June - gloriousnebo

June 2005
Community news from Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious
www.gloriousnebo.org.au/MTN/
From the News Desk
Residents’
Association Report
For goodness snakes!
ust a reminder for all those submitting articles and pictures to the
News, PLEASE don’t send us Microsoft Word documents!! We can’t
use them. Why? Because we are of the school that recognises that
MSWord SUCKS and we choose not to use it. Please place your text within the email message itself. If you want to use your own fancy schmancy layout, that’s fine, but please send the final document as a TIFF.
Pictures need to be JPEG or TIFF (not PDF or FDAGAFC) at 266dpi or
higher and, preferably, reasonably in focus. Sometimes we need to
squish things and shoehorn stuff around just to make it all fit. Now
and then something doesn’t go in because we just ran out of space
(nothing personal) and other times we’re crying out for just one more
item to fill a large white space.
Thanks for listening.
J
Watch out - our 'secret sneaky traffic peepy' camera is out and about
and captured a pic of a gigantic snake on the Nebo road a while ago.
So please drive carefully for goodness snakes as there continues to be
accidents on the Mountain road endangering man and beast alike.
Pull over safely if going too slow and take care of injured wildlife (vets
treat native animals for free). If you witness dangerous drivers don’t
forget the police ‘hoon line’ - 3364 3555 or 33646464.
Fun razer
There’s been some good community support for our Public Liability
Insurance fundraiser for the Hall and it looks like Saturday 10
September will be the date. Please mark your calendars for this galah
fun razer full of cutting edge humour! Anyone with ideas, or interested in helping, please contact me.
From the News Desk
Don’t forget also, that selected past issues of the Mt News, some in full
almost-living colour, and many other Glorious/Nebo stuffs can be
viewed at :
www.gloriousnebo.org.au
Our meetings are first Wednesday of each month, 7:30pm at the community hall. All welcome. The Association aims to support a safe,
healthy, vibrant community and environment.
Robert Lachowicz, President Phone 3289 8337
SR
Plumbing
Solutions
For quality work at competitive rates.
REMEMBER IN CASE OF FIRE:
Telephone 000 then
Terry Bradford: 3289 8181
or Bob Snowdon: 3289 0150
Phone Trevor 3289 2980 or
0408 884 345
New work - Maintenance
Renovations - Hot water systems
Gas fitting - Drain laying
Blocked drains machine cleared
Gold Card No: 618888
2
June 2005
Looking after Life on
the Mountains – ask
MEPA
MEPA (Mt Nebo/Mt Glorious Environment Protection
Association) is a not-for-profit association concerned
with environmental issues in our mountain
communities.MEPA answers your questions about
bush regeneration, weeds, local plants etc!
Email questions to askmepa@yahoo.com.au or write
to ASKMEPA, PO Box 29, Mt Nebo, QLD 4520.
This month, as it happens, no-one has written to ask MEPA anything. (There’s really no need to be so shy!) But with so much good
work going on around the mountain (Alex Rd, Mt Glorious Rd,
Vickery’s corner, upper Dawson Creek, the Blocks, etc.) I got to
thinking again about the famous Bradley sisters from Sydney last
century, and their ideas on bush-regeneration, developed over
many years of work in the Sydney region. So here’s a reprint of
some material on their ideas published in MN a few years ago.
he two sisters, Joan and Eileen, closely studied plants and plant
growth (one of the sisters was a trained scientist). In time this
fuelled a growing interest in conservation and they sought ways to rid
the surrounding bushland of Sydney’s sandstone country of unwanted
plants, the invading weeds. Approaching the problem in a tactical and
informed way with very limited resources, they hoped that by simply
giving the bush an edge against the invaders, and by causing only
minimal disturbance so as to preclude further weed invasion, the bush
was resillient enough to reassert itself. And their experiences seemed
the bear out this view.
T
Weed control succeeds when you bring back the bush - the strategy of
favouring natives against weeds. To do this may involve a change of
attitude. In our method of bush regeneration, it is the natives we are
thinking about. We are concentrating, not on eradicating weeds, but
on enabling native plants to grow, unhampered, in the environment
that suits them best. This is a good exercise in applied ecology, encouraging the bush to control the invaders for itself, yourself and for others
in the future. Nothing you can do will speed this process beyond the
natural growth rate of the native plants but you may do a lot to slow it
down if you are not careful. Direct your mind always, not towards the
slaughtered weeds, but towards growing natives. (Bringing Back the
Bush [2002].)
Thus they came to develop and later teach what is now widely referred
to simply as “the Bradley method” of bush regeneration, a method
which aims to help the bush help itself, with minimal labour and
maximum patience, using principles that can be embraced by both
young and old, the fit and the frail.
Experience pointed to three basic principles to work by: (1) work outwards from good bush areas towards areas of weed; (2) make minimal
disturbance to the environment; (3) do not over clear. Rather than
clearing weed-infested areas head-on and inviting the bush to
recolonise.
June 2005
Principle 1 encapsulates the idea that one should seek to eliminate
weed-pressures from healthy areas of bush thereby promoting its natural ability to recolonise weed areas. Promote healthy bush and, reinvigorated, let it work for you. Principle 2 works from the idea that
weeds get a hold in disturbed areas; minimise disturbance and their
opportunities are restricted. Principle 3 derives from two insights: firstly, that clearing beyond the bush’s natural ability to recolonise will
simply invite repeated weed invasion and you, not the bush, will have
to suppress them again; and secondly, the subsequent lack of progress
will shatter morale.
While the application of the Bradley Method to a sub-tropical environment such as ours may involve some variation, the principles that
underwrite it still offer invaluable advice, I think. Must run - I see some
plants to liberate!
The opinions and viewpoints expressed in these articles are
those of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent
those of MEPA members.
Dominic Hyde MEPA
Closure of toilets at Manorina
I was recently asked to enquire after the impending closure of the toilet
block at Manorina, Mt Nebo. Alan Don (Acting Manager, Brisbane Forest
Park) provided the following information from QPWS.
The toilet block at the Manorina section of D’Aguilar National Park was
built more than 30 years ago - the exact date is not known. The toilet
used a septic system for treating the sewage. A subsequent study of use of
facilities in the Brisbane Forest Park was conducted for the Brisbane
Forest Park Administration Authority in 1978/79. Manorina was a small
day use area which received high visitation, but for an average length of
stay of around 10 minutes. Further observation revealed that the site was
used almost exclusively as a toilet stop for visitors to Mt Nebo and Mt
Glorious, as toilet facilities in other National Park and State Forest day
use areas on the mountain were not flush toilets.
The day use area was redeveloped in 1980/81 as the Manorina Bush
Camp by the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service as its first
project for Brisbane Forest Park. The Bush Camp was intended as a
small, limited stay “training/camping” area, as envisaged by the Deputy
Director of QNPWS of the day. Use of the camping area dropped steadily
toward the end of last century, and in the late 1990’s the Brisbane Forest
Park administration decided to close the camping area. The toilet block
remained.
A recent review of all QPWS assets by qualified staff under the Strategic
Asset Management System (SAMS) assessment program revealed that the
septic system had failed and the block was not economic to maintain. A
new toilet block with up-to-date sewage system meeting current effluent
standards would cost in excess of $90,000. Given the low use of the site,
and the provision of refurbished toilets at Jolly’s Lookout, Boombana and
Maiala in the Mt Nebo/Mt Glorious area, replacing the block at
Manorina is not a District or Regional priority. It is intended to remove
the existing block and septic system to prevent potential pollution, and
retain the area as a low-key picnic spot.
Dominic Hyde (member elect, Brisbane Forest Park Advisory Board)
3
Mt Nebo
Hall
Fundraiser
Coming
September 10
Mark your diaries!!
‘Hoon line’
3364 3555 or 33646464
For police response to
dangerous driving
Bush Tales
hen I’m away from home and thinking about the bush,
images sometimes come to mind. I suppose they are different
for everyone. For me, it’s big tallowwoods, gingers and robins. Yellow
Robins. They always seem to be around and always so busy. Such tireless little hunters, not much misses their attention.
W
They seem to be the first up in the morning and the last up at night.
Their pre-dawn whistling starts the day, singing in the sun, and their
chattering at sunset is usually the last sound of the forest day-shift. (In
fact, if night-shift is your thing, the Robin’s morning call is fair warning of the bright light of the coming sun.) In between breakfast and
bed they seem to constantly hunt, flitting to a branch to perch upright
watching the ground for food, or landing on a tree-trunk and hanging
off it sideways on lookout. As they stand watch they flick their tail up,
gently lowering it again. The constant tail flicks are like some nervous
twitch. Then, suddenly, a quick dart to the ground to chase whatever
caught their eye, before moving back up to a perch to resume their
watch. Bugs, grubs, spiders, moths and worms all seem to be on the
menu. I’ve never seen them have desert.
Occasionally, a mate will come by. Sometimes they seem to get along
with each other but mostly the intruder gets an earful of short, sharp
whistles. If that doesn’t work then the visitor gets chased and chased
and chased until it gets the idea, … which it always seems to. Yellow
Robins really do seem to be the hardest little workers in the forest.
Their cousins, the Rose Robins, are far more discrete. Tourists rather
than locals, they seem to come north for the winter like a lot of other
southerners. I see them so rarely that whenever they appear it makes
my day. Smaller than the Yellow Robins, their charcoal grey backs and
beautiful rose-coloured breasts give them a colour scheme any bird
would be proud of. They too perch and pounce, but their nervous
twitch is more like a wing-shuffle than a tail flick. (Do all robins have
twitch, I wonder?)
There was a fair bit of excitement in the household the other day when
a Rose Robin came indoors and had a bit of trouble getting back out
again. Flipped out a bit, it sat there for a while perched on the railing,
as cute as a button, before being shown the way out to continue its
winter holiday in the fresh outdoors.
I hope that one day walking in the forest I come across a robin’s nest.
People say they build beautiful ones of grass decorated with bark or
lichen. In fact, the Rose Robin has the proud title of most beautiful
nest builder of all Australian birds. Perhaps like they could start their
own home decorator’s show.
bushtales@hotmail.com
4
June 2005
The Wilson Report
Out and About in the Ferny Grove Electorate
Another busy month has come and gone. Some of the highlights for
me were the start of the Samford bus trial. While I wasn’t happy to see
the trees coming down on Samford Road, I was pleased to see the
commencement of the second and final stage of construction to
upgrade Samford Road to four lanes and to improve safety at intersections. I attended the opening of two local small businesses, GBG
Project Management, Arana Hills and the Games Place, Ferny Grove,
the opening of the refurbished Arana Hills Fire Station, the GrovelyMitchelton Scouts’ AGM, and a “Tackling Life” launch at the West
Mitchelton Rugby League Club. Other highlights last month included:
* hosting a barbecue at Parliament House for the Samford and
Districts Lions Club’s Miss Personality Quest entrant, Lisa Mazzeo,
* attending Anzac Day ceremonies at Ferny Hills State School, the
Gaythorne RSL, Samford RSL & Keperra Sanctuary,
* farewelling and thanking Grovely State School Principal, Sue-Ann
Sheppard who has been transferred to Brackenridge State School. I
extend a very warm welcome to Sue-Ann’s replacement, Vicki Baker.
Maiala picnic area upgrade
I inspected the new Maiala carpark and picnic facilities with National
Park and Wildlife officers. This picnic area was once a flourishing
sawmill site, cut out of the rainforest. It now is a part of the D’Aguilar
National Park, and home to a variety of rainforest animals. The
upgrade to the carpark and picnic facilities which cost approximately
$170,000, will enhance what is already a very popular day-trip destination for the family.
Former Ogle Property Update
Prep Year Update
Is your child’s playgroup, child care centre, kindergarten, pre-school
and/or school represented on my Prep Year Steering Committee? I
established the Committee last year to help and support parents with
the introduction of the Prep School Year in 2007. The next meeting of
the Steering Committee is on Tuesday 31 May in my Electorate Office.
A representative from your group is very welcome to come to the meeting and join this important network. Contact my Electorate Office
(3851 1570) if you would like more information about the Prep Year.
Principal for a Day
As part of Education Week celebrations, I was Principal for a (half) day
at Patricks Road State School, Ferny Hills. This is the third year I have
acted in the role of School Principal at schools in my Electorate. The
Principal for a Day program is designed to build links between schools
and their communities. I thoroughly enjoy the experience and certainly see school life from a very different perspective. I encourage residents to get behind their local schools and join in planned celebrations to mark the week. The 2005 State Education Week program is
bigger than ever before with more than 480,000 students from nearly
1300 state schools participating in major state wide events and schoolbased celebrations throughout the state.
IN CLOSING, I welcome people contacting me with their views, as well
as seeking information or help with any State Government matter.
Telephone me on 3851 1570, fax me on 3851 1261, email me on
ferny.grove@parliament.qld.gov.au, or check out my website,
www.geoffwilsonmp.com. My Electorate Office is at 3/6 Nepean
Avenue, Arana Hills (office hours 9:00 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to
5:00 pm, week days). Appointments can be arranged by phoning my
Electorate Office.
Many residents have expressed their concerns to me about the proposed subdivision comprising 207 lots at Mount Glorious, known
locally as the “Ogle” property. The Environment Minister has recently advised me that this development proposal is not within the State
Government’s jurisdiction. The Pine Rivers Shire Council as the
assessment manager for the application carries primary responsibility
for assessing and deciding the application and defending its decision
in the Planning and Environment Court. Residents who made submissions against this development proposal have the opportunity to
become a party to the appeal. This gives those submitters a chance to
present their views to the Court, and to test both the applicant and
Council’s argument.
Business Breakfast
Mark your diaries for 26 July for a business breakfast with Deputy
Premier, Treasurer and Sports Minister Terry Mackenroth. I’m hosting
the breakfast with the Hills Chamber of Commerce at the Keperra
Country Golf Club (6:45am for a 7:00am start, finish by 8:30am).
I’ve invited the Deputy Premier to speak about the State Budget and
the State Government’s Regional Plans for South East Queensland.
Details will be advertised in coming weeks. Tickets are $25 and need
to be purchased in advance. Contact my Electorate Office (3851 1570)
for tickets.
June 2005
Tuesday night by appointment
5
The protagonists, the dogs, are called Lilly and Arlo. Almost everything
in the book is true. Mountain folk not disposed towards dogs should
perhaps not read the book. Ahh well, go on!
If kids in schools all over Australia like it the book will stay in print for
years. If sales peter out after the initial pump-up....slash goes the big
knife and it’s on the remainder table!
Personally knowing the author, I recommend the book to you! It’s a
child of my heart. I hope it finds a place in yours!
Frank Moffatt
Mt. Nebo May ‘05
Some reviews of “Dog’s Do, Dog’s Don’t” from
the P-3 class at Mt. Nebo State School.
rank Moffatt’s new picture book almost wrote itself. At least, it was
almost dictated to him by his dogs, who are the ego-driven, madly
spoilt canines at the heart of the book.
This is Frank’s seventh picture book for children. Co-incidently, his
first book (in 1978) was also about the family dog - a mad poodle with
a tongue longer than Mick Jagger’s. Towards the end of his days, the
poodle, Pippy by name, looked a lot like a Rolling Stone. The tongue,
mad unruly hair, wild lustful eyes....still Pippy loved Frank and Frank
loved him. So, a book.
Frank’s books were once described as “celebrating ordinary things”.
The fact is, Frank doesn’t categorise anything as ordinary - except perhaps the vision and performance of John Winston Howard.
Frank is adamant that if John Howard were his dog or perhaps even his
neighbour, little John would not warrant a literary celebration.
Lingering on the P.M. for a moment Frank Moffatt believes that the
only remarkable thing Howard has ever said was, referring to Bob
Dylan, “I like his music, but not the political side of it!”
F
Now to the book... Frank has shown the book to the kids at Mt Nebo
state School and their comments are included here. He tried to shape
a book that would be fun when shared, when read out loud. It has a
sort of ‘call and response’ element to it. The text is printed ‘into’ the
illustration, the font style is fun, and the emphasis on size of letters and
graphic placement gives the book heaps of zing.
The colour is terrific. Not quite that of the originals but excellent. The
‘look’ of the book is just right. Puffin Books are always spot on with
design and editorial finish.
The pictures are freely drawn, in brown ink and the colour, mostly
watercolour and coloured ink, is washed in and around the pictures in
a very free style. Frank has a great love of music and that influences
his style. Improvisation is everything. Difficult as it may be to believe
he re-writes the text fifty or sixty times. Frequently, pictures are redrawn seven, eight or more times. It’s like Fred Astaire’s dancing, mate!
It looks easy but it ain’t!
6
“Its ing ubat too dogs. They are good dogs. The plcwres, Iy lic the
picures because thay are silly. Wavey writing.”
“I like Frank Moffatt’s ideas because most of them are true and he is a
good writer and illustrater. His pictures are drawn good with colour and
most of the pictures are true. Some of Frank Moffat’s writing is regular
and the rest of it moves all wonky. The wonky writing is biger than the
regular writing. The speech bubbles have regular writing in them.”
“ The ideas are very good becaues their based on true stories but some
are not true. The writing is good and moving with bubblewriting. The
pictures are full of colour and the pictures are the opisit to the writing
and how he sets it out. When he does the ideas and the writing it takes
awhile to do it. Frank’s work is very good.”
“I like Frank’s ideas because they are based on real storys. The pictures
are realistic and funny puse colourful. When Frank arwas cals them
they never come. the writing is wigerly and silly.”
“I like Frank’s ideas beacaus they are funny. His pictures are colourful.
The writing is regular and then the size is diffrent. I like the way the
pictures are drawn. I like the way he used bubble writing for some
words and regular for other writing.”
“I like Frank’s pictures because thay are based on real story pictures. I
like the moving riting and the bubbles riting it was funny and I like it
when it siad our dog’s are very well trained. And I like the size of
words.”
Cecilia, Damon, Eden, Eden, Lana and Zoe
Dogs Do, Dogs Don’t!
Written and illustrated by Frank Moffatt
Release date is the 4th of July 2005
Puffin Books/paperback
Price (retail) $14.95
June 2005
Mount Nebo State School P&C
Friday 17 June 2005
6:00pm for 7:00pm start
Mount Nebo Hall
A fun night meeting of minds
$10.00 per player (18 years and over)
Bookings Essential - Phone Carol 3289 0005
Babysitting available at After School Care building.
Please book through Carol when booking Trivia seats.
Tables up to eight players
BYO Drinks
Individual Prizes
Team Prizes
Delicious soup kitchen
Tea Coffee and
Cakes on sale
June 2005
7
Whatever happened to the old message
songs of the didactic yesteryear?
Drowned in the vibrational ether perhaps? Here’s a couple of
oldies to reminisce over:
Opus #1 to the old ditty Stormy Weather
Don’t know why
There’s no peace up in our sky
Noisy neighbours
Using weekends for noisy labours
It’s noisy all the time.
I can’t see
Why the noisy stuff can’t be
Done more quietly
Weekends should be quiet and peace days
It’s noisy all the ti-ime.
Opus #2 Grumpy Old Men #s 12 & 35
With obsequious apologies to Bobby Zimmerframe
They’ll blast you when you’re sitting in your garden
They’ll blast you when you’re trying to say beg pardon
They’ll blast you with their dogs and saws and blowers
They’ll blast you when you’re trying to sniff the flowers
But I’m feeling so so all alone
Everybody’s noise has blown!!!!
But wait, send no money there’s more and a set of diesel
chainsaws at no extra cost!
Hello darkness my old friend
I wish this silence wouldn’t end
Because the bird song’s what I live here for
Not the dozer nor the loud chainsaw
And the rustle of the wind playing through the leaves
I’m losing the sound of silence
Even more abject fawning and supplication
To Haemorrhoid and Carbuncle
From grumpy old man #13.5
8
There’s been movement at the Station and the
bins have moved about. The more observant residents will have noticed that the Tip has one less
flowerbed but one more bin. The PRSC has found
a contractor who will take all the waste paper and
cardboard we can collect to be recycled. For me a
dream come true!! Hopefully no more large empty cardboard containers
thrown into the Cleanaway bin. So all those wealthy residents that seem
to buy, almost weekly, plasma TVs, computers, exercise bikes and Jamie
Durie garden features, but not have the physical strength to collapse the
cartons they came in, this new blue bin is for you. I don’t even mind if
you throw the boxes in whole, as long as they’re not found in the
Cleanaway bin on Monday morning…
This new bin will require the green recycling bin to be emptied less frequently, thereby saving money for the PRSC and ultimately for you and
me! Over the years more residents have indulged themselves in home
improvements as can be seen by the amount of scrap building material
thrown into the Cleanaway bin. But every so often some lazy sod arrives
to throw a load off, not necessarily into the bin. On the weekend (14/15th
May) this grub threw his load beyond the bin leaving bike tyres and sump
oil containers lying on the ground, plus a large can of orange paint
which had burst open over the guard rail and on the gate rollers. The Tip
face was strewn with bits including nails, screws and glass and the paint
had dried by morning jamming the gate open. I hope this resident gets
to read this report and realises that leaving a mess which others have to
walk through or round is unacceptable in this environment. He could be
hearing from the PRSC on this matter very soon.
Alongside the increase in D.I.Y., the drinking has also increased - is there
some connection? The bottle containers are filling up at an all time
record. So I’ve asked for more bins to take the load. Drinking has always
been a favourite pastime with mountain residents and it’s always interesting for me to observe that whenever a car pulls in at the Tip, and even
if all their contents are thrown into the Cleanaway bin (recyclable or not)
somehow the bottles are revered. The owners totter towards the wheelie
bins clutching to their bosoms a large plastic bag of clinking bottles,
almost like long lost friends who have died and need to be laid to rest. In
fact the mourning owners do lay the bottles down into the bin; they’re
never thrown or dropped. They walk slowly back to their car, heads
bowed. It makes yer weep.
Have you noticed the bus shelter at Mt Nebo lately? For years it just sat
there looking bland and uninteresting, sometimes sheltering a lone forlorn school person whose parents had long decided to stop picking them
up, but forgot to mention the decision to anyone. Then the graffiti
appeared. It was rubbed out and then there was personal and offensive
graffiti which I have rung parents about. With so much sanding off, the
shelter was almost looking interesting. I wonder if anyone else passing by
had any thoughts on cheering the joint up? As I empty the waste bin at
the bus stop each week, I decided to put up a large colourful recycling
poster to cover the now orange phosphorescence graffiti appearing on the
bus shelter walls. But by the following day the poster was ripped down
and dumped into the bin by an irate resident who probably had a thing
about large advertising posters but who unfortunately couldn’t read. Oh
well, back to the graffiti.
Keep sortin’ yer piles. Vic xxx
June 2005
A new epiphyte - that Indian
Ginger sure is determined!
LA SELVA SAGRADA
THE SACRED JUNGLE
Is a one-woman show written and performed by Teone
Reinthal, directed by Belinda Berrington premiering at the
Samford Performer’s Cafe on
(At Attunga Lane,The Summit.)
For anyone interested, a search on the internet, using a search engine
like Google for Hedychium garderianum or kahili ginger will show
plenty of information from the University of Hawaii and from the New
Zealand government. According to friends who have recently visited NZ
this plant is one of the most noticeable in many areas, even though it
is not a local plant there either. Kahili ginger originated in the
Himalayas of India - another nursery-introduced garden escape.
Brian Phillips
Paul’s Collect-a Cap
Please collect all your milk bottle caps off
Paul’s Milk bottles. Each cap is worth
10cents to the school. Please drop them
into the box in the school office, or leave
with a child that attends the school so
they can bring them in.Thank you for
your help in our fundraising efforts.
June 2005
Friday 1st July 2005 at 7.00pm.
(Old Catholic Church on Samford Road.)
Teone has recently published her first book “Gaia’s
Mouth” and is launching a new CD entitled “Fruit of the
Moon” which is the soundtrack to her Sacred Jungle show.
30% of the profits from sale of her CD and show are going
to The World Wildlife Fund, The Wilderness Society and
Amnesty International, and with the rest of the money she
hopes to get some tasty organic tomatoes and a life ....!
Read more about the show, see some of Teone’s recent
paintings and join the forum on Teone’s website
www.teone.com.au
MEPA meeting
Date - Saturday June 18
Time - 2 pm
Location - Mt Nebo Hall
9
School News
P-3 News
There has been much excitement and interest in our room with the arrival
of an incubator full of fertilised hen eggs and three fluffy day-old chicks.
Since day one, ten more chicks have hatched and then been placed a
Perspex enclosure. The majority of the chicks have been yellow in colour
and four are ginger. Of course, the children have named them all, with
Fluffy, Spot, Speedy, Poppy, Ginger, Elmo and Coolman being just a few of
the chosen names. The chicks have provided the children in the P-3 class
with a variety of interest and learning opportunities. So far, we have made
signs, written a daily diary, written stories and poems, done numerous
drawings, taken loads of photos and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Four camp committees have also been involved in collecting and collating survey information to do with food, entertainment and equipment for
our overnight camp. The Safety Committee has been preparing signs.
The children and teachers are looking forward to the school camp, which
will take place on 09 June on the school oval.
You Can Do It
This term we have been investigating “friendship” as part of the “Getting
Along” component of You Can Do It. We discussed the meaning of “true
blue friend” and “fair weather friend”. The children worked in groups
with assigned scenarios to present role-plays showing how a “fair weather friend” and a “true blue friend” would respond. A definition of
“friend” has been written by each child and it is clear that they have a
good understanding of what “friendship” means to them. Next we talked
about making new friends and why people sometimes have a hard time
making friends. We discussed “friendship barriers” and actions that
would help to overcome these barriers. We discovered that giving a compliment is a good way to begin a conversation with a new friend, so we all
practiced saying something complimentary and responding in a positive
way to compliments given. It was a happy scene, seeing the children
smiling sweetly and saying, “Thank you” as they received their compliments!
BushArt with Venus
Each Friday afternoon is spent in the art room being creative in one way
or another. The present artistic activity has required the children to find
an interesting looking twig or stick during a walk through our gully.
They have since traced an outline of the stick on to paper and are now
designing their shape and colouring the outline. Some of the drawings
and designs have taken on animal characteristics. The next task is to
transfer the designs onto the sticks, then paint and varnish them. Many
thanks to Venus Ganis for her help with time and inspiration during these
classes.
PRESCHOOL for 2006
Already we have new little preschoolers enrolled to start Preschool with us
in 2006. This is very pleasing because the earlier we have these enrolments; the better it is for us. If you’re planning to commence your child
in Preschool next year (or if you know anyone with a 4 year old) please
contact us. We are looking forward to seeing lots of new faces in our Early
Education Centre (P-3 class) in 2006. We will be organising a ‘Preschool
Information Evening’ later in the year.
Prep to start in 2007
10
The Preparatory Year or Prep will be full-time, non-compulsory and will be
available at Mount Nebo in 2007. In 2007 Prep will be offered to a sixmonth intake of children. That means that those children born in the six
months from January 1 to June 30 2002 will go to Prep in 2007. Children
born between 1 January and 31 December 2001 will start Preschool in 2006
and Year 1 in 2007. It’s generally accepted that a Prep Year can go a long
way to preparing children for Year 1. In Prep, children learn through
inquiry, investigation and play — known as active learning. It’s a powerful way for children to develop important skills and the right attitude for
school. If you want to know more about Prep, contact the school.
4-7 News
As part of The Gap State High School’s Outreach Week our students in Years
6-7 participated in a ‘High School Experience’ on Friday May 20. This was
a great opportunity for our children to experience secondary school life, to
use resources and facilities available at our local high school and to interact with children from other local primary schools. Students in Years 6-7
were also invited to attend a disco, hosted by Year 11 and 12 students and
parents received an invitation to see student work, visit the school and
attend a Parent Information Evening.
Soccer Update
Congratulations to all team members for wonderful team work. We have
been undefeated so far, with victories against Wilston, Eagle Junction and
Kedron State Schools. Thank you to Steve Wenck who has been coaching
the team on Thursdays and refereeing on Fridays. Our supporter base is
growing each week with as many as seven families making the trip down
town to cheer on the kids.
School Band Update
Do you play guitar, bass, keyboard, percussion instruments or flute? Would
like to volunteer your time to teach in our extension music lessons? If so,
please contact me at school. Our school band practice is held Thursdays
1:45 – 2:15pm. If that time does not suit you we might be able to hold a
second session somewhere else in the week. Thank you to John Van Assen
and Kiri Wenck for your continued support.
P&C News It’s time for Trivia!
Friday 17 June is set for our annual Trivia Night. The last three Trivia
nights have been a great success, financially for the Mount Nebo P&C, and
a wonderful fun filled evening for participants. Please spread the word and
organise a group of friends, neighbours and relatives. You don’t have to be
an Einstein – the questions cover a wide range of topics. Babysitting, for a
small cost, at the After School Care building is available. Wonderful warm
soups and delicious cakes will be on sale at the hall. To make the evening
a financial success we rely on the generosity of donations from our school
families and local businesses.
75th Anniversary
February 16, 2006 marks the 75th anniversary of Mount Nebo State School
opening. We are trying to put together a list of ideas and special guests for
our celebrations. If you have old photos, records, memorabilia or know of
former students who have been successful in areas of business, sport,
music, studies etc after primary school, please notify us or ask them to contact the school. This will be very useful for anniversary planning as well as
having a list of motivational speakers for the current students.
Kerry Lofgren
Teaching Principal Mount Nebo State School
Phone: 07 3289 8162 Fax: 07 3289 8318
Email: klofg1@eq.edu.au
June 2005
June 2005
11
PERFORMERS CAFÉ GALA EVENING
he Performers Café Gala has become an important major annual event for Samford and outlying communities. The event raises
money to allow the regular Performers Café, held each month, to operate within the current public liability insurance laws. If the sold out
success of last years Gala is anything to go by, we suggest that people
book their tickets early. Prepaid tickets are available form Heart & Soul
Gift Shop in Main St Samford. Tickets will also be available at the door
on the night for general seating areas.
This year’s event will highlight some of Queensland's most talented
musicians and performers including Janie Shrapnel who has become
a nationally recognised performer due to her recent appearance on
channel Ten’s “X Factor”. The stunning line up also includes singer
songwriters Dale Jones and Judy Sunman, guitar maestro Steve
Reinthal, singers Kiri Wenck and Anny Morris, The Samford Steiner
Choir, comedian John Salmon, singer songwriter Dan Parsons, singer
songwriter Joy Cambell, blues singer Brigette O’Donahue, and The Jam
Band. The night will be MC’d by Anne Birmingham.
The Performers Café Gala is on Friday 3rd June at the Farmers Hall
Main Street Samford. Tickets from Heart & Soul and from the door on
the night. Doors open at 6.30 for a 7.00pm start. Tea, coffee and cakes
will be for sale. There will also be a CD stand and a lucky door prize of
one year’s free entry for two people to The Performers Café.
T
BROADBAND ANYONE?
Hi - Thought I'd let everyone know how the broadband quest is going:
there is hope!
After a couple of rounds of door knocking a few weekends ago, enough
people have expressed interest in ADSL broadband that Telstra are now
verifying local interest. Once this happens (assuming nobody's
changed their mind or moved) they will advise a date in the next few
months when our local telephone exchange at Mt Nebo will be
upgraded.
We've only got just enough interest for Telstra to bother, so the more
people sign up, the better. If you want fast, cheap internet, go to this
address:
https://bigpond.telstra.com.au/lodgeprospect/entry.do
…and fill in your details. When ADSL arrives, you’re not obligated to
join BigPond (Telstra’s internet service provider). Anyone within a few
kilometres of the exchange can sign up for broadband internet
through whichever ISP they choose.
If you can't wait and have a clear line of sight to the Samford Valley or
Camp Mountain, you may also have the option of wireless broadband
with Techsus (3289 1414). I'll let the Mountain News know if/when we
reach the next stage with ADSL.
Best wishes,
Iain Anderson.
http://funwithstuff.com
iain@funwithstuff.com
07 3289 8001
12
Classifieds
FOR SALE - REPCO SUPALITE RACER. 27 inch
frame, 14 speed Shimano gears, quick release wheels.
VGC $100 - Phone 0407 572 976
FOR SALE - MIRROR SAILING DINGY, 11
FOOT. Ideal for young beginners, jib and mainsail,
oars, just repainted, can fit on car roof racks, better on
top of 6x4 trailer. $450.00 - Phone Bob Wills
32890235
FIREWOOD - LOCAL - Phone 3289 0156
FOR SALE - 21CM REYNOLDS 531 ROAD
RACING BICYCLE. Shimano and SunTour brakes,
gears, hubs and crank. Mavic rims. Comes with riding
shoes, computer, lights and helmet. - $400 Phone
Dominic Hyde 32890093
FOR SALE - BIOLET ELECTRIC COMPOSTING TOILET. One-piece unit, plug in and you're away.
Sits immediately on toilet floor; small chamber to be
emptied every month or so. Suits a house with 2 people max. For more info go to: http://www.biolet.com/ $900 Phone Dominic Hyde 32890093
FOR SALE - 1/2 SIZE PRIMA VIOLIN - case, bow
and rest included - needs two new strings - $180
Phone Louise 3289 8348
YOGA - Mondays 7.00pm, Fridays 10.00am at Mt. Nebo
Hall. All welcome. Phone Jeanne 3289 0235
ACUPUNCTURE & REMEDIAL MASSAGE Qualified and experienced practitioner. Health fund
rebates available. Phone Susan 3289 8018
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1st.Wednesday of the month - Mt Nebo Residents’
Association meeting at the Hall. 7:30pm
Every Wednesday - Playgroup every Wednesday, 10amnoon at Mt Nebo Hall, $2 per family, babies,
toddlers, preschoolers welcome, please bring
a plate to share.
Submission details
Di Clark - 3289 8309
Steve Reinthal - 3289 8281
Please submit all articles by the 15th of the month to the Mt News Box located at the Post Office
at Mt Nebo, or, if e-mail, by the 20th of the month to mountain_news@yahoo.com.au
Please supply your e-mail article with MTN in the Subject . Put articles in the body of the e-mail, as
attachments can be messy. Pictures should be in JPEG or TIFF format, resolution 266dpi, copy in
TEXT.We hate Microsoft Word.The articles in the Mt News reflect the views of the contributing
authors and not necessarily those of the Mt News Committee. If you are reading this bit, you are
probably the first to ever do so. Either you need to get a library card or you really do care.Thank you.
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June 2005