Devonport Times - June - First Section - Devonport City Council

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Navigating his way to fulfilling an ambition JOSHUA Fitzmaurice has been in the air force for five years, has a degree and is currently studying his third course towards becoming an aviation navigator— and he’s just 22-years-old. His ambition is to be a navigator on the AP-3C Orion, the Royal Australian Air Force long-range maritime patrol aircraft. Joshua’s grandfather was also in the air force. He sparked Joshua’s interest in aircraft and inspired him to become involved. ‘‘Some of the old stories he used to tell about his time in the air force were very interesting,’’ Joshua said. Having lived in Devonport all his life, attending Devonport ‘‘I’ve always loved aviation and it gives me the chance to be involved with aircraft.’’ High School then The Don College, Joshua said it was difficult to move away to Canberra to do a science degree through the air force. On top of his study Joshua had to fit in basic military training. Once he graduated he moved to Melbourne where he completed a course in aviation navigation. Joshua is currently living in Adelaide and studying a computing course to become a fully-qualified navigator. He said he has known that it was something he wanted to do since he was very young. ‘‘I’ve always loved aviation and it gives me the chance to be involved with aircraft,’’ he said. ‘‘And I also get to see the world.’’ Joshua said his grandfather was very proud that he was following in his footsteps and was fascinated with how his career was progressing. ‘‘He loves hearing stories about the air force and how it’s changed since he was involved.’’ — SARAH NICOL Green Corp surmount obstacles Former Devonport resident Joshua Fitzmaurice, 22, is following his dream to be a navigator on the AP-3C Orion, the Royal Australian Air Force long-range maritime patrol aircraft. The North Wilmot River Green Corps team have built a permanent bridge in the Winter Brook Forest Reserve. Searching For Truth CONTACT US FOR A FREE D.V.D. “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) MERSEY BLUFF CHURCH OF CHRIST 232 William Street Devonport 7310 We LOVE visitors Topics: ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ The Truth The Creator Authority The Church House of God Baptism Produced by World Video Bible Ph: 6424 7573 or 6427 9373 ianmcpherson@aapt.net.au merseyforth@yahoo.com http://www.churchofchrist.org.au SOME people take the expression ‘‘build a bridge’’ a little too seriously. The North Wilmot River Green Corps team built a permanent bridge in the Winter Brook Forest Reserve as part of their six month employment. To do this they had to carry all their equipment 1.3km into the forest. This included a cement mixer, generator, gravel, bags of cement and 7.5 metre long steel beams, team leader Geoff Wilkins said. ‘‘After this particular project all of us are a lot fitter,’’ he said. ‘‘It was the most awkward job they had to do in the whole project.’’ Geoff said there had been a bridge made out of an old log over the river but as the river was prone to flash flooding, it had moved and become unsafe. He said Forestry Tasmania, which 4005589 AJ The Sheffield Shed “Everything a man wants in his shed” EQUIPMENT HIRE NOW AVAILABLE ● All small engine repairs ● Chainsaws ● Brushcutters ● Mowers ● Power Tools ● Woodwork ● Metalwork Tools ● Farm Toys ● Workshop Equipment If we haven’t got it we will get it for you. 61 Main St Sheffield Ph. 6491 1933 is the project partner for the group, had wanted to replace the bridge for some time. ‘‘It was just a matter of getting the right time of year and the man power,’’ he said. Geoff said he knew it would be hard work, which is why it was saved for the end of their project. But it was worth all the hard work and they were all given a good lesson in engineering, Geoff said. ‘‘When the timbers were placed on the bridge, they all thought it was fantastic,’’ he said. There will be a plaque placed on the bridge with all the team member’s names to commemorate their hard work. This Green Corps group graduated in April and most have since found employment. — SARAH NICOL Page 4 Devonport Times June 2007 4067300 LD Getting their hands dirty for Arbor Week are Reece High students Josh Barrett (left) and Ethan Barron, and Phil Murray from the council. Reece High students help celebrate Arbour Week ARBOR Week was celebrated across Devonport with tree plantings and a range of events to emphasis and appreciate the value of trees. Grade 8 students from Reece High School combined with members of the Devonport City Council’s Parks and Reserves Department to revegetate a recently renovated section of the school’s grounds. Students learnt the basics of tree-planting and found the experience far more enjoyable than they had at first anticipated. Arbor Week coordinator Phil Murray said the program had been very successful, involving schools and organisations around the municipality. He said Arbor Week had been so successful in the past it had been extended to a fortnight. Grade 8 teacher Kelly Lehman said that revegetating the school is only one of many environmental changes occurring at Reece High. The school community has taken up the challenge of designing and implementing more sustainable environmental practices. Since February, paper consumption at the school has been halved, while energy efficiency is being monitored closely by a group of senior students. ‘‘Students have been responding very positively to the changes at Reece,’’ Ms Lehman said. ‘‘It’s great to see young people acting upon their concerns and becoming involved in the process of change.’’
Green and gold an inspiration GETTING up at 4.30am and training on the icy water is made easier when you’re focussed on the dream of ‘‘putting on that green and gold suit’’, says Devonport rower Taylor Wilczynski. And that dream is about to come true for the 16-year-old. Taylor will row for Australia in Beijing at the World Junior Championships in the single scull come August. It has been a long, hard road for Taylor, who has had to overcome several obstacles. As a child Taylor was slightly over weight, and he is now a year younger and at least three inches shorter than most of the rowers he will compete against. ‘‘There’s a fairly big mental side to it, which can make or break you,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s that side of things that gives me the edge.’’ Taylor said when racing, rowers often experienced fatigue and aching muscles. ‘‘There’s a wall you’ve got to push through about half way through a race — some rowers can do it and other rowers can’t,’’ he said. ‘‘For me it’s a matter of gritting your teeth and getting over the pain and wanting it more.’’ Devonport’s Taylor Wilczynski is off to Beijing for the World Junior Rowing Championships in August. Fellow Devonport rower David Wright was the only other Tasmanian to be selected in the Australian team. He will compete in the quad. Taylor said it helped being able to train with rowers of a similar ability, such as David. ‘‘He’s always next to me, if not in front of me,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s great having the top few junior rowers at the same club. ‘‘We all push each other and make each other work harder in training.’’ Taylor said the success of the rowers was largely down to the coaching of Rob Williams. ‘‘Our coach is great. ‘‘He makes the work seem easy to do,’’ he said. Taylor said the location of the Mersey Rowing Club was also an advantage. ‘‘The good thing about Devonport is that it’s close to Lake Barrington, which is a world standard course,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s a great facility to have close to home.’’ He said fitting in up to 13 training sessions a week on top of school work was difficult. ‘‘Time management is a big part of being an athlete at this level,’’ he said. ‘‘Sometimes it’s extremely hard to do all the school work I need to.’’ Though his father was a rower in his youth, Taylor said he never imagined following the same path. ‘‘Once dad pulled out this poster from his day of a rower in this massive tub with huge oars — nowadays the boat would weigh the same as one of those oars,’’ he said. Taylor’s next goal is to put the green and gold suit on again for the Olympic Games in 2012. Community bodies praised in decision to not relocate Housing staff WITH Housing Tasmania backing down on previous claims it was moving a large percentage of staff from its Devonport office to Burnie, the DCCI’s Jon Hatto is congratulating the efforts of community bodies. Mr Hatto said he called Health Minister Lara Giddings’ office recently and was told the State Government had only intended to move two or three ‘‘back room’’ staff to Burnie. ‘‘It’s because of the efforts of the DCCI, The Advocate, the State Opposition and the Devonport Council,’’ Mr Hatto said. ‘‘It’s because they came together over this issue.’’ The controversial issue first came to light after the State Government announced it would send nearly all of the Devonport staff to Burnie. About 15 staff were first thought to be facing the move but after much media and union attention, the numbers have decreased. ‘‘They were certainly dismayed at Lara Gidding’s office because they said they were only intending to move back-office staff,’’ he said. ‘‘The impression I got from them was that (they believed) there was misinformation being presented.’’ Waiting lists on the Central Coast and in Devonport are almost triple those in Burnie. Employees who will be moved will face relocation or a daily commute of 100km a day. — TRACY PAPICCIO Latrobe Council GM saying goodbye to local government GRANT Atkins is taking a step back from his busy life as Latrobe Council general manager. Grant’s career as general manager began in 1996 when he took the role in both Kentish and Latrobe councils. ‘‘It was pretty hectic,’’ he said. In 1999 he began work full-time at Latrobe but has chosen to retire at the end of June this year. ‘‘It has been difficult; some days I think why have I done that, others I think it will be nice not to have to go to work everyday,’’ he said. Grant said it was important to leave on his own terms. ‘‘I just need to move on in my life while I’m still feeling good about things,’’ he said. Grant said he was planning to Grant Atkins take retirement for six months and would then consider what he to do next, if anything. ‘‘I’ve always been fairly active so I need to find out if I can handle the time,’’ he said. Grant said he was looking forward to spending time with his family, doing some community work, renovating the kitchen and other recreational activities such as cycling and fishing. He also has four grandchildren who will occupy some of his time, he said. Grant said his job could sometimes be stressful, trying to meet the community’s needs, but he did it to help others out. ‘‘I don’t think we look for recognition, I just look for satisfaction in that I’ve been able to help the community,’’ he said. ‘‘I think local government is so important because it is the one place normal people can still have a say and make an impact,’’ he said. Grant said one of the best things he has been involved with in his career was to help turn around Latrobe Council’s financial difficulties. He was also proud of his role in many developments in the area. ‘‘It’s been great to be part of the development of Latrobe over the past 10 years, Latrobe and Port Sorell are exciting places,’’ he said. ‘‘I think Latrobe will continue to consolidate as a wonderful place to live.’’ — SARAH NICOL 59 Best Street, Devonport www.collinsrealty.com.au Peter Wiggins Property Consultant Leigh Jordan Property Consultant Jenna Parsissons Sales Administration Brendan Hingston Property Consultant We thrive on our customer satisfaction... 6424 6614 Jenny Condello Property Management Annouka Barr Property Management Anna Spoljaric Property Management For all your real estate needs contact our professional and friendly team. Devonport Times June 2007 Page 5 Trish Costello Office Manager 4014251 ML
Page 1 and 2: Forced to shut up shop Tenants give
Page 3: Developer had no choice but Time to
Page 7 and 8: One year on for Gran’s Van ON JUN
Page 9 and 10: 4053883 PA June at Body assist Neop
Page 11 and 12: Fostering young musicians Christmas

Devonport Times - June - First Section - Devonport City Council

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?