General News

Central Coast Grammar School opens new sports field
Early April saw the opening of Central Coast Grammar School (CCGS)’s new state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports field at their Erina Heights campus. The field, which was built to accommodate hockey, football and softball, has a ‘wet dressed’ Tiger Turf all-weather surface.

The opening was attended by the Federal Member for Robertson, Belinda Neal; Federal Member for Dobell, Craig Thomson; State Member for Terrigal, Chris Hartcher; and Gosford City Mayor, Chris Holstein.
The field was opened by CCGS Chairman, John Taylor; Headmaster, William Low and parent and advocate for the field, Warren Wilson.

Mr Taylor said, “The sports field is a superb facility which will greatly benefit CCGS students and visiting players in addition to supporting the growth of hockey and other sports on the Central Coast and in NSW. There has been a great deal of interest from local clubs to hire the facility for training and match play. The field is of a standard that will allow national and international play.” Central Coast Mariners Coach, Lawrie McKinna scheduled the team’s final training session before the Asia Cup at the field to mark the occasion.

“Together with the School’s indoor sports stadium, rugby fields and tennis courts, the Central Coast now has a superior sporting precinct and one of the best in NSW,” said Mr Low. Commenting later, Mr Low said that the School is committed to building strong relationships within the region with business groups, professional associations, sporting associations, other schools and the Ourimbah Campus of the University of Newcastle.

Sharpe Bros continues support for young artists
Awards for young artists aged 18 to 30 years were presented at the “Emerging” exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery prior to Easter.

Gallery Curator, Tim Braham said the competition was designed to support and promote the work of young artists in New South Wales who find that opportunities to gain wide scale exposure in a mainstream setting are few and far between.

The Friends of the Gallery Emerging Artists’ prize went to Edward Duncan from Kempsey.

The event was sponsored again this year by Gosford road maintenance company, Sharpe Bros, whose $2,000 prize went to Sydney photographic artist Ben Ali Ong, for a work the judge found to be “fresh and intriguing”.

In presenting the prize to Ben Ali Ong, Joint Managing Director of Sharpe Bros, Michael Sharpe, said “As a company in a world of grey and black, with bitumen, asphalt and roads as our canvas, we are delighted to be involved with the art world which brings so much colour into our lives.

“We are very proud to share our success with our local community and to be involved with this award, which provides Australian artists with greater opportunities for career development and exposure for their work,” said Mr Sharpe.

While donations are down across the globe as the financial crisis takes its toll, Mr Sharpe said the company – a family-run civil contracting and road maintenance group – had pledged to continue its support of the Gosford Regional Gallery with sponsorship of several art prizes until 2012.

“It is important that successful businesses continue to support local community organisations which will start to feel the pinch as sponsorship dollars dry up during difficult economic times,” he said.

CCTV Security Cameras rolled out
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Andrew Tregent has welcomed the commencement of the Peninsula CCTV security camera rollout with the first cameras now being installed in Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach.

“The Chamber is delighted to see the first of the security cameras being installed,” said Mr Tregent. “Over the last few years the Peninsula Chamber has being lobbying heavily to secure funding for the security camera network.

“When Federal Member for Robertson, Belinda Neal took up the challenge and secured the $680,000 Federal Funding through the Safer Suburbs Plan from the Australian Government Attorney General’s Department, we were absolutely delighted,” he said. “It was so important for the long term safety of our town centres that the funding was secured and now we are seeing the results of all the hard work.”

Gosford City Council is implementing the program on behalf of the Federal Government. “The security cameras are an important tool for the NSW Police Force to monitor our three commercial centres of Woy Woy, Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach so that they can combat graffiti vandals, under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour,” said Mr Tregent.

The new CCTV system will be rolled out over the next few months giving the NSW Police Force the opportunity to monitor the cameras in real time or tape and store footage for future reference. “The Federal Government should be congratulated on its investment in the future of our town centres through the Attorney General’s Department funding,” said Mr Tregent.

Young Central Coast entrepreneur takes home prestigious leadership award
Bronwyn Hall has been named the winner of the Leadership Award for her vision and ingenuity in developing education resources to help students overcome the fear of essay writing.

In response to the challenges faced by students when preparing essays, Ms Hall designed a new resource – The Night Before Essay Planner. More than 10,700 copies of the resource have sold since its launch in 2007 and Ms Hall now also offers free online writing support service through her website The Research Den.

University of Newcastle Chancellor, Professor Trevor Waring, said the Leadership Award recognised and encouraged emerging leaders under the age of 35 in the Hunter, Central Coast and Mid-North Coast regions.
“Today’s young leaders are the key to a strong future for our regions. Investing in young people today will reap rewards tomorrow,” Professor Waring said.

“The calibre of nominations demonstrating both professional and community leadership was very impressive this year. Ms Hall, who also works for the Central Coast Community College in Indigenous Support, has shown great commitment to the Central Coast region,” he said. Ms Hall received a package of prizes, including a $10,000 leadership development scholarship.

Finalist James Lawson from Gosford City Council received the $3,000 FordComm Highly Commended Award. As the Senior Technical and Research Officer – Waste Services, Mr Lawson is responsible for a range of programs including implementing the Future Waste Strategy, environmental monitoring and reporting of Council’s landfills, and coordination of the regional domestic waste and recycling contract.

Inaugural joint meeting of Councils successful
An historic meeting of Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils took place in mid-April to discuss important regional issues for the Central Coast. The joint meeting was a first since the formation of the two Councils over 60 years ago.

The Councils came together to discuss water restriction levels and rainwater tank rebates that are important issues for the Central Coast community and require cooperation by the two Councils. The meeting allowed all Central Coast Councillors to voice their opinion on these matters and for them to reach a consensus before the Councils met separately to formally adopt a position. Gosford City Mayor Chris Holstein said the Councils also had the chance to discuss other regional issues.

The Councils have resolved to refer the matters of water restrictions and rainwater tank rebates to the next meeting of the Gosford/Wyong Councils’ Water Authority Board. The Water Authority will:
• consider an amended definition of Level 3 water restrictions to allow for watering by hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle for one hour per day for two days per week.
• review the rainwater tank rebate scheme so that the Councils’ rebates may only be provided for the internal connection of existing rainwater tanks.

There will be no changes to water restrictions or rainwater tank rebates until the matter is discussed at the Water Authority Board meeting on 20 May 2009.

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