September Newsletter Working - Roper Gulf...

Roper Gulf Regional Council PO Box 1321 Katherine NT 0851 Phone: 08 8972 9000 Fax: 08 8971 2607 www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au

CONTENTS Mayor & CEO Messages 2

Employee Profile 3

Safe September 4

Efficiency Fit-outs 5

Electoral Review 5

Employee of the Month 5

Out & About Photos 6

Manyallaluk’s S&R Hub 8

Manyallaluk’s Pet Cemetery 8

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PT

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Mr. Numamurdirdi’s Award 9

Read more on Page 6

Numbulwar RJCP’s Trip 10

Community Grants 11

Vet Visit Dates 11

Upcoming Meeting Dates 12

Its Safe September at Roper Gulf

Welcome to the September edition of the Newsletter.

Mayor Tony Jack is currently on leave and as Deputy Mayor I am acting in his role. This is always a great oppor-tunity for me to see first hand how much work is done by Council, much that goes unre-marked on.

As the end of the year fast approaches, Council staff are working really hard on com-pleting projects set in the Re-gional Plan and preparing for coming wet.

Apart from the disruption to movement that can come with the wet season it is also a time of new growth and new challenges. Mowing of parks will increase and we will also have to do a lot more mainte-nance on our drains and infra-structure as the weather

changes.

This is also a good time to remind everyone to start pre-paring their own homes for the coming wet season and its potential to bring extreme weather events. Whether it is the risk of cyclones on the Gulf Coast or flooding else-where now is a good time to clean up loose rubbish, check drains and guttering and roof-ing and make sure you have an up to date emergency kit and extra food and water in store.

Council will next meet at Ngukurr on the 29 October and we welcome people to attend the Council meeting and the community BBQ to be held from 6:30 on Tuesday the 28th October.

September has been a desig-nated as “Safety September” at RGRC to promote the safe-ty message across the Coun-cil. There have been safety

meetings for all staff run by the CEO and Directors to give a clear message that safety is of key importance to Council and that safety is everyone’s responsibility.

I am also looking forwards to seeing the outcome of the safety video competition being run as part of Safety Septem-ber.

Please enjoy the last of the dry season and stay safe.

All the best.

Message from the Mayor

Message from the CEO

Hi All,

The year continues to race onwards

and the cool of the dry season comes to an end and the dreaded build-up is about to begin. Let’s hope it is short lived.

This month we have imple-mented our Safe September initiative and the leadership group including our work,

health and safety officer have been visiting all work teams throughout the organisation to spread the message about the importance of safety and that it is everyone’s responsi-bility. By all accounts this initi-ative is making a real differ-ence in making our organisa-tion safer.

Council continues to work closely with Local Authorities in the provision of training and development for each mem-ber. It is important for Local

Authority members to have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities and how they fit into Council’s structure. So far, most LA’s are meeting regularly howev-er, there is a need for Council to increase its support to those who need it. Council wants all ten Local Authorities to be operating the best they can be so they are able to be a strong representative body for their community.

Till next time, Stay Safe.

Acting Mayor MacFarlane

Michael Berto

Employee Profile

Roger McIvor - Council Services Manager, Numbulwar Reports to: Director of Council

Services and Infrastructure

What does your role as Council Service Manager require you to do?

The day to day management of running a small town. Each day is very different, handling complaints about; hey! you missed my bin…. to can you please tell the Police we need their help.

Making sure staff are looked after Unloading the Barge late at night Supervising the MUNS crew who look

after the roads, parks gardens and the rubbish dump

Attending a MEDIVAC at say 2.00am Keep a lookout for visitors who require

booked accommodation for the night Meeting with Stakeholders on a regular

basis Meet up with a wide range of visitors,

from Government, NGO’s, contractors, Roper Gulf staff from Katherine, Tourists and a few crocs.

Be a mentor for staff Keep the Office operating with the help

of my SASO and CSO Basically CSM’s are on call all the time

such as fielding phone calls from Night Patrol to helping out with Search and rescue.

A very rewarding role and team to work with indeed!

How long have you been a CSM?

With Roper Gulf since April 2013, prior to that with VicDaly for 3 years

What is your favorite thing about your community?

There are so many! The people and the relationships you develop, the setting - it’s right on the coast, the great house where my wife and I live is in a great location with a great garden. The garden is truly something, we are just carrying on the work of those who have lived there before, like Alan Mole (Moley) and Marc Gardner to name a few.

Tell us a little about yourself:

Have been doing this type of work for around 25 years, in PNG, NT, Western Australia and Victoria, in the capacity of Merchandising/Shipping Manager, Area Manager, CEO x 3 and CSM x 2.

I have lived in the Territory since 1986. Held positions as a Consultant Store Manager and relief Store Manager for ALPA, worked on Elcho Island, Millingimbi, Ramingining, Lake Evella, Umbakumba, Beluen, Goulburn Island and Croker Island. State Manager (NT) for Smiths Snack Foods, Branch Manager in Darwin for a fruit juice manufacturing company (factory in Darwin) and buyer for the Travelodge in Darwin.

Roger working the BBQ in Numbulwar

Safe September - A Work Health and Safety Initiative

Safe behaviors should be an everyday part of our workplaces but to add an extra focus this month has been declared Safe September at Roper Gulf Regional Council. The theme of SAFER (See it, Act on it, Find a safer way, Everyday, at Roper) is permeating the organi-sation.

As well as our normal focus on having safe workplaces September has seen community visits from the CEO Michael Berto and other directors to update employees on RGRCs safety performance and vision. Roper Gulf Regional Council is committed to providing a safe workplace and everyone has a role to play. The use of a graphic documentary film really bought home the message about pre-venting injuries at work.

Those of us with computer access will also have seen the new safety messages which

come up as a screen saver as well as new weekly safety alerts. Posters showing em-ployees from Ngukurr demonstrating our safe-ty standards have been distributed across the council.

There is also a real buzz around offices and work sites as Roper Gulf goes “Bollywoood YouTube” in a competition to put together a three minute safety video. There is a $500.00 prize for the best entry, with the winning entry uploaded to the RGRC website

So far nobody has been injured making their movie even in the big stunt and action scenes and we want to keep it that way. Please be careful of sequins and glitter injuries. Entries must be completed and submitted by 3 Octo-ber.

A Safe Employee

Bulman’s Safe September Meeting

Energy efficient fit out for Council Offices “a smarter way” says Mayor

Electoral Review Employees of the Month

Congratulations to all of the August Employee of the Month Winners:

Head Quarters: Vai Walford Barunga: Max Ahfat Beswick: Adrian Ashley Borroloola: Chantelle Johns Bulman: Carole Orr Eva Valley: Mark Runyu Jilkminggan: Patricia Baker Mataranka: Josephine Carew Ngukurr: Nicholas Farrell Numbulwar: Darren Joshua

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.

Roper Gulf Regional Council will speed up improvement to the energy efficiency of its nine regional offices following the granting of just over half a million dollars from the Aus-tralian Government.

The grant will pay for the up-grading of insulation, energy efficient lighting and air condi-tioning, timer switches and

solar hot water. Improvements will provide both an improved working environment and long term cost saving in operating these facilities.

These energy efficiency im-provements will also be a model demonstrating the ben-efits of improved energy man-agement practices for both Council and the broader com-munity. Linked with the instal-lation of newer and more effi-cient materials and fit out will also be community education programs looking at both en-ergy and water conservation.

Mayor Tony Jack praised the program saying,

“Today’s cost will be tomor-rows benefit. As well as the

obvious cost saving for Coun-cil in both the short and long term, we are starting to man-age what has been a costly and ultimately wasteful use of energy. We are also showing the community the benefits of reducing our carbon foot print. This is smarter thinking and good business!

I would like to acknowledge the generous Commonwealth Government funding. Without this project funding our im-provements would have been a much slower process.

Very remote and regional Councils do not normally have the economic base and dis-posable income to seed these important projects”.

Have your say about Roper Gulf’s bounda-ries, ward structure and representation.

We are currently undertaking a review to assess the adequacy of the current electoral representation arrangements to determine if the current arrangements provide the most effective representation of the Council Area.

To learn more and to have your say, visit the Roper Gulf Regional Council website where you can find the Electoral Review Discussion Paper, a survey to fill in and information should you wish to submit a written re-sponse.

All residents of the Roper Gulf Region are encouraged to participate.

PHOTOGRAPH

OF THE MONTH

Luke MacFarlane

“Sparks fly in the Workshop”

With the current focus on Safety around Roper Gulf Regional Council’s workspaces, Luke MacFarlane shows us how its done.

Out & About

David Scaife in the HQ Workshop

Alex MacPherson our IT Officer

The Community Services Team

The Finance Team

A spring in Manyallaluk

Manyallaluk Barbeque

Deputy Mayor Judy MacFarlane with the Manyallaluk school students

An employee promoting Safe September

Roper Bar A flying fox

Cemetery Maintenance in Manyallaluk

Community Round-up

Manyallaluk’s Sport and Recreation Hub Relocation

The Sports and Recreation demountable building at Man-yallaluk has been relocated closer to the Council Office.

This has added to a develop-ing civic precinct located on the east side of the main resi-dential area which includes the Council Offices, Night Patrol office and is located near to the school and cov-ered basketball court. The relocated building which pre-viously sat quite separately and unsupported is now linked to the main Council office by a breezeway and a space for small outdoor meet-

ings. The space catches a cooling breeze and is shaded during the hotter part of the day.

New shade trees and other plantings will also enhance the space. The location next to the Council Office also means that the previously un-serviced building now has access to power, water and telecommunications at a sub-stantial cost saving.

Constant maintenance is re-quired on cemeteries to keep them clean and tidy as lasting memorials for departed love ones, family and valued com-munity members. Manyallaluk has four cemeteries one of which has much older graves. Council has built fences at three of the four cemeteries around the town to provide respectful acknowledgement and protection for graves which would otherwise be lost to wet season vegetation, buffalo tracks and bush fire.

Progressively Council will build and maintain a register of all burials and their location and continue to make them clean and tidy places for fami-ly to visit and where family graves can be easily found.

As well as providing for hu-man burials the Council and local residents have also es-

tablished a Pet Cemetery at Manyallaluk. Located behind the top road cemetery it also a way of showing respectful acknowledgement of compan-ion animals. This is the first pet cemetery for the Roper Gulf region.

Previously the bodies of dead companion animals were bur-ied often in backyards or simply consigned to the tip. Neither is satisfactory and people wanted a lasting and respectful way of interring their pets.

Anne Maree Low the Roper Gulf Regional Council Ser-vices Manager at Manyallaluk, herself a pet owner said,

“People are very attached to their dogs. They have become part of the family and people want a secure respectful way of burying them when they

die. We now put a lot of time into improving the life of com-panion animals through our Community Vet visits and the like so a respectful burial is just an extension of this”.

Manyallaluk’s Sport & Rec Hub

The Pet Cemetery

Keeping Children Safe in Numbulwar Numbulwar’s Ernest Numamurdirdi re-ceives the Northern Territory” Play your Part” Award.

Numbulwar’s Night Patrol Team leader Ernest Numamurdirdi was announced as the NAP-CAN NT Play your Part Award winner for 2014.

The award recognises inspiring prevention initiatives of individuals, communities and or-ganisations that have played their part in cre-ating safer communities for children and young people.

Ernest is Team Leader of the Night Patrol within Roper Gulf Regional Council Numbul-war town community. Ernest has worked with the Night Patrol for five years, and been a Team Leader for the past one year.

Ernest’s peers attest to the fact that he has a natural flair for engaging with kids and youth. Ernest spends time talking to youth at schools in the afternoons, making sure they are head-ing home or to sporting activities. He is con-sidered a role model within the community, and encourages youth to get involved in activ-ities in order to keep them safe and out of trouble. He ensures that these young people get to their training, and get a routine of keep-ing up with their commitments.

Ernest does his patrol within the Numbulwar community from 6pm up to 2.30am five nights per week. Ernest works with three other night Patrollers who drive and walk the streets of the town engaging with the young people whom they encounter. He often offers them a lift home, and speaks to the parents/families/carer when he arrives. He spends many hours every night talking to and delivering children to a safe environment whilst also diverting children and youth from negative activities through mentoring and positive support.

There is no doubt that Ernest is indeed an inspiring individual and one who has a special way with people. The genuine interest and

time he gives these young people is making a difference to their lives.

While Ernest is undoubtedly good at his job, it goes further than that. He is a role model to children and young people whether he is at work or not.

Mr. Numamurdirdi earlier this year was award-ed a commendation from the NT Police for his work with the Night Patrol.

In National Child Protection Week, The Na-tional Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) encourages everybody to be someone who gives time and genuinely listens to children.

Roper Gulf Regional Council Mayor Tony Jack congratulated Mr. Numamurdirdi on his award saying,

”It’s a great personal achievement for Ernest but also recognises the often unacknowl-edged role of Night Patrol in protecting the safety of our communities, for all the members of those communities. Whether it is people who have issues with substance abuse and are at risk to themselves, angry, confused or lost people or in this case the many children of our towns.”

Ernest Numamurdirdi and his Wife

With the build up and wet sea-son rapidly approaching, where is the coolest spot to be seen at Manyallaluk when you are sweating and not cool?

Built about 20 years ago by partially damming a permanent natural spring just on the edge of town the rock pool swim-ming hole has become the popular spot for locals looking for cool down in the build up heat.

Recently restored by the RGRC Works team the pool provides a self cleaning, cool and safe swimming pool for the community to beat the heat.

The coolest spot in Manyallaluk

Numbulwar RJCP Team’s fishing trip

Fishing and a BBQ were on the agenda for a group of hard working RJCP participants and staff in Numbulwar. Having spent a month working hard around the community to beautify Numbulwar, RJCP staff and participants rewarded themselves with a small BBQ lunch and fishing expedition to celebrate their recent efforts and bond as a team. No fish were caught but everyone walked away with full bellies and strengthened team spirit and morale. Nerine Purton: RJCP Regional Manager

Community Meeting supports new Local Authority

The Swimming Pool

A group of about 35 residents of the small town of Manyallalak came out for a communi-ty meeting and barbeque at the start of Sep-tember and forwarded seven new nomina-tions for membership of the Manyallaluk Local Authority.

The small town had been having difficulties in getting Local Authority meetings happening as several members had moved from the town and it was decided to open up member-ship of the Local Authority to overcome this.

The new nominees are keen to get started in the revitalised Local Authority and are expect-ing to be endorsed by Council at its next meeting in October.

For more information on your Local Authority and how to be involved see the Roper Gulf Regional Council Website.

Manyallaluk Barbeque

Hear the Dingoes Howl

Dingoes are not generally known as pack or team animals but have been known to hunt together. They are smart animals with great endurance and they have had the super 8’s friendly cricket competition named in their honor - the 2014 Dingo Cup to be held at Timber Creek on the 11 and 12 October…. coming up pretty soon.

Last year’s winners the Timber Creek Din-goes are back to defend their title so may be some dingoes from the Roper Gulf might want to challenge them for this prestigious title.

So slap on your whites, your baggy hat and sunscreen and get a team together. After all, the Footy is over by the end of September and too much sport is never enough.

I can almost hear the whack of leather on willow now. Nominations for teams close 6th October and can be made to Ben Hodgart at NT Cricket ben,[email protected]

Is it time for your pet to have a check-up? The vets will be in your community on:

Date & Time Location

29 September - 3 October Numbulwar

20 - 23 October Beswick

27 - 29 October Barunga

17 - 24 November Borroloola

8 - 11 December Bulman & Weemol

Community Vet Visits

Round Two Community Grants Here is your chance to improve your commu-nity!

Applications are now being sought for Com-munity Projects within the Roper Gulf Region that will benefit:

Local community events and activities Economic development The physical or natural environment Applicants may apply for:

Up to $1000 for minor projects Up to $3000 for major projects Closing date for all applications is COB 15th October 2014.

The application package is available on the RGRC website www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au or contact the Grants Coordinator on (08) 8972 9038 or [email protected]

Find us on Facebook

Come on over and like our Facebook Page.

Upcoming Meetings of Council and Local Authorities

Contact Us RGRC Mayor Tony Jack Phone: 0428 793 132 Email: [email protected] RGRC Deputy Mayor Judy MacFarlane Phone: 0437 918 115 Em: [email protected]

Chief Executive Officer Michael Berto Phone: 0427 799 621 Email: [email protected] Roper Gulf Regional Council Reception Phone: (08) 8972 9000 Fax: (08) 8971 2607 Email: [email protected]

Job Opportunities

For current jobs go to www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au or email [email protected]

Do you have a story to tell or a photograph to share?

Roper Gulf Regional Council would like to showcase your stories and photographs from our Region. Residents and RGRC staff are invited to submit their articles and original photos to be considered for an upcoming edition of the RGRC Newsletter, RGRC Face-book Page and/or RGRC Website. Please submit your material to [email protected] or 08 8972 9000

Date Time Meeting Location

07 Oct 2014 10.00am Jilkminggan Local Authority Meeting Jilkminggan SDC

07 Oct 2014 5.30pm Mataranka Local Authority Meeting Mataranka Community Hall

09 Oct 2014 10.00am Borroloola Local Authority Meeting Borroloola SDC

15 Oct 2014 10.00am Ngukurr Local Authority Meeting Ngukurr SDC

16 Oct 2014 10.00am Hodgson Downs Local Authority Mtg Alawa Boardroom

20 Oct 2014 10.00am Beswick Local Authority Meeting Beswick SDC

21 Oct 2014 10.00am Barunga Local Authority Meeting Barunga SDC

22 Oct 2014 2.00pm Bulman Local Authority Meeting Bulman SDC

29 Oct 2014 8.30am Ordinary Meeting of Council Ngukurr SDC

12 Nov 2014 8.30am Ordinary Meeting of Council Beswick SDC

17 Nov 2014 10.00am Beswick Local Authority Meeting Beswick SDC

Please Note: Local Authority Meetings are subject to change

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