After some healthy debate, Victoria Park Lake's Federation Sculpture has been returned to the lake bed following a bit of a tidy-up.
The sculpture has been reinstalled in a slightly different location, as its water jets would have been too close to the new regatta course and grassy knoll.
Originally installed in 2002, the sculpture was funded by Arts Victoria, SPC Ardmona and McPherson Media Group.
Get cropping
A scrapbooking and card-making crop night will be held next month to raise money for Tallygaroopna Children's Centre.
Crop for a Kinder will be held at the centre on the corner of Victoria and Smith Sts on Friday, March 12 from 7 pm to midnight.
The event will include door prizes and raffles, and Cricut and Cuttlebug machines and punches and basic supplies will be available for purchase.
There will also be challenges, a buy-swap-and-sell table, and make and takes by Brittannahlee Stamp & Scrap and Kaszazz.
Entry is $15, and bookings are essential.
For more details or to book, phone Katie on 0417 330 344.
Keep an eye on cause
Shepparton residents are being called upon to support the OneSight Foundation's eye care programs for disadvantaged Australians.
By visiting Laubman & Pank Shepparton by March 8 and taking part in the fundraising activities, you can help those who cannot afford eye care and eyewear.
OneSight Foundation provides access to free eye care through clinics and eye screening at schools, special festivals, sporting events, shelters and indigenous health centres.
All money raised at Laubman & Pank will be used to fund Australian programs in partnership with organisations such as Salvation Army and Benevolent Society.
To help reach their fundraising target of $50 000, the Laubman & Pank Shepparton team is selling an Essendon jumper and football.
For more details, phone the Shepparton team on 5821 2277 or visit the store at 159 Maude St, or go to the website www.onesight.org.au
Cane toads on menu
We're all for doing our bit to help save endangered species, but had to do a double take when we received a statement from The University of Sydney's media office recently about protecting the quoll.
The small marsupial carnivores _ if you haven't seen one, they are furry creatures with white spots _ are at risk of becoming extinct and are dropping off because of poisonous cane toads invading their habitat.
The University's biological scientist Stephanie O'Donnell has come up with an idea to help save a few quolls by feeding them cane toad sausages.
You might ask, how is that going to work?
Well, the sausages are made from minced cane toad legs (the legs have no poison glands) and are laced with a chemical designed to make the quolls feel sick.
After their unpleasant experience with the sausages, quolls are likely to avoid eating cane toads in the wild.
Research has suggested that a quarter of quolls will avoid eating a cane toad if they have sampled one of these sausages.
That's some inventive science!
Country fans unite
A big crowd is expected at Mooroopna's Sir Ian McLennan Centre next Sunday for the town's 20-year country music reunion.
National country music singer Stephen R Cheney will perform at the event, and past and present walk-up artists are welcome.
Some members will be presented with long-service certificates.
The event will start at noon and will cost $5 for members.
For more details, phone Vince on 5854 8304.
Grants on offer
Greater Shepparton community groups are reminded they might be eligible to apply for a grant under the Telstra Connected Seniors program.
Grants are available to community organisations with a membership base comprised primarily of seniors, and applications will be accepted until Friday, March 5.
Eligible organisations can include sports clubs, seniors' social groups, or community organisations such as Rotary.
The program allows groups to run training courses for their members, introducing them to new technology in ways which are fun, hands-on and solve everyday problems.
Grants of $1000 and up to $50 000 are given in three categories.
Eligible community organisations can apply at www.telstraseniors.com.au with results to be announced on Wednesday, March 31.
Playground revamp
The Maude Street Mall playground reopened to the public on Friday after Greater Shepparton City Council made minor improvements to it.
Council's recreation and parks manager Brendan Gosstray said the improvements would make the area safer and more enjoyable for the children.
``The works included excavating the area to install synthetic grass, rubber soft-fall matting and new play equipment,'' Brendan said.
``The new play equipment includes a hopscotch game, blue rubber matting river with red rubber stepping stones, and a rubber crocodile and turtle for children to play with.
``The existing frame and slide remain the same.''
Got the write stuff?
Can you write a story in 100 words or less, or a poem of up to 10 lines?
Positive Words writers' magazine's February mini-competition is open to writers everywhere.
Every entry must include the word ``CAPTAIN'' and must be post-marked by February 28.
The entry fee is $1.10 in unused stamps, and the winning entry will receive a six-moth subscription to Positive Words, and publication in an upcoming issue.
For more details, email positivewordsmagazine@live.com.au or send entries to Editor, Sandra James, PO Box 798, Heathcote 3523, Victoria.
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