october 14 - 20 | 2015
regional extra >>> 25,000 readers every week
north east
north east jobs www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
inside page 7
circulating in wangaratta, myrtleford, bright, mt beauty, beechworth, yackandandah, rutherglen, chiltern and districts
Exploring Sri Lanka By ANITA MCPHERSON
CULTURAL DIVERSITY:
Stewart Kreltszheim said the tour has been designed to go beyond the tourist attractions to explore the vibrant culture of Sri Lanka.
GARDENING WITH MARGO &
PETER
RSPCA
FILM
VIXEN
THE
WITH
WINE TALK WITH
WALK
ANITA
ZERO interest for 3 months PLUS up to $1000 off your establishment costs.
AN expedition giving intrepid adventurers the opportunity to experience the beauty and diversity of Sri Lanka, has been put together by a local who used to call the country home. Stewart Kreltszheim was born in Sri Lanka but left the island with his parents to begin a new life in Australia when he was just four years old in 1969. Decades later he says there remains a perception that the country is dangerous, and still devastated after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, but that’s contrary to what he experienced during a visit in September. “The country’s infrastructure and services have been developed since the civil war ended and the Singalese and Tamil communities now exist side by side in business, family life and in the schools,” he said. “My impression of the place is that the tsunami has galvanised the country and the community, as disasters seem to do, and some of the rebuilding that has occurred since is just amazing.” The last trip was only the second time Stewart has returned to Sri Lanka since he migrated. The first time was back in 2004 when he returned to introduce his family to the country of his birth, just before the Tsunami hit, killing more than 30,000 people and leaving thousands more homeless. When the disaster happened Stewart was determined to go and help, but despite approaching aid agencies and having considerable experience in emergency services, he says he “couldn’t get a guernsey”. “I found out that if I really wanted to do this, I needed to upskill, and so for the continued page |
3
A home loan to celebrate.
Spend less on your home loan. wawcu.com.au 1300 368 555 HOME LOANS
LOANS
SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS
TRANSACTIONAL CARDS k/06d07810-v21/35-15
AFSL 247298
INSURANCE
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Terms, conditions and lending criteria apply. Interest will not be charged the first 3 months of the home loan. In that period the full loan repayment required under the contract will be applied against the loan principal only. At the end of the 3 month introductory offer period the loan reverts to the prevailing standard variable interest rate. The loan establishment cost waiver includes loan application fee, property valuation fee and title search costs. Loan offer and fee waiver only available to new or refinanced home loans over $50,000 for owner occupied or residential investment properties. This offer is available until 30/11/15 however WAW reserves the right to withdraw or vary this offer without notification. WAW Australian Credit Licence 247298.