Panna Gecko Issue 2, June 2011

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i t ’s a l l a b o u t o u r c o m m u n i t y

Pannagecko

this issue Where is home? P.4

My life’s journey Part 2 P.10

Stephen Sylva’s story P.14

Online Shopping P.19

It’s Gala time! P.32

Classifieds P.43

Issue

02 June 2011

Pannawonica’s own community magazine.

FREE

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The Panna Gecko is a free magazine published on a quarterly basis . It exists for the benefit of the community of Pannawonica. The Panna Gecko is solely volunteer run and produced by members of the Pannawonican community. The printing is kindly donated by Rio Tinto however the Panna Gecko remains an independent entity. The Panna Gecko is here for you! It’s very purpose is to help you get informed about your community and stay informed . The Panna Gecko aims: To assist in promoting a healthy, positive and supportive community. To provide a platform whereby our town’s varied interests, groups & organisations can be supported and promoted. To encourage community spirit.

here for you

Cover Photo Michelle McManus

Haul Pak 46. Entrance to town.

Have you taken a photo capturing an aspect of our unique town? Why not submit it for the chance to have your photo on the front cover of the next Panna Gecko? So, you’re interested?...... Great. Now all you have to do is send your photo as an attachment to [email protected] along with your name, photo location and date.

What is the Panna Gecko?

next issue Potential contributions are to be submitted on or before

September 1st All text submissions to be in Word, All photos / images to be attached separately.

Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4

March June September December

2011

Editor: Michelle McManus Email: [email protected] Phone: 0413030159

You have an article you think would be good for the next issue? That’s fabulous – We want to hear from you. Send it in word format to [email protected] and we’ll be in touch. You don’t think you can write an article? But you know about something worth telling? Well write a quick email and let us know, because we are happy to help you out. We want your input.

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from the editor

Welcome H ere we are again, and what an

expedition it has been to get this hot new look magazine into your hands. Since the last issue the Panna Gecko has had a few changes. The first you have no doubt noticed– a wonderful, professionally printed mag! (our online subscribers will just have to imagine how good it looks!) All thanks must go to Rio Tinto, and particular thanks to Amanda Williams who has believed in this project, and thus committed to funding the cost of printing our community magazine for your benefit! The positive response to the first issue of 2011 was overwhelming. Thank you all so much for stopping me in the street, sending me an email and generally offering your encouragement and praise. Secondly, I have the pleasure of introducing the new Panna Gecko team; Barry, Rachael, Samantha and Katrina have come on board to make the Panna Gecko better than ever. It’s exciting times as all of us ‘ordinary’ people step out and learn a new craft, challenge ourselves and work together to bring this unique publication to our community. If you haven’t yet– go, sit down, make yourself comfortable and read, read, read.

Michelle x

about Michelle: Michelle moved to Pannawonica in June 2010 along with her husband Tim and their five fantastic children. Michelle is passionate about family, faith and friendship. She is committed to living her life beautifully through the daily challenges and joys of life’s journey, and in so doing, hopes to be a productive member of her community.

June, 2011 Meet the team! Barry Dethmore

Barry has been in the mining and construction industry for 28 years and worked all over Australia. He has worked on dams, roads, airstrips and mines. Barry moved to Panna in July, 2010 along with his partner, Tanya. They love living here, enjoying all that the town has to offer. Barry’s interests include world travel, photography, riding his motor cycle, music, drawing and a good game of chess.

Rachael Jordan Rachael moved to Panna 4 years ago when her partner Rob saw an ad in the paper for a residential electrical position and the rest is history. She dis-tinctly remembers thinking that there was not going to be any trees or broccoli! What Rachael loves most about Panna is the people; and the way the sun sets into the landscape and not into houses. When she has time Rachael is at the Gym, on a run, walking the dogs, reading a good book or looking into her next holiday

Samantha Sylva Samantha and her husband Stephen moved to Panna in early 2007 with their two boys. They had visited the town several times before moving to see her parents who also work and lived in town. They have since expanded their family with twin girls. Samantha enjoys living in the Pilbara. She grew up in country towns both rural and mining, and now enjoys watch-ing her children grow up in a similar style. She likes to write about things that are important to her, and hopes you will enjoy reading them too.

Katrina Clarke Katrina moved to Panna in Jan-uary this year. She loves explor-ing the Pilbara , particularly the coast with her two wonderful children; Alanah and Oscar and “my adorable husband” Greg. Katrina works as an Education Assistant at the Primary School. She enjoys her hours down at the squash courts - her favourite past time. In 2007 the Clarke’s purchased a Jayco Swan, travelled up the middle of Australia and down the West Coast. Katrina looks forward to continuing her tour of Oz one day.

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community

H ome is many different things to many different people. One might conjure up happy thoughts

of childhood, or the place where they have been most content. Another might find home comes with uneasy emotions, for many a different reason. Home can be simply defined as a crude dwelling, shelter or even a fine house; a place where a person, a family or house-hold reside. At some point, usually when we are grown, we leave home- our parent’s house, our state or country- it’s then up to us to find ‘home‘ for ourselves. But when home can be defined in so many ways it is no small feat when we finally say with confidence “this is home”. For me, though I cannot deny that home is the building, or town that I live in, it is by far more than that- it’s a feel-ing. Like other singles and families here in Pannawonica, I have lived in many homes, towns and states all of which at some time or another I called home. But it is that deep sense of contentment I get when no matter what town I am in, no matter what condition my dwell-ing, I am sure of the love I have for my family and their love for me. There is a Little Golden Book that I still have from my childhood- and I wonder if the many readings of it, both as a child and now to my children have been

instrumental in forming my opinion of ‘home’. Let me finish this musing by sharing with you the closing para-graphs of my treasured storybook, ‘My Home’.

It doesn’t matter at all if my home’s big or small, If it’s brown or yellow or white;

It doesn’t matter at all if it’s narrow or tall, Or if it is pretty or bright.

It doesn’t matter at all if my home’s on a hill,

Or down by the deep blue sea- As long as it’s filled with people I love.

And people who also love me. -MM

Where is home?

Bryce, resident

“Next to the Medical centre.”

Tim, resident “where my family are”

Hayley, resident

“Tasmania– good old Tassie”

Damo, resident

“Wherever my wife tells me it is”

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community Beyond ourselves

S ix months ago I was on a plane flying back to Panna after my weeks R&R. Little did I know that this plane trip

back ‘to work’ would change where I was going in life. As I sat there reflecting, I couldn’t get past how fortunate I was. Two years earlier I had moved to Pannawonica, having spent years working hard for little on isolated Stations. I kind of fell into this amazingly rich little town and even though times hadn’t always been easy, I am so glad I did. My time in Panna saw me working as a Nanny, editing the Gecko, working in the Supermarket, Tavern, cleaning and lastly as a FIFO in the Deli. Without even trying I found my bank accounts fuller than ever before- with all this money, what was I to do? I looked around my town and I saw people earning an average $85,000 a year with 3 cars, 2 boats, spending so much money a week on lotto and still complaining about the price of milk! Money had never been my ‘drive’, and as I sat pondering in the plane I knew I needed to use it to make a difference in some small way. I knew that money in the bank wasn’t fulfilling me; I needed to find something that would. So as soon as I could, I began Googling ‘volunteer work’. Without much effort I came across an organisation, World Youth International. I think it was just meant to be! It so happens that the WYI is based in Adelaide, where my family is from. I read through the site with increasing excitement. I knew that this was what I wanted to be a part of. There were plenty of projects to get involved in but I picked out building orphan-ages in Kenya! I didn’t know much about other countries outside Australia, but I had previously heard of the needs in Africa and within a week I had inquired, applied, payed and been accepted. Paperwork, needles & visas, it was all happening!

You

might ask “Why Overseas? Why not do something in your own Backyard?” I chose overseas, because it is an opportunity I may never be able to have again. I had sponsored children in Korea and with the little I knew about desperate children in Africa, I wanted to see firsthand the way these children live and do something practical to help. I want to try and do my bit. Going is my first step, coming home is the next. Although I have dreams to buy a café when I get home, I want to look about and see where there is need in my own backyard, maybe volunteer again at a Youth House or Meals-On-Wheels, like I have in the past. When I go to Kenya, I am going partly on behalf of Panna. Because living and working in Pannawonica has meant I‘ve been able to earn extremely advantageous wages and I am thankful for this experience. Pannawonica is such a fortunate town. But, I don’t think everyone living here realises how lucky they are. I know I can’t change the world but I would love to leave, positively encouraging my old community to maybe share just a small part of their earnings. There are so many worthy causes. Why not donate to the Royal Flying Doctors, Red Shield Appeal, and Salvation Army or sponsor a child? You don’t have to look far to find a need, there’s lots out there for us to be apart of. Witney-Bre

From Panna to the unknowns of Kenya

Recently Pannawonica farewelled Witney-Bre. Here she shares with us about why she has chosen her next big adventure, to volunteer overseas.

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past residents

The T i l ley’ s Update

W ell it’s a big hello to everyone or anyone left in Panna that remembers us. It’s been over a year for me and 8 months for Rick since we moved to Gero after 23 years in Panna. We are both going really well and are enjoying being a lot closer to our family (and the beach). We miss all our friends in Panna terribly and the river at the moment up there seems spectacular once again. Nothing can compare to life in the Pilbara but it was time for us to try some-thing new (near the Beach). We live in a lovely little cul-de-sac opposite a wonderful piece of beach called Southgate and the view we have is spectacular. I have become part of a group of people that keep the beach and surrounding area free from rubbish so we will always have this lovely white stretch of coastline to enjoy. We are so fortunate to live next door to Lynne and Blackie for those of you who still remember them (who would ever forget Blackie tee-hee ). At the moment it is Crayfish season so Rick and Blackie are out most mornings enjoying their favourite sport. Rick has a smile from ear to ear when he arrives home with his catch, he even stays awake enough from night shift to head out with Blackie before going to bed. They tell us they can hear them calling their names. Blackie is an expert with the weather and the wind and so in summer he has become our sundowner adviser. If he says there is no wind at sunset we are down on the beach with our nibblies and champa’s to see the sun set over the water and hopefully catch a glimpse of the dolphins. Life seems to revolve around our sunset drinks which we all agree is a good thing. Rick was lucky enough to start work straight away when he arrived in Geraldton and is now working for Iluka Mineral Sands in the process department. I was also lucky and am now Library Officer for Meekatharra School of the Air which is based in Geraldton. I work 2 days a week and Rick works 4. What a life hey !

We are busy renovating our house and garden and I have to admit we were very spoilt in Panna with our air-con. It only took 6 days of humidity last year and a major melt down (by me)to convince me we definitely could not live without it. Who would have thought living across the road from the beach doesn’t guarantee a sea breeze every evening. We even slept on our swags around the pool thinking it would be cooler and we’d catch a breeze....Fully ducted, refrigerated air-conditioning was promptly ordered. I thought our reno’s would be complete within 2 months of Rick moving here so after the laundry and loo took us 5 months I thought it best to have a more realistic time frame with a 2 to 3 year plan and agree with the Blackmore’s that life is too short to miss the sundowners. We also noticed how fortunate we were in Panna with work orders and maintenance being completed and having a phone number on hand to just leave your details before someone would be there for the job. We have realised hours of scouring the Yellow Pages and dozens of phone calls does not guarantee a workman will arrive on the day you book him or even at all .Even when we were paying for his time. But it’s all an experience and we have the beach. We have tried to immerse ourselves in Geraldton culture( I did say culture) and have seen some amazing shows and bands at the Queens Park Theatre and hope to have tried every restaurant in town within a 2 to 3 year plan. We love grabbing a takeaway coffee and soft serve from Macca’s and head to the foreshore for an evening stroll. Ten Pin Bowling and Tai Chi with Lynne and frequenting the gorgeous little gift shops keeps us out of trouble. One of our main addictions is doing the Sunday morning

Garage Sales tours. We head out early to get all the bargains and then in to town for a big Aussie Breaky. We don’t come home with much but the thrill of maybe getting a bar-gain we didn’t know we needed until we saw it is what keeps us going. In Rick and Blackie’s case I think it’s the big Aussie Breaky. Although to those of you who really know Blackie and know how he thinks he has a bargain just because someone told him it was may be interested in seeing his Gen -U– Ine New Guinea Pigmy Bow and Arrow. Apparently it is over 30 years old and is genuine and was such a good buy he asked Rick to go buy it for him. Not sure if he didn’t want to get seen buying it in public in case anyone recognised him or he was too embarrassed to knock the poor pensioner down to $20 for it. Either way it didn’t make Rick look good as he wasn’t embarrassed and didn’t care about the man being a pen-sioner but he did think even $20 was too much. Those of you visiting Blackie be sure to ask to see it (not one to cause trouble), I’m sure he’d love to tell you his version of events. Well 23 years in Panna has allowed us to live our dream, own our own home before leaving and travel the world. We have had the added bonus of meeting and knowing so many wonderful people along the way. We appreciate the opportunities that were presented to us and will be forever grateful to have been able to raise our sons in a wonderful safe environment and to give them the opportunity to experience and appreciate the Pilbara and its beauty. Thankyou to all those that have made this possible especially the company North/Robe/Rio whatever the banner, it has been 23 very special years of which we have thor-oughly enjoyed and will be forever etched in our memories for us to recall as we sip our champa’s at sundown time at the Beach.

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past residents

Pannadise By Janice Gubbins

W e moved to Pannawonica in November 2001 and left in Octo-

ber 2010. Jared and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary with a meal in the Tav-ern shortly after we arrived. The rest shall we say was rocky and smooth history in our lives. I know I never envisaged living in Pannawoni-ca for nine years. I will always remember the day we arrived in town and one of the re-movalist said “see you in 5 years!” Five years just seemed like forever as I took in the sur-roundings, and I can remember thinking “I don’t think so more like one year!” The years just slipped on by…………… In that time we had our three kiddies and had some fantastic, memorable times, made some really awesome lifelong friends. It was hard to imagine living anywhere else really. I feel that if you get to live in Pannawonica then you are lucky. It’s a very unique environ-ment to live in. It took a long time for me to really like living in Panna, but in the end it worked it’s unique blend of magic and I found leaving the place very hard to do as we all did. There is so much that Pannawonica has to offer and these things really stand out when you no longer have them. Yes moving to the real world, (Tom Price is not exactly the real world either but you do have to pay for cer-tain things here) can be a real shock. So the following is a list of things that we enjoyed about Panna: Free power, free water, free pool, free gym, free movies, walking or riding to school, walking or riding to shops, taking an average of 8 minutes to walk anywhere in town, community spirit, good entertainment at The Sporting Club, the club in general and I really loved working there!, long tavern lunches and yummy dinners, being closer to coastal communities, easier to get to Karratha, the rivers, Rodeo, Gala weekend, Xmas party, ease of life, safe community, street lighting, cheap movie rentals at Costless and I really loved working there!, restaurant Spinifex, Pannawonica school song, great school, awesome countryside, friendly folk. Now! Why would you wanna live anywhere else?? To be honest Tom Price was the least place I wanted to go, but the opportunity came up and we just thought we would give Tom Price a go. It took a lot of adjusting and we still are ad-justing. Sport is the real culture of Tom Price; the place lives and breathes sport. So we are very spoilt for choice when it comes to sport (take your pick! It’s all here!) netball, football, soccer, rugby, touch rugby, hockey, netball, softball, tee ball, cricket, squash, basketball, golf, tennis, rifle club, volley ball, fitness

classes, dancing, gymnastics, yoga, self defence, martial arts, BMX, motor cross, art class, photography, learning to play just about any musical instrument, singing and music theory, (I am thinking of taking up singing!) so much to choose from. I have taken up netball, tennis and do about 5 fitness classes a week also doing a bit of running; I have never ever been this fit in my life! I also take Shaun to Tumble Tots and Parent group also go to Coffee Club, they have a free crèche there so you can have morning tea in peace. They do run quite a few things for women in town. Jade plays netball, tee ball, and does gymnastics she is taking piano lessons from July. Jorja plays netball, tee ball and does dancing and drama. Jorja has settled into school really well, almost like she has never been anywhere else, Jade is happy enough but still misses her friends in Panna. There are about 280 kids at North Tom Price primary, and about 300 in Central Tom Price primary, there is also a high school. Jared play’s golf, squash, is in the rifle club and does a bit of motor bike riding. I think he really misses fishing. You can be anonymous in Tom Price walking around Coles (It’s good having Coles!) or anywhere and not bump into anyone you know. There is no street lighting; I found that strange, nobody seems to know why! If you go out at night you have to carry a torch! You only get your bin emptied once a week, but the good thing is they do have recycling. Karijini is a highlight, it is awesome country out there and only a half hour drive away, but you have to battle the tourist’s this time of year aarghhh! There have been days when I have wanted to go back, but those days are getting fewer now. I quite like our new life here in Tom Price, our lives are pretty full, we are a bit time poor most days, and all the plans I had for quite days at home have not come to fruition yet! It has been good having a lot of Panna ex pats here as well; it has made the transition easier. We all get together regularly and talk about the good old days, amongst other things! Everyone that has moved from Panna to here loves it, and the ex pats always give me a hard time because I am the only one who won’t cut the apron strings to Panna, so to speak, (I still get Peris and read the Gecko). Panna was a part of our lives for so long that I can’t just let the place go yet! Pannawonica holds a lot of special memories for me. There is no place like Panna!

run from

Shaun & Jared

Jorja

Jade

Jade

Mt Nameless

In the backyard

Shaun’s 1st birthday

Karijini Gorges

Jorja

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Cooking oil / grease: Wrap and place in bin

Chemicals eg. paint, cleaning products,

pesticides: Give to a licensed hazardous

wastes contractor or contact your local council

Food scraps:

Place in bin or compost

Newspaper / plastics: Recycle/Place in Bin

Engine oils:

Take to oil collection area at MSB

Deodorisers / small toys:

Place in bin

community

* Everything you pour down the kitchen sink or any item you put down the toilet doesn't just disappear. It goes through the wastewater system to our treatment plant where we process it to ensure it can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

There are many everyday items that should not enter the Waste water system. Disposing of household wastes correctly not only prevents damage to the wastewater system, it also helps protect the environment.

Listed below are ways of disposing of common substances:

Help

did you know?

Your Waste Water

Treatment Plant

Further Enquiries: Damon Thomas/Geoff Carscadden 0408549518

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community

jun ior citizen Pannagecko

Recognising a young person in our community who shines enviable citizen qualities, and acknowledging that their contribution helps makes our town what it is.

Aaron Slape

Congratulations,

You make a difference.

T he people of Pannawonica and the Panna Gecko are pleased to recognise Aaron Slape as this issues Junior

Citizen. Aaron was born on January 7, 1999 to parents Dallas and Chriss Slape. Aaron has been a country kid all his life, starting his first years in Exmouth. Aaron, with his older sister Janelle, came to Pannawonica in 2005 and he truly has red dust in his veins. He is currently in Year 7 at the Pannawonica Primary School having been there since Year 1, undertaking the role of School councillor for the past 2 years. Aaron is a

mad keen fisherman, loves camping, travel, riding motorbikes, all kinds of sport, playstation gaming and kicking around with his many good friends. It is his love of sport which has seen him organise afterschool cricket matches and also coaching the juniors at Milo Cricket last season. He has a natural caring nature, is always happy and friendly and is well liked by his peers. It is his many journeys to other parts of the world that has made him tolerant of those less fortunate than him and from other walks of life. Aaron will depart Pannawonica for boarding school next year and start a new chapter in his life that he will no doubt embrace with enthusiasm. Good luck and thank you for being you Aaron.

“

Mum & Dad

“ Don’t change your loving nature because we want you to focus on who you are not what you are. You are a wonderful person and on the road to becoming a truly fine young man and role model. Keep working hard and doing the best you can, no one can expect any more. Aaron you make us and our family very proud and grateful every day.

"No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are

processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included

from birth. A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline."

-- Kofi Annan

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my life’s journey I t would be remiss of me not to reflect on the first part of ‘my life’s journey’and note some of the things that had slipped my mind (an indica-tion of old age). How could I forget the birth of my youngest sister, Roslyn, in 1959? With much older siblings she was well and truly spoilt, and it is our belief that even now, she still is! I also forgot to mention the fantastic childhood I had in Southern Cross with swimming (40 laps every morn-ing before school), walks to the salt lakes, balancing and walking along the pipeline carrying water from Perth to Kalgoorlie, trips out to the bush for picnics, pictures at the indoor and outdoor cinemas, and later on the drive in, school socials, and endless days of friendship. It’s also the time my lifetime friendship started with my best friend, Noelleen, and still continues to this day – 52 years on! So…….. back to 1969. My parents divorced in 1968 and dad remarried in 1969. When my sister’s fiancée died in a tragic car accident, Sue moved to Melbourne, Mum, Lesley and Roslyn stayed in Southern Cross and Dad and Pat moved to Claremont – where I moved to in 2nd Term of my final year at school. Mum and my younger sisters moved to Melbourne at the end of 1969, and gaining my Leaving certificate, I be-gan my Teaching Career at Gray-lands and my family was spread across the country – and me on my own. This was the first time that we

were all so far apart, but life moves forward and we all carve our own paths in life’s journey. In April, 1971, my son, Jason, was born. I had moved to Footscray, Melbourne, for his birth to be with family and put my studies on hold for a year. The next year, I moved back to Perth and Jason and I started our next adventure on our own. We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in Kelmscott for six months, and then I got a flat in Brownlie Towers, Bentley, where Jason and I lived for four years. There were lots of bus rides from Bentley to Claremont everyday so I could finish my Teachers’ Certifi-cate, which I did, and commenced teaching at a new school in Seaforth (Gosnells). We only went up to Year 4, with the Principal, John Cox, taking the Year 4 class, and three of us, the other classes. I spent four years at Seaforth and by the time I left new buildings had been completed and the school now went from Year 1 to Year 7 – there was no Pre-Primary back then!!!! My next move was to Langford Pri-mary school (1977-1980), and in 1978 I built my first house in Gosnells. In 1980 I married and my two daugh-ters, Nicole and Kylie were born in 1982 and 1984 respectively. I had moved from Langford Primary to Kingsley Primary (Armadale) prior to the birth of Nicole, and in 1983 moved to Dampier with my family. At that time Dampier was still a closed town, and Hamersley Iron ran the town. We survived a couple of cyclones, and in my last year there,

1986, I was teaching at Karratha Primary School. Karratha’s large shopping centre had not been com-pleted, and Dampier was a thriving business centre – and we travelled to South Hedland to go to the “Big Shops”. Kylie was one of the first ba-bies born in the then new Karratha Hospital. This was my first taste of the Pilbara and I loved it! In 1987, we moved back to Gosnells, where I continued teaching at Westfield Park Primary School in Kelmscott – Jason went to Gosnells High, and Nicole and Kylie to Gwynne Park Day Care Centre. Then another bump in the road, and by 1990, our marriage began to unravel…………… - Stephanne Dann

Principal’s corner I was asked to write something for the Gecko – a compliment in itself. Then I wondered what to write – what did people want to know about me? Maybe nothing! So this is about me – not just as a Principal, but also as a person – where I’ve come from, people and events that moulded me into the person I am today. This is……

Pt. 2


Julie Davidson your neighbour featured resident

M any of us are guilty of going about our daily lives taking for granted the services about us. We visit the library, drive along bitumen roads, walk along footpaths, visit the doctor, shop for our groceries, send our kids to school, swim a few laps, and hire a DVD, all with little thought to what effort has gone, and does go, into making Panna what it is today. Julie Davidson is one resident who on a daily basis is aware of the ‘effort’ it takes to keep community services alive. She’s the Manager of long-time resident Rangi’s video shop; ‘Costless Entertainment’. With much personal sacrifice and many volunteer hours, Julie quietly gives of herself for our benefit. Her desire is to keep the doors open, for if the Video store shuts there is one less service for the community. The birth of the video store began when a past resident by the name of Michelle started a little shop called ‘Panna Rock’ in a long, narrow section of the Barry Lang Centre (adjoining the back wall of the current video shop). Panna Rock stocked items of clothing, knick knacks and hired out videos, but it didn’t last long. When Michelle and her family left town, John Punyanita re-opened it and ran a small video rental shop for a couple of years. Rangi brought the little shop sometime around 2002. ‘Costless Entertainment’ grew in popularity and then soon began to outgrow its humble beginnings. Rangi had her eye on an old store room, in ‘A’ block, where Robe River Iron Associates stored surplus furniture. She negotiated, the okay was given and the rest, as they say, “is history”. Julie started working as Manager in 2003. The store was a thriving little place, with many staff, hiring out DVD’s to residents and FIFO’s alike- even renting out DVD players. It continued thriving until technology caught up with Pannawonica and Foxtel came to town! Since then it has often been hard work to keep the doors open. But Julie hasn’t given up- with the appreciation and support of her regular loyal customers, she continues to bring new products into the shop, such as natural soap, fragrant soy wax candles, beauty products, RFDS merchandise, and 20-30 new releases each month. She does this not only to increase the customers in the shop but also the products available to the general community. It doesn’t take long when chatting with Julie to realise that she is committed to this town. It would be easy to think that she has always been a woman of the Pilbara but it isn’t so. Julie’s story begins in Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, in the beautiful township of Port Lincoln. It was here she spent her childhood,

grew up, and then met and married her husband Mark. After years working in Port Lincoln both Mark and Julie were itching for a change. They decided to sell up, hit the road and travel this vast land for 12 months. No caravan, just a 4WD and a tent, they travelled and worked throughout VIC, NSW, QLD, NT & WA. They were travelling at the time of the Katherine Floods (1998) and Mark got work in Katherine and helped where he could. They even spent some time living in Darwin, working on a Mango Farm and packing fruit. For Julie and Mark their time away was a real learning curve, broadening their minds as they saw firsthand what some people do to survive and the hardships many people endure. It gave them a new apprecia-tion for where they had come from and what they had. It was in a Caravan park in Darwin that Julie and Mark had the fortune to meet a Pannawonican by the name of Graeme Hunter, commonly known as “Handbag” and his wife Jenny and their four kids. It was Handbag who shared with the Davidsons about the little closed mining town of Pannawonica. After this meeting they journeyed to Kununurra, WA in hope of work, but it wasn’t promising there. Travelling through the Pilbara, they decided to take up the invitation to call in and see the Hunters, keeping an open mind that if work was to be had they might stay six weeks, get money and move on. They stayed with Handbag, Jenny and their four kids and found an array of odd jobs to do- working in the mess, and town landscaping to name a few. It became evident that they were not leaving anytime soon and not wanting to overstay their welcome with the Hunters they sought alternative accommoda-tion. Whatever was available they took, including house sitting and hot stints in a caravan. The Pilbara had got in their blood, the beautiful winters, the stunning sunsets and the all too good opportunity to carve out a future here had captured them. Mark and Julie saw that there were opportunities to be had if they were willing to work hard. So, the hot, sticky,

uncomfortable days in a caravan, the odd jobs and generally roughing it was not too hard when they knew it would all pay off in the end. And it did! Julie has worked as 2IC for 4 years at the Servo before being delightfully surprised with the expectancy and then birth of their first and only child, Kahlia (born August 2002). Mark now enjoys his job out in Mine Planning (Mesa J) as a Surveyor. He is settled in his 8 days on 6 days off roster, giving him time to be a hands on father and pursue his love for activity in the great outdoors. As for Julie, she continues to tirelessly serve our community, day in, day out in the Video Shop. She is not one to blow her own horn, but nevertheless she is every bit deserving of our thanks. It is to our advantage that the Davidson’s original six week plan has lasted well over a decade, and though the need to meet up with family and visit back in South Australia comes and goes, this is home now, their Pannawonica. -MM


W andering dogs are an issue in any com-munity, just some communities are worse than others. Pannawonica is pretty good I must say, but there is still that odd dog out and about and in a small town like Pannawonica it can be a big concern to the parties affected. If there is a dog attack on a person or another dog as a result of someone allowing their dog to roam the community there can be huge consequences for all involved. Just allowing your dog to roam it is a breach of the Dog Act 1976 and attracts a penalty. So to save any issues in relation to this please ensure your dog is contained securely at your property. There have also been some dog barking issues in town where dogs barking have become a nuisance to others on shift work trying to sleep etc. If your dog is deemed to be a nuisance after an investigation process by the Ranger, heavy fines could apply. So please don’t forget, make sure your dog is secure at your property at all times and is not a nuisance by continual barking. As previously mentioned, towards the end of last year I got chatting with some local residents who were concerned with the number of times they stood in doggy doo doo’s while out walking on the oval and in some streets in Pannawonica. There are now three ‘Dog Tidy’ bag dispensers. One is attached to the camping sign on entry to the camping area on the fringe of the oval. Another is located on the pathway at Lions Park and the third is on the pathway at Yannarie Park.

Also some things that I didn’t mention earlier, please make sure your dog is regis-tered, this is required if your dog is over 3 months old or fines will apply. It is probably an opportune time to mention also that you are only able to keep two dogs in town

unless an approval is granted for a third dog through the Shire. At the beginning of this year a ‘Responsible Pet Ownership’ talk was given to the kids at the school by myself, ‘Ranger Ian’ and there were winners of a great colouring competition.

I am getting a few complaints through about wandering nuisance cats in Pannawonica. If you own a cat and it is deemed to be a nuisance to other members of the community, it must be contained within your property in some way so as to stop the nui-sance. Also in line with Council Local Laws cats must be identified. Therefore a cat must have a collar and tag with the owners current contact address or phone number so that the owner may be contacted should the need arise. Feral cat trapping is conducted at times during the year so please ensure your cat is properly identified so that you can be notified if the cat has been trapped. A penalty applies if your cat is found to be unidentified or in fact is deemed to be a nuisance to another member of the community. Last but not least, it is understood by all how hard it can be in a small town to train a dog without the experts on hand. The Shire’s Ranger department has donated a ‘Basic Dog Obedience Training’ DVD which will be available to loan from the Pannawonica Shire Library. This is an easy to understand DVD, a simple approach to training your dog. I might loan this DVD myself!! If you wish to discuss any of the above or any other Ranger related matter, please call me at the Shire office on 9184 6001. Ian Chance Onslow/Pannawonica Shire Ranger

our pets

Did you know? *The average lifespan of an outdoor-only cat is about 3 years; an indoor-only cat can live 16 years and longer. Some cats have been documented to have a longevity of 34 years. * A cat can jump 5 times as high as it is tall. * Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, about 26 cycles per second.

ranger ’s word

"All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it." - Samuel Butler

While it may seem surprising, having pets can actually lead to reduced allergies, asthma attacks, and lower incidences of colds. This may be because closely-bonded animals have the ability to lower stress, and provide happiness. Reduced stress produces a strengthened immune system.

Pets may be good for your health


I regularly donate to SAFE. What is SAFE ? you may ask. SAFE (Saving Animals From Euthanasia Inc) is a not for profit animal welfare organisation . It began in the Pilbara region of Western Australia in Karratha, in February 2003 to address the lack of an animal rescue service for homeless cats and dogs. At the time a large percentage of these animals were euthanised because there was no organisation to facilitate their rescue and rehoming. Since then SAFE has grown into a successful multi faceted animal welfare organisation with regional entities in Albany, Avon Valley, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Hedland, Tom Price and Perth, with smaller networks across Western Australia. SAFE has set up a network of tempo-rary foster carers who open their homes to homeless cats and dogs whilst permanent homes are sought.

SAFE is proactive in helping to bring about positive change in the areas which cause so many unwanted, abandoned and neglected dogs and cats and strongly supports and promotes desexing of all domestic pets. Through positive change, the primary goal of SAFE is to make a difference in the quality of life for cats and dogs and to promote the immense value to humans of pet ownership.

I began donating to this worthy organisation last year after discussions with Sue Hedley, their founder. It seemed that the

Pilbara had and still has, a real problem with people aban-doning animals and people who need to surrender their pets for re-homing. I believe that this is due to the transient nature of our region and the type of work, which we all know can mean long hours, shift work and moving from site to site. Some-times people who have taken on a pet find it too difficult to manage and surrender the animal to SAFE or worse; recently puppies were found in a box by the roadside, not all of them pulled through. The vet bills that fall on SAFE can be enormous and all animals must be fit, healthy and desexed to be re-homed.

Perhaps you have thought of adoption? Giving a dog, like ’Boof’ (pictured) or cat a second chance can bring great rewards. But adoption doesn’t have to be the only way you can make a difference. The other way that you could help is by becoming a foster carer while the organisation is seeking suitable permanent homes. If neither foster care or adoption are for you, then how about you join me, and regularly donate to keep this great service going? If you think you can help, by adoption, as a foster carer or becoming a donor please visit the website.

www.safe.asn.au or call 9185 4634.

our pets

everybody needs , a home. By Rachael Jordan

‘Boof’ is a mixed breed 9 month old

male who is friendly with other dogs. He

enjoys being walked and is very playful .

To the Residents of Pannawonica, My name is Kate and I live in Millstream Way. Many of you would know me as the ‘Bird Lady’ as I have been looking after injured and baby birds for the past 7 years and it has cost me a lot of time, effort, and money. However, after another death to a native bird in my backyard by a neighbouring cat, I find myself full of anger, frustra-tion, and heartache and I am unable to take on any more birds for this reason. I would like to remind all resident cat owners to be mind-ful of the unique place we live in, full of all sorts of magnificent wild life both flora and fauna. Bringing cats, (which are not native to Australia), into our community to freely roam can bring a lot of devastation on the environ-ment around us. Thank you to all residents who do practice responsible cat ownership and those that have supported my wild life cause over the years and there are many. Many thanks, Kate

Please if you find any injured: Birds call 0438924842 Kangaroos call 0439984371 Reptiles call 0418631656 Bats call 0438924842


If you listen closely, everyone has a story to tell.

community

...This is Stephen Sylva’s

Story

I t all began 5 years ago following a television drive for a bone marrow donation to help save the life of a young 7 year old Asian girl. Stephen, who had been living in Rockingham at the time, made that initial life changing move and entered through the doors of the local Australian Red Cross Centre to donate a sample of blood, which, following testing, would ascertain if he would be the donor to save this young girls life. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, but five years on, with no further contact from the Red Cross bone marrow register, a call out of the blue created a change in his path in life and left him with a decision to make. Stephen is now a member of the Pannawoni-ca community and can be found on a work day at the production section in Mesa J. He moved to Pannawonica with his wife, Sam, and four young children four years ago and although those last four years has provided many memories for the family, 2010 may well be the year they remember most from their time in this small, tight knit community. In early 2010 Stephen received a call from the Australian Red Cross bone marrow register. He was informed that a man in Queensland was in need of a bone marrow transplant and the sample that he provided five years previously revealed that he may be a perfect match for this man in need. His answer to the next ques-tion was to change his life in more ways than he thought possible. Stephen agreed to go to Karratha to have some initial blood tests to see if he was a good match for the recipient. If he was within an 80% match, he would then be giving the option to donate bone marrow for the transplant.

Stephen and family arrived in Karratha where both Sam and kids were present while Stephen provided the blood samples and it is at this point that he remembers with a faint smile how even the nurse wondered at all the sample tubes sitting in the kidney dish waiting to be taken while the kids looked on unfazed. Stephen returned to work and a few weeks later, while at work, he received a message from the Red Cross to say that his results re-vealed he was a positive match for the trans-plant and when would he be available to travel to Perth to provide some further blood samples. These further results confirmed his suitability and following a third visit to Perth for some paperwork, the transplant date was set. It is at this point I ask Stephen did he ever feel a bit apprehensive about the operation or feel like changing his mind? But with a care-free shrug of his shoulders and a steely look in his eye, he replies, “I was excited to do it, as were my kids. It’s really a small thing for what it’s worth”. Stephen notes that throughout the whole process he was never pressured and could opt out of the transplant at any time while The Red Cross did their utmost to accommodate Stephen and his work schedule covering all travel expenses includ-ing taxi fares throughout the whole proce-dure. Following the end of his swing things seemed to happen rapidly. Stephen finished his last night shift on the Tuesday morning and upon arriving home was soon jumping into his car with Sam driving and kids in tow as they made for Karratha airport. With a devious chuckle Stephen sneaks in that despite the rush, he “even managed to fit in a quick dentist visit in Karratha!” Arriving at Royal Perth Hospital the next day he changed into his surgery gown

and ushered on to a gurney in a room that resembled a surgery waiting room. He recalls that he was then wheeled into something that resembled a doctor’s waiting room where waiting patients assembled, separated by blinds. Here the two doctors that were to con-duct the procedure and the attending anaesthetist greeted Stephen and explained in detail the procedure. It was here that Stephen, a diabetic himself, got to see firsthand the effects of diabetes with other patients awaiting eye or foot surgery relating to diabetes. When Stephen was wheeled into the surgery, he was given a general anaesthetic and rolled onto another bed face down. Once he was knocked out the donation was taken. This involved two doctors working at the same time removing segments of bone marrow, with one removing the donation from his left and the other from his right hip in his back. To do this a needle was inserted into the bone and a small amount of bone marrow was captured in the needle. This was continued from the same insertion until tiny segments of marrow weighing up to 1.6kg were removed. Stephen remarks that the only mark left from the donation are two tiny scars which resemble rubella needle scars. He experienced no pain during the donation and after he likens it to a bruising on the hips but to put it clearly he says “I’ve had sports injuries that were worse”. However despite this, Stephen did feel nause-ous for a period after waking from the opera-tion which was treated immediately with a drug through an IV and made comfortable by the nursing staff. When he felt better the IV was removed, however poor Stephen’s stomach was not as tough as he thought and soon his nausea returned and was unable to leave the hospital until he recovered a few hours later.

By Blathnaid Ward


community

With another of his good natured chuckles, that by now seem to be a primary trait of his loveable and carefree personality, he recalls that he was most upset that he had lost the nicely cooked dinner provided by the hospital sometime earlier. Unknown to Stephen at this time, his wife Sam had been expecting a call from him to report on the operation, but with his unfortunate extra waiting period at the hospital, neither he or his mother, who had accompanied him were able to be contacted until leaving the hospital some three hours later than expected. Sam remembers this being one of the harder parts of the experience, unaware of the events following the donation, she believes “it would have been easier for her if she could have been with him but it would have been impossible with the kids”. Following the operation, bandages were placed over the insertion points which were to be changed over the days following the donation. When asked if he had any pain or much bleeding Stephen notes that the area was a bit stiff and that one point bled for a bit longer than the other but not for long and ‘it was a bit uncomfortable but with a pillow under the hips, it was fine. No more uncomfortable than being pregnant, so Sam tells me”. It is clear this is a man who knows which side his bread is buttered. He also notes that his recovery time was short as within one day he was visiting the cinema and three days following the surgery he was out taking on the shoppers in Rockingham Shopping Centre. However there is another turning point to this story. During the operation Stephen’s blood sugar rose to an abnormal level. This was not caused by the operation but it just so happened to occur at the same time. A few months previously, Stephen had experienced some difficulty in controlling his diabetes and blood sugar levels. A visit to the endocrinolo-gist confirmed something was amiss and following a meeting with a diabetes specialist, all parties agreed that although he had been cleared for work following the operation it was best for Stephen to only return once his sugar levels had returned to near normal. Stephen now lives a healthy life and firmly believes that it was “thanks to that operation I realised I had a problem”. Thankfully, six months after the transplant, Stephen received a phone call to say that the transplant had worked. Despite its success, there is no contact permitted between donor and recipient until one year after and both parties agree. There are other successful stories even more credulous than Stephen’s, where at the same time as he was donating, another TV drive for a bone marrow transplant was broadcast for a young Australian girl and it so happened that her

saviour was a man in America who just decided to walk in off the street to become a donor. That man was a match and the young girl has made a full recovery and both her and her donor, according to Stephen, were both interested in meeting each other. Stephen is grateful for the experience and will in the future return to the donor list, however his first wish is to get a tattoo, after which he has to wait a year to return to the list. Speaking with Sam, his wife, she comes across as a supportive and calm lady who believed “Stephen was confident he could handle the process. We were just so proud of him”, and talking about their children’s experience on it all, she found the younger girls were too young to understand, but the older one understood their father was donating bone marrow and according to Sam, had an “innocent acceptance” of it all. Their eldest, 6 years old at the time wrote a letter to the recipient saying “My daddy is giving you his bone marrow. I hope you will get better soon”. When asked would he recommend becoming a donor to others, he replied “definitely, I would, if they were that way inclined. It’s a simple process really and I guess the end results are worth it”. And, for Stephen, not only did he help save a person’s life, but in the long run, it may well have saved his. If people would like more information on be-coming a donor, they can contact the Australian Red Cross on 03 9345 1800 for the national office or 08 9225 8888 for the WA office or via their website at www.redcross.org.au.

for laughs..

New Hearing Aid A man was telling his neighbour, "I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect." "Really," answered the neighbour . "What kind is it?" "Twelve thirty."

The stupid things they say….. “Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign. "Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff."-Mariah Carey

Not so smart The farmer’s daughter was young, attractive and a pretty good hand with the cattle. As it turned out, her father had tak-en on a couple of bricklayers from the city to build a new shearer’s hut and, like a lot of city people, they thought that all country people were dim-witted. On their third morning there, they spied they young girl and thought they’d have a bit of a joke. ‘Hey, Miss! Do you know if anyone in the area has a rooster that lays eggs?’ The girl looked over at the two men and smiled. ‘No, sorry, I wouldn’t have a clue about that, but Father told me at breakfast that he had brought two galahs from the city who thought they could lay bricks’.

Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. Joyce


from the desk of John Hughes General Manager – Robe Valley Operations

W hen Michelle asked me if I would write an article for Gecko, I said, “Sure”. Then, probably like a lot

of contributors, I asked myself “About what?” Now Deb (my wife) often accuses me of not telling her stuff about work that she thinks I should tell her, so I am assuming there are other husbands/partners out there who don’t always report in. So I will try and fill that gap. Safety The Rio vision is that all of our employees return home to their fami-lies and friends safe and well at the end of every shift. We call that “Zero Harm” and put lots of effort into continuously improving safety. I am very pleased to report that our per-formance in 2011 to the end of May is better than it was last year. In 2010, we had 6 reportable (Lost Time or Medical Treatment Case) injuries, or an average of one every two months. This year we have had one in five months. While this is a big improvement it is not “Zero”, so we will continue striving to improve. While we talk about numbers, this is really about your family members going home fit and well every day. And it is our vision that this safer way of doing things will extend to all of our families too.

Production Production is extremely important to the business because that’s what pays the bills (and our salaries). I’m very happy to report our production to the end of May is slightly ahead of Budget, and we are on track to match or do better than our achievements last year. (For those who don’t know, Robe Valley railed and shipped more tonnes than any year since 2003. An excellent achievement by all our employees, especially remembering that Mesa A – our new mine – came on line during 2010.) As a result of this excellent performance we are in the process of justifying the purchase of another train (Locos and ore cars) to haul Robe Valley ore to port. If this goes ahead we will need to expand the Mesa J operations towards the south and increase production. This is great news because it could help to secure Panna’s future beyond the current known horizon of about 2022. Medical Centre Dave Donoghoe and others have been working hard for a long time to improve the level of medical service in Panna. There seems to be a shortage of Doctors everywhere but we are very close to having a contract signed which will have a Doctor in Panna 24/7.

The importance of good medical coverage is well understood and the patience of you all is much appreciated. Wandoo Project I want to say a few words about Wandoo. Wandoo is an important project to help improve living conditions in Panna and preserve our physical assets. I recognise that it creates some difficulties for residents, but I thank you for your understanding: it is in the best long term interests of the town and inhabitants. Thanks to everybody in Panna, and to our employees for their excellent work to help us safely achieve our goals. Keep up the great work!

John Hughes General Manager Robe Valley Operations

RIO


traditional owners

Helping us appreciate the history and meaning of this land

kuruma marthudunera s to r ies

Weather and Shelters North, they call it wartalpa. They call east kakarra, korella means south, and west is uluju. Winter, they call it pulluru. Karrpan, that’s summer. And they call the winter rain, they call that wannangu. When they have summer rain, they call it palkarnu. Cyclones come through there: they call it williwilli. And the rain along the hill- just following the range along, that’s porlongu. Clouds that follow the hill are manturan. Kawangka, that means the winter wind, very cold south wind. In the wintertime the old people went to the caves. They keep the fire going all the time, to keep warm, they always used to shelter. If there’s no rain around they lived out on the flats, in the rivers, in the sandy areas, but when they knew the rain was coming they’d go in the caves, make a big fire then. At Marandoo they used to have big fires- if you go to the cave you’ll see firesticks and coals there. Our fathers used to make houses, when we was young: they called them parrumaya, or yatha. They got a frame of sticks: they used to get that springy one and sometimes they bend it over and stick them in the ground. They stuck them all along the ground, and they put all across and lay the spinifex over it- you’ve got to lay the spinifex the right way so the water runs out. The hit them with the other sticks, pack them in so they can lay them properly. When the rain come, well the rain just run out, doesn’t go straight through. If they’re in an area where the paperbark trees were, they’d use paperbark, and the spinifex on it too, use both then. We’d have those when we went on holidays, but there were lots around the station, too. They have nice shade, and rainy weather they got to use it. Some of them were really big. They’d last for years, long as you made it properly. They burnt easily, though – they blows away, too. But by our time they had wires, they tie them down with the wires. I think in the old days they used a kangaroo skin to tie them together, like a string. Sometimes they put leaves, for bough shade- tea-trees and jam tree and all that. That’s what yalla means- shade. In wintertime, they’d get all the trees, cut them all up, and make a windbreak, they call this wungku. On the windy days they made it like that, and they have a fire there, and they have a camp there, to get out of the wind. Algy Paterson : I been in a paperbark mia when I was a little boy. We got caught out, out in the bush, that was in 1924. The old people know that williwilli going to come. All right, we went to camp in a place where there’s pleanty kangaroo we can catch, plenty honey we can get. It’s a claypan called Kalwalyarri, in the Jimmawurrata Creek, and we shift up to there, and a couple of old people too, and we camped there in the high ground. Not long after, I helped them cut sticks. We chopped sticks with the tomahawk, just prop them up. Fork like that, and put a straight one in the side so it could take that cajuput bark. Take a piece of cajuput bark about one metre long from the river– the old people know how to get them, you know. Roll them up– I had a roll myself, carrying them. One old man, and my old mummy, and my old man and me– enough room for the four of us. By jingo, he made a good job. And all he done was the green sticks, put it down. No wire to tie them up, just put it like that. Put all that spinifex. All right, the clouds coming then. We got kangaroo, we had cooked meat and a billycan full of honey, and the rain started coming then. No leak or nothing, not coming through, there wasn’t any– he put that bark pretty well neat. Never got wet.

This story is an excerpt from the book ‘The Guruma Story’. Told by Guruma Elders led by Peter Stevens & Collected and editied by Loreen Brehaut & Anna Vitenbergs. ‘Guruma’ is another spelling for ‘Kumura’. There are three main groups of Kumura, all speaking the same language but maintaining separate boundaries. The Traditional Owners here in Pannawonica are the Kuruma Marthudunera people (Robe River Kumura)

Photo courtesy of K. Nightingale


Hi Everyone, Have you started brushing or maybe you’re still thinking about it? I really want to encourage you to get into it. Bringing this one small habit into your bathroom routine could change your skin and wellbeing for many years to come. By skin brushing at least 3 times a week you can transform dry skin, reduce cellulite and tone up problem areas. Skin brushing gives you an energizing boost by removing waste from your body. It is truly a cheap, but effective way to keep you looking and feeling good. Remember, skin brushing needs to be done with a dry brush on dry skin –as brushing can stretch wet skin. Don’t forget to wash your brush to keep it clean. Best time to brush is first thing in morning as the invigorating action stimulates blood flow. Tip: Best type of body brush to purchase is a multi handle: two in one hand held brush with a removable handle that slot into the back, also boar bristles, which is the perfect balance between firm and soft. They can be pricey so shop around.

Susan talks beauty.. Beauty

Helpful tips to keep us looking good

More on skin brushing

Five easy steps to Skin Brushing.

1. Start at the soles of the feet and make long sweeping movements towards the knees.

Use firm anti-clockwise movements over the thighs, hips and buttocks.

Brush in long upward sweeps from hand to elbow and then elbow to shoulder .

3.

4. Use long strokes from the lower back upwards and short downward strokes over the shoulders.

5.

2. Brush with light, circular strokes, moving upwards from the stomach to the chest.

By Susan Henderson


shopping

Fashion and Beauty

etsy.com This has some really hip homemade items at reasonable prices. Ladies check out the gorgeous bags. There is an extensive list of products to purchase, including bath, beauty, homewares and candles (all homemade so very unique!). Crafty people, you can even sell your homemade products on this site. Well worth a look for all style lovers. ozsales.com.au This is an online shopping club with a wide list of designer brands to sell. This site also has kids clothing as well as babywear, toys, cosmetics and homewares. Items are well discounted. There is no charge to join up, although you do receive a daily e-invitation (or 2) to preview the sale items. The shipping cost is around $8, unfortunately each “shop” charges for shipping. buyinvite.com.au This one is very similar to ozsales, both worth a look to grab an e-bargain. strawberrynet.com A huge range of skincare products from all the leading brands can be found here. Ship-ping is free on all products (excluding fragrances). shopbot.com.au This is a comparison shopping service; it helps you find the best prices online. For bargain hunters this should be your first stop.

Auction Sites ebay.com.au I am sure we are all very familiar with eBay and its endless list of products. Did you also

know about the daily list of brand new sale products? graysonline.com.au This is similar to eBay, check out the wine catalogue, there are some really good wine/beer specials and some are even free delivery. zazz.com.au This is a kookier kind of auction site which basi-cally sells only one item a day (having a large quantity). Best to sign up to this site to get your daily email so you know what is on sale.

Recipes taste.com.au Recipes galore! If you happen to have some zucchinis and can’t think how to cook them, well type zucchini in the search bar and 868 recipes will appear. You will never run out of ideas again.

Impulse Shopping Sites You are not really going to need any of the products on these websites but you will want something, you just didn’t know it. These sites sell such a variety of products and services. There are some fantastic bargains to find. Sign up to receive the daily email on the sale products. Make sure you read the fine print so that you know how long the voucher is valid for. (generally 6 to 12 months). The deals can be found in all capital cities. Definitely worth a look as I am sure you will find a great deal. Scoopon.com.au cudo.com.au stardeals.com.au

catchoftheday.com.au livingsocial.com.au

Books fishpond.com.au Not only has books but also games (electronic and board) toys and music. Free shipping which is a bonus. bookdepository.com.uk This site has a huge range of books to choose from with a very easy search option so you will easily find your favourite book. Shipping is free and all prices are converted to AUD. Holiday Time caravanparkphotos.com.au This site reviews thousands (24000 apparently) caravan parks across Australia, including pho-tos. So you can plan your trip and check out the facilities of the park prior to arriving. The site also invites you to write your own review of a caravan park (they are looking for re-views on WA parks). oodles.com.au This site is a car rental comparison site. travelmate.com.au This site is another good one for travellers. It covers accommodation all over Australia with some super savings in the specials section. wotif.com.au Has a great booking system to compare your prices and it covers variety of accommoda-tion from 5 star to budget. If you are the gam-bling type there is a mystery deal at a cheap rate. By Katrina Clarke

B eing so isolated I am sure we are all familiar with online shopping. The anticipation of waiting for the parcel to arrive, will it fit, does it

look the way I imagined? This article is just giving you a few websites you may or may not have discovered, so feel the excitement and live the shopping revolution! Katrina

Online ShoppingYou can shop 24 hours

a day 7days a week, 365 days a year onl ine …..you can’t do that in

real stores

$


In the kitchen

Sweet potato is a low-calories and fat free vegetable with an abundance of healthy minerals such as beta-carotene, Vitamin A, C and E, magnesium, potassium and rich in antioxidants. These nutrients and minerals help to protect against heart attack and stroke, reducing blood pressure and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells. Studies on animals have also shown that diabetics would benefit from a diet which includes sweet potatoes as they help to stabilise blood sugar levels and to lower insulin resistance. Taking into consideration the fibre content, com-plex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium plus the other aforementioned minerals, the sweet potato is ranked highest in

nutritional value amongst other vegetables. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), commonly called a yam in parts of the United States, and Kumara in New Zealand is a crop plant whose large, starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots are

an important root vegetable. The sweet potato is only distantly related to the potato. It is even more distantly related to the true yam which is native to Africa and Asia. Sweet potatoes are native to the tropical parts of the Americas and are one of the oldest vegetables known to man.

Recipe 750g Sweet Potato (orange ones) peeled and diced – roughly two medium potatoes 2 carrots peeled and diced 2 small potatoes peeled and diced

2 onions peeled and diced 2 cloves garlic chopped finely 1 litre vegetable stock Large nob butter Honey

1. Sauté onions and garlic with butter in a large pan until soft – do not brown just soften (add a little water if needed). 2. Add all the vegetable and stock and bring to boil, simmer until vegetables are soft. 3. Puree to a smooth consistency. 4. Add two table spoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of black pepper, taste add more black pepper until soup has the spiky taste you like. This soup is supposed to have a hint of sweet ness from the honey but pack a bit of punch from the pepper.

Contributed by Ted Hanratty

Sweet potatoes do not store well so buy as fresh as possible, look for firm flesh with no soft spots and blemishes. Store in a cool dry place.

Sweet Potato and Honey soup


simone’s corner

Contributed by Simone Gorry

informing & caring for our community

depression

Depression is more than just a low mood– it’s a serious illness. People with depression find it hard to function everyday. Depression has serious effects on physical and mental health.

A person may be depressed, if for more than two weeks they have : Felt sad, down or miserable most of the time OR lost interest or pleasure in most of their usual activities AND experienced a number of these symptoms:

Behaviour Stopping going out Not getting things done at work Withdrawing from close family and friends Relying on alcohol and sedatives No longer doing things they enjoyed Unable to concentrate

Thoughts “I’m a failure” “It’s all my fault” “Nothing good ever happens to me” “I’m worthless” “Life’s not worth living”

Physical Tired all the time Sick and run down Headaches and muscle pains Churning gut Sleep problems Loss or change in appetite

Feelings Overwhelmed Guilty Irritable / Frustrated No confidence Unhappy Indecisive Disappointed Miserable/Sad

In most cases, depression will go on for weeks or months if left untreated. If it isn’t properly treated, depression is highly likely to recur. Some events or situations have been linked with depression:

Family conflict Isolation or loneliness Unemployment

Having a serious medical illness Drug and alcohol use Changes in the brain

Having a family member with depression

It is important to remember that each person is different and it is often a combination of factors that outs a person at risk of depression

How Common is depression? Very common. Around one million Australian adults and 160,000 young people live with depression each year. On an average, one in five females and one in eight males will experience depression in their lifetime. Medications People who are depressed often feel physically unwell. Antidepressant drug treatments can relieve the physical symptoms of depression as well as the mood symptoms. Drug treatments for depression are not addictive. Many people worry about the potential side-effects of antidepressant medication. It’s important to know that when depression isn’t treated effectively, physical health often gets worse. What can be done to help? People with depression can often find it difficult to take the first step in seeking help. They may need to get help with the support of their family, friends and/or health professional e.g. a doctor or psychologist. With the right treatment, most people recover from depression. Delaying treatments may delay recovery.

You can help someone by: Assisting them to get information from a website or library Suggesting they go to a doctor or health professional Assist them and/ or accompany them to an appointment Follow them up after the appointment Encouraging or getting them involved in social activities Discouraging them from treating themselves with alcohol or drugs

It would be unhelpful to: Put pressure on them, telling them to “snap out of it” Stay away and avoid them Tell them they just need to stay busy or get out more Pressure them to party more or wipe out how they feel with drugs and alcohol.

Recommended depression websites & services www.beyondblue.org.au Information on depression, available treatments and where to get help. www.youthbeyondblue.com Beyondblue’s website for young people Beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636 Rural Link info line 1800 198 313

If you or someone you know needs help, talk to a health professional about getting appropriate treatment.


wonder world

WONDER WORLD

HELLO READERS, this is a new feature in the Panna Gecko. My name is Barry and I’ve been living in Pannawonica since July 2010. I moved here with my partner Tanya, and we both work for Rio Tinto at the Mesa J mine. I approached Michelle (the editor of this mag.), to do an article on the not so cute and cuddly creatures in our town.

We all live in a remote location for vari-ous reasons and one of the benefits for me is the abundance and variety of wild-life. I am really interested in the smaller

and sometimes more scarier wildlife, insects, spiders and reptiles. I know they are not everyone's cup of tea, some are venomous, some have a nasty bite or sting and some are just pests.

I am learning photography and find these creatures the most amazing subjects. They have incredible detail in every facet, their colour, their design, and their habits. In subsequent issues I will choose one creature and do a profile on its life cycle and its uniqueness, as well as a bit of useful / useless information to peruse.

For this issue I have submitted a few photos that I have taken here so far and hope you all enjoy them as I do.

Remember, if you encounter a snake on your premises, call a qualified snake catcher to assist you. However, if you do happen to find a strange looking insect or spider, give us a call and I’ll come over to photograph / remove it. Or if you have a camera, take a photo and email it to me.

Looking forward to any correspondence,

Thank you, Baz.

WOOD MOTH

KING CRICKET (setting up an ambush site)

BUSH HUNTSMAN LADY BIRD/BEETLE TREE FROG


wonder world

CREATURES FROM OUR OWN BACKYARD

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ME:

[email protected]

Ph: 0408955146

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: potters wasp larvae, dragonfly, juvenile olive

python, desert grasshopper, orb spider.


VFRS

“As Volunteer Fire Fighters, we do what we can, when we can, where we can, to the very best of our ability.”

Pannawonica VFRS

P icture a fire fighter in your head and what do you see? Perhaps if

you have young children Fireman Sam springs to mind. If you’ve been to a recent Hen’s night they might be missing a shirt. Maybe Victoria’s Black Saturday fire conjures up images of soot covered men, barely recognisable under their heavy yellow jackets. Whatever image first pops into your head, most would agree that usually it’s an image of a fireman, and statistics show that you’d be forgiven. In Pannawonica, our local volunteers are more than a fire fighting unit, they’re also a rescue and response team, and more than just a group of men. Pannawonica’s Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service boast one of the highest numbers of female members in the state, with the women in the team making up 40% of the total membership figures. According to FESA, there are 2635 VFRS members across 100 units in WA, with a mere 468 of those being female. With most units having approximately 2.5 female members both in active and administrative roles, Pannawonica stands out with a total of 9 female members currently serving. Kirrily Donoghoe and Mel Gallanagh were both quick to put up their hand when the initial call for volunteers was made. Kirrily, who moved to Pannawonica last year, was already looking to join the NSW SES before the move. “We'd had some local flood issues that my girlfriend & I got caught up in with our kids & I wish I could have done more to help others, so it was my mission to find out how I could help. But soon

after we moved to WA, so it didn't happen. Then, when we moved to Panna & I heard about the brigade, ‘I thought this could be my chance’. And I'm so glad I did. Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks.” For Mel, it was a case of seeing her husband, Mick, join the Emergency Response Team (ERT) that made her want to participate, but in order to be

part of the ERT you had to be employee of the mine. When she heard that a voluntary unit was being formed within the community, she “jumped at the chance”, and is excited about being involved. “Although it’s a fairly physically demanding role and you have to get wet and dirty, there is great sense of camaraderie, and a great feeling of belonging to a team. I am fairly involved in various community groups in Panna and they are all fantastic but nothing has been quite as rewarding as being a member of the VFRS, though swim club came close. The sense of being able to help in the community/ save lives /fight fires is awesome and I love every minute of it “

Along with Kirrily and Mel, making up the nine female members are Eilish McNulty and Blathnaid Ward, both of whom are training to be fire fighters, secretary Narelle Maringoni who is also an ERT member and currently on materity leave with her first baby, treasurer Jodine Wech, and support members Nicole Ward (also in ERT), Melanie Campbell, and Ali West, who previously took up an active fire fighting role in her local Brigade in Perth.

Although firemen may still be the norm, here in Pannawoni-ca the girls say they are not treated any differently from or by their male counterparts, claiming they mostly feel like ‘one of the boys’. Kirrily speaks highly of the guys on the team, saying, “They are so accepting of us girls and always willing to explain how things work or where they go without it being any inconvenience. But it's nice to be accepted as just one of the team and have no fuss made because we are girls. I joined to learn how to do everything right and independently. Even if it may take a bit longer than the

boys, I appreciate that I'm always given the chance to succeed without anyone stepping in to 'just get the job done'.” So keep an eye out for the lovely ladies of Pannawonica’s Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service. With four times more women than the average Brigade in WA, chances are the next time you’re asked to picture a fire fighter, it may just be Fireman Samantha that pops into your head. - Melanie Campbell

‘The girls’-Melanie, Eilish, Kirrily, Mel, Blathnaid (Bee), Jodine


I grew up in a family that believed that if you lived in a community you were involved in the community and living in the bush they were all involved in the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. Grandad, Dad and Uncles were all active fire fighters and most held officer roles within the brigade while Nanna, Mum and Aunties filled the support roles and many days were spent answering calls, operating radios, organising relief crews and providing refreshments. Even at a young age my sisters and I were called upon to help out on the sandwich production line and juggling radio and telephones. The Fire Brigade Christmas Parties were held on my Grandparents orchard and I’m sure that the visiting Santa bore a striking resemblance to Uncle Pete…. I think the idea of following in my Dad’s footsteps was planted in my head when Santa gave me a Lego Fire Truck for Christmas (appropriate for a girl who enjoyed playing trucks more than Barbie!) and I’m sure I pestered my Dad who was the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer for the City of Armadale and Uncle Lyall, the Bedfordale Fire Control Officer for a few years before they finally allowed me to join up at the age of 15. My closest friend Ebony, whose Dad was also a member and my friend from about the time we were 5, had also expressed her interest and joined up…and despite what our Dads may say there was certainly no ulterior motive for two 15 year old girls to join a male dominated vocation! Ebony and I were the first active female members for the Bedfordale Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade and in 2004 were awarded medals for 10 years of service. Joining the Fire Brigade was one of best deci-sions in my life. Not only was I kept busy during my teen years (well… it kept me out of some trouble) but it helped with self-confidence, gave me a sense of identity and made me feel a valuable part of the commu-nity. It was also where I met my husband, Daryl…who doesn’t love a man in uniform! A few more females joined the Brigade but it always remained a male dominated organi-sation and stereotypes did exist. (It was also quite some years before we had female toilets and change rooms on station and on the fire ground relief meant finding a bush in the opposite direction of the headfire.) Some of the males were condescending towards us, some treated us as equals and others were quite protective of Ebony and I but as time went on most of the members came to treat us as “one of the boys”. The Fire Brigade was almost an extension of my family and many a lifelong friendship was made. Becoming a Fire Fighter was not just about learning to put the wet stuff on the red stuff, far from it! My friends at school were amazed at the ability to pick where a fire was from the smoke spotted, they didn’t know the black smoke coming from the flats meant a fire was racing through the swamp lands full of paperbark trees out the back of Forrestdale

and Gosnells, or the wispy white smoke was the start of a grass fire in the farms in Wungong that with a decent wind could mean devasta-tion for the farmers, or the huge mushroom cloud behind the hill was a huge crown fire in Karragullen in an area of 20 year growth. My role as a fire fighter was diverse, I completed training courses in Bush Fire, Structural Fire, Senior (Advanced) Fire Fighting and Incident Control Systems and was often called upon to be the communications officer in Incident Control dealing with radio communi-cations, plotting maps, organising times for relief crews and refreshments and dealing with the public. Nothing prepares you more for life than emer-gency situations and being involved on emer-gency organisations, you learn to be pre-pared for anything. Making sure you know where the nearest hydrant point, or drafting point is (which in the middle of the bush are hard to find at times), as you head onto the Fire Ground saves time and possibly property and lives. Making sure you know which pump on the unit needs to be primed more and which hose won’t knock you off your feet when 10 bar pressure is pumped through. Knowing the local area like the back of your hand is a big advantage, for the soft sandy areas in Forrestdale mean a good chance of getting bogged or doing a tyre or two, the rocky hills of Bedfordale and Roleystone mean fires on many fronts and the possibility of walk-ing a few ks down a 70 degree slope to cut a brake with a rakehoe or worse yet….lay flats and lots of them, if you get a call out for Turner Rd or Soldiers Rd it means that all hell could be breaking loose and all Brigades in the area will turn out everything they have to protect property and lives. You learn to cross your fingers anxiously when called to assist a car accident or put out a car fire that it’s not your neighbour or friend down the road, or hope the search and rescue doesn’t involve finding something gruesome, or pray the structural fire two streets over doesn’t risk the life of anyone! I think I learnt more about people from the way the react to an emergency. The lady abusing you for the road block allowing the firies to get the fire out is only anxious for news on her horses in her paddock 2 houses up, or the bloke giving you the finger is only upset because he doesn’t know if he will have a home to go back to. The guy in the unit with you might chat on like a fishwife but you know that he is the guy that will black out or mop up so well that you won’t get called back to a flare up in the middle of the night. The Officer in charge may make the worst jokes and be arrogant but he is the guy you want with you if it turns to crap. Realising the tears on the face of the lady in her nightgown are thanking you for saving her house as you house jump up the street intent on only protecting property as

that is all you can do, or the look on your schoolmates face at school that says I don’t mind that you let my room burn down because you saved the rest of the house. Being a Fire fighter means dealing with emo-tions and not just yours but those of your crew and those of the people who were affected by the fire. This includes the emotion you feel as you form part of the guard of honour at the funeral for the fellow fire fighter who got caught in the ‘dead man zone’, the relief (and then guilt at your emotions) you feel at not being the one to find the body during a search and rescue or not being the one out-side the unit as the fireball, that sounds like a 747 taking off, rolls over the truck. The sigh of exhaustion you emit when told that after 8 hours of intense firefighting, your relief crew is almost here. And that you will be required back in about 6 hours. The panic you feel when ‘man down’ is called or that a radio announces that a fire fighter was injured during an incident in which you know your husband, your Dad and your brother are all attending. The debrief back at the station that only commences when the first drink has been consumed because it’s hard to talk about what has just unfolded until your nerves, adrenaline and emotions have been calmed. Or the call out in the middle of the night which makes you thankful it’s in DEC’s area because you know that they do the best breakfasts and nothing is better than bacon and eggs with a good crew as the sun rises on the horizon. Volunteer Emergency Service Personnel are the heroes of our communities. They risk their lives and commit much of their free time (at least a half of the man hours racked up in Fire Brigades is attributed to training, prescribed burning and community awareness) without thought of reward to help others and I am proud to say that I am a member and I support the Pannawonica Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service. - Ali West

VFRS

Ali’s story


Rachael’s book review

I ’m sure like many others, Stephen King’s novels were among the first I read as a young adult. One of his most popular IT left me avoiding open street drains for years and refusing to go to any circus that wanted me to “Come see the Clowns!” Pet

Cemetery, Tommy Knockers and The Shining are all among my favorites, I enjoy science fiction and the paranormal, however somewhere along the way the stories became a little too weird, maybe a little lost and I stopped reading. So it was with some trepidation that I bought the very substantial near 900 page ‘Under the Dome’ released in 2009. Set in the small town of Chester’s Mill , Maine a massive, unbreakable dome snaps down one morning and we watch as the communi-ty first reeling from the event then try to deal with their uncertain future in an escalating high tension thriller that does not disap-point. There is a large cast of characters our hero being ex-marine Dale Barbara (Barbie) and Big Jim Rennie as the villainous town politician. The excellent supporting cast of characters is made up of the all the usual small town identities with a large focus on the abuse of Police powers in the time of crisis. Everyone plays a part as the town disintegrates into an adult Lord of the Flies with many suffering at the hands of Big Jim and his thuggish crew whilst the military try varying techniques to break the dome. One thing is certain you will not be bored as you go on this adrenaline fuelled ride, you end up really caring for the characters your meant to and wishing the worst for the bad guys. It has the repetitive theme “it’s a small town and we all support the team” which struck a chord with me as you slowly find yourself being drawn in. The ending will not be for everyone but the journey alone is so consuming and entertaining that you will not be able to put this book down.

By Rachael Jordan

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)

Stephen King’s ‘Under the Dome’

reviewing


library

“What is more important in a library than anything else - than everything else - is the fact that it exists”. Archibald MacLeish

10 Recommended

reads

The Time Travellers Wife Audrey Niffenegger (Adult Fiction)

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen (Adult Fiction)

The Book of Lost Threads Tess Evans (Adult Fiction)

The Butterfly Mosque

G. Willow Wilson (Biography)

The Sixty Minute Father Rob Parsons (Non Fiction)

The Book Thief

Marcus Zusak (Young Adult Fiction)

Tomorrow when the War Began John Marsden (Young Adult Fiction)

Geronimo Stilton (Junior Fiction)

Blueback – Tim Winton (Junior Fiction)

The Wonky Donkey -

Craig Smith (Junior Kindy)

Mon– Fri 10am-4pm Tuesday also open 6.30pm-8.30pm Ph: 91841038

did you know? *It takes a hen 24-26 hours to lay an egg. *the greatest number of yolks in one chicken egg ever recorded in 9.

Hi Everyone! The “U Can Hatch Us” program was utilised by the Be Active holiday program, and although the first lot of eggs didn’t hatch as planned it was a long anxious 21 days of keeping the eggs warm and safe until 7 of the 11 eggs hatched. 5 of our chicks displayed the brown marking of hens and 2 were light yellow, which depicts roosters of this variety of chook. Dakota was the first born and didn’t let the other chicks forget it, although Bruiser and Fruitloop really lived up to their names, and still do I hear. Never has the Library been so busy if an afternoon with so many of the young people (and some older ones) popping in to check on the progress of the chickens and watch a hatching or two! All too soon the chicks started feathering and becoming too noisy and smelly for their home together and it was time for them to fly the coop….hopefully the girls will go on to lay well and the roosters will enjoy their new home at the station! Ali x


Living in Pannawonica as we do, distance and travelling to get anywhere is pretty much a given. Whether you are driving to Karratha to do shopping, or to get to the airport to go further. Or whether you are driving down south or even up north for vacation reasons, we follow the distance signs and markers along the way. Using them as a guide to gauge our travels. The funny think about Pannawonica though, is that until you actually get to the access road turn off, where the big green PANNAWONICA 200M sign is, there is no signage any-where else to indicate where or how far Pannawonica is. As my husband found out when he first moved up here nearly 5 years ago, and had to go to Karratha on his own to do his induction. When trying to return to Pannawonica, as he was new to the area, was slightly confused at the total lack of 'this way to Pannawonica' signs! A quick phone call sorted it all out, but it makes me realise that I personally mark the way back to Pannawonica via landmarks, mainly due to the lack of signs. Getting to Fortescue road house means that you are half way, either half way to Karratha or half way home to Pannawonica. To me it always feels like the halfway home from Karratha is the longest, I think this is because there are less landmarks in that area that I identify with. When travelling down south, I always think of the bigger landmarks, Carnarvon in 5 hours, Geraldton in 5 hours, and Perth 5 hours more. Although generally as a rule, it takes us quite a bit longer, as we need to make regular stops with our four children. Back on the way home from a trip, I notice different landmarks though. I always think in the back of my mind when we pass the Tropic of Capricorn sign 'YAY, we are back in the Pilbara!' I also love it when you get a visual on One Tree Hill, it's just one of those things that you can see from miles away, and when you do see it you know home is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

After the turn off its past Nipple Hill, then wave to the Boot Tree just outside of Yandagee Gorge. When you pass over Pot Pot creek and you know its 5kms to Pannawonica, and then going over the last rise and seeing the town in the distance is just the most wonderful and relieving feeling of IM HOME! I feel very blessed to be living in Pannawonica with my family, and I think this town has so many unique qualities to it, and I feel quite proud to call Pannawonica home. Samantha Sylva

Thoughts with a Sylva lining

reflections


parenthood

From the book The Sixty Minute Father By Author Rob Parsons A father sat and flicked through a family album. His children were almost adults and the day when the home was free of untidy bedrooms and blaring music was closer than he wanted. It was not an outstanding collection of great photo-graphic skill and occasionally whole heads were missing, but nevertheless this was a record of years. Not an organised album, this one: nobody had in the suggested manner written the date and place on the back of each photograph. Eighteen years of home life were hopelessly thrown together. And yet one could still read in those memories the unmistakeable journey this family had made together down the years. There was a toddler with a broad smile that showed no hint of embarrassment that he had just one tooth. Two children played on a beach, a shepherd clung grimly to a stuffed lamb in a nativity play that even a kind critic would have

described as ‘low budget’! A woman sat on a wall flanked by three children-one smiling beautifully, another squinting in the sun and a third pulling a face. There were Christmases and aunties, birthdays and animals enough for a small zoo. And then he sighed and reached for a photograph tucked into the sleeve of the album. Smiling out of the photo-graph was a young man. He stood in what was obviously a hospital room and in his hands he cradled a new-born baby. He had built up a business, sat on numerous boards and committees, and had, without doubt, achieved what some call success. As he gazed at the photograph, his shoulders sagged. Finally he lifted his head, and whispered, ‘I would trade it all today if I could roll back the years and begin again.’ I have met that father so many times in a thousand different locations. Wherever I have lectured in the world he has been there. He may be a business executive, plumber, university lecturer, or a factory worker. Is he a bad father? Is it that he doesn’t care about his children?

No, in many ways he is a good father. He loves his family, he provides for them and tries to give them the very best. If you asked him which was more important- his work, hobbies or his family, he would answer in a moment, ‘My wife- my children.’ And yet he is fifty years old, his family grown and he feels he has missed their very childhood. This man understands the phrase, ‘Windows of opportunity’. He hates to miss one of them. It means a time when there is a chance to do something; it could be the opportunity to net an important customer, develop some new technology, or open up sales opportunities in a new market. The incredible thing is that so many fathers who have never missed a window of opportunity in their jobs or careers, pass by the window of childhood as if it will never close.

want to read more: This book is available for

loan at the library

A FATHER LOOKS BACK

“Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow”. ~ Reed Markham

Pannagecko promotes:

the

small acts of

Kindness Volunteer at school. Say “yes” instead of “no” Adopt a homeless pet Give a hug to a friend. Call an estranged family member Read extra books to your kids at bedtime Say “good morning” with a smile.

“What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind”. Cleveland Amory

ideas


'Swallow'.

1 Starting with a sheet of A4 paper, fold the top right hand corner diagonally to the other side, marking all your creases well, unfold and then fold the top left corner diagonally as well, then unfold.

2 Following the crease marks, collapse in the two side triangle panels and flatten to create a double triangle fold.

3 Fold the right wing of the top trian-gle up to the top of the peak, and then do the same with the left wing to create a diamond.

4 Starting with the right half of the diamond section, fold it to the middle from the bot-tom to make it look like half an ice-cream cone, crease it well then unfold.

5 Now fold the same section from the top to the middle to make it look like an upside down half ice-cream cone, crease then

6 You next need to fold the paper down the top crease line until you get to the middle of the cross of the crease, and the top side of the dia-mond meets the middle. Then fold up from the bottom crease and pinch towards the middle section to finish the fold.

This is a paper plane called the It was shown to myself and my brothers by my Dad, who was taught it by his uncle, and I am now showing my children. It is a lot of fun to make once you get the hang of it and awesome fun to fly, enjoy. - Samantha Sylva

for kids

1. 2. 2b.

3. 4. 5.

6a. 6b. 6c. Repeat steps 4 to 6 with the left side of the diamond.


7 You now need to make your tail section. Fold and tear off/cut the bottom part of your page. Try and leave about 1cm underneath your triangle. Fold this tail section in half to make a crease, then fold the top corners down to the middle to make a point.

8 Turn your main plane section over and insert your tail section inside the middle of the main plane, so that the pointed ends fit together.

9 Fold back the top section of the triangle, this will show the beak.

10 Then fold the whole plane in half sideways following the crease on the tail.

11 Expand out the beak sections at the front of the plane. Cut or tear out a section of the tail, then flatten out the end section of the tail for smoother flying. All that's left now is to decorate your plane .

happy flying!

Did you know these facts about planes?

?

On March 28, 1927, Millicent Bryant became the first Australian woman to gain a pilots licence.

The longest recorded time aloft of a paper plane was 27.9 seconds set in Japan, April 2009

The first success-fully manned flight was by Orville Wright in Decem-ber 1903 lasting only 12 seconds.

The A380 has a wingspan of 79.8 metres.

Qantas began in November, 1920 as was then known as "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited".

The demand for jet fuel at Sydney Airport is currently 7 million litres per day! (and it is expected to double that in the next 20 years!)

7. 8.

9. 10.

11a. 11b.

Hey kids, you might want to ask Mum or Dad to help you.


G ala weekend is only moments

away. This year’s Gala Committee president, 19 year old Maddie Milton and her small team are busy putting together the final touches. Like any other big event, the ground work often goes un- noticed. But this year Maddie has seen firsthand what a mammoth task planning Panna’s Gala can be. Maddie has lived out her childhood here in Pannawonica and has many fond memories of Galas past. She has seen her Mum, Michelle organise past events and with 2011 looking at be-coming Maddie’s last year in Panna, she wanted to help the much anticipated event go off with a BANG! But between the desire and the planning, Maddie’s life of work, study and Gala have been a juggl-ing act. Nonetheless she is certain that 2011’s Gala will be a one to remember. New residents will be forgiven for wondering what Gala is all about. In fact, it would be truth to say that I was one of them- at least that was before I went researching into the past. I’d heard residents talk eagerly about the weekend, especially the Ball and it was a little like standing on the edge of the ‘in crowd’! But with some reading of old Robe River News magazines and chats with a few old timers I’ve come to feel that I ‘get’ what this event is all about. For those of us that do not remember- Let’s for a moment imagine that we lived here in the days when the Access Road was dirt, when internet was some Sci-Fi idea, and con-tact with family, friends and the outside world was minimal. Isolated was the general feel-ing and the desire for ‘something’ to draw the com-munity together, an excuse to celebrate, began to grow. So it was in 1975 that the first Robe River Regatta as it was known back then, began. Throughout the years commit-tee’s formed and worked like

mad to pull off what was once known as ‘The Pilbara’s most famous event’. People from all over would come to participate in the memorable weekend. A weekend full of celebrations, family time, competition and partying- an event reported to be ‘unmatched by anything else’. The weekend once con-sisted of Speedway on Satur-day, the Regatta Ball Saturday night, and a day of music, friendly competition, drinking, eating and fun out at the river on Sunday. Sometimes up to 750 people could be seen enjoying the Sunday festivities under the shadow of Panna Hill. Crowds lined the river banks as they watched raft races, and enjoyed live music. The years saw the Gala’s Fami-ly Day (Sunday) move from the River into town, running events from the Town and School Oval as well as at ‘the Rocks’. Many local communi-ty groups set up stalls, and at one time the ‘Most attractive Stall Award’ was given. Over the years there were kids dance displays, Mine Rescue demonstrations, pet parade’s, aerobics & drama items, go karts, ball pits, inflatable slides, and an F Troop Army Reserves display. There were ‘Red Fac-es’competitions, dummy spitting, baby and best deco-rated bike competitions. Kids and families enjoyed fair-ground attractions, including a Circus with fire-eaters, who ran a children’s workshop. There was Tug of war, home-brew competitions, side show alleys, hole in one golf, a dunking pool and even a visit from GWN’s television celebrity ‘Dooper Dog’! There were Iron Person events, Men & Wom-en’s triathlons (of which Mark & Julie Davidson won in 1999!), announcement of Panna’s ‘Lord Mayor’, and one event; I personally wouldn’t mind seeing again was the Haul Pak Pull! What of the Ball? From what I’ve heard it was (and Maddie assures me it still is) an event not to be missed! Originally

known as the Regatta Ball its name was changed in 1996 to what we know it today, the ‘Gala Ball’. This was the once a year dress up event, a big deal. Serious consideration was given to everything; the shoes, the dress, the suit, the make-up and the hair. Hair dressers would even come from Karratha to tame the town’s manes! Themes of past balls include; the Roaring 20’s, Medieval, Circus, SS titanic, Bogey with the Stars and Holly-wood. (This year The Gala ball revisits the theme of ‘Masquerade’, and if you haven’t yet- it may be time to begin your ‘serious considera-tion’ of the evening’s attire). Just as the night would begin all ‘flash’, it was certain for some to end a little less glam-orous. I was even amused to learn that at one time, early the morning after the ball a bicycle/ wheelbarrow race from the Tavern to the River would begin. Many entrants having done an ‘all-nighter’- what a spectacle that would have been! It’s easy to understand why the community of the past looked favourably to their weekend in July and why those still in the know are look-ing forward to theirs. I think it can safely be said that Gala weekend is an institution unto itself and perhaps we can’t truly know Pannawonica until we’ve experienced a Gala weekend of our own. -MM

It’s Gala time! Community


kindergym

Welcome back to Kindergym Term 2, 2011. We had a great start to the year with an amazing number of registrations. It was wonderful to welcome everyone, new and old, back for a fantastic term of ‘Circus’ fun. Lots of fun was had by all under the big top, and we have discovered some amazing little acrobats and clowns out there. On a sad note we farewelled Cath Inman as our Secretary, and will miss Charlotte, Ned and herself. We wish the Inman family all the best for the future. We welcome Davinia as Secretary, and are glad to have you on the team. Our new theme for this term is ‘On the Farm’, and we would love everyone to come on down and pitch in to help do the many jobs on the farm. We are sure that Old MacDonald and all his animal friends would really love to see you all!!!! We would like to thank our Committee, volunteers and members for their tireless efforts helping out with fundraising and the general running of Kindergym. It doesn’t matter if it is ten minutes or an hour, every minute helps, so if you have some time to spare we would love it. Also if anyone has any ideas for themes, activities or fundraising we are always open to suggestions, so please let us know.

Kindergym News: New Equipment: The Kindergym Committee, with the help from sponsorships and fundrais-ing, has been able to purchase some brand

new equipment. The new equipment has helped make our sessions more colourful

and exciting and has helped all our mem-bers develop new skills. So thank you to all

involved in this achievement. Kindergym Coaches: We are currently in the

process of trying to organise a coaching course for those interested in becoming a quali-

fied Kindergym coach. We are trying to get enough numbers so that we can combine with Wick-

ham Kindergym and have the course run up here.So if you are one of those people, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact one of the Committee members listed below to register your interest.

…..down on the farm

Program guide

Free Exploration 10mins Warm up 5mins Group time 15mins Guided Discovery 20mins Cool Down 5mins

Up Coming Events: Gala Day – 10th July (Look out for the Kin-

dergym Stall) Kindergym AGM –

August (Date to be advised)

Can’t wait to see everyone down ‘On the Farm ‘really

soon!

Bouncy Castle Hire $50 per day $100 Deposit (Refunded upon return if undamaged) To arrange pick up contact: Kath Collins 9184 1540 Candice Duff 0427378506 Linda Parsons 0427314079


report T he long awaited

return of competition squash has hit off in

Pannawonica with much enthusiasm. The Ladies Social Squash Autumn Pennant began in early April thanks to the extraordinary organisational skills of Gail Timu. Five teams of four ladies began to battle it out at the courts every Monday Night. With some brilliant tacti-cal games, our competition is very strong. Participants from all sectors of the community have made the sport of squash really flourish in Panna again. Many of the players have been bitten by the squash bug, spending money on new racquets, clothing and accessories. Not to mention the hours of practice and friendly games throughout the week. On Monday 6th June the last two teams standing played off to see who was to gain the title of Squash Champions. With an estimated crowd of 20 specta-tors cheering on the teams, The MACKS’s consisting of Katrina Clarke, Maera Paki, Candice

Duff and Angelina Hales were victorious. The Panna Dolls, Michaela Williams, Michelle McManus, Kath Collins and Sue Iredell were gallant in defeat. With so much excitement and enthusiasm from our first Pennant, plans are already underway for the Ladies Winter Pennant. So keep an eye out for that.

If you are interested in joining our friendly comp give Gail 0487751055 or Katrina 0425842745 a call.

Squash

happenings

By Katrina Clarke

..

Squash provides an excellent cardiovascular workout. In one hour of squash, a player may expend approximately 600 to 1000 calories (3,000 to 4,000 kJ), which is significantly more than most other sports and over 70% more than either general tennis or racquetball. The sport also provides a good upper and lower body workout by utilising both the legs to run around the court and the arms and torso to swing the racquet. - en.wikipedia..org

The victorious “MACKS’


Panna police

Greetings from the Pannawonica Police.

We have two relatively new arrivals at the police station, Officer in Charge Sergeant Tony Di Giuseppe and Senior Constable Tom Bate-man, replacing Dan Anderson and Troy Baker. Many of you have al-ready met us, we are approacha-ble and eager to help where we can so feel free to drop in and see us any time. As there are only 2 of us in the town it is hard to be everywhere at once. We are sometimes called away to nearby sta-tions for reliefs or when there is a major issue or event in a neighbouring town and they require extra staff. Part of our duties is of course traffic patrolling so we are often out on the highway trying to catch misbehaving road users and potentially saving lives, so we are not always in the station. Here in Panna we also offer most licensing services so save your self a trip to Karratha and come and see us. If the station is closed ring us on the station number which usually diverts through to the OIC’s mobile. We might be on our way back or just around the corner. It also might be wise to ring us and make an appointment. In our short time here we can see that Pannawonica is great place to be. The community is friendly and proactive and understandably very proud of the town. We can see that it is a peaceful and car-ing community and we would like to think, that as police officers, we can contribute a good deal to keeping it the way it is.

A couple of issues lately of a little concern. One is the issue of street drinking. Although Pannawonica is a closed mining town the liquor act still applies. We have the problem of people drinking at the tavern, buying take away drinks and opening and consuming them on the way home. If you are apprehended you will receive a $200 on the spot fine and may find yourself barred from the local tavern. We know this is happening because residents keep finding empty beer bottles dumped around town. This is not only unsightly but potentially danger-ous to kids riding bikes and so forth. At one incident a large amount of broken beer bottles were found at the skate park on a Sunday morning, which was promptly cleaned up by some local parents. Those responsible clean up your act. You have been warned. Secondly the minor matter of bicycle helmets. We are trying to get our kids to protect their valuable little noggins from bouncing on the road by getting them to wear stylish and trendy bike helmets, which I must say the majority of them do. So please set a shining example by wearing yours.

At this stage we plan to hold a Blue Light Disco on the Friday the 1st of July. It will be well advertised beforehand with all the details. Lately there has been some person or persons doing ‘burnouts’ on the Pannawonica access road. It is dangerous and leaves unsightly black tyre marks. If you have any information please contact us at the station via phone or email. Please remember also that you can also ring the Crime Stoppers number at anytime to report any offence or suspicious activity. You can remain anonymous and you may be eligible for a reward. Ring 1800 333 000 24hrs.

On a lighter note: A man goes into the police station and says that he wants to speak to the bur-glar who broke into his house last night. The officer tells him that he will have his chance in court. The man replies “No, no, I just want to ask him how he got into my house without waking my wife. I’ve been trying to do it for years.” A policeman comes home after work and says to his wife “You won’t believe what happened to me tonight. I found two men in the park. One drinking bat-tery acid and the other was eating fire-works.” “Whatever did you do?” She re-plied. “Well,” he says “I charged one and let the other one off.” Remember to buckle up and stay safe.

Phone: 9184 1222

Fax: 9184 1022 Email:

[email protected]

police roundup

Sr. Constable Tom Bateman


wandoo project

Footpaths The footpath project is progressing well with new footpaths now run-ning along Sports Way, along the back of Harding Street, Sherlock Drive and Pannawonica Drive and work continuing along Deepdale Drive. New footpaths have also been installed through The Rocks and Tony Lyons park areas with the project 75 per cent complete.

Toddler Pool The new toddler pool project will be finalised in June when concreting and earthworks are completed.

The Rocks The Rocks park project is now complete. The upgrades include the installation of a new playground, barbecue, additional seating, a revamp of the rocks and rock wall and a new grassed amphitheatre area. Lighting and stage upgrade work has also been carried out and grassed areas are still fenced off until they are established.

Housing The Wandoo Housing project handed over the 90th house on 30 May. Work is progressing well with the first half of Fortescue Place now finished and work is currently being carried out in the second part of Fortescue Place and Harding Street.

90th house completed


Name : Nadia Mittica Nickname: Minnie Employer & Position:– VDM Construction– Liaison Officer What was your first job? Receptionist for barron entertainment (formerly Barron Films)- My name even appears on the credits of 3 tele-movies and 52 episodes of the children’s series “Ship to Shore”. Favourite food? Lasagne

Favourite TV Show? Currently Masterchef– love all sorts of cooking programs! Favourite movie? Cinema Paradise & The Notebook. Favourite travel destination? Isle of Capri, Italy & the Greek islands of Santorini & Mykonos What has been your happiest moment to date? Living and working on a cruise ship for Disney for 6 months– cruising the Bahamas and the East/ West Carribbean. I had the time of my life!! (Not that I don’t love Pannawonica– it’s awesome too!) What has been your proudest moment to date? Being able to sponsor a child in Brazil. How long have you been with VDM? 18 months What do you enjoy most about working for VDM? Working in Pannawonica on the Wandoo Housing Project is fantastic because of the team of people I work with and the friendly community. If you could invite 6 people (living or from history) to have dinner with; who would they be a why? 1. Heston Blumenthal—to cook me a meal with a twist. 2. Eddie Murphy– for some laughs. 3. Oprah Winfrey– for girl power inspiration. 4. Tall dark handsome stranger– for eye candy. 5. Richard Branson– for business tips. 6. My best friend (my sister) - to share the experience . Do you have a motto or a creed that you live by? A tidy desk breeds a tidy mind.

Lord mayor

getting to know your

Lord Mayor

candidate

Give a stranger one of your smiles – it might be the only sunshine he sees all day.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ASSISTED WITH MY CAMPAIGN TO DATE! YOUR SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY IS TRULY APPRECIATED.


travels

By Rachael Jordan

Beyond pannawonica

Exmouth T he first recorded landing in the area

was by the Dutch Captain Jacobz of the Mauritius in 1618. Australian Captain Phillip Parker King later

visited in 1818 and named the peninsula North West Cape, and also named Exmouth Gulf after a British Royal Naval Officer. It was during World War II that the area became important for a military operation named ”Operation Potshot”. In 1967 Australia and the US established the United States Naval Communications Station Harold E Holt in the area and in the same year Exmouth was gazetted as the supporting town to the base. During World

War II the Learmonth Airport was used as a defence base by the Royal Australian Air force. The Potshot Base which was positioned close to the Learmonth Airport was bombed by the Japanese during the War. Many of the streets in Exmouth are named in honour of Australian and British servicemen who took part in World

War II. Streets are also named after early residents and navy or military operations or craft. This gesture recognises the im-portance of naval/military history to the region. The Shire of Exmouth is an area of 6,261 square kilometres situated on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia 1,270 kilometres north of Perth. Although Exmouth has a resident population of 2,400 in the period April to October, annually the numbers swell to approximately 6,000 with the influx of many tourists that travel north for the beautiful climate.

Exmouth is one of the few areas in Australia that can boast the Range to Reef experience. The Cape Range National Park which has some spectacular gorges is an area of 50,581 hectares.

Turquoise Bay

Turquoise Bay

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis

Stevenson


Tourists focus on the west coast of the Cape which provides a large variety of camp sites on the coastal fringe of the Park. The Ningaloo Marine Park sits next to the Cape Range National Park and encompasses 260 kilometres of coastline. At the closest point the reef is within 100 metres of the shore. The reef itself comprises 200 species of hard corals and 50 species of soft corals and is a divers and snorkelers paradise. There are some 500 species of fish on the Ningaloo Reef. Some of the most common smaller fish are the Par-rot Fish, But-terfly Fish, Angel Fish, Damsel Fish, Scissor Tails & Wrasse. There are also many larger fish such as Groper, Coral Trout, Cod, Trevally, Mackerel and the occasional small Reef Shark. Many of the fish spend their entire lives in the one area of the reef as they are territorial. In particular the smaller tropical fish of the reef spend most of their life in the one location. Turtles are common to this area and there are 3 known species who regularly frequent the beaches. The Green Turtle, Loggerheads and Hawksbills. Between the months of October and April the Turtles mate close to shore. The Exmouth area and the Ningaloo Reef are becoming increasingly important to the study of Humpback Whales. These animals can be seen mi-grating north to their breeding grounds on the North West Shelf. They can be seen in this area anytime be-tween May and October each year. Other whales

found in this area are - Pygmy Whales, Pilot Whales, Killer Whales and False Killer Whales. The Ningaloo Reef is one of only a few places in the world where the giant Whale Shark regularly visits. Whale Sharks are large plankton feeding sharks that may grow to 18 metres in length. This shark is creating a lot of interest throughout the world and many people travel to Exmouth to snorkel with and observe these

gentle giants. The Whale Sharks arrive in these waters in March and April each year. The beaches of the west coast have the most pristine blue, aqua to turquoise waters with white surge breaking over the reef and pure white sandy beach. Turquoise Bay is a perfect spot to relax and soak up the beautiful surroundings and sunshine. Snorkelling within the Bay is quite rewarding and easy - an excellent way for beginners to practice their skills. Enter from the beach and snorkel out over coral and marine life, always be sure to check conditions. Turquoise Bay is located in the Cape Range Na-tional Park approximately 60kms south of Ex-mouth.

Sandy Bay

Turquoise Bay

travels


happenings

Matt Campbell, Bobby Whitton, Adrienne Buckle

T he Robe Valley Fatigue Trailer pro-vided drivers and passengers in

more than 150 cars with a friendly coffee break over the Easter break, thanks to a joint effort from volunteers from the com-munity, Rio Tinto, Pannawonica Police and Pannawonica Volunteer Fire & Res-cue who all took turns in manning the trailer from 6.30am to 3pm each day. Thanks to their efforts, drivers were more alert and there were no accidents reports in the Pilbara on the North West Coastal Highway over the long weekend.

Sandra Chester

Advisor - Community Investment Rio Tinto

C ongratulations to Maddie Milton on

receiving Rio Tinto Coastal Trainee of the Year for 2010. Maddie has been a resident in Pannawonica since 1997 and completed her schooling at Pannawonica Primary School and then attended Saint Brigids College graduating in 2009. Since graduat-ing high school Maddie has com-pleted a Traineeship with Rio Tinto completing a Certificate III in Business and is now a Project Administrator in the Accommoda-tion and Towns Management Office in Pannawonica. Maddie hopes to start her degree in Communications majoring in Public Relations in early 2012 furthering her career in the business and mining industry. Maddie Milton

A s a relatively new brigade of only 4 months in opera-tion, the Pannawonica VFRS took on the running of the

2011 ANZAC day Dawn service. 3 weeks prior to the dawn service, the officers of the brigade were made aware that no community group in town had put their hand up to organise the day. So in keeping with the community spirit the brigade put the preparation of the day into full swing. The service was run by the brigade with Ex-servicemen and women as well as dignitaries of the community carrying out readings, poems and reflec-tions. Robe Valley Operations and the Shire of Ashburton spon-sored the “Gun fire” breakfast whilst the brigade members cooked up a storm. Pannawonica Primary School helped with the loan of some of the equipment that was needed to run the service, which made for a more formal service. Attendance on the morning was quite unexpected with well over 100 people. The service and breakfast was a huge success with plans already underway to make next years Dawn service bigger and better.

ANZAC Dawn Service in Pannawonica


happenings

W ith the support and generosity from the Pannawonica Community, Marni Gillard and Mel Gallanagh were able to hold a Quiz Night and Auction, as well as collect clothing and household items to send to help those Australians affected by the Floods and

Fires earlier this year. The donated items were greatly appreciated by the Salvation Army in Perth, who will distribute them amongst their WA stores to help those in need. As well as large amounts of clothing and shoes, they had donations of toys, books, TV’s, baby seats, prams, camping items and much more, not to mention 100’s of VHS Videos kindly donated by Costless Entertainment. It took a flat-bed truck to move the items from storage and once sorted, the girls saw 10 full pallets of boxes leave Pannawonica in early May. There was a Quiz Night and Auction held in March which supported the Flood Appeal and the final amounts of money have just been received and a cheque posted to the Qld Premiers’ Appeal. Marni and Mel said the support shown by town residents was overwhelming and is true ‘Aussie Spirit’ at its best. Qld and WA victims will hopefully be comforted in the thought that small remote communities such as ours, and the people who live in them, can do something to help their plight and get them back on their feet .

By Teresa Hanratty

Arriving at the recent Panna Panther’s rugby match our young daughter Eileesh ran off to play with her friends and make new ones. Keeping a close watch my husband and I noticed she seemed to be having fun. As the game began Eileesh spotted a group of ladies in front of us, all wearing purple and waving their pom poms. With one look our daughter was besotted- love at first sight! - off she trotted to play with the ladies (who happened to be the Panna Panther cheerleaders). The girls gave her a set of pom poms and before you knew it she was happily scream-ing at the top of her (very powerful) lungs –and believe me at 3 am they can wake the street! There she was chanting “go Panna go” and wav-ing her purple pom poms. The girls were great at allowing her to join in with their cheering and photographs. Eileesh thought it was brilliant and has not stopped talking about it since. We often see some of the girls hard at work around Panna and they call hello to the youngest cheerleader.

Flood Appeal

cheerleader The youngest in Panna


happenings

Laura Patrick, Stephanne Dann, Corinne Bateman, Michaela & Tate Williams.

Natalie Jordan, Kirsten Hawkins, Michelle McManus & Sonya Starr

Pannawonica welcomes newcomers to town New residents of Pannawonica were formally welcomed to town earlier this month at the first Welcome Morning Tea of 2011. Held at the Pannawonica Sports Club, the event was well received by the community, with almost 70 people attending. Hosted by Rio Tinto Mine Operations manager Ben Wessely, attendees mingled and chatted, with a deli-cious morning tea provided by the Pannawonica Sports Club. The next Welcome Morning Tea will be held in August. Sandra Chester Advisor - Community Investment Rio Tinto

maitland men make milestone.

One year on!

The new men of Maitland Street have reached their first birth-day, and what a year it’s been! With many little firsts and mile-stones along the way, it has been wonderful to watch their first roll, sit and crawl, painful to watch the first tooth come through, comical to watch those little hands negotiate food, and amazing to witness their first steps. Sadly, we have said good-bye to Ned and Shaun, who have moved on to Perth and Tom Price. The remaining Maitland St boys however, now have a couple of girls in the street to fight over, as new little female additions to Maitland St have arrived this year.

Ned Inman (not from Maitland St), Tate Barnett, Kurtis Rutherford, Addis Evans

Happy 9th Birthday for Saturday 2nd July. Love Mum,Dad and Oscar. x

Alanah

Hi Michelle (Editor)

We just wanted to congratulate you on your first issue of

'The Pannagecko' - what a great, newsy publication. You

may also be interested to know that it has travelled as far

afield as Tamworth, NSW, to reach us!

After visiting our daughter and her family for Christmas, and

being taken on a wonderful three day run through the Pilbara to Karajini

National Park, Kirrily thought we may be interested in receiving a

copy. We just loved it and, after our recent visit, we were able to relate

so well to all the news items and photos. It brought us a little closer to

'your part of the world'. We are now looking forward to the next

edition. Keep up the good work! Ray & Pat Pryor

Tamworth, NSW


classifieds

Laura Poole

Skin Care for all skin types Hair Care Make up

Fragrance Home Care and home fragrance

32 Fortescue Way 08 918 41 528 0437 933 617

Advertise yourself here? Panna Gecko offer FREE advertising* . email classifieds /ads to [email protected]

*Space is limited. First in first served basis.


classifieds

Su

pp

ort lo

ca

l bu

sine

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Lara Dawson Creative Memories Consultant ID# AU007262 2 Cane Street, Pannawonica, WA, 6716 M: 0488 128 005 H:(08) 9184 1143 E: [email protected] Online shop & Catalogue : www.mycmsite.com.au/laradawson Become a VIP member and/or Down-load your FREE Digital Scrapbooking Soft-ware HERE at http://www.mycmsite.com.au/laradawson

PANNA SOUVENIR T–SHIRTS Have arrived!

MENS & LADIES POLOS $20 KIDS POLOS $15, KIDS TEE $10

Various sizes

Available at the Video Shop Or from Kindergym Contact: Kath Collins 9184 1540 / 0424 007 460, Candice Duff 9184 1431 /0427 378 506 or Linda Parsons 9184 1903 / 0427 314 079 Every t-shirt sold helps to raise funds for new Kindergym equipment


classifieds

I.T. TONY There is no need to travel for all your computer problems and repairs your local IT specialist Tony Barnett is right here in Pannawonica and only a phone call away. Cable Installations (Pay T.V) and problem solving also available! Phone Evenings and Weekends

0407 736 792

Regards Lara Dawson

Scenic Photographic Books Pilbara & North West

David Bettini Pilbara

Western Australia

Hard cover $50-00 Ben Knapinski – Karijini – Soft Cover $14-95

Ben Knapinski Australia’s North West Hard Cover

$59-95

Hugh Brown The Pilbara

Hard cover $75-00

Available from COSTLESS Entertainment Video Shop

PERIS

You will receive informative emails from various organizations and town services in Pannawonica, keeping you up to date of events, services and sales. Your details will be kept private &

confidential and will not be given to anybody.

Pannawonica Event & Retail Information Service If you would like to know what is going on

in Pannawonica Register your email address with PERIS at

[email protected]

Available at Costless Video Shop or contact Chris Edwards 0438441662/90841889 [email protected] -A full range of Certified Istitute Fresenius, Aloe Vera products including Baby products -2 full ranges of Make up & And skin care products are Derma tested -Celebrity and designer perfumes -Samples are available for trial -made in Germany not outsourced


classifieds PANNAWONICA Fridge Magnets $5

Available from your local Video Shop COSTLESS Entertainment & Post Office , Library & Service Stn

Also available from the following outlets POST OFFICE, LIBRARY & SERVICE STN

Available from your local Video Shop

COSTLESS Entertainment

PANNAWONICA Postcards $1.00

Waxing Tinting Facials Massage Exfoliation Manicures Pedicures

Discover Beautiful Glowing Skin.

20 years experience.

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Call Susan Today: 91841185 or 0427238372


last page

Something of interest

As well as presiding in the Magistrates Court, justices of the peace are regularly called upon by the WA Police to sign search warrants and authorise other judicial processes. The administrative tasks include witnessing affidavits and documents such as wills and statutory declarations.

How good we have it today! In the days of squatters and settlers mud floors were common in all types of houses. If prepared expertly they were clean and hard-wearing: The old hands told me how to build a clean dirt floor: Beat it hard with spades and tread of feet, Then soak with green cow dung and sweep again. Now sprinkle water, fire, and clear creek sand, And sometimes strew with cool green leaves; Sprinkle and sweep it twice a day Until, clean and sweet and hard, It gleams, black, polished like a board.

From the book Squatters and Settlers

by D. .Stone & D. Garden

Did you know? The Coca Cola Company purchases more sugar than any other company in the world. The soft drink industry is a 40 billion dollar a year business. Australians consumed over 3 billion aluminium cans in 2005. Of these, 51% were soft drink cans and 31% were beer cans. Coca Cola is consumed 190 million times every 24 hours in more than 80 languages and in over 35 countries.

Justices of the peace are appointed by the Governor who authorises them to carry out a wide range of official administrative and judicial duties in the community. Pannawonica has the following Justices available: Mr John Edward Inall PANNAWONICA WA 6716 Residential Phone: (08) 9184 1304 Mobile Phone: 0400 248 745 Business Phone: (08) 9159 3100

Mr Dallas John Slape PANNAWONICA WA 6716 Residential Phone: (08) 9184 1394 Mobile Phone: 0438 375 680

Tip: Please don’t sign or

date anything until you see

the JP.

Congratulations Lorna Unsworth

winner of the ‘design a book poster’ competition from Issue 1.

We’ll be in touch- Your prize is on its way!

for kids

the

way it was!


See you in September

I t ’s a l l a b o u t o u r c o m m u n i t y. like what you see?

want to Subscribe?

Send an email to : [email protected]

entitled ‘subscribe’ and we’ll put you on the mailing list.

‘ Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home; A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, Which seek through the world, is ne’er met with elsewhere Home, home, sweet, sweet home! There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!’ John Howard Payne, 1822

Panna Gecko Issue 2, June 2011

Documents

Transcript of Panna Gecko Issue 2, June 2011