Australia Day celebrations at Fred’s Pass Reserve last week were hugely successful. From Father Tijerino’s inspiring, Oi Oi Oi “prayer”, welcome to country by Janeen McLennan to winners of the various categories and special welcome to our 14 new citizens who made their pledge and received their citizenship. Seven local students from the Litchfield area were awarded Student Citizen Awards. They were:
- Joey Misener – Bees Creek Primary School
- Colby Budd – Good Shephard Lutheran College
- Hannah Ham – Good Shepherd Lutheran College
- Lachlan Brodie – Good Shepherd Lutheran College
- Calvin Kelly – Good Shepherd Lutheran College
- Hiep Ngo – Middle Point School
- Jimmy Green – St Francis of Assisi Primary School
There were four nominations for Litchfield Council Community Event of the Year with McMinns Lagoon’s ‘Major Day Out’, being declared the winner. The Major Day Out aims to raise awareness of natural bushland in urban and peri urban areas.
Set on 40 hectares of rehabilitated wetland, McMinns Lagoon is a significant sanctuary for birds and native flora and fauna. Approximately 60 people turned out and enjoyed guided bush walks, and bird watching tours. I recommend you look out for this event this year and or visit the lagoon any time to enjoy the scenery and bird life.
Brittany Sims Hampton was awarded Litchfield Council Young Citizen of 2017. Brittany is already an accomplished horse riding competitor and through her peers is known as a role model, a reliable dedicated passionate person and always willing to help out younger riders. She is always encouraging her peers through sporting, schooling or socializing events in a positive way and has recently volunteered her time to help with the Pink Ribbon Cancer rodeo raising funds for cancer.
Litchfield Council Citizen of the Year for 2017, was won by Bushfires NT volunteer Dean McManamny. Dean contributes hundreds of hours every year for the brigade, working with landholders, community organisation and other government departments. His focus on strong community engagement has resulted in residents in the area being better prepared and safer from the threat of bushfire. Dean has been instrumental in the brigade and is held in high regard within the community.
On behalf of the council, I wish to thank the organising committee and all the volunteers and sponsors for this year’s event. Without their support and that from local businesses it would not be possible to achieve such success.
In other Council news, I urge all residents to take the opportunity to share your thoughts and complete the Waste Management Strategy survey either online at the Council Facebook page or the news page on Council’s website or in person at each of the Waste Transfer Stations. It will only take a few minutes to complete and will provide Council with a better understanding of the community’s views, practices and preferences on waste minimisation and recycling. The results will help Council in developing a long term Waste Management Strategy.
Woo Hoo, Fred’s Pass Rural Markets reopened for 2017 on Saturday. Markets stalls were at full capacity and crowds gathered in the hundreds to enjoy the music, stock up on vegies and enjoy the great food.
Lastly, Council recently offered FREE micro-chipping for the month of January. A large number of owners took up the offer to safeguard their dogs if it is lost. For the month of January 161 dogs were micro-chipped for free by Council rangers. So far this financial year Council has provided approximately 250 FREE micro-chips to dogs. Council has committed to providing 500 microchips FREE to dogs in the Litchfield area in the 2016/17 Municipal Plan allocating $6,000 in the budget. Just a reminder that it is a requirement under the Council Rural Dog Management, that all dogs kept in the municipality are micro-chipped.
As usual if you have any concern or queries about council work or actions there are a number of ways to get in contact: through the website, the Snap, Send, Solve app, email maree.bredhauer@litchfiled.nt.gov.au or call on ph. 89 830612. Members of the pubic are invited to next Council meeting on Wednesday, 15 February at 6pm at the Council Chambers, Bees Creek Road.