Archive for the White Rock Category
Community Endorses Curtis Pitt to Retain Mulgrave at State Election!
Posted in Bentley Park, Cairns, Mt Sheridan, White Rock with tags 2012 State Election, Curits Pitt, Mulgrave on 13/02/2012 by The Rock NewsEpilepsy and Acquired Brain Injury Support Group BBQ at White Rock
Posted in Cairns, White Rock on 01/02/2012 by The Rock NewsEpilepsy & Acquired Brain Injury Support Group BBQ at White Rock to plan for 2012, more info call 4036 0309 or 0434 778 155
White Rock kindergarten celebrates opening!
Posted in Cairns, White Rock with tags CURTIS PITT, White Rock, White Rock kindergarten on 27/01/2012 by The Rock NewsThe new kindergarten service at the White Rock State School was officially opened today.
Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the $1.3 million service was funded and built by the Bligh Government as part of a major initiative to improve access to kindergarten programs for Queenslanders.
“This is a significant investment in early childhood education in the White Rock area,” Mr Pitt said.
“This new service was originally scheduled to open in 2013 but was fast tracked to ensure more children in the southern corridor benefit earlier from a quality early childhood education.
“The service is operated by C&K and is part of our government’s commitment to provide extra kindergarten services in areas of need by 2014 to help give Queensland children a flying start to life.
Mr Pitt said the White Rock C&K Community Kindergarten caters for 44 children and has the capacity to offer two kindergarten programs delivered by an early childhood teacher for 15 hours each week.
“This service helps to meet the high demand for early childhood education services in this area.
“It offers parents and children the full range of educational facilities in one convenient location on the state school site.”
“This continues our commitment to deliver universal access to kindergarten programs for children in the year prior to Prep,” he said.
“A total of 108 extra services are planned to be established under this initiative by the end of 2012 with the locations for a further 13 services confirmed to open in 2013 on Catholic school sites.”
Mr Pitt said the Queensland and Australian governments had committed to increasing the percentage of four-year-olds participating in a kindergarten program to 95 per cent by mid-2013.
“Sixty nine per cent of kindy-aged children were enrolled in a kindergarten program in 2011 which exceeded our target of 65 per cent for the year, “he said.
C&K chief executive Barrie Elvish said kindergarten provided children with socialisation skills, early learning and numeracy skills which help to set their path for the ongoing learning journey through school.
“C&K is excited to be part of this significant project,” Mr Elvish said.
Cr. Rob Pyne also welcomed the opening saying, “Well done to the State Government and thank you to Curtis Pitt for bringing this kindergarten online 12 months earlier than the Department had scheduled it. It is a great result for White Rock!”
Cairns Australia Day Awards: Beer, Hicks, Patterson, Falappi, See Poy, Schipke and Lloyd honoured!
Posted in Bayview Heights, Bentley Park, Cairns, Cairns Regional Council, Mt Sheridan, White Rock, Woree with tags “Junior” See Poy, Cairns Australia Day, Grant “Scooter” Patterson, Kieran Hicks, Russell Beer, Tennille Falappi on 26/01/2012 by The Rock NewsA commitment to growing the Cairns region economically, combined with volunteer services to local organisations, has earned Russell Beer the honour of 2012 Citizen of the Year.
Mayor Val Schier this morning presented Mr Beer and seven other worthy citizens with awards as part of the 2012 Australia Day celebrations.
“Mr Beer has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to the community of Cairns, through not only his work, but his volunteer efforts through sporting organisations and the Diocese of Cairns,” Cr Schier said.
“A senior partner with local law firm MacDonnell’s Law, he has been recognised by the Queensland Law Society for Outstanding Achievement by a legal practitioner.
“He was also Chairman of AFL Cairns for eight years, but is probably best known as a board member of Advance Cairns.
“Although Cairns has been going through a rough patch economically, his dedication and tireless work toward the stimulation of our economy has been outstanding.”
The Young Citizen of the Year is Kieran Hicks.
“The recent graduate of Bentley Park College showed tremendous leadership as School Captain in 2011,” Cr Schier said.
“He was nominated for the Pride of Australia Medal and won a scholarship to attend the Indigenous Australian Engineering Summer School at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
“Kieren shaved his head to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation, regularly donates blood to the Red Cross and is planning to study engineering at JCU next year.”
Other award recipients are:
Grant 
“Scooter” Patterson (Senior Sportsperson) – Represented Cairns and Australia in swimming championships since 2009. Achievements include two gold medals and one silver medal at 2010 Berlin International Championships. Now working toward London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Tennille Falappi (Junior Sportsperson) – The 16-year-old cleaned up at both the National and State Junior Track Cycling championships in 2011. Proving her all-round sporting prowess, she is also a black belt in karate.
Herbert “Junior” See Poy (Cultural) – A true gentleman who has been entertaining the Far North with his skills on the saxophone for more than 60 years. He recorded his first jazz CD at the age of 69 and readily donates his time and talent for any worthwhile cause.
Rose Boylan-Ascione (Junior Cultural) – A talented young lady with a wonderful voice, who regularly offers her time to charitable organisations. The 17-year-old recently received the Bernie Mackenzie Cultural Award for most outstanding performing arts student.
Peter and Anne Lloyd (Volunteer) – This duo has been the driving force behind the Bally Hooley Railway in Port Douglas for the past eight years, responsible for the entire operation of this recognised tourist activity. Also stalwarts of the Douglas Shire Historical Society.
Hazel Schipke (Volunteer – Commended) – A tireless worker for many community organisations and committees and a talented musician.
“These are just a few of the many amazing people we have in our community,” Cr Schier said.
“I feel honoured to stand alongside these outstanding citizens as we celebrate Australia Day.
“We are lucky to be part of a nation that supports each other in tough times, celebrates the good times and rewards those who inspire and assist others. That is what being an Australian is all about.”
Prepped, keen and ready for first day of school in Cairns!
Posted in Bayview Heights, Bentley Park, Cairns, Mt Sheridan, White Rock, Woree with tags back to school, Cairns, Denise Carter, QUEENSLAND on 23/01/2012 by The Rock NewsDenise Carter, Monday, January 23, 2012 © The Cairns Post
BOOKS, check, lunch, check, new school uniform and sunsmart hat, check, nerves in check and a big enthusiastic grin %u2013 today is the day for Clarke Walters, 5, to start prep school and his new life.
Ready to start: Clarke Walters, helped by mum Emmy, packs his bag in preparation for starting prep school at Edmonton today. Picture: TOM LEE
“They stagger start them,” Edmonton mum Emmy Walters said, “so there’s an appointment for an hour tomorrow, but he’s very excited as he gets to wear his uniform. He’s very ready – every day for the past two weeks he’s been asking how many sleeps until he starts school.”
As 61,000 prep students start school around the state, Premier Anna Bligh said 2012 was going to one of the most important reform years in the school system for decades.
It starts with the implementation of the Australian curriculum in English, maths and science for prep to year 10 students, a year 7 in high school is being piloted in a Brisbane school, four new state schools will open, and Tagai State College’s Mer campus in northeast Thursday Island will be relocated.
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School Starts on Monday 23 January: Be Ready! No Excuses!
