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Issue 24, February 2015

FIND US ON facebook.com/around.hopperscrossing

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Please redistribute rather than discard this paper - give it to your friends, family or neighbours!

14 18 23page BENEFITS OF

DESEXING YOUR FOUR LEGGED FRIEND

Sandra’s Art in Motion

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John Alcock was born in Werribee in 1871, one of 9 children born to John and Susan Alcock.

When he enlisted in 1915 he was working as a labourer, and at 43 years old, would have been one of the older recruits, at a time when the average age of new recruits was 29.

After receiving a few months training at Broadmeadows, John embarked aboard His Majesty’s Australian transport ship Anchises, and after a brief stop in Egypt, he joined the 21st battalion at Gallipoli.

It was a relatively quiet time at Gallipoli when John arrived, with the battalion diary recording shelling and sniping on a daily basis, but few casualties. The

FINDING OUR ANZACS- JOHN ALCOCKby Greg Milne

RESOLUTIONS FOR A WEALTHY FUTURE

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Advertising enquiries: Daniel 0408 659 940

aroundsell@gmail.com Will 0449 834 359

will@aroundhopperscrossing.com

Louise 0403 191 084

Advertising: aroundsell@gmail.com will@aroundhopperscrossing.com Contributions: editorhoppers@gmail.com

Publishers:Bill 8307 8872

Will 8360 8598ABN 54 145 436 804 www.aroundhopperscrossing.com

FROM THE EDITORMy choice of subject today is to explain why I work on this paper.

I met Bill (our publisher) some eight years ago now and he was clearly a man of vision. He wanted to establish a community paper. I had at the time, very particular feelings (not very positive) about the quality of (mainstream) so-called community papers during that time period. We often got ridiculous stories totally unrelated to our community locations and written by people in Tullamarine or who knows where else? They were not very locally focused.

I was taken by the thought of assisting in building a paper that was very locally focused and enjoyable to read. A paper that was not full of negative stories page after page. I provided information about how Bill could use technology to get our first community newspaper up and running. In his determination to see the paper started, he was often using sticky tape to place stories on white paper, that would then be photocopied to make a Master, which he would then use to print from on a Risograph, resulting in something of the poorest visual quality imaginable. But hey it looked local! I stepped in and showed him the joys of computers…

More fool me. I do not regret it.

My support has been varied over the years, ranging from activities such as designing the layout, graphic design, writing articles, photography, advertising and a good amount of editing.

Whilst the historical issues of Around Altona, stand testimony to our somewhat rough start, our most recent issues of Around Hoppers Crossing and Around Point Cook are testimony to just how far we have progressed in providing something enjoyable, local and relevant in our local communities.

Feedback from readers indicates it has all been worth it.

I think you should support this effort. Local volunteer writers, focusing on local stories are needed. We also need advertisers. You can obtain pricing information by emailing: aroundsell@gmail.com

Have a great month.

Kind RegardsDaniel Allen

PUDDLING WITH THE PUBLISHERDoes Local Marketing Work?

Recently our paper carried an advertisement for ‘Jack’s Book of Poems’ being Volume 1 containing 270 of our resident Poet, Jack Nystrom, covering part of more than 1000 poems that Jack has written over the last few years.Within a couple of days of publication of the advertisement our Editor received an email from Owen Hyde at the Laverton and Altona Historical Society inviting Jack and his book to be part of a Book Sale by Local area Authors for the Australia Day Festivities at Logan Reserve in Altona, an event usually attended by thousands, depending on the weather.Without doubt some of Jack’s books will be sold.More important it’s hard to trace the origin of where a sale actually comes from and this time Owen Hyde referred to the item he read in the paper and offered the opportunity to be presented on the day.If you were around on Australia Day maybe you saw Jack signing his book for in the Homestead Museum in the Logan Reserve thanks to Owen Hyde, the Historical Society, and the Local Paper.

So ask yourself the question, Does Local Marketing work? and yes, you can still have the book.Don’t forget the Annual Altona Beach Festival on the 22nd of February where at Apex Park the Hobsons Bay Mens Shed is again holding its popular gigantic Car and Bike show this time coupled with their Car Boot sale and Swap meet, One of the features this year on display is a fully restored from the ground Morris Minor recently finished by Shed Members. This is the model loved by thousands of proud owners and was particularly used by thousands of proud lady owners. Fortunately I lived through the era. Hope to see you there.

Bill McPherson

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESSIN “AROUND HOPPERS CROSSING”

DON’T HESITATE TO

GIVE US A CALL:

Will 0449 834 359 will@aroundhopperscrossing.com

Daniel 0408 659 940 aroundsell@gmail.com

Louise 0403 191 084

most interesting thing recorded was that two messages written in Turkish were thrown from the Australian trenches into the Turkish trenches. Apart from demonstrating how close the trenches must have been, it starts one wondering what exactly the messages said.

In late December John took part in the famous evacuation of Gallipoli, along with the rest of the battalion, going firstly to the island of Mudros, and then on to Alexandria.

John arrived in France in late March 1916, and the following month the 21st battalion became the first Australian battalion to commence active operations on the western front. On the 23rd of July the battalion took part in operations around Pozieres, firstly as a carrying party and then moving into front line trenches.

The entry in the battalion war diary for the 29th July 1916 says-

“Moved 2 companies to front trenches north of Pozieres, 1 company in trenches at Chalk pit, and 1 in trenches near regimental aid post. Enemy artillery very active.”

The enemy artillery mentioned above wounded John, inflicting shell wounds to his scalp, back and leg.

He was evacuated to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station, where 11 days later he died of his wounds. He was buried in the Purchvillers Military cemetery.

It took 10 months for his meagre possessions to be returned to his mother, including his damaged watch, a diary and his bible.

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HELP CELEBRATE THE CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR

IN POINT COOK19 February 2015 Begins the year of The Wood Goat

The Chinese New Year is here again, this year it’s the Year of the Goat and the Town Centre will be bursting!

Ths most popular feature by far is of course, the Chinese Dragon provided courtesy

of Ken Tun, the popular owner of Cocochine and Cyclo de Saigon restaurants, both of which will present special menus and treats for the festive season.

Individuals born in this zodiac year have been supposed to share certain characteristics with other individuals also born in years of the same animal sign. Similarly, years sharing the same animal sign have been supposed to share certain characteristics, repeating over their 12/60 year cycle.

The shared characteristics in this case are traits attributed to Goats.

Due to the luni-solar nature of the traditional Chinese calendar system, the "zodiacal" year does not align with the Western calendar: new years are determined by a system which results in each new year beginning on a new moon sometime between late January to mid-to-late February.

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YOUR VIEW ON SPORTS FACILITIES IN WYNDHAM

Wyndham City wants to hear your views on its proposed Sports Facility User Guide.

Wyndham City manages and maintains 28 sporting grounds from which over 80 sports and leisure clubs in the local area are based.

With so many clubs looking to access Council facilities, Wyndham City is looking to its residents to advise on fairer and more equitable access for all community groups.

Wyndham City Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Sport, Leisure and Open Space, Cr Peter Maynard said the guide will help improve access to public sports facilities for more sport, leisure and community activities across different times of the week.

“Local sports and leisure clubs provide a great variety of recreation options for the Wyndham community. The Sports Facility User Guide will help coordinate the use of various venues and provide one point of contact to access and use Council sports facilities,“ he said.

“Over the past 8 months Council has undertaken a review of policies regarding the use of sports grounds and pavilions,” he said.

“We want to ensure that our facilities are as accessible as possible for all community activities including club sport, recreation pursuits and special interest groups.”

The Sports Facility User Guide is out for public consultation between 21st January 2015 – 28th February 2015 and residents can have their say via Council’s website or at a dedicated Sports Facility User Guide Workshop this February.

“Your thoughts and opinions will help us to achieve great outcomes for our community,” Cr Maynard said.

To access the Guide and for information regarding consultation and workshop opportunities please visit

www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/sportsfacilityuserguide

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A WORD FROM JILL HENNESSYI’d like to begin this month’s column by thanking the people of Altona district for re-electing me as your local member in the election of late last year. It continues to be a pleasure to serve you and I am humbled by your support.

With the New Year often comes a renewed focus on health and wellbeing, an issue dear to my heart as I have the great honour of serving as the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance services in the newly elected Andrews Labor Government. Our immediate priorities in health have been to end the war on our paramedics by implementing a fair pay deal, and to make more data available to the public regarding ambulance and health services.

In other health related news, as a patron of Relay for Life Point Cook and Hobson’s Bay I was thrilled that the Point Cook Relay for Life hit a new fundraising record of $94,000 for the November relay last year, and I am looking forward to the Hobsons Bay Relay on 21 February, as well as the Point Cook Relay later this year in November. Relay for Life is a fantastic charity that has been raising money for the Cancer

Council Australia since 1999. I encourage everyone to get involved by organising or supporting a team. For more information head to www.relayforlife.org.au

Lastly, local sporting clubs will be interested to know that they can apply for grants of up to $3000 through VicHealth until the 13th of February. Active Club Grants provide groups with funds to buy essential sporting items and sports injury prevention and management equipment. I encourage local clubs to seriously consider applying for these grants, which are designed to increase physical activity and connections within our community. For further information or to apply online, visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub.

For any questions about these grants, state government matters or any local concerns or ideas about how we can improve our community or Victoria for the better please contact me. My email is jill.hennessy@parliament.vic.gov.au and phone is 9395 0221.

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INTO THE WOODS

Let me just begin by saying, this movie is a musical. Do not labor under the illusion that there will only be a little singing – there is a lot of singing, all the time and that suits me just fine!

Director Rob Marshall wastes little time on spoken dialogue, instead cleverly weaving the fairytales we know and love together in a rich tapestry of comedy, drama and magic.

Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel come together, to help a childless baker and his wife to reverse a curse.

Anna Kendrick continues to dazzle, highlighting her versatility and pushing her vocals beyond Pitch Perfect and into the realms of Broadway. In terms of vocal performances, there are no weak players here. Emily Blunt surprises and Meryl Streep redeems herself from Mama Mia, with haunting vocals and a performance deserving of all the critical acclaim it has been receiving. Johnny Depp makes a fabulous cameo as the Big Bad Wolf, and Chris Pine does not disappoint as Prince Charming.

A visually spectacular film, Into the Woods is entertaining throughout, but does take a rather dark turn in the final act, providing an interesting twist on the usual Disney version of a Happily Ever After.

Melissa Longo

Film Review

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DO YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR iPAD?

Do you know that the Wyndham Library conducts Beginner's iPad Training?

Last 14th January 2015, Damian of the Werribee Library conducted the basic functions of the icons, buttons of the iPad. He taught those who attended how to swipe, flick and flinch their way to the iPad interface. First let's learn the basic terms.

iPad (pronounce eye-pad) is a mobile operating system line of tablet computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. A tablet is a mobile computer with touch screen display, circuitry and battery in a single unit.

So whether you bought an iPad from Apple Inc, Surface Pro from Microsoft or Samsung Galaxy for example, the functions are similar.What an iPad or tablet can do: - shoot video or take photo - play music - carry out internet functions such as web browsing and emailing

- GPS navigation (global positioning system) a space based satelite navigation system that provides location - social networking and others.

Back to basics:Damian taught tapping or touching an object on the screen to perform an action. He also taught how to put your favourite photo as your wallpaper on your home screen.The most useful trick he taught was the five fingers pinch on the screen which will take you back to the home screen.

If you are interested in attending a training, go to the library website:www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/libraries and locate Events calendar & bookings. They also have a course for Intermediate iPad Training.Below is Damion with Angela who attended the training.

Maria Pagunsan

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THIS MONTH IN 1931The two quaintly written articles below appeared in the Werribee Shire Banner on Thursday 26th February 1931. They show that things such as an

afternoon’s fund raising or dealing with snakes in your yard were so much simpler back then.

Greg Milne

WARE SNAKES!

On Wednesday afternoon Mr. K. B.

Parham, of Pier Street, noticed a 3 foot

tiger snake rambling in front of his

premises in Pier Street.

"His snakeship" was probably feeling the

stress of the summer weather and maybe

had decided to call on K.B.P. for an ice-

cream or a cool thirst quencher.

At first sight Mr. Parham started to

wonder if there was any snake

juice in his drinks, and in settling

that question to his satisfaction he

demolished two broom handles over the

back of his visitor, and finally dispatched

it to its "happy hunting grounds," per

medium of a hefty full-sized brick.

Residents should bear in mind, that the

mating season is near at hand, and be on

the lookout for any of the reptiles.

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LADIES' FRIENDLY LEAGUE

There was an excellent attendance at Parham's A.B.C. Cafe on Tuesday afternoon when the Ladies' Friendly League entertained some 70 or 80 guests to a cup and saucer afternoon in aid of the crockery chest of the local branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A.

During the afternoon fortune telling with the aid of cards and tea cup reading proved of interest.

A splendid programme was contributed to by Mrs. Turner, who sang "Mother Macree" in a very pleasing manner. Mrs. K. B. Parham rendered "One Thought”, in her usual inimitable style and in response to a vociferous encore sang "The Melody of Life" to which the violin obligato by Mr. Smith gave added lustre.

The third number, "Song of Spring" also gave extreme pleasure to those present. Miss Violet Gemmell in her contortion act twisted her body into all shapes and tied herself in amazingly freakish knots.

In response to a recall she gave a "Waltz Clog" in excellent style. Later she performed a Skirt Dance, which was graceful in the extreme. Mr Smith gave pleasure in a violin solo, "My Rosary" for which the applause was unstinted.

A further item was a monologue, which Mr. E. Simons rendered in his usual taking manner, but having just left a sick bed he was unable to favor with an encore, as his effort had taken its toll.

Mrs Jones as accompanist was the right person in the right place and did her work to the utmost satisfaction of everybody concerned.

Mrs. Seidel, vice-president, in a short speech, thanked those present for coming along to help the afternoon and moved a hearty vote of thanks to the performers, which was carried in a very thorough manner.

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Film Review BIG HERO 6

Big Hero 6 is definitely a triumph for Disney on all fronts.

In terms of animation, the latest installation in the Walt Disney Classics series is far from disappointing.

Many of the elements in the film, primarily the vibrant setting, and the anime-like features which are in accordance to its Marvel Comic book origins, are bound to captivate audiences of all ages.

Similarly, the storyline is equally as impressive, as it takes viewers through a journey, beginning in the futuristic city of San Fransokyo.

Here, child prodigy 14- year-old Hiro Hamada is introduced as a boy with a brilliant talent in the field of robotics.

The film predominately centers on how he copes with a devastating tragedy which brings his life to a standstill. In one of Hiro’s darkest hours, Baymax, an utterly adorable, 10 ft-tall health robot, manages to inflate – literally - into his life.

This robot, which was designed with the purpose to heal, does just that, and is able to show Hiro how to laugh, live and love once again.

Their friendship is bound to capture hearts, along with muster laughs as both characters grow and develop a significant bond.

Together, along with other fun, lovable characters, such as Go Go Tomago, Wasabi, Honey Lemon and

Fred, they form a group of unlikely superheroes who are able to use their intellect and imaginations to create an avenue to help others and save their city in times of danger.

Throughout Baymax and Hiro’s journey, the film explores how the imagination, teamed with technology, can create endless positive change.

But beneath the shiny super-hero front, this is a film which includes an uplifting message about generosity, compassion and helping those around us for the greater good of humanity.

Unlike many animated films, it often discusses difficult themes such as loss and grief, but also significant positive ones, such as friendship and love, and these aspects give it a refreshing sense of reality which certainly makes it a memorable film that will be cherished for years to come.

By Devika Nair

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Pet Corner BENEFITS OF DESEXING YOUR FOUR LEGGED FRIEND

Now is the perfect time for Wyndham residents to desex their animals as from February 2015, Councils’s desexing incentive will include dogs and means financial support is available to support local pet owners.

Portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability Cr Peter Gibbons said

desexing pet cats and dogs is an important part of responsible pet ownership and has many benefits for both animals and owners.

“According to the National Desexing Network, one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats within seven years. That is a lot of unwanted kittens who need homes,” Cr Gibbons said.

“Desexing your pet helps to reduce overpopulation and unplanned pregnancies and limits the number of animals that need to be rehomed.”

Desexing is a common procedure and pets generally recover quickly. According to the RSPCA, desexing a pet can lower their urge to fight and their tendency to wander which reduces the likelihood of injury or death from a road accident.

“There are health benefits for pets too, including a reduction in the risk of uterine infections and mammary cancer in females and prostate disease in males.”

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“Desexing also goes a long way toward preventing the spread of diseases and limiting the number of predators for our native animals,” he said.

Council pet registration costs are minimal for desexed animals and Wyndham City has developed a pricing plan to help residents with the associated costs of desexing.

“The MAV (Municipal Association of Victoria) voucher scheme offers residents with a current concession card issued by Centrelink a discounted desexing fee.”

“The Wyndham City desexing incentive voucher offers residents who do not hold a concession card but who may still be struggling to afford to have their pets desexed some respite from the costs.”

“This voucher will see Wyndham City contribute $50 towards the cost of desexing your pet.”

“To keep things simple, pet owners just pay the discounted fee direct to the vet at the time of surgery,” he said.

Vouchers can be collected at the Wyndham City Civic Centre located at 45 Princes Highway Werribee.

Residents will need to bring photo ID, any concession cards, pet registration details or microchip details when picking up their voucher before surgery. Limit two per household.

All pets need to be registered and micro chipped before vouchers can be collected. If residents are registering a pet for the first time, the pet will also need to be micro chipped.

“Getting your pet microchipped and desexed is part of being a responsible pet owner,” Cr Gibbons said.

“Microchipping and Council pet registration is compulsory in Victoria, with all cats and dogs over the age of three months required to be micro chipped before they can be registered.”

“Microchipping and registration help us to contact you if your pet is lost or wandering and reduces the likelihood of your pet being impounded if they get lost.”

For further information contact Wyndham City on 9742 0777 or visitwww.wyndham.vic.gov.au for more tips on responsible pet ownership.

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GET ON YOUR BIKE! IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Hands up if you like to “get on your bike”! That’s great if you do. Not only is pedalling along in the fresh air a fun way to exercise, it’s good for your health. Cycling benefits mind and body. It increases physical, mental and social activity levels, boosts emotional health, improves well-being and strengthens self-confidence. The New England Journal of Medicine, even notes that people who cycle regularly, live longer and lead healthier lives.

Get on your bike. It’s never too late.

There are many benefits to be gained from joining a pedalling brigade. I learned this from the Hobsons Bay Pelicans Cycling Group at the Hobsons Bay Men's Shed, during their ride from Altona to Point Cook Homestead.

This young-at-heart community group is not afraid to use their bikes to get out together - usually around their area. They’re proving that cycling adventures can be enjoyed at every age.

TIP: - Beat the blues of boredom. Challenge yourself. Tackle something new.

- Don’t let “old-age” thoughts hold you back. Reject them. You’re only as old as you think!

- Be mentally active. You never ‘retire’ from thinking and living.

©Glow images. Model used for illustrative purposes.

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- Don’t measure or limit the good you can accomplish. It’s possible to “…enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain [your] vigor, freshness, and promise.” Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p.246

Conquer fear. Get out and about.

While cycling might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the catchphrase “get on your bike” is still a call to be active at every age and stage of life - to break through the self-imposed limitations of age, gender and fear. Doubt in one’s ability can be defeated.

No one is “too old” to take up something new, engage in positive, stimulating life-activities such as using a computer to bank online, or riding a bike.

A few years back, I decided to cycle again.

During my first attempt since childhood, I suddenly realized that I didn’t know how to stop my brand new, state-of-the-art, ultramodern ladies bike. Just then, an elderly man began wandering towards me.

With panicked looks on our faces, and through good fortune more than good management, we avoided each other. It was a traumatic start to my cycling ‘re-birth’.

Happily, it didn’t put me off. I’ve ridden many enjoyable kilometres since then.

TIP: - Don’ be deprived of fun, advancement and interesting activity. Eliminate the “I can’t” statements from your thinking. Say, “I can”. You have the mental might to “get-up and get-going”.

- Build-up your confidence level by being enthusiastic and courageous about taking up something new.

- Use spiritual thought-tools such as trust in a divine Presence to strengthen, help and care for you in every situation. See - The Bible Isaiah 41:10, 1 Peter 5:7

- Stop fear in its tracks. It’s never too late to overcome fearful thinking. You have the power to do so.

- Expect to “get on your bike”, be active and confident right now and into the future.

Health writer Beverly Goldsmith, is a practitioner/teacher of Christian Science healing.

Twitter: @GoldsmithBev www.spiritualityandhealthconnect.com

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RESOLUTIONS FOR A WEALTHY FUTURE

Shedding a few kilos and getting fit are popular New Year's resolutions, but along with improving your health why not resolve to boost your wealth in 2015?

The best way to do that is to have a clear picture about what you want to achieve. Perhaps you want to buy a new car, save a deposit for your first home, prepare for the birth of a child or go on an overseas adventure?

Make sure your list contains some fun short-term goals as well as some that will set you up for the future.

Prioritise your goals

Whatever your goals, write them down in the order of priority and put a dollar figure on them. The more concrete you can make your goals the better. Then it is a matter of working out where you want to be by the end of the year.

Prepare a budget

More often than not, the difference between a goal and a pipedream is a budget. Start by adding up your annual income from work, investments and government allowances. Then deduct your annual expenses including mortgage or rent, insurances, transport, phone, utilities, clothes, entertainment, groceries and daily expenses.

Any amount you are left with is the seed that will grow your future wealth. However, if you discover you are spending more than you earn then go through your budget item by item to see where you can cut back.

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Plan to save

The old advice to 'pay yourself first' is still the easiest way to discipline yourself to save. Set up a weekly or monthly direct debit to divert some of your salary into a savings account before you have a chance to spend it. Consider a high interest savings account for short-term savings or, if you have a home loan with a redraw facility, you could park the cash there and reduce your debt at the same time.

Don't forget retirement

When you're planning how to get ahead this year, don't forget the big picture.

A small amount put aside each week could make a big difference to your retirement lifestyle if you start saving early.

The longer you procrastinate, the more you will need to save later on.

Consider making a voluntary non-concessional contribution to your superannuation or salary sacrifice pre-tax income to make a concessional contribution. Just be careful to stay within your age-based annual contribution limits.

Go for growth

When you are saving for longer-term goals such as a child's education or your retirement, you need to ensure that your savings are not eaten away by inflation. That means putting some of your money in growth assets such as shares and property which produce the best returns in the long run. When you are saving for retirement, super is the most tax-effective investment vehicle. But just because super is a long-term investment doesn't mean you can afford to set and forget.

Share your goals

Just as it's often easier to achieve your fitness goals with support from an exercise buddy or personal trainer, why not try growing your wealth with a little help from your friends. Even the simple act of talking about your goals with a trusted friend or adviser makes success more likely.

Call Vostro Private Wealth on 9867 4345 if you would like to discuss the best way to achieve your New Year's resolutions

General Advice Warning: This advice may not be suitable to you because it contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal financial advice prior to acting on this information.

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Laugh Out Loud

From the Inbox

LECTURE: An art of transmitting Information

From the notes of the lecturer To the notes of students

Without passing through the minds Of either

CONFERENCE:

The confusion of one man Multiplied by the Number present

COMPROMISE:

The art of dividing A cake in such a way that

Everybody believes He got the biggest piece

TEARS:

The hydraulic force by which Masculine will power is

Defeated by feminine water-power!

CONFERENCE ROOM: A place where everybody talks,

Nobody listens And everybody disagrees later on

ECSTASY:

A feeling when you feel You are going to feel

A feeling You have never felt before

CIGARETTE:

A pinch of tobacco Rolled in paper

With fire at one end And a fool at the other!

MARRIAGE:

It's an agreement Wherein

A man loses his bachelors degree And a woman gains her masters

CLASSIC: A book

Which people praise, But never read

SMILE: A curve

That can set A lot of things straight!

OFFICE: A place

Where you can relax After your strenuous

Home life

EXPERIENCE: The name Men give

To their mistakes

MISER: A person

Who lives poor So that

He can die RICH!

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LATIN LOVELYFrom the banks of the Rio Grande

Down to Tierra del Fuego,In each Latin American land,

There’s many a love-crazed Romeo.

One lady’s name is on their lips;In cantinas she’s all the talk:

Her fine figure, specially, those hips,Makes guys’ eyes pop when they see her walk.

There’s no real man in ManaguaWho would not want to be her beau.

There are rich men in Costa RicaReady to give her half their dough.

They gave her cars in Caracas;She made the cats purr in Peru,

The gauchos pant on the Pampas,And in Lima they love her too.

Blokes go insane in SantiagoWhen she walks out in the street.

There’s no beauty queen in MexicoThat this lovely lass couldn’t beat.

She’d take the chill out of Chile,And make crowds roar in Ecuador.They can’t get enough of this filly;

In old Quito boys beg for more.

Even down in Punta Arenas,Which is the continent’s deep south,The hombres have heard of this lass:

Good news that travelled by word of mouth.

There’s hardly a guy in GuyanaWho would not leave home for this gal,

Whilst hopeful suitors in PanamaFor her smile would swim the Canal.

Lads go loco in AcapulcoAnd shout “Ole!” in San Jose.

As she’s the “o” in Montevideo,Uruguayans let her have her way.

The boys of Brazil say she’s beaut,As do gents in Argentina.

Carmen Miranda without the fruitIs this lovely Senorita.

By Jack Nystrom, 16.9.2014

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Hoppers Xing kids

Calling on Hoppers Crossing Schools and Parents to share photos, art, stories, writing for this page.Email your contributions to will@aroundpointcook.com or post to the PO Box 1145 Altona Meadows 3028

Hi KidsLook at this fantastic artwork by some of the kids who attend classes at Sandra’s Art in Motion. Young artists learn how to draw using traditional techniques like shapes and tones. These mixed with imagination and getting messy makes for lots of fun, Sandra reckons.

The watercolour entitled, Waterfall, won the first Art in Motion people’s choice award at the Christmas Exhibition Party. Other great work exhibited in the

5-12 years category included an ink & wax by Ben and Amelie’s pastel of Bear. In the 3-5 years category, Blake’s acrylic & charcoal work was a standout piece. Although, it’s true to say all the work was equally excellent.

PS: Keep an eye out for the March Kids Page as we’ll be calling all young writers for our first ever Young Writers Competition!

KJ Rajah

Bear by Amelie, (6yrs) upper left

Ruins by Ben, (11yrs) middle

Cat by Blake, (4yrs) right

Waterfall by Maddison, (10yrs) left

24 Please redistribute rather than discard.