6 WALLSEND NEWS | Sonia Hornery MP Wallsend NewsJUNE 2016 A NEWSLETTER FROM SONIA HORNERY MP YOUR LOCAL STATE MEMBER FOR WALLSEND Office: 3/30 Dan Rees Street, Wallsend NSW 2287 Phone: 4950 0955 Fax: 4950 0977 Email: [email protected] facebook.com/SoniaHornery twitter.com/Sonia_Hornery Hospital cuts see Sonia writes … I have hit the ground running waiting lists blow out in Parliament this year. So far I have made speeches about The Newcastle Herald recently highlighted an issue policing, employment and infrastructure which more and more of my constituents are raising in the Wallsend electorate; the importance of medical research and with me and my office – the cuts to health funding and community spirit; the cuts to Glendale blow-outs in waiting lists to see specialists, particularly TAFE and, the Baird Government’s at the John Hunter Hospital. plans to privatise Ageing Disability and Home Care. I have been holding the Government to account, and advancing your interests, Long wait for waiting lists by asking Questions on Notice to Newcastle Herald 10/05/16 Ministers and giving Notices of Motion. These are useful ways for Members One woman told of Parliament to get information from me that her GP had Departments and to advocate for our made a number Two-tiered electorates. of urgent referrals If there is an issue you think needs to for her to see a health and be brought to the Baird Government’s specialist. The initial response attention, don’t hesitate to get in touch was that she was put on the hospital with my office on 4950 0955. waiting list of 365 days to get an I am here to make sure appointment. waiting lists your voice is heard. I am pleased to report that since Editorial, Newcastle Herald 10/05/16 I wrote to the Minister seeking an explanation, my constituent has not only had an appointment Sonia Hornery MP but has had her operation and is MEMBER FOR WALLSEND convalescing at home. Accessible, affordable and timely health care is a vital service in any community. I have always advocated for a fair, universal health system and will continue to do so. As the Herald points out, “…there is something amiss with a system that allows people to sit for months, if not Inspecting the Glendale Interchange to years, on waiting lists for such mainstream specialist medical services as ear, see how Stage 1 is progressing – see nose and throat, and orthopaedics.” (Newcastle Herald editorial 10/05/16) State Budget story on page 2. ‘Like’ Sonia on facebook www.facebook.com/SoniaHornery INSIDE Tramway Track (P2) Local Woman of the Year and Resilient Australia Awards (P3) Authorised by Sonia Hornery MP, 3/30 Dan Rees Street, Wallsend NSW 2287. Printed by Jennings Print, 12 Yilen Close, Beresfield NSW 2322 using parliamentary entitlements. June 2016 Community Building Partnership Grants (P4) Newcastle Public Transport Privatisation (P6) 2 WALLSEND NEWS | Sonia Hornery MP 3 WALLSEND NEWS | Sonia Hornery MP 2016-17 NSW Budget: Tramway Will Baird Deliver? Track Major infrastructure projects in the Wallsend electorate need funding. Will the Liberal Government be able to Recently Bicycle deliver in the 2016-2017 NSW budget? NSW hosted a ride on The excitement that surrounded the It’s incumbent on the Government to the Tramway Track sod turning for Stage 1 of the Lake invest in the Glendale Interchange in between Wallsend Macquarie Transport Interchange the 2016-17 Budget. at Glendale was tempered by the NSW and Glendale. I was Minmi Road requires duplication to Government’s refusal to contribute to relieve congestion and handle the reminded that our what Hunter Mayors have identified traffic travelling to and from Maryland, cycleway is often as the most important infrastructure Fletcher, Minmi and suburbs beyond. project in the region. overlooked in favour The Baird Government should commit of the Fernleigh Track. It is crucial that funding for the to investing in this vital infrastructure Pennant St Bridge is found. upgrade. After many years of work Building this ‘missing link’ will provide to secure funding by my Glendale TAFE is suffering from opportunity for investment and job predecessor, John Mills, a death by a thousand cuts at the creation. It will provide access to unlock $1.5 million was committed hands of the Government. The the potential to create 6,000 local jobs, by Newcastle and Lake Baird Government should commit 90 hectares of land for new commercial Macquarie councils and to restoring funding after cuts have and light industrial development, and the NSW Government. The seen services and staff slashed, while the construction of almost 6,000 new Tramway Track was then enrolments have plummeted and our residences. This next stage requires opened in 2012. young people have been left at the $32 million in funding. mercy of private vocational education The Wallsend to Glendale providers. Tramway Track stretches for 3.6 kilometres along the former steam tramway corridor from Ganney Street at Wallsend Young Women ‘Stepping Up’ to Frederick Street, next to On 9 May I had the privilege of participating in the Glendale TAFE. It is also part Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian’s (CWP) of the 50 kilometre long cycling “Stepping Up” program at NSW Parliament House route known as the Two City Circuit (near Speers Point) writes Olivia Gallimore from Cardiff Heights. and links the Fernleigh Track, The pilot program brought together over 50 young, politically minded women the Warners Bay foreshore from electorates around the state for a day focused on the empowerment of path and the inner-Newcastle women in politics. We were addressed by a number of current and former female cycleway. MPs, including the current Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon Shelley The Track was once a Hancock MP. Themes from the inspiring speeches included the importance of tramway line that serviced sticking to our values, surrounding ourselves with supportive networks and always West Wallsend. It was being willing to participate, even in the introduced after residents face of adversity. We then had the lobbied for better transport honour of attending a workshop with services. NIDA representatives where we were coached on a series of presentation It is a fantastic way to spend skills to use throughout our political time with your family on the careers. weekend or use it to get to work on through the week. It was an incredible opportunity to I encourage all locals to ‘get attend a day that would not have been on their bikes’ and get to know possible without the generous support our fantastic Tramway Track of the CWP and the kind nomination Sonia with Olivia when she came to better. by Sonia Hornery MP. Parliament House to participate in the ‘Stepping Up’ program. 3 WALLSEND NEWS | Sonia Hornery MP Local Woman of the Year Thea O’Sullivan At a special award ceremony in Parliament House, it was with great joy that I was able to honour Thea O’Sullivan for her work in our community. Thea O’Sullivan is a local hero cancer. Known as the Oxford and passionate Ovarian Cancer Ladies Lunch (taken from the fundraiser. She has spent the Oxford Hockey Club), Thea’s last four years raising funds organisation of the annual event for Ovarian Cancer research is tireless. following the death of fellow Thea also continues to coach, hockey player and friend, Judy mentor and play for the Oxford Raymond, to the disease. Club as well as coaching the Thea has quietly gone about Hunter NSW PSSA Hockey team raising more than $30,000 for to the finals this year. the Hunter Medical Research She is thoroughly deserving of Institute (HRMI) to assist in recognition for all the work that increasing awareness of, and she does in our community. Congratulations to Local Woman support for research into, ovarian of the Year, Thea O’Sullivan. MOBILE OFFICE It is important to me that I am accessible to my community. I hold mobile offices in various locations around the electorate on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for a letter from me when I am coming to your area. Talking with locals in New Lambton recently. Resilient Australia Awards I am calling on members of the Wallsend community to nominate for the 2016 Resilient Australia Awards and the NSW Get Ready Community Award. The Resilient Australia Awards are government, to apply for the 2016 It recognises a local community that has a joint Commonwealth and State Resilient Australia Awards. taken action and worked together to government initiative. They were created strengthen their resilience to disasters. The Resilient Australia awards include to recognise innovative practices a Community Award, Business Award, I am proud of Wallsend and know that and achievements that make our Government Award, School Award and resilience, community spirit and pulling communities safer, stronger, more Photography Award (People’s Choice together are qualities we have shown resilient and better prepared to manage Award). State winners will go into the time and again. any emergency situation. National competition. For more information go to I encourage individuals, community The NSW Get Ready Community Award www.emergency.nsw.gov.au groups, not-for-profit organisations, is open to local community groups and volunteers, businesses, industry and Entries for both award programs close organisations. schools, as well as local and state at 3.00pm on Thursday 9 June 2016. 3 WALLSEND NEWS | Sonia Hornery MP Sonia Hornery MP | WALLSEND NEWS 4 Community Building Partnership Grants I was proud to obtain funding for these local projects through the Community Building Partnership program. These successful community groups have put their grant money to excellent use and have told me that it has made a real difference to the work they are doing for our community.