Diamantina Shire Council Desert Yarns August, 2013 Distributed free to all residents. Volume 4 Issue 65 Upcoming Events Ordinary Council Meeting - August 19 Message from the Mayor Youth Council Meeting - August 21 Firstly it is with regret that I have accepted the resignation of our CEO, Betoota Races - August 31 Scott Mason. After six years Scott is moving on and up the local Birdsville Races - September 6/7 government ladder, moving to Central Highlands Regional Council based in Bedourie Races & Rodeo- September Emerald. Scott has been a tireless worker for the shire and leaves the shire 13/14 in a strong position as it faces some challenging years ahead. He is also a Bedourie Ute & Travellers’ Muster - great community person taking on the P&C, wood chopping just to name a September 14 couple. I wish Scott and Alana all the very best for the future and thank Youth Council Wet Fest - October 5 them for all the help given to me and the community. My wife and I had the Diamantina Triathlon - November 16 pleasure of attending Scott and Alana’s farewell in Bedourie, it was a Bedourie Bikekhana - November 30 wonderful evening. People travelled long distances to be with them and it was an event very fitting to Scott and Alana. Seeing the huge pile of gifts they received, and continue to receive, I suspect they’ll have to have a garage sale before they go. The Mead Perry Group has been employed to secure the recruitment of a Message from the Mayor 1-2 new CEO. This process is well advanced, with a short list having been decided and interviews getting under way over the next couple of weeks. Writings from the CEO / Media Release 3-6 From the Tourism & Community Desk 7-8 Earlier in July we had the “big Red Run”, a six day seven stage 250km mar- athon, in and to the west of Birdsville. This was an extremely well run Works Report 9-11 event and raised funds for diabetes. 60 odd runners finished the event and Positions Vacant 12 well done to them. The shire welcomes these events into the shire as they Council News 13-30 are a great boost to the local economy. John Williamson performed on top The Arts 31-33 of Big Red as part of the run. I was lucky enough to attend, and I’m sure all Health News 34 who went would agree it was a great evening. Police News 35 Mid-month the ABC came out to Bedourie to do a story around the shire Community Catch Up 36-43 health services and the shortfall in funding. The CEO and I both had our $2 Bedourie Gymkhana Results 44-46 worth, the story will eventually run on the 7.30 report. Further to the Bedourie Camel Races Results 47 funding shortfall, the CEO and I went to Boulia where we did a presentation DSC Events/Flyers 48-59 before the Central West Hospital and health board, which were visiting Boulia, putting our case for more funding. One can only hope they listened, they did at least stay awake. Diamantina Shire Council 07 4746 1202 17 Herbert Street 07 4746 1272 BEDOURIE QLD 4829 [email protected] www.diamantina.qld.gov.au Page 2 Desert Yarns Birdsville was lucky enough to have a visit from Tedeschi and Cooper, two classical musicians who played the piano and violin. They would be two of the most talented musicians to visit Birdsville and their performance was enjoyed by the 60 odd people who attended the evening, including me. Last week a public meeting was held in Birdsville to find the community views regarding the freshwater crocodile. It was attended via teleconference by Rebecca Williams from the wildlife services. It was a unanimous opinion that the crocodile be humanely relocated, if possible. The permits have been applied for and it is intended to have the crocodile removed by the end of August. In the last week the CEO and I attended the LGAQ Bush Convention in Longreach. This was made up of councils from the bush ie.Palm Island to St George, Boulia to Emerald and all point in between. The convention was attended by Ministers Crisafulli, Emerson, Cripps and McVeigh each of who pledged their willingness to work with local government on issues facing rural and remote communities. On a sombre note, it is with sadness that I have learned of the death of Charlie Rayment, father of Cr. Rayment. Charlie was a rather colourful character who owned Kurran Station in the far north of the shire and will be missed by many. My sympathies go out to Cr Rayment and his family at this sad time. Geoff Morton Cr Morton addressing the crowd at the Queensland Mayor Music Festival featuring Tedeschi and Cooper. Cr Geoff Morton and The Hon. Bruce Scott MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Member for Maranoa at the Meet and Greet in Birdsville on July 8. Mayor Cr Morton at CEO, Scott Mason’s farewell party. Page 3 Desert Yarns Writings from the CEO Outback Queensland Tourism I aended the Outback Queensland Tourism Associaon Board Meeng held in Mt Isa as a proxy delegate to Mr Brian Mooney (Board Member proper) who was also in aendance. It was a good insight into the tourism industry, through a Regional Tourism Organisaon, at a more strategic level, recognising the dual and at mes, conflicng aims of the Queensland Government to create efficiencies and savings and to strengthen tourism, it being a pillar of the economy. The Meeng spanned two days, was a pleasure to aend and was conducted quite professionally. The Board culture was strong and healthy and all members were passionate and enthusiasc about outback tourism. I was able to take back to Diamanna Shire several iniaves to assist our Far West Tourism Alliance, the relavely new group comprising Barcoo, Boulia and Diamanna Shires, established to leverage greater tourism industry opportunies for our region which represents approximately 13% of Queensland. Deputaons in Canberra during June, 2013 Diamanna Shire aended a number of deputaons in Canberra to progress two key issues: funding for the Diamanna Health Service; and the need for fibre opc telecommunicaons. Diamanna Health Service June 18, 2013 – The Hon Peter Duon MP, Federal Member for Dickson and Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing June 18, 2013 – Mr Paul Hardcastle, Advisor to Minister Collins who is in charge of the Community Porolio on behalf of Minister Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Health and Disability Reform June 19, 2013 – The Hon Bruce Sco MP, Federal Member for Maranoa and Second Deputy Speaker Fibre Opc Telecommunicaons June 19, 2013 – The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Federal Member for Wentworth and Shadow Minister for Communicaons and Broadband June 19, 2013 – The Hon Bruce Sco MP, Federal Member for Maranoa and Second Deputy Speaker June 19, 2013 – The Hon Luke Hartsuyker, Federal Member for Cowper June 19, 2013 – Senator Fiona Nash, Senator for New South Wales, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Educaon, Deputy Leader of the Naonals in the Senate Council was most grateful for the support and assistance provided by Mr Bruce Sco MP, Federal Member for Maranoa and Second Deputy Speaker and his staff for organising deputaons and for providing his office to us to use as a base while we negoated the myriad of offices to aend deputaons. Impromptu deputaons were also held with Mr Anthony Albanese MP, Federal Member for Grayndler and now Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Broadband, Communicaons and the Digital Economy and Leader of the House and Mr Warren Truss, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Leader of the Naonals regarding road funding on behalf of the Outback Regional Road Group. Council has been provided with key points from each of the deputaons that will be used to leverage beer ser- vices for the people of Diamanna Shire. Page 4 Desert Yarns Enterprise Risk Management Workshop – July 10, 2013 Mr Shane Gray of Jardine Lloyd Thompson delivered two Enterprise Risk Management Workshops for Diamanna Shire Council at Bedourie on July 10, 2013. The first was for the Senior Management Team which comprises the Works Manager, the Tourism and Community Manager, the Corporate Services Manager and me. It was an excellent and appropriate Workshop that has movated the organisaon to finalise the development of its Enterprise Risk Management Framework. The second Workshop was for other staff and broadly introduced risk using examples of how important it is for the organisaon to have an appropriate risk management framework in place. It also encouraged employees to take acon in instances where they believe there are risks or exposures that could impact on Council or on visitors to the community or users of amenies and facilies. CEO RESIGNATION I have tendered my resignaon from the posion of Chief Execuve Officer for Diamanna Shire Council. I will soon take up the posion of Chief Execuve Officer for Central Highlands Regional Council based at Emerald. It is with regret that I will be leaving the community of Bedourie that has been home for the past six years. I have made many friends and learnt so much about Western Queensland and local government through the opportunity afforded me by Diamanna Shire Council mid-2007 when it appointed me as its Chief Execuve Officer. I sincerely thank the current and past elected members for their support and encouragement that has enabled me to achieve local and regional successes for the Shire. I will commence dues for Central Highlands Regional Council on Monday, August 19, 2013.