A warning about Pacific Mobile Phones scam

Consumer Protection is warning consumers and the publications industry not to deal with Pacific Mobile Phones – a bogus business offering smartphones, tablets and cameras at ‘unbeatable prices’.

Since June 2015, consumers and advertising or publishing professionals have reported concerns to WA ScamNet about Pacific Mobile Phones. Among them was a Perth university student who paid $700 for an iPhone 6 that never arrived.

Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection Gary Newcombe says an investigation has shown obvious signs of fraudsters in action.

“Pacific Mobile Phones is a business name registered in New South Wales but Consumer Protection has spoken with the director who advised that it is no longer an active business and he has satisfied us that recent activity is nothing to do with him.

“Advertisements offering mobile phones and other electronic devices for sale have appeared in magazines and newspapers in Western Australia. Publishing and distribution companies Australia-wide have been asked to produce and disseminate thousands of flyers and glossy brochures. We understand stolen credit cards were used to pay in each instance and that communication was via email.

“Attempts to contact whoever is behind the current Pacific Mobile Phones have uncovered several other irregularities in the way the business is run including:

• no true physical premises despite the use of NSW and UK addresses;
• phone numbers re-routed overseas;
• questionable email addresses and email communication;
• seeking payment by wire transfer (MoneyGram); and
• false claims of affiliation with a known Queensland mobile phone company.”

Anyone who has paid money to Pacific Mobile Phones and is waiting for their purchase should contact WA ScamNet by calling 1300 30 40 54 or emailing consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au.

Anyone who sees advertisements for Pacific Mobile Phones in magazines, newspapers or via a brochure in their letterbox should not respond and report the advertisement to the publisher.

Innovative Vouchers Program – Round 2

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has welcomed the announcement of Round 2 of the Government’s Innovative Vouchers Program, by Commerce Minister Michael Mischin. Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with a great idea and plenty of drive can apply for up to $20,000. 

“The first round generated lots of interest and I’m hoping that the second round will be equally embraced,” said Ian Blayney. 

”This funding will help businesses access professional skills, services or knowledge to advance their innovation or commercialise activity in the State. 

“The program is designed to encourage industry-led innovation, which will increase research and development investment into WA and in turn, create economic and employment opportunities,” he said. 

About 25 vouchers were awarded during round one this year, totalling $450,000 to help small-to-medium enterprises. 

Successful applicants can use the funds for research and development, product development, technology transfer, intellectual property or commercialisation support services. 

Minister Mischin said the State Government actively supported entrepreneurialism and innovation through a range of successful programs, services and purpose-built facilities, such as the WA Innovator of the Year program, Innovation Centre of WA, Industry Facilitation and Support Program and Medical Research Commercialisation Fund.  

Mr Blayney agrees that these programs, services and facilities underpin the broader State approach to helping translate innovation into successfully commercialised goods and services with specialised competitive advantages for world markets.   

“They support the development of internationally competitive industry sectors, creating new economic opportunities and adjusting to fundamental global changes.”

State Government commitment a positive step in securing growth of the Aquaculture Industry in the Mid West

The Mid West Development Commission (MWDC) has welcomed the Statement of Commitment for Aquaculture by the State Government as a positive step in realising the aspiration for the industry’s future growth in the Mid West.

MWDC Chair the Hon Murray Criddle said the Mid West can play a major role in Western Australia’s potentially significant aquaculture industry.

“The Abrolhos Islands play host to a pearl industry along with coral and live rock farming and has potential for marine finfish, contributing to the diversity of aquaculture activities in the State,” Mr Criddle said.

“The Mid West region has demonstrated it can produce safe, high quality and sustainable seafood and aquatic food products and pearls.

 “The greatest opportunity is for marine finfish aquaculture in the surrounding waters in Geraldton and the Abrolhos Islands.  Such an industry will complement and further develop Geraldton’s sound marine services base. 

“Geraldton has long been a fishing town and has a vast array of skills that can be harnessed and adapted to support a thriving aquaculture industry.

“The Commission has been working on the aquaculture industry in the region for a number of years and is currently working with local industry to trial Yellowtail Kingfish in the Mid West.  A second proof of concept trial, supported by Royalties for Regions through the Mid West Investment Plan is scheduled to commence late 2015.  It is anticipated that this will be the cornerstone to further development of industry in the region,” he said.

Mr Criddle also commented that Aquaculture was a broad industry involving many disciplines that needed to be accompanied by a high level of expertise, skills and scientific rigour. 

“The Batavia Coast Marine Institute together with the private sector in Geraldton has played a major role in undertaking research for the industry through our trials.  This demonstrates that an opportunity for training groups exists to align their courses and outcomes for students to help provide a skilled work force. 

“The future benefits to the Mid West could be significant, from direct employment through to supporting of local service providers and businesses through the procurement of goods and services from engineering and maintenance services right through to fuel and feed supply. 

“The announcement by the Premier will also inspire confidence both to the industry participants and potential investors, Mr Criddle said.

Local Mid West industry representative Erica Starling also supports the announcement. 

“A key barrier to developing aquaculture in WA has always been access to long term, patient capital. As part of that investment process, the fundamentals of security of tenure and access to farm water are often the first points analysed,” Ms Starling said.

“The State Government’s commitment to the creation of aquaculture zones and areas of land that are suitable for and approved for aquaculture, along with longer term licences will assist in overcoming that hurdle,”

“Streamlining of our regulatory framework will allow for more certainty in investment planning.   Our community needs to know and has a right to expect that aquaculture and its products are produced in an environmentally sound and responsible manner.  A streamlined regulatory framework that is transparent and robust will offer confidence to the community and industry alike,” she said.

Airport welcomes lounge extension

Geraldton Airport’s new departures lounge is officially open.

The City of Greater Geraldton Mayor today officially opened the Geraldton Airport Terminal Extension with the addition of a new departures lounge.

Initiated and financed by the City of Greater Geraldton, the new departures lounge is meeting the growing needs and demands of the airport.

The $2.23 million project has been funded entirely by the City via revenue generated by the airport.                               

Statistics show that the number of passengers has significantly grown in the last decade. In the 2005-06 financial year passenger movements sat at just over 88,000, the 2014-15 financial year saw 119,791 passenger movements with the addition of 11,900 charter passengers.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the new extension was catering for the needs of the airport and its passengers.

“Geraldton is a regional capital and it is important for us to cater for people coming in and out of the region,” he said.

“We have both Virgin and Qantas operating out of our airport and we need a departure lounge with capacity for up to 200 people.”

Passengers in the new lounge will enjoy features including toilet facilities, a small café, an internet nook as well as digital device recharge points. Separate to the extension, the City has also financed the construction of new short term and long term carparks to provide for future needs.

“We continue to see a steady influx of over 400 homes built every year in Geraldton and with the high value of mining within 500km of Geraldton, growth is inevitable,” Mayor Carpenter said.

“This extension and future extensions are necessary for the needs of our airport in the future.

“We undertook this terminal extension without grant assistance and we have plans for further extensions.”

The City has plans to renew the pavement of the main runway, extending the runway to meet ongoing regional growth needs, as recognised in the Mid West Blueprint.

The extension of the airport commenced in January 2015 and was completed in March this year. Architecture was completed by Eastman Poletti Sherwood and Crothers Construction was awarded the building contract.

Are you Crafty? Grab a Bargain This Weekend @ Scrapbooking Geraldton!

Scrapbooking in Geraldton is having a massive clearance sale! 

Get up to 80% off clearance stock.

• Ink Pads
• Papers
• Stickers
• DIY home décor items
• Kits
• Flowers
• Scrapbooks
• Paints
• Mixed Media
• Braids
• Canvasses
• Heaps more! 

The sale is on this weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (9am til 1). 

Come in and see us at 11/65 Chapman Road (in the Old Railway building) 

Have a question? Give us a call on 0408 913684 

http://scrapbookingingeraldton.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/Scrapbookingingeraldton

Colourful mural depicts strength and struggle

Tammy Wykes, Rahai Gray and Nykita McNeair start work on the Radio Theatre mural at Yanay Yanma Hall at Beachlands earlier this year.

“Just a minute, I’ve got something to say – and I want you all to listen.”

These words of the late Aboriginal Elder, Alice Nannup, will be immortalised (for the foreseeable future anyway) on the front of the Old Radio Theatre on Marine Terrace, Geraldton.

In February of this year, Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation (BACAC) held a ‘come yarn with us’ community consultation about the City of Greater Geraldton’s City Vibrancy strategy.

The City funded the project for a mural to be painted on the front of the building and Bundiyarra Board Member Bianca McNeair gathered together a group of enthusiastic people and got to work.

“This was such a great opportunity,” said Ms McNeair, “this project is about breaking down the walls and making Aboriginal people visible.

“And it’s also about preserving some of our stories.”

The story depicted in this mural is very relevant to this location as it tells of the time Elder Joan Gray’s mother, Alice Nannup, stood up in front of the audience at the Radio Theatre in the 1950s - when Joan was about 10 years old - and confronted them about racist taunts towards her children.

“It is a significant example of Aboriginal struggle and strength and is directly linked to the site of the mural,” said Ms McNeair.

With permission from Joan Gray (daughter of Alice Nannup) an excerpt from the book When the Pelican Laughed, by Alice Nannup was presented as a reference to this event.

Five generations are represented on the mural and four generations worked on it. The design includes images of Alice Nannup and her family, including great granddaughter Rahni Gray and great-great granddaughter Isabelle. The mural will tie five generations of Alice Nannup’s family together to show the connection of strength this one event has brought through to the present day family and community.

Along with text from the event at the Radio Theatre, the mural will include local flowers and Aboriginal Art designs.

Artists for the Mural include Joan Gray, Rahni Gray, Tammy Wykes, Diane Gray, Isabelle Gray and Nykita McNeair.

“The Bundiyarra City Vibrancy Mural Committee and artists are very excited about the project and look forward to adding to the current vibrant murals along Marine Terrace, and thank the City of Greater Geraldton for this wonderful opportunity,” Ms McNeair said.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the City was pleased to partner with Bundiyarra on this project.

“The City has invested considerable time and resources into the vibrancy strategy which is already resulting in both historic and positive artistic outcomes for the community,” he said.

“The City has in place a Reconciliation Action Plan which encourages cooperation with Aboriginal people and the wider community and projects like these fit this mould perfectly.”

The community is invited to see the mural panels revealed on Saturday 8 August between 12 and 1pm and good, old fashioned popcorn will delight all those who make it along.

Canine Parvovirus in Rangeway, Utakarra and Karloo area

Over the past few weeks there have been a number of Parvovirus cases in dogs around the Rangeway, Utakarra and Karloo area and in the Geraldton Dog Facility has also had one case.

Clinical signs of canine parvovirus include fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhoea, which is often bloody with a very distinct odour.  Left untreated the animal will die from its symptoms.

Dog owners are urged to vaccinate their dogs and keep them away from other animals till the vaccination takes effect.

The Quick Step Revived

Waltz your way into a coastal project with this new grants program.

The Coastal Quick Step grants, introduced by NACC for the first time this year, have been designed for community projects which can be completed within six months.

The grants have been designed to service community groups for smaller scale, one-off projects costing up to $1000 and will be available throughout the year.

NACC Coastal and Marine Program Coordinator Dr Mic Payne said the Quick Step Grants would help fund coastal management activities and enhance community skills and knowledge in rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of the Northern Agricultural Region’s coastline.

“The two-tiered grant structure is designed to be flexible and to meet the needs of the community as it is solely for community groups,” he said.

“We look forward to a range of quality projects that continue to improve the management of our coast as well as complement the good work being achieved through similar grant programs such as Coastwest.”

In 2014, coastal grants were distributed across a variety of projects, such as the installation of interpretive signage at Guilderton, workshops on seed propagation and rehabilitation of coastal vegetation in Geraldton, Dongara and Lancelin.

The coastal grants program is part of the Coastal and Marine Program that NACC is delivering on behalf of the Australian Government as part of the National Landcare Program.

In line with the Coastal Quick Step grants, round seven of NACC’s Coastal Community Grants program is now also open.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for larger projects for organisations dedicated to improving the management of the region’s unique coastal environment.

The grants program enables community groups, local governments and other eligible groups such as educational institutions and not-for-profit organisations to get involved with helping revive and restore their local environment.

Applications close Friday 11 September 2015

Foreshore sea container café approved by Council

An application to open a transportable sea container café on the Foreshore that will activate the area was approved by Council this week.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the transportable café, cladded and roofed to resemble a beach shack, will have a positive impact on the entire Foreshore and CBD.

“To attract more people to the CBD and Foreshore you need a range of activities and amenities. The temporary sea container café, which will be located near the Foreshore Drive/Forrest Street intersection, will provide amenities in the area which residents and visitors alike have said would greatly enhance their Foreshore experience,” Mayor Carpenter said.

“The sea container café provides the essential third node of amenity and activity on the Foreshore that was identified more than 12 years ago during the design and development stage of the Foreshore Revitalisation Project. The other nodes include the West End where the Multi User Facility and Youth Precinct are currently being constructed and the middle portion of the Foreshore where the Dome Café is located.”

Activities and amenities on the Foreshore are also essential in attracting tourists to the City.

“The Foreshore is the jewel in our City’s crown and is absolutely instrumental in convincing tourists to stop at our City and even make the decision to stay in Geraldton.  It’s been our point of difference in comparison with other coastal towns and cities and our Council is keen to see brought to its full potential,” Mayor Carpenter said.

The side opening sea container café, which will be alfresco focused, will be provided with a three year lease for an 8m x 6m (48m2) parcel of land that comprises of a 24m2 sea container with concrete tie downs and 24m2 veranda containing universal access. It will provide some good temporary amenity to the area until the upcoming development of the Batavia Coast Marina, Stage 2 by the Public Transport Authority are completed in forthcoming years. 

The installation and fitting out of the sea container, construction and maintenance of the timber deck/universal access, the supply of tables and chairs and all costs related to the installation and connection of utility services for the leased area are the responsibility of the café owner.

Male Charged with Firearm Offences

It will be alleged at about 9am on Wednesday 29 July 2015, police attended a residence in Deepdale in regards to another matter.

Whilst in attendance, it will be alleged, police located an unlicensed .22 calibre air rifle.

The 31 year old man was charged with failing to ensure safe keeping of a firearm and possessing an unlicensed firearm.

He will face Geraldton Magistrates Court at a later date.

Youths Charged with Property Offences

At about 1.00am on Sunday 26 July 2015 it will be alleged, a group of youths attended an address on Frederick Street, Bluff Point and entered the premises, stealing a set of car keys.

As a result, the vehicle was stolen from the premises and driven to Spalding where another male youth was approached and advised the vehicle had been stolen. That male then drove in company with the others around the streets of Spalding, Wonthella and Rangeway in the stolen vehicle.

At about 9:20pm that night, the stolen vehicle was refuelled at a service station in Wonthella and subsequently left without paying.

Police conducted inquiries and on Wednesday 29 July 2015 several youths were arrested.

A 13 year old male from Spalding was charged with aggravated burglary, steal motor vehicle and 2 x stealing and a another 13 year old male from Spalding has been charged with steal motor vehicle and stealing. They will both appear before Geraldton Children’s Court on 11 August 2015.

A 14 year old male from Spalding has been charged with steal motor vehicle and stealing and will appear before Geraldton Children’s Court on 4 August 2015.

On Thursday 30 July 2015, a 16 year old male from Bluff Point was arrested and charged with Aggravated Burglary, Stealing, Steal Motor Vehicle, No drivers licence and breach of bail.

He was remanded in custody and will appear before Geraldton Children’s Court this morning,.

Premier festival to hit Geraldton shores

Festivals on the Foreshore is Geraldton’s newest premier event which will see a collaboration with the City of Greater Geraldton, Geraldton’s ever-popular Sunshine Festival and G-Fest, the only cutting edge Fringe festival in regional WA, in a new exciting waterfront location.

From October 2 through to October 11, the Geraldton Foreshore will be a sea of people, fun, colour and entertainment for the whole family!

Think awesome activities for the kids and family meets night happenings of fire twirlers and sword swallowing and the infamous De Parel Spiegeltent.

Set in a fabulous new waterfront location, the Spiegeltent offers a magical venue for intimate contemporary arts performances.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the festival was a culmination of two of the City’s most popular events and the aim is to showcase the diversity and vibrancy of our region.

“We want to build capacity, pool our efforts, collaborate and create an event that will attract people to the Mid West region during the school holiday period,” he said.

“We plan to have something for everyone from the festival parade, children’s activities and workshops, contemporary arts performance, garden tours, art exhibition, water activities, music, astronomy, art markets, circus acts, a wide selection of food and drink and heaps more.

“We encourage everyone to invite their friends and family down to the event whether they are locals or from out of town.”

The ten-day event will be split into ‘sunshine’ activities and ‘moonlight’ activities to fit in with both the previous targets of the Sunshine Festival and G-Fest.

Sunshine activities will have a specified and increased focus on children and family activities while the moonlight activities will still be attractive to families but will also include some edgy adult-only activities.

Just one of the huge drawcards for the event will be the De Parel Spiegeltent. Purchased by Lotterywest as an asset for the entire State, this Belgian 'mirror tent' was built in Europe during the Art Deco era, and is beautifully decked out with velvet and brass booths, parquet floors, stained glass windows and thousands of reflecting mirrored surfaces. It dazzles and delights. Truly sensational. 

Renowned entertainer and singer Mojo Juju will be one of the headline acts for the event, and award-winning Aboriginal songstress Emma Donovan will bring her big soul sound home to her father's country for the first time.

Colourful raucous band Junkadelic will be performing, roving and offer a masterclass for budding performance musicians. Fringeworld winning stars Natural Wings Dance Theatre will lead a fabulous circus line-up with their show 'Tandem', while Cougar Morrison, 'the love child of David Bowie and Edith Piaf' returns from rave seasons at Melbourne and Sydney Fringe. 

Festival Director of G-Fest, Raina Savage, said they aimed to up the ante this year.

“Moving our fabulous Spiegeltent and Moonlight Pleasure Garden to the Foreshore to create an atmospheric playground of delight is just one of the big changes we’ve made,” she said.

“We have an amazing line-up, showcasing some of Australia's best music and most outrageous fringe arts performers; really living up to our motto of offering something to delight and offend just about everyone."

Sunshine Festival Director, Yvonne Marsden, said the team are very excited about the new waterfront location.

“This means the Sunshine Parade will start at QEII Seniors Centre, walk down Durlacher to the Foreshore, and it will be joined with the pet parade to add more colour and involvement,” she said.

“The theme this year is Sunshine – so we’re encouraging people and their pets to be dressed in bright yellows and this will take place on Sunday, 4 October at 2pm.

“Scitech will be there offering great hands on experiments and there will be many children’s workshops on offer, from cartooning to circus skills. Triple JJJ’s the Set List will also have an awesome band for youth.”

There will be music workshops, Jump and Bump, children’s workshops, the Toll Truck Pull and the Iluka Sunshine Parade plus a lot more.

A detailed program and more information will be released in the near future. Watch this space!

There will be heaps of entertainment for youth including a variety of workshops.

The G-Fest component of the Festival have said they will up the ante this year with plenty of ‘moonlight’ activities.

The Foreshore will be filled with colour, music and fun as many different acts hit the stage.

Just one of the huge drawcards for the event will be the very popular De Parel Spiegeltent.

Astronomy events will also be part of the new Festival.

The Festival Parade will be one of the events to delight the whole family.

Mastering the art of puppetry, papermaking and sculpture

A giant puppet that Kalbarri residents helped make and operate under the guidance of a professional artist at last year’s Kalbarri Zest Festival.

Kalbarri visitors and residents are invited to try their hand at creating puppets, paper, origami and sand sculptures in the lead up to the Kalbarri Zest Festival on September 19 and 20.

Following the extremely popular puppet making workshops held in the lead up to last year’s Zest Festival, professional artist Karen Hethey will return to Kalbarri to run workshops teaching adults and kids how to construct and operate Japanese Bunraku puppets.

She will operate a ‘drop-in’ workshop for people of all ages between August 15 and September 18, at the old St John Ambulance Sub Centre building on Kaiber Street.

Interested people should try to arrive for the first session at 10am on August 15.

Ms Hethey will also be calling for about 15 volunteer puppeteers to learn the art of operating the puppets in preparation for their use in the Zest Festival’s Chamber of Rhetoric performance on Saturday September 19.

The performance will bring together music, dance, acting and poetry to create a mesmerising performance at sunset in the glow of a giant bonfire on Chinaman’s Beach.

Zest Festival director Rebecca Millar said the puppetry workshops and performance at last year’s festival had captured the hearts of the township.

“These workshops were just amazing – not only for the way we learnt how to make these incredible and enormous puppets but also for the way they brought people together in a really informal setting.

“It was just beautiful to watch young and old and the impromptu conversations that unfolded as these people worked side by side on their craft.

“And then, to see the puppets come to life at the performance was spellbinding.”

In other activitiesartist Marianne Penberthy will conduct a papermaking workshop for interested residents at Kalbarri’s Art and Craft Centre on August 15 from 1pm to 4pm.

In addition, another artist, Marina Baker, is calling for volunteers to learn the art of sand sculpting at 10am on Wednesday September 16.

She will enlist locals to help her create a giant Buddha sand sculpture for show at the Zest Festival. On the festival weekend, festival-goers will be able to witness the sculpture while watching an attendant gracefully rake the sand.

Festival goers will also have the chance to view large origami sculptures up to one metre high, situated on the Kalbarri foreshore. Some of the sculptures will have been dissembled, in the hope of enticing the brave and patient to return them to form.

Other festival weekend cultural activities will include making theatre masks, flying box kites, learning tea ceremonies, and reading calligraphy and poems.

This year’s Zest Festival focuses on the cultures of China and Japan in the fourth year of a five-year festival commemorating the 300th anniversary of the sinking of the Dutch East India merchant ship the Zuytdorp on the cliffs north of Kalbarri.

The festival is funded by the Community Arts Network WA, Catalyst Community Arts Fund and the State Government through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Scheme, which is jointly funded by Royalties for Regions.

The Zest Festival is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

For more information visit the website www.zestfest.com.au.

Its All Sorted presents Ladies indulgence for a good cause

Ladies it’s time to bring our your favourite cocktail dress and gather the girls for a good time and a good cause. The annual Ladies Indulgence Evening is back and will be held on Saturday 22 August 2015 at a very exciting, very exclusive new venue.

“We just can’t wait for it to be here already! With a vintage theme and this awesome venue, it’s going to be the best one yet” says local Event Management company Its All Sorted’s Emma Howell.

The 2015 Ladies Indulgence Evening will be held in the usually unnoticed 149 Marine Terrace building. Next to the antique pop up store on the corner of Marine Terrace and Cathedral Avenue, is an unobtrusive door ­ through which is a beautiful old building full of gorgeous rooms, topped off with a dance hall overlooking Champion Bay.

“This year we’ve added the event into the Good Fun section of the Goodness Festival, so we’re lucky enough to have a bunch of generous locals willing to help us get in and give the building a spruce up before we move in for the week”, explains Howell.

Once it’s all dressed up, local ladies will be invited to join in for an evening of glamour, indulgence, entertainment and fundraising. A welcome drink on arrival served by handsome waiters, Josh Phillips serenading the ladies throughout the evening, a well stocked bar, gourmet canapes and gifts on hand; what more could you ask for a night out?

How about a handful of local product and service showcases ­ with things like jewellery, candles, beauty therapy, skin consultations, romance products and more; on display and on sale. Plus a selection of these up for grabs in the raffles and door prizes. Topped off by the fact that all of the proceeds go to a number of local charities, including the Women's Health Resource Centre, Chrysalis Support Services and Soroptomist International, who will also be on display on the night.

“Last year we raised over $4000 at the Ladies Indulgence Evening. We’d love to top that so we can gift these three crucial charities more than $1500 each”, says Howell. “All of the Community Events that we run, like this one, are possible thanks to the generous support of our major sponsors; the Abrolhos Group and Dr Kim Pedlow. Without them we couldn’t keep giving, so why not come along and give back too?”

For just $70 you can be part of this exciting evening and spoil yourself and your friends. Head to www.itsallsorted.com.au for tickets before they run out. 

Sleep In Your Car 2015

Dozens to Sleep in Their Cars for the Homeless 

Fusion Australia will be hosting ‘Sleep in Your Car 2015’ in August to raise awareness and funds for homelessness in Australia.

Held during or just after Homelessness Prevention Week, the event hopes to create understanding of the plight of those living without a home by having participants experience homelessness first hand.

In Geraldton on August 15 from 7pm participants will spend the night sleeping in their cars at 225 Lester Ave.

There are over a hundred thousand people who are homeless every night in Australia - 48% of these are under 25 years old. ‘Sleep In Your Car’ aims to raise funds and increase awareness about the homeless.

For the first time, Fusion, in partnership with GRC and GRCEC, will run the event in Geraldton “We are so excited about the opportunity for people to sleep out and make a real difference for the thousands of people that don’t have a home or a bed tonight,” said event organiser Alison Hilton.

So far 14 individuals have volunteered to give up their bed and sleep rough on August 15. The Geraldton team hopes to have 30 participants sleeping outand to raise at least $3000 from this local event.  Money raised supports Fusion’s homelessness programs, GRC (Geraldton Resource Centre) and GRCEC (Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre).

Activities on the night will include games, a sausage sizzleand the sharing of information about homelessnessin the Midwest and beyond. 

Participants over 18 raise a minimum of $100(under 18 raise a minimum of $50). The reason for this minimum is that we want people to do this that are committed to raising funds and creating awareness for homelessness.Fusion is running the event nationwide, with people participating in at least nine different locations.

For further information or to register, visit http://www.sleepinyourcar.com.au or call 0423 895 979.

New country of origin food labels in Durack

Consumers in Durack and across Australia will soon benefit from clearer, simpler information about where food products come from.

Member for Durack Melissa Price has worked on improving food labelling on the Agriculture Standing Committee’s food labelling inquiry, conducted last year.

Ms Price said new country of origin food labels will begin to appear on supermarket shelves later this year.

“I’m proud that work we’ve done has led to an improved food labelling system in Australia,” Ms Price said.

“It is important to ensure consumers have the information they need to make informed choices about the products they buy.”

In February, the Government established a review of Australia’s Country of Origin Labelling laws.

The Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane and Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce unveiled the changes on Tuesday.

Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said the new food labelling system will show consumers where products are made, grown or packaged.

“Foods processed locally will have a new label which includes the familiar green and gold kangaroo and triangle icon, with a bar chart showing what proportion of the ingredients are from Australia,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“This will include, for example, ‘Made in Australia from 100% Australian ingredients’, ‘Packed in Australia, Made in Canada’ and ‘Made in Australia from Australian carrots and French peas’”.

Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce said companies will be encouraged to provide additional information on their labels such as naming the origin of a number of key ingredients.

“The green and gold triangle design was the overwhelming preference of more than 17,800 respondents to the Government’s food labelling community survey,” Mr Joyce said.

“The new labels will be easy for shoppers to identify. Consumers will no longer have to search for the country of origin information hidden in small print.”

Consumers in Durack and across Australia will be able to make a quick comparison of products on the shelves. Digital options are also being developed so consumers who want more detailed information can get it.

These reforms will also clarify the definition of ‘made in’ Australia. Importing ingredients and simply slicing them will no longer qualify for a ‘made in’ claim.

Under the new scheme, if product is imported into Australia and then re-packed, the label will identify where the item came from.

The Commonwealth Government will continue to work with the States and Territories, whose agreement is required to roll out the new labels.

Ms Price said an initial voluntary take-up of the country of origin food labels will mean shoppers across Australia including in Durack should see changes on the shelves later this year.

“The mandatory rollout will commence in 2016, providing manufacturers with time to implement the new scheme,” Durack said.

“I encourage all those interested in further information on country of origin labelling to visit industry.gov.au/cool.” 

New Durack managing director appointed

The State Government has appointed Bill Swetman as the new managing director of the Durack Institute of Technology.

Training and Workforce Development Minister Liza Harvey said Mr Swetman had a distinguished career in the training sector and would bring a wealth of knowledge and ability to the position.

"Mr Swetman has a strong track record in training and I look forward to seeing the impact he has on the Durack Institute of Technology in his new role," Mrs Harvey said.

The Minister said Bill Swetman had been working in the training sector for decades starting out his career as the lecturer in charge at the institute formally known as West Pilbara College of TAFE.

Mrs Harvey said Mr Swetman would be leading a very good organisation.

"The Durack Institute of Technology is an award-winning training provider, equipping thousands of West Australians with the best skills to get a job in the industries driving our economy," she said.

Durack Institute of Technology is the major provider of vocational education and training in the Mid-West, Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia.

The Durack Institute of Technology provides training across an area of more than 640,000 square kilometres from the coast to the desert.

The institute has five campuses located at Geraldton, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Wiluna and the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute (a specialist campus located in Geraldton).

Geraldton Crisis Accommodation grant welcome

Nationals MP Hon Paul Brown MLC Member for the Agricultural Region has welcomed today’s official announcement from the Housing Minister, Colin Holt that he has approved a $500,000 grant for an eight-bedroom crisis accommodation project in the Geraldton locality of Karloo.

The Department of Housing will fund community housing provider Sun City Christian Centre Inc (SCCC) to build the short-stay facility under its Crisis Accommodation Program.

Mr Brown said the project would help address an urgent need for more short-stay crisis accommodation in the Geraldton region.

“This type of service is clearly needed in the area, with reports of over 85 people a night on average turned away from existing crisis accommodation,” Mr Brown said.

“This facility could be the difference between spending a night on the street and having a safe and warm place to sleep for vulnerable people.”

Access to emergency temporary accommodation was a key part of the Crisis Accommodation Program’s mission.

“This program provides capital funding to local government authorities, not-for-profit, nongovernment and community housing organisations to build or buy crisis housing such as women’s refuges, night shelters and emergency youth accommodation,” Mr Brown said.

“I have had regular meetings with representatives of SCCC in Geraldton and I am continually impressed with their dedication to improving the lives of those in need in the local Geraldton community.”

SCCC has previously received $800,000 from Royalties for Regions towards construction of their new headquarters in Karloo, which will provide a range of services to families and individuals in need, including emergency food relief, budget cooking classes and second hand clothing.

“These temporary crisis accommodation services are a starting point for connecting people with the necessary resources and support to help break the homelessness cycle and access more permanent housing,” Mr Brown said. 

Court fines in favour of City regarding dog attacks

The Geraldton Magistrates Court recently awarded the City of Greater Geraldton more than $8,000 to cover court costs and fines related to a dog attack that occurred in May 2014 in Mullewa.

The Magistrate ruled against the dog owner, and awarded the City a total of $8,466.30 for the dog attack sending a strong message to the community.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said dog owners need to be in control of their animals in public at all times or they will be held accountable if they are not.

“Dog owners have a legal responsibility to keep their pets under control, either within a fenced area on your own property and most certainly on a leash when in public,” he said.

“The fine for not having your dog on a lead in a public place is $200 and not having your dog under control can attract fines up to $5,000.

“A dog attack is a very serious matter and if your dog attacks a person or another animal you will be held responsible.

“This Court ruling which includes the accused having to pay the court costs sends a clear message to dog owners that if they do not take their responsibility seriously they will be penalised,” Mayor Carpenter added.

Penalties for dog attacks range from $3,000 to $20,000 with the potential for imprisonment.

Federal Government Mobile Service Centre coming to Mid West

The Federal Government Mobile Service Centre is visiting the Mid West, including towns from Leeman to Mingenew, to offer locals in Durack access to government payments and services.

The Mobile Service Centre will visit the following towns:

Leeman – Monday July 27, from 9 am to 4 pm, located next to the Community Resource Centre, Spencer Street

Dongara – Tuesday July 28, from 9 am to 4 pm, located near the Cricket Pavilion, Corner Waldeck & Walton Streets

Morawa – Wednesday July 29, from 10:30 am to 4 pm, located at the Railway & Bus Station Terminal Car Park, off Winfield Street

Mingenew – Thursday July 30, from 9 am to 2:30 pm, located opposite the Bakery, Midlands Road

The Mobile Service Centre offers a wide range of services to meet the changing needs of rural and regional communities.

The centre is staffed by experienced specialist officers who provide friendly face-to-face service, information and support tailored to each community.

Member for Durack Melissa Price said this is a great opportunity for people to get in contact with someone regarding a number of issues such as new claims for a wide range of Centrelink payments and updating customer information.

“Staff will be able to assist with things such as provide information on how financial matters may impact on Centrelink payments, outline rural payment entitlements for eligible farmers and information on Child Support payment and service options,” Ms Price.

“A social worker will be in attendance and a staff member from the Australian Taxation Office will also be available to assist individual and small business taxpayers with advice and information about tax and superannuation.”

For further information visit humanservices.gov.au/mobileoffice.