REMEMBERING OUR DIGGERS: Christine Thomson, right, a grand-daughter of Bullah Vardy (pictured inset), at the Mawson Park Anzac Day ceremony with her daughter, Cheryl, and grandson, Harry Polglasse.AtPozieresin 1916, local soldier William ‘Bullah’ Vardy slumped in a muddy trench and scribbled in his pocket diary:‘‘Our men are making their attempt to take the German trenches. My God what a terrible bombardment. The sky is lit up for miles and the roar of the big guns would nearly deafen you. God pity the fallen tonight, it is terrible. This is a war of wars.’’
Going by the huge Anzac Day crowds on Monday, I’d say Bullah’s horrific experiences a century ago still resonate with us today.
There is no generation gap on April 25. Banners held high, school blazers on, I reckon students made up almost half the crowd at the Campbelltown service, and I’m sure it was similar at Camden and Wollondilly.
At Mawson Park I bumped into Harry Polglasse, the captain of John Therry Catholic High School at Rosemeadow. He’s also the great-great grandson of Bullah Vardy.
Harry was there with mum, Cheryl, and his nan, Christine Thomson (Vardy), who well remembers her grandfather, who died in 1971.But typical of many Diggers, Bullah wasn’t one to talk a lot about the horrors he had seen. “He never talked about the war,” Christine told me, “we only know things about Pa’s experiences from his diaries.”
Some of the people at the Anzac Day ceremonies held framed photographs of their Digger forebears, and wore their medals, as young and old mixed as one, remembering sacrifices of the past.
World War I has a special place in our national psyche because ofthe massive impact it had on our tiny nation: more than 60,000 killed and 150,000 wounded. That is staggering. In 1914, for example, less than 2000 men, women and children lived in the rural valley between Glenfield and Menangle Park. Yet 250 Campbelltonians served, 40 of them left in war graves.
If you want to get a picture of the impact, let’s translate it into the present population of Campbelltown: that would mean about 20,000 of our young men and women marching off and 4000 of them being killed. The maths are probably similar for Camden, and I can only imagine the wrench those sorts of figures had on the tiny villages of Wollondilly Shire.
As far Bullah Vardy, a bank teller from Allman Street in civilian life, he served with the 1st Field Artillery at Pozieres, which saw the heaviest artillery bombardment of the war. Few diggers emerged unaffected. ‘‘The shelling of Pozieres,’’ wrote war correspondent Charles Bean, ‘‘did not merely probe character and nerve; it laid them stark naked as no other experience ever did.’’
Here are just a few of Bullah’s 1916diary entries:
July 24:‘‘All our chaps have taken the village of Pozieres and dug themselves in. Four of us had to visit the front line, so here I am. By gum, it’s hot. Germans only a few hundred yards away. I have been in the front line all day.’’
July 25:‘‘Had a very rough night last night. I am running dispatches from the trenches to the battery with heavy shellfire. My officer wounded. Day before, three men from the battery wounded.’’
July 26:‘‘Last night was hell. Our boys again attacking and the casualties were heavy. Was buried by a big shell in my dugout. Men close by killed. While observing a number of bomb throwers through the glasses a sniper had shot at me and only missed by a few inches, but got poor chap behind me. Trenches full of dead and wounded.’’
Lest we forget them.
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LAUNCH CONCERT: Producer of music Valda Silvy and Western Sydney Opera Company founder and tenor, Lorenzo Rositano.The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre will be the backdrop for the launch concert of the new Western Sydney Opera Company next week.
The newly-formed company’s May 7 launch willfeature opera’s emerging artists performing operatic highlightsas well as songs from operetta and musical theatre.
The young cast will include Lorenzo Rositano,Paul Smith, Daniel Macey, Christopher Nazarian, Taryn Srhoj, Questra Mulqueeny and Allegra Giagu, accompanied by John Martin.
Rositano of Kingswood is founder and tenor of the new company, and said he was passionate about bringing the project to life.
Having studied at theSydney Conservatorium of Music, in London and in Italy, Rositano wants to give others in the west the opportunity to have quality operatic productions on their CV.
“I have had my chance and many opportunities, and that’s what I want to give back to locals,” hetold theGazette.
“I am completely immersed in the whole proposal, it’s my absolute passion.Since returning from Italy it’s something I have put my whole heart into.”
Rositano was inspired to start the company in Italy after seeing that even small theatres could put on magnificent opera productions.
“I thought, why are we not doing something like this around the corner from where I live?” he said.
Rositano produced and directed a production of La Boheme at The Joan in September of last year, assisted by funding from Penrith City Council for the new company.
Cast members hail from the Blue Mountains and western Sydney, and Rositano said the local productions would provide the springboard for many to travel overseas.
“When you do operas at the conservatorium you perform them as a student, but this is in a professional capacity,” he said.
It also brought opera closer to the people of Penrith.
“It’s giving people the opportunity to come and watch opera at their doorstep,” Rositano said.
Performing Arts Centre CEO Hania Radvan said the formation of Western Sydney Opera was “a great indicator of the vibrancy and artistic health of the region”.
“We are delighted to see independent artists such as Lorenzo Rositano and Western Sydney Opera reaching audiences and thriving,” she said.
The company will also stage a production of Donizetti’sThe Elixir of Loveat The Joan in September.
The launch concert begins at 7pm on Saturday, May 7. Adult tickets are $50, concession $45, and bookings can be made by calling 4723-7600.
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Crucial: Beyond the Bell chair Karen Foster said early childhood education sets kids up for later years of schooling. Picture: Amy PatonChildren who fall behind before they reach primary school are not getting the help they need, a Victoria University report says.
Researcher MeganO’Connell said improving attitudes toearly childhood education could address issues such as low education attainment rates in the south-west.
“In Australia, (pre-primary school learning is)still not valued the same way as school education is, but it is a necessity and an essential element of preparing kids for life,” she said.
“Some families – and, indeed,some members of the community and some politicians –stillview it more as childcare or babysitting rather than something that sets kids up for life.”
The report foundone-in-four children in Australia starting schoolwerenot well-preparedand one-in-three didnot spend enough hours in early childhood education to help them.
Despite the introduction of a National Quality Standardfive years ago, one-third of assessed childhood services were not meeting it.
“You tend to find that the further away from (Melbourne)you go, the more socio-economic factors come into play and the less services there are available to families,”Ms O’Connellsaid.
South-westorganisationBeyond the Bellaims to lift education attainment rates in the region.
The organisation’s chairwoman,Karen Foster, said early childhood education wasa crucial area.
“We know that once a child has fallen behind the eight-ball, it’s very hard for them to make up ground. Apoor start in the early years can leave them playing catch up for life,” Ms Foster said.
Ms Foster pointed to south-west programs that targeted early childhood, including the Nurture Nest program in Moyne Shire and the Stepping Stones to School inGlenelg Shire.
A Grattan Institute report has examined NAPLAN results and foundlearning gaps between students from different socio-economic backgrounds increased significantly over time.
“This report goes parallel with the Grattan Institute report (which shows)disadvantage is widening over timebetween low and high socio-economic areas and our report shows essentially the same thing but for a much younger cohort,” Ms O’Connell said.
“If you get in early and address the situation before the kids go to school,it’s a lot more effective and a lot less costly.”
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A representative of the Australian army pays his respects at the Hill Top Anzac Day dawn service. Photo by Victoria LeeTHE three little words “Lest we forget” continued to ring true through this year’s Anzac Day services held across the Southern Highlands.
At the Bowral Dawn Service one woman, Elizabeth Wright, fondly remembered her father who fought at Somme and Hill 21 in World War I.
“He was gassed twice during the war and the second time he remembered someone putting their hand on his shoulder and saying ‘this poor bugger won’t make it’,” she said.
However, she said her father did make it.
“He was taken to hospital and that is where he met my mother,” she said.
“They had 10 children.
“My father died on August 31, 1945, at the age of 49. He managed to live until after V-Day.
“He knew about the Germans, but he was too sick to realise the Japanese had also capitulated.”
The importance of remembering the many men and women who suffered – and in many cases died – in battle, so that we today could live a life of freedom was not lost on the youngest members of the community.
Nine-year-old Torah Wooderson was quick to point out that she was at the Bowral Anzac Day service to “remember the soldiers who fought for our peace in Bowral”.
Hundreds of people attended both the Anzac Day dawn and main services in Berrima.
Dogs and children were the stars of the show at the Berrima Anzac Day main service.
Friends of Wingecarribee Animal Shelter (FOWAS) members, accompanied by their canines, laid a wreath to pay tribute to all of the animals that have lost their lives at war, both past and presented.
Students at Berrima Public School also played a large role in the main service.
Both dawn and main services in Mittagong attracted large crowds.
One father explained to his young son, “We are up before the chickens,” at the dawn service.
Flags were handed out at the main service, and rosemary was left outside Twisting Vintage for the dawn service.
Attendees enjoyed free homemade Anzac cookies at St Stephen’s Anglican Church after the main service.
The northern villages of the Highlands held morning services, with a busy service and breakfast at Hill Top followed by the 8am Colo Vale gathering.
Hundreds also took to the streets of Bundanoon to pay their respects, with all generations joining together in song and silence to remember the fallen.
Residents from Sutton Forest and Exeter braved the chilly morning to pay their respects at the Sutton Forest service.
Garry Barnsley OAM read a touching commemoration about members of his family that have fought in the armed forces as well as his nephew who is currently serving.
There was a good turnout for the Robertson/Kangaloon wreath laying service which was then followed by a commemorative service at Burrawang.
MC Greg Hoare said it was one of the biggest crowds he had seen.
Members of the Diggers Military Motorcycle Club were a big part of the celebrations, carrying the original Robertson-Burrawang-Kangaloon RSL flag in their ride.
The members were all men who have returned from active service with the Army, Navy and Air Force and have fought in places such as Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.
Some of the Diggers read the ODE and raised the Australian Flag during the ceremonies.
Miss Judith Green MBE, OAM was also part of the service.
In WWII she was Staff Captain Social Services, attached to the British Commonwealth Overseas Forces for two years in Japan.
Reverend Graham Thomas paid tribute to the soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice.
“They fought and died so that freedom can be a reality for us. They were prepared to make a great sacrifice and many lost their lives,” he said.
“I can’t imagine how difficult that would have been. (Anzac Day) is a day to honour them and to honour their memory.”
This year was also the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.
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STARS: Players and representatives of players of the Kapunda ‘Team of the Modern Era’ which was named on Saturday night.A fantastic honour at any level of football, from the national competition to the local club, a best “Team of the Modern Era” was named by the Kapunda Football Club on the club’s 150thanniversary dinner on Saturday Night.
The entire field oozed class from the outset, with the forwardline up of Dallas Keane, Geoff Schell and Danny Deptula sitting across the forward pockets and full forward position.
Deptula kicked 54 goals in 1999 and 87 in 2000 after finals, claiming the competition’s leading goal kicker award.
Schell recorded the same accomplishment twice as well, with 75 goals in 1986 and 76 in 1987 to win back-to-back awards, while Keane claimed the 2001 best and fairest.
The half forwardline featured two of the biggest names in Kapunda history with Terry Ryan, Nathan Brady and Sam Ryan, with the latter named as the vice-captain.
Across the midfield line was even more brilliance, with Jim Hayward, who was named captain of the side, five-time Bombers best and fairest Richard Anderson smack in the centre and Peter Vandeleur on the right wing.
Captain Hayward won best and fairests in 1967 and 1968 and the League best and fairest award in 1969, shared with Tanunda’s Dale John.
Anderson is a record-equalling five time best and fairest, after winning the awardin 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996.
THE FIELD: The team sheet of the Bombers’ ‘Team of the Modern Era’ which was announced on the 150th anniversary night at the Trotting Track.
The half backs saw Brian Menzel, Phil Schell and Alan Prior named, who had eight best and fairests between them, with Schell nabbing four and Menzel nabbing three.
In addition to his four club best and fairests, Schell was a back to back league best and fairest, winning the award in 1984 and 1985.
Vandeleur was a star in 1966, awardedthe Association’s best and fairest award, and a club best and fairest in 1971.
The full backs saw the appearance of a modern star, with Brad Valentine named along side Robert Jarman and Mick Browne.
The ruck and ruck rover line was star studded, and could execute brilliance at any level of football, with Jason McKenzie, who won two league best and fairests in 2001 and 2012, Brad Taylor, who won five Bombers best and fairests, from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 before winning again in 2012 and Mick McCarthy, the current A Grade coach and two time best and fairest, winning it in 1997 and 2004, with the latter a premiership year.
2004 was the dream year for the current coach, as he also won the League’s best and fairest award in addition to his club best and fairest and the A Grade premiership, the first of two in a row.
The bench was capped off with Adam Turrell, Paul Higgins, Tony Holding and Trevor Leslie, who have won a total of five best and fairests, with the former the current Bombers’ club champion, having taken it out in 2014 and 2015, and his brother Andrew claiming the award in 2011.
Leslie, in addition to his 1976 and 1977medals, winning the Association’s best and fairest award in the senior colts in 1970.
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ALTHOUGHGippsland Power didn’t record itsfirst win of theTAC Cup football season, the team’s performance against the highly-rated Murray Bushrangers leftcoaches and supporters with a lot of positives to focus on for the rest of the year.
The final margin at Princes Park in Melbourne was 33 points, butthe Power was sight ofa stunning victory late in the game despite seemingly being headed to a big loss late in the second quarter.
Going into the match after a huge and morale-sapping loss against Geelongthe week before, it appeared likely, on paper, it was headed for even deeper trouble as the Bushrangershad defeated the Falcons earlier in the season. One positive for the Power was the return ofJosh Patulloand debutants Ethan East and Callum Porter making highly significant contributions to the side’s improved performance.
The message sent by coach Leigh Brown after the Falcons loss was based on greater commitment and competitiveness and, in the opening minutes of the term against Murray, it appeared thatmessage had been taken on board. The Powerwas applying intense and highly effective pressure on itsopponents all over the ground and through some good work by Sean Masterton, Anthony Young was able to kick the first goal of the match.
Midway through the quarter, the Bushrangerskicked their first goal, but, instead of getting back on track, the Power allowed its opponent to kick the sort of easy goals which had been its problem against the Falcons.
By the first break Gippsland trailed by 21points down, but, more importantly, had allowed the Bushrangersto seize the momentum with minimal opposition.
As ithad done at the beginningof the match, the Power took the early initiative but was off target before some strong work by Young and Trent Armour allowed Masterton to kick an important goal. Not to be outdone, the boys kept up the pressure and James Harrison and Jedd Serong went in hard to win the ball and then use it well to allow Ryan Hearn to kick the side’s second major in a row.
Just when it appearedthe lessons ofthe first term had been learned, the Bushrangersupped the ante and slammed on five goals. A combination of turnovers and being exposed on the resultant rebound had gifted the Bushrangerssome of the goals and things were looking grim just before half-time.
The boys made a big effort late in the quarter and Austin Hodge and Will Stephenson appliedpressure to allow Young to kick a vital goal. The Bushrangers’ lead was 30 points and once again the Powerhad provided its coach with plenty of issues to address.
It appearedthe boys hadn’t listened to coach Brown’ssubtle reminders early in the quarter when Murray was able to kick an easy goal. This seemed to inspire the Power to get real and great forward pressure by Young created a chance for Kade Renooy to bring back the status quo and he took full advantage of it.
Instead of building on this, the Power wasted gettable opportunities to kick goals and then watched forlornly as the Bushrangers capitalised on two defensive clangers.
It took some clever ruckwork by Keenan Hughes to set-up Nick Mulqueen to kick a critical goal and bring the margin at the finalchange back to 31 points. The huge positive for the boys from the quarter was howthey had limited the Bushrangers to two goals and had maintained this sort of pressure for the whole term instead of fading badly as they had done in the first two quarters.
At the beginning of the final term, intense pressure by Young and Callum Porter set-up Masterton to snap a clever goal and it appearedthe Power was back in the match.
Two more poor defensive decisions gifted the Bushrangerswith goals almost against the general run of play and once again they looked ready to blow the marginout.
Some remarkable poiseby Will Leslie and Renooy found Hodge, who restored balance for the team. This was followed by some amazing ball use and positive thinking Josh Patullo, Jai Rout, Masterton andLeslie to once again bring the margin to under five goals.
Almost, as if call, fate stepped in again and gifted the Bushrangers with a fickle bounce and goal, giving them a 14.17 (101) to 9.14 (68) victory.
The final margin was 33 points, but most involved with the Power saw only positives from the match. After an indifferentfirst half, the Powerhad applied more intense and effective pressure and had played the sort of footballBrownbelieved it wascapable of.
In his second match of the season, Deven Costigan stepped-up to the challenge of leading his younger teammates.Costiganblitzed talented opponents with some disciplined and hard-nosed defence, but also had the confidence and skill to win and effectively use may important possessions.
Following this example was Sale youngster Will Stephenson, who made a huge impact when on the ball and in attack with his fearlessness in the tightest contests. He applied many fierce tackles against bigger opponents as well as winning and unselfishly using contested possessions all over the ground.
Captain Will Leslie was another who set an example for his side.
Leslietook on and soundly defeated dangerous opponents when in defence as well as playing an equally inspiring role when on the ball. His use of his pace and long and direct kicking were key elements of his performance.
In his first TAC Cup game, Ethan East took on the challenge of a major role in defence and responded manfully as the match progressed.
Not to be outdone by his fellow debutant, Callum Porter won manycontested possessions, but his ability find the time and space to make gooduse of the ballwas exceptional.
The next challenge for GippslandPower will bethe Calder Cannons at Morwell onSaturday. The likely return of captain andAFL Academy member Ben Ainsworth will boost the Power.
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HARVEST: Apple harvesting at Spreyton. The TFGA will be examining the answers to the question ‘what is farming’ to better educate consumers about the process. Picture: Brodie Weeding.WHAT is farming?That is the question that we at the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association have been asking ourselves for some time now.
While, in simple terms there would appear to be an obvious answer, we passionately believe there is more to it than that.Over the coming months the TFGA will be exploring in detail the answer to that question. You may ask why bother, everyone knows what farming is and what it means. We don’t think so.
It is clear that many people today do not have any real understanding of where their food comes from, worse still they have even less understanding of the systems and people that produce that food.We understand that there are pockets here in Tasmania that are not quite so blasé about that knowledge, but there is a good reason for that. For example,on the North-West Coast we are very fortunate to be surrounded by some of the best farm land on the planet. We grow a wide range of crops and those lucky enough to live here know from observation and personal and family knowledge what farming and the food production system looks like.
Most though do not have the opportunity to work and live on the Coast and are far more removed from farmers and the land more generally. For those who live in places like Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney the understanding of these things is far from complete.The inhabitants of these cities and beyond often see the supermarket as the only interaction required in relation to food. They often have little understanding of the importance of the food production system, or of those who produce it.
Once you understand you begin to place value on those who produce the food, place value on the regions that allow that production due to their natural attributes, and you then begin to value what it means to your ongoing life.So back to the fundamental question what is farming?There is no right answer because farming incorporates so many different elements. The answer can be as varied as there are crops in the ground. Those of us engaged in farming, either directly or indirectly, need to articulate a message to the rest of the community.
That message is, food is critically important, those who produce it are critically important, those who assist or supply those who produce it are critically important, and those who process it are critically important.
Finally, those regions that are literally our nation’s food baskets are also critically important and need to be recognised as such by all levels of government as we collectively work together to continue to supply high quality food to an ever increasing population.
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How to solve a problem like Robbie Farah: Robbie Farah needs to provide halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses with more ball so the young halves’ attack can flourish. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty ImagesIntimes of crisis, it’s best to channel your inner Monty Python and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
Rather than looking atthe 60-6 defeat Wests Tigers suffered at the hands of the Canberra Raiders likea glass that’s half empty, let’s treat it like a glass that’s half full.
A glass containingwarm, flat light beer it may be.
But it’s still half full.
Saturday’s result was diabolical, there is no other way to look at it.
The defence was as frail as a 95-year-old’s hip,the attackas entertainingas a Real Housewives of Melbourne marathon, and the effort as genuine as Donald Trump’s “hair”.
But there is good news Wests Tigers fans because things can’t possibly get any worse.
The chances of an NRL side conceding 60 or more points in a game twice in one season, are astronomical.
If it happens again this yearI’ll run naked down Queen Street singing Glory, Glory to Souths Sydney.
But the question now is‘where do the Wests Tigers go from here?’.
What exactly is the problem and how can a team of “professionals” be so bad?
Part of the issue, I believe, stems from Robbie Farah.
Firstly, let me stress I think Farahhas been one of, if not the greatest, Wests Tigers to ever put on the jersey.
But now, while his individual form may be good,his style of play is detrimental to the team.
In Brooks, Moses and James Tedesco, there are three genuine playmakers –there’s no need for a fourth.
Farah has been one of the side’s main attacking weapons since 2005.
But with the current set-up he needs to rein in his attacking instinctsand sacrifice personal form for team success.
Makeshift hooker Dene Halatau showed the way in the early rounds when Farah was injured.
Halatau didn’trun too much and didn’t take it upon himself to make the big play.
He simply picked up the ball and passed it to one of Moses or Brooks and let them run the show.
The result was wave of attack after wave of attack.
And it scared teams –just ask Manly Sea Eagle Jamie Lyon who still has singed hairs from the amount of times Tedesco burnt him for speed in round two.
It may be underutilising the talent Farah has but he needs to simplifyhis game for the good of the team.
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THE futureof the dairy industry was honing its skills as part of the sixth SA All breeds Dairy Youth Camp, held at the Adelaide Showground last week.The camp is held every two years, with 35 entrants – almost half from non-dairy backgrounds.
NEXT GEN: Champion handler Lucy Newman, Meadows. Photo: MIKE HENTSCHKE PHOTOGRAPHY
ALL SMILES: Hayley Madden, Seaford, and Bridget Liebelt, Paris Creek.
SA Holstein Youth coordinator Mandy Pacitti said the event was a chance to retain those with an interest.
GOOD TIMES: Saffron and Mungo Yates, Mount Torrens, practice their washing skills.
“We’rereally trying to foster and upskill the next generation to have dairy farmers into the future,” she said.“Without them, we won’t have an industry in Australia.”
YOUNG GUNS: Coordinator Mandy Pacitti with the “Stud Sire” Andrew Gray, and “Stud Heifer” Kelsey Adams. Photo: MIKE HENTSCHKE PHOTOGRAPHY
Mrs Pacitti said the camp involved a mix of theory and practical, covering topics from new milking and breeding technologies, anatomy, cow conformation,photography and presenting animals for showing.She said they were always trying to find new topics, and this year introduced nutrition and show ethics.
The camp culminated in a show on Wednesday last week withLisa Thompson, Allendale East, as judge.
INDUSTRY TALK: Tom Treloar, Keyneton, gets some handling tips from Jack Bramley, Parawa.
Mrs Pacitti said the camp was supported by industry with people volunteering timeto pass on their knowledge.
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Wirrinya Progress Association volunteers Nadine Mattiske (left) and Wendy Chudleigh at the Wirrinya Waste depot. Employment of a private contractor to collect household rubbish from Wirrinya homes is one option that will be considered after a public meeting between residents and Forbes Shire Council earlier this month.
Residents asked for the meeting to put forward their own options, to raise their concerns, and discuss their options after submissions were called for council’s draft Rural Waste Facilities Option plan earlier this year.
Council’s director of environmental and planning services Paul Bennett said the meeting was a positive one with a number of different options raised for council to consider and investigate.
“These options ranged from leaving the operations as they are now (open twice a week at allocated hours) to closing it down,” he said.
“There was another suggestion to facilitate a private contractor to collect household waste from individual residents,” Mr Bennett said.
“There was interest in the meeting in the use of a private contractor.”
Council will look at how other local governments deal with rural household waste, like Bathurst which he said does employ a private rural waste contractor.
Mr Bennett said this options means council was not involved in the rubbish collection process, save for making the introduction to residents.
“A private contractor may be more expensive, but it could be a trade off (for getting rubbish collected),” he said.
It was unfeasible for rubbish trucks used for town services to undertake rural collections as they were not designed for out-of-town use, with distances, planning, roadways to be considered, he said.
Investigations into the various options will be conducted over the following weeks.
The waste depot at Wirrinya was closed after a fire in August last year, and has remained shut while council considered the new plan in accordance with changing waste regulations.
Since its closure, residents have been forced to cart household rubbish at least 30km to neighbouring waste facilities, a particularly unpleasant task over the summer months, and are anxious that a solution be found.
The Rural Waste Facilities Options plan encompasses all of Forbes’ rural waste depots, including Wirrinya, Garema, Warroo, Bedgerebong and Ootha.
Editor’s note: There was significant social media feedback on our story, “Smooth start to new bin system” published on Friday, about Forbes’ new kerbside rubbish pick-up.
There were nearly 40 comments, most saying they wanted to be able to bag their food waste in the green bins to prevent odour and maggots.
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LIFE OF ITS OWN: This year’s Heaven Can Wait regatta raised $35,000, which was donated to the Hunter branch of the Cancer Council of NSW.LAKE Macquarie MP Greg Piper has publicly praised a charity sailing event that is heldannually in his electorate.
In parliament last month, Mr Piper spoke on theHeaven Can Wait charity regatta, which for 10 years has been organised and hosted bythe Royal Motor Yacht Club in Toronto.
“Our community is blessed with people who just dig in when the chips are down and do the things that create the sort of community we feel proud to be a part of,” Mr Piper said.
“An example of such people is those associated with an event called Heaven Can Wait, an annual sailing regatta on our lake, which is not just a wondrous display of human spirit but also a fascinating display of human endurance.”
The idea for Heaven Can Wait was conceived by Lake Macquariesailor Shaun Lewicki, who had previously battled cancer.
Mr Lewickiinitially established the event to promote sailing, shine a spotlight on the region’s aquatic assets and to raise some funds for cancer research along the way.
The event took on alife of its own and has now raised about a $250,000 for cancer-related charities including the Domestic Support Services Program run by the Hunter branch of the Cancer Council.
The regatta is held as part of Lakefest, which this year raised $50,000 for charities.Mel Steiner, vice commodore of Toronto’s Royal Motor Yacht Club and Heaven Can Wait committee chair, andMr Lewicki donated$35,000 of money raised this yearto the Hunter branch of the Cancer Council of NSW.
Speaking about the number of yachts that took part in February’s regatta, about 70,Mr Piper took the opportunity to raise the issue of access to theSwansea Channel.
“There is no doubt that uncertainty around the ability to access Swansea Channel would impact on the number of yachts willing to visit Lake Macquarie to participate,” Mr Piper said.
“This issue is commonly raised with me,but it is a side issue that cannot overshadow the wonderful Heaven Can Wait regatta.”
Mr Piper thanked organisers of the Heaven Can Wait charity regatta.
This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.
Eastern Ranges 19.9 (123)defCowell10.5 (65) A GRADE: Cowell’s Kieran Fiegert and Eastern Ranges’ Jonothan Forrest leap for the ball.
WITHa brisk northerly and temperatures close to 30 degrees, Cowell ventured to Rudall with an improved side loaded with youth, to take on the reigning premiers, who were missing several quality playersand had added fivefirst game players to their list.
After the Anzac ceremony, the Ranges won the toss and kicked to the silo end. Theywere immediately on the attack with early goals to Rhyce Beinke and Damien Hannemann, who were reaping the rewards of Rick Leonard and Beinke’s own hard work out of the centre.Jonothan Forrest was winning the ruck, and continued to do so all day, supported by Jared Siviour.
Pat Jenner was on the end of a Forrest pass, goaled, and then worked hard for Cameron Taheny to kick his first A grade goal on the run. Shortly afterwards Hannemann again roved the pack to post his second for the quarter.
Cowell’s first foray forward resulted in a goal from Klay Smith late in the quarter, and Ranges went to quarter time leading 5-3 (33) to Cowell’s solitary goal.
Cowell started the second quarter with more intensity using the breeze, targeting Kieren Fiegert up forward, but Ranges rebounded from missed opportunities to goal through Forrest, and then a slick pass from Beinke set up Jenner who kicked his second.Rick Leonard was in everything, and rewarded with a goal on the end of a chain of handballs, and Ranges had set up a match-winning lead.
Pat Jenner was again the recipient of fast clearance and slotted his third from 45 metres.
Cowell showed a bit of endeavour to work the ball forward to Kyle Wildman who marked strongly and goaled, and shortly after was on the end of a good pass from Nathan Mills to kick a second.
Ranges finished the quarter on a positive note with another goal to Jenner, as a result of more strong work by Leonard, tolead 10.4 (64) to Cowell 3.3 (21).
Cowell went on the attack from the centre through Tyler Franklin but Ranges rebounded and Rhyce Beinke again goaled to extend the already handy lead.
Cowell continued to force the ball into the breeze and their forward lines with little reward. Aturnover allowed Jenner and James Kellett to combine down the wing, enablingTaheny to kick another with a good left leg snap.
Brock McFarlane kept trying hard to set up some positive forward movement together with the Mills twins, but again Ranges capitalised on turnovers and Jared Siviour and Alex Sampson combined to deliver to Hannemann, who kicked truly.
The momentum had well and truly swung Ranges’ way late in the quarter, and Jake Stutley was outstanding in defence.Cowell made one last forward movement to Wildman, but only a minor score resulted.
The final quarter started with another good centre clearance from Ranges, with Jenner finding Harry Dunn, who notched his first A grade goal.
Cowell repliedthrough Justin Mills, but Stutley set Dunn up for his second, and when Jack Weiss found Jenner for his fifth, the game was out of Cowell’s reach.
Nathan Byrnes added another for the Ranges after a 50m penalty, but to their credit Cowell kept fighting, and pushed forward to Wildman who took a great horizontal mark in front of goal, to post his fourth.
McFarlane and Alec Klingberg combined to peg another back, and the Cats had gained the momentum.An errant kick out from Cowell allowed Byrnes to intercept and find Dustin Beinke, who kicked truly.
Cowell replied through another fine mark from Wildman, and Alec Klingberg applied good pressure to allow McFarlane to snap another on his left.
As the game meandered to a conclusion Wildman again marked in a pack to kick his sixth for the afternoon.
Cowell won the last quarter, Brock McFarlane was awarded the Alan Moore-Wilson ANZAC Medal, but Ranges came away with the two points andencouraged by the fact they have up to eight players to come back. The young players held their own all day.
Best players for Ranges were Rhyce Beinke, JonothanForrest, Pat Jenner, Jake Stutley, Jared Siviour and Rick Leonard.Cowell was well served by Brock McFarlane, Kyle Wildman, Nathan andRiley Mills and Tyler Franklin.
This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.