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Volume 26, Thursday 1st February, 2007

Space man draw card EXCLUSIVE

By Les Rochester South Australian astronaut Dr. Andrew Thomas will be the highlight of the 60th birthday celebrations for Woomera over the coming Easter in early April.

Dr. Thomas has agreed to videotape a message of support and congratulations as part of the planned celebrations.

He was born on December 18, 1951, in Adelaide, and is married to Astronaut Shannon Walker.

Dr. Thomas received a bachelor of engineering degree in mechanical engineering, with First Class Honors, from the University of Adelaide, in 1973, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University in 1978.

He began his professional career as a research scientist with the Lockheed Aeronautical Systems C o m p a n y, M a r i e t t a , Georgia, in 1977.

At that time he was responsible for experimental investigations into the control of fluid dynamic

instabilities and aircraft drag.

In 1980, he was appointed Principal Aerodynamic Scientist to the company and headed a research team examining various problems in advanced aerodynamics and aircraft flight test.

Thi s w a s followe d in 1983 by an appointment as the head of the Advanced Flight Sciences Department to lead a research department of engineers and scientists engaged in experimental and computational studies in fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and aeroacoustics.

In 1989, he moved to Pasadena, California, to join the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL) and, shortly after, was appointed leader of the JPL program for microgravity materials processing in space.

This NASA-sponsored research included scientific investigations, conducted in the laboratory and in low gravity on NASA’s KC-135 aircraft, as well as technology studies to support the development of the space Continued on page 3

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Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

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Birdsville Hotel

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Coober Pedy Visitor Info Centre

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Glendambo Mobil

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Glendambo Resort

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Hawker Information Centre

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Leigh Creek & Reg. Info Centre

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Leigh Creek Post Office

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Marla Travellers Rest

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Marree Aboriginal School

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Mungerannie Hotel

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Native Animal Network

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Olympic Dam Operations

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Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta

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Roadhouse & General Store

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Do you think that testing for drugs and alcohol in the workplace is a good idea?

Eric Anderson, 18, : “I think it is a great idea.

If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol then it will slow your response times down, especially in cases of an emergency”

Jess Rawlins, 20, : “ It ’s a g o o d i d e a , definitely.

It’s got to be good for safety at work, it would have to improve safety for sure.”

John Niaouris, 40, : “Drugs and alcohol do not belong at work. Can you imagine working alongside someone who is under the effects of drugs or alcohol.

Testing would ensure a safer workplace. It’s a very good idea to test people and in the future we might see most businesses and companies introducing it.”

Emotion at Andamooka re-opening The Andamooka school reopened its doors for the new school year after having to bus its students back and forth from Roxby Downs for the past six months.

School Principal Angela Turner said it was an emotional return.

“We focussed on the positive things for this year, and didn’t dwell on the past, relating to the fires at the school,” she said.

“It was a big occasion for us all, the 31 students and 3 teachers and we were surprised by the large turn out on opening day by the community and parents.

“We had some here until well into the afternoon, they were just so pleased to have their school back,” Ms. Turner said.

The parents and volunteers will re-introduce school based activities such as tai-chi and instruction from local artists during the year.

Tenders for the new transportable school building are expected to be finalised during the next week with classes moving into the new building later in the year.

“At present we’ll make do with operating from the Library as the building has been refurbished, as a temporary measure.

“We’re a little bit cramped, but everyone is just glad to be back home,” Ms. Turner said.

132 500

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the Weather at a glance... CONTACT The Minimum & Maximum Temperatures for the period January 22, 2007 to January 28, 2007

Minimum

Maximum

22/01/06

Date

16.40

28.60

23/01/06

19.50

32.90

24/01/06

21.30

34.50

25/01/06

21.20

37.80

26/01/06

20.8

0

40.70

27/01/06

17.80

27.70

28/01/06

16.00

28.80

Total Rainfall for this period 0.0mm Proudly sponsored by

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Page 2 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

Makenzie Frunks, 14, : “Yes, it’s a good idea. If you go to work drugged, you put your friends at risk, especially if they’re operating near heavy machinery, or you’re relying on them for your own safety. It would reduce the number of injuries at work.”

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Monitor NEWS

Miners Police news get cheap housing

Above: Road closed signs after recent rains in the region.

Strategy for Outback Roads

A call has been made to the state government to put in place an emergency strategic plan to overcome the problems of outback communities being isolated during times of flood.

The owner and operator of WrightAir in William Creek, Trevor Wright says the state government should bite the bullet and have some sort of strategy in place to get communities back ‘on-line’ as soon as possible after they’ve been isolated.

“Every time we get heavy rain up here, the first thing to go are the roads, which stops people getting around and food and other essentials from getting in.

“It’s not rocket science. I know it will cost a bit of money, but how difficult is it to have in place roads, that are not washed away during such events,” he said.

Mr. Wright has suggested the government set up a steering committee with real powers to make direct recommendations to the appropriate minister and cabinet to get the issue resolved.

He has suggested representatives should come from user groups, businesses, communities and the pastoral industry.

“They’re the people who have the experience in such conditions. They’re the people who have lived with this sort of disaster for more than 30 odd years, so they know what needs to be done,” he said.

“They might not be able to stop remote communities from being isolated, but they’ll be in a far better position to minimise the outage, rather than having places

like William Creek isolated for more than a week or more.

“A week after the recent flood a fortnight ago, I tried to get out of William Creek by road, but the ground was still too soft and my 4-wheel drive, just went ‘plomp’ down to its axles.

“We couldn’t even get a fuel tanker through to get diesel to the local pub, that how bad things were,” Mr. Wright said.

The recent rain and its flood are expected to start to fill Lake Eyre and other Lakes in the district which will increase the tourist traffic to the area.

“Everything stops up here when it rains.

“Tourists can’t get through, drill rigs and their gangs are isolated because the roads are just too soft,” he said.

Mr. Wright has suggested better design and construction of remote roads be implemented so that they can be brought back into service much more quickly.

He says all weather airstrips must be a priority in the remote areas of South Australia, not only to prevent communities from total isolation but to keep an avenue open for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and SA Ambulance should there be a major disaster.

“How are they going to get in or out for that matter, especially if there are traumatic injuries.

“We just need some consideration up here. That’s all we’re asking,” Mr. Wright concluded.

BHP Billiton is yet to decide on how and to whom to allocate new housing packages it plans to release as part of new subdivisions it is building in Roxby Downs.

The company is planning to hold an expoinformation session this month or next, for its employees to determine how the new housing will be distributed.

As reported in ‘The Monitor’ in November the south-east subdivision will provide 125 building blocks, with three large allotments for high density, town house style accommodation.

The company is working on two other major subdivisions called ‘B’ and ‘C’ which are expected to provide about 100 allotments each.

Development of these subdivisions was recently approved by the Minister of Mines and the company is currently working through its environmental obligations and expects work to start late this year.

In its December notice to employees, BHP Billiton said it recognised that buying a home is a big step, so it plans to make the process easier for its employees by offering salary sacrificing on home interest payments.

This will be in addition to the housing packages being offered to employees at cost.

The company says it expects major savings for prospective purchasers, as it’ll only recoup the cost of developing the land, plus provide the house at a cut price because it will bulk buy from builders.

It has told its employees that the main benefit of the salary sacrifice is that repayments are deducted from gross pay (ie. before tax) which reduces the taxable income.

The company says ‘Accommodation Salary Packaging’ (ASP) will be made available to employees who intend to buy property from the soon to be released house and land packages, and to employees who have an existing home loan related to property in Roxby Downs.

The accommodation crisis in Roxby Downs is being tackled head-on by the company.

It has completed a total of 644 new rooms at Olympic Village and Roxby Village.

To improve utilisation, a number of the new rooms have been earmarked for room sharing, where residents on a 4-4 roster are invited to ‘share’ a room with a ‘buddy’.

The ‘buddy’ uses the room whilst the other is on days off.

The company says this system has the potential to allow an additional 270 people to stay at Roxby Village

Space man draw card Continued from front page

flight hardware for future Shuttle missions.

Dr. Thomas was selected by NASA in March 1992 and following one year of training, he was appointed a member of the astronaut corps and was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews.

In June 1995 Dr. Thomas was named as payload commander for STS-77 and flew his first flight in space on Endeavour in May 1996.

In 1998, he served as Board Engineer aboard the Russian Space Station Mir for 130 days. He completed his fourth space flight on STS-114 and has logged over 177 days in space and is delighted to be taking

part in the Woomera celebrations.

The Woomera Rocket Range has a history of secrecy with British missile tests to European rockets and the launch of Australia’s first satellite but holds a special place in Australia’s aerospace history.

Once a closed town, Woomera Village is now open to visitors and will hold a range of functions to celebrate its 60 years.

Special displays will be at the Woomera Heritage Centre and Rocket Park, and there’ll be special tours of the Rocket Range including the European ELDO rocket launch pads. There’ll also be fireworks, special events and film screenings.

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Police, SA Ambulance, SES and CFS crews attended a single vehicle roll over on the intersection of the Andamooka Road and the “bypass” road in the early hours of January 28, 2007. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were taken to the Roxby Downs Hospital for medical attention to minor injuries received. The vehicle was damaged beyond repair and had to be towed from the scene. As a result the 33-year-old male driver from Osborne was reported for driving under the influence and without due care.

A 25-year-old Roxby Downs man was reported for driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle on January 28.

A 23-year-old Roxby Downs man was reported for misuse of a motor vehicle and exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol after being detected doing a “burn out” in a car park off Norman Place in the early hours of the morning of January 27.

The windscreen of a motor vehicle was smashed whilst left in a car park off Richardson Place overnight on January 25.

Three windows were broken over night on January 24, at the Roxby Downs Area School and repairs are estimated to be in the vicinity of $1500.

Police received a report on January 23, of damage to a motor vehicle that was bogged in mud on the Borefield Track between January 19 and 22 where the windscreen was smashed.

Also on January 23, keys were stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on Kennebery Crescent overnight.

Damage was caused overnight when unknown persons have used a wood glue gun to write on a vehicle parked in Arcoona Street on January 23. The cost of repairs are unknown.

A letter box and mail were stolen from the front yard of a residence on Hermit Street overnight on January 23. The letter box was located in the front yard of a nearby premises.

A 16-year-old Andamooka youth reported being assaulted at one of the local licensed premises. The youth did not receive any injuries that required medical treatment as a result of the assault. Enquiries continue in relation to this matter.

A report was received on January 21 of damage to a motor vehicle parked in Phibbs Court overnight, where a key (or similar) was used to scratch both sides of the vehicle. Repairs are estimated to be in the vicinity of $1000.

Police were busy during the early hours of January 20, monitoring road conditions and water levels in relation to the large falls of rain during the early parts of the morning. A number of roads in Roxby Downs were closed for brief periods waiting for the flood waters to subside.

A 20-year-old Roxby Downs man was reported for riding an unregistered and uninsured motor bike on January 18. The bike did not have any number plates and the rider was not licensed to ride this class of motor vehicle and was also reported in relation to these offences.

Between December 15 and January 18 the internal components from an air conditioner unit were stolen from a Quandong Street residence. The replacement of the components is estimated at $1000.

Police received a report of Graffiti that was painted at various locations around Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam overnight on January 15.

A 23-year-old female reported that she was assaulted on January 15, at a local licensed premises over the weekend. The female did not receive any injuries that required treatment as a result of the assault and inquiries are continuing in relation to this matter.

A report of damage to a horse float that was stored at the Roxby Downs Pony Club was received by Police on January 15. Two windows on the float were smashed over the last two weeks and repairs are estimated at about $200.

A 32-year-old woman was reported for two counts of theft and dishonestly dealing with documents, as a result of an ongoing police investigation.

Students have already returned to school and drivers of motor vehicles are reminded that the speed limit in a School Zone at any time when children are present is 25km/hr. Drivers are also asked to keep an eye out for these particularly vulnerable road users at any time whether it is in a school zone or elsewhere on our roads.

Parents and children using bicycles (and other Small Wheeled Recreational Vehicles such as skateboards and scooters) are reminded of the obligation to wear a properly fitted and secured safety helmet.

With recent rains filling Lake Mary and the attraction of a lake in the outback suitable for recreational boating activities, users of this beautiful area are advised that the area is considered as a road or road related area. As a road or road related area compliance with licensing and registration requirements is required, along with any other provision of the Australian Road Rules, Road Traffic Act and Motor Vehicles Act such as compliance with the Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol.

Users of Recreational Pleasure Craft are reminded that all provisions of the Harbors and Navigation Act apply to the use of vessels in this area.

It is currently Fire Danger Season and members of the public are reminded that there are restrictions on the lighting of fires in the open. When a Total Fire Ban is declared a fire can not be lit in the open. Details of the restrictions that are applicable and Total Fire Ban advices are available on the CFS website www.cfs.org. au or by contacting them on 1300 362 361.

Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 3

The

Monitor NEWS

Crowd turns out for Australia Day More than 200 people helped celebrate the official function of Australia Day in Roxby Downs at the weekend.

Volunteers put on their aprons to help serve the hungry throng with a traditional Australia Day breakfast of bacon and eggs, barbeque style.

The Swimming centre was packed as families enjoyed the surroundings, with the council throwing open the gates to the community.

The official part of the morning was greeted with loud applause as recipients received their Australia Day awards from town administrator, Bill Boehm.

Richardson Place then echoed with the strains of the crowd singing, Advance Australia Fair. It was an emotive moment.

Following the formalities it was the childrens turn with activities ranging from ‘Thong’ throwing competitions to lamington eating, or just a swim in the pool.

Above: Sportsperson of the year Rebecca Schutz.

Above: Shane “Crusty” Foster wins the Roxby Downs Australian of the Year award.

‘Crusty’ takes Australia Day honours Shane ‘Crusty’ Foster, a doyen within the Roxby Downs community was recognised as such by being named the town’s Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day awards last Saturday.

More than 200 people crammed into the town’s swimming pool centre to enjoy a traditional Australia Day bbq breakfast before the official ceremony.

In presenting ‘Crusty’ with the award, town administrator, Bill Boehm paid tribute to the untiring efforts of Shane in developing and promoting Rox FM as the “voice of Roxby Downs’.

“Shane has been a long standing member of our community, and has put

in the hard yards with Rox FM since its inception six years ago.

“He is a key promoter of a number of community and sporting organisations, often serving as organiser and readily accepting the job of MC for community events such as dirt circuit meetings and the market day,” Mr. Boehm said.

Shane has developed and promoted the successful “Copper Card” to support a buy local campaign and help local business.

He’s also been keenly involved in the New Years Eve street parties, active within the towns youth movement and a supporter of local music and musicians.

Congratulations ‘Crusty’!

Sports award to ‘Lady in Blue’ An outstanding contributor to Roxby Downs sporting teams, not only as a player, but mentor, has received the Sports Person of the Year Award at last weekends Australia Day celebrations.

It went to local policewoman, Rebecca Schutz.

The award presented by the town’s Sport and Recreation committee recognises the efforts both on and off the field of athletes, and the efforts they put back into the towns sporting teams.

Rebecca is involved in Basketball, netball, golf, squash and other sports and is a member of the organising team for the annual Royal Flying Doctor Service Golf Day. It is interesting to note that she has played in every basketball grand final since arriving in Roxby Downs, and all of the teams she has played for have won that final.

Rebecca is now treasurer of the basketball association, and is an integral member of the South Australian basketball team.

In 2006 she made the all-Australian police team and will compete in the World Police and Fire Games in Adelaide in March.

Australia Day celebrations in Woomera Woomera celebrated Australia Day at Breen Park on Friday morning with a free barbecue breakfast cooked by Woomera Board members.

About 70 people sang a rousing rendition of Advance Australia Fair,after which awards were presented to local students who had taken part in last year’s competition to design a front page for the Gibber Gabber Annual publication.

Woomera Board member and Gibber Gabber editor Amanda Hudson presented the winner of the competition, 14-year-old Rachael Holland, with a gift voucher for $100.

Woomera Board Chairperson Stuart Knox then presented the official Australia Day Awards.

The Community Event of the Year was won by the Woomera Fitness Challenge, which was run in the second half of last year and saw a number of locals reach significant improvements in their health and wellbeing.

This award was accepted by Jacqui Trinne, local Building Healthy Communities Project Officer and coordinator of the Fitness Challenge.

The Young Citizen of the Year Award went to Kristian Rognli.

Kristian, who completed year 12 at Woomera Area School last year and will soon begin an apprenticeship with Cavpower, was recognised for his contribution to the Woomera Fitness Challenge, and his volunteer work with the local CFS. Woomera’s Citizen of the Year Award went to Michael Ingold, an ambassador for the town.

Michael is an active member of the Woomera Darts League, Redbacks Cricket Club and Woomera Sports Club and is always seen lending his support at Woomera’s events and clubs.

Above right: Woomera’s young Citizen of the Year Kristian Rognli with Citizen of the Year Michael Ingold.

Right: Michael Ingold with his parents Jeff and Ellen.

Page 4 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

Above: Young citizen of the year, Josh Logan.

Young Josh gets the gong

A young 17 year old volunteer and community leader, Joshua Logan, was awarded the Roxby Downs Young Citizen of the Year award at the town’s Australia Day celebrations at the weekend.

Josh is respected for the significant contribution he has made to the community as well as his activities at the Roxby Downs Area School.

In presenting the award, town administrator, Bill Boehm said Josh has provided outstanding leadership and is a positive role model for younger students in the way he balances his school activities with his work commitments and still achieving a high degree of academic excellence.

Last year Josh was school captain and “Eyre” House captain as well as a student member of “student voice” and a member of the Healthy Eating committee.

He represented the school on a number of formal occasions including a reception at Government House.

Josh has also received the Australian Defence Force Leadership and Teamwork award.

Not stopping there. Josh was also involved during the year in organising the Super 7 lunchtime competitions at school, was involved in the highly successful drama production, “I love the knight life” and contributed significantly to the Outback Fringe Festival committee. www.themonitor.com.au

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The

Monitor NEWS

Improved services for the RFDS The Royal Flying Doctor Service will get almost $600,000 to upgrade its medical facilities at Broken Hill.

The money is being made available from the federal government’s Regional Partnerships program.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill provides vital medical services to people in their region, as well as essential emergency services for people in north eastern South Australia, the far west of New South Wales and south west Queensland.

It also provides a vital link for mining companies operating in the remote areas of South Australia’s north such as at the Beverley mine.

The money will provide more space for patient care and updated

equipment and furniture for the medical centre.

The Minister for Transport and Regional Services Mark Vaile said the project is particularly important to the people of Broken Hill, who have had to endure the closure of a number of the town’s mines in recent years. This has meant a fall in population, and a decline in employment opportunities.

The project represents stage three in a four stage process to upgrade the medical centre and administration facilities at the base.

Work on the project is expected to start this month and be completed later this year.

The Regional Partnerships

program continues the Australian Government’s approach of working with local communities to support their ideas.

A total of $270.5 million is available under the Regional Partnerships program from 2006-07 to 2009-10.

Since its inception in July 2003, the Regional Partnerships program has, on average, attracted a further three dollars from other sources for every dollar invested by the Australian Government.

Communities should contact their local Area Consultative Committee if they wish to seek funding through the Regional Partnerships program.

Above: A commercial levy will apply from today.

Business hit with new garbage rate From today Roxby Downs Commercial and business premises will be hit with a new rate to dispose of garbage at the Opal Road landfill site.

The Roxby Downs Council has agreed to a charge of $15 per cubic metre (or per tonne where applicable) for all commercial business waste disposed at the site.

Council’s waste contractor, BSH Waste Solutions has been authorized to collect the fees on behalf of the council.

Council Administrator Bill Boehm said the contractor has been given permission to refuse to dispose of such commercial waste unless appropriate arrangements for payment are made.

This levy will only apply to commercial business generated waste. Domestic waste, as defined by a car boot or car trailer will

still attract no fee.

On a brighter note for residents is the extended opening hours of the Opal Road landfill site which take effect today.

The site will now be opened from 1pm until 6pm, seven days a week.

The times have been adjusted to meet increased waste disposal demands.

As ‘The Monitor’ reported in December the council was forced into introducing the new fee by a push from the state’s Environmental Protection Agency for the council to comply with new regulations governing waste disposal sites.

The EPA issued the council an ultimatum to get its local rubbish tip up to standard and have it comply with the regulations by the end of next year.

Sustainable model for Horticulture Andamooka in region gets Federal help A number of local government councils have joined forces to develop a sustainable model for horticulture in our region.

Representatives of the Roxby Downs, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla Councils and the administration of the Leigh Creek Township are coming together to form the Regional Horticultural Reference Group, which aims to develop framework for sustainable amenity that will work in our environment.

Municipal Works Manager of the Roxby Downs Council, David Watson, started with the question, “What is the true cost of sustainability without impeding the level of amenity?”

To help answer his query, Mr Watson and co-worker, Peter Keller, paid a visit to Leigh Creek to evaluate the effectiveness of a horticultural model implemented 20 years ago.

“The model they applied at Leigh Creek is a good standard from which to work,” Mr Watson said.

“We wanted to see how the model that was implemented fared 20 years down the track, and I’m happy to report that the Leigh Creek Town Service’s have managed the town horticulture with excellence as the model presents as an oasis in the outback,” he said.

Mr Watson then approached his counterpart, Rick Shine, at the Port Augusta Council and together they decided to invite other councils to join

them to discuss levels of amenity and horticultural standards in the region.

“This discussion should generate further input for developing horticultural models that suit our environment,” Mr Watson said.

“The models will include watering/ irrigation, street scapes, appropriate species selection, standards of maintenance and cost modelling.”

“The fragility of our desert environment makes it very important that we consider these things carefully.”

High on the agenda is the issue of water conservation.

“We now have in the horticulture industry new technology and irrigation techniques that can be employed to aid water conservation,” Mr Watson said.

“With subterranean irrigation there is the capacity to save up to 30 per cent of water and there is scope to direct inject food to the roots of the plants to promote growth.”

“And of course those plant species have to be chosen very carefully.”

“The Environmental Partnership is actively working towards resolving and implementing environmental initiatives with regards to waste management and conservation within the Roxby Downs municipality.

“The members of the Environmental Partnership are very proactive and have vision concerning those outcomes,” he said.

THE MONITOR – Your Community Newspaper

The Andamooka school is riding a high this week.

Not only is school back, but the Federal Government has given the school $140,000 under its School Initiative Grants scheme for landscaping.

School principal, Angela Turner said she was delighted to hear of the grant.

“The federal member for Grey Barry Wakelin called me and told me of the grant.

“We can’t believe it, it’s such great news because when we put in our application last year, we never thought it would get recognised,” she said.

The plans put together by an architect include a desert garden with a series of wooden decks going up to what is commonly called a”fort” for the children.

There’ll also be a built in barbeque facility installed around the school-community swimming pool.

“Work will start very soon, as the community can’t wait to pitch in and help.

“The students and community have done the hard yards over the past year, with the school burning down on a number of occasions, and for this to come through, is a real blessing.

“It will enhance our school when the new building is completed later this year,” Ms. Turner said.

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Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 5

The

Monitor NEWS

New staff at RDAS in 2007

They’re back !

Well, it’s that time of the year again, uniforms have come out of wardrobes, lunchboxes and bags have been dusted off and all over Roxby, exhausted parents are breathing a sigh of relief, the new school year has begun.

Both the Roxby Downs Area School (RDAS) and St Barbara’s Parish School have new staff members, with St Barbara’s welcoming two new teachers and RDAS 13, including new principal, Stephen Marshall.

New RDAS Physical Education teacher

Lee Copeland said his first impression of RDAS was one of a positive, supportive environment for teachers and students alike.

Deputy Principal, Helen Bennie welcomed everyone to the new school year.

“The staff have had lots of valuable planning, sharing time and are keen and eager to meet parents of students.

“New staff have settled in well, thanks to the help of all previous staff members and support officers,” Mrs Bennie said.

Above: Roxby Downs Area School welcomes 13 new teachers for the start of the school year. Back row: Steve Marshall (Principal),Angela Jenkins, Lee Copeland, Chris Jones, Anne Marie Reschke, Jessica Garland and Bec Fischer. Front row: Anne Jansen, Jodie Meyer, Jutta Scholefield and Chelsea Morris, Absent on the day of the photo were George Moreitis and Susan Coscia.

Above: Geared up for her first day back at school this week is Molly Allen.

Cockaleechie goes National Cockaleechie “community champion” Wilbur Klein will contest th e Fe d e r a l Division of Grey at the forthcoming election.

Above: Roxby local, Sav Tanti is off to adventure in Nepal.

Nepal adventure awaits local One of Roxby’s own will directly to the Fred Hollows Meyers Engineering The Wurfel Family be setting off to the wild Foundation.

Precision Engineering Roxby Downs Pharmacy unknown next month.

“I’m very, very excited,” S andv ik Mining and Beenham Elite Builders and Sav Tanti is going to Nepal!

When Sav was looking for a cause to support last year, the ‘See the World Challenge’ seemed made to order.

A fundraiser run by the Fred Hollows Foundation, t h e ‘ S e e t h e Wo r l d Challenge’ invites people to raise a certain amount of money for the charity and in return they are rewarded with an adventure holiday.

To qualify for a trip to Nepal, Sav had to raise $5,500 by January, but not content with half measures, Sav upped the ante and raised almost $12,000, $7,300 through personal fundraising endeavours and $3,600 through BHPbilliton’s matched giving program.

A small portion of the funds will cover the cost of Sav’s trip, the rest will go

Sav said.

“I’ve ne ver done a holiday like this, you get to mix with the natives, go trekking, visit a national park, go elephant riding, canoeing, it will be good.

“And I’ll get to experience first hand what the Fred Hollows Foundation is doing, see where the money I’ve collected is being put to use,” he said.

Sav Tanti’s 12 day trip to Nepal kicks off next month.

Sav would like to thank the following companies and individuals for their support – BHPbilliton Autopro Roxby Chinese Restaurant Zealous Hair and Beauty Beaurepaires Roxby Downs Milk Distributors Keith Daniels Building

Page 6 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

Construction Monadelphous Group Limited Garry Baker Builders Outback Landscaping and Supplies Rachel Witchard Dam Clean Carwash Jason Lee Jordan Workman Roxby Downs Newsagency Bill Boehm Tandales Hair and Beauty Desert Décor Mensland Subway Roxby Engineering and Fabrication Matthew Wicking Laurie Benson Tuckerbox Restaurant Boart Longyear Sandvik Materials Handling Milhinch Hourglass Jewellers Des Lawless Big Sky Roxby Downs Alliance One

Services JD and CJ Dingwall Guza and Paul Bugeta Aileen and Charlie Tanti Martese and Cliff Brown Mosslake Drilling Services Olympic Dam Football Club Roxby Physiotherapy Lavricks Roadhouse Kadina Police Captains Night Chandler McLeod Saltbush Café Roxby Traders Brendan Miller Chris, Sarah, Alison and Debbie Tanti Eldo Hotel Andamooka Liquor Store Andamooka Opal Hotel Roxby Police Station Roxby Tavern Melissa Haynes Roxby Cultural Precinct Roxby Community Club Heading Contractors Pty Ltd Specialised Tyres www.themonitor.com.au

Nationals SA Leader Karlene Maywald de s cr ib e s Mr Klein as “a big hearted man who cares passionately about his community, and who brings a wealth of experience, and a track record of leadership and achievement in remote area education.”

“There is no doubt that Wilbur has the strength of character to stand up for his constituents on all issues, and provide strong and determined representation for the electorate of Grey in the Federal Parliament,” Mrs Maywald said.

Mr Klein said his life experiences have moulded him into a person who has a strong belief in family and community, a strong moral and ethical code of personal conduct and the way he should live within society.

“From this I have developed a passion for people, community, country, and our nation Australia.

“I want to have a positive impact on the lives of others and I am committed to working with and for others,” he said.

Wilbur married Monika in 1985, they have 4 children: Marie (20), Katie (17), Lindsay (15), and Byron (13), all of whom have attended school at Cummins.

Mr Klein points out that whilst he has spent many years working in schools in WA, he also has strong SA connections being born in 1960 at Semaphore.

“My brother Ti m i s t h e Lutheran Pastor at Berri in the Riverland, my sister Katrina and her husband are originally from a farm near Curramulka on the Yorke Peninsula and now farm at Karkoo on the Eyre Peninsula.

“I was Principal of several Remote Area Schools, District High Schools as well as a large rural primary school in WA during the 80’s and 90’s, returning to SA in 1997 to take up my other passion – farming,” he said.

Nationals SA President, Mr John Venus said he is excited about having a candidate of Wilbur’s obvious ability, as he has what it takes to make a real difference for the people of rural and regional South Australia, and will provide strong representation for the electorate of Grey in the Federal Parliament.”

Grey is Australia’s third largest electorate, covering 92% of South Australia, extending across the vast western and northern regions of the state.

Mr Venus said for far too long people have been entrusting their vote to a metropolitan dominated major party, with their under performing members of Parliament, and as a consequence many of the electorates including Grey are not well served.

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The

Monitor FINANCE & BUSINESS

Mining picks up pace South Australia’s mining boom is set to continue in 2007 with more than 32 resource exploration projects getting state government assistance.

Under the government’s Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) the companies have been given a total of $2 million to undertake exploration drilling, which represents more than $8 million after the companies put in their contribution.

Of the approved projects, 20 are in the Gawler Craton, four in each of the Curnamona Province and Adelaide Geosyncline, two in the Musgrave Province and one in each of the Cooper and Murray Basins.

The latest round of proposals include new targets, new exploration ideas and interest in a wide range of minerals.

There is also a strong showing from the energy sector, including continuing growth in the geothermal section of the resources industry.

The state’s Mineral Resources Development Minister Paul Holloway said a total of 75 proposals were received which demonstrates the success of the PACE initiative in generating a greater understanding of the state’s prospectivity.

“The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that mineral exploration spending for the 2005-2006 financial year was $146 million, representing a 119% increase on the $66 million spent in 2004-05,” he said.

“Importantly, our share of national mining expenditure has grown to 11.8%, compared with 6.5% the previous financial year.

“The success of PACE can also be measured by the fact other states are now starting to duplicate the initiative,” Mr. Holloway said.

Significant discoveries have been made with PACE contributions includ- Above: Owners of Roxby Downs Pest Management, Cherie and Stuart Clark . ing the RMG Services/Teck Cominco Carrapateena prospect, Quasar Resources Beverley 4 mile project and Iluka resources Gulliver’s prospect.

PACE was an initiative introduced by the state government back in 2004 to stimulate mining exploration in South Australia.

Other states such as Western Australia and Victoria are looking at the South Australian model with the intention of When it comes to fighting pests, pyrethrum products, the Clarks Mrs Clark cited the ever changdoing something similar. the owners of Roxby Downs Pest target a wide range of pests including ing population as one of the most Management know all the tricks. ants, spiders, cockroaches, mice and challenging things about running a Owner/Operators, Stuart and termites. business in Roxby Downs.

Cherie Clark have been in the pest “Roxby Downs is considered a very “It’s amazing how many people say management industry for around high risk area for Termites due to our ‘we didn’t know you were here’. eight years and have waged war harsh conditions, we offer termite “We’re on call and we offer a relion nasties from Adelaide to the inspections and treatments and pre- able and consistent service to all our customers,” she said.

Northern Territory and back. treat new homes,” Mrs Clark said.

Two years ago they purchased “We pride ourselves on reliability To take advantage of the services Roxby Downs Pest Management and and good product knowledge. the Roxby Downs Pest Management set about helping local householders “And because we are local, we people offer call Stuart or Cherie keep those unwanted visitors at bay. are able to come back if there is a Clark on 8671 3343 or 0427 280 Using environmentally friendly problem,” she said.

291.

Keeping your unwanted visitors at bay

Above: Drilling grants for explorers.

New opportunities for unemployed There will be new opportunities for long-term unemployed in the area with the creation of several new Work for the Dole projects.

The projects, at various centres throughout the region, will provide an opportunity for job seekers to gain valuable work experience.

“Participants in Work for the Dole activities are improving their prospects of finding a job and are re-building their self esteem and work skills,” Federal Member for Grey, Mr Barry Wakelin said.

“It’s a Mutual Obligation initiative that gives job seekers what they need, active participation and continuing contact with the world of work,” he said.

Since Work for the Dole was introduced in 1997, more than half a million

unemployed Australians have taken part nationally.

“The bottom line is Work for the Dole is working,” Mr Wakelin said.

“It is part of the Australian Government’s integrated approach to tackling long-term unemployment and its success is reflected in the record low levels of unemployment and the significant falls in long-term unemployment.

“I especially congratulate the local Community Work Co-ordinators and project sponsors who have successfully proposed these very worthwhile activities in the Grey electorate.

“They are doing a great job in bringing benefits to both local unemployed people and to local communities,” he said.

Woolworths Drought Action Day More than $4.7 million was raised for struggling farmers during the Woolworths National Drought Action Day last week.

All Woolworths and Safeway supermarkets around the country reported a significant increase in customers on January 24, after the company announced its intention to donate the entire day’s profit to drought relief.

Woolworths in Roxby Downs reported significant support during the day.

Two thirds of the money will be distributed by the Country Women’s Association (CWA) to help families with household necessities like utility bills, groceries and

back to school expenses.

The remaining funds will be set aside to fund research into sustainable agriculture.

Woolworths CEO, Michael Luscombe said the response from the Australian community had exceeded his expectations.

“In the lead up to National Drought Action Day, we had a great response from community groups, sporting clubs and businesses wanting to promote the cause and help farming families,” Mr Luscombe said.

“We would like to thank everyone who kindly offered their support,” he said.

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Above: An example of what the CSIRO are asking people to collect for them during March.

Millipede’s mayhem

Every autumn, millions of little legs invade Australian houses as the feral Portuguese millipede goes on the march, but next month hundreds of CSIRO’s Double Helix Science Club members and students will be waiting.

Millipede Mayhem is the latest Double Helix National Experiment where students, families and schools work with CSIRO to map the invertebrate’s spread.

The data will become part of scientific research examining its distribution, morphology and adaptations.

The millipede first came to prominence in South Australia and www.themonitor.com.au

has continued to cause mayhem in rural and remote areas of the state, but more significantly in invading homes in suburban Adelaide.

Students from the state’s north have been singled out by the CSIRO to get involved, so the menace this year can be tracked to find its extent, especially in remote regions.

“The survey is an important step in controlling this invasive pest,” said CSIRO entomologist Dr Geoff Baker who first studied the millipedes 35 years ago.

Portuguese millipedes mass in plague proportions in late summer and autumn, causing havoc for homeowners.

In extreme circumstances they have brought rail systems to a halt by smothering tracks and making them too slippery for the trains to gain traction.

Little is known about more complex interactions the invasive invertebrate has with our ecosystems or where it has spread since the last national survey 22 years ago.

Par ticipation is fre e and open to everyone. People can register at www.csiro.au/education/ MillipedeMayhem.html and need to send collected millipedes by the end of April.

Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 7

The

Monitor COMMUNITY MATTERS

Local branch What makes a vibrant community? of Cancer Council holds it’s first meeting Robert and Caleb Kemenyvary

Jeenette Felton

When the possibility of establishing a Roxby Downs branch of The Cancer Council of South Australia (TCCSA) was mentioned late last year, the response from the community was overwhelming.

Executive Officer of the Community Board and driving force behind the branch’s establishment, Michelle Hales, was inundated with expressions of interest and quickly moved to make the possibility a reality.

The first meeting took place on Tuesday, this week.

“Interest in starting the new branch has been fantastic and I am hoping that membership will increase as word of mouth spreads,” Ms Hales said.

“There will be lots of ways for people to get involved either at committee level or on fundraising projects and activities.

“Peer support programs will also be developed by the branch. It will be a terrific opportunity for people of all ages to get involved,” she said.

TCCSA Relationship Development Officer, Gabrielle Overton said the potential and enthusiasm of the Roxby Downs community has been evident by the speed in which the local branch has been set up.

“With the potential development in Roxby and the interest displayed by the young people we spoke to, we found from our initial visits that the community was really keen to be involved with the Cancer Council,” Ms Overton said.

“The dynamic of a new, young branch, like the one in Roxby should set the trend for branches into the future,” she said.

Anybody wishing to become involved with the TCCSA’s Roxby Downs branch should contact Michelle Hales on 0438 871 153.

“Music, children, different nationalities, people who say hello when they see you down the street, all sorts of things really.”

Brad Witt

“People, people make a vibrant community. There are different aspects like trees and beautiful places to spend your time, but it’s mostly about people.”

Annual Report The first annual report from the Community Board will be released during February 2007.

If you would like to receive a copy please send your details to Michelle Hales

community@roxbydowns.com

VOLUNTEERING PARTNERSHIP Meeting rescheduled (due to storm damage at Council)

NEW DATE

Bill Boehm – Administrator, Roxby Downs Council

“Good shopping facilities, diversity of people, multinationals, multiculturalism, a lot of things combine to make a vibrant community. Sport holds Roxby Downs together pretty well, but you can also go camping and get some peace and quiet.”

“A good community supports locals and cares for those in need. It also enjoys mixing socially and has the ability to take on new ideas and look at finding solutions to problems. Generally our community in Roxby Downs does that, particularly those people involved in the Community Board Structure.”

Roxby Downs has it covered

A vibrant community means different things to different people.

Music, social opportunities, arts, culture, media, community involvement in affairs and events….the list goes on.

In Roxby Downs, our multicultural diversity and the close knit nature of our community helps to make our town vibrant.

We have an art gallery, local media, a myriad of sporting and recreational groups and various Forums and Partnerships made up of people committed to making our town an exciting and rewarding place to live.

The Bank of I.D.E.A.S (Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Action and Strategies), a Western Australian consulting service focused on community and economic development, believe communities develop from ‘the inside out’ and that many factors go into enhancing their vibrancy.

They cited the need for a shared community vision, a proactive and positive local government, a willingness to embrace change, a positive community

mindset, community pride and confidence and a focus on youth development as essential factors in maintaining a vibrant community.

Executive Officer of the Community Board, Michelle Hales said Roxby Downs rated well on a list of criteria compiled by the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. to gauge a community’s vibrancy.

“This list includes a positive ‘can do’ attitude, local passionate community leaders, a willingness to welcome and integrate newcomers into the community and the presence of a positive local newspaper and radio station,” Ms Hales said.

“Roxby Downs has all of those things.

“For me the vibrancy in Roxby Downs also comes from the number of children here, their energy and enthusiasm is contagious,” she said.

So what can you do to enhance the vibrancy of our community?

Visit the art gallery, tune in to the local radio station, pick up the paper, join a community committee or simply exchange a smile with someone down the street, it’s as easy as that.

MEETING DATES

February 19, 2007 7.30pm Council Board Room SEE YOU THERE For further information on the Partnership Contact Michelle Hales on 0438 871 153

Family and Youth Forum Sport and Recreation Forum Arts and Culture Forum Health Forum Environment Partnership Alcohol & Substance Abuse Partnership Education and Workplace Training Community Board Business (TBC)

5 February 6 February 7 February 13 February 14 February 15 February 20 February 26 February March

7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 12.30pm 7.30pm

Dates and times of meetings were correct at time of publication.

For further information and check venue locations please contact Michelle Hales on 0438871153

Ways to have your say Do you have an issue that you want raised at any of the meetings?

Do you have suggestions, ideas or feedback that you want passed on for consideration and action?

Would you like to come along to a meeting and speak about a topic?

Would you like to join a forum or partnership?

Page 8 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

Web Log a question, comment, suggestion at community. roxbydowns.com

www.themonitor.com.au

Email

Mail

community@ Michelle Hales roxbydowns.com Executive Officer or Community Board communitygarden@ PO Box 124 roxbydowns.com Roxby Downs SA 5725

Telephone Mobile: 0438 871 153 Michelle Hales

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SELL BUY & RENT

HIA Consumer Column Reversing into a financial quagmire?

By Robert Harding South Australian and NT Executive Director

W

e have been hearing a lot about ‘reverse mortgages’ in recent months - often in conjunction with attractive sales pitches urging people to use the equity in their homes to finance a better lifestyle.

Above: Recent sale in Andamooka ontained record price.

Regional housing riding on mining boom

House prices in regional South Australia are continuing to push skywards with the rural median house price up to $198,000 in the December quarter according to the Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA).

REISA President Mark Sanderson said this was a healthy 4.21% increase from 12 months ago and matched metropolitan growth in house prices.

Looking to stand-out performers, Mr Sanderson said that the Iron Triangle was hard to go past with Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla all achieving growth of more than 20% over the past 12 months.

R

“Port Augusta’s median house price is now $175,000 which is an increase of 38% over 12 months.”

“Also, Whyalla’s is up to $195,000 – that’s nearly $200K which would have been almost inconceivable a couple of years ago.”

Mr Sanderson said that the strong mining and manufacturing industries in regional South Australia particularly at Olympic Dam and Prominent Hill had helped boost consumer confidence and minimise the impact of the drought.

“Industries drive employment which drives the need for housing, so demand for regional properties is red hot.”

“The other advantage is that our regional prices are still very affordable when compared to the metropolitan area. South Australia’s country areas are a great place to buy affordable property and be confident of long term capital growth.”

Regional prices helped boost figures across the State with South Australia’s median house price rising by 5.88% over the past 12 months to $270,000.

“This is despite an interest rate rise in November adding to the two rises earlier in 2006, but buyers seem to have defied these challenges because sale numbers have been strong as well,” he said.

The idea is that you take out loans, using your home as security, often with no prospect of paying the capital back in your lifetime.

The rationale for the ‘die in debt’ syndrome is that after you have passed on, repayments become someone else’s problem and the worst that can happen is that your heirs have little or nothing to inherit.

This is a big change from the attitudes of previous generations where parents often scrimped and saved with the sole intention of passing money or property on to their children, but leaving any judgements aside, reverse mortgages have the real possibility of making your life a misery ahead of the Grim Reaper’s intervention.

Even if you are not expected to make any repayments on the capital, you still have interest and other charges to meet, and if interest rates continue to nudge upwards, these will increase.

That may not be such a problem for anyone still in the workforce, but for pensioners and other retirees the advantages will be whittled away.

Unfortunately it is older people on fixed incomes who are the ones taking out reverse mortgages in the greatest numbers, with some reports suggesting that for those without superannuation or private income, it has become a necessity just to maintain a minimum standard of living.

While some may consider this just another way of making the most of the wealth accumulated over a lifetime, it is essential that careful planning should be done before the decision is taken. Could you, for instance, still comfortably fund repayments if interest rates were two or even three per cent higher than at present?

HIA believes home ownership should be the central pillar of everyone’s wealth portfolio, and any scheme which dilutes that, however attractive it may outwardly seem, should be treated with the utmost caution. The best advice is to consult a trusted financial planner before embarking on any major project you may later have cause to regret.

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Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 9

The

Monitor BIRDS OF THE FAR NORTH

Above: Ring Head parrot.

Photo by John Warneke.

Last Year The Monitor published a centre spread of colour photographs of sunsets in Roxby Downs.

The shots were all taken by local amateur photographers most of whom belonged to the Roxby Downs Photography Club.

The quality of the photographs and the positive response we had from readers prompted to dedicate pages to a series of photographic specials throughout 2007.

‘Birds of the Far North’ is the first of the series and features photographs by members of the photography club and others. Unfortunately we could not fit all of the splendid shots we received and we thank all of those who submitted photographs.

Above: Spiny Cheeked Honey Eaters.

Photo by Tracey Warneke.

Below: Gibber bird on the Dismal Plain, SA. Photo by Kelli-Jo Kovac.

Below: Wedge Tail Eagles. Photo

by Warren Goodwin.

Right: Baby Wedge Tail Eagles in their nest. Photo by Warren Goodwin.

Below: White Plumed Honeyeater.

Photo by Bob Harvey.

Left: Variegated Wren.

Photo by Bob Harvey.

Below: Native Minor. Photo John Warneke.

Page 10 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

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The

Monitor BIRDS OF THE FAR NORTH

Above: Mulga Parrots drinking. Photo Tracey Warneke.

Above: White breasted Wood Swallows. Photo by Bob Harvey.

Right: Variegated Wren.

Photo by Bob Harvey.

Below: Corella quartet. Photo by Bob Harvey.

Left: Black Fronted Dotterel. Photo

by Bob Harvey.

Left: Red Necked Avocet. Photo

by Bob Harvey

Above: Australian Bustard.

Photo by John Warneke.

Right: Wedge-tailed Eagle on prey. Photo by Bob Harvey

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Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 11

The

Monitor OUT & ABOUT

Australia Day celebrations Left: Gaylene and Allan preparing the Australia Day brecky in Roxby Downs.

Above: Flag flying high.

Above right: I can’t fit another one in, Amber Goldsworthy-Speirs.

Right: Children enjoying the thong throwing competition.

Above: Young people enjoying the celebrations at the pool in Roxby.

Above: Debbie Price from Whyalla, joined her grandaughter Tamika Berryman and daughter Peta Langley at Woomera’s Australia Day celebrations.

Below: Kane GoldsworthySpeirs calls it a day at the lamington eating table.

Below: The light shines on Annabelle Kruger.

Above: Kristen Humphries helping to serve brecky.

Above: Woomera Board members Phil Hartley and Jeff Ingold cooking the barbie in Woomera.

Below: Enjoying the atmosphere at Australia Day celebrations in Woomera was James Carpenter, Ken Gibson and Aleshia Sharp.

Above: Jayden Gilmore and mum Rebecca enjoying Australia Day Celebrations.

Right: James Wilcox in the lamington eating competition Page 12 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

www.themonitor.com.au

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The

Monitor HEALTH MATTERS

25 year plan to fix indigenous health

The Fred Hollows Foundation has joined other leading Australian health, human rights, aid and development organisations in calling for health equality for Indigenous people within 25 years.

“There are no excuses for Australia to be the only developed country in the world where people still suffer from trachoma, where Indigenous men in areas such as remote South Australia have an average life expectancy of 46 years, where babies are dying at a rate three times higher than babies born to non-Indigenous parents,” the Foundation’s CEO Brian Doolan said.

As part of the campaign an open letter to the nation’s politicians has been circulated outlining the steps

towards achieving health equality within a generation.

“Improving Indigenous health in 25 years is achievable - there are no big secrets around how to go about it,” Mr. Doolan said.

“We know it’s about equality of access to primary health care and health infrastructure. We know it’s about housing, about reducing the overcrowding which facilitates the spread of infections, about ensuring the quality of the construction and the provision of adequate sanitation.

“We know it’s about nutrition, about people understanding the role of diet and having access to fresh fruit and veggies. And we know it is about making sure there is genuine participation and where appropriate

Indigenous control,” he said.

The Foundation says there needs to be measures to ensure equal access for Indigenous peoples to primary health care and health infrastructure.

Increased support for developing the Indigenous health workforce.

A commitment to support and nurture Indigenous community controlled health services and a focus on improving the accessibility of mainstream health services for Indigenous peoples.

The Fred Hollows Foundation carries on the work of the late Professor Fred Hollows, who was a passionate advocate for improvements in Indigenous health.

Call 000 for Ambulance Service

World Cancer Day Sunday, February 4 prevent certain types of cancer is also important, with around one fifth of all cancers worldwide caused by chronic infections.

The UICC also recommends avoiding over exposure to the sun and sunburn.

In Roxby Downs, our harsh desert environment makes this final recommendation particularly important.

Sun damage is cumulative and according to TCCA there is a strong possibility that sun exposure during childhood stimulates the development of melanoma, a cancer that accounts for more than 70 deaths in South Australia every year.

Community Health Nurse, Sue Houlson said there are things everyone can do that may help prevent cancer.

“Avoid tobacco smoke, exercise regularly and follow a healthy diet,” Mrs Houlson said.

“Have regular check ups like pap smears and prostate checks and be aware of any changes in your body.

“Protecting your skin is very important as 95 per cent of skin cancers are curable and we live in an environment with very high UV exposure.

“It is important to know your body and if you notice any changes like unusual discharge or bleeding, changes in toilet habits, lumps, skin spots or moles that are new or have changed size, colour or shape, see your doctor,” she said.

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Ms Kroemer said the current volunteer ambulance officers were doing a great job but she is still looking for more volunteers.

For more information on becoming a volunteer ambulance officer call Ms Kroemer on 0408 847 790.

To contact the South Australian Ambulance Service in an emergency, dial 000.

ROXBY DOWNS Tuesday 20 February @ 7.30 pm Ambulance Station Burgoyne Street, Western end of Hospital Daytime volunteers are especially needed.

Just come along, or call Dawn on 0408 847 790 for further details.

Serving rural and regional South Australia since 1990.

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cal help, but think ‘Am I going to make things worse?’

“Stop and think before you throw someone in your car and move them,” she said.

Calling 000 for an ambulance means treatment can begin immediately via the phone and then at the scene when the crew arrives.

“They don’t realise that medical help starts when we get to them.

“We are here to provide a service, use us!” Ms Kroemer said.

SAAMSE011090

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Australia.

Every year around 90,000 new cases are diagnosed.

One in three Australian men and one in four women will contract the disease in their lifetime, according to The Cancer Council Australia (TCCA).

The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) finds these statistics unacceptable, arguing that over 40 per cent of all cancers are preventable.

“Cancer is largely preventable and the most curable of major life-threatening diseases today,” UICC Executive Director Isabel Mortara said.

“Despite the fact that knowledge about the prevention and treatment of cancer has significantly increased, the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year and those who eventually die from it continues to escalate,” she said.

Sunday is World Cancer Day and the theme for 2007 is ‘Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World’.

The UICC is using the occasion to highlight four main messages that could drastically reduce the number of cancers contracted worldwide.

Providing a smoke free environment for children is at the top of its list.

Being physically active, eating well and avoiding obesity is the second tip.

Learning about vaccines that can

In case of emergency grab the phone, not the car keys!

Roxby Downs volunteer ambulance team leader, Dawn Kroemer is calling for people contact the ambulance service in the case of an accident or emergency, rather than transporting injured patients to hospital themselves.

“We’re concerned that people may make things worse,” Ms Kroemer said.

“You want to get them to medi-

www.themonitor.com.au

Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 13

arts matters

Scouts hoping to expand in Roxby Downs

T

he Roxby Downs Scouts have approached BHP for land to build their own hall and are hoping to end up with a building the size of the Auditorium.

“It will be another large building the community could use, as well as being the home of the scouts and guides,” Scout Leader Trent Burton said.

The scouts have some major projects on the cards such as two to three day hikes, the building of a land yacht and hosting an Outback Jamboree.

“We would love in a year or two to work with the town and local businesses to plan an Outback Jamboree.

“It would bring 400 – 500 scouts from around the state into our area and give us a chance to say ‘hey, we’re here, the Roxby Downs Scouts are on the map,” he said.

The scout troop reconvened this week at the Community Church hall.

The Joeys, aged six to eight, and the Scouts, aged 11 – 15, met on Tuesday and the Cubs, aged eight to eleven, met on Wednesday.

Mr Burton said he was pleased with the way the Scouts were going and has plans to extend the troop to include Venturers, aged 15 – 18 and Rovers, aged 18 – 26.

“We have about 60 children so far,” Mr Burton said.

“With these two other sections coming in our numbers could reach 100 easily.

“For any more we will need new leaders, especially for the Joeys.

“We are hoping to get some scout leaders from Adelaide up in March to train prospective leaders and interested parents.

“It’s a great opportunity to have some fun and complete a TAFE Accredited Certificate in Leadership,” he said.

Anyone interested in joining the Roxby Downs Scouts should register online at www.sa.scouts. com.au

Advertising in The Mon

itor

Want to advertise your business in the Far North region?

Call Heather Carey on 8671 2683 to discuss a package that will suit your advertising needs.

By Rodney Mitchell

Above: Georgina Arthur with the quilt she won in their raffle during 2006.

Roxby Scrapbag Quilters great giveaway

The Roxby Scrapbag Quilters had a bumper year last year, raising over $500 for local charities and organisations.

The money was raised by a raffle, the sale of afternoon tea and handmade merchandise at their 2006 Expo and a recipe book created by members.

It was distributed amongst the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service, the Roxby Downs Hospital and the Roxby Downs Scouts and Guides.

‘Scrapbaggers’ spokesperson, Helen Edwards said the group was really pleased

$5

with the amount they had managed to raise.

“It’s a two year thing that we do, the money is raised and then we have a meeting to decide who to give it to.

“We never know how much it will be, but it all goes back into the community,” Mrs Edwards said.

The Roxby Scrapbag Quilters first meeting for 2007 will be held at the bowling club on Saturday from 1 – 5pm.

New members are welcome to attend.

PHOTOS g Seen somethin e you like in Th Monitor?

It’s back to school week.

It seems too easy to pick up on routines. The Carnival is over and the books land on the table. All that information to absorb. It makes me wonder about universal literacy.

The idea that we should all be able to read and write.

We don’t have it yet. I’ve worked in some Australian communities where we don’t even get close.

Good argument for getting back to the basics. The three Rs. Reading, writing and Rithmatic.

But what happens when you have a child who is functionally literate in English “as she is spoken?”

Once they have the basics, how is it best to proceed into the bewildering range of information available at a keystroke on any of a million topics of interest?

Should the teacher and parent become a facilitator in their charges’ learning? They could take a back seat and monitor what the child is watching and reading, and make comment.

They call it collaborative learning. Not easy work. It is sometimes derided as a lazy approach to teaching, but sometimes the hardest thing to do as a teacher, or a parent, is to sit watching, alert to the situation and ready to intervene only in situations involving public health and risk management.

Play is essential to any child’s learning. I reckon it’s an important part of an adult’s armoury against mental stress too.

That’s where the arts can come in.

We had a great two days with the circus trainers in December. We have funding secured to bring them back for more work as part of our Red eARTh Festival in August.

We also have some seed funding from the Regional Arts Fund to take baby steps towards our own permanent youth performing group which will potentially take in our physical theatre skills and add dance, drama, music and film-making in an explosive workshop program underwritten by our own people and augmented by key artists.

Our research from 2006 tells us that we have a lot of demand from the tweens.

Children between the ages of 8-12 are particularly motivated. It has proven more difficult to engage the teenagers.

For a while there we had a self sustaining street dance group called POD but we have lost some of those key players to Adelaide schools. All the best to you girls. You know who you are. And thanks. Thanks for putting in all those hours, and thanks for being so patient around the younger children. You are the best dance teachers.

This term we rebuild the youth workshop program and we need parents to get behind their young people.

Look for those who might aspire to learn more about any of the aforementioned art forms. There is an accent on Performing Arts but that doesn’t exclude visual artists.

We already have aspirations regarding film making, but there are many ways visual artists can contribute to a performing arts group. Set design being the most obvious.

Youth Centre fix!

For several months the Youth Centre doors have remained firmly closed, but at last there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

A management group of four community members was formed late last year to try to find the right person to run the centre.

It was hoped the post would be filled before Christmas, but unfortunately that did not happen.

“We want to make sure we get the right person, not just fill the gap,” group spokesperson and Family and Youth Officer, Tom Beever said.

A job description and profile has been developed and the group hope to advertise the position later this month.

Page 14 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

Mr Beever said it may even be necessary to employ two people as they are hoping to cater to younger people than they have in the past.

“It’s been my concern that the Youth Centre only caters to the 12 – 25 age group.

“We can do better than that, but we may need more than one person to facilitate youth activities,” he said.

Mr Beever said it is important for the community to realise that young people have concerns about local issues.

“Young people want to be involved in things and we want to build on that at the Youth Centre,” he said.

“Our concerns as adults are also the con-

www.themonitor.com.au

cerns of our young people.

“This year we’ll have a number of activities through the centre which will help kids address their concerns,” he said.

He also said it was evident before the Youth Centre closed that young people need a place to go after school.

“When Siona was here the Youth Centre was well attended until about 5.30pm, kids came to meet, watch DVDs, play pool or just hang out.

“Whatever happens with the Youth Activities Person, the Youth Centre will be open after school and for Friday night activities,” he said.

THE MONITOR – Your Community Newspaper

Employment and

Workplace Training Every Thursday

www.themonitor.com.au

Taking your job and training advertisement where no other media can

Where have all the men gone?

Over 30 percent of the 8 million Australian men in the adult male civilian population in 2005-06, were outside the labour force - neither working nor looking for work.

That’s over 2.2 million men.

A staff working paper, Men Not At Work: An Analysis of Men Outside the Labour Force, released by the Productivity Commission, provides information on these men, where they live, why they are outside the labour force and the impacts of their economic inactivity.

The staff working paper finds that, in contrast to women, the rates at which men are disengaged from the labour force have increased four fold over the last century, rising particularly rapidly over the last 50 years.

The paper finds that there are many drivers of this transformation in Australian labour markets.

Some of it is due to population ageing, which swells the ranks of retirees.

Younger men are spending longer in education and older men are enjoying a longer voluntary retirement.

Men generally are now much more involved in domestic and child care tasks - that explains 30 per cent of those aged 35-44 years old absent from the labour market.

The view that many of the ‘inactive’ are at work in the ‘shadow economy’ was found to be a myth.

Many prime aged males leave the labour market due to injury, ill-health, disability or premature ‘retirement’, with about half the men aged 25-64 years old who are outside the labour force in receipt of the Disability Support Pension.

An important explanation for the lower labour force participation rates of these men is the shift away from unskilled manual work in an increasingly service-sector and skill-based economy.

Inactive men are more likely to be living alone, to be poorly educated, and of Indigenous or non-English speaking migrant background.

For example, a man aged 45-54 living alone is about four times more likely to be outside the labour force than one who is married or who has a partner.

This staff working paper is part of a stream of research on labour participation issues initiated by the Commission following its 2005 study on the Economic Implications of the Ageing of Australia’s Population.

Woomera & Districts Football League Tenders for the canteen and bar for the 2007 football season Tenders close March 16, 2007

Workplace literacy targeted The federal government will inject $75 million into a program aimed to improve literacy, language and numeracy skills in the workplace over the next four years.

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, said the program will help workers retain their jobs as well as improving productivity for their employers.

The extension to the Workplace English Language and Literacy Program will result in 80,000 employees receiving the training.

The program includes workers from South Australia’s remote mining regions.

Ms. Bishop said a recent review has found that the WEL has been an overwhelming success after its first trial period.

“The review found strong evidence that the program contributes to a more skilled workforce

and provides employees with the necessary lan- that they intended to continue language, guage, literacy and numeracy skills to help them literacy and numeracy training in their secure and retain employment, as well as provid- businesses after their projects ended. ing a sound base for their future training needs. “The continuation of the WEL shows the strong “Employers also found that the training commitment of the Australian Government to provided under the Program benefited addressing skills needs and reducing welfare their businesses by delivering a more skilled dependency,” Ms. Bishop said. workforce leading to improved productivity, The Roxby Downs quality of work and teamwork , reduced Cultural & Leisure Precinct staff turnover and WANTED reduced occupational Part-Time h e a l th a n d s a fe t y Events/Visitor incidents,” she said.

Information Co-Ordinator A substantial 61% of employers surveyed The Roxby Downs Cultural and Leisure Precinct is seeking a highly for the review said motivated and experienced person to assist in the exciting development

of its events and visitor information activities.

Mail Delivery Contracts Australia Post is seeking tenders from companies, or persons willing to form companies, to deliver mail under contract arrangements in the Delivery Area listed below. Australia Post has a commitment to providing a consistent and personal service to its customers.

Therefore, as far as practicable the successful tenderer should be able to supply the same commitment to deliver the articles each day in the Delivery Area.

The successful tenderer will have sufficient time to make arrangements to comply with the conditions of the contract, including the procurement of a suitable vehicle. Training will initially be provided to the successful tenderer, who is then required to train its own personnel.

All genuine tenders and enquiries are welcome. However, Australia Post is not obliged to accept the lowest or indeed any tender, and reserves the right to accept or reject any or all tenders if it considers that it is in the interests of Australia Post to do so.

Tenders are invited for the delivery of mail from 1st July 2007 for the following Delivery Area.

MS1817: ROXBY DOWNS STREET MAIL DELIVERY (five days per week) For tender forms, full details and further information, contact: The Manager Mail Delivery Contract Management PO Box 1000 Hindmarsh SA 5007 Tel: 08 8308 8556

TENDERS WILL CLOSE AT 2pm on Wednesday, 28th February 2007.

Score board attendants and time keepers also wanted.

Time keepers, umpires and score board attendants are paid positions Correspondence to the Secretary of W&DFL PO Box 330, Roxby Downs, 5725

The Roxby Downs Cultural & Leisure Precinct has Lifeguard Positions Available PAY RATE From $21.50 per hour

INVITATIONS TO TENDER FOR DELIVERY SERVICES

Tenders are to be submitted in the envelope provided and addressed to Mail Delivery Contract Management, PO Box 1000 Hindmarsh SA 5007.

Both senior and junior umpires wanted for the 2007 season

The successful applicant will have broad event management and visitor service experience and will possess excellent interpersonal, customer service and organisational skills.

Experience in events, tourism or hospitality essential with qualifications considered advantageous.

The position will require an average of 25-30 hours per week and flexibility in working hours is a pre-requisite as it incorporates regular weekend, public holiday and out-of-hours function work.

A detailed position description can be obtained by contacting the Precinct on (08) 8671 2001.

Written applications should be marked ‘Confidential’ and addressed to: Karyn Biggs (Manager) Roxby Downs Cultural & Leisure Precinct Box 300, Roxby Downs, SA, 5725 or emailed to: karyn.biggs@roxbyleisure.com Applications close Friday, 9 February 2007

A Lifeguard course will be running on the following dates: February 9th- 6pm-9.30pm February 10th- 9am-4pm February 11th 9am-4pm COST: $160.00 full course $95.00 update Course enrolment forms are available at the Leisure Centre Kiosk.

Please Phone Bridget on 8671 0500 for more information.

www.auspost.com.au

TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS

“YOUR LOCAL OVERNIGHT & GENERAL FREIGHT SPECIALISTS”

NEW OVERNIGHT SERVICE

Brenton Smith of BSH Transport Solutions is pleased to announce that as of Monday February 5, 2007 We will be commencing an overnight freight service from Adelaide to Roxby Downs/Olympic Dam and return. We will be receiving overnight freight at both our Regency Park and Roxby Downs depots Monday - Friday until 6pm for guaranteed next day delivery. General Freight can be catered for by arrangement.

For all enquiries contact: Adelaide Manager - Peter Burton Ph 0419 802 085 Roxby Downs Depot - Brenton Smith Ph 0417 816 793 Adelaide Depot: 13-17 Pambula Street Regency Park SA 5010 P: 08 8345 2290 F: 08 8345 2292 THE MONITOR – Your Community Newspaper

Roxby Downs Depot: 10-12 Gosse Street Roxby Downs SA 5725 P: 08 8671 1154 F: 08 8671 1001 www.themonitor.com.au

Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 17

The

Monitor CLASSIFIEDS

YOUR LOCAL DIRECTORY Roxby’sandNailBeauty BEAUTY THERAPY

ROXBY DOWNS

AND SURROUNDING AREAS

MISCELLANEOUS GUITAR tuition. Wide range of acoustic styles. Phone 0400 995 277

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused as we have now relocated to a larger house at 26 Wilaroo Street, Roxby Downs

Church Times

Phone for an appointment

AUTOMOTIVE AIR-CONDITIONING SERVICE AND REPAIRS. 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE MOBILE OR WORKSHOP SERVICE

8671 1474

Mob 0438 701 474 58 Stuart Road, Roxby Downs

Creative Trims & Craft

Phone 8671 0153

24 Curdimurka Street

For all your Quilting needs • Embroidery • Ribbons • Beads • Laces • Haberdashery •PFAFF Machines & accessories Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. 9.30am to 2.30pm Closed Wednesday or phone for an appointment

0427 772 917

TRANSPORT & REMOVALS 03benhall161106

Pt Pirie & Adelaide Depots Antique & Household Removals Local, Interstate & Country Storage & Delivery Specialists

Ph: 0427 716 173

St Michael’s Catholic Andamooka Catholic Church Church, Woomera Sunday 11am first and third Sunday of every month Sunday 5pm All denominations welcome St Barbara’s Catholic Church Roxby Downs Desert Springs Church Saturday evening 6pm Sunday 10.00am at the Sunday morning 9am Roxby Downs TAFE College.

Roxby Downs Lutheran Church Sunday 10.30am and Sunday School – 9.30am

Roxby Downs Christian Community Church Sunday 10am

Celebrate your child’s birthday in The Monitor Your Community Newspaper.

Drop into our Richardson Place office during business hours to have their photo taken.

Or phone the office on 8671 2683

Andamooka Community Church Sunday 2pm

Roxby Downs ! Pt Augusta ! Pt Pirie

Three years on, the future looks even brighter.

Sports & Remedial • Pain Relief • Relaxation Work Cover Accredited HOURS Tues/Thurs 10am-7pm Fri/Sat 1pm-6pm 97 Pioneer Drive, Roxby Downs

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Ph: 0417 860 130 Ph: 8671 1234 Fax: 8671 2823 Mob: 0407 711 234

21 Gosse Street, Roxby Downs SA BLD - 173944

Providing a complete service: ! General Repairs ! Carpentry ! Plumbing ! Electrical ! Painting

! Fencing ! Cabinetmaking ! Gastting ! Carpet/Vinyl ! Refrigeration

When I launched South Australia’s Strategic Plan in March 2004, I said I wanted it to be a plan for everyone – for business, for the community, and for government – not a plan for government alone.

After nearly three years our Strategic Plan has taken root in communities across South Australia. People from all over our state, from all walks of life have taken part. The plan has helped change the way South Australians see their future and their idea of what they need to do to make a better future.

For all your lending, investment, insurance, nancial planning & everyday banking needs.

Visit us in Tutop Street, call 8671 2555 or explore www.bigsky.net.au

I thank all those South Australians who took part in the discussions on the update of South Australia’s Strategic Plan.

The goal for us all now is to use the plan to make South Australia an even better state.

Thank you to: • Everyone who participated in the ‘Have Your Say’ planning day and community forum • City of Port Augusta • Caritas College • Regional Communities Consultative Council • Port Augusta Sporting and Social Club • Local media organisations including radio, television and newspapers • And everyone else who took part.

TWIN STREET BOOK EXCHANGE

Mike Rann Premier of South Australia.

PHONE 8223 3922

WE EXCHANGE, SELL & BUY Paperback Novels, Comics Selected Magazines Mon - Thurs 9.00am - 5.00pm Friday 9.00am - 7.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 1.30pm 22-24 Twin Street Adelaide SA 5000

IT’S AS EASY AS PUTTING THEM ON THE BUS TO YOU

Page 18 – Thursday, February 1, 2007

For details of our Strategic Plan Update visit www.SAplan.org.au

JAM DPC/0183/NORTH

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THE MONITOR – Your Community Newspaper

The

Monitor SPORT

Footy Fever is building

It’s the start of February but footy fever is already starting to warm itself up in Roxby Downs.

Caught at training in the town’s gym this week were members of the Roxby Downs Football club.

“Go for it. Hold it for another minute, c’mon put it in,” screamed the voice of the young gym instructor as the music blared in the background.

The bodies of the 30 footballers were giving up the off season weight.

Faces were pouring with sweat, singlets were ringing wet, but there were smiles from the men being put through their paces. They can just about feel the touch of leather in the

Tennis Court face lift

coming weeks.

Third year coach at the club, Paul Clark, took a minute’s breather to talk up his club’s chances this year.

“We’re tired of being runner-up.

“Our aim this year is to make the finals, then go one better than we did last season, and we have the boys to do it,” he panted.

“We’re looking tall up forward, and we’ve about 7 or 8 surprises this year, as we’ve been fortunate to sign a number of good quality on-ballers and key position players from Kimba and the south east.

“We’ll have much more depth than we’ve had.

“Last year we had 22 on the park, this year we’ll have up to 40. So that’s a good position to be in as the players will create pressure for each other to get into the starting line-up,” he said.

“As you can see these boys are from the country. They need this workout, but I’ve been surprised at their condition, I’d have thought they would be in worse shape than they are, but then I guess, they want to play so they’ve looked after themselves during the off season.

“I’ve got to get back on that rowing machine, so I’ll see you on the park,” he concluded.

Above: Refurbished tennis courts near the Lions Park.

Shouts of “C’mon” are expected to echo from the newly refurbished tennis courts in Lions Park following a $116,000 facelift.

The Roxby Downs tennis club is now planning a competition for the town’s juniors to utilise the new courts in the coming weeks.

The upgrading has taken more than 10 months because of problems in getting clearances for the removal of some native vegetation to enable the two court complex to be expanded into three courts.

The only work still needing to be done is the installation of lighting which will cost the Roxby Downs Council $25,000, taking the total cost of the project to $141,000.

Council’s Works Manager and project co-ordinator, Dave Watson said the cost has been met by grants from BHP Billiton ($20,000), Council ($41,000 so far) and the state department of Sport and Recreation ($56,000).

Tennis club President, Neville Hombsh, said his club initiated the funding with the help of Tennis South Australia to upgrade the centre. “ It’s been a long hard slog, but have a look at the result, it’s just fabulous, and will provide a great playing facility for our juniors,” he said.

“Whilst the work has been in progress,

the seniors have been using the courts at Saint Barbara’s and the hard courts behind the cultural precinct for night matches because they have lighting.

“Until the new lighting is installed at Lions Park, we’ll keep using the hard courts for night matches, but will use the new centre for twilight fixtures for our junior competition,” he said.

Works Manager, Dave Watson, said the old surface was in a poor state.

“It had reached the end of its asset life and even though we continually repaired and maintained it quite heavily over the last few years, the work was in vain.

“The surface was uneven, there were rips in the matting, it would have made it very difficult for players.

“But I think the end result is a credit to the tennis club, all of the volunteers that worked on the project, and the people who gave it unwavering support,” he said.

Mr. Watson said the council worked closely with the experts from Tennis SA to ensure the specifications for the courts were accurate and in accordance with their recommendations.

The courts are available during the daytime but bookings and fees must be made through Ms. Karyn Biggs, the Manager of the Cultural Precinct who also holds keys to the new complex.

Pool opening times The Roxby Downs Swimming Pool introduced new hours of operation on Monday and will be effective through until the 5th of April.

GENERAL PUBLIC Monday to Friday 2pm - 7pm (If over 35 degrees – pool open to 8pm) Weekends 10am - 8pm

Above left: Coach Paul Clark on the rowing machine and above, Ricky Prosser on the mini tramp during a recent pre-season training session for the Roxby Diowns Football team.

LAP SWIMMING Monday to Friday - 6am – 8.30am Mondays to Thursdays - 7pm - 8pm (2 lanes) Weekends – 9am - 10am

The Roxby Downs and District Racing Club

SWIM CLUB Mondays to Thursdays 5.30pm - 8pm (3 lanes)

Andamooka Opal Showroom Post Ofce and Motel

Annual General Meeting on Saturday February the 3rd, at 2pm at the Roxby Club and welcome anyone who would like to join the committee or that has a general interest in how the club fared during the 2005/2006 season.

Behind the Famous Bottle House Opal Creek Boulevard, Andamooka OPEN 7 DAYS and after hours by appointment Ph: (08) 8672 7007 • Fax: (08) 8672 7062 www.andamookaopal.com.au Email: peter@andamooka.au.com 05dukes161106

LOCAL, LIVE AND LOVING IT!

Friendly faces of RoxFM

Email: manager@roxfm.com.au or info@roxfm.com.au

Tina Foster Station Manager

Website: www.roxfm.com.au

SMS your request on 0407 979 918 or phone 8671 2545 THE MONITOR – Your Community Newspaper

www.themonitor.com.au

Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 19

Monitor SPORT The

Lavrick Engineering BOC Gas and Equipment Mechanical Repairs Air-conditioning

New Car Servicing & Warranty Olympic Way OLYMPIC DAM SA 5725 Ph: 86710404 Fax: 86710418

Your Community Newspaper ~ Roxby Downs

www.themonitor.com.au

Phone (08) 8671 2683

Fax (08) 8671 2843

‘SWAGGIES’ captain goes W

By Les Rochester

anderers Cricket Club is about to lose its premiership Captain, Brent Harper, who is transferring to Adelaide with BOC

Gases.

“It’s a real heartbreaking decision, because the family have just loved Roxby, especially the people, but opportunities can’t be knocked back,” he said.

Brent’s wife, Debra and their two girls, Megan 9, and Ashlee 7, have already moved to Adelaide, whilst Brent will see out the remainder of the current cricket season.

“I’ve enjoyed my 3 years in Roxby, it’s such a friendly place, a really great town, and the cricket, well that’s been one of the highlights because it is just so competitive,” Brent said.

“All of the teams, including Woomera, have some very talented players. They play it hard on the pitch, but have a beer after the match.

“It’s what you expect in sport, once you cross that white line it’s on, but after, you enjoy the companionship,” he said.

The ‘Swaggies’ have won the last couple of premierships and according to Brent he hopes they’ll get another one this year, which would give him a great send off.

“Swaggies rivalry with OD (sic. Olympic Dam) is ongoing which is good for cricket in Roxby.

“That rivalry always ensures a great game when the two of us meet. The chatter on the field, all polite of course, and the spirit of the players is good for the game.

“For the future of cricket in town, it’s great to see all teams giving the juniors a go, helping to develop them and providing them with good quality coaching,” he said.

“The opportunities for young players are limited because there’s no competition for them, so the clubs are managing their juniors, you know, taking care of them, and giving them some exposure to ‘A’ grade competition.”

In the three years he’s been with the ‘Swaggies’ he’s never hit a six, but it finally came a couple of weeks ago, with a giant hook shot down leg side, during a game against, you guessed it, OD. “They seem to bring the best out in me as I am having my best season with the bat, averaging just over 55 runs a game,” Brent said.

“We’re going to have to be at our best, playing solid cricket to even get to the Grand Final this year, because really, the teams right across the competition are so evenly matched.

“Who ever is having a day out, will win, it’s that close,” he said.

“Deb, I and the family would like to thank the people of Roxby for their friendships, warm heartedness and assistance over the past few years. It’s been a memorable stay and one that I’m sure will live in our hearts.”

From The Dunes to Dalhousie Springs, everyone’s reading

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Your Community Newspaper ~ Roxby Downs

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No other locally-based newspaper reaches more people in the Outback than The Monitor.

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Thursday February 1, 2007 – Page 20

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