September 2009
Mannum, South Australia 5238
Issue number 39
Mannum Sport and Recreation Precinct Proposal Choosing the Future he Mannum Sport and Recreation Precinct proposal is a unique opportunity for Mannum to demonstrate it is capable of envisaging and building a viable future for the community and others who depend on its ongoing health and vitality. On one level, it is simply an opportunity to integrate a number of sports and recreation facilities on an existing location, which will then create further community synergies and opportunities that haven’t been considered yet. The opportunity is ‘unique’ because Mannum is characteristically a one-club town in each of the sporting pursuits involved. There are no competing interests or intra-code jealousies; each pursuit would be involved on its own terms and provide input according to their interests and their stake in the redevelopment. But there is a bigger prize at stake, a greater opportunity: the chance to show that Mannum can determine its future. Rural and regional areas the world over are fighting to retain their communities in the face of rapid and dramatic economic, social and environmental change. From young people seeking a more certain future elsewhere to companies closing their doors and government reducing services, the outflow of human and commercial capital seems impossible to stem. Some small communities are overwhelmed and broken by these external forces and wither away. Others have discovered the third ‘capital’ component of any economy: social capital. This is the capital that generates the cohesion, trust and collective purpose that enables smaller communities to not just survive but prosper in their own way, by their own definition.
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Once this was simply called ‘pulling together’, but today this sentiment is not enough. To survive, communities must become as strategically focussed as the global interests that threaten their very survival. Communities must learn to exploit the prevailing economic and political conditions to their benefit, to recognise opportunity in the most unlikely of times. The Federal Government has responded to the global financial crisis by bringing forward infrastructure spending and promoting ‘nation building’ as a way of maintaining the economy and safeguarding jobs. The Government is open to funding requests that contribute to the community on the widest possible front. The Mannum Sport and Recreation Precinct proposal is about ‘community building’. The current climate provides Mannum with the perfect opportunity to implement this proposal by sourcing major funding from beyond the community’s limited resources. The time is right. The Mannum Sport and Recreation Precinct proposal is not just about building on the good work of community and sporting groups over the past 20 years by consolidating and integrating facilities to provide a more efficient multi-sports venue. The aim is to create a regional hub for sporting activity, recreation and related community services for people young and old who would otherwise have to travel out of the area — or go without. It will incorporate rehabilitation facilities and services — typically for sports people but for aged-care residents and families as well — including a 25m heated indoor pool. Continued page 6
Walkie Talkies
Sounds By The River
16 Years and Still Walking
New River Festival At Mannum n all star line up headlines the inaugural ‘Sounds by the River’ one day festival to be staged at the picturesque Mary Ann Reserve at Mannum, on Saturday 24th October 2009. The festival starts at 3:00 pm and concludes at 11:00 pm. The concept ‘Sounds by the River’ has been launched as an annual event to feature national and/or international acts utilizing the magnificent Murray River as a backdrop to host superb outdoor live entertainment.
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Contents Angie’s Cooking Tips Ageing In The Murraylands
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Five Australian artists will provide music for everyone with the 2009 event showcasing an award winning country, folk and rock mix. Legendary country singer, Lee Kernaghan and South Australia’s own Kasey Chambers will head the inaugural festival lineup along with Aussie Pop Icon Darryl Braithwaite, Shane Nicholson and local regional band, Creatures of Habit.
Calendars & Dates Chippy Chatter Choristers Corner
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Church Services Classifieds Letters
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n the 24th July, the Mannum Walkie Talkies celebrated their 16th birthday. We travelled by bus, driven by our driver Ted, who as always, made us laugh by his slightly whacky sense of humour. At Nuriootpa we had an hours walk around the lovely native gardens established there. We then travelled onto Tanunda, where we met up with Kaye Bird. Kaye was the founder of the group and even though she is no longer living in Mannum, she is still interested in what the group is doing. We had a wonderful lunch, including a Birthday Cake, at the Weintal Resort in Tanunda. 3 27 2
Memories of Mannum MMCSS Coordinator Out of this World
Trish Uzzell and Kaye Bird
Once again we enjoyed the great company and laughter that we as a group have enjoyed over the years that we have been walking and talking, either in Mannum or walks f ur ther awa y . So H A P P Y BIRTHDAY to us and many, many more to come. Trish Uzzell
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Police & Neighbourhood Watch 18 Puzzle 3 Under the Toadstool 8