news Charity roundtable spitballs solutions It’s not often you see members of parliament from multiple electorates together in the same room, but it happened, last week, in the name of charity. Six Hunter MPs gathered in Wallsend to hear from representatives of 10 local charities, all of which are in need of government assistance. Grace McLean, chief executive officer of NFP Connect, a network that supports not-for-profit organisations, together with Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr, organised the roundtable. Mr Barr sat with fellow MPs Tim Crakanthorp (Newcastle), Jodie Harrison (Charlestown), Sonia Hornery (Wallsend), Yasmin Catley (Swansea) and Kate Washington (Port Stephens). Together they heard from the Victims of Crime Assistance League, Hunter Research Foundation, Newcastle Community Arts Centre, Paths 2 Change, Hunter Community Legal Centre, CanTeen, D.A.L.E Young Parents’ School, Interrelate, and EQ Calm. Each charity had 30 minutes to address
the room, raise concerns, and question how they might work with the state government to meet their needs. The MPs listened, answered questions and considered how, together, they could take action. NFP CEO Grace McLean said mediumto-large charity organisations in the Hunter often sprawled over more than one electorate, creating challenges to secure sufficient funding and solve widespread community issues, and confusion as to which MP to seek help from. “The work of the not-for-profits in our region is amazing,” she said. “For many of them this might be the very first time that they have spoken to a local MP. “Our conversation today with local MPs is about offering our services and support networks to their constituents. We know that a local MP is often a port of call for people that are having a hard time of it, and by explaining to the MPs what we do, they will be able to access our services for those in need.”
Lake Mac needs “gun” historians Do you have any historical information relating to the ‘cannon’ at Speers Point Park? If so, Lake Macquarie City Council wants to hear all about it. Council is currently preparing a grant application for conservation work on the cannon and would like to hear from anyone who has information about, or photographs of, when it was first placed in the park. “We know the cannon is a minenwerfer, or German trench mortar, that was used during World War One, and that after the war, council was given two of these mortars in 1922 to display in Speers Point Park,” council’s manager of integrated planning Sharon Pope said. If you have any information or historical photographs you would like to share, contact council’s Heritage Officer on 4921 0333.
Newcastle Art Society now exhibiting at Belmont Citi Centre until sunday 13 november • Approx 40 local artists exhibiting 120 paintings • All paintings are original works and all for sale • The exhibition incorporates the Des Vout Award which is in honour of the late Des Vout a long time supporter of the Newcastle Art Society
41 Macquarie Street Belmont • Phone 49458510 • www.belmontciti.com.au 10
NW0364
Belmont Citi Centre