The happy competitors after they had performed (left) and (right, from left) Frank Daniel, Poetry Slam co-ordinator Milies Merrill, winner Josh Simpson and second place-getter Alan Frager.
Josh Simpson dunks Cowra
Poetry Slam event
LOCAL poet Josh Simpson won Friday night’s Australian
Poetry Slam Heat held at the Cowra Library. Seven competitors competed before
an audience of around 60 people.
Each competitor had only two minutes to say their
piece before being judged by five members of the audience chosen at random. At the end of each performance each judge
displayed the score out of a possible 10 in the manner of judges at a diving
competition.
Performances ranged from traditional bush poetry to
contemporary material and monologues. Competitors’
ages ranged from primary school children through to teenagers and to more
mature poets.
Josh Simpson was declared the winner from Cowra’s Alan
Frager with Canowindra’s Frank Daniel in third place. Both Josh Simpson and Alan Frager will now
compete in the next round at the New South Wales State Library in Sydney on November 13 for
a place in the Australian finals. Prize
money will amount to $5000 plus a trip to a poetry competition in Bali.
You can view and hear the winning performance by Josh
Simpson by pressing the PLAY icon on the video panel below. You can also hear an interview with Josh by
pressing PLAY on the first audio panel or an interview with Poetry Slam co-ordinator,
Miles Merrill, in the second audio panel, as he describes the origin of poetry
slams.
02-07-2009
$100,000
reward for information
on Cowra
girl’s stabbing murder
A $100,000 reward has been offered
for information over the stabbing death six years ago of Cowra girl, Kristy Lee Williams.
Ms Williams, 22, died from a single stab wound to the chest
at Erambie Mission in June 2003.
New South Wales Police Minister, Tony Kelly, says the
Government is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those
responsible for her death.
“This substantial reward reflects the seriousness of the
crime committed,” says Mr Kelly.
“Evidence presented at the Coronial inquest in November 2007
demonstrated that this was what police have described as a vicious crime.”
Strike Force Cotswold has been formed to investigate the
killing.
Mr Kelly urged anybody with any information to come forward.
“Even the most insignificant information could prove to be
the missing piece of the puzzle that leads to a conviction,” he says.
Cowra High School . . . state-of-the-art science lab.
$1.6m upgrade for
Cowra High School
science centre
COWRA High
School will receive more than $1.6 million to fund refurbishment of
its science centre as part of Burrinjuck public schools’ latest funding
injection of $3,606,490.
The funding has been welcomed by Country Labor Duty MLC for
Burrinjuck, Mick Veitch.
Mr Veitch says the funding is part of the Rudd Government’s
Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools Program, which
is a component of the $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution.
“The $3,606,490 earmarked for Burrinjuck public high schools
is for new, state-of-the-art science laboratories centres,” Mr Veitch says.
“These works will start shortly.”
Burrinjuck schools to receive funding include:
Cowra High
School – $1,637,382 for a refurbished science centre; and
Grenfell’s Henry
Lawson High
School – $1,969,108 for a new science centre.
Premier Nathan Rees says public schools in New South Wales are benefiting from
approximately $3.2 billion worth of projects through the Australian
Government’s unprecedented $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution.
“State-wide we are implementing the largest capital works and
maintenance project ever undertaken,” the Premier says.
“This program is providing desperately needed jobs in every
community in the country.
“I know local builders will be especially pleased to hear
that these schools have received funding,” says Mr Rees.
Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, says this
is a great investment in the future of NSW education.
“This complements the NSW Government’s Building Better Schools Program,
where we are currently undertaking an upgrade of 800 science labs in 155
schools,” says Ms Firth.
Cowra High School 'Breakaway' students (from left) Stacey Ashe, Samantha Banks, Kiara Cutmore, Rosalyn Drage, Ashleigh Eastwood, Chloe Fields, Melissa Harding, Tarcia Kennedy, Taleisha Pattinson, Bianca Reed, Chloe Thompson, Ebony Williams and Ebany Woods.
Cowra High School
students graduate
from unique program
THE latest participants in Cowra High School’s unique Breakaway program were acknowledged at a special presentation ceremony on Tuesday. The program, designed for Aboriginal high school students, is run by a committee with members from Cowra High School, Cowra TAFE, PCYC and Greater Western Area Health. The current program was funded by TAFE Western through Cowra TAFE College.
Thirteen girls from Year 9 have been involved in Breakaway during Terms 1 and 2 this year. Each student received a presentation portfolio from Deputy Principal of Cowra High School, Ian Pattingale, and Co-ordinator of TAFE Outreach Programs, Sue Woods.
The presentation at Cowra TAFE College was attended by a large crowd of family members and friends including parents, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and sisters. In addition to receiving a folder containing the Breakaway certificate and list of skills and courses successfully completed, each girl received a photograph and the special Breakaway T-shirt designed by art teacher, Terry Fahy.
Right: Taleisha Patterson receiving her portfolio from Cowra High School Deputy Principal, Ian Pattingale.
Artwork completed by the students under the guidance of indigenous artist Nyree Reynolds was on display at the ceremony. In addition to TAFE and school staff, many other people were involved in presenting particular sessions of the course and they were also in attendance at the ceremony. Student Tarcia Kennedy gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the girls involved.
Nyree Reynolds also released the news that she has entered a painting in the 17th annual Mil-Pra AECG Aboriginal Exhibition and Art Award currently being held at the Casula Powerhouse. The painting features two of the Wagambirra dance troupe, Samantha Banks and Ebony Williams, who also were involved in the Breakaway program. Ms Reynolds completed her painting after working with the Breakaway group during May.
Cowra High School teacher, Cheryl McAlister, congratulated the students on their friendliness, co-operation, interest, active participation and excellent behaviour throughout the program, commenting that they were a credit to their school and their families.
Below (from left): Ebany Williams with her art work, five of the 'Breakaway' girls display their works with teacher Nyree Reynolds, and Biana Reed with her painting completed under the guidance of Ms Reynolds.
Robert John Everingham . . . former Narromine man on the run.
Police seek assistance to
locate escaped prisoner
POLICE have urged the public not to approach a former
Narromine man who escaped from custody in Sydney
yesterday (Monday) morning.
A spokesman says Robert John Everingham, 41, escaped while
receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Waverley.
Everingham is a prisoner at Long Bay
jail, on remand for breach of an apprehended violence order and assault.
He was a prisoner at the Long Bay Correctional Centre and was
taken to the nearby hospital in Birrell
St for treatment for a medical condition.
It appears Everingham escaped from the facility about 7.30am and was last seen
heading west in Birrell St,
the spokesman says.
There are concerns for the escapee’s health as he suffers from a medical
condition that requires regular treatment.
He is described as being of white/European appearance, tanned complexion, 180cm
tall with a medium build and short dark hair. He was last seen wearing prison
greens. Anyone with information about
his location is urged not to approach him and call police immediately on
“Triple Zero”.
Wyangala
and District Residents’ Association president, Fred Bell, has sent to CCN this letter concerning the recent
announcements by State Water on plans for access to Wyangala Dam. CCN
is pleased to publish Mr Bell’s letter in full:
AT A meeting held on Thursday June 25 between State
Water engineers, Paul Devery and Wayne Bennett from Cowra Council, and myself,
we were informed by Michael Jefferies from State Water that they had considered
four alternatives in regard to the closure of the road over Wyangala Dam.
First was the upgrade of Mt. McDonald Rd at
a cost of $3.5 million dollars. This being a major upgrade, taking into account
the bends, the gravel patches, converting the road into a two lanes, etc. but
did not take into account the Reg
Hailstone Way portion of the journey. Emergency
vehicles and the school bus being catered for with a swipe card and boom gates
over the new road over the dam.
Second was to build a bridge
near the trout farm at a cost of $9.5 million dollars, which included the
upgrade of Trout Farm Rd.
Third was to build a bridge and
new road from Darbys
Falls, this option was
too expensive and subsequently dropped.
Fourth was to duplicate what
they have just done at the Hume Weir, where they dropped two concrete blocks at
either end of the dam, then just walked away. I treated this comment as a
threat and I was not very impressed by it. To me it was a warning to shut up or
else.
Michael Jefferies then went on to tell us that their
number one concern in closing the road was for the safety of their employees
working on the dam.Now to my knowledge
there has not been any accidents or near accidents in the last 40 years that
the new dam has been opened.
Note, Not once was there any
mention of closing the road due to a terrorist threat.
Mr Jeffries then went on to inform us that State Water
have always had the policy of applying to the State Government Treasury for the
most cost-effective and with the least environmental impact option. So they
will be only applying for the Mt McDonald option. I asked the question that
when they apply for this funding, would they also be mentioning the fact that
lives may be lost on the Reg Hailstone section [and] they said that they would
not be mentioning that fact.
He also said that they (State Water) would be more
than happy to build the bridge if given the funds as either way, all they will
do is subcontract the work and that would most likely go to Cowra [Shire] Council.
PS. As you are aware, option one only caters for the
emergency vehicles and school bus; it does not take into account the impact on
the tourist trade, the State Park, the Country Club, the service station, etc. At the last public meeting we held Mr George
Warne, CEO of State Water, said that he would go away and consider all
concerns that had been raised.In my
opinion, this has not proven to be the case.
Fred Bell,
President,
Wyangala and District Residents’ Association.
(The association will hold a public meeting at the
Wyangala Country Club beginning 7pm on July 28.)
CCN last
week posted an article quoting the Mayor of Cowra, Bill West, who described
State Water as being “rogue corporate cowboys”.[CLICK
HERE] to read Cr West’s views.
JESSE Murphy, a 16-year-old Cowra
High School student, has been awarded
a performing arts scholarship to the McDonald
College at Strathfield in Sydney.
The college provides a specialised performing arts program
that supplements the rigorous academic program. The McDonald College
is the only independent school from Preparatory to Year 12 that provides
specialist training on a daily basis in the performing arts.
Cowra has good reason to be proud of Jesse since scholarships
are rare and only those that really impress get an audition let alone are
awarded scholarships.
Jesse says he loves all facets of the dramatic world and has
recently performed in the drama production by Cowra’s YAMA, which was the first
major production in the newly refurbished Cowra Civic Centre.
His enthusiasm was nurtured by Melinda Wilson, a member of
the dedicated drama staff at Cowra
High School, and Ms
Wilson says she is delighted at the opportunity Jesse has to further his dream.
Jesse’s scholarship is a partial payment for his tuition fees
and needs financial help to take up the opportunity he has been given for the
next two years. A meeting is planned for 7pm on July 13 at the Cowra
Neighbourhood Centre (15 Vaux St)
to discuss ways that further financial aid can be raised.
Those willing to help a young man go for his dream are
requested to attend the meeting to offer suggestions to make sure that he can
take up this scholarship.
For further information contact Richard Neate on 6345 5297 or
leave a message at the Neighbourhood Centre on 6342 4900.
THE North Sydney Youth Orchestra (NSYO) will perform in the
Cowra Civic Centre on Saturday July 11at 8pm as part of its tour of central-western
New South Wales.
The orchestra comprises 45 musicians aged between 12 and 25 years
and is accompanied by two conductors.The touring party includes a wind ensemble and symphony
orchestra.
The NSYO is a non-profit community organisation that rehearses
weekly at Beecroft in north-western Sydney
and presents several concerts and special performances each year. View the
program for details by [CLICKING
HERE].
The NSYO symphony orchestra was formed in 1983, performing
its first concert at The King’s School, Parramatta.
The association is now in its 25th year and currently has more than 100
talented young musicians aged from five to 25 years as members of NSYO’s four
orchestras. To find out more about this outstanding orchestra [CLICK HERE].
All money raised from the concert will go toward the Rotary
International Polio Project. CCN has
been featuring regular updates from the Polio Warriors, Terry and Sue Metcalfe,
as they pedal around Australia
for the same cause. View their entries in Readers’ Write menu tab.
Tickets are available at the Cowra Visitor Centre and at
Browse Awhile bookstore.
Tickets are $15 for adults, student and concession $10, and under
12 years $5. Early booking is advised as seats are limited.
The performance is sponsored by Cowra Rotary Club and Cowra
Shire Council.
The busy, colourful start of Saturday's 'Le Tour de Greenethorpe'.
On your bikes . . . in the first
Tour de Greenethorpe
MORE than 100 bicycles were rolled out, dusted off and tyres
(and riders) pumped up for Saturday’s inaugural LeTour de
Greenethorpe.
Starting in the middle of the village at Edward Square
Greenethorpe locals and friends turned up in droves to get physical and enjoy
themselves.
The event was staged to promote physical and mental
well-being, raise funds for the memorial hall and to get the community together
for some fun. Locals of all ages took part, with proceedings beginning with a
children’s race, followed by a 2km and a 6km race.
The races were followed by a community dinner, complete with
local jazz band and guest speakers, John Harper, finalist of Australia’s Local
Hero 2009 from Mates Helping Mates coping with depression initiative;
and, Gianna Chiffelle, dietician from Cowra Community Health. In keeping with
the French theme, locals stayed on to watch the Australia versus France Rugby test
match on the big screen while enjoying supper.
The event was hosted by the Greenethorpe Soldiers’ Memorial
Hall Committee. “We were very pleased with how many people came to join in,”
says de Tour co-ordinator, Sam Allen. “It looks set to become an annual event.”
Below: Lined up and rearing to go,
including this mini-tractor driver (far right), in Le Tour de Greenethorpe.
COWRA Shire Council has gained a grant of $174,000 from the
second round of funding under the Federal Government’s Community Infrastructure
Program announced last week at the Australian Council of Local Government
meeting in Canberra.
Mayor of Cowra, Bill West, has told CCN he is delighted with the grant which is additional to the
$480,000 announced in November last year.
Cr West says that when last year’s grant was received there
were more worthwhile projects suggested by the community than could be
accommodated within the funds granted.
Those projects that were unable to be fitted within the
initial grant were prioritised at the time and would need to be reassessed with
others that have arisen in the meantime. Cr West says Council will need to
assess the guidelines for this round of funding before any firm commitments can
be made.
To read NSW Shires’ Association comment on the new grants [CLICK HERE].
members and friends including parents, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and sisters. In addition to receiving a folder containing the Breakaway certificate and list of skills and courses successfully completed, each girl received a photograph and the special Breakaway T-shirt designed by art teacher, Terry Fahy. 
