Desert Yarns
February 2016
In this edition Message from the Mayor and CEO Police News Health News Community News And so much more…... We will remember them
Desert Yarns April 2016
Desert Yarns
Message from the Mayor
Well the elections have been held and you the electors of Diamantina Shire have given me the honour of being your mayor for the next four years. To my supporters I thank you very much for this opportunity to serve you again and to all within the Shire I can truthfully say this has been a very humbling experience and, as I have for the past four years, I will continue to do my very best for the Shire. As everyone would know, Bev Maunsell, Doug Cooms, Steve Cramer and Don Rayment are the successful candidates as Councillors, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on their success. While only six votes separated these four candidates they dominated the results so, as with the mayoral count, it was very clear what the people wanted. I’m sure that we as a new Council will continue to work together for the betterment of our Shire. The new Council have been sworn in, at the Council Meeting on Monday 11th. This is followed by a couple of days of Councillor training. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge two people without whom I would not be able to function as Mayor. The first being my wife, Bev, who has been a terrific support and who is probably getting used toonly seeing me as I pass through from stock camp to Council matters and back. The other is my son, Kerry, who keeps the home front functioning in my regular absence. I thank them both for their help and support. The Shire has been fortunate enough to secure some $900,000 in drought funding for the “short term accommodation” in Birdsville. This $2.5M project will go ahead as planned along with the upgrading of the Birdsville Caravan Park. These projects will help secure sustainability for the Council workforce by providing work for both our own workforce and contractors. The Council has also secured $80,000 of Community Drought funding which has been distributed to various groups throughout the Shire to help lift morale through the drought. I attended the Betoota Gymkhana at the beginning of April. It was a great couple of days of very friendly competition which was well attended. Congratulations must go out to the small committee who successfully put this gymkhana on. Very hard to run an event in an isolated setting away from any town. Anyway it was a great couple of days and those who didn’t go missed out on a very social couple of days.
Thank you all again for your support.
Geoff Morton Mayor
Plenty of drinking water at Betoota Gymkhana
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Message from the CEO
With the dust settling on the Local Government elections our focus will now turn to the next four years.
Firstly I would like to acknowledge all candidates that nominated to be a Councillor or Mayor. It is great to see there are so many in the Shire that have an interest in serving their community. While it is disappointing for those that did not get elected, the work now starts for those that did.
I congratulate Geoff Morton in being re-elected Mayor and Don Rayment and Steve Cramer for be re-elected as Councillors. In addition, it is great to welcome new Councillors Bev Maunsell and Doug Cooms to the team.
They will get straight into things with the post election meeting being held on 11 April followed by an ordinary Council meeting. At the post election meeting:- - Councillors will take their Oath of Office from which time they are able to perform their role as a Councillor; - A Deputy Mayor is also elected at this time and Councillors will be assigned portfolios. - The date and time for ordinary Council meetings is set.
The following day will see Councillors attend a training workshop conducted by officers from the Department Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. This will take Councillors through the system of Local Government, roles and responsibilities, meeting procedures, dealing with Councillor conflicts of interests etc.
On the 4th and 5th May, Councillors will attend another training session conducted by the Local Government Association of Queensland which will inform Councillors of the activities of the association and their interactions with the State and Federal Governments on issues relating to Local Government. This will be held in Boulia (it has been in Bedourie for the past two years) and will be a good opportunity for Councillors to interact and form a good working relationship between our neighbouring Councils.
The 9th May will be the Ordinary Council meeting held in Bedourie.
To top off a busy first month, Council will host the Western Queensland Local Government Conference in Bedourie 16-18 May.
Following this, Council will commence preparations for the 2016/17 budget
Leon Love CEO
Bedourie from the air
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Diamantina Works / Road Report
Construction Crew Construction crew have completed heavy formation grading on the Windorah / Birdsville road, started heavy formation on the Bedourie/Birdsville road, we had heavy rain in many areas which has caused a lot of damage on the roads, and this crew will repair that damage and move onto the number 3 alignment. Contractors The Marion Downs realignment has been completed after a few delays and this crew will go onto Shire roads flood damage. Multi Skilled Crew Multi skill crew has started back onto Birdsville streetscape and signage around the Shire.
Road Report 81A Bedourie – Birdsville The road is open to all traffic via Lake Machattie and condition is good. 81B Birdsville - South Australia The road is open to 4WD only. 80A Birdsville – Windorah The road is open to all traffic the condition is good. 93C Bedourie – Windorah The road is 4WD only. 93D Bedourie – Boulia The road is open to all traffic and is in good condition.
Shire roads Griffith Tank-Coorabulka, Coorabulka-Shire Boundary, Coorabulka-Springvale, Springvale-Shire Boundary, Springvale-Diamantina Lakes, Cordillo Access, Big Red, Lake Machattie, Bedourie-Kamaran Downs, Sandringham & Ethabuka are all trafficable and waiting on flood repairs.
Trevor Stewart
Infrastructure Manager Birdsville Windorah Road Damage
Bedourie Boulia Road Damage Browns Creek Road Damage
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Diamantina Shire Community Health
Bedourie & Birdsville Updates Flu Season: Both clinics have ordered their supplies of flu vax, however dates for vaccination days are yet to be decided due to delivery schedules. Please ensure you record your name on the flu vaccination lists displayed at the clinics and council offices if you are interested in receiving this vaccination. The flu vax is provided free to: Government employees All people over the age of 65 years All people over the age of 6 months with a chronic disease Indigenous people aged 6 months to 5 years and 15 years and over Pregnant women Community members who do not fall into any of the above categories, but who wish to have the vaccination may do so, but will be charged at the time it is given.
Womens Health: Note: Jasmond Murray, the women’s health nurse practitioner for central west has transferred to the Weipa area, and recruitment is underway to fill her position. In the meantime, we have arranged with the RFDS doctors to undertake some pap smear clinics to avoid any women missing their 2nd yearly checks. Pap Smears: - RFDS Dr Ali Murphy will undertake a ½ day session of Pap Smears next time she is scheduled to visit Bedourie. Dr Murphy will notify the clinic prior to her next visit so we can advertise the date. Both Birdsville and Bedourie clinics will contact patients who are due for testing. Breast Exams: - The Breast Bus is due to visit Boulia in June and Boulia staff will notify both Bedourie and Birdsville of exact dates closer to the time. Joyce Crombie will coordinate car-pooling trips to Boulia for women (who do not have alterative transport) and are due for their 2nd yearly mammogram.
Health Clinics: Birdsville – April Tuesday 12th Mental Health Team Friday 15thth RFDS Friday 29th RFDS
Bedourie _ April Wednesday 13th Mental Health Team Thursday 14th RFDS Thursday 28th RFDS
Allied Health Clinics: A separate information flyer has been distributed notifying of the Allied Health team’s visit scheduled for early April. This trip is by car and the team will be visiting various road camps along the way to catch up with interested workers. Clinic Hours 9:00AM until 12:00PM and 2:00PM until Monday to Friday 4:00PM Weekends and Public Holidays Closed
For general health enquiries, you can also dial 13 HEALTH (13 432 584) Emergencies: For all medical emergencies, regardless of time of day, you must dial 000.
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Diamantina Shire Police News
Birdsville Police G’day everyone,
This is my first of hopefully many ‘Desert Yarns’ articles as the new Officer in Charge of the Birdsville Police Station. I took up the position at the end of February after a handful of applicants was whittled down to one. I would personally like to acknowledge Neale McShane for his time and assistance during the application process and wish him all the best in his much deserved retirement. I would also like to thank Paul Jackson, Officer in Charge Bedourie for all of his help when I first took up the position here. Got me off to a good start. As you may know Paul and his family are enjoying a well-earned break but he will be back during the events season. I will be looking after the Bedourie area whilst Paul is away and hope to meet some of the locals when I am up that way.
My background is that I am 50 years old, married with four children and come to Birdsville from Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. All my children are of adult age with two of them living in Melbourne and two staying back on the Sunshine Coast.
I worked as a hotel manager before joining the Victoria Police in 1996. I worked with Victoria Police for 10 years mainly in general duties policing in the South Eastern suburbs. I moved to Maroochydore in 2006 where I joined the Queensland Police Service. My last posting was the Officer in Charge of a large Shopping centre in Maroochydore. I have been a street cop for nearly all of my service and have worked (if you can call it that) at nearly all major sporting events in Melbourne. At Maroochydore I was involved in setting up and overseeing the new Safe Night Precinct to curb alcohol fuelled violence in the community. I am very passionate in this area and cannot believe that people just cannot go out and have a good time without causing problems for others.
One of the things I have been asked is “Why Birdsville?” ‘Did you do something wrong?” To me it was an opportunity to work and live in one of the most iconic places in the country. I will see and experience things that most people won’t and I will get paid for it.
I have already experienced how fast things can change in the outback. I arrived in late February and it was 40C plus for the first week and the countryside was dry and dusty. I left in early March returning to the Sunshine Coast with the intention of returning with my wife, Sharon. In that short time it had rained heavily and we could not return as planned due to road closures. When we did finally get back in, the country side was a vibrant green and rivers and creeks were flowing, amazing place.
We have finally re-arranged the furniture at the police station to suit ourselves and are now working on the upcoming events season and getting QGAP up and running for the local community. I was told before coming out here that I would fall in love with the place and the people are great. I have been blown away by the reception that both Sharon and I have received. Everyone has been friendly and welcoming, a number of people have called into the station just to say hi. I took part in Clean up Australia Day and we came along to the recent Fishing competition (FYI, I caught two fish but they were too small and went back). I hope soon to get out to the stations and meet those who work out of town.
As I mentioned QGAP will be operating from the Birdsville Station. Sharon will looking after all things QGAP and we hope to up and running sooner rather than later. Sharon will include QGAP information in the Desert Yarns each month.
Cheers
Stephan Pursell Officer in Charge Birdsville Police Station
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Diamantina Shire Police News
Birdsville QGAP
Firstly I would like to introduce myself, my name is Sharon Pursell and I am the new QGAP officer at Birdsville Police Station and the wife of your new Officer in Charge Birdsville Police Station, Senior Constable Stephan Pursell.
I have been in Birdsville now for the past two weeks and I have never felt so ‘at home’ before. Everyone that I have met has been welcoming and all I can say is ‘what a wonderful town’.
Stephan and I (as some of your already know) have come from the Sunshine Coast. I have myself worked as an administration officer for the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for the past ten years. I have worked at the North Coast Regional Police Headquarters, Mooloolaba Police Beat, Maroochydore Police Station and for State Intelli- gence, Counter Terrorism Command. Prior to moving to Queensland I worked in Child Care and as a Kindergarten assistant.
So over the past ten years I have done a range of jobs with QPS but I have never done QGAP. This is where our problem lies at the moment. To date I have begun the required training and am now waiting for passwords and access codes to the particular systems. I hope to be up and running as soon as possible. I know people have been in to see me and hopefully by the time you are reading this I have been able to finally help you with your enquiry. I am sorry that things are taking so long but unfortunately there are processes and hurdles to jump over before I can to my actual job of serving you.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call 4656 3310 and I will endeavour to help you as best I can. At this stage I intend to make QGAP hours Monday to Thursday 9am – 1pm however if you cannot make it at these time give me a call and I will see what I can work out for you.
Thank you once again for the welcome we have received and I look forward to meeting you all in the near future.
Thanks
Sharon Pursell QGAP Officer Birdsville Police Station
Senior Constable Stephan Pursell Desert Yarns April 2016
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Community News
DIAMANTINA SHIRE ANZAC DAY PARADEs
25th APRIL 2016
THE TIMINGS FOR THE DIAMANTINA SHIRE COUNCIL ANZAC DAY SERVICES ARE
BIRDSVILLE
DAWN SERVICE 5.30 AM AT ANZAC PARK
MAIN SERVICE ASSEMBLE AT THE BIRDSVILLE HOTEL 9.00AM
MARCH STARTS AT 9.30 AM
SERVICE COMMENCE AT ANZAC PARK 10.00AM
BEDOURIE
DAWN SERVICE 5.30 AM AT ANZAC PARK
MAIN SERVICE ASSEMBLE AT THE SCHOOL AT 10.00AM
MARCH TO ANZAC PARK FOR THE SERVICE
Light Horsemen brought their civil skills to the defence of the nation. Shooting and riding were skills most young men, especially those in rural areas learned in their childhood and early teens. Australian horsemen in the Boer and First World wars were initially led by those who had added to their civil skills with part time military training
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Community News
Drought recovery: plan for better times ahead
It is an unfortunate reality that large areas of Queensland continue to be affected by drought.
Regional and rural communities throughout Queensland have grown accustomed to overcoming challenging conditions. It is a resilience that has seen our agricultural sector not just survive, but thrive for generations.
As a long term financial partner of Queensland agriculture, QRAA proudly stands beside producers in good and bad times.
Under the Australian Government’s Drought and Drought Recovery Concessional Loans Schemes, QRAA is providing loans of up to $1 million to help producers manage drought and recovery.
With interest rates starting at 2.71 per cent, these loans can help farm businesses free up money to support their resilience efforts and ongoing recovery.
Drought Concessional Loans up to $1 million can assist farm businesses survive through drought, recover when the drought breaks and prepare for future droughts.
Drought Recovery Concessional Loans offer a unique pre-approval process. This allows producers to apply for loans of up to $1 million whilst still in drought. Approved applicants can then access funds to undertake planting and/or restocking when seasonal conditions have improved.
Recent rainfall in some parts of Queensland has lifted confidence in the agricultural sector, prompting a spike in applications from producers seeking to secure their share of the government backed drought loans.
Over $98.9 million has been approved since the schemes opened. With 16 loans worth $8.3 million under assessment, even more farm businesses are set to benefit from the low interest rate loans.
The Drought and Drought Recovery Concessional Loans Schemes are only available until 30 June 2016, so producers should avoid self-assessing and contact QRAA without delay.
Producers are also reminded that applications for drought loans are not determined by state declarations, but that a Rainfall Deficiency Report is required as part of their application. QRAA’s Client Liaison Officers can provide specific advice to producers about eligibility for these schemes and which approach may be best for each individual farm business. Contact your local Client Liaison Officer today on Freecall 1800 623 946 or visit QRAA’s website at www.qraa.qld.gov.au to arrange an on-farm meeting, discuss eligibility, terms and conditions and how to access your Rainfall Deficiency Report.
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Community News
Desert Yarns April 2016
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Community News
PIE DRIVE
The Bedourie P & C will be running a pie drive next term. Order forms will arrive over the holidays and the last date for ordering will be Friday 3/6/16. Also running a Cadbury chocolate fundraiser, please let us know in the next two weeks if you would like to order boxes for your social/rec club. Contact: Trudie O'Bryan 47461194, email: [email protected].
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Community News
Betoota Horse & Motorbike Gymkhana and Enduro was a huge success on the weekend of the 2 & 3 April with people coming as far as Alice Springs, Longreach, Bedourie and all places and stations in between.
We not only had record numbers of competitors but just as many spectators as well, which is great to see. Competitors put on a show of great sportsmanship with everyone having fun.
A huge THANK YOU to our volunteers and sponsors for the weekend, without you continued
support our event wouldn't happen.
Congratulations to our Leading Riders for the weekend.
Horses: Leading Open Rider - Steve Cramer, Glengyle Station 15 yrs & Under - Leah Kath, Mt Leonard Station 10 yrs & Under - Ty Lasker, Morney Plains Station Hayden & Ashlee Lasker Memorial Encouragement Award - Chayce Smith, Hammond Downs, Windorah
Motorbikes:
Leading Open Rider: Boo Matheson, Jundah 12-15yrs & Under - Matthew Fatnowna, Durrie Station 8-11yrs & Under - Thomas Tuite, Tanbar Station Motorbike Encouragement Award: Megan Brook & Jacob Kath
Santos Enduro Winners 1st Boof Matheson, Jundah 2nd Aron Rayner, Longreach 3rd Tom Mason, Bedourie
Longest Jump Winner: Boof Matheson, Jundah.
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Community News
Hannah Tuite (Tanbar Station) and Dusty Lasker (Morney Plains) with horse Honey
All photograph's courtesy of Lorraine Kath
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Community News
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Welcome to New Staff
Name: Anna Karra
Family: Handsome husband, Harin Lovely little daughter, Eliana
Where have you come from to join the Shire? Originally from India but have been a resident for about five years
Occupation with the Shire: Administration Officer - Housing and Records
Can you describe what your occupation involves? Housing and managing Tenancy Agreements Electronic records management
What enticed you to work for Diamantina Shire Council? It is a unique opportunity to balance work satisfaction and lifestyle (family and friends/health and fitness
What do you like most about the Shire? Safe and friendly community of Bedourie and the stunning sunsets
Interests and Hobbies: Arts and Crafts
Talents or Skills None in particular apart from being multi-tasking mother and fore-bearing wife.
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Under 8’s Activity Page
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Don’t miss these great Diamantina events in 2016
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Justice of the Peace Shire Profile & Contact
Cr Geoff Morton Mayor Bedourie Birdsville BH - (07) 4656 3250 AH - (07) 4656 3250 Nell Brook JP (Qual) [email protected] Gordon Jones JP (Qual) Brook Proprietors Shire Office 4656 3252 Cr Steve Cramer Deputy Mayor 4746 1202 BH - (07) 4746 1236 AH - (07) 4746 1236 Home: 47461070 Don Rowlands JP (Qual) National Park Office [email protected] Leon Love JP (Qual) 4656 3272 Shire Office Cr Don Rayment Councillor 4746 1202 Geoff Morton JP (Qual) BH - (07) 4656 3321 AH - (07) 4656 3321 Roseberth Station Leanne Hohnke-Jansen JP (Qual) [email protected] Bedourie State School 4656 3250 4746 1224 David Brook JP (C.Dec) Cr Doug Cooms Councillor Brook Proprietors Garth Tully JP (Qual) BH- (07) 4746 1291 4656 3252 Cluny Station [email protected] 4746 1219 Andrew Cameron JP (Mag Ct)
Harin Karra JP (Qual) Birdsville Clinic Cr Bev Maunsell Councillor Shire Office 4656 3245 BH - (07) 4746 1156 4746 1202 Barbara Mason JP (Qual) [email protected] Wirrarri Centre 4656 3300 Leon Love Chief Executive Officer BH - (07) 4746 1202 [email protected]
Tony Beynon Deputy CEO BH - (07) 4746 1202 Emergency Services Contact List [email protected] Trevor Stewart Infrastructure Manager ALL EMERGENCIES 000 000 BH - (07) 4746 1202 AH - (07) 4746 1021 [email protected] POLICE BEDOURIE BIRDSVILLE 4746 1220 4656 5677 Jodie Girdler Bedourie Town Services Foreman BH - (07) 4746 1202 AH - (07) 4746 1160 [email protected] HEALTH CLINIC BEDOURIE BIRDSVILLE 4746 1226 4656 3245 0145 141 797 (Sat)
STATE EMERGENCY BEDOURIE BIRDSVILLE SERVICE Local Controller Dep Local Controller Gordon Jones Kevin Scott 4746 1202 (W) 4656 3350 (W) 4746 1070 (H) 4656 3232 (H) 0467 031 640 (M)
RURAL FIRE SERVICE BEDOURIE BIRDSVILLE First Officer First Officer The Diamantina Shire Council does not guarantee that Gordon Jones submissions will be published and reserves the right to reject 4746 1202 (W) content that is not in line with our editorial guidelines. 4746 1070 (H)
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