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TraNeed help at your placethis weekend? p.14

GoannasdefeatedWest Leaguestake out the premiership p.17

Maitland Gaol maintenance backlog p.4

MissyHigginsThe songstress of Oz returns to Newcastle

Turn over for yourentertainment guide

WED 24 SEP 2014

Families hit hard

A lmost 500 families across Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Newcastle will pay at least $34.50 per week extra for family day care services under changes

to the Federal Government’s Community Support Programme.

The changes will see the eligibility criteria for the programme, which provides funding to child care providers, tightened, with the aim to rein in the number of metropolitan services while increasing rural and remote services.

The measures are expected to save the govern-ment $157.1 million over three years from 2015-16, $330,000 of which will come from the Five Star Family Day Care Maitland, who provide admin-istration and support services for 108 educators across the Hunter region.

The changes are due to come into effect next year, after which the Metford-based service will be forced to pass on the burden of the cuts to the families of the 559 children their educators provide care for.

Centre manager, Patty Sams said that the area’s classification by the Australian Bureau Statistics as a major city and the fact that they are not the only provider in the area makes them ineligible.

“The problem we’re having is that they’re not withdrawing our funding, so we can’t fight that way,” Ms Sams said.

“The bucket of money is still there, they’re just changing the way people qualify for it.

Parents forced to bear the brunt of Government’s changes to childcare

Five Star Family Day Care Maitland’s Jenelle Ycas and Patty Sams, with Addison Woodward and Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

“I think we’re seen as a valuable service, I don’t doubt that, but I do see that they have got no idea what it takes to maintain the quality of that service and we’re not prepared to lose that quality.”

Assistant manager, Jenelle Ycas said that their service relied on income from both parents and the Community Support Programme.

“[The changes will] restrict the way we can earn income,” she said.

“Families will have to pay more or give up work.”Ms Sams and Ms Ycas met with the Member for

Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, last week, who said he would speak to the Shadow Education Minister about the changes.

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Editor: Paul Monforte • Journalists: Stephen Bisset (TE), Amelia Parrott, Melissah Comber

Sales: Glenda Peate, Gary Scott (Trades), Dan Hawkins (TE), Alan Stevenson, Vicky McMurrich, Alison Hislop (Hunter), Jo Jones (Hunter)

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EDITOR'S DESK paul.monforte@newcastlepost.com.au

With Bennett and Tinkler gone, its time to rebuild the Knights

Seeing Wayne Bennett paraded at a Brisbane Broncos press conference on Monday was the official final page of his Newcastle Knights story.

With Bennett gone, and Nathan Tinkler also out of the picture, the real work of re-building the Newcastle Knights begins.

Knights fans would have felt that Bennett’s arrival in 2012 would result in their next premier-ship, and perhaps a golden era for the club. But the soap opera playing out behind the scenes was always going to rob the club of its opportunity to meet those expectations.

Questions over late and missing payments, Tinker’s financial status and Bennett’s place in the overall Newcastle picture continued to domi-nate the club. Only the very best can overcome such issues, and Newcastle didn’t quite have the tenacity to do it. Alex McKinnon’s tragic injury earlier this year only added to Newcastle’s woes, but they now face the prospect of a fresh start and a legitimate re-building period.

I say legitimate re-building period because many clubs use that term as a way to stave off bad publicity, and keep the critics silent.

But you only have to look at a club like Penrith, which was in a much worse state than Newcastle a few years ago, to see an example of legitimate re-building. That club is now one win away from a grand final and has the systems in place for long-term success. The same opportunity confronts

Newcastle that confronted Penrith three years ago, but the secret behind the Panthers’ success was the appointment of Phil Gould.

That appointment and its ultimate success is likely to see a raft of similar management style appointments in the years to come, and Newcas-tle has taken such a step with the appointment of Michael Hagan as director of football.

It’s a quality appointment and one the Knights should be applauded for.

Hagan enjoyed premiership success with the Knights in 2001 and understands the club intri-cately as both a former player and coach.

That’s exactly what Newcastle need - Bennett perhaps never really understood the uniqueness that is Newcastle as a city, something that is reflected in the football team.

Hagan understands that better than anyone, while Rick Stone is also a positive appointment as coach - he too understands the club, having coached there previously and been an assistant to Bennett - and is a key piece of the puzzle.

As we saw in 1997 and 2001, the power of rugby league can really play a huge role in the vibrancy and confidence of a city. The Newcastle Knights hold a much bigger responsibility than just winning football games. They are as much about the culture of Newcastle as anything or anyone.

Patience, perseverance and improvement are key elements of a re-build and it all starts now.

They now face the prospect of a fresh start

TROY DODDS Acting Editor

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Robyn ParkerMember for Maitland

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34 Church StreetMaitland NSW 2320

4933 1617facebook.com/RobynParkerMP

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H unter police have been congrat-ulated for an across-the-board fall in crime rates.

According to the latest figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), instances of break and enters on non-dwellings in Maitland fell 19.4 per cent in the 24 months leading up to June, motor vehicle theft fell, 24.2 per cent and there was a 18.2 per cent reduction in instances of malicious damage to property.

In Cessnock, household break and enters fell 17.9 per cent, instances of stealing from vehicles fell by 11.8 per cent and there was a massive, 42.2 per cent fall in instances of break and enters to non-dwellings.

NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Stuart Ayres praised officers for the positive result.

“This is an outstanding result and I congratulate all police across the Hunter for their untiring efforts in preventing crime and investigating offences,” he said.

“Across NSW, this is the first time in the Bureau’s 25-year history that none of the major 17 offences have increased.”

Despite the drop in crime, Shadow Minister for the Hunter, Sonia Hornery

Minister congratulates local police officers on fantastic quarterly results

POLICE

Crime down across the Hunter

NSW Police Minister, Stuart Ayres has congratulated off icers on drop in Hunter crime rates

criticised the Government for failing to put more new officers in the Hunter, with the region receiving just one new recruit from the latest batch.

“I recently held a round table on domes-

tic violence and it was clear from those in attendance that police response times are still a major concern,” she said.

“The latest BOCSAR figures show an increase in domestic violence-

related assault in the Hunter. “The public deserve more than this and I will continue to push the Minister to appoint more police across all Hunter commands.”

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott local news

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

S ections of Maitland Gaol have had to be progressively closed due to safety concerns, with Maitland City Council officers

estimating the backlog of infrastructure maintenance to be worth millions of dollars.

Councillors earlier this month were presented with a report addressing the long-term viability of the crown facility, which Council currently operates on a 50 year lease, that said that the “current situation with Maitland Gaol is not sustainable”.

“Increasingly, [the gaol] is facing signifi-cant constraints around its capacity to develop and grow, due to a lack of long-term tenure, deteriorating infrastructure and financial constraints,” the report stated.

The report recommended that Council commence discussions with the State Government over infrastructure and legacy issues, as well as undertake an independent infrastructure assessment survey and report, at a cost of between $50,000 and $60,000.

It also recommended that Council negotiate with the State Government to

finalise issues with the original govern-ment lease and maintenance arrange-ments for the site, which the report states have created legal issues over who has ultimate responsibility for maintenance.

Councillors supported the report, with Councillor Peter Garnham saying the gaol could do better.

“It’s about time we took the gaol as a serious business proposal and reach the potential we would love to see it reach,” he said.

Council’s manager marketing and communications, Rachel MacLucas said that the inaccessible locations were yet to have a financial impact on the operation.

Maintenance backlog forces partial closure of tourist attraction

Maitland Gaol locked up

Maitland Goal

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

Councillor meet-up

Benhome upgrade

To mark the halfway term of the current Maitland City Council, councillors Philip and Nicole Penfold have organised four drop-in sessions for residents to meet with them and discuss issues.

Today (Wednesday) they will be avail-able from 5:30pm to 6:30pm in the Pat Hughes Community Hall in Thornton, and from 7pm to 8pm in the Elphick Room at Rutherford’s Maitland Neighbourhood Centre.

Tomorrow (Thursday) the councillors will be in the large meeting room at East Maitland Library from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, and the Maitland Room in the Maitland Town Hall from 7pm to 8pm.

Bookings are not required.

Clarification: During the $17.5 million redevelopment of Benhome, first reported in last week’s edition, the building on the northern side of the complex, Ribee Wing, will be demolished and replaced with a two storey building. The wing has not housed residents in recent years as it does not comply with current building standards. Pender House will remain standing, but will no longer be able to house residents because of the high cost associated with installing fire sprinklers in the building.

Additionally, Benhome chairman, Bob Geoghegan told the Post that the 13 current residents of Pender House will be offered places in the proposed new building, along with three other residents who are currently housed in another section of Benhome to be redeveloped.

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F lood planning and management in Maitland could undergo some dramatic changes if two flood related plans are accepted by

Maitland City Council.The first, which proposes amendments

to both the Maitland Local Environmental Plan 2011 Flood Planning Maps and the Maitland Citywide Development Control Plan 2011 to iron out inconsistencies, would see changes to how Council assesses devel-opment applications in flood-prone areas.

The most significant change would allow up to 50 per cent of a dwelling’s habitable floor space to be located below the relevant flood planning level.

Habitable floor space would include bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, but would not include garages or outdoor entertaining spaces.

The plan has been submitted to the Department of Planning and Environ-ment for a Gateway Determination, and if accepted will go on public exhibition for a minimum period of 56 days.

The second plan, the Hunter River Flood-plain Risk Management Study and Plan, addresses the management processes for floods in the Maitland area.

Two plans set to change the way Maitland deals with flood risk and management

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Preparing for future fl oods

Flood waters across the New England Highway in Maitland during the 2007 flood Photo: Stephen Mudd

It looks at flood mitigation works to protect existing development, use of plan-ning policies to ensure new development is compatible with flood hazards and consid-eration of improved evacuation routes.

The plan notes that a tendency to ignore

evacuations warnings could lead to a large loss of life.

“Experience in the 2007 flood has shown that not all residents who are instructed to evacuate will do so immediately,” the plan says.

“The long period since the floods of the 1950s and 1970s, including the drought period of the 1990s, has resulted in a high level of complacency about the flood risks at Maitland, with a perception that the levee scheme protects against all floods.”

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber local news

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I magine building a house that could help find a cure for childhood cancer.

Well, that’s exactly what the Children’s Cancer Institute is hoping

to achieve through its Build for a Cure fundraising initiative.

Throughout September, International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, labourers have been hard at work build-ing a home on donated land in Glenmore Park in Sydney’s western suburbs, which will be auctioned off next month to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

Hunter-based building company, McDonald Jones Homes has got behind the cause, donating a lavish four bedroom, two bathroom home in conjunction with Austral Bricks, as well as labour, an in-kind donation of upwards of $200,000.

The generosity of local business will help support local children and families affected by cancer, such as 14-year-old, Rebecca Cooper from Maryland.

Miss Cooper was diagnosed two months ago with an aggressive form of cancer, which first presented as a tumor in her leg and spread to her lymph nodes and lungs.

Despite being confined to the hospital or her home, due the detrimental effect of the chemotherapy on her immune system, Miss Cooper remained upbeat and determined to beat her cancer, which she has cheekily dubbed, Terry the Tumor.

“I want Terry out of my life,” she joked. “He needs to stop being so clingy.” Children’s Cancer Institute executive

director, Professor Michelle Haber said she was blown away by the generosity of the companies involved in the fundrais-ing project.

“This ground-breaking campaign will raise much-needed funds that will take us a step closer to curing childhood cancer - it’s not if, it’s when.”

The home will be auctioned on Satur-day, October 26.

Business gets behind fundraiser to cure childhood cancer

COMMUNITY

Locals helping locals

14-year-old cancer patient, Rebecca Cooper with her boyfriend, Tom Hemingway and her mum, Dana Thomson at John Hunter Children’s Hospital

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

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CR PETER BLACKMOREMaitland City Council Mayor

Last weekend, Maitland Aquatic Centre reopened for the summer season.

East Maitland Pool will follow suit from 6.00am on Tuesday 7 October.

With all the warm weather we have been experiencing over the past month, a swim in Maitland Pool is the perfect way to cool off.

We are lucky to have such great swimming facilities in Mait-land, which will only be further boosted by the construction of a new indoor pool.

Construction is scheduled to begin on this $7 million project next year and it will be wonderful for the people of Maitland to have access to a swimming facility year round.

I also want to take this opportunity to tell you about some of the exciting activities taking place throughout Maitland these school holidays.

All four of Maitland City Library’s branches are hosting low cost and free Out of Your Mind themed activities.

Kids are invited to expand their minds by experimenting in the Library Science Lab, attending an Alice in Wonderland-themed Fancy Tea Party, taking part in a Zombie Boot Camp a Mystifying Magic Show, and exploring Dr Who.

A full list of activities can be viewed at maitland.nsw.gov.au/library.

Bookings are essential and can be made online. Maitland Gaol is hoping to encourage people to take a tour of the site and save with their school holiday special.

Throughout the school holiday period adults pay child prices on all self guided audio and guided day tours.

This is a really exciting opportunity to learn more about the gaol, the notorious criminals it once housed and daring escape attempts made throughout its 150 year history.

The gaol is open 9.00am to 5.00pm (last entry is 3.30pm) every day of the school holidays, including the long weekend.

For more information visit maitlandgaol.com.au

Maitland gets into the swim of things

MAITLAND MATTERS

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all council matters: maitland.nsw.gov.au

BOB PYNSENTCessnock City Council Mayor

I attended the CFMEU Mineworkers Memorial Day last week. It was an especially solemn occasion as we remem-bered the losses endured this past year, paying respect to the memory of four loved and well-respected members of our local communities. Over 1,800 names now appear on the Jim Comerford Memorial Wall-a tribute to those lost in mining tragedies in the region. With so many men and women in our community employed in this industry, it’s a timely reminder to always remember to put your safety first.

We at Council have received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on last week’s Spring Awakening Festival-a testament to the enormous efforts from Vicki Sienczuk and the team from the Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre. The Cessnock TAFE grounds more than catered for our 1200 festival-goers, and I look forward to seeing the community attend many more great Council events such as this.

As the winter sport season is wrapping up, I want to congratulate all of our local sporting teams, coaches, manag-ers and their supporters on a great 2014 season! We have seen some nail-biting finals, with a season of solid training and a lot of hard work and effort put in by all. Our City is known for producing sporting greats, so it’s awesome to see so much of that talent coming through at the local level.

Council is putting on a heap of great school holiday activi-ties for our local kids. If you haven’t already, visit one of our local libraries for a range of fun workshops for all ages-includ-ing filmmaking, anime and manga, pot plant decorating and much more!

I have been busy visiting as many local schools as I possibly can over the past month to let our local kids know about the 2014 Mayoral Photography Competition. Entries are coming through thick and fast so be sure to get yours in before Monday 6 October 2014. Great cash prizes will be awarded to the winning schools. More information is available through your local schools or on the Council website. Happy snapping and good luck!

Keeping up with all things Cessnock

CESSNOCK MATTERS

Wehave recieved

an overwhelming amount of

feedback on last week’s Spring

Awakening Festival

all council matters: cessnock.nsw.gov.au

local news

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David Evans General Manager 285–287 High Street, PO Box 220 Maitland NSW 2320t 02 4934 9700 info@maitland.nsw.gov.au

Agendas are available from our website or by contacting customer service. For information on development applications please visit our website – maitland.nsw.gov.au

PUBLIC NOTICES IMPROVING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICES Council is working on improving the ways in which we provide customer service. We provide services across the City to customers at a range of facilities including our pools, Art Gallery, Mount Vincent Landfill, Gaol, Visitor Information Centre, libraries and administration centre. We want to know what works, what could work better and the best ideas our community has for ensuring we provide excellent customer service. Make sure your thoughts count. Complete our customer service survey by visiting one of our Council customer service facilities or online at maitlandyoursay.com.au. You can also contact our Engagement Team on 4934 9896.Consultation closes Friday, 10 October 2014. Register at maitlandyoursay.com.au or like us at facebook.com/maitlandyoursay

GOAT FOUNDJuvenile female goat found wandering in the Rutherford area on Tuesday, 2 September 2014.The animal is white, wearing a collar and is currently being held by Council.If the goat is not claimed within seven days of this notification, Council may sell the animal pursuant to the Impounding Act of 1993.For enquiries, please call Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4934 9700.

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES RIVERLIGHTS MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL SATURDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2014Council wishes to advise that it has approved the temporary closure of the following streets in Maitland for the duration of the Riverlights Multicultural Festival:• from 6.00am to 12.00 midnight Saturday, 11 October 2014: – St Andrews Street between High Street and river bank; – Riverside car park; – Stillsbury Lane (between Riverside car park and High Street).

MAITLAND 2014 NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONCouncil intends to temporarily close some streets in Maitland to vehicular traffic during the New Year’s Eve celebrations on the riverbank. The closure details are:• from 6.00am Wednesday, 31 December 2014 to 9.00am

Thursday, 1 January 2015 (closure time at Police discretion): – St Andrews Street between High Street and riverbank; – Riverside car park; – Stillsbury Lane.• from 3.00pm to 12.00 midnight Wednesday, 31 December 2014: – High Street, eastbound lane from Belmore Road to just west of

Church Street; – High Street, westbound lane from just west of Church Street to

Little Hunter Street (egress to Belmore Road will be maintained via Little Hunter Street).

Comments regarding concerns about noise or the event itself should be forwarded in writing, endorsed ‘File 150/5 – Maitland New Year’s Eve Special Event’ and addressed to the General Manager, Maitland City Council, PO Box 220, Maitland NSW 2320.The closing date for comments (not related to the road closure) is 12.00 noon Wednesday, 8 October 2014.Comments regarding the above temporary closures for this event should be forwarded in writing, endorsed ‘File 122/944 – Maitland New Year’s Eve Road Closures’ and addressed to the General Manager, at the above address. The closing date for comments relating to this temporary road closure is 12.00 noon on Wednesday, 22 October 2014.

Interested residents are welcome to attend.Next meeting: 14 | 28 OCTOBER – 5.30pm

WW12514

M ilestone birthdays usually come with lavish gifts, but one Tenambit woman has turned the idea of birthday

presents on its head.When Jo Geering celebrated her 40th

birthday earlier this month she asked her guests to bring a food donation for the Maitland Neighbourhood Centre, rather than a gift for herself.

So, rather than ending up with a table covered in jewellery and vouchers, Ms Geering’s guests, dressed in the required op-shop attire, filled her lounge room

with Tim Tams, Weet-Bix and tuna.“I’m not super rich, but I don’t suffer - I

feel privileged,” Ms Geering said.“You don’t need anything, while there

are people out there who suffer.“I like to help people and just thought,

‘How can I turn this into something that will help somebody else?’”

Neighbourhood Centre Manager Naomi Rees said that the staff were blown away by the donations, which she said will go into hampers for up to 15 families.

“It’s a massive thing to base your whole 40th birthday around other people, and now the whole centre is buzzing with it - it’s given everybody such a boost.

“It’s like this injection of fantasticness!”

COMMUNITY

The gift of giving back

Jo Geering and Maitland Neighbourhood Centre Manager Naomi Rees, with just some of the donated food

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

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M aitland Aquatic Centre has opened for the 2014/15 season, this year in time for the school holidays.

Council experienced a social media backlash last year when the centre was not open for the school holidays, however still saw a 1.3 per cent increase in patron-age, with almost 145,000 people through the gates of both it and the East Maitland Aquatic Centre.

“Maitland has experienced some warm weather over the last few week,” Council’s manager community and recreation services, Lynn Morton said.

“I am sure there are many people in the community looking forward to cooling off with a swim in our local pools.”

Both pools will be offering learn to swim and aqua fitness classes over the season, with 42 people being employed as lifeguards and learn to swim instructors for summer.

This could also be the final season of the Maitland centre as patrons currently know it, with construction of the indoor pool expected to begin next year.

Earlier this month Council accepted a modified design for the pool after quotes

found it would cost more than the $7 million allocated.

The new design will see the 25x25

metre ten lane pool reduced to a 25x20 metre eight lane pool and the gabled roof replaced with a flat one.

Maitland Aquatic Centre opens its gates for the 2014/15 season

COMMUNITY

Dive into spring weather

Maitland Aquatic Centre lifeguards Mark Caeser, Karen Stulz, Camille McCluskey, Chad McCamley and Larry Barden are ready to have a splash

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber local news

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M aitland City Council has been unable to work with Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) on drainage

issues around Norm Chapman Oval.In May, Council resolved to consult with

the RMS on how the roadworks to widen the New England Highway between Racecourse and Regiment Roads could tie in with work on the oval’s persistent drainage problems but Council has said such a tie-in was not possible.

“However, designs have been prepared for the connection of the shared pathway on the southern side of the Highway across Norm Chapman Oval,” Council’s

manager infrastructure design, Kevin Stein told the Post.

“Drainage investigation improvements are currently being undertaken by Coun-cil and these plans [for the pathway] will be taken into account when formulating solutions to the drainage issues.”

The $3.5 million road project saw the highway widened to two lanes in each direction between Regiment and Race-course Roads to alleviate traffic problems at the known pinch-point, as well as pedestrian and cycle paths installed.

Work on the highway began in April this year, and has now been completed, three months ahead of schedule.

TRAFFIC

Roadworks complete

Road widening on the New England Highway at Rutherford has been completed three months ahead of schedule

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Youth learns important lessonPolice would like to thank the community

after a boy was identified following an appeal for information earlier this month in relation to a child approach at East Maitland.

About 4:15pm on Saturday, September 6, a 13-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy were at a playground on Macgowan Street when a youth allegedly approached the pair and spoke inappropriately to them.

The children left the playground and the girl told her mother what had happened.

Officers from the Central Hunter Local Area Command attended and started an investigation and within hours of a public appeal, police were able to identify a boy.

He was spoken to by officers and it was determined that he did not understand the consequences of his actions.

Central Hunter Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector John Zdrilic said he was very heartened and thankful for the immediate response from members of the public that brought the matter to a swift conclusion.

“This was very much a case of an unfortunate misunderstanding and a valuable lesson has been learnt,” he said.

Driver allegedly five times over the limit

A woman has been charged after she caught allegedly driving five times over the legal alcohol limit.

About 4pm on Thursday, September 18, Newcastle Highway Patrol Officers received calls about a vehicle allegedly travelling erratically in Cameron Park.

A short time afterwards, police intercepted a vehicle travelling north on the M1 Pacific Highway at Minmi and spoke with the 35-year-old female driver.

The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive reading.

The woman was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station, where a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.257, more than five times the legal alcohol limit.

The woman, from Gorokan, was charged with high range drink driving and granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on October 16.

Her provisional drivers licence was also confiscated and suspended for a period of six months.

Changes to crash reportingNSW Police have changed the way traffic

crashes are reported.The changes, which come into effect on

October 15, mean that the average motorist involved in a traffic crash where their vehicle needs to be towed, no-one is injured, particulars are exchanged and no one is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can now organise their own tow and leave the area, and report the crash to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 later.

In addition, drivers will no longer need to report minor collisions to police, even for insurance purposes.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said these changes would result in a more streamlined process for motorists.

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W eston’s Bob Wells Bridge has reopened to traffic after undergoing a $365,000 restoration, but later than

expected.The bridge, located near Weston Primary

School, was closed to traffic on April 9 this year, after it was found to be in an unsafe state, due to both weather conditions and its considerable age.

“Inspections of the bridge indicated a highly deteriorated condition of structural elements, indicating the bridge should be closed for public safety,” project engineer, Peter Davis said.

“I don’t have a date for the original bridge, however it is clear that the bridge has been repaired and reconstructed many times and probably dates back to the early 1900s.”

Work commenced on May 19, but was held up by what Mr Davis said was worse than anticipated deterioration in some structural components, which made replacement, rather than repair, necessary.

“When the bridge deck was removed closer inspection of the girders and piers indicated a condition that was not suitable for structural repair,” he said.

“Suitable traditional hardwood timber of

Bob Wells Bridge reopens after major restoration job

TRAFFIC

Better late than never

Cessnock City Councillors Jeff Maybury, Allan Stapleford (top), Graham Smith (middle), Catherine Parsons, Bob Pynsent and James Hawkins (bottom) on the reopened bridge

the necessary size is difficult and expen-sive to obtain.”

Instead, laminated timber was used, which Mr Davis said has the same

strength characteristics as traditional timber, but will withstand age and weather much better, giving the bridge a 75 year life span.

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

Wollombi School motion defeated

Concerns over the closure of the Wollombi Public School will not be heard in the NSW Upper House, after a Greens motion to endorse resolutions passed by Wollombi community members and Cess-nock City Council was defeated earlier this month.

The Department of Education is currently reviewing the viability of the five-student school.

At a public meeting held the week prior to the motion being put in Parliament, community members resolved to seek a meeting with Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli, about the school’s closure, as well as request that the Department provide the material it is basing its review on.

Following the public meeting, Cessnock City Council also resolved to request a meeting with Mr Piccoli as well as Duty Member for Hunter, Trevor Khan, request for Mr Piccoli to meet with the Wollombi community and also provide the review material.

The Upper House motion to endorse both sets of resolutions, introduced by Greens MP, John Kaye, was defeated.

“The NSW Upper House has now joined the Department of Education’s persistent refusal to listen to the concerns of parents and members of the wider community,” Mr Kaye said.

“A local public school is a fundamental right that not only serves families but also holds communities together.

“It’s clear that Wollombi is being rail-roaded by the Department despite the overwhelming support for the local public school.”

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WW8270ARE YOU A VETERAN, AN EX - OR CURRENT SERVICEMAN,

A WIDOW OR OTHER DEPENDENT?The Veterans’ Advocacy Service of the Legal Aid NSW represents claimants who seek fi nancial compensation and other benefi ts under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act and Military Compensation Scheme. It also provides representation at the Veterans’ Review Board and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Heart attack and disease are the globe’s biggest killers, claiming about 17.5 million lives every year.

In Australia, research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that an estimated 17 per cent of the Australian population has had a cardiovascular disease, with the prevalence similar in males (15 per cent) and females (17 per cent).

This increased seven-fold from 10 per cent of those aged 35-44 years, to 70 per cent of those aged 85 years or over.

World Heart Day, held on September 29, aims to help reduce these statistics by creating community alertness of risk features for heart attack and disease, as well as endorse defensive measures.

This year’s theme is “How youthful is your heart?” and encourages all fit young people to pursue a health-friendly life and be proud of having an ever-youthful heart.

Managing your overall health is important and your phar-macy is your health destination where your pharmacist can provide advice, counselling and professional services, along with dispensing prescription medicines.

Speaking to your pharmacist about your health and heart issues is a good way to begin a conversation on improving your heart health.

In addition, you can get more detailed information about heart health from pharmacies around Australia as they provide the self-care health information, where you can obtain special fact cards on warning signs of heart attack and high blood pressure.

To find your nearest location, ring 1300 369 772 or log onto the Pharmaceutical Society website at www.psa.org.au and click on ‘Self Care’ followed by ‘Use the Self Care Pharmacy Finder’.

A patient with diabetes recently asked me if she should avoid eating fruit because it has sugar in it. The answer is no. Fruits are very healthy. Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fibre, just like vegetables.

A carbohydrate is any food with sugar or starch in it. There-fore, because fruit contains sugar (even though it’s natural sugar), it means that fruit is a carbohydrate.

All carbohydrate foods increase your blood sugar level (BSL). Therefore, yes, fruit does increase your BSL, but so do all other carbohydrates (such as bread, cereal, pasta, rice, potato, sweet potato, corn, legumes, milk, custard, yoghurt and most snack foods).

Including carbohydrate foods in your diet is important to ensure you get all of the vitamins, minerals and fibre your body needs. The trick for people with diabetes is to eat enough carbohydrate to get these important nutrients, but not eat large quantities of carbohydrate at each meal or snack which can increase their blood sugar level too much directly after.

People with diabetes are generally advised to limit their carbohydrate amount at meals to approximately 15 - 30 grams of carbohydrate, and between meals to 0 - 15 grams of carbo-hydrate. A standard serve of fruit (e.g. one apple, one orange, one pear, one small banana, two small fruits like plums or mandarins, or half a cup of tinned fruit) contains approxi-mately 15 grams of carbohydrate.

Therefore, there is no need to avoid fruit. Just consider that it is a carbohydrate, so be careful how much you eat in one go. For example, one apple is great as a mid-meal snack, but avoid having two or three pieces of fruit. Another example is, if you’ve had a sandwich for lunch (two slices of bread contains approx. 30 grams of carbohydrate), then it’s better to avoid having a piece of fruit as well.

If you would like more information about how to measure carbohydrate in other foods, please come and see one of our dietitians at Feast for Health.

Fruit consumption and Diabetes

Looking after your heart

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We all value our vision. Our central vision, giving us the ability to see details, recognise faces, drive and read, comes from a part of the eye called the macula. Deterioration of the macula leads to a progressive loss of central vision. Although it can lead to legal blindness, it does not result in total “black” blindness.

Macular degeneration is usually age related, often affecting people over 50 years of age, but some forms affect younger people also. It is said that one in every seven Australians over the age of 50 have some evidence of macular degeneration and it is the lead-ing cause of blindness in our country.

While there is no cure for macular degeneration, there are some effective treatments that can stabilise or slow the progress of a certain type of the disease (called wet macular degeneration). Early detection is the key. You can notice changes yourself on a grid like test called an Amsler Test. You can look that up on the web or ask your family doctor or eye care professional for an Amsler chart. But even the Amsler test does not replace having a regular eye check with your local optometrist or eye doctor (Ophthalmologist).

I know I always talk about eating healthy, not smoking and exer-cising more, but macular degeneration is yet another reason why those things are important. They all prevent the development of macular degeneration. In addition, eating fish two or three times a week can help as well as a handful of nuts once a week. It may be worthwhile considering fish oil tablets if you struggle to eat fish that often. Remembering to protect your eyes from UV radia-tion with a good quality pair of sunglasses can also help, even for young children.

Most of all, talk to your family doctor, your optometrist or your eye doctor as a matter of urgency, if you notice any sudden dete-rioration in your vision.

Early treatment can save your sight. Further information can found on the excellent Macular Degeneration Foundation website, www.mdfoundation.com.au.

Keep safe.

Last week I discussed possible remedies to get your cash in quicker. However, this may not provide the long-term solution.

The key is to understand what has caused the problem. There are six key causes of cashflow problems:

1. Poor debtor collection processes (discussed last week)2. Insufficient customers3. Poor conversion rate of sales4. Inadequate sales per customer5. Incorrect pricing - lacking profit margin6. Excess spendingToo often people will just focus on either debt collection

processes or look to reduce expenditure. In most cases the core issue is not addressed or resolved and it may well be a combina-tion of the above. A business in stress will most often just look to reduce expenses, without considering the impact or the long-term implications. At the same time the cause of the stress is not resolved.

Finding the problem will require some analysis and you may need assistance in this area. Business owners will often know deep down what the issue is.

The first step is to get some numbers together:• What are your gross sales?• What are your direct costs?• Calculate the unit cost• How many customers do you have?• What is the average sale per customer?• What is your new customer enquiry rate?• How many of these are converted to customers?You also need (where possible) to get the same numbers for

(hopefully) the previous year. The prior two years would be pref-erable, but sometimes this is difficult. We need these numbers to be able to determine trends and hence identify the problem.

DR TONYISAAC

DAVIDPERROTT

MBBS RACGP Kotara Family Practice

Director of Advisers to Growing Business

Have the vision, look after your sight

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LORI HOPLEYOwner/Director of Feast For Health Dietitians

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ANTHONY PIGGOTTPharmacist of Piggott’s pharmacies

life & style

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Here’s your chance to be rewarded for supporting the Post’s tradies. Readers using one of the businesses listed in our extensive Trades and Services section can enter the draw to win a $50 voucher courtesy of Joe

Monas and the team at Betta Home Living

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To enter the competition, send us a copy of an invoice from one of the Post’s providers on completion of the job. The invoice can be posted to 19 Pearson St, Charlestown NSW 2290 or scanned and emailed to editorial@newcastlepost.com.au

A winner will be drawn each fortnight and notified.

Businesses wishing to become part of our Trades and Services section can call Gary here at the Post directly on 4032 8151.

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Staples transport refer toTrades & Services.Ph: 49 577695.

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As a publisher of market leading local newspapers and specialist publications, we continue to grow andincrease our share of the local advertising market in the areas in which we operate.Due to some exciting changes in our business, we’re looking to add an experienced sales rep to ourteam. With a mix of business development and account management, this will be a broad and variedrole. This may well develop into a leadership role for the right person.

The main responsibilities in these roles will be...

While this is a broad and varied role, the key skills you will require to be successful are...

commission, the opportunity for advancement and a relaxed working environmentalong with the security of joining a growing business.

cover letter addressing the selection criteria tolauren@newcastlepost.com.au

LAWN MOWING Cleanup garages.PensionerDiscounts. Ph 4971 6172or 0412 663 339.

GUTTER CLEANINGLeaf and bird proofing

Small repairs, Free Quotes Phone Terry TT4954 0309

L10548

POSITIONS WAWW NTED

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HANDYMAN Painter, interior, exterior. Wallpaper removal.Neat work. Prompt Service. Ph: Mick - 0408 298 994.

Pet Friendly! 2 bedroomcottages & 3 bedroomluxury villa. Fab location-Walk to shops, cafes, club,surf & beach. 2 hrs nth of Newcastle. seachangeholiday.com 1300 303 190 for yourFREE IE NFO PACK!

TRAVEL

JILL’S PET SITTING SERVICEDaily visits or live in Maturenon smokerReferences availablePh: 0418 246 384

PETS & PET CARE

phone 4962 5522 maitlandmarkets.com.au No dogs allowed on the grounds

2014 20142014maitland marketsmaitland marketsmaitland markets

6 JULY - Christmas in July

3 AUGUST - Horse’s Birthday

7 SEPTEMBER

- Father’s Day Carnival

5 OCTOBER - Harvest Celebra

19 OCTOBER - Spring Fair

2 NOVEMBER - Spring Racing Carnival

16 NOVEMBER - Yule tide

7 DECEMBER - Santas Visit

21 DECEMBER - Free Children’s Day

ation

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FIREWOOD4 SALE

Seasoned Bush Timber$95.00 per cubic metre

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PUBLIC NOTICES

STOCKLAND JESMONDIS TURNING 50!

We are calling for localsto share their memories,

history/and or photosof the centre over the

last 50 years.Please email us at

jesmond@stockland.com.au or ring us on

02 4955 9249with any material youwould like to share.

WANTED TO BUY!

Riz: 0431 296 741

Ca$h Paid Anytime

“Moving or Buying call anytime’’

www.spotpress.com.au

(02) 9549 1111 sales@spotpress.com.au

cataloguesmagazines

newspapersbrochures

newsletters

mailing &

WW10454

SPORT

The Wanderers downed Southern Beaches 20-17 in the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union Premier 1 grand final on Saturday.

Wanderers suffered an early blow, losing winger Dillon Rowney to a broken leg in the first few minutes, but the Two Blues put first points on the board with a try to replacement winger Dan Murch. James Wivell converted, giving Wander-ers a 7-0 lead.

Southern Beaches pressed back, with halfback Martin Delore darting over to score from the back of a ruck. Mark Butler evened up the scoreline with his successful conversion.

But a penalty right in front saw Wivell give Wanderers a 3 point lead again, only a few minutes later. The score remained 10-7 going into halftime.

Both sides were awarded penalty goals in the second half, taking the score to Wanderers 13, Beaches 10.

Wanderers extended their lead, with Andrew Tuala storming through Beaches’ defense off the back of a lineout. Wivell’s conversion gave the Two Blues a 10 point lead.

Southern Beaches hit back, with a try awarded to William Fraser. Butler converted bringing the score to Wander-ers 20, Beaches 17.

Win for Wanderers

NHRU Premier 1 grand final winners, Wanderers

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WW9398

Do you enjoy driving or throwing for

A well-established distribution company is seeking reliable and strong people for distribution in the Hunter and Newcastle regions. There will be two people in each van one driver and one thrower.

Eight-hours shifts every Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings.

GOOD RATES.NORMAL DRIVERS LICENCE ESSENTIAL with the ability to drive a van.

You will be using a tablet with a GPS and tracking system so candidates familiar with tablets will be looked on more favourably.

PLEASE CONTACT SPIROS ON

0456 451 111

extra income?

WW12068

SPORTthe hunter post // www.thehunterpost.com.au

Wednesday 24 September 2014

T he Western Suburbs Rosellas made it three Tooheys Cup Premierships in a row, with a win in Sunday’s Newcas-tle Rugby League grand final.

Running out 22 to 8 winners over the Cess-nock Goannas, the Rosellas reinforced their reputation as one of the strongest regional rugby league clubs in Australia, but for a disappointed Cessnock club, it was their fifth grand final loss in as many attempts over the last seven years.

On the back of a superb defensive display and a dominant kicking performance, Western Suburbs never looked threatened and always seemed to have the game under control.

Two early tries to the Rosellas took them to a 10 nil lead and while Cessnock hit back midway through the first half, a try to the Rosellas on the stroke of half-time opened the lead to 12.

The second half was a very dour affair with the Rosellas giving the Coalfields club very few attacking opportunities, eventually running out 14 point victors to claim the 2014 Tooheys Cup.

A barnstorming performance from Western Suburbs second rower Warren Schillings earned him the JJ Wilson Man of the Match.

Three in a row for the Rosellas

Wests take out the Tooheys Cup Premiership Photo: Trish Evenden

Western Suburbs defeat Cessnock Goannas in the Newcastle Rugby League grand final

Rosellas halfback Brad Murray also played a starring role in the win with a superb kicking game.

Saturday was also the final match at both the clubs for coaches Craig Miller (Rosellas) and Steve Kidd (Goannas).

The win was a fitting way for the Rosellas to farewell Miller who, ironically, will be taking over the reins at Cessnock next season with the vision to take the Goannas one step further.

For the Cessnock club, the loss ended their seven game winning streak and shattered their hopes of breaking the runners-up curse, however their outgoing coach Steve Kidd has done a fantastic job to lift the club from outside the top five during the season to premiership contenders.

The club will be looking to go one better next year.

The other grand final results saw Western Suburbs defeat Maitland in the under 18s with a 16-8 scoreline, Central Newcastle upset South Newcastle in a golden point thriller in the OAS Under 23s with a 17-16 final score, while the Western Suburbs club picked up another trophy in the Klosters Reserve Grade downing Central Charlestown, 28-22.

WW10870

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