The area where the native transplanted
seedlings of the area were to stay.

Well planted and they disappeared.

Approximately fifteen years ago the now Latrobe City Council nursery person came out to the Hazelwood [South] Reserve and showed us how to use the tools to plant over one hundred tree saplings around the then Hazelwood Reserve.

The saplings were a wide variety of nectar and gum producing natives of the reserve area. The idea was to encourage the native animals while furthering a native corridor.

The second side to planting the sampling trees and shrubs as to lessen the retained water that lay over the Reserve during the wet season. The water sat from the reserves middle to the far North Corners. That is the side of the Reserve nearest the Monash Highway. The trees and shrubs chooses loved getting their feet wet.

The third reason was that when these trees and shrubs grew they would provide a wind shelter for the Churchill Soccer Club

The fourth and main driving factor that got the Guides out of home on a bitterly freezing day was they were working towards a badge. The Wombat Wattle one which involved doing something for the Australian Native vegetation and animals.

With in a few weeks the Churchill Soccer people were parking all over the saplings while games and practice sessions were occurring. People were 'hooning' around in the wet ground. During practice times and games the saplings went missing. As the kids grew up they have told of how they were encouraged to pull out and throw around the saplings so that they would not grow.

The scrubs that remain are next to the Hazelood Small Bore Rifle Club, One behind the Hazelwood South Hall and a small patch near the entrance dirt road that leads into the Soccer Club.

Even the six Calistamon trees that lined the front of the Hazelwood Reserve nearest the Tramway Arterial Road went missing.

Near accidents as speeding vehicles cut across the Hazelwood South reserve.

Hooligan drivers.

Over the last few years the Youth Members, Olave Program Members, Visitors, Parents, Leaders and the District Leaders have witnessed near accidents occur with speeding cars, Utes and 4 wheel drives competing for the soccer clubs car parking positions by speeding while cutting across the Hazelwood Reserve or vehicles are parked criss crossing all around the Hazelwood South Reserve..

While the public or members of the Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guides are other wise occupied with what the Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guides have planned out these speeding 'hoons' can severely hurt someone - as has been the case on several occasions.

The risk analysis was easy to decide. Effecivetly prevention is better than cure. This step has drastically reduced the use of the Hazelwood [South] Hall until the Latrobe City Council has fixed the cause.

Tents, team work, camps, and life skills learned on the Hazelwood South Reserve

The Hazelwood [South ] Hall is right next to a public reserve. The Guides of the Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guides use this reserve area to practice putting up tents. Although the Hazelwood [and Churchill] District has both moder lightweight tents when leadership and team training re camping is required the older canvas kitchen flies and canvas tents come out for erection.

When the Region camp qualification camp, the Ev Graham camp, is run the Guides rope off an area in which to physically view where they have planned to utilize their camp equipment on the site size requirement.

Team work is important as without a semblance of planning, order and working together the camp moral is deemed low enough to close the site.

When working with outdoor camp site plans a large area is required while the Guide are kinesthetically shown so that the patiently learn the skills required.

History of the District and Hazelwood [South] Hall Names

Hazelwood Girl Guides began in 1957. Called Hazelwood as the District drew members from the Hazelwood schools. The Hazelwood Unit moved into the Hazelwood [South] Hall in 1959 and has been there ever since.

Much later in years the Churchill Units began.

There has been suggestions that as most members come from Churchill the Hazelwood District should have become the Churchill District for simplicity. What was decided by both the leaders at the time was that the District be a combined name thus reflecting the demographics of where the membership may be drawn from and the now intemingled history.

The Hazelwood name has been retained as the first name simply in recognition that the Hazelwood units were the first here.

The Hall still is known as the Hazelwood [South] Hall, even though the Latrobe City Council keep changing the voting boundrys, for the same reason.

These motioned were formally passed in the District Leaders Meeting and recorded in the minutes.

Written on behalf of the Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guides

Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

Should Churchill have been named Hazelwood?

Many of the families around the Latrobe Valley that I have spoken too to this day feel that the naming of Churchill was an underhanded political move by the then Government of Australia which at the time did not listen to the people that it claimed to represent.

After two generations went to war believing that they were sent to protect their homes and families the returned Hazelwood peoples had not only first hand witnessed carnage and manslaughter but their home and harth had changed dramatically.

The faming and family culture that they had left had changed by the time those on the Hazelwood Honor Board had returned home.

People were maimed, broken or crushed not only from the fighting while in the service, but families suffered educationally, financially, in health and in every other way known and not known at the time The suffering was not contained to them who went but was occurring back at home where none had a voice to change what was happening. Those that may have spoken out were too worn out to do so.The suffering just kept lingering on.when they returned..

It was in this climate that the local, State and Australian Government of the time were seen to back big business and ignore those very people on the Hazelwood Honor Board who went away.

In this climate of distrust and apparent broken promises the vote for a town name was made. Churchill name is said to have won by a slim margin. Their are other towns, some in other countries, in the same error, that have a similar historical 'vote' for the name ceremony. People do not like change. Especially when the change involves their heritage, home or identifty. But worst still they do not like to feel cheated with issues unresonved festering away within them. The people of these areas still today carry a bitterness at the feeling of being cheated.

Where would the Hazelwood Honor Board go?

There are District Leaders meeting minutes that state that should the Hazelwood Honor Board be removed the Hazelwood and Churchill District would go to Hazelwood North School or the Public Hall across the road from it and ask them to have the honor of housing and protecting this board.

The main reasons for this is three fold.

• The first being that the reason for this was that Churchill was not even 'born' when those people went to war. These pioneers fought for Hazelwood, not Churchill as Churchill was not even invented then. The Churchill Township / residental area was Hazelwood.

• The second being that among the 'Hazelwood' generations (older members especially) and their families their is animosity still towards the political of 'the day' when the implanted town became known as Churchill. Effectively honoring a politician rather than honoring those generations of pioneers who changed the land for grazing.
• Just because some members in a 'towns' population thinks that they have the numbers therefor what they so happens is not the case. What this attitude is is political abuse of percieved power and down right abuse. Hazelwood and the generational ties to the area must be allowed a fair and equal voice. Opinions are always simmering below the surface.

The District Leaders comments re The Honor Rolls condition

For some strange reason Allen thought that the Honor Board was in a terrible state of repair.  Hence the reason for Allens the original suggestion to remove the Hazelwood Honor Roll.  No wonder John Holt man was indifferent and Mel Gibbs was concerned. To let this Honor Roll go to the down the Gurgler would be an extreme act of dishonor to those families and the people (N.O.K) on the Honor Board.  

District Leader attending the CDCA meeting re Hazelwood Honor Roll.

As District Leader of the Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guides I acknowledge the seriousness of 

the responsibility the Guardianship of the Hazelwood Honor Board gives me. So on Wednesday I attended the Churchill and Districts Community Association general meeting.  This meeting was held on the 24th Febuary 2010 at the Churchill Hub, Philip Parade, Churchill.  This general meeting started at 7 pm [ I arrived at 7.7pm] and finished approx at 9.10pm.

Why not try these places says District Leader.

Zebe  

If there is any other way I may be able to assist let me know. Have you checked with the Churchill Medical Center.... you use to book the public hall through them.  They could tell you where to go to book it!  Tried the Yinnar Pub???  Ask Trevor there.  What about the Yinnar south school hall????  Susan

District Leader 

Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guides