Local shop forced to shut due to "toxic smell"

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Local business Preloved Surf N Street has been forced to shut down due to what the owner has described as a “horrendous smell”. 

The pre-loved surf wear shop located in Marine Terrace had to shut down over a month ago due to a burst pipe under the flooring in the shop causing a smell of “mould and sewerage” according to owner Gail Barnes.

Gail has had to remove all the clothing from the store and wash it due to the smell and the owners of the shop are yet to take any action.

“This happened over a month ago and the owners said something would be done immediately but I haven’t heard a word as to when it will be fixed,” she said.

“I really am disgusted, I’m trying to run a small business and support my 3 kids.”

Even if maintenance does start soon it will be at least 2-3 months before the business can be up and running.

Gail said the Health Department had been into the shop and recommended they shut due to the smell.

“I took one step into the shop the other day and had to take two steps right back out,” Gail said.

“I’ve had sulphur burns in the back of my throat just from being in there.”

Gail still awaits word as to when any maintenance will start on the shop.

A healthy way to empower females

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Empowerment through sport is the aim of not-for-profit organisation Fast and Female Australia. Local Fast and Female co-manager, Brooke Darlington, said sport usually focuses on athletic ability and skill but the health, social and fun side is just as important and often overlooked.

“Females really thrive when provided with a stimulating, inspiring, and motivating environment that doesn’t just focus on their athletic ambitions,” she said.

“Fast and Female provides such an environment and also gives women tools to develop as complete individuals.”

To give Geraldton women a chance to experience this motivational and fun way of gaining confidence, Fast and Female has teamed up with the Geraldton Triathlon Club for a Triathlon Skills and More event for an afternoon of fun, fitness and inspiration on Saturday, April 5 from 11am to 3pm at Edith Cowan Square on Geraldton Foreshore.

However, participants won’t be expected to complete a triathlon! The program will cover goal setting, bike skills, dance and yoga sessions, a nutrition workshop and inspirational chats from Fast and Female ambassadors.

“It is planned to be a fun day to inspire girls to gain the confidence and leadership they need to reach their full potential in life and sports,” said Mrs Darlington.

“We encourage all girls and women, from nine years and up, regardless of ability and experience to register.”

Mrs Darlington has brought Fast and Female to Geraldton from the Eastern States and said this is the organisation’s first warm climate event.

“In the east the events have been mainly winter sports so having an event in Geraldton is a great complementary summer event,” she said.

“By increasing the retention and participation rates of girls in sport, Fast and Female Australia hopes to be one of the leading organisations in the combat against female youth obesity and mental health awareness as well as providing information and pathways to be successful in elite sport competition”

It costs $20 to register online by Friday, April 4 by visiting fastandfemalegeraldton.eventbrite.com.au or $25 on the day. Participants will get a hat and funky crayband to take away from the event along with new found confidence!

For more information visit www.fastandfemaleaustralia.org or the Facebook Page.

Here’s where you can vote this weekend

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vote Don’t forget that on Saturday, April 5 it is compulsory for all Australian citizens 18 years and over enrolled in Western Australia to vote in the election, even if they are visiting or working interstate.

If you are unable to vote on Saturday, ensure you do an early vote which can be done a 222 Lester Avenue.

Voting is open from 8am to 6pm and here are the following places that you can go to place your vote:

  • Beachlands Primary School, Whitfield Street
  • Bluff Point Primary School, Mitchell Street
  • Cape Burney Volunteer Fire Brigade, Hull Street
  • John Batten Community Hall, Whitehill Road
  • Geraldton Primary School, Augustust Street
  • Geraldton Regional Hospital, Shenton Street
  • Geraldton, Lester Avenue
  • St John of God Hospital, Hermitage Street
  • Mount Tarcoola Primary School, Forden Street
  • Rangeway Primary School, Cassia Street
  • Spalding Family Centre, Mitchell Street
  • Waggrakine Primary School, Hall Road

For a full list of places to vote throughout the Midwest and WA click here.

More CCTV cameras installed in CBD

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photo-4 The Geraldton Police's Crime Prevention Department within Community Law & Safety has been expanding the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) network throughout the City.

Currently Geraldton has 57 CCTV cameras which include external cameras in the community and internal coverage within council buildings.

Community Law & Safety Team Leader, Neryl Beer said the CCTV cameras were responding to the needs of the community.

"Community Law & Safety has a strong focus on the needs and expectations of residents throughout the City of Greater Geraldton and believes that a safe and secure community leads to individual wellbeing and social growth," she said.

"So while there may be the feeling of ‘Big Bother Watching’, there is an undeniable advantage gained by having CCTV in our lives.

"CCTV expansion enhances public safety and security and the cameras allow constant monitoring to deter and in some cases prevents anti-social or criminal activity."

The most recent CCTV installations have been competed at the Rubik’s Cubes toilets on the Foreshore and also the new Esplanade located at the West End of the Foreshore.

The township of Mullewa is also set to have 3 CCTV cameras with additional cameras installed in 2014.

Midwest gets funding for kidney dialysis treatment

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People of the Midwest have received a boost in health services after the Commonwealth Government announced funding which will help to fund kidney dialysis treatment in regional Western Australia.
Under the Australian Government’s Bringing Renal Dialysis and Support Services Closer to Home project, $45.8 million has been allocated to expand renal infrastructure and dialysis and support services.

It will provide 17 additional renal dialysis chairs and 46 patient accommodation units for up to 92 patients meaning for the first time many patients with kidney disease will be able to receive dialysis near or in their communities.
Ten small and medium sized regional and remote hospitals across four regions of WA including Geraldton and Carnarvon.

Member for the Agricultural Region Paul Brown MLC welcomed the announcement and said it was vital for regional areas.

“This funding will allow the expansion of renal infrastructure and dialysis and support services in Geraldton," he said.

Nationals candidate Shane Van Styn also supported the news.
“Easier, more accessible treatment will help transform the lives of many local patients. It will take a huge load off them in terms of travel, inconvenience and being away from family and loved ones,” he said.
WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Dr Kim Hames said with increasing numbers of people with chronic kidney disease it was important to expand existing regional services and establish new services.

“This funding also recognises the importance of providing essential support services such as patient accommodation. It will reduce the need for many people to travel to Perth and will have social and economic benefits for communities,” he said.

“It will be of particular benefit for indigenous families who experience significant fragmentation when parents and elders have to leave their communities to seek treatment.”

Five stolen rifles found in pram in Spalding

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Western Australia Police have reported five stolen rifles found in a pram in Spalding. "About 5:40pm yesterday, police responded to reports of juveniles acting suspiciously in the vicinity of Gardner Street, Spalding.

Police located the juveniles near a pram covered with a rug. When police lifted the rug from the pram they located five rifles lying in the pram.

The juveniles fled and after a short foot pursuit one was apprehend.

It is alleged the firearms were stolen from a home in O’Neil Street, Spalding about 30 minutes prior to police being called to the incident in Gardner Street.

Inquiries are ongoing and a 15 year old boy from Spalding has been charged with one count each of Aggravated Burglary and Stealing. No court date at this time."

13 years on, Redhill continues to deliver top quality entertainment

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RedHill Poster A3 2014 It’s less than 3 days until Shannon Noll will hit the stage for the 2014 Redhill Concert.

The annual concert will be held on Redhill Farm on Saturday, April 5th with gates opening at 3pm.

The Redhill experience has been a highlight of the Mid West social calendar since 2002 and now in its thirteenth year, the concert will deliver nothing but quality.

Redhill is notorious for providing the people of the Midwest with quality entertainment with previous acts including Hoodoo Gurus, James Reyne, Daryl Braithwaite, Wendy Matthews, Mental as Anything, The Black Sorrows and Dragon.

Take in the sunset, relax on a picnic rug with wine, food and good company before the musical entertainment begins. 

Shannon Noll will be backed up by Mark Wilkinson and C4 so there will be no shortage of entertainment throughout the event.

The Redhill Concert is a BYO event and overnight camping is available to concert goers by a donation.

The best part of the Redhill Concert series is that all profits are placed back into community projects and those in need through Rotary.

Over the past 27 years, the Rotary Club of Geraldton - Greenough have made significant donations to numerous local, state, national and international organisations so proceeds from Redhill will be going to a worthy cause.

Tickets are limited and will be available from the Queens Park Theatre box office on Cathedral Avenue, The Geraldton CD Centre in the Marine Terrace Mall and Smart Mart Wonthella.

For more information go to redhillconcert.com.au contact Jason McCarthy jason.mccarthy@wafm.com.au or 99212244

New community arts program to engage community

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Learning Tree visitors A major new community arts project in Geraldton will engage the local community in an effort to build social connection and community resilience in the region.

The project is part of a two-year partnership between DADAA and Rio Tinto that will work in five Western Australian communities: Geraldton, Busselton, Paraburdoo, Derby and Esperance. The statewide project will engage whole communities in several related projects, with some aimed at FIFO workers and their families, as well as members from Aboriginal, farming and young adult communities.

Named after the number of communities, the project – called FIVE – will build awareness around issues of wellbeing through a community arts and cultural development approach. The project addresses key components of the Mental Health Commission’s 2020 strategy for Western Australia.

Three different projects will begin in Geraldton on 25 March.

A whole-of-community sculpture, facilitated by installation and performance artist Hiromi Tango around themes of ‘home’ and belonging’ with a unique large-scale sculpture created by the community; drop-in workshops at the Arts and Cultural Development Corporation studios run from 25 March to 27 April.

About 50 digital portraits, filmed by highly regarded digital artist Craig Walsh and resulting in a single collective work about what home, belonging, family, work and living in Geraldton means to participants; filming at the Wedge building (part of the WA Museum – Geraldton) from 14 April to 4 May is open to everyone.

A young adults project for youth from across Geraldton, held at various sites and led by local artists Sonal Kantaria, Anthea da Silva and Jordan Andreotta; activities will be held around the city from late March until 4 May.

A final community celebration on 8 May will showcase the project and its artistic outcomes, including the collective digital portrait from the filming project.

DADAA Executive Director David Doyle said that participatory arts have been shown to be a powerful tool in building community resilience and cohesion.

“DADAA is pleased to have been invited into Geraldton to work with the community in providing appropriate programs in the arts,” said Mr Doyle. “Our early consultation work showed that programs for young people and in the area of mental health would add the most value.

“Our three FIVE projects will work in these areas using a community arts and cultural development model, which is designed to generate dialogue within a community and allow for self-advocacy around important issues.”

With a local town office, and more than 200 employees flying directly from Geraldton to the Pilbara, Rio Tinto is strongly committed to the region.

“We aim to create an environment that acknowledges, supports and promotes good mental health in the workforce and the community,” said Andrew Harding, Chair of the Rio Tinto Community Investment Fund and Chief Executive, Iron Ore.

"We also recognise that this is a complex issue that requires a whole-of-community approach and a variety of interventions. FIVE is just one way we are working together with the communities in which our employees live and work, to encourage dialogue around mental health."

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Ian Carpenter said that the City was pleased to have DADAA as a community partner and excited to be involved in the statewide FIVE project.

“FIVE – and our longer term partnership with DADAA – will go a long way towards helping the community to understand mental illness, and will facilitate more interaction and commitment for community-based projects that support mental illness prevention,” he said.

“As part of the City’s Strategic Community Plan, we want to maintain a strong, healthy community that is equitable and connected. We want to create a city that supports families and people with disability, and I believe doing so through the arts is a powerful way to achieve this.”

All events are free. For more information, visit www.five.org.au or email geraldton@five.org.au.

Community members are invited to attend an event officially launching FIVE and welcoming project artists.  This will take place on the foreshore next to the Dome Café, from 6–8pm on April 4th 2014.

Geraldton teachers challenge Colin Barnett: "Spend a day in our classroom"

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Over 200 people rallied today at the Foreshore against the State Government’s education budget cuts.

Teachers, students, parents, education workers and members of the community came together to show their support towards WA Labor’s “Putting Our Kids First” campaign.

Representative from the State School Teachers’ Union WA, Brenda Wann has put out a challenge to Premier Colin Barnett.

“I would challenge Colin Barnett to spend  a day in the classroom and just see how difficult it really is for teachers,” she said.

“I think he thinks as teachers we have it easy.”

Brenda, along with several other teachers from schools expressed their opinions with the crowd also voicing their opinion.

“These budget cuts are hugely detrimental to the children,” Brenda said.

“We have kids in years 4, 5, 6 and 7 who can’t even read and write and the programs we have put in place for them are no longer going ahead because we don’t have the money to fund them.”

Some of the budget cuts include:

  • 350 education assistants
  • 150 central and regional office positions
  • 110 Aboriginal and Islander Educations Officers
  • Approximately 600 teaching positions

“I don’t think anything will be done this year but I don’t think he will implement these budget cuts next year,” Brenda said.

“But with the group we have here it shows Colin Barnett that we have the community behind us and that things need to change.

“We did this to show him that we are not happy and we mean business.”

Today six Midwest schools closed down including Bluff Point Primary School, Holland Street School, John Willcock College, Mt Tarcoola Primary School, Mullewa District High School and Waggrakine Primary School.

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40% sale at House as they shut their doors after 10 years

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It will be a sad day for House as they will shut their doors on Saturday, April 26th after 10 years of business.

The well-loved homeware and kitchenware shop located in the Stirlings Centre will have have 40% off RRP storewide in the lead-up to their closure.

Owner Jenny Attrill sincerely thanked her loyal customers for their support over the last 10 years.

“I appreciate the customers who have been very loyal and to the community who have supported us, it has been an absolute pleasure,” she said.

“Now it’s time to move onto new adventures.”

If any customers have current gift cards or credit notes, please take this opportunity to redeem them during April.

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Time is running out for postal votes

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photo-2 The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) today reminded all Western Australian voters currently interstate to make sure they vote in the 2014 WA Senate election.

Australian Electoral Officer for Western Australia, Kathy Mitchell, said it is compulsory for all Australian citizens 18 years and over enrolled in Western Australia to vote in the election, even if they are visiting or working interstate.

“People who are enrolled in Western Australia but are currently away interstate need to plan how they will have their vote,” Ms Mitchell said.

WA voters who are interstate can vote early now at any AEC office in Australia. This option is quicker and easier than applying and waiting for a postal vote. AEC offices will be open this week:

·         9am to 5pm (local time), Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

·         9am – 6pm (local time), Wednesday & Friday.

If voting by post is the only option, WA voters should apply online now for a postal vote at www.aec.gov.au/wa-senate, or pick up an application from any AEC office or Australia Post outlet. While postal vote applications can be lodged with the AEC until 6pm this Wednesday 2 April, Ms Mitchell cautioned that time is running out.

“If you need a postal vote, don’t leave it to the very last minute and risk missing out. It’s likely that for some locations it could already be too late for the AEC to get your ballot paper to you, despite our best efforts, and you may need to consider the option of early voting in person instead of postal voting.”

Postal voters must ensure they complete their ballot paper before 6pm on election day, Saturday 5 April, seal the ballot paper inside the blue envelope provided and get them in the mail to the AEC.

If you are outside of WA on election day, Saturday 5 April you will only be able to vote at AEC offices in CBD locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin from 8am to 6pm local time.

For a list of early voting centres or AEC offices for interstate voting check www.aec.gov.au/where or call 13 23 26 for details.

Reminder to change the batteries in your smoke alarm

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9581150022_b20309a7fc_b Every year on April 1st, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services reminds everyone to regularly change smoke alarm batteries at this time each year using a high-quality, long-life battery.

For householders without smoke alarms or who are thinking of upgrading, DFES recommends installing 240-volt mains-powered photo-electric smoke alarms by a qualified electrician.

Here are some handy tips:

  • Ensure installation of all smoke alarms is in line with the Building Code of Australia most manufacturers’ installation instructions are aligned to this code. Alarms should be securely fitted, double sided tape and Velcro is not acceptable
  • Smoke alarms should be located in all sleeping areas and all paths of travel between sleeping areas and exits to open air
  • If you have smoke alarms with a changeable battery, you need to refer to manufacturer’s instructions. DFES recommends replaceable batteries are changed annually. In WA 1 April is widely publicised as the day to change your smoke alarm battery
  • If you have mains-powered smoke alarms, read the manufacturers’ instructions to check if they require back-up batteries that need changing. Some mains-powered smoke alarms have non-changeable batteries which do not require attention during the life of the smoke alarm
  • All smoke alarms have a maximum service life of ten years and need to be replaced. Mains powered smoke alarms must be fitted by a licensed electrical contractor. DFES recommends mains powered photoelectric smoke alarms
  • All smoke alarms must be regularly tested (recommended monthly so occupants are aware of the emergency alert) – all smoke alarms have a test button
  • Smoke alarms must be clear of obstructions and not painted and DFES recommends removing any dust from the grille area with a soft brush attached to a vacuum cleaner

For more information click here.

Former Olympic coach comes to Geraldton

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Laurie_Banora_Pool Former Olympic swimming coach Laurie Lawrence will visit the Geraldton Aquarena tomorrow advocating water safety in his role as ambassador for the Royal Life Saving Keep Watch program.

Mr Lawrence will conduct a professional development session for local swim instructors and will launch the new Royal Life Saving Infant Aquatics program.

The Keep Watch Program aims to prevent toddler drowning by promoting four key messages to parents; parent supervision at all times around water, have a secure home pool fence, learn CPR and enrol your child in an infant aquatics class.

The Infant Aquatics program is delivered at 62 Endorsed Swim Schools throughout WA, 32 metropolitan centres and 30 regional centres including Geraldton Aquarena. Last year more than 20,000 infants and their parents participated in the Royal Life Saving Infant Aquatics program in WA.

"This program is all about lifting the quality of learning to swim, not only in the country but also particularly in WA as they've embraced the program," he said.

"It's all about water safety for under 5's and how we can stop drownings."

A Junior Lifeguard Club development session will be run in the afternoon for local children. The Junior Lifeguard Club is a Royal Life Saving Society program that is an aquatic education alternative to traditional swimming lessons for kids who want to combine their passion for swimming with the ability to learn new lifesaving skills.

The program is an opportunity for kids to join a club that will advance their aquatic skills in a fun environment while maintaining strong club feelings and loyalties. It acts as a stepping stone for the future lifesavers and lifeguards in WA.

The Junior Lifeguard Club session will run from 4.30-5.30pm at the Aquarena and children who are at Stage 8 and above are encouraged to come along.

For more information or to register contact the Aquarena on 9921 8844.

Geraldton Cinema gets Eftpos

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photo-1 After 15 years of business, Orana Cinemas Geraldton finally has Eftpos!

Today was the first time the brand-new machines were used after a 3-day installation process.

Four machines have been installed with two currently working and they are used for both ticket sales and the candy bar. The other two are set to be up and running soon.

The machines have a $10 minimum and have PayWave and PayPass capabilities.

“This is very exciting for us,” said Manager Leanne Meekin.

“It’s come at a good time right before the school holidays.”

The cinema opened in 1999 and locals have expressed their frustration with the outlet not having an Eftpos option.

Leanne said it was the owners choice to not have Eftpos installed up until now and she said it wasn’t a problem as the community got used to it.

She said the implementation of the technology wouldn’t increase numbers.

“I think numbers will most probably stay the same."

With the new addition comes the announcement of online ticket booking which is set to be introduced in the next 2-3 months.

Movie goers will be able to purchase tickets well in advance for a movie and also have the option of using their smart phone to scan the online ticket in.