Skyline Tier Project launch, Trivia Night at the St Marys Sports and Social Centre, ‘A Red Flag in Front of a Bull’, Break O’Day Jane Austen Festival, Break O’Day Regional Arts Workshops, ‘Faust’, LINC 26TEN award winners, ABC Northern Tasmania broadcasts from St Marys, Cagerattler, Out Of The Woodwork…
Tag Archives: 2014
The Say
By Cagerattler
Last night ABC TV showed a story that revolved around the Australian car industry’s demise, focusing mainly on GMH.
I am in real fear of this current philosophy of the Federal Government’s policy on no longer subsidizing heavy industry. I think not helping these companies out is SO WRONG.
The main issue for me whilst watching this thought-provoking report was concern for the parts manufacturers (which number in the hundreds as it happens) that supply components to Ford, Holden and Toyota. One industry analyst said that 44,000 jobs were directly affected and about 198,000 indirectly. How can this happen?
Our Government has this seeming preoccupation with returning the economy to surplus, to the detriment of manufacturing industries. If I ever get the chance to ask a serving Federal Liberal member how they can sleep at night by supporting such policies I will. And it’s not just the car industry either unfortunately – this stupidly selfish government policy is affecting, or will affect, so many other manufacturing arms and just so the Prime Minister can say “Oh good, we returned the economy to surplus.”
Australia is one of the world’s most resource-rich economies, yet downstream processing of our own resources jobs is being sent offshore so we can buy it back at cheap prices…Why can’t Australian governments, of all persuasions, take a more holistic approach and definitely a much longer term look at things instead of all this rubbish? When we lose across-the-board manufacturing industries we lose our skills base too and become a country reliant on imports as time goes on; if we continue to pander to countries buying our country right from under our noses what do we finish up as?
It has to stop. We have to say to this crazy government ‘You can’t do this… Stick up for us… Don’t sell us off’.
I have a clear conscience. I didn’t vote for this mob whose lack of support for the car industry hasn’t helped at all.
Time to reflect on ANZAC Day…I was telling my US friend about ANZAC day and how we ‘commemorate’ rather than ‘celebrate’ this hugely important part of our identity as a nation, and how the sacrifices by the original diggers on April 25th 1915, the weeks and months before that day at the very early part of the Great War and in World War II, and all conflicts right up until now are not and never will be forgotten.
The ultimate sacrifice by so many, but also those who lived the rest of their lives with terrible handicaps and disabilities, cannot be allowed to be taken for granted – not ever.
What do you think?
Rod McGiveron.
Falmouth’s on sale!
Easter Monday 21st April 2014 8am ~ 3pm
The Falmouth Community is “on sale”. Any property that displays balloons is taking part in this Garage Sale Extravaganza! Come to Falmouth on Easter Monday and grab a bargain!
The Blue Cave Café will also be open at the Falmouth Community Centre with delicacies for all to enjoy!
What’s happening in your backyard?
Skyline Tier Project Launch
All welcome
6pm Tuesday 8th April
Scamander Sports Community Complex
1 Old Coach Rd, Scamander
The Scamander Pine Plantation at Skyline Tier covers a total area of 2160 ha. Since July 2007 the Northeast Bioregional Network has been restoring the site by promoting native vegetation regeneration.
Environment Tasmania is project managing the continuation of this work with funding from the Australian Government.
Come and learn more about this unique and significant project. Refreshments provided.
For more information contact:
[email protected] 0429 216 730
Todd Dudley 6376 1049
Greater Esk Tourism
ABC Northern Tasmania Radio in St Marys March 2014
Letter to Cagerattler
Dear Cagerattler
I do enjoy your column “The Say”, even though I don’t always agree with your opinion. But that is what’s good about the Valley Voice; there is such a varied content.
I do however agree whole-heartedly with your last article regarding the Schapelle spectacle. The media frenzy which was stirred up about her case was ludicrous in the extreme, as was the amount of air time foisted on the public; her appearances in court and the scramble through the waiting press, all leading up to the PAROLE.
Whether or not this lady was guilty is beside the point. What was noticeable was the amount of attention paid to a very attractive young woman who should have known better than to travel to a country which banned the importation of drugs. I sometimes wondered if the guards enjoyed the opportunity to have such close contact with her to get her to and fro with each appearance!
The melee to get the first pictures, the first ‘story’, the filming rights, the book (no doubt there will be one), not to mention the money involved, made a farce out of the whole sorry drama. It became a charade and made my blood boil.
Sometimes I feel our media are pathetic in the way they approach a ‘story’. Current affair-type programmes on TV go in for sensationalism, and often seem to prefer to show people screaming at each other over some believed insult rather than concentrating on the good that so many others quietly do. And some of our politicians are no better, for personal insults and derogative comments are often made in and out of Parliament, and unfortunately our media seem intent on making sure we hear/read all about it. This encourages the ‘pollies’ who wallow in this type of interview to get more ‘air time’. Thankfully they are not all the same.
I could go on, but have said enough. So thank you, Rod, for your column which I hope you will continue to write.
Many regards, Toni Brewster, Chain of Lagoons.
The Say
by Cagerattler
Isn’t it great to see the Recreation Ground Camping area getting used how we hoped it would. It has to be good for the local businesses too.
The other night I was over there walking my dogs and got talking to one of the campers. He reckoned that he’d been travelling for many years and we were one of the most accommodating, friendly and best places he’d come across. The best part for me though was that most of our secret is word of mouth because campers talk to other campers. Isn’t that fantastic?
That’s the good news. Now, Council… What about looking at establishing areas designated for backpacking campers too? Some do this anyway but the original idea was to have a sheltered area set aside to let the ‘tenters’ have a nice spot to pitch the ol’ tepee or wigwam… That’d be awesome and continue the good work already done, first by the original steering group and later by Council. Establishing something that we can be really proud of. This leads me to an associated issue…
The Streetscape – has it been thrown into the too-hard basket, deferred, cancelled or something in between? What’s the problem? If it’s good enough to find the money for a proposed new hospital site for St Helens (which I do think is needed but could be several years away) why not start work in St Marys, Fingal and other places? Funds were supposed to be set aside when the Council initially agreed to improve infrastructure, quite a few years ago now. Quite frankly, Mayor and Council, it’s about time that at the very least a bit of good forward action or plan could be made known to us all.
I wonder if the sticking point is the parking issue? MAKE A DECISION EITHER WAY ON THAT…and the rest of us will get used to the end result and accept it. It’s that simple.
It’s about time for someone to say or do something, otherwise five years down the track we’ll still be talking about it…It can be done. Look at the Recreation Ground utilisation as a great example…IT DOES WORK.
What do you think? Rod McGiveron
46.20 March 13th, 2014
International/local skaters in Scamander, Fingal community group to receive financial boost, New Title problem under SMC Planning Scheme, the Whirligigs of St Marys, Artist Of The Month, The Quick Brown Fox Jumped Over The Lazy Dog, Working Backwards To 1747, Protected Mealtimes, Liberal commitments in Break O’Day, Circle of 4 Exhibition, Cagerattler, Letters to the Editor.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I have lived in St Marys for the past 14 years and have always walked up Richardsons Road past the recently drained dam. I understand the dam was drained because of one complaint to TasWater that the water was gushing down the creek. I have never seen the creek gushing! I rang TasWater, then the Council, and was told that a platypus put a hole in the structure. It’s concrete! Maybe I am wrong but I find this ridiculous. The Council told me they won’t reconsider refilling the dam till they know the structure is sound.
So are we indefinitely left with this dangerous smelly eyesore? And of course no one considered the poor animals and birdlife that drink and live at the dam.
Kate Almond, St Marys