Are you looking for after school care for the kids?
Turtle Cove are offering you and your family an exciting opportunity for after school care at Allendale Primary, beginning Monday 2nd November 2015.
The hours are 3pm – 6pm, and places are limited!
To enrol, give Turtle Cove Strathalbyn a call on 9964 7999.
How well do you know Geraldton? Take this quiz to test your knowledge
Read MoreHigh school students in Geraldton have been the subject of a strange experiment over the last decade or so.
There used to be two seperate public high schools in Geraldton, John Willcock and Geraldton Senior College.
The experiment was to send just years 8 and 9 (and later year 7 as well) to John Willcock, and years 10, 11 and 12 to Geraldton Senior.
After all this time, no one seems to have been monitoring the success of the experiment, and today the state government finally announced the experiment was over, starting from 2019.
Have your say on what you think about the decision in the Poll above. (click here if you can't see it.)
The full press release from Ian Blayney's office follows:
Two schools to cater for students from years 7 to 12 from 2019
Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has welcomed Education Minister Peter Collier’s announcement in relation to the future of John Willcock College and Geraldton Senior College, which will both expand to take students from years 7 to 12 from 2019.
“This is an exciting announcement.
“I’ve listened, the government has listened and the wishes of the community have been met,” said Mr Blayney.
Education Minister Peter Collier said the move followed community consultation last year about public secondary schooling in the key regional centre.
"It was clear parents want a continuous secondary education for their children, rather than having separate middle and senior schools," Mr Collier said.
Under the changes, both colleges will offer a broad curriculum with Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) options and vocational education and training.
About $20 million will be invested in John Willcock College to provide a new arts facility and medical centre, upgrade design and technology facilities, and provide new staff areas, change rooms, toilets and a cafeteria.
A new academic extension program for students from years 7 to 10 will start in 2020.
"The extension program will provide students with a clear direction in their studies as they move into years 11 and 12 and on to university," the Minister said.
At Geraldton Senior College, about $5 million will be spent on specialist facilities, classrooms, an upgraded heritage building, along with the refurbishment of former residential college buildings, change rooms and toilets.
New local intake boundaries for each school have been drafted, to ensure a broad mix of students at both schools.
"Each school will provide a high quality education for a cross section of the Geraldton community," Mr Collier said.
Fact File
On Sunday 25th October 2015, Geraldton Police arrested a 15 year old male from Rangeway on a Return to Prison Warrant.
It is alleged that the juvenile male breached his parole resulting in the warrant being issued for his arrest.
The juvenile male did not face court.
On Friday 23rd October 2015 while conducting targeted patrols of Rangeway, Geraldton Police stopped a vehicle on Diosma Street.
As a result, a 26 year old male from Utakarra was arrested and charged with Steal Motor Vehicle and 3 x Stealing.
These offences are alleged to have occurred between 26th September 2015 and 14th October 2015.
The male will appear at Geraldton Magistrates Court.
In the early hours of Friday 23rd October 2015 while conducting targeted patrols of Spalding, Geraldton Police located a male on the corner of Broome Street and Mitchell Street.
The 33 year old male from Spalding was subsequently arrested and charged with Burglary and Commit an Offence in a Dwelling and Stealing which Police allege occurred on Thursday 15th October 2015.
The male will appear at Geraldton Magistrates Court.
On Friday 23rd October 2015, Geraldton Police stopped a vehicle on Rifle Range Road, Rangeway.
One of the occupants, a 28 year old male from Rangeway was arrested and charged with 2 x Stealing and Possessing an Article with Intent to Injure or Disable.
These offences are alleged to have occurred between the 5th October 2015 and 23rd October 2015.
A second occupant, a 24 year old male from Spalding was arrested and charged with 2 x Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm, Steal Motor Vehicle and Obstruct Public Officer.
These offences are alleged to have occurred between the 6 th November 2014 and 23rd October 2015.
Both males will appear at Geraldton Magistrates Court.
The Australian Government welcomes today’s announcement from the Northern Agricultural Catchment Council that five local groups will share in $46,725 in grants under the National Landcare Programme.
Grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 have been awarded through the Northern Agricultural Catchment Council’s Coastal Community Grants Programme to five groups to deliver a range of projects that will help protect the region’s marine and coastal ecosystems. Projects include production of fish identification slates to assist monitoring of the Jurien Bay snorkel trail, weed control and revegetation of degraded dunes in Geraldton, Cliff Head and Guilderton, and coastal hazard mapping activities.
The Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price, said that over the coming months, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council will support local groups to carry out important on-ground works to address some of the crucial environmental issues facing the region.
“The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council has a proven track record in managing projects that consistently deliver good environmental outcomes in the Northern Agricultural region,” Ms Price said.
Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, said that the National Landcare Programme funding is supporting local landcare networks and other community-based groups to help restore local ecosystems and protect natural assets so the local community can to enjoy the long-term benefit of a healthy and livable environment.
“The Northern Agricultural region is well known for its spectacular coastal environment,” Mr Hunt said.
“Through the Coastal Community Grants Programme, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council is actively supporting local communities to play a direct role in helping preserve its natural values.”
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said that the Government is ensuring that funding is invested locally to deliver real change that safeguards our environment and the productive capacity of our land and coasts.
“This is crucial because farmers, fishers, landcarers and community groups know what works best for their properties, environment and their communities,” Mr Joyce said.
The Australian Government is investing $2 billion to help support better natural resource management across Australia. As part of this commitment $1 billion will be invested through the National Landcare Programme, including more than $450 million directed in regional funding through to Australia’s 56 natural resource management organisations.
This funding is part of the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council’s commitment to invest over 20 per cent of their National Landcare Programme funding to help support local projects such as these as well as other local community engagement activities.
For more information about the National Landcare Programme go to www.nrm.gov.au.
National Landcare Programme – Northern Agricultural Region – Coastal Community Grants – Recipients
Congratulations to the previous Mayor and Councilors for their efforts, putting up their hands for the benefit of our great City.
But the new Mayor and Councilors should prepare themselves for abuse from ratepayers on the newly introduced rubbish tip charges.
Please, new Mayor and Councilors, be brain smart, The Aquarena and Library are community assets, but run as a loss. The rubbish Tip is an essential asset that needs to be used. Go back 30 years when charges were introduced, the bush surrounding Geraldton became unsightly with rubbish dumped everywhere. As ratepayers, we have been hit hard in the past. Maybe this is why we have so many changes at Council elections.
Please, think about this important issue as we need to promote this Great City and not be the Dirtiest City in the West.
Kim Parker,
Geraldton Ratepayer
The Mid West Regional Blueprint process has delivered funding for its first major transformational project - the development of an innovative tourism precinct in the Kalbarri National Park.
The announcement of the provision of $20 million under Royalties for Regions (through the Mid West Development Commission’s MWIP) for the project was announced by the Premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett in Kalbarri today.
The project includes two breathtaking skywalks at the Inyaka Wookai Watju site, formally known as the West Loop, the completion of the sealing of the Loop / Z Bend Road and the redevelopment of the Z Bend and Meanarra Hill tourist sites.
The project is the direct result of the strategic planning process undertaken by the Mid West Development Commission (MWDC) in conjunction with the Mid West Tourism Alliance. Its Mid West Tourism Development Strategy identified the project as one of six key tourism priority projects that would deliver transformational growth, positioning the Mid West as a nature based tourism destination of choice and building a stronger profile for the region.
MWDC Chair the Hon Murray Criddle said the announcement is a twofold win for the region.
“The Mid West can now play a bigger role in Western Australia’s tourism industry with the further ‘game changing’ product development of an already significant tourist attraction, Mr Criddle said.
“The creation of this world class visitor attraction in Kalbarri will help revitalise the region’s tourism economy. The project is modestly projected to increase Kalbarri visitor numbers by 10% which could result in an extra $15 million in annual tourist spending and benefit tourism operators and service industries in Kalbarri and other parts of the Mid West.
Not to be missed, however, is the importance of this project being the FIRST major announcement stemming from the significant strategic work undertaken through the Mid West Regional Investment Blueprint.
“The greatest opportunity now exists for the private sector to become involved in developing more adventure tourism activities in and around Kalbarri and the opening up of new tourism markets,” Mr Criddle said.
When you think of Geraldton, the first thing that comes to mind may not necessarily be antiques, but our friends at GSB Antiques & Collectables want to change that. They have a wide range of quality goods to cater for everyone’s tastes, and at reasonable prices.
Give them a call, and speak to Kevin or Sharon on (08) 9921 8559 or pop in and have a look at their shop in the Bill Sewell Complex on Chapman Rd.
Please be advised:
AGM & next general meeting for SBCG
Wednesday 28th October
5.30pm-7pm
Macedonia Society of Geraldton Hall, Chapman Rd Glenfield.
The agenda for both meetings will be sent to members on our mailing list, during this week. If you would like to add an item to the agenda or be added to the mailing list, please contact our secretary ASAP by email - admin@sbcg.org.au.
To celebrate 150 years of The Salvation Army, Geraldton Salvos will hold an open day on Sunday 25th October 12 noon till 4:30. Lots of FREE activities including a BBQ , jumping castle and cake. (See poster for more details)
Member for Durack Melissa Price is encouraging families in Durack to apply for the Australian Government’s new Nanny Pilot Programme, with applications only open for a few more days.
Ms Price said the pilot will greatly benefit families who struggle to access child care because of where they live or the hours they work.
“We know the cost and accessibility of child care is a barrier for parents in Durack who want to work or work more hours or those who work shifts—like police officers, hospitality workers, nurses and emergency workers,” Ms Price said.
“The Nanny Pilot Programme will help families meet the cost of using a nanny, making an additional form of subsidised care available to families.
“This two-year $246 million pilot will help the Government determine how to provide more equitable support for those families to access child care in their family home that meets their circumstances.
“This is a great opportunity for parents who need to use a nanny, and I encourage families in Durack to put in their applications as soon as possible so they don’t miss out. Families have until 30 October to apply.”
Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham said the Nanny Pilot Programme was part of the Australian Government’s Jobs for Families package.
“The Australian Government is investing almost $40 billion in child care over the next four years, including an extra $3.5 billion into the Jobs for Families package to make child care simpler, more affordable and more flexible for families,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Our Jobs for Families package will encourage an estimated 240,000 families to increase their involvement in paid work, including almost 38,000 jobless families.”
Families are eligible for the Nanny Pilot Programme if they earn less than $250,000, both parents (or in the case of a sole parent family, the sole parent) work, train or study at least eight hours a fortnight, and at least one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Applications for families close on Friday 30 October.
For further information visit: dss.gov.au/nannypilot or by phoning 1800 249 873 (business hours)
9 Mile through to Greenough is fishing well with Mulloway to 10-14kg and Tailor from 50-70 cm
Greenough 1-2 point are also holding plenty of tailor, South gate has been the hot spot at the moment with 3 mulloway caught in three mornings all over the 15kg mark School mackies are still coming from this area with consistent catches of Tailor.
ROSNE WITH A 19KG MULLOWAY
Separation Point is also fishing well for whiting and tailor and if you’re after a feed of herring PointMoore is the place to be, also Squid have been found in this area.
Drummonds cove has also been a hot spot for tailor with anglers catching there bag limit regularly
JONO AND A MATES BAGGING OUT ON THE TAILOR
ROSNE WITH ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE MULLOWAY
With the Greenough river out of action people are turning to the chapman river and it hasn’t disappointed with good fish from the 35cm mark and Giant herring cruising the river as well, please be mindful that the Chapman is a small system and should be fished with respect as cannot handle the pressure of fishing with the Greenough river out of action.
DANIAL WITH A SOLID 35CM PB BREAM ON HARD BODY LURE
IZZY WITH A THUMPER BREAM ONYA MATE
The Fisherman’s wharf has started to fire up with big bream to 35cm holding tight to structure and tailor to 4ocm around the light feeding on baitfish there are also Big Cod around but do not keep these fish as they a Demersal
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FISH REPORT WRITTEN BY
CRAIG WISE
20 ANZAC TERRACE GERALDTON WA
08 99216822
THIS IS AN OPEN LETTER TO CYCLISTS RIDING ON HEAVY HAULAGE ROUTES DURING PEAK PERIODS.
I am an open minded wife of a farmer who is currently carting canola to Geraldton.
I love physical activity, slow down to pass cyclists safely and value humanity.
The emotion I observed in my husband whilst listening to the ABC Rural Report this morning was overwhelming. Truck drivers and farmers are very connected to land and life. They have families and they feel profound responsibility. They quite simply do not want to kill someone.
We all have a right to use the roads. We are all happy to share. We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our fellow human beings.
I would like to invite cyclists to come ride with us. The passenger seat in our road train is empty and you are welcome to sit in it and experience being part of 79t moving down a tired road without sealed verges at 90km/hr. Passing another truck with 1m between you is something to behold. Heaven forbid doing so over a bridge. Seeing a cyclist evokes the kind of stress that few would admit to but I can tell you that it is very real.
I would like to encourage other farmers and truck drivers to make the same offer. This is not an opportunity to berate each other. This is an opportunity to practice radical honesty. This is jumping in the passenger seat to connect with another human being who is having a different experience to you whilst using the same piece of infrastructure. Another human being who has just as much right to be there as you. Another human being who is genuinely concerned for your welfare. Another human being who has a family. Another human being who doesn’t want to end up broken after taking someone’s life whilst trying to make a living.
We all have rights. We also have responsibilities to each other.
A suggestion has been made that reducing the speed limit by 30km/hr would make our roads safer. Assuming this suggestion is limited only to heavy haulage vehicles, I would argue that it may make them more dangerous. The roads in question are well worn and do not have large sealed verges. Slower moving heavy vehicles would encourage smaller vehicles to overtake in less than desirable locations on a road that is precarious at best. “The braking distance of a loaded road train is about 70 metres if the vehicle is travelling at 60 kilometres per hour. That distance increases to 170 metres when the speed is 90 Kph.”http://bit.ly/1kxQpiC. Yes – that is a significant difference but I’m not sure if 70 meters is really enough time to stop on these roads and I would question the accuracy of these figures. I have attended a defensive driving school and stood on the side of a road whilst an ex-policeman/paramedic drove a car at 110km/hr and braked to a stop. None of us guessed the distance it would take accurately. We are literally talking about the difference between dead and deader.
Agriculture and farmers are the reason why Chapman Valley Road and Morrell Road exist. The licence fees paid by small vehicle users or land rates of those residing on rural residential blocks in Chapman Valley could not possibly cover the cost of maintaining such infrastructure.
It costs $12 314.10 to licence our roadtrain (prime mover with two trailors) which carts grain to Geraldton.
Last financial year, our farming enterprise outlayed $21 401.37 to the Department of Transport for annual licences.
The typical family with two 4WD vehicles and a trailor pays $1636.35 annually to licence these vehicles. Bicycles incur no licence fees.
This is not an open letter written to antagonise or point the finger at anyone. I am appealing to all road users to walk a mile in each other’s shoes and seriously consider whether riding bicycles on Heavy Haulage routes during the harvest period is an absolutely necessary activity. It is only 10 weeks of the year.
Please think about your comments - lets find a balance together through mutual respect.
Come ride with us – I’m about to jump in right now!
Renaye Stokes
City of Greater Geraldton’s Michele McGinity, Jamie Robertson from 361 Degrees, Janell Kopplhuber from the City of Greater Geraldton and Johnathon Woolsrey and Debra Zanella from Hope Community Service.
The City of Greater Geraldton and Hope Community Services received national recognition at the International Association of Public Participation - IAP2 Conference for projects enabling the community to have their say.
The City won the ‘Smart Budget’ award for the Community Summit held in March earlier this year.
City Mayor, Shane Van Styn, said the priority list of non-mandatory services co-created by the community during the Summit was an important document Council used to inform the 2015/16 budget.
“In the past months the City and Council has been impacted by reductions in State and Federal Government grants, increased utility costs, a growing backlog of infrastructure renewals and an outcry from the community to keep rate rises down,” he said.
“The priority list was an important piece of information that assisted Council in deciding which services we will continue to deliver and those we will reduce or discontinue altogether when determining the 2015/16 budget.”
Hope Community Services and 361 Degrees won the Highly Commended Award for Health for their community engagement process around the establishment of the Hope Springs Community Farm, a social enterprise in Walkaway that provides professional and life skills training for people affected by alcohol and other drug issues in a farm setting.
Hope Community Services CEO, Debra Zanella, said in order to be successful, the project would have to be of benefit to, and involve the whole community.
“We were encouraged by the support we got from Geraldton residents, local community groups, teachers, members of the church and business owners. Over the last year we have striven to provide information in a way that was accessible to everyone, listen to input and address any concerns and we will continue to do so moving forward through six monthly updates on our progress to meeting our commitments to the community,” she said.
“To ensure this conversation continues we have established a Community Farm Reference Group comprised of community members, rehabilitation residents and staff, held a community workshop where information on the project was shared which resulted in a unique model for the farm that blended the complimentary elements of a community farm with the traditional therapeutic community model – a proposition unique in the rehabilitation sector in Australia.”
The City is pleased to see other organisations not only choosing to engage with the community but to be doing it so well.
“It is very encouraging to see organisations like Hope Community Services engaging so well with our community and congratulations on receiving national recognition for their efforts,” said Mayor Van Styn.
“I’d also like to congratulate City staff who were involved in the Summit and thank them for their dedication and ongoing commitment to engage with our community. It is great to see our City recognised for punching above our weight, at the national level.”
WA Labor Shadow Minister for Tourism, Corrective Services and Defence Issues, Paul Papalia will visit Geraldton in early November.
Paul was born in Bunbury and raised in Burekup. He joined the Navy at 15 years of age and remained in the military for 26 years.
During this time, Paul became a Navy Clearance Diver, served in the counter terrorist squadron of the Special Air Service Regiment and was deployed twice to Iraq on operations.
After leaving the military in 2004 he worked with his wife in small business and was elected to the Parliament in 2007
Agricultural Region MLC Darren West said he was delighted to have Paul Papalia in the MidWest for a two day visit on November 4 and 5 to meet with community groups and stakeholders.
“Investment in the Mid-West has virtually stopped under the Barnett Liberal/National Government and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to not only outline areas of need but also to also give stakeholders the opportunity to meet with the Shadow Minister,” he said.
Paul will be attending a “Pollies in the Pub” at the Camel Bar to answer questions and meet with members of the community. Everyone is welcome.
Mr West said that anyone interested in meeting with Paul at the “Pollies in the Pub should contact his office on 9964 1001.
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