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News Cooktown Local
Anzac Day 2014 Friday, April 25
For service details see advertisement page 3
$2 • PH: 1300 4895 00 • EDITORIAL: editor@cooktownlocalnews.com.au • Issue 662 • Thursday, April 24, 2014
Recovery continues in Cook Shire The massive job of cleaning up and resuming normal life is well underway with the Cook Shire Council committed to working with the community and other agencies to ensure all residents and property owners receive the appropriate help to recover from the effects of Tropical Cyclone Ita. The Category 3 cyclone ravaged Cook Shire on Friday, April 11, leaving a trail of destruction including damaged buildings, infrastructure and crops, widespread flooding and power and phone outages. Local tradespeople, ranger groups, community organisations and other individual volunteers have been invaluable in providing a helping hand to those in need. Council is also working with the community to ensure clean-up work continues. If you require assistance in removing major debris and fallen trees from your Cook Shire property, please phone Council on 4069 5444 to lodge a request. “We are looking at options for how to best deal with this massive cleanup effort,” Mayor Peter Scott said. “If people cannot manage to clear their properties themselves, we will do our best to assist where possible.” A business assistance representative will be in Cooktown next week for about a fortnight to provide free guidance and advice for local business people regarding financial, operational
and other recovery assistance available. This person will be based at Council’s main office at 10 Furneaux Street and available for appointments with business owners or managers. To register your interest, please contact Cook Shire Council. A list of important numbers are provided below, with advice and support available for businesses and individuals to assist with cyclone-related insurance claims, phone and power problems, financial and emotional support and clean-up efforts.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS Counselling and personal support Disaster Recovery Hotline ...........................1800 173 349 Cooktown District Community Centre..................... 4069 6098 Lifeline............................ 13 11 14
Insurance claims assistance Catastrophe Event Insurance Hotline............... 1800 734 621
Power or telephone issues Ergon Energy Faults....... 13 22 96 Telstra Faults.................. 13 22 03
Major tree and debris clearing Cook Shire Council...... 4069 5444
Business advice and support Cook Shire Council...... 4069 5444
Cook Shire Council will be hosting a community event on Sunday, May 4, to thank everyone who was involved in the response to Cyclone Ita. More details will be in next week’s Cooktown Local News.
H H H H H H H H H H H H H
COOKTOWN
Don’t forget local farmers
Fallen passion fruit on Evelyn Henry’s farm after Tropical Cyclone Ita had ripped through her property. Photo: EVELYN HENRY.
Cyclone winds estimated at 200km/h through the Endeavour Valley By Gary Hutchison WHILE the early focus on the agricultural havoc wreaked by Tropical Cyclone Ita has been on Hope Vale’s flattened banana plantation, Endeavour Valley farmers are asking that they are not forgotten. Passion fruit vines stripped of their fruit, trellises flattened by falling trees and and uprooted fruit trees have four farmers conservatively estimating their
immediate losses at more than $100,000. And this does not include the prospect of a zero income from their next crop if their vines do not recover from the hammering Ita inflicted on the area. Rick Reid and Cassandra Sorensen estimate Ita will cost them at least $25,000 (about 50 per cent) in damages to their existing crop, but they also lost about 200 teak trees which were uprooted during the storm. About 20 years old, the teak plantation was not mature
enough for milling, but Rick said he might get a small return from the milling of some of the fallen trees. Isla McGuffie was still in shock when the Cooktown Local News called on Sunday to ascertain the level of damage sustained on the property she and husband Ron have farmed for many, many years. Isla estimated they had about 500 cartons of passion fruit lying useless on the ground. continued page 7
What’s on at the Sov!
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editor@cooktownlocalnews.com.au
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you have an upcoming event, please let us know by email to editor@cooktownlocalnews.com.au or phone Gary Hutchison on (07) 4069 5773.
WEEKLY
2nd & 4th Tuesday, every month. Trivia Night at the Cooktown RSL Memorial Club, 7pm. Info call 4069 5780. Every Thursday. Bingo, 10am, and Social Darts, 7pm, at the Bowls Club. Every Friday. Monster Meat Raffles in the Caf Bar, @ The Sovereign, from 6pm. Every Friday. Members Draw, from 6.30pm; Raffles and Lucky Pokies Seat, 8-8.30pm, at the Bowls Club. Every Friday. Members Draw (7.30-8.30pm) @ the Cooktown RSL Memorial Club plus raffles. Every Saturday. Lions Club raffles and members' draw at the Top Pub, from 12 noon to 3pm. Every Sunday. Social Bowls, from 8.30am, Bowls Club. Every Monday. Hospitality Bowls, from 2.30pm, Bowls Club. Every Sunday and Tuesday. Cooktown Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in the CWA Hall in Charlotte Street. Sunday: from 1.30pm, Tuesday from 8pm. Call 0477 505 047 for details. Every Tuesday. Cards and Games morning, 10am, Bowls Club. Every Tuesday and Thursday. Swim for Your Life at the Cooktown Pool from 9am to 10pm. Every Wednesday. Social Bowls, from 1pm, at the Bowls Club. Every Wednesday and Saturday. Cooktown Pool - Aqua Aerobics: Wednesday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Saturday 12 noon to 1pm.
APRIL
Fri 25. Anzac Day public holiday. Fri 25. Anzac Day Ceremonies: Dawn Service - Assemble at 5.50am at Anzac Memorial Park. Service to commence at 6am. The public is cordially invited to attend. After Dawn Service, all ex-service and serving personnel and the public are invited to a gunshot breakfast, with rum and milk provided, at the RSL Memorial Club. Public Service - Assemble at RSL Memorial Club at 10.15am for the march to Anzac Memorial Park, for service at 11am. All service personnel and the public are invited to attend. After lunch will be traditional Anzac Day activities including Two-Up and Crown & Anchor at the RSL Memorial Club, from 12.30pm-6pm. Sat - Sun, 26 - 27. Public workshop and meeting to form the new Cooktown Show Society, 10am Sat and 9.30am Sun @ PCYC Cooktown Events Centre. Phone 4069 5444. Sat & Sun, 26 & 27. Lucky Phil, soloist, performing live at the Cooktown Bowls Club, Saturday 3.30-7.30pm, and Sunday 2-6pm. Sun 27. Sunday Session: Col Fitz, live, 1-5pm in the Caf Bar @ The Sovereign.
MAY
Sat 10. Cook Shire Community Action Group meeting at PCYC Cooktown Events Centre, from 2pm. Wed 14 and Thu 15. Marlin Coast Veterinary Surgery visiting at the CWA rooms. Phone 4069 5337 or 4057 6033 for appointments.
CHURCH SERVICES Baptist: Hogg Street, near IGA, 9.30am Sun. Phone 4069 5155. Cooktown Community Church (AOG/ACC): Gungarde Hall, 9.30am Sun; Home Group 7.30am Wed. Phone 4069 5070, 0427 756 793. Catholic: 6pm Sat and 8.30am Sun, St Mary's, Cooktown. Phone 4069 5730. Anglican: Christ Church Chapel, Sun 8.30am. Phone 4069 6778, 0428 696 493. Lutheran: Hope Vale at 9am on Sunday, Cooktown. Phone either 4060 9197 or 0419 023 114.
letters to the editor Cyclone management – a job well done AS the Cooktown community moves into recovery mode following Cyclone Ita I would like to offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to Mayor Perter Scott and his Disaster Management Team on a job well done. It is now clear to all that the intense preparations leading up to the event have paid dividends at every level - no casualties and far less damage than we could have expected. In particular I would to thank all those who so capably looked after those of us who took shelter at the Events Centre - Ali and her team, the SES, the police, the “ambos” and the Centre Manager, Kevin Stevenson who remained calm and pleasant to everyone despite the worry and lack of sleep. We can all be very thankful for our wonderful Events Centre, which went through its first test with flying colours (more or less).
In a post disaster situation the most important thing to the community is water and power. To say that the Shire Engineer, Tony Lickis, and his team worked miracles is a veritable understatement. For some of the town he managed to get the water back on by Saurday night, and most had water by Sunday. Well done indeed! It would be remiss of me not mention the sterling efforts of the Ergon Team who have worked such long hours in the last few days to get our power back on. Thank you. Your efforts are appreciated. We have been tested as a community and have shown that in adversity we can and did take care of each other, and the community is all the stronger for that. We can be proud of what we have achieved. Charles Gillman-Wells. Cooktown
More thanks I’d like to add my appreciation to that expressed by the McDonalds in last week’s Cooktown Local News.
Where we go: Approx 1400 copies distributed every Thursday throughout Cooktown, Hope Vale, Rossville, Wujal Wujal, Bloomfield, Ayton, Marton, Port Douglas, Mossman, Cairns, Lakeland Downs/Laura, Mt Carbine/Mt Molloy, Mareeba and Coen, and subscribers across Australia and overseas.
both adult Dukes were on duty from early Saturday morning and throughout the week, leaving their teenage kids with the clean-up. Elected councillors have been working just as hard, taking overnight shifts at the events centre shelter and organising emergency aid. Cr Kaz Price has been doubly busy with her dual role as councillor and head of CDCC, and still hasn’t had a chance to start repairs to her own home. I’ve heard Cr Penny Johnson spent the first few days helping and supporting others, despite her house having a thick layer of mud and debris through it. Though I’ve mentioned just a few names, I know there are many, many more who’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty, putting the community ahead of their own home and family. Imagine, then, how heartbreaking it must be to find that complaints have already started rolling in, many of them a petulant, “No one came to check on me!” By and large, I love Cooktown and I can’t think of a better place to raise my kids. But one
element I cannot get my head around is the small minority (and I know it is a minority) who vocally hate council yet at the same time expect to be nurse-maided by that very same organisation. I have lived in smaller, more remote communities than Cooktown, and in none of them would people expect council to check each and every individual. That was what neighbours did. If you are feeling miffed because no-one has checked on you, maybe you should be sending pointed looks over the fence instead of complaining to council. If you do feel the need to call council, perhaps you could try those much rarer words: How can I help? (I must finish by pointing out that although I’m married to Tony Lickiss and I consider many council staff and elected councillors friends, I am writing here as a private individual. These are my views and in no way represent Cook Shire Council. If you feel I have been unfair, please direct your attack at me, not council; they’re busy already.) Tonya Lickiss Cooktown
Help arrived Losing our roof in the cyclone was hard to take until help arrived in the way of these happy go lucky people, pictured here enjoying a well earned beer after an extremely hard day, nothing was too much trouble. A big thank you to Lloyd who brought Peter, Preston, and their extended family to secure our roof. To Maurie and Heather Killen, true friends who lent us their house. Thank you to one and all; you are the backbone of Cooktown. Paddy and John Stopyra.
Contacts & Deadlines Editor: (07) 4069 5773 Editor’s mobile: 0411 722 807 People wishing to meet in person with the editor can do so by calling him, and he will arrange a time to meet with you at a mutually convenient location. All advertising / accounts enquiries, please call: 1300 4895 00 or (07) 4098 2281 Mobile: 0419 828 639 Fax: 1300 787 248
We all owe thanks to the SES, police, PCYC and CDCC. The management and staff of the IGA: what a welcome surprise to walk in only a couple of days after Ita and see fully stocked shelves! Ergon workers up on cherry pickers in blustery wet weather that made me not want to be outside, let alone 5 metres up a pole playing with power lines. Ministers and heads of government departments, who regularly deal with communities devastated by disaster, have expressed their praise for how quickly Cooktown has gotten back to working order – apparently we’ve beaten their expectations by weeks. I have a personal connection with some of the council workers, so I know what an effort they’ve put in. My husband Tony worked 30 hours out of the first 36, including an overnight shift keeping the sewage system pumping, and hasn’t stopped since. But he is by no means the only one: Greg Gilmore, Wal Welsh, Billy Pennell and Rob Macgregor who came in on their holidays are other names I’d like to drop. Special mention of the Dukes family –
EDITOR: Gary Hutchison editor@cooktownlocalnews.com.au GENERAL MANAGER & AD DESIGN: Sharon Gallery ads@cooktownlocalnews.com.au
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2 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
Letters to the editor
Publisher’s Details Publishers of the Cooktown Local News
regional & remote N E W S P A P E R S
Real news for real Australia
CHAIRMAN: Mark Bousen editor@regionalandremote.com.au PUBLISHER: Corey Bousen publisher@regionalandremote.com.au MANAGING EDITOR: Mark Bousen editor@regionalandremote.com.au ACCOUNTS: Sharon Gallery, General Manager accounts@cooktownlocalnews.com.au
Letters to the Editor are published as a free community service and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Cooktown Local News nor its management. Letters must be legible, preferably less than 250 words, carry a name and address, and be signed. A telephone number or similar identification must also be provided. Unsigned and anonymous letters, or use of a nom de plume, eg Concerned Citizen, etc will not be accepted. Names withheld on discretion of the publisher. Letters may be edited for space or content or omitted altogether at the discretion of the editor. Mail to: PO Box 36, Cooktown, Qld, 4895 Fax: 1300 787 248 or Email: editor@cooktownlocalnews.com.au.
NEWS
Q’ld Cabinet coming to Cooktown GET ready to lobby as it has been decided that Cooktown will host the fourteenth Community Cabinet on the 25 and 26 May. Premier Campbell Newman said the two day event would provide locals the opportunity to talk directly to Ministers on issues that matter to the community. “I’m eager to get back to Cooktown after Tropical Cyclone Ita to see and hear how the community is
recovering,” Mr Newman said. “While this cyclone might not have appeared to have been as bad as others, Cooktown, along with nearby Hopevale bore the brunt of Ita. “But the people of Cooktown are a resilient bunch and it’s encouraging to see many tourism operators already back on their feet welcoming in visitors.” Mr Newman said all Cabinet Ministers would be in Cooktown over
the two days and were available for meetings on the 25th of May. “I encourage local residents, organisations and businesses to register for a meeting to discuss any issues or concerns with relevant Ministers,” he said. “This community cabinet is the third this year after visiting Mission Beach and the Gold Coast.” “It shows we are committed to supporting Far North Queensland
and I looking forward to getting back up to Cooktown next month.” Formal Meetings on Sunday 25th May 2014 from 3.00pm till 5.00pm will be held at PCYC Cooktown Event Centre, 3 May Street, Cooktown Meetings on 25 May are by appointment only, meeting request forms are available from: • David Kempton, Member for Cook - Shop 11, Post Office Cen-
Lest We Forget... ANZAC Day 2014.
Archway to again grace Anzac Park COOKTOWN’S Anzac Park will once again feature a WWI memorial to be proud of with a project to replace the old archway receiving more than $34,000 funding through the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program.
ing the First World War. In Leichhardt, the funding has been divided into two rounds, with two applications receiving funding in Round 1. In addition to Cooktown’s Anzac Arch, the other successful grant was more than $9000 for the Cairns Historical Society’s current exhibition, In Times of War – FNQ Remembers World War I, a revealing exhibition at the Tanks Arts Centre which Mr Entsch has urged all locals and visitors to experience.
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch congratulated the Cooktown RSL SubBranch for initiating the project, which came about after the previous 62-year-old archway had to be cordoned off and removed as it was in danger of collapsing. “Cooktown’s Anzac Park is a beautiful spot featuring several commemorative plaques and memorials but it hasn’t been complete since the old archway became dilapidated and – frankly - dangerous,” Mr Entsch said. “The new archway will feature a black granite façade, steel columns, military crest and a base made from local stones, with a plaque listing the names of the soldiers
The new Anzac Park archway will go in the same location as its predecessor, which is currently fenced off. who left Cooktown to fight in WW1. “It will be the first in Australia to feature a 61cm-high, bronze WWI digger statue and rising sun that was designed and created specifically for the Centenary. “This is a very impressive design and a fitting tribute to those who left their loved ones and fought in WWI to pre-
serve the way of life that we appreciate so greatly today.”
a special focus for the community’s commemorative activities.
The project is due to be completed in time for Cooktown’s Anzac Commemorations in April 2015. In their comments to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in support of the RSL’s application, the Leichhardt ACLG Committee said the archway would form
The Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program is a key element in the Australian Government’s Anzac Centenary program, through which funding of up to $125,000 is available for each Federal MP to support projects in their electorate commemorat-
Approximately $80,000 is available for successful Round 2 applications and any organisation interested in applying can download guidelines and an application form from Mr Entsch’s website at www. warrenentsch.com.au. Applications to Mr Entsch’s office must be received by 4pm on April 30, either in hard copy (PO Box 14, Bungalow, 4870 or at 102 Grafton St, Cairns) or via email to warren.entsch.mp@ aph.gov.au
What is Anzac Day? armed and determined enemy lying in wait.
From the City of Sydney RSL website AT dawn on April 25, 1915, the first of around 20,000 young Australian and New Zealand men landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula, near the site of the ancient city of Troy. Instead of the expected flat beach, they found themselves faced with steep cliffs and an entrenched, well
been wounded.
Those that survived the horrific carnage on arrival faced over 8 months on the beaches and cliffs of Gallipoli. Conditions were appalling and they were under almost constant bombardment. Both sides pinned down the other with sniper fire and shelling, and quickly dug kilometres of trenches for shelter. These surviving “diggers”, as the Australians called themselves, hung on throughout the ensuing statemate until they were evacuated on 20th December, 1915.
Unlike the European armies of that time, the “1st Australian Division” and the composite “New Zealand and Australian Division” were comprised entirely of volunteers, proudly heeding duty’s call. The spirit of those first Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) has now become the stuff of legend; the mateship, sacrifice, courage and incredibly the sense of humour that endured amongst death and despair on a scale previously unknown to their fledgling nations.
In these 8 months of World War One alone, 8,141 had died and more than 18,000 had
The 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916, and the first official
Dawn Service (and recognised public holiday) was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1923. Whilst it originally started out for the survivors of Gallipoli only, it has gradually grown to encompass all those who have lost their lives in service to their country, in all wars. Australians and New Zealanders around the world commemorate ANZAC day with services and marches, and remember all those who fought, endured, suffered and died for their countries and for our freedom. 2014 marks the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of WW1, and 2015 marks the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.
tre, 94 Byrnes Street, Mareeba. Telephone 4092 7608 or email cook@ parliament.qld.gov.au • Cook Shire Council - 10 Furneaux Street, Cooktown. Telephone 4069 5444 or email mail@cook.qld.gov. au • Department of the Premier and Cabinet - Telephone 1800 448 377 or 1800 448 378 or website www. thepremier.qld.gov.au/communitycabinet.aspx
AnzAc DAY Ceremonies tomorrow, FrIDAY, AprIl 25
Dawn Service
Assemble at 5.50am at Anzac Memorial Park for Dawn Service. Service to Commence at 6am The public is cordially invited to attend. After Dawn Service, all ex-service and serving personnel and the public are invited to a gunshot breakfast, with rum and milk provided, at the RSL Memorial Club.
Public Service Assemble at RSL Memorial Club at 10.15am for the march to Anzac Memorial Park, for Service at 11am. All service personnel and the public are invited to attend. After lunch will be traditional Anzac Day activities including Two-Up and Crown & Anchor at the RSL Memorial Club, from 12.30pm-6pm.
Returned Service personnel please wear medals “The Survivors of war will never forget. For the dead will not let them, may they rest in Peace” “The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance” RETURNED AND SERVICES LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA (COOKTOWN SUB BRANCH) PO Box 843, Cooktown QLD 4895 Enquiries phone Jim Fay 4069 6353 or 0413 322 625
Cooktown RSL Memorial Club
INCORPORATED
127 Charlotte St, Cooktown
Ph: 4069 5780 • Fax: 4069 6080 Email: cooktown.rsl@bigpond.com
• Relax, enjoy a cold beer in airconditioned comfort • Friday Night Courtesy Bus • Bar Snacks, 5pm • Big screen TV • Pokies • Plus… Members Draw (you must be here to win)
Member not present for the $1800 draw was Kirt Steeles.
No draw this week due to Anzac Day.
Next week:
$1900!
Drawn between 7.30pm - 8.30pm.
Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 3
NEWS
Boys and girls in blue lend a helping hand
Skip Bins from 2.5m to 6m 4m3 Trailer Bin for Hire Garden Waste Bags Rubbish Removal and Yard Clean-ups ◆ If you can’t handle it, we will! ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
3
3
BE WASTE WISE... THINK BEFORE YOU THROW!
Call the Waste Professionals Mobile: 0427 092 311 Phone: 4069 6869
Some of the police contingent who travelled to Cooktown to contribute to Cooktown’s and its surrounds’ response to Tropical Cyclone Ita - before, during and after the weather event. Photo: GARY HUTCHISON.
Council frustrated by article By Corey Bousen
couple’s accusations are untrue.
Cook Shire Council has responded with extreme frustration over an article published in the Courier Mail newspaper in which two Cooktown residents attacked the emergency response following the loss of the roof on their house.
“I know for a fact that council officers visited the property on a number of occasions likewise the Department of Communities staff. On each occasion there was no one home at the Helen Street property. At no time did the couple contact the council offices and I can only assume that they also made no contact with other relief agencies.
Particularly galling, says Cook Shire Council CEO Stephen Wilton is that council employees put their lives in danger to come to the aid of the couple after they lost their roof as the cyclone approached Cooktown. In the April14 article, the husband and wife Cooktown residents are quoted as saying: “What I am cross about is that there’s 80 people on the council, we’ve been the hardest hit, and nobody’s here to help us. You see all these helicopters overhead and these government and council cars driving around the streets. How much is that costing? These guys in cars see us, but they keep on driving.” In a letter sent to the Courier Mail on April 16 in response to the article, Mr Wilton said the
“Whilst everyone has great sympathy for these people as they have lost their home the printed story does not convey the full facts and is insulting to the very many people who have worked tirelessly in their efforts to help get Cooktown back to some sense of normalcy,” Mr Wilton wrote. “I feel angered by the fact that the [Courier Mail] reporter did not contact the local disaster coordination centre or anyone else to confirm or clarify the facts around this story. For the benefit of the facts being known I will provide some relevant information below. “At 3.15pm on Friday, April 11 the order was made to secure
the Cooktown Cyclone Shelter. This decision is made when winds are at 80kmh or more as this is the same wind speed that emergency services stop responding to calls for assistance as it is considered too dangerous and officers would be at serious risk of injury. “At approximately 5.53pm a message was received at the Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) advising that a house in Helen Street had lost its roof and the residents were sheltering in their motor home. At this stage Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita was still classified as a Category 4 system due to reach Cooktown at about midnight. It was obvious that the storm was going to greatly intensify and that a motor home would be a very dangerous place to be in a storm of this severity. After realising that the house was in close proximity to the LDCC, two people decided to break all the rules and safety protocols and go out and bring the couple back to the LDCC for refuge during the storm,” Mr Wilton said in his letter to the Courier Mail newspaper.
Your connection between Cairns and Cooktown Hinterland Aviation provides a reliable, regular transport service each week between Cairns and Cooktown. That’s 26 scheduled flights between Cairns and Cooktown from Monday through to Saturday. Fortnightly Sunday flights now available. For a reliable service, you can count on Hinterland Aviation to get you to where you need to be.
“On arrival at the resi-
dence, avoiding fallen power lines and debris from the house, the couple were located in their motor home on an open area of ground behind the James Cook Museum. They were told that they were in danger and that they should accompany us to the LDCC. This was communicated to them at least five times and each time they refused eventually saying that they would park at a friend’s house. They were again told that the motor home would be dangerous and that they should take shelter indoors. Again they refused our advice and offer of shelter. As the storm was continuing to intensify we returned to the LDCC where other personnel reported they had seen the motor home driving down Hope Street,” Mr Wilton wrote. “We later received advice that the couple had arrived at the Cooktown Cyclone Shelter where staff had opened the doors and allowed them to enter to shelter from the storm. Once again this was breaking the rules as the guidelines state that once the shelter is locked down it is to remained so until the all clear is given after the
cyclone has passed. “In the morning, immediately prior to the cyclone shelter being given the all clear, everyone who was at the shelter was told about condition of the town and what relief arrangements were being put in place which included Department of Communities staff doing a door to door to ascertain what assistance people would need,” Mr Wilton wrote. “Cooktown has shown how strong that great Australian spirit is in North Queensland where people help their neighbours and complete strangers in clearing away the debris so they can get to their homes. There are many champions in this community and it is a shame that you did not choose to print a story about some of these great Australians,” Mr Wilton said in his letter to the Courier Mail newspaper. “In closing I think it is pertinent to add that at no time did this couple say thank you to the people who put their own lives at risk in going out in the cyclone to rescue them or to those that gave them shelter.”
Sunday Afternoon Fortnightly Flights
Cairns/Cooktown/Cairns Next scheduled flights
May 4 May 18 Jun. 1 Anytime, Anywhere
Lest We Forget Anzac Day, Friday, April 25, 2014.
Telephone: [07] 4040 1333 | Email: info@hinterlandaviation.com.au | Book online at: www.hinterlandaviation.com.au 4 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
NEWS
Good Samaritans grant Sylvia’s wish list
Sylvia with the SES Crew, getting ready to clear her yard of debris.
Story and photos by KAZ PRICE A CURIOUS request to the Cooktown District Community Centre on the Monday afternoon after the cyclone set in motion one of those great, feel good side-events that demonstrate the co-operation and spirit of living in a small, remote town like Cooktown. The call came through to me, that a 95-year-old lady, Mrs Sylvia Geraghty had contacted the Cyclone Ita Recovery Centre as she was quite stressed. On taking the call, I laughed and said that it seemed quite unlikely that she would need a counsellor, as Sylvia was one of the feistiest ladies in Cooktown – but that I would go around and check that she was alright. Sylvia lives in a lovely little cottage, surrounded by mature trees, with verandahs covered in pot plants, and her wonderful collection of orchids, bromeliads and ferns in a little greenhouse nestled next to the house and, post-cyclone, looking a little bit worse for wear. As suspected she greeted me with delight, a visitor to break the boredom, and give an update on the cyclone damage and progress around town. Over a glass of water (the power was still off) Sylvia revealed she had never planned to go to the Events Centre. Sylvia said, “I would need to have taken a chair, a mattress, and food. How would I have got that into the car? And anyway, if I’d lain down on
the floor, how would I get back up again? And more important, what about my dogs?’’ So with her two little furry companions, she sorted a few things in the house and spent the night sitting in her car, inside her corrugated iron garage built about 25 years ago. A friend, Alby, who has his caravan adjacent to Mrs Geraghty’s house, was also in the shed, but Sylvia was alone with her dogs in the car. When I visited on Monday, Alby had made a great start on the yard, and the State Emergency Services (SES) had cleared the biggest fallen timber, but it was still looking like a shambles. Sylvia was quite upset as she was helpless to do it herself, and gardening is her only real pastime. As we sat and chatted about the situation, Sylvia spoke about how frustrating it was to be “half blind and half deaf” and not able to pitch in and be involved. “I’ve worked hard and been involved all my life,” she said, “and here I am now asking for help.” She complimented Alby on how much he had done, stating
simply that she would not have managed without his help. Born in 1918, and raised in Rossville, Sylvia has spent her whole life in the Cooktown area. She explained that she had been on holiday in 1949, 65 years ago, when the last major cyclone hit Cooktown, but she got back to Cairns and eventually was able to pitch in for the clean-up. That cyclone was the opposite, only a handful of buildings were undamaged, where as this time only a small number have been damaged. One building of course was the West Coast Hotel – a building Sylvia knows well, having worked there for many years. During the chat, Sylvia managed to reveal a few things that would make her feel a little more reassured, a rather motley list of easily attainable wishes – a hot dinner, as it was so hard navigating her gas stove in the dark. Some help to finish the clean-up, and maybe some assistance in sorting out her greenhouse. A few phonecalls and a bit of dashing around, and a hot dinner from the
Sylvia with Hazel Butler and Mick Volp from Cooktown Hardware with the roll of shadecloth they have donated to renovate and repair her beloved greenhouse.
Cooktown Bowls Club sorted Sylvia’s Wish #1. “You smell so good,” Sylvia exclaimed as I walked in with dinner at about 6.30pm. SES support was arranged for the following day, and good to their word they arrived enforce to do the big clear, and Cooktown Hardware happily agreed to supply all the material and fixings as a community service. Roland Tree and Dustin Miller of Mad Keen Builders agreed to do the building work to help out and Sylvia’s Wishes #2 and #3 were done and dusted. On Tuesday, in town on a flying visit to gauge what support would be needed by Cook Shire in the recovery phase, Local Government Minister David Crisafulli happily came along to meet Sylvia and the many Good Samaritans there to help her. He was delighted to be the one to knock on her door and deliver the good news. Sylvia was thrilled with the visitors and the kindness of all involved. She happily introduced her dogs to the Minister and showed everyone the shed where she sheltered. The Cooktown Local News will follow the story and looks forward to publishing a photo of the newly renovated greenhouse in the next couple of weeks. Sylvia happily posed for photos with the Minister and emergency service workers stating that she felt quite confident her little house and shed would stand up really well to the next cyclone. Let’s hope she doesn’t need to test that theory for at least another 65 years!
Ita turns the fridges off – stock lost Q-cumbers proprietor Mel Newbound was one of a number of business owners to suffer stock losses after power failures caused her fridge to shut down. Photo: GARY HUTCHISON. AS the costs of structural and agricultural losses sustained by Tropical Cyclone Ita’s visit last weekend continue to be assessed, Cooktown’s businesses relying on refrigeration to protect their stock are also counting the costs. Power cuts meant the loss of refrigeration services of all businesses not equipped with back-up generators. Perishable food items accounted for the largest percentage of stock losses. The Italian Restaurant owner John Dessmann said the dollar value of his stock losses was $5474, but the hidden costs cannot be estimated. “We didn’t get power on until Tuesday, which meant we didn’t trade again until Wednesday,” John said. “Then there is the cost of cleaning up after, how do you weigh that up?” Q-cumbers proprietor Mel New-
bound said she purposely kept her stock levels to an absolute minimum. “The early warning of the cyclone was good, so I didn’t have much in the fridge, but all of what I had was lost,” she said. “We had to throw it all out.” Mel estimated was not sure of the dollar value of the stock she lost. Cooktown Quality Meats proprietor Ian Ramsey said he lost about $1000 in meat, while Restaurant 1770 proprietor Vicki Howick admitted some stock losses which were minimal. However, one business relying on refrigeration that dodged Ita’s bullet was The Cooktown Cafe, which was able to source a generator in time. “We were lucky, we were already wired up and waiting to be commissioned when we located a generator we just had to plug in,” its owner Don said.
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Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 5
NEWS
NEWS in brief JCU’s Ita research records a success
CYCLONE ITA HOSPITAL STATISTICS
THE three primary health care centres in the outer district – Hope Vale, Laura and Wujal Wujal – were all very busy during the Tropical Cyclone Ita crisis, but none of the conditions presented were cyclone related. Between 5pm last Friday and 5pm on Tuesday, 120 patients attended the facility at Hope Vale, with one evacuation to Cooktown and subsequently on to Cairns with the patient suffering from suspected appendicitis. At Laura, 26 patients
were seen including one non-critical evacuation to Cooktown, while Wujal Wujal also had a non-critical evacuation to Cooktown from the 99 patients who presented themselves for treatment.
been clearing debris from a hydro-electric turbine at the top of the falls when he was caught by the water flow and swept over the precipice and carried some 150 metres down the falls.
HOME RULE CASUALTY
The rescue helicopter attended and crew members were winched down to where the man was clinging to a large rock.
A MAN remains in a serious but stable condition with serious multiple fractures after falling 150 metres down the Home Rule Falls last Wednesday. Police and emergency crews were called to the location after the man had reportedly fallen from the top of the falls. It is believed he had
Because of the fast flowing water, the crew required further assistance to secure the victim into a Stokes Litter prior to him being winched up to the helicopter. One of the police officers present had swum out to the man to assist in the recovery before the man was winched to safety.
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DO YOU KNOW HOW GREEN WASTE IS RECYCLED IN COOK SHIRE? Green waste or garden waste disposal is FREE at any of Cook Shire Council’s Waste Transfer Stations and Landfills. Green waste is stockpiled and mulched with a tub grinder approximately twice a year. Cook Shire Council is using a contractor to do the mulching. Mulching basically means that your green waste is shredded into small pieces and turned into mulch. PLEASE KEEP YOUR GREEN WASTE SEPARATE FROM PLASTICS AND OTHER WASTE STREAMS AS IT WILL RUIN THE END RESULT OF MULCH. Mulch is used in garden beds to conserve the moisture, to improve the fertility and the health of the soil as it breaks down over period of time, to reduce weed growth and enhance visual appeal of the area. You can buy mulch for your home from Cooktown Waste Transfer Station. Mulch also can be delivered to Lakeland, Ayton, Rossville and Cooktown areas. Please visit our website for more information: www.cook.qld.gov.au
6 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
By Corey Bousen Researchers from James Cook University say their deployment of equipment in Cooktown prior to the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Ita was a success and will be analysed to see if any improvements can be made to the Queensland building code. The JCU equipment detected wind gusts with a maximum speed of 110 km / hour, JCU’s Cyclone Testing Station Director Dr David Henderson said. This compares to the maximum wind gusts of about 130 km / hour detected by the Bureau of Meteorology’s equipment at Cooktown Airport. The difference is due to the JCU equipment being set at a height of three metres, while the BoM equipment measures wind speeds at a height of 10 metres in open terrain, which is the international standard for weather stations. The JCU was measuring at a height of three metres as this is the height of a single story house. “Data from this height is what we’re interested in for building code design,” Dr Henderson told Cooktown Local News. JCU researchers set up measuring equipment in Cooktown on Thursday morning, April 10, installing three anemometers that measure wind speed and pressure, while three others were deployed in Port Douglas. The devices in Cooktown were located at the John Street Oval, Endeavour Road and Charlotte Street. Dr Henderson said the deployment was the unit’s first in a remote location in the run-up to a cyclone. “The deployment went well. There was only one hiccup in that data was meant to be sent back by the 3G modems every 10 minutes but sometimes this did not occur for up to three hours.” No data was lost, however, as the technology retains the data until a successful transmission is made.
An amemometer set up in Cooktown to test Tropical Cyclone Ita’s wind speeds. The CTS team developed this technology (known as SWIRLnet) to address one of the main recommendations from the damage investigation following Cyclone Yasi in 2011. A report prepared by CTS for the Australian Building Codes Board following Yasi identified the need for more accurate information on the wind speeds actually experienced by houses and other building stock. This vital information helps the CTS advise governments, industry and the wider community on whether Queensland’s current building regulations and building practices are appropriate. Dr Henderson also wished to thank the Cooktown locals who kept an eye on the equipment during Ita, as well as the cooperation shown by Cook Shire Council, the SES and Emergency Management Queensland.
Minister confirms consultation before suggested Ergon depot closures MINISTER for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle has confirmed “nothing will change” in reference to a suggestion by the Electrical Trades Union that Cooktown’s Ergon Energy depot is in danger of being closed – ‘not without full consultation with all parties’. The Union’s claims were presented in last week’s edition of the Cooktown Local News, when Cooktown was listed as one of nine depots likely to deal with the Cyclone Ita recovery process that were in the sights of Treasurer Tim Nicholls for closure. Minister McArdle was interviewed by the Cooktown Local News at the Cooktown airport last Wednesday, when it was suggested that such a decision would be “unwise” considering
the esteem Ergon workers were held generally, particularly after their efforts in the lead-up to Tropical Cyclone Ita. “Nothing will change,” Mr McArdle said. “Not without full consultation with all parties – everyone will get a say. “That includes Ergon, their workers and the communities in which they live and work.” Reminded that the day-to-day maintenance carried on by local Ergon workers probably contributed to minimal damage and disruption to services as well as a faster recovery, Mr McArdle said, “Having locals on the ground is critical.” He said “maintenance is critical”. “Weather events like this could have been an absolute disaster,” he said.
“There is a raft of poles down.” Mr McArdle said that Ergon workers leaving a community like Cooktown would have a “domino effect” on the community. “They have families and generally contribute to the community in many different ways,” he said. “Their incomes alone would go to the income of another worker or two in the town.” In Cooktown to assess Ita’s effect on the region and the progress of Ergon’s response and recovery, Mr McArdle said proactive planning by all agencies concerned had delivered a fantastic result all round. “Nearly 70 field staff from Atherton, Mareeba, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Cairns along with
local depot staff have worked together to restore electricity supplies in the area,” he said. “They have delivered on their promise to restore power safely and they are some of the silent heroes in the natural disaster response for Cyclone Ita.” And he was generous in his praise of Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott and his team, along with the community generally. “Peter’s doing a phenomenal job,” he said. “He’s got a great team that has all bases covered. “And Cooktown’s a great town, everyone’s pulling together.” He also commented that the Ergon visitors have been “over the moon” with the reception they have received from the locals.
Glen’s windmill riding adventure By Corey Bousen The riding and breaking of horses is a life-time occupation and passion for Lilyvale Station’s Glen Shephard, but thanks to Cyclone Ita it is the riding of a falling windmill in which he has the most recent experience. Mr Shephard, who is a councillor on the Cook Shire Council, was preparing his Princess Charlotte Bay property on Thursday, 10 April, as Cyclone Ita approached. High on the priority list was the removal of the fan from the top of the almost 10m tall windmill on his property.
Mr Shephard had attached the windmill-fan to a pulley, which was attached to a vehicle driven by his wife Susan, and which was being slowly lowered to the ground.
“I hurt my back a bit but nothing serious. I landed on my feet and it knocked the wind out of me,” he recalled with a grin. Mr Shephard said a rusty leg on the threelegged tower probably caused the collapse, but he believes the windmill will back in action once he has a chance to complete some minor repair work.
The unit was half way down to the ground when it became caught on the windmill tower. As Mr Shephard worked to release the fan-unit, the tower began falling to towards the ground – five metres below. Fleet of foot, Mr Shephard found himself astride the windmill tower as it fell. With pretty good timing, he jumped from the tower moments before it crashed, landing on his feet and tumbling
Councillor Glen Shephard drove four-anda-half fours to attend this week’s council meeting; despite his recent windmill riding adventure. away to safety. “It
happened
quick,” Mr Shephard told so
Cooktown Local News.
Mr Shephard was speaking to Cooktown Local News of his experience during a break at Tuesday’s Cook Shire Council meeting, for which he drove four-anda-half hours each way to attend.
Don’t forget local farmers from page 1 “That’s about one-third of our crop, which on the last lot of prices we got, would be around $25,000,” she said. “But if our vines don’t recover in time for the September crop, we could lose as much as $50,000 all up.” She said these costs did not include repairing the damaged trellises or the fences erected on their 60 acre property to keep wallabies and feral pigs out. Having lived through six cyclones since 1956, Ron scoffed at the reported wind speeds that ripped through the region. “It was at least a Category 4 when it came through here, it followed the same path here after it left Hope Vale,” he said. “I reckon the winds were at least 200km/h.” And the story was similar at the neighbouring property of their daughter Lynette and her partner Patrick McArthur. With Lynette now living in
Cairns, Lynette’s sister Tina and her partner Matthew Finch are caretaking the property and were on the block when Ita struck. With passion fruit losses expected to similar to that of the McGuffie’s, their loss is made much worse with the uprooting of 16 rambutan trees – not because of the $10,000 in lost fruit, but it is highly unlikely they will be able to source replacement trees for some years. “Cyclones Larry and Yasi have put commercial production of rambutan trees back by about nine years,” Patrick said. “I doubt I’ll be able to replace these trees for some time now that they’re gone.” Evelyn Henry said her mango trees withstood the storm, but similar to the other farmers, she conservatively estimated her passion fruit losses to be in the vicinity of $20,000 to $30,000. “The fruit only had a few more weeks before ripening, but unfortunately all the fruit has been affected,” she said.
“However, it looks like the vines have survived only just, so hopefully new fruit will form in the near future and I hope to recover somehow.” The figures supplied in this report are only that of four farmers in the region, with many more affected by the cyclone. In one assistance measure, the Queensland Government announced on April 16 that quarterly leasehold rent and freehold land instalment payments have been deferred to support landholders as they start the recovery task from ex-tropical Cyclone Ita. Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said the deadline for both types of payments would be extended until August 31, 2014. “We recognise a number of landholders are doing it tough and are likely to suffer financial hardship as a result of the cyclone. “Quarterly invoices are due soon for more than 650 leases
in cyclone affected areas and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines is in the process of advising all individual lessees of the two-month extension,” Mr Cripps said. “Extending the due date for these payments is practical assistance we can offer as they get on with the challenges of recovering from the impacts of Ita.” “Affected landholders in declared local government areas may also be eligible to have their next payments further deferred beyond the end of August,” he said. “I encourage affected landholders to make an application to have their next leasehold rental payment deferred beyond the end of August if it will assist in their financial recovery.” Landholders can find information on applying for leasehold rental assistance by contacting their nearest DNRM office.
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Cooktown District Community Centre is applying to provide Out of School Hours Care and Vacation Care. Persons interested in utilising this service should send details of the number children, their ages and the times when care will be required. Out of School Hours Care is available from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Vacation Care is available from 8am to 6pm on school holidays. Please send expressions of interest to oshc@cooktowndcc.org.au or phone 07 4069 6098
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Passion fruit trellises crushed by falling trees was just some of the damage done to Rick Reid and Cass Sorensen’s property by Tropical Cyclone Ita. Cass seen here with the “new view” of their driveway.
Isla McGuffie and her husband Ron have suffered significant damage to their passion fruit crop, which will see an impact on their short, medium and long-term income. Photos: GARY HUTCHISON.
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Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 7
NEWS
IGA puts the ‘super’ in supermarket By Corey Bousen To blow through a cyclone without the town running out of either bread or milk – and all the other essentials – is an impressive achievement. And a solid congratulations has to go to Cornetts IGA Cooktown for delivering this outcome during the recent Cyclone Ita disaster. The store’s full compliment of staff of 30 worked tirelessly so that the shelves were not only stocked, but full, in the run-up to Ita and also throughout the aftermath. Store Manager Paul Scott said an emergency order was sent to grocery supplier Metcash in Brisbane at 11pm on Tuesday, April 8. Impressively, Metcash had delivered this order of 50 pallets of groceries to Queensland Rail in Brisbane within a couple of
went crazy from that day on.
hours, enabling the groceries to arrive in Cairns the following afternoon (Wednesday).
“Thoughout the cyclone is was amazing walking around the shop and to have the customers thanking us for having so much stock and so many perishables,” he said.
Half of the groceries were then despatched on a semitrailer which arrived in Cooktown on Thursday morning, April 10 – the last day the IGA was open before being forced to close on the Friday as Ita approached Cooktown.
“I’d like to thank all the staff that worked so hard. We had 90 per cent of our perishable items in stock throughout the 10-day period before and after the cyclone and 100 per cent of our deli items. The meat department looked fantastic and was fully stocked and we never ran out of fresh milk or fresh bread all the way through.”
Emergency provisioning prior to the cyclone (aka panic buying) saw the IGA’s business triple during the cyclone period. The other half of the 50 grocery pallets were then trucked from Cairns in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, arriving in Cooktown on the Sunday afternoon as soon as the Mulligan Highway was open.
SUPERMARKET HEROES: A few members of the IGA team that worked tirelessly throughout the cyclone period are: Deborah Kirwan, Julie Ryle, Mariana Tree, Paul Scott, Garry Palmer and John O’Neill.
“It was a continuous flow of groceries and perishables
coming our way all the time,” Mr Scott said.
Cyclone Ita fells council’s computer servers
Cook Shire Council IT Officer John Habermann has been working around the clock to get the shire’s computer systems back in operation. It is almost business as usual for Cook Shire Council’s main office, after Cycone Ita forced three of the most important computer servers offline for most of the past week. Heavy rain and intermittent power outages caused by the Category 3 cyclone had shut down the council’s main email, database, directory control and finance servers, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Wilton said. “There was water all over the floor in the server room. Servers lost power, which was restored for maybe an hour, before going off again until Ergon switched us over to a generator on Saturday,” he said. “This lack of critical hardware has meant our staff couldn’t log into their comput-
“The pickup in our business really started to kick-in on the
Tuesday as the cyclone approached and things basically
The store’s generator, which was installed last year, worked faultlessly over the four-day period that the store was without electricity from the Friday evening of the cyclone.
Achtung – we told you not to cross! Tuesday, April 22, is a day two tourists won’t forget in a hurry. At 2pm, the German men aged 19 and 20 stopped by the local police station to ask if they were able to cross the flooded causeway as they wanted to travel to Cape Tribulation. They were advised that the river was too high to cross as it was approaching high tide and was fast flowing after recent rainfall. Regardless of the advice provided, the pair attempted to cross the river in their 4WD, however they were unable to negotiate the crossing and were swept off the causeway into the river. They managed to self rescue and scrambled out of their vehicle and onto rocks. One of the men
walked to the local police station where he reported the incident. In relaying their story, the men told Officer-inCharge of Wujal Wujal, Acting Sergeant John Melandri that when they got to the river, they thought the river was very low, but even though they had never done this kind of thing before and they didn’t really know what they were doing, they thought they’d have a go. As soon as their vehicle entered the water, they felt the car being dragged to the side by the force of the current. The 4WD was swept off the causeway and managed to wedge itself on the edge of the causeway in an area believed to have been eroded away in recent rains.
The vehicle was not able to be retrieved due to the unsafe conditions due to the high tide and location. A recovery will be reassessed and attempted at a later time. In the meantime, the vehicle remains wedged on the side of the causeway and is testament to the warning, ‘If it’s flooded, forget it!’ Sergeant Melandri said, “These men are extremely lucky. Their holiday has now been cut short after their vehicle and possessions have all gone underwater. It’s important to note that regardless of the level of experience, quality of vehicle and equipment one has, there are no guarantees as to what is occurring below the water surface.
Take extra care on our far northern roads and whatever you do, don’t attempt to cross any of our flooded creeks or rivers.” We are expecting more tourists to travel to the far north and are urging all motorists, locals and tourists alike, to pay attention to what they are doing. If any doubt exists in the mind of the motorist, an alternative route should always be favoured. Parts of the Cape continue to experience localised flooding and access is limited in some areas. As of Wednesday, April 23, the Bloomfield River crossing at Wujal Wujal was officially closed due to flooding.
ers, access their work, check or send emails and a host of other things.” Last week the council office was open for cyclone-related matters only, but Mr Wilton said by the end of this week the office would be operating in its normal capacity. “We are almost there now, we couldn’t do much for the first week, but the servers should be fully running by the end of this week, and the office will be open for business as usual, as well as continuing with cyclone recovery and restoration work,” Mr Wilton said. If you sent an email to council after Friday, April 11 and received a warning reply saying the email did not send, please re-send it to mail@ cook.qld.gov.au The tourist’s 4WD teetering on the edge of the flooded Wujal Wujal causeway.
8 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
COMMUNITY
History
From, the cyclone that struck Cooktown in 1949 - the Great Northern Hotel and butcher shop No 5. Photos submitted.
View
from the Hill
What a way to welcome a cyclone? Sing-along while cyclone blew Cooktown down Researched by M. SCULLY ON the morning of April 12, 2014, the West Coast hotel was the only building in Charlotte Street to lose part of its roof due to the ferocity of Cyclone Ita. However, it was the opposite story on February 12, 1949. Here is an eye-witness account as reported by The Cairns Post on Monday, February 14, 1949. “The West Coast Hotel was one of the few buildings in Charlotte Street to escape with only slight damage. Portion of the roof was blown off and the whole building was saturated by the driving rains. First eye-witness story of last week’s disaster. About 40 people in Cooktown’s West Coast Hotel played the piano, sang, and ‘had a few drinks’ while the town was devastated by the cyclone, said Mr Arthur Eastwood, a former English sea captain, the first eye-witness of the whole of the cyclone to leave Cooktown. The piano was described in Ghost Towns of Australia by George Farell as being fine and old, with a carved and age darkened frame and had been made by Cornish & Co. of
Writers’ Corner
OUR “apres Cyclone Ita” poet is Jim Egan who once knew the West Coast Hotel well! He has captured cleverly the spirit of the hectic week just passed. (PS. To be fair - despite Jim’s teasing - our north-
Washington, a very long time ago. It sat in the parlour among a series of murals that had been painted right around the walls by the artist Garnett Agnew, who had persuaded the West Coast’s owner to commission them. Payment was arranged with enough rum and beer to keep him fortified while work was in progress.
in his hotel room reading a novel, while others were in the lounge, grouped around the piano singing songs and having a few drinks.
Mr Eastwood, who reached Cairns yesterday by plane, from a vantage point at the West Coast Hotel, in Cooktown’s main street, saw the town being battered for over 12 hours.
‘It just crumbled and fell into a heap,’ he said.
‘I saw practically the whole main street disintegrate before my eyes,’ he said last night.
‘This was more or less opposite my hotel,’ explained Mr Eastwood.
‘All around my hotel, good solid-looking buildings were completely flattened. The air was thick with flying branches of trees, sheets of iron and large blocks of timber. It was miraculous that no-one was killed.’ Mr Eastwood arrived in Australia late last year and was at Cooktown to look into the prospects of opening a café there. Mr Eastwood was in Plymouth during WW11 and said that the way people of Cooktown reacted to the cyclone reminded him of the blitz. He spent the cyclone
ern TV/radio reporters did a praiseworthy job of keeping us abreast of what was brewing. Thanks for the constant, caring and informative coverage!) Did you scribble some lines, in verse or prose, about Cyclone Ita? Send them in to Gary, our local editor: editor@cooktownlocalnews.com.au or thekellers@bigpond. com or post them to: PO Box 645, Cooktown, 4895. Dianne Keller Cooktown Writers’ Group.
From the top story of the West Coast, Mr Eastwood saw the large Lewis store (cnr Charlotte and Walker Streets) crumple and go down early in the cyclone.
‘The Great Northern Hotel, (corners of Charlotte and Furneaux Streets) converted into a boarding house, collapsed more slowly.
‘First of all, the verandahs went, then the whole of one side of the building in one piece. ‘After that the roof caved in. ‘The people there had already been evacuated. ‘The place that stood up best to the wind was on old store in the main street. ‘They call it the Chinaman’s. ‘I had inspected it the previous day and would’ve bought it if the cyclone hadn’t come.’ (This was Hip On’s store) Mr Eastwood added that the
Cooktown residents were the strangest group of people he had ever encountered. He said that before the cyclone came he had been amazed by the town and its people. ‘A lot of them are pretty rough but they are tough, too, and very kind hearted,’ he said. He reached Cairns yesterday on the return flight of the place which took a group of reporters to Cooktown. The official police report stated that: ‘the cyclone completely destroyed 30 homes, Lewis general store, the wharf shed, fire station, the Methodist church, the butcher’s shop and Meldrum’s newsagency. There was serious damage to the convent, presbytery, hospital, school and railway station. About 80 other homes were damaged but no persons were injured. Displaced persons are being accommodated at the police station, the bank, the shire office and the postmaster’s residence. Public bodies are co-operating and everything possible is being done for the homeless. Only eight buildings were undamaged. The town is a complete wreck.’”
SO, we survived, more or less.
although there was a lot of noise out there.
No one was seriously hurt, although a lot of trees were laid flat. And there are some unlucky people who can now lie in bed and watch the stars where their roofs used to be.
Talking about the demon drink, what about the poor “Westie”? Our oldest pub managed all through the night, until the wind changed direction at dawn and blew from the wrong direction. It behaved like a giant can opener, peeling the roof back and dumping it in the back yard.
Much to Ergon’s surprise, the power lines suffered badly, including a break at Helenvale in the feeder line bringing power from down south. Still, you can’t fault their energy in flying up lots of clever and dedicated people to fix our problems – mostly caused by falling trees. Isn’t it a shame that we can’t bury our power lines in Cooktown? I am told it’s because the copper termites eat the cables and so they have to be strung up in the air at the mercy of wind and weather. The people who were locked up in “Stalag Scott” for the duration apparently spent the night being polite to each other and refraining from the demon drink. I don’t know about you, but that sounds an appalling way to welcome a cyclone. I was sitting on my swag in the bathroom, with the cat and a large esky beside me. We did just fine,
welcome and they now regret she’s gone. “A catty five!’ they yelled with glee. “She’ll blow the joint away! So quickly leave, ol’ Cookie folks. Don’t risk your life an’ stay! The place will all be blown right off the map if you don’t hang on tight. You’ll read it in the papers soon, “Young Ita’s called tonight!” But Ita quietly listened in and thought, “ I’ll shut ‘em up!
Certainly the regulars are in a mess. They don’t much like the Sovereign (too classy) or the Top Pub (the beer tastes different), and they don’t want to go to the clubs. Still, as soon as it opens we will get our chance to show what good Cooktowners we are. I shall be there on opening night, competing to be the best Cooktowner ever.
The View from the Hill is written by a Cooktown resident who submits the column to the newspaper and who receives no payment. No editorial direction is ever given to the author. Accordingly, the (often provocative) opinions contained in the column are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the Cooktown Local News or its publisher.
A young lady called Ita called tonight “Young Ita Called Tonight” From Cairns I looked in horror at the bashed-up “Westie Pub”, Just belted by a sheila who had blown in through the scrub. Her name is Little Ita. She’s a nasty little girl! The locals wish she’d never come to give the joint a whirl But she got such encouragement! The Press all cheered her on! They made her feel real
Now that is a real tragedy. Who can imagine life without the “Westie”? I hope they have been good boys and not upset the shire, because now they are dependent on the folk on the hill for permission to start serving again from some kind of temporary structure. I’m not sure our lords and masters really appreciate just how vital the “Westie” is.
some proof! I know the codgers won’t be p—sed. The bloody T.V. reporters are a pain! by then an’ won’t be on the power is off! Just like a poisoned pup!” p—s. The grog is hot; the cigs are So then she slowed and McAuley’s got the pub inwet! (There’ll be no smokthought a while and then sured. He’ll fix it up alright. ers’ cough.) I’ll leave him with a mesdropped down a gear. I hope those murals on the “The local folks are really sage though, Young Ita wall have got their raincoats good. I’ll bugger off from called tonight!” on! here “I’ll try to wake the bloomin’ But I must leave a calling cook and manager as well. They’ve stood there near a card to prove I wish ‘em The beggars might be hid- hundred years. I’d hate to well. ing but, just where, they’ll see ‘em gone. I hope I never scare folks off I’ll stop a while an’ gently never tell. nudge the ol’ West Coast So, just in case they’re or give ‘em all a fright. Hotel. sleepin’ sound, I’ll quickly I’ll quickly lift the roof an’ leave. “Young Ita called toI’ll leave it close to midnight raise the roof. then I’ll do a hit or miss. In case the gentlemen feel night!” The punters will be gone ignored I’ll leave ‘em with By JIM EGAN. Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 9
PHOTOS: GARY HUTCHISON
UT&about
Cyclone Recovery Party @ the Sovvy
Big Wheel had the Sovvy patrons spinning and turning on the Sovvy dance floor at Saturday night’s cyclone recovery party.
Kath Schurcliff and Dave Houghton had their own corner of the Sovvy in which to enjoy the band.
Proud mum and partner Sabrina Ebermann with her family, Joe holding baby Marie, Imogen and Eddie Ford.
Sam and Dan Warner were another Cairns couple in Cooktown for the Easter.
Robert Shirres and Allyce Mead were enjoying the band from the verandah.
Barry Brown and Jody Wallace.
Mary Thackeray’s family came home to help her with the cyclone clean-up. Seen here are Elliott and Kris Favale, Charlie and Jo Panitteri, Mary and Taia and Gian Favale.
10 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
Sydney visitors Duncan Holmes and Jenny Thompson enjoyed the ambienc e of the Sovvy verahdah.
Former Cooktowner Ayde Walker made the trek back with partner Kandyss McLean for Easter.
Rochelle and Kyle Williams made the trip from Cairns to spend time with their friends, the Ford family.
Another part of Mary Thackeray’s family, Charlie and Jo Panitter i who came to help.
Gail and Jamie Greaves were hav ing a good time on the Sovvy veranda h.
Kathie Robinson’s stolen smooch seems to have left good friend Sel Wendt a little stunned.
PHOTOS: GARY HUTCHISON
UT&about
Cyclone Recovery Party @ the Lions Den FLOODING from the Annan River saw the Lions Den Hotel in danger of being inundated last week, but the murky waters stopped short of rising above the iconic Helenvale pub’s decking. Co-proprietor Faith Nulley said while the flooding caused no damage, Tropical Cyclone Ita’s destructive winds saw extensive damage caused to four of their safari tents, while one donga was destroyed. The pub’s fuel bowser is now inoperable for the time being because of the flooding. And like the rest of the re-
gion, the grounds were a war zone of fallen trees, broken branches and leaves. Built in 1887, the Lions Den is not only the headquarters for many locals, it is a very popular destination for new tourists and others who return regularly for short and long term holidays. Despite the loss of power and phone lines for days, the doors were open for limited trading from Wednesday, with a cyclone recovery party held on Sunday, which drew about 60 patrons to the venue.
“Porky” and Cliff Harrigan, together with Lea Greaves and Gavin Dear, along with “Pando” Harrigan (obscured) formed an impromptu band and jammed for the entertainment of Lions Den patrons who were at Sunday’s cyclone recovery session.
Sandy Lloyd and Don enjoying the Lions Den afternoon sun.
Cindy Mallari and Barry Reddell relaxing st the Lions Den after a hectic week of cyclone clean-up.
Willow and Ruth Pattie with Bev Coleman, Ackron Gavin and Marty and Meg Pattie with Waratah Nicholls after the Easter Egg hunt.
Amie Buhmann, Sarah Henderson and Faith Nulley soaking up the sun and the sounds on Sunday afternoon.
h were Relaxing on the Lions Den veranda ol. Car r Sinjon Gavin and his grandmothe
r Wherever his sons are playing thei n, riga Har music, you’ll always find Ron Den s Lion the and on Sunday, it was at cyclone recovery session.
It wouldn’t be a Lions Den cyclone recovery session without regulars Jack Ryle and Marty Pattie.
Kerryn Brejnak, Kati Guzsely and Dane Brejnak enjoying the Sunday afternoon cool on the Lions Den verandah.
Visiting the Lions Den from Mossman were Greg and Kay Harvey and Kelly Padovan.
Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 11
FRIDAY 25
6:00 ABC News Breakfast ANZAC Day 9:00 ABC News Mornings 10:00 ANZAC Day March QLD 12:30 ANZAC Day: Gallipoli Dawn Service 1:30 ANZAC Day: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Service 3:00 The Telegraph Man 3:00 Art of War 4:00 A Very Short War 5:00 ANZAC Day: Lone Pine Service 6:00 Gallipoli From Above 6:55 ANZAC Day: GovernorGeneral’s Address 7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 QLD 8:00 Still Open All Hours: A one-off special of Roy Clarke’s popular comedy. Granville is no longer the dogsbody, having inherited the business from his miserly Uncle Albert Arkwright. 8:35 Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple: Nemesis - Miss Marple is faced with her greatest challenge yet when she receives instructions from the recently deceased Mr Rafiel to investigate a ‘possible crime’. 10:05 The Boffin The Builder The Bombardier: Weapons Of Gallipoli 10:35 Lateline 11:10 Randling: A furiously funny game show about words hosted by Andrew Denton. 11:45 Rage 5:00 Rage
6:00 Today 9:00 Danoz Direct 10:00 Brand Developers 11:00 Royals At Rememberance Day 12:00 ANZAC Day With Peter Overton 12:30 Gallipoli Dawn Service 1:40 Villers Bretonneux Dawn Service 2:35 National News Now 3:30 Live ANZAC Day NRL Dragons Vs Roosters 4:15 National Afternoon News 5:30 Hot Seat 6:00 National News 7:00 A Current Affair 7:30 Football: Brisbane Broncos Vs South Sydney Rabbitohs 10:15 TBA 12:30 Rogue: An American journalist and an outback tour guide join forces to fend off a giant man-eating crocodile, lurking beneath the surface of a remote lake in Australia’s Kakadu National Park. 2:30 Spyforce: “The Journey” On an escape flight from Burma to Australia, Erskine and Gunther share an aeroplane with five other refugees. Erskine discovers that someone is radioing the plane’s position to the Japanese, and then one of the passengers is murdered. 3:30 Skippy - The Bush Kangaroo 4:00 Brand Developers / 4:30 Good Morning America
6:00 Sunrise 10:00 12:00 Seven Morning News 12:30 2014 AFL Premiership Rnd 6 Collingwood Vs Essenden 2:00 2014 AFL Premiership Rnd 6 5:30 Million Dollar Minute 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Better Homes & Gardens 8:30 The Friday Movie 11:15 2014 AFL Premiership Rnd 6 - Freemantle Vs North Melbourne 12.00 Desperate Housewives - “Women And Death” - “ On the day of the funeral of a beloved Wisteria Lane resident, each of the ladies thinks back on how this person had affected their lives. 1:00 Desperate Housewives - “Any Moment” - Bree is suspicious of Andrew’s intentions when he announces that he’s getting married. 2:00 SPECIAL: Danger down Under - Meet Australia’s bravest characters who have developed special relationships with the deadliest creatures on earth! 3:30 Home Shopping / 4:00 NBC Today
5:00 World News 1:00 Living Black 1:30 Inspector Rex: The Baby Dealers 2:30 NITV News Week In Review 3:00 France 24 International News 3:30 Al Jazeera News 4:00 The Journal 4:30 PBS Newshour 5:30 Global Village 6:00 Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 The Great British Countryside: South Downs 8:35 The Dark Ages: An Age Of Light “The Wonder Of Islam” 9:40 Warhorse - The Real Story 10:25 SBS World News Late 11:05 The Feed: Best Stories Of The Week 11:35 Film: “The Sex Of The Angels ” - Struggling dancer Bruno is in love with his girlfriend Carla, but when the handsome Rai moves in downstairs from the couple, he and Bruno bond over their love of dance and sparks begin to fly. MA(S) 1:30 Kurt Wallender: The Angel Of Death - A choir of young women give an acclaimed guest performance in a country church outside Ystad. But then an 18-year-old member of the choir disappears. M (V,L) 3:15 Film: “Rally Chicks” - Tells the story of two young women who challenge the male dominated world of rally car racing. Set in the1960s in Sweden. M (L) CC
SATURDAY 26
6:00 Rage 10:30 Rage Guest Programmer - The Jezebels 11:30 The Checkout 12:00 Australian Story 12:30 Gallipoli From Above 1:40 Movie: “Pandora And The Flying Dutchman” (G) 3:25 Movie: “Jason And The Argonauts” (G) 5:10 River Cottage Veg Every Day 6:00 Saturday Landline 6:30 Gardening Australia 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Death In Paradise - DI Goodman and his team are drawn into the world of politics when Saint-Marie’s scandal-ridden Commerce Minister is found dead. 8:30 The Gods of Wheat Street: The Games People Play - Odin hasn’t found a guarantor for the loan and Jonesy Brown has had him locked up for assault. With the court date set for the same day as the auction, will Odin be set free and make it to the auction? 9:30 Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries: Death Comes Knocking 10:30 Birdsong: As Stephen recovers from his injuries and returns to the front he is haunted by his affair with Isabelle. 11:50 Rage Guest Programmer - The Jezebels 5:00 Rage
6:00 Bubble Guppies 7:00 Weekend Today - Saturday 10:00 Danoz Direct 11:00 Animal Emergency 11:30 The Garden Gurus 12:00 Sally Behind The Smile 1:00 The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships 3:00 Commando 4:00 The Bottom Line 4:30 Reel Action 5:00 4WD TV 5:30 Getaway 6:00 National News Saturday 7:00 Movie: “She’s The Man”- A simple case of assumed identity snowballs into a romantic mix-up of epic proportions when Viola Hastings disguises herself as her twin brother in order to play on the boy’s school soccer team and falling in love along the way. 9:10 Movie: “A Few Best Men” An Englishman falls in love with an Australian and convinces his three best friends to return to the Australian Outback for the wedding. 11:10 Movie: “Matchstick Men” (Some Coarse Language, Some Violence) 1:30 Movie: “Clash Of The Titans” (Supernatural Themes) 4:00 Brand Developers 5:00 Skippy - The Bush Kangaroo
6:00 Saturday Disney 7:00 Weekend Sunrise 10:00 The Morning Show - Weekend 12:00 Dr Oz 4:30 TBA 5:00 Creek To Coast 5:30 Queensland Weekender 6:00 Seven News 7:00 2014 AFL Premiership Season: Rnd 6 - Melbourne Vs Sydney 7:30 2014 AFL Premiership Season: Rnd 6 - Melbourne Vs Sydney 11:00 Strike Back 12:00 Seven’s V8 Supercars 2014 - Highlights - V8 Supercars: Auckland” It’s Super Sprint season and the V8 Supercars are in New Zealand for the ITM 500 Auckland 1:00 Desperate Housewives: “With So Little To Be Sure Of” 2:00 Dr Oz 3:00 Harry’s Practice 3:30 It Is Written Oceania - “God’s Best Little Advice Book - One Heart, Two Paths” Religious program 4:00 Home Shopping 5:00 Dr Oz - “The Real Housewives Tell All On Their Plastic Surgery”
5:00 World News 1:00 The Doors: Mr Mojo Risin’ 2:10 The Chopin Etudes 2:10 Barenboim On Beethoven 3:45 Piano Notes 3:55 Contact - Abbas Altar: Iranian Revolution 4:30 PBS Newshour 5:30 A History Of Celtic Britain - Age Of Invasion 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 My Wild Affair: Andre: The Seal Who Came Home PG CC 8:30 Movie: “Kokoda” M(V,L) CC - 1942. Australia is at war with Japan. A small platoon of Australian soldiers from the 39th battalion have been set as a forward patrol far outside the perimeter of Isurava, a village on the Kokoda track. 10:20 Movie: “The Notorious Bettie Page” - The story of Bettie Page, uber-successful 1950s pin-up model, one of the first sex icons in America. 12:00 Striptease Unveiled 1:05 Movie: “Little Girl Blue” - A woman’s mid-life crisis leads her on a colourful comic odyssey 2:50 Death Camp Treblinka 3:55 The Anthrax Files
SUNDAY 27
6:00 Rage 8:00 Weekend Breakfast 9:00 Insiders 10:00 Offsiders 10:30 The World This Week 11:00 7.30 Qld 11:30 Songs of Praise: Calderdale 12:00 Landline 1:00 Gardening Australia 1:30 Compass: The Mystery Of Mary Magdalene: Part 2 2:00 Death In Paradise 3:00 When God Spoke English 4:00 Big Art Ideas 5:00 Midsomer Murders: Market For Murder 6:30 Compass: The Moral Compass 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Restoration Home: Pitkennedy School 8:30 Parer’s War 10:10 Jack Irish: Black Tide 11:45 Movie: “The Great Escape” (PG) 2:35 The Great Escape: The Reckoning - This compelling documentary combines dramatic recreations of key moments during the hunt for the murderers of 50 Allied airmen who escaped from a Nazi Germany prison camp in 1944. 3:30 Talking Heads: Judith Durham 4:00 The New Inventors 4:30 Catalyst 5:00 Gardening Australia / 5:30 Best Of Collectors - Meet a peglomaniac; visit tie-land; the cool clean lines of 60s furniture.
6:00 Bubble Guppies 7:00 Weekend Today 10:00 Financial Review Sunday 10:30 Wide World Of Sports 11:30 Sunday Footy Show 1:30 Broncos Insider 2:00 2014 Intrust Supercup Dolphins Vs Jets 4:00 Football: West Tigers Vs Gold Coast Titans 6:00 National News Sunday 6:30 TBA 12:00 Financial Review Sunday 12:30 What Would You Do - Using hidden cameras, host John Quiñones observes and comments on how ordinary people behave when they are confronted with a dilemma that requires them to either take action or walk by and mind their own business. 1:30 Spyforce: “Decoy”Spyforce operative Erskine is sent to destroy Japanese fuel dumps on an island in the Pacific, as a cover for an allied attack on a nearby island. Starring Jack Thompson, Peter Sumner, Katy Wild 2:30 Brand Developers 4:00 Good Morning America - Sunday 5:00 National Early Morning News / 5:30 Today
6:00 Sophia The First 6:30 Doc McStuffins 7:00 Weekend Sunrise 10:00 AFL Game Day 11:30 Guys With Kids 12:00 TBA 1:30 Footy Flashbacks 3:00 2014 AFL Premiership Season Richmond Vs Hawthorne 6:00 Seven News 6:30 TBA 11:00 Royal Pains: “Something Fishy This Way Comes” After a steamy ‘workout’ in the back of Harper’s car, Hank gets a call from Christina, but it’s of a professional, not personal, nature. 12:00 Dr Oz 1:00 Ningaloo - Where Ocean Giants Meet - Ningaloo - Where Ocean Giants Meet” Journey to one of the world’s most untapped natural wonders, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia’s largest coral reef and marine park. 2:00 Home Shopping 3:00 NBC Today 4:00 NBC Meet The Press 5:00 That ‘70s Show 5:30 Seven Early News
5:00 World News 1:00 Al Jazeera News 1:30 Wainwright Walks 2:00 Speedweek 4:00 2014 Superbike World Championship 4:30 UEFA Champions League Magazine 5:00 Subaru World Of Cycling 5:30 Road To The 2014 FIFA World Cup. Costa Rica, Netherlands, USA and Nigeria. 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Lost Worlds: The Other Pompeii 8:30 Life On Us 9:30 Fracking: The New Energy Rush - Geologist Iain Stewart investigates a new and controversial energy rush for the natural shale gas found deep underground. 10:30 Cycling: Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2014 1:00 Movie: “Letters to Father Jacob” - With few options, newly pardoned prisoner Leila agrees to work as an assistant to a blind pastor. 2.25 Movie: “Cafe Du Pont” - Based on the uncommon boyhood of French musician Pierre Perrot, from living under German occupation during World War Two to learning at the feet of philosophers at his parent’s café. 4:10 The Food Lovers’ Guide To Australia 4:40 Costa’s Arnhem Land Odyssey Bitesize 4:50 Luke Nguyen’s Greater Mekong Bitesize
MONDAY 28
SBS
6:00 ABC News Breakfast 9:30 ABC News Mornings 10:00 Backyard Science 10:15 Get Into Textiles 10:45 Atoms Alive 11:00 Big Ideas 12:00 ABC News With Ros Childs 1:00 Landline 2:00 Poh’s Kitchen 2:30 My Family 3:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 3:30 Midsomer Murders 5:00 Eggheads 5:30 ABC News: Early Edition 6:00 Grand Designs Revisited: Headcorn 6:55 Dream Build: Angophora House 7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 8:00 Australian Story 8:30 Four Corners 9:20 Media Watch 9:35 Q&A 10:35 Lateline 11:10 The Business 11:35 Changi: Seeing Is Believing 12:35 Movie: “Mickey One” (M,Adult Themes, Coarse Language) 2:05 Movie: “We Were Strangers” (M,Violence) 3:50 Movie: “Nurse Edith Cavell” (PG) 5.30 Eggheads: The Irregulars
6:00 Today 9:00 Global Shop Direct 10:00 Brand Developers 11:00 National Morning News 12:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 1:00 Movie: “Arthur” (AT, mcl) 3:00 National News Now 4:15 National Afternoon News 5:30 Hot Seat 6:00 National News 7:00 A Current Affair 7:30 TBA 12:00 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - ‘El Bulli’ - Tony travels to Spain’s Costa Brava to cook and dine with chef Ferran Adria at El Bulli before the ‘best restaurant in the world’ closes its doors for good. 1:00 Nitro Circus Live - New Zealand - Carnage ensues when Bilko steals a van to go downhill luging, and the world’s largest homemade water slide claims one of the athletes. 1:30 Extra 2:00 Brand Developers 3:30 Good Morning America 5:00 National Early Morning News / 5:30 Today
6:00 Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show 11:30 Seven Morning News 12:00 Movie: “Charlie Wilson’s War” (Cons Adv: V,D,L,N) The story of a Texas congressman’s covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels had long-reaching effects. TOM HANKS. 2:00 The Daily Edition 3:00 The Chase 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 Deal Or No Deal 5:30 Million Dollar Minute 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Home And Away 7:30 TBA 12:00 Talking Footy - Three-time premiership superstar Tim Watson and arguably the greatest player of all time Wayne Carey sit alongside host and Bulldogs champion Luke Darcy to dissect all the AFL news and issues on and off the football field. 1:00 Home Shopping 3:30 Sons & Daughters 4:00 NBC Today 5:00 Sunrise Extra 5:30 Seven Early News
5:00 World News 1:00 Heartbreak Science 2:05 First Australians 3:00 France 24 International News 3:30 Al Jazeera News 4:00 The Journal 4:30 FIFA Futbol Mundial 5:00 Living Black 5:30 Global Village 6:00 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 6:30 SBS World News 7:35 Mythbusters: Exploding Still/Moonshine Run 8:35 Vikings: Unforgiven 9:30 RocKwiz - Declan Melia, Olivia Bartley & Sweet Jean 10:30 SBS World News Late 11:00 The World Game 11:30 Clown - Royal Jester 12:00 Shorts On Screen - Death Of A Shadow 12:35 Movie: “53 Winter Days” M (L,N,V) Set in a bus station during winter, this is a powerful social drama that weaves together three different stories about loneliness. 2:15 Movie: “The Last Summer Of La Boyita ” M (A,N) - Young Jorgelina feels estranged from her boy-crazy older sister, who has entered adolescence and doesn’t want to hang around with little kids anymore. 3:50 My Mum Talks To Aliens
TUESDAY 29
7 CENTRAL
6:00 ABC News Breakfast 9:30 ABC News Mornings 10:00 Behind The News 10:25 Neue Freunde 10:30 Jung In Europa 10:40 La Mappa Misteriosa 11:00 Four Corners 11:45 Media Watch 12:00 ABC News With Ros Childs 1:00 Q&A 2:00 Poh’s Kitchen 2:30 My Family 3:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 3:30 Midsomer Murders 5:00 Eggheads 5:30 ABC News: Early Edition 6:00 Grand Designs: Isle Of Wight 6:50 What’s Your Story? - Doctor Electric 7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 8:00 Foreign Correspondent 8:30 New Tricks: Objects Of Desire 9:30 At The Movies 10:00 The Writer’s Room - New Girl 10:25 Lateline 11:00 The Business 11:30 Four Corners 12:15 Media Watch 12:30 Movie: “On Dangerous Ground” (,M,Violence) 1:55 Movie: “Rachel And The Stranger” 3:30 Rugby Union: Shute Shield: Round 5: Warringah V Sydney University 5:30 Eggheads: The JBs
6:00 Today 9:00 Danoz Direct 10:00 Brand Developers 11:00 National Morning News 12:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 1:00 Movie: “Moon” (Some Coarse Language) - Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon where he sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet’s power problems. 3:00 National News Now 4:15 National Afternoon News 5:30 Hot Seat 6:00 National News 7:00 A Current Affair 7:30 TBA 12:00 20/20 - 20/20 is news and current affairs show anchored by Elizabeth Varga and Chris Cuomo. 1:00 Extra - Co-hosts Mario Lopez and Maria Menounos reporting in front of a live audience from The Grove in Los Angeles. Catch up on all the latest in Hollywood’s current affairs as we find out what the world’s hottest stars have been up to this week. 1:30 Brand Developers 3:30 Good Morning America 5:00 National Early Morning News / 5:30 Today
6:00 Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show 11:30 Seven Morning News 12:00 Movie: “The People Next Door” (Cons Adv: A,V) When a mother leaves her violent husband and moves with her three daughters, things are gradually looking up. But soon it all starts to fall apart when she can’t trust those around her. 2:00 The Daily Edition 3:00 The Chase 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 Deal Or No Deal 5:30 Million Dollar Minute 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Home And Away 7:30 TBA 10:30 Botched Up Bodies 11:30 Smash: “The Surprise Party” 12:30 Harry’s Practice 1:00 Home Shopping 4:00 NBC Today 5:00 Sunrise Extra 5:30 Seven Early News
5:00 World News 1:00 Movie: The Colour Of Paradise 2:30 ADbc 3:00 France 24 International News 3:30 Al Jazeera News 4:00 The Journal 4:30 PBS Newshour 5:30 Global Village 6:00 Food Safari 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Antiques Uncovered - Ceremony 8:30 Insight 9:30 Dateline 10:30 SBS World News Late 11:00 The Killing: Sarah has found the chaplain, who’s wounded and she pursues the perpetrator. 12:10 East West 101 - A Prodigal Fear - Malik works with Agent Skerritt from the NSO to track down the car bomb killers. 1:10 Movie: “A Rational Solution ” - A smart, funny film made for adults. 3:00 The Circuit - Reading the Signs - Sam is back from looking after his son, and Drew and Bella’s relationship continues in secret. 4:00 Food Lovers Guide To Australia 4:30 UEFA Champions League 2013/2014
WEDNESDAY 30
IMPARJA
6:00 ABC News Breakfast 9:30 ABC News Mornings 10:00 My Place 11:00 One Plus One 11:30 Foreign Correspondent 12:00 ABC News With Ros Childs 12:30 National Press Club Address 1:30 Devil’s Island 2:00 Poh’s Kitchen 2:30 My Family 3:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 3:30 Midsomer murders 5:00 Eggheads 5:30 ABC News: Early Edition 6:00 Grand Designs: Kensington 6:50 The Checkout. 7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 8:00 Q1: Kit & Kaboodle 8:30 Spicks & Specks 9:00 The Agony of Modern Manners: Dining 9:30 The Kumars (M,Sexual References) 10:00 Would I Lie To You? The Unseen Bits 10:30 Lateline 11:05 The Business 11:30 Hustle 12:30 Movie: “Impact” (PG) Walter Williams’s wife falls in love with another man and the two of them plot her husband’s murder. 2:30 Football: VFL: Round 4 Essenden Vs Collingwood 5:30 Eggheads - Para Equestrian Drivers
6:00 Today 9:00 Danoz Direct 10:00 Brand Developers 11:00 National Morning News 12:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 1:00 Movie: “Risky Business” (Sex Scenes, Some Coarse Language) - Joel is a responsible trustworthy son who has been good for too long. Now it’s time for a change. Joel’s dotting parents are going on a vacation and leaving him in charge of the house. 3:00 National News Now 4:15 National Afternoon News 5:30 Hot Seat 6:00 National News 7:00 A Current Affair 7:30 TBA 12:00 Rizzoli & Isles - This Is How The Heart Breaks - When Maura meets a new guy named Dennis in a very unusual way, he opens up a different side of her. 1:00 EXTRA 1:30 Brand Developers 3:30 Good Morning America 5:00 National Early Morning News 5:30 Today
6:00 Sunrise 10:00 The Morning Show 11:30 Seven Morning News 12:00 Movie: “The End Of Eden” (Cons Adv: V) 2:00 The Daily Edition 3:00 The Chase 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 Deal Or No Deal 5:30 Million Dollar Minute 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Home And Away 7:30 TBA 8:30 TBA 9:30 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D - ”Providence” With Colonel Glenn Talbot now on their trail, Coulson and his team seek refuge in the last place anyone would look. 11:30 Defiance: “The Bride Wore Black” -The time for Christie McCawley and Alak Tarr’s wedding has arrived but Datak wants to call it off. 12:30 Dr Harry’s Practice 1:00 Home Shopping 3:30 Sons And Daughters 4:00 NBC Today 5:00 Sunrise Extra / 5:30 Seven Early News
5:00 World News 1:00 Insight 2:00 Dateline 3:00 France 24 International News 3:30 Al Jazeera News 4:00 The Journal 4:30 PBS Newshour 5:30 Global Village 6:00 My Family Feast 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Pilgrimage With Simon Reeve 8:35 One Born Every Minute - What Happened Next? 9:30 The Bridge 10:40 SBS World News Late 11:10 Movie: “Goethe! ” - In the vein of Shakespeare in Love and Amadeus, comes this charming take on Germany’s most famous literary genius and rebel starring Moritz Bleibtreu. M(A,S) 1:00 Movie: “The Big Dream” (N,V,L,S) - Michele Placido’s film tells of a love triangle set against the political turmoil and student protests in Italy in the late 1960s. 3:00 Aung San Suu Kyi: The Choice - One woman has come to symbolise the struggle of Burma’s people to be free. 4:00 Food Lovers Guide To Australia 4:30 UEFA Champions League 2013/2014
THURSDAY 01
ABC
6:00 ABC News Breakfast 9:30 ABC News Mornings 10:00 In My Shoes: China 10:10 What Makes Me Me? 10:15 My Great Big Adventure 10:35 Behind The News 11.00 Wonders Of The Universe 12:00 ABC News With Ros Childs 1:00 QI 1:30 The Kumars (M,Sexual References) 2:00 Poh’s Kitchen 2:30 My Family 3:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 3:30 Midsomer Murders 5:00 Eggheads 5:30 ABC News: Early Edition 6:00 Grand Designs: Braintree 6:55 Clarke And Dawe 7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 8:00 The Checkout - Factory Seconds 8:30 Call The Midwife 9:30 Assused: Tina’s Story 10:30 Lateline 11:05 The Business 11:35 Mummifying Alan: Egypt’s Last Secret 12:40 Movie: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold 2:30 Football: WAFL: Round 6: Claremont Vs Peel Thunder 5:30 Eggheads: Eggs Men
6:00 Today 9:00 Danoz Direct 10:00 Brand Developers 11:00 National Morning News 12:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 1:00 Movie: “Leap Year” Mild Coarse Language, Mild Violence - 3:00 National News Now 4:15 National Afternoon News 5:30 Hot Seat 6:00 National News 7:00 A Current Affair 7:30 TBA 8:40 The NRL Footy Show - Join Fatty Vautin, Michael Slater, Erin Molan, Beau Ryan and Darryl Brohman, along with the game’s biggest names for all the fun and all things footy in the show’s 21st year. 10:40 Two And A Half Men 11:10 Two And A Half Men 11:40 The AFL Footy Show 2:00 Brand Developers 3:30 Good Morning America 5:00 National Early Morning News / 5:30 Today
6:00 Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show 11:30 Seven Morning News 12:00 A Place To Call Home 2:00 The Daily Edition 3:00 The Chase 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 Deal Or No Deal 5:30 Million Dollar Minute 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Home And Away 7:30 TBA 8:00 Under The Hammer 11:30 Parks & Recreation “Article Two” Leslie works to get rid of out-dated laws from the original town charter that no longer make sense. 12:00 Dr Oz 1:00 Home Shopping 4:00 NBC Today 5:00 Sunrise Extra / 5:30 Seven Early News
7:00 World News 1:00 The Secret History of Eurovision 2:00 The Hotel Do Not Disturb 3:00 France 24 International News 3:30 Al Jazeera News 4:00 The Journal 4:30 PBS Newshour 5:30 Global Village 6:00 Island Feast With Peter Kuruvita 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Luke Nguyen’s France 8:00 French Food Safari 8:30 Fargo – The Crocodile’s Dilemma/The Rooster Prince **Special Double Episode New Series Premiere** 10:45 SBS World News Late 11:00 UEFA Champions League Highlights 11:30 Toughest Place To Be A... - Nurse 12:30 China: Triumph And Turmoil - Emperors 1:35 Movie: “Elite Squad” MAV(V D) - An ex-cop turned pimp is in financial trouble as several of his girls have recently disappeared without clearing their debts. 3:35 Afghanistan: The Great Game 4:35 Adbc Bitesize / 4:45 UEFA Europa League
5:30 Wesley Impact
12 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
CROSSWORD No. 195
SUDOKU No. 195
Your Lucky
Stars
ARIES (March 21st - April 20th) You may be tempted to do something that is quite dangerous. Unfortunately, you may not realise all the risks involved. Romance. An insight into your partner’s thinking will make it much easier to deal with them. Use this knowledge to your advantage in the near future.
TAURUS (April 21st - May 21st) You may feel tension within your family this week. Quickly get to the source of it so that you can move on with things. Romance. You will be extremely sensitive to changes in your partner’s emotional state. Remember, you need to remain strong so they have someone to lean on.
GEMINI (May 22nd - June 21st) A friend who is much older than you may put you in a bit of a dilemma as their point of view will be difficult to reconcile with your own values. Romance. If you use your time efficiently, you will be amazed at what you can achieve this week. Encourage your partner to pick up their pace
FOR KIDS
CANCER (June 22nd - July 23rd) You may have more work to do than you realise. You cannot do it all by yourself and must find a way to get more support from your colleagues. Romance. It may be a while before you can see the benefit of some recent relationship changes. Don’t be quick to judge circumstances.
LEO (July 24th - August 23rd)
A family secret may finally be revealed. This will help you to understand some recent history. You may feel a sense of closure. Romance. You will be very grateful for your partner’s support. It’ll be provided just when you need it. They will make time for you in their busy schedule this week.
VIRGO (August 24th - September 23rd) This will be a week when you should avoid stress as much as possible. Delegate responsibilities to colleagues where possible. Romance. A friend could have views of your relationship which seem a little old-fashioned. Don’t ignore everything that this person says, however.
FINDWORD No. 195
LIBRA (September 24th - October 23rd) There are a number of jobs which need doing around the house. Try to get a relative to help you complete some of these tasks. Romance. Try not to be too critical of your partner. Your standards may be much higher than theirs. Judging them will only hamper your relationship.
A LAUGH WITH LOTSA
SCORPIO (October 24th - November 22nd) This is not the best time to get into a dispute. Stay away from topics which you know might cause an argument with colleagues. Romance. If you make the effort this week to create an eventful moment for your partner, you won’t be disappointed. Be creative with what you choose!
For all your printing needs – www.lotsa.com.au
MUDDY RIVER
SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd - December 21st) You may need a little extra reassurance this week. Try not to “fish for compliments”, however. They will come to you if you wait a bit longer. Romance. Your partner will be with you all the way this week. You will be surprised how much you can do together without disagreeing.
CAPRICORN (December 22nd - January 20th) You will be trying to get your career goals into better focus. It is important that you develop a clear plan of how you expect to achieve your ambitions. Romance. You might be feeling a little pent-up this week. You need an outlet for your emotional energy. Meet new people!
AQUARIUS (January 21st - February 19th)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“
“
Open your eyes,
look within. Are you
satisfied with the life you’re living?
Bob Marley
SOLUTIONS No. 195
Try to be as easy-going as possible this week. This would not be a good time to touch on any sore points. Romance. If you are past the “honeymoon stage” in your relationship, try to do small things to bring you back to that point. Call each other just to chat or leave them cute notes..
PISCES (February 20th - March 20th) You may feel left out this week. Do your best to call friends and set some times to meet up with one another. You’ll feel better if you do! Romance. Your own needs are important, as well as those of your partner. You’ll need to sit down together and discuss your wishes.
Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 13
Specialising in roadworks, subdivisions, clearing, driveways, dams and rockwalls. • 8, 12, 21, 23 and 26 Tonne Excavators • Grader, Backhoes, Rollers, Dozer • Float, Roadtrain Sidetippers and Water Trucks
Contact us on 0408 181 894 or 4069 6407
BUTCHERS
MEAT PACK S available or create your own pack!
“Mouth Watering Meats”
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm Monday to Thursday 8am to 2pm, Friday and 8am to noon Saturday FREE Delivery to the Cooktown area!
CONCRETING
BSA: 12141087
call us 1800 4895 00 or email us ads@cooktown localnews.com.au
$45/wk Colour • $30/wk Mono for a 6-month booking (GST inclusive)
Call 1300 4895 00 or email ads@cooktownlocalnews.com.au to book your advertisement
BRACKENHURST CONCRETING
• All aspects of concreting and civil work • Houses, sheds and driveways • Decorative and exposed concrete • Spraycrete and concrete grinding Nick Prendergast Phone: 0429 923 400
PEST CONTROL
COOKTOWN
PO Box 317 Cooktown 4895
Bart and John Harrison • New installations/additions and repair work
PEST PEST CONTROL ABN: 37 495 170 374 Mitigation Permit: WIMP01346103
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
ph/fax: 4069 5289 – mob: 0427 695 289
EQUIPMENT HIRE
C&D ENTERPRISES
SNAKES Removed/Identified JIM SYMES
••Annual Annual Inspections Inspections ••Domestic Domestic and and Commercial Commercial Pre-purchase ••Pre-purchase Inspection Inspection Preand andPost Post ••Pre Construction Construction Physical ••Physical & Chemical &Barrier Chemical Barrier
3019•(ph/fax) mobile 04270427 818818 462462 Ph:4060 4060 3019 Fax: 4060or 3017 • Mobile:
PLUMBING • Bobcat hire and attachments • Excavator hire and attachments • Telehandler and attachments
Cameron Orchard ph/fax 4069 5309 mob 0407 695 309
EARTHMOVING & CONCRETE
Attention-seeking space seeks like-minded advertiser THIS COLOUR SPACE COSTS ONLY $45 PER WEEK* Email ads@cooktownlocalnews.com.au or call 1300 4895 00 *CONDITIONS APPLY – GST inclusive – Minimum 6 month booking. $30 per week Mono.
0417 002 143
can’t see your ad here?
COLOUR!
ELECTRICIANS / ELECTRICAL
Shop 3, 1 Muni St, Hopevale • Ph: 4060 9392 Fax: 4060 9342 • Email: hopevalebutchery@bigpond.com
trades & services directory
All aspects of earthmoving – Experienced and professional operators
New Equipment... Now in Cooktown
Bulk sides of Lamb, Beef and Pork available ~ Trawler bulk orders most welcomed
in the
Advertise HERE in
ABRASIVE BLASTING
Phone 4069 5412 or Mobile 0400 695 177
PAINTERS
EARTHMOVING
ABRASIVE BLASTING
Licence number 12261
you’ll find your local tradie here
trades & services directory
• Concrete – Earthmoving & Civil Works – Building Pads – Subdivisions – Driveways – Trenches – Post Holes – Clearing – Drainage – Demolition • Plumbing & Pool Preparation – Raw Materials & Cartage – Rock & Tree Removal • Small & Large Excavators & Attachments – Bobcats – Tip Trucks – Water Carts – Rollers – Tag & Dog Trailers Local multi-skilled operators providing you a competant, reliable & hassle-free service in Earthmoving & Civil Works
Nadine & Steve Scholz • PO Box 964 Cooktown Q 4895 admin@cooktowncivilgroup.com cooktowncivilgroup
EARTHMOVING
DELAHUNTY PLANT HIRE
ROOFING
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED Specialising in: • Land clearing • Rock walls • Driveways • Dams • Road construction • Bulk earthmoving
FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES AND QUALITY WORK
Call Mick 0411 985 507 or 4069 6721 Advertise your business in the Trades and Services Section Call 1300 4895 00 or email ads@cooktownlocalnews.com.au to book your advertisement.
14 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
FENCING
Kingfisher
FENCING
Timber – pine or hardwood Glass Gates Aluminium Security Retaining walls Gramline / Colourbond New house lots a speciality PHONE GREG
Licensed Contractor QBSA 1093073
0428 128 044
4098 1866
Advertise your business Call 1300 4895 00 or 4098 2281
2005 MANUAL COROLLA hatch, 57,000 klms, one owner, very good condition, log books, registered to November, 2014. $8000. Contact 4069 5802.
TRADES COOKTOWN Skip Bins. Commercial and domestic rubbish removal and disposal. Ph 4069 5545 or 0408 772 361.
MOTELS CAIRNS Rainbow Inn. 3½ star, all facilities including cable TV. Close to the city, from $65 per night. Ph 4051 1022.
PUBLIC NOTICE
TOWING / TYRES
TOWING - TYRES - MECHANICAL OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
GENERAL TOWING – Special local & Cooktown to Cairns rates TYRES – Cars, Utes, 4x4’s and Trucks – most sizes MECHANICAL REPAIRS & SERVICING – All makes & models, 2WD & 4WD
Cooktown Towing, Tyres & Mechanical Ferrari Street (behind Mobil S/S) Cooktown
Phone: 4069 5545 • Mobile: 0408 772 361
TREELOPPING
STANDBY Response Service. Support and information for people bereaved by suicide. Ph 0439 722 266. 24 hours – 7 days per week.
PUBLIC NOTICE CIVIL celebrant Kathleen Roberts. Naming Ceremonies, Marriages, Funeral Co-ordination. 4069 5004 or 0427 695 004
ELLIS BEACH
The Wildlife Rescue emergency number is manned by volunteers 24 H hours a day, 7 days a week. We will H AT THE assess the animal and, depending on H SOVEREIGN that RESORT HOTEL assessment, take the animal to H a vet or a wildlife foster carer. We are seeking a dynamic and reliable Chef. H Email: fnqwr@bigpond.com Applicants must have a passion for food, H Web: www.fnqwildliferescue.org.au H customer service, work well under pressure and most importantly be part of a team. H Send resumes to info@sovereignresort.com.au H or drop off at Reception. H
WORKSHOPS FOR LEASE
;;3;months;free;rent;on;signing;for;minimum;12;;;;;;; ; months;fixed-term;lease. ;;Individually;metered;electricity,;water;and;;; ; telephone. ;;Deals;available;to;suit;your;requirements;on;; ; size;and;price. ;;Excellent;exposure;to;MacMillan;Street;∧; ; ; Endeavour;Road. CONTACT;OWNER;FOR;DEALS;AND;INSPECTION; 0428;274;462;or;Agent;07;4069;5775
Optometrist visiting
Ocular health Eyesight testing Glaucoma assessment Diabetic sight analysis Contact Lens Consultations
Penrite Oil Agent
Enquiries: 0457 098 582
Rubbish removal and disposal Ph: 4069 5545 or 0408 772 361
Steel and Aluminium supplies • Welding Fabrication: steel, alloy, stainless, site work • Guillotine, Bender, Roller: pipe threading and bending • Machining: lathe, milling • Hydraulics: hose repairs • Bolts, welding equipment • Metroll products, perlins, iron by order • Marine: boat, trailer, outboard repairs, parts and oils
An exciting and challenging opportunity exists for an Eastern Kuku Yalanji person to join Jabalbina Management team as the IPA Manager. Reporting directly to the CEO responsibilities for this role include: • Monitoring funding • Assisting in writing of grant applications • Overseeing the Jabalbina Ranger Program • Managing IPA governance arrangements • Building strong relationships with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people and various stakeholders The successful applicant must have a strong cultural knowledge, good communication skills, demonstrated project management skills and a current C-class licence, 4WD experience essential. For a copy of the selection criteria or for more information contact Phoebe: phoebe@hrdynamics.com.au
www.csiro.au
Quiz questions
1. Which is the biggest species of the cat family? 2. What is the difference between a dwarf planet and a planet? 3. What happens when you put potassium metal into a cup of water? 4. Are ghost nets: a) traps for catching ghosts, b) fishing nets made from almost invisible threads, c) fishing nets that have been lost at sea? 5. Which species of plant has the largest seed?
To subscribe to Double Helix go to www.csiro.au/helix-subscribe or call 02 6276 6643
220 MacMillan St, Cooktown
Ph Phil 4069 5224 or Mob 0417 776 524
Turtle Rescue
Yuku-Baja-Muliku Rangers are offering their services to assist with any sick or injured Marine Turtles found. We encourage contact with us at any time to implement a speedy recovery for these beautiful creatures to enable a better chance of rehabilitation.
Please contact our office on (07) 4069 6957 or Larissa - 0432 283 357 / Mick - 0408 577 193. Yuku Baja Muliku Landowner & Reserves Ltd • Archer Point Land Trust • www.archerpoint.com.au Ph: (07) 4069 6957 ~ Fax: (07) 4069 6501 • PO Box 1011 Cooktown QLD 4895 Turtle Rescue is supported by
IndIgenous Protected AreA (IPA) MAnAger
DOUBLE HELIX science quiz
CAPE YORK ENGINEERING COOKTOWN MARINE
Cooktown Skip Bins
Love you always Tania, Paddy, Kim & Glen
CHEf POSITION
Sunday, april 27 All money raised goes to needy, local families
To hear your voice and see your smile, To catch up and talk for a while. Gone is the face we loved so dear, Quietly remembered everyday. No longer in our life to share, But in our hearts you’re always there.
4053 4467
Eyedentity Optical phone: (07) 4033 7575
Opens at 9.30am
T: 1300 4895 00, 4098 2281 M: 0419 828 639 E: ads@cooktownlocalnews.com.au
ADVERTISE YOUR GARAGE SALE HERE! Email your line classified through to ads@ cooktownlocalnews.com.au or call 1300 4895 00.
NED OSTatPO9.30am POpens DUE TO ITA...
...It’s back on!
To ensure that consumers locating contractors through advertisements published are protected, and that licensed contractors are not being disadvantaged, the Building Services Authority requires that all advertisers • state their name and BSA licence number on their advertisement or • state words to the effect “cannot perform building work valued at more than $3,300”. Non-compliance with these requirements may result in the advertiser receiving a warning or a fine from the BSA. If you do not meet the above requirements in your present advertisement, please contact the Cooktown Local News as soon as possible with your details.
SALE
Visiting regularly
Sunday, April 13
Attention: Trades & Services Advertisers
What do I do if I find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife? Call FNQ Wildlife Rescue on (07)
Servicing Cooktown since 1997
OL’ SKOOL MOTORCYCLE SHOW
Andrew Hill 30.07.69 – 24.4.03
GARAGE SALE
News Cooktown Local
Photo: Michael Amendolia
MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE
Quiz answers
STORAGE SHEDS
CLASSIFIEDS
1. Tigers are the biggest species in the cat family. They can reach a length of up to 3.3 metres. 2. Planets have cleared other objects from their path around the Sun, while dwarf planets orbit in zones of similar objects such as the asteroid belt. 3. Potassium will catch fire or explode when added to water. 4. c) Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost at sea. 5. Coco de mer palms have the largest seed. The ‘coconut of the sea’ can be 30 centimetres in length.
trades & services directory
I G HT S E R O T RES $2 5 T S U J R FO 4 O UT O F
5P
HO ARE EOPLE W
BLIND DO
N’T NEED
TO BE
DONATE NOW
1800 352 352
HOLLOWS.ORG.AU
Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 15
CLASSIFIEDS/COMMUNITY
Additional assistance for our community
Want to get involved in the 2015 Cooktown Show?
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Saturday, April 26
Workshop and meeting with Qld Shows CEO Mark Bryant 10.00am to 4.00pm - lunch provided
Sunday, April 27
Formation of a show society 9.30am to 12 noon - morning tea provided * Dates corrected from those published in last week’s Cooktown Local News At the
PCYC
Cooktown Events Centre
Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, and Queensland Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Jack Dempsey, announced on Wednesday, April 23, that further assistance is being provided to communities hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone Ita.
Safety Reconnection Scheme has also been made available to residents in the areas of Ayton, Bloomfield, Cooktown, Helenvale, Laura and Rossville in the Cook Shire, the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire and the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire,” Mr Dempsey said.
Additional assistance is being provided for the local government areas of Cook Shire, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire, under the jointly funded Commonwealth and State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
“As communities start to clean up and recover from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Ita, we will continue to work proactively to ensure assistance is targeted to those in most need.”
“Emergency assistance has been extended to the areas of Ayton, Bloomfield, Helensvale, Rossville and Lizard Island within the Cook Shire to assist individuals and families with immediate needs such as food, clothing and accommodation, and costs associated with the removal of debris around homes, household repairs and rebuilding, and the replacement of essential household items,” Mr Keenan said.
3 May Street
For details or to RSVP (for catering purposes) contact Cook Shire Council’s Economic Development and Community Services team on 4069 5444 or mail@cook.qld.gov.au
“The Essential Services
Local Federal Member Warren Entsch has welcomed the additional support for his community. “This assistance will help support individuals and families within our local community as they start the recovery process in the wake of Cyclone Ita,” Mr Entsch said. “This additional assistance is over and above the support already being provided to the 16 local government areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Ita under the joint Commonwealth and State Arrangements,” Mr Keenan said.
• For information on concessional interest rate loans for primary producers, visit the Queensland Government’s QRAA website at www.qraa.qld.gov. au. • For information on freight subsidies for primary producers, visit the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website at: www.daff.qld.gov.au/environment/disaster-andemergency-assistance/ agency-disaster-support/ relief-assistance-freightsubsidies. • For information on all other assistance measures, contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www. qld.gov.au/community. • Additional information can be found on the Queensland Government’s Disaster Management website at www.disaster. qld.gov.au or the Australian Government Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au.
COOKTOWN MULTI PURPOSE HEALTH SERVICE – MAY 2014 MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
2
Dentist (C/H)
Dentist (C/H)
9
5
6
7
8
Dr Hanson (Hosp)
Dentist (C/H) Dr Hanson (Hosp)
Baby Clinic & Immunisation (C/H) Dr Hanson (Hosp)
Dentist (C/H) Dr Hanson (Hosp)
12
13
14
15
16
Dr Gynther (M/H)
Dentist (C/H) ENT (Hosp)
Baby Clinic & Immunisation (C/H) ENT (Hosp)
Dentist (C/H) Dr Gynther (M/H) ENT (Hosp)
Dentist (C/H)
19
20
21
22
23
Dr Thomas (Hosp)
Dentist (C/H)
Baby Clinic & Immunisation (C/H)
Dentist (C/H)
26
27
28
29
30
Eye Team (C/H)
FROGS (Hosp) Eye Team (C/H)
FROGS (Hosp) Dr McLean (C/H) Podiatrist (C/H)
Dentist (C/H) Dr Vincent (C/H)
Dentist (C/H)
VISITING SPECIALISTS: COMMUNITY HEALTH Dr. Bart:
Dentist
Dr Vincent: Thoracic clinic Dr McLean: Endocrine clinic Eye Team:
Ophthalmologist & Optometrist
John Burrie: Podiatrist
HOSPITAL Dr Thomas: Surgeon Dr Hanson: General Physician ENT: Ear, Nose & Throat FROGS: Obstetrician & Gynaecologist MENTAL HEALTH Dr Gynther: Psychiatrist
16 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
Your Medicare and Health Care/Pension cards will be required each time you visit the Health Service. To see any of the above Specialists you will require a doctor's referral, and then make appointments through the Hospital on 4043 0100, or Community Health on 4043 0170.
OUTREACH CLINICS:
Hope Vale Women's Health NP May 7, 13, 14, 21, 27, 28 Dentist May 7, 14, 21, 28 Psychiatrist May 13
Wujal Wujal Women’s Health NP May 5, 6, 12, 19, 20, 26 Dentist May 5, 19 Psychiatrist May 14
COMMUNITY
Ita – A poem by Tash Collins Severe tropical cyclone Ita, You were a cat five. Heading straight towards us, you were... Making us wonder” will we make it thru alive?” 11/4/14, you came roaring in to town, Thankfully, you hit Cape Flattery first! Before you hit Cooktown. What a mess you have left us, Here in your wake...
Trees uprooted, fences smashed... Sheds moved to different addresses, Even the pub roof is trashed! The power went off, It was a long, tiring night... We bunkered down in our homes. Hell! You gave us a fright! Yet after all the wind and the rain... The flying debris, the tears and the pain.
Gardening
Our true Aussie Spirit, Will shine thru again!
with MICHELLE HODGKISS
Could chocolate be good for us?
Clean up we will, Rebuild, live and love. We will fix all the fences, We’ll even fix the pub! Neighbour will help neighbour... It’s the True Aussie Way. Patience is needed though, remember... Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Story and photo by CHLOE DYCE
with Marty Pattie
Nature’s flashy foliage SO now that everyone’s garden has had the living suitcase thrashed out of it, after the tidy up it might be time to add something with a bit of flair. Here in the tropics we are blessed with so many plants whose foliage oozes pizzazz. Aglaonema are commonly called Chinese evergreens and are a very common tropical plant. They are an incredibly hardy clumping species that is popular as an indoor plant. Normally coming in emerald and silver variegations, there are now also newer hybrid varieties with more splashes of reds, burgundy and sun-kissed hues of gold. They can go in a pot on the verandah table, light up a dull corner of a room or plant out in a spot sheltered from the harsh sun (if you still have a canopy), though they do tolerate a wide range of light, are happily neglected and suffer very few pests. Love ‘em! If you like your foliage with a bit of funk, then go no further than the herringbone plant, or for the more linguistically endowed Maranta leuconeura erythroneura. This gets its common name from the distinctive and attractive markings on the foliage, and also makes a great potted specimen. It is also called the prayer plant because the leaves close up at night and re-open in the morning. They are a native of Brazil, and were named after 16th century Italian botanist Bartolomeo Maranta, or more commonly known as “The Bartman of Brazil”. Coming from the same family as the Maranta is the Stromanthe sanguinea Triostar. One of the gems of the tropics, this plant with its
erratic and eclectic mix of creams, pinks and emeralds gives its foliage an amazing uniqueness. The colourful leaves are oblong, thick and glossy and wherever it sits it will demand attention. Can be mass planted or shown off as a single specimen. Some unsightly browning of the foliage can occur with stromanthe, which may be caused by lower humidity or dryer poor soil. I’ve also read unconfirmed reports that fluoridated water can also cause this browning. They can be easily propagated by root division. One of my favourites is commonly called the Persian shield, or Strobilanthes dyerianus. Not many plants offer such a splash of bright metallic purple, green and silver. It rambles through a semi-shaded area once established, and whilst it is recommended to offer Strobilanthes some protection, I have seen it grow quite happy in full sun (in the ground, not in a pot). A native of Burma, it produces small tubular blue flowers, yet is primarily grown for its flashy foliage. A special! Plants, like all living things, appreciate some form of feeding. Plants with showy foliage enjoy regular liquid fertilizing, particularly bloom booster types that are higher in potassium (k) and phosphorus (p). More often and at lower doses is a good fertilising regime or put simply: weakly weekly.
Living Well
IF you’re like me, your fridges are still packed full of chocolate leftover from Easter. When it comes to chocolate, we are spoilt for choice. It can be found in a variety of shapes, flavours and textures. While some are not so good for us, others have been found to have a number of nutrients that promote good health. Chocolate contains a number of nutrients including calcium, zinc, and magnesium. But it is the potent antioxidants known as catechin and epicatechin in cacao (the un-refined chocolate base product) that earns chocolate its health properties. The darker the chocolate or higher the percentage of cocoa, the likelihood of higher antioxidant activity, this is because these naturally occurring plant chemicals are found in the part of the plant that is preserved during the processing of dark chocolate. Antioxidants are also found in other fruits and vegetables and have been widely studied for the health protection they may offer against Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. While chocolate may have some health properties, it does contain other components that are not good for you when consumed in large quantities, including fat and sugar. Chocolate falls into the “discretionary choices” food group because it is considered not to be nec-
essary for a healthy diet. These foods should be eaten only occasionally. A well-balanced diet that includes eating a variety of foods such as vegetables, fruits, wholegrain cereals, legumes, dairy products and lean meats is recommended. Tips to enjoy chocolate within a balanced diet: • Portion control; • Choose dark chocolate varieties; and • Aim for quality not quantity. • Savour the flavour and resist the urge for going back for more. One of my favourite chocolate recipes is a cup of “Spiced Chilli Hot Chocolate”.
Spiced Chilli Hot Chocolate Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of cacao powder; 1 tablespoon of sweetener of your choice, I have used coconut sugar; ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder; Pinch of chili powder. Adjust to your taste!.; and 250ml of milk. Method: • Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium to low heat; • Add cacao, sweetener, stirring until dissolved, ensuring milk does not burn; • Add chili, and stir through; and • Once the mixture is heated through, remove from heat and pour into you favourite mug. Different? Interesting? Enjoy!
Pics, top to bottom: 1: Stromanthe sanguinea Triostar. 2 & 3: Herringbone Plant - Maranta. 4: Aglaonema. 5: Strobilanthes - the Persian shield. Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 17
SPORT
Pope prepares for world championships By Mark Bousen
championships in Malaysia next week.
JOE Pope, not surprisingly, is running the complete bag of emotions as he prepares for the World Muay Thai
“I’m feeling pretty good, excited, a little bit nervous and confident, of course,” Joe told the Cooktown Local News
Marlin Coast Veterinary Surgery Will be visiting Cooktown WedneSday, May 14 from 2pm and ThurSday, May 15 until 12 noon Clinic is at the CWA rooms FOR APPOINTMENTS PLEASE PHONE
Sylvia Geraghty 4069 5337 or Clinic 4057 6033 Appointments are essential
Country Road Coachlines CAIRNS TO COOKTOWN ~ Passenger and freight ~
EXPRESS BUS SERVICE
Bus Services
INLAND RUN DEPARTS CAIRNS
Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun at 7am – Arrives Cooktown 11.45am
DEPARTS COOKTOWN
Wed, Fri, Sun at 1.30pm – Arrives Cairns 6pm Sat at 12.30pm – arrives Cairns 5pm
COASTAL RUN DEPARTS CAIRNS
Mon, Wed and Fri at 7am
DEPARTS COOKTOWN
Tues, Thurs and Sat at 7.30am
AGENTS
COOKTOWN (Photo Shop) 4069 5446 BLOOMFIELD (Ayton Store) 4060 8125 LAKELAND (Mobil Roadhouse) 4060 2188
Bus Service and Airport Shuttle Bus Bookings essential: 7 days 4069 5446 ‘Travel with the Local Boy’
Owned and operated by Allan Harlow
• The schedule is subject to change or to cancel without notice • Child fares • Student fares • Pensioner rates (not available on Saturdays)
this week. “But you always have to be confident in yourself.” Joe flies out next week with the Australian team to contest the world titles, involving fighters from more than 100 countries. The fighter with the best knockout-to-win ratio in the history of the Cooktown Full Boar Club, Joe faces an unknown schedule at the titles. Joe, 15, has been fighting for four years, and boasts a record of 17 fights, for 14 wins, with seven by knockout. He doesn’t know who he’ll be meeting first up in the Under 60kg division where he could be spotting as much as three years in age to his opponents. And under the testing conditions of the titles, each fight is a winnertakes-all format. The winner progresses to the next round, while the loser is eliminated. Joe could have as many as seven or eight fights if he is to reach the final during the twoweek titles, with contests of three, three-minute rounds. But Joe has left nothing to chance, having spent the two weeks recently at the world-renowned Legacy Gym at Boracay in the Philippines. “We worked really hard; we did lots and lots of kicking every day. We’d finish a session with about 100 kicks and 200 knees up. “It was really good.” And the hard work hasn’t relented since his return, training twice a day under Vince Parkes. “I train for 1½ hours in the morning and 2½ hours at night.” Training includes jogging, pads, technique and grappling sessions.
Joe believes his primary weapons will be his strength, punches and elbows. “Kicks are good, but I don’t think I’ll be kicking much; my strengths are my punches and elbows.” He also has a philosophical edge to the titles. “I’m really looking forward to the experience and what I’ll be when I come back.” Joe qualified for the titles last year when he scored three, first-round knockouts, as a 14 year old in the Under 18 division. Only the national champions are eligible to compete. Trainer Vince Parkes is confident Joe can do well. “I’d love to see him win a title, but I’m confident he can win some bouts.” Australia is ranked lowly in the world, with the Eastern European countries dominating the sport. This is the first time Australia has entered an official team as it sets out to climb the international rankings. Vince says Joe’s punching is his main asset. “He has big, fast hands and powerful elbows. “The club is really excited for Joe,” he said. Full Boar Gym returned with a one win/ one loss from Townsville on the weekend that Cyclone Ita was wreaking havoc. Joe had an ideal preparation for the World Games with a split points decision in the Under 60kg division against Corey Tunbridge from the Pit Gym, of Western Australia. Corey has had half Joe’s fight experience but comes from a tough gym
and trains with up-and -coming champion Toby Smith, who fights Australia’s most-decorated world champion, “John” Wayne Parr on the Gold Coast later this year. Joe dominated through powerful arms and elbows on the WA fighter’s head, and unleashing jumping push kicks to the mid-section. “It was a good final hit-out for the World Games,” Vince said. “You can see the improvement in the gym since that bout.” Storm Damschke was first fight of the night, against Jayden Rohan from Fight Firm Townsville in the Under 60kg division. It was a hard close fight, with the moreexperienced Jayden, coming off a tough loss against a Thai in his last fight, taking the win in a unanimous points decision. Vince Parkes said he was “really happy” with both boys’ performance. That was only Storm’s second fight, and against a a well-credentialled opponent. “He’ll learn a great deal from that bout, but I was pleased with his effort.” Both boys nursed some injuries in the next few days, and it took another three days to get back to Cooktown after the cyclone with flood-
ing between Townsville and Ingham delaying the team. Vince added that Joe’s trip overseas was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Al from FV Jebrondy. “Without the support of Al and all the other locals who patronise our club by coming to training, supporting raffles and local clubs such as the RSL Memorial Club and Cooktown Bowls Club, who also sponsor us, and of course coming along to our fight nights, Full Boar wouldn’t oper-
ate and we wouldn’t be able to give our young athletes the opportunities that they currently get,” he said. Top: Joe Pope and Corey Tunbridge before their fight. Centre: Storm Damschke and Jayden Rohan in a clinch against the ropes. Bottom: Storm Damschke ‘sealing the ropes’ before his bout with Jayden Rohan.
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Tuxworth & Woods Carriers 18 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
Established more than 30 years
SPORT
Moses sets a tough trail to follow in the wake of Cyclone Ita
The Happy Hashers were smiling prior to their bush bashing session on Monday afternoon.
Hash Trash This week’s hash was already the second one after Cyclone Ita, but there is still a lot of damage to clear up. Moses was the hare, and he started out by getting as much Hash muscle as he could conscript to roll a tree trunk onto the fire. That about finished the clearing up at his place. The trail started off across his neighbour’s blocks, skirting
fallen trees and giving everyone wet feet from the grass. Back out on the road, the paper led along Schwartz Street to a check. Here the pack milled around until Fingerling found paper on a bush path. The pack would normally have rushed along the path like a dose of salts, but now they had to clamber over fallen trees and branches. Slow work, and they were glad to emerge on the main road again. Then they could follow some fresh quad bike trails through the bush, taking in magnificent views over the Annan mouth and eventually finding their way home. It was cool and windy as GM Thermo called the circle to order. First she welcomed Animal back – we have not seen him for years. Then there was Mislain who is back in town for a flying visit, and Nostrildumass who is celebrating yet another birthday.
Fakawe celebrated her 28 carton run – 672 Mondays – and that was good. What was not so good was that she managed to get on the wrong side of the Chinese immigration department and was almost interned as an illegal arrival. Thermo had a double dose of bad luck (her 1313 run), and No-Name Alan was again done for carrying a mobile on the run. Then it was time for another YoYo spread, this time of traditional Polish Easter food. Very tasty, as was the dessert (F*&t was made even happier by a litre of custard, just for him). We all had trouble walking back to our cars. Next week’s run is at Nostrildumass’s. Just turn up at 5:30 Monday 28th to join in. Call Moses on 4069 5854 / 0409 686 032 for details. On-on! Lye Bak
Pitch in then pad up for a game on Saturday THE Cooktown Cricket Association is looking to revive the traditional ANZAC cricket match on Saturday, but volunteers will be needed for a working bee to spruce up the Queens Gardens after the battering it took from Tropical Cyclone Ita. Spokesman Wal Welsh said the tradition for many years, was playing the RAAF from Townsville (the 35th SQN originally, then the 38th later) on the ANZAC Day long weekend. But with the RAAF contingent not attending march in recent years, there have been no games. Wal said it is his idea to replace that game with a local Remembrance Match for all the guys who have passed over the years. “That way, the memorial matches we usually play during the year can be rolled into one on the ANZAC Day weekend,” he said. “If the RAAF do come back, the theme can stay as the remembrance, I’m sure they wont mind. “No one gets forgotten then, and I’m sure as time goes on, the honour board would get more names on it.” He said the honour board is yet to be made. Following Ita’s visit, Wal went to the cricket ground the day where he saw trees down eve-
Paul the burglar wins two competitions In the Bunker
Hopefully everyone managed to survive Cyclone Ita with not too much damage to their property (I’ve still got a tree on my house!). When the bitch hit, she really did hit. My virginity has now been broken as I survived my first and hopefully last cyclone.
Our notorious burglar, Paul Haley, pulled it off the week leading up to Cyclone Ita hitting and won the Sovereign Resort Sunday 9-Hole competition and the Italian Restaurant Weekly competition. Will Lawton also cleaned up in the runner up position in both competitions.
The course suffered only minor damage with obviously lots of trees, branches and foliage everywhere. I managed to save the clock which has blown off the pole in the club house which was in the middle of the 1st fairway and Cyclone Ita hit the club house at 12:37pm. The clock will stay in its original posi-
tion as a reminder that we survived and a new clock with the proper time will be put underneath. When I first saw the course early Saturday morning my first thought was holy heck, how we are going to clean this mess up but with a little help from fantastic members who have come out to give Phil a hand, the course is slowly getting back into the way Phil had it … pristine! Thanks to Graham Franke, Graham and Alice Burton, Don and Ian Keller, Pete Russell, Andy Hartwig, Barry Morgan, Will Lawton, Julie Sauer, Mark Rolan, Mick Mason and Wal
Welsh for coming out and giving us a hand. I know the majority of members will not be happy that the infamous ‘Magnet’ tree is now gone! Phil and our volunteers have pretty much gotten all the big debris off the fairways and have placed them in piles in the rough and hazards and bit by bit Phil and Graham Franke are going around with the tractor to pick the piles up. Obviously this is a huge task and can’t all be done at once so we ask for your patience during the clean up process. Phil has placed the flags back in the holes and hopefully this week
he will be able to mow the tees so we can put the tee signs and markers back in. The Italian Restaurant competition for this week is a Stroke which is being played off the Red tees and although the signs and markers are not out, all members pretty much well know where they were originally so why not towards the end of the week come out for a hit. Again, thank you for all who have come out to give us a hand. It is very appreciated. Happy golfing everyone Kelly
rywhere, a hole punched through the roof of the club house and some structural damage. Wal’s plan is to incorporate a working bee followed by a match between two teams afterward. “Sport is good for people to clear their minds and enjoy themselves
and I think we all need that with what’s happened around here lately,” he said. So, if you are looking for a game on Saturday, just turn up at the Queens Gardens and pitch in with the working bee, after which you can take to the pitch for this the first of what could be an annual event.
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Tide times Cooktown NOTE: these are predictions only, subject to change due to prevailing weather conditions. It is recommended you use this table as a guide only. Information from www.bom.gov.au/ australia/tides/ - select "Around Cairns" red tag, then select Cooktown from the list.
Fri 25 Apr
Tue 29 Apr
Low 12:08 am 0.86 m High 6:25 am 2.73 m Low 12:51 pm 0.63 m High 6:54 pm 2.48 m
Low 2:57 am 0.91 m High 8:44 am 2.41 m Low 3:03 pm 0.50 m High 9:28 pm 2.74 m
Sat 26 Apr Wed 30 Apr Low 12:53 am 0.79 m High 7:02 am 2.74 m Low 1:25 pm 0.52 m High 7:33 pm 2.64 m
Low 3:40 am 1.05 m High 9:17 am 2.21 m Low 3:36 pm 0.61 m High 10:09 pm 2.64 m
Sun 27 Apr Thu 1 May Low 1:35 am 0.77 m High 7:36 am 2.68 m Low 1:57 pm 0.46 m High 8:11 pm 2.74 m
Low 4:25 am 1.21 m High 9:49 am 2.00 m Low 4:07 pm 0.76 m High 10:52 pm 2.49 m
Mon 28 Apr Fri 2 May Low 2:16 am 0.81 m High 8:10 am 2.57 m Low 2:30 pm 0.45 m High 8:50 pm 2.77 m
Low 5:17 am 1.37 m High 10:13 am 1.79 m Low 4:36 pm 0.93 m High 11:41 pm 2.34 m
MOON PHASES NEW MOON Tuesday, Apr 29. Time: 16.14
FIRST QUARTER Wed, May 7. Time: 13.15
FULL LAST MOON QUARTER Thursday, May 15. Wed, May 21. Time: 05.16 Time: 22.59
Marine radio channels:
21 and 16
Weather Watch Endeavour Valley rainfall total April: 338.8 mm
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Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014 – 19
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Race club weighs up Ita’s handicap
According to Cooktown Amateur Turf Club Treasurer Barry Innes, the toilets at the Cooktown Race Course wil have to be replaced after sustaining this damage during Tropical Cyclone Ita. Photos: GARY HUTCHISON. THE Cooktown Amateur Turf Club will require significant financial assistance to rebuild and repair the racecourse and its amenities after Tropical Cyclone Ita tore through the complex the weekend before last. Secretary Barry Innes said the toilet block sustained the most damage and would have to replaced. “You could almost call them ‘open air’ toilets”, Barry said. “The roofs have been torn off and the sides have caved in.” Structural damage was also caused to half the old horse stalls, along with the jockey’s room and minimal damage to the residence there. And on the course itself, about 300 metres of running rails were torn down in the wind. “There are trees everywhere, it’s really very depressing,” Barry said. But what of the club house? “Amazingly, that’s OK,” he said. While the club does have some old building materials which will help with some of the repairs, what is avail-
able falls far short of what is needed. “The toilets are beyond repair, they definitely have to be replaced,” he said. However, it is not only the immediate damage causing consternation, it’s the club’s ability to run fund raising functions. “There’s a function booked very shortly, but that’s going to have be be cancelled,” he said. “Without public toilets, we can’t run anything.” Along with estimating the damage, club officials are busily investigating grants that may be available to them, as well as options to get them operational so that functions can be run at the course. Barry said it is not only the club’s annual November meeting that might be in doubt, the immediate future of the planned RV spectacular for August is also in doubt. “The RV people intended using our toilet facilities,” he said. “So again, that same problem raises its ugly head. “And that RV spectacular is really very important to the whole town.”
This catering van was tipped over with the force of Tropical Cyclone Ita’s winds.
Part of the 300 metres of runnning rail at the Cooktown Race Course that was damaged.
This image shows some of the damage sustained by the horse stalls at the Cooktown Race Course.
This horseshoe-shaped structure usually holds the Cooktown Amateur Turf Club signage, which sits on top of the finishing post, seen in the background.
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20 – Cooktown Local News – Thursday, April 24, 2014
AUCTION
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Two-bedroom, low-set house situated at 8 Cyril Street, Lakeland for auction. Fully-fenced, 1,497-square metres allotment, tiled floor throughout, new kitchen five years ago. Carport one side, verandah other three sides. For auction Friday, May 9, 2014 Call Dan Kerridge for an inspection on-site at 8 Cyril Street, Lakeland, - 0438 982 577 at 11am.