NETBALL - Queenscliff junior netballers have dominated at the BFNL Best and Fairest vote count, with players featuring among the awards in almost every grade. 

Kaitlin Gladman, Amelia Bakker and Eden Henderson-Craig all walked away from the August 27 event with winner's trophies in U/19, U/17 and U/13 grades. 

For Gladman it was a case of three straight wins, having also won best player in the past two seasons. She polled 34 votes - nine clear of her nearest rival.

Bakker narrowly missed taking out back-to-back wins in the U/15 Division 1 count, finishing in second place, but clinched the U/17 division 2 award, just ahead of team mate Grace Butler. 

Henderson-Craig won the U/13 division 1 count with 31 votes - six clear of her nearest rival. 
Another six girls finished in the top 10 of their divisions. 
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The Queenscliff Netball Club also won the Team of the Year in the BFNL's Spirit of Sport award.

The Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club’s youngest ever president hopes his appointment encourages other young people in the community to step up to positions of responsibility. 

Twenty-four year old Charlie Pitney was elected to the position at last month’s Annual General Meeting, replacing Mathew Ponsford, who stood down after four years in the role. 

Mr Pitney takes over at what he describes as an “exciting” time, with work set to start as early as this month on a new $ 5 million clubhouse. 

“I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a very last minute and somewhat reluctant decision knowing the massive amount of work involved with being president of such a large volunteer organisation,” he said. “Having said that though, I have come to realise what an exciting time it is to be involved and that I will learn so much in this position.

“I am really excited about what lies ahead for the next couple of seasons. A number of older members have commented that it is exciting to have a number of young people taking the reins as we move ahead to our new clubhouse project as we are building the new clubhouse for the young members so us young members should have a say in the final product.

Pitney’s 16 year involvement with the club includes stints as club and vice club captain. More recently he chaired a group reviewing the club’s constitution. He also boasts a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Law. 

That combination of youth and experience he hopes will help ensure a strong future. 

In particular Mr Pitney says he is keen to lift community engagement, bolster membership and participation, develop new community outreach programs and raise the club’s profile through events, conference and training and development programs. 

He also wants to expand the reach of the club’s Nippers program, by introducing more “off-peak” activities. 

“I have three main passions that I hope to deliver through my presidency - firstly, keeping our beaches safe, secondly, helping young people to realise their potential and finally creating and fostering a strong sense of community around the club," he said.
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 In my term as Club Captain, I harnessed these passions and my energy to rejuvenating the life saving services team and I now hope that in my position as President I can deliver this to a wider range of our members. Outside of surf life saving.”  

Queenscliff’s new Chief Executive Officer boasts ties with Point Lonsdale stretching back 100 years. 
Martin Gill’s family, on his mother’s side, commenced a connection with the town in 1920,  that  still continues today. 

He also brings with him extensive experience in local government, most recently as a General Manager - the equivalent of CEO - at Tasmania’s Meander Valley Council. 

"Council will be delighted to welcome Mr Gill to the Borough of Queenscliffe as our new CEO," said Mayor Bob Merriman. "After a comprehensive process, we are confident that Mr Gill has the combination of experience and vision to guide the Borough through the next five years." 

He was appointed unanimously at a Special Council meeting last month and will commence in the role on October 7.  

Mr Gill was selected from a long list of applicants from across Australia as part of a rigorous recruitment process that included multiple rounds of interviews, according to Cr Merriman. 

Council also appointed G21 CEO Elaine Carbines as an independent member of the selection panel.

“Getting this decision right has been a top priority for Council,” said Cr Merriman. “That’s why we went over and above the requirements of the Local Government Act at every step of the process.”

The search for a new CEO began after current CEO Lenny Jenner announced his resignation in April. Mr Jenner is leaving the Borough after almost 11 years as CEO.
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"Succeeding a CEO after such a long period of excellent service is always a challenging task," said Cr Merriman. "Council extends its thanks to Mr Jenner for his outstanding leadership, and wishes him all the best for the future."

A group of volunteers is tackling our recycling crisis with donated fabrics and a  sewing machine!

More than 800 reusable bags have been made to date as part of Queenscliffe Neighbourhood House’s Boomerang Bags 3225 project. 

"The community reaction has been amazing and we love seeing people walking around town with their Boomerang Bags,” said spokesperson Jane Rodwell. “Every Boomerang Bag has a story, from where its materials were sourced, who it was made by and how far it’s travelled.  They are used and re-used, boomeranged to friends and family as a means to start a conversation.”

The bags are made available through local IGA supermarkets. The stores have played a leading role in the recycling campaign, having  banned plastic bags at its Point Lonsdale store in 2011, and more recently in Queenscliff.

Owner Tamara Gaylard said the move had saved approximately 1,000 plastics bags a week.  

“While most of the locals were appreciative of us being  plastic bag free, there were still some customers up until that point who found it to be an inconvenience.

“Boomerang bags are in use at both stores, as well as boxes, paper bags. We have IGA shopping bags for purchase, we do not have thick plastic bags for sale,” she said.  
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“I think it would be fair to say we’re all getting better at bringing our own bags.”