8 Tips Every DIY Painter Needs To Know

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Whether it’s painting your own room, decorating a nursery or even just touching up some run-down looking doors, painting can be an exciting process and if done correctly, you can transfer your next project into a work of art. There’s a lot of work and preparation that needs to be done before you start painting, as poor preparation can compromise the final result and the life of the paint. So what do I do first? What do I need to know before I start painting? Well, Ben France from City in Colour has shared with us 8 handy tips every do-it-yourselfer should know before starting your next project. 

1. Remove foreign objects: If you’re looking at painting your wall, you’ll need to remove anything that is hanging on, or near the area you plan on painting. This includes hooks, hanging pictures, clocks, light switches and blinds. These are fairly easy to take on and off and it will save you a lot of hassle in the future. Because the last thing you want to do is get paint on a family portrait or a new set of blinds that you just had installed. 

2. Fill any cracks with filler: Make sure there aren’t any cracks or imperfections in your wall before painting. Painting over a small crack can actually turn into an eyesore, as the paint will make it stand out and become more visible. So the best thing to do is fill any imperfections with a top coat filler. Ben recommends Polyfilla, which is only 8-10 dollars and is available at Bunnings and some hardware stores. You don’t have to be conservative when filling cracks or small holes, as the more filler you use, the better. Because the next step is sanding it down, so don’t worry if it looks lumpy. 

3. Sand the wall: Regardless if your wall needs a filler or not, you will still need to use sand paper to sand it down until smooth. The roughness of the paper you’ll need to use will depend on the condition of your wall. You don’t have to spend too much time sanding because a light sand is all you need. The point of sanding is to smooth the wall and get rid of any dust or dirt that is stuck to it, so don’t worry about scratching off any current paint. Painting over dirt will only give it a grainy ‘sandy’ look that will reflect the quality of the job. A nice smooth finish really makes a difference when it comes to painting. 

4. Avoid using tape: You may think that using tape will protect any grooves or edges that you want to keep dry, but chances are, the tape will rip and remove the current coat you have just applied because the paint will stick to the tape. 

5. Edging: A paint roller for large areas can’t paint around the top, bottom, edges or frames of a wall/window properly. So a good substitute for tip 4 is to just use a good quality brush to get into those hard to reach places for edging. This might be time consuming, but it makes an amazing difference. Avoid using a cheap $2 brush for edging, because brittle brushes often leave a streak after painting, so it’s definitely worth paying a little extra and buying a good quality brush that will give it that perfect finish. Ben recommends doing the edges first and then finishing the rest of the area off with a paint roller. 

6. Cover the floor..and yourself: Be prepared to get dirty when it comes to doing a painting job. Wear old, worn out clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on and wear a hair net if you have long hair. You’ll also need to cover the floor with sheets to avoid accidental drops of paint on your floor or carpet. Newspaper is a good idea, but each sheet of paper can get stuck together if paint gets on it, so the best material to use is just an old bed sheet that you are no longer using.

7. Use a paint roller: Once everything has been prepared and edging has been done, you can now finish the job! Since walls are a large area, it will save you a large amount of time by using a paint roller. It will give you a great finish and it’s just as effective as doing it by hand, except it will save you half the time. 

8. Finishing off: Use a damp microfiber cloth to finish off the job. This will remove any streaks or hand prints that might have been placed while painting. The microfiber cloth will also remove any dust that may have stuck to the wall in the process. Finish it off by removing any water marks with a DRY microfiber cloth. Once you’re happy with the result, keep the door closed and let the paint dry. It can take several hours to dry, but it depends on the type of paint you use. 

If you have a job that is too big for you to do on your own, or you don’t want to risk making any mistakes, let City in Colour do the hard work for you. Ben has been painting for over 10 years and knows all the ins and outs when it comes to choosing the correct colour, what paint brush to use and what after-care needs to be applied. If you would like a professional job, give Ben from City in Colour a call and be amazed with the results.

 They’re open Monday – Friday from 7:00am – 5:00pm and are closed weekends.

Phone 0408 915 910.


Video: Please call Police if you recognise this person

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The owners of a local store have published this video in the hope that someone might be able to identify the person filmed. 

If you recognise the person in the footage please contact Geraldton Police on 08 9923 4555. 

High Speed Chase ends in Rangeway

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A high speed chase through the suburbs of Geraldton has ended in Rangeway.  

A number Geraldton residents have contacted Everything Geraldton saying they witnessed the chase. 

Everything Geraldton readers sent these images in a moment ago.

Our Club Rules! – Club Makeover Program offers free workshop

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Local community organisations and sporting clubs are invited to take part in a workshop that will provide information and advice on how to hold effective meetings.

The Club Development workshops will be held as part of the City of Greater Geraldton’s Our Club Rules! – Club Makeover Program that was introduced in 2013 in partnership with the Department of Sport and Recreation to enable clubs to reach their full potential.

City of Greater Geraldton, Creative Communities Director, Andrea Selvey said the City had received feedback saying that many community clubs and organisations needed some assistance.

“Many issues could be due to poor meeting processes and members perhaps not having a clear understanding of the roles within the committee and what needs to be done before, during and after meetings,” she said.

“Hopefully from this workshop, clubs will have a better understanding of what makes an effective meeting and pitfalls to be aware of.  This will ensure the time and effort of all our volunteers is used most effectively.”

Special guest speaker Mr Rob Houwen, Chairman of the Geraldton branch of the Bendigo Bank, will also provide some tips for committees to ensure volunteer time is used effectively.

The workshop will be held in the City of Greater Geraldton Function Room, on Cathedral Ave on Wednesday March 25 from 5.30 to 6.15pm.

For more information, contact the City’s Club Development Officer, Ryan Thompson on ryant@cgg.wa.gov.au or call 9956 6600.

RSVPs close on Friday 20th March.

Joint Commonwealth-State disaster assistance for cyclone-affected Western Australian communities

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Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, and Western Australian Premier,
the Hon Colin Barnett MLA, today announced that communities in the north-west of Western Australia affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Olwyn had been declared a natural disaster, triggering disaster assistance.

Senator Brandis said the assistance was being provided to the local government areas of Ashburton, Carnarvon, Exmouth and Shark Bay through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

“The Australian and Western Australian governments recognise the need for swift and effective action to help communities and families recover from Tropical Cyclone Olwyn,” Senator Brandis said.

Assistance available under the NDRRA may include:

  • personal hardship and distress assistance for families and individuals to help with emergency needs such as food, clothing and accommodation, essential repairs to damaged homes and the replacement of essential household contents
  • financial assistance for local and State government authorities to undertake counter-disaster operations and to restore damaged public infrastructure
  • interest rate subsidies for small businesses and primary producers who have been directly affected by flooding
  • freight subsidies for primary producers to assist with the costs of transporting livestock, fodder or water for livestock and machinery and equipment.  

“While impact assessments are still ongoing and further areas may be affected, it is clear that there has been a significant impact on local economies, with some fruit plantations in the region being completely destroyed,” Mr Barnett said.

“This assistance will help families and communities in the north-west region get back on their feet and ensure that these vital local industries are able to recover as soon as possible.

“I would like to thank the many volunteers, including those of the State Emergency Service, who have been out and about helping their local communities with clean-up operations.”

The Australian and Western Australian governments will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that local government, community organisations and individuals have the support they need.

Information regarding the assistance available can be found on the Western Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet website at http://www.dpc.wa.gov.au and on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at http://www.disasterassist.gov.au

Cultural diversity to be celebrated at Harmony Day

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Harrison Martin, Clara Clarke, Jay Kamind, Jack Seelander and Lucas Golding.

It’s a day to celebrate Greater Geraldton’s vast cultural diversity and bring together our different nationalities.

Harmony Day, celebrated every year, is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

On Saturday, March 21 the Midwest Multicultural Association will present a free family friendly community event for Harmony Day.

The event will be held at Maitland Park from 10am to 2pm with a huge range of activities for the whole family.

With the ever-popular parade of nations and heaps on cultural entertainment, the community will also enjoy school performances, kid’s activities, multicultural foodstalls and a lot more.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Ian Carpenter, urged the local community to join in the celebrations of an event which holds a very important message.

“We have residents from more than 50 nations of the world who now call Greater Geraldton home and that is something we are very proud of,” he said.

“This event is a great chance to celebrate our cultural diversity and our inclusive community which draws on our cultural and linguistic diversity to enhance its social and cultural development.”

Midwest Multicultural Association Chairman, Ernest Gutsa, said Harmony Day was about breaking down barriers.

“Harmony Day is a very important event for Geraldton and we want to represent all the cultural and diverse groups of our local community,” he said.

“We know that our community is focused on being inclusive and Harmony Day is a great representation of that.”

Year 4 students from Wandina Primary School in traditional Indonesian dress from their performance at Harmony Day on Saturday. Belle Kjellgren, Clio Gimenez, Jaide Moulds, Ahalya Harikumar, Imogen Ferguson and Adelle Edwards.

For more information about Harmony Day, e-mail admin@midwestmulticultural.org

WA Museum coral expert helps date ancient tombs

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Dr Zoe Richards examining corals at one of the ancient Leluh tombs – photo courtesy Jean-Paul Hobbs.

Western Australian Museum researcher Dr Zoe Richards has identified coral used in three sacred pyramid tombs on a prehistoric Micronesian island to date their construction to the 14th Century, more than 300 years earlier than was previously thought.

Dr Richards and an international team of scientists investigated the ages of corals used in the construction of sacred tombs that interred royalty on the Pacific Island of Kosrae.

“Most ancient tombs are made of hard, non-living components such as limestone, granite or clay, but the ruins of the ancient city of Leluh on Kosrae contain several royal tombs that, uniquely, contain coral in their construction,” Dr Richards said.

“Because coral is a living organism we were able to use high-precision thermal dating techniques to determine the age of the corals we found, and that showed the tombs were built in the 1300s, the first one in about 1310.”

Unlike other, more famous pyramid mortuary structures that have an apex and are permanently sealed, like the ancient pyramids of Giza, the tombs of Leluh are truncated – that is, they contain a rectangular base that rises like a pyramid but don’t have a pointed top, meaning that the central crypt is accessible from above.

Dr Richards said it’s believed the Leluh tombs were used as temporary processing points for dead kings and high-status individuals – it was a place where the corpse, anointed with coconut oil and bound in mats and coloured cords, would have been interred for up to three months.  A house would have been erected over the top where senior officials would have made offerings.  After this period of mourning, the royal bones were exhumed, cleaned, re-bound and then buried in a deep hole on a nearby reef.

Favia coral from the Leluh ruins – photo courtesy Jean-Paul Hobbs

“Determining the age of the coral doesn’t just date the tombs more accurately, it gives us information about what was once a thriving capital city,” she said.

“At its peak, Leluh supported a complex hierarchical society that was home to 1500 people including kings, chiefs and commoners.  The extensive use of coral in the tombs, estimated to contain more than 12,000 individual colonies, as well as the wider city would have required a highly structured social order that could organise and demand significant labour and logistical support from the local population.”

Legend has it that the coral was taken from the surrounding shallow reef and that people ‘formed a long chain across the reef and passed pieces of coral from hand to hand’. The ancient city of Leluh fell into disrepair in the 19th Century following a devastating typhoon, an increase in foreign ships, pirates and traders, and a rapid population decline due to diseases introduced by foreigners.

The full scientific paper describing the research can be found at http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/2/e1400060

OFF-ROAD VEHICLE MANAGEMENT POWERS FORWARD

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Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) have long been a popular recreational activity in Western Australia, with four-wheel drives, quad bikes and trail bikes being a common sight along our coast. Unfortunately, as these types of vehicles have become increasingly accessible, the threat to our highly valuable coastal ecosystem has increased. Unrestricted and unmanaged use of ORVs has frequently resulted in destroyed vegetation – leading to loss of biodiversity and increased erosion. Also, reckless use of ORVs is a significant threat to safety for both the public and riders.

Keen to find win-win solutions, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) received funding from Coastwest in 2013 to investigate the establishment of coastal ORV gazette use areas (ORVAs), to complement the existing ORVA in Lancelin. There is a need for such areas as many ORV riders approached by rangers express frustration at the lack of legal riding facilities along our coast.

NACC’s Coastal and Marine Program Coordinator Dr Mic Payne, said “Development of well-planned and managed ORVAs will provide safe and enjoyable riding experiences for families and riders alike. While ORVAs are not the entire management solution to the problem, they are a big step in the right direction.”

This project has resulted in an ORVA feasibility study that has identified three candidate areas deserving further investigation. Two of these areas are close to Geraldton while the third is near Jurien Bay. Candidate areas had to meet a range of selection criteria to be considered eligible, including accessibility from urban areas, land tenure, conservation values and potential to fulfill the expectations of the ORV community. In addition, the study documented current ORV ‘hot-spots’ in WA’s Northern Agricultural Region and helped clarify the legal issues surrounding ORVAs.

Key to the success of the feasibility study was comprehensive stakeholder engagement. Input was received from a Regional ORV Working Group (comprising coastal land managers and ORV-group representatives), online surveys targeting community and ORV riders groups, and meetings with other key players such as ORV retail outlets.

With this first stage completed, the next step is to work closely with Local Government Authorities toward development of one or more of these proposed ORVAs. Key issues to be addressed include public liability insurance, resource limitations, on-going site management and facility uptake by riders. On-country visits by local Aboriginal custodians will also determine if the sites can be developed without impacting cultural heritage.

“A good facility development model, such as the Pinjar ORVA, will go a long way to addressing many of these issues,” said Dr Payne.

NACC gratefully acknowledges the assistance provided by all project contributors, particularly from local and state government agencies, coastal community groups, industry representative and the ORV riders who took part in the surveys. The final reports is available at http://narvis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Off-road-Vehicle-Areas-in-the-NAR.pdf

I knew what I wanted to do before I left school ; A conversation with the new CEO of NACC

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I caught up with Richard McLellan a couple of weeks ago about his new role at NACC (Northern Agricultural Catchment Council), his past, and the future of the organisation he now heads. 

Richard is from a long line of farmers. He hails from Kellerberrin in the middle of the wheat belt where his family grew wheat and sheep. 

He told me as he was growing up on the farm he would notice they had a lot of degradation and bush dying off. He says he went to college in Perth, and every time he came home he would see change. 

Bad change. 

"So that was the time I decided I wouldn't go back on the farm, I'd go and do environmental science instead."

So it was off to uni to do a bachelor of science with advanced environmental studies. 

After university Richard McLellan couldn't find the job he wanted with Greenpeace or WWF. So he went and did things like education training and worked in the media. 

Eventually he wound up working at Murdoch University and found himself back in the conservation sector. He later started his own business involved with native vegetation management. About 15 years ago he landed a position with WWF, where he has been up until recently. 

As Richard recounted his past what kept spinning in my mind was his knowledge at such a young age of what he wanted to do with his life; namely conservation work. 

This guy wasn't in the industry because he was indoctrinated by weed smoking hippy parents, or couldn't find a job anywhere else, or got abused by a right wing conservative once and decided to spend his life fighting capitalism.

He had grown up surrounded by farmers, but had observed his own family's property change for the worse as he returned each school holidays.

He knew the problem was widespread, and he set about equipping himself with the skills he would need to make the positive difference he knew was needed. 

I wish I could claim to have been so conscientious during my teens. I wanted to be a pro basketball player because they made a lot of money and I loved playing basketball. But I would have settled for being a rock star. 

As Richard recounted the rest of his story and his strategies working with different stakeholders, I was struck with his insight into how to collaborate with people who saw the world different to him. 

So much conversation I observe on any matter of importance is just people with opposite opinions trying to discredit the other; Richard's approach felt like a breathe of fresh air. 

He spoke of how he would survey land and bush near farms, and then let the land holders know what unique species of spider, or rare plant, existed on their property. Invariably the farmers then voluntarily became stewards of that fauna and flora, taking responsibility and looking for ways to protect the valuable treasure they previously were oblivious to. 

Richard recounted: "I've seen some guys who wouldn't want to be called greenies, but are as good a conservationist as you'd meet anywhere."

Speaking about NACC and his hopes for it into the future:

"I hope that NACC in the future is recognised for what it does, it doesn't get recognised fully for what it does now with the important role it plays.

"And I hope that we continue to be progressive on how we use communications to promote our work and to engage our constituency, if you like, in our work.

"NACC is a member organisation. It developed from being a small community organisation to where it is now. It is still a member based organisation and I hope that everyone who lives in our region is prepared to become a member, effectively, and support NACC."

So just Joe Bloggs up the street can become a member?

"Yeah."

Okay. Does it cost money to become a member?

"It costs nothing.

"But all it takes is for you to have a common belief that you want to have a sustainable future here. And NACC is a vehicle that can help achieve that. And so I would hope that everyone knows about NACC and says I want to be a member of NACC and I want to ensure that the values that NACC has for this region are the values that I want to have personally. So whether that's looking after our beaches, or looking after our water ways or looking after other natural resources and making sure that they are managed in a sustainable manner so that future generations that live in this area have those same assets."


Okay, so you don't have to be a major landholder or key stake holder or any of those to be a NACC member. What practically is there to do? Come in and sign a form? 

"Exactly, yeah."

Why would a member of the public need to call NACC? Do people reach out to you to ask questions about a weird species they've found or they've got a snake in their backyard? What are some other reasons the public would want to contact NACC?

"Ok so, what is always wanted is information. We have a huge amount of information both within the staff here but also within our system from having been out there operating doing stuff for the last decade or more.

"Another one is help. 'I'm an individual and I'm trying to control a weed outbreak on a creek line adjacent to my property. I can't do it by myself, can you guys help? Or can you direct us to someone who else who can help.' It might be about funding; 'I'm in a small group. We need some funding to help us do some coastal restoration, can NACC help us with funding?' Or it might be about voice, 'we are one small group, we've got this issue, and no one is listening to us, can you help us reach key constituents to get that voice made louder?' And another one might be 'we're thinking about doing this, is that a good idea? Are other groups are doing that. What are neighbour groups doing, what is the federal government think we should be doing about this?'

"And then there's other groups that don't have environmental stewardship as part of their mandate. They might be saying 'maybe we should partnering with NACC, to say that while we are doing a development proposal we can be talking to you about what needs to happen in terms of environmental stewardship.'"

There are still people that are turned off by anything that might be considered "greeny". How does NACC help bring those people on board?

"I guess the obvious one is through dialog, to demonstrate that nothing is never an us and them situation, everything is always 'what do we have in common here?'. 

"And you can go to someone who's saying 'I want to fish or hunt here.' 

No problem. Let's make sure you can fish and hunt in the future too, so let's find ways to do it sustainably.  

"So how do we make sure that no matter what we're doing, we're doing it in a sustainable manner so that things are around in the future? 

"You look for commonalities there; it's all about 'Well I want to keep doing what I'm doing' or 'I want my kids or grandkids to be able to grow up and be able to fish or hunt or whatever'.

"So I think that's where everyone wants the same thing."

NACC is located at 201 Lester Avenue. Drop in if you're interested in learning more or becoming a member, or call them on 9938 0100.

All Decor currently offering 7 day laying

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For a limited time All Decor are offering clients 7 day laying on any floor coverings purchased from existing stock. 

That means you can head in store, grab some new carpet, and have it installed in your home or office within a week. 

All Decor are in the big blue building along the North West Coastal Highway. They supply a large range of blinds, wall paper, timber flooring, vinyl planks, vinyl, carpet and more. 

They also offer free measures and quotes. 

They're open Monday to Saturday and can be reached on 9964 4233. 


Three year old girl is ok after being hit by vehicle

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A child is doing fine after an incident yesterday that could have ended a lot worse. 

According to witnesses, around 3 pm yesterday a young girl was hit by a vehicle in Bluff Point on the North West Coastal Highway. 

Police say a mother and her child were waiting to cross the road when it appears the young child has run out onto the road. 

The driver of a passing minivan had seen the child and attempted to take evasive action swerving away. Police say the child hit the side of the minivan. 

The 3 year old girl only received minor injuries, but mother and child were taken to Geraldton Regional Hospital as a precaution. 

The child had a blood lip, but Police say they believe the injuries are not serious or life threatening. 

Regarding the confusion of businesses continuing to trade during the Yellow Alert on Friday night

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There was a little confusion on Friday night as the cyclone approached. 

Everything Geraldton published the alerts that were relevant from DFES, and announcements from local authorities, businesses, and organisations as they became available. The response from the City of Greater Geraldton team was also very thorough, providing sand bags and warnings to the community. 

Given the massive reach of the internet, many people now stay alert to unfolding things like this online and through their iPhones than through legacy methods like radio and TV. 

But there was some confusion over the YELLOW ALERT status. Since the incident there have been inaccurate media reports on what YELLOW ALERT means, and businesses who chose to follow Police instructions, and those who did not follow Police instructions have publicly responded. 

We did some digging during and after the YELLOW ALERT to make sure the information we shared was accurate, and this is what we have discovered. 

According to DFES:

  • Blue Alert means prepare for dangerous weather
  • Yellow Alert means take action and get ready to go to shelter
  • Red Alert means go to shelter immediately

DFES has a large list of things to do at each level of these alerts. For the purpose of this article we won't be covering them all.

However, we will mention that it says for Blue: "Find out when shops and businesses will close, and when to collect your children from school." And for Yellow: "Be aware that shops will now be closing." Announcements on Friday from DFES when we went Yellow said "Be aware shops MAY now be closing."

Note that this is not an explicit statement that all shops must close during a Yellow Alert. Simply that during the Yellow Alert period, shops will/may be closing. 

If it was categorically illegal to be open during the Yellow alert period, shops would need to close during the BLUE ALERT stage to make sure they didn't break the law. It IS illegal to be out and about during a RED ALERT stage though, so businesses by definition will need to close at some point during the YELLOW ALERT stage to be ready if RED ALERT happens.  

We rang DFES to clarify where they stood on the matter. They couldn't give us a clear answer straight away, but rang back shortly afterwards and stated that there IS a requirement for everyone to be closed during a RED ALERT, but not explicitly during the YELLOW alert stage. 

However, there is more information you need before you jump on the Police for telling businesses to close during the Yellow Alert. 

Is it true that you can get fined $50,000 for trading during a Yellow alert? 

Under the Emergency Management Act 2005 section 71  that covers "Powers of police to direct closure of places and concerning movement and evacuation" states:

For the purpose of emergency management during an emergency situation or state of emergency, the most senior police officer present in the emergency area may direct the owner, occupier or the person apparently in charge of any place of business, worship or entertainment in the emergency area to close that place to the public for the period specified in the direction.

And Section 86 of the same act, which covers penalties, states:

Failure to comply with direction
A person given a direction under section 47, 67, 70, 71 or 75 must comply with the direction. Penalty:
(a)  a fine of $50 000;
(b)  for each separate and further offence committed by the person under the Interpretation Act 1984 section 71, a fine of $5 000. 

A state of emergency was actually enacted by the State Emergency Coordinator at 0900 on Friday, while Geraldton was still in the Blue Alert phase. This means that you needed to follow Police instructions regardless of the colour of alert. 

So it's not the fact that your business is open during a Yellow Alert that is the problem per say. 

It is when you fail to comply with Police directions during a state of emergency that you can be fined, whether Blue, Yellow, Red or whatever alert is in place. 

Police were very clear about their directions to businesses to close. 

They posted on their own Twitter account, (which has the authorised blue tick so you know it's them), that all businesses needed to close. Their message was re-broadcast through Everything Geraldton's website, social media channels and app, and the Geraldton Guardian's Facebook page. AND the Police got on the phones and rang as many businesses as they could. 

The Everything Geraldton Facebook post ALONE reached over 38,000 people. Police couldn't have reached more people if they had gone live on every TV and radio station in the Mid West. 

Given the devastation that the cyclone had just had on Carnarvon, authorities weren't taking any chances with people's lives as the cyclone was bearing down on Geraldton.

Thankfully, Geraldton got nothing more than a strong breeze, a bit of rain and some lightning. Because we avoided destruction some folks have responded with claims that the level of preparation for the storm was over the top. 

But once a cyclone is on your doorstep it's too late to start preparing. 

Had anyone been injured or killed because they were traveling home when the cyclone hit, those same complainers would have demanded more had been done to avoid tragedy. 

Harriers hot to go

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Geraldton Harriers Club will be having their registration day on the Geraldton foreshore near the Dome Café this Sunday.

The family oriented running and walking club will be signing up new members from 10.00am until midday.

The Committee will be available to help people register and answer any questions about membership.

The Club has events for people of all abilities and offers the opportunity for members to enjoy activities at some of Geraldton’s best kept secrets.

President Jason Joyner is excited about welcoming new members and growing the junior ranks.

“Harriers has grown into one of Geraldton’s best known community organisations because of its family-friendly approach and affordable membership.” he said.

Existing members are encouraged to re-register online utilising the link from the club’s website and tell friends about the benefits of being a Geraldton Harrier.

Geraldton Harriers promotes health and wellbeing, through running and walking events in a social and competitive atmosphere, where members of all ages and ability can participate.

The first two events of the season are free and untimed, so a great opportunity to come down and check out the club if you missed last Saturday.

For 2015 Membership, Fixtures and Club information visit www.geraldtonharriers.com

$10 000 grants celebrate national icons; closes 20 March

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GRANTS UP TO $10 000 are available to community groups in Durack until March 20.

“You just have to celebrate your national heritage icons,” Melissa Price, Member for Durack said.

“I hope that each national heritage site in Durack will benefit from a grant. Shark Bay is planning a celebration next year to commemorate 400 years since the landing by Dirk Hartog, and Ningaloo and the Kimberly hold festivals and events to promote their sites and icons.

“The Batavia story on the Abrolhos and the work undertaken about this ship wreck through the Geraldton Museum presents another opportunity that may benefit from a grant application.

“Then there is Wilgie Mia Ochre Mine in the Midwest, referred to as the oldest mine in the world.”

National heritage sites in Durack include:

  1. Batavia Shipwreck Site and Survivor Camps Area 1629 - Houtman Abrolhos
  2. Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula)
  3. Dirk Hartog Landing Site 1616 - Cape Inscription Area
  4. Purnululu National Park
  5. Shark Bay, Western Australia
  6. The Ningaloo Coast
  7. The West Kimberley
  8. Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Ochre Mine

“I strongly encourage community organisations such as historical societies, Indigenous groups, National Trust groups, and ‘Friends-of’ groups to consider making an application very quickly.”

Applications for funding close on 20 March 2015.

http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/grants-and-funding/community-heritage-icons-grants

Rotary WA Young Drivers Awareness Program

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Geraldton Rotary Clubs in partnership with the RAC and the WA Police are working together to decrease serious injury and deaths in our young drivers who represent a disproportionate number of deaths on our roads.

The program, the first for regional areas, will be held in Geraldton at Towns Football Club on Wednesday 18 March commencing at 9.25am sharp.

120  Y10 and Y11 students will receive education on how to to prepare them better for the challenges faced upon getting their drivers licence.

The program is made up of 6 interactive sessions which are run concurrently through the day, 9.30am – 2pm.

  • Police-The law and driving
  • RAC- My wheels – Insurance,Finances, ANCAP ratings
  • Plan B – Choices- social gatherings, back up plans, drugs, alcohol and Fatigue
  • Crash survivor–One moment can change your life
  • Distraction, risk and hazards– Inattention, risks and hazards
  • Braking distances- Practical demonstration , children will not be in any vehicle

The program has been designed to be interactive, thought provoking, confronting, challenging and fun.

Why is  Rotary so passionate about this program?  We care about the lives of young people.  Regionally we see too any fatalities on our roads, we have witnessed the heartbreak from families and friends when losing a loved one. 

If we can provide education, then hopefully we raise awareness of safety and we can save more lives on our road. 

Contact person: Rotarian Di Gilleland 0419 854 413

Multi-cultural child care opportunities

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Parents and carers of all cultures are invited to a free information session about child care on Thursday 19 March, supporting Harmony Week.

Questions different cultures may have about child care include:

  • Why is childcare called ‘education and care’?
  • Does child care consider my culture?
  • What are the different types of child care?
  • Can I set up my own child care?

Come to the Child and Parent Centre – Rangeway’s temporary location at the OSCCA Building, Ramshaw Place Geraldton from 9.30 to 11am. A crèche service is available for parents attending the information session. To book your place call 0488020078 or email cpc@edcentre.wa.edu.au.

This activity supports the Regional Children’s Services Plan, a State wide initiative occurring across nine regional areas of Western Australia, to develop a more strategic, long-term approach to children’s services for 0 to 12 year olds in the region.

The project is funded by The Department for Local Government and Communities through the Royalties for Regions Regional Community Child Care Development Fund, which was established to support the development of sustainable models of regional community managed education and care services that meet the needs of families living in regional Western Australia. 

Child Australia is coordinating the Regional Children’s Services Plan project in two of the nine WA regional areas, Peel and the Midwest.

Organisations collaborating with Child Australia to deliver this event are the Midwest Multicultural Mothers Group, Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre through the Child and Parent Centre, Bright Stars Family Day Care and other members of the Midwest Education and Care Services Network.

For further information:

Tina Holtom, Director of Communications and Partners, Child Australia Inc. Tel: 92706636

Even Better News for REDHILL 2015

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This is the Redhill Experience and we want YOU to be a part of it. The Rotary Club of Geraldton Greenough are thrilled to announce their discounted special for group bookings, competitions they have available and much more. Get the Redhill Experience now and get a bargain.

*Redhill Group Discount:

Every 5 tickets purchased for the 2015 Red Hill concert will entitle you to receive 1 free ticket at all ticket outlets. 

*Stunning Sterling Silver pendant:

All tickets purchased will go into the draw to win a stunning Sterling Silver Pendant with a white Broome Pearl valued at $590, thanks to Leon Baker Jewellers. 

*Phil Emmanuel - Guitar sensation and brother of Tommy will be appearing as another act.

*A bus will be operating and seats can be booked at the CD Centre for your convenience. 

Don't miss the action this month on the 28th of March at the Redhill Farm in Chapman Valley. Tickets are only $85 and children under 12 accompanied by an adult get in for free.

Tickets are available at the QPT Box Office, Geraldton Cd Centre, Wintersun Hotel and Smartmart Wonthella.

The day my teacher hit me

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1988. The year of our bicentenary. The year Home and Away launched. The year the 50m penalty was introduced in the VFL.

I was seven years old and attending a small christian school in Joondalup. My family had recently moved from Victoria, and I was in the second grade in a classroom that included year ones, twos and threes. 

This particular day was like any other. I was sitting towards the rear of the class where the twos and threes sat, or perhaps I was sitting with the smart kids. 

The teacher gave an instruction for everyone to be quiet. 

Everyone was quiet. A little time passed, and I spoke to a peer sitting next to me about something I deemed important. 

The teacher heard me. She asked me to stand up and come out of the class with her. She was completely calm. No anger or frustration at all. 

She explained that I had spoken after she had given clear instructions to everyone to be quiet, and now I was going to be getting the cane. 

There was a consequence for my decision.

I was in complete shock. My mother had smacked me plenty of times. But never for the first time you disobeyed her. She only did it when she was a ball of frustrated rage at her whits end, so you could try and gauge how much you could push her. 

But this teacher was not angry at me. She instructed me to bend over and pull my pants down. I was hit once or twice with a stick of some description. Then it was over. 

I fought back the tears as I returned to the class. 

And I never got the cane again. Nor was I disrespectful towards my teachers for the rest of my school life (more or less).

Now, I'm not advocating for smacking children. I don't smack my own, and I have heard too many stories where children were beaten mercilessly by teachers who clearly needed to be locked away themselves. So I certainly don't commend hitting as an intrinsically good way of training children. 

However, what became very clear to me from this teacher's actions were two things:

1. I knew where I stood. 

2. She meant what she said. 

It was very clear what the consequences were for certain courses of action. There was no ambiguity. The punishment dished out was not dependant on the teacher's mood that day, or her blood sugar level, or whether I had had a good track record up until that point.

Action = Consequence. 

So in choosing how I was to behave in the future I had a clear understanding of what the consequences would be for any action I might take. 

I believed what she said. I listened carefully when she spoke because I knew she meant what she said. From then on, she had my respect. 

Being Consistent

Since becoming a Father, I have learned to maintain a level of predictability and consistency with my children. 

When it's time for them to hop off the computer, for example, I used to have to tell them many times. They would ignore or refuse the first request. They would argue or flat out disobey. I would repeat the instruction. Then I would repeat it again. Then I would threaten. Then I would threaten in a more stern voice. Then I would argue some more. Then I would have to physically drag them away... you get the picture. 

After a while I realised that by not being clear with the consequences the first time I said something I was actually TRAINING my kids to not believe me, and to just do what they felt like. So one day I said (something along the lines of), "Turn the Macs off or you won't be allowed on them for the entire weekend." They didn't respond, so the punishment was inflicted. I didn't raise my voice, despite their protesting. And I didn't argue. I just pointed out that they had been told what the consequence would be, and they were old enough to understand (4 and 6). It was unpleasant for them. They informed my that they hated me and I was the worst Dad in the world. And I took no pleasure in punishing them. But we all made it through alive. 

The next time I said turn off the Macs, they paused for a moment, remembered that I meant what I said, and turned them off. Now, (most of the time) I just have to give an instruction once and they comply. 

I don't have to get angry, they aren't confused as to whether I mean what I say or not. Everyone is happier.

They're not mindless drones, by any measure. They negotiate, ask for more time, and try and explain why Minecraft is good for them. But they listen to my instructions. 

They believe I mean what I say, and I have their respect. 

So what's this got to do with anything?

As I sat in court a few weeks ago listening to a bunch of different cases come before the magistrate, I was blown away with how much like a frustrated parent he was. People who had been breaking VROs, people who had been stealing, people who had been drink driving and wanted their E plates...

He would constantly berate each person who came before him, before giving them absolutely no consequence for their crime other than a threat that if they did it again they could maybe expect something more serious. 

I was flabergasted.

So they basically did the wrong thing. They KNEW they did the wrong thing. This WASN'T THE FIRST TIME they had done the wrong thing. Yet STILL they were granted their E plates, spared a prison sentence, or just generally let off virtually scott free. 

I despaired for our community at large. 

I felt sorry for the Police that had worked so damn hard to catch these people committing crimes in the first place. 

I reflected on my own parenting, and how by being inconsistent and having no clear consequence for behaviour, it was MY fault my kids continued disobeying. 

In the latest "E Watch" newsletter sent out by Geraldton Police, Senior Sergeant Martin Haime reflected on the increase in burglaries around Geraldton, and said regarding the culprits: "many of our charged offenders are repeat customers who seem to have little respect for the police, the community and the justice system."

He did not blame the justice system, but in my opinion it's quite clear why these folk don't respect the justice system... The justice system is like a parent who makes idle threats and raises their voice.

Those parents never get any respect. 

Enrolments now open at St Francis Xavier Primary School for Kindergarten in 2016

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Enrolments now open at St Francis Xavier Primary School for Kindergarten in 2016.

Children born between July 1 2011 and June 30 2012 are invited to enrol for Kindy in 2016.

The program is offered by an experienced Early Childhood Teacher to children who are turning 4 during the above dates.

It is held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am – 2:50pm.

The program is grounded in Early Childhood Education beliefs and practices immersed in a Catholic environment. There are no Catholic/non Catholic criteria for enrolling but baptised Catholic children do get priority if there is a waiting list.

Applicants must be fully supportive of the objectives and ethos of Catholic education.

For a flyer on the current day to day running of the program and fee information see http://www.sfxpsgeraldton.wa.edu.au/khandbook.html

An enrolment form is available on our website: http://web.sfxpsgeraldton.wa.edu.au/enrolment.html or by phoning 9921 1711 or email admin@sfxpsgeraldton.wa.edu.au