Trying floods pave the way for a brighter year
2009 has been wet. There is no simpler way to explain the start to the year. And while some have experienced trying times during the New Year, this rain will be of great benefit looking into the coming months.
The Downs will be filled with green grasses, cattle will be fat and stress levels will be down.
It has rained. A lot.
There have been emergency food drops, difficult trips to town for resupply and a certain Mayor rowing food back to the hungry camp!
Roads have been closed, opened, closed, opened, closed….you get the picture.
And it has rained. A lot.
The humidity has crept up and the Gidgee Bugs have started. The clouds are still threatening. Sandflies, mosquitoes, centipedes, snakes — all the creepy crawlies – have come to visit.
Mud is everywhere and on everything, but mud means money.
And it has rained. A lot.
Helicopters have been in overdrive, fuel bowsers have remained full and kids everywhere live in hope that the wet will stay long enough for them to miss the start of the school year.
And it has rained. A lot.
Promoting a healthier lifestyle
McKinlay Shire Council was recognised for its commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle last year when it was Highly Commended in the Heart Foundation Local Government Awards.
Council received the award for the ‘Weights Over’ program, which is run in partnership with Queensland Health, Julia Creek Hospital, North West Queensland Primary Health Care (NWQPHC) and the Julia Creek Hospital Auxiliary.
Funded by Sport and Recreation Queensland, and similar to the famous ‘Biggest Loser’, the Weights Over Program is a community weight loss competition that also focuses on improving the health of participants through referrals to health specialists, education, and healthy lifestyle changes.
The 16 week program includes a preprogram health check, participation in structured fitness programs and education, reassessment of health throughout the program and at the end.
Results are tabulated and a winner is chosen based on their results.
The completion of Weights Over was celebrated in style with a 60’s Rock and Roll Dance Night (another form of physical activity), where the winner was announced.
The program has now been included in the McKinlay Shire Healthy Lifestyle Program – a year round program dedicated to improving the health of Shire residents.
The program also incorporates other initiatives, such as the Active Ageing Falls Prevention Program for Seniors, and the After School Sports program for primary school children.
Message from Mayor Paul Woodhouse
If the Shire of McKinlay in northwest Queensland isn’t the best place in Australia to invest and live, then I ask you where is?
Before the predictable parochial howls of protest begin, can I first say it is a privilege to be writing from this place in paradise to all of our colleagues in Local Government right across Australia, no matter where you live.
I have thought for a while now that we are a pretty fortunate and privileged mob to be involved in Local Government, but that was reinforced a bit more when we witnessed the level of cooperation and passion at last year’s Constitutional Summit in Melbourne.
But anyway, enough of the soapy stuff, back to McKinlay…
Situated in a very energetic region of northwest Queensland, and fortunately surrounded by great neighbouring Shires, McKinlay was named after the Scottish explorer John McKinlay, who for some reason was gamely wandering around between Adelaide and the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1861 or so.
Centred on the town of Julia Creek, McKinlay Shire is almost 41,000 square kilometres and is jam packed with some of the nation’s most progressive primary producers and mines.
Home to BHP Billiton’s Cannington Mine, the world’s largest and lowest cost producer of silver and lead, the Shire also sits atop one of the most exciting prospects for geothermal energy discovered in Queensland.
With all that energy below, there is also plenty going on above the ground and the Shire has a vibrant beef industry, buoyed only recently by seasonal monsoonal rains.
With the rains comes the inevitable flooding, and I can’t help but feel, sitting here isolated by rising flood waters, some of the irony in the complete reversal of our fortunes, with our southern cousins experiencing some of the worst summer temperatures on record.
It is usually our continual privilege to experience temperatures above 40 degrees celsius in this time of year, so our thoughts and best wishes go to all those affected in any way.
Plenty more to say, but have been restricted to these few words (or less) and no doubt the censor’s scissors have yet to appear and make further cuts.
Come up and see us at any stage and please make yourselves known when you are here – no problems having a beer or two, and we can compare notes about the ship of Local Government – it’s a great boat to help row.
Shade sails add a splash of colour
The streets of Julia Creek received a makeover in the middle of 2008 when new shade sails were erected over the centre parking in Burke Street, the main street servicing the town.
The shade sails were welcomed by locals and tourists alike and have added a splash of colour to the thoroughfare.
That splash of colour is about to become more exuberant, with more sails to be added this year.
Council has elected to use the $100,000 in funding from the Federal Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) to complete the shade and street enhancement project in the main business area of Julia Creek.
McKinlay Mayor, Councillor Paul Woodhouse, said the shades were a pretty, striking feature for people visiting Julia Creek.
“While McKinlay Shire plays host to many events throughout the year, these striking shade sails on Burke Street not only reflect the busy life of the community, but will provide colour during the day and complement the distinctive Wineglass Water Tower, which is lit at night,” Mayor Woodhouse said.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our towns for our locals and while the bright colours in the main street are attractive, the sails also provide shade for parked cars when people are using the businesses operating along the main street.”
The new shades are due to be completed by the end of June.
