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PAPER INC Print Post Approved PP255003/04388 26 March 2002
Women receive Seniors awards Five individuals and two groups active on the Peninsula have received Premier's Seniors Week Awards.
June Mitchell, deputy mayor Cr Geoff Preece, Gosford Council director of works Stephen Glen, Eileen Stewart, and mayor Cr Robert Bell at a recent site inspection in Woy Woy
Group forms to preserve waterfront reserves The Peninsula Community Waterfront Reserve Preservation Committee has been formed by a group of residents to "protect our natural waterfront reserves from concrete". The group is opposing plans for a 2.4 metre wide combined cycleway and footpath to run through the Woy Woy Waterfront Reserve from Anderson Park to Lions Park and from there to Blackwall Mountain as well as the Ettalong beachfront Webb Reserve. The plan arose from the recent Gosford City Cycleway Review. The path would run beside the water's edge for its length, including a section beside the Woy Woy War Memorial Park, according to committee spokesperson Mr Norbert
Solondz. He said that such a path would "endanger both cyclists and pedestrians" and "such environmental vandalism of our reserves cannot be supported". "If cycling is promoted as an alternative means of transport, then placing paths along our arterial roads to provide direct access to the railway station, shopping centre and other well visited areas, makes more sense. "Recreational cycling is already engaged in on all waterfront reserves. "Despoliation of waterfront reserves simply to use available RTA multi-million dollar funding is unreasonable," he said. "Alternatively, cycleways along roads adjacent to the waterfront reserves allow access and avoid concreting our reserves.
"The community feels hijacked by the Gosford Council which is bent on using RTA money at any price," Mr Solondz said. Mr Solondz says the remaining unspoiled natural wildlife-rich reserves must be preserved. More than 1600 signatures objecting to the proposed cycleway on the waterfront reserves have been presented to council. The community had voiced concerns against concreting of waterfront reserves at council meetings and on-site inspection, through letters, a photo presentation and petitions, he said. Press release, March 13
Individual awards went to Doreen Ellis, Ruth Hawkshaw, Rina Keetman, Dulcie McKeown and Norma Morgan. The two groups were The Minstrels and the Central Coast View Clubs. Announcing the awards, Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews said: “The Individual Award acknowledges the contribution of a person assisting older people in their local community. “The Community Award r e c o g ni s es th e wo r k o f organisations which promote the well-being of local seniors." Ms Andrews said that Doreen Ellis of Woy Woy was secretary of the Woy Woy Peninsula Arthritis Branch. She led the hydrotherapy group and taught classes on helping to ease the aches and pains of arthritis. Ruth Hawkshaw of Umina Beach had always been active in her community. She was a member of the CWA Umina, local Legacy, the War Widows Guild and the Umina branch of the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants association. Rina Keetman of Umina Beach: Rina has been an Adult Day Care volunteer for 26 years. Rina was co-ordinator of the Ettalong Baptist Day Care for many years, planning activities and outings for the frail aged and disabled, as well as leading a team of volunteers; Dulcie McKeown of Ettalong Beach has been a volunteer at the Ettalong Senior Citizens Centre for 17 years. She helps with catering for special events and takes time to visit sick members in hospital and at
home; Norma Morgan of Booker Bay has been an Adult Day Care worker since 1983. She volunteered initially at Ettalong Baptist Day Care Centre and later at Woy Woy Monday Centre. Ms Andre ws said The Minstrels were a singing group attached to the Laycock Theatre, Gosford. During the year they visit Nursing Homes and Retirement Villages around the Central Coast, singing for residents; The Central Coast View Clubs had a membership of about 1600. The women who made up these clubs were a group of dedicated and hardworking volunteers. They organised functions to help raise money for the Smith Family; they supplied clothing and toys to the needy; and they provided support, friendship and fun for fellow members. Ms Andrews congratulated the award. “The Premier’s Awards were announced to celebrate Seniors Week 2002. They are a personal thank you from the Premier to groups and individuals helping others in their local communities. “These awards would not be possible without the continuing support of local xouncils who play a vital role in Seniors Weeks, including arranging local award presentations ceremonies,” Ms Andrews said. “I congratulate all local community organisations and individuals who have received these awards and I wish them all the best for Seniors Week 2002.” Press release, March 21
Man has two cars stolen from the same place A local man who has had two cars stolen from Everglades Country Club thinks that the same thief is responsible for the two incidents. Mr Les Burke said that both times his stolen car was found, it
was in the same area of Umina between Birdwood Av and Nowack Av, Umina. He believes that the culprit lives in Umina, and steals cars from the Everglades car park to get home after drinking at Everglades. "Both times my car has been
stolen, they've taken out the automatic transmission dipstick and the police told me that they've used the dipstick to get into the car. "Both times the car was found in the same area and I think that he lives in that area," Mr Burke said.
Everglades
In the most recent incident on March 12, an air compressor and two pairs of blue sunglasses were stolen, along with a small selection from Mr Burke's music cassette collection. "I also think that he's between 21 and 30, because he took my teenage daughter's tapes, but not
mine." Mr Burke has asked anyone who knows who is responsible to contact Gosford police. Jonathan Reichard, March 19