August 2012 Edition - The Nationals Western Australia

A newsletter from MIA DAVIES MLC
Member for the Agricultural Region I Candidate for Central Wheatbelt
Message from Mia
As I write this message I’m preparing to return to Parliament after the winter recess that had me clocking
up the kilometres as I criss-crossed this vast electorate. The winter recess is a time for Members,
particularly country Members, to return to their electorates and work with their constituency. During the
past past fi ve ve weeks I’ve taken the time to visit schools, attend Shire meetings, meet with community groups,
volunteers and individuals throughout throughout the electorate. I’ve also joined community consultation workshops
on issues such as biosecurity. All of this activity assists me to gain a greater understanding of the
issues issues that are important to you and your community. There are some consistent themes emerging, for for
example, access to appropriate appropriate aged care services, access to quality education options, and concern
about our health system. I’m pleased to say that Royalties for Regions is starting to address some of the
inequities in Government focus and spending, which has seen regional WA suffer in the past, however
there is more to do. As we move move toward the next State State election you have my assurance I’ll be working
to make sure The Nationals WA offer solutions to some of the challenges not yet met.
Child care fund
delivers to
Wheatbelt centres
Mia with Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region,
Wendy Duncan; Millie Molly Mandy child care Brookton
members, Louise Allington and Jane Abbott at the
launch of the Regional Child Care Development Fund.
Merredin, Mukinbudin, Narembeen
and Wundowie child care centres
are all set to receive $10,000 as
part of round 1 of the Royalties
for Regions funded Regional
Community Child Care Fund. The
funding will be used to assist in the
day to day running of the centres,
training and new resources. Eligible
centres are encouraged to apply,
visit www.communities.wa.gov.au
for more information.
Recognising
Merredin
emergency service
volunteers
I was honoured to attend the Merredin
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service’s
annual Awards and Appreciation
evening on July 28. Emergency service
volunteers play an essential role in our
regional towns often putting themselves
in danger to help those in need. I
congratulate the Merredin volunteers
on their much-valued efforts. Thank you
to organising committee for providing
an opportunity to recognise the work of
our volunteers.
Tier 3 recommendation welcomed
I recently wrote to Transport
Minister Troy Buswell supporting
a Parliamentary Committee
recommendation that tier 3 rail lines
remain open until the end of 2014. I
believe this timeframe would allow the
CBH Group time to prove its business
case for the retention of the lines,
and for the Wheatbelt Development
Freecall: 1800 336 905 Phone: 08 9324 3155 Fax: 08 9324 3166 Email: mia.davies@mp.wa.gov.au Web: www.miadavies.com.au
twitter.com/MiaDaviesMLC facebook.comHonMiaDaviesMLC
August 2012
Mia presents Merredin volunteer fire fighter Wayne
Middleton with his medal for five years of service.
Commission to undertake a review
of the grain transport infrastructure
in the Wheatbelt. In the time since
the last report into the viability of
grain on rail CBH has invested in new
rolling stock and has appointed a
new rail operator which they say will
drive effi ciencies in their operations,
particularly on the tier 3 lines.

Business best and
brightest recognised
I was pleased to attend the Central
Wheatbelt Small Business Awards in
Merredin on June 8. Hosted by the
Central Wheatbelt Small Business
Development Centre, the event was also
supported by the Wheatbelt Business
Network and recognised excellence in
the small business sector throughout
the Wheatbelt. Congratulations to all
the winners and fi nalists, particularly
to Business Person of the Year, Tracey
McFarlane (Subway, Merredin) and
Young Business Person of the Year, Lora
Nicoletti (Trans Tyres, Merredin).
Mia with Central Wheatbelt Small Business Person of
the Year Tracey McFarlane of Subway, Merredin and
Small Business Centre Central Wheatbelt Manager
Sal Marais.
Merredin College
upgrades opened
I attended the opening of the new
dance studio and video conference
room at Merredin College on
August 1. The new developments
will provide a great boost to the local
community and I congratulate the
school on their efforts in developing
the state-of-the-art facilities.
Mia with students in the new dance studio at
Merredin College.
Celebrating
Wheatbelt ladies
I recently attended two events
for Wheatbelt ladies — the Facey
Group’s ‘Celebrating the Diversity
of Rural Women event in Wickepin
and the ‘Wheatbelt Women’ day in
Bruce Rock. Both days included
inspirational guest speakers, great
food and a chance for ladies to
get to know one another better.
Congratulations to the Facey
Group and the Wheatbelt Women
organising committee for two
great days.
Mia, candidate for the Agricultural Region Jill
Sounness (top right) with Lisa Cole and Sue Muntz at
the Wheatbelt Women day in Bruce Rock.
The Tammin Football Club’s Local Team of the Centenary.
Royal Life Saving
Society of WA
I am honoured to have been invited to
serve as the Vice Patron of the Royal
Life Saving Society of Western Australia
and I will be taking every opportunity
to raise awareness and promote safe
participation in water-related activities.
We are a nation that loves the water so
it’s important families and children have
the swim and survival skills to prevent
drowning or injury. Whether it’s in the
ocean, the backyard pool, farm dams
or rivers, the RLSWA is dedicated to
equipping all Australians with water
safety skills. For more information on the
RLSS of WA and to access its resources
visit www.lifesavingwa.com.au or call
08 9383 8200.
Biosecurity groups to
tackle weeds, pests
On August 3 I joined interested
stakeholders at a community consultation
forum hosted by the Wheatbelt Natural
Resource Management Inc. The
purpose of the forum was to discuss
proposed models for the establishment
of Recognised Biosecurity Groups issues
such as weeds, feral cats, rabbits, foxes
and wild dogs.
Tammin Football celebrates 100 years
Congratulations to the Tammin Football Club on reaching a milestone
100 years of country football. I joined more than 350 people who attended the Club’s
centenary celebrations at Tammin Oval on August 4. It was a special event with
Tammin’s football greats, past and present, turning out to mark the anniversary.
How has Royalties for Regions helped your community? Visit www.nationalswa.com to share your story.

A newsletter from MIA DAVIES MLC
August 2012
Share your story
Royalties for Regions supports men’s health
“The Regional Men’s Health Initiative is
empowering regional men to take control
of their own good health,” founder Julian
Krieg said.
“Funded by Royalties for Regions,
through the Department of Agriculture
and Food, the Initiative is building on
the work of the Wheatbelt Men’s Health
program.
The Nationals team joined the Simply Spectacles float
at the Avon River Festival, from left Rebecca Brown,
Candidate for the Agricultural Region Paul Brown,
Mia, Ron O’Neil, Candidate for the Agricultural Region
Rosalba Butterworth, Barbara Silvester and Toni Scott.
Happy birthday
Avon Descent!
The Avon Descent turned 40 this
year and I was there to join in the
celebrations, along with Nationals’
candidates for the Agricultural Region
Paul Brown and Rosalba Butterworth.
We joined in the street parade in
Northam to offi cially kick off the event
on the Friday, and candidate for Moore
Shane Love and I attended a dinner at
the halfway point at Cobbler’s Pool on
the Saturday evening.
Youth Parliament
sets the standard
On July 12 Member for Moore Grant
Woodhams and I hosted morning tea at
the 2012 Youth Parliament.
Coordinated by the YMCAS, Youth
Parliament provides young people with
opportunities to develop their personal
skills and learn about the political
process. Braedon Bolt, represented the
Central Wheatbelt and Tim Lefroy the
Moore electorate. I was impressed with
the debating and advocacy skills of the
students but more importantly with their
understanding and passion for youth
and community issues.
Mia, Central Wheatbelt Youth Parliament member
Braedon Bolt, Member for Moore Grant Woodhams and
Moore Youth Parliament member Tim Lefroy.
In brief Agriculture and Food Terry Redman,
• On July 25 I joined Country Women
Association delegates from across
the State at Day 1 of the annual
CWA WA State Conference in Perth.
• I joined my Nationals WA colleagues
at a lunch-time discussion forum
which included the Minister for
The objectives of the Initiative are to create
community awareness of the importance of
keeping our regional men in good health —
both physically and mentally.
We aim to establish support networks
which men and their families can use
when they are facing a crisis or have
experienced a traumatic event.
Reducing the feeling of isolation is key.
as keynote speaker. Hosted by the
Committee for Economic Development
of Australia (CEDA), issues for
discussion included foreign investment,
food security, workforce pressures and
farming research and development. To
read Minister Redman’s speech visit
http://tiny.cc/prf0iw
We’re also helping rural families with
effective progression planning processes.
The Regional Men’s Health Initiative is
a challenging, but absolutely essential
project and its development would not be
possible without the support of Royalties
for Regions.”
For more information phone 08 9690 2277
or menshealth@agric.wa.gov.au
SuperTowns delivers
$8.4M to Avon
More than $8.4 million will be injected
into health services and environmental
works in Northam as part of the
Royalties for Regions-funded
SuperTowns initiative.
A total of $4.8 million will kick-start the
development of a new Avon Health and
Emergency Services Precinct. More
than $3.6 million will also be invested
in securing the health of the Avon
River, in particular around the Northam
town centre. Both these projects will
continue to build on the signifi cant
improvement to infrastructure and
services Royalties for Regions has
already delivered to the Avon region.
The projects were identifi ed in the
Northam Growth Plan, which was
developed by the Shire of Northam
and Wheatbelt Development
Commission in close consultation
with residents and businesses. More
information about WA SuperTowns
is available at www.rdl.wa.gov.au/
SuperTowns.
• York’s Comfort Quilts against Cancer,
a group of ladies making quilts for
regional breast cancer patients are in
need of assistance with the creation
of quilt squares and general quilt
assembly.
To fi nd out more visit facebook.com/
ComfortQuiltsAgainstCancer ●
How has Royalties for Regions helped your community? Visit www.nationalswa.com to share your story.

Mia at the Beverly Clydesdale and Vintage Day.
Avondale Farm
Vintage Day
On Sunday June 24 I joined Agricultural
Region candidate Paul Brown at the
Beverley Clydesdale and Vintage
Day at Avondale Farm. The annual
event showcased traditional farming
equipment and practices including
demonstrations with vintage tractors
and ploughs.
Diary dates
August
28-30 Dowerin
31-1 Northam
September
5 Wyalkatchem, Mukinbudin, Koorda
6 Narembeen, Merredin
6 Koorda, Quairading, York
10 Bencubbin, Goomalling
11-13 Parliament sitting
14 Merredin
15 Northam
16 Trayning
18-20 Parliament sitting
22 Kellerberrin
23 Wongan Hills
25-26 Parliament sitting
27 York
October
3 York
5 Merredin
6 Northam, Merredin
Royalties for
Regions delivering
water wise projects
On June 1 I joined Minister for
Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman
in Brookton for the launch of a pilot
stormwater run-off project. Funded by
Royalties for Regions, the $2 million
pilot will implement schemes to capture,
store and re-use stormwater in selected
Wheatbelt towns. Royalties for Regions
is contributing $3.8 million to the
project. The Department of Agriculture
and Food is also providing a free service
to assess the water use effi ciency of
farm businesses.
New Bruce Rock
Rec Centre opens
I joined candidate for the
Agricultural Region, Paul Brown at
the opening of the new Bruce Rock
Recreation Centre on July 8. The
new facility has seen the co-location
of almost all sports at one venue.
Royalties for Regions, through the
Country Local Government Fund,
contributed $1,478,341 to the
$3,754,000 project. The Centre
now boasts an extended indoor
multipurpose court, dual-use
change rooms, ablution facilities,
storage and a district clubroom for
all sporting groups.
Join The Nationals
RELAY FOR LIFE team
The Nationals WA have registered
a team for the Cancer Council’s Avon
Valley Relay for Life. I will be joining
candidates for the Agricultural Region
at the event held in Northam over
August 31 and September 1. With
one in two people diagnosed with the
disease during their life, Relay for Life
raises much-needed money for cancer
research. To donate or to register to join
The Nationals WA Northam Relay for
Life team visit http://tiny.cc/m84phw
or call my offi ce.
Authorised by: Mia Davies MLC, The Old Town Hall, Mitchell Street, Merredin WA 6415
Printed by: Clockwork Print, 610 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005
Mia cuts the commemorative cake at the opening of
the Essential Choices Centre in Northam with client
Kiara Colbung.
Essential Choices
Centre opens in
Northam
I joined The Nationals WA
Leader and Minister for Regional
Development and Lands, Brendon
Grylls at the opening of Essential
Choices Pre-employment and
Training Centre in Northam on
June 1. The Centre, funded by
Royalties for Regions, provides
a stable setting for people with
physical and intellectual disabilities
to learn and develop.
Afternoon tea with
Quairading Seniors
I recently spent the afternoon with
the Quairading Seniors Group talking
to them about some of the benefi ts
available to them through the WA
Seniors Card. Cardholders can be
eligible for up to $1450 in rebates and
concessions, along with discounts at
participating businesses throughout
the State. We also discussed the
$500 Country Age Pension Fuel Card,
funded by Royalties for Regions.