March 2016 Edition March 2016 Edition 8686

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Council News

March 2016

Dear Readers

The past month has been very busy from an Administrative point of view. As with most things

associated with Admin it is difficult for electors to see a tangible output as our work is paper based;

however it is essential for good governance of the Shire. This month we have completed the Mid-year

financial review – this looks at our adopted budget and compares this to actual expenditure / revenue

and allows for adjustments to be made, this will go before Council at the March meeting. We have

completed the Local Government Compliance report, which seeks information relating to the application

of numerous statutory requirements – such as Tenders, Delegated Authority, Policy Manuals, etc. We

have completed and submitted 7 grant applications; we now wait on the outcome of these applications.

At the time of this edition, I am unable to advise whether funding has been allocated for our Bridge, I

have made various calls in an attempt to find out; however, this will be a decision by the State

Government Cabinet and we will know when they make a decision, so fingers crossed.

I can advise, with a fair degree of disappointment, that the Aboriginal Medical Service has suspended

its service to the Junction pending assessment by the board. The Shire has written to the AMS outlining

the benefits to the community of this service.

It is with regret that I have accepted the resignation of both Colin and Gina Mellan. Both Colin and Gina

have given great service to the Shire and I wish them all the very best in the next chapter of their lives

together. We have commenced advertising for the Manager of Finance position with adverts in the

West Australian and ‘Seek’.

As always, should anyone require assistance, please come into the office or come and see me at home.

John McCleary, JP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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What’s Parks and Wildlife doing in the Shire

Work has commenced on the Kennedy Range Drive trail being promoted by the Shire of Upper Gascoyne.

Repairs to a couple of badly eroded sections of the track were carried out by a grader contractor.

Location and directional signs were ordered and work has commenced on installing them. It is hoped this will be completed in the next week or two.

Location sign Direction totem

An inspection of the National Park roads at Mt Augustus was carried out with plans for upgrading some and the realignment of a couple. Submissions for funding have been submitted and hopefully we will see these come to fruition. This would be part of the overall upgrade of facilities at Mt Augustus.

Ground baiting for wild dog control was carried out in Kennedy Range at the same time as the signage on the drive trail was being installed. Further baiting will be carried out in the near future when the rest of the sign-age is installed.

The Western Australian Wild Dog Action Plan is being rolled out and local staff will be attending the presentation of this.

Unfortunately there has been a tragic incident at Mt Augustus National Park in recent times. The department has carried out its own internal investigation and is also talking to the shire about ways of getting information to tourists about safe travel in remote areas.

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One pastoralist’s perspective on Rangelands Reform

The hype

As you are all probably aware, our State Government is currently working on ‘Unlocking the potential of the Rangelands’ through the Rangelands Reform process. To help it along, on 1 March 2016, they (the Department of Lands, Terry Redman) held a conference titled ‘Rangeland: Sustainable economic development in Western Australia conference 2016’. I did consider attending until I saw the conference program, which showed the event was primarily about winners the government had picked (Kimberly, Pilbara and new irrigators).

From two attendees I heard reports of ‘a lot of hype and hot air in the room’ and that ‘Most of the focus was talking up irrigation for the Kimberley and lots of empty 'punching the air' type language about how innovative we all are.’ Sounds handy.

There was nothing there for the average arid rangeland pastoralist, which is why, out of about 250 people in the room, almost no pastoralists attended.

For most of us, the Rangeland Reform process is only focused on legislative reforms. You can read the long list of rule changes (and extra enforcement powers) in the DoL document ‘Land Administration Amendment Bill 2016 – Key Proposals’ (see the DoL website). Most of these new rules will have no useful effect on how the average pastoralist operates.

Where’s the useful policy?

There is no doubt - to anyone who cares to investigate - that the productive capacity of the bulk of the Southern Rangelands is greatly reduced, in places to the point of nil production, so something needs to happen.

To their credit, the Government has sought answers to the problems of the southern and wider rangelands. They received some of the answers in the respected 2009 ‘Duncan Report’ (more correctly: ‘A Review of the Economic and Ecological Sustainability of Pastoralism in the Southern Rangelands of Western Australia’), authored by an advisory group that included pastoralists, and from the 2013 ‘Sustainable land use and economic development opportunities in the Western Australian Rangelands’ by the consulting firm URS. You can see these reports here: http://www.lands.wa.gov.au/Publications/Documents/Final%20Report%20Southern%20Rangelands%20Pastoral%20Advisory%20Group%20131009.pdfand here: http://outbackwa.org.au/urs_report_summary .

Whilst recommendations from both reports included a requirement for improved legislation and tenure, more importantly, both reports focused on non-legislative policy actions that would enable actual change on the ground for all of the pastoral estate. They identified critical areas of policy that the current reform process is not addressing.

The recommendations of both reports are about 95% policy action rather than legislation. They talk about carbon sequestration, stewardship or environmental programs, biosecurity issues, assistance with native title negotiation, and both recommended a statement or plan from Government outlining a vision for the range-lands, both for rangeland inhabitants and for the State….So far the reform process does not mention these things.

The bottom line

Legislation is important but it won’t solve long-standing rangeland issues of historic widespread landscape degradation, compromised rangeland plant communities leading to continuing erosion, excessive total grazing pressure caused by feral animals and kangaroos and declining terms of trade resulting from lower productivity of large sections of land.

If you attend one of DoL’s planned meetings in April, some feedback that we should all give to Government: read your reports again and implement recommended policy.

Jason Hastie

Pingandy Station

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NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL

In Term One this year we welcomed Jill Lefroy to our school and to Gascoyne Junction. Jill is

teaching the Kindy to Year 6 classes. She will be here for Terms 1 through to 4.

Another new and welcome arrival is Susan (Suzy) Fowler who has come to us from Adelaide. Suzi is

teaching in the High School with students in Years 7 to 12. Suzi will be here for Terms 1 and 2 at the

present time.

Jennifer Loehrer from Lyons River is a volunteer who comes to the school on a weekly basis. Jenny is

studying Early Childhood, and sees this as a wonderful opportunity to get some hands on experience

while preparing to educate her own child.

Chris and Peter Polakiewicz will be on Long Service Leave from 30 March for the rest of Term 1, and

all of Terms 2 and 3. Miss Chris is presently off – site in Perth and will not be returning before her

Long Service Leave commences.

The relieving Principal who will be coming into the school in on 4th April is Marina Lever who is

currently at Halls Creek. Miss Marina’s husband will follow her in Term 2.

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HIGH WATER

& hope

$30.00 EA

Book & DVD Stories of the Flood 2010

FOR SALE

at the

CRC Gascoyne Junction

Phone 08 99430 988

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March

2 Jane Mc Taggart

2 Karen Coffin

6 Genevieve Robinson

9 Thomas Fletcher

9 Lyndsay Kealley

20 Georgie Hammarquist

23 David Robinson

23 David Hammarquist

29 Patrick Starr

April

3 Rory de Pledge

8 Bridie Walker

11 Riley Mc Keough

23 Mitchell Hoseason Smith

Got a Birthday coming up? Contact the Gassy Gossip by

email at crc@uppergascoyne.wa.gov.au

PALMS FOR SALE

Assorted Palms for sale various sizes and prices

please call Blanche on 0439104184 or call into the

CRC Centre.

For Sale Great Station Truck with 4 ton Tail Finger crane / Hiab 1998 Isuzu Body Truck Runs well Needs Spit & Polish Registered until July $20,000.00 ono Happy to swop for other machinery. Located Mount Augustus Stn David Hammarquist Mobile 0429430577

Aluminium Cans

Dear Community members please take your aluminium cans to the wool bales at the Junction Pub. So they can be sent to Carnarvon and sold for scrap where the money is then donated back to community groups such as the Gascoyne School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor.

Thank you so much.

John Mc Cleary

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Lateral Thinking, Puzzles and Mind Teasers

You have an appliance like this:

There are two cogwheels in a box. The bigger one has 24 teeth and it is tightly attached to the centre of the box (it doesn’t turn or move). The smaller one has 8 teeth and it rotates around

the bigger wheel. How many times does the smaller wheel turn compared with the box when it

turns once around the bigger wheel?

Cogwheels

The smaller wheel turns around 4 times.

Imagine the two wheels turning next to each other. While bigger wheel turns once (24 teeth) small one turns three times

(3 x 8 teeth) to the other side.

Now we want the big wheel to stop and the small wheel to turn around the big one. There it makes one additional turn on

the way around the big wheel. If you can’t imagine that you can try with two coins. If you hold one and roll the other around the first one it doesn’t turn once but two times.

Still didn’t get it? Disassemble some clockwork and try it.

Answer

Group of friends is trapped in a burning house. The house is going to collapse in 12 minutes so they desperately want to get out. They have to run through a hallway which is in flames. If someone wants to pass through he has to have a fire extinguisher to hold the flames back at least a little. Problem is that the friends have only one.

Only two people can go at once. Than somebody has to return with the extinguisher and other two can go.

There is one fireman among the friends who moves through flames with ease and he can ran through the hallway in one minute. His best friend who is in great shape can run through in 2 minutes. There is an older man who needs four minutes and a drunken guy who will need 5 minutes to pass through. If two people go together they move at speed of the slower one.

How will they do it so that they all get out before the house collapses?

Fire

Fireman and friend out.......2 min.

Fireman back.................1 min

Drunk and old one out....5 min

Good-shaped friend back..........2 min

Fireman and friend out....2min

Two best friends are running out of the door and the house goes off...:)

Answer

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Evil warlock doesn't like dwarfs so he chooses four of them and buries them into the ground so that only their

heads are above surface. Dwarfs can't move at all and they can look only forward.

They're buried in a line and one of them is separated by a wall. They are all facing the same direction: last dwarf sees two heads of his friends and a wall. Second last sees only one had and a wall. Second dwarf sees only the

wall and first is looking to the distance where he can see nothing interesting though.

Warlock explains the situation to dwarfs and tells them that he has placed hats on their heads - two blue hats and

two red ones. One of the dwarfs is supposed to say what colour is the hat he is wearing. If he says the right colour warlock will dig them out immediately. If he says something else all of them will stay there till the end...

How will dwarfs solve this problem?

If the last dwarf doesn't come up with the answer soon it means that the two dwarfs have different hats. Second

last dwarf will simply say the different colour than he sees on head in front of him. Off course he gives enough time to the last dwarf to talk in case he knew.

Answer

DWARFS

If we tie a sheep to one peg it eats out a circle in grass. If we put a rope through a ring on its neck and tie both

ends of the rope to two pegs it eats out an ellipse. If we want an oval we tighten one rope between two pegs put a ring with a rope on it and tie the sheep to its other end.

How to tie a sheep so that it eats out a square in grass? We have one sheep ropes pegs and rings.

Sheep

Tighten two ropes between corners of a square. Put one ring on each rope and tighten

another rope between them. That rope goes through the ring on sheep’s neck.

Answer

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Easy Main Course Meal

Lamb Liver Pie

Ingredients Serves: 4 FILLING 350g lamb's liver, cut into 1cm thick strips 2 tablespoons plain flour 2 tablespoons olive oil 75g rindless short-cut bacon, cut into 1cm thick strips 150g onion shallots, peeled and cut into wedges 250g carrots, peeled and diced 150g button mushrooms, sliced if large 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 300ml beef or vegetable stock, hot 2 tablespoons dry sherry 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 300ml beef or vegetable stock, hot 2 tablespoons dry sherry

PASTRY 3/4 cup (100g) self-raising flour 1 1/4 cups (75g) fresh white breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 50g vegetable shortening or vegetable suet about 1/3 cup (80ml) cold water.

Method

Preparation:35min › Cook:40min › Ready in:1hour15min 1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Toss the liver in the flour and a little seasoning to lightly coat. Heat

the oil in a heavy, deep frying pan, then stir-fry the liver and bacon until lightly browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

2. Add the shallots and carrots to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly coloured. Add the

mushrooms and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes, then add the garlic, rosemary, stock and sherry. Bring to the boil, stirring.

3. Return the liver and bacon to the pan and stir well. Transfer to a 1 litre pie dish, mounding the filling in

the centre, then cool while making the pastry.

4. Combine the flour, breadcrumbs, rosemary, shortening and seasoning in a bowl. Stir in enough cold

water to make a soft (not sticky) dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to be slightly larger than the pie dish.

Dampen the rim of the dish, then gently lift the pastry over the filling and press the pastry to the rim to

seal. Trim off any excess pastry with a sharp knife, make a steam hole in the middle and press the back of

a fork or your thumb onto the pastry rim. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden, then serve hot.

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Easter Baking

Orange Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns Ingredients 2 tsp dry yeast or 1 x 7g sachet

1½ cups (375mL) warm milk 1 tbsp caster sugar, plus ¼ cup (55g) extra

4½ cups (675g) plain flour 80g cold butter, chopped

1 egg, lightly beaten

Zest 1 orange 1 cup (190g) NESTLÉ BAKERS’ CHOICE Dark CHOC BITS

How to Make

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced. Grease a 23cm square cake pan.

2. Combine yeast, milk and sugar in a small bowl; set aside in a warm place for 10-15 minutes or until frothy.

3. Sift flour and extra sugar into a large bowl. Rub in butter; make a well in the centre; add milk mix-ture, egg and zest; stir until just combined. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead for 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic; transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, cover and set in a warm area for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

4. Punch down dough, turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead in NESTLÉ BAKERS’ CHOICE Dark CHOC BITS (tip: this may take a few minutes, but be patient, as the taste is worth the effort!), divide and roll mixture into 16 even sized balls, arrange in prepared pan, cover, set aside in a warm place for 15 minutes or until slightly risen.

5. HOT X BUN PASTE: In a small bowl combine flour, sugar and chilled water, spoon into a small piping bag with a small round nozzle, pipe crosses onto buns.

6. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Serve warm out of the oven with butter, if desired.

7. Meanwhile whilst buns are cooking; combine water and sugar in a small pan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 3-4 minutes or until thickened slightly. Brush over hot buns

GLAZE

1/3 cup (80mL) 2 tbsp caster sugar

HOT X BUN PASTE

¼ cup (35g) plain flour

2 tsp caster sugar 1-2 tbsp chilled water, approximately

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Word Search Puzzle

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April May

25th Anzac Day 13th - 15th Gascoyne River Music Festival

27th Council Meeting 25th Council Meeting

MARCH 2016

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Labour Day

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21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Good Friday

28 29 30 31 Easter Monday Council Meeting

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