Jim, who will retire in the coming weeks, has spent 37 years on the beat, with 10 years at Leongatha Police and a further 10 at the Bass Coast Highway Patrol.

He was keen to notch up 40 years in the force, but bowel cancer hijacked those plans. Fortunately, the cancer is in remission now and he is looking forward to a retirement that will see him cruising around on his Harley Davidson and spending a lot more time with his family.

Jim believes an early test saved his life: “Had I not done it, I wouldn’t be here. I’d implore any person to do the test. I had no symptoms or anything, and if I hadn’t tested, in six to 12 months I would have been dead.”

Jim Baum: the retiring local police sergeant has had a rich career in the Force.

But the migrating cancer was not an easy thing to fix and the spectre of it is always with him.

“I did my test early and I was detected early. But that still led to major surgery and chemo treatments and the like. I got on top of that and was really pleased with where I was travelling,” he said.

“But a routine test a couple of years later found a secondary lot of cancer on my liver. That led to more surgery and more chemo.”

The second discovery of cancer proved tougher than the first, and work ambitions were shelved. Shiftwork and the pressures associated with policing had taken their toll, he said.

“The latest testing has been good. I hope it remains that way. But once you have cancer you have it for life. It’s never really far from your mind,” he said.

“It takes you to some dark places and it always will. You say to yourself, ‘I’ve just got to move on with this,’ but I had a blood test yesterday and a cat scan today. That’s a twice a year routine, and it’s a constant reminder.

“I’ve been fortunate to have great support from my loving wife, Helga, and my family. That really is crucial because you certainly need family around you as you go. I know, though, there are blokes out there who won’t do the test. If you get it early you can fix it early.”

Jim will spend his time now focused on being happy and healthy, free from “the stress of a police environment”.

In the time since first being diagnosed, he has “done a lot of soul searching”.

“I’m always one for finding out why things happen, which is why I became a policeman. There’s been a lot of cancers in Leongatha and I came up with more than 30 names within the last 10 years. They were people of varying ages and varying lifestyles,” he said.

“The only answer I came up with was that there is no answer in the end. I don’t know why it strikes certain people. I decided very early on in the piece that I’m not happy about it, but I’d only worry about the things I have control over.

“If I don’t have control, what will be will be. I have to accept that.”

Being part of the force has been an essential and rewarding part of Jim’s life. As any cop will tell you, there are few careers like policing, where life is seen up close and in its rawest forms. For Jim, “having a crack” was always the most important thing and he walks away proud of his commitment to the work.

“I loved being a cop and I never wanted to do anything else. I joined as soon as I could. I loved the variety of it and I loved the thought of every day going to work and not knowing what was going to happen,” he said.

“It’s such a fluid occupation and changing all the time. Right up until the very end I still enjoyed patrolling, for the very reason that you’d never know what job was going to come over the radio and what you were going to find.”

He said he remembers every day, from graduation to the end. Overwhelmingly, he said, it was the people he worked with who made the job so special.

But, as any cop will know, there were dark times.

Jim, originally from Horsham, spent time as a law instructor with now Chief Commissioner and former Korumburra resident Ken Lay, along with stints as an officer at St Kilda, Port Melbourne, Glen Waverly and back in the Wimmera in his home town.

His career defining work began in the Road Accident Research Unit (now known as the Major Crash Investigation Unit).

He was inspired to become part of the unit after the death of a 21 year old woman, killed by a drunk driver.

“She was engaged to be married, a beautiful young woman with hardly a mark on her. I just thought, ‘This is not right,’ From that point on my job direction changed,” he said.

The trauma that flows from road carnage has been a constant source of frustration throughout his life. And Jim has seen the sinister way alcohol can turn people’s worlds upside down.

He said he is not a “wowser” but despairs at the way young people drink to excess, a trend that he believes is escalating year by year. It’s an addiction, he said, that fuels violence, petty crime and, of course, road trauma. Jim emphasises the point that collisions on the road where alcohol is a factor are never “accidents”.

And yet, policing has been a source of joy for Jim too – the daily interaction with other cops and the good people of South Gippsland. He couldn’t care less what the “villains” think of him.

Leongatha has been a special place for Jim and one that welcomed him with open arms.

“I knew nothing about this side of the state whatever. Within three months I’d met lots of really good quality people. Helga and I decided that was it, this was a great place to bring up a family and I had a good chance to have an involvement with the community,” he said.

“Being a policeman in a town like this, the police see the community as theirs and the community see the police as their  police. That was special.

“We’d take crime almost personally, because our kids lived here and we lived here. Even petty crimes we liked to jump on as it happened. You’ve got to be at it all the time. If you let it get away, it’ll get away real quick. It’s just a matter of being assessable.”

THE Voice star and former Newhaven College student Nick Kingswell, who recently performed in Ricky Martin’s team, was a surprise performer today (Friday) at the school’s special Foundation Day Assembly on Phillip Island and the students loved it! See more in The Star on Tuesday.

Knowledgeable man: Professor Paul Moughan, director of the Riddet Institute in New Zealand and director of the Gardiner Foundation.

OVER the next 30 years there will be an unprecedented demand for food, fuelled by rapid world population growth.

There is a huge opportunity for Australia to supply more food and especially more protein to the world.

It is estimated that by 2050 the world will need 80 per cent more food than today. Most of the increased demand will come from Asia with a dramatic shift to higher-protein foods.

In delivering an address to industry leaders recently on The global competitive advantage of the Australian Dairy Industry, Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan said the future will be led by science and of great significance will be its application to agriculture.

He is a director of the Riddet Institute in New Zealand and director of the Gardiner Foundation, and spoke at a reception in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House, hosted by the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh MP.

Professor Moughan said the Victorian dairy industry, the state’s largest rural industry with a gross value of raw milk production of around $2.5 billion per year, accounting for two thirds of national milk production, can be a significant beneficiary of these opportunities to supply high protein foods to world markets.

Production of the extra food the world requires will not be automatic, nor will it be easy, particularly in the face of dwindling world farmland, water, fertiliser and fossil fuel reserves, a warming climate and environmental degradation, he said.  This is where science and technology will be crucial.

Professor Moughan said: “I have a vision of a science-led industry adding value to its unique raw material to produce specialised food ingredients and premium branded food products targeted particularly to our Asian neighbours, many of these products addressing nutrition and health.

”We do not need re-structures, just as we do not need more plans.  What we do need is to create incentives to achieve critical masses of interdisciplinary research.”

Demand for protein – particularly milk-sourced protein – will soar as Asia becomes home to “the biggest middle class the world has ever known.

“Farming needs to perceive itself as a high-tech industrialised biological economy.  It needs to support science and embrace science for what is going to be a very bright future,” Professor Paul Moughan said.

That future needs more talent, Professor Moughan warned.

“The new order is doing to need more agricultural science, food technology, food engineering and nutrition and health graduates, reversing a steady decline in enrolments in those disciplines over the last decade,” he said.

IT’S a parade like no other and arguably the best part of the Mirboo North Arty Gras weekend.

With just about everyone involved, the conga line of community members that snaked its way through Mirboo North’s main thoroughfare on Saturday was something to see.

Mirboo North is a town that oozes ‘community’, from the smallest marcher to the biggest.

They’re a colourful crew in Mirboo North too, with Marge Simpsons on mowers, a Penny Farthing cyclists, classic car enthusiasts, anti-CSG protestors, junior actors and puppeteers, drummers, brass band members, Vikings and an assortment of other oddballs, all adding to the carnival atmosphere.

Stellar cast: Wizard of OZ leads – Terry Law (Tin Man), Olivia Winchcombe (Dorothy) and Sprout (Toto), Chris Gale (Scarecrow) and Charles Gruen (Lion) – have been working hard in rehearsals.

WIZARD of OZ director Peter McAlpine said the girl chosen to play Dorothy, Olivia Winchcombe, was new to the theatre.

But the 12 year old has boundless talent.

“We had call backs for Dorothy, but she just had something. She was the first to audition and the first name I wrote down,” Peter said.

“We had about eight other girls who came along. It got down to two. It was really close between them, but Olivia prevailed.”

The Star was privy to a rehearsal last Thursday and it was easy to see why Olivia had been chosen. She is the classic ‘triple threat’ – a talented singer, dancer and actor.

Sprout (Toto) may not be quite as talented, but he will play a big role in the show nonetheless.

Peter said about nine dogs had turned up for the audition, but Sprout, who had obedience school training, was judged best in show.

Out there: the cast of 13 dance and sing outside Leongatha Memorial Hall.

THEY came, they saw, they danced. And just as quickly the cast of 13 was gone.

The Saturday morning flash mob performance outside Leongatha’s Memorial Hall saw a cast of young performers dancing and singing their way through the signature tunes from the musical. Stunned shoppers stood and stared. But few stayed still for very long. The infectious music quickly caught on and pretty soon even those casual onlookers were dancing.

When the performance was over the teens were back on their bus and off to Inverloch, with Wonthaggi and Cowes to come.

According to energetic leads Adam Turner and Meg Jinnette the performance was a huge success. No one who saw the show was going to argue.

“I was a bit nervous,” Adam admitted, “but I think it went really well.”

“13’s going to be amazing. If people don’t come and see it they’re going to regret it. It’s going to be awesome,” Meg said.

13 choreographer Bron Kalos said was it was “so scary to do it in a space where we weren’t sure if it was going to work”.

But it did. Admirably.

The high energy show presented by the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group begins on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 7.30pm at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre.

Something to see: Leongatha Chamber of Commerce president Darryl McGannon, hospital CEO Gary Templeton, hospital maintenance manager Mark Withers and Leongatha Chamber of Commerce secretary/treasurer Kathy Smith.

THE Leongatha Chamber of Commerce and The Star were invited on a special guided tour through Leongatha Memorial Hospital recently.

The building, as it currently stands, is largely incomplete – a tangle of wires, frames and open spaces. But soon enough the flesh will go on and the essential innards – staff, machines and patients – will bring her to life.

For those who have dreamt big dreams about the hospital, the opening is something they can hardly wait for. Hospital CEO Gary Templeton and maintenance manager Mark Withers guided our tour.

The chamber’s president Darryl McGannon attended, while secretary/treasurer Kathy Smith was there too.

Both chamber leaders were excited by what they saw and can’t wait for the official September unveiling.

Kathy quipped: “I’m extremely impressed, but I’d love not to use it.”

For Gary and Mark, who know every inch of the building and can paint a vivid picture of what she will be, the hospital has been about 12 years in the making.

They rejected the analogy that they were like two little kids waiting to open that big gift under the Christmas tree.

“I don’t get excited,” Gary said, grinning.

“It’s still five months away and there’s a lot of work to be done. If we have a successful move and people are settled without any problems, then we get unwrap the present and be happy,” Mark opined.

“We haven’t delivered yet. We’ve got to deliver. That’s the important part.”

These are two men used to waiting for things to happen and neither wants to tempt fate by getting ahead of themselves.

But Gary knows the importance the hospital has for the region. It was the reason he led a push for a large double story building. The hospital will be about 7000sqm in size. Coupled with the adjoining Kooroman House Nursing Home, it will sprawl across 9000sqm, or more than two acres.

“You look at the building itself and you know that it’s a real hospital and it’s a serious hospital. If we get all the services right in the building itself, then we’ll have done a pretty good job,” he said.

“The implementation of actually making the hospital work is another two to three years away. There’s a lot of things in mind that we want to do.

“It’s a world away from where we’ve been. In fact, it’s half a century away from where we’ve been.”

Gary said the upgraded hospital was sure to attract staff, though he hastened to add there was no plan to employ extra people in the short term.

Such decisions came down to budgets, and more staff could only be considered when extra funding was providing.

“At the end of the day, though, I think if you come back in 10 years time we’ll be doing more than we do today,” he said.

“There’s multiple ways of achieving that. In the old building it wasn’t possible, in the new building it will be. We’re only limited by funding.”

Darryl said the hospital construction had kick started development in Leongatha, with other positive building projects flowing from it.

“There’s no doubt that what’s been built here has just been fantastic for this region. It’s certainly a lot more than I thought would be on offer,” he said.

New flag: McMillan MHR Russell Broadbent presents a new Australian flag to Maurie Mueller who raises it daily at Carinya Lodge Hostel.

KORUMBURRA has an excellent future as a high quality aged care hub.

With the Baby Boomer generation demanding a much broader range of services for its twilight years, Korumburra could set itself up to provide for those needs.

A training facility for aged care workers could be part of that picture.

McMillan MHR Russell Broadbent suggested that lucrative opportunity during a visit to Carinya Lodge Hostel.

“This would be great employment for the town.

“Think through the opportunities in a niche market.”

Having just addressed the Korumburra Primary School students on the topic “seize the day”, Mr Broadbent was in just the mood to draw attention to the theme for those managing the care of people at the other end of the life spectrum.

Carinya’s board of management is worried about the future.

The industry is expecting Prime Minister Julia Gillard to announce sweeping changes in June that could threaten the viability of smaller hubs like Carinya.

“The devil is in the detail and it’s very nasty,” said Carinya secretary Clyde Paterson.

Board members were trying to impress upon Mr Broadbent that he must act to prevent the changes coming in.

“There are always difficult issues (with aged care). The bureaucrats don’t change even if the government does,” the politician said.

The nation goes to the polls on September 14 and a Coalition win is all but a certainty.

Responding to a plea from Carinya secretary Clyde Patterson, Mr Broadbent was blunt, “I can’t stop this government destroying you Clyde.”

Carinya is a 43-bed low care facility.

Mr Paterson said an investigation into adding a high care section had shown Carinya would have to have 150 beds in order to be viable. It has been ruled out.

It’s Mr Paterson’s view the federal changes will render unviable facilities with less than 50 beds. He said the board had spent the past decade bringing Carinya back to accounting surplus.

“We’re not for profit, but we’re not for loss either!”

There are 29 independent living units and six more are being built to help the hostel’s bottom line.

Mr Paterson told Mr Broadbent that in 2000, there was a $50,000 gap between government subsidies and wages and costs at Carinya. Now the gap is almost $366,000.

“Our beds are full all the time – there is high demand.”

Mr Broadbent said there is a place for assisted living accommodation catering for the needs of those in between the independent living stage and low care.

“It means couples can live together in their own facilities with extra care if they need it,” he explained.

Another attraction is they are fully funded by the residents themselves.

The federal changes include a 2.75 per cent wage rise for aged care workers.

Mr Paterson is not disputing the necessity for this but warned on-costs are not included.

Come visit: visitor information centre staff and volunteers with Mike Cleeland from the Bunurong Environment Centre Inverloch who led a familiarisation tour of the Inverloch Dinosaur Dig.

A LONG hot summer and strategic marketing helped South Gippsland Shire Council record an 11 per cent increase in visitors to visitor information centres at Korumburra and Foster. Centre staff assisted 20,508 people with visitor information and accommodation bookings from Christmas Day until the end of April.

Local tourism operators are happy with the figures too, experiencing high occupancy rates over the period.

“What a great season it’s been!” said Chris Freeman, owner of Eagles Outlook Bed and Breakfast near Foster.

“We’ve had fabulous weather and no major floods or fires to dampen our visitors’ expectations.”

Meeniyan Motel owner Lorraine Hughes was also smiling.

“This was the best summer season for nine years,” she said.

“Meeniyan has a positive vibe these days with the small business precinct offering enough diversity to encourage visitors travelling through the area to stop and explore the fascinating mix of boutique shops and eateries, and stock up for their visit to the Prom at the same time.”

Council’s tourism development officer Danielle Todaro reminded locals information centre officers can help with planning your own holidays or finding accommodation for your family and friends when they come for family weddings and parties.

“Ask us about the interesting things to see and do in the area too,” she said.

“Sometimes the most delightful events and attractions are right under your nose.”

The Korumburra centre is situated in the foyer of Coal Creek Community Park and Museum and the Foster centre is situated at the Stockyard Gallery Complex. Both are open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.

A smaller centre is also operational with reduced hours from the Leongatha Memorial Hall Complex.

For further information, contact Prom Country Visitor Information Centres on 1800 630 704, or go to www.visitpromcountry.com.au which details accommodation, attractions and upcoming events.

In control: Koonwarra CFA members George Witherow and Anthony Clemann watch after evacuating vehicles from Leongatha’s Lyon Street.

A FIRE at a dental clinic in Leongatha yesterday (Monday) was contained quickly.

Staff extinguished the small blaze, after a gas leak caused an instrument to catch fire.

Leongatha and Koonwarra CFA brigades attended as a precaution, as did Leongatha Police.

Lyon Street was closed to traffic for about 30 minutes after the incident was reported to 000, about 9.15am.

Firefighters inspected the clinic, in the second storey, and soon declared the premises safe.

Leongatha CFA captain Tristan Morton-Pedersen praised dental staff.

“The staff have done well and kept calm and extinguished the fire,” he said.