Gibber
Gabber
Volume 68 Issue 1 A Woomera Board Publication
Friday 20 January 2017
Tragedy During the Holiday Period
Jacob was a well-known and skilled stunt rider. Photo supplied by Tanya Austin.
Woomera and Pimba are mourning the tragic loss of a young life during the recent Christmas/New Year holiday period... Jacob Austin, better known to many as ‘Fritz’, passed away after the vehicle he was driving rolled over on the road to the Pimba dump on the evening of 29 December. The three passengers in the vehicle were also injured. Jacob’s funeral was held on Friday, 6 January, and was well attended, with many former residents returning
to Woomera for the service. The funeral was followed by a wake at the Woomera Sports Club, during which attendees reminisced about their time spent with Jacob, sharing many a happy memory of a life too short. The Woomera Board extends its deepest condolences to the Austin family, as well as those that were affected by the incident. The Board’s thoughts and prayers are also with the other victims, their families and friends.
Tributes from the local clubs can be found Page 4...
T h e Woomera Board ...representing the community... Bernie McCarthy Chairperson Tourism 0409 006 385
Christine Clarke Finance Officer
Russ Squire
Clubs and Events 0401 445 490
Theatre Officer
Sheryl Butler
Aidan Harris
Vacant
Leisure, Wellbeing and Sports 0420 218 197
0417 966 994
Observatory Officer
Vacant
Vacant
Vacant
Health and Community
Child and Youth
Bradley Leng Acting Secretary 08 8673 7650 0418 842 714
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor do not represent the views of the Woomera Board. It is the right of all to correspond with the Gibber Gabber. Letters will be edited for spelling, grammatical errors and style and may be edited for length if needed. Letters will be rejected if they are too long, abusive or cover a subject that has been exhausted. They will be published only when they include the author’s name, address and contact details. If the author has a genuine reason for remaining anonymous, he or she must still provide details to allow the Editor to discuss the matter with them. The Editor reserves the right to contact letter writers to establish authenticity.
Gibber Gabber Deadline for articles is 10am Wednesdays unless negotiated with the Secretary Woomera Board. E-mail: gibber.gabber@bigpond.com
Guest Editor: Heather Cleland Layout: Brad Leng
0408 824 296
Woomera Board Postal Address: Dewrang Avenue Woomera, SA 5720 Email: woomeraboard@bigpond.com Phone: (08) 8673 7650 Fax: TBA
Useful Numbers Emergency 000 Fire Station General 8674 3225 Police Station 8673 7244 Woomera Clinic 8673 7100 Base Services Support Centre 1300 658 975 Poisons Information 13 11 26 DCW 1300 333 362 Broadspectrum 8674 3260 Royal Flying Doctors 1800 733 772 Veolia 0499 777 725
Bureau of Meteorology 8673 7271 Eldo Hotel 8673 7867 Freight Enquiries 0417 430 541 Heritage Centre 8673 7042 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 Outback Diner 8673 7768 Outback Data & Communications 8673 7029 PA & CI Martin 8673 7209 B&A Recycling 8673 7251 or 0407 186 505
Razzcon Services 8673 6105 RSL Bowling Club 8673 7596 Spuds Roadhouse 8673 7473 Woomera Area School 8673 7287 Woomera Board 8673 7650 Triple R FM 8673 6197 Woomera Travellers Village & Cudgee Bar 8673 7800 Woomera Village Store 8673 7766 Australia Post 8673 7755 Pimba Service Centre 0418 378 994
Next Board Meeting: Monday, 23 January @ 7PM 2
Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
20 January 2017
WOOMERA BOARD NEWS The Woomera Board will hold its first This month’s agenda includes such topics meeting for 2017 this Monday, 23 January. as the 70th Reunion to be held this Easter and Australia Day preparations. All Board members are asked to attend.
Nominations are invited from Woomera residents to fill casual vacancies on the Woomera Board There currently exists three casual vacancies on the Woomera Board. Residents are cordially invited to nominate eligible candidates to stand for by-election. Applications may be obtained from the Woomera Board Office at the Heritage Centre and must be returned to the Board Office. Nominations will close at noon on Friday, 24 February 2017. Any Woomera resident over the age of 18 years who has resided in Woomera for a continuous period of three months immediately preceding election day is
eligible to be nominated. The functions of the Board are to: Advise the Base Support Manager Edinburgh Defence Precinct (BSM-EDP) on matters relating to the welfare of the people of Woomera; Advise the BSMEDP on any matter that is referred to the Board by BSM-EDP; Manage such businesses, public utilities and amenities, and to conduct such other activities as the BSM-EDP may from time to time direct. Contact Acting Secretary Woomera Board on 8673 7650 with further enquiries.
The Woomera Board welcomes those new residents who have joined our community during the Christmas/New Year period The Board hopes that you will enjoy your time with us, and should you have any questions, comments or feedback in regards to the Gibber Gabber or any Board facility, please do not hesitate to see Brad or Heather at the Heritage Centre, located on Dewrang Ave Please be aware that due to the Australia Day public holiday, the Gibber Gabber may be delayed in distribution next week, to allow for time to include photos from the day. The deadline will still be 10am Wednesday, 25 January for all other content. As of publishing, the Woomera Board has not yet finalised plans for the Australia Day event in Woomera. Posters will be put out on Tuesday advertising these plans. 20 January 2017
Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
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Tragically, Pimba and Woomera have lost one of our young souls, one who will never be forgotten. Jacob Austin, also known as “Fritz”, was sadly taken from us all on 29/12/2016. On behalf of the Woomera Sports Club I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Woomera, Pimba and rural communities for helping out at the Sports Club in support of the Austin family. This was a great example of community spirit and I would like express my appreciation to the following people: Rita Coles, Wayne Dicks, Colin Zhu, Molly Millington, Eldo kitchen staff, the Greenfield family, Bannerman family, the Kenney family, 20SQN, WTR and CFS. Thanks also to the Roxby Downs Area School for the loan of their bus to ensure everyone got home safely. Everybody’s efforts were very appreciated by the Club. The Woomera Sports Club have a wine barrel that has been signed by many people who knew and loved Jacob, if you did not get an opportunity to sign it on the day, please make some time to come down over the next couple of weeks to sign it. Once this is done, the Club will, in remembrance of Jacob, organise a nice top to be fitted to the top of the barrel. Shane Kenney President, Woomera Sports Club The Committee, Members and Guests of the Woomera Golf Club would like to express their grief over the loss of Jacob ‘Fritz’ Austin, a fine member of the community and member of the Golf Club Darts Team. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and all who were blessed to have known him. The Committee, Members and Families of the Woomera RSL and Bowling Club would like to express their deepest sadness on the loss of Jacob Austin. He was a fine member of the Woomera community, and will be sorely missed by many in the community. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family, and to the other victims of the accident and their families. An Eternal Memory Until We Meet Again... Those special memories of you will always bring a smile. If only we could have you back for just a little while. Then we all could talk again just like we used to do. You always meant so much and you always will do too. The fact that you’re no longer here will always cause us pain, but you’re forever in our hearts, until we meet again. Ride in Peace Jacob Love Always, Harmony, Darcy and Pauly 4
Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
20 January 2017
20 SQUADRON NEWS
One of the RAAF Heron RPAs that will be used during an upcoming exercise in Woomera. Photo thanks to FLTLT Wayne Dicks, XO 20SQN
You may not have known they were ever here, but the RAAF’s Number 5 Flight will be in town again during February operating the Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from Woomera airfield... The Heron’s primary role is to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) using an advanced onboard camera during both day and night sorties and flies roughly the same speed as a light aircraft. Unlike a conventional manned aircraft, the Heron is completely controlled and piloted by RAAF aircrew who are firmly on the ground. From altitudes of greater than 10,000 feet, the Heron can track people, animals and vehicles and identify disturbances in the ground, usually associated with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) emplacement as seen during recent operations in 20 January 2017
Afghanistan and Iraq. Whilst previous training deployments to Woomera were low-key, the upcoming deployment will be a little different as the township will artificially become ‘red’. To better prepare RAAF crews and imagery analysts for future operational missions, 5FLT members will be simulating fake enemy activity from within the town itself. Locals may see camouflage netting, unusual vehicles and fake rocket launchers placed around the town and there may also be a simulated ‘kidnap’ scenario. All activities will be supervised and controlled by a uniformed RAAF member who will also be wearing a 5 Flight patch. The exercise will run from February 6-10. Any queries can be directed to the 5FLT Operations Officer on 0477 303 300 or to 20SQN ABCP on 08 8674 3448. Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
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WOOMERA CLUBS NEWS SPORTS CLUB This week, the Sports Club reopens for the year with T-Bones and veggies for $15. Desserts are available for $3 or $1 for a bowl of ice cream with a range of toppings. The club opens at 5.30pm, with meals starting at
6pm. You can also help yourself to a cappuccino or hot chocolate for a gold coin. As always, there is plenty to keep the kids entertained and cold drinks available at the bar. We hope to see you down there!
WOOMERA RSL The Woomera RSL and Bowling Club will be holding a Special General Meeting on 12 February. During this meeting, the existing Interim Committee, elected at the AGM last year for the purpose of calling a new meeting, will be removed from office, and a new committee will be elected. The positions that will be elected are as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and general
committee members. Nomination forms are available from the Post Office or the Woomera Board office and must be returned to the Woomera Board by the end of Monday, 6 February. Membership forms are also available from the Post Office and the Woomera Board office, with monies due to be returned with completed forms at an RSL night (Saturdays, following the RSL SGM)
DOWN THE FAIRWAY
By the Pasty Putter
Firstly, welcome to the 2017 golf year and I hope all your Christmas festivities went well and we all didn’t over indulge like some people I know! Last Sunday’s golfing was played in mild summer conditions, with the preferred event being a nine-hole, two person stroke Ambrose event. Winners of the day were Greg Budden and Joe Blatchford, with 37 off the stick for a net 32, leaving the runner-up accolades to Wally Broome and Justin Allchurch, with 38 off the stick for a net 33. Due to the ordinary golf being played we had no winners for long drive or nearest-to-pin. 6
Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
The Woomera Golf Club were saddened to hear of the loss of Jacob Austin, condolences go out to the Austin family and all his many friends. The Golf Club bar is open from 10.30am on Sunday’s serving icy cold refreshments and the best pastries in town -- the Golfie’s the place to be! Golf this Sunday will be a nine-hole event, with the format to be decided on the day, tee-off time from 8am, all are welcome. Well, that’s all the jibber for this week, so until next week, I’ll see you in the bunker or the 19th and remember: winners are grinners! 20 January 2017
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF WOOMERA A reminder that driving on nature strips and/or vacant lots is not permitted. There has been extensive damage done to the footpaths near certain areas in town, where this rule has been disregarded.
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS Please be aware that in the next month, Broadspectrum are expecting to perform a mosquito spray around the village, reducing the population of the pest and lessening the potential for mosquito bites. 20 January 2017
Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
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WOOMERA AT A GLANCE
Breen Park
Sports Club
Girrahween Ave
O’Donaghue Oval
BBQ and toilet facilities. Dogs off leash allowed during set times.
Dewrang Ave
8673 7287
School starts 8.40am (Students allowed on site from 8.30am) Recess time: 10.45am - 11.05am Lunch time: 12.55pm - 1.20pm School finishes at 3pm (2pm on Tuesdays)
Eldo Hotel
Pimba Open daily
8673 7473 6am to 10pm
Now offering cafe style breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays
From 6 am
Swimming Pool
Killara Crescent
8673 7867 12 noon to 9.30pm
Off Banool Avenue
8674 3356
Wednesday, Thursday,
12 noon to 11.30pm
Season starts October long weekend and finishes Anzac Day long weekend in April.
Friday, Saturday
12 noon to 12.30pm
Open weekdays
2pm - 9pm
Open weekends
12pm - 7pm
Management reserve the right to close early
RSL & Bowling Club 8
From 6pm
Spuds Roadhouse
Woomera Area School
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
Open Friday nights for meals
Woomera Traveller’s Village
Killara Crescent
Old Pimba Road
8673 7800
Open Saturday nights for meals
Office open daily
8am to 7pm
Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
20 January 2017
RIDDLE ME FRIDAY
Sister Pat’s Thought of the Week
What comes next in the following sequence: 1 11 21 1211 111221 312211 13112221 1113213211 (Answer next to weather) Woomera Village Population as of Wednesday 18 January 2017
137
“It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.”
(Sir Edmund Hillary)
This Week in Australian History With thanks to WMIT for information
20 January (1803) Superintendent of public works, Charles Grimes, arrives at the Mornington Peninsula, now a popular holiday spot, where he pronounces it unsuitable for settlement (1958) After almost 28 years, the Royal Australian Naval College returns to Jervis Bay
(1988) Tennant Creek is hit by three earthquakes, one registering 6.7 on the Richter scale
21 January (1815) The first road is completed over the Blue Mountains in NSW, under the direction of William Cox (1827) The entire Australian continent is claimed as British territory when Major Edmund Lockyer formally annexes the western third at King George Sound
24 January (1903) The Golden Pipeline, a massive engineering undertaking bringing vital water to the Western Australian goldfields, is opened
22 January (1788) Captain Arthur Phillip names Manly Cove in Sydney (1899) Leaders of six Australian colonies meet in Melbourne to discuss a federation bill 20 January 2017
23 January (1939) The waterside Workers’ Strike, which earns Robert Menzies the nickname of ‘Pig-Iron Bob’, finally ends after nine weeks
25 January (2004) NASA’s Exploration Rover, Opportunity, lands on Mars 26 January Today is Australia Day, commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 (1808) Governor William Bligh is overthrown in the “Rum Rebellion” Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
9
What’s on in Woomera? Mondays
CFS Training @ 6.30pm for adults. Please call Andrew “Apples” Appleby on 0407 001 142 for more info or to leave a message -------------------Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park
Tuesdays
CFS Training @ 5.30pm for cadets. Call Andrew “Apples” Appleby 0407 001 142 for more info or to leave a message ------------------Pistol Club, members-only night. ------------------Hobby Club, from 7pm @ old Variety Store. Call Russ Squire 0408 824 296 for more info ------------------Craft Group, from 7pm @ 4 Gundawarra St. Phone Ellen Budden 0417 377 694 for more info ------------------Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park
Wednesdays
Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park
Thursdays
Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park
Fridays
Saturdays
Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park -------------------RSL and Bowling Club bar open at 5pm, meals from 6pm
Sundays
Golf 7.30am tee off, unless otherwise advertised, at Golf Club, Tech Area Road -----------------Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints service every Sunday at 10am in Roxby Downs. Call Kara Brown 0428 866 977 -----------------Catholic Church Sunday Mass at St. Michael’s Church, Banool Ave, by telephone arrangement. Call (08) 8671 0925 -----------------Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park
Woomera weather for the period ending 16 January 2017 Total rainfall for January to date:
Total rainfall for 2017 year to date:
31.2 mm on 3 days
31.2 mm on 3 days
Date
10/1/17
11/1/17
12/1/17
13/1/17
14/1/17
15/1/17
16/1/17
Max Temp
34.5
33.8
38.0
26.4
28.3
31.5
38.0
Min Temp Rain mm
21.7 0.0
19.4 0.0
21.0 0.0
23.6 1.6
14.2 29.4
15.7 0.0
18.5 0.0
5 D a y F o r e c a s t f r o m We a t h e r Z o n e a t http://www.weatherzone.com.au/sa/nw-pastoral/woomera Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
N/A Storms Clearing
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Possible Shower
32o / 24o
33o / 19o
38o / 23o
39o / 26o
31o / 22o
10 Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
20 January 2017
A: 31131211131211 - This sequence involves a number being formed from the number of numbers in the previous number (i.e. for the answer, the previous number had 3 1’s, 1 3, 1 2, 1 1, 1 3, 1 2 and 2 1’s
Sports Club open from 5pm, meals from 6pm ------------------Eldo Hotel Happy Hour 5pm to 7pm ------------------Cudgee Bar open from 5pm at the Woomera Traveller’s Village and Caravan Park
Gibber Gabber Classified Advertising Classified advertisements must be submitted by 8am Wednesday
Woomera Pool
Available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Customer orders are welcome.
Op Op
PM
Come in and check out our new range of FRESH MEAT & VEGGIES
PM
Opening hours Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 8am - 6pm Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8am - 7.30pm Saturday and Sunday: 8.30am - 2pm
PM - 9 2 en Weekdays 2 PM - 7 1 en Weekends
Entry $4 per person Free for Defence personnel and their families (Must show your Defence ID) -Qualified lifeguards -Cold Drinks -Snacks -Ice-Creams
Woomera Community Library Opening Times
Off Leash Times for Dogs at Breen Park Weekdays 6.30AM - 9.30 AM & 4 PM - 7 PM Weekends 7 AM - 11 AM Excluding Public Holidays 20 January 2017
Monday 1pm-4pm Wednesday 1pm-4pm Thursday 2pm-6pm Located next to Woomera Area School on Dewrang Ave If you are not already a member, sign up for the onecard system and access millions of books, movies, online magazines, ebooks and online software training with Lynda. Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
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IN MEMORIAM Jacob ‘Fritz’ Austin 21/11/1998 - 29/12/2016
Jacob was a joker at times...
He enjoyed spending time with his mates...
Sometimes it got a little messy...
He was a hard worker, though...
Jacob with Lauren Bannerman
Jacob with girlfriend Laura Greenfield at her graduation
12 Gibber Gabber: A Woomera Board publication
20 January 2017