Carol Altmann – The Terrier

What a difference a year makes.

This time a year ago, the Warrnambool City Council was in the absolute doldrums, with community satisfaction at an all-time low.

The annual satisfaction survey clearly showed Warrnambool was fed up with what had been years of suffering under a deeply divided council and a toxic internal culture – the good ol’ mate’s club – that had been allowed to flourish.

It’s two years, almost to to the day, since I wrote my first piece on the council credit card abuse.

Last year’s shocking survey result was not a consequence of just one bad year, but years of wobbling off course.

In seven of the past 10 years, for example, the council struggled to score any better than 50/100 for “overall direction”.

In 2015, it fell to just 38/100 on that score.

Last year, it bottomed out at 32/100.

As was said at the time of CEO Peter Schneider’s arrival in 2019, he inherited a shit show.

But this week, just days before Mr Schneider resumes his role after being removed illegally on 13 July, the council has bounced back big time.

The latest survey shows it has improved on every single measure.

The biggest leap was in “overall direction” which skyrocketed from 32 to 59 points.

[At this point, I have to dip my hat to the long-suffering WCC customer service team who, despite everything that has been thrown at them, have consistently scored really well in these surveys.

Being on the front line at the WCC cannot be easy.]

Enormous change has swept through the WCC these past 12 months, including the election of a brand new council in October and a change of several senior officers, right up to this week’s resignation of former Acting CEO Vikki King.

The latest Acting CEO Gary Gaffney also made an instant impact, despite only being in the place for a few weeks.

Not only was Mr Gaffney direct and decisive, he made a point of getting to know the people who worked for him – the staff – and the people he worked for, the citizens of Warrnambool.

The challenge for Mr Schneider is to maintain this momentum.

There can be no going back now.

The people have made it clear what they want and expect and the WCC is clearly tracking in the right direction.

Mr Schneider now has 12 months, before his contract will be up for renewal, to show his strengths and the next community survey results – also due in 12 months – will be a true test of his success.

https://youtu.be/YrlBObep0jE

Carol Altmann – The Terrier

The Terrier has won a major grant to help turn up the volume on indigenous stories from our region, and to help this site survive and thrive.

The grant is one of only nine funded in the first round by Sydney billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson’s Institute for Journalism and Ideas and it will allow me to hire and mentor a cadet Indigenous journalist.

As if there wasn’t enough adrenalin pumping through the veins of The Terrier this week, this news has just come through today and, I tell you, I had to have a small lie down when I saw the other recipients:

the ABC, The Australian, The Guardian, The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Schwartz Media (The Monthly/The Saturday Paper), Ngaarda Media and… drumroll….The Terrier, in Warrnambool.

So what does this mean for The Terrier?

Well, it means I can fulfil my hope of being able to better tell the Indigenous stories of our region, including those of the colonial invasion and those that are unfolding as we speak, such as Budj Bim, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Area, and the mind-blowing research around Moyjil.

I want these stories to be told by an Indigenous voice, not only my voice, and in so doing I want to empower the next generation of journalists.

The south-west can do so much more to celebrate, respect and listen to the Indigenous voices in our region, and with the support of the Institute, I can help that to happen.

The second part of the 12-month grant will allow The Terrier to explore different funding models, which basically means finding ways to encourage readers to be as loyal as a Cairn, a Maltese or a foxy, by contributing what they can, when they can.

Through the $100 million Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, Ms Neilson* – who owns the White Rabbit gallery in Sydney – is breathing life back into the lungs of a struggling media landscape.

And she is making sure that this air is pumped not only into the big cities, but into regional towns, where journalism is at a crisis point.

We all know that before The Terrier, investigative journalism in Warrnambool had become almost non-existent and yet, as the Warrnambool City Council credit card scandal has shown, it is absolutely critical.

The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas gets this.

As its director Mark Ryan says, “the Institute believes that the best way to champion quality journalism is to help journalists do more of it“.

You got it Mark!

If The Terrier can develop a group of loyal supporters who, between them, help cover the costs of sniffing, digging and writing, then The Terrier will not only survive, but thrive.

We have made it this far, on the back of a Tip Jar, but there is still much more to do.

After the huge events of this week, and the outpouring of support that has followed, I reckon we can do it.

On we go.

*I did, by chance, see Ms Neilson in the distance while filming the above video at her Sydney headquarters. I showed restraint…okay, I admit it, I had to be restrained. I hope I do get to thank her personally one day, as what she is doing for journalism via her philanthropy is game-changing.

You can see the full list of grant winners and the fabulous projects here.

CLOSED (Winner: Sue Frydman)

Fletcher Jones Market stallholder Eric van der Wal has kindly donated a voucher for up to $50 voucher to his stall #603 as a subscriber-only giveaway*. (*Please note, voucher must be spent in one transaction and is not redeemable for cash. Valid for stall #603 only).

Eric’s stall #603 has a range of vintage and antique items, from glassware and china, through to larger furniture. You are sure to find something you like!

To be in the draw, simply email us at editor@bluestonemagazine.com.au with MARKET in the subject line by Friday, March 11 at 5pm.

You can read our story about the survival and revival of the Fletcher Jones Markets here.

Thankyou so much Eric!

Open to Bluestone Magazine subscribers only. If you would like to join us for only $85 for a full 12 months, simply click below.

[box]Win! We have two bottles of Henkell sparkling wine to give away to one lucky subscriber. All you need to do to be in the draw is email us at editor@bluestonemagazine.com.au the answer to this question: “What is the best serving temperature for sparkling wine?” (The answer can be found in our latest Tipsy Tips column). Entries close 5pm Fri Dec 11 and we will notify the winner that night via email.[/box]

CLOSED -SUBSCRIBER ONLY COMPETITION

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W[/dropcap]e are delighted here at Bluestone Magazine to be working with the award-winning, luxury accommodation at Drift House, Port Fairy for a special, subscriber-only competition.

Owners John Watkinson and Colleen Guiney spent years planning and transforming the virtually derelict 1861 Customs House on the corner of Gipps and Regent streets into unique, boutique accommodation that opened in December 2013.

The Drift House was awarded best luxury accommodation in the Qantas Tourism Awards for 2014 and has been attracting accolades and national and international attention ever since.

One of the many unique aspects of Drift House is its approach to the traditional hotel mini bar.

As John explains, Drift House has done away with the standard mini bar that usually offers something like Coke, a Kit-Kat, chips and draught beer at exorbitant prices, and has instead created a Maxi Bar.

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] T[/dropcap]he Maxi Bar offers a range of high quality treats that either come from artisans in south-west Victoria or as close to the south-west as possible.

The current Maxi Bar, for example, includes Shaw River cheese from Yambuk, Basalt wine, jam from the Pantry Door at Killarney, and hand-made yo-yos from Sandra Showler who this year took out first prize for her yo-yos at the Port Fairy show.

And while the quality is maxi, the prices are not.

“We have completely reinvented the mini bar in terms of what it offers, but also what it costs by keeping prices as close to retail as we can,” John says.

Bluestone had a peek and yes, apart from the wine and champagne, everything was priced in single figures rather than double digits. How refreshing!

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] S[/dropcap]o where do you come in, Bluestoner?

Well, the Drift House wants your input on what special item (either edible or usable) you would like to see added to its Maxi Bar and the best idea will win a fabulous night for two at the Drift House, complete with a delicious hamper full of local produce, valued at a total of more than $375.

Your idea should try and:

1. enhance the experience of staying at Drift House by offering something special
2. promote the broader, south-west region and…
3. if appropriate, allow a guest to take a little piece of their Drift House holiday home with them.

[box]Do you know of a special, locally produced item that would fit perfectly into the Drift House Maxi Bar?

Send us your suggestion VIA EMAIL by 5pm Monday, September 28 at editor@bluestonemagazine.com.au and we will pass them on to John and Colleen to pick a winner![/box]

*Note: food item suggestions should have a shelf-life of at least four months. The major prize of one night’s accommodation may not be available during peak periods and other times when there is a two night minimum stay. Prize is not transferable.