northern exposure #15

8
NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/1 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011 By HEATHER SMITH MAYORAL candidate Alice Cartan has two projects in mind if she is elected this September: a skatepark for Thirroul and to make Wollongong the centre for circus excellence. The former councilor and ex-director of Circus Mon- oxide said the city already had a vibrant performance community and making it a destination for performers would attract significant benefits. “Circus is very innovative,” she said. “It has that phys- icality, the extra artistic element … it’s not high brow and it’s not sport. “I think Wollongong has moved beyond the cultural cringe of being a steel city so why not look at some- thing like circus?” Ms Cartan said a permanent Big Top would be a drawcard for the city and the existing circuses – Monoxide, Half High and Circus WOW – would have training and performing space that could attract inter- national acts. “Perhaps a consortium of government and private sponsorship could make it happen,” she said. Ms Cartan, who will be standing as an independent at the council elections, said WF Jackson Park in Thir- roul could be an ideal location for a skatepark but any potential site would have to be agreed by residents and stakeholders. “It would be a part of the community, not hidden in some remote spot, and it would have the added ben- efit of passive supervision,” she said. Ms Cartan, who recently stood down as convenor of Neighbourhood Forum 3, said she was proud to have been involved in a group which offered constructive criticism. “If we saw a problem, we would offer constructive suggestions on what could be done,” she said. “Meet- ings were sometimes fiery with diverse views but we always came to a point where the whole group could live with the action items.” The former inter-personal skills trainer with the De- partment of Social Security is standing for Ward 1 Connect with us at; www.northernexposure.net.au Contact the editor; [email protected] Northern Exposure is brought to you by Northern Illawarra Online (NiO) Alice endorses three-ring circus which has been extended to Balgownie under the draft review of ward boundaries. The proposal is to reduce the number of wards from six to three and have four councilors per ward, plus the mayor who will be popularly elected. “I think it’s time we had a mayor who represented the community,” Ms Cartan said. “I have a history of rep- resenting community groups, I have no business or political ties and I’ve got experience as a councilor.” She said community engagement would be her high- est priority if elected. “I will be finding out from the people of Wollongong what they want council to do for them,” she said. For more information, email Ms Cartan on heycart@ tpg.com.au or phone 4267 4496. Innovative ideas: mayoral aspirant Alice Cartan.

Upload: northern-exposure

Post on 25-Mar-2016

220 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

Northern Exposure is THE definitive method to communicate with your customers and community in the Northern Illawarra.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/1 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

By HEATHER SMITHMAYORAL candidate Alice Cartan has two projects in mind if she is elected this September: a skatepark for Thirroul and to make Wollongong the centre for circus excellence.The former councilor and ex-director of Circus Mon-oxide said the city already had a vibrant performance community and making it a destination for performers would attract significant benefits.“Circus is very innovative,” she said. “It has that phys-icality, the extra artistic element … it’s not high brow and it’s not sport.“I think Wollongong has moved beyond the cultural cringe of being a steel city so why not look at some-thing like circus?”Ms Cartan said a permanent Big Top would be a drawcard for the city and the existing circuses – Monoxide, Half High and Circus WOW – would have training and performing space that could attract inter-national acts.“Perhaps a consortium of government and private sponsorship could make it happen,” she said.Ms Cartan, who will be standing as an independent at the council elections, said WF Jackson Park in Thir-roul could be an ideal location for a skatepark but any potential site would have to be agreed by residents and stakeholders.“It would be a part of the community, not hidden in some remote spot, and it would have the added ben-efit of passive supervision,” she said.Ms Cartan, who recently stood down as convenor of Neighbourhood Forum 3, said she was proud to have been involved in a group which offered constructive criticism.“If we saw a problem, we would offer constructive suggestions on what could be done,” she said. “Meet-ings were sometimes fiery with diverse views but we always came to a point where the whole group could live with the action items.”The former inter-personal skills trainer with the De-partment of Social Security is standing for Ward 1

Connect with us at;

www.northernexposure.net.auContact the editor; [email protected]

Northern Exposure is brought to you by Northern Illawarra Online (NiO)

Alice endorses three-ring circus

which has been extended to Balgownie under the draft review of ward boundaries. The proposal is to reduce the number of wards from six to three and have four councilors per ward, plus the mayor who will be popularly elected.“I think it’s time we had a mayor who represented the community,” Ms Cartan said. “I have a history of rep-resenting community groups, I have no business or political ties and I’ve got experience as a councilor.”She said community engagement would be her high-est priority if elected. “I will be finding out from the people of Wollongong what they want council to do for them,” she said.For more information, email Ms Cartan on [email protected] or phone 4267 4496.

Innovative ideas: mayoral aspirant Alice Cartan.

Page 2: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/2 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

By Simon Beaufils, director, and Monique Napper of Ray White HelensburghWHEN agents are competing to sell your home, they’ll generally quote an estimated sale price or range. Along with the commission charged, this is another number that can vary wildly between agents. The key thing to remember is that no agent is able to guarantee a property’s sale price.Real estate agents are marketers, not valuers, and their job is to get the best price the market will bear. The agent must first present the property for sale in the best possible light, using quality photography and enticing descriptions. They then need to attract as many people to view the property as possible using marketing mediums like the internet, print advertising and by direct marketing. Lastly, they need to use their sales and negotiating skills to motivate as many of those people as possible to compete for the property at auction, or make private treaty offers.All of these tasks require a level of skill, experi-ence and dedication. Agents estimate an expected price range by evaluating the prices that have been achieved recently for similar properties nearby (com-parable sales). Good agents are likely to be realistic rather than overly optimistic with price expectations.Agents should provide you with the list of comparable sales they’ve used to arrive at the estimated selling price. Look closely to see if they really are compa-rable properties – more than a few streets away, in much better or worse locations, or radically different in size, style or design are not comparable properties.

Make sure the (quoted) price is rightIf you choose the agent who quotes the highest price range just on that basis, your troubles may be just be-ginning. History shows the best offers and the high-est level of buyer activity occur in the first few weeks a property is on the market. If the price is too high, the property will get fewer inspections and probably no offers, meaning you’ll eventually have to lower the price. This leaves prospective buyers wondering what’s wrong with your house.If the price is right, the opposite is likely to occur – plen-ty of interest, competing buyers who make genuine of-fers and a much better chance of a good outcome.

MORE than 900 people have registered to be part of human sign spelling out Stop Coal Seam Gas at Austinmer Beach tomorrow, May 29.Stop CSG Illawarra spokesman Chris Williams said it was important for people to register on the website (www.stop-csg-illawarra.org) so organisers could de-termine the size of the letters to be formed.He said the 11am event would be held no matter what the weather. The community action is designed to be a family af-fair, with circus performers, folk musicians, commu-nity stalls and barbecues.To register or volunteer, email [email protected] or call Mr Williams on 0425 329 963 or Jess Moore on 0416 232 349.

Stand up for the crowd

MARKET MOVES

Page 3: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/3 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

HELENSBURGH musician Sammy Baker doesn’t in-vest too much of himself in competitions.The 19-year-old folk pop artist is currently in the final five of RockIt, a national Youth Week talent compe-tition that he didn’t remember he had entered until organisers called to say he had made the final.“I was halfway through production of my EP (Game Over) and I got an email to say I was in the final,” Sammy said. “I’d forgotten.”His song, Jagged Shards of Escrow, is about the de-structive nature of drugs on not only the users, but friends and family. “It’s metaphorical but twisted,” Sammy said.It’s the second national competition in which he has tasted success, winning a scholarship to study sound engineering at the School of Audio Engineering through Channel V’s My School Act 2009 where he finished in the Top 10.“I was bored one day and thought ‘I might as well en-ter’,” said the St John Bosco graduate. “I didn’t have high hopes.”Sammy is the first to admit he is a very lucky guy but makes his own luck as well.Entering a “cheesey” jingle in a competition for Il-lawarra Toyota, the $1000 first prize allowed him to have his EP professionally mastered; his scholarship put him in contact with a well-regarded German pro-ducer whom he used on Game Over, flying to Bris-bane for the privilege.And his guitar teacher was Helensburgh’s Darren Coggan.“I grew up listening to my dad’s Cat Stevens records,” he said, referring to Coggan’s tour as the legendary performer. “I really love the old stuff, like Billy Bragg.”

Folk muso makes his own luck

The winner of RockIt will be announced on June 11 but Sammy isn’t fussed. While he’s hoping to win the $3000 Allans Music store gift voucher rather than the popular vote so he can buy a Maton acoustic guitar, his sights are set on real estate.“I plan to build a portfolio,” he said. “When you invest young, you get a head start.”To hear more of Sammy Baker’s music, visit www.myspace.com/sammybakermusic

Sammy Baker: “I really love the old stuff.”

SINCE 2004, the community has gathered once every season to help keep the heart of Helensburgh looking beautiful ... if you can spare just one hour, then join us at the roundabout on the corner of Parkes and Walker streets tomorrow from 9:30am.Bring some gloves ... if you have a wheelbarrow or shovel, that would be handy too, as we will be mulch-ing the roundabout garden.Find out more about this Lions Club project; www.helensburghlions.org.au

Winter working bee beautifies town

Page 4: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/4 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

BURN NOTICE By Attitude to Burn owner and personal trainerCaroline Wade-MartensTHERE is a plethora of infor-mation (and often misinforma-tion) around about the best ways to lose weight, including

the typical quick-fix options like shakes or pills, so it can be hard to decide what is going to work.You often hear people who want to lose weight say “I’m going on a diet” or “I’m joining the gym”. One per-son starts their diet, eats nothing but salads and tuna day after day and at the end of week one, they are ready to eat the first bystander they see, but achieve no real loss on the scales. Another person starts at the gym and heads for the cardio equipment, pound-ing away for a fruitless few weeks before becoming disillusioned with the lack of results compared with effort. Yet another person just has to start exercising and the weight seems to fall off them.You often hear weight loss being a simple equation of calories in versus calories out. While this is often the case, it isn’t always that simple. There are many lifestyle factors that can hamper the best weight loss efforts.Nutrition is the most important factor in weight loss. It’s about 70-80 per cent of the overall equation. You cannot out-train a bad diet.The best way to keep on track is to keep an honest daily food diary. From here you can keep an eye on your daily calories and see that you are eating cor-rectly and exercising adequately.Secondly, we need to ensure we are getting enough appropriate exercise. Hours and hours pounding the treadmill is not the answer. Exercise must include re-sistance training to promote an increase in lean body mass (muscle) which in turn helps to increase your metabolism. The best type of cardio exercise is interval training – short bursts of intense activity, followed by a recovery period. Twenty to 30 minutes a few days a week is all it takes. Things like games of soccer emulate this style of training perfectly.Thirdly, sleep and relaxation should not be over-looked. The average requirement is about seven

to eight hours a night for adults. Current research shows that up to 37 per cent of the adult population over the age of 30 is getting only six hours or less of sleep a night.Research proves that an increase in obesity and dia-betes is related to long-term sleep deprivation. This means that even if you are doing all the right things, a lack of sleep can stall your weight loss.Many people find they work better in a slightly stressed state: your heart beats a bit faster, you can feel your blood pressure rising slightly. These are effects of your body shifting to the “flight or fight” response – and re-leasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. While this might help you to meet deadlines, too much will have an overall negative impact.Increases in cortisol levels can predispose you to fat storage and obesity by causing insulin resistance – which can lead to Type 2 diabetes.So to ensure good health, a fired-up metabolism and fat loss, you need to ensure all these bases are covered.

Lack of sleep can stall weight loss

FIVE baby Mini Lop bunnies have dis-appeared from their Helensburgh home and face starvation if not returned to their mother.The bunnies, nota-ble for their long, floppy ears, vanished on Thursday and the owners are frantic to get them back. They include a white, nine-week-old bunny, as well as four others – coloured black, grey and two caramel – aged only four weeks old.Anyone with any information is urged to contact Tara on 0488 987 981, the Helensburgh Vet on 4294 2508 or Helensburgh Police Station on 4294 1013.

Bunnies need their mum

Page 5: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/5 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

HEATHCOTE MP Lee Evans is keen to promote tour-ism in the Illawarra, saying Helensburgh should be the beginning or end of a tourist trail.He said the tourist drive between Berrima and Helens-burgh should be promoted and he planned to convene a taskforce “to get tourism moving in this area”.“It’s a great opportunity for tourism that hasn’t been taken advantage of,” Mr Evans said.He also pointed to the drive between Helensburgh and Bomaderry as another tourist opportunity.Mr Evans said Helensburgh needed to decide its role. “Is it a business area, a restaurant area or a destina-tion?” he asked. In his view: “I think the streetscape needs to be cleaned up to make it look more ‘villagey’.”He encouraged locals to decide their town’s future. “People need to think about what they would like their area to look like in 25 years time,” he said.“They need to get together and plan the future and come to some middle ground.”Mr Evans said it was important communities took the initiative. “I get excited when communities take control of their own destiny,” he said.

Get tourism moving: Evans

NEIGHBOURHOOD Forum 2, covering Coledale to Clifton, has folded following the annual general meet-ing where volunteers could not be found to fill the po-sitions of convenor, secretary and treasurer.“As our neighbourhood forum cannot function without this structure, it has been decided to advise Wollon-gong City Council that Neighbourhood Forum 2 will no longer continue to meet,” said outgoing convenor Noel Bottrell. “So this is the end of NF2 in its current form.”Mr Bottrell said he had suggested to council that the neighbourhood forum boundaries be reviewed. The area could potentially be absorbed by Neighbourhood Forum 1, which meets in Helensburgh, or Neighbour-hood Forum 3, which meets in Thirroul.A long-term member of the forum, Dave Beswick, re-cently compiled a history of the group, which dates back to 1993. He said Coledale and its surrounds had a proud record of community activity and NF2 was part of that long history.“NF2 and its predecessors have been significant ini-tiators and contributors to many successful commu-nity actions and events in this area,” Mr Beswick said, citing the preservation of the Norfolk Island Pines at Sharky’s Beach and the retention of the Coledale camping reserve as examples.A get-together to celebrate the achievements of the forum during the past 19 years will be held soon.

Neighbourhood voice falls silent

Page 6: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/6 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

THE bronze coalminer statue affectionately known as Charles (after the founding father of Helensburgh) turned three last week.The large statue pays homage to the coalmining heri-tage of Helensburgh and helps galvanise the strong community spirit that weaves through all aspects of the local culture.Find out more about Helensburgh’s rich heritage at www.historichelensburgh.org.au

Charles turns 3!

RESIDENTS of Wollongong will next month be asked to draw, write, snap and share their vision of the city for the next decade as part of council’s Community Strategic Plan.Administrator Robert McGregor said participants would be reflecting what they loved about Wollongong

Share your vision of city’s future

and the direction they would like to see it take.“We will be asking our diverse community – including students and children – to contribute to the journey to help us frame a better strategy,” Mr McGregor said.Council’s community consultation process follows the adoption of an engagement strategy for the city’s Community Strategic Plan.The NSW Government requires all local governments to develop a Community Strategic Plan, encompass-ing social, economic, environmental and civic leader-ship for the next 10 years.The draft Community Strategic Plan will be devel-oped through discussions with residents and in con-junction with business, social and community repre-sentatives, as well as government agencies.Mr McGregor said the engagement strategy was a vital tool in drafting a plan that will feature a vision for the city for the next decade. “Council has begun its work on engagement through conversations with the neighbourhood forums and listening to advice from the Community Reference Panel,” he said.For further information, visit wollongong.nsw.gov.au

EACH year in early November the Festival of Flight is held in Stanwell Park to celebrate and honour the Australian aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave.This year organisers hope to make the festival more diverse and appealing by attracting creative artists and kite/flight fanciers to come along.To make this day a success, organisers are looking for people interested in promoting an arts and flight festival, with all ideas and suggestions welcome to make the day a celebration.If you would like to assist with the organisation of this event, please contact Bronwyn McGrath at [email protected] or phone 0422 414 236.

Festival needs more lift

Page 7: Northern Exposure #15

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/7 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

POLICE BEATBy Sergeant Lawrie DrurySector Supervisor, Helens-burgh Police StationIN the past few months, sev-eral business premises in the Helensburgh CBD have been broken into, with cash and a laptop stolen. This is

unusual as, on one occasion, two break and enter offences were committed on the same night.In one instance, at least two offenders were seen to place a chlorine bomb next to glass panels in an at-tempt to break the window of a clothing store in Walk-er Street. No damage was done and inquiries are continuing to identify the car used by the offenders.Helensburgh Coal Mine was also targeted, with thieves stealing property belonging to miners as they worked underground. The offender/s entered an un-authorised area where the miners’ gear was stored and also used their keys to access vehicles. Security at the mine has been upgraded with police increasing patrols of the area.Helensburgh Police with the assistance of other re-sources, such as the Highway Patrol and various proactive units, have increased the police presence to address the offences. Although the high visibility of police does deter criminals, we still need the com-munity to be our eyes and ears whenever possible.

Break-ins on the rise

AFTER having to change its choice of play when a nearby theatre com-pany chose the same production, Stanwell Park Arts Theatre (SPAT) now needs to fill the lead male role for its production of Kindly Leave the Stage.

An actor aged 25 to 45 is needed to bring the comedy to audiences in August.Directed by Matt Palmer, Kindly Leave the Stage fea-tures Rupert and Sarah who announce, to the embar-rassment of their dinner guests, that they are getting a divorce. When the actor playing Rupert stumbles on a line, the audience realises the previous action is a play within a play.As the prompter tries to get the show moving again, the cast begins to argue – out of character – and the result is complete chaos.Rehearsals are being held at the Stanwell Park CWA Hall on Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm to 9pm.Five performances are scheduled for the weekends of August 6-7, 12-13 and August 19.For more information, phone Wayne Turner on 4294 2661 or 0407 204 564.

Kindly fill this role

TEENAGERS are being encouraged to connect with the Wollongong City Gallery through a free event fea-turing music, performances, food and a graffiti wall.Circus performer Shona Conacher and two local bands – Tommy M and the Mastersounds and My Little Underground – will entertain students on Thurs-day, June 2.“There will also be free food, a graffiti wall and art competitions,” said the gallery’s program director, John Monteleone.He said the youth initiative, based on the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Generationext program, aimed to encourage students to explore the gallery’s latest exhibition while taking part in an event free of parents and teachers.

Art for teenagers’ sake

Mr Monteleone said gallery staff would supervise the students. “We have found that many students at this age do love contemporary art and they need time to en-joy this with their friends and fellow students,” he said.Bookings are essential. RSVP by Friday, May 27, by phoning 9241 7196 or emailing [email protected] can also visit the generationext Facebook page at www.facebook.com/generationextsydney

Page 8: Northern Exposure #15

GIG & EVENTS GUIDE May 28 - June 3

NORTHERN EXPOSURE #15/8 SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

Saturday, May 28 Bulli Rotary meeting - Thirroul Bowling ClubUOW Market Alley - University of Wollongong

Wednesday, June 1Boy & Bear featuring Jinja Safari + Emma Louise - Uni Bar, WollongongJaime Robbie Reyne + Places People + Gentlemen & Vagabonds - Harp Hotel, WollongongOwl Eyes + Jenny Broke the Window + Jack R Reilly - Otis Bar, WollongongDigital Wollongong - Hotel IllawarraMeet the Gardener - Wollongong Botanic Garden

Thursday, June 2LazrTag - Onefiveone Nightclub, WollongongAndrew Kidman, Patrick Trefz & The Windy Hills - Heritage Hotel, BulliFairness In Child Support - Coniston Community HallPez + Maya Jupiter + 360 - Harp Hotel, WollongongTommy M & The Mastersounds + My Little Under-ground - Wollongong City Gallery

Friday, June 3Get the Party Started - The Pink Show - Towradgi Beach HotelJamm Zone - Towradgi Park BowlsMy Friend The Chocolate Cake - Heritage Hotel, BulliEleanor McEvoy - City Diggers, WollongongWollongong Fresh Produce & Creative Traders Mar-ket - Crown Street Mall, WollongongCalifornication - Heathcote Hotel

For all gig info, visit: www.nio.net.au

Pink Show - Helensburgh Workers ClubChildren Overboard + Bec Sandridge - 5 Crown LaneCraichouse On Fire - The Builders Club, WollongongBass Kleph + Chris Arnott - Onefiveone Nightclub, WollongongSaturday Farmers Market - Flame Tree Community Food Co-op, Thirroul 10am - noonLong Live Bon Scott - Waves Nightclub, TowradgiSpurs For Jesus + Daredevil + Birdmouth + Handle-bar + Last Trip - The Patch, Fairy MeadowThe Barefooted Souls - Dicey Riley’s, WollongongJon Lajoie & Beached Az - Uni Bar, WollongongThe Villains + The Pennys - The Builders Club, W’gongThe Ultimate P!nk Show - Beaches Hotel, ThirroulSouth Coast Big Band - Wollongong Golf ClubJo Vill - Towradgi Park Bowls

Sunday, May 29Gypsy Swing - The Builders Club, WollongongHelensburgh Working Bee - Chemist corner (inter-section of Walker and Parkes streets)Pyscho Zydeco Presents the Blues Roadshow - Tow-radgi Beach HotelDai Pritchard - Beaches Hotel, ThirroulGoRedForWomen‚ Free Healthy Heart Challenge - Austinmer Beach 11amHuman Sign to Stop Coal Seam Gas - Austinmer beach 11am

Monday, May 30Bulli Greyhound Racing - Bulli Showground