Issue 20 print

Volume 10 Issue 20

Something interesting Page 4

www.mountmorgan.org.au

Premier’s Reading Challenge Page 9

5 November - 19 November 2015

Leukaemia Fundraising Page 10

Mine Management offers cleaner, brighter future for Mount Morgan

Story page 3

Pride in Your Town It was never as famous as “The Sound of Music” in the Austrian Alps but the sound of the Mine hooter at the end of a shift was a pleasant sound to the Mount Morgan miners’ ears.

There is no documented history of the Mine hooter but people interviewed in that era have given most of this information. It was made in 1919 by local tradesmen at the mine in that time and it contained bell metal, alloy of 80% copper and 20% of tin. Perhaps its first use was on November 11th 1919 to mark the first Anniversary of Armistice Day. When the mine was operational it blew 17 times in the 24 hours to advise when lunch breaks were to be taken and end of every shift. On New Year’s Eve the operator was given a free hand so he really enjoyed blowing it numerous times to welcome in the New Year. In early years other blowing of the hooter was to signify a fatal accident on the Mine site and also to signal search parties looking for a lost person that the lost person had been found and they could return to base.

After the Mine closed the hooter was sold to an Australian Tin Mining company in Malaya where one of the Partners was Malcolm Newman who had close contact with the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company and later became chairman of the Board of Directors of Mount Morgan Limited. The story goes that the first occasion of blowing the hooter in Malaya the natives took fright and went bush and did not return for some days.

When Mount Morgan Limited started again ln 1932 the then General Manager, Mr Adam Boyd (apparently a sentimentalist, and a great man for our town) sourced out the location of the hooter and repurchased it at the same price it was sold for. During its long life there was not always steam to blow it but these hurdles were always overcome. Because of the wonderful tradition of the Mine Hooter that it is now silent things may change and we may hear the sound sometime in the future. Let us hope so.

Here is some information on a very special day. On the 13th November it is National Kindness Day around the world. There are 16 countries in the world in this organization but Australia is number one on that list showing the greatest kindness to fellow man. Keep that special day in mind for an act of kindness or else just give another person a smile as smiles do go round the world.

With the hot days approaching spend $2 and enjoy a refreshing dip in our much improved swimming pool, all good fun for the whole family, and as always…..Think Clean – Be Tidy.

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Sarina Couple Celebrate 60th Diamond Anniversary James (Jim) & Joan Reif of Sarina Beach will celebrate their Diamond ‘60th’ Wedding Anniversary on the 5th November.

The couple were married at the Mt. Morgan Methodist Church in East St at 4.00pm by Rev Elledge on the 5-11-1955.

Jim was attended by his brother George as the Best Man and his Brotherin-law Robert (Bob) Farley (dec.).

Joan’s attendants were her two sisters Ailsa Hare as Matron of Honour and Beverly Berry as her Bridesmaid.

Joan’s mother Caroline Berry made the Wedding Dress, both the attendants dresses, her own Mother of the Bride outfit and organised all the catering for the reception which was held at the Mt. Morgan Masonic Hall.

The couple then travelled to Cairns with a caravan for their Honeymoon.

Jim worked for many years at the Mt. Morgan Mine before moving to Moranbah to work at the Peak Downs Mine and finally retiring to their home at Sarina Beach.

Jim & Joan have four children, 10 grandchildren & 1 great grandchild.

The couple will celebrate their Anniversary with a Special Dinner on the night.

New deal for Mine Site water management offers cleaner, brighter future for Mt Morgan A new deal for central Queensland’s historic Mount Morgan mine will use specialist technology to boost environmental management and flood protection and save more than $150,000 a year.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham today announced a management agreement with mine remediation experts Carbine Resources for water treatment at the 130-plus-year-old mine.

“This delivers a great package of benefits for central Queensland and the ongoing management of the mine’s environmental issues,” Dr Lynham said.

“Carbine Resources’ specialist water treatment expertise will mean better environmental outcomes, with more water from the pit decontaminated, without using fresh water.

“Carbine is also looking into using cutting edge technology to extract gold, copper and pyrite resources from the tailings stockpiles, and copper from the pit water, giving a piece of Queensland mining history a new opportunity to be a mineral producer.”

The former Mount Morgan Mine operated from 1882 until 1990, producing copper and gold. The Queensland Government took over management of the historic mine site in 1991, including the former open cut pit and its 12,000 megalitres of contaminated water.

A lime-dosing water treatment plant has been operating onsite since 2008 and is used to remove metal contaminants and neutralise acid levels, before treated pit water is allowed to enter the Dee River.

Dr Lynham said Carbine Resources would use water polishing technology to treat up to 500 megalitres of mine pit water over 12 months – at least three times what the existing treatment plant achieved in 2014-15.

“Carbine Resources will boost the existing plant’s capacity with specialist technology that will mean fresh water won’t be needed any more to operate the plant,” he said.

“If we don’t need to store freshwater in dams onsite to operate the plant, this means more capacity to cope with heavy rainfall without run-off.

“Better water treatment will also drop the water level in the mine pit, which in turn reduces the risk of contaminated pit water overflowing into the Dee River, as it did in 2013.

“Finally, the deal will achieve cost savings for the department because the water treatment plant currently costs approximately $1.4 million each year to operate.”

Dr Lynham said Carbine was currently doing feasibility studies into the potential to reprocess mineral tailing stockpiles on the mine site.

“The company expects to be on site operating early in the new year.”

President of Mount Morgan Promotion and Development John Steinberger said “ this is positive news for Mount Morgan” .

“This announcement, with the new agreement for the water treatment process allows savings initially covered by the taxpayer with further benefits displayed through Carbine’s technology, improves throughput of the amount of water treated substantially reducing the risk of any uncontrolled release in overflows at the site in the future.”

“To me great news for the future for Mount Morgan township and surrounding residents in fact all of Central Queensland. We also eagerly await further information to be released by Carbine Resources to feasibility studies results being undertaken into reprocessing of tailings on the old mine site.” John said.

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Something Interesting Here is an interesting thing, it’s an old forge, I’m not sure when it was made, guessing 1880s to 1920. It actually comes apart into 3 pieces, so could have been used by bullock teams, army, people may have travelled to properties that did not have a forge, to do horse shoes, make hot rivets, repair things and made items. Some properties could have used this type of forge instead of building a larger one.

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I do not know who made this forge, the blower is marked RAPOC SYDNEY, I cannot find much information on this company. So I do not know if they made the whole thing or only the blower. I have seen photos of others the same, so it was commercially made. This has had the part were the coals were burnt replaced at some stage, all the rest is original.

WILDLIFE Matters

by Trish & Greg Mathers 0400 591 504

At times we get in an animal or bird we have trouble identifying.

A couple of weeks ago a small bird came in with a long curved beak, pale underparts, the head, back and wings were pale grey with pale olive green wash on the back and more pronounced olive colouring on the wings. It was a very small bird, about half as big as a budgie. Despite looking through many of the bird books we have I still have been unable to properly identify it. I believe it may be a cuckoo. Unfortunately this little bird did not survive, but I am still intrigued as to what it was. There is a photo of it below.

Cuckoos look much like songbirds, however cuckoos have feet which have two toes pointing forward and two back. ( I did not pay enough attention to the feet when it was in care unfortunately).

There are three large species of cuckoo which most of you will be familiar with. The Koel (or the coo-ee bird), which has a very loud call, often a day or two before rain; The Channel-bill, which is otherwise known locally as the storm bird. It looks like a flying walking stick, and also has a very loud but not so pretty call. It is a very large bird. The other large cuckoo is the Pheasant Coucal, otherwise known as the whoop-whoop bird, which is ground dwelling, often being flushed out of the long grass. It can fly but is very slow and awkward in flight.The smaller cuckoos are mostly greyish, slender, graceful birds Their wingtips often droop. They are swift flyers, but are most often noticed from their incessant calling from the tops of dead trees or overhead wires. They feed on or near the ground and often their prey is the hairy caterpillar.

Cuckoos are birds that eat in great quantities. They are best known for their behaviour of laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, letting the foster parents raise their babies for them. The only cuckoo which does not do that is the Pheasant Coucal, which lays its eggs on the ground and raises its own chicks.

We also received a Scaly-breasted lorikeet. These lorries are smaller than the Rainbow lorikeets, green in colour, with yellow bars on their chest that can appear like scales. They, like the rainbow lorikeets, are nectar eaters. They do however eat some grasses.

Skippy, our beautiful little Swamp Wallaby, was released this week. We waited for some rain so there would be fresh shoots and at least some water around before we released him. Swamp Wallabies are ungrateful little creatures! He ran across the hill, rustled up the wild swamp wallabies and ran off with them. We haven’t seen him since!

Skippy was rescued from Byrnes Parade in November last year.

He was just over 330gms, just a little pinkie (unfurred). After almost a year in care he has his freedom, being old enough and wise enough to look after himself. We hope he has a great life!

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Colleen Patricia Clancy and William Fredrick Bailey were married on November 8th 40 years ago.

Congratulations on your Ruby Anniversary.

With love from The Hoehne Family

106 Musgrave Street North Rockhampton Qld 4701

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MONSTER CHRISTMAS

Saturday 28th Nov

Mount Morgan School of Arts Hall Doors open 12:30 for a 2pm start ��� � � � � � ������������ ��� ����� � � � � ������� � �

es z i r p t a e Gr elcome w All

Proceeds to the Mt Morgan

Christmas Tree Festival For further details, please contact MMPAD on 4938 2312 or email: mmpad@bigpond.com

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A Poem by Frank Clark Bitumen through the Brigalo.

The morning was a bit dull because of the fog The coach filled up with a chirpy happy mob My pen will trace the trip on to paper Hope a smile is still on your face many verses later A little bit behind as we reach the highway On our way heading for Baralaba by the way Plenty of chatting and story telling I will have to watch my spelling The word most echoed on the bus is thank you In this atmosphere no time to be blue So I push the pen in wriggles and curves To paint a picture that will not disturb It is warming up the ride is not rough Bus stops at the crossroads the noise interrupts The chatter and excitement is a bit high But we are surrounded by sunshine and blue sky Heading down the flat into Wowan All is well as long as the wheels are rolling The grass is greener the cattle are grazing My guess is the trip will be amazing Now travelling down the Baralaba strip It has been a smooth happy trip Through the brigalo we get to Myella farm To look around and take in the aussie bush charm We are in for a cup of black billy tea Because on the fire black billies I see Around the tables we all sit To calm down as black billy tea we sip In the trees the birds entertain with their chirp Fresh air, sunshine and country sounds worth Helps us to realize abundant beauties abound Birds stop chirping and talking stops there is no sound On our way to Baralaba this contented bunch looking forward to an enjoyable lunch After lunch and a bit of a laugh went for a drive through the river park Done a loop over the new bridge to see Then to the village museum under the trees Heading out of town to finish the round On time without a frown we will end up in Mt. Morgan town.

Queensland energy and water consumers secure $1.1 million in compensation following Ombudsman assistance Queensland energy and water consumers have this year secured a record amount of financial compensation after taking their complaints to the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland (EWOQ) according to the 2014-15 annual report.“Throughout the year we again assisted thousands of customers with serious issues particularly in respect of their bills and their capacity to pay, resulting in a record $1.1 million in outcomes for customers,” Energy and Water Ombudsman Forbes Smith announced today.In many ways, this year has been a remarkable one, with the record value of monetary outcomes being achieved from a smaller complaints base, with complaints to the Ombudsman falling by 21%.“We believe that electricity retailers have improved the way in which they deal with customer complaints at the front line, which is a welcome development, as it is in a customer’s best interest to have their complaint dealt with by the retailer from the beginning, rather than being forced to take up their issue with my office,” said Mr Smith.

“As such, we believe that the Ombudsman scheme is being used for more difficult or complex cases, rather than simple complaints which retailers have been able to resolve themselves.”

The top five monetary outcomes negotiated by EWOQ were: 504 goodwill gestures ($115,171), 305 payment plans or extensions offered ($185,693), 243 billing adjustments ($403,883), 200

refund cheques ($231,033) and 95 debt waivers ($102,070).

EWOQ closed 11,049 cases in the 2014-15 financial year, 9539 related to electricity, 803 related to gas and 569 related to water, with the remaining cases being general enquiries. Electricity complaints decreased by 24 per cent, however water and gas complaints experienced slight changes, with water complaints increasing by 7 per cent and gas complaints decreasing by 5 per cent.

“All complaint categories were down with one exception - customer service complaints increased by 8 per cent as a result of complaints concerning one retailer’s failure to pay solar bonus refunds.”

“We continue to work hard to provide a high level of service to electricity, gas and water customers who experience difficulties with their energy and water supplier,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said if Queenslanders experienced any issues with their electricity, gas or water supplier, that they should give their supplier the opportunity to resolve the problem first, but if they are not happy with the response, free assistance was available from EWOQ. “Queensland electricity, gas and water customers can contact EWOQ for assistance by visiting www.energywatercomplaints.com.au or freecall 1800 662 837,” he said.

Mount Morgan State High School

Drama Group 2015 proudly presents...

When:

Miss Dale and the Mount Morgan Drama Group have been working tirelessly throughout this year to put together an entertaining play for

6th & 7th November 6:30pm

the whole family.

doors & snack bar open 6pm

The Drama Group have been rehearsing since Term One on most Wednesday afternoons. There are students from every grade helping out in the production - backstage, with sound and of course on stage.

Where:

Mount Morgan School of Arts

Holka Polka by D. M. Larson

is a play for kids of all ages. Join a good little witch named Brenda who sets out to save Fairy Tale Land with the help of the Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella. This is a Fairy Tale Mystery that puts a new twist on some such as Humpty Dumpty, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood, The Wizard of Oz and Hansel and Gretel.

famous fables

We hope to see you there for a

night full of magic and some very corny jokes.

Cost: Adults $5 Students $2 Family $10 (2 adults + 3 children) Tickets can be pre-purchased ���������������������

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Everything Yummy .. by Heather Quarry Donna Savage Lacour and her husband Gerard came to Mount Morgan a grandmother that was very food orientated gave Donna the perfect to look for their little piece of Paradise. Donna says “We are doco nerds background for continuing in the industry. (love documentaries), and we recognise what Mount Morgan has done Gerard was a talented, well known musician but gave up the music for Australia. We also looked for a heritage area and the Mount is filled life when he learnt to love the many great ways food can make people with such wonderful history). feel good. Between him and Donna they have five children and 2 Donna has been surrounded by good food all her life and has worked in grandchildren whom they are hoping will continue the yummy journey the food industry, starting as a kitchen hand scrubbing dishes, to working of great food. in deli’s, hotels and restaurants since she first started employment after Donna lives by her motto “Not everything I have here is everyone’s leaving school. She has always been fascinated with food and believes yummy but there is something yummy here for everyone”. Is it any everything should be appealing and yummy. wonder the restaurant is called EVERYTHING YUMMY. You will find Having a father who owned a butchers shop then a road house, and them next door to the Golden Nugget Hotel in Mount Morgan.

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Red Frog Participates in Premier’s Reading Challenge The Premier’s Reading Challenge is an annual statewide initiative celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2015. The challenge is not a competition but aims to encourage children to develop a love of reading for life. As well as being fun, the purpose of the challenge is to boost children’s literacy skills, to develop their imagination, and to cultivate a passion for literature.

For a child to successfully complete the Premier’s Reading Challenge they must read or experience a number of books which include classroom or at home activities such as shared reading, listening and reading along

with a book, or being read to.

Children who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.

To celebrate their reading achievements Red Frog 4 Early Childhood Education invited the Mayor Margaret Strelow to present the Certificates of Achievements to our Kindy children. The children cooked for this special event and a morning tea and mini high tea was shared with our Mayor, invited guests, kindy children and their families.

Mayor Strelow and the Red Frog Kindy children pose with their certificates

Carols in Saint Mary’s 6pm SUNDAY 29th November 2015

Guest Artists: Bouldercombe Singers Mrs Christine Schirmer Light refreshments prior to carols 5pm - 6pm in Church Hall

Mount Morgan Men’s Shed Open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8.30am-12pm.

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Carol and Brian Stock’s Leukaemia Fundraising update .. by Heather Quarry When they came home from their original time spent at the Townsville grand daughter and Brian’s sister. Everybody always makes us feel so Leukaemia Foundation in two thousand and eleven, all Carol and welcome. We left there in 2014. The many months away from home Brian Stock wanted to do was run a Cent Sale and raise money to give because of tests and treatments were definitely made more bearable something back to an organisation that goes beyond the call of duty to because of caring staff, the group sessions where people shared their help Cancer Victims and their families. The efforts of the Mount Morgan stories, and the all round atmosphere of the units”. people were astounding and encouraged more fundraisers than was After deciding to have yet another Cent Sale which stemmed from anticipated at the beginning.

Brian hearing Carol speaking to a friend on the phone, Brian mentioned Through articles in the Argus, Carol and Brian have shared their amazing they might need two Cent Sales to fit in all the prizes that were made journey of cancer survival with the community of Mount Morgan. They or donated for the cause. This time with their goal amount being ten are also very humbled and extremely thankful to the people of the Mount thousand dollars, they set out to make it happen. “So many terrific who have helped them in their fundraising efforts. Without the help, people rallied around to help us and we could never have done it all dedication and hard work from everyone, it would never have been without them. It wasn’t Brian and I that raised the money. It was the possible to raise such great amounts of money for a cause that affects so community of Mount Morgan. We can’t stress that enough”. The School many people. of Arts was closed due to renovations being done in the local library, so After returning home from Townsville where Brian had undergone we held the last fundraisers at the Community Services Hall. extensive treatments, he and Carol decided to organise a Cent Sale Carol and Brian had been running raffles then had their last big Cent Sale to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. This was back in two on the 26th of September this year. Again their goal aim of ten thousand thousand and eleven. It proved to be a big hit with three thousand, one dollars had been passed with the end result adding up to eleven thousand, hundred and fifty eight dollars being raised. With pride for the town they two hundred and ninety two dollars. both love Carol said “This was a great amount of money to be raised “We were involved in the Railway station to fundraise for getting the in Mount Morgan. It is a small town with a big heart. Everyone was train running. Then it went up for tender and we didn’t get it running. asking when the next one would be even though we said it was a one off The Railway Station Inc Committee decided to wind up the organisation thing”. at this time.

In two thousand and thirteen Carol and Brian agreed that they would Because Brian and I helped with fundraising there, they gave us a cheque run another Cent Sale fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation in for five thousand dollars to go towards our fundraising now. All up, the Townsville because all the staff caring for Brian were so wonderful. “It is fundraising efforts of the Mount Morgan people comes to over twenty a Foundation that is worthy of help because it is so dedicated to not only five thousand dollars being raised. We can’t emphasis enough how much the patients but to their carers as well. We set a goal of five thousand we appreciate the people of the Mount. I think because we are born and dollars to be raised, and were over the moon when the total surpassed bred here, everyone knows us. Because it is for Leukaemia, everyone our expectations with six thousand dollars being raised. Again people knows it is for a good cause. Close on one hundred and fifty people asked us when the next one would be but we said no, we wouldn’t do it attended the last Cent Sale”. anymore”.

“We always go back to the units in Townsville when we visit our

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Brian and Carol handing over the cheque to the Leukaemia Foundation in Townsville.

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Mount Morgan Museum News

by Heather Quarry.

Gwen Scott (pictured) is one of the Mount Morgan Museum’s busy members, working hard along side others to keep the history of the town interesting and appealing for locals and visitors alike. Donations from organisations or even individual people are always appreciated and put to good use whether it be updating or improving building structure and adding to displays, or revamping information photos and brochures.

Recently the museum has been given a boost, with Allan Todd (pictured) handing over a five thousand dollar cheque donation to Gwen, from what was the Mount Morgan Railway Inc. Museum volunteers are hoping to see the old steam train that used to be at the Museum on East Street, moved into the yards of the current Museum in Morgan Street. Placed on a cement slab with caged surrounds and good roofing, will keep it secure plus add to the safety issue. Getting a crane and truck to move the train, plus the cement slab, roofing and caging all costs a lot of dollars but worth it to keep another part of Mount Morgan’s History on display.

Gwen says “We’ve got a fair bit of stuff to do with the railway with changes outside and it is happening inside as well. We are working on incorporating the entire theme”.

The museum also received a fifteen thousand dollar grant from Stanwell Power Station which will be used to upgrade security outside the building. Along East street, the underneath parts will be upgraded and

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partitioned off so there is no easy access. Striving to keep people from having access under the building cuts down the chance of anyone getting hurt under there.

It is hoped that upgrading the Railway Walmul Station display out in the back yard and enclosing the lights, bric-a-brac and anything to do with the railway in general, will give it a theme of its own in that area. The wheelchair access to the display area has now been completed.

Gwen is happy with how the changes are falling into place nicely throughout the museum. “Safety issues are the biggest concern at the museum closely followed by security. The two go hand in hand. A lot of different things are happening with the displays inside the museum at present. A great deal of work has been done, and will continue. The war display is increasing too and the Vietnam Veteran part is coming up soon”.

“The building was established in 1895 and still stands strong today with no major damage. A bit of iron moved in Cyclone Marcia but has since been fixed thanks to one of our great volunteers. All the volunteers here are remarkable to work with. Their time and effort is very much appreciated. Everyone has a different kind of skill and if they can show someone else, this also helps everyone in the long run”.

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MOUNT MORGAN RODEO ASSOC. It has been a quiet couple of weeks for us as we prepare for the next two months. With so many exciting upcoming events, who can blame us.

This Friday the entries into the School Rodeo Logo comp will be picked up and displayed throughout the town. So looking forward to seeing them all.

We have barefoot bowls on the 7th Nov at the Dee Bowls Club. There will be a bbq and the bar will be running. Also raffles and the drawing of the Rodeo Assoc School Logo Comp and electrical goods. It starts at 2pm so bring your family and/or mates and join in the fun. At $10 per person who could beat that!

On the 14th Nov another cool event is the Golf Day at the Mt Morgan Golf Club. Nine hole ambrose starts at 2pm. Looks like some research might be needed before I attempt this one. Again bar and bbq operating and $10 entry. Are you game?

There is a very special raffle being displayed up town soon so keep your eyes open for it. It is a little Aussie cabin with all the mod cons (of yesteryear). The perfect present for a special person. Raffle tickets available soon.

We would like to thank Heilbronns for their kind donations for the Logo Comp.

We would also like to make special mention of our President Barb who has kindly donated her Little Men to Upper Ulam Rural Firies, Suicide Prevention (Lifeline), and Leukaemia Cent Sale, to be raffled so these people can raise some money for their organisations. What a great lady.

That’s it ‘til next fortnight. See you then with more interesting events.

The Argus needs Most readers may not be aware but the Mount Morgan Argus runs primarily with volunteer helpers overseen by the executive of Mount Morgan Promotion and Development.

Putting together a free newspaper that gets circulated to all homes and businesses in our community has it trials.

We are seeking more helpers and contributors.

Do you love Mount Morgan?

Do you love the fortnightly Argus?

Do you have a flair for writing, editing, journalism or photography?

Do you have some spare time on your hands?

We would love to increase our team of helpers – please consider joining us. Drop us a line at mmpad@bigpond.com or drop down to the station and leave your details and one of the committee will get in touch.

Many hands make light work so they say!

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We deliver a range of primary allied health and mental health services across Central Queensland through Australian Government funding initiatives

����� We provide speech pathology and occupational therapy services in Mount Morgan at no cost to families. ������ The Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist work out of the Mount Morgan Child and Family Support Hub �����

on Tuesdays

���� Children and families can be referred to us by phoning 4924 9700 or emailing referrals@there4u.org.au

ELEVEN YEAR COSMIC SEARCH LEADS TO BLACK HOLE RETHINK One hundred years since Einstein proposed gravitational waves as part of his general theory of relativity, an 11-year search performed with CSIRO’s Parkes telescope has shown that an expected background of waves is missing, casting doubt on our understanding of galaxies and black holes.

For scientists gravitational waves exert a powerful appeal, as it is believed they carry information allowing us to look back into the very beginnings of the Universe. Although there is strong circumstantial evidence for their existence, they have not yet been directly detected.

The work, led by Dr Ryan Shannon (of CSIRO and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research), is published today in the journal Science.

Using Parkes, the scientists expected to detect a background ‘rumble’ of the waves, coming from the merging galaxies throughout the Universe, but they weren’t there. The world-first research has caused scientists to think about the Universe in a different way.

“It seems to be all quiet on the cosmic front,” Dr Shannon said.

“By pushing our telescopes to the limits required for this sort of cosmic search we’re moving into new frontiers in all areas of physics, forcing ourselves to understand how galaxies and black holes work.”

The fact that gravitational waves weren’t detected goes against expectations and throws our current understanding of black holes into question.

Galaxies grow by merging and every large one is thought to have a supermassive black hole at its heart. When two galaxies unite, the black holes are drawn together and form an orbiting pair. At this point, Einstein’s theory is expected to take hold, with the pair predicted to succumb to a death spiral, sending ripples known as gravitational waves through space-time, the very fabric of the Universe.

Although Einstein’s general theory of relativity has withstood every test thrown at it by scientists, directly detecting gravitational waves remain the one missing piece of the puzzle.

To look for the waves, Dr Shannon’s team used the Parkes telescope to monitor a set of ‘millisecond pulsars’. These small stars produce highly regular trains of radio pulses and act like clocks in space. The scientists recorded the arrival times of the pulsar signals to an accuracy of ten billionths of a second.

A gravitational wave passing between Earth and a millisecond pulsar squeezes and stretches space, changing the distance between them by about 10 metres — a tiny fraction of the pulsar’s distance from Earth. This changes, very slightly, the time that the pulsar’s signals arrive on Earth.

The scientists studied their pulsars for 11 years, which should have been long enough to reveal gravitational waves.

So why haven’t they been found? There could be a few reasons, but the scientists suspect it’s because black holes merge very fast, spending little time spiralling together and generating gravitational waves.

“There could be gas surrounding the black holes that creates friction and carries away their energy, letting them come to the clinch quite quickly,” said team member Dr Paul Lasky, a postdoctoral research fellow at Monash University. Whatever the explanation, it means that if astronomers want to detect gravitational waves by timing pulsars they’ll have to record them for many more years. “There might also be an advantage in going to a higher frequency,” said Dr Lindley Lentati of the University of Cambridge, UK, a member of the research team who specialises in pulsar-timing techniques.

Astronomers will also gain an advantage with the highly sensitive Square Kilometre Array telescope, set to start construction in 2018.

Not finding gravitational waves through pulsar timing has no implications for ground-based gravitational wave detectors such as Advanced LIGO (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), which began its own observations of the Universe last week.

“Ground-based detectors are looking for higher-frequency gravitational waves generated by other sources, such as coalescing neutron stars,” said Dr Vikram Ravi, a member of the research team from Swinburne University (now at Caltech, in Pasadena, California).

A simulation of black holes merging.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Next Argus: Out Thursday, 19th November 2015.

If you have something you’d like included in this issue, please note that inclusions are required by 2pm Friday, 13th November. For details: mmpad@bigpond.com / 4938 2312.

The notice board at the Post Office will be used as the community notice board until the one in Morgan St is available again.

Mount Morgan Rugby Union would sincerely like to thank Mount Morgan Railway Incorporated for their generous and kind donation.

Now at FOX VIDEO GOOD THERAPY - TAKE 2 MOVIES & GO TO BED

CLASSIFIEDS

NEED AN ELECTRICIAN?: RJ Electrician Pty Ltd. Licence no. 72288. Phone: 0431 576 101.

FOR SALE: Westinghouse Freestyle 2 door fridge $200 ono. Phone 4938 2546.

CAN’T get to your ironing, call me, I can help. Phone 4938 2546.

SECOND HAND BOOKS for sale at Collectables and Memories 113 East Street, Mt. Morgan.

FICTION BOOKS are selling for $3 each; there are lots of popular authors, in hard cover and soft, in non fiction there are military books, some gardening and cook books.

HOUSE FOR RENT. 56 Pattison Street Mount Morgan. Phone 0417 073 285.

GARAGE SALE November 14th 8am to 4pm 37 Racecourse Rd. Mt Morgan. Loads of things to sell including Christmas tree and decorations

DATE CLAIMERS 5th November: Golden Mount Festival Association Bingo. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m. play starts at 10 a.m.

7th Nov MMRA Barefoot Bowls. Dee Bowls Club. Starts 2pm. Bar and BBQ operating. $10 / person. Come have some fun.

7th Nov MMRA Drawing of the School Rodeo Logo Comp. Best of luck to all entries.

7th Nov MMRA Drawing of Electrical Goods Raffle.

Sat 7th November Mt Morgan Arts and Crafts cent sale and multi draw at the CWA hall. Commencing at 2pm doors open 1 pm.

7th Nov BlueCare Trash and Treasure, 8am – noon, Uniting Church, Gordon St. 7th Nov Drawing of Electrical Goods Raffle.

Sunday 8 Nov. Dance. Billy Lawton Band. Community Service Hall. 1pm5pm $6 Adults, $2 Children. Raffle - Lucky Door - Afternoon Tea. 12th November: Golden Mount Festival Association Bingo. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. play starts at 7.30 p.m.

Friday 13/11/2015 Baree School of Arts are holding an Old Time, New Vogue dance at 7.30pm on. Music is by Twocan. There will be a Lucky Door, Raffles, Monte Carlo and Lucky Spot on the night and a great supper. All Welcome.

Phone 49381687 for more details please.

14th Nov MMRA Golf Day. 9 hole Ambrose. Starts 2pm. Bar and BBQ operating. $10/person.

19th November: Golden Mount Festival Association Bingo. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m. play starts at 10 a.m.

21 November: Market & Car Boot Sale. School of Arts Hall 8a.m. to noon.

22/11/2015 Baree School of Arts CD night is on at 6.00pm on. Line dancing, old time and new vogue dances with lots of raffles and lovely supper. Please phone 49381687 for details and Bring a Friend.

26th November: Golden Mount Festival Association Bingo. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. play starts at 7.30 p.m.

28 November: Christmas Cent Sale, 2pm, School of Arts, proceeds to support Christmas Tree Festival 3rd December: Golden Mount Festival Association Bingo. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m. play starts at 10 a.m. Christmas Jackpot $400 in 90 calls. Last day BINGO for 2015. We would like to thank you for your support.

4 & 5 December: Christmas Tree Festival, School of Arts.

5th Dec Barefoot Bowls at Welfare Bowls Club. Starts 2pm MMRA. 5th Dec BlueCare Trash and Treasure, 8am – noon, Uniting Church, Gordon St. 10th December: Golden Mount Festival Association Bingo. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. play starts at 7.30 p.m.

Christmas Jackpot $500 in 90 calls. Last night BINGO for 2015. We would like to thank you for your support.

12 December: CWA Giant Xmas Cent Sale 2pm Sat. normal prizes, multidraw, special draw & raffle. QCWA Hall East St. CWA HOY: Wed - Fri 10am QCWA Hall, free morning tea, $1 per hand.

16

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