Thumbs up for Rodeo
Hughes, McLennan win Council recount
BY RACHEL WILLIAMS
DORSET COUNCIL will sit in Scottsdale next Monday night with a bare quorum of five elected representatives, after two former Dorset Councillors were returned to the table in a recount on Tuesday.
It follows a tumultuous week where another three councillors quit, taking to six the total number of councillors to leave after their reinstatement by the Local Government Minister following the Board of Inquiry.
Anna Coxen resigned on February 4, followed by Beth Donoghue on February 5 and Leonie Stein on February 6, joining former Mayor Greg Howard, Deputy Mayor Dale Jessup and Jerrod Nichols.
Recounts were conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission on Tuesday, February 11 after the midday
close of nominations.
Five candidates who were unsuccessful at the last local government poll in 2022 put up their hands to fill the vacancies – Jan Hughes, Wendy McLennan, Nick Bicanic, James Cashion and Vincent Teichmann. Karlene Cuthbertson did not nominate to be included in the recount.
Jan Hughes was elected first in the recount to fill Jerrod Nichols’ vacancy. She finished on 228 votes with Nick Bicanic still in the count with 136.15.
A second recount was then held to fill Dale Jessup’s vacancy. Wendy McLennan was elected with 184.08 with Mr Bicanic again still in the count with 175.48.
In both recounts, Mr Teichmann was excluded first, followed by Mr Cashion.
Mrs Cuthbertson, Mr Bicanic, Mr Teichmann and Mr Cashion will again be contacted to see if they want to nominate
for another recount triggered by the resignations of Ms Coxen, Ms Donoghue and Ms Stein.
The three recounts are scheduled for next Thursday, February 20.
If all three remaining from this week’s count again put up their hands, they will all be elected.
If they don’t, any vacancies remaining after Thursday’s recount process will be filled as part of the by-election process for the community to choose a new Mayor.
That by-election is expected to be held in late March or early April.
Until a Mayor is elected, the position will be filled in an acting capacity by a new Deputy Mayor chosen from the five councillors meeting on Monday.
Monday night’s February meeting of Council had been scheduled to be held at Pioneer but it has been changed to be held
at the Council Chambers in Scottsdale from 6pm.
On the agenda is a planning application for a proposed new fuel station on Bridport Rd near Flinders Island Aviation, a report into the December quarter of the Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails, the quarterly financial report for the Council and a management team briefing report.
An Office of Local Government spokesperson said that in the event that a quorum is not present, the meeting must be abandoned and that a further meeting is to be convened within 14 days to consider the relevant business.
“The Office of Local Government is liaising with Dorset Council to ensure adequate guidance and support is available to all new and existing councillors,” the spokesman said.
T COVERAGE CONTINUES ON PAGES 4 & 5.
• Connor and Dylan Jones were into the action at the Scottsdale Rodeo.
T STORY AND PICS, PAGES 10 & 11.
WE SERVE
10 Years Ago – February 11, 2015
Winnaleah’s sharp shooter
One of the North-East’s unsung heroes of the sporting arena was finally recognised with the Dorset Sportsperson of the Year Award. Lyn Mullins has been at the forefront of ladies’ darts in the North-East for quite a while – long enough to have racked up an impressive 16 individual and pairs championships as well as nine grand final wins with her team the Warriors. “I’ve been playing for 28 years, where once it was only a men’s sport it is now only a ladies sport here in the North-East as the men’s roster finished up quite a few years ago” said Lyn. The Winnaleah Pub is her home ground, and as well as her team the Warriors there are two other Winnaleah teams as well as one from each of Derby and Branxholm.
30 Years Ago – February 2, 1995
Diprose collection to be moved
The collection of steam engines and other farm and mining equipment owned by Tom Diprose of Legerwood was to be moved to the Grubb Shaft Gold Museum at Beaconsfield. Mr Diprose collected the machines from all over Tasmania and the mainland, and they have been extensively displayed at shows around the North-East for many years. Mr Diprose will not be selling his collection and looked at options in the North-East before deciding on the Beaconsfield site. His major concerns were that he wasn’t getting any younger. The Dorset Council was to initiate an oral history featuring Mr Diprose and has suggested that anything relating to Tin Mining be offered on loan to the Derby Tin Mine Centre.
40 Years Ago – February 14, 1985
Liveweight selling introduced
A new method of selling was set to be introduced to the North-East for the first time at the Scottsdale Sale on February 21. The Warden of Scottsdale, Cr H. V. Salier, M.B.E., would officially open the new scales at the yards just before the sale begins. Websters livestock manager, Mr G. D. Randall told “The Advertiser” that the scales had been installed at Scottsdale because the district was the centre of a rich agricultural area that was developing rapidly. He said there were liveweight scales at Killafaddy, Quoiba, Smithton and Cooee, and he believed his company had great confidence in the future of the North-East.
USEFUL NUMBERS
All Emergency Services (fire, police, ambulance) 000 North Eastern Soldiers Memorial Hospital 6778 8522 Tasmanian Police – non urgent 131 444 Parks and Wildlife Scottsdale Field Centre 6352 6421
Bridport cemetery rules
HISTORY REMEMBERED CEMETERIES COME in two forms; those associated with a church, and those which are not. In the Dorset region most of our cemeteries are the latter. The first burial in the Bridport cemetery was in December 1879, for 66-year-old Thomas Diprose, who had died of cancer. The Rules and Regulations of the Bridport Public Cemetery were published seven months later in the Hobart Town Gazette dated 13 July 1880.
Public cemeteries at that time were run by locals as appointed Trustees, under the leadership of a Chairman. The Bridport Cemetery rules included:
• No funeral to take place between the hours of 7pm and 7am, without the special permission of the Chairman;
• Orders for interments to be given to the Chairman at least six working hours before the hour set for the funeral;
• A drawing of every stone, tomb, pedestal and plan of every monument or tablet to be erected, and a copy of every epitaph or inscription must be submitted to the Trustees for approval;
• All vaults, graves, monuments, and tombstones must be kept in repair and
proper condition by and at the expense of the owner;
• The charges on the burial of any poor person in the Cemetery will be remitted on proof being given to the satisfaction of the Trustees that such person was a pauper, or that the relatives of the deceased are unable to pay the costs and charges;
• Any person dying in a gaol, hospital, or other institution maintained by the Government may be interred in the Cemetery free of charge upon the production of a certificate from the chief officer of the institution in which such person shall have been an inmate and that the deceased was a pauper in such institution.
The form for the order of interment included such questions as name of the deceased, denomination, last residence, rank, age, where born, date and time of funeral, and nature of disease or supposed cause of death. Sadly, none of these forms, nor any of the early plans of the Bridport Cemetery are known to still exist. Over time records have been lost and the cemetery has been through periods of neglect, so our documentation
of Thomas
the first burial at Bridport.
of those buried in the Bridport Cemetery is sadly incomplete. Nonetheless, the History Society continues to work with Dorset Council to improve and complete the records where we can.
The North-Eastern Advertiser is working with the Dorset Tasmania History Society to publish historical articles so that our history, in stories and images, is not lost.
February 16
• George Town (Mini)
Summers Series Hillwood, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
February 22-23
• Scottsdale Tractor Pull
Challenge Santarena Park, from 11:00am
February 23
• George Town (Mini)
Summers Series George Town, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
February 28
• Seniors Get Together Northbourne Hall, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
March 8
• Bridport Niche Village Market Bridport, 9:30am
March 16
• Spud Fest Scottsdale, 11:00am – 5:00pm
March 21
• Autumn Harvest Festival
St Helens, 4:00pm – 7:00pm
March 28
• Seniors Get Together Northbourne Hall, 2:00pm –3:30pm
April 1
• Nutopia - Weekend Cultural Festival Celebration Lilydale, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
April 5
• Harvest Festival
Friends of St Pauls Springfield
April 19
• Bridport Niche Village Market Bridport, 9:30am
• Weymouth Easter Market Weymouth, 9:00am – 1:00pm
April 25
• Anzac Day Commemoration Friends of St Pauls Springfield
May 3
• NTFA Pyengana Heritage Game Pyengana Rec Reserve
May 10
• Bridport Niche Village Market Bridport, 9:30am
May 30
• Seniors Get Together Northbourne Hall, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
• Headstone
Diprose,
The Young Endeavour spent the day moored off the coast of Barnbougle last Thursday, January 30, on route to Hobart for the Wooden Boat Festival. Arriving into Bridport around 9.30am and leaving late in the afternoon, the vessel provided a sensational sight for those who got to see it under sail. The crew of youth sailors took time while at anchor to wash clothes, each lunch and catch up on some “well needed sleep” after an overnight voyage across Bass Strait. Thank you to Jeff Jennings for the photo.
School’s back as new centre looms
KINDER CHILDREN hit the classroom at Scottsdale Primary School for the first time on Monday as they were introduced to a brand new play space.
And within a few years, the school will be the site of a brand new multi-million dollar Child and Family Learning Centre.
Consultation will soon start on the new CLFC promised by the Liberal Party at the last State election with construction due to start in 2026.
Minister for Education Jo Palmer said a CLFC would provide wrap around care for families as they begin their education journey.
“Families will have free access to psychologists, speech pathologists and social workers, ensuring support for children to meet their developmental milestones and set them up for a life of learning,” she said.
“Importantly it will enable partnering with early childhood education and care providers to deliver early education, long day care and vacation care, as well as outside of school hours care, where there is unmet demand for these services.
“Community and stakeholder consultation, including the establishment of Local Enabling Groups, will inform the
Slow going on wombat crossing
THE INTRODUCTION of Bridport’s new 40km/h Shopping Zone is scheduled to start this month but there is no date set for the installation of a new wombat crossing at a busy intersection.
The project to reduce the speed limit from the roundabout near the Visitor Information Centre to the current school speed zone, was set to be in place for summer.
But Council Infrastructure Director Kerry Sacilotto said there had been difficulties in sourcing the required 40km/h signage before Christmas.
Meanwhile, work on the new crossing at the bottom of Henry St was set to begin “as soon as final approval is granted by our funding partners the State Government’s Vulnerable Road Users Program”.
“These upgrades aim to enhance pedestrian accessibility for both locals and visitors,” Ms Sacilotto said.
design of each new CFLC and the services they will provide.”
Scottsdale Primary School Principal Davin Broomhall said reaction to the announcement had been extremely positive.
“It’s very exciting for Dorset. There is a lot to be gained. I have been fortunate enough to work with schools connected to CLFC’s and the outcomes you can get are amazing.
“It’s a place where parents can go to seek whatever support service they need, whether it is the Child and Family Health service or Early Childhood Inclusion Service and early learning intervention or vocational information for parents.”
He encouraged everyone in Dorset to consider applying for the local enabling group when expressions of interest are advertised later this month.
“Certainly it would be great to have a lot of representation from throughout the whole Dorset community because they guide what the services and the needs are of the community and what the facility will look like in the design.”
While the CLFC project will involve a major construction, most likely on the
School’s bottom oval space, a small but significant play space was unveiled to the school’s 21 new kinder kids this week.
A sensory and motor skills playground has been developed after the school received a $4000 grant from Bell Bay Aluminium. The school contributed a further $8000 to the project.
“It’s a really great space,” Mr Broomhall said.
“We see a lot of data about gross motor skills so whatever we can put in place to provide an engaging and welcoming school site but one that has a purpose in meeting those needs is important,” he said.
Sanbar community consultation
THE BUSINESS proposing a major increase to activity at Pioneer Sand Quarry has invited residents to meet with them this Saturday, February 15.
Sanbar Pty Ltd has organised a community consultation at Nugget Sellars Pavilion in Scottsdale, from 10am1pm.
An application by Sanbar before the Environmental Protection Authority and Dorset Council seeks permission to increase extraction from 5,000 cubic metres to 50,000 cubic metres and increase processing from 1,000 cubic metres to 50,000 cubic metres of sand tailings per year.
Sanbar is operated by Roger, Nick and Ben Palmer, who supply fine aggregate sand supply to the Tasmanian concrete and asphalt industry.
The Palmers also operate RNB Trading, a subsidiary of Sanbar, which is the major supplier of sand in Southern Tasmania.
RNB Trading Pty Ltd Managing Director Nick Palmer said their Pioneer
proposal at the old tin mining site, aimed to meet a shortfall in sand supply in the Hobart region.
Local Pioneer residents have reacted strongly against the proposal, with environmental concerns as well as worries about an increase in traffic loads.
Mr Palmer said Sanbar was acknowledged for its high rehabilitation achievements and argued that extracting the tailings at Pioneer would “ultimately restore and enhance the unique features of the lake”.
“The Pioneer operation will also follow strict EPA compliance standards which incorporate recognised benchmarks of community expectations,” he said.
“Following a two-year exploration of the Pioneer tin mine tailings, it was determined the environmental degrading of the natural land on the shores of Pioneer Lake could be reversed by removal of a very high-quality aggregate resource – the sand.
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“RNB has chosen to promote the potential of the sand at Pioneer, which is already washed, with fines removed and is high-quality material readily extracted from historical tailings stockpiles.”
The application to the EPA and Council says there could be 7.1 truck loads carted a day with an extraction life of more than 40 years.
But Mr Palmer said that due to the “substantial additional cartage distance” it was expected that it would take considerable time, maybe years, to reach a maximum of five truck loads a day over a five-day week.
“Within the application to Council and the EPA, there is provision for increased output for rare short term local projects, such as new wind farms,” Mr Palmer said.
There is no date yet set for a decision on the project, which was readvertised for public submissions following an administrative error with the first advertising period.
Simmons Wolfhagen Family Law team
• Tatiana Hextall, Theo DeJersey, Tess Buster and Connor Tucker at the new playground space on their first day of Kindergarten at Scottsdale Primary School.
Statements from resigning Dorset Councillors
ANNA
COXEN
ON WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2025 I resigned as a Dorset councillor. I would like to thank all of those who voted, believed in me and offered support over the last two and a bit years.
Arriving at this decision has not been an easy one, nor one I have made lightly.
I have multiple reasons for my decision, but ultimately I have made the decision that best suits myself and my family at this time.
By now, many of you will have read the report by the Board of Inquiry and been made aware of some of the detail it contains. Inquiries don’t happen as a knee jerk reaction. The process to establish a Board of Inquiry is not insignificant, and the findings that are listed validate that the inquiry was necessary. The report is not as comprehensive as I would have liked with at least two contemporary issues omitted entirely. I would encourage members of the community to read the summary of findings on page 15 of the report.
Thus far there has been a lot of blame shifting. What has not occurred yet is the leadership of the Dorset Council taking responsibility. No one individual is responsible for this, and that’s the problem with an ingrained culture, it infiltrates and becomes ‘normal’ but being normal, doesn’t make it okay.
It is not okay to ignore stop work orders from land owners. It is not okay to build structures on other people’s land and say ‘she’ll be right we will fix it up later’. It is not okay to harass people to get them to stop asking valid questions. It is not okay to use community funds to defend these actions of wrongdoing and try to sweep them under the carpet. It is certainly not okay to continue to employ the staff responsible for unlawful acts.
Identified in the report are incidents of behaviour that were unprofessional, inappropriate, unlawful and far below the standard of conduct that should be expected by a Local Government. A number of staff are listed in the detail of the findings and this conduct was and is unacceptable and our community deserves better.
I apologise to all of those community members, Councillors and staff whose lives have been disrupted and derailed by the actions and behaviours of representatives
of the Dorset Council either staff or Councillors in recent years.
For all of those individuals who did speak up for the betterment of our community and society, I thank you. It’s stressful and takes enormous courage.
In order to move forward as a Council and a community we need to identify wrong doings, take responsibility and learn from them.
The recommendations by the board will tighten up the governance at Council and improve operations going forward. This can only be a positive outcome for our community and future Councillors and staff going forward.
A regaining of trust won’t happen overnight, it will be a process and it will take time. There will be new Councillors who will need to find their feet and will bring enthusiasm and energy to Council to create a new culture going forward.
Although there is still work to be done, our region is something special, we have amazing people in great communities and we can and will move beyond this.
BETH DONOGHUE
THE DECISION to resign my position as Councillor with Dorset Council was not taken lightly.
Firstly, I am disappointed that prospective new Councillors were not notified that there was already an active investigation into Dorset Council prior to the October 2022 Local Government election. If we had known of this investigation, we may not have sought a position on Council which, I believe, has caused reputational damage.
I had hoped to bring positive change to the Dorset Council after the results of the election, which placed then Councillors on notice that the community wanted transparency, fairness, positive change in Councillor’s behaviours and accountability.
As a Fellow of CPA Australia my professional career has spanned decades of legislative compliance and I value ethical behaviour, good governance, accountability and transparency in decision making. Within weeks of being elected to Council I completed all training offered, as did the other newly elected Councillors.
In hindsight, I am disappointed that there was a suspension of all Councillors. It would have been better, for both the Council and community, for the review
to have been conducted with the Council continuing its functions instead of being suspended for 18 months, and any directives could have been issued to individual Councillors as required. This would have allowed continuity, and gradual change, instead of the instability that the Council and community now faces. At Council workshops we had robust discussions and I felt that we were moving in the right direction, mostly. The Board of Inquiry has recommended that the Minister for Local Government give directives to only (ex) Mayor Greg Howard. There are no sanctions for any other Councillors.
I agree with the findings of the Board of Inquiry in relation to the appointment of General Manager John Marik. It found that Councillors did not demonstrate good governance or follow contemporary human resources practices in this appointment.
New Councillors, and some continuing Councillors, had attended an Induction Workshop at the Tram Sheds in Launceston in November 2022 where we were put on notice that the Tasmanian Audit Office had tabled a report to Parliament on the recruitment, appointment and performance assessment of Council General Managers.
So, Dorset Councillors knew that poor practices had been identified and appointments had lacked transparency. As revealed in the Board of Inquiry Report (a public document) at the Special Council Meeting in December 2022, the vote to appoint the new general manager was split 5-4, with the three new Dorset Councillors voting against the appointment for these very reasons. Probably, this issue was the first of some of our robust debates. It’s important to note that the Board of Inquiry found that the process adopted by Dorset Council was unfair to John Marik.
At the Council meeting in October 2022 (before the forming of the new Council) there was a motion put forward by (ex) Mayor Howard and carried by that Council that directed Council administration to oversee the drawing up of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Council and Blue Derby Foundation (BDF) for BDF to actively manage the Derby mountain bike trails, including taking over the associated income and expenses.
The motion included an important element – the inclusion of trail maintenance costs. The MoU was drawn up and presented to the new Council at a meeting at Derby in March 2023 and was passed at that meeting 6-2 (1 absentee I think).
Anna Coxen voted against the MoU and I abstained from voting, which was then recorded as a no vote.
Now that I am no longer a Councillor and the “threat” of a Code of Conduct being taken against me is no longer relevant, for clarity, I feel I can reveal in part why I decided to withhold my vote. One of my reasons – the costs of trail maintenance were not included in the MoU. I do not know who made the decision to leave this out of the MoU. I do know that it didn’t come back to the Council for their decision on its exclusion.
The wrongdoings identified in the BOI Report should have consequences.
I expressed my opinion in the recent two meetings after our recent reinstatement that I don’t believe that the Council administration can draw a line in the sand and move forward without Council
administration taking ownership of their wrongdoings, identified in the Board of Inquiry Report, and be accountable to the community for the redress that is required. However, there appeared to be no appetite to do this.
The Minister’s reinstatement of Councillors after 18 months’ suspension, and with no direction and support, I also believe was ill conceived, especially as there had been the forewarning of resignations.
To lift the public perception of the Dorset Council and its administration will take a huge effort and is a challenge for the new, and yet to be formed, Dorset Council. And I wish them well.
JERROD NICHOLS
I WOULD like to take the opportunity to thank the people of Dorset who were kind enough to elect me to represent them in the role of councilor and also try to put reason to my recent resignation.
When it was announced that we were to be stood down as a Council, I was truly disappointed as I felt that we had acted appropriately upon learning of the antics of two of our previous staff and that any other alleged acts of poor governance could be investigated without disrupting what for the most part was a perfectly functional Council, in a sound financial position. At that point in time and for those reasons I had pretty much made up my mind to quit.
However, upon the delivery of the report, and the fact that it contained nothing of merit outside clarifying that all councilors are not experts on the LUPA and Local Government Acts, both of which are ambiguous at best and that most of the recommendations were targeted at Council staff more specifically, I was expecting that there may have been some form of an apology given, for the time, significant financial waste and the fact that we personally and as a council have been greatly discredited in the eyes of not only the people we were elected to represent but the greater Tasmanian community. If this apology was to be forthcoming, I would then stay. This was far from the case.
It is with pride that I often look at a photograph from the eighties of my father and other respected members of community who were Council representatives at the time, and I wonder just how familiar they were with the Local Government Act and all the other codes of behavior to which we must abide before taking office, or did they just give their time because, like me they thought it was the right thing to do.
There will no doubt be some positives come out of this, that may benefit the sector more broadly, and I am sure that I would myself do some things differently if I were again to be elected. This, however, is cold comfort in view of the present situation. Our State politicians have been pathetic in either defending or offering support during the process, which shows that they themselves are only the puppets for the bureaucrats, not the other way around.
Those sitting in the Office of Local Government would rather we were treated like R P Murphy from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, rather than think that those sitting in local government may actually be more in touch with the sentiment of their community and its needs.
I am truly disappointed.
Jan Hughes returns to Council
ROTARY CLUB of Scottsdale Treasurer and former President Jan Hughes has taken the last 18 months to reflect on her previous time on council.
“It has given me a chance for some personal reflection and an understanding of the political aspects of being on council which I think I was a little naïve about, but I am certainly more aware of the importance of community consultation, honesty and being open,” Ms Hughes said.
“The one thing I learned from (former Mayor) John Beswick in the paper the other day was his advice to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
“I will learn from the things that were negative (in the report) but I certainly want people to understand that there are some positive things that continued. It is not all bad.”
She said she was looking forward to the next 18 months on Council.
“I am really excited actually,” Ms Hughes said.
“I am sad to see we have actually lost strength with some of the councillors who have resigned, and it is going to take a little while to get back up to speed.
“Hopefully we will have people of a similar calibre run at the election coming up in 18 months’ time.
“I think one of the most important things to do is to get a Mayor who is on top of all these issues and can lead us through what I think will be a bit of a turbulent time. Someone who knows the operation of government, who has a good strong intellect, is personable, understands farming, forestry and economic development – it is going to be a tough gig I think.”
Her return to Council will add to her
work as a private tutor assisting students specialising in teaching dyslexic children as well as jam production business Rhu Bru.
She said she had already started to read the Local Government Act again in readiness for next Monday’s Council meeting and said she was looking forward to seeing more collaboration.
“I think it’s important that councillors that come on board are receptive to everything. That they are not actually governed by single personal desires, wills and ideas,” she said.
“I am someone who can listen to most people. I have had experience in lots of areas including business and education. You are not in Council for yourself you are in it for your community.
“You sometimes have to agree to decisions that don’t fit with your personal belief systems but it is what is best
Wendy McLennan back on board
BRIDPORT’S WENDY McLennan is excited for another opportunity to serve as a councillor, saying that she is not a one issue woman.
Mrs McLennan said that while it was a challenging period for Dorset in the aftermath of the Board of Inquiry, it was time to take on the Board’s recommendations and give the community some confidence moving forward.
“I have consistently advocated for integrity and openness in processes and strongly believe that this is a time that necessitates a climate of mutual respect between the Council and the community,” she said.
Mrs McLennan sat on Council from 2017 –2022 but was not successful in the 2022 poll. She said she looked forward to getting back to the table.
“We have got to get back to looking at community issues. That’s what we are,” she said.
“I’d like to see a really good relationship with people coming into the Council meetings so that we know what people’s problems are, because unless they let us know it is very hard.
“The other thing is the planning scheme. It is very complicated and I think we need to have more involvement as councillors rather than delegating to the General Manager.”
Despite being a vocal opponent to the North East Rail Trail project, she said it was not her only objective at the last election.
“It was interpreted that I ran on the platform of the Rail Trail but that wasn’t my platform. I was involved in a lot of things. The U3A (University of the Third
Age) in Bridport and I have kept that going, I was involved in the arts, I helped put in the walking track with Bridport when I was with the Lions Club. It wasn’t just the one issue,” she said.
“I want to look at community driven projects. We have to look after Derby and make sure that stays viable and there needs to be a relationship formed between the Blue Derby Foundation and ourselves.
“One thing I would like to do is look at the defence facility which is sitting there empty and look at the hospital, the James Scott Wing, and see what we can do with the State Government with that –why have an empty building with 27 beds? It’s crazy.
“And I’d like to work more with all the schools to see what we can do to help them.”
for everybody, not just what is best for you and I think sometimes councillors forget that.”
Council thanks to six departing Councillors
DORSET COUNCIL has released the below statement of thanks to the six departing councillors.
“Council acknowledges on behalf of the community, the service and contribution of the following Councillors to Council and the Dorset community during their time as elected members in light of their recent resignations.
- Beth Donoghue and Anna Coxen were both elected as Councillors in November 2022.
- Jerrod Nichols was elected as a Councillor in November 2018.
- Leonie Stein was re-elected as a Councillor during a By-Election in 2015, following a previous term on Council.
- Dale Jessup was elected as a Councillor
in November 2014 and took the role of Deputy Mayor at the November 2018 election.
- Greg Howard was elected to Council in November 2014, taking on the role of both Councillor and Deputy Mayor. Greg then took over as Acting Mayor when the late Barry Jarvis passed away suddenly and ultimately was elected to the role of Mayor in August 2015, a position he held
until his resignation. Greg was passionate about Dorset and progressed many positive initiatives during his time on Council. Council recognises the time and effort expended in their commitment to achieve the best outcomes for the betterment of the North East region by these individuals. Council wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavours.”
• Jan Hughes has been elected on a recount following Jerrod Nichols’ resignation.
• Wendy McLennan is excited to return to Dorset Council after being elected on a recount of Dale Jessup’s vote.
MAKE THE MOST OF OUR LONGER DAYS.
EXPLORE TASMANIA: EAT, DRINK, STAY, PLAY
EAT & DRINK
Detour to Melshell Oyster Shack for divine seafood and ocean-fresh oysters from this retro caravan in Dolphin Sands.
Let Pop-up Picnic Tasmania prep a delicious summer spread for beachside grazing on fresh east-coast cheese, fruit and wine. Stop by Purple Possum Wholefoods and Cafe in St Marys, a hub for healthy fare, tasty coffee and local art.
EAT & DRINK
Fancy a tipple? Tempting tours, plus whisky, gin and liqueur tastings await in an 1840s mansion at Old Kempton Distillery. Enjoy a pitstop at Vintage on High for a coffee, cheeky cake and plenty of character in Georgian gem Oatlands.
A taste of Türkiye in the Huon Valley, Cinnamon and Cherry serves up sweet and savoury Turkish treats in Franklin.
STAY
Make yourself at home at Panorama Hotel St Helens amid eight tranquil acres of lagoons and gardens by the sea.
After exploring the larapuna / Bay of Fires area, enjoy space for the whole family at Binalong Bay Beach House.
Stay in authentic 1840s army barracks with modern luxuries at Triabunna Barracks, a cannonball’s throw from the Maria Island ferry.
STAY
Nestled between beach and forest, Stewarts Bay Lodge provides a secluded cabin stay at scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula.
Go camping, caravanning or book a cabin at Captain Cook Holiday Park, your ideal base for exploring Bruny Island.
Savour a local wine as you relax at A Cottage in Richmond, your riverside retreat in a historical village.
PLAY
Set a course for Scamander River Golf Club to enjoy a relaxing nine-hole round with river views.
Explore mountains, cliffs, sandy beaches, cute wildlife and colonial heritage on the three-day, pack-free Maria Island Walk.
Take the fast and scenic route to Wineglass Bay with the Freycinet Aqua Express water taxi from Coles Bay.
PLAY
Relax and rejuvenate with a cleansing steep and cool-water plunge aboard Sauna Boat Tasmania’s floating paradise in Kettering.
Float along the calm waters of the River Derwent in New Norfolk with Derwent Valley Standup Paddleboarding. Feel the need for speed? Hold on tight for a full-throttle Huon River Jet Boat ride from Huonville.
EVENTS
East coast
Join in or cheer on the fit and fun-loving as they swim, ride and run the Coles Bay Triathlon (8 February).
Roll up to Spoke Motorcycle Festival (28 February–2 March) for beachside music, food, glamping, motorcycle races and demos.
EVENTS
Hobart’s waterfront buzzes with boats, food, music, cruises and more at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival (7–10 February).
Over 40 vineyards in Tasmania’s south throw open their doors for the Southern Open Vineyards Weekend (28 February–2 March).
Melshell Oyster Shack
Old Kempton Distillery
Triabunna Barracks
A Cottage in Richmond
Freycinet Aqua Express
Sauna Boat Tasmania
Coles Bay Triathlon
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
Hobart and south
Pop-up Picnic Tasmania Bicheno
EAT & DRINK
Gather the freshest King Island produce for a feed by the sea at the Boathouse (the Restaurant with No Food).
Crisp lagers and juicy IPAs warm the soul and cool the tongue at Burnie’s welcoming Communion Brewing Co.
Rolling Sassafras hillsides and elegantly restored historical sheds await at Eastford Creek Vineyard, a top spot to sip and graze.
EAT & DRINK
Fancy some woodfired pizza and cool-climate wine in the sunshine? The vibey Meander Valley Vineyard has got you covered. Bite into fluffy artisan breads and pastries, fresh from the 1926 Scotch woodfired oven at Rustic Bakehouse in Cressy.
Huddle at the Hub Pizza and Beer in Derby for lunch or dinner with a view between mountain biking adventures.
STAY
Unwind amid a tapestry of charming farmland, historic brickwork, shimmering coastline and homestead comforts melded with luxury at Borradale Stanley.
Bask in calming earth tones and endless coastal views from your private sauna and tub at Shore House King Island.
Queenstown quirkiness meets modern splendour at the Galahs Nest, a modernised 1940s hall with an outdoor stone carved tub and firepit.
STAY
Step back into the 1800s during a cosy stay among the picturesque paddocks and friendly farm animals at Brickendon Estate.
Swim, stroll and splash around at Trousers Point Camping Ground and immerse in Flinders Island’s striking coastal serenity. Float above the landscape at the Cloud at Sen Vineyard in White Hills – a secluded escape for seekers of sophistication.
Hold onto your helmets – RoamWild Tasmania’s Mt Owen Shuttles take mountain biking to new raw and rugged heights.
Pick your own rare timber keepsakes at Huon Pine Shop and Gallery in Strahan, from handcrafted trinkets to bold pieces.
Trot your way across the captivating coastlines and spellbinding forests of north-west Tasmania on a Cradle Country Adventures horse-riding tour.
PLAY
Inhale the scent of wildflowers and sea air along the Bridport Walking Track 11km circuit, blending foreshore with forest.
Take a coach tour or group visit to the picturesque gardens and sandstone walls of the Church Campbell Town (built 1857).
Delight in interactive activities, old engine rooms and convict-built architecture at familyfriendly Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum.
West and north west
EVENTS
Trundle into the Don River Railway 50 Year Celebrations (14–16 February) for an enchanting glimpse into Tasmania’s transport past.
Keep the tennis fever ticking into February at the thrilling HCi Burnie International pro tournament (17–24 February).
Launceston and north
EVENTS
Embrace the quirky spectacle of the National Pennyfarthing Championships (15 February) filling the Georgian National Trust streetscape of Evandale. The epic King and Queen of the Mountain race (16 February) sees bikers battle uphill at breathtaking Ben Lomond.
The Boathouse
Borradale Stanley
Mt Owen West Coast Tas MTB
Don River Railway PLAY
Photo Credits – Top left © Tourism Australia. East coast: © Tourism Australia, © Stu Gibson, © Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, © Coles Bay Triathlon. Hobart and south: © Tourism Australia, © Adam Gibson, © Natasha Mulhall Photography, © Samuel Shelley. West and north west: © Jasper Da Seymour, © Renee Thurston, © Flow Mountain Bike, © Don River Railway Archive Collection. Launceston and north: © Sileo Media, © Ben Little, © Tourism Australia, © Rob Burnett.
Meander Valley Vineyard
The Cloud at Sen Vineyard
Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum
National Pennyfarthing Championships
Commane’s caring career
BY DAISY BAKER
BRIDPORT’S LYN Commane is no stranger to rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty.
A can-do attitude and passion for helping others has been a constant through 50 years of nursing and more than 40 years of Girl Guides.
From the age of nine, her family lived at the East Devonport caravan park, where her dad was the caretaker.
“It was a fairly free-range lifestyle. We were always on the beach,” she recalls.
Lyn joined Brownies at seven years old, working up to Girl Guides – a formative experience through which she said she learned many valuable skills that she still calls on today.
At 17, Lyn began her three-year nurses’ training at the Mersey Hospital. She lived in the nurses’ home at Latrobe with around 80 other nurses.
“You always had someone to laugh with and someone to cry with,” she said.
As a junior nurse, Lyn’s days were spent scrubbing bedpans, urinals, tooth mugs, and serving patients’ meals, through to rinsing soiled linen.
“Now everything is disposable. We didn’t have gloves or sanitiser, we just washed our hands and washed our hands more.”
She became accustomed to middle-ofthe-night wake-up calls to assist in theatre.
Those were the days of manually counting drips, sharpening needles, and washing and rolling bandages.
“I nursed for 50 years. I’m pretty proud of that.
“Nursing has really changed a lot.”
After completing her training and marrying her high school sweetheart, Mike, the pair moved to Launceston.
In the years that followed, Lyn worked on the Launceston General Hospital’s women’s surgical ward and in theatre at St Vincent’s Hospital, before starting midwifery training at the Queen Victoria Hospital. She returned to the LGH as a pathology specimen collector then was appointed charge nurse of the children and baby ward.
The Commanes relocated to Prahan, Victoria in 1976, following Mike’s banking career. Lyn took an agency job and often worked night shift.
After purchasing a house at Seaford, Lyn was the charge nurse at the Frankston hospital special care nursery for around four years.
“I learned a real lot there. We had some good times and some tiny babies.”
When Mike got transferred to Kyabram near Shepparton, she considered taking a break from nursing, trialing nightshift at the local KY peach cannery.
“I watched peaches go past me all night, picking out rotten peaches. I thought, ‘I cannot do this for the rest of my life’. I take my hat off to those cannery people.”
She instead found work at Goulburn Valley base Hospital, where she took on the role of charge nurse in the children’s ward.
While in Kyabram, the Commane’s welcomed their first child, Heath, who was born a healthy, big boy but was later diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
Despite the best efforts of specialists and pediatricians, Heath tragically passed away at 22 months old.
Travelling back and forth to Melbourne regularly for specialist appointments, they decided to return to Seaford to be closer to medical care.
“Mike came up with the bright idea that we buy a coffee shop in Mornington,” she said.
“You had cappuccino, flat white or black, none of this fancy stuff and it was $3.50 a cup.”
Several family members came to help care for Heath and assist in the cafe, which quickly became a popular lunch spot, trading seven days a week.
In their third year at the cafe, an interested buyer made an offer, which the Commanes accepted and didn’t look back.
Ready for a change, they returned to Tasmania, settling in Bridport after purchasing the top IGA in partnership with Bob and June Atkinson.
The two couples lived together in a house in Walter Street, with Mike and Lyn’s daughter Nicole, two Atkinson kids, two dogs and two cats.
“It was crazy,” Lyn laughs.
The Commanes built their current home in 1986 – the same year they renovated the shop, doubling its size, and then welcomed their third child, Sallie, a week after moving
in.
Lyn nursed for 10 years at the North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital while her daughters were young, mainly doing nightshift. After several years as the school health nurse throughout Dorset she moved into community nursing.
“It was quite funny when I started in community nursing, I’d rock up on someone’s doorstep and they’d say ‘but you work in the supermarket’,” she laughed.
“I’ve nursed the whole time we’ve been here, but I also worked at the shop every second weekend as well and in summer when it was busy.
“I’m a typical Gemini. I need more than one thing to do.”
Lyn joined playgroup to meet some locals and before long was the treasurer.
She felt a pull to return to Guiding and was soon helping the local coordinator with Brownies. When the coordinator got sick and left, Lyn stepped in. Forty years on, she’s still in the role as the Dorset district manager.
Seeing the Guides develop life skills and grow their confidence is Lyn’s favourite aspect.
“You see them blossom over the years and that’s a lovely feeling. You think ‘I might’ve had a little bit to do with that’,” she smiled.
A highlight from her guiding career was making an on-site hospital and running first aid at an international Girl Guides jamboree at Quercus Park in 2013.
After retiring from community nursing, she spent most of 2012 putting together the on-site hospital.
Working alongside two doctors and a
“I watched peaches go past me all night, picking out rotten peaches. I thought, ‘I cannot do this for the rest of my life’. I take my hat off to those cannery people.”
• Lyn in her early nursing days.
team of nurses, who volunteered their time, they provided 24/7 care for almost a week, seeing approximately 500 guides and leaders, with four admissions to the LGH.
“It was very challenging but extremely rewarding. I then realised I missed nursing.”
She went to work at Aminya on a casual basis before retiring permanently in 2021. Lyn was named Dorset Citizen of the year in 1995, in recognition for her dedication to the community through Guides, mentoring, community nursing and as the president of the Bridport Primary school’s Parents and Friends Association.
“I was a bit embarrassed actually – you don’t do anything like that for recognition, but it was a great honour.”
When her daughters had left home, she learned lead lighting at Adult Education to help fill the empty nest void. Some of her first colourful glass creations still take pride of place around her home.
Despite her successful career, Lyn said her children are her proudest achievement.
“We’re lucky that both our girls live here with their families.”
Since retiring, Lyn’s delighted in caring for her grandchildren, the youngest of whom starts full-time school this year.
“So now I’m thinking about what to do in my next phase.”
If the last seven and a bit decades are anything to go by, it will be anything but dull.
If you’ve got a story to share or you know a Town Treasure that we can feature, please contact editor@ northeasternadvertiser.com
• Bridport’s Lyn Commane at her Bridport home.
Outstanding flower show
ORGANISERS OF the biannual Branxholm Flower Show say the weekend’s edition was one of the best it has held, with the local hall filled with a colourful array of flowers on Saturday.
With over 150 entries, more than $1200 was raised by the committee for distribution back into the community via the Anglican and Catholic churches and various charities.
Scottsdale’s Kylie Rattray Cassidy was named the grand aggregate winner.
The spring show will be held in September or October this year.
BRANXHOLM FLOWER SHOW RESULTS
Gladiolus – Arthur Sowell; Novice –D Bennett; Dahlias – Kylie RattrayCassidy; Cut Flowers – Deanna Scott; Floral Art – Elaine Barrett; Champion Bloom Gladiolus – A Sowell; Champion Bloom Dahlia –Kylie Rattray-Cassidy; Children – S Edwards; Unusual potato – N Barrett; Craft article – Maryanne Austin; Grand Aggregate – Kyle RattrayCassidy.
Businesses win government grants Lilydale subdivision plan
THREE NORTH East businesses have been awarded State Government small business grants.
Minister for Hospitality and Small Business, Jane Howlett, said the Enabling Small Business Grant program was very popular, with the $1 million fund subscribed within 24 hours of opening.
The program provides up to $10,000 to eligible businesses for capital purchases such
as new technology, small-scale manufacturing equipment, computers or electronic payments terminals.
Scottsdale’s Dorset Flex Gym received $10,000 while St Helens businesses Georges Bay Apartments and Ground Work Landscaping Tasmania both received $10,000.
Successful applicants were required to contribute at least 30 per cent towards the total capital purchase cost.
A NEW 13-lot subdivision is being planned for Lilydale.
Launceston City Council has advertised a discretionary development application for the subdivision of 1924 Lilydale Rd, from one lot into 13.
The 1.7ha site is bordered by residential properties to the south and west, and to Rocky Creek to the East.
Vehicular access to the new residential land would be via a new ‘give way’ controlled intersection approximately 50m south of the existing Lalla Rd junction. A traffic report and bushfire report for the project is included in the development application available on the council’s website.
Submissions close on February 24.
Major George Town development
A MULTI-MILLION dollar development is set to drastically change the face of George Town if it is approved.
The Tasmania Tamar Tourism Industry Group P/L has submitted an application to George Town Council for the mixeduse development, which includes visitor accommodation, 13 residential dwellings and commercial shops.
The proposal would see existing buildings removed to make way for the major project on Macquarie St and Bathurst St, opposite the George Town Memorial Hall.
The development involves a threestorey, mixed-use commercial building that includes serviced apartment accommodation.
The ground level includes the main entry, reception and guest lounge, office, coffee shop, dining room and kitchen, a conference room, meeting room and gym.
The first and second floor includes a
series of one and two bedroom serviced apartments, with 15 on the first floor and 13 on the second floor.
At roof level there is a communal area including an enclosed lounge and seating area and roof top bar opening onto a rooftop terrace area.
Three retail spaces will be built at ground level with access from Macquarie Street.
Thirteen double storey townhouses would sit at the rear of the building. Seven of the townhouses would be off Bathurst Street with the remaining six accessed via Charles Robbins Place, which would be formally constructed as part of the proposed development.
The new planning application follows an earlier mixed-use proposal for 40-42 Macquarie Street and 7 Bathurst Street for a similar proposal in 2019. That application was put on hold while the applicant negotiated the purchase of additional land parcels.
The application says the building is of a scale and design “befitting of a prominent corner at the ‘heart’ of the town centre”.
The development application, available on the Council’s website, says that the
subject site is zoned General Business under Tasmanian Planning Scheme with the residential development listed as a discretionary use.
Submissions via the George Town Council close on February 28.
• Elaine Barrett from Weymouth and Branxholm’s Yvonne Atkins at the Branxholm Flower Show.
• Kaye Jaffray with the wining gladiolus entered by Arthur Sowell.
• An artist’s impression of the George Town proposal.
Rodeo action aplenty
THE ACTION was tough in the arena as about 1000 people watched on at the Scottsdale Rodeo at Santarena Park on Saturday.
ID Rodeo Promotions Tasmania’s Ian Brown said the event ran smoothly.
“The rodeo went well even though the crowd was down but there was a lot of stuff on like Party in Paddock, speedway, motorbike racing and Luke Combs was playing in Melbourne – we even lost some of our own committee who went to that concert instead,” Brown said.
“Feedback has been good from people who said it was a great family orientated day with the laser tag and facepainting
“Competitor numbers were strong and we are slowly building those numbers up which is good.
“It was good to see the local boys did well.”
Reuben Nicklason and Toby Hall were
second and third respectively in the open saddle bronc, and then finished first and second in the 2nd Div Saddle Bronc
Makonnen Brown, who only started doing bareback this year, won the open bareback bronc despite being rammed into the fence.
The Kevin Austin Memorial trophy was presented to IRC President, Luke Hamilton, as the “Cowboy of the Day”. Hamilton competes in timed events, but is also a pick up rider, a vital part of the cowboy protection team and has won the trophy a number of times before.
The award is in memory of Mr Austin, who died in 2000 and was described as the backbone of the original Scottsdale Rodeo Committee.
His daughter Kelly and granddaughter Sophie presented the trophy.
“Dad was president of the inaugural North Eastern Rough Riders Association
and he did anything needed on the day of the rodeo from backyard man, bull fighter, pickup man, time keeper to running the time events end,” Ms Austin said.
“He loved helping young boys and girls get involved in the rodeo and trained them on the mutton busting, potty calf ride and steer ride.
“We travelled around to every rodeo around the State back then. The trophy was first presented in 2001 to Gary King one of his best mates in rodeo and he still rides today.”
The trophy was awarded from 20012006 until the original Committee went into recess and it was revived when the Scottsdale event returned to the calendar in 2020.
The next rodeo is in Launceston at Fairlands on Saturday, February 22 while George Town will be the location for action on March 22.
SCOTTSDALE RODEO
Open Bull Ride - 1st Josh Clark 63. Open Saddle Bronc - 1st Kelly Hanson 60; 2nd Reuben Nicklason 58; 3rd Toby Hall 48. Open Bareback Bronc - 1st Makonnen Brown 40. Steer Wrestling - 1st Luke Hamilton 4.7. Rope and Tie - 1st Luke Hamilton 16.5. Team Roping - 1st Dylan Clark/Glenn Burns 8.9; 2nd Gary King/Luke Hamilton 17.45; 3rd Luke Hamilton/Dylan Clark 17.75.
Barrel Race - 1st Jodi King 18.52; 2nd Karen Fish Jnr 18.55; 3rd Brooke Parker 18.65; 4th Selina Scott 18.86.
Breakaway Roping - 1st Brooke Parker 3.85; 2nd Karen Fish Jnr 3.9; 3rd Codie Lewis 8.65. 2nd Div Bull Ride - 1st Aiden Walsh 45. 2nd Div Saddle Bronc - 1st Reuben Nicklason 55; 2nd Toby Hall 51; 3rd Simon Grimson 46; 4th Daniel Parsons 44. Junior Steer Ride - Alessandro Finoia 47. Junior Barrel Race - 1st Tanah Johnson 19.419; 2nd Isabella Rose Axton Bleathman 21.32; 3rd Nash Marshall 22.72; 4th Jada Hite 23.859.
• Addison Davey from North Lilydale, riding Nadia in the local barrel race.
• Alan Wells and Luke Hamilton with Kevin Austin’s grand daughter Sophie Binns and daughter Kelly Austin.
• 2nd Div Saddle Bronc winner Reuben Nicklason in action.
• Open Bareback Bronc winner Makonnen Brown. Photos supplied by Oakroak Rural Photography.
Family fun at Scottsdale rodeo
• Bridport’s Holly Statham, Christal O’Reilly and Alanna Stanford with Sonny Brain, Emmy Brain, Ruben Stanford, Winter Conroy-Jones and Lily Stanford.
• Elana Lee from Rocherlea and Shane Saward from Takone.
• Kipp and Billy Norton from St Helens.
• Maddie Hall, Amelia Carter, Maddy Fletcher, Matthew Cresswell and Tom Moore.
• Ryder Worker and Jahkobi Worker from St Helens.
• Sam Tuck from Scottsdale with Mel Reed, from Launceston.
• Sophie Nichols, Theo Hall, Oakley Hall and Jack Nichols.
• Tiffany Mapes and Bimbo Jones.
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National honour for Bay of Fires
THE BAY of Fires has been named ‘Best Australian Beach’ for 2025 in the official list released by Tourism Australia, beating up to 12,000 beaches surveyed.
It is the first time a Tasmanian beach has won the major recognition, with the 10km stretch from The Gardens to Binalong Bay praised for its pristine coastline.
Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador, Brad Farmer AM, curates the list each year to help international travellers and local holidaymakers to discover hidden gems and explore different parts of the country beyond the capital cities.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the recognition was another testament to the State’s unique
and diverse natural landscapes and the strength of our regional tourism offerings.
“Australia is globally renowned among international travellers for our beaches, so to have Tasmania on the top this list is a huge win,” Mr Rockliff said.
The recognition comes after award-winning wukalina Walk, operating in the Bay of Fires, was named as one of the World’s Greatest Places by renowned international publication TIME magazine in 2024.
Mr Rockliff said it was important to grow international visitation with the State’s hospitality and tourism industry injecting $5.5 billion of direct visitor expenditure into the economy.
• Jeanneret Beach, Bay of Fires. The area has been named the best beach in the country.
Photo courtesy @sideprjct.
Tractor fun pulls in competitors
THE THIRD annual Scottsdale Tractor Pull Challenge will rev into gear next weekend, with some local ladies keen to match it with the men.
Mandy McKay and Mardi Kettle have started competing in the activity and are encouraging everyone to come for a look and have a go if they can.
That was exactly how Ms McKay got involved at a previous Scottsdale event.
“I was there in my capacity with Rotary and I was jealous that they were having too much fun out there on the track so I put my hand up, paid my insurance and signed on as a competitor and it was awesome!” Ms McKay said.
“I don’t have a tractor but they have a beginner tractor with a kill switch on it so if you go off road they can stop the tractor
and you will be taken under their wing.
“My daughter even had a go at the lawnmower competition. I’d definitely encourage everyone of all ages to have a go. It is so much fun. Just come with a sense of humour!”
Ms Kettle’s has taken up the activity in a Massey Ferguson modified.
“We can do it just as well as the boys,” Ms Kettle said.
Added Ms McKay: “It is an even field. I think the girls are better with strategic technique instead of trying to go hard and fast.”
Tractor enthusiasts from across the region are encouraged to bring their own tractors from home to compete but all competitors, including children in the lawn mower events, must sign up as a member on the day to take part.
The event is supported by the Rotary Club of Scottsdale and will this year see the introduction of the President’s Challenge - a tractor pull between the President of the Tasmanian Tractor Pullers Association and the Rotary Club of Scottsdale.
President Guy Jetson said it would be a great weekend of entertainment.
“We have confirmed twelve local competitors, with more promising to sign up on the day. Up to 30 tractors will be competing including everything from Fergies to modified tractors,” he said.
Gates open at Santarena Park on February 22 and 23 at 9.30am for an 11am start both days.
For enquiries phone the Tasmanian Tractor Pullers Association 0409 965 712.
• Mandy McKay and Mardi Kettle preparing to take part in the third annual Scottsdale Tractor Pull Challenge on February 22 and 23.
The Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, 17 February 2025 will be held at the Council Chambers, 3 Ellenor Street, Scottsdale commencing at 6.00pm. Members of the public are invited to attend in person, with doors opening at 5:45pm, however, if any member of the public is feeling unwell, please do not attend.
The audio recording of the Council Meeting, except for any part held in Closed Session, will be made available to the public as soon as practicable after the meeting via Council’s website and social media.
The following items are listed for discussion:
• Acting Appointment | Deputy Mayor
• Quarterly Financial Report | Period Ended 31 December 2024
• Quarterly Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails Report | Period Ended 31 December 2024
• Planning Application | 1954 Bridport Road, Bridport – Fuel Station
• Management Team Briefing Report
Please note the listed items are subject to change, removal or additional items may be included.
The agenda and attachments will be available to the public from Thursday 13 February on Council’s website www.dorset.tas.gov.au, contact 03 6352 6500 or email dorset@dorset.tas.gov.au.
John Marik, General Manager
AMENDED Notice of Council Meetings 2025
The 2025 Ordinary Meetings of Dorset Council will be held on the following dates, with amendments to locations highlighted, commencing at 6:00 pm:
Monday 20 January (Council Chambers) Monday 21 July (Council Chambers) Monday 17 February (Council Chambers) Monday 18 August (Council Chambers) Monday 17 March (Pioneer Hall)
15 September (Council Chambers) Monday 14 April (Council Chambers)
20 October (Derby Hall)
Monday 19 May (Council Chambers) Monday 17 November (Winnaleah Community Centre)
Monday 23 June (Council Chambers) Monday 15 December (Bridport Hall)
The amended locations are required to transition Council back to elected members post the Board of Inquiry process, with all original community council meeting locations still being held, just in alternate months.
John Marik, General Manager
International croquet headed down under
BRIDPORT RESIDENT Harley Russell has been busy preparing welcome bags to be presented to some of the best croquet players from around the world.
They will converge on the Northern Tasmanian Croquet Centre at St Leonards for the GC World Team Championship, held every four years, from February 17-23.
Teams from Australia, Egypt, England, South Africa, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand and Spain will compete for the Openshaw Shield.
Some of the great Australian Croquet players include Robert Fletcher who will captain the Australian team. He has an impressive range of victories including the 2019 World Champion and is the current No. 1 in the World. His team will play against the exciting 18-yearold Blake Fields, (USA), who recently won the 2025 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship.
Croquet enthusiasts and spectators are invited to view the games which are held from 8am – 6pm each day of the championship.
At a local level, Mr Russell said Bridport currently has 30 registered croquet players who meet and play socially at Bridport Golf Club every Wednesday. The new croquet lawns should be ready for play by late March.
George Town has a keen group who play at the George Town Bowls Club on Mondays and Fridays.
St Helens Croquet Club has three lawns and has been operating for over 20 years. They have 45 members and the club is well known for its annual winter tournament, when players from around the State enter to enjoy play and social activities on the east coast.
Div 3 win for Scottsdale bowlers
SCOTTSDALE BOWLS
BY JAN FOSTER
COSGROVE PARK was the venue for the Div.1 game last Thursday, February 6. Scottsdale’s teams had a disappointing day with all three teams going down.
Skip John Dennis , Tony Giunta, Julie Keane and Arch Ranson went down 11 shots to 28.
Team two almost had a thrilling win but lost 19 to 20 shots with skip Graeme Walsh, Cindy Walsh, Peter Lefevre and Merv Chilcott doing their best but just missing out on a win.
Skip Mike Hansell with his team of Nerina Hansell, Steve McMullan and Neville Lynch were disappointed with their game, losing 19 shots to 26 but everyone had a real crack.
Scottsdale 49 shots to Cosgrove Park 74. Scottsdale div. 4 headed into Trevallyn and recorded one win and two losses. Team one with skip Jan Foster, Karen Gibson, Phil Hay and Brian Walsh were under-powered and outclassed by their opposition, losing 10 shots to 32. Team two with skipper Kerry Hayes, Robert Sutton, Jeremy Carins and Kerrie Donaldson came home winners 26 to 11 but couldn’t carry the rest of the other teams.
Chris Coates skipped her team of David Ezzy, Danny Donaldson and Helen Pola and were very even up until the afternoon break but lost their momentum losing by only 3 shots, 19 to 22.
Thanks to all players who helped one of
our struggling members, keeping an eye on and keeping chill packs available for a cool down on each end.
Scottsdale went down 55 shots to 65.
Saturday February 8 saw our Div 3 team head back into town to play North Launceston with a very exciting win on the day.
Craig Bennett skipped his team, Cindy Walsh, Steve McMullan and Graeme Walsh to a 19 -15 shot win.
Team two’s skipper Mike Hansell, Nerina Hansell, Helen Pola and Neville Lynch also had a great win 23 shots to 16.
Skip John Dennis, Tony Giunta, Arch
Ranson and Matt Slager unfortunately went down 18 shots to 22.
Overall on the day bottom of the ladder Scottsdale beat North Launceston, who are second on the ladder, 60-53 shots, and wasn’t everyone excited with that result.
Talking later with Mike Hansell I quote “That was one of the best wins the club has had for a number of years, a great morale booster”.
Div 3 played at home against Ravenswood won overall 60 shots to 50 shots. Chris Coates with team members Phil Hay, Peter Lefevre and Jan Foster lost 12 to 21.
Skip Merv Chilcott almost got home,
going down by 1 shot, 18 to 19 but players Kerrie Donaldson, Julie Keane and Nigel Chorley fought all day for their narrow loss. Kerry Hayes, Kylie Blackwell, Kevin Coates and Barry Dennis had a great win 30 to 10, which carried Scottsdale over the line for an overall win on the day. Div. 6 also played Ravenswood at home with Scottsdale ending the day winners. Lead David Ezzy, Robert Sutton, Malcolm De Jersey and skip Sam Knight won 30 to 16 and team two with lead Lindsay Petterwood, Karen Gibson, Trevor Hulett and skip Trevor Jessup had a draw 18 to 18.
No luck for Bridport against Meadows
BRIDPORT BOWLS
BY THE BRIDPORT WIZARD
BRIDPORT PREMIER team found Kings Meadows too strong in their round 13 game, going down on all rinks.
Uncle Ed and his team played a close game all day, narrowly going down by six shots with Annie Bryan leading well all game and T.Bone Brown
playing some good bowls in the number 2 position.
Captain Turtle and his team found Page’s team too strong on the day, going down by 15 shots. C.D.Davis played well in the lead’s position.
Oscar Nichols and his team also had a tough game against Hemingway’s team going down by 14 shots.
Gruntus Wilson tried hard all game in
the lead’s position and Dixie Dixon enjoyed her new role in the number 3 position for Oscar.
Bridport Div 5 side had a tough day playing against Bass and Flinders, going down on all rinks.
Kabana Morton’s team tried hard all day but couldn’t get over the line, losing by eight shots but unfortunately Sankey and Davis’ teams recorded heavy losses.
Bridport Thursday pennant team tried hard all game to get the points over George Town but couldn’t bridge the gap, going down by 11 shots.
C.D.Davis’s team went down by seven shots, Dixie Dixon’s team had a close game narrowly going down by three shots while Dusty Monson’s team played out a close game, going down by the barest of margins in 1 shot.
• Bridport’s Harley Russell, from the East Launceston Croquet Club, accepting donations from the Longford Men’s Shed to put in welcome bags for the international croquet players who will compete in the World Team’s Championship later this month.
• Kerrie Donaldson playing for Div 3 on Saturday.
• Div 6 player Malcolm DeJersey sending one down the green.
Relay run fun
A NUMBER of North East Little Athletics Centre athletes pulled on the running shoes to compete at the State Little Athletics Relay Championships held in Hobart on Saturday.
While larger centres from around the State enter individual teams of four, competitors from the North East had to join forces with other entrants from smaller centres to make up a team.
It didn’t stop their success though.
Clover Viney and Keyalah McLeod competed in a under 10 combined team which won two gold medals in field and Swedish relays (a mix of 100m, 200m,
300m and 400m legs) as well as two silver medals in the 4x100m and 4x200m events.
Dakota McLeod and Myrtle Viney competed in an under 9 combined team to claim two bronze medals in the 4x200m and Swedish while also finishing fourth in the 4x100 and field relay.
Savannah McLeod and Lexie Viney were in an under 12 team that finished fourth in both Swedish, 4x200m and the field relay as well as seventh in the 4x100m.
Three rounds of local centre championships are about to kick off before the State individual championships at St Leonards on March 15-16.
• Clover Viney, Keyalah McLeod, Dakota McLeod, Myrtle Viney, Savannah McLeod and Lexie Viney with their haul from the State Little Athletics Relay Championships held in Hobart on Saturday.
Grand final battle ahead
NECA
BY JASON SARICH
In the final round of home and away NECA games, Bridport took on Scottsdale in what was essentially a dead rubber, with the make-up of the grand final unable to change.
Bridport won the toss and invited Scottsdale to bat first and the home side built solid partnerships from the start with an opening partnership of 45.
Scottsdale finished its 20 overs at 5/135, with Tyler Bennett top scoring with 35 and Steve McGlashan with 33.
For Bridport Jamison Nunn took 2/34 and Adam Wesley 1/20.
In reply Bridport lost early wickets and couldn’t get back on track, making 9/118. Josh Nunn top scored with 46 and John Lefevre made 28.
Best for the Scottsdale bowlers were Cabel Hall with 3/15 and Kenny Walsh with 2/15.
This Friday night sees Branxholm taking on Bridport at the Scottsdale ground in the grand final. With the game starting at 5:15pm.
Branxholm, having won the past two grand finals, will go in a slight favourites, although the ledger between the two teams is one all during the season proper.
There will be a BBQ and refreshments available, with presentations after the game.
Gale heads to Magpies nest
SCOTTSDALE FOOTBALL Club will next Wednesday host the inaugural Tasmania Devils CEO Brendon Gale to the clubrooms. Gale is set to share his vision for the new Tassie outfit, what the introduction of an AFL teams means for the State and take questions about the future of footy in the State. The event will take place at
6.30pm with free tickets available via trybooking.
The Magpies are also promoting a membership drive in a bid to secure support for the club as it moves into the new NTFA Premier League division this season.
Membership forms are available at the clubrooms from Thursday or contact Sherri via 0408 403 946.
Pete’s Pirates make a late run
PETE’S PIRATES have moved to third on the ladder after yet another win, this time over the Wanderers.
But the RSL Tigers who beat Kendalls Mopokes, and Wayward Bowls who skittled Millie’s Carers, remain unbeaten on top of the Scottsdale Community Bowls ladder after the completion of Round 6 Sustainable Timbers recalled Chorley
SCOTTSDALE GOLF CLUB
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025
2 PERSON STABLEFORD AGGREGATE
Winners - T Hall & Knight 68. R/ Up - R Kerrison & M Dobson 65.
Individual Stableford Winner - D Knight 37. Individual R/Up - C Dobson 35, c/b R Kerrison. NTP
from the high seas, but his return may be short-lived after they were thrashed by the rapidly improving Moore’s Magicians, while stablemates Odd Bunch were also successful defeating the Gras Gurus 12-3.
Grave Diggers brought Bees Knees to their knees, while Girl Power celebrated their maiden victory in style after downing
1/10 - T Collins, 5/14 - Rob Shaw. Longest Putt - L Dobson. Gobblers - S Ackroyd, T Fletcher, R Averay, D Casboult.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2025
STROKE
Women’s Winner - C Mackenzie
74 nett. R/Up - N Lette 76 nett c/b H Lack. Men’s Winner - R Averay
the Wickmasters. Upper George after losing the last four ends, just got over the line against Grand Slammers, as did Just Plastered who just outlasted the Latecomers.
With only a couple of rounds remaining, the battle for a spot in the finals is heating up, although the RSL Tigers and Wayward Bowls look safe on top.
SPORTS RESULTS
72 nett. R/Up - C Dobson 74 nett. Putting - R Averay 24. Longest Putt - H Lack, R Averay. Gobblers - C Mackenzie, N Lette, S McMullen, K Gofton, R Averay, M Hope.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025
MONTHLY MEDAL - STROKE
Winner - R Shea 67 nett. R/Up - C Dobson 71 nett c/b. Others - L
Dobson 71, B Pickett 71. NTP 1/10 - L Dobson, 5/14 - Tas Mundy. Putting - B Pickett 28, c/b M Dobson. Longest Putt - K Smith. Gobblers - R Shea, M Dobson.
BRIDPORT GOLF CLUB
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
WOMEN’S MONTHLY TROPHY
J Millwood (45) 63, B Ebbelaar (43)
67. Men’s Stableford - G Thomas 37. RINGAROOMA GOLF CLUB K ROWBOTTOM TROPHYSTROKE
Winner - D Walsh 68 net. R/Up - L Mc Dougall 70 on c/b. Third M Summers 70 net. Fourth D Rowbottom 71 net. NTP 7/16 M Summers, 9/18 M Summers.
LADDER RSL Tigers 10, Wayward Bowls 10, Pete’s Pirates 9, Sustainable Timber 8, Moore’s Magicians 8, Millie’s Carers 8, Upper George 8, Grave Diggers 8, Wanderers 7, Moore’s Odd Bunch 6, Just Plastered 6, Latecomers 5, Edgumacators 4, Kendalls Mopokes 3, Wickmasters 2, Grass Gurus 2 , Bees Knees 2, Girl Power 2, Grand Slammers 0, House Paddock 0.
Dancers delight on national stage
TWO BRIDPORT dancers are aiming high after a successful foray into the national dance scene.
Willow and Olive Lethborg competed at the Showcase National Dance Championships on the Gold Coast from January 13-19.
The girls qualified for solos at regional competitions in September last year, earning their place to dance against competitors from across Australia and New Zealand.
Willow, 9, competed in jazz, lyrical, ballet and song and dance solos. She received second place for both her ballet and song and dance routines and a High Gold award for her lyrical and jazz
solos.
She was also in a junior team that did a jazz and lyrical group, representing their Launceston-based dance studio Classique Dancentre.
Olive, 6, was in the youngest “mini” section of the competition. She performed jazz, lyrical and song and dance solos, winning 1st place for song and dance and the gold awards for her lyrical and jazz.
Mum Jenna said Willow started dancing before she was three while Olive only took up the pursuit when she was almost five.
Competing in Queensland was the first opportunity for the sisters to take to the national stage.
“It was a big eye opener, there were some insanely talented dancers there,” Mrs Lethborg said.
“I think they’d love to have the opportunity to do something like that again. It was definitely a great learning experience for them.
“Willow being that little bit older has been so inspired by it all and has set herself some big goals. And Olive just had the time of her life on and off the stage!”
Willow travels into Launceston to train twice weekly while Olive makes the journey once a week.
• Olive Lethborg with her trophy from the national Showcase Dance Championships.
• Willow Lethborg in action on the stage in Queensland last month. Images by Move Photography.