Cairns Man Takes Out National Disability Award

22/12/2010 — The Rock News

Cairns Regional Council has won a national award for their contribution to the disability sector.

Ian Chill (CRC)

Ian Chill (CRC)

Honoured at a gala event in Australian Parliament House, Cairns Regional Council was named the winner of the Local Government Award, one of nine awards presented at the annual National Disability Awards in Canberra.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Jan McLucas congratulated Council on the achievement.

“I am thrilled to see Cairns Regional Council recognised at these national awards and the efforts of their Access and Equity Project Officer Mr Ian Chill highlighted,” Senator McLucas said.

“Congratulations to Council for their commitment to strengthening the voice of the disability sector in the Far North.”

“Ian Chill works tirelessly in the role in the Far North, raising awareness of the issues facing people with disability, seeking to improve accessibility and working to break down the barriers of discrimination and exclusion.”

“I thank and congratulate Council and Ian for their ongoing commitment to the disability sector.”

To register an event, or to find out what’s happening in your community in 2010, go to www.idpwd.com.au

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Profiling Your Community: WHITE ROCK

21/12/2010 — The Rock News

White Rock is a relatively recent residential area, with undeveloped areas in the south, and conservation areas in the east. White Rock is bounded by Cairns Golf Course, Hepburn Street and the suburb of Woree in the north, the locality of Portsmith in the east, the suburb of Edmonton and Skeleton Creek in the south, and the Bruce Highway and the North Coast railway line in the west. White Rock is named after White Rock Peak, in the nearby Freshwater Creek State Forest.

Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s. Significant development did not occur until the 1970s, with rapid growth from the late 1970s through to the late 1980s. Growth continued from the early 1990s, although at a slower rate, a result of new dwellings continuing to be added to the area.

Arial Map (large file)

White Rock North

White Rock North

White Rock (Central)

White Rock (Central)

White Rock South

White Rock South

Key Statistics

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Profiling Your Community: Mount Sheridan

20/12/2010 — The Rock News

Mount Sheridan

Mount Sheridan is a rapidly developing residential area, with conservation areas in the west. Mount Sheridan is bounded by the suburbs of Bayview Heights and Woree in the north, the Bruce Highway in the east, Skeleton Creek and the suburb of Bentley Park in the south, and Freshwater Creek State Forest in the west. Mount Sheridan is named after Brinsley Guise Sheridan, a police magistrate in the 1870s.

Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s, with land used mainly for sugar cane farming. Rapid growth took place from the early 1990s, with the population increasing from under 400 in 1991 to over 7,000 in 2006, a result of large numbers of new dwellings being added to the area.

Major features of the area include Mt Sheridan Plaza, Bill Mills Park and Tom Murray Park.

Arial Map of Mount Sheridan (large file)

Arial Picture

Mount Sheridan in Cairns South

Mount Sheridan in Cairns South

Key Statistics

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Rugby League was the real winner in Irene Street Deal!

20/12/2010 — The Rock News

The recent purchase of the Northern Pride League site in Mooroobool by Cairns Regional Council is a score and a win for the future of sport in the region.

Kangaroos Player

Kangaroos Player

Securing the site for the future offers the residents of the adjacent suburbs a wonderful greenspace for sport and recreation.

Council’s successful negotiation with the Pride for the acquisition of the site was a coup for the entire community. Developers had certainly demonstrated interest in the site for possible housing.  Council officers have been working closely with Pride representatives since October this year in order to come up with a deal that ensures the land would remain reserved for sport and recreation.

The Irene Street property, which has also been the home of the Kangaroos Rugby League Club for more than 50 years, is comprised of a club house, car parking and playing fields.  Council endorsed the purchase of the club site on Wednesday at its last Ordinary meeting of the year.

Chairman of Northern Pride, Mr Bob Fowler said the club had worked with Council to preserve the area as greenspace with the intention that the broader community would benefit from the deal.

Fowler

Fowler

“Essentially we collaborated because of our common interest in the future of sport in the region,” Mr Fowler said.

“The Pride made an altruistic decision when it sold the site to Council for considerably less than what we had been offered by two separate local developers.  The club initially purchased the facility to preserve its purpose as a sporting and recreation facility. Our preference was to ensure it continued to serve the community in that way.

“All negotiations with Council staff were positive and carried out in good faith and we believe this is the very best outcome for all.”

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Cairns Dragon Boat Club all set to breathe fire!

17/12/2010 — The Rock News

The Cairns Dragon Boat Club now has its own boat thanks to a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the $14,500 grant allowed the club to purchase the boat they have been using ‘on-loan’ for the past 18 months.

An additional grant of $4,028 from the Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Fund was announced today that will allow the club to purchase lifejackets and paddles.

“Many people may not have heard of dragon boat racing before, but it’s a traditional Chinese sport that’s been going on for more than 2,000 years,” Mr Pitt said.

“A Dragon Boat is a 12 metre long canoe which seats 20 paddlers, two abreast, with a sweep to steer the boat and a drummer who beats the time of the stroke.

“The Cairns Dragon Boat Club was originally started as an activity to bring together breast cancer survivors but members found it physically hard to launch the boat, so they opened the club up to all people who want to try dragon boating as an alternative sport.

“With only a short safety brief, teams can be on the water and racing in minutes, and no doubt this is one of the reasons it’s the fastest growing participation sport in the world

“This makes the sport accessible for able bodied and disabled paddlers alike, and it manages to retain the competitive spirit while removing individualism from the activity.”

Cairns Dragon Boat Club spokesperson Vivian Robertson said that with the help of the Queensland Dragon Boat Federation the club now has two accredited sweeps, three coaches and several other members accredited in governance.

“Members of the club attended their first regatta in October on the Sunshine Cost and are now in training for the state Championships which will be held in March 2011,” Ms Robertson said.

“We will also compete in the inaugural FNQ Dragon Boat regatta to be held in Townsville in May next year.

“We are always looking for new paddlers both competitive and recreational, but in particular we need a greater number of men in the club.”

People interested in finding out more about dragon boating can contact the Club on 0427 453 424, via email on cairnsdragonboatclub@hotmail.com or visit www.cairnsdragonboatclub.weebly.com

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