It’s believed to be the largest cray boat in WA, and it’s nearly ready to go. Sea trials have been completed, and the Day Dawn is expected to be in the water fishing next week.
Thanks Hayden for these pic and vids.
The boat apparently has three tv’s and queensized beds. Thumbs up to all involved, including Xtreme Marine, Dongara Marine and Geraldton Marine Electronics.
If you’re a coffee lover, you will have your steadfast opinion about where to go in our fair city to find the best beans. As a cappuccino fan myself, I was more than happy to hunt out the best in Geraldton.
So, first of all, what makes a great coffee? Everyone I asked this question generally said the same things. Must not be bitter, not too milky and never, ever burnt. After drinking a fair amount of caffeine around town, I realised that this task was going to be harder than I thought. There are tons of great coffee places around, it just depends what vibe you’re after really.
If you’re looking for a cappuccino with a view, Skeeta’s wins hands down. Good coffee overlooking that beautiful Geraldton harbour. Definitely not disappointing. Grab a takeaway and go for a walk down the Marina in the sunshine.
Want that beach vibe? The Jaffle Shack Café on the foreshore opened recently, and you will love it. With the distressed wood and grassy space for the kids plus a range of jaffles and snacks it’s a great place to chill after a swim. The best part, for you diehard caffeine lovers, the coffee is amazing.
If you have toddlers in tow like I always do, Two Foreshore not only does great coffee, but a range of healthy snacks, and they will even deliver your cuppa to the playground for you. Plenty of room for prams and mother’s groups too.
Culinary HQ is an excellent place to stop in and grab a takeaway on your lunchbreak and Salt Dish serves an amazing, healthy breakfast with your morning brew.
This was a tough task but I found it at the very last place I visited, which was Quiet Life Specialty Coffee. I’d never been there but had heard only good things, and let’s just say, I was super impressed. It has a funky vibe and friendly staff. My cappuccino was amazing and the sneaky cronut was tasty too. What’s a cronut, you ask? Well it’s a croissant crossed with a donut, and you need it in your life.
So, the best coffee in Geraldton, a harder task than I had imagined, but one I had lots of fun researching. It’s great to see so many places with such different atmospheres, and that’s why I love this city.
The ABC Midwest ran a story today on shops in Geraldton rejecting money kept in people's brassiere. The story was published on the ABC's national Facebook page, and thus gathered remarks from around the country. ABC claimed that a "growing" number of businesses are putting the sign up.
I've worked in retail for many years, and experienced people handing over bra money lots of times. Allow me to share my experience.
One person interviewed who erected the sign banning bra money told the ABC it was "a matter of respect."
Respect goes both ways. Understanding that some people live very different lives to you, are dealing with circumstances you will never be exposed to, and are just trying to transport their cash as safely as they can, is probably worth thinking about. Being forbidden from buying food from a store because the safest way for you to carry your cash is in your bra seems a little disrespectful.
After nearly 10 years in operation Tides of Geraldton are closing their doors at the end of 2015.
The owners posted the news online last night, thanking customers for their support over the past decade.
"In this time we have done countless Weddings, Function, cooked for 2 Prime Ministers, State Premiers, Heads of International Delegations and so many more. We have won awards for service and accolades in food, been written in books with Anya’s famous Lamington Ice Cream.
"We have donated countless thousands to charities and we have loved every minute of it. So it is with a heavy heart we will have to close the doors at the end of the year.
"We want to thank our staff - and we have had the most amazing wonderful precious staff anyone could ever have. We love you guys so much.
"Thank you again from Tides of Geraldton."
Tides kindly request if you have vouchers please book and use before them asap.
Consumers looking for loans online are again being stung by paying fees or charges upfront to scammers who have stolen the identity of legitimate credit providers.
In the latest case reported to Consumer Protection, a small Sydney based operator, Finance Money Australia Pty Ltd, had their identity stolen.
A WA consumer has lost $4,000 by paying upfront taxes and insurance fees for an unsecured loan. Consumers throughout Australia are feared to have lost up to $20,000 after falling victim to the fake website. This website has now been closed down.
This type of scam targets consumers who may have had difficulties getting loans from traditional sources.
Consumers are warned to:
You can report scams to WA ScamNet via email or by calling 1300 30 40 54.
Minister for Commerce, Hon Michael Mischin MLC, has approved the City of Greater Geraldton’s application for temporarily extended retail trading hours over the 2015 Christmas period.
Sunday 13 December - 10am to 4pm
Sunday 20 December - 10am to 4pm
Monday 21 December - 6pm to 9pm
Tuesday 22 December - 6pm to 9pm
Wednesday 23 December - 6pm to 9pm
It is up to the discretion of the individual trader whether or not they choose to open their doors for these additional hours.
For more information contact the City Council on (08) 9956 6600.
Research has revealed tourists spend more than $100 per trip after receiving information on what there is to see and do from Visitor Centres.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Shane Van Styn said the number of people coming through the door at the Geraldton Visitor Centre increased by more than 7,000 people or 15 per cent from last year which generated almost $6 million in total for the local economy.
“Over the past twelve months more than 57,000 people came through the visitor centre doors, and according to the ‘Value of Visitor Centres’ report, the information provided by visitor centres increases visitor spending on average by an additional $104 per trip which equates to an additional $5,928,000 being spent in Geraldton.”
"Increases in visitor numbers at the Geraldton Visitor Centre is attributed to several factors including the new location, an exceptional wildflower season and an increase in cruise ship visits and.
“One year ago today the Visitor Centre moved into the refurbished Original Railway Station located right on the Foreshore and in the heart of our CBD,” he said.
“The Original Railway Station in one of Geraldton’s iconic buildings, a tourist destination in itself, offering travellers and locals an opportunity to have a coffee at the Carriage Café whilst planning what they want to see and do in our fantastic City region.
“For the first time ever, the City was promoted across the state as the hub for wildflower tourism with many visitors stopping at the Centre to see the beautiful wildflower display before heading out to go on their own tour,” said Mayor Van Styn.
“The number of cruise ships stopping over in Geraldton has also increased with 13 ships anchoring in the past year.
“With almost 20,000 passengers and crew coming ashore, many of whom stopped in at the Visitor Centre, spent on average $60 per person making the financial benefit to our community over $1 million.”
Other highlights during the Centre’s first year in its new location included holding its first art exhibition in conjunction with Yamaji Art, being named a finalist in the GWN 7 Top Tourism Awards and receiving the Professional Development award and the Geraldton Cruise Ship Meet and Greet volunteers won the Community Excellence Award for Not For Profit organisations 2015 at the Thank a Volunteer Day and Volunteers of the Year Awards ceremony on Friday night.
Midwest Auto Group, on the corner of Phelps and Urch Streets in Geraldton, are proud to announce the official addition of Suzuki to their list of franchises and product range.
We are now your one stop local shop for all things:
Let us assist you with all your motoring needs and requirements.
Midwest Auto Group would also like to take this opportunity to welcome individuals to join our friendly and growing Midwest Auto Team. We are seeking experienced and trainee sales consultants to become a part of the Midwest Auto Group family.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, do not hesitate to contact
Mike on 0423 085 086 or email michaelt@midwestautos.com.au
Come in for a chat. The view is great and we are keen to meet you.
Durack will benefit from extra efforts to tackle the drug ice as part of recent announcements by the Turnbull Government Member for Durack Melissa Price said today.
The Government will invest almost $300 million over four years to improve treatment, after care, education, prevention, support and community engagement to tackle ice.
The package includes an additional $241.5 million to be invested through the 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs), which will use their local knowledge to boost the alcohol and other drug treatment sector and reduce demand for ice, and an additional $13 million to introduce new MBS items for Addiction Medicine Specialists to increase the availability of treatment.
The announcement follows the Ice Forums Ms Price hosted in Broome in Geraldton, to form part of the final National Ice Taskforce report presented to the Prime Minister.
“Police all over Australia including our local police have done a great job, making a record 26,000 arrests in 2013-14. In 2014, customs intercepted more than 50 times as much ice by weight than in 2010,” Ms Price said.
“But ice remains easy to get, and the price hasn’t changed. The Taskforce says we must also address demand if we are to be effective in combatting ice.
“I’m very pleased to see local people will make decisions about how best to help our region’s ice problem. This is much better than Canberra deciding what’s best for us.”
Minister responsible for drug and alcohol policy Senator the Hon Fiona Nash said helping those who are hooked on this drug to get off it takes the biggest buyers out of the market and reduces demand.
“PHNs will choose what forms of treatment is best bang for buck in the local region – be that counselling, rehabilitation or other forms of treatment. Government and PHNs will also work closely with the Aboriginal Community Controlled health sector to invest in culturally appropriate services.
“Existing services will be extended by another 12 months to 30 June 2017 to allow considered planning of service delivery by PHNs going forward.
“The PHNs also deliver mental health treatment services which will provide a vital link between the drug and alcohol treatment sector and the mental health sector.
This means helping people who are on the drug to get off it, and educating others never to start taking it. Removing the buyers from the market will break the business model of the drug dealers. For more information about the National Ice Taskforce, including the Final Report, go to pmc.gov.au/ice
Businesses and communities in Durack stand to benefit from a more innovative Australia.
Member for Durack Melissa Price said the Australian Government’s new Innovation and Science Agenda included a range of initiatives that would improve the well-being and quality of life in Australia’s regional and rural areas.
"The agenda is a broad-ranging strategy that will change the way all Australians work together to shape the future,” Ms Price said.
“Strong, vibrant, regional communities and innovative, sustainable rural industries are in Australia’s national interest.
“Agriculture and our regional economies are, and will remain, a foundation of our national economy as we position ourselves to embrace new opportunities.”
Ms Price welcomed the Agenda’s range of new initiatives that build on existing measures such as the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, Industry Growth Centres Initiative and the rural R&D system.
“This announcement presents a range of opportunities across the community,” Ms Price said.
“There’s assistance for local business to innovate and grow, support for entrepreneurs to back their ideas and get access to the capital they need, and closer connections between industry and research, particularly in agriculture.
“There are also new initiatives for our young people to get the digital literacy and science, technology and maths skills they need for the jobs of the future.
“Durack’s best resource is its people and we all need to work together to transform our future and unleash our best ideas.”
Looking to head out to a pub in Gero on a Saturday night? This list might help you to choose your next Saturday night outing! These 5 pubs are all located in Geraldton’s CBD are all in walking distance of each other.
Pros: This is the place to be in Geraldton on a Saturday night. There’s usually some cool live acoustic tunes, awesome ambiance, potent cocktails and woodfired pizzas.
Cons: It’s a small space so sometimes it can be hard to find a spot to sit with you and your friends so make sure you book ahead. On the Saturdays that it is super busy you might find yourself waiting in line to go in or waiting a while to get a drink at the bar.
Side note: Awesome wicked cool artwork on the walls
Pros: The Gero has the coolest of all cool beer gardens! Heaps of space to sit and enjoy a drink or space to dance to one of the cool DJs they usually have on a Saturday night. If you hang around late enough you can walk outside the door and head into Gero’s one and only nightclub – the Vibe! (Vibe Nightclub has recently undergone major renovations)
Cons: If you’re not into “doof doof” music sometimes a Saturday night at the Gero might not be for you. And if you’re offended by skimpys – don’t head inside.
Side note: The Sunday Sesh at the Gero goes off!
Pros: You can enjoy a nice pub meal here before the tables and chairs are moved and the dance floor opens. Saturday night usually sees some sort of cool music or visiting DJ or even our popular local DJ Strawn.
Cons: The Breakers outside area is lacking in size and is usually full with smokers or people try to get some “fresh air”.
Side note: Breakers is your Pre-drinks stopover before hitting the nightclub - as it tends to go off on a Saturday night.
Pros: From about 9pm -10pm the Camel bar usually gets pretty rowdy. There’s heaps of bar staff on and always some sort of entertainment whether it’s a band or karaoke. There’s a nice outdoor area, a pool table and a cool separate bar for functions… And this one’s mainly for the ladies – TWO SEPARATE BATHROOMS. You won’t find yourself lining up for the loo here.
Cons: If you don’t like people trying to cover an 80’s ballad in the form of karaoke – some Saturday nights might not be the best for you! The Camel Bar can also get super busy which can leave you lining up waiting to get in.
Side note: They have a cool “Beers of the World” challenge. (Limit per on of beer, each visit)
Pros: Better known as “The Freo” one of Geraldton’s oldest pubs is still kicking. There’s a big selection of beers, always good tunes and has a nice chilled out atmosphere. The Freo has awesome nights such as Rewind back to the 90’s, 80’s nights and you’ll often see visiting acts but also our own locals such as Anne Williams, The Inks and Zain Laudher.
Cons: If you want to have a boogie with a drink in your hand this is a no-no! So drink your alcohol before stepping foot onto the dance floor.
Side note: You can now get cocktail carafes!
Carlton and United Breweries has recalled Carlton Dry beer from Coles, Woolworths, liquor stores, Metcash/IGA (BWS, Dan Murphy’s, First Choice, Liquor Land etc.), other independents & on premise liquor outlets (bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels) nationally.
The recall is due to the possible presence of glass in product. Consumers should not consume this product as glass may cause injury.
Relevant date marks are 19JUL16 3A & 20JUL16 3B. The product can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The Apple Watch is great piece of technology for those on the go or the tech savvy users.
It brings notifications, calls and emails directly to your wrist making sure you never miss that important communication.
I love this nimble device it's great but is a piece of jewellery that's essentially an expensive add-on to your already pricey iPhone.
I think the novelty of the device outweighs its flaws of daily charging and its inability to go underwater.
The many watch faces and personalisation of the device enables you to make it your own and gives you the power to add your own personal background watch face.
With Facebook messenger, emails and fitness trackers including a variety of games the Apple Watch is a great device if you can afford to buy it.
Once the full version of Apple Pay comes to Australia (American Express Only) the watch will become a perfect all day use item giving the ability to wave your wrist near an EFTPOS machine, similar to PayWave on most credit cards.
The entry level device starts with the Apple Watch Sport at $499.00, The Apple Watch starts at $799.00 and the high end Apple Watch Edition starts at $14,000 - yes I know that's expensive for a watch.
If you want an Apple Watch you need an iPhone 5 or later model.
The watch battery is great lasting a full day however you will need to charge it every night if you want it to last a full day.
Watch bands add another level personalisation enabling you to make the watch your own with a band that suits you or the occasion.
I ordered an watch with the Apple Store app and it arrived within the week to Geraldton, I was very surprised at the efficiency of delivery.
Will you be getting an Apple Watch?
Hundreds of people attended the re-launch of Rigters Wonthella Supa IGA in 5th street this morning.
The refurbished store features a new layout, more products and the same great service.
Operations Manager Stuart Bain said he was pleased about the relaunch of the improved store.
"The refurb is long overdue and it's great to give back to the loyal community,"
"We're really pleased with turn out this morning, we had a huge response to the competition." he said.
John Rigter and Shane Van Styn.
Customers had the chance to win a $1000 shopping voucher, but had to be in attendance to receive the prize.
Local Jo Franklin was the winner.
Mayor Shane Van Styn who was in attendance said "It's great to see the Rigters group continuing a 46 year tradition of developing Geraldton supermarkets," he said.
Young boy Noah Najar who was in an accident outside the store a few weeks ago, was made an honorary staff member. He received a gift and staff shirt.
From the management and staff at Wonthella Supa IGA I would like to say thankyou to all our loyal customers for their...
Posted by Wonthella Supa IGA on Tuesday, 1 December 2015
WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan visited Geraldton last week to talk to the community about Labor’s vision to create jobs.
Mr McGowan said “We are here to put jobs on the agenda.
“We all know that the resources sector is changing, so it’s important to diversify the economy and create new job opportunities for West Australians.
“It should have happened a long time ago but unfortunately Colin Barnett failed to plan for life beyond the resources boom. This is why so many West Australians, including people in Geraldton, are now facing the prospect of unemployment and this is why we should be talking about ways to diversify the economy and create new jobs.
“We’ve already announced important plans to ensure that people and businesses in regional WA benefit from big State Government projects.
“A WA Labor Government will give people in Geraldton a fair go.”
Mr McGowan also said WA Labor’s Priority Start policy would create jobs in Geraldton, by ensuring all big State Government construction projects deliver apprenticeships and traineeships for locals.
Let's put a roof on it hey!
Posted by Christian Watters on Tuesday, 24 November 2015
A much loved cafe from Marine Terrace has multiplied with Jaffle Shack two arriving on the foreshore.
Work has commenced and the roof went on today. Proprietor Christian Watters shared this cool pic of construction underway.
An absolute must read from the ABC - This is why Australian's are getting screwed on their electricity prices.
Long story short - monopolistic networks are deliberately blowing money on unnecessary infrastructure because they can put a markup on it and charge you... and they convinced politicians energy needs are increasing when in fact our energy use is decreasing and we're switching to solar and batteries.
"It's as if, at the beginning of the internet age, Australia invested about $45 billion in fax technology," one former federal government advisor observed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-10/hill-the-great-energy-con-that-is-costing-us-billions/6924272
Did you know Geraldton is the largest breeder of Nemo fish?
Have a watch of this video from Chris Lewis from ABC Open.
16.2 per cent of Australia's mining professionals are now out of work.
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