Gunsmoke Issue 104 (2007)

DECEMBER 2007

104

unSmoke

A community newsletter published bimonthly by the Gungahlin Community Council Inc 14,500 copies distributed around the Gungahlin area

Sustainable Living Fair in Gungahlin

The Gungahlin Sustainable Living Fair is a great family day with something for everyone – kids entertainment, sustainable living products, services, displays and presentations, food, drink and free show bags that include the beautiful 2008 Gungahlin Environment Calendar (see back page for more details).

For the kids there will be a jumping castle, kids show with Milo the Clown, face painting, activities with the ‘Kids at Play’ gang, as well as, of course, Santa!

For the grown-ups, sustainable products and services will be on show with stalls and displays showcasing water tanks and grey water systems, solar panels, modular cat parks, insulation, garden supplies, organic home and body products and more.

A series of presentations will cover home energy efficiency, sustainable gardening tips, ethical financial investment, solar panels, plus the chance to learn more about Gungahlin’s remarkable nature reserves. Check out the website for the presentation program.

For the Christmas shopper there will be local, handmade Christmas cards and tags, as well as sustainably sourced (and very beautiful) wrapping paper and prints, plus plenty of market stalls selling an assortment of Christmas gifts.

Organisations working in the Gungahlin environment will be on hand with information about their work, and how you can get involved.

So why not come along, grab a coffee and a sausage, take a seat in the shade, let the kids blow off some steam on the free jumping castle, and get some sustainable living tips and Christmas shopping done while you’re at it!

Where: Corner of Hibberson and Gozzard Streets, Gungahlin Town Centre (across from the Raiders Club) When: Sunday 9th December 2007, 10.00 am to 3.00 pm Cost: FREE!

GUNSMOKE INDEX DECEMBER 2007 Sustainable Living Fair ---1 GCC AGM -----------------2 Community Centre --------2 President Report -----------3 GCC Meetings -------------3 Editorial---------------------4 Letters-----------------------5 Carpool ---------------------6 Affordable Housing -------8 Police Report---------------9

GRCS---------------------- 10 GYC Block Party -------- 11 Health & Fitness --------- 12 Gungahlin Environment Website ------------------- 13 History -------------------- 17 Churches ----------------- 18 Kids Page ----------------- 19 Gungahlin Environment Calendar------------------- 20

Photo by Mark Crabbe is featured in the Gungahlin Environment Calendar.

Forde Developments Premier Sponsor of the Gungahlin Sustainable Living Fair

Proudly supporting the Gungahlin community.

Gungahlin Lakes Golf and Community Club pay for distribution of Gunsmoke newsletter.

GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 1

GUNGAHLIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS AGM appoints Chief Minister meets with GCC in October Executive to GCC

John Stanhope Chief Minister

In October, the Gungahlin Community Council hosted the ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, together with a number of senior staffers from his department, the Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) and the Land Development Agency.

A wide-ranging discussion explored the traffic problems around Burgmann School, concerns about planning of the Gungahlin town centre, local community housing projects, and the biggie – commercial land releases in Gungahlin and subsequent job creation.

The LDA’s Gordon Lowe explained plans to start selling parts of the ‘business park’ land behind the Emergency Services on Gozzard Street for two-storey commercial developments. Those present expressed their concern about the underutilisation of scarce commercial land, and preferred that the land stayed vacant than get wasted with small scale development.

There were a few wins for the Gungahlin Community Council.

Regarding the request for land to be released for a child care centre adjacent to the new Harrison School. Mr Stanhope advised land would go onto the market around March next year.

Concern was expressed about the identified location off the currently under construction extension of Mapleton Street. It was felt that the centre should be co-located with the main school to minimise the double drop-offs.

Our pursuits a service station on Flemington Road to meet the needs of the commuters to the city and take some traffic heat off the bottom end of Hibberson Street was discussed. A site has now been earmarked for a service station at the intersection of Flemington and the underconstruction Wells Station Drive.

Finally, a commitment to revisit the whole Town Centre planning was given. Deputy Director David Dawes agreed to bring all players to our February meeting to look at what’s been going wrong with Gungahlin and how to create local jobs. A great outcome.

You can view most of the meeting on YouTube via our website www.gcc.asn.au.

October was the GCC Annual General Meeting. The following appointments were made to the GCC Executive.

President: Alan Kerlin Vice President: Jon Reynolds GunSmoke Ed: Janet McKinney Web Administrator: Boni David Public Officer: Kevin Cox Treasurer: John Kelly GunSmoke Ads: Evelyn Greaves Alan Kerlin gave credit to those volunteers who have handed over the reins during the last year.

•

Roma Hosking has edited Gunsmoke for many years

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Barry Dee has done a sterling job as Treasurer

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Jillian Williams as Assistant Treasurer

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Sally Ruecroft as Palmerston Community Centre Manager

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Ian Ruecroft as former President and in various other roles, but mainly as a passionate fighter for Gungahlin

.

Since the AGM, further fine-tuning of the executive has led to Evelyn Greaves taking over as the role of Treasurer, and John Kelly returning to Secretary position.

Community Centre under new management

Palmerston Community Centre Hire of facilities 0409 691153 Meeting Room 1 Casual $17 p/h Perm $14 p/h

Meeting Room 2 $9 p/h

Function rates $250 for 9 hours

Popular community facilities in Palmerston is located next to the shops in Tiptree Crescent, Palmerston.

The Palmerston Community Centre has been growing amazingly in popularity.

Regular users now include five playgroups, three dance schools, two karate groups, a drama school, callisthenics, a mothers’ exercise group, a church and the GCC. And the centre is in big demand on Saturday nights for social functions, weddings, Christmas parties, funeral wakes, and on week nights for community consultation workshops and other bookings.

Unfortunately, this means we have to turn numerous groups away.

Page 2 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

Deposit for key is required Casual $110 per key Perm $55 per key

There is clearly the need for one or two more such centres in Gungahlin right now!

The centre management work has grown too – beyond our capacity as a voluntary community organisation.

To help us handle the daily management, we have contracted the Gungahlin Regional Community Service to handle the bookings, inspections and maintenance.

All contact details remain the same, with full booking and fee details, a virtual tour and booking calendars under Community Centre on our website www.gcc.asn.au.

$0.5m win for Gungahlin Town Centre In November, the ACT Government Planning Minister Andrew Barr MLA announced funding for two key components of the future of the Gungahlin town centre.

The first was $325K for the design of the "Town Square" park that is to be a pivotal part of the secondary college and recreation precinct off Hibberson Street opposite the Raiders Club, and associated infrastructure – the stormwater for the majority of the town centre runs through this land parcel. This is a significant commitment of funding and helps lock in the college and overall precinct.

The second was a commitment of $200,000 to undertake a study into the adequacy of commercial land supply for Gungahlin.

The original concept for the town was for 23,000 jobs, and of course there is nothing like that

number presently. The GCC has been lobbying hard for a halt to the rapid consumption of all available land around the town centre under a sea of townhouses, and for more land to be preserved for office accommodation.

Without land, there will be no local jobs, and without jobs, residents must commute out for work. This means major road construction costs for ACT taxpayers.

This study is the vital first step to locking in additional land for commercial use rather than residential, and business park use in particular. We asked Minister Barr to do this, and he has listened and acted. Well done Minister!

ACTPLA planners have already met with GCC to canvass our concerns and vision for the Town Centre study.

November GCC Meeting ACTPLA transport planners attended the GCC meeting in November to present their master plan for Flemington Road – well part of it anyway. They have completed the designs for the section between Mitchell and Harrison 1/Mapleton Street.

The designs look good and provided an insight into what should end up being a major boulevard somewhat like Northbourne Avenue.

The key feature to catch our attention was provision of a light-railcompatible corridor right down the middle of Flemington Road! We trust the ACT Government finds the vision and foresight to develop such a vital community asset. More details at www.gcc.asn.au.

Coming up in December Planning and Education Minister Barr Since coming into the Planning portfolio in April, Andrew Barr has proved a strong supporter of Gungahlin. He has recognised that Gungahlin has carried the brunt of ACT’s urban expansion over recent years, but has been left behind on the infrastructure that helps turn suburbs into communities.

Minister Barr meets with GCC representatives every quarter, and has secured major funds for the town centre.

Andrew Barr will be a most welcome guest at our Christmas meeting on 12 December. We hope to see you there too – Palmerston Community Centre, Tiptree Crescent Palmerston from 7.30pm. More details on our website www.gcc.asn.au.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Alan Kerlin

President Gungahlin Community Council

Welcome to GunSmoke Edition 104.

We are determined to ensure that GunSmoke continues to grow as Gungahlin grows. Circulation now approaches 14,500 copies and GunSmoke remains the most effective method for Gungahlin businesses to reach the local community. We are working to make sure it remains a good read for residents too!

Our new GunSmoke Editor, Janet McKinney, has many great ideas for our little community newsletter, and we hope both readers and advertisers will like the changes she will introduce over the next few editions.

ACT Territory Plan My work on the ACT Minister for Planning Andrew Barr’s Territory Plan Reference Panel, is now complete. I was one of two community representatives on the panel with the other six people representing the developer, builder, architect and planner associations, and social planning and planning academics.

The Panel had to go through the current and the draft Plans, assessing every clause for policy neutrality and effectiveness, plus identifying errors and advising on structural design and usability. Picking through the entire Plan line by line was a mammoth undertaking, but Ithe Panel worked well together and the end result was a substantially improved planning document.

It was also a valuable chance to build our the council’s credibility with the Government, ACTPLA and the planning industry.

This will help into the future, with ACTPLA and developers more likely to bring proposals to the Gungahlin community early in the process, at a stage when we can provide input that will lead to better outcomes for our community.

The redrafted plan had a further four weeks of public consultation over November and is now back with the planners, aiming for gazette in March

GUNGAHLIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL GPO Box 260, Gungahlin ACT 2012 info@gcc.asn.au www.gcc.asn.au

President: Vice Pres: Secretary: Treasurer: Editor:

Alan Kerlin Jon Reynolds John Kelly Evelyn Greaves Janet McKinney

0408 771633 0418 812281 6242 7437 0403 865888 0429 056175

president@gcc.asn.au vicepresident@gcc.asn.au secretary@gcc.asn.au treasurer@gcc.asn.au gunsmoke@gcc.asn.au

GunSmoke is published bi-monthly – Feb, April, June, Aug, Oct, Dec Deadline for submission of articles and advertising is 15th of the month prior to publication

GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 3

EDITORIAL

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The Gungahlin Community Council is supported through the ACT Government

Department of Health and Community Services ACT Planning and Land Authority

Page 4 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

Janet McKinney

GunSmoke Editor Gungahlin Community Council

Hello everyone. I am Janet McKinney, and I have been dragooned into being the editor for the GunSmoke at the recent AGM. Actually, I did volunteer – it has been a dream of mine for several years to be a part of a community publication like this.

I completed a Degree in Mass Communication in 2004, and discovered a real passion for writing and communication.

It is my vision to see GunSmoke work hand-in-hand with the GCC website to provide you – the residents, business people and workers in Gungahlin – a vehicle to have your voice heard in the community.

GunSmoke is a wonderful community paper, and I congratulate Roma and Evelyn for their excellent work over the past 15 years in establishing this valuable resource for the community.

GunSmoke will be making some changes in the near future, but our purpose is to make it more useful and friendly to you the reader. Don’t be shy with your ideas!

Contact me at gunsmoke@gcc.asn.au with what you want to see in a new format.

Some of the ideas we are working on: Letters to the Editor – this is your forum, a place to have your concerns heard.

Vox Pop – the voice of the people. Don’t be surprised if you get approached in the shopping centres for your opinion on a range of matters.

Photographs – well I have a problem with this one. I am a writer not a photographer. Are there some people out there who just love their camera and would be willing to take some photographs of what is happening in Gungahlin for GunSmoke and the website?

Business Directory – a place for Gungahlin businesses to let us know what they have to offer. It makes sense economically and environmentally to use businesses that are close to home.

Advertising – this is where reality takes its bite.

GunSmoke is financed exclusively through its advertising. We are working on some changes to the format to make your advertising dollar have more bank for its buck.

Businesses, community groups and organisations, sporting teams and service providers – this is your opportunity to make your presence in the community known, and support your local community. Please consider being a part of our newspaper.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ADSL in Harrison I have recently moved to Harrison into a house that is 3km from Crace telephone exchange. I find that I cannot get ADSL, let alone the ADSL2 that I was hoping for. The cabling of my Telstra home phone service is apparently inadequate. Twelve weeks ago my ISP was informed by Telstra that upgrading would take from two to twelve weeks. My ISP has received no further information from Telstra and there is no sign that anything is going to change anytime soon.

Given that the development of new suburbs in Canberra is orderly and controlled and that the infrastructure requirements are known well in advance I am surprised at Telstra's inability to provide even a basic broadband facility in an area where the first land releases occurred several years ago.

OH—Harrison

Ban on smoking

I am dismayed with smokers continuing their habit in doorways to shopping centres and on the footpath outside cafes.

I would like to enjoy a coffee with my family outside, however, the smokers continue with their disgusting, selfish and unhealthy habit.

A classic example is outside the Coffee Guru in Gungahlin. I had just finished a 65km pushbike ride on Melbourne Cup Day and sat down for a coffee with friends.

One of the tables was no more than 1 metre from the Guru's entrance with two smokers polluting the air and my lungs.

I would like to see "minimum" smoking distances from door entrances.

MB

Graffiti in Gungahlin

I am increasingly concerned about the amount of graffiti in the Gungahlin region. It appears no one is doing anything about it.

Some of it is Government responsibility, others property owners. We need a educational campaign and some action.

GB

Who took the lavender?

I am writing to you first to congratulate you on a wonderful publication that I enjoy reading.

I have been a resident of the Gungahlin area for 3 years now, and own a house on Anthony Rolfe Avenue.

Recently I spent $150 buying lavender plants for my garden. They looked lovely and my husband and I have been looking after them.

Today at lunchtime I went outside to check on my lovely lavender and some scum bag has stolen them! All ten lovely lavender are gone! I am really upset with this as it is the final straw that has broken the proverbial camel’s back.

I have been diagnosed with cancer and am undergoing gruelling chemo. All I wanted was a nice garden to sit and enjoy! I don't want revenge but I am hoping that you may be able to publish something in our local paper that the culprit may read and they may have a conscience or maybe not!!

Again thanks for a great read.

RK

Local Area Coordination is a new service for people with a disability aged 0-65 who live in the Gungahlin and Woden Valley Regions.

We can provide information and assistance to help you reach your goals. We are able to assist you to plan for the future, access local services, increase your personal networks and supports, make lifestyle changes of your choice, and much more. The focus of Local Area Coordination is you. It’s your life, it’s your choice.

For more information please phone 6255 7911 or visit us at Suite 1.3 The Market Place 33 Hibberson Street Gungahlin http://www.belcomserv.com.au/lac/index.html Local Area Coordination is provided by Belconnen Community Service Inc. and Woden Community Service Inc. partnership and funded by Disability ACT

GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 5

Gungahlin carpool proposal by GCC

For Mechanical Servicing & Repairs “Think BARS cause BARS Fix Cars” Campaign for carpooling developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Transport (http://www.transport.govt.nz/campaign/) The Gungahlin Community Council is considering a building a carpooling website for commuters travelling to workplaces throughout Canberra.

GCC President, Alan Kerlin, said carpooling is a viable alternative to public transport in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are looking to establish a portal on the GCC website where people can register their interest in being involved in the car pool,” Mr Kerlin said.

“Commuters can save money by sharing petrol costs, get to work faster by using transit lanes, and are help the environment by reducing the number of cars on our roads during peak hours”, he said.

The Gungahlin Community Council is seeking to establish a working group who will oversee the development and functioning of the carpool arrangements.

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Your warranty will not be affected when you have your car serviced here Courtesy car lift to work or home

Fuel discount vouchers for all mechanical servicing & repairs

Linux User Group Anyone interested in establishing a Linux user Group in the Gungahlin area, contact Bob at gunlug@gmail.com

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GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 7

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Call Anthony on 0400 825 578 or 02 6242 8773 Financial Wisdom Limited AFSL No 231138

Page 8 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Affordable Housing Kevin Cox History has shown that the house market has a tendency to cycle between boom and bust. In boom times the value of a house is greater than that justified by the rent the house can obtain.

That is the asset class of housing becomes inflated when compared to other assets and with respect to debt. When the boom eventually makes housing unaffordable, it is followed by a period of stagnation and the resulting correction is often a recession or even a depression.

Steve Keen at http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/?p=41 gives an explanation of this general phenomena in his paper "Developing a monetary model of financial instability".

The following outlines a system to reduce the impact of the inevitable deflation of Australian residential properties by putting some new houses with "reasonable" prices on the market in such a way that the prices will remain "reasonable".

The Australian Housing Market - 1996-2003 The average price of houses throughout Australia doubled in the seven years from 1996 to 2003, even though it was a period of low inflation.

The valuation put on houses in this period went up at a compound rate of 10% compared to general inflation of 2 to 3%.

While the reasons are many, there is a strong argument that the main underlying cause was lenders encouraging borrowers to purchase houses.

Why did lenders wish to provide money to people to buy houses?

It was because the money that people lend is not tied to the underlying value of the houses, but to the ability of the borrower to repay.

In other words, the lenders were able to generate loans that had to repaid - not with houses but with other assets and most notably, the future income of borrowers.

Lenders are able to isolate themselves from the risk of house prices falling.

Such an increase in the availability of funds for housing will result in an increase to the price of existing homes, because a lot of homeowners are able to "upgrade".

This in turn raises market expectations, whereby land owners can increase the price of new land and so increase the price of new houses, which in turn means that they become too expensive for new entrants to the housing market.

This causes a slump in new houses which now feeds into the equation with prices starting to increase because of lack of supply. The end result is unaffordable housing.

The relative value of houses in relation to other assets has become distorted and to "solve" the problem the relative value has to be restored.

Traditionally this adjustment comes through a combination of the period of stagnation in house prices plus inflation which restores the relative value of house assets to other

assets.

The simplest way to restore value is to release new land at low prices.

This would make new houses cheaper, demand would reduce and prices would adjust.

Unfortunately this does not happen for two reasons.

The first is that it would be political suicide for any government to set out to reduce the price of existing houses.

The majority of people have their own homes and they count the nominal (inflated) value of their land as part of their wealth.

The second reason - particularly in the ACT - is that governments of all persuasion are addicted to revenue from the profit of the sale of new land.

Inflated values make it worthwhile for people to turn house assets into other assets, but because people have to continue to live somewhere it only benefits those who do not have purchase or rent another house, or those who can "downsize".

Thus there is a transfer in assets to those who have houses or debt raised on houses to those who need a house.

In a global economy this means the main beneficiary of the Australian housing bubble are the overseas investors in Australian debt.

Other beneficiaries of rising house prices are the owners of underutilised land and, as alluded to earlier, the governments that benefit from charges and taxes on change of land use for new dwellings.

Most home owners do not benefit because they rarely have "underutilised" land and they always need a place to live.

Another way to bring all house prices down is to reduce the price of changing land use, an action that is under the control of governments.

However for it to be politically acceptable, the price reduction would have to be introduced in a way that ensured existing house prices would not collapse.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

A solution to the problem The ACT government could release a percentage of new land at the reduced price of development only.

When houses that have been built on this land are sold, they must be sold for what we can call "house dollars".

House dollars are special in that they can only be used to purchase services and goods that are used to build new dwellings in the ACT. That is, the money raised from the sale of a house on cheap land has to be used to build a new dwelling in the ACT. Thus anyone buying a house on cheap land will know that they will receive house dollars when it becomes time to sell.

The requirement to sell for house dollars would remain in place for the lifetime of the dwelling.

This means that the price of houses built on cheap land will continue to remain close to the price of building a new house.

This will ensure a supply of houses in the ACT that will remain affordable and that are divorced from land price inflation.

Instead their value will be tied to the cost of goods and services to build houses.

The system will be simple to introduce - because house sales are already well recorded.

It will be easy to police because suppliers who provide goods and services will be expelled from the system (and from a ready market) if they accept house dollars for reasons other than materials and services used in building a new house.

People who genuinely wish to trade houses are not disadvantaged as they can use their house dollars to pay to build a new house, or they can buy another house that is subject to the house dollars restriction.

Gungahlin Plumbing, Drainage & Gas Fitting Repair or Replace Taps & Toilets

The impact of the system will depend on how much cheap land is released.

One of the advantages is that the scheme is not just restricted to low cost housing but can be spread across all block sizes and so does not create pockets of low cost housing.

It is expected that the system will rapidly adjust so that the value of house dollars will become discounted to the extent that land prices are inflated.

Over time as land inflation drops the difference between house dollars and real dollars will become near zero in which case the government can stop releasing land at low prices.

That is the government will now have a strategy for controlling land inflation.

As well as providing a stock of affordable housing across all income groups, and ensuring a supply of money for new dwellings, it will mean that prices of housing in the ACT will tend to be lower than prices of houses in other jurisdictions that do not have similar schemes.

The scheme could be started within weeks as the government could sell a proportion of new land releases – some of its existing house public housing stock and some community land released from school closures – with the same conditions.

It could approach the Federal Government to fund the difference in the land costs that it loses because, if it works as expected, it has the potential to bring affordable housing to the whole of Australia.

In summary the ACT government could put in place in a matter of weeks a simple scheme to create affordable housing with no immediate impact on the price of existing houses.

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Call 0418 608 201 Fully Insured GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 9

GUNGAHLIN REGIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE

School Age Care Professionals Gungahlin Regional Community Service (GRCS) is looking for dedicated fulltime and permanent part time staff to join our friendly team.

Program Manager OOSH (37.5 hrs/week) You will provide support to the staff and children of children’s Services OOSH. In this diverse and interesting role you will need excellent communication skills, a strong service focus and great time management. A current drivers licence is essential.

The successful applicant will have relevant qualifications and experience.

Program Coordinator (30 hrs/week)

This position is for before school (7.30-9.15) and after school (2.306.15) care, plus non-contact time, during term time.

Desirable qualifications include a Diploma in Children’s Services or equivalent and a current First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain it.

Duties will include coordinating the program, program writing and supervising junior staff.

Additional work during School Holidays is also available.

Assistant Program Coordinator (27 hrs per week)

This position is for before and after school care, plus non-contact time. School holiday work is available.

Traineeships are available.

Casual Out of School Hours Care Worker

Christmas/New Year Opening Hours Please note: G.R.C.S. Administration Office (suite 1.1 Gungahlin Marketplace) Ngunnawal Neighbourhood Centre Gungahlin Community Resource Centre Gungahlin Youth Centre will close from Fri 21st Dec and re-open 9am Wed 2nd Jan 2008.

This position is for before (7.30 – 9.00 a.m.) and after school (3.00 – 5.30 p.m.) or after school care only.

Attractive Salary Sacrificing options are available.

For duty statement and selection criteria please contact (02) 6228 9208 or email grcsooshc@gungahlin.org Mailing address: GRCS PO Box 35 Gungahlin 2912,

GRCS Montessori Parent and Toddler Group GRCS currently operates a Parent Toddler Group for children ranging from 18mths – 3 years old. Once a week, the parent or carer attends with their child for 2 hours, in an environment where activities are designed to be attractive to the child as well as assisting in motor and language development. Please call 6228 9208 for additional information.

GRCS Playschool Program GRCS is planning to operate a Playschool Program in 2008. This program will cater for 3-5year olds. Please call 6228 9208 for additional information and/or expressions of interest.

Volunteers Needed Gungahlin Regional Community Service currently provides HACC services in the Gungahlin region for the frail aged and people with a disability. The HACC program offers case management, a senior’s social group, transport and supported shopping.

Volunteers are an important element in HACC service provision. Currently there are a number of different volunteer opportunities available. If you are interested in donating some of your time to our program please contact the volunteer co-ordinator on 6228 9200.

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Page 10 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

The Board Members, staff and volunteers of Gungahlin Regional Community Service would like to wish all Gungahlin residents a safe and Happy Christmas.

GUNGAHLIN COMMUNITY IN FOCUS

Local Art Group

Gungahlin Community Network The group meets weekly to undertake craft and art activities, chat and have coffee. It also offers social support and friendship.

The Network welcomes new residents Where: Gungahlin Community Resource Centre When: Wednesday 10AM – 12MIDDAY Ring Alison on 6123 4422 for more information.

The Gungahlin Art Group meets every fortnight on Mondays at the Ngunnawal Neighbourhood Centre at 9.30am.

All Gungahlin residents who have an interest in art are welcome to join (you don’t have to be an expert).

Contact Derek on 6242 8239 for more information.

Walk and Talk

Block Party

Saturday December 8 Gungahlin Youth Centre Following on from the huge success of last year’s event Gungahlin Youth Centre is hosting another annual GYC BLOCK PARTY on Saturday December 8.

The Block Party aims to showcase the qualities of the youth centre and the young people in the Gungahlin region. There will be an open day at the centre combined with a free out door concert!

The GYC Block Party will include Jumping Castle, and other amusement rides, food and drink stalls, dance performances, Pool comps, and sing star and dance machine comps, live performances from local bands from 4-6 and then an dance party featuring a range of Canberra based DJs. There will be a car show, air brush tattoos, BMX and skate demos.

The Block Party is a drug and alcohol free community event that encourages the attendance of families and community members and is free of charge it will run from 4pm-9pm!

There is something for everyone so come on down to the Gunghalin Youth Centre Saturday 8 December (behind the library on Ernest Cavanagh Street) and be part of the biggest community event this year!

A walking group for everyone!

All ages and capabilities welcome.

9.30am -10.30am Thursdays The walks usually start at the Ngunnawal Neighbourhood Centre. (Yarrawonga St) Ring 6123 4422 for more information Get fit and make new friends

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GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 11

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Tips to survive the holiday season ‘FOR ALL YOUR’ • JEWELLERY REPAIRS • SALES – GOLD & SILVER

Agent for – ADINA PIERRE CARDIN VICTORY WATCHES Morellato Italian Jewellery • REMODELLING • MINOR WATCH REPAIRS • WATCH BATTERIES • NATURAL GEMSTONES • RESTRINGING BEADS & PEARLS All work carried out on the premises

Shop 28 “KIPPAX FAIR” Hardwick Cres, HOLT 2615

GUNGAHLIN DENTAL SURGERY Dr Vincent Trai Tran B.D.Sc (Uni Qld)

37 Anthony Rolfe Ave Gungahlin (Across from Police Station)

Hours Mon – Fri 8.00am – 6.00pm Sat 8.00am – Noon

PH (02) 6242 7288 To make an appointment

Don White—Essence of Life Personal Fitness Training Studio

The end of the year is party season, and a risky time with parties, lunches, dinners and drinks. It is easy to eat too much, and cut out your exercise.

How can you enjoy the festivities without too much damage to your body?

Try to burn more calories Get up a bit earlier and go for a walk every day. Go with your partner and vary your routine to make it more interesting.

Add a bit of effort to your walk and you will burn more calories. Aim for 40 to 60 minutes most mornings If you can’t handle early starts, then pick a time that works for you before you go out. You will give yourself a calorie credit and you may even decide you enjoy the exercise.

Avoid overeating Before you go, if you know you are a serial overeater at functions, prepare yourself. You are more likely to overeat when you are hungry, so eat a healthy snack such as a low-fat yoghurt or some multi-grain toast and vegemite to take the edge off your hunger before you go.

At functions such as cocktail parties

it is easy to keep snacking on the finger food being handed around and collecting a fresh drink as they circulate.

Most snacks such as samosas, pies and pastries, cheese and deep friend delights are full of fat and calories, so try to avoid them.

Fried food and creamy sauces may taste good, but they are loaded with calories. Try grilled lean meats and tomato based sauces for lower calorie options.

Alcohol Consumption Aim to have a glass of water between each alcoholic drink. This will help you drink less and stay hydrated.

Did you know that alcohol has calories in it? If you eat and drink, the alcohol has to be broken down before food can be broken down so that risk of storing food as fat increases.

Creamy cocktails and large mixed drinks that have the added bonus of sugary soft drinks included have loads more calories in them too.

If you don’t get past good intentions, remember there are always the New Year’s resolutions.

Essence of Life Personal Fitness Training Studio 1st Floor Gungahlin Square, Hibberson St Gungahlin 02 6255 7111 0400 012 942 www.essencept.com

All the staff at ENHANCE would like to wish you a Merry Christmas & a happy & a healthy New Year.

Over the Christmas period, we will only be closed 25-26th December & 1st January, open every other day.

Open 7 days, with female and male practitioners.

Remember: Massage gift certificates are available and make great Christmas presents!

Platypus Centre 4/4 Riley Close, Ngunnawal Page 12 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

Gungahlin Environment Website www.ourenvironment.org.au

Gungahlin residents have a new resource at their fingertips! The Gungahlin Environment website has been developed especially for Gungahlin residents who want to find out about their surrounds, from the local nature reserves, parks and neighbourhoods, right up to the big issues like water and climate change.

The site also has quick tips for sustainable living, including some great online shops to do your Christmas shopping, information about

pets and gardens, as well as upcoming events and activities.

You can find out all about the organisations that work in the nature reserves, vote in our online polls, and sign up for the monthly Gungahlin Environment E-News.

In fact, if you sign up before Monday 17 December, you’ll go into the draw to win one of two gift subscriptions to G-Magazine, and a worm farm donated by Ginninderra Catchment Group.

Gungahlin Marketplace Dental Centre (Woolworths

Building-Entry next Commonwealth bank ATMs)

Dr Van Trinh (Lady Dentist, Adelaide Uni)

PH:

6242 5666

Open 6 Days C o s m e t i c , P re v e n t i v e Restorative All General Dentistry

Gentle, On time Appointments Str i c t St e r i l i s a t i o n P r o c e d u r e s H i g h D e n t a l S e r v i c e St a n d a r d s M ed ib an k P r iv at e , M B F, H CF P ar tic ip atin g P r o v id er Dir e ct Health Fu nd Reb at e HI CAPS

1st Floor 33 Hibberson St, Gungahlin Marketplace, Gungahlin 2912

GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 13

$$$ Earn $$$ Lorraine Lea Linen, Australia’s leading linen & manchester party plan company is looking for people in your area NOW. Flexible hours that suit you Hold 3 parties p/w & earn approx. $450+ No collecting money Deliveries made directly to Hosts Management opportunities available

Special join up offer from December 1.

Delicious food, good wine, premium coffee and cakes in a modern dining $0.0 Corkage Fee (Bottled Wines)

A great way to combine a career & family.

Dinners Only Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 - 9:30pm Friday - Saturday 5:00pm - 10:30pm

Phone Nicole Coghlan on 0429153968 or Natalee Cox on 0411458614 today and change your life.

Sunday, Monday and Lunchtime are Closed

www.linenparties.com Lorraine Lea Linen toll free on: 1800 641089

No Home Deliveries

Shop 107 Gungahlin Place, Gungahlin Town Centre Phone: 6242 6666

Phone: 6242 6666

Page 14 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

POLICE BEAT

Native Grasses The benefits of using Australian native grasses are many and varied.

The dominant vegetation type for hundreds of thousands of years has been our native grasses.

Our highly weathered, shallow and infertile soils are the natural environment even before European settlement and adding to that regular droughts, high summer temperatures and spasmodic grazing.

Most of our native grasslands are lost to land clearing for agriculture and now only remnants remain.

Many threatened and endangered species of plants and animals habitats have been lost. To preserve biodiversity and restore habitat we can use native grasses.

The millions of years of weathering and erosion are conditions our native grasses are well adapted to.

Many of the topsoil depths are 50 to 100mm and our native grasses have grown well where soil depths are shallow.

Where imported soils are added to roadsides or soil erosion sites, native grasses are the perfect solution for revegetation.

We regularly suffer from severe droughts and low rainfall. Often the first plants to recover from drought are our native grasses. They have developed a number of mechanisms for drought avoidance by either entering a prolonged dormancy or by having a below ground crown which is capable of surviving drought and grazing.

In fact there prevalence is increased by drought and once grasses are established they can survive with minimal watering or irrigation. If native grasses are used in lawns and landscape there is a much lower watering requirement.

Native grasses have also evolved to tolerate our high temperatures.

Grasses such as Wallaby grass will retain its green colour and continues to grow during the summer. Making this a desirable grass for lawn areas where the green colour is desirable all year. There slow growing, but active state over summer allows them to respond to summer rainfall.

Birralee Scout Hall HIRE Valley Avenue opposite Burgman School Please Contact

0402 007 553 PALMERSTON MEDICAL CENTRE

WATCH AND CLOCK REPAIRS

Palmerston Shops, Tiptree Cres

Repairs to all mechanical and quartz watches and clocks.

Dr Prad Southi

Over 40 years experience and all work guaranteed.

Malcolm Scott 32 Grampians Street Palmerston ACT 2913 Phone: 02 6242 9636 Email: malmar32@bigpond.com

Ph 6242 9464 MBBS (Syd)

Dr Sandy Viketos MBBS (Syd)

Sergeant Bob Muir

Officer in Charge Gungahlin Station ACT Policing

In August 2007, I was fortunate enough to have been selected to commence duties as the Sergeant in Charge of the Gungahlin Police Station. I am very pleased to have been appointed to this position and look forward to working with the residents of Gungahlin.

Over the past few months, there was an increase in burglaries and criminal damage at schools within the Gungahlin area. With the aid of the community, students and staff, a number of juveniles were apprehended and charged by police and a quantity of stolen computer equipment was recovered.

Graffiti is always an unsightly issue that affects the whole community, especially around public areas such as our schools and shopping centres. Recently there have been several reports of graffiti in the Gungahlin area. Any information concerning these or any other offences can be reported to your local police or to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

With the Christmas / New Year festive season approaching it is timely to remind you about the responsible consumption of alcohol and in particular when driving a motor vehicle. Police will be focussing on drink driving during this period in order to minimise risk to public safety, so my advice is, if you are going to drink, don’t drive.

Always nominate a designated driver before you commence drinking, or organise a taxi or public transport to take you to and from your destinations.

A large number of Canberrans leave the ACT over this period to travel interstate.

You can make it difficult for would-be burglars by ‘target hardening’ your home by following a few simple crime prevention tips such as cancelling newspaper deliveries, letting neighbours know that you will be away and arranging for the mail to be collected.

For more information on Crime Prevention measures visit: http://www.nhwact.com.au/articles.html http://www.afp.gov.au/act/crime_prevention.html

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Gungahlin community a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. I would also like to thank you for supporting your local police.

Dr Michael Gan MB, BS (UNSW) DCH (NZ) D Obst (Otago) FRAC GP

Surgery Hours Mon – Fri 8.30am – 6.00pm Saturday 8.30am – 11.30am GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 15

HEALTH AND FITNESS Advertorial Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs, the largest women’s only health club in Australia, at Canberra City has had a make-over – and is now better than ever!

According to franchisee Kellie Toohey, who has just taken over the Club, the Fernwood philosophy of having a special place for women to enjoy regular exercise to reach their health, fitness and wellbeing goals was the primary reason for the upgrades to the club.

“Fernwood Canberra City has upgraded all cardio equipment which now has its own personal TVs, we have completely moved all areas of the Club, providing members with a spacious state of the art facility, which will position our club as the premium choice for women in the City”, Kellie said.

Fernwood Canberra City will also be offering spray tan, as well as an infra red sauna. The club offers 2 – 3 choices of Group fitness classes over the lunchtime rush 5 days a week!

By providing a sociable, comfortable and supportive environment, Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs enable women to enjoy physical activity, learn about the importance of good nutrition and embark on weight management support through the Slimplicity program, while improving their self-confidence, health and wellbeing.

To celebrate the Fernwood Canberra City revamp, sign up during November and you will receive a 1 month free membership to give to a friend! Ex-members from Fernwood Canberra City can also re-join on their old membership fees for 12 months in November. Corporate deals are now available. Members can now use Fernwood Belconnen, Gungahlin and Canberra City Clubs for the one price.

Fernwood Women’s Heath Club Canberra City is located at 131 City Walk, Canberra City for further information call 6247 7666 or visit the website at: www.fernwoodfitness.com.au

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We use SUNFX. Individual bookings.

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Phone (02) 6230 4949 Dickson Shopping Centre

And get more BANG for your advertising dollar

Hair, Nails & Beauty

Hair Cuts : ● Primary School $13 ● High School Boys $ 18.00 ● High School Girls $ 20 ● Men $23 ● Ladies $28.00 ● Foil Highlights $8 each ● Re-growth. Cap $38 ● Hair Treatments $15 ● Shampoo and Set$25 ● Perms-Fringe only $10 ● Deluxe Facial 1 hr $80/WAXING $10 ● Eyelash Tints $23 ● Eyebrow Tints $18 ● Nail Manicure $20 ● Acrylic Nail$30 We use DE LORENZO-Australia's finest hair care products Page 16 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

GunSmoke is the publication of the Gungahlin Community Council and is distributed to more than 14,000 homes in the Gungahlin district.

Contact Evelyn on 0403 865 888 or email gunsmoke@gcc.asn.au for rates and deadline details.

GUNGAHLIN HISTORY

‘The Valley’ Burgmann College, the Anglican School on the corner of the Gunghahlin Drive and Valley Way, south of the Gungahlin town centre is cocooned behind a cyclone fence and gazes upon the crumbling ruins of the former rural homestead called ‘the Valley’ home to the Gribble family from 1860.

Thomas Gribble emigrated from England in 1857 and married Catherine Warren in 1860. The couple built a timber slab house for their growing family, which by 1874 included seven children.

Between 1881 and 1891 or 1892 there was a small private school operating near to the house. The teacher was Alfred Mainwaring Rich, a former English surgeon. The school was held in a building close to the eastern side of the house.

Perhaps because of his embrace of mechanisation, Thomas Gribble earned the tag ‘The Boss Farmer’.

His new steam-powered tractor engine replaced traditional harvesting techniques using handheld scythe, reaping hooks and windassisted winnowing.

The Gribbles’ steam tractor engine and chaff cutting equipment kept busy during harvest season. Thomas passed on the business to his sons who carried on the business until the late 1940s when modern tractors and hay balers replaced them.

In spite of his adoption of the new

Chris Newman steam engines, Thomas bred race horses and Clydesdale draught horses. He entered his horses in local events, winning prizes, and also held race meetings on his own property.

‘The Valley’ was occupied continuously from 1887 until 1964. until the property was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth in 1913.

Frederick Warwick leased the house for about two years from 1911. The next lessee was William Moore who was related to George Gribbles wife Margaret.

The Federal Government acquired freehold land within its boundaries in 1916 and the Commonwealth leased the land back to Ernest Cavanagh.

The Valley homestead consisted of five stone built rooms, four bedrooms, a sitting room, a timber enclosed verandah at the rear used as a sewing room, a loft above and a verandah along the front. There was no electricity connected to the house at this time and meat was kept in a meat safe hanging in a pine tree.

Kerosene lamps were used for light and a kerosene refrigerator is still visible in the ruin.

The last resident of The Valley was Patrick Anderson, an artist who had acted in vaudeville during the Depression of the 1930s. Mr Andersons held two painting exhibitions at the Canberra Theatre in 1967 and 1972.

He painted mainly landscapes and religious themes.

He vacated the house in the 1960s The Valley was engulfed by fire in the early 1970s. The iron roofing was removed for sale, exposing the inside to the elements. Stone salvaged from the site was used in the erection of a portion of the Pioneers Memorial Garden at St Ninian’s church in Lyneham.

Traction engine similar to the one operated

by Thomas Gribble

Where is my copy of the GunSmoke?

That is what we would like to know.

If you did not get a copy of GunSmoke delivered to your place, please let us know. Perhaps you are reading this copy because you collected it from the GCRS or someone else’s place.

We look after your pets when you are not available.

We come to your home so that your animals are comfortable in their own surroundings.

Feeding, watering, oral medication, cuddles and playtime.

Walking, yard and kitty litter clean up.

Mail, bins and that lived-in look.

Personalised packages available on request Enquiries and bookings please call

6242 8269 Email : furfaces@optusnet.com.au ABN : 32 976 904 127

GunSmoke is prepared by volunteers of the Gungahlin Community Council, and we pay to have it delivered to more than 14,000 homes north-west of the Barton and Federal Highways, including Mitchell and Gungahlin.

Please complete this form to tell us if you did not receive a copy of GunSmoke and return it by mail or in person, or email us or go through our website at www.gcc.asn.au Name ..................................................................................................

Address ............................................................................................... ............................................................................................................

Phone ………………………….. Email .....................................................

Post: PO Box 260, Gungahlin Deliver: Gungahlin Regional Community Service Email gunsmoke@gcc.asn.au GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 17

CHURCHES IN GUNGAHLIN CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

NEW LIFE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Palmerston Community Centre Tiptree Court, Palmerston Pastor Rod Holmes 02 6255 6087

107 Wanganeen Ave, Ngunnawall Rev Mark Adams 02 6241 3750 m_adams@internode.on.net

SUNDAY: 10.00am Sunday Worship and Children’s Church CHRISTMS DAY: 9.30am Christmas Service

GUNGAHLIN ANGLICAN CHURCH Bergmann Anglican School Valley Ave, Gungahlin Rector Michael Dasey 02 6242 0734 Rev Tim Baxter 02 6242 0700 admin@gungahlinanglican.org.au www.gungahlinanglican.org.au SUNDAY: 9.30am All Ages Service at Grace Chapel (incl Children’s program) 5.00om Sunday @ Grace Chapel (incl Children’s program) 7.00pm Sunday @ Grace Chapel

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC PARISH

SUNDAY: 10.00am Sunday church & Kids Bizz 5.00pm Evening Worship CHRISTMAS DAY: 9.00am Christmas Service

NORTHSIDE SALVATION ARMY 7/160 Lysaght St, Mitchell Cpt Dale & Ros Brooks 02 6242 6037 Entrance on Hoskins Street or at rear with parking

SUNDAY: 10.15am for 10.30am Sunday Worship WEEKLY: Bible Studies Children’s Activities FIRST SUNDAY OF MONTH: 8.00am Men's breakfast CHRITMAS DAY 9.30am—Mitchell

Parish Church Burdekin Ave, Amaroo Father Bernie Patterson 02 6242 9622 hols.gungahlin@cg.catholic.org.au www.holyspiritgungahlin.catholic.com.au SATURDAY: 6.00pm Mass SUNDAY: 9.30am Mass incl children’s Liturgy 5.30pm Mass MONDAY 24th Dec 7.00pm Children’s Mass 9.30pm Carols CHRISTMAS DAY: 9.00am Christmas Day mass

Gungahlin Uniting Church

GUNGAHLIN COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH Amaroo Primary School Pastor R Perkins 02 6253 8157 SUNDAY: 10.30am Church Service SUNDAY 9 Dec: 10.30am Sunday School Christmas Play MONDAY 24th Dec: 7.00pm Movie—”The Nativity” CHRISTMAS DAY: 9.00am Christmas Day Service

GUNGAHLIN UNITING CHURCH Ngunnawal Primary School Unaipon Ave, Ngunnawal Rev Mark Faulkner 02 6242 5001 minister@gungahlinuniting.org www.gungahlinuniting.org SUNDAY: 9.30am Church service—Ngunnawal School SATURDAY 16th Dec 5.00pm Carols in the Park—Hall MONDAY 24th Dec 7.00pm Blue Christmas Service—Ngunnawal CHRISTMAS DAY 9.30am Christmas Service—Ngunnawal School

GUNGAHLIN CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTRE Gungahlin Community Centre Ernest Cavanagh St, Gungahlin Pastor Sue & Syd Miller 02 6259 6444 SUNDAY: 10.30am Worship Service—Gungahlin SAT 8 Dec, SUN 9 Dec: 5.30pm Carols in da house—Charnwood CHRISTMAS DAY: 9.30am—Christmas Service—Charnwood

Baptist Church turns six

A place of Christian faith and community for all people Gungahlin Uniting Church meets each Sunday at 9.30am at Ngunnawal Primary School (Unaipon Ave.) We have groups for Children, Youth, Families, Women, as well as Craft, Book, Study and Play Groups.

16th. December - Carols in the Park at Hall – 5pm. BYO BBQ 24th. December – Blue Christmas Service A time for anyone who finds Christmas a difficult time.

7.00pm – 10 Mandurah Pl. Ngunnawal 25th. December – Christmas Day 9.30am Ngunnawal Primary.

If you would like information or to get in touch…

Rev. Mark Faulkner - 62425001 minister@gungahlinuniting.org www.gungahlinuniting.org Page 18 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

The Gungahlin Community Baptist Church celebrated their 6th Anniversary recently with Sonrise @ GCBC with Matt and Linda!

Sunday School Christmas Programme – 9 December 10:30 a.m. at Amaroo School Every year this event get bigger and better. The children and parents work hard at depicting the Nativity Story in a unique way.

Movie - "The Nativity" – Christmas Eve 7 p.m. at Amaroo School If you have not viewed this moving motion picture that came out last year this is your chance. Bring along the whole family as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Christmas Day Service – 9 a.m. at Amaroo School Brunch - 6 January 10:30 a.m. at Amaroo School. This has become an annual event. We start the service with a beautiful brunch put on by the ladies of the church. Then we share stories from the year that we just said goodbye to. It always proves to be a moving service to help us start out the New Year.

Breakfast in the Park – 13 January 9 a.m. at the Park just opposite the Water Front Restaurant down by the lake. The breakfast is free as a service to the community. This is a fun time to have an open air service around all your favourite breakfast foods! All are welcome to come along to "doing church a bit different and fun!"

FOR THE KIDS For the kids who are getting impatient for Christmas to come, here is a special reminder that good things will come to those who wait.

GUNGAHLIN VETERINARY HOSPITAL Opening Hours Monday– Friday: 8.00 am—6.30 pm Saturday: 8.30am—4.00pm Please ring for an appointment.

•

Come and wash your dog in our hydrobath— $15 including shampoo, towel and use of dryer

•

Puppy Classes running regularly—get your new mate off to the best start

Please ring the hospital for further information or to make a booking

21 Crinigan Circle, GUNGAHLIN (adjacent Caltex / Woolworths Petrol)

6242 7276

vets@gungahlinvet.com.au

New child care service opens A new concept in child care service is now operating in Canberra. Nannabelle provides families with a loving nanny service to children in their own homes Nannabelle’s owner, Ms Annabel Hawkins is a Registered Nurse and Midwife with experience in quality improvement through the Australian Council of Health Care Standards.

“You can be confident of your child’s safety with Nannabelle because all nannies have been screened with Police checks, have a Senior First Aid Certificate and provide referees as evidence of their experience”, Annabel Hawkins said.

“Our fees are reasonable”, she said, “starting from $23 per hour, depending on the degree of expertise required for children from birth onward”.

Nannabelle is registered as an approved child care organisation, and clients are eligible for the Child Care Rebate.

GunSmoke 104 December 2007 Page 19

The 2008 Gungahlin Environment Calendar

Following on from the Gungahlin Environment Photo Competition, the 2008 Gungahlin Environment Calendar showcases the top entries in the competition.

The calendar showcases a series of photographs by local residents that beautifully depict the insider’s view of the Gungahlin environment.

The calendar is FREE, and you can collect your copy at the Gungahlin Sustainable Living Fair on Sunday 9 December, or at local businesses.

Check www.ourenvironment.org.au to find businesses stocking the calendar.

Professionally designed and printed on glossy recycled paper, the calendar makes a beautiful Christmas gift, and is a must-have accessory for every Gungahlin home!

Sponsored by:

Page 20 GunSmoke 104 December 2007

Forde Developments Premier Sponsor of the Gungahlin Sustainable Living Fair