From the Mayors Desk - 26 January 2010

Date: 26-Jan-10
Author: Alison Davey
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Welcome to 2010.  Council has moved into the 2010 year with renewed spirit.  In the coming months community input will be sought for the Strategic Plan for direction for Cessnock for the next 10 years.  All Councils have been charged with developing these plans by 2012.  Our Council embarked on the task early in 2009 and we hope to have the task completed this year for initial implementation in 2011-2012.

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We start the New Year by celebrating our National Day - 26 January 2010.  Australia Day is a day we celebrate all that is great about Australia and being Australian.  We celebrate our people, our land, our diversity, the Indigenous cultures, our freedom and democracy and our sense of a fair go for all.

Australia Day is a chance to celebrate all that's great about Australia and how proud our community is to be a part of the national celebration.

Cessnock City celebrations commenced by congratulating our award winners, Citizen of the Year Catherine and Warren Parson, Young Citizen of the Year Hayden Yates, Community Event, Branxton Golf Club Pro-Am, Michael Watson, Sports Award, Ellenor Morris and Jessica Willard, Heritage Award Sir Edgeworth David Museum and the Coalfields Heritage Group, Environment Award, Max Elliott and Appreciation and Achievement Awards, Brian McGuigan, Ron Jackson, Colin Andrews, Marie Swan, Neil Thomas, Melita Watson and Robyn Gill, Gregory Moore, Kylie Gray, Diane Nemeth and Patricia Black and we welcomed our 8 new citizens to our City.

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Our Mayoral Academic Scholarships are available for students of our City, this year we have 16 scholarships available to students who are attending TAFE and University in 2010 and are valued at $2,500 for one year.  For information on the scholarships please contact Pauline Ross on 4993 4210 at Council or go to Council's website on www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au.  Very important please note the closing date for applications is 26 February 2010.

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Our Seniors Week Advisory Committee has been working on a great week of entertainment for our Seniors during Seniors Week 21 to 28 March.  Activities for your enjoyment will include 'Going Wild' Bus Trip to Peace Park and Hunter Valley Zoo, Come and Try Days and ceremony to announce our Senior Citizen of the Year to be held at Cessnock Performing Arts Centre.  For further information on the weeks activities please contact Jessica Forbes on 4993 4287.

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For your information the Relay for Life for 2010 is to be held on 20 and 21 March this year.

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"We are given a fresh start not only at the beginning of the year, but every morning when we wake up, we have the chance to start anew to make things right"

Alison