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Mayor's chain pulled
Glamorgan Spring Bay councillors have
overturned a motion for a mayoral chain-of-office to cost $850.
Councillors were asked to consider quotes for silver chains, medallions
and an honour board of mayors at a recent meeting.
Councillor Howard Harris said the Municipality was too small to justify
such an extravagance.
Cr Jan Bacon said: “We might only be a small population but we are big
on civic pride. A chain and robes worn by the mayor on important
occasions such as Australia Day adds dignity to the event and helps
give us an identity.”
Cr Cheryl Arnol said: “Glamorgan and Spring Bay were the oldest rural
municipalities in Australia before amalgamation - something to be proud
of. We had a Glamorgan chain in the past; I think we should have a
chain-of-office now.”
Councillors were advised that a Mayoral Honour Board had been
‘researched’ and this would include the name and the years of service
of each Warden and Mayor of both the Glamorgan and Spring Bay Councils
and the current Council since 1993.
It was proposed that the honour board would be hung in the Swansea
Council chamber.
Councillors voted for the honour board proposal. The motion for the
chain-of-office was lost.
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Mayor Bertrand Cadart
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Bertrand
Cadart’s first Council meeting (2005)
The first meeting of the newly-elected Glamorgan Spring Bay Council of
2005 was held in Bicheno and attracted a public gallery of 32 innocent
bystanders.
The new Bicheno Councillor Bertrand Cadart rose from his chair to
address Council and included the gallery in his remarks.
“People might notice that I am of French descent,” Cr Cadart said.
“In France, of course, things are often done differently to here.
“I take this opportunity to welcome the many new councillors to Bicheno
and particularly our new mayor, Howard Harris.
“In France, when we welcome people we give them a big ‘ug. That is what
I am going to give the Mayor, a French ‘ug.”
Mayor Harris rose to receive Cr Cadart’s tribute. The two men embraced
at the Council table to the enthusiatic applause and laughter of all in
the gallery and around the Council table.
“I think we’re off to an ‘appy start,” Cr Cadart said.
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Pic right: Henry de Freycinet (2nd from
left), the last male descendant of the de Saulces de Freycinet family
alive, recently travelled to Australia from France where he is a
lieutenant in the French Navy.
Hosting Lt de Freycinet in Canberra were (l to r)
Rupert Gerritsen, Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie RANR and Peter
Bender (our correspondent).
The Freycinet Peninsula was named in 1803 by a
navigator aboard one of the French expeditionary ships - Geographe and
Naturaliste commanded by Captain Baudin - in honour of Henri de Saulces
de Freycinet who, with his brother Louis, was a senior officer on the
voyage of discovery.
Pic right: Visiting Museum Consultant, Jai
Paterson (left) from Launceston, was in Swansea recently to
assist Maureen Martin-Ferris and Brenton Wheare, Museum
volunteers, to make an inventory of the collection.
This is the first step towards assessing the community’s valuable
collection which will, in turn, lead to helping with preservation for
years to come. The volunteers also hope to research the collection and
will report back to the community on their findings.
Community members interested in becoming a volunteer may call into the
Museum during opening hours Wednesday to Monday 10-4.
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Sewage and
water reforms OK with Council
State water and sewerage reforms announced by the Premier have received
the provisional approval of the General Manager of Glamorgan Spring Bay
Council, David Metcalf, and the Mayor Bertrand Cadart.
The reforms will see regional water authorities become responsible for
all reticulation and treatment of water and sewerage throughout
Tasmania.
“This is a watershed agreement,” Mr Lennon said.
“This historic decision strengthens the relationship between Local and
State Government.”
Mr Metcalf said: “The announcement is probably the best outcome for
Local Government considering the treasurer stated that the status quo
was not an option and that legislation would be passed to ensure that
this could not be the case.
“However I believe it is a catalyst for Council amalgamations. I
must say from a personal viewpoint that I am a firm believer that
control of these assets should be with the local authority and not
regional or state based.
“Of course funding should be provided to a reasonable level from both
State & Federal Governments but most Councils are in a position to
go ahead without this funding.
“I believe with proper planning the infrastructure should have been and
could have been brought up to scratch.
“I believe the new authorities will be in place by January 2009 and
probably fully operational by July 2009.
“It is unlikely that Hobart Water will remain the same as will Esk
& Cradle Coast Water. These are likely to be consumed in three new
regional authorities along with the Council’s water & sewerage
assets.
“As far as GSBC is concerned it is full steam ahead on the water
projects as we cannot wait for any regional involvement or funding.
“We need solutions now and we need to implement them as quickly as the
regulatory system will allow us.”
The Mayor said: “I hope that a genuine spirit of cooperation will
prevail and that the smaller communities will be equal in the new
authorities priorities and allocations.”
President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, Mike Gaffney
said that changes to the regulation of the sector should ensure the
provision of safe and sustainable water and sewerage services for all
Tasmanians.
The Treasurer Mr Aird confirmed his commitment to the provision of $5
million transitional funding assistance to councils to support
implementation of structural reform of water and sewerage.
He said legislation was scheduled to be introduced in April to provide
certainty to employees in the sector and to allow infrastructure to be
built as soon as possible.
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Swansea
water history
Swansea
9 November 2003
A reliable supply of water for Swansea to benefit residents and tourism
operators is under investigation.
In a two-part move, surety of water for Swansea for the coming season
is being addressed by access to up to 50 million litres (50Ml) of water
for the town supply from an existing on-farm storage near town.
In addition, Premier Jim Bacon today said that longer-term solutions
are being actively investigated by the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council and
the Water Development Branch of the Department of Primary Industries,
Water and Environment.
“Swansea’s water supply problems were identified as a key issue in
Tasmania’s Water Development Plan,” Mr Bacon said.
“The drought last year proved that this was a major issue impacting not
only on the town but also on tourism development.
“Since then, the State Government has been actively working with the
Council on solutions.
“Today I am pleased to announce that we have identified an interim
solution while the longer-term solution is resolved.”
One of these possible solutions is a new private dam on Bluemans Creek
to hold about 700 megalitres of water.
“This option would see 500 megalitres available for farmers to purchase
from the dam proponent for high value agricultural production,” Mr
Bacon said.
“The remaining 200 megalitres of water from the dam could be reserved
for the town supply. This would satisfy Swansea’s immediate need for an
extra 50 megalitres and provides a further 150 megalitres in reserve to
cater for significant growth of the Swansea community well into the
future.”
This is one of several options identified by the Water Development Plan
and the council.
Over the past 12 months, DPIWE has worked closely with the Glamorgan
Spring Bay Council and private developers to address the East Coast’s
water problems.
“The Tasmanian Government has already been part of the water solution
at Coles Bay in conjunction with Federal Hotels.
“There remain some areas of the East Coast where water supply problems
are hindering tourism development and we are working towards a solution
there too with local government through the Water Development Plan”
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Councillor predicts
rise in dog fees
“Watch the cost of dog registrations go up,” Cr Howard Harris said at
the recent Council meeting during a debate upon the final Dog
Management Policy.
“The costs of administration (of the Policy) will be horrendous.”
“I think this policy is totally uncontrollable,” Cr Craig Johnston
commented
“Every beach will need a different sign with differing hours and
prohibitions.”
“This has been going on for a long time,” Cr Cheryl Arnol said.
“I don’t believe we’ll die in a ditch if we consider it at the next
meeting and perhaps the spelling and grammar can be corrected.
“Also, I believe this document should be returned so that all the
spelling and grammatical mistakes can be corrected and people can
understand it.”
Mayor Bertrand Cadart said: “The Policy consideration has been with
Council for almost 7 years, already. We should vote on it now.”
Included in the recommendation for Council to consider was:
• That an allocation be made in the 2008/9 budget to enable the
necessary signage, dog waste bag dispenser / disposable bins and
community education program to be undertaken;
• Council develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Parks
and Wildlife Service to cooperate on resource sharing, communication
and enforcement policy.
The Policy was passed by Council on the understanding that corrections
would be made.
Councillors Arnol, Johnston and Whitten voted against adoption of the
policy.
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Letter
to Mayor
Dear Mayor Cadart,
Congratulations on your election as mayor of the GSBC (Glamorgan Spring
Bay Council).
I and my family are regular holiday makers in Bicheno and annually
spend $10,000 plus on holidays here.
We applaud your Council’s hardline proactive approach to the identified
menace of canines on our beach but respectfully suggest that this time
of the year it is the as yet apparently unidentified problem of great
numbers of uncontrolled children running wild that needs addressing
urgently.
A pay-as-you-go licensing system where Council would issue permits (and
numbered armbands) for children to use the beach would, I am sure, make
parents take more interest in their offspring’s behaviour, particularly
if the financial penalties for running, screaming, digging holes in the
sand, peeing in the water, kicking balls or throwing frisbees were
stiff or automatic forfeiture of a sizeble bond was strictly enforced.
Your immediate attention to this matter would be a “Boost for Bicheno”.
We look 4 ward 2 action
Name witheld upon request
Mayor’s reply:
Thank you very much for your email and I must admit I am still not sure
if you are related to Santa-Claus in the North Pole! Then again, he is
supposed to love children with all their running,screaming, digging
holes in the sand, peeing in the water, kicking balls or throwing
frisbees. If we are not careful, they might even poo on the beach and
bite passing dogs !
Perhaps we should stop having them altogether ?
I am forwarding your letter to my fellows councillors and our General
Manager for some “ideas” as I am drawing a blank I must admit.
Yours sincerely,
Bertrand (Mayor Cadart).
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Kate the Nellie Melba of Swansea
Retired State Emergency Services Swansea division controller, Kate
Bradley, has had more testimonials, certificates of gratitude,
dedication lunches, dinners, medals and honorifics thrust upon her than
Dame Nellie Melba, a fact to be considered in the light of the Mayor’s
diary entry for Thursday 20 December 2007 which reads: I had accepted a
dinner invitation for a regional ‘thankyou” to Kate Bradley for her
huge effort over 20 years as a volunteer for the local emergency
service.
Unfortunately, I could not make it and I did not warn the organisers.
Councillor Arnol did attend and emailed me the next day that the party
waited for 45 minutes before deciding to start the meal.
"I apologised to Ms Bradley as soon as I read Cr Arnol’s email," the
Mayor said.
Ms Bradley said: “You’ll have a lot of grovelling to do, Mr Mayor."
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Ghosts of Morris'
Store and the Mystery of Hairpin Hill
Who was ‘Hairpin’ Hill?
Swansea’s Morris’ Store chimney stack, constructed circa 1830, bears
testimony to the fact that ‘Hairpin’ Hill was kicked out of the Swansea
hotel on May 18th, 1942, by Trooper Button.
‘Hairpin’s’ resentment was so great he recorded the incident for
posterity on Morris’ chimney cowling - adding a threatening ‘RIP’ (Rest
In Peace) for the benefit of Trooper Button.
But ‘Hairpin’ seems not to be known to the extant Hill family. Barry
Hill, manager of Swansea RSL Club and lifelong Swansea resident said he
wasn’t a descendant of ‘Hairpin’s’.
Morris’ chimney has become a record of Swansea folk history. Employees
and the Morris family have been inscribing their names and remarks
since Albert Morris and Arthur Chappell scrawled their signatures
across the hardwood covering on 14th August 1882.
PC Mitchell signed on the 28th day of a month in 1882 followed by a
pencilled scribble of names and dates faded and ghosted by time.
Legible momentos include: JS Pyke 1864; Alexander Morris, 1879; B
Morris, 10th August 1928; L Chappell (grandson of Arthur Chappell?) 5th
May 1932; KF Pyke, 1942; Charles James Pyke 1942; N Bender, December
1942; K Cotton, 1952; Samuel P Quinn on the 9th day of an illegible
month and year.
The advent of felt pens encouraged bigger, more careless, grafitti-like
signatures and commentary.
“Hi there! My name is Leigh Watson (Wombat) and I am a Great
Guy,” the immodest Texta scrawl declared on 31st May 1987.
Charmaine Webb Texta’d her name on the chimney on Wednesday 18th
January 1977, as did Anne Housege on 10th February 1976.
Wendy C writes that she ‘was here in 1999’ then, in 2004 she informed
us that she was ‘still here’.
Janet Skeggs added her signature on 8th July 1981 and Anne Barden said
‘I was here with Sally Pyke on 30th January 1980’.
Jacquie Hine tells us: ‘The only black T-18 driver in Tassie was here
on the 31/5/87 but the T-bird is now smashed!’
‘Deanos woz here today on the 31-5-87. I think the Shell sign is neato
and I want it,’ Deanos declared.
Then there are the romances, engraved and encased within a heart, and
romantic notices ... but we can’t reveal these, they could be your
parents, grandparents, great grandparents ....
Lyell Wells
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Pic above: The chimney cowling in Morris'
Store
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May Shaw a first
class health facility
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In
the political maelstrom that public health care has become, May Shaw
Health Centre Swansea is a beacon of hope and charity: an exemplary
public institution built upon community caring, the expertise of a
voluntary board and a cooperative, dedicated professional staff.
Community infrastructure has benefited from millions of dollars in
hard-earned grants accruing to May Shaw.
An additional wing, opened recently by Senator Eric Abetz, adds another
6 high care and 12 low care beds and 1 respite.
The May Shaw complex now houses 22 high care and 24 low care patient
places. The expansion includes a spa pool, hairdressing salon,
kiosk and dementia specific area with updating of dining and
activities areas.
The composition of the Board of Management of May Shaw includes
accountants, doctor, pharmacist and several business people. All
have undertaken a Company Director’s course to ensure that they are
aware of their roles and responsibilities.
May Shaw’s Chief Executive Officer, Janette Voss, in response to
opening remarks by Senator Abetz said: “The May Shaw motto is
‘Excellence, Dignity, Respect and Teamwork’. Our staff ensure it is
delivered at May Shaw in all facets of care.
“We are a truly unusual facility which not only caters for the local
municipality but (also) the ever increasing tourist and holiday
population of the East Coast.
“We would not have achieved this building works without the grants
received from the Commonwealth Government.
“The Board of May Shaw have shown their commitment and their support of
the community by true investment in their ongoing work for May Shaw.
“It needs to be remembered that they are not paid and that May Shaw
itself is a non-profit organisation which exists for the community.
“The Board, under the direction of the chairman, Craig Johnston, have
become responsible for funding and our thanks go to all those generous
people and organisations who have supported May Shaw with donations.
“These donations have allowed for purchase of furnishings and equipment
which assist with providing a quality facility.
“My thanks go to Julie Orr who has led by example and supported and
guided all staff.
“We continue to face the challenges of staffing which is especially
difficult in a rural facility which is so diverse in nature.
“One of the flow on difficulties is the cost and availability of local
accommodation.
“We must continue to lobby for access (to health care) for the
community and relevant funding to provide services.”
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Pic: In the forecourt of the new wing of
May Shaw Health Centre, Swansea, Craig Johnston, Chairman of the Board
of May Shaw, with Chief Executive Officer (left) Jeanette Voss and
Chief of Staff Julie Orr discuss plans for the new extensions while
enjoying a copy of Freycinet Maria Coast News.
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Pic above: Senator Eric Abetz (left) and
Cr Craig Johnston (right) with May Shaw residents on the occasion of
the opening of the new wing by Senator Abetz.
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May Shaw Health
Centre was named after Emma May Shaw who after her graduation as a
Nursing sister at the Hobart General Hospital in 1906 devoted her life
to attending to the needs of the sick and elderly in Swansea.
After her death in 1936 her husband, Mr H Howard
Amos, donated £500 to establish a bush nursing hospital in
Swansea.
In 1939 the May Shaw Memorial Hospital was opened
with 3 beds and accommodation for the Sister-in-Charge.
In 1950 a doctor’s surgery was added and in 1973 the
state government opened a hospital on the site in Wellington
Street, which was operated as an annexe of the Royal Hobart Hospital
until converted to a Nursing Centre in 1982.
Due to financial and staffing difficulties the
Council and community decided to convert the role of the Centre
to cater for those who were aged and frail and requiring 24 hour
nursing care.
In 1992 the proceeds from the sale of the cottage
home in Franklin Street funded a 9 room hostel wing built onto
the existing centre.
In July 2004 May Shaw became a separate entity
following approval as an Incorporated Association.
Today, May Shaw’s Community Care Packages provide
individual units of support and care for those who wish, and are able
to remain, domestically capable.
Services are designed to meet the individual’s
needs.
May Shaw Health Centre provides diverse lifestyle
choices including fully independent 1 or 2 bedroom retirement units,
rental units and a fully redeveloped modern residential facility that
provides 22 high and 24 low care places.
The skilled staff provide quality care and
have a commitment to aged, palliative and acute care.
May Shaw is small enough to retain that personal
touch yet diverse enough to provide not only aged care but also
accident and emergency services and inpatient acute care.
An activities day club organises monthly trips with
specialists appointments combined with outings.
Activity staff have produced videos which show
residents on outings and performing activities such as swimming, making
movies and much more.
A health and wellbeing centre has recently opened
while the reconstruction of the accident and emergency section has been
completed.
Medical services are located at May Shaw and
visiting health professionals and specialists are available. A dentist
will be resident from February 2008.
May Shaw now has full accreditation until July 2009.
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Sister May Shaw
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Howard Amos
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Thankyou Howard
Howard Harris, erstwhile mayor of Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, is a
disappointed man.
The electors of the Freycinet and Maria Coast rejected his bid for a
second term yet nobody this reporter has spoken with - and that’s quite
a few - said anything negative about the dedicated councillor from
Triabunna.
Howard never neglected his constituency and reliably turned out day,
night, weekends and holidays for civic events no matter how paltry.
For this journalist, he was the epitome of community leadership. He
answered all questions directly and courteously; if he didn’t know the
precise answer he’d get back promptly so as to keep the public and
ratepayers informed.
Howard worried about his responsibilities, perhaps a bit too much. Yet
he always wore a smile and held out a friendly hand to everybody (he
still does) despite the setbacks in the constant battle he fought on
behalf of ratepayers with the State Government and their bureaucrats.
Howard maintained staff morale while they battled with the task of
restoring Council’s financial credibility. During his term, Council
finances were turned from debit to credit (see Council’s AGM report on
previous page).
The turnaraound might have been engineered by the General Manager,
Gordon Mallett, but the tricky part of handling the residents’ (often
unreasonable) backlash to reduced services and postponed or unrealised
plans fell upon the Mayor.
Howard was a full-time, hard-working leader who never complained about
his pitiful part-time retainer of $24,563.
This reporter sat through every Council meeting while Howard Harris was
Mayor. He conducted meetings with equanimity and courtesy. As he gained
experience and confidence he was never stuck for an answer. I also
witnessed his developing ability in speechmaking, from a shakily
nervous start a few days after his election at the launch of the Drowsy
Drivers campaign at Scorchers Restaurant to very fine and firm
deliveries later in his term where he impressed audiences with his
confidence and stature.
Howard Harris could not have represented Glamorgan Spring Bay so well
without loyal domestic support, which he got in spades from his wife
Shirley.
This reporter will miss his briefing sessions with the Mayor. The new
Mayor, Bertrand Cadart, is about as different as could possibly be; and
that’s not a bad thing.
Sure Howard is disappointed - he has every right to be. But although he
lost the election, he won hearts and proved he was a community warrior.
Congratulations, Mr Mayor, on a job well done.
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A
picture
worth a thousand words: the Hazards (named after the captain of a
Yankee whaler) and Freycinet Lodge nestling in the bush of
Freycinet
National Park.
Ploughing a
curvaceous wake out of Little Swanport and covering 156 km. during an
eventful day on Great Oyster Bay, a circumnavigation of Schouten Island
and an expedition to Freycinet Peninsula, Peter Fergusson’s speedy
half-cabin cruiser transported us to a scenic wonderland and a rich mix
of history and nature.
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Schouten and Maria Islands are reputedly
the southern ‘tail’ of continental Australia’s Great Dividing Range.
Massive bright red granite butresses carved by the weather and coloured
by minerals deposited by sea, wind and storm over untold centuries rise
steeply from a deep, fertile ocean seething with life.
Maria and Schouten were named by the Dutch explorter Abel Tasman who
sailed past in 1642.
An information board provided by Parks and Wildlife Rangers tells
visitors that since the beginning of the 1800’s the island has had a
chequered history with whalers and sealers, coal and tin mines as well
as a number of pastoralists. If you look around you can see the remains
of mining shafts, tramways and a sheep dip - relics from the past.
Today, Schouten and Maria Islands are National Parks inhabited only by
a fabulous population of birdlife and visitors from the
sea.
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