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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thursday April 16, 2015
Contents
Letter of the Week
Health, Beauty and Lifestyle Feature ................................. 12-13 CONGRATULATIONS Allan May Motoring Guide ................................. 16-17 You have won a double Entertainment pass* to the film of your ................................. 20-21 choice, courtesy of Footy Tipping ................................. 22-23 TV Guide (Sun-Sat) ................................. 24-29 TWEED HEADS Activities ....................................... 30 Shed reply Trades and Services Re ‘shed site’ (TVW April 9). First, ................................. 31-34 I need to say that I support sensible Classifieds and rational efforts to preserve our ................................. 35-37 native bush and wildlife, ensuring our natural heritage will be there for Sports future generations to enjoy. ................................. 38-39 The men’s shed have a similar *Redeemable for 1 month from publication date
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Sensitive response Matthew France's (''Sensitive Koalas'', TVW April 9), claim that the party leading the campaign to protect Black Rocks koalas lives next door to the Sports Ground is incorrect. He lives no closer than Mr France does. And I am aware of his active endeavours to protect koalas in other areas, though naturally people focus primarily on the area in which they live. There are special issues relating to Black Rocks koalas because of the sophisticated social and breeding habits of the species and the nature of the corridors they have set up for migrating between colonies. These need to be understood before making assumptions. And accusations of ''selfishness'' are mis-targeted. It's unselfish to put the environment and endangered species ahead of human wants. Community division was greatly aggravated by the vile, self-serving act of an arsonist who destroyed a large area of koala habitat. It is further aggravated by demands to remove gates that are only locked at night, while refusing to respond to the question of why anyone needs after-hours vehicle access to an unused, unlit sports field that is surrounded by dense vegetation and only accessible via an access road lined on both sides by dense vegetation. There is simply no logic to the demand that people be able to drive to an unused, unlit, and actually quite dangerous field after dark. Recent instances of hooning on the access road, theft and vandalism are evidenced by photographs sent to council. Recent instances of damage to council infrastructure include cutting and stealing a section of turf, hitting golf balls
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onto shed walls, and shooting holes in walls and signs. Residents allow domestic dogs to run on the grounds. This minimally used field is poorly designed and unwisely positioned and invites vandalism and theft of any valuable property stored there. With poor mobile phone coverage, its secluded nature poses danger after dark. The absence of logic from arguments - some of which are blatantly untruthful - in favour of preservation and further development raises suspicion of some potential hidden agenda, perhaps relating to future development plans involving profits for certain parties? Lorraine Cobcroft Pottsville
Ad confusion Recently some confused advertisers (as far south as Ballina) have been identifying the Tweed, and the broader Northern Rivers Region, as part of the "Southern Gold Coast". While we love our northern cousins dearly and enjoy the spill-over effect of Gold Coast tourism, we should make every effort to highlight the unique features of our locality. We enjoy low rise rather than high rise. We aim for sustainable development rather than over-development. Our beach-goers relax in the shade of trees and not in the shade of buildings. We encourage cyclists instead of "rev heads" to travel on our roads. We encourage young people to enjoy healthy pursuits throughout the year (in contrast to the short-term excesses of Schoolies events.) We enjoy the benefits of daylight savings. With all due respect, we are not part of the "Southern Gold Coast". Neville and Leonie Jennings Murwillumbah
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vision, i.e. to preserve the lives of future generations of retired men in our community, giving hope of an enjoyable future to these men and their families after long and productive working lives. These men deserve consideration. They are not environmental vandals, just fathers and grandfathers deserving a fair go in their later years. It has been said that ‘Communities flourish when men plant trees under whose shade they know they will never sit’. We are in the process of planting a facility and know we will not see its total fulfilment, but the future generations of Pottsville men will. The TSC has assisted us to find a suitable venue for our shed with Black Rocks Sports field our only option. Some opponents wrote to government to block funding
for the shed, they succeeded and we lost project funding. The seniors of the Pottsville and district communities were the losers. The Barry Shepherd field option came when the DA for Black Rocks was being submitted. To change direction would have put us back twelve months. This was the reason for rejecting this option, not that we simply weren’t interested. We looked at Camp Wollumbin which is a perfect site for a Casuarina shed. Crown lands rejected our proposal; the site was unavailable, too remote and therefore rejected. The suggestion of government intervention in our shed’s processes sounds like applying heavy handed paternalism, a stand that any reasonable elected government would not take. We have been tagged as ‘deluded’ to consider approximately one hectare of land necessary for a men’s shed. This proposal was presented at our first meeting in November 2013 attended by 35 men. It was agreed upon then, hardly a last minute suggestion. When many hectares are being sought to accommodate our native wildlife surely one for this and future generations of men’s shedders is not too much to ask, or is it? Sadly many organisations with vision are considered misguided. A miniature facility as suggested by the writer of ‘shed site’ would not be sufficient to house our longterm project. We anticipate that the shed and surrounds will have gardens, places where skills can be passed on, crafts learned and people fulfilled in and through their shed involvement. This vision is for Pottsville’s present and future generations. Allan May P&DMS President (edited for length)
Letters to the Editor Email your letters to editor@theweekly.net.au or post to PO Box 1034 Murwillumbah 2484. Letters should be 300 words or less and must be signed by the writer. Addresses must be included but only the town or suburb will be published. We reserve the right to edit letters without changing the context. Libellous or inflammatory letters will not be considered for publication. Letters to the Editor is a forum for many different points of view and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or staff.
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LOCAL NEWS
Thursday April 16, 2015
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Council to consider plan to upgrade Bruce’s park TWEED SHIRE Council will this week consider a plan to renovate a conservation park dedicated to the memory of an icon of the local environmental movement which according to another local icon is long overdue. The Draft Plan of Management for Bruce Chick Conservation Park will be presented to Councillors at their meeting on Thursday evening and, if approved, will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days. Max Boyd AM has been calling on Council to refurbish the Bruce Chick Conservation Park, which he said has received little maintenance in the past decade aside from grass cutting, for several years.
The state the park is in does a real discredit to the Tweed, especially as it is used extensively by travellers who spend nights there and then spread the word. “Bruce Chick was a person the likes of which you only see once in a lifetime, he was admired enormously for what he achieved,” said Mr Boyd. “He collected seeds from rare and endangered species of trees, propagated them and planted them on public and private land all over the Tweed. “He also played a significant role in the establishment of the World Heritage National Parks in our area and was presented with an OAM and a Senior Australian Guardian of the Environment Award for his efforts.”
Mr Chick, a teacher at Murwillumbah High School for 30 years who passed away in 2007 aged 97, was heavily involved in the establishment of the park at Stotts Island which was to bear his name, planting hundreds of trees in the arboretum and securing the funds to establish most of the buildings on the site. Councillor Barry Longland said he had the privilege of meeting Mr Chick in 2004. “He was a remarkable figure, a great fountain of knowledge,” said Cr Longland. “There are many examples around the Tweed of his work which did a lot to restore many of the species native to the region. “I have had a look at the Draft Plan of Management and we have also had a workshop on some of the options available to us.
“I’m not sure if we have the funds to do all of the most expensive options in the plan but we will be seeking input from the community in that regard when it goes out for public exhibition. “Certainly I would support having a suitable memorial to Bruce and some element of recognition of his work on the site, which could also be developed into a real showcase of our local biodiversity which could be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.” Mr Boyd, who served on Tweed Shire Council from 1965 to 2005 including 11 terms as President and seven as Mayor, said the intent in developing the park was to create a stopover point at the entrance to the Tweed Valley which visitors and residents could be proud of.
“Unfortunately the park has been left to deteriorate and the lack of attention to buildings, roads and other aspects of the park has been a real disgrace to Council,” he said. “Over the past few years I have attended Council meetings with Doug Anthony and others, hoping to convince Councillors to bring the park up to the appropriate standard. “The state the park is in does a real discredit to the Tweed, especially as it is used extensively by travellers who spend nights there and then spread the word. “I will be looking closely at the detail of the draft Plan of Management but at this point I would commend the Councillors for doing what they can to restore the park.”
Connecting the community through art KINGSCLIFF’S award-winning art classes for all ages is breaking barrriers when it comes to learning to draw and paint. Hundreds of Tweed locals have flocked to their structured classes where it is guaranteed that no matter what age you are or what level of skill you think you have everyone can learn. Owner Gillian Grove says, “Every term we hear from people about how they had always admired others who pursued the arts but have never had the confidence to try. Once they start classes, they realise that it is being taught what to look for and how to use materials that matters the most.”
Kingscliff Artable opened it’s doors in 2009 and has slowly grown over the years to become a local success story. Offering day and night classes in drawing, acrylics, watercolour and oils as well as weekend workshops with visiting artists for those who can’t commit to weekly classes. Last year they added painting trips to their artistic plate taking a group of 14 beginner painters to the south of France for 10 days. Gillian promotes art as a way for people in the community to connect. “Painting and drawing can be a wonderful hobby for
anyone keen to learn and a great way to socialise and connect with others in the community. All of our teachers are keen to share their passion for art with the rest of the community and are practising artists themselves. Our watercolour teacher Denise Scott only took up painting in her 50’s. It’s never too late.” Kingscliff Artable has new drawing and painting classes starting from Monday 20 April. Contact the studio for more information at www.artable.com.au or 02 66745012.
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The NSW Liberal and Nationals parties plan to sell off state owned electricity assets including Transgrid and half of the distribution businesses Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy to the private sector
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Authorised by Justine Elliot 107 Minju ung n bal Drive Tweed d He Heads South
‘Households are set to pay more under privatisation’
Thursday April 16, 2015
Gardening guru explains calendar
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LOCAL NEWS
A LOCAL organic nursery owner who is leading a campaign to get more people growing their own food and reaping the associated health benefits has developed a new chart which sets out the best times to do different jobs in the garden.
Greg James “The energy then starts to rise in the compost and solid fertilisers when we levity phase and during this time we enter the void again.” The easy to follow calendar shows look to influence plants to draw up the each day of the month with icons potential we have put into the soil. “This is done by tip pruning and showing what actions in the garden applying foliar sprays to the leaf to are appropriate for that specific day to ensure energy is drawn into the plant maximise their effectiveness. “Many gardeners will be familiar with through the roots. the four phase moon planting guides “Once the full moon is reached and which are very common but anyone starts to wane we see the influence of who uses them will know there are gravity, where the energy is returning significant and sometimes confusing from the plant into the root zone. overlaps with the jobs they proscribe,” “At this time we influence the future said Mr James. development by drenching soil with “Using three phases instead taps liquid fertilisers and microbially active into the natural cycle of all things in solutions, so that they are in place nature which applies everywhere you around the root zone ready to receive want to look.”
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Greg James from Farmer’s Choice Organics in Murwillumbah has developed the Green Day Calendar, which will be published in the Tweed Valley Weekly every four weeks, based on the three phases of the moon which he says if followed means five minutes a day in the garden should ensure an abundance of healthy food. “It’s actually an interpretation of potential motion which is the energy in the Universe that goes right back to the Big Bang,” said Mr James. “Basically it divides the influence of the moon’s energy into three phases, the void on either side of the new moon, levity as the full moon approaches and gravity as the full moon wanes. “These are forces of nature which have been consistent for the last 16.4 billion years and understanding how they work allows us to get the maximum benefit from the energy you put into your garden.” Mr James said there is nothing new about following the three phase cycle, as farmers around the world, including on his home island of Lemnos in Greece, have understood and been taking advantage of the benefits for millennia. “The void is a period of potential when it is time to put your effort into the soil, adding compost and fertiliser, making new compost, pulling weeds and applying the majority of your pest control measures,” he said.
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