Mini tornado

Mini tornado went through Wonthella this morning causing damage to property, fences etc... SES have just finished working on a house in Third Street.Thanks Sally for the pics.

Everything Geraldton is hiring

Everything Geraldton is hiring. Do you love Geraldton? Do you love writing? Do you love apps, websites and social media? Would you like to be a part of the growing Just Everything network?

We're looking for a full time journalist/social media manager to join our team. The job will be based at our Geraldton offices. It requires someone with a lot of energy, passion for their community, and love for trying new things.

While we abide by the MEAA code of ethics, you don't need to have a journalism degree, but you need to be great with written communication. Experienced bloggers are encouraged to apply.

To submit your application head here: http://evth.in/geraldtonjob

Community service announcement

NBN Co will be undertaking work on the western side of Chapman Road between Durlacher and Forrest Streets tomorrow (Thursday July 10). Pedestrian movement will be affected and traffic will be restricted to one lane. Traffic management will be in place, please observe directions. The work is expected to take five days between 7am and 6pm each day.

New documentary about two men who rowed from Geraldton to Mauritius

And Then We Swam - trailer from Ben Finney on Vimeo.

And Then We Swam is the true story of two friends who set out from Geraldton to cross the Indian Ocean in a secondhand boat, having never rowed before in their lives.  Nobody thought they’d make it.

116 gruelling days later, off the coast of Mauritius and just five miles from the finish line, things started to go horribly wrong.  This is the story of two unlikely adventurers who crossed an ocean to prove everyone wrong - but very nearly proved everyone right.

In August 2011, James Adair and Ben Stenning hit the news when they became the first ever pair to row across the Indian Ocean without a support boat.  But a few miles from the finish line in Mauritius, their boat capsized - and they had to swim for their lives.

Far from being extreme athletes, neither had actually ever rowed before in their lives.  But four months earlier, determined to prove their doubters wrong, they got their secondhand boat to the start line on the west coast of Australia, and set off.

Some adventures are so well planned that nothing is left to chance.  But as they lost sight of land, James and Ben took a step into the unknown.  Rowing in shifts, around the clock, they learned to cope with solitude, pain and fear on a stuttering voyage of 3,500 miles, until - agonisingly close to land - disaster struck.

Watch the full film here

An incredible letter from World War 1 written 99 years ago

Neil Kidd has been doing some research on Lieutenant Thomas Anderson Kidd and shared some fascinating letters he found with Everything Geraldton. Neil is also looking for anyone who can help track down more information on Lt T. A. Kidd. You can reach him by email: ddpublishing@iinet.net.au

Neil posted on Everything Geraldton's FB page last week:

Geraldton history buffs; I am researching Major Thomas Anderson Kidd (1879 - 1957) and am keen to find out information about his schooling and his involvement in The Geraldton Volunteer Rifles. My first young adult novella; "Uncle Tom's Dairy - A Book of Secrets" was published by DD Publishing and released on ANZAC Day this year. It retails for $12.95 + $4 post/packing; email ddpublishing@iinet.net.au for copies

The following letters were published in the Geraldton Guardian 99 years ago. They're frank and fascinating and any history buff will enjoy them.

In it Lt Kidd shares of his experience in the trenches, how on one day the Australians and the Turks stopped fighting just so everyone could bury their dead, and how during that time the soldiers from both sides interacted with each other.

You can see it in it's original format online at Trove. Click here. 

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AN OFFICER'S LETTERS

Lieutenant T- A. Kidd, writing to his wife whilst travelling from Egypt to the Gallipoli Peninsula, mentions that the officers were shorn of all their glory and were dressed just like troopers. Whilst it might seem cowardly he thought it necessary for the protection of both officers and men. On the 28th May, he wrote from 'My Little Dug-out, somewhere in Turkey.'

He states:

'As we have to carry everything on our backs, besides ammunition, anything we can dispense with is left behind. I have only a blanket, a rubber sheet and a great coat with me. We have no change of clothing, and as it is necessary to sleep fully dressed you can imagine the result. But the tucker is good and plentiful.

Pity they cannot issue sleep in a condensed form; it is a very scarce commodity. Firing is continuous, night time being the favourite time for the Turks display. The roar of the machine guns, musketry, field guns and howitzers renders conversation almost impossible. Shrapnel is bursting over my dug-out as I write.

An armistice was declared last Monday to bury the dead, as the bodies were 'humming in real earnest.' About 3000 Turks and 100 Australians were buried. Our boys fraternised with the enemy's burial party.

I think when you read the account of our boys' landing you will acknowledge they are the finest fighting men in the world. Sir Ian Hamilton calls them the 'White Gurkhas.'

The country is very hilly, very much like the big hills near Woolanooka, the hills and valleys being covered with thick scrub. Our dug outs are cut in the face of the cliff-like sides in the hills. The weather here is delightful.

We are proper infantry, and work in the trenches. Many of our trenches are only ten yards away from the Turks. One has only to throw a biscuit over when the beggars open fire, and play hell for a time.'

On June 4th Lieut Kidd wrote:

'You will probably hear that I was wounded in operations against some Turkish trenches. It was nothing but a trivial scratch. Don't worry.'

(In our last issue we published a thrilling account of this incident, in which Lieut Kidd bravely led an apparently forlorn hope. A bullet grazed his nose and cheek under the left eye, but he was able to resume duty without delay. - Ed).

“B Squadron officers are the happiest family in camp. Have had no mail for such a long time now, but as we are all in the same boat, we consider the mails to be held up somewhere. The Turks are terribly frightened of our Australian lads. We get plenty of first line trench work, but are now enjoying a few days rest. Our first bayonet charge was very successful, the conduct of our boys being magnificent- They displayed courage in its best form.”

Flock peer mentoring program flies to new heights

Fifteen local organisations have just celebrated completion of the Flock program, run by Pollinators Inc and seed-funded by the City of Greater Geraldton. This innovative and unique program proved a new approach that enables innovators and entrepreneurs to ‘fly further, faster, together’. The program is a fantastic example of how collaboration can contribute to the development of individual enterprises and community groups, all of which grow a stronger, healthier region. Flock Facilitator, Jo Blayney said “I’ve worked on a variety of mentoring programs, from running in-house training on mentoring, to being a mentor and also a mentee. Flock really stands out as having worked very well. The format and features such as the regular fortnightly sessions, generousity of the mentors, and supporting questions and resources have all come together beautifully.”

Flock was been designed to be outstanding value for participants, with participants in three ‘streams’ participating in fortnightly facilitated workshops with 4-8 peer organisations. Each week a different guest mentor also joined to spark the conversations and questions, insights and resources were shared using online.

One stream was dedicated to community based organisations – such as Partners In Grain, Geraldton Little Athletics and APEX. Session topics such as community & membership engagement, succession strategies, marketing and fundraising and managing volunteers. One of the emergent themes was how the better use of technology could enable better member engagement but also better operational management.

Andrea O’Loughlin from APEX said “We weren’t really doing much with technology, but during Flock we’ve learned about, used and already benefitted from using new online tools to promote and run our club. The combination of mentors, hints, tips and a group to keep you accountable has all been helpful.”

A second stream was for “Micro-enterprises” and the third most popular stream was for people “Going Solo” which attracted participants including an economist, branding consultant, yoga teacher, physiotherapist and a journalist. Going Solo focused on marketing, work-life balance, and business model design.

Rebecca Davidson from Progress Economics said, “It was clear a lot of thought had gone into the process of developing the ‘streams’ for Flock. I joined the ‘Going Solo’ stream, and while our group spanned a wide range of fields, the group’s members were all pursuing a similar business structure and shared common challenges. In the sessions, we heard from practising, local professionals who revealed their insights into the topics the group had identified for discussion, and as business people who had already gone solo.”

“I believe that one of the key reasons that this program worked so well was the small size of the groups within each stream, which facilitated a much more open and frank dialogue and meant that group members were ultimately comfortable with sharing their thoughts and experiences with other members of the group, the mentor and the facilitator. This led to very open discussions, of where we were at, what we were struggling with and to be open to group suggestions of what to do next,” she said.

“As a result, I think the connections I have made through this program are far stronger and useful than those which one might foster at more casual networking events.”

“On a broader note, living in a relatively small regional community, I have come to realise that collaboration is absolutely critical if we are to make full use of the variety of skills and experience we already have within our community and programs like Flock are essential to facilitating that process. Personally, Flock has led to real collaboration and learning opportunities which can help me fulfil my personal and business development goals.”

Mystery Tin Man arrives at home

File this one under "what the?"

Sharon Greaves‎ posted the other day on Everything Geraldton's Facebook page near Mingenew:

Have you lost a tin man We have a lovely artwork at greaves' front entrance but where has it come from? Who is the genius/sick puppy responsible??????

More needs to be done about massive amounts of theft

I often wonder what makes people think they can steal things. Is it a sense of entitlement? Do they think to themselves "I can't afford this, but I think I should have it anyway" ?

I've met people throughout my life that think stealing is ok, as long as it doesn't really hurt anyone. I've also heard some of them say that they know it's wrong, but they'll never get caught so they're going to keep doing it.

And this is part of the problem with the growing amount of theft. It's that people do a little equation in their head... something along the lines of :

"Chance of getting in trouble for this= ridiculously small"

"Penalty if I did get caught= would just be a warning"

"Pleasure I would get from stealing this item= pretty high"

So they steal it. Why wouldn't they?

Maybe their parents didn't teach them that stealing is wrong, regardless of the benefits. Maybe they see all their peers doing it so they feel somewhat justified.

What annoys me the most when I see this growing theft is that it's not people stealing bread so they can eat. That kind of theft, while still wrong, is certainly understandable. No, this is people stealing items that are far from essentials. This makes me confused and sad.

I've heard first hand from people who regularly steal these items justify it by saying they're only stealing from large businesses, "so they can afford it." They're basically saying they know they're stealing, they know it's wrong, but that company is rich so it deserves to have things stolen from it.

This argument is so ridiculous. A business is just made up of lots of regular people like you and me. Sure, there's sometimes a few wealthy executives at the top. But the owners of the company are more often than not anyone who has superannuation. When you steal from these "large companies" you're stealing from grandmothers, mums, dads, teenagers on minimum wage, and heaps of other hard working people who get their living from the sale of those things you think you deserve to get for free.

Sadly, most of these thefts go unreported too. Many of us know people who steal regularly, and we say nothing to the authorities.

Perhaps part of the problem is the distance between the people who steal and the people they're stealing from. People are less likely to steal from people they know, but when the victim is faceless and nameless, the criminal doesn't seem to have the natural empathy that ordinarily exists in each of us that makes us not want to hurt our fellow humans.

And the worst thing of all of this is the hypocrisy. These habitual thieves think what they do is fine, but if someone were to steal something they made, or take some of their hard earned money, they jump up and down, complain the police don't do enough, and demand the courts lock those thieves away for the rest of their lives.

Oh, by the way, I'm referring to illegal downloading of movies, music and other copyrighted content from the internet; a crime which Australia is leading the world in.

What this local charity has accomplished is amazing

I have to be honest... when I first heard about the Midwest Charity Begins at Home "Charity Home" I didn't think something of this scale would be pulled off in a place the size of Geraldton.

But it has.

It's truly remarkable to see what the women from the charity and the community supporting them have accomplished in their short life. They really are an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a difference in their local community.

Please take the time to check out the charity home, share the info, and if you're in the market for a home or an investment, consider the upcoming auction. And show your support to the local businesses that have donated their precious time and resources to making the project happen.

All proceeds from the sale of the property will be going straight to the charity.

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Midwest Charity Begins at Home are thrilled with the progress on their first charity home here in the Midwest. Generously donated by Redink Homes Midwest and Geraldton Heights Estate the house will be auction off in October this year.

Midwest Charity Begins at Home Inc raise money for local residents in financial need due to the result of serious illness such as cancer. All money raised from the sale of the charity home, will be distributed as needed back here in the Midwest community through the charity.

“It is such an honour to have this opportunity – we can’t thank Redink Homes Midwest and Geraldton Heights Estate enough,” Charity president Chris Dobson said today. “And for so many businesses to donate their time, their staff, the supplies and products, it is such an amazing feeling, and something we are all very proud of. Everyone has pulled together to make this happen and the buzz out at the house with all the tradies is fantastic.”

The charity would like to extend our sincere thanks to the following who are contributing to the build:

Redink Homes Midwest Geraldton Heights Estate Glass Co Batavia Concrete Structerre Consulting Engineers Central West Pest Control Quantum Surveys CMI (Combined Metal Industries) Geraldton Earthmoving Contractors Rayco Plumbing Bunnings Warehouse Metwest Steel Forrester Electrical Pty Ltd Patience Sandland Midland Brick Independent Timber Supplies Geraldton Hire & Scaffolding Character Cabinets Mitchell and Brown RP Browne Transport SP Ceilings & Insulation Paul Sorensen Mitchell Anick Brendon Plug Byron from Batavia Coast Carpentry Brendon Trant Shapland Plastering

If you wish to visit the home under construction, head out along Chapman Valley Road and turn RIGHT at Webber Road. Follow it all the way to the end and you will come to the entrance of Geraldton Heights Estate.

For more information on Midwest Charity Begins at Home Inc. visit their website at www.charitybeginsathome.org.au or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Midwestcharitybeginsathome

Furniture that's good for the planet

If you're roughly my age, 33, you will remember the message from that old kid's show "Captain Planet", that sought to make kids around the world believe that true justice involved the three R's, reduce, reuse and recycle. Grant and Tina from "Second Time Around" are doing just that, and making some very groovy furniture in the process.

The have a Facebook page where they post their creations for sale, and business seems to be ticking over nicely, with plenty of their posts displaying a "sold" comment underneath.

Here's a few of their excellent creations. And you can check them out on Facebook by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Secondtimearound/1462054397346445

This is called a PATIO PIG - basically an outdoor heater made from old air compressor

Stores away for summer ( all parts fit inside )$250

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Update from Chapman River Friends

PLANTING DAY in the park, It's done!Saturday 5th we did some planting in the Chapman River Regional Park, about 15 volunteers turned up, put in some 500 plants! Very well organised on site by the council staff. Great job!!! Now rain PLEASE!!!

GUIDED WALKS in the park. Sunday 6th afternoon we had a very good walk although it threatened to rain and there was a cold wind. 22 people came. We did the short walk along the north side crossing opposite Spalding Golf course. Plants had opened up, some birds like the Cormorants and Darters were there and we all looked at a Long Neck Turtle in the river at the crossing.

Update from Jake Drage who is in an Indonesian Jail

Jake Drage, a 23 year old man from Geraldton, is currently in an Indonesian jail after being involved in a motorbike accident where a woman died. (read more here) Tiena Drage, Jake's mum, has arrived in Indonesia and put out the following release:

In speaking about the accident, Jake says "On behalf of myself and my family, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the family of the lady who has tragically died. The accident leaves me with a sadness that is very difficult to describe" and "I want to thank her family for all the kindness and goodwill they have shown me. My family will be providing support to them and I hope we can be warm and close friends in the future".

"It was a tragic accident and the family understands and accepts that the tragedy was not my fault", he said. "They hope that there is a speedy resolution to this too"

On Jake's treatment, Tiena said "It was a huge relief to see Jake and hug him, I'm thankful that Jake has been taken care of, but it is a draining experience. I'm just so glad to be here" and "I will be speaking to Indonesian Authorities shortly to see how the case is progressing and hoping that we get a decision as soon as possible". Jake also commented that "I have great respect for Indonesia and its Justice system and I'm very hopeful that the right decision will be made".

Speaking about the support he has received, Jake said "I want to thank all of my family and friends and people I don't even know for their love and support of me. It's not easy living in a jail and the kindness of people here, at home and in other countries has been overwhelming and has again shown me the goodness in people".

Jake also had messages for Aussies considering travelling to Indonesia. "I love Indonesia and its people and I'll be coming back", he said. "Don't let my experience of being involved in a tragic accident put you off seeing the beauty of this country and its people and experiencing its cultures. And remember you are bound by the laws and processes of any country and these need to be respected" he added.

Bill Waywood is a Champion

Last week we shared a pic of this tame bird that had been found.

As always, Geraldton people were quick to share in the hope of returning the bird to it's home.

Post by Everything Geraldton.

The owners were quickly located.

But sadly, some people see a quick opportunity to profit from someone else's misfortune.

But Bill Wayward who clearly has more compassion in him than the average human, decided to do something to help

Bill, you're a champion. Well done.

Honesty still alive in Geraldton

Francie sent this in to Everything Geraldton:

On Monday I was with a client offering social support to an elderly gentleman. We went to the Greenough hamlet for  a day out (highly recommended by the way) and as I was assisting my lovely gent into my car I put my purse on the roof so I could help him in the car.

You guessed it! I drove off unawares, with the purse on my roof. I did.

I didn't know until I got a phone call from this beautiful lady telling me that she had picked up my purse from Brand highway scattered all over the road. She took the time to pick up all my cards and personal stuff that was in the bush and on highway.

My faith in human nature is restored! Thank you Helen!

Geraldton Mother concerned for son's welfare in Indonesian Jail

About 11:30am on Monday morning, Jake Drage was involved in a tragic motorbike accident in Indonesia.

Jake is a 23 year old from Geraldton, who his mother describes as someone who loves life, is spiritual, has a heart condition, and was loved by all and wouldn't hurt a fly, was on the holiday of a lifetime. He had been in the Philippines, before heading to Indonesia.

On the fateful day he had been surfing, and was heading back to his accommodation. Tiena Drage, Jake's mother, described the incident to Everything Geraldton.

"He was on a motor bike, behind a little truck" Tiena says. " They were facing up a hill and the truck came to a complete stop. Jake was concerned the small truck might roll back on top of him. There were no lines or markings on the road at all.

"He's nudged his head and the front of the bike out a small amount, perhaps a foot, to try and see if it was safe to pass the stationary truck. All of a sudden a motorbike with two people on it was there and clipped Jake's bike."

"The bike was being driven by a 16 year old girl, and her mother was on the back not wearing a helmet."

"Jake said the girl panicked when she saw Jake. Their bike crashed an the mother on the back of the bike was taken to hospital."

This happened on Monday 30 June at 11:30am.

The woman on the back of the motor cycle died the following day in an Indonesian hospital.

Jake was taken into custody by police immediately following the accident. He has been held without charge since then.

"I found out about the accident about 7:30pm on Tuesday" Ms Drage tells us.

"Jake had been working in the mines for 6 months and been saving for this holiday" says Tiena.

"Jake had been in discussions with the family of the deceased woman over the following days, and even negotiated compensation or a payment that would be made to them, but due to being in custody without charge was unable to really do anything about it" Tiena says. 'The family of the woman has been bringing Jake food as well."

Following the embassy's meeting with local authorities, it was confirmed to Tiena Drage that Jake could be held for potentially 40 days before being charged.

She has not been advised what he will be charged with.

Friends of Jake chose to set up a fund raising site for him, but Tiena expressed to Everything Geraldton that she was not trying to get money from people, she just cared about her son.

Tiena has been speaking with Everything Geraldton over the last couple of days about the incident and her concerns at this time. Many people have asked us to publish something earlier about Jake's situation but after discussing the matter with Tiena we decided to hold off to prevent complicating things for Jake.

After learning that media members had been contacting friends of Jake, Tiena decided to speak with Everything Geraldton. Friends of Jake say random journalists have been trying to add them as friends on Facebook in order to get more of the story.

Tiena Drage, who is currently in Geraldton, arrives in Indonesia tomorrow. She says she is going to do whatever it takes to help her son.

Everything Geraldton will be keeping in touch with Tiena and we'll let you know how things develop.

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An update on Australian Citizen JAKE DRAGE, who is held in Indonesian custody following traffic accident

Tiena Drage, the mother of Jake Drage, is currently organising to fly to Indonesia to work with the Australian Consul, lawyers and Indonesian Authorities to secure the release of Jake as soon as possible.

The family wishes to thank the many people who have sent messages of support and contributed to a fund to assist with the costs associated with helping Jake.

The family’s heartfelt condolences go out to the deceased’s family following their tragic loss and any excess contributions to Jake’s fund will be donated to the family of the deceased.

At this time, the family requests that the media do not interfere with the processes that Jake’s mother will engage with in Indonesia by way of any unauthorised reporting. While there is public interest in respect to this story, Tiena needs to first engage with lawyers, the Australian Consul and Indonesian Authorities and do not want any reporting, unapproved by the family occur, that may potentially undermine the family’s efforts and therefore potentially impact negatively on Jake.

They respectfully request any future reporting to be authorised by the family’s media representative prior to any publication.

The Mid West Cat Shelter

If you haven't yet heard about them, the Mid West Cat Shelter is a local community organisation that's run by a number of volunteers dedicated to improving the welfare of our feline friends in the Midwest.

Their stated aims are to • Rescue and re-home unwanted cats • Support responsible pet management • Develop Community Education programs

Each year around WA, thousands of cats are put down, mostly due to irresponsible ownership. While the cat haven has existed in the Perth metro area for some time, no formal service existed up until now in the Midwest to help re-home unwanted or abandoned cats.

The Midwest Cat Shelter has volunteers in a range of capacities. One way some people help is by becoming a foster carer.

Foster carers get to enjoy company of a new feline friend and directly help save a life in the process. They provide like food, clean water and a clean litter tray every day, a secure home and plenty of love until the cats are adopted out into their new forever homes.

Others help out at the new Davies Rd facility, run by the Mid West Cat Shelter.

The shelter does not take direct surrenders. They only take cats that are in danger of being euthanised from the RSPCA or the pound.

Under new state legislation, registration, sterilisation and microchipping are now requirements of being a cat owner, and local councils now have the job of managing cat registrations.

Why should I buy a cat from the Mid West Cat Shelter for $150 when I just saw free kittens being given away on Facebook?

While the kitten may be free it will cost you around $60 to micro-chip and anywhere upwards of $95 to sterilise a male and $160 to sterilise a female cat. Remember, these are legal requirements now for all cats over the age of six months. Add in a worm treatment, flea treatment and vaccinations and it adds up very quickly to a lot more than $150. The shelter's adoption fee is fantastic value and by adopting from them you also get to save a beautiful cat from euthanasia.

Get your cat sterilised cheap!

It is now the law; as a cat owner you MUST get your cat sterilised. But financial assistance is available to pensioners and health care card holders.

Click here to learn more about the new cat laws.

Click here to visit the MWCS website

Click here to check out the MWCS on Facebook

If you've been thinking about adopting a cat, you might like to check out the upcoming Super Adoption Sunday

FREE Guided walk in the Chapman Park - Sunday

Event Location: Spalding Park parking Event Details: Next Guided Walk in the Chapman Park :

Sunday 6 July at 3pm

Meet at Spalding Park (entry is off Chapman Road between the roundabout and the old bridge)

Focus will be on birds, animal tracks and traces, wildflowers.

The flowering on the river valley slopes is spectacular at present - the small wattles and thryptomene, in full bloom and there is so much more to come..

Children welcome!

For more information contact Alan and Nancy on 99231314

Start Date and Time: 06 Jul 2014 03:00 PM Event Duration: 2 hours

For more Geraldton and Midwest events, check out the Geraldton Events Calendar on our app or website. It's free to post your community event too.

More synthetic drugs now illegal

Additional 33 psychoactive substances named in Poisons Act

Western Australia’s efforts to prohibit new psychoactive substances, including synthetic cannabinoids, continue with 33 additional substances listed in Schedule 9 of the Poisons Act 1964.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said all synthetic cannabinoids were already illegal in Western Australia, however naming them would further assist the policing of these banned drugs.

In State legislation, Schedule 9 substances have no therapeutic use and are considered to be a health risk when consumed.

“People should know that all synthetic cannabinoids are illegal and that they risk prosecution if caught selling/suppling or possessing them. These 33 substances are in addition to those already listed, and there are many more substances related closely enough to also be considered illegal,” Mrs Morton said.

“The reason these 33 substances have been named is that they are a health risk. They all have either documented evidence of harm, or are pharmacologically or toxicologically similar to substances already shown to be harmful when consumed.

“I’m talking about serious health risks, including tremors, chest pain, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, seizures, and an altered mental state. It is not worth taking the risk with these substances.

“We continue to work closely with the Australian Government on the timely management of the national scheduling process, and we are seeing similar responses from other jurisdictions.”

Stiff penalties apply for possession and supply of synthetic drugs under the Misuse of Drug laws, just as there are for cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy.

These include up to $2,000, or two years, for simple possession, and up to $100,000 and/or 25 years for the sale, supply or possession with intent to supply these substances. Penalties for selling, supplying or offering these drugs to a child are even greater.

According to the Health Minister's office, WA continues to be one of the most proactive jurisdictions when it comes to addressing this issue, however consideration is being given to what new laws and other initiatives might be added to strengthen the Government’s response.

Stop making a mess

The roadside collection that is an annual occurrence here in Geraldton is a great time to have that much needed clean out. And each year, we're reminded that one person's trash is another's treasure.

But not everyone is being quite respectful while treasure hunting.

One Rangeway resident, while awaiting the collection to occur on her street posted the following on Everything Geraldton:

Kate: To be quite honest I'm fed up of people rampaging through my rubbish scattering it everywhere & I refuse to go spend hours cleaning it up. It's making me very frustrated, just had four people tip everything out the bags & rubbish and when I asked them to ensure they clean up their mess they laughed and walked off.

Post by Kate Marie Williams.

Reminder to secure your dogs

A Woorree resident has asked people to remember to keep their dogs secured in the yard:

Zoe Fitzpatrick: Just Friendly reminder to the residents of Woorree PLEASE make sure your dogs are secure in your yard. I have just had another encounter while walking my 6 month old pup where I've had to turn around because a dog has come out. This happens a lot and makes it very unpleasant to walk and possible costly vet bills. so please make sure ALL our fur babys are safe

Post by Zoe Fitzpatrick.