Bridgewater hosts African-Australian Communities talks with Federal Minister

All correspondence should be addressed to the General Manager, Brighton Council, 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach 7017.

Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles MP, met in early February with members of Tasmania’s growing community of African -Australians, including Tasmanian of the

Year John Kamara.

This was a very positive and engaging meeting where Mr Kamara and other community members were able to discuss issues facing fellow residents directly with Minister Giles.

Discussion included dealing with visas more efficiently, along with training more young Tasmanians via TAFE and other educational pathways to help with skills shortages in the wider Brighton community.

Ode to a Local Legend

We don’t often think of the people who drive our highways day and night to ensure our goods get from A to B. However, Oatlands local, Shane Grabham, has - quite literally - put pen to paper to pay homage to local freight courier, Bruce Livingston, in honour of his recent retirement at the age of seventy-four.

If I Can I Will

By Shane Grabham, Oatlands

Bruce Livingston is his name. He travelled up and down the highway in the cold and snow and rain. He worked the usual times and other times as well.

It wasn’t very often he ever had a spell.

He often worked at weekends and often worked at night and encountered the sort of challenges a freight courier might.

He was diagnosed with diabetes which was another challenge too as he had to live and work with it as many people do.

He was always very efficient and always very prompt and didn’t charge a fortune like many businesses want.

Sometimes savage dogs were present when he delivered to a home but he said “They wouldn’t get a feed” as he was only skin and bone. He liked to have a laugh and also have a chat but he was always in a hurry and couldn’t spare much time for that.

He has an easygoing nature and he’s a gentleman as well and also very friendly as anyone can tell. But it is difficult to describe him as there aren’t many characters like him. Now that he’s retired we won’t see him very much but considering his personality he will probably stay in touch.

“If I can I will” is the Livingston family motto, which may have inspired Bruce’s ancestor Doctor Livingston of African fame, but it certainly inspired Bruce throughout his long working life as he would often say “If I can I will.”

LEIGH GRAY (Mayor)

Brighton 7030

Tel: 6268 0704 / 0488 390 115 cr.gray@brighton.tas.gov.au

BARBARA CURRAN (Deputy Mayor) Brighton 7030

Tel: 0417 612 868 cr.curran@brighton.tas.gov.au

AARON DE LA TORRE Brighton 7030

Tel: 0427 813 821 cr.delatorre@brighton.tas.gov.au

PETER GEARD

Brighton 7030

Tel: 6268 1143 / 0418 515 649 cr.geard@brighton.tas.gov.au

GREG IRONS

Brighton 7030 Tel: 0424 333 360 cr.irons@brighton.tas.gov.au

JOHN MCMASTER Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0408 543 772 cr.mcmaster@brighton.tas.gov.au

TENNILLE MURTAGH

Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0434 618 316 cr.murtagh@brighton.tas.gov.au

PHILIP OWEN Old Beach 7017

Tel: 6249 8575 / 0419 333 252 cr.owen@brighton.tas.gov.au

MICHAEL WHELAN Brighton 7030 Tel: 0409 416 353 cr.whelan@brighton.tas.gov.au

Immunisation Clinics 2023

Brighton Council provides FREE monthly immunisation clinics at the Brighton Civic Centre, 25 Green Point Road, Bridgewater from 2–3pm on these dates:

Tuesday 4 April

Tuesday 2 May

Tuesday 6 June

Tuesday 4 July

Tuesday 1 August

For inquiries please call Brighton Council’s Environmental Health Officer (03) 6268 7029 admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au