Scholarships invaluable for growth of local students

Corin Desmond

Jarna Kendle

Central Regional TAFE students Corin Desmond and Jarna Kendle are among the first recipients of the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC), Conservation and Land Management (CALM) scholarships, delivered through the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute (BCMI) campus in Geraldton.

The scholarships were introduced last year, and Corin and Jarna encourage anyone considering a career in this industry to apply – regardless of their age or experience.

Corin, 20, began studying at the BCMI in 2014 and was a scholarship recipient in 2015. He startedstudying the Certificate IIin Conservation and Land Management (CALM), and is now completing his Diploma in CALM.

Corin went straight from Year 12 to study at the BCMI, choosing TAFE over university as he prefers the hands-on experience offered through vocational education and training. Since undertaking the course Corin said he has learnt theory aspects that are equally as important as the practical elements, like record keeping and management skills.

Growing up in an environmentally conscious family, studying CALM was a natural choice for Corin as he’s spent many hours volunteering with his father who works with the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

He was involved, from inception, in the black-flanked rock wallaby project where a number of the species once thought to be locally extinct were recently released into Kalbarri National Park.

“I was involved as a volunteer, collecting scat and setting up camera traps to monitor the effectiveness of pest control to check that the area was safe to release the animals,” he said.

Corin said receiving the scholarship has helped him enormously from an economic perspective.

“It has the flow on effect of freeing up more time for study and also allows me more time to volunteer, and take part in BCMI’s ongoing Abrolhos islands’ restoration project.”

The BCMI’s Biodiversity Conservation Projects Manager (Abrolhos islands), MarykeGray, said Corin has been a significant participant in the Abrolhos project.

“Corin is a great asset to the restoration project, demonstratingpractical skills including on-site groundworks, biodiversity monitoring and developing site management plans,” she said.

“He has shown great leadership to the Certificate II and III students on his regular trips to the Abrolhos.”

Both Corin and Jarna said the NACC scholarships are a fantastic opportunity and encourage everyone interested in the field to apply to study the CALM program at the BCMI. They both said lecturers have been incredibly supportive and helpful of anything they have undertaken, and age is no barrier to applying.

Jarna, 32, who is equally passionate about the environment, has returned to study after a break to raise her family.

Originally a biosecurity officer, Jarna said being a NACC scholarship recipient to assist with expenses while studying the Certificate IV and Diploma in CALM has not only helped financially but has given her confidence knowing she has qualifications on her resume.

“I’ve always been passionate about the environment and wanted to gain qualifications to confidently re-enter the workforce,” she said.

“Studying at the BCMI has been amazing with opportunities like being a part of the Abrolhos project and working with industry partners like NACC and the Department of Parks and Wildlife.”

Jarna said she has had some incredible job opportunities presented already, through the study and work experience elements of the course, including an offer from a national company with a base in Geraldton.

“I want to finish my studies first and then I really want to get back into biosecurity,” she said.

Both Corin and Jarna’s advice to anyone thinking about a career in CALM is to gain some experience by volunteering

“And get to know the local community members who are involved,” added Jarna.

For more information visit this link: http://www.durack.edu.au/students/future/scholarships/government-funded-scholarships on the Central Regional TAFE website or contact Maryke Gray on (08) 9956 2892.

Applications for the NACC scholarships close on Sunday, June 5 2016.

Pavement works on NWCH

Pavement works on North West Coastal Highway may impact your journey from 7 to 12  June.  Plan ahead to avoid delays.  For a full list of roadworks happening across the region visit: http://ow.ly/3Gcj300PkGR

Northampton to clean up lead tailings from dozens of properties→

Sarah Taillier for the ABC:

The Department of Lands has received more than $7 million to remove the tailings from dozens of properties in Northampton, north of Geraldton.

Click here to read full story. 

Kathleen Nelly named named Durack Aboriginal Student of the Year

Kathleen Nelly with her Aboriginal Student of the Year award – and others she has earned over the past two years! 

Kathleen Nelly has achieved a great deal since beginning work at Bundiyarra in 2013, and in April this year, she was named Durack Institute of Technology’s Aboriginal Student of the Year. Through a work placement at Bundiyarra as part of her Business Certificate II, Kathleen became a fulltime employee.

Last year, Kathleen returned to study the Certificate IV in Digital Media and Technology at Durack three days a week, while working at Bundiyarra for the other two, and was the recipient of three scholarships to help her on her way.

She was awarded the 2015 Aboriginal Education and Employment and Training Committee (AEETC) Academic Careers Pathways scholarship, and the 2015 Rio Tinto Aboriginal Scholarship. Kathleen also earned herself the 2015 Mid West Development Commission Certificate IV in Digital Media Scholarship to continue her studies at Durack Institute.

Kathleen, 21, has achieved what she set out to do and is now working fulltime at Bundiyarra once again as Administration Coordinator.

Kathleen said she is thrilled to have successfully completed her studies and looks forward to using her new skills as part of her full time role.

Trying to get help in the system

A woman reached out to EG a few weeks ago, at her wits end and demanding a return phone call. I rang back as quickly as I could. For privacy reasons we'll call her Jane. (That's not her real name, but Jane is such a wonderful name I like to use it whenever I can.) 

I wondered what I had done to upset her. Turns out she wasn't upset about anything to do with Everything Geraldton. Moreover, she didn't live anywhere near Geraldton. She lives in Rockingham. That would be Mark McGowan's electorate if I'm not mistaken. 

She reached out to EG, as well as a number of other media outlets, in a desperate attempt to have her story told. She told me the other outlets had basically said "we don't like to deal with these sorts of things" and I guess I can understand why. But I decided to listen to Jane for some time as she related her troubles. 

Here it is in a nutshell. 

Jane has seven kids. She's come out of a violent relationship. She had a VRO for her and her children's protection, but as she put it, "I may as well wipe my arse with the VRO." She says her ex breached it at least 20 times. 

Her ex husband committed a terrible crime recently and is about to go to jail. Jane says he got her onto meth a decade ago, and she says she's been off it for a bit over 100 days. Jane is also medicated for bipolar.

Oh yes. Seven kids, who have been brought up in a violent home, and are about to see their father locked away for a long time. 

Most men I know head to the doctor for that special procedure after kid number three, because they know the limits of what they can cope with. But Jane has seven, ranging from 14 to 1.

Jane copes. 

But barely. 

And she's been trying to get some help. 

Admittedly, she's already helped out by the government/taxpayer. She doesn't work, and receives the usual benefits a single mother receives. 

But Jane has been trying to get some assistance with caring for the kids from agencies like DCP. 

But because Jane copes she doesn't quite qualify. 

You see, Jane was told the only way she could get some extra assistance was if her kids were in actual danger. 

Jane had explained she was suicidal and barely coping at times. But it seems "barely coping" translates into "you're coping so you're not our problem." 

Someone kindly advised Jane that all she needed to do was lie to DCP and tell them she had neglected her youngest child. Jane told them the lie they needed to hear, and was then able to get day care for the children. 

It seems that if you're on the edge of coping, and can feel yourself slipping, there's not a lot of help available until you've actually slipped. 

Jane doesn't want her kids to go into foster homes. But she tells me she doesn't feel like she's coping much of the time. She says she's trying to get some sort of in home care or assistance to help keep her from the edge, but because she isn't bad enough of a parent, she's struggling to get the assistance. In her words: "I'm not a bad enough mum for DCP to do anything, but don't feel like I can keep treading water for much longer."

But having recently watched Jane try and navigate the numerous organisations that are ostensibly there to help, I can see why she's frustrated.

Here's another example of the difficulty faced by Jane in looking for assistance.

Jane's nine year old daughter has been more difficult than usual lately. Perhaps that's an understatement. She actually tried to run onto the road in front of a car. The daughter confessed to a psych worker she wants to kill herself, and explained how she would carry it out. She also explained how she would hurt her siblings. Jane tells me that this daughter has a history of similar behaviour. After the recent episode of the nine year old running out the front of the home and heading for the road, only stopped by a friend who happened to be arriving who tackled the girl to the ground, Jane sought help. 

As per her instructions from the support agencies, she called the Police. They said in a nutshell "What do you expect us to do? Call agency X or go to the emergency department of the hospital." Agency X also said "go to the hospital." The hospital admitted the daughter, but wanted her gone the next day with no other advice. After arguing and fighting Jane was able to take the daughter to another hospital in Perth. But they didn't want her either, because she wasn't displaying any problematic behaviour at that time. So home Jane went. But she didn't make it all the way home. Nine year old started threatening to open the car door and jump out on the freeway. So off to the nearest hospital, Fiona Stanley. And guess what. They don't want the daughter there any more either. Fair enough. They've got sick people to look after. So where do you take a suicidal nine year old who's threatening to hurt her siblings and herself? DCP will know. 

Nope. DCP said, and I quote because I heard the conversation, "That's up to you to talk to the hospital about."

"But I can't take my daughter home because it's unsafe, and the hospital says I can't leave her there. What do I do?" Jane asks. 

"That's up to you to talk to the hospital about," DCP says again. 

I'm sure you're a better parent than Jane. I'm sure you'd never make the life choices that would lead a person to this point. Good for you. 

But the fact of the matter is there are plenty of people like Jane living in our communities, and they struggle to navigate the complicated network of government departments and agencies. And some of these people don't fit our definitions of who qualifies for assistance.

They feel like they're being handballed each time they pick up the phone and ask for help.

I've done as much independent investigation as I can, viewed correspondence and court records, but as you can imagine DCP aren't too keen on speaking with the media about specific cases. I'm sure there's more than one side to the story, and I'm sure the individuals at all the different agencies are doing their best. Is Jane just someone who has failed to take responsibility for her own actions and needs to blame the "system" to make herself feel better, or is she someone who doesn't quite fit the description of a person who needs help, and hasn't said the magic words yet to get it? Is her case symptomatic of the disconnected age we live in where we can't even reach out to our neighbours or family and ask for help, and instead depend on the tax payer to fund an agency to solve our problems?

I don't know. But I keep meeting people who can't find the help they say they need, and they seem to be trying their best.

Geraldton City Band achieved an outstanding result of second place

Last weekend saw the Geraldton City Band travel to Perth to compete in the 2016 State Band Championships. This annual event is a competition for both brass and concert bands and also includes soloist sections. This year, the Geraldton City Band (GCB) entered in the C Grade Brass Band section against two Perth bands, Town of Victoria Park, and City of Perth, and achieved an outstanding result of second place. Town of Victoria Park took out first place with 168 points, with GCB only three points behind on 165. That score also earned GCB the Les Nisbett trophy for the highest aggregate points awarded to a country band over the whole competition. One of the band's members, Melanie Penny, also scored a fantastic mark of 92 for her solo performance in the Brass C grade solo section.

This year has seen a large increase in member numbers for GCB which saw them performing with thirty five members on stage. The band is fortunate to have several music teachers from local schools as members and in turn, they are encouraging their talented students to come and join in. The brass band allows them to experience yet another genre of music and exposes them to a mature community group setting. GCB also maintains a strong bond with the Morawa School Brass Band and have quite a few of their players sign up after moving to Geraldton.

The State competition is one event that the GCB endeavours to attend most years. It helps the band maintain a high standard which then flows through to all other engagements, and this recent achievement is certainly something for all of us in the City of Geraldton to be proud of.

The band rehearses on Wednesday evenings, so if you would like to come and join in or have a listen, please call Mary on 0417 910 045, for some further information.

State CCTV Strategy Infrastructure Fund

Greater Geraldton’s application for CCTV funding through the State CCTV Strategy Infrastructure Fund has been approved. 

The Liberal-National Government made an election commitment in 2013 to provide $5 million in funding to Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to install additional CCTV cameras in crime hotspots by way of a grant funding process.  

A specific grant application process was developed by the State CCTV Strategy Secretariat designed to ensure CCTV grants deliver infrastructure that addresses applicable offences, and based on technology consistent with the future requirements of the State CCTV Strategy.  

In November 2015, the Minister for Police approved the proposed two-stage application process for CCTV grants. This will see LGAs submit an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) and, for those applications approved by your office for progression, undertake further detailed work in a discrete Proposal of Works phase.  

CURRENT STATUS:

The EOI application period for the $5 million State CCTV Strategy Infrastructure Fund opened on Monday, 2 November 2015 and closed on Friday, 18 December 2015.  

A total of 60 applications were received from 52 different LGAs, with some submitting more than one application for funding, seeking an estimated $10.037 million in grant funding. A total of $1.26 million in co-funding was also offered by applicant LGAs across the total of all applications received.  

A State CCTV Strategy Infrastructure Fund Assessment Panel assessed the grant applications against the stated selection criteria. 

There are three categories of applications:

• applications that are recommended for immediate progression through to the Proposal of Works phase
• applications that may be progressed through to the Proposal of Works should additional funding become available
• applications that should not progress any further

PROPOSAL OF WORKS PHASE 

Unlike previous grant funding rounds administrated by WA Police, the State CCTV Strategy Infrastructure Fund is being administered in a two–part process, consisting of an initial Expression of Interest phase (followed by a more detailed Proposal of Works. 

Proposal of Works - Formal quotes on an agreed scope of works will be provided by LGA applicants - as opposed to the original EOI applications, could result in costs that are materially lower than the indicative funding figures initially quoted. Should this be the case, this ‘additional funding’ will become available from the initial grant pool and will be redirected to additional grant applications on the standby list – Attachment B. In this scenario, it should be noted these LGAs (Attachment B) will not be contacted until later in this financial year. Please note, that it is planned that all $5M grants will be allocated by the end of 2016. 

The State CCTV Strategy Secretariat will immediately work with the successful LGA applicants to develop a definitive cost and technology model for proposed projects.  

Confirmation of the cost of proposed projects will also be undertaken as part of the Proposal of Works. Given that some variation may have taken place as a result of recommendations by the State CCTV Strategy Secretariat, it is during the Proposal of Works phase that all applicants will secure formal quotes on the agreed scope of their project. It is expected this should also result in a lower cost to Government overall. 

Half of the project funding will be immediately paid to the LGA at the completion of this activity, with the balance to be paid at the completion of mandatory acquittal processes when installation has been fully completed by the LGA.

It’s time to plant your wildflowers!

It’s time to start planting your wildflowers!

Transform your yard with carpets of Everlastings this wildflower season.

The City of Greater Geraldton is urging local residents to take part in this year’s wildflower campaign by planting Everlastings in their gardens.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said it would be amazing to see gardens across Geraldton blooming with wildflowers.

“Last year the City ran a very successful campaign designed to attract tourists to the region to see our spectacular wildflowers,” he said.

“We promoted the region as a hub for wildflowers where people can come and discover some of the 12,000 species that are found in the Midwest and many local businesses reported an increase in business as a result of the campaign.”

“This year we are encouraging everyone to get on board and embrace our spectacular wildflowers. For those who would like to create their very our own wildflower spectacular the Geraldton Visitor Centre is selling packages of Everlasting seeds that can be planted in flower beds or pots.”

Now is the time to plant your wildflowers so they flower from late July to September during the wildflower season.

If you’re looking to plan your wildflower adventure in the Midwest you can find more information on the Visit Geraldton website at www.visitgeraldton.com.au

Big Sky 2016 reaches new heights

The 2016 Big Sky Readers & Writers Festival, held last weekend (20 to 22 May) hit new heights with events attracting approximately 1000 people.

The visiting writers and artists were unanimous in their praise of the Festival program and of Geraldton’s attractions.

Festival Director and Geraldton Library Manager Susan Smith said the special guests enjoyed an overnight stay on the Abrolhos before the events commenced.

“Nearly all of our guests were visiting the Islands for the first time and were amazed and inspired by their beauty and the environment. It was a great way to begin their Big Sky experience. 

“Many of our visiting artists spent Friday working with local school groups before the Festival opening on Friday night.

“Geraldton Universities Centre was our base for the Festival, providing a superb space for our workshops, break-out sessions and keynote address.

Susan said there were many highlights across the Festival but these were her top picks:

• Former concert pianist and more recently Geraldton pilot David Tong performing Chopin at the opening celebration at the Libraryon Friday night for 100 guests.
• Much-loved Aussie actor and writer Steve Bisley’s entertaining keynote address peppered with stories of his student days at NIDA with Mel ‘Gibbo’ Gibson and Judy Davis as well as anecdotes about his acting career.
• The moving session at the WA Museum Geraldton when author Rod Jones spoke with curator Kate Naughtin about his personal experience of forced adoptions within the current exhibition ‘Without Consent’.
• Steve Bisley, short story writer Susan Midalia and photographer Daniel Craig discussing their art forms with the theme ‘Capturing the fleeting moments of our lives’.
• The Great Debate with the controversial subject: Facebook I hate you - attracting lots of laughs as a local team pitched their arguments against visitors Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Loretta Hill and Grantlee Kieza.
• Seeing the amazing work of artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers who paints images on various media around the world – from entire buildings and huge walls to beautiful detailed illustrations.
• The Big Sky Feast at Salt Dish café where guests were served a sumptuous meal with accompanying wines while listening to anecdotes from Steve Bisley and Loretta Hill - a perfect way to escape the blustery weather.
• Sunday morning’s Q&A session when author Rosemary Sayer held her own with Steve Bisley, Rod Jones and poet Kevin Gillam.
• Poetry in the Pub at Bootenal Family Tavern, led by Kevin Gillam and Rosie Sitorus with many community members sharing their poems and enjoying live music.
• Eating a gorgeous lunch at Bentwood Olive Grove while listening to book readings and enjoying a surprise cello performance by Kevin Gillam.

Susan Smith said the 11th Big Sky Festival was only possible thanks to her dedicated staff, a team of wonderful volunteers, and funding and/or in-kind support from the City of Greater Geraldton, Department of Culture and the Arts and Regional Development and Royalties for Regions, writingWA, Lotterywest, Friends of the Geraldton Library, Geraldton Universities Centre, Ray White Geraldton, Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects, Incite Security, Coop Bookshop Edith Cowan University Mt Lawley, Zeewyk Pearl Apartments, Ocean Centre Hotel, Water Corporation, Department of Fisheries and WA Museum Geraldton.

Dates for next year’s Big Sky Festival will be announced in coming months.

A plea for help from BMX club following 3 successive break ins

Hi guys... I am the secretary for the Woorree Park BMX club.

We are needing the assistance of the public. Our club has been targeted and broken into 3 times in the last 13 days.

We hadn't gone public as not to draw too much attention to it but this last time they have taken all our medical supplies.

The first time they took all our food etc from freezers. The thieves are going to great lengths to do these break ins and damage is being done.

The public's help in notifying police if they see something suspicious after dark or even our club presidents number is on the fence.

We urge for anyone or everyone's help please. 😢

Regards, 

Jo. 

"I have an issue with Geraldton drivers" - Letter to the editor

I have an issue with Geraldton drivers, an issue that is probably shared by a large proportion of the people who live here. You see, on a regular basis I encounter the small minority of drivers that cannot seem to park their cars.

I don't know what it is that makes it so hard for some drivers to successfully place their vehicle inside two white lines. Or why some drivers are in such a rush to get wherever they are going that they cannot take the extra 60 seconds to reverse their car, straighten up and park in the centre of those two white lines.

I know this problem might seem insignificant, petty even but when I regularly have to climb over the back seat of my car to place my children in their child restraints because I cannot open the passenger door far enough to squeeze them in, the problem starts to wear on me.

Case in point (there was no way I could open my door wide enough to get my kids in the car without hitting the side of their car, I tried):



The issue is compounded by the fact that our carparks are on the small side and only one way. Sometimes you have no choice but to play the "reversing game" (where you go in and out and in and out and in and out...) in an attempt to get out of your own park without hitting anyone else's car. Sometimes you get lucky and can drive out through the empty park in front of you.

Unfortunately the law is somewhat ambiguous on the whole "parking correctly" thing but this excerpt from the Drive Safe Handbook stands out to me:

3.18 Parking To ‘park’ means to permit the vehicle to remain stationary whether the vehicle is attended or not - except for the purpose of avoiding conflict with other traffic, complying with another law, or picking up or setting down passengers or goods (for a maximum of 2 minutes). Before you park your vehicle, ask yourself:

* is it safe to park here;
* is it legal; and
* will it cause trouble to other road users.

Though I did find this information in the Road Traffic Code 2000 Reg 179 interesting as well:


Subject to sub regulation (2), a driver parking a vehicle on a length of carriageway, or in an area, on which parking bays are marked (whether or not a “park in bays only” sign applies) shall position the vehicle completely within a single bay. If a vehicle is too wide or long to fit completely within a single parking bay, the person stopping the vehicle shall park the vehicle within the minimum number of parking bays needed to park that vehicle.

Though I doubt they meant this when writing that regulation…


It would be muchly appreciated if people could take that extra 60 seconds, think about the people around them and park properly. 

From your local Annoyed Driver

- N. Thompson

Spotlight on Mid West Aquaculture at inaugural - Aquaculture Western Australia State Forum

The inaugural Aquaculture Western Australia State Forum to be held in Perth on Thursday, 26 May 2016 has had an overwhelming response with the Mid West Aquaculture Industry being featured.

The Forum is a collaboration between eight Regional Development Commissions, each of which identified aquaculture as a transformational economic growth opportunity in their respective Regional Investment Blueprints released over the last 12 months.

This follows the State Government’s landmark Statement of Commitment released in August 2015 to develop aquaculture in Western Australia.

Hosted with support from the Aquaculture Council of Western Australia and the Department of Fisheries, Forum attendees will learn from the experiences of existing commercial operators and investigate opportunities for the industry’s development in Western Australia. The event will conclude with a workshop that will inform an industry development strategy and identify priority areas for investment.

The Mid West and Pilbara Development Commissions are working on behalf of the Forum partners to manage the inaugural industry event.

Chairman of the Mid West Development Commission Murray Criddlesaid a state-wide strategic approach to aquaculture development was a smart move in a competitive market.

“The Forum is a great example of the Regional Development Portfolio working in partnership with industryto maximise economic outcomes for regional WA,” Mr Criddle said.

“To be competitive in the global market and provide the best return on investment we need to work together to make strategic investment decisions.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission Terry Hill said aquaculture offered an important economic diversification opportunity that would bring new skills, jobs and investment to the regions.

“With its pristine environment, disease-free status and research expertise, Western Australia is well-placed to develop a sector that can supply a major share of high-value seafood and other products to world markets,” Mr Hill said.”

The State Aquaculture Forum is presented by Western Australia’s Regional Development Commissions, in partnership with the Aquaculture Council of Western Australia and the Department of Fisheries.

New partnership for Land for Wildlife conservation program

The Department of Parks and Wildlife’s well-regarded Land for Wildlife conservation program is partnering with NRM WA to help participants manage their bushland for wildlife habitat.

Land for Wildlife is a voluntary scheme to encourage and assist private landholders to provide habitat for wildlife in bushland on their property.

There are currently 1941 registered landholders, with a total of 286,614 hectares of bushland being managed as wildlife habitat through the program.

Mr Jim Sharp, Director General Parks and Wildlife, said the collaboration with NRM WA regional organisations would benefit private land managers and the State’s biodiversity conservation.

“This agreement and partnership arrangements with the NRM organisations is an exciting development for private land conservation in Western Australia,” he said.

As a result of the agreement, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) will take on a leading role to deliver Land for Wildlife in the WA’s Northern Agricultural Region – encompassing 7.5 million hectares from Gingin to Kalbarri and east to Mullewa, Perenjori and Kalannie.

NACC CEO Richard McLellan said the organisation was excited by the new collaboration, and was looking forward to working with Parks and Wildlife.

“We are particularly looking forward to connecting with existing Land for Wildlife member land managers across the region, to maintain this important land stewardship program, and to introducing the scheme to new land managers,” he said.

“Our role in the partnership will be to provide field extension and expertise in land management support to landholders; community engagement; and information dissemination; as well as providing considerable local knowledge about land management practices and local biodiversity conservation.”

Mr Sharp said Parks and Wildlife, which has run Land for Wildlife since 1997, will continue to administer the program through coordination of property assessments, registering and supporting new participants and communications including the Western Wildlife newsletter.

Jim Sullivan, Chair NRM WA, said the services each NRM organisation will provide to Land for Wildlife members would be determined in coming months.

“It is anticipated that NRM bodies will work with landholders in each region, linking them into networks and local communications,” he said.

For more information or to become a participant, visit www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/landforwildlife

Mums and Downsizing Corporates Reap Coworking Benefits

Members of purpose coach Fleur Porter’s Incubators program at work in Pollinators’ coworking spaces. Pictured are Kym Duncan, Kate Tonkin, Fleur Porter, Carolyn Correll and Clara Harris.

Work-from-home mums and downsizing companies in Geraldton are reaping the benefits of coworking as a way of escaping the home office and adjusting to a downsizing economy.

Pollinators, which offers the state’s leading regional coworking premise, is experiencing an increase in interest from both sectors as they adjust to personal needs and economic fluctuations.

Pollinators Space Lead Angie West said coworking offered the idea blend of social interaction and professional work space that mums who usually worked from home were seeking.

“Working from home is great but there are times when we yearn for the opportunity to network, to work from a professional space, and to bring clients to corporate meeting rooms,” she said.

“It’s amazing the kind of magic that can happen when like-minded people come together and meet while making a coffee in the coworking kitchen – it’s what’s known as the watercooler effect.”

Mrs West said coworking was also proving an attractive alternative to companies downsizing in response to changing economic times.

“It means these companies can maintain a professional office space and essential services such as a boardroom and meeting spaces without the overheads of having their own premises,” she said.

“And of course there are the benefits in reducing overheads by using a shared office space.”

The graduates of Geraldton Purpose Coach Fleur Porter’s eight-week ‘Incubators’ program meet in the coworking spaces monthly to support, encourage and inspire each other.

"We're all solo business people who are working on our own so it's great to be able to come together for that feeling of community and to encourage and support each other," Ms Porter said.

"I formed the Incubators graduate group to have that sense of tribe or community so coworking provides a way for the people working locally to extend that and get together."

The coworking trend in Geraldton is part of an international movement towards coworking, with the number of coworking spaces increasing by 36 per cent worldwide, according to the Coworking Europe Conference in Milan.

The conference survey found there are around half a million people working in coworking spaces across the globe. 

ACDC joins CreativeHub

ACDC Chairman Brendan Penzer, committee members Lizzy Robinson and Peter Howard, Pollinators Chairman Paul Dyer, Pollinators Space Lead Angie West and Pollinators Board Member Natasha Colliver.

Pollinators’ new CreativeHub premises is transforming into the vibrant, multipurpose creative space that Pollinators have planned for, with the Arts and Cultural Development Council (ACDC) the latest venture to move into the West End CreativeHub premises at 189 Marine Tce.

The ACDC move marks a major transformation for the region’s peak arts organisation, which is not only moving premises but also revamping the range of services it offers to the Mid West arts community.

ACDC Chairman Brendan Penzer said the move marked exciting times for the organisation.

“The move to CreativeHub will mean we’re part of this really exciting creative space,” Mr Penzer said.

“We’ll have a dynamic and flexible new exhibition and workshop space, and we’ll be around fellow creatives, who also use CreativeHub.

“We’re going through a period of real renewal and this move is one part of our transformation.

“It’s exciting times here at ACDC and we can’t wait to really revitalise the arts community from this new venue.”

Pollinators Space Lead Angie West said the ACDC move to CreativeHub married perfectly with Pollinators’ vision of offering a collaborative space for makers and creators to co-locate in a maker space.

“ACDC joins The Comedy Emporium and Headspace Geraldton as arts and youth services working from the same venue,” Mrs West said.

“We’ve also got plans for the entire top floor of the CreativeHub building located next door to be transformed into a ‘MakerSpace’ for smaller-scale creative ventures that will be able to link in with ACDC for exhibition space and workshops in the future.

“With the gorgeous artwork on the front of the building, and these exciting creative ventures inside, there’s a real sense of vibrancy, innovation and excitement – which is exactly what Pollinators had hoped for. 

"Watch this space for more developments at the CreativeHub.” The CreativeHub is supported by Panaceum Group and St John of God Hospital. ACDC is funded by the City of Greater Geraldton and Country Arts WA.

Coastal voices uniting in Geraldton

Sorting through beach wrack on Geraldton's coast.

Geraldton beach lovers are being called on to express their interest in joining a Geraldton-wide coastcare group.

The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) is seeking to facilitate the establishment of the new group as well as bring together the number of dedicated coastcare groups already working on different sections of the Geraldton coastline, such as Drummonds Cove, Sunset Beach, Bluff Point and Point Moore.

The aim of this project is to establish a new umbrella coast care group across Geraldton that includes representatives from the existing groups and focuses on coastal issues that affect the entire Geraldton coast.

Geraldton’s coast is not only an important recreational asset for the community but it is also a very important ecosystem that requires community protection.

NACC Coastal and Marine Program Coordinator Dr Mic Payne said: “Most Geraldton residents feel a strong connection to their coast; it helps define our community and is a place where we go to relax.This new group will give local residents the capacity to become directly involved in managing this precious asset.”

Projects that the new group might undertake to help protect this environment include revegetating degraded dunes, managing pedestrian and off-road vehicle impacts, various community monitoring projects, controlling invasive weed species such as African Boxthorn and liaising with authorities on coastal erosion issues.

Dr Mic Payne said the group would provide more support for those wanting to volunteer their time in protecting the Geraldton coastline.

“Many local Coastcare groups are feeling the pressure of increasing impacts on coastal ecosystem whilst experiencing decreased Coastcare group membership. I hope that a broad membership base for this new group will help spread the workload and allow for frequent turn-over of office bearers to avoid burn-out,” he said.

The project is supported by the NACC and the City of Greater Geraldton, through funding from the the Department of Planning’s Coastwest Grants Program and the Australian Governments National Landcare Programme.

The inaugural meeting of the new group is planned for June this year.

iTunes tax payment scam

In the latest version of the phone scammers pretending to be the ATO, you will be asked to pay a tax debt via iTunes cards.

WA ScamNet has a copy of a similar voice message used in a previous scam. 

On 6 May 2016 a 52-year-old Mandurah woman reported to Consumer Protection that she had bought about $7,000 worth of iTunes cards to pay phone scammers. 

On 9 May 2016 a Melbourne grandmother told 9NEWS a similar story after losing $5000 on iTunes gift cards.

From time to time the ATO may contact you by phone, but you should be wary of unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from the ATO and offering you a tax refund or aggressively demanding a payment.

Our advice hang up or ignore the message. Do not call these scammers back. 

If you are unsure, contact the ATO directly on 1800 008 540.

More information and advice about this scam is available on WA ScamNet.

Budding Filmmakers in Action

Kids at Leaning Tree learn the art of filmmaking as part of the Scinapse’s SciFilms workshops.

Budding filmmakers have their creations on YouTube after learning the art of filmmaking at Scinapse's SciFilm workshops on April 29 and 30.

A group of students at Learning Tree school, and a group of adults at Pollinators’ CityHive, learned how to use their mobile devices to capture three-minute science-related stories, then edit them and prepare them for the big screen.

The top 15 shortlisted films from across the state will be screened on cinemas as part of Inspiring Australia's SciFilms competition, run in partnership with Film Harvest. Audiences will then vote live for their favourite.

Cash prizes will be presented for Judge's Choice and People's Choice.

You can view their creations on YouTube at https://youtu.be/kJVcb7KKWhc.

Scinapse chairperson Emma Jackson said the workshops were a fun and hands on way to learn how to tell a

science story, and share that in a visually interesting way to others.

She said the kids at Leaning Tree were particularly interested in learning the techniques of filmmaking using the simple story of washing hands.

"We got some great feedback, especially from the kids who got right into the subject - they couldn't believe that 95 percent of people don't wash their hands properly," Ms Jackson said.

Filmmakers can still submit three-minute films for the competition, with entries closing on July 22.

For more information on the SciFilm competition, visit the website www.scifilm.com.au.

Port levy scrapped after it generated double what it was intended for initially

Not sure who does the accounting for the state government. But a levy at Geraldton's port that was put in place to repay a $107 million loan in 2003, actually generated $210 million, and only reduced the loan by $40 million. 

The government has decided the debt is to be cleared and the levy scrapped, following letters from Nationals member MLC Paul Brown. 

Not everyone is happy with the levy being scrapped though. 

Click here to read full story. 

Attorney General contacts the Prisoner Review Board regarding Greenough Axe Murderer

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has welcomed news that the Attorney General has sent forward his correspondence regarding the sentence review of Greenough Axe Murderer, William Patrick Mitchell, to the Prisoners Review Board.

“I am very pleased that the Attorney General has responded to my letter and to the petition I presented to the Legislative Assembly – which contained 3000 signatures – this way.

“By bringing it to the attention of the Board he is ensuring that they give consideration to the concern of the Geraldton community, when they review Mr Mitchell’s sentence.

“It is my hope that the Board also take into consideration the initial sentencing of Mr Mitchell and that decision that he should never be released from prison,” said Mr Blayney.