September 2007 Kangaroo Valley Voice Page 1 Kangaroo Valley Voice Volume 13 Issue 3 ISSN 1833-8402 Circulation 850 September 2007 $2 Kidpower: Valley school triumphant TechnoPush 2007 The media reports highlighted an exciting and exhilarating event with 800 students and 37 schools involved! It was both a privilege and a pleasure to be supporting our energised students, enthusiastic teacher, Kathy Davis and our strong band of loyal parents at Eastern Creek Raceway recently. And what a day of enthralling participation and success! The pushcart lived up to its detailed design requirement. It was excellent, winning the Excellence in Engineering and Design Award. The students’ knowledge of scientific method was deemed outstanding by the judges and this, along with the presentation by the 3D Racers’ Media Team who detailed the investigative and design process the whole class had been involved in, computer research undertaken, combined racing results, team spirit and look, a wall length pictorial display, dance routine, healthy menus and a whole lot more gave the 3D Racers the edge and gained them The Overall Winner (Primary) Award. Well done Mrs Davis, 3D and parent helpers. What a day for our students to remember for a long time. Mark McCarthy School Principal More on page 7 Mollie Mather and Ben Winch proudly accepting one of the two major awards on behalf of 3D Racers Valley shocked by Extensive coverage drowning tragedy in of Valley Barrengarry Creek sports activities Full story page 3 Stories pages 30-31 Folk Festival event schedule final details Coverage on pages 18-19 News p1–17 Folk Festival 18-19 Regular columns p20-29 Sport p30-31 Directory p32-33 Wot’s on p35 September 2007 Kangaroo Valley Voice Page 2 I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it Published by Editorial angaroo Kangaroo Valley K Voice Incorporated. alley Registration # V The Voltaire philosophy The monthly community newspaper of Kangaroo Valley Office Bearers It was the French writer and faceless and nameless bureaucrats. philosopher Voltaire in the eighteenth That is why the Valley Voice adopted the President Carl Leddy century who said “I do not agree with position of challenge in the August issue. Treasurer Position available We do not accept that only those in official Secretary Larraine Hahlos what you have to say, but I'll defend to the positions are capable of interpreting the worth Committee Win Palmer death your right to say it” of conflicting advice. Sheila Young That seems to be the correct sentiment to apply Joan Bray The edicts that flow from positions of authority Laurie De Ville to the issues arising from the RTA actions last are not omnipotent, nor sacrosanct; they Editor Carl Leddy month to press ahead with their decision to sometimes deserve a rigorous examination to Advertising Position available remove a great many trees from a section of justify the conclusions reached and the Journalists Joan Bray Moss Vale Road. decisions taken. Jenelle Brangwin We present our lively letters page this month as It is no surprise that now some senior officials Liz Aitken evidence that not all the community Ron Bower in the RTA have admitted they may have acted unanimously agree on the worth of the RTA inappropriately in the matter and are anxious to Wot’s On Position available decision nor the actions of those who protested Sports Report Kate Rutherford commence a dialogue that could benefit all Legal Advisers A P Sparke & Broad as the work started on an early misty valley sides and to attack the concern of all parties to Computer operator Hope Kennedy morning. achieve improved road safety conditions within There has also been feedback in person and by the valley. Editorial Office. telephone of those wishing to express support On other matters our thanks to Scott Styles and or lodge an objection. telephone (02)-4465 1621 Craig Winter for their report covering the Our pages as always, are open for expression of tragedy at Barrengarry (page 3). differing viewpoints. There is good news about the bowling club’s Kangaroo Valley Voice was originally established under What may have been overlooked in the chances of survival, (see page 16) and the the Small Towns Program (an initiative of the heightened emotional setting of these past Department of Business & Regional Development). generous response to the auction benefit night weeks and the verbal and written exchanges K.V. Voice Inc. aims to support & develop the Valley’s for Clare McGlynn, (see page 3). economic, social & communication infrastructure. The that have ensued, is that many among the The final arrangements for the second folk Committee & Assistants are all volunteers, who donate protesters were at the rally, not simply because festival are in place; this time they deserve the their time and expertise for the benefit of our readers. of the destruction of the trees, but because of luck of a dry weekend, the offerings are All Valley residents, clubs & organisations are invited to the attitude of the bureaucrats in the RTA, who forward editorial submissions. detailed on page 18 and 19. acted with unjustifiable haste, without due The K.V. Voice is financially self sufficient due to In other matters musical there is a report on the income received from local businesses and advertising. notice and with a complete disregard for public highly appreciated Simone Young concert at opinion. Bellawongarah, which featured a Wagner piano DISCLAIMER Councillor Anderson said as much in his letter piece for four hands, in a brilliant setting. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are to the Editor last month. It is good to see a return of a variety of sports made in good faith by Kangaroo Valley community members. But as Voltaire suggests, we can defend the news in this issue which reminds me that the K.V. Voice Inc., Committee, volunteers and contributors do not right to free speech, without falling in with the take responsibility for any statements advertisement, notice, position of sports reporter is available (call 44 letter or opinions published. Such are published at the risk of the conclusions or the sentiments of the speaker. 651 621) while our regular contributors provide contributor, who accepts liability for any intended publication. All Certainly it is the tradition in newspapers that contributors agree to indemnify the publisher and warrant that their entertaining and informative columns. the material is accurate and is neither deceptive or misleading, in any subject is open for examination and opinion But the best news of the month is the success of breach of copyright, defamatory or in breach of any laws. in the editorial content of the paper, no matter our tiny public school, against major really about the accuracy or veracity of the PRINTED BY: Red Barron Printing, Bomaderry. NSW competition taking out two awards (including DISTRIBUTED BY: Australia Post. arguments for and against the proposition. best overall) in TechnoPush 2007. Graphics used in advertising courtesy of ClickArt Name calling and personal abuse is not the Whether it is sporting, academic, cultural or Incredible 65,000 Image Pak © 1996, T/Maker Co. basis for reasonable discussion, on any subject social participation in the wider community, the where there can be diametrically opposed, pupils and staff of Kangaroo Valley Public DEADLINES strongly held views. School have developed a deserved reputation for the October issue of the ‘VOICE’ We still maintain some rights as citizens in a for excellence in a variety of endeavours. free society, they must not be eroded by a Congratulations to them all. Advertising, slavish disposition and kneeling to generally Carl Leddy Wot’s On , Calender The Editor & Sports Report Letters to the Editor Name calling not needed September 20, 2007 All letters must be signed by Editorial Submissions the writer and give both In the South Coast Register of 3 August, four business and home phone September 22, 2007 numbers so letters can be “original locals” are reported as claiming there verified. was strong support within Kangaroo Valley for Please do not leave your the RTA’s controversial decision to remove 97 submission Mail to : trees from Moss Vale Road. until the last day; The Editor One of them is quoted as describing as c/o Post Office “ratbags” the majority of those who attended being early is a great help to us. Kangaroo Valley. 2577 E-mail [email protected] (Continued on page 4) September 2007 Kangaroo Valley Voice Page 3 Tragedy at Barrengarry On Friday August 3, a terrible tragedy vehicles arrived this included unfolded that left a large number of NSW Fire brigade from people in a state of utter helplessness. Nowra, Helicopter Rescue 26 An excavator and operator were working from Wollongong, Ambulance Rescue from for the Department of Lands doing creek Nowra, two more crewed bank stabilisation opposite the old Smart’s ambulances and up to six dairy. Police vehicles, along with a At 11:57 the Kangaroo Valley Ambulance number of other locals some received the initial call to respond to an incident of whom had offered their on Graham’s road to an excavator rollover in assistance. the Barrengarry Creek with the operator still A crew member off rescue 26 trapped inside. donned his wet suit and Let me assure you we were not expecting what goggles in an attempt to see we were about to stumble upon. what he could, this again was The accident was witnessed by the operator’s to no avail due to the colleague who initiated a rescue attempt before murkiness of the water.