RDL relocates

SuperTowns – SuperCRCs!

An exciting State Government initiative to begin the process of enhancing and stimulating growth in key regional towns in the southern half of the State was announced on 6 July 2011 by Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls.

“Mr Grylls said the Government had endorsed an initial nine towns to share in $85.5million in Royalties for Regions funding this year under the Regional Centres Development Plan (SuperTowns).

Katanning, Collie, Esperance, Northam, Jurien Bay, Morawa, Boddington, Manjimup and Margaret River have been selected in the first round of the initiative that will give local communities the opportunity to plan and implement projects and services to cater for a major population expansion and economic growth”, Mr Grylls said.

Department of Regional Development and Lands, Community Development Director, Deborah Rice said four Community Resource Centres (CRCs) are located in the selected SuperTowns – Boddington, Morawa, Jurien Bay and Katanning, with other CRCs located within the respective or surrounding Shires. 

"CRCs have the potential to expand the scope of services through developing partnerships and generating business opportunities, as well as acting as a conduit for information to flow between government and regional communities.

"This puts them in great stead to actively participate in communicating the initiative of SuperTowns within their local communities" she said.

Boddington CRC was recently granted $383,104 from the Department of Regional Development and Land’s Regional Infrastructure Funding Program. This funding has been provided for an upgrade of the Boddington Old School grounds.

Boddington CRC Chair, Mr Mark Gordon said that the population in Boddington had been steadily increasing mainly due to the opening of the Newmont gold mine in 2009 and that’s reflected in the number of visitors utilising the Boddington CRC services.

“The RDL grant will help improve and expand our facilities to be better able to deliver services to our growing community”, said Mr Gordon.

For more information on SuperTowns, visit the Department of Regional Development and Lands website.

Vienna Orchestra simulcast event

The Perth Theatre Trust and the Perth Concert Hall is happy to present the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as a free simulcast performance live direct from the Perth Concert Hall via the Westlink network on Friday 30 September 2011 from 7:40pm.

Internationally recognised as one of the world’s greatest orchestras, this is a truly unique opportunity to hear this performance in Australia’s finest acoustic concert hall. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra stands as a musical force that has become legendary and has set the benchmark against which other orchestras’ measure. For more information check out the Perth Concert Hall website.

The simulcast is funded by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program in partnership with the Perth Theatre Trust and Perth Concert Hall, and will be broadcast via the Westlink network to venues from Broome to Esperance.

The live simulcast will be broadcast from the Perth Concert Hall into the following regional centres:

• Albany Entertainment Centre
• Goldfields Arts Centre - Kalgoorlie- Boulder
• Esperance Civic Centre
• Cummins Theatre - Merredin
• Queens Park Theatre - Geraldton
• Broome Outdoor Movie Theatre
• Camel Lane Theatre - Carnarvon
• Novotel Ningaloo Resort - Exmouth
• Moora Performing Arts Centre
• New Lyric Theatre - Bunbury
• Margaret River Cultural Centre
• Matt Dann Cultural Centre - Port Hedland

Community Resource Centres (CRCs) across the state are taking advantage of this fantastic opportunity to see this world-class event by hosting local simulcasts.

For those people unable to make it into regional centres CRCs offer this experience to their community as part of their increased role in developing and supporting strong, vibrant communities. From formal attire gatherings to Op Shop glad rags events, CRCs are the ideal place to take part in the performance.

To secure a free ticket, people should contact the simulcast venue direct or their local Community Resource Centre. CRCs can be found at: www.crc.net.au

Traineeship creates partnership opportunity

Traineeships have long been a core part of the Boyup Brook Community Resource Centre’s (CRC) employment strategy and with Traineeship funding available through the Royalties for Regions program, a whole new range of partnership opportunities are available.

Lynda Coote, Boyup Brook’s CRC Registered Training Organisation Manager said that in December 2010, school leaver, Amy Watkinson was employed as a trainee.

“Amy was looking for employment to cover a gap year before she went to University, so the traineeship provided an ideal solution, which would enable Amy to still live at home but be financially independent”, she said.

“Amy had indicated that she had an interest in environmental management and as the Boyup Brook CRC aims to ensure that all trainees have an opportunity to pursue their interests as part of their traineeship, the Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) was approached to find out if they would be interested in employing Amy for one day per week.

“The BBG is a community-managed Natural Resource Management group, who provide assistance to landholders in the Blackwood Basin”, Lynda said.

BBG Project Coordinator, Kathe Purvis, said Amy has provided quality work, helping us with environmental workshops, tree planting projects, developing promotional material and providing reception services when in the office.

“There have been numerous opportunities for Amy to learn about the environment sector and, at the same time, has provided us with valuable assistance. It’s a great partnership”, Kathe said.

“I am enjoying the flexibility of my traineeship, which has also allowed me to pursue my interest in environmental conservation and rehabilitation through joining the Blackwood Basin Group team, said Amy Watkinson.”

The Boyup Brook CRC is a Registered Training Organisation offering accredited training throughout Western Australia, in particular to remote Community Resource Centres (CRCs) and their surrounding communities. 

For more information contact the Boyup Brook CRC on (08) 9765 1169, email boyupbrook@crc.net.au or check out their website at www.boyupbrook.crc.net.au

One-stop-shop for government information

To support the distribution of government information to ensure regional communities have knowledge and access to a wide range of programs and initiatives, the Department of Regional Development and Lands (RDL) has set up a “pick and pack” brochure service accessible by Community Resource Centres (CRCs) around the state.

RDL Senior Project Officer, Tamatha Newsome said the service, together with a dedicated government booth for free access to online information, enables CRCs to become one-stop-shops for government information.

“RDL has been discussing this opportunity with government departments offering them:

• access to a mailing service enabling the distribution of targeted information to over 100 regional and remote communities
• storage space at a mailing house to hold stocks of publications (for CRC use)
• the opportunity to push market new publications/information to all CRCs
• access to an online reporting system detailing quantities of publications distributed to each location.

“To date, together with the RDL, the departments of Commerce and Culture and the Arts, Landgate and the Western Australian Electoral Commission have taken up this fantastic opportunity”, Ms Newsome said.

“If you are a government or even a non-government agency wishing to discuss the opportunity to distribute brochures and information to over 100 Western Australian regional and remote locations please contact me on (08) 6552 4526 or email tamatha.newsome@rdl.wa.gov.au”.

Gnowangerup’s community hub

The Community Resource Centre, the Library, the Art Gallery, and the Toy Library are now located in a brand new state of the art building thanks to the efforts of the whole Gnowangerup community.

The Yougenup Centre was officially opened to the public by the Premier of Western Australia, the Honourable Colin Barnett MLA on 4 July 2011.

Mrs Kerry Stone, Gnowangerup Shire President, acknowledged how great it was to see the co-location of these important community services in a central, convenient location in Gnowangerup and that the new building also value added to the memorial hall, making it more user friendly and functional.

“The Yougenup Centre community facility initiative has been a huge project to administer and many people and organisations are to be thanked”, Mrs Stone said.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to especially thank the state government departments of Regional Development and Lands; Local Government; Culture and the Arts; and LotteryWest, Shire of Gnowangerup, Department of Regional Australia, Gnowangerup CRC, and the Great Southern Development Commission.

“Council anticipates that the centre will be well used and will demonstrate to be a valuable community asset into the future”, she said.

The Yougenup Centre will be managed by the Gnowangerup Community Resource Centre (CRC) and will house the Gnowangerup Public Library and Gnowangerup District Toy Library along with a host of other CRC services.

Gnowangerup CRC Chair, Mrs Jill Lesk said a whole wing of the building is devoted to offices, including Centrelink Agency and Southern AgCare; and there is also a meeting room and a multipurpose room available for community and visiting businesses to utilise.

“Along with the opening of the new Centre, the day also celebrated the rebranding of what many of us knew as the Telecentre to the CRC thanks to the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program: The CRC now boasts the hottest and funkiest IT gear!

“As the new home to local arts group, Arts for Gnow, the centre will host the group’s first exhibition as a part of the Great Southern Arts Trail. The exhibition titled “Springtime @ the Centre” is anticipated to run from 26 September to 16 October with a 23 September exhibition launch, Mrs Lesk said.

For more information on “Springtime @ the Centre”, please check out the Gnowangerup Shire website www.gnowangerup.wa.gov.au or email Jan House, janhouse@bigpond.com.

For more information on the Yougenup Centre or the Gnowangerup Community Resource Centre contact Gnowangerup CRC Coordinator Viktoria Schnetz on 9827 1635 or email gnowangerup@crc.net.au

Ravensthorpe’s Cub House

Thanks to the perseverance of volunteers and an innovative approach by the Ravensthorpe Community Resource Centre (CRC), Ravensthorpe’s first community childcare centre – The Cub House - was officially opened in June 2011.

Ravensthorpe CRC Coordinator Lyndsey Unwin said the Ravensthorpe community has been waiting a long time for a childcare centre to open.

“After five years of planning, grant writing, investigation and hard work from a volunteer committee, the Ravensthorpe community finally gained a new building in 2010, and were fast approaching the childcare centre becoming a reality”, she said.

“However, having secured a new building, the committee faced a new problem - no qualified staff to work there.

“As providers of community education and training, the Ravensthorpe CRC formed a partnership with the Great Southern Institute of Technology in Albany and the Ravensthorpe Community Childcare Centre to introduce and host a Certificate III in Childcare Services”, said Lyndsey.

Ten students participated in the course with six students completing their Certificate III and four students partially completing the course, two of which have recently come back in 2011 to complete the traineeship”, she said.

Childcare Coordinator and course lecturer, Anne Parker, said of the students who completed the Certificate III in Childcare Services, three are now employed by the Ravensthorpe Childcare Centre while others have gained an invaluable educational opportunity which they can share with their local communities.

“Hundreds of volunteer hours were put into the project and many organisations and community people have collaborated with each other to make a previous problem in our community now become a thriving success” Anne said.

“The Childcare Centre is a great success story for the people of Ravensthorpe and also an enticing factor for new families moving to the area. The centre is currently accommodating many children from both the Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun surrounding areas as it is currently the only childcare facility within the Shire of Ravensthorpe, said Anne.

Ravensthorpe CRC Coordinator, Lyndsy Unwin added that the Ravensthorpe CRC have continued their partnership with the Great Southern Institute and are currently hosting the Diploma and Certificate IV in Childcare Services allowing community members to advance their education and skills which will enable the centre to apply for a license for after school care.

“The collaboration between the Ravensthorpe CRC and the Ravensthorpe Childcare Centre has achieved so many positive outcomes for the community”, said Lyndsey. Including:

• employment and further education and training opportunities for local people
• childcare provision so that people can go back to work or enter the workforce
• strengthened social development of the community’s young children and parents

The name of our local newspaper, “The Community Spirit” sums up exactly what Ravensthorpe does well. “We are a community who pull together and work hard with real spirit to achieve goals that may not always seem possible. This project was a true example of the Community Spirit in Ravensthorpe”, concluded Lyndsey.

Contact the Ravensthorpe CRC on 9838 1340 or email ravensthorpe@crc.net.au for more information.

Driver Reviver – a whole of community approach

In its bid to help reduce vehicle accidents in the Wheatbelt region, the Lake Grace Community Resource Centre (CRC) is the driving force behind the Roadwise Driver Reviver program in their region.

Driver Revivers provide motorists an opportunity to stop, stretch their legs and have a free cup of tea or coffee.  Volunteers are also able to inform motorists of where they can get fuel and food, direct them toward the toilets or simply have a chat.

In a partnership with Roadwise Australia and the Lake Grace Fire Brigade, the Lake Grace CRC was able to secure funding from the WA Local Government Association to invest in an upgrade of the Driver Reviver van.

Lake Grace CRC Manager and Roadwise representative, Suzanne Reeves said that the old van needed a major overhaul and was no longer a safe option.

“Although Lake Grace’s Fire Brigade Captain Ray Bird had relocated to Perth, the Driver Reviver van still remained an important item on his agenda.  Ray said that he became a nuisance at caravan yards as he searched for the perfect second hand van for Lake Grace but to no avail”, said Suzanne.

“Thankfully men like to make stuff.  The local Fire and Rescue volunteers, who have always played a big part in manning the Driver Reviver, decided they could make a van. 

“They decided to deconstruct the old van, make a new cabin which would be purpose built to our needs and go from there.  The first hiccup was that the only thing worth using off the old van was the tyres, she said. 

“Cameron Slarke used his ‘metal gluing’ skills to construct the new chassis, Lake Grace Tyrepower fitted a new axle and brakes, South West Annexes made the cabin while the Stubby’s from Outback TV and Brent from Lakeside Auto Electrics completed the domestic and auto electrical work. 

“The van is predmoniantly manned over weekends by representatives of Lake Grace Fire and Rescue, Lake Grace Lions and Lake Grace St John Ambulance sub centre; with a few individuals who aren’t part of these groups also volunteering their time.

“Those manning the Driver Reviver say they would rather give up a few hours of their time making coffee, than have to attend an accident; that if they can save one life then the Driver Reviver is a success, said Suzanne.

The Lake Grace CRC is proud to be part of the Roadwise program in their region. Apart from securing the funding to upgrade the van, the CRC also runs and minutes the Roadwise meetings, develops feedback forms and competitions over weekends when the van is out as well as providing information and promoting the program in their newsletter.

For more information please contact Suzanne Reeves at the Lake Grace CRC on (08) 9865 1470, email lakegrace@crc.net.au or check out their website.

Marble Bar CRC assists jobseekers

Together with the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation, the Marble Bar Community Resource Centre (CRC) is assisting with the delivery of a training program for local jobseekers, which aims to maximise their job prospects.

The Certificate I Vocational Preparation program is delivered as an online-classroom training course to improve literacy, numeracy, communication and personal development skills. 

The program, developed by The Right Choice through funding provided by the Australian Government's national employment services system, aims to prepare the participant’s employability and work readiness.

Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation Training Coordinator, Janelle Hogan said attendees have noted that the five week program is flexible, has full audio to overcome low literacy levels and its interactivity is accessible.

“The Marble Bar CRC is an ideal facility to deliver the training.

“The recent upgrade of IT equipment and its experienced staff have been a huge help for the 13 jobseekers”, Janelle said.

Marble Bar CRC Coordinator, Dean Hatwell said that in order to assist the jobseekers, the CRC is working with Rio Tinto and the Department of Transport to ensure attendees have the necessary licences to start work in their chosen fields, on the completion of that program.

“Ensuring a reliable Internet connection in a remote regional town such as Marble Bar has been a challenge and we continue to work closely with Telstra to ensure that this continues”, said Dean.

“Upgrades to our IT infrastructure and service is thanks to funding provided under the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program”, concluded Dean.

For more information contact Dean Hatwell at the Marble Bar CRC on (08) 9176 1375, email marblebar@crc.net.au or check out their website.

For more information on the Budda-jitja program - an Indigenous work readiness program - contact David Haggith at the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation.