Medical Cannabis will finally be grown in Australia

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It's finally legal to grow medicinally with new licences, but you still can't actually use it. 

Health Minister Sussan Ley said the Department of Health and the Therapeutic Goods Administration are considering downgrading it to a "controlled substance", making it similar to morphine.

Huff Po on the breaking news from the Australian Senate:

Australia has passed a medical marijuana bill to allow the cultivation of the drug, but the Greens say medical cannabis remains an illegal substance.
Health Minister Sussan Ley announced on Wednesday afternoon that amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act -- passed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday -- had also successfully passed through the Senate.
The bill would allow access to medicinal cannabis products for people suffering from serious illness, by legislating the growing of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. Products such as cannabis oil are used in the treatment of nausea during chemotherapy, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

Click here to read more. 

Mullewa Youth Centre gets overhaul

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The Mullewa Youth Centre is currently undergoing renovations and will re-open in April.

Mullewa Youth will be eagerly awaiting the reopening of the Mullewa Youth Centre in mid-April after the building undergoes a complete overhaul. 

The refurbishment involves upgrades to internal and external walls, the roof and gutters and the existing toilets whilst new flooring, air conditioning, kitchen cabinets, doors, windows and security screens will also be installed. 

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the refurbishment of the popular Youth Centre was a top priority for the community and long overdue. 

“Last year youth from Mullewa and the surrounding communities visited the Centre more than 6200 times after school or on Saturdays taking part in structured activities such as sporting competitions, music workshops or healthy cooking classes,” he said. 

“During the four school holiday periods the Centre is open up to 60 hours per week to provide important diversionary recreational activities for youth. 

“Refurbishment of the Mullewa Youth Centre was identified as the number one priority for Mullewa by the 10 Year Capital Works Plan Community Panel in 2013.” 

The City has allocated $150,000 in the 2015/16 Budget to undertake the refurbishment with products and services for the project being provided by ten local businesses. 

“Keeping with Council’s ongoing commitment to improve disability access and inclusion throughout the City region the building will also be fitted with disabled access and a disabled toilet,” said Mayor Van Styn. 

The Centre is currently closed to the public for the refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen before the school holiday in April 2016.

Police asking for assistance in identifying these people

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Do you recognise any of these people? Geraldton Police would like to speak with them regarding stealing investigations. Call 99234555

Playgroup and Activity Lists for Kids Aged 0-5 in Geraldton

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A question that is often asked by parents new to Geraldton is what playgroups or activities are on in town. Thankfully, Kidz Retreat recently published the following lists of everything that is currently happening in and around Geraldton in 2016:

 

Playgroups are more than just a great excuse to get out of the house; it turns out that attending regular sessions provides a host of benefits for both parents and children alike. I asked the owner of Kidz Retreat and author of the lists, Daneale Buckley, what exactly those benefits are.

What skills do children develop during playgroup? 

“The play and activities are directed at improving/enhancing the children’s skills. Children of all ages develop a wide range of skills when attending playgroups or activities, such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive skills, social and emotional skills.” 

What benefits parents and carers can get from playgroups? 

“There are a range of benefits for not only children but their parents/guardians who attend playgroup. It supports parents/guardians with separation anxiety, giving the opportunity to expand their social network and become friends with other families who have children around the same age, parents/guardians feel supported when communicating with others in the same situation as their own family. Most of all attending a playgroup or activities gives parents/guardians adult socialisation while children are interacting with their friends. Once looking into Childcare it helps with the transition if you know other families from playgroup who will be attending the same Childcare centre.”

How could regular attendance at playgroup help children when it comes time to transition to Child Care, Kindy or Pre-primary?

“Children become more confident when they are apart from their parents/guardian, which helps reduce separation anxiety when children are then required to attend either childcare or school.”

If you have ever been unsure of whether or not playgroups are right for you and your child, now you know the perks of attending one. We are lucky to have such a great variety of playgroups and activities available for our little ones to participate in, so matter your location, availability or budget, you are sure to find the perfect group for your family.

Special thanks to Daneale at Kidz Retreat for giving us permission to publish these lists. Be sure to check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with any future changes or additions.

Police want to talk to these people about stealing offences

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Do you recognise the people in the below photograph? Geraldton Police would like to speak with them about some stealing offences. If you recognise them please call Geraldton Police on 99234555. 

Geraldton Police: "Know them ? - they maybe able to assist us regarding stealing offences in Gero Shopping precinct -call us"

Bridge construction on Geraldton Mount Magnet Road

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The City wishes to advise that the remaining Abraham Street concrete bridge spans above the railway line will be lifted into place on Wednesday 24 February and Thursday 25 February 2016. 

The Geraldton Mount Magnet Road will remain open during this time however motorists are advised to exercise caution when entering the area and to obey all warning signs and direction from authorised traffic management personnel.

Unsolicited Bid Guidelines – Lands

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Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has welcomed the adoption of a new Unsolicited Bids Guideline for the sale or lease of state-owned land.

“As Western Australia’s population grows, so does the demand for land. The Barnett Government is committed to unlocking the potential of its Crown land holdings to accommodate this growth.

“The Department of Lands is leading the Government’s Land Asset Sales Program. This is an orderly and coordinated program of sales and of surplus and under-utelised land assets.

“The proceeds from these sales will be used to reduce State debt and return revenue to the State Government to benefit Western Australia now and into the future,” said Mr Blayney.

The Unsolicited Bid Guideline has been developed to provide a transparent and consistent framework to deal with unsolicited bids received through the government’s Land Asset Sales Program.

An unsolicited bid is a market led proposal put to government by the private sector, which has not been formally requested by the Government.

The Guideline has been developed after extensive consultation with stakeholders and the community, and is based on the approach adopted in other jurisdictions in Australia.

The Government is committed to promoting transparent and competitive processes in the sale or lease of state owned land, and ensuring unsolicited proposals put to it are appropriately assessed on public interest grounds.

We recognise that circumstances may occasionally arise where it may be beneficial to deal exclusively with one party outside of a competitive process – such as when the land is not required for core government business or will have a beneficial impact on the community or environment.

All unsolicited bids would be subject to thorough government approvals processes and require State Cabinet approval.

The new guideline provides a mechanism for government to access the private sector’s expertise and innovate ideas for the benefit of the community, and will open up development across the State.

A copy of the new Unsolicited Bid guideline can be downloaded from the Lands website. 

Point Moore Inundation Study

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Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has submitted his contribution to the City of Greater Geraldton’s Point Moore Inundation Study.

“I have submitted that I would be supportive of a Council decision to extend current leases.

“While I recognise that there is a risk of inundation at some time, I believe the risks can be well managed.

“Should Point Moore face the risk of serious flooding - due to a high tide and a cyclone coinciding – it is likely that there will be time available to evacuate residents, until the event has passed.

“Resident of Point Moore will need to consider carefully the risk to their home and property from inundation, and make calculated decisions. They will need to accept that insurance premiums are likely to me more costly and include disclaimers as to the level of cover.

“I am confident that providing there are open and honest discussions between the City and the Point Moore residents, any matters of contention can be resolved,” said Mr Blayney.

Grandparents Support Payment

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Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said today that he supports the important role the Government plays in providing much needed support for Grandparents who care for their Grandchildren on a fulltime basis.

“The Barnett Government has implemented a range of strategies to support Grand-carers, including the Grand-carers Support Scheme delivered in partnership with Wanslea Family Services.

“This Scheme was launched in November 2013, and is currently paying 1347 individual grandcarers with $1,196,800 in payments for 2481 grandchildren.

“Eligible Grand-carers are able to receive an annual payment of $400 for the first grandchild and $250 for each additional grandchild in their care.

“The Department of Local Government and Communities provides over $256,000 in recurrent funding for the Grandcare Service to provide a telephone information line offering one to one support as well as group activities for Grandcarers.

“In addition to the direct support payments to the Grandcarer, and the telephone line, additional service such as respite activities, counselling services, training workshops, home help and school tutoring, are offered.

“Grandcarers make a valuable contribution to the community and the Barnett Government continues to recognise the sacrifices and the great work these Grandparents make in order to provide a safe and stable home environment for their Grandchiildren.

“I am very pleased we are able to provide them with continued support, “ said Mr Blayney.

Wonthella Supa IGA have some SUPER news!

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Wonthella Supa IGA is very proud to announce they have been nominated for a MASSIVE 9 Awards for the State IGA Retailer of the Year. With the announcement of the State winners on 9th of April in Perth they are very excited to see how they go against the guys in Perth.

Wonthella Supa IGA are very honoured to get these nominations and would like to thank their staff for all their work to get them here and to their fantastic customers for their support through our transformation. We could not have done this without you.

Here's what they are up for- 

  • Store Transformation Award
  • Fresh Produce Award
  • Community Award
  • Service Award
  • Grocery and General Merchandise Award
  • Meat Department Award
  • Dairy Freezer Award
  • Team Member and Rising Star Award (our awesome Manager, Leanne)
  • Store of the Year Award
 

Annual General Meeting Year Ending 2015

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Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre invites you to an Annual General Meeting Year Ending 2015 on Tuesday 22nd March 2016, 6.30pm in the Function Room of Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre

Refreshments will be served after the meeting

RSVP to Grady Smith by Monday 14th March via grady@edcentre.wa.edu.au or (08) 9921 4477

Works begin on Geraldton’s newest development

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The initial stages of Geraldton’s newest and exciting development have begun with site works commencing on the Batavia Coast Marina stage two Station Square. 

Stage two of the Batavia Coast Marina development will see the addition of Station Square which will be situated on the stretch of land behind the old Railway Station, between Chapman Road and Foreshore Drive, and Forrest and Bayly Street. 

Station Square will feature a vibrant mixed-use plaza which will offer a new meeting destination and a range of activities including shops, eateries, public space, play and entertainment areas. 

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the new development not only opens up very exciting investment opportunities but is introducing another great open space for the Geraldton community. 

“This is a huge development and having another shared open space will be a great addition to our City,” he said. 

“Remediation works have begun on the site this week and we have seen artist’s impressions of what the new space is set to look like and it has definitely got the community buzzing. 

“We know how much potential this land has and our community is about to see the start of a very exciting venture.” 

Phase one of Station Square is expected to see 19 lots developed which includes a range of mixed use lots, residential apartments and single residential lots. An extension of Museum Place will also be constructed which will include a colonnade styled walkway and public car park. 

The project is part of the Batavia Coast Marina development, which is being progressed in partnership between the City, LandCorp and the Mid West Development Commission, with a funding contribution from Royalties for Regions. 

Batavia Coast Marina Stage 1 was completed in 2000 and saw the completion of waterfront promenades and boardwalks, linking the waterfront to the heart of the city. It also included 10 mixed residential and commercial lots, The Western Australian Museum Mid West Gallery and a hotel site. 

“The Batavia Coast Marina development is part of the City’s Foreshore Redevelopment project,” Mayor Van Styn said. 

“We all know how much our beautiful Foreshore it utilised and most recently we’ve seen the addition of the Esplanade, the Youth Precinct and the Multi User Facility which will be opened in the near future. 

“We have such an amazing coastline and we want to showcase it the best we possibly can, not just for tourism but for our community to enjoy.” 

LandCorp chief executive officer Frank Marra said the Station Square redevelopment would transform the disused six hectare site into a prime destination for residents and visitors to meet and socialise, supported by accommodation and a range of commercial opportunities such as shops and eateries. 

“In our experience, the best outcomes for a city and its residents are achieved when Government and local authorities work together to deliver the right balance of economic, social and environmental benefits,” Mr Marra said. 

“The Batavia Coast Marina redevelopment, together with its new Station Square, aims to offer the Mid West region an iconic destination that will meet the needs of the community for generations to come.” 

In preparation for civil works and construction of Batavia Coast Marina stage two, contractors have been on site from Monday 22 February to complete additional remediation works. 

Activity will be restricted to between 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and temporary fencing will be installed around the works area. 

The works are scheduled to take approximately eight weeks to complete and will prepare the Station Square at Batavia Coast Marina site for the phase one subdivision and roads/drainage construction in mid 2016. 

For more information you can visit http://www.landcorp.com.au/Industrial-and-Commercial/Batavia-Coast-Marina/

Emergency vehicle stolen from Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club

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The Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club has reached out to Everything Geraldton to ask for the public's assistance following a robbery overnight. The vehicle stolen is similar to the one pictured. 

STOLEN: "The Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club has had their Red Emergency Vehicle stolen (Polaris) some time during the night with first aid equipment attached to it, please keep a look out for it down the beach in the area or it may have been loaded onto a trailer and taken inland, if sighted please contact Lisa on 0417298296, Thank you"

Do you know what this worm-like creature is? - Video

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Sent in to EG:

"I would like to ask the public if anyone knows what the worm lookalike thing is as our son was was playing in the sand at camp over the weekend (just North of Buller River) and it gave him a bite - like a mozzie bite, small red lump about 3-4mm diameter but with a puncture wound on the middle like a small hole, he screamed and instant tears. I put ice and an antiseptic cream on it and it came good within a hour.
BUT, when I put this in a container, and put a stick near it, it would stand up like a snake would do defending itself, Hubby and I were like "why is it doing that" was weird. We thought worm too straight away, but we were curious to why it would defend itself like it did, and the pain and wound our Son got from it?"

- Alanna

Geraldton Dr sentenced to 4 years for manslaughter- eligible for parole in June

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Dr Chamari Liyanage was today sentenced to 4 years in prison over the killing of her husband Dr Dinendra Athukolara in 2014. 

Earlier today she was found not guilty on the charge of murder, but found guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter. 

She will be eligible for parole in June of this year, having already served 18 months in prison. 

$1 Rug Sale @All Decor

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For a limited time @All Decor you can
buy a rug for just $1.00, 
when you purchase any other rug in store
(The $1.00 rug needs to be selected from $1.00 section in All Decor)

All Decor has a great range of rugs available, 
in a huge range of colours and styles
– you are sure to find something to suit your style!

And many of the rugs available are on sale as well
– up to 50% off

Come into All Decor today, to take advantage of this great opportunity before they run out

Conditions Apply – See in store for details.

 

Alert - Fire Indian Ocean Dr

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This is on Indian Ocean Drive. They're turning traffic around, so take Brand if you're heading to or from Perth. 4:23pm

Thanks Taryn for the heads up.

 

 - Update

Indian Ocean Dr both directions from Lancelin Rd to Meadows Rd - CLOSED - bushfire.

- Main Roads

Recent First World War discoveries at the WA Museum – Geraldton

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Corporal James Davie Renner, 4th Divisional Signals Company, of Fremantle, Western Australia

Visitors to the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton will have the opportunity to view the Australian War Memorial’s extraordinary travelling exhibition Remember me: the lost diggers of Vignacourt from 27 February 2016. 

WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said it was a privilege to display the unique First World War exhibition, an exquisite collection of black and white images printed from the original glass-plate negatives, as part of the Museum’s Centenary of Service commemorative calendar. 

“The photographs being exhibited represent one of the most important and recent discoveries of material from the First World War,” Mr Coles said. 

“This is such a significant exhibition we are especially pleased that not only was itdisplayed at our Perth site, it is also traveling to our regions to ensure the widest possible audience can experience it.” 

During the First World War, a total of 32,231 Western Australians enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and saw active service at Gallipoli, the Western Front and Sinai-Palestine – some 6,800 never came home. The State raised 28th and 44th Battalions and the 10th Light Horse Regiment and, along with South Australia and Tasmania, contributed troops to five other units. 

The 80 photographs featured in the exhibition are part of The Louis and Antoinette Thuillier Collection, re-discovered in 2011 after sitting undisturbed for nearly a century in the attic of a farmhouse in the French village of Vignacourt. The soldiers in them were photographed by an enterprising husband-and-wife team, Louis and Antoinette Thuillier, who had set up a makeshift studio in their stable yard, just off the main street of Vignacourt. 

WA Museum – Geraldton Regional Manager Catherine Belcher said the images were printed onto postcards the soldiers sent to loved ones back home.

“The postcards were a treasured link to family amidst the horrors of war, and the Australian War Memorial has added several photographs of Western Australian soldiers to the tour not previously displayed in any other exhibition outside of WA,” Ms Belcher said. 

“Since the exhibition’s tour in WA commenced, eight more confirmed identifications of Western Australian soldiers have occurred. We encourage the public to help identify these unknown soldiers who had their photographs taken to send home to their families as postcards, but did not have their names recorded against the original glass plates. We would be thrilled to make another discovery in Geraldton”. 

The exhibition photographs were hand printed in the Australian War Memorial’s darkrooms from the original glass-plate negatives. Objects from the battlefields revealing what the Australians experienced and endured are also on display, while the original postcards included in the exhibition allow these soldiers to speak to us in their own words. 

The exhibition features prints of 80 of the more than 800 glass-plate negatives which were generously donated to the War Memorial by Mr Kerry Stokes AC in 2012. 

Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, said the enduring appeal of the photographic portraits is that they enable us to imagine the personalities and life stories. 

“The exhibition gives a vivid and insightful account of life behind the front lines in the village of Vignacourt, but it also speaks universally about the wartime experience of soldiers. The exhibition will provide Australians with the opportunity to connect with these remarkable photographs and the personal stories of camaraderie, loss and courage, behind many of the faces,” Dr Nelson said.

Remember me: the lost diggers of Vignacourt has been developed with the generous support of Mr Kerry Stokes AC, the Seven Network, Seven Group Holdings, and Wesfarmers. 

The exhibition is on display at the WA Museum – Geraldton from 27 February – 1 May 2016.