A SORELL family of four lost everything they owned in a house fire last month, but in true local community sprit the Lowe family has been inundated with support.
On September 9, the house burnt to the ground, also destroying their cars and leaving the family with just the clothes they were wearing.
Parents Nick and Aquilla and children Ciaran and Riley all escaped safely.
Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental and started after small children turned on a stove top.
Tasmania Fire Service crews from nearby volunteer and career brigades were called to the Forcett St property around midday on the day of the fire.
“Unfortunately in this instance there were cardboard boxes sitting on top of the stove at the time, which have caught alight very quickly,’’ fire investigator Tim McKay said. “Many house fires start in the kitchen, and this serves as a reminder that flammable materials should always be stored away from the stove. “Thankfully the occupants of the home were all able to get out safely, and members of the public were quick to offer their assistance.’’
The house and a vehicle were destroyed in the fire, with damage expected to be about $600,000.
Family friend Monique Boost has established a gofundme page and already about $10,000 has been donated.
“No insurance means they will struggle getting back on their feet which is why I’m hoping our lovely community can dig deep and share this story and donate where possible,’’ Ms Boost said. “They need nappies, bottles, clothes, pyjamas, toothbrushes, shoes and other items ASAP.
Funds raised will go towards all the everyday items as well as furnishings etc.
“The main thing is they all got out safely and we are very grateful for that.’’
Since the appeal was launched the community has already offered and donated a lot of clothing and toys.
SORELL Westpac customers should vote with their feet and wallets by taking their business to the local Bendigo Community Bank, Mayor Kerry Vincent said after news the big bank branch would close this month.
Mr Vincent, who is chairman of the community bank, said locals had the opportunity to shift their accounts to Bendigo, which supported the local community.
He said the majority of profits from the Bendigo Bank went back to the community, with many local projects only made possible because of the bank’s support for local programs.
The Sorell branch of Westpac will close on Friday, October 15. Federal Labor Lyons MP Brian Mitchell said the closure of Westpac at Sorell was a blow to the community.
Mr Mitchell said Westpac’s share price had risen more than 70 per cent in the past financial year.
“Once again, a big bank is showing complete disregard for its regional customers by shutting down a branch,” Mr Mitchell said. “If a bank can’t figure out how to turn a profit in a fast-growing region like Sorell, what hope do other towns across regional Tasmania have of keeping their branches. “This closure shows that the big banks are determined to close their regional branch networks, replacing them with online services and limited Australia Post banking. “We need to rebuild our regions and stop this continual hollowing out of essential services.”
He suggested local customers show the same loyalty Westpac had and move their business to another local bank.
A Westpac spokesperson confirmed the closure. “Westpac continues to follow our customers by investing in the ways they are choosing to bank,’’ the spokesperson said. “This follows a significant shift toward digital and cashless banking, as well as declining foot traffic in bank branches. “Westpac will continue to support Sorell customers with face-to-face service via our Bank@Post option with Australia Post, which is located 380 metres from the current branch. “We also encourage any customer in Sorell who needs help with their banking to contact us so we can work with them one-on-one to ensure their needs are being met.’’
This December marks the 11th anniversary of the opening of the Community Bank Sorell and District.
Between 2015 and 2020 the bank donated $200,000 to the community including service groups, sports club and fire stations.
In last year’s annual report, the bank reported it had supported numerous local groups including: • Bream Creek Show Animal Nursery; • Student awards at local schools; • Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club; • Dodges Ferry Football Club; • Primrose Sands Country Music Muster ; • Sports ground score boards; and • Local art shows
DESPITE learning to walk in potato paddocks, the youngest member of the Daly Potato Farm clan never thought she would end up working on the family farm.
In fact, the bubbly and successful 27-year-old says running a business was the furthest thing on her mind when she left school at the end of grade 10.
“I hated school and I wasn’t very good at it. No one would have said, oh yes she’s going to go off and be in business,”
Ruby Daly said while on her way to Hobart’s outskirts where she’s busy on her next product development for Hellfire Bluff Distillery.
By her own admission she always has something “on the go” and says there is no time to get bored.
Since joining the Hellfire Bluff Distillery team in 2015, Ruby, who is now running the business in partnership with her brother, Nathan, has been committed to driving innovation and new products.
“I think it’s important to always be looking for new ideas and new products and to be releasing these to the market about every six months,” she said.
After recently launching Hellfire’s latest product, a non-alcohol gin called Inspirit, she is already on to the next project, making this product portable by adding a premix and putting it in a can.
The youngest of four siblings and part of a farming dynasty, the Daly family, Ruby says her parents, Susie and Gerard, encouraged all their children to go away from the farm and find their own careers, knowing the family business would always be there if they wanted to come back.
Ruby left high school and spent six years building a career in the beauty industry.
“I knew I had a really creative side and I was good with my hands and I found myself in the beauty industry,” she said.
Ruby said she and Nathan, who is now the other half of the business, both had to earn their spot back on the farm, after completing their respective trades in the beauty and building industries.
“We had to work 10 times harder than anyone else to prove our worth,” Ruby said. “We didn’t just get to rock up and have it handed to us. “I don’t think Mum and Dad were quite ready to have me involved in the distillery so I had to work out where I fitted and show what I could do.”
The Hellfire Bluff Distillery was born out of need to find a use for tonnes of waste potatoes grown on the Daly’s Boomer Bay farm on the south-east coast of Tasmania.
The family have been growing potatoes there for more than three decades. Potato vodka was the result and Hellfire Bluff Distillery launched on to the spirit scene at Agfest in 2016.
“Full disclosure there, I was in it for the distillery,” Ruby said. “If Mum and Dad hadn’t started the distillery I wouldn’t have gone back to the farm. “I remember spending one day on the (potato) harvester and absolutely hating it.”
Despite some initial hesitation from her parents, who recognised she had a solid career and successful job in beauty, a young Ruby became the marketing and sales manager for Hellfire seven years ago.
“I had zero skills, it was a case of fake it until you make it,” she laughs.
But Ruby did have a vision and a passion to drive the distillery business forward and knew there were endless opportunities in the social media and online space and in growing the branding of the product.
At the time Hellfire entered the market they were just the 47th business to be issued with a distillery manufacturing licence in Australia.
Now there are well over 200.
“Back then vodka was such a small market so we did start to think about what else we could do.”
That’s when Hellfire Bluff decided to branch out into the gin game.
The range now includes the original potato vodka, three core gin products, a limoncello, a coffee liquor and the recent Inspirit non-alcohol gin.
“Hellfire is all about inclusion,” Ruby said.
“Increasingly people are choosing to drink less alcohol or none at all and so with this product they can still be part of the party.”
Success doesn’t come without hard work and Ruby concedes her family makes a lot of sacrifices.
“I am away a lot, it’s a lot of hard work, I know it looks like we are just over here having a lot of fun, we are … but we are working hard too.
“It’s something you never really switch off from.”
As her parents step back from the farm and its related businesses, Ruby and Nathan are taking a firmer hold of the reins.
Ruby is responsible for sales and relationship building while Nathan manages the farm production from growing to packing.
“We have had to work out our relationship as we have gone from brother and sister to effectively business partners and we certainly try to keep work things at work and family as family but it’s not always easy.
“I never want them (Mum and Dad) to not be involved, but it has been nice having them step away more and allowing us to develop the business in our way.”
ADRENALIN fuelled gel blasters for kids have come to Freycinet.
Until recently, gel blasters were illegal across Australia but rule changes mean they are now available at Freycinet Paintball and Campground.
“This is ground breaking news for kids and we are thrilled to be the first Paintball Venue in Tassie to offer a fun and adrenalin fuelled outdoor activity for kids from the age of eight years,’’ manager Rebecca Alexander said.
“Since opening our doors December of 2017, we’ve noted a lack of activities to cater for kids and families, as paintball is restricted to 16 years and above in Tasmania.’’
IN a fitting tribute to the classic nature of the now annual Lufra Hillclimb, a field of some 50 cars, led by Mike Clark’s 100-year-old classic Italian race car, the 1921 Ansaldo, enjoyed an action-packed day driving up the old Eaglehawk Neck highway.
Run by Club Motori Italia, the hillclimb is different to most motorsport events, being a regularity race, so competitors race the clock, not others, to see who can set the most consistent times.
This sees a broad range of older and more gentile vehicles enter, from Chris Edwards’ mouth-watering pre-war classic Bentley, which won drive on the day, to more modern classics such as Owen Briggs’ Dick Johnson Shell Racing replica Falcon and many others in-between.
A crowd of some 200 people passed through to watch the action on a beautiful clear winter’s day, while calling into the Lufra Hotel for a quick bite and drink or to the Tasman Lions van outside, for some fresh quail.
A CARLTON family has welcomed a beautiful baby girl in the most difficult of circumstances.
But despite the difficulties, the family has been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends, family, the community and strangers.
Katelyn and Matt Innes, along with two-year-old son Aiden, welcomed Willow Grace Elizabeth on July 30, six weeks early.
Mrs Innes, 25, was pregnant when she had a brain hemorrhage earlier this year which left her in a coma.
A little more than three months ago, Mrs Innes collapsed suddenly and was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital where she spent three weeks in the ICU.
She is now out of the coma and working hard on movement on her left side and on her coordination.
Willow was born weighing just over 2.25kg and both mum and baby are doing very well.
“Katelyn you never cease to amaze me with you determination and strength. We love you both endlessly, so very, very proud of you,’’ Katelyn’s mother Yanina Smith said on Facebook.
The family has expressed their gratitude for those who have supported them through a gofundme page and a recent fundraiser at the Gordon Highlander Hotel.
Mayor Kerry Vincent presented Mr Innes with almost $5000 from the event.
Donations and fundraisers from people involving in the dog show community have also been generous.
Mrs Innes is a dog show judge.
Locals who provided prizes at the Highlander fundraiser included: Rural Solutions, Sorell; Coles Newsagents and Lotto; Ninth Island Wines (courtesy of Michael and Cheryl Devine); Sorell Fine Meats; Caltex Sorell; Pembroke Hotel and Bottle Shop; Holts Mitre 10, Sorell; Dodges Ferry Bar and Cafe; Sorell Newsagency; Coles Sorell; Dodges Ferry Meat; Heath’s Tyres; Sorell RSL and patrons; Sorell Football Club and supporters; Webby; Swoop; L’il Raech; Big Dale; Jezza; Brownie; Kasey; P Jones and P Fletcher.
THE Bicheno Beams Laser Light Show is set to make the East Coast shine.
Every night until the end of the month, Bicheno will shine brightly. Bicheno Beams started on August 19 and is a free and family-friendly event.
Visitors have witnessed a spectacular 15-minute laser light show presented in the skies above Bicheno, accompanied by specially curated music streamed to their devices via a free web app.
Bicheno Beams received grant funding from the Australian Government under the Recovery for Regional Tourism program, an initiative of the $1 billion Covid-19 Relief and Recovery Fund.
Bicheno’s Destination Management Group has used the funds to make a long-term investment in the future of tourism in Bicheno.
By purchasing the laser equipment, they’ve committed to turning Bicheno Beams into an annual winter event for the region.
“Our town has so much to offer visitors during these cooler months,” Kyle Duffield of the Bicheno Destination Management Group said. “The winter sunshine is always amazing and now the nights are set to shine too.’’
Bicheno Beams is on nightly at the Lions Park.
Visitors are encouraged to come for two nights to see two different, alternating light shows.
Attendees at Bicheno Beams will be welcomed by a team of friendly local volunteers who will assist them to the viewing area and ensure Covid guidelines are followed.
The event is on from 7 pm nightly. But visitors are asked to come at 6.30pm for Covid check in.
More information about the event and links to streamed music can be found at www. bichenobeams.com.
WORK has begun on the new bypass linking the Tasman and Arthur Highways, which will create a more direct route for traffic and relieve pressure on the Sorell town centre.
The project is a key part of the $350 million Hobart to Sorell Corridor Package, also known as the South East Traffic Solution, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the project was another example of the Federal Government’s $4.9 billion investment in the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative being delivered.
“Nationwide, we are investing in projects like this to help connect regional businesses to local and international markets, and better link up regional communities – to help secure our economic recovery,” Mr Joyce said. “This project is about ensuring Tasmania’s key freight roads more efficiently connect agricultural and mining regions to ports, airports and other transport hubs.”
Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said the project was a key part of the Greater Hobart Transport Vision under the Hobart City Deal. “The new bypass will help reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and increase access to and from the city as well as providing jobs for locals,” Minister Fletcher said. “The Tasman Highway is one of Tasmania’s most important transport corridors, linking Hobart, the airport, major industrial zones and the rapidly expanding residential areas around Sorell. “This is another example of how the Hobart City Deal is delivering for the people of Tasmania.”
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said the bypass aimed to improve safety and travel time for people travelling between Hobart and the Southern Beaches and Tasman Peninsula. “We expect about half the number of vehicles currently travelling through Sorell will use the bypass instead,” Mr Ferguson said.
Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz said other major South East Traffic Solution projects under construction were the Hobart Airport Interchange and the Midway Point Intersection Solution. “Planning is also under way on the duplication of the Midway Point and Sorell causeways, and the duplication of the Tasman Highway between the airport and the Midway Point causeway,”
Senator Abetz said Assistant Minister for Industry Development Jonno Duniam said the 1.5km Sorell bypass would run between the Tasman Highway near Stores Lane on the southern side of Sorell and the Arthur Highway near Nugent Road.
“The bypass will be single-lane in each direction with a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, and roundabouts at either end will connect to the Tasman and Arthur Highways,” Senator Duniam said. “The project will also provide new access to the Giblin Drive Industrial Estate.” The project is expected to be completed in 2022 and is jointly funded, with the Australian Government committing $20 million and the Tasmanian Government $5 million.
Construction work is being undertaken by Tasmanian company Hazell Bros.
MICK ‘Maka’ Kerkham might spend his days in his Sorell home’s garden shed designing and making leather goods, but his beautiful handmade leather products are shining on the international stage.
He sells his leather products which include knife rolls, tool belts, toiletry bags, pencil cases and belts all over the world.
In fact, some of the country’s top chefs, including Manu Feildel, Matt Stone, Ben Turner and Jock Zonfrillo are huge fans of Maka’s famous leather knife rolls.
Recently, Small Business Minister and Prosser MLC Jane Howlett caught up with Maka to see first-hand how the Enterprise Centres Tasmania (ECT) program had helped him with growing his business.
“The Tasmanian Government funds the ECT program, which provides free business guidance and advice to help small businesses, like MAKA Leathergoods, reach their potential,’’ Ms Howlett said.
“The program offers two hours of free business advice for business start-ups to help refine business ideas and up to five hours free business advice for established businesses.’’
In Sorell the ECT program is run by the South East Regional Development Association’s (SERDA), Oliver Strickland.
“Oliver’s been really great helping me with the cash flow management course that I’ve done through them,’’ Mr Kerkham said.
“It’s really helped me to focus on my finances. It’s given me the confidence to invest in machinery and so forth, knowing that I’m going to get a return on that investment.’’
Mr Strickland was also able to provide advice about putting on additional staff members to help MAKA’s Leathergoods business grow.
“I was contracting an employee through another local business, so I was really wanting to know the ins and outs of employing someone direct.” “Now I have two employees and it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be,” Mr Kerkham said.
LOCALS turned out in droves to celebrate the re-opening of the Tasman Highway on Sunday August 22.
The Orford event was a chance for the Department of State Growth to thank the communities of the South East Coast for their patience and understanding during the recent road closure.
The free community party was held at Our Park in Orford under sunny skies. The event also recognised the work of all the contractors, suppliers and others involved with the project.
The event was catered for by a number of East Coast providers, including Buckland Road House, Wattlebanks Coastal, Spring Bay Pizza, The Fish Van – Triabunna, Rotary Tasmania, Wheel Good Mobile Coffee, and Lickalicious Ice cream.
