the echo august 2009

8
www.theecho.net.au August 2009 1 Healing Hospitals Blue Mountains Hospital and the provision of local health services have dominated local news for some time. Despite renovations to the mater- nity wing and construction of a men- tal health unit, there has been a long struggle to attract and retain enough medical staff to operate the hospital at peak capacity, and there has been widespread concern in the community that existing services are under threat as well. These concerns are echoed by the lobby group, HEAL – Hospital Equity Access Lobby. See page 6 Giant Book Sale The Blue Mountains East Timor Sis- ters are holding their annual Book Sale on Saturday August 29th and Sun- day August 30th. It is being held in the CWA Hall, at Leura, and it’s going to be big. And don’t worry – if you can’t make it on the Saturday, it is definitely worth dropping in on Sunday, as there will be a new lot of books put out for sale. See page 2 Afghanistan Film Launch The long awaited and much an- ticipated film on Afghanistan by award winning local filmmaker Gary Caganoff (National Pass, The Second Step) will have it’s world premier screening at The Edge Cinema on 20th August. The 50 minute documentary, entitled The Garden at the End of the World, follows Blue Mountains permaculturalist Rose- mary Morrow to Afghanistan to see the effects of 25 years of war on the peo- ple, and together with Australian aid organisation Mahboba’s Promise, help the country in its struggle to rebuild. See page 3 Warm & Fuzzy Fest This community arts project came about through a humble cuppa and chat late last year in the commu- nity room at Katoomba North Public School. Some local residents were talking about what makes North Ka- toomba such a unique and dynamic place and what they love about their community. The project will celebrate all that makes North Katoomba such a great place. That Warm & Fuzzy Festi- val will be held on Sunday August 23. See page 5 Vote For The Echo The 2009 Blue Mountains Business Advantage Awards are now open and the People’s Choice Award is won by popular vote. If you would like to vote for The Echo or any other local busi- ness, visit www.bluemts.com.au/ nominate.asp. Your community news Issue 9 August 2009 FREE Join on an OFF PEAK 12 month membership & your friend joins FREE! (OFF PEAK HOURS 12noon-4pm) Some conditions may apply CLASSES • Only Abs • Pilates • Posturecise • Tai Chi Plus Cardio & Weights Equipment Level 2, 98 Bathurst Rd Katoomba www.villagefitness.com.au 4782 3809 Ask about our BUDGET PRICES for all types of printing See our advertisement on Page 5 THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL 500 full colour business cards (one side only) $90 incl GST Ph 4782 2514 [email protected] Large range of jewellery, gifts watches & clocks Watch, clock & jewellery repairs & remakes, valuations & restrings Personal Service Professional Repairs Quality Jewellery Tel 4782 2371 Fax 4782 4535 Email: [email protected] 157 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780 We stock Chamilia Charms and Bracelets Gemglow Jewellers Opening Hours Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm Sat 9am-1pm Sun 10am-12pm Ph 4757 3255 www.wentworthfallsvet.com.au www.theecho.net.au

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The Echo local community newspaper for Leura, Katoomba and Wentworth Falls in the upper Blue Mountains, NSW Australia

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Page 1: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 1

Healing HospitalsBlue Mountains Hospital and the

provision of local health services have dominated local news for some time. Despite renovations to the mater-nity wing and construction of a men-tal health unit, there has been a long struggle to attract and retain enough medical staff to operate the hospital at peak capacity, and there has been widespread concern in the community that existing services are under threat as well. These concerns are echoed by the lobby group, HEAL – Hospital Equity Access Lobby.

See page 6

Giant Book SaleThe Blue Mountains East Timor Sis-

ters are holding their annual Book Sale on Saturday August 29th and Sun-day August 30th. It is being held in the CWA Hall, at Leura, and it’s going to be

big. And don’t worry – if you can’t make it on the Saturday, it is definitely worth dropping in on Sunday, as there will be a new lot of books put out for sale.

See page 2

Afghanistan Film Launch

The long awaited and much an-ticipated film on Afghanistan by award winning local filmmaker Gary Caganoff (National Pass, The Second Step) will have it’s world premier screening at The Edge Cinema on 20th August. The 50 minute documentary, entitled The Garden at the End of the World, follows Blue Mountains permaculturalist Rose-mary Morrow to Afghanistan to see the effects of 25 years of war on the peo-ple, and together with Australian aid organisation Mahboba’s Promise, help the country in its struggle to rebuild.

See page 3

Warm & Fuzzy FestThis community arts project came

about through a humble cuppa and chat late last year in the commu-nity room at Katoomba North Public School. Some local residents were talking about what makes North Ka-toomba such a unique and dynamic place and what they love about their community. The project will celebrate all that makes North Katoomba such a great place. That Warm & Fuzzy Festi-val will be held on Sunday August 23.

See page 5

Vote For The EchoThe 2009 Blue Mountains Business

Advantage Awards are now open and the People’s Choice Award is won by popular vote. If you would like to vote for The Echo or any other local busi-ness, visit www.bluemts.com.au/nominate.asp.

Your community newsIssue 9 August 2009 FREE

Join on an OFF PEAK 12 month membership & your friend joins FREE!

(OFF PEAK HOURS 12noon-4pm)Some conditions may apply

ClAssEs• Only Abs

• Pilates• Posturecise

• Tai ChiPlus Cardio & Weights

Equipment level 2, 98 Bathurst Rd

Katoombawww.villagefitness.com.au

4782 3809

Ask about ourBUDGET PRICES

for all typesof printing

See our advertisementon Page 5

This MonTh’s special500 full colour business cards

(one side only)$90 incl GsT ph 4782 2514

[email protected]

Large range of jewellery, gifts watches & clocksWatch, clock & jewellery repairs & remakes, valuations & restrings

Personal Service Professional Repairs Quality Jewellery

Tel 4782 2371 Fax 4782 4535 Email: [email protected] 157 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780

We stock Chamilia Charms and Bracelets

Gemglow Jewellers

opening hoursMon-Fri 8.30am-7pm

Sat 9am-1pmSun 10am-12pm

ph 4757 3255www.wentworthfallsvet.com.auwww.theecho.net.au

Page 2: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 2

Emergency Services 000(Police, Ambulance, Fire)Katoomba Police Station 4782 8199 Police Assistance Line 131 444Lifeline 24-Hour Counselling 131 114Katoomba ChurchesSt Hilda’s Anglican Church 4782 1608St Canice`s Catholic Church 4782 2804Uniting Church 4758 8295 Lighthouse Church 4782 1352Bethany Gospel Hall 4782 5956The Salvation Army 4782 5124 Leura ChurchesSt Albans Anglican Church 4782 4503St Bonaventures Catholic 4782 2804Uniting Church 4757 3435Wentworth Falls ChurchesHoly Trinity Anglican Church 4757 1516 St Frances Xavier Catholic 4782 2804St Andrews Presbyterian 4759 1998Community GroupsCommunity Health Centre 4782 8201 Katoomba Neighbourhood 4782 1117The Salvation Army - Community Services 4782 9251 - Rehabilitation Centre 4782 7392Breastfeeding Association 4782 9474Blue Mtns Bushcare 4780 5528Katoomba Girl Guides 4727 0655Rotary (Upper Blue) 4787 1857W. Falls Lions Club 4782 2178Leura/Katoomba Probus 4782 1672Central Blue Probus 4757 4695Toastmasters 4784 1349Alliance for Sustainable 4784 1349Well Being Sports ClubsKatoomba Swimming Club 4782 2292Cricket Club 0402 167 136Katoomba Tennis (keys from the Handystore) Juniors Competition 4782 2303Wentworth FallsTennis 4784 1044(keys from the Falls Food Hall)Junior Rugby League 0432 219 564 Table Tennis 4782 3174

The EchoDelivered monthly to Katoomba,

Leura & Wentworth Falls

Local News EditorJeanie Baxter0420 356 705

[email protected]

Managing Editorand Advertising Enquiries

Margaret StepniewskiPO Box 121, Mulgoa, NSW 2745

Phone/fax: 4773 8974

[email protected]

NEXT ISSUE BOOKING DEADLINEFriday August 21, 2009

Advertising policy: Priority is given to businesses connected to local residents. An editorial focus on a lo-cal business may be included if space permits, at the Editor’s discretion. Community news: The District Gazette welcomes the following information (published free of charge): community news and events, local achievements, births, deaths, obituaries, weddings, engagements, anniversaries & birthdays. Articles of interest will be accepted at the Editor’s discretion. Ar-ticles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Edi-tor. Letters to the Editor may be printed and edited as necessary. Names must be submitted but can be with-held from publication at the writer’s request. Every ef-fort is made to print correct information but no respon-sibility can be taken for errors or omissions.

See the digital page-turning edition

of The Echo at www.theecho.net.au.

Register your email for notification when the new issue is online. Send your

email address to [email protected]

FELLOWSHIP “Don’t fear them who can kill the body; but fear HIM (God) who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell.” If you want friendly fellowship and good, plain Bible teaching with un-modern worship style,Katoomba Baptist Church, Waratah St (opp Coles) 10am Sundays Ph 4758 8674

What’s Happening in the Community Room

Katoomba North Public School is a community based school which offers support to students, families and com-munity members in the North Katoom-ba, Katoomba and Leura areas.

The Community Room is a place to come along and meet and social-ise with other people in our area, learn new skills or teach others a skill or give younger children the opportunity to play and socialise with children their own age. Most activities are FREE and we would like to thank everyone for offering their time to support these wonderful programs.

The Community Room offers:Monday - 9.15-11.30am Play and

chat for parents/carers and 0-5 year olds; 3-4pm Homework Network sup-porting parents by helping them with students homework

Tuesday - 9.15-9.45am Music for 0-5 year olds; 9.30-12.30pm Gar-dening Course in conjuction with our Community Garden; 9.45-10.30am Play and Chat visits the Pre-school for a play; 10.30-11.30am Play and Chat for parents/carer and 0-5 year olds

Wednesday - 9.15-11am Craft or information session

Thursday - 9.15-11.30am Play and chat for parents/carers and 0-5s

Friday - 9.30-11am Craft or infor-mation session

Just pop into the school and we will direct you to the Community Room or phone us on 4782 2743.

Giant Book SaleIf you have books to donate contact

Ruth on 4757 1953, or leave them at 8 Westborne Ave, Wentworth Falls.

The Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters were founded in 2004, and support a number of worthwhile projects including providing university scholarships for young East Timorese women. Also the provision of sewing machines, cloth and advice on running a small business for the Hato Builico Women’s Co-operative and the Mana Marta Co-operative which provides income and maintains the traditional skills and culture of the women. The Alola Foundation contributes ‘Mother and Baby Packs’, a starter pack of nappies, soap, clothing and other es-sentials to mothers and new born ba-bies. If you are interested, you can read more at the BMETS website at www.bmets.org.au, or come and intro-duce yourself at the book sale.

LA’S RegistrationLittle Athletics meet at Pitt Park Oval

in Wentworth Falls Saturday 9am

Registration dates Saturday 29th Aug 1pm - 4pm

Saturday 5th Sept 10am - 14pmat Wentworth Falls School of Arts

Thursday 3rd Sept 4.40pm - 5.45pmTuesday 8th Sept 4.40pm - 5.45pmat Pitt Park Oval in Wentworth Falls

Jill: 4757 3534, Julie: 4757 3806

The Echo is proud to be an accredited member of

The Blue Mountains Business Advantage Program.

In a World Heritage Region, Local Business means Good Business

Page 3: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 3

RED LENTIL VEGETARIAN CATERING

4-course meals delivered to your home or office

Tiffin lunches combine the convenience of takeaway,

the culinary flair of a restaurant & all the best things about

a home-cooked meal!$15 (plus $1-$2 delivery)

Free delivery to Katoomba town centre

Phone 0422 850 762

Adept ConveyancingPh: 4757 1675

Fixed FeeConveyancingJennifer G. Laing

J.P. CPCLicensed Conveyancer

Lic No. 1334793

Email: [email protected]

10a Station St Wentworth Falls NSW 2782(Behind Jakeman’s Art Supplies)

You’re Never Too Old To Learn

Here’s a challenge to the young - and the young at heart!

Beatrice (Betty) Holmes is an ex-traordinary “mature-aged” student. Be-fore embarking on a venture to learn the intricacies of the personal com-puter, she knew nothing about such technology. Her teachers? Visiting rel-atives and friends.

As soon as you meet Betty, who lives at Morven Gardens, you detect her vibrant attitude to life and learning.

“When I get confident with the email and internet, I’m going to do a course in Cyber Learning,” said Betty enthusiastically.

Irrepressable? Absolutely!Because Betty was a professional

gymnastics teacher, she still loves to walk and do gentle exercises in order to keep her body and mind in good shape.

“If I stopped walking, I’d stop!” she says. Even after retiring from the NSW Education Department, Beatrice Hol-mes continued teaching all-age gym-nastic classes.

One lady who knows her well said that Betty’s hearing and eyesight are remarkably good and that she is a wonderful conversationalist too.

When asked “What keeps you so well?” Betty replies, “I love natu-ral health, exercise and a challenge.” What an achiever!

Afghanistan LaunchAfter eight years of much hyped

international aid and reconstruction ef-forts, and the homecoming of millions of refugees, Afghanistan is still expe-riencing widespread hunger, home-lessness and lawlessness. In this very beautiful but confronting film we go with Rosemary into the very heart of Afghan suffering and hear stories of survival directly from the women and children who are hurting the most.

For more than thirty years Rose-mary has been working with war-torn communities in South East Asia, Af-rica, and Eastern Europe. She was invited to go to Afghanistan by Afghan Australian Mahboba Rawi to help build the capacity of the organisation in Ka-bul and to simultaneously carry out a feasibility study for permaculture.

With so much suffering perpetuated for so long all that Afghanistan clings to now, is hope. Fed by hope, both Rosemary Morrow’s work and that of Mahboba’s Promise, is to help the Af-ghani people plant the seeds of peace in the garden at the end of the world.

Rosemary and Mahboba will be attending the screening at The Edge Cinema on Thursday 20th August, and updating us on what’s happening in Afghanistan now, what’s next for their work, and how you can help.

With all profits of the night go-ing to Mahboba’s Promise tickets are $20 each and only available online at http://www.lysisfilms.com. There is a limit of 350 tickets so be quick to re-serve your seats. The film is not suita-ble for children. For further information please see the Lysis Films’ web site or call 041 99 72 427.

Kawai Acoustic & Digital Pianos

Waratah School of Music is proud to announce it is the exclusive Blue

Mountains stockist of Kawai acoustic and digital pianos. Why travel to Syd-ney when you can buy a Kawai right here with professional advice? You can also save on expensive freight charges by shopping locally. Kawai pianos are famous all over the world and share stages with Steinway and Yamaha at the International Piano Competitions.

The AMEB recently completed re-furbishment of their city studios and af-ter extensive research chose 12 Kawai pianos including uprights and grands. Kawai also took out the 2008 Acoustic Piano of the Year award with their lat-est K-3 model.

Kawai Digital Pianos have also been approved by the AMEB for ex-amination purposes to grade 4 with the acclaimed Harmonic Imaging sound technology and AHA-1V hammer ac-tion a Kawai Digital Piano is a wonder-ful alternative to an acoustic piano for those who want to save space in the home and have a portable option.

We also stock DDrum kits, regal tip brushes, sticks, drum heads, Bos-phorus Cymbals, sheet music, metro-nomes, musical gifts and much more.

Call in to our music school supply shop at 91 Waratah Street Katoomba between 2–8pm or phone for an ap-pointment. 47 82 9500

‘The small shop with big savings!

Don’t Enjoy Public Speaking?

Have you ever envied the ease and confidence some people show when they speak in front of a crowd? Toast-masters members are holding a two-day Speechcraft Course, Saturday 29 August and Saturday 12th August, at the Rest Easy Motel, Wentworth Falls. They will show you how to present yourself and overcome any fears you have about speaking out in public. For more information, contact Noni McDe-vitt at 4784 1349.

Page 4: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 4

Local Personality K a t o o m -

ba resident James Gid-dens is a cam-panologist, a ringer of bells. He learned the art of ‘change ringing’ as a ten year old choirboy, ring-ing the church

bells in the beautiful gothic bell tower of St Jude’s Church in Randwick.

“There are a few ways to ring a bell” he explains. “You can tie a rope to the clapper and beat it against the side of the bell. Or you can rock the bell – that’s called chiming. And then there is change ringing”

Change ringing is the method that gives the mellifluous tones we associ-ate with cathedral bells. A bell tower will have six to eight bells in different sizes, and these are actually hung upside down. When the bellringer pulls on the bell rope, it turns the bell 360 degrees, and sounds a long slow note. Bellring-ers have developed their own unique form of music to make the bells sound in a different order each time they swing. The lovely resonant flow of sound is ac-tually based on a precise mathematical pattern that aims to play every possible arrangement of the six or eight distinct notes. This is called a ‘peal’.

The method originated in England in the 1700’s and was exported to Aus-tralia with English culture and continued in churches with English styled bell tow-ers. “Not all bellringers are associated with the Church,” said James. “Many people just enjoy it for its own sake.”

The Church did play an important role for James, however. He sang in the choir, rang the church bells and played the church organ at St Judes, and later at the Scots Kirk in Mosman, and St John’s in Maroubra.

James continues to teach piano and voice at both the Mitchell con-servatorium and Mary Mackillop Girls’ school in Bathurst, as well as teach-ing privately with his business “Singing Satisfaction”.

He also conducts a fledging choir at St Alban’s in Leura. And, of course, he continues to ring church bells, in Lithgow at the Anglican Church once a week.

“It’s a passion that stays with you,” says James. “You often find that bell ringers have been ringing bells since they were quite young.”

Historic Bells Ring OutHistory was made in Bathurst re-

cently when the recast bells of Bathurst Anglican Cathedral were rung for the first time in over one hundred years.A team of bell ringers, including Ka-toomba ringers Hannah Musgrove and James Giddens representing the Lith-gow bell tower, had the honour of ring-ing the Bathurst bells for the first time since the mid 1890s.

Bell towers usually have eight bells tuned to the musical octave, each bell requiring one ringer. While the effect for the listener is musical, the appeal for ringers is the mathematical se-quencing and the moderate exercise. Active bell ringers of all ages, male and female, and from all walks of life enjoy the mental and physical stimulus and the camaraderie. For further enquiries contact James Giddens on 4782 5782 or 0427 472 166.

Growing VeggiesA fantastic kitchen garden at Ka-

toomba North Public School is being developed by parents, students and lo-cal community members. The design of the garden is based on the story of Mir-ringan and Gurrangatch, the Gundun-gurra Aboriginal peoples’ Dreaming sto-ry of the creation of the Blue Mountains. Much of the work in the garden is done as the practical component of a course run by TAFE Outreach Blue Mountains.

Experienced teacher Sue Girard will teach how to improve soil, grow plants from seeds and cuttings, protect against pests and diseases, garden construc-tion and much more and it’s free!

The course will run on Tuesdays from 12–3 and begins on August 4th. Enrolments after this date will be ac-cepted. For more information, contact Jeanette on 4758 9966.

Leura C.W.AThe members of Leura Country Wo-

mens Association meet for companion-ship, various cultural activities, handi-craft, bus trips (husbands welcome) and study a different country each year. This year it is Egypt.

Unfortunately, one of our longtime members, Loreen Spears, passed away last week and will be greatly missed.

The C.W.A meets every Monday morning at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome to join us anytime for a cup of tea at the CWA Hall, 137 Megalong St, Leura.

Enquiries to Margaret Muirhead (secretary) 4782 5975.

We Print• Menus• Stickers• Envelopes• Note Pads• Letter Heads• Business Cards• With Comp Slips• Posters• Large Format Posters• Docket Books• Reports (Monthly, Yearly)• Manuals• Brochures• Offset Printing Services• Digital Printing for Fast Turn Around Time• Raffle Tickets• Colour Copies• Black & White Photocopying• Spot Colour Matching• Catalogues• Order of Services• Book Marks

We also provide • Book Binding• Saddle Staples• Perfect Bound Books• Wire Binding• Comb Bound Books• Folding (DL, Z fold, In half, A3 to DL, Concertina)• Die Cutting• Creasing• Numbering• Perforating• Graphic Design Solutions• Type Setting

We offer BUDGET PRICESand prompt efficient service.

Commercial and Colour PrintingLarge Format PrintingMagazinesPhotocopying B & W and ColourBusiness Cards

88 Govett Street, Katoomba 2780

Tel: 4782 2514 ~ Fax: 4782 2534Email: [email protected]

Use your own artwork or allowus to produce your documents

to a professional standard.Ask us to quote on all

your printing requirements.

Ask us to quote on all your printing requirements

88 Govett Street, KatoombaTel: 4782 2514

email: [email protected]

Page 5: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 5

Warm & Fuzzy FestSunday Aug 23 from 10am-3pm at

Katoomba North Public School Hall ‘Belonging’ is the name of a photo

documentary styled self-portrait of North Katoomba to be created from a series of opportunities to gather and record responses from community members on the topics of identity, cul-ture, belonging and connectedness. People will be asked “what does it mean for you to be part of the Katoom-ba North community”.

We will set up a photo booth on the day. Through our everyday expres-sions in the everyday objects we use are hidden clues of who we are so we will all be invited to have our photo tak-en wearing our favourite winter woolies and we’ll display the photos on a col-lage that can be displayed in the school and at community gatherings. By look-ing at our individual expressions using the beanie and other winter woolies we all wear we hope to capture a snapshot of who we are as a community. We will add to this the words and stories we collect about what makes North Ka-toomba special for us.

Other activities on the day will be:• display of the skills acquired in the

series of craft workshops

• try some hand dyeing – buy a kit with wool to dye on the day and a pat-tern so you can take it home to knit

• sale of hand-made winter woollies• spinning demonstration and the

opportunity to have a try • Wrapped with Love – learn to knit

or crochet a square for the Wrapped with Love project

• a workshop on ways to keep your house warm from Transitions Blue Mountains

This is a call out to be involved in our community as we look at who we are, how we see ourselves and have fun in the process!

Narrow Neck BirdsA fine June morning after a few

days of rain: just the day for a walk along Narrow Neck. The mist was still swirling in Jamison Valley and we stopped several times to take photos and admire the views before parking at the gate, and walking along the fire trail. As the mist lifted and the sun appeared the Banksias sparkled in the sunshine. Banksia ericifolia and Banksia marginata were in full bloom and the birds were having a feast of nectar. Red Wattlebirds were every-where, chasing each other and any

other birds they saw. Yellow-faced and White-naped Honeyeaters were common and we could hear the calls of Crescent Honeyeaters although they were harder to see. Eastern Spine-bills and Silvereyes dashed to and fro in the Banksias. We disturbed a large flock of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding on Banksia seeds and their plaintive cries echoed as they circled over the swamp. Brown Thornbills and White-browed Scrubwrens hopped around in the undergrowth while a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos fed on the seeds of a Black Ash.

We stopped for morning tea on a cliff ledge where we could look down the valley towards the headwaters of Lake Burragorang. By this time the mist was almost gone and we enjoyed the break in the warm sunshine. While we ate a pair of Rockwarblers foraged almost at our feet. If you sit quietly they are quite fearless.

Eventually we dragged ourselves away and walked back to the car. The honeyeaters were still busy in the Banksias, Crimson Rosellas flew in front of us along the track and we watched a White-throated Treecreep-er searching for insects in the bark of a Stringybark. What a great way to spend a winter morning. By Jill Dark

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Page 6: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 6

Healing Hospitals From page 1:

The HEAL group feels that moun-tains residents are being discriminated against because the services at the lo-cal hospital have been downgraded, and have put together a petition de-manding this be recognized and ad-dressed, to be presented to State Par-liament in July.

“Nobody expects a local hospital to provide heart surgery,” said Heal Spokesperson Councillor Janet Mays. “But six years ago it was possible to have your appendix out, or a hernia fixed at Katoomba hospital. This is no longer the case. And depending on what day you come in, even peo-ple with broken bones are being sent down to Nepean.”

“HEAL sees the hospital as an es-sential community service.” she adds. “But when we raise these issues, we find that even the terms of the discus-sion have changed over the past few years. Patients are now referred to as clients, and the hospital is referred to as a business, rather than a service.”

HEAL is also concerned about lo-cal ambulance services. “We only have two full time ambulances,” said Janet Mays, “and they are spending

all their time ferrying people down to Nepean. When they are out of the community, ambulances have to be called in from Lithgow.”

Local MP Phil Koperberg has been very active in his support for the hos-pital and the maintenance of local health services, and supports HEAL in its quest for better local services. With this in mind, he recently met with the manager of the Hospital, Andrea Williams and a senior executive from Western Sydney Health Services, and the results have been very positive.

“Accident and emergency, mater-nity and opthamology are all now run-ning at full capacity,” said Mr Koper-berg. “Day surgery will be increasing after the end of the school holidays.The problem has always been attract-ing enough staff,” he continued, “so the hospital has reclassified certain positions, and increased renumera-tion. We are currently in the process of recruiting more staff to re-open the five beds in the mental health unit.”

The ambulance issue is being ad-dressed with the development of a separate patient transport system through the Western District Health Area.

Recently Mr Koperberg stepped in to prevent the closure of the Operating

Theatres at Springwood Hospital. “The system is not without its problems,” he said. “There is still room for improve-ment. But we will keep working at it.”

You can contact HEAL by ringing 4784 1873. Phil Koperberg can be reached on 4751 3298 or email [email protected].

Church ConcertsSt Alban’s Church, Megalong St, Leu-ra. August 16th 3pm ‘On the Lighter Side,’ a program with an ‘American flavour’, delicious part songs by Samuel Barber and Aaron Copland, spirituals and folk arrange-ments, jazz legend George Shearing’s first setting of Shakespeare Songs and Sonnets, plus the ‘Kings of Swing’ including songs of George Gershwin and Cole Porter with piano and double bass. Tickets are $15 ($12 concession).St Hilda’s, Katoomba St, Saturday 22nd August, Organ recital with Walter Sutcliffe with works by three of the greatest com-posers for organ, Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and Floor Peeters Also included are works by Samuel Wesley, Edward Elgar and Percy Whitlock. The cost is $10 per ticket.

Page 7: The Echo August 2009

www.theecho.net.au August 2009 7

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Art StreetThis year the Winter Magic Art

Street Exhibition was both bigger and better than the ever before. Over 50 businesses in and around Katoomba St displayed artworks, so that Katoom-ba’s shop windows were transformed into a street-sized gallery for the pleas-ure of passers-by.

The theme was “When the Stars Come Out”, and the artists of the Blue Mountains produced some fan-tastic pieces with a huge variety of interpretations.“We had 67 entries this year, a huge increase from last year and a wonderful mix of 2D, 3D and installation. We also had a few young peo-ple enter this year exhibiting work of a high standard,” said Art Street co-ordinator Sally Grant.

The judges this year were local artists John Ellison and Tara Lilburne, and Blue Moun-tains Cultural Centre Director, Simon Ambrose. The Mayoral Award for Overall Art Street Winner went to Jane Stapl-eford, for her star studded gather-ing of clothespeg movie stars, ‘Peg-gywood’. It appeared in the window of Lloyds Jewellers. Jane painted a series of pegs, each one a “star” (right). She even painted one of the jeweller of Lloyds Jewellers which was a great touch and showed for a wonderful collaboration between art-ist and shop owner.

People’s Choice Award went to Roderick Kiredor for ‘Winter Queen’, which was exhibited in The Heart of Stone, and the Artist and Business Collaboration Award went to Very Fashion, in Waratah St, and the Ma-ternity Coalition.

In the 2D Category, the winner was Evan Wells for ‘Microcosm’ in Gra-ham Chuck’s Optometrist, and The Hatter’s Café hosted the winner of the sculpture/installation category, Pam de Groot for ‘Planetary Tribal’,

The Textile Group, exhibited in Zuri won the Commu-nity Group Award for their piece ‘Star-lings’. The Under 18’s winner was Lil-ianne Ivins for ‘When The Lights Go Out, The Stars Come Up’, which was displayed in Mountain Style.

And finally, the winner of the “Most Magic” Special

Award was Peter Shoemark for ‘Twin-kle’, an artwork made entirely of found objects which appeared in the window of MacArthurs Arcade.

Prizes included $1,000 generously sponsored by the Cultural Centre, a Mayoral Prize of $1,000 and $500 worth of Matisse Art materials from The Artist’s Store, Katoomba.

Art Street has received some fund-ing from ArtStart, a NSW Government Program, to run art workshops to pro-vide a space for young people to learn new skills and techniques, and aim to encourage them to display their work in next year’s Art Street.

Leura ConcertThe Leura Singers and the Black-

heath Phoenix Choir held a very suc-cessful concert on 27 June at the Leu-ra Uniting Church. Under the skilful baton of much loved conductor, Walter Sutcliffe, the two choirs lifted to recre-ate magnificent works of Haydn and Mendelssohn.

The quartet for Haydn’s St. Nicho-las Mass, comprising Margaret Hilder, soprano, Rhianna Williams, contralto, Michael Francis, tenor and the ever versatile Walter Sutcliffe, bass, added to the choirs’ harmonious efforts, with the glorious, liquid notes of soprano, Lyn Phillips. Well known local musi-cian, Ron Marks, provided variety with a horn solo.

Local charity CANASSIST, founded in the Blue Mountains by the late Den-nis Heffernan, benefitted from the pro-ceeds by $750.

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