Prices Prime Adversing Front $150 Back Full page $200 Ears $30 Front inside full $180 Back inside full $180 Colour Quarter $40 Half $80 Full $160 Black & White Quarter $30 Half $60 Full $120 Classies (b/w) Non business for sale free General lineage 50c per word Display per cm Public Noce $10 Employment $5 Trades 12 edions (each) $15 6 edions (each) $20 3 edions (each) $25 Artwork Fee $30 CONTENTS Merredin College ...................... 5 St Mary’s Primary School .......... 6 Library Musings ........................ 6 From the History Room............. 6 COVID 19 Stascs ................... 7 Court Report ............................ 8 My Thoughts ............................ 9 Trades .................................... 13 Collgar Community Calendar .. 15 Astronomy ............................. 16 Horoscopes ............................ 21 Classieds ................ 20, 21 & 22 The Phoenix Available at the following outlets: BP Travel Stop Café 56 Cung Room Dimensions Go MAD IGA Inspire Merredin Bakery Merredin CRC Merredin Flowers Merredin Harvest Merredin Swimming Pool Nextra Puma Roadhouse Two Dogs Home Hardware Wild Poppy Café Thankyou to these businesses for their support for The Phoenix and Merredin Community Resource Centre ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS Email administraon4@ merredincrc.com 12 or 24 edions

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4 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 were collected by gleeful buyers as others pined over their lost bids. Guests used what was le of the night to take photographs by the photo board laced with a delighul and bright balloon garland created by hand by Tamara from Bubbles and Bowes Events. Overall, the night was an immense success with over $20,000 raised – to be delegated to our chosen charies, A stch in Time and both Merredin College and St Marys School P and C Commiee’s. A huge thank you, again, goes to our planum sponsors; Ross’s Diesel Service, Two-Dogs Home hardware; Collgar Wind Farm, and CSBP. A further thank you goes out to the Ball Commiee; Andrew Galbraith, Emma Galbraith, Heath Soutar, Janique Soutar, Chesney Maloney, Darcie Jollie, Maddison Earle-Sadler, Asha Carr and Ashling Spain – almost (Connued from page 1) 12 months of behind the scenes work was volunteered to create this magical night. Without the hard work and dedicaon of these people, this night, in all its magnicence would not have been possible. Lastly, a thank you to those who aended, donated, and helped create a wonderful long-lasng memory in our small community. Without you, our fundraising eorts could not have reached such enormous heights, we thank you for your contribuon to the youth in our community. Their Future is Our Future. COMMUNTY CHARITY BALL cont. Date: Friday 4 March 2022 Time: 10.00am Venue: St Mary’s Catholic Church English morning tea to follow ALL WELCOME Queries: Jane Patroni (Co-ordinator) 0417860046

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6 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 Library Musings By WENDY PORTER, Merredin Librarian What’s new at the Merredin Library? Not only do we have new stock, but also some fantasc new iniaves! We now have a ‘Sta Picks’ display where you will nd a selecon of con and non-con books that have appealed to library sta. Not all of these are new books - sta have found some gems in the collecon that you may never had seen. Come and check out the display. The Merredin Library now has a desktop vacuum former. This is a machine that can be used to make molds for chocolate, soap or candle making, and much more! There are several grades of plascs to mold, including food grade. No longer do you have to pick from a selecon of molds for your cra, you can create your very own. Come and ask sta for details. Going away for a trip? Got nothing to read? How about From the History Room By ANITA METCALF RECIPES OF YESTERYEAR From the history room at the Merredin Library, this recipe is from the—Merredin Mercury and Central Districts Index Christmas 1949. The lling may be omied leaving you a delicious, crunchy shortbread. PASSIONFRUIT CREAM SHORTBREAD Half cup margarine or buer, 2 cups self-raising our, ½ teaspoonful grated lemon rind, ½ cup sugar, good pinch salt, 1 egg, lile extra sugar. FILLING: One cup sied icing sugar, 2 level teaspoons buer, 3 or 4 passionfruit. METHOD: Rub shortening into sied our and salt unl mixture is like breadcrumbs. Add sugar and lemon rind. Beat egg and add to mixture mixing NEW STAFF checking out what the Merredin Library has for sale (or even for free). These are books that are not suitable to put in stock but are too good to throw away. There are lots to choose from. Don’t forget that all Merredin Library members can access a range of electronic resources, from eBooks and eAudiobooks to eMagazines, movies, databases and more, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Ask library sta for details. Remember to ask sta for help if you can’t nd what you are looking for as we may be able to borrow it from another library. If you don’t have me to browse for books, call the library on 9041 1222. Library sta will select books for you and have them ready to pick up. You could even have a look at our catalogue from home, and have sta put books aside for you. All you have to do is ask. Sta are always ready and willing to help. See you soon! St Mary’s has three new sta this year. Ms Emily Ferraro is in Pre-Primary, Ms Lucy Lynch is in Year 4/5 and Mrs Kate Crees joins us as the Physical Educaon Specialist. SWIMMING LESSONS The Year Three and Year four students have been luck enough to be parcipang in swimming lessons this week. The weather has been perfect and the water is nice and warm. with the hand to form fairly dry, crumbly mixture. Pack into well-greased 8in. sandwich n. Rough up surface with fork and sprinkle with lile castor sugar. Bake in moderate over (375 deg. F. gas, 425 deg. electric) 30 to 40 minutes. Leave in n unl cold. Cut and ll with passionfruit cream. Making lling by soening shortening and creaming with sied icing sugar. Add passionfruit pulp mixing thoroughly together.

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 24th February 2022 7 COVID-19 WA Stascs As at 23 February 2022 Tested 2,469,211 Confirmed Cases 4,452 Recovered 2,655 Deaths 10 Active cases in WA 1,787 COVID-19 in Australia Vaccinations: 1 Dose 21,980,295 (85.6%) Fully Vaccinated 20,423,362 (79.5%) Booster 10,821,136 (42.1%) WA—Cases 4,469—Deaths 10 ACT—Cases 46,591 —Deaths 33 NSW—Cases 1.28M—Deaths 1,859 NT—Cases 37,692—Deaths 16 QLD—Cases 544K—Deaths 505 SA—Cases 137K—Deaths 169 TAS—Cases 41,049—Deaths 24 VIC—Cases 1.01M—Deaths 2,409 COVID-19 coronavirus Need Help setting up Service WA app? Contact Merredin CRC on 90411041 or email administration4@merredincrc.com and make an appointment Premier Mark McGowan released a ve-page document on the 23rd February detailing the ndings of the modelling conducted by WA Health and the Chief Health Ocer Dr Andy Robertson. The modelling predicts that 463,932 people will be infected within 6 months with the peak period being by the end of March. During that me, it is forecast • 5,685 people are likely to end up in hospital • 715 people expected to be put into Intensive Care Unit • 129 people West Australians are forecast to ulmately die from COVID-19 By the end of March, we can expect to see 10,363 new cases and 4 people to die each day. New exposure sites have been idened in Tom Price, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Dunsborough. Anyone at one of these exposure sites during the meframe listed should monitor for symptoms, unless directly advised otherwise by the Department of Health. If symptoms develop, get tested and isolate. Please connue to check the most up-to-date list of exposure sites online at hps://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/.../ Locaons-visited-by... and hps://www.wa.gov.au/.../covid-19-coronavirus-WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S OMICRON MODELLING RELEASED WA’S BORDER OPENING FROM THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2022 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS: LOCATIONS VISITED BY CONFIRMED CASES

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8 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 8th February 2022 Midland Courthouse Sco Blake appeared on a charge of no authority to drive – suspended (other than nes suspension). He was remanded to appear in Perth on the 21st February 2022. 9th February 2022 Perth Central Law Courts Michael Halle appeared on 21 charges of being a person who was cruel to an animal. He was remanded to appear in Perth on the 2nd March 2022. A sentence date has been set for the 9th March 2022. Nigel Halle appeared on 13 charges of being a person who was cruel to an animal. The charges were withdrawn. Halle Farm Group Pty Ltd appeared on 9 charges of being a person who was cruel to an animal. The charges were withdrawn. Hillview Farm Pty Ltd appeared on 4 charges of being a person who was cruel to an animal. The charges were withdrawn. Pinehill Farm Pty Ltd appeared on 5 charges of being a person who was cruel to an animal. The charges were withdrawn. Sunpride Sheep appeared on 14 charges of being a person who was cruel to an animal. Two charges were dismissed. On the remaining 12 charges Sunpride Sheep was remanded to appear in Perth on the 2nd March 2022. A sentence date has been set for the 9th March 2022. 10th February 2022 Bunbury Courthouse Mahew Jea appeared on a charge of criminal damage or destrucon of property. He was remanded to appear in Bunbury on the 17th February 2022. Southern Cross Courthouse Robert Bosworth was convicted on charges of exceed speed Court Report limit between 10 and 19km/h, and no authority to drive – cancelled. He had his licence suspended for 9 months, was ned a total of $1200 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Gwenda Bradshaw was convicted on a charge of exceed 0.08g alcohol per 100ml of blood. She had her licence suspended for 9 months, was ned $1150 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Kaziah Cann was convicted on charges of not being licenced or permied to possess a rearm, possessed a defaced rearm, unlicensed person possess rearm/ammunion, drove with prescribed illicit drug in oral uid or blood, and two charges of no authority to drive – suspended (other than nes suspension). They had their licence suspended for a further 9 months, was ned a total of $4250 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Dana Chapman-Burney was convicted on charges of no authority to drive (never held), and exceed speed limit between 10 and 19km/h. they had their licence suspended for 3 months, was ned a total of $800 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Jocelyn Chinnock appeared on a charge of drove with prescribed illicit drug in oral uid or blood. The maer was adjourned to appear in Southern Cross on the 5th May 2022. Timothy Ellison was convicted on a charge of exceed 0.08g alcohol per 100ml of blood. He had his licence suspended for 7 months, was ned $850 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Marika Farmer was convicted on charges of no authority to drive – suspended (other than nes suspension), and provided false or misleading personal details. She had her licence suspended for 9 months, was ned a total of $2500 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Connor Hope-Yates was convicted on a charge of 9am—2pm Until 3 March MON—FRI reckless driving exceeded the speed limit by 45km/h or more on a length of road. He had his licence suspended for 6 months, was ned $800 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Kye Marn appeared on a charge of common assault. The maer was adjourned to appear in Southern Cross on the 5th May 2022. Laszlo Rewiczky was convicted on a charge of driver failed to wear a seatbelt. He was ned $550 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Mary Ross appeared on a charge of possessed drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug or plant. The maer was adjourned to appear in Kalgoorlie on the 14th March 2022. Brian Sheehan was convicted on a charge of exceed 0.08g alcohol per 100ml of blood. He had his licence suspended for 9 months, ned $1000 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Reilly Spencer was convicted on a charge of reckless driving exceeded the speed limit by 45km/h or more on a length of road. He had his licence suspended for 6 months, was ned $800 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Rene Thompson was convicted on a charge of drive with prescribed illicit drug in oral uid or blood. He was ned $400, ordered to pay costs of $259.30 and to pay an analyst fee of $200. Rachelle Wilson was convicted on a charge of no authority to drive (never held). She had her licence suspended for 3 months, was ned $600 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Trevor Jea appeared on a charge of no authority to drive (disqualied from holding or obtaining). He was remanded to appear in Kalgoorlie on the 28th February 2022. 14th February 2022 Northam Courthouse Locklyn Carroll appeared two charges of breach of bail (fail to appear soon aer). He was remanded to appear in Northam on the 21st February 2022. Perth Central Law Courts Kyle Brown appeared on charges of no authority to drive (disqualied from holding or obtaining), and reckless driving. He was remanded to appear in Perth on the 11th April 2022. 16th February 2022 Northam Courthouse Craig Thompson appeared on a charge of breach of protecve bail and two charges of common assault in circumstances of aggravaon or racial aggravaon. He was remanded to appear in Northam on the 28th February 2022.

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 24th February 2022 9 Kohdee Swinwood My Thoughts As my impending pregnancy due date reaches closer, I must admit I have a constant fear about becoming a new parent. Worry and doubt cross my mind oen about whether I will be capable of looking aer my very own ny human, especially in the middle of a pandemic. I suppose it’s not something you can really prepare for, but at the same me, the thought of having to head o into the world with my bub only 24 hours aer giving birth seems incredibly daunng. What if I can’t do it? What if I’m not ready? What if the nursery isn’t complete? What if she comes early? What if I get COVID-19? So many quesons, yet there is no way of answering them. Being pregnant in 2021/22 has not been without its challenges. Especially now with COVID-19 transming throughout the WA community, the prospect of becoming infected with the virus is becoming more inevitable than ever before. While I understand and support the precauons put in place due to the latest health advice, I sll worry about those who do not take the risk seriously and connue to live without any concern for others. Because of the pandemic, my husband - the one person who I need the most - won’t even be able to stay at the hospital aer my daughter is born while I recover. I won’t be allowed visitors other than my husband for 2 hours twice a day, and there is a huge possibility that I will have to be transferred to a dierent hospital if there are COVID-19 posive paents in the pregnancy ward. With my anxiety, it is hard for A NEW CHAPTER APPROACHES me to break away from roune or from a plan I have in place. Heck I have panic aacks when my local fuel staon isn’t operang, and I have to go elsewhere – a feeling that most won’t understand. The unpredictability surrounding the birth of my daughter is already stressing me out, without having to worry about picking up the virus. Add this stress to the numerous doubts that cross my mind, and I wonder how I am even able to leave the house every day. While I know it’s not praccal to lock myself away for the next year, the prospect is looking prey appealing the closer my due date approaches. I don’t want to be scared to live life, but it’s hard not to when you look at what has happened over East. Combine that with a number of people who constantly whine about having public health measures in place that are there to protect us, most days I’m le curled up in bed unable to move and absolutely speechless. Granted, I’m not here to rant about COVID, I simply wanted to highlight that this is not an easy me for mums to be. Along with being ridiculed for geng vaccinated while pregnant, people are always cricizing what you wear, what you eat, the things you do and say… and I’m sure that won’t change once baby is born. How could anyone expect pregnant women to cope these days? With just 6 weeks to go, I really hope that this next month isn’t as hecc as ancipated and I can calm my anxiety before bub arrives. Can deliver if required

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10 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 By ANNIE HAINES Cli Haines was born on the 25 March 1947 in Northam. He had an older sister, Isabella, older brother, Jim, and two younger brothers, Johnny and Georey. Cli went to school in Bolgart then le there in 1954 when the family moved to Wongan Hills and nally seled in Merredin in 1958. His Dad Ted, was employed at the Ag Department and his Mum Jenny, was a cook at Merredin Hospital. Cli went to North Merredin Primary School and then Merredin Senior High School and le mid-1962 at the age of 15 and got a job at Dunlop tyres earning a meagre $9 a week. Cli had a short snt in Perth working with tyres, then he came back to Merredin to work for Beaurepairs unl he was 17, then at 19 he was transferred to Southern Cross and started to work for McLeod’s Tyres, staying for four years. During that me, Cli married and had three children, Amanda, Leah and Robert. He transferred back to Merredin with McLeod’s Tyres and connued with them for ve years, where his hard work and dedicaon didn’t go unnoced. He was oered, and accepted, the manager’s job with Bell Tyres in 1976. Over the course of the next decade Cli developed a wide network of clients and decided REMEMBERING CLIFF HAINES to take a leap of faith by embarking on his own business venture. So, in 1988 he launched Cli Haines Tyres. People said, “Hainsey you will never make it.” Well, he proved everyone wrong and proudly stayed in business for 32 years with Wanda working for him for 30 years - what a fantasc team they were. In April 2000 Cli married again, to Annie, the love of his life. They brought out the best in each other and spent many happy aernoons chilling in their beauful backyard having a beer together. Cli was a keen Eagles fan and loved watching the cricket and golf. They had 22 wonderful years together. Cli loved and took on Annie’s three children, Kelly, Amanda and Ryan, as his own. He especially enjoyed their newest grandchild, Brielle, and wanted nothing more than to see her walk and have her rst Christmas, which he got to see. Aer a lot of thinking he decided to sell his much-loved business, a decision he didn’t take lightly but his health was declining, and he knew it was me, so in 2020 he sold to Combined Tyres. He was sad but relieved that the business would sll be staying in Merredin. Aer the sale, he oen ventured down on his gopher to visit as you just couldn’t take the tyre er out of him. Over the last 12 months, Cli had a few snts in hospital and during the last visit, the doctors said there was nothing more they could do for him and the best thing would be to go into a Home, but Annie wouldn’t have any of that and took on the role of full-me Carer, a decision she would make again, as it gave her and Cli some quality me to spend together. Cli was a gentleman and would give you anything if you were in need. He always welcomed you with a hello and the oer of a beer. He was genuinely interested in what you were doing or had done but if he didn’t like you, then you soon got that feeling. Cli passed away 5pm Monday 31st January 2022 in Merredin Hospital, with Annie by his side. Cli will never know how many people loved the true gentleman and larrikin that he was.

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12 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Following the groundbreaking success of the tour of AB Facey’s A FORTUNATE LIFE, THEATRE 180 is returning to Merredin’s Cummins Theatre on 10 March to present SYDNEY II: LOST AND FOUND. A true story of romance, danger, courage and fateful decisions, from the dark days of WWII and a race against me over sixty years later, comes this epic true story of love, loss, hope, fear and courage – and the resoluon of a mystery for those who never gave up. Acclaimed actors Tom O’Sullivan (Home and Away, Underbelly, Packed to the Raers) and Stuart Halusz, and stage newcomer Morgan Dukes, form the dynamic cast who lead the story across oceans and eras to chart the loss and discovery of Australia’s famous warship AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST NAVAL MYSTERY TO BE BROUGHT TO LIFE AT THE CUMMINS THEATRE and her valiant crew, and the dedicaon of the Finding Sydney Foundaon team who discovered the wrecks. This landmark producon brings together the immediacy of theatre with the visual impact of cinema, to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of that devastang sea bale and ensure the legacy of those who died in service of their country will never be forgoen. A story for all Australians, this depicon of love, courage and determinaon is not to be missed. There will be a Q&A session following the performance, hosted by Director and cast member Stuart Halusz.

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16 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 Astronomy WTF 24th FEBRUARY—9th MARCH 2022 By PETER BARRETT Welcome to WTF for another fortnight. Hopefully this new chart format will be more legible without the need to resort to a magnifying glass! I have divided it into two halves, the Sun and the three brightest planets on top, with the Moon Mercury and Saturn beneath. Uranus had to go, since it is not a naked-eye planet for anyone other than owls. As menoned last fortnight, most of the planetary acon is now happening before dawn. Mars and Venus are sll close together but soon Venus will culminate, that is, it will reach its greatest Western elongaon and become retrograde. Just as Mercury last fortnight this will occur once Venus reaches 50% illuminaon (phase). Unlike the speedy inner planet however Venus will take considerably longer to return to conjuncon and thereaer an evening star. In other news solar cycle 25 is really starng to swing into acon. A substanal geomagnec storm on February 4 caused the upper atmosphere to warm up enough to drag about 40 Starlink satellites from their orbit and send them to a ery demise in the troposhere. This was a cause for most astronomers to crack open a bole of champagne in celebraon, such is the hate they harbour for these swarms of SpaceX internet infrastructure that have a habit of leaving dreadful streaks across their best photographs. The bureau of Meteorology have a number of more robust satellites parked much further out between the earth and the sun which provide us with a warning system for adverse space weather. They also provide an Aurora predicon service to let us know when the southern sky might get colourful. It should be noted however that this is mainly for the benet of Tasmanians. If an Aurora is visible as far north as Merredin then it is likely that a serious geomagnec disaster is underway, and power blackouts, communicaon chaos and infrastructure damage are likely to be the order of the day. The website can be found at hps://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Aurora. Unl next fortnight, keep looking up!

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 24th February 2022 17 By MARGARET MORLEY Margaret contacted Wheatbelt Agcare in August 1994 when her one and only female friend had recently died and she felt very lonely. Margaret was in her fores and was married to David, a farmer in the Shire of Kellerberrin. Margaret had two intellectually disabled sons in their twenes from her previous marriage who weren’t living at home. Because of the rural downturn a few years ago, David had to work long and hard to keep the farm together, leaving Margaret feeling very isolated and alone as she couldn’t drive. The only me Margaret le the farm was when David had to go to town to the pig sales or for farm business. Her family of origin lived about ve hours drive away and her only outside connecon was her friend who had died. Margaret’s isolaon was compounded because she couldn’t read or write. Margaret felt if she could drive herself she would be free to come and go as she pleased and be more useful on the farm as she could assist her husband by being able to pick up parts etc. Her one cherished goal was to be able to aend church, as David was never free to take her the 40 kilometres to town. This goal was complicated for a number of reasons, there was no driving school available unless she could get to Merredin and there was no one to take her, the cost of driving lessons was beyond their very MARGARET’S STORY ght budget and she could not read to learn the road rules and pass the wrien test. This was when Margaret and her counsellor Dellys became very innovave. They borrowed a set of talking tapes – the road rules – from the local Acv Foundaon Agency. Margaret spent many hours listening to the tapes. In addion, they agreed that half of their counselling session would be going over the road rules and learning the ones she couldn’t understand. David taught her the road signs and explained various situaons when they were out in the car. Aer many months of learning the rules, they informed the Police that they were coming in for Margaret to sit her wrien test. The Police supplied a sta member to talk her through the quesons, which was very me consuming for them and dicult to put the quesons clearly whilst not inuencing her answer. It was also extremely dicult for Margaret as this was a very stressful situaon for any person going for their test and she had trouble remembering the various opons she had to choose from with each queson. She passed on the second me. The police sta were excellent. It was then agreed that Margaret and Dellys’ counselling sessions would be held in the car while Dellys taught Margaret to drive. David also acted as instructor and encouraged her to drive whenever they had to go somewhere. In October 1995 Margaret was nally ready to sit her driving test. The Police Department sent a special person from a regional centre to take her through her test, which she passed with ying colours the rst me. They celebrated with a chocolate cake. Margaret was beside herself and was now free to come and go as she pleased. Her self esteem was very high. One of her rst drives was to the nearest church, where she met and made some new friends. One of these ladies, Beth McDonald, worked at the local TAFE Centre and on nding out about Margaret’s literacy disability, encouraged her to enrol in literacy classes. Margaret had thought she would never be able to read or write and hadn’t even contemplated trying. Because she had achieved at learning to drive, she felt capable of trying anything. She is now enrolled in TAFE. She’s nding it harder than learning to drive, but she is scking with it. Margaret’s whole life changed when she became movated and supported to do something about her situaon. She is mobile, studying, can go to church and be friends, has a part-me job in town and is a good support for her husband. In addion, one of her sons has been inspired by his Mums eort and has spent about 12 months geng his licence through an agency for people with disabilies. Dellys said that it was a rewarding experience working with Margaret, to see her come from an isolated helpless situaon, to achieving her goals with the help of family and friends.

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18 THE PHOENIX Thursday 24 February 2022 By JULIE TOWNROW Just how interesng does life get, we are living through the hoest summer on record, so they say, but I sll take me to remember that at the turn of the century, when new selers were venturing out into the districts, which we now know as the Goldelds and the Central Wheatbelt, they travelled in open carts, trains, (with no air condioning), and some even on foot. I just cannot imagine the long dresses, and shirts that had s collars and hems all the way down around their ankles. Now that must have been unbearably hot, parcularly if you had just arrived by ship from England, or other locaons. Short of swimming in a water hole, (those being as scarce as hen’s teeth). The best other opon would be to sit in the shade of a nice big tree and hope there was a light breeze blowing. Can you imagine that the rst house on the farm would have been build from the trees harvested to make way for the crops that they hoped would keep families into the future. Washing would have to be boiled in the copper, meals prepared on an open re and the only bread available to eat had to be baked in the kitchen. Can you even imagine what that looked like? No Newton’s Home Hardware to deliver the table and chairs. No Two Dogs, to visit for advice, all manner of bolts, nuts and screws, xings or power tools that help build a house. No, there was nothing at that stage if you didn’t bring it with you on the trek from Perth. There is a plethora of informaon held at the Baye Library where we can take a glance into the lives of those who lived in Nangeenan in a bygone me and I quote a small snippet from page 8 of Margaret Mills Book, which can be read at the library, but cannot be removed. “We travelled to Nangeenan. We had nowhere to go on arrival, so we made our way over to an empty house at the siding, belonging to the Railways Department. We gained entry and seled for the night. We had no food. I was very hungry. We were there a day or so , from somewhere my Brother Jim came up with a solid chocolate horse, which he gave me. It was a lovely horse, and I played with it unl hunger forced me to eat it. Nangeenan was a small siding, one shop, which sold all sorts of things, biscuits, groceries, stamps and managed the telephone service. It was run by Mr and Mrs Cecil Nice, who had a small son Harry and a daughter Mary. There was also a very strong Stone- built Hall, and a school there which all the children for miles aended. We had to move out of the railway house: an ocial and his wife were due to move in. We took our few belongings across the railway line, across the main road, (now the Great Eastern Highway and made our way into the virgin Bush to nd a suitable place to make camp. Mum and the three boys rigged up a camp from the Eucalypt saplings and scraps of galvanised iron found on a p nearby, and wheat bags. We were to stay in our new surroundings for some me. There was a school nearby in the bush and I started school there at the age seven. Two of my brothers also went to the Nangeenan School. Jack the second eldest went o somewhere to work. There were about thirty pupils at the school, from farms nearby and further out. When I started school there was an old man (or he seemed old to me) as out teacher, his name was Mr Brown, but seemed a bit testy, due no doubt to his age. He le soon aer I started school and his place was taken by a young man, who had served in the 1914-18 war. Mr Swindle. He was married and he and his wife lived in a building adjoining the school. He was a good teacher and I learned much from him. He had rather a short temper which somemes ared and his face would grow red, as some of the careless students, usually the ones in rst standard, got into mischief or did not pay aenon. Then he would stomp down the classroom and shout loudly at them. Those of us who behaved and aended our lessons, we liked Mr Swindle.” I was saddened to nd out that the Old Nangeenan School had been relocated to North Merredin Primary School and has only recently been demolished to make way for CEACA housing, behind the library. Which brings me to menon the other places of Historic value that are just self-destrucng, due to neglect, I have to ask “Why are we encouraged to list Historic Sites on the Heritage register? If, when we try to rescue them, we are told they loose their Historic Signicance if they are moved, in the case of the Nangeenan Farm Managers Residence, (researched and registered by Greg Shea and Bob French, thanks guys) it is now moving itself all over the nearby paddocks, sheets of corrugated iron, one sheet at a me, the site will soon have nothing le but a sorry sign on a locked gate. While it is such a long shot, and it makes me enormously sad, that it took the previous Council CEO to leave and his posion, to be lled by a temporary person, to nally bring about the rescue of our magnicent “strong Stone-Built Hall” it is frustrang that now, we nd ourselves in the middle of a pandemic, with material and sta shortages disrupng so much. We are so grateful to those who are younger, while all the Marley children are now on the wrong side of 70 and a lile less energec than we were 4 years ago, we are sll hoping that we can celebrate the 110th birthday of the Hall this year, and also recognise that our Dad, who taught us so much about “doing the right thing” would have been 100 this year. We heard of the recent passing of Herman Seitz, he, his then wife Stella and their children were a part of our past, they lived on Jounings farm, (later purchased by the Cahill Brothers), located on Jouning Road, and I was dismayed to see that Jouning Road has been renamed Cahill Road, for what-ever reason I don’t know, and it deletes a picture of a past, where we made memories and sll have photos of both Herman and Stella and in parcular “Baby Herman” who we all loved as a small child. As for Mr and Mrs Jouning, I was so fascinated by their car, with wood grain dash and door panels, what luxury, pull down blinds over the windows, well that was the next best thing to air condioning in the car. Can we appreciate what we have today, if we don’t know what wasn’t available in the past or how much has been achieved, to give us the opportunity to sook-a-lot, if suddenly the power goes out or the dishwasher breaks down. NANGEENAN NATTERS

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 24th February 2022 19 Basketball Tennis 10th February 2022 Under 12 Girls Orange (22) d. Royal Blue (12) White (6) drew Lime Green (6) Under 12 Boys Black (22) d. Yellow (17) Green (27) d. Sky Blue (4) Red (16) d. Light Grey (12) Under 16 Girls White (37) d. Lime Green (33) Lilac (60) d. Sky Blue (27) Under 16 Boys Red (39) d. Orange (21) Black (43) d. Green (20) Yellow (34) d. Royal Blue (24) Pink (33) d. Light Grey (23) By TENNIELLE McGREGOR Sunday 13 February 2022 saw the Merredin Districts Lawn Tennis Club hold their Club Mixed Doubles Championships. With near perfect weather we had good numbers for the day, allowing the club to run a knockout rst round, and spling into a main draw and a plate. With compeve tennis all day, winners for the main draw were Grant Stainer and Tenielle McGregor, and runners up Camray Gethin and Hayley Billing. Husband and wife duo Kristy and Michael Sharp took out the Plate, with Adam Ellio and Bianca Waters coming in close MDLC CLUB MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS By JULIE TOWNROW It was a very relaxed morning for our Carers get together on the 15 February and so good to chat about the things we know and deal with in our lives as carers of our loved ones, and while some may see this as a burden, for most of us it is a joy to live and laugh with the lile quirky bits of our day. It is also great to learn of the dierent places that can provide a lile help here and there and share what we know and learn a bit of what we don’t. I am amazed that so many people don’t know that as we age, and our ability to jump tall buildings diminish, the Federal Government has introduced care packages to help senior residents to stay living in their own homes for longer. In an age where Medical Science has improved exponenally, we are living longer and for many of us, while we remain acve, geng things done gets harder. For many the simple task of climbing a ladder to replace a light bulb is not something considered, the risk of falling is far too great. Thus the introducon of Home Care Packages. So many older people don’t know about these Packages or how to go about geng one. There are certain criteria around the issuing of Care Packages and they are about your health and your ability to maintain a reasonable life at home. The best person to consider your health is your GP. Your GP would then refer you to an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team), who conduct an in-house assessment, and advise what help may be available to you. There are 4 levels of Home Care, which consider your care needs, Low to High Care, with Low Care funding some home and gardening help, then increasing through to High Care, where personal care, showering, cooking, medicang and social care is required. The system allows for people to CARER’S CORNER come into your home and help you, generally free of charge, Funding being provided through Services Australia, at the level assessed by the ACAT report. Equipment such as walkers and gophers are funded through the packages and there is capacity to have home modicaons. Hand rails, door ramps and in some cases bathrooms modied to ambulant standard. There are many opportunies to keep your loved ones living at home, in as normal condions as possible. As we live longer, there will be increased numbers of people needing in-home care, if we consider, for instance, thirty years ago, people with demena, were few and far between, and I don’t think cancer was as prevalent as it is today, diabetes is on the increase and I don’t know about you, but my arthris gives me gyp all the me, our health care system is under increased pressure and Aged care is a growth industry. So if you nd yourself in a situaon where you are unable to do something, then you need to ask someone who can help. I am also aware that with transport improvement, families are no longer close by, those that are, being too busy with work and families of their own, that it is somemes hard for them to help out, therefore it is incumbent on us to help out where we can. As we live longer and were not in the demographic of compulsory payments into Superannuaon, juggling diminishing nancial resources becomes challenging. To be granted a Home Care Package allows for you to get the help you need, without becoming a burden to your family. On a posive note, it created great opportunity for employment growth. Do you remember the saying “Money was made round, to go round, and for some it was made at to stack”. If you nd yourself in any of these situaons, visit your GP and request a referral for an ACAT Assessment. runners up. The club would like to invite any interested players to aend the 2022 Charity Open Day which will be held on Saturday aernoon 12 March 2022. The event will be ladies and men’s doubles, with A, B and C grades available if numbers permit. This year the club is raising funds for Farmers Across Borders, who are currently delivering much needed hay to our Wheatbelt neighbours suering from the recent devastang bush res. Further informaon is available on the Merredin Districts Lawn Tennis Club facebook page, or by contacng mdltc@hotmail.com.au 17th February 2022 Under 12 Girls Orange (14) d. Lime Green (6) Royal Blue (10) drew White (10) Under 12 Boys Yellow (36) d. Sky Blue (2) Black (22) d. Red (10) Green (28) d. Light Grey (25) Under 16 Girls Lilac (31) d. White (16) Sky Blue (41) d. Lime Green (24) Under 16 Boys Light Grey (26) d. Yellow (13) Royal Blue (40) d. Black (34) Pink (53) d. Orange (27)

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 24th February 2022 21 CLASSIFIEDS Posions Vacant Horoscopes ARIES 21 March—19 April It is me to ditch your usual roune and experience something new in life. TAURUS 20 April-26 May Reinvigorate your self-worth through socialising or fun group acvies. GEMINI 21 May-20 June Make the most of posive communicaon and catch up on outstanding paperwork. CANCER 21 June-22July Give your romanc relaonship a boost and plan something special to do together. LEO 23 July-22 August Change is in the air, and it may be hard for you to stay in your current job. VIRGO 23 August-22 September Keep tweaking your work/life balance to make sure that life is enjoyable. LIBRA 23 September-22 October Nothing will feel impossible if you make your self-care needs a priority. SCORPIO 23 October-21 November Don’t hesitate to throw your name into the hat for that promoon at work. SAGITTARIUS 22 November-21 December Your creavity is in overdrive, so channel it to a DIY or decorang project. CAPRICORN 22 December-19 January Give yourself a break from your responsibilies and go socialize! AQUARIUS 20 January-18 February Take some deep breaths, think deep thoughts and nd a new focus. PISCES 19 February-20 March It is a great me to make new plans that are opmisc, realisc and goal oriented.

Phoenix 24022022

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