Learning in Our Community – Brighton Community News

Centacare Evolve Housing: 2022 Youth Week Event

Over 110 young people within the Brighton community came together to celebrate our amazing youth at the Gagebrook Skate Park in an event hosted
by Centacare Evolve Housing.

Youth enjoying BMX activity by Southern City BMX

Youth Week is the largest celebration of young people within the Tasmanian youth calendar, providing an opportunity for young people aged 12-25 to
be heard, celebrated, and to have fun. The 2022 theme, ‘Youth: Next Gen’ recognises Tasmania’s future – the next generation of young leaders, changemakers, influencers and visionaries who are shaping our State.

Centacare Evolve Housing’s annual youth week event was first created in 2021 through local consultation from community and the want to celebrate our talented young people who contribute to local community wellbeing.

“There is a lot of stigma about youth and we wanted to do something positive and challenge the view,” said Elise, Centacare Evolve Housing Community Wellbeing Officer.

Participants and Centacare Evolve Housing event organiser enjoying the event held at Gagebrook Skate Park

Centacare Evolve Housing partnered with 11 local youth and community services in area to provide access, exposure, and opportunity to fun healthy activities to get involved in.

The BMX bikes were a great hit and a special thanks to Southern City BMX for providing the free bikes and lessons.

Over 110 young people braved the icy weather and wind to join us and participate in activities by Southern City BMX, Bridgewater PCYC, Deadly Choices, Bridgewater Library, Create Crew, The Australian International
Youth Association, Kombi Krew, Kutalayna Collective, Adventure Patch, CFC and many more.

Brighton Youth Week participants contributing to a community art project

Centacare Evolve Housing have expressed thanks to everyone involved in making the event happen, in particular Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT) for the grant funding.

“We wanted to shine a light on emerging young leaders and the talent that exists in community.” said Christina, Centacare Evolve Housing Community Wellbeing Manager.

Visit Centacare Evolve Housing’s Facebook page to view more photos and receive updates on our upcoming events.

Waste Wise Schools program to help educate on FOGO

As part of the roll-out of FOGO, the program was extended to include a free FOGO service to schools, supported by a Brighton Council-run sustainability and waste education program.

The goal was for students to become FOGO-savvy and start using FOGO caddies at school, then take that knowledge and experience home to create better organic waste management in both settings. Personal waste management is mainly a habit-driven behaviour, an ‘automatic’ activity that you don’t have to think too hard about.

Changing personal habits such as putting food scraps into a caddy instead of the rubbish bin, requires awareness, education and emotional satisfaction derived from performing the new habit. Importantly, it’s repeating the behaviour numerous times before it will become the new default habit. Fostering environmentally sustainable habits early, such as in childhood gives it the best chance of becoming the default behaviour, without having to work too hard to ‘teach an old dog new tricks’ as an adult.

Gwen Harper, from JustWaste Consulting, was contracted for eight hours a week during school terms to take on the role of Brighton’s Waste Education Officer, working in tandem with Brighton Council’s Climate Resilience Officer Alison Johnson.

Waste Wise Education, Gwen Harper at Bond Place.

So far, all six primary schools in our Municipality were introduced to the new Council role and free FOGO offer and all six primary schools completed a waste management survey. Three schools have already agreed to start a FOGO trial in early 2022 and two school trials pencilled in for Term 3.

The focus is to encourage schools to sign up to FOGO, engage in more sustainable waste management practices at school, and to support teachers and students by running educational and fun activities on FOGO, waste and sustainability.

Schools can strive for three levels of recognition. 1. Waste-Aware, 2. Waste-Beware and 3. WasteWise, with each level dependent on the number and type of activities and/or policies they have at school that supports better waste education and waste management.

FOGO TOP TIPS

Here are some great tips for reducing smells in your FOGO bin:

• Put your FOGO bin out every two weeks, even if it’s not full.

• Wrapping food scraps in newspaper can help reduce smells.

• Layering food waste with dry materials, like leaves, shredded paper and soiled cardboard will help absorb liquids.

• If possible, let lawn clippings and garden cuttings dry out to prevent moisture build up.

• Freeze particularly odorous food scraps, like seafood and meat, and put them in the organics bin the night before collection.

• Keep your bins in the shade and ensure lids can close properly by not overfilling the bin.

For more tips and information on your FOGO service visit: www.brighton.tas.gov.au/property/fogo

Community Volunteer Opportunities

The Bridgewater Library is on the lookout for volunteers. They need library literacy tutors to work with Brighton community residents who want to improve their reading, writing and maths.

To find out more contact Sharon at Bridgewater Library or on 6165 5447.

If you’d like to get out and about there’s a call out for driver mentors for the Top Gear program – helping people from the Brighton municipality gain their Drivers Licence.

For more information contact Darlene at Bridgewater Community Centre on 6263 4303 or topgear@jrsinc.org.au

Nothing plain about this Plain English

Are you interested in writing in plain English so that you can communicate in a clear, consistent and concise way with your readers? Plain English is a way of presenting information that helps someone understand it the first time they read or hear it.

It allows them to get the information they need, understand it easily and act if they need to. If you are interested in improving your writing skills to ensure you are writing in plain English, contact Bridgewater Library on 6165 5446 about a plain English workshop being held on 10 June 2022.

Expressions of interest

Centacare Evolve Housing is looking to mentor local community members to improve communication skills and utilise tools to run successful community projects and events, and get their messages out there. Participants need to be over 18 and available to complete the program over 12 weeks. Guest speakers and trainers from a range of organisations will be on hand to provide training around communications, for example Canva for publishing. Participants will foster a network of opportunities within the group, and allow for connections to grow.

Brighton Block Party: Community Christmas 2021

The Brighton Christmas Block Party was held on Saturday 27th November 2021, with 1700 people attending from little ones to older children at heart enjoying the free entertainment and food provided by local businesses and services.

Food stalls, musical performances, drawing and crafts, Santa photos and a six lucky door prizes kept the crowds entertained and made for a joyous start to the festive season.

“It was definitely the largest turnout we’ve ever had,” said James Norman, General Manager of Housing Operations. “One of Centacare Evolve Housing’s community wellbeing goals is to establish and support structures that strengthen connection between people, and the Brighton Christmas Block Party provides the ideal opportunity.”

Claremont College, the Brighton Primary School Choir, St Paul’s Catholic Parish, Make-believe Children’s Entertainment and the Tasmanian Chinese Buddhist Academy provided entertainment all day long and the younger crowds enjoyed a train ride, face painting and of course, a gorgeous Christmas Tree Wonderland display.

Seventeen local services came together to make the afternoon possible, making it the biggest celebration yet! Plans are already underway for next years celebration, local businesses are invited to contact Elise Parker at Centacare Evolve Housing if they wish to be involved in 2022.

Need a job or a new star employee? Look no further!

Above: DeArne Lane, Jobs Hub Supervisor at SWN, Pontville

Southcentral Workforce Network (SWN) is a free service connecting workplaces and those who need work with each other. You can get help right here in Brighton, as well as the Central Highlands, Derwent Valley and Southern Midlands council areas. The Tasmanian Community Fund and the State Government have funded the project for residents, including the running of a Jobs Hub in Pontville which also acts as a meeting space for a variety of community groups – currently the Brighton Senior Citizens Club, The Lions Club of Brighton Inc and the Brighton Speak Easy Group are using the building on a fortnightly basis.

DeArne Lane is the Jobs Hub Supervisor at SWN in Pontville. “Our aim is to increase the workforce participation of local people, and help local businesses better connect with employment services,” DeArne shared. “Our services are available to anyone based in the SWN council areas, this includes (but not necessarily limited to), Jobseekers, employers, training providers and community members.”

Since starting in September 2020, SWN has assisted:

160 jobseekers to find employment, the delivery of four training programs, 19 traineeships/apprenticeships initiated and 580 business meetings held.
60 pre-employment presentations made to job seeker groups and students within the region.
The distribution of over 350 job seekers’ resumes to businesses within the region. For more information about current vacancies or to check out the training available, head to www.swntas.org or their Facebook page by searching ‘Southcentral Workforce Network’.

Save the Date: Tidal Treasures saltmarsh tour + discussion

In partnership with the Derwent Estuary Program and University of Tasmania, Brighton Council will host a free Tidal Treasures community event. Guest speaker, Dr Vishnu Prahalad from the University of Tasmania, will chat about why our saltmarshes are so important in our environment and how we can protect them and the inhab- itants. Dr Prahalad will also discuss why he wants saltmarsh environments to be appreciated as much as Tasmania’s forests and beaches and lead a saltmarsh tour where Mayor Gray will unveil new and informative signage highlighting the importance of the Old Beach Saltmarsh. Light refreshments will be provided.

When: Saturday 19 February 12pm-2pm
Where: Old Beach Foreshore Trail (meeting point car park at Jetty Road)

Keeping happy poultry

Do you keep chickens in your backyard or want to know more about how it all works? Maybe you’ve considered keeping some geese, turkeys, ducks, or rare breeds such as Old English Pheasant Fowls? Now there is a useful book for people who want to keep healthy and happy poultry.

Jill Weaver, a life member of the Tasmanian Rare Breeds Poultry Club, has created a practical, useful guide with valuable information for the everyday keeping of fowl and other poultry. Keeping Happy Poultry covers everything from hatching, housing, food and nutrition. The purpose of the Tasmanian Rare Breeds Poultry Club, which was founded in 2006, is to preserve and promote Australia’s rare breeds and varieties. Each year they host an annual poultry weekend (a show, followed by poultry sale), attend community events, and use their social media presence and website teach people about these beautiful breeds.

Craig Farrell MLC is a patron of the club. “Jill is a very experienced keeper of fowl and waterfowl and has compiled this book from her experiences over many years,” he shared. “The booklets are excellent value at $20 each, and all proceeds from the book go to the club.” Copies are available at Craig Farrell’s office at 60 High Street, New Norfolk or via www.tasrarepoultry.com.

Play your part in a Covid safe return to school

The new school year has commenced and we understand there may be concerns about COVID-19. Schools are well prepared and have proactive measures in place to help limit the impact of COVID-19 in schools.

Families can help by getting their children vaccinated when eligible. You should also keep them home if sick and notify public health and the school if they do contract COVID-19. By all working together, we can ensure our children can continue to learn in a COVID-safe way.