Jobs Fund supports environmental project on the North Coast
March 26, 2010
Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib and Member for Page Janelle Saffin have announced $1.46 million funding for EnviTE Inc under the Local Jobs stream of the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund.
It is one of 21 Local Jobs projects to share in $17.5 million under Round 2 to link disadvantaged job seekers with training and employment opportunities.
Senator Arbib said EnviTE Inc would use the funding for the North Coast Environment Employment Project which will restore native vegetation and diverse habitats, including costal areas, waterways and rainforest.
The project will help create or retain 41 jobs, 40 work experience positions and nine traineeships.
Football knockout cup starts on Saturday
March 26, 2010
Northern NSW Football’s first ever knockout cup to encompass all seven of its zones, the Solo Cup, will commence on Saturday 27th March, with all 22 Northern Pool teams taking to the field.
Due to the expansive area covered by Northern NSW Football, the competition is divided into two pools, the Northern Pool and Southern Pool, to determine Quarter Final placings.
The Northern Pool comprises of club teams from Football Mid North Coast, North Coast Football, Northern Inland Football and Football Far North Coast.
With only eleven teams progressing to Round 2 and the opportunity to eventually reach the Quarter Finals where North will meet South, which includes teams from Newcastle’s two elite male competitions; the NBN State League and NEWFM 1st Division, the first elimination round is set to be hotly contested.
Northern Pool Round 1 details are as follows:
Man arrested over alleged sexual assaults – Alstonville
March 26, 2010
A man will appear in court next month charged over a number of alleged historical sexual assaults.
The 29-year-old man, who was working as an alternative health practitioner based at Alstonville, was arrested by detectives from Richmond Local Area Command yesterday (Thursday 25 March).
Detectives have been investigating alleged sexual assaults that occurred between 2005 and 2010.
The man was taken to Ballina Police Station and subsequently charged with aggravated sexual assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault.
He was granted conditional bail and is expected to appear in Ballina Local Court on 15 April 2010.
Inquiries are continuing and Ballina Detectives are appealing for anyone who has information that might assist their investigations to contact them via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Pension rise to help with cost of living: Elliot
March 24, 2010
From this week, Australia’s three million age, disability and carer pensioners, and veterans’ income support recipients, will receive higher pensions payments to help meet increases in the cost of living.
Richmond MP Justine Elliot said that more than 27,300 pensioners in the Richmond electorate will benefit from an increase in their pension payments.
Pension payments will increase by $29.20 a fortnight for singles on the maximum rate, and $44 a fortnight for couples combined on the maximum rate.
These increases are regular indexation increases, and are in addition to the Budget pension rise paid last year.
Following these increases, total pension payments for those on the maximum rate, including the base rate and pension supplement, will be:
$701.10 a fortnight for singles, and
$1057.00 a fortnight for couples combined.
Volunteer Yamba Rotarians attend Polio Immunisation in India
March 24, 2010
Poliomyelitis still strikes children, mainly under the age of 5 years. Historically polio has been the world’s largest cause of disability.
Because there is no cure for polio the best cure is prevention and for as little as US$0.60 worth of vaccine a child can be protected from the crippling disease for life.
For more than 20 years Rotary has led the private sector in eradication of polio.
Newcastle Hunter beats Far North Coast
March 21, 2010
Newcastle Hunter proved too strong in both grades, beating Far North Coast in Under-20s and Opens in round one of the NSW Country Championships at Tomaree Sports Ground, Nelson Bay, on Saturday.
Results:
UNDER 20s
Newcastle Hunter 43 d FNCRU 12 (Chris Clark, Dominic Morris tries, Sam Flynn conversion). Half-time: NHRU 21, FNCRU 5.
OPENS
Newcastle Hunter 39 d FNCRU 3 (Adam Gordon penalty goal). Half-time: NHRU 10, FNCRU 3.
Country Championship Qualifying Results:
The 2010 Country Championship Qualifying Matches were played on 20 March 2010, with the favoured zones taking out the matches in the Seniors and Colts.
Newcastle Hunter opened their championship defence with a hard-fought 39–3 victory over the Far North Coast at Nelsons Bay.
The scoreline didn’t depict the intensity of the contest, with the Novocastrians having to work overtime late in the match to overcome the Dolphins.
The first half was very even with both teams restricting the other’s scoring opportunities with very strong defence, which saw Newcastle Hunter go to the break with a slim 10-3 lead.
The second half continued on as the first, but the Newcastle Hunter pack slowly took control of the play, which enabled them to post a rush of late points.
Central West had too much power and pace for New England to run out comfortable winners 53–13 at Orange.
The Bull Bulls opened the scoring early in the match with a converted try and were never headed as they set up a 32–8 lead over the Lions at half-time, before scoring another 21 points in the second half.
The Lions toiled all day in the forwards, but they were no match in the backs with 48 of Central West’s points being scored by their backs.
Central Coast had to work extremely hard to overcome Central North 27–7 at Woy Woy.
The first half was a very even affair with both teams’ defence cancelling each other out, and it was only in the last ten minutes of the half that the Sea Hawks set up the 7–0 half-time lead.
The second half saw the Central Coast forwards lift their intensity to take control of the match to run in another four unconverted tries against the Kookaburras.
Central North never gave up and crossed for a consolation converted try right on the full-time bell.
Illawarra completely outclassed an under-strength Western Plains 92–5 at Wollongong.
Late withdrawals of several key players left the Plainsmen’s playing stocks short and the Illawarriors took every opportunity to compile a record score.
In the Colts, the Central Coast and Illawarra had to overcome half-time deficits to defeat Central North and the Lloyd McDermott Foundation, while Newcastle Hunter and Central West had comfortable wins over Far North Coast and New England.
Next weekend sees the Country Weekend being played at Belmont, with the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Caldwell Cup, Richardson Shield, Colts Championship and Colts Plate being played on 27 and 28 March respectively.
Qualifying Match Results – 20 March 2010
Seniors
Central Coast 27 – Central North 7
Central West 53 – New England 8
Illawarra 92 – Western Plains 5
Newcastle Hunter 39 – Far North Coast 3
Colts
Central Coast 30 – Central North 13
Central West 20 – New England 5
Illawarra 29 – Lloyd McDermott Foundation 14
Newcastle Hunter 43 – Far North Coast 12
Semi-Final Draw – 27 March 2010
Caldwell Cup
Newcastle Hunter v Central West – 4.00pm
Illawarra v Central Coast – 2.20pm
Richardson Shield
Far North Coast v New England – 12.40pm
Western Plains v Central North – 11.00am
Colts Championship
Newcastle Hunter v Central West – 3.30pm
Illawarra v Central Coast – 2.00pm
Colts Plate
Far North Coast v New England – 12.30pm
Lloyd McDermott v Central North – 11.00am
64 per cent electricity price rise will hit small business: MP
March 20, 2010
Shadow Minister for Small Business Don Page is calling on the State Labor Government to find an alternative solution to the massive electricity price increases recommended by IPART this week.
“A 64% price increase over the next three years recommended by IPART is just not viable for small businesses and low income earners in NSW,” Mr Page said.
“The NSW State Labor Government have allowed our electricity infrastructure to run down over the past 15 years. They have spent little of the massive profits they have made during that time in upgrading our electricity assets.
“Instead they have used the electricity suppliers as a cash cow to fund their shocking history of waste and incompetence.
400 new apprentices in Richmond, Tweed and Clarence region
March 20, 2010
The Richmond, Tweed and Clarence Valley region has employed more than 400 apprentices over the summer, Parliamentary Secretary for Employment Jason Clare announced yesterday.
“The latest figures are in – and we’ve given more than 400 local apprentices here a start,” Mr Clare said.
“That’s a terrific effort, and I want to pay tribute to the local businesses who’ve hired a teenage apprentice this summer.
“We know that the number of people starting apprenticeships in the traditional trades has plummeted by around 20 per cent over the past year.
April is Clarence Cultural month
March 20, 2010
To honour the Clarence Valley’s diversity, lifestyle and culture, the Clarence Valley Council is declaring April ‘Clarence cultural month’.
The Clarence Valley has an amazing mix of culture, extending from the Dreamtime until today.
Life on the river has shaped residents’ everyday lives. The beauty of the landscape and unique lifestyle is a magnet for those looking to be inspired, a hub for creative folks from architects to sculptors, dancers to musicians and everyone in between.
“This April’s showcase of talent is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to culture within the Clarence Valley,” said Mayor Richie Williamson.
Ballina schoolgirl lobbies Canberra for diabetes research funding
March 20, 2010
Ballina girl Sarah Moore was one of 110 Youth Ambassadors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in Canberra this week, lobbying for funding for type 1 diabetes research.
Page MP Janelle Saffin met Sarah and her mother, Denise, in her Parliamentary office on Thursday morning and then joined them at the Kids in the House lunch with the other youth ambassadors, their supporters and many Members of Parliament.
Ms Saffin said in the electorate of Page there are more than 950 young people with type 1 diabetes,
“Australia has one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world, and the rate of new cases in children is increasing by 3 per cent a year,” she said.
