Primary school gets back to nature

Chum Creek Primary School is now expanding garden beds and constructing a memorial to friends and family lost in the February fires, thanks to the generosity of fellow Victorian school students and community groups.

Students from 20 schools located across suburban Melbourne participated in the 2009 Canstruction Melbourne event. Although the event’s focus was on science and maths education, part of the day also included a component to raise money for bushfire-affected families and communities. Students selected the Chum Creek Primary School community garden project as the recipient of a $6000 grant.

The gathering, facilitated with the assistance of Planet Give and The Salvation Army, gave students a voice to decide where they thought the money raised would be of most benefit. When students decided on a garden in a bushfire-affected area, where people could relax with nature and friends, was the best use of funds, Salvation Army Envoy Graeme Mawson, based at Healesville, knew just the school to put forward.

The Salvation Army’s Bushfire Relief Fund and Planet Give’s online community of donors also contributed to the final donation.

Michael Corr, Chum Creek Primary School principal, and students received the donation on behalf of the school, saying it would be of great assistance for the school’s vegie gardens. An automatic watering system, to help sustain the garden over school holidays, is at the top of the list for the grant money. A community memorial garden for friends and family members who perished will also be constructed at the school.

Taken from: The Salvation Army Victorian Bushfire Recovery

Healesville circa 1930

Check out this photo of Healesville from around 1930.  You can see the Salvos' hall on the far right hand side, half-way down.

Kidzone school holiday program

During the second week of the school holidays, twenty-four children participated in Healesville's Kidzone School Holiday Program. Over the three mornings the children explored how to be a good neighbour, learning from Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan. Some of the activities included painting tiles portraying the story of the Good Samaritan, which will become a permanent fixture of the Healesville Labyrinth to be constructed next year. On the final day the children learnt how to throw a boomerang, throw a spear using a woomera, and enjoyed listening to one of the locals play a didgeridoo!

The leaders came from Ringwood Youth Ministries, and the afternoons were spent in leadership development activities, including personality profiling with Captain David Collinson, and some great ice chocolates!

The likes and challenges of living in the Yarra Valley

Today I listened to a group of young people share about their likes of living in the Yarra Valley, and the challenges of living in the Yarra Valley. I thought I'd share them here for you, to help others get a picture of real life here.

Likes:

• Peaceful
• Not overcrowded - room to move around
• Privacy
• Less traffic
• Nice views
• Get to know everyone (which can be a challenge too!)
• Less busy

Challenges:

• Offensive graffiti (example of graffiti on livestock bridge over Warburton Highway that reads "scum lives here")
• Limited public transport - hourly services: if you miss a bus you have to wait for 1 hour
• Cost of public transport - paying the extra country fare
• Lack of jobs (having to travel to Chirnside for work isn't great - especially if you miss the bus!)
• Lack of entertainment.  There is little to do, so young people turn to drugs.  The local cinemas aren't great, and the movies are shown at least one month after their main release
• No clothing shops
• No local petrol stations

I am sure these are just the tip of the iceberg.  Life here is great, and challenging all at the same time.

Run road to recovery...news from Healesville!

The following story appeared in the Mountain Views Mail on Tuesday 21 July, page 7. The story is by Monique Ebrington.

HEALESVILLE resident Riley Kennedy proved himself to be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition at the recent Eastern Zone Cross Country Championships recently.

The Healesville High School Year 8 student won the 800 metre and 400 metre events and broke the current record for the 1500 metre race, earning him a place in the state finals this Friday 24 July.

Despite his outstanding effort Riley had no formal athletics training before his Zone efforts.

His mother Leanne Kennedy said the 14-year-old’s only training as been running around Healesville almost every day and some novel running sessions on a recent family vacation.

“We were on holidays in outback New South Wales, after his run at Zones, and we would drop him off on a dirt track and get him to run back to the accommodation,” Mrs Kennedy said.

While there’s still a running debate over whether he got his speed from his mother, a keen runner in her early twenties, or paternal grandfather, who trained and ran with John Landy and Ron Clarke, Riley says all he knows is that he loves the feeling when he runs.

“I like the feeling you get when you’re running,” Riley said.

“I feel like I can do anything.”

Preparing to compete at a state level won’t be the only hurdle Riley has faced in his young life.

In June 2005 Riley made front page in the Mountain Views Mail when he was involved in an accident as he rode his bike home from school.

Despite the accident his mum couldn’t keep him off his bike, the footy field, the tennis court and the mix of different sports he played over the years.

Riley can also be thankful for his new sneakers and skins that were donated by the Salvation Army.

Healesville High School Sports Co-ordinator Chris Dell noticed Riley’s holey running shoes after his Zone race and contacted the organisation.

Riley’s mother Leanne is also a local performer and was going to cancel recording her next album to pay for the shoes, before the donation.

She had been made redundant at her job earlier in the year due to the recent bushfires.

Riley said he felt like he was already running quicker in his new sneakers.

“I felt really happy when I got my new sneakers,” he said.

“When I found out someone had given us money for them I wanted to meet them and say, thanks very much you’re going to help me out heaps. Sport is my life.”

Healesville High School Principal George Perini said the whole school community was proud that both Riley and Year 10 student Jamie Curtis made it into the state finals.

“We want to encourage Riley to further his running. We see him as having huge potential,” Mr Perini said. While Riley says he is a bit nervous about Friday’s race, he is looking forward to the tradition of his mum’s pasta the night before and says the support from his family the school and his mates has been great.

Another way that the Salvos and local community are working together!

The 8 people every youth group needs.

I know its been ages since I have posted, and so much has happenned this year!

However I read this tonight, and I so have to laugh! It is very, very true - but I won't say who I think falls into each category!

#564. The 8 people every youth group needs.

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Healesville & the Yarra Valley is open for business...!!!

The bushfire crises is afffecting us all in one way or another. It's been a crazy two weeks - with not as much sleep as usual!

Lots of people have been asking, "how can we help". Well, here's the latest info from the Healesville Chamber of Commerce and Industry:

One direct way for you to help with bushfire relief is to come to the Yarra Valley and stay, eat, visit or buy something. You could also advise your friends and clients to come to the Yarra Valley as well.

You could also temporarily consider a Yarra Valley supplier of goods and services for six months.

Stay tuned to Yarravalleynow.com.au to see who is open and when, and come and support us. We don’t want to lose our remaining businesses as well.

So...you've been saying you'll come up for a coffee - now is the time to do it! Help our local businesses recover.

It has affected us as a Corps too - we closed our shop for a week to set up the material aid centre. Thats 1/52 of our income for the year gone. So, come buy up big in our Care 'n' Wear Shop!

Time keeps on rolling on!

You can almost tell what time of the year it is by looking at the grape vines around the Valley. I mean, if you were a viticulturalist then you could I guess…

Anyway, there is a large amount of white netting starting to cover the vines around the 'ville. Why…to protect the grapes from birds – because it's nearly harvest time!

This has got me thinking about my first twelve months here in Healesville. Firstly, I can't believe they have gone by so fast! But also, I feel as if the first twelve months of my time here in Healesville has been about preparing for a harvest.

I have got to know many people in the community, and I have been surprised just how many have had some connection with the Salvos. We have launched many different mission initiatives, including school holiday programs, mainly music, women's breakfasts, Fresh Friday Munch, Christian Education, high school breakfast program, and more!

But then, another concern has really been on my mind. There are so many opportunities in the 'ville, but the problem is that there just aren't enough people to make the most of them!

I am reminded of the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 9:37, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Dah, we know that! But Jesus doesn't stop there, there is more!! "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." You see, there is a problem (not enough workers), but Jesus offers a solution (ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers).
This year – 2009 – I believe could be a year of harvesting from the planting for 2008. But workers are needed. Now, I've got a few ideas that I'd like to pursue regarding this, but perhaps there are other options too!
 If you are reading this (and are surprised I have actually posted a new blog entry!!), then I ask you too to pray for workers for the harvest fields of Healesville (not the grape vines, silly…but that could be extra work for you!!). And, if you aren't all ready involved in a faith community, why not consider moving to Healesville and living and working here!!! No, there's no job I can give you (but you could pray about that too!!!), but you can get into Melbourne's CBD in an hour by car!

Anyway, enough rambling for now, it's late, and I need to get some rest before our first Café Church for the year tomorrow. But seriously, please pray for the harvest in the 'ville in 2009!!!