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Helensburgh & District News
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March 2005 - Vol.15 No.2
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Sandra Pickering and her daughters Residents are being warned to be extra vigilant about locking doors and putting car keys out of sight in the wake of several robberies in the area. Groups of young men, believed to come from the Campbelltown and Petersham areas, have targeted the coastal villages as they are considered an “easy mark” with residents fairly carefree about security. The gangs are known to steal cars from their own areas which they then dump in favour of larger vehicles to transport their haul of stolen goods. Stanwell Park single mother Sandra Pickering found her four-wheel drive missing when she came down for breakfast on 17 December. She then discovered the French doors off the living room had been forced open and the car keys gone. “My three daughters and I were upstairs sleeping,” she said. “We didn’t hear a thing.” The car was dumped at the bottom of Seaview Crescent and was discovered by her daughter Olivia who was on her way to a Christmas concert at Kennett House. Car seats and tennis rackets had been tossed from the vehicle but it was not damaged. The keys, however, were missing and Sandra had to pay for the car to be towed as she did not have a spare set. She said six other houses in The Drive were broken into on the same day. Similarly, three houses in Longview Crescent at Stanwell Tops were broken into the 14 February. Resident Karen Carpenter had the driver’s window of her family van smashed and the door frame bent in an attempt to gain entry. “The police said they had some suspects cornered near the Conference Centre but they had to wait for back-up and they escaped,” Karen said. Constable Scott Roberts of Helensburgh Police said it was impossible to predict when and if the thieves would return and it was imperative that residents maintain vigilance. “It’s important not to become complacent,” he said. “And it’s essential that residents report all incidents of crime, no matter how trivial. “All matters, even minor malicious damage, should be reported to police as this will ensure the police presence is maintained in Helensburgh.” He said cash, a laptop and a mobile phone were taken from a house in Stanwell Tops on 14 February while six rooms at the Christian Conference Centre were broken into in late January with cash, cameras and video cameras stolen. The Helensburgh Bowling Club was also robbed, with thieves making off with the cigarette machine. “Groups from out of the area are targeting this area and taking possession of car keys to use the vehicles to commit other offences,” Constable Roberts said. “Residents should ensure that all doors are locked and car keys kept out of sight.” He said residents should take note of the licence plate number of any suspicious vehicles and report it to police. To report suspicious activity, phone Helensburgh Police on 4294 1013, Wollongong Police on 4226 7899 or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. Court fines Illawarra Coke Company $40,000 The NSW Land and Environment Court has fined Illawarra Coke Company Pty Ltd (ICC) $40,000 over a 2003 spill which killed aquatic life in a Coalcliff creek. ICC had pleaded guilty to a charge of “polluting waters” after oil containing a highly toxic substance known as “tar naptha” was discharged from ICC’s premises and entered Stoney Creek in Coalcliff. Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Director General Lisa Corbyn said the steep penalty, combined with the court’s order to pay DEC’s costs of $20,000, showed it was unacceptable for companies to have inadequate controls in place, thereby causing harm to the environment. “The spill killed fish and eels and probably eliminated a large portion of aquatic life from affected sections of Stoney Creek and the lagoon it feeds on Coalcliff Beach,” Ms Corbyn said. “It turned the normally clear waters a pinky brown colour and left a strong chemical odour which caused residents to complain to DEC. “This penalty illustrates that appropriate industrial practices need to be implemented to ensure these types of events do not occur.” The spill happened after a valve was left open in an ICC grinder house, discharging some 13,000 litres of sump oil into an artificial pond forming part of the waste water treatment system at ICC’s Coalcliff premises. Up to 11 litres of the oil seeped from the pond into a stormwater pipe leading to the creek. “The oil was not ‘filtered and blended sump oil’ as ICC suggested in its newsletter to residents this month, but a far more toxic substance,” Ms Corbyn said. “While ICC had purchased what it believed to be sump oil for use in one of its industrial processes, tar naptha had in fact been added to the oil. Tar naptha contains phenol and alkyl phenol extracts. “Because of the tar naptha which had been added, the relatively small amount of ‘oil’ that escaped was enough to contaminate more than 20,000 litres of clean water flowing into Stoney Creek.” Ms Corbyn said the toxic effects in the creek as a result of this incident could thankfully be viewed as a short term exposure and were unlikely to be permanent. She acknowledged the work ICC had done since the incident to improve its industrial controls and the fact that it had voluntarily spent about $87,000 remediating the affected creek. ICC also recently committed to five pollution reduction programs which are expected to lead to environmental improvements in the Coalcliff area. In its newsletter to residents, the managing director of ICC, Rex Wright, said the company “deeply regrets that this event occurred as we continually strive to protect the environment”. He said ICC had subsequently devoted considerable resources to changing the way the oil was handled and used. “ICC regrets the most unfortunate outcome of the oil spill,” Mr Wright said. Funding initiatives support Stanwell Park By Bronwyn McGrath Owning a business in Stanwell Park has never been tougher as witnessed by the recent closure of the local Post Office and newsagency, yet the remaining business people are determined to survive. A number of initiatives recently received funding approval through the Lawrence Hargrave Drive Support Fund, set up by the State Government to assist businesses affected by the road closure. The promotion of Stanwell Park has been refreshed with a new billboard on the Princes Highway at Heathcote facing southbound traffic, new directional signage around the village provided by Wollongong City Council and a Stanwell Park customer loyalty card letterboxed throughout Stanwell Park, Stanwell Tops, Otford, Helensburgh and Coalcliff at the end of February. New “Welcome” signs on the northern and southern approaches to Stanwell Park plus two new village business directory signs should be in place this month. A 16-page tourist directory promoting the Stanwell Park experience and attractions in Coalcliff, Otford and Helensburgh will be letterboxed throughout Sydney this month in an effort to attract people to the area for the remnants of summer and as a winter escape. Winter is typically a tough time for businesses in seaside communities and this is further compounded for Stanwell Park with the closure of one of the area’s major drawcards, the northern Illawarra coast road. The customer loyalty card aims to encourage residents in the northern Illawarra villages to shop in Stanwell Park through discounts, special offers and cross-marketing. Combined with the stronger visual presence afforded by the new signage and the extensive advertising campaign throughout Sydney, businesses are hopeful a boost in visitors will ensure they remain open.Council order Hanging Swamp owner to restore land The owner of the environmentally sensitive Hanging Swamp in Stanwell Tops has been ordered to rehabilitate the property after an excavator caused significant damage during land clearing. The assistant manager of Environmental Management with Wollongong City Council, Andrew de Montemas, said the owner of the site, George Elias, had been ordered to restore the property to its previous condition. “A lot of eucalyptus trees have been knocked down and there has been significant understorey disturbance,” he said. Mr Elias told the Illawarra Mercury he did not realise he needed council permission as all he had done was remove some dead trees and clear rubbish. He said Plateau Road residents had contacted him as they were concerned about the dead trees on the land because children played there. “There are a lot of dead trees and their roots are very, very shallow and at any time they can fall,” Mr Elias said. “A fire burnt the trees two to three years ago and so they have rotted.” However Mr de Montemas said the area was one of the few examples of Hanging Swamps and it was imperative it was preserved in its unique, weed-free environment. “We have to fully appreciate its environmental and ecological significance as there are not a lot left due to long wall mining,” he said. “It is high in flora species diversity and was in good condition.” Mr de Montemas said environmentalists and scientists had yet to fully understand how hanging swamps worked and pristine examples such as the Stanwell Tops site deserved further study. “We don’t yet fully understand how they improve water quality but we know they do,” he said. The Plateau Road swamp sits on a sandstone plateau and the ground water slowly drains into Hargrave Creek. Many other swamps have dried out due to cracks in the sandstone caused by mining. “Many other hanging swamps have lost their intergrity and biodiversity with it,” Mr de Montemas said. Stanwell Tops resident Alan Bond, who filmed the land clearing and whose video has been passed to council as evidence, said the damage amounted to environmental vandalism. “It’s invaluable,” he said. “It’s one of the highest protected areas in the Illawarra.”
Neighbourhood Committee 1 convenor Bob Proudfoot has resigned due to work commitments. Bob, who has been the convenor for four years, is a teacher and was recently posted to Vincentia, near Jervis Bay. “I couldn’t guarantee that I would be there,” he said of his role with Neighbourhood Committee 1. He has been replaced by Otford resident Pauline Lacelles-Smith. Bob said one of his greatest achievement from his time as convenor was establishing a rapport with the council’s representatives to secure “some good results”. “When it’s just one neighbourhood committee, quite often you can be a voice in the wilderness,” he said. “You need to work with local representatives and local state members and, to a lesser degree, federal members. “That way of doing things does work.” Bob said his time as a councillor with Wollongong City Council had helped him navigate the bureaucracy. He said the committee’s greatest achievement was securing $300,000 in federal capital works grants to build a footpath to Helensburgh Station. “It was an enormous cost but so necessary as mothers were pushing prams along that road while coal trucks were driving past. “It was very dangerous.” He said negotiations with the coalmine resulted in coal wash being supplied and remedial works done to their section of the road. The resurfacing of Walker Street, the widening of the bridge over Gills Creek and building the carpark near the Post Office were other significant achievements. Bob will still attend Neighbourhood Committee 1 meetings when he can and plans to continue his lobbying efforts for the upgrade of Charles Harper and Rex Jackson parks, as well as secure more playing fields for sporting groups. “I had been considering stepping down anyway,” he said. “I recognised the need for new blood and no-one’s irreplaceable. “But I’ve still got my eye on the Lord Mayor’s job.” Coastline team takes extended leave John and Robyn Venn, the proprietors of Coastline Real Estate in Helensburgh, have shut the doors for an indefinite period in what John describes as a “radical” move. “The dynamics wouldn’t be there if one or the other went on leave,” he said. “The reason we’ve been so successful is that we work together well and we didn’t want a situation where callers were unhappy. “I’m too old to have aggravations.” The husband and wife team, who have not had a long holiday together since opening the agency in xxx, will renovate the office during the closure and develop a marketing system that will “make it easier and less stressful for both buyers and sellers”. They will also spend time helping their children – Kirstie, who is completing her HSC this year, and Adam who is doing year 10 – through their intense study period. John dismissed suggestions the closure had anything to do with their licence. “Absolutely, categorically not,” he said. The Office of Fair Trading confirmed Coastline Real Estate’s licence had not been withdrawn or suspended. “Our licence is scrupulously clean and Cris (Rawlings, the agency’s office administrator) is very good on the trust account,” John said. He said the agency had advised its clients of the impending closure last November and did not take any new listings after that time. “None of our clients wanted to jump ship,” he said, adding that he and Robyn were available to complete transactions for those clients still on the books. John said far from abandoning the area, he and Robyn would soon be announcing the establishment of a community fund to support the vital role of community and sporting groups. “This fund will be used to assist the fantastic work that these groups do in supporting and nurturing the community,” he said. “Groups like the volunteers of the Helensburgh & District News and all the other groups in the area do a huge amount of work behind the scenes to assist our community, and should be recognised and supported. “Through our involvement with many local volunteers, we know that there are times when they wonder if it is worth the effort. We would like to them to know that their contribution is vital to the fabric of our local community.” John and Robyn can be contacted on their office number, 4294 9800, or 0428 949 800.
Boutique wines will nestle in warm, wooden racks over the antique fireplace in Peter Doak’s new heritage liquor store when it opens in the Centennial Hotel this month. Peter expects to stock up to 240 varieties of boutique and imported wines, as well as boutique beers and RDTS when Porters Liquor Store opens for business in early March. The store will be located in the old restaurant at the front of the hotel and will put the icing on the new-look pub operated by Ronda and Bernie Collins. “It will be old style, featuring wooden crates and heritage touches,” said Peter who sold his bottle shop in Gray’s Point 12 months ago. Peter will introduce free wine tastings on Saturdays outside the pub, hoping to share his knowledge of wines with locals and visitors alike. “People come into a wine store for joyous occasions such as anniversaries or birthdays and we want them to come in happy and leave happy,” said Peter. “I will help them choose a wine or get it in for them.” He also plans to have wine dinners in the upstairs area and extend his wine tastings to village fetes and markets. “You have to make yourself known in the community.” Peter has worked in a variety of jobs over the years, including 20 years with Telecom (now Telstra), as a bookmaker and in a video store. “I’ve had a lot of dealings with customers and one of my strengths is how I can relate to people on their own level,” he said. “Our customer service will extend to carrying customers’ purchases to their cars and ordering in for them. “One thing that I know I will provide to the community is good quality wines and good old-fashioned customer service.” The opening of Porters Liquor Store will coincide with Crawchie Day and free wine tastings will be held on both the Saturday and Sunday, 5-6 March.
After 26 years with Wollongong City Council, Stanwell Park gardener Allan Power still enjoys going to work. “I’ve got the best job,” he says proudly. “I don’t want to go anywhere else.” Allan is based out of council’s Bulli depot but works autonomously. He decides what needs to be done and when, lobbying his department for the funds he believes are necessary to keep the park in tip-top condition. It was his decision to clear the lantana and weeds from opposite Kennett House, giving the elderly residents a clear view of the ocean. “The oldies would stand at the window clapping while I was doing it,” he said. “Now they can stand there and see the whales.” Allan secured funds to buy turf and a new table for the vantage point, adding another public space to Stanwell Park’s tourism credentials. “I always had it in mind to do,” he said. “I could see the potential.” He cleared 12ft of lantana and blackberry vines from Lawrence Hargrave Drive, across from the corner store, and made it into a reserve. “It was just a mess,” he said. He wants to clear further down the hill in The Drive but is waiting on the necessary approvals and finding the time in his maintenance schedule. As the only gardener in Stanwell Park, Allan is responsible for all mowing, weeding, pruning, landscaping and some repairs. “I treat it like my own back yard – I love going out there.” Allan says the support he gets from residents is an added bonus. “I get a lot of encouragement and the residents certainly appreciate the things that have been done,” he said. “It certainly gives you the spark to keep going.”
Stanwell Park artist Saffron Drew will hold her first solo art show at the Global Gallery in Paddington this month. Saffron, who specialises in print making and sculpture, said while she was looking forward to the show, it was a nerve-wracking experience. “It’s very exposing putting yourself out there,” she said. “It’s so personal.” Saffron’s personal journey to the solo show began in London and Asia where she worked as a fashion designer – a subject she now teaches part time at TAFE. “It was a natural progression and reinforces my love of colour and balance,” she said of her move into visual arts. “It’s been a surprisingly powerful mental and emotional journey but the intent has always been there.” Saffron has spent the last few years developing printing techniques that allow her to create “ghostly, ethereal images” using mostly botanical sources. “It’s a theme I keep returning to – the natural cycle of life, beauty of the moment, return to the ether and regeneration of organic matter,” she said. Her sculptural work reflects the same philosophy, with wood, metal and stone forming the basis of her art. “I’m drawn to rough, organic materials,” she said. Her show, ephemera, features original pieces and follows on from her selection as a finalist in the NSW Art Prize last year and the state tour of her monotype Flame Feathers II which was chosen by the Deputy Director-General of TAFE as the image for his corporate Christmas cards. Ephemera opens on 16 March and runs until 27 March. Anyone wishing to attend the opening night should call Saffron on 4294 3082. Spirit of the Outback Fiddling, whip cracking and plenty of Akubra hats will bring a taste of the outback to Helensburgh at Holy Cross Catholic School’s annual fete on Saturday, 12 March. The theme of this year’s fete is the Spirit of the Outback and Helensburgh country band Fiddle Dance will ensure plenty of knee slapping and foot stomping on the day. A portable DVD player is this year’s major raffle draw while the Chocolate Wheel will offer an assortment of fabulous prizes. Children will enjoy amusement rides, a kindy farm, arts & crafts, lucky dips and the White Elephant stall. An outback BBQ will be fired up all day to guarantee the supply of sausages while a café will provide a chance to sit down and enjoy a Jamaica Blue coffee and cake. The fun starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm so get in early! For more information, contact Sarah Rayner on 4294 8479. Cement your place in history Construction of Helensburgh Public School’s long-awaited hall is about to begin and, to celebrate, the school is offering people the chance to buy an engraved paver that will be laid outside the new hall. Pavers will cost $30 each and, if a family wishes to purchase multiple pavers, the second and any subsequent pavers will cost $25 each. Pavers may contain any message that complies with three lines of 12 characters. Each purchase receives a certificate showing details of the paver. Helensburgh Public School relies on assistance from families, friends and the wider community to provide our students with extra educational tools and resources. Purchasing a paver will contribute to these resources and provide a permanent record of your association with our school. Numbers are limited and orders will be numbered and recorded as received. For those interested, order forms are available from the school office, during school hours, or phone 4294 1332. The Helensburgh Public School P&C extends its thanks to the community for the continued support of the school. It is always very much appreciated.
Operalounge, a cabaret group of three talented singers, will grace the Stanwell Park CWA Hall on Saturday, 2 April after a sell-out tour 12 months ago. Featuring the vocal talents of Stanwell Tops resident Louise Rooke, Opera Australia’s Stephen Tall and veteran soprano Katherine Cassidy, the group will present Broadway Brilliance, an interesting assortment of popular (and soon to be popular) musicals. Stephen Tall is a regular singer with Opera Australia and last year had a successful season at the Marion Street Theatre with his own cabaret; Louise Rooke has made numerous recordings and sung at many concerts and events; while Katherine Cassidy is a seasoned performer/singer who has been treading the boards for around 20 years. The group will be accompanied by pianist Nancy Hoskings. Tickets for the event are $25 per person and can be booked on 4294 2124. It opens at 6.30pm for a 7pm start and patrons are asked to BYO drinks and nibblies. Operalounge can also be seen at the Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli on Sunday, 3 April and Sunday, 10 April. Bookings: 9799 8998. Phantom beckons local actors Opera singer Louise Rooke and SPAT regular Andrew Bridgford will appear in the Shire Music Theatre’s season of Phantom at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre from 25-29 May. Louise plays the Phantom’s protégé, Christine Daee, while Andrew plays Philippe, the Count de Chandon in the Maury Yeston production. Bookings 8230 0668 or visit www.shiremusictheatre.org.au. Cheers & Jeers Cheers to Seaside Cleaning’s Bob Ridley who has volunteered to clean off graffiti at Stanwell Park Public School as soon as it appears. Here’s the drum, kiddies: Bob’s spray is bigger than yours any day! Jeers to the hit and run coward on the trail bike who collided with a young guy on a push bike and then took off at high speed on Sunday afternoon, 6 February, on the corner of Horan and Rajani roads in Helensburgh. You were speeding on the wrong side of the road, mate, and not to stop - shame on you! You will get caught. Disappointed at the slow police response as well: 90 minutes after the accident was reported an officer came and took a statement. Jeers to the lazy sods who dumped a heap of rubbish on the Porcupine Track near Helensburgh Station on the weekend of 12-13th February. The rubbish consisted of numerous cases of empty (broken) beer bottles, heaps of empty Jim Beam cans, ciggie packs, McDonalds packaging and other party-type rubbish. Coincidentally there was a big party in the area on the night of 12 February – do the people who dumped this rubbish actually live in the ‘Burgh? Unbelievable, they don’t deserve to live in such a beautiful place. Cheers to the RTA which has delved into its Lawrence Hargrave Support Fund to ensure teacher numbers are maintained at Scarborough Public School. Blue Gum Diary 6 March 6 March 8 March 11 March 12 March Claim the Date 24 April 30 April 7 May
Stanwell Park Public School 2005 has commenced very smoothly at Stanwell Park Public School. At the beginning of the school year we had 178 students enrolled and were fortunate in being able to organise classes on the first day. We have seven classes from Kindergarten to Year 6. Our new Kindergarten children have arrived and are settling in extremely well with the support of the older students. The highly experienced teaching staff have planned a range of learning programs in all Key Learning Areas to allow students to progress and have fun. On 11 February, Stanwell Park held its annual Swimming Carnival at Helensburgh Pool. We were fortunate that the inclement weather of the previous two days cleared and we were presented with a glorious day. It was pleasing to see the large number of competitors in each race which indicates the number of children at our school who are proficient at swimming. The individual swimming champions of Stanwell Park for 2005 were: Junior Boys Champion – Riley Killham Junior Girls Champion – Alexandra Blumanis 11 Year Boys Champion – Harry Patrick 11 Year Girls Champions – Courtenay Turner & Julia Weir 12/13 Year Boys Champion – Jesse Killham 12/13 Year Girls Champion – Bronte Fussell The winning house was Mitchell, narrowly edging out Hargrave. Stanwell Park sent a squad of 29 swimmers to represent the school at the Northern Illawarra PSSA Swimming Carnival at Corrimal Pool on 24 February. Keith Tomlinson Principal Helensburgh Public School Helensburgh Public School has seen a smooth and exciting start to the 2005 school year. Total enrolments have remained steady and we are fortunate enough to establish 3 Kindergarten classes with the average size being 22 students. The smaller classes should result in improved learning outcomes for our new students starting school. Developing student leadership and enhancing effective decision making will see our School Captains and prefects attend the Young Leader’s Conference at the Sydney Superdome on Monday, 21 March. Our responsible student leaders will have the opportunity to listen to some very well-respected guest speakers. It is hoped that the boys and girls who attend this conference will become crucial members of our Student Representative Council. This year also sees a new school hall being built. This is a long awaited resource that will be enjoyed by everyone at the school. Although little progress has been made at this point, it is anticipated that by the end of the year our school will have a hall that will allow us to hold K-6 assemblies and many other activities. Speaking of assemblies, one of the biggest events in our school year is our annual Grandparents Day. In 2004 we had more than 800 grandparents and grand-friends attend. We look forward to another day of entertainment and enjoyment for our special visitors. This year Grandparents Day will be held on Thursday, 31 March. This is a day not to be missed – mark the date in your calendar! Garry Royston Principal Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid Inc. (A Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care funded program) DESPERATELY SEEKING VOLUNTEERS: If you read this report each month, you will know that we are continually trying to recruit volunteers to provide services to our clients. More so at the moment, as we are in dire need of volunteers to drive our clients to doctor’s appointments, drivers and escorts for our 19-seater community bus, individual shopping for clients and volunteers for Café Club. If you have some spare time, please contact the office. Without community support we may have difficulty providing services. Training and vehicle reimbursement is available. Welcome to Sue Little who has taken on the role of Café Club Supervisor. The Club recommenced in February with the service celebrating its second birthday. The Club operates each Thursday at the Workmen’s Club from 10.30am to 2.30pm. The day includes morning tea, 45 minutes of the Heart Moves program, a low intensity exercise class conducted by an accredited fitness leader, lunch and activities or entertainment. Transport to and from the club is available at no additional cost If you would like to find out more about the club please contact Sue. March Activities: Shopping Trips: Every Friday to major shopping centres. We collect and return you to your front door in our 19-seater community bus. March Mixed Social: Coffee Cruise of Port Hacking on Monday, 14 March. Men’s Group: Education Centre, Bee Garden & Museum at Sutherland on Monday, 21 March. Lunch at Gymea Trade Union Club If you would like to find out about what your Neighbour Aid service has to offer or become a volunteer, please contact the friendly staff on 4294 1900.
60 seconds with a ToastieAnother interesting and brief insight into the life of one of the members who make up that fantastic little club that you have been promising yourself to visit for the last few months (namely the Helensburgh and District Toastmasters). Well, we have a local this time. No doubt you’ve seen this lady in and around Helensburgh. She is never short of a word and loves a chat wherever possible. She is currently the Secretary of Helensburgh and District Toastmasters. Vicki Christie. At a glance: Age – 21 (Ha, Ha) Resides – in Helensburgh; married with two children; member since Club was formed in 1996. What is your favourite movie? Legally BlondeFavourite PastimeGardening; bike riding Most Embarrassing MomentShopping with my Grandmother when she samples the produceBest advice you’ve ever been given“Never a problem, always an opportunity”. Worst adviceNot to buy real estate when I was young Favourite foodCherry RipeIn one word, describe yourself HappyWhat’s the best thing Toastmasters has done for you? Given me unbelievable confidence in my own abilities. Down to your last $10, what would you spend it on?The KidsRemember, anyone is welcome to come along and observe or participate in any of our meetings. They are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7.45pm in the auditorium of the Helensburgh Workmen’s Club. One thing is for certain, you’ll be made most welcome, you’ll enjoy yourself and you’ll possibly discover a new side to yourself you never knew existed. Enquiries, phone James Baker on 4294 2919. www.nio.net.au/helensburgh/toastmasters
VIEW Club (Voice Interests Education for Women) What makes the VIEW Club different from other organisations? Surely it is the generosity and compassion of its members who actively support the movement’s founder, The Smith Family, with both financial and practical resources. VIEW not only offers the unique opportunity to serve but another of its important objectives is friendship. Helensburgh VIEW Club has two main fund-raising events: the Mother’s Day Stall on 7 May (outside Bi-Lo) at which beautiful gifts and home-made cakes can be bought – so that Mum can have that special day. Second, the Christmas Stall where you can take the opportunity to buy lovely (low prices) stocking fillers as well as delicious cakes and goodies for the festive season. The Helensburgh VIEW club meets at the Centennial Hotel on the third Wednesday of each month. Members enjoy a delicious meal and the opportunity to listen to good speakers or see demonstrations. Future speakers are: Valerie Pybus who is a well-known local poet, and Pam Prakash, a natural therapist whose subject is iridology. If you would like to join up (and we hope you will), please telephone Chris on 4294 1103 to book your meal. We look forward to meeting you. www.nio.net.au/helensburgh/view
Helensburgh Probus AGM The first Annual General Meeting of The Combined Probus Club of Helensburgh and District will be held on Thursday, 10 March at 11am after the regular 10am meeting. Venue: Helensburgh Bowling Club. The speaker for the 14 April meeting will be from ANSTO, providing information on that facility. Enquiries ph Mark Henderson, Pres. 4294 8401 Clare Marchetti-Cox 4294 1174. www.nio.net.au/helensburgh/probus Fellowship of First Fleeters The South Coast chapter of the Fellowship of First Fleeters had a very enjoyable Christmas lunch at the Shoalhaven Bowling Club. Before lunch the Loyal Toast was proposed by Terry Mortimer and a toast to our First Fleet ancestors was proposed by Jean Mortimer. Gold Save the Queen and Advance Australian Fair, very ably accompanied on the piano by Mrs Elaine Keough, were sung by the assembled group. Lunch followed and we then enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of fellowship and talk. Chapter meetings are held monthly at the Old Court House, Belmore Basin, Wollongong. For further information, please contact Betty Warn (Helensburgh) on 4294 2735.
Australian Breastfeeding AssociationHelensburgh & Engadine GroupWe hold regular informal get-togethers discussing parenting or breastfeeding topics and our get-togethers are an excellent source of accurate and up-to date breastfeeding information for mothers and mothers-to-be. A trained breastfeeding Counsellor is always present to answer questions or offer reassurance. Babies and children are welcome.“About ABA – Find out who we are and what we do” will be the discussion topic on Friday, 11 March at 10am, at the Helensburgh Community Centre, Walker Street Helensburgh. Just drop in or contact Mardi - 4294 8563.“Breastfeeding Information and Ideas – Video & Question Time” will be our next discussion topic on Wednesday, 23 March at 10am, contact Alison - 9520 3392.“Your Toddler and New Baby” will be the discussion topic on Friday, 8 April at 10am, at the Helensburgh Community Centre, contact Hazel 4294 4120. “Fun at the Park” play day for children and mums on Tuesday, 19 April at 10am, Stanwell Park playground, contact Alison – 9520 3392. For information on Breastfeeding and Early Parenting Workshops, please ring Hazel on 4294 4120 or Alison on 9520 3392. These are held on Saturdays and are designed for expectant parents, covering the basic information needed to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding while natural, is still a learned skill for both mother and baby and it may help you to learn as much as you can before the birth. The Australian Breastfeeding Association is a voluntary non-profit organisation. Our vision is for babies to breastfeed exclusively for six months, with ongoing breastfeeding for as long as mother and baby desire. One of our aims is to provide factual information for all women to make informed choices about feeding their babies and their parenting styles. Our NSW Breastfeeding Helpline number is 9639 8686. Firey returns from disaster zone Helensburgh firefighter Chris Sykes recently returned from the Maldives where he was part of a NSW task force delivering aid to the victims of the tsunami disaster. Members of the NSW Fire Brigades, NSW Health and the NSW Police worked in South East Asia from 29 December until 9 January. Heathcote MP Paul McLeay was part of a delegation which welcomed back the task force and said Chris played an essential role in the recovery effort. “Station Officer Sykes provided logistical support to the paramedic, medical and surgical team located in the Maldives,” Mr McLeay said. “His specialised training in rescue operations and the NSWFB equipment he brought to the Maldives ensured the medical team could be totally self-sufficient in terms of accommodation, food, sanitation, power and water for 10 days. “This meant they did not consume the aid dedicated to saving the lives of starving survivors.” Mr McLeay said Chris had made his local community and the people of NSW proud.
When Helensburgh distance runner Lexy Gilmour lined up against Olympian Jana Pittman in the 800m in Melbourne recently, her place as a national champion was confirmed. The 15-year-old finished ninth in the race, part of the Telstra A series, but sharing the start with one of her heroes was worth more than medals. “I couldn’t believe I was running with one of my idols,” said the Heathcote High School student. Lexy is the current 800m and 1500m national junior champion, taking the crown at the national championships in Sydney in December. Her achievements are even more remarkable considering she started running only four years ago. “In primary school I won the cross country and then won the state so I started training after that,” she said modestly. “Running really found me – I would be a bump on the lounge otherwise.” The lanky teenager trains six days a week, clocking up 50km with sessions at Waratah Park in Sutherland and “jogs” to Audley. On 20 March she will find out if she has qualified for the Australian under-18 team to contest the World Youth Qualifier in Morocco in July. “It will be my first time out of Australia if I get in,” Lexy said. While international travel has so far eluded her, running has taken the Year 10 student around the country with Canberra the most recent stop on her race schedule for the continuation of the Telstra A series. “It’s addictive,” Lexy says of running. “I feel so guilty if I don’t go for runs.” Mother Michelle, a swimming teacher, runs with her daughter but often Lexy can be found clocking up the kilometres on her own. Her dedication is paying off with a personal best time of 4.22.02 in the 1500m at the state championships recently – seven seconds better than her previous effort and four seconds under world youth qualifying time. On current form, her name will one day inspire the same awe that Jana Pittman does today. Stanwell Park Sea Eels Winter Swimming Club What can you do on a Sunday in 50 seconds? Well, if you’re anything like many of us, you’ll be able to complete a 50 metre swim. The Stanwell Park Sea Eels Winter Swimming Club kicks off its 17th season on 24 April, 2005 (four weeks after Easter) with a time trial commencing at 9am at the Coalcliff ocean pool. Let’s face it, what else are you going to do on a Sunday morning and what can you do in 50 seconds? You can watch music videos of bands you’ve never heard of, or perhaps re-runs of children’s game shows. And highbrow news programmes – who cares? It’s the weekend! You can probably stay in bed but there’s plenty of time to do that when you retire. And 50 seconds? What’s that? It takes longer to butter toast or make tea. You won’t be mowing the lawn on a winter’s morning and the footy doesn’t start till 3pm. So, how about it – give it a try. Come and join us and bring the kids down as well for a swim. For you blokes, it will be vastly more rewarding than the begging you do on a Sunday morning and for you ladies, it will be a much more satisfying 50 seconds. For more information, call Steven Clarke on 4294 1081. Helensburgh Workmen’s Club Social Golf Club On Saturday, 19 March, we play our annual Invitation Cup at the Illawarra Golf Club. This two-person Ambrose event is an ideal game to introduce new players to our club. Tee-off times are from 8am to 10am and we return to the Workmen’s Club for a BBQ after the game. Our monthly tournaments cater to all standards and are played on nominated Saturdays at the Illawarra Golf Club. We play our golf in a friendly but competitive manner so if you are new to town or want to dust off your sticks, ring Barry on 4294 4684 or refer to the Workmen’s Club noticeboard for further information. Helensburgh Bowling Club Social Golf Club Attention all male and female golfers: All those keen (and not so keen) golfers, including those newcomers to the ‘Burgh who wish to play golf in a friendly, social atmosphere, come along and join us. We play the first Sunday of each month. We are all ages from 18 to more than 80 so come and join in. We play the local golf courses, Boomerang and Illawarra. Great prizes and great fun. Welcome back to the 2005 season. Our event on Sunday, 6 February was held at Illawarra on a beautiful summer Sunday with 30 starters. The event for the day was Par. With all players keen to get into the new season with a good start, it was going to be a great day. There was some big hitting on the day with a certain person hitting off the tee and reaching near the par four greens with some regularity. Fortunately, the handicapper was in the same group and adjustments may be forthcoming. Another adventurous golfer was seen on three occasions retrieving balls from the dams and finished with the same ball they started the round with – well done! Results for the day were: 1st “Big Hitter” Jason Coplun, 2nd Dave Flewin and 3rd Shane Smith. Well done boys! We all wish Paul Duff a speedy recovery and hope to see you on the course next month. A warm welcome to the five new members who have started this month. For more information, please call Tony on 4294 2696. Helensburgh Women’s Bowling Club This is our first report since our five-week Christmas recess. We resumed our Bowls on 18 January, 2005. On 15 November, with overcast weather conditions, we played the finals of the Nominated Pairs. Winners: L.Bartlem & J. McCotter. Runners/up: T. Thomson & V. West. Queen of the Green for November was L.Bartlem. 24 November we played a home-away Friendship Trophy at the Towradji Bowling Club where we were warmly welcomed. 30 November was a pleasant day and we competed for the annual Bentick Shield. Gloria attended with her grand-daughter to present the lovely prizes. Winners: S.Barnett, J.Van Zyl, V.West. Runners/up: J.McCotter, J.Killham, W.Britten. We extend our condolences to Gloria and her family at the passing of her mother Ruby. We remember ruby and Bill Bentick who first sponsored this trophy several decades ago. Their family continues to sponsor this special trophy. Saturday Mixed Pairs results: Finalists – S.Cassidy & R.Cassidy. Congratulations to these bowlers. 7 December was a lovely day and we celebrated our end of year Christmas party. Thanks to chef Colin and his staff for serving us a delicious dinner. It is with great sadness we report the passing of our very loyal and highly esteemed senior member Kath Coffee. Kath was well known and greatly respected throughout the Illawarra district and many other bowling clubs. To our dear friends Ruby & Kath, Rest in Peace. We extend our sincere condolences to both families. S. Barnett, Publicity Officer Stanwell Park Christian Surfers Stanwell Park Christian Surfers is starting again this year and it’s going to be exciting as the grommets study the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians (in the Bible) and spend time playing games, chalk chases, video nights, skate nights, and surfing comps and camps. We will be meeting every Thursday night of the school term in Stanwell Park Anglican Church Hall, 7-9pm, and grommets aged 12 to 18 are welcome. The first surfing competition will be on Saturday, 2 April, 7am at Stanwell Park surf club. Divisions will be: Opens, Cadets (U/16 at 1.1.05) and Womens. Bring $5 for the BBQ and extra energy to keep up with the grommets (rumour has it one young surfer surfed for 10 hours recently!). The winners of our Stanwell comp will earn an entry into the Jesus Pro Am to be held at Cronulla this year on 7 May. The Bible verse the grommets will be learning is from Colossians chapter 2 verse 8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”The leaders at Stanwell CS are thoroughly convinced that Jesus Christ is the answer to the problems of selfishness we all experience. We will be teaching the grommets to be weary of “hollow and deceptive philosophy” based on man’s thinking and this world, without reference to Jesus Christ.If you would like more information, please contact either Craig 4294 1656 or Scott 4294 8964.Coalcliff SLSC Nippers Congratulations to Samantha Hammond (U13) on winning the sprint and flags at the inter-state titles at Maroubra. Carnival Results Inter-cities Carnival, Wanda U12 Brett Doran 1st Sprint, 1st Flags Taylor Decker-Armstrong 1st Sprint, 1st Flags U13 Samantha Hammond 1st Sprint, 1st Flags Jade Offord 3rd Sprint Branch Titles, 12 February, Thirroul U8 Hayley McIver 2nd Sprint, 2nd Flags U12 Brett Doran 2nd Sprint, 2nd Flags, 3rd Board-riding Jonothan Newman 2nd Board-riding U12 Daniel Treacy, Taylor Decker-Armstrong, Jonothan Newman & Brett Doran 2nd Beach Relay U13 Samantha Hammond 1st Sprint, 1st Flags Jade Offord 2nd Sprint, 2nd Flags Tyler O’Meara, Jade Offord, Brett Doran, Samantha Hammond, 2nd Beach Relay Sean Dorahy 2nd Board-riding Troy Jordan 3rd Board-riding McDonald’s Titles, 19 February, North Wollongong All Age Relay: Madeline Scullion, Gretel Major, Jamie McIver, Ethan Simpson, Brett Doran, Samantha Hammond, Matt Young 3rd U8 Hayley McIver 1st Sprint, 1st Flags U11 Mitchell Knowles, Bronte Young, Ethan Simpson & Casey Behringer 2nd Beach Relay U12 Brett Doran 1st Sprint, 1st Flags Taylor Decker-Armstrong 1st Sprint, 1st Flags Daniel Treacy, Jonothan Newman, Taylor Decker-Armstrong & Brett Doran 1st Beach Relay U13 Samantha Hammond 1st Sprint, 1st Flags Jade Offord 2nd Sprint Well done to everyone who competed. Presentation Day will be held at 4pm on 19 March at the Surf Club. |
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