A very cool Da Vinci experience at our museum

Experience Leonardo da Vinci’s genius first-hand when da Vinci Machines opens at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton this Saturday 5 July. This exciting exhibition features 60 of his visionary inventions in the areas of flying machines, nautical innovations, and machines of war, alongside 15 beautifully crafted replicas of famous da Vinci artworks.

Regional Manager of WA Museum – Geraldton Leigh O’Brien said this exhibition is unlike anything the Geraldton community had seen before, showcasing the breadth of Leonardo da Vinci’s extraordinary talent in an interesting and interactive way.

“Our visitors won’t just get a glimpse of da Vinci’s brilliance; they will be able to explore the whole creative process of building these machines,” Ms O’Brien said.

Some of the exhibits include a revolutionary underwater breathing apparatus; a concept for a helicopter made of reeds, linen, and iron thread; and plans for an armoured vehicle made from wood – potentially the world’s first military tank.

“The display places da Vinci’s Codices or concept drawings alongside real models of his machines, created by modern day artisans who, true to da Vinci’s ideas, used only materials of da Vinci’s day in construction.  Many of the exhibits are interactive, allowing visitors to feel and operate completed machines.”

Some of the exhibits include a revolutionary underwater breathing apparatus; a concept for a helicopter made of reeds, linen, and iron thread; and plans for an armoured vehicle made from wood – potentially the world’s first military tank.  Testament to da Vinci’s brilliance and forethought is the fact that the mechanical theory behind these ideas generated in the 15^th Century is still relevant in the 21^st Century.

Da Vinci Machines will feature at the WA Museum – Geraldton from 5 July to 19 October.  Tickets can be purchased from the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton or on the website at www.museum.wa.gov.au.

The da Vinci Machines exhibition is presented by Niccolai – Teknoart SNC and the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, Florence.

Keep an eye on the Geraldton Events Calendar on our website or app for latest museum features.

This dog needs a home

Geraldton Dog Rescue is a not for profit organization run solely by volunteers. All GDR dogs cost $350 and have been bathed and flea treated, vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, micro-chipped and de-sexed. If you would like to view a dog or become a volunteer please call 0400219719. Geraldton Dog Rescue can also be contacted via our website www.geraldtondogrescue.com.au or you can find us on facebook. Our Dog of the Week this week is Kent. Kent is an 18 month old, medium sized male, mixed breed. He could possibly have some staffy in him. He is a very loving and friendly dog who gets along well with other dogs. He has a beautiful brindle coat that is very short and easy to care for. Kent would like a family who could take him for a daily walk and perhaps a trip to the beach on weekends. Kent would be a wonderful addition to any family.

6 councillors could lose positions under proposed cuts

A surprise take away from the CGG CEO's statements following tonight's budget announcement:

“During the next twelve months we will be seeking to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to nine and will need to find a further $1 million in savings, just to limit future increases to 5.2%.”

Full press release follows.

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City of Greater Geraldton CEO, Ken Diehm, said this year’s budget is one of the tightest budgets the City has had to ever bring in.

Two years ago the City was looking to increase rates by 7.6% per annum. Since that time the City has re-worked its financial planning and identified annual rate increases of 5.2% to continue to provide the current level and range of services and renew ageing infrastructure before it begins to fail.

“Last year we were able to limit rate increases to 2.25% and over the last twelve months the City has been working with Community Panels to identify capital works priorities and desired service levels,” said Mr Diehm.

“This work, coupled with internal efficiency gains, has enabled the City to further reduce the projected rate increases.”

Residential rates will now increase by 4.3%, a reduction of 0.9%, and non-residential rates will increase by only 3.6%, a reduction of 1.6% from the advertised proposed rate.

The increase in rates for an average residential property will be $1.27 per week. Mr Diehm said this has been a tough budget.

“State and Federal government funding has been reduced by $3 million and we have been hit by spiralling water and electricity costs.

“Wages have increased by only 2.6%. This is a combination of a 4% increase in the award, a 0.25% increase in compulsory Super contributions, a reduction in management positions, and more staff time allocated to capital works,” he said.

“Materials and contractors have increased by 2.8%. After eliminating the impacts of the additional Airport security costs of $695,000, there has actually been a reduction in materials and contract expenses of 0.4%.

“The City has tightened its belt and efficiency gains and cost savings of approximately $652,000 have been achieved during the 2013/14 financial year and incorporated into the 14/15 budget.

“These savings have been used to finance a higher level of asset maintenance and to fund new initiatives identified by the Community Panels and the business community,” said Mr Diehm.

“The City’s belt tightening doesn’t stop with this budget.

“During the next twelve months we will be seeking to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to nine and will need to find a further $1 million in savings, just to limit future increases to 5.2%.”

Where is my rates money being spent?

We often get people Everything Geraldton saying things along the lines of "what does my rates money get spent on anyway?" Well, apart from the Library, Airport, Queens Park Theatre, town planning, ranger services, parks, roads, street lighting, Aquarena, QE2 seniors centre, family day care, Art Gallery, Visitor Centre and waste management... here's where some of your rates monies will be spent in 2014-15.

City of Greater Geraldton 2014-15 Budget expenditure at a glance:

• $150,000 to upgrade Mullewa landfill
• $100,000 to investigate domestic recycling
• $133,000 increase in street tree pruning
• $200,000 for emergent restoration and coastal management
• $440,000 for CCTV cameras for the Esplanade, West End precinct and Sydney II Memorial
• $500,000 in renewing existing footpaths and cycleways
• $520,000 for improved fire fighting capability at the Airport
• $600,000 upgrade of Wonthella Skate Park
• $700,000 upgrades to the works Depot
• $750,000 for a new Animal Management Facility
• $900,000 to undertake greenwaste processing, concrete crushing, improvement works, and to design an integrated resource recovery facility at meru landfill
• $950,000 for a new environmentally friendly geothermal air conditioning plant at the Geraldton Art Gallery
• $1,000,000 renovations to WA’s first Railway Station building to house visitor centre
• $1,500,000 for 500 lux lights at Wonthella Oval to attract high calibre events
• Around $1.5 million in drainage renewal and improvement works
• $1,940,000 for new youth recreation facilities in the West End precinct
• $2,100,000 for Airport lounge extensions
• $4,700,000 for beach stabilisation at Beresford, Greys and St Georges Beach
• $4,750,000 for a multi user facility on the West End to replace ageing building housing community groups
• About $4.5 million in pavement, intersection and kerbing renewal works throughout the City
• $26,000,000 to complete the Karloo Wandina Project, including Verita Road and a connecting bridge to Abraham street

Read 5 reasons your rates just went up 4.3% - (3.6% for commercial)

Or read: 6 councillors could lose positions under proposed cuts

5 reasons your rates just went up 4.3% - (3.6% for commercial)

1. Grants from State and Federal governments have been reduced by $3 Million, but the community still requires and expects the same level of service.

2. Costs incurred by the local council such as labour and materials typically go up at a rate higher than the consumer price index. For example, electricity and water costs are rising by up to 6%, and in the next year electricity cost for street lighting will go up by 36%.

3. Assets are wearing out quicker than we can afford to replace them.

4. As part of the City of Greater Geraldton's #changescgg program, more than 70 community members were chosen randomly to spend up to 8 hours every Saturday for 8 weeks reviewing the Council's services and capital works program. They provided council with what services they felt were important to keep, what should be cut, and what needs to be added. These recommendations are in part what formed the recommended rate increase to council.

Check out come of services the community members wanted added here on pages 13-17

5. The "CGG Ratepayers Demand Change" group (CGGRDC), who have been very vocally fighting any rate rises, only got 3 members elected at the last council election; Simon Keemink, Shane Van Styn and David Caudwell. Keemink and Caudwell voted against tonight's rise, Van Styn voted for it, but noted while he strongly opposed rate rises in principle at this point, he felt the city had committed to some very large projects such as Verita Rd and the renovation of the old Railway building, and pulling the pin on projects like that would have too strong of a negative effect on the town. (Laurie Graham, who is also a new councillor, winning at the last election, was the only other councillor to vote against the rise).

Our brief take on the new budget and rate rise:

Since the 27% rise two years ago, mentioning the word "rates" in Geraldton is like mentioning Hitler. It causes the dopamine levels in any rate-paying Geraldonite to drop to dangerously low levels, which unfortunately now makes the topic difficult to discuss rationally.

But considering when the local council so much as HINTS at shutting down a heated pool for a few months, or relocating a pony club so they can better utilise valuable land, or if the roadside collection takes 5 seconds longer than expected; there is public outrage, it remains rather clear that Geraldton residents still expect a certain level of services from their local government.

While exactly what services should be kept, culled or added is worth debating, it's still unclear what the CGGRDC would like to see cut to achieve their demands of a drastically reduced expenditure.

Based on what members of the public said they wanted during the community consultation period, the city actually put a 5.2% rate increase proposal to councillors to consider.

To get that even lower, down to 4.3% for residential premises, and 3.6% for non-residential, required more axing.

According to information provided the city, the increase in rates for an average residential property will be $1.27 per week.

Keep in mind as well, two years ago when there was the 27% increase, all the forward estimates required increases following that for the next decade of another 7.2% per annum.

Coupled with last year's modest increase of 2.9%, the City of Greater Geraldton has certainly reigned in its spending, though CEO Ken Diehm says he's going to continue looking at ways to improve efficiencies.

We've published our fair share of articles criticising certain local government decisions, but to be fair, they're damned if they rase rates and damned if they cut services ( or don't fix playground equipment etc etc). But services cost money.

Mayor Ian Carpenter pointed out tonight he wasn't impressed hearing state government MP's publicly opine that "local councils shouldn't raise rates" while at the same time they cut funding to local governments and raise electricity and water costs to them.

It's a good point too.

Robbing local government's pockets to make the state or federal budget look good doesn't help anyone, it just passes the problem down the line.

See our follow up article: Where is my rates money being spent?

Or read: 6 councillors could lose positions under proposed cuts

Have Your Say: Should teenage girls cover up?

Bindi Irwin made media headlines last week after stating that she thinks teenage girls need to dress for their age and cover up.

“I’m a big advocate for young girls dressing their age,” she told News Limited.

“I mean, for me, I look around at a lot of young girls that are my age and they’re always trying to dress older. Whether it’s wearing revealing clothes or hardly wearing any clothes at all, I feel really bad for them,” (7 News).

Her statement has provoked a mixed response, with some supporting the young star while others have labelled her a ‘nana’.

What do you think?

Should young girls ‘cover up’ and stop wearing such revealing clothes?

Or is it the individual’s right to choose how they dress, regardless of age?

Have your say.

Spalding Horse and Pony Club vs CGG

The Spalding Horse and Pony Club are being told they may have to move home, and they're not happy.

Barbara O'Donovan from the club has been rallying other members and contacting the CGG to express dissatisfaction with the council's plans.

Posting on Everything Geraldton's Facebook wall, she says:

should the council be allowed to 'develop' the land that was 'gifted' to the Spalding Horse & Pony Club?..fill up that lovely green parcel of land with boring row after row of ugly brick and tile houses? Just last week I heard a statistic that stated that our WA Kids are rated as the 'fattest' in Australia?wonder why when we are taking our recreational spaces and parks away from them?..why don't the council beautify this area and build purpose built clubrooms for ALL the community to use..the pony club doesn't take up the whole space..there is lots of room to the South that could be turned into Natural playgrounds, beautiful Native Garden walks, community vege gardens, orchards for the community ..a big skate park?..why keep building ugly houses and shops when there are plenty of shops closed down in the CBD and current business struggling to stay open??..do something smart ...rumour is that the pony club is relocating out to Chapman Valley?..thats another 20kms trip out of town...that will make a huge different to members..and what about the Disabled Riding Group..that happens every Friday at the pony club..all run by volunteers..? a big ask to drive another 20kms out of town..to devote time to run this fantastic community program for our disabled kids??....what does the community think..??

Post by Barbara O'Donovan.

In letters to the CGG, the club mentioned that:

It is an interesting but unfortunately little known fact that the land SHPC are located on has been dedicated to equine related activities by former Mayor Spalding back in 1891.

Marie Hart, Chief Coach from the Spalding Horse and Pony Club said in her letter to the councillors that members of the club are not willing to relocate south of the Chapman River, because they all live north of the river, and want a location close to where they all live.

And then there's the open space issue

In addition to the desires of the club itself, members are claiming that the green open space the club provides by using that land is in itself valuable to the ambience of Sunset Beach, and developing the land would spoil it. They say the club is open to the community at large to use, and many locals love the presence of the club there in Sunset.

But the CGG believe the wider community would be better served by relocating the club from prime development land to a more suitable long term location.

The City of Greater Geraldton has responded to our enquiries on the matter, with the following information:

The Spalding Horse and Pony club was provided a five year lease that expires at the end of this month (June). The club has been advised they will move onto a holding over period on a month by month basis on the same terms of the current lease.

The City identified as part of the Draft Sporting Futures Plan process and the Greater Geraldton Structure Plan (approved by the Minister for Planning in May 2011) that the land adjacent to the existing Sunset Beach Shopping Centre (where the Spalding Horse and Pony Club is situated) would be an ideal future redevelopment site given its location along Chapman Road. The land has significant potential in the future for redevelopment as commercial, residential and community uses development and as such forms part of the Sunset Beach Precinct Plan.

The City has had a number of meetings with club committee representatives during the Draft Sporting Futures Plan process that identified alternative sites for relocation. Last month a very positive site visit was conducted at the Nanson Showgrounds within the Shire of Chapman Valley that workshopped club requirements on this site for a move to this location. The meeting was attended by staff from the Shire of Chapman Valley as well, that are in full support for such a move. Other sites that have been discussed include Woorree, Moonyoonooka, Waggrakine and Walkaway.

A bit of common courtesy please...

Some people who work in town are getting frustrated at other people's lack of common courtesy: Anon -

...just having a whinge about the carpark that is opposite Activewest and Sports power etc on Marine Terrace.

Every day is an obstacle course trying to get in and out as cars are scattered all over the place making it very difficult and frustrating when coming and going.

Recently someone parked directly behind a colleague in the middle of the driving path so that she was boxed in – this is not the first time and it happens very regularly. Sometimes cars even block the exit.

Geraldton's intriguing new dance group - No Lights, No Lycra

You arrive at the hall, wearing something comfy (you're gonna get sweaty!). Bring some water and $5. Find yourself a spot, wait for the lights to go out and shake what your mumma gave ya. That's it!

Originating in Melbourne and now found all over the world, No Lights No Lycra is coming to Geraldton! No lights, no lycra, no teacher, no steps to learn, no technique, just free movement. NLNL is for the lounge room dancers, microphone (hairbrush) wielders, and bedroom mirror booty shakers - It's daggy, it's ridiculous and it's a hilariously good time!

Everything Geraldton spoke with Bonnie who is helping organise the NLNL in Geraldton.

She said 20 people were there for the first NLNL in Geraldton last Friday, including a couple of kids. Anyone's welcome, male and female. And kids are free.

"It's not quite pitch black, you can just make out an outline of other people, but it's dark enough so it's not embarrassing for anyone."

So what does a typical NLNL session look like?

You arrive at the hall, wearing something comfy (you're gonna get sweaty!). Bring some water and $5. Find yourself a spot, wait for the lights to go out and shake what your mumma gave ya. That's it!

We don't care what you look like and we don't care how you move, we don't even care if you can keep a beat. EVERYONE has the moves within them and its all about how you feel! Nobody's watching, so come and shake away the week with us.

You can find out more about NLNL at http://nolightsnolycra.com/the-nlnl-story/ If you're still feeling confused, just head along and give it a go!

07:00 PM each Friday currently at 21 Urch St - All Things Dance studio, thought the venue may change in the future. Keep an eye on the Everything Geraldton events calendar for info.

Chance to nominate safety black spots in your community

Chance to nominate safety black spots in your community

To nominate a site, go to: http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots/nominate_black_spots.aspx

Or CLICK HERE to download a form

Fill it in and post it to:

The Black Spot Consultative Panel Main Roads Western Australia PO Box 6202 EAST PERTH WA 6892

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Community groups, local Councils and individuals have the chance to make their community’s safer by nominating dangerous roads for improvements via the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program.

Western Australian Senator and Chair of the Western Australian Black Spot Consultative Panel, Hon Dean Smith, said almost $7million worth of projects had recently been announced for WA black spots, but there was much more to be done.

“Western Australia is a massive State and with the right submissions, we should get our fair share of the $500 million Black Spot Programme provided by the Federal Government to fix our most dangerous local roads,” Senator Smith said.

“By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the programme reduces the risk of crashes, saves lives and reduces the trauma accident victims and their families suffer.

Nominations open for Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards and Australian WA of the Year

Nominations are now open for both the local Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards and Australian WA of the Year.

Each year the City of Greater Geraldton calls for nominations from the public for those who have contributed in some way to the betterment of the community. The awards foster, recognise and celebrate significant contributions to community life and active citizenship in all local government areas of WA.

Four Great Australians brought their inspirational stories to Geraldton last week launching the National Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards 2015.

The four are WA’s Australian of the year 2014 recipients, and more than 100 people came out in the chill night air on Monday June 23, to listen to and meet them, at a free public forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Seniors and Community Centre, hosted by Australia Day Council of WA.

Reconciliation advocate and Senior Australian of the Year, Fred Chaney AO, who has a fierce commitment to social justice and equality talked about his work helping to empower indigenous people.

WA Australian of the Year, cancer researcher Professor Bruce Robinson AM, gave a larrikin take on how he came to the serious side of his work as a world leader in the study of asbestos related cancers and founding the Fathering Project that aims to connect children with father figures.

Young Australian of the Year, Dr John van Bockxmeer, “grew up wanting to give back” and founded Fair Game, a charity that assists thousands of people in migrant and indigenous communities with recycled sport equipment to capacity build sport, fitness and wellness programs through health education.

Australia’s Local Hero, Noongar Linguist Denise Smith‐Ali, has dedicated her life to reclaiming and reviving the language of the Noongar people of the South West of WA. Her early focus on educating and engaging young people has led to documenting creation and ancestral stories that relate to country.

The City of Greater Geraldton hosted the Great Australians at a lunch time networking session in the Civic Centre Function Room on Tuesday June 24, where councillors and community members were able to chat with them.

The City invites you to nominate an outstanding local hero or group for one of the Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards to be presented in Geraldton on Australia Day, Monday, January 26 2015, or the Australian WA of the Year which will be presented in Canberra.

Award nomination forms are available at the Civic Centre or on the City website www.cgg.wa.gov.au

For more information contact Yvonne Lovedee 9965 6773 or email Yvonnel@cgg.wa.gov.au

Mining fatalities through the roof in last 12 months

The past financial year has been a disaster for the mining industry in terms of lives lost on the job. After an incredible 2012/13 year where there were 0 recorded fatalities, 2013/14 recorded the highest number of deaths since 05/06 with 17 fatalities. The results over the last year serve as a strong reminder of the danger faced each day by our friends and family who work in the industry.

MiningAustralia.com.au reports on the alarming spike in deaths here. 

Despite the massive amounts of energy and resources dedicated to safety, Australia has more mining deaths than even Iran, according to this article from MiningAustrali.com.au

Dave Hughes coming to Gero

WED 8 OCTOBER, 7.30pmQUEENS PARK THEATRE 1 night only!

He’s said goodbye to breakfast radio and farewell to The Project – all that remains is his first love – live, standup comedy. Hughesy is absolutely loving being back on stage with his all new show Pointless and he can’t wait to throw open the doors at the Queens Park Theatre!

For a night of comedy gold you can’t look past this laid back legend of Australian Comedy.

“relaxed, warm and consistently hilarious “ ★★★★1/2 Herald Sun 2014

For bookings and more information call the QPT Box Office on 9956 6662 or go to the website www.queensparktheatre.com.au

"Real Men Don't Binge" campaign labelled sexist

Perth Now and Channel 9 are running a campaign called "Real Men Don't Binge". Nine News presenter Libby Stone is the ambassador for the campaign which aims to change public attitudes toward "male drunkenness". She's joined by 5 other females who all want to tell men that men shouldn't binge drink. But many in the public are incensed with the campaign which they claim unfairly targets men, when women also have a problem with binge drinking.

Perth Now changed the title of their article from "Real Men Don't Binge Drink" to "Libby Stone, Blair Evans, Simone Heng, Melissa Marsh, Chloe Powlika and Ashleigh Nelson join fight against binge drinking". Read it here.

When shared on Twitter and Facebook, the public was very vocal against the campaign.

Post by Perth Now.

Just a taste of some of the comments:

Matt put it well:

Even Twitter was aghast with the campaign:

Libby stone responded publicly to some of the criticism that said it singled men out, saying it wasn't her intention (to single out men in her "real men don't binge" campaign) but that it was "very much a community issue".

Hi @Saint_Lions @FrankMatera - certainly not the intention, it is very much a community issue.

— Libby Stone (@LibbyStone9) June 30, 2014

Josh Kennedy makes young Geraldton girl's wish come true

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Ashton Taylor's mum Suzannah, posted publicly recently on Facebook, reaching out to see if anyone could help her daughter achieve her dream of meeting a West Coast Eagle.

Post by Suzannah Taylor.

Friends and family shared it far and wide, and Northampton and GNFL son Josh Kennedy paid young Ashton a visit in hospital.

Post by Suzannah Taylor.

Hearing that Ashton was heading in for her 11th operation, other's also decided to do what they could to spoil her.

Post by Suzannah Taylor.

Get well soon Ashton. You have lots of people cheering for you!

Post by Suzannah Taylor.

Community question: Best place for lunch?

Where's the best place for lunch in Geraldton?

Jersey Boys - Trailer

Trailer for "Jersey Boys" rated M [tentblogger-youtube DbURfiUWVtg]

Roller Derby Action

If you didn't make it to the Rollerderby on Sat night, here's a taste of what went down. Looking forward to the next event girls!

Post by Sin City Rollers Geraldton Roller Derby.

Post by James Thompson.

Post by James Thompson.

Post by James Thompson.

Police issue reminder to public

Following a number of burglaries over the weekend, local Police issued the following reminder to everyone to lock up.

A few burglaries over the weekend where offenders got in through unlocked doors. reminder to ensure you lock up your premises

— Geraldton Police (@GeraldtonPol) June 30, 2014

Many crimes are opportunity crimes, and if something is locked, the would be thief will just move on.

Busy week for Geraldton Police

As if two suspected homicides wasn't enough to keep our men and women in blue flat out last week, Geraldton Police report that last week they conducted "an operation targeting offences such as theft, burglary, stealing, stealing motor vehicles and damage." The list of seizures included;

2 x replica firearms

1 x knuckle duster

1 x spear

1 x recovered stolen motor vehicle

2 x vehicle impounds

65 grams of cannabis

2 grams of methylamphetamines

Total Charges x 47

25 x Arrests

15 x summons