From the Mayors Desk - 19 November 2010

Date: 19-Nov-10
Author: Alison Davey
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Australia Day nominations close on 29 November 2010. Don't miss your opportunity to nominate a person/s and a group/s that should be recognised for all their great work in our community. Our Australia Day Awards aim to recognise outstanding achievements during the past year and/or contribution to the local community in 2010 and over a number of years. Nomination forms can be collected from our Customer Service Area at Council or go onto Council's website www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au and download a form. For information on the awards please contact Pauline Ross on 4993 4210.

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I recently attended the second birthday of Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre. This extraordinary centre is a magnificent feature for our City. It showcases many national and international performances and artists for the enjoyment of our community.

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Council at its Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 10 November unanimously supported Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri with a letter of support following the news of the company's concerns to their future power supply. Hydro Aluminium is one of our largest employers in our LGA with a payroll of over $70 million a year and it is imperative that Hydro Aluminium remains viable to ensure job security for its employees.

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Congratulations to all the Tidy Town Committees in our LGA who put so much work in beautifying our community. At the recent Keep Australia Beautiful Flagship Program 2010 Awards night our City was well represented with:-

Cessnock Tidy Towns being awarded Highly Commended in Category E for Turner Park Water Conservation;
Kurri Kurri Tidy Towns - Kurri Kurri High School receiving Highly Commended School Environment Award Category 1, Stanford Merthyr Infants: Highly Commended Category 5 Schools Environment Award and Bush Spirit Award winner Nostalgia Festival in Category D.
Bucketty Tidy Bush Committee - winner in Category A Cultural Heritage Award - Convict Wall Project and;
Wollombi Tidy Valley - 3^rd overall Town in Category A.

A magnificent effort and congratulations to all our Tidy Town Committees on their great work.

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Brian and I attended the 30^th Anniversary celebrations of Hunter Valley Training Company and to 'Welcome Home' 10 Class Steam Locomotives Nos 10 & 18 at the Heritage listed SMR Workshops in Maitland. The 10 Class Locomotives were the only ones purchased by the coal companies from Manchester, England that ever came to Australia and they operated on the Maitland/Cessnock line serving all of the coal mines on that field in other days. It was an interesting, enjoyable and very nostalgic morning.

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Mark in your diaries Carols in the Park which is to be held on Thursday 9 December in Cessnock TAFE grounds. Come along and enjoy an evening of traditional Christmas Carols and meet Santa Claus who will make a special visit on the night.

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On Tuesday 30 November Jack Lennard, Kenneth Neate, Frank Rickwood and Don Schofield will be inducted into Council's 2010 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame celebrates individuals and families who have a strong association with the City of Cessnock and who have attained significant prominence at a state, national and international level in their field of endeavours. Our inductees are from all spheres of the community and are recognised and celebrated for their outstanding achievements.

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'To put the needs and desires of another person above your own is love in its purest form'

Alison