From the Mayor's Desk - Friday 27 November 2009

Date: 27-Nov-09
Author: Alison Davey
Log in or join to add comments below

Tuesday 17 November and Friday 26 November I attended Mt View High School and Kurri Kurri High School's Authentic Assessment Panel and Project 10 interviews.  Some of the students I interviewed over the 2 days were exceptional and this is due to their hard work and the great teaching staff of our High Schools.  Congratulations to the students and to our teaching staff.

***

Congratulations to 2010 Miss Cessnock, Emma Kirk.  Emma is from Lovedale and is presently attending University doing a degree in teaching.  All the contestants were of a very high standard and it must have been a difficult task for the judging committee to choose the new Miss Cessnock.  I look forward to Emma being involved with our many community events.  Well done to all the contestants and in particular Emma.  Thank you to our 2009 Miss Cessnock Claire Chapman for a magnificent job over the last 2 months.

***

On Tuesday 24 November, Council organised a thank you morning tea for Val Randall who is retiring from her various volunteer activities in Greta.  Val has played an important role as a volunteer in the town of Greta for as long as most people can remember and was a former Alderman (Councillor) approx 30 years ago.  She was a member of the Greta Tidy Towns Committee and was heavily involved in the establishment of a Museum at Greta, predominantly focussing on the Migrant Camp.  Val is a walking talking book of knowledge in terms of the Migrant Camp's history.  Val was heavily involved in the planning for the construction of the Greta Arts and Sports Community Hall at Greta and when the building was officially opened in 2006 she went on to play a key role in the management of the hall.  For many years Val took bookings, handed out keys, chased up insurance, paid the bills, kept the financial records and ensured the hall was clean and ready for the next user to come in.

Val's tireless energy will be missed by the community of Greta and Council staff that have worked with her over the years.  Thank you Val for caring for Greta and its community.

***

At the Council Meeting on 18 November the DA for the Christmas Carols was approved.  Place a note in your diaries for 10 December commencing at 7.30 pm in Cessnock TAFE grounds to come along and enjoy an evening of musical Christmas joy and laughter.  You will enjoy performances from our local talented soloists, duos, the Cessnock Cantata Choir and the Tone Shadows Choir.  A special appearance from Santa Claus will be a highlight of the evening for both young and young at heart.  For further information contact Pauline Ross on 4993 4210.

***

The presentation of our fourth Hall of Fame inductees took place on Wednesday 25 November at Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre.  The morning commenced with the outstanding voice of our local talented artist, Tara Naysmith, with the National Anthem and at the end of the presentation Tara performed "Dare to Dream".  A congratulation to Tara who is releasing her new album "Now is the Time".  This year our City had seven inductees into the categories of Sport, Arts, Public Service and Science.  In the category of Sports, Debra Beckett, Hockey Player and Clare McCarty, Walker; in the Arts category, Reg Lindsay OAM, Musician and Wayne McLennan, Author; in the Public Service category Ian Harris AO, Federal Public Servant, and Trevor King OAM, Welfare Leader and in the Science category, Brian Turner, Scientist.  It still amazes me the number of residents, former residents who have achieved in their chosen fields and are still achieving.

***

On 25 November I attended the Business Network function at Lavender Gate farm in Wollombi. I was pleased to note the event was also supported by some of my fellow