Friday, July 5, 2002
Glossop High School has won the sporting and debating shields in the 54th annual exchange with Mount Gambier High.
The sporting shield hinged on the outcome of yesterday's football match, which Glossop won by 36 points.
Teacher Neville McPherson said it was the first time in at least seven years since Glossop had won both shields.
By PAULA THOMPSON
It is claimed that the Chaffey Theatre at Renmark needs a $1 million upgrade.
According to the State Opposition it is one of four regional theatres in need of a major overhaul.
Items claimed to be in need of attention include:
q Redesigning the entrance and replacing entrance doors with electronically operated doors;
q Installing a system of safety harnesses for the lights;
q Upgrading reception and administrative areas;
q Replacing worn and damaged seating and upgrading the façade.
The Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts, John Hill, said the Government was looking at including funding for the Chaffey Theatre in their 2002-2003 budget to be announced next Thursday.
Priorities
"As a lot of the theatres are over 25 years old it would be good if they got upgrades, but it's a matter of looking at priorities within the budget," he said.
"We are currently looking at the issues involved with the theatre, including occupational health and safety issues."
The Opposition estimated this week that $1.12 million needed to be spent on the Chaffey Theatre.
Mr Hill said the Government is currently working with the Country Arts Board to look at these upgrades.
Chaffey Theatre manager Charlene Martin declined to comment on the condition of the complex.
Other theatres needing attention include the Middleton Theatre in Whyalla, the Sir Robert Helpman Theatre in Mount Gambier and the Northern Festival Centre in Port Pirie.
The Chaffey Theatre was completed in May, 1984 and has a seating capacity of 500.
The site of the complex was the subject of much debate between the various district councils in the region before land adjacent to Renmark High School was chosen.
Berri Barmera Council has paid $190,000 for Barmera land to be used for a light industrial and residential subdivision.
The land, along Anderson St adjacent to Bruce Oval, will be subdivided into seven light industrial allotments and 49 housing allotments.
It was purchased at auction from Transport SA.
Council chief executive Mike Hurley said yesterday that council had bought the land in order to provide services, including water, roads and electricity.
"We held concerns that if the land was sold unserviced it could come back at council at a later stage to foot some of the bill," Mr Hurley said.
"We're looking at completing the subdivision in stages, and adding the cost of servicing the land to the blocks.
"It could be 12 months before the first stage can be released."
By PAULA THOMPSON
A new dance studio has been set up in the Riverland by a Mount Gambier woman with a passion for all different dance styles and over 10 years experience in teaching.
Brenda Pfitzner recently moved to Renmark with her husband and three children, after holidaying in the town over Christmas for the past 20 years.
She is studying at the moment, and should be finished her degree by June next year.
"I have already completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts, but I'm currently studying for a Bachelor of Education at the University of South Australia," she said.
Until Brenda finishes her studies, she'll offer jazz and funk classes each Wednesday in Renmark, and will hold an end of year concert at the Chaffey Theatre in December.
Studies
"I'll offer more classes and styles when I've finished my studies," she said.
"I've taught all different kinds of styles, waltz, ballroom and even incorporated a few yoga moves into the classes."
Brenda set up Footsteppes Studios in her hometown of Mount Gambier in 1989 with a modest number of students, and the school now has almost 200 students of all ages.
The school has enjoyed success over the last 13 years, winning team and solo State titles and most outstanding studio awards.
Brenda has worked with a number of different high schools during her career including Grant High School in Mount Gambier where she was employed as a choreographer for over 11 musicals.
She is currently on her teaching placement at Woodville High School.
She has also travelled to Penola, Casterton and Millicent in an effort to make dance available to the wider community.
On Monday anyone interested in enrolling in Footsteppes-Riverland can attend a free session at the Chaffey Theatre, starting at 10.30am.
There will be a demonstration on the day by two students from Mount Gambier who are ranked amongst the best in both South Australia and Victoria for their age groups.
Students can then participate in a workshop and an information and enrolment session will follow in the theatre foyer. Brenda will be available to answer any questions and take enrolments.
A video of Footsteppes 2001 dance performance at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Mount Gambier will also be on display in the foyer.
BRL Hardy will not implement its proposed vintage price cuts when calculating payments scheduled to be credited to growers today.
The wine giant's growers group, CCW, claimed this week that today's scheduled payment would be unaffected by a plan to cut some grape prices.
The payment is the first instalment due to growers, who received a third of their total payment during harvest.
"Friday's payment will be per their contract, there will be no changes," CCW chairman Jim Caddy said on Wednesday.
Mr Caddy said negotiations were continuing with BRL over the proposed pricing restructure, which follows an oversupply of grapes this vintage.
The winery has proposed cutting prices to $450 and $250 for shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot tonnages that exceeded grower estimates. Growers had been expecting up to $1100 a tonne for premium red varieties after what has been described as the best quality vintage in years.
Mr Caddy said that negotiations with BRL were continuing "nearly every day" but that CCW remained unwilling to accept any changes to contracted prices.
"The board's view is that the contracts must be met, we will not be accepting lower prices," he said. The next scheduled payment from BRL to CCW's 750 growers is due at the end of the month.
By PAULA THOMPSON
After 113 years of recording the weather details for Renmark, the weather station at the Renmark Post Office will no longer be functioning due to a cut in funding.
An automated device situated at the Renmark Airport, which transmits hourly reports to the Bureau of Met-eorology, will now be used in place of the traditional Post Office service.
The automated weather station was installed at the airport in June, 1995.
The Bureau of Meteorology conceded last week that there were climatic differences between the airport site and recordings taken at the rear of the post office.
It said that growers concerned about frost likelihood should take into account that the dewpoint temperature at the airport is, on average, 1.3 degrees lower than at the post office site.
The mean monthly maximum temperatures are approximately 1 degree higher at the airport in the summer, but are roughly the same in winter.
But, minimum temperatures are, on average, 2 degrees lower at the airport than at the post office during winter. Differences of up to 6 degrees have been recorded at the two sites.
A spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology said that while it had an historic co-operation around the country with regional post offices for the recording of weather this co-operation was being phased out.
"Around the country the circumstances have changed in the last few years with available funding being reduced, so we now have fewer options," he said.
The Renmark Post Office had been the official rainfall observation site for the area since 1889 and temperatures have been measured there since 1957.
Observations at the site ceased on Sunday.
The only way to find out the previous day's weather is through an internet site which lists the automatic service's findings, but this is only listed for the past 72 hours.
By MAYA O'LERY
Businesses at Renmark's Calperum Industrial Estate will pay more for their water this financial year.
Renmark Paringa District Council has raised its service charge from $60 to $130 to cover its increased water bill from the site.
The council pays the Renmark Irrigation Trust for a water allocation for the estate, which it then passes on to businesses.
In a report to council last week, deputy chief executive officer Robert Wood said the fee had increased because businesses were taking water from unmetered sites.
"We have concerns other people are taking water outside their meters and at the end of the day ratepayers shouldn't be paying any extra other than what council needs to water trees at the estate," he said.
"$130 is a reasonable service charge and at some stage in the future we will have to look at getting a larger water allowance from RIT."
Cr Graeme Daniel also suggested the council's large water bill from the estate could also have been due to a water pipe leaking.
Mr Wood said the council's other fees and services had risen across the board by about 5%.
The Country Fire Service's two Riverland management groups will merge next month.
The Upper Riverland Group and Loxton Group will form the Chaffey Group, which will be in charge of administration and large scale emergencies.
The group will be based in the Berri State Emergency Service's new Hughes St depot.
Upper Riverland group officer Raoul Otto de Grancy said this week that the amalgamation was aimed at streamlining administration for the volunteer organisation.
He said the Chaffey Group would be in charge of 10 brigades, spanning from Brown's Well to Paringa and would co-ordinate any emergencies involving more than two brigades.
"It's expected that the Berri headquarters will become a command post during such times," Mr de Grancy said.
Elections will be held next month to appoint a group officer.
The 10 units involved are: Paringa, Lyrup, Monash, Glossop, Brown's Well, Wunkar, Moorook, Taplan, Murray Lands National Parks, Barmera.
The River Murray has been cleared of gillnets following patrols by fishing inspectors this week.
Three nets were dragged out of the river by Fisheries Services inspectors on Monday, the first day of the gillnet ban in South Australia.
Fisheries Services general manager Mark Lewis said on Tuesday that the fishermen involved were not fined over the breach because of confusion over when the ban applied.
"There had been some misconceptions that the nets could be used until midnight Monday," Mr Lewis said.
"Our inspectors spoke with the fishermen and to their credit they were very obliging."
Mr Lewis said that this week's patrols were aimed at raising awareness of the new regulations and that inspectors would not be "heavy-handed" in their approach.
"We're just issuing warnings and information this week," he said.
Softly, softly
"We're going in fairly softly, softly because of the contentious and emotive nature of the new regulations.
"In the future we will be doing random inspections of the river to check compliance and if any breaches are found we will either issue expiation notices or prosecute offenders."
Three boat patrols surveyed the river earlier this week, concentrating on commercial reaches but also checking backwaters.
The gillnet ban introduced by the State Government prevents commercial fishermen from using the nets, which recreational fishermen have been prohibited from using for many years.
Opponents of the nets claim they are unsustainable and indiscriminate in their catches.
Commercial fishermen are currently negotiating a compensation deal with the Government, which will be phasing out commercial fishing of most native species.
By LISA SYMONDS
Robert Fox took over as president of Barmera Rotary Club at its changeover meeting last month.
Mr Fox, who takes over from Jim Lindsay, said the club had already proposed programs for the next year.
"We have a few ideas for community service work, some of which need council approval, so we'll be taking those to council," he said. "But if we get a good idea for a community service program we'll try to run it."
Mr Fox said the club would continue last year's successful road clean up program in Barmera. The club will also raise money for local charities and Rotary's worldwide campaign to immunise every child in the world against polio.
"The problem is to get members, raise funds and raise community awareness of Rotary," Mr Fox said.
In his president's report for the past year Mr Lindsay said the club had increased its membership by four. He said one of the club's most successful ventures for the year had been co-operatively running the West End van at the last Riverland Field Days, raising $11,200 to be divided between the five Riverland Rotary clubs.
Current Rotary exchange student Nikki Sawa, who will return to Canada on Sunday, delivered an "emotional" speech at the meeting, thanking the club for hosting her during her 12-month visit to Barmera.
The Barmera Rotary Club is expecting to host an exchange student this year, but has not yet been notified.
District governor Arthur Robertson also addressed the meeting.
Office bearers for 2002 to 2003 are: President Elect and Sub-Service Officer Bob Morgillo, Vocational and Youth Service Director David O'Loughlin, International Director Sandra Lindsay and Community Service Director Jim Rolfe.
A Loxton man has been convicted of indecently assaulting a teenage girl.
Michael Joseph Bertie pleaded guilty to indecent assault and indecent behaviour in Berri Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The case had been set for trial but a guilty plea was entered following last minute negotiations between police and the defence.
The 25-year-old defendant was sentenced to nine months jail, suspended on the condition he enter a three-year good behaviour bond.
As a condition of the bond, he cannot be alone or unsupervised with any child under the age of 16.
Court heard that Bertie had exposed himself to a 17-year-old girl when she visited his house in August of 2000. He also assaulted and threatened the victim.
Mr Edgecomb said that in suspending Bertie's sentence, he was taking into account the impact his imprisonment would have on his family.
"I've given this great consideration, if you end up back here be prepared to send yourself to jail for a long period of time."
Renmark Lions Club member John Halliday will be inducted as a Lions club district governor on Wednesday in Osaka, Japan.
Mr Halliday will become the region's first district governor for the Lions's C2 area.
The C2 district is the second biggest in the world and largest in Australia.
It covers all of the Northern Territory, the lower half of South Australia including Kangaroo Island, the Sunraysia, Broken Hill and a portion of Victoria.
The C2 district comprises 74 Lions clubs, four Leos clubs and two Lioness clubs and has total current membership of 1680.
Mr Halliday took over from past district governor, Bob Radford, on Monday.
Twenty new district governors will be officially inducted at a ceremony on Wednesday in Japan as part of the International Lions Convention.
Mr Halliday and his wife Carmel left this week for Japan.
Mr Halliday will hold the governorship for 12 months. During this time, he will be expected to visit all clubs in the district.
"We are looking forward to meeting fellow Lions and partners from Australia and around the world at the convention," Mr Halliday said this week before flying out.
"Due to the size of my district, I expect to be doing a lot of travelling this next 12 months, after our return from Osaka."
The 20 District Governors in MD 201 form the Council of Governors which oversees the running of Lions in Australia, Papua New Guinea and also Norfolk Island.
CORNER 14TH ST AND RENMARK AVE, RENMARK 1930s: The workshop on the far left is the rear premises of Riedel Brothers Garage. The corner shop occupied by Hoopers Furniture was previously occupied by the Vienna Bakery and today taken up by the Renmark Patisserie. Hoopers Furniture later moved a few doors down Renmark Avenue where they remained for several years until replaced by Paterson's Furnishings. Mr and Mrs Karl Strutz are pictured in front of their butcher shop, which had an excellent reputation for their German-style smallgoods. These premises have been occupied for decades by butchers and at present are occupied by Noel and Jeanette Wellman's Price-Rite Meats business.
By LISA SYMONDS
Loxton residents will be able to have their say on deregulated shopping hours in a survey to be sent out later this month.
District manager Trevor Burgemeister described Loxton as the "odd one out at the moment in the whole of the Riverland" because of its strictly regulated hours.
Mr Burgemeister said the move to survey the public was passed at the last council meeting and that a similar survey carried out 12 months ago resulted in a majority against deregulation, so no further action was taken.
"The council's actions may have been different if the interest for deregulation was in the high 50 [percent]," Mr Burgemeister said.
He said that the views reflected in the last survey would not necessarily be the same this time.
"With the shops that are able to trade seven days a week and do so from seven in the morning until seven at night I think people would be generally in favour of it [deregulation]," Mr Burgemeister said.
He also said shop owners were under "no obligation to open their shops" during deregulated hours, but that it would at least give them the opportunity to do so.
"Some people felt they were being discriminated against, particularly in shops such as Woolworths, as they were not given the opportunity to work at weekends," he said.
Grant Warner of Warner's Fashion and Fabrics said it "seemed a little unfair" that only a few stores in Loxton had regulated hours.
"I think people have a better understanding about deregulation now and can see the benefits," Mr Warner said.
He said Sunday trading was popular because people could shop together as families.
"People love shopping on a Sunday," Mr Warner said. "I personally probably wouldn't trade seven days a week, but it would give me a choice and save me a lot of hassle."
Under current legislation, shops exceeding the set floor area must seek special permission from the State Government's Work Place Services before being able to trade outside normal shopping hours and applications must be submitted six to eight weeks in advance.
A similar survey to the one in Loxton this month was conducted in Waikerie 12 months ago with about 85 percent of respondents in favour of deregulation, which was then approved.
The town has since seen an increase in the number of businesses in it's main street.
The deregulation debate was forced upon major centres after Berri Barmera Council successfully applied for deregulated shopping in 2000.
Renmark followed later that year.
A Berri man charged with committing sexual offences against a teenage boy has appeared in Berri Magistrates Court.
The 39-year-old appeared in court on Tuesday, during which time declarations - or witness statements - were lodged with the court by prosecutor Andrew Heffernan.
Berri lawyer Andrzej Kudra appeared for the defendant, who has been charged with indecent assault and three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.
The charges were laid in May following a police investigation.
The offences were alleged to have occurred between September 1 last year and March 31 this year.
The matter was remanded until July 23, at 2.15pm.
By LISA SYMONDS
Some of Loxton's new car parking restrictions in East Tce have been described as counter-productive.
Some retailers in the town are concerned with the parking limits that were introduced last Wednesday.
Loxton Hotel manager Robyn Cusick said this week the two hour limit in the car park opposite the hotel seemed to be the "lead balloon" in the hotel's plans to actively search and campaign for conferences to visit the town.
She said it appeared hypocritical that the hotel was working hard to attract conferences that would be of economic benefit to all local businesses when parking would not be available for visitors.
"What's the point in saying 'Please come to our town and spend $20,000 but you can't park here'?
Loxton Waikerie mayor Jan Cass said the hotel owned a car park opposite the primary school and that patrons had access to car parks along the front of the hotel.
"This is something we took into account when the plans were discussed," Mrs Cass said.
Ms Cusick said the hotel-owned car park was situated too far from the hotel and services the saloon bar.
"I might have a ladies Probus meeting with 120 ladies all aged 70 or more come for their three and a half hour meeting," she said. "Our car park is quite a hike away and it seems silly when no one is using the one across the street. It has basically been sitting there empty."
Ms Cusick said the hotel also catered for men's Probus meetings and were planning a three-day secondary school teachers association conference with over 100 visitors staying at the hotel.
She said the few days since the erection of the signs had only been a "snapshot" of what is to come and that she fully understood the feelings of businesses who were affected by the parking.
"The problem was staff from other businesses utilising the car parks, but we've noticed it's now almost empty," she said.
Mrs Cass said the problem of staff from businesses situated along the main street had been the cause of the timed parking. "There are people who work in the main street who park in there all day," she said. "We are aware that some cars park in there all day, every day."
Mrs Cass said it was too early to tell if the parking had any negative impact on local businesses.
"I have had no complaints so far," she said. "To say it's not working in only a few days is unrealistic."
Ms Cusick said that night time functions were not affected as the time limit only ran from 9am to 5pm. She said the timed parking in front of the Spring Leaf Café was a "good idea" but that she disagreed with the restrictions placed on the parking opposite the hotel.
Ms Cusick suggested the Loxton Waikerie District Council vary the length of timed parking in certain spaces in the East Terrace car park.
"They could put some one hour spaces directly opposite the supermarket, some two hour ones across from the hairdressers and Mystiques and then maybe some four hour ones down our end," she said. "It seems strange that the supermarket was the business who were most affected by staff using car parks, but the council hasn't put up timed parking in the street right in front of them."
Mrs Cass said there was little that could be done about the timed parking over the next few months, but that nothing was "carved in stone" and any complaints would be investigated.
Ms Cusick suggested the council implement timed parking at the southern end of East Tce.
"I really feel for IGA because they are smack bang in the middle of town and being able to find a park in front of their business is very difficult," she said.
Mayor Cass said Loxton was lucky because it had very few parking restrictions in its main street.
"The majority of parks in the main street, unlike most of the other towns, are not timed," she said.
A council spokesman said yesterday that residents would be given several weeks grace to adjust to the new system before fines would be issued.
By CATHERINE MORGAN
The chefs serve up some of the best meals in town and the table service is second to none, but there aren't too many people who know this particular restaurant even exists.
And that is the way most of its regular customers want to keep it.
The training restaurant at the Murray Institute of Tafe's Berri campus boasts five-star food and service at bistro prices.
Just $28 gets you a four-course meal from an extensive menu.
While it caters for the general public, many of its guests are industry representatives who are invited to experience the talents of the region's budding chefs and hospitality staff.
The restaurant opens for a fortnight twice a year and has just completed its first session.
"You can practice waiting tables or cooking all day long, but without a room full of hungry, demanding customers it means very little," hospitality co-ordinator and former Berri Resort Hotel head chef Gary Webb said on Wednesday.
"Occasionally we do get customers who are picky and don't like something, but that's part of it. We charge for the meals so that people are that bit more demanding, it makes it a much more realistic experience."
Jason Pilgrim completed Year 12 at Renmark High School last year. The commercial cooking student, who completes his course at the end of the year, believes the training restaurant is invaluable.
"There's a lot of pressure and things get pretty hectic, but that's what it's all about," he said. "One day I would love to be working in Europe and this gives me a headstart."
Commercial cooking co-ordinator Alistair Ferguson said the restaurant catered for 40 people and had been fully-booked over the past fortnight.
The restaurant will open for another fortnight in October and bookings can be made a week in advance.
Phil Rosenthal handed over the reins of president to John Rowley at Renmark Rotary Club's changeover dinner last week.
Almost 90 people attended the evening with representatives from Lions as well as members from the Waikerie, Berri, Barmera and Loxton Rotary clubs attending.
Mr Rowley is the proprietor of the Ampol Roadhouse at Yamba and has been involved with the Rotary Club of Renmark for three years.
He said the club had many things they wanted to get done in the next year.
"We are about half way through a $4000 project to provide a lifting chair to the Renmark Hospital, so we hope to raise the rest of the money for that this year," he said.
"We're also getting involved in a district bowel scan project in Renmark and surrounding areas, which involves selling kits so people can do home tests for bowel cancer."
Beautification
Another on-going project will be the beautification project of the eastern side of highway at Yamba.
This will spread about a kilometre, from the fruit fly station to the Big Tyre, and will have a memorial row to honour Rotary members.
Mr Rosenthal said highlights in the past year for the Rotary Club included running the 20th Riverland and Mallee Apprentice and Trainee of the Year awards and an auction night at the Renmark Club which raised over $1200.
The club has been hosting exchange student Malte Sorensen, from Denmark.
Jake Matthews returned from Namibia a confident, mature young adult, while Kelly Casement is due to go to South Africa in January next year.
Office bearers for 2002-2003 include Treasurer Laurie Wilkinson, Secretary Marj Lobban, President Elect-Club Service Mary Mattner, Community Service Officer Graham Dean, Youth & International Officer Paul Taylor, Vocational Service Officer Ian Wolter, Fellowship Officer Bob Twyford and Membership Officer Bob Speight.
By CATHERINE MORGAN
A shortage of primary school relief teachers and difficulty securing specialist high school staff are among the problems plaguing local schools, according to a union representative.
Australian Education Union organiser Marg Bastian, of Loxton, said this week that many Riverland schools were struggling with staffing levels.
She said a lack of available relief teachers was forcing some primary schools to reshuffle existing staff to cover classes.
Difficult
"It's becoming increasingly difficult for primary schools to get relief teachers," Ms Bastian said.
"Where they can't get people they are juggling students around into other classes, cancelling non-instructional time or using principals and deputies to cover classes.
"It increases the workload of existing staff, but there's nothing else schools can do.
"The situation appears worse than in past years but it's not at a drastic drastic stage yet, as it is in other areas such as the South-East."
It is believed that combined classes in some of the bigger schools have contained upwards of 40 students due to shortage of relief teachers to cover illness.
At least two local high schools have also been forced to advertise for teachers to fill either permanent positions or vacancies caused by staff taking long-service leave.
"High schools are struggling to find teachers trained in specialist areas, especially in maths, science, home economics and technology studies," Ms Bastian said.
"Loxton High has been advertising for job vacancies as has Renmark High.
"I know that at Loxton one of the positions they need to fill is for a maths teacher, they have two vacancies caused by long service leave for term three and are looking for an agriculture teacher."
Ms Bastian said that university students training in the fields of maths and science were opting for careers outside of teaching.
"It's a worrying trend, teaching is not being seen as an enticing profession," she said.
She said the new enterprise bargaining agreement brokered with the State Government should help to attract more teachers to the country.
"Some of the incentives being offered include permanency for teachers moving to the country and extra salary for the first five years," Ms Bastian said.
"We're hoping it will make a difference, but the proof will be in the pudding."
Waikerie fruit grower Ian Kroehn has been elected chairman of the Central Irrigation Trust.
He replaces current chairman John Petersen who will retire at the Trust's annual meeting at the end of August. Mr Kroehn this week described his election as chairman as "a pleasant surprise".
"The position is very responsible and very demanding," he said. "It [CIT] needs to continue in its good direction and I'm hoping I'll be able to do that."
Mr Kroehn, who currently manages Allunga Orchards in Waikerie, has been involved with the Trust since it began five years ago. He has been involved in the irrigation industry since 1988 when he worked for SA Water. "The trust has some 3000 irrigators as its members in a broad area in the region, so it will be quite a challenge," he said.
Mr Petersen's retirement ends a 30-year association with irrigation management.
He was elected to the Kingston Advisory Board in 1970, appointed a member of the Riverland Regional Advisory Board in 1987 and became chairman of the Government Highland Irrigation Board before being elected to his current position in 1997.
Trust CEO Jeff Parish said Mr Petersen was "widely and highly respected by growers, intustry leaders and government ministers and will be missed by CIT staff, directors and growers".
Weather station should stay
Temperature readings for Renmark are no longer taken at Renmark – they're recorded at the airport, which is almost 5km from the town centre.
The decision to stop using the weather station located adjacent to the Jarrett Memorial Gardens at the rear of the town library ends a tradition that started in 1889.
We believe that the reason for the change is cost.
For more than a century people like 'post master' Dennis Robinson have diligently recorded the readings at the town weather station at 9am and 3pm each day.
The figures provided many within the district with invaluable historical data.
Now we are told that there are certain to be significant variations between what is recorded at the airport and what the actual temperatures in Renmark might be for the same period.
It will render the figures collated within the town for 113 years useless. No longer can we say with any confidence that a particular day was the coldest or hottest in the town's history. We have no way of knowing.
It is akin to comparing apples with oranges.
Surely if cost cutting was the aim, a new automated weather station to replace the existing station at an appropriate site within the town limits would have made a lot more sense.
The switch to the airport is a short-sighted decision that will compromise the credibility of the bureau's service and leave the town with no accurate meteorological record.
Gunners wanted
THE 12 Field Regiment RAA Association is looking for any gunners that served in 12 Fd Regt RAA during any time.
We are planning a Reunion in 2003 and we would like to get as many old 12 Fd gunners together as we can. Any inquiries are welcome to phone: Kimbo 07 5484 5131. E-mail: kay@spiderweb.com.au or Tibbo 07 5442 6314 email: tibbs@tpg.com.au
Peter J. Tibbett
Cooroy, Qld
Taken away
I am proud to say that my family operates a commercial fishing reach. My father is a third generation fisher. My children would have been fifth generation. Now due to a political swipe of the pen, that opportunity has been taken away.
L SINKO
Renmark
Penalties should apply
DOES the State Government determine fisheries policy?
On 5MV ABC Radio, Renmark, this morning, Tuesday July 2, 2002, a fisheries compliance officer stated that three units will be checking the River Murray this week for any gillnet use.
Any found will be returned to the owning commercial fisher, without the applying of any penalty.
Surely as gillnet use has been banned as of July 1 (Monday) and commercial fishers have been previously notified of this, the full penalties of the law must apply.
There should not an on the spot fine, but confiscation of boat, outboard, car used and gillnets and a court prosecution, fine and cancelling of licence.
The use of gillnets in the River Murray is now illegal, regardless of who uses them. Or is it?
TOM LOFFLER
Waikerie
Donations needed
Tara Nickolai and Marie Makris have been chosen to go to the National Special Olympics in Sydney in late September.
Their last street stall on May 6 was a great success. Thanks must go to Connie for her Greek biscuits and my family and friends for making jam, biscuit and cakes.
Our next street stall will be held tomorrow at Loxton.
We will have a mixture of Greek and Australian biscuits and cakes, and lots of other goodies, so please come and buy. Any donations of produce, cakes or biscuits would be appreciated.
KAYLENE NICKOLAI
Loxton
By TOM ZED
Loxton North playing coach Craig Wooldridge embodies the true spirit of country football.
The 29-year-old on-baller reached a remarkable milestone when he played his 200th game for the Panthers against Berri on Saturday.
Getting to the 200 game mark is a great achievement for any player but what stands out about Wooldridge's effort is that he has been with the Panthers right from the start.
"I've been at Loxton North all my life, right through from under 10s," Wooldridge said this week.
Wooldridge made his senior debut for the Panthers as a 16-year-old in 1989.
It was his only A grade game for the season but he has been a fixture in Loxton North's top team since 1990.
He said the 200 game milestone was a special occasion, which he had enjoyed despite the Panthers going down to Berri by 67 points.
"We just had a little banner but to me it was very important," he said.
"To play 200 games for the one club, especially in the Riverland footy league where we only play about 15 games a year, is a big effort.
"I had a reconstruction on my right knee back in 1994 and missed the whole season and after that I didn't know how many more games I'd play so to reach 200 has made me pretty happy.
Wooldridge said playing in North's four consecutive premierships from 1997 to 2000 had been the highlights of his career.
"The first one was fantastic and then after the fourth one we all just realised we'd done something pretty special," he said.
"Making the SA Country team two years ago rates pretty highly too, probably just behind the premierships."
Wooldridge said the latest phase of his career as a playing coach had taught him a lot about football.
"You don't just look at yourself, you look at how other people are going too and there are so many different little things you can learn about the game through teaching other people.
"Sometimes you have to teach people certain things that you don't really think about unless you're coaching.
"The first year was a bit stressful but I've really enjoyed this year a lot more."
The pressures of coaching have certainly not hampered Wool-dridge's playing form this season.
After a slow start to the season he has been in top form since leading the Panthers to their first win of the season with a best-on-ground performance against Barmera-Monash in round five.
That effort saw him gain three votes for The Murray Pioneer Writers' trophy.
The Murray Pioneer's football writers gave Wooldridge two votes as the second best on ground in the Panther's round six win over Renmark, their spirited loss to Waikerie in round seven and the derby win over Loxton in round eight.
He also picked up a vote in Saturday's loss to Berri to take his total to 11 for the season, just two behind Loxton captain Matt Schutz, who leads the race with 13 votes after nine rounds.
Wooldridge has been selected in the 23-man Murray Mallee Barrier zone team, who will play against other country zones in the South Australian Country Football Championship in Adelaide tomorrow.
It is the fifth time in a row Wooldridge has been selected in the MMB zone side.
He has also been training with the South Australian Country squad, who will contest the Australian Country Football championships in the Riverland later this month.
Wooldridge played for SA Country in the last championships, which were held at Wagga in 2000 and is hoping to be selected again.
"There's a squad of about 50 blokes that have been picked and we've already had two trainings," Wooldridge said.
"The selectors will look at the guys who are in the squad at the State zone carnival on Saturday.
"If you perform well you'll be picked for the State team, which plays here in the Riverland in a few weeks."
Wooldridge will line up for MMB against Northern Cities at Glenelg Oval, starting at 3pm tomorrow.
Northern Cities includes teams from the Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie.
The final SA Country squad will be announced at a dinner to be held tomorrow night.
By GORDON LEVER
Renmark Olympic and Berri River Rangers have fallen five points behind Barmera United after playing out a 1-1 draw in Riverland A grade soccer at Renmark on Sunday.
Both teams were missing key players with Olympic going into the game without Hakan Ozdimir, Daniel Clark and Jim Markeas, who were all out injured and Berri missing Velli Tahsildaroglu, who was out with a groin strain.
The playing surface on the Renmark Oval pitch was very hard, which gave many players difficulty in controlling the ball, which led to lots of mistakes and bad passing.
Olympic's mid-field of Heresh Salehi, George Ekonomopoulos and Gurkan Topal started better than their Berri counterparts of Dave Burton, Adam Stanger and Nick Spinks and created several chances for Hari Singh in attack.
However, Craig Hawkins denied Renmark twice with super saves in the Berri goal.
Both sides persisted with playing long, high balls to their forwards despite these attacks being easily dealt with by both defences.
Spinks was the pick of the Berri side in the fist half. He made a couple of strong runs in the later stages and was unlucky on a couple of occasions.
The second half started in similar style to the first, with both sides unable to break the deadlock.
Bahri Ozbiricik made a brilliant run through the Olympic defence and slipped the ball past Renmark keeper John Smaragadakis to give Berri the lead at the 60 minute mark.
Olympic replied within minutes when Yianni Poutakidis played a beautifully weighted pass into the path of Heresh Salehi, who put the ball into the back of the Berri net from about 12 metres out.
The rest of the match was a scrappy affair with neither side deserving the full points.
Both teams started the season well but have gained little reward from the past couple of matches and they will be looking to improve in coming weeks.
Barmera United scored a 1-0 away win over Loxton United to maintain their unbeaten run and go five points clear of Renmark Olympic at the top of the league ladder.
George Geladaris scored for Barmera United in the first half and Barmera's defence held strong for the rest of the game to record the win.
Title holders Berri will host Barmera on Sunday, while Loxton United play at home against Renmark Olympic.
By KRIS WEIR
Renmark and Berri's A women's hockey teams drew 3-3 after a slow start to their game on Saturday.
Renmark eventually took the initiative and put three goals on the board early in the first half through youngsters Lisa Hartwig and Katie Lohmeyer and the experienced Danielle Weeks.
Berri improved and gained confidence as the game wore on, with Phillipa Ludwig having a tough dual with Weeks in the centre and stopping many of Renmark's forward thrusts.
Berri were rewarded for their hard work with a goal to Megan Rix late in the first half to be two down at the half time break.
Both sides came out fired up in the second half but Berri started to dominate the play, with Sam Cremer and Alice Hammond constantly putting Berri into attack.
Ludwig scored twice for Berri in the second half to level the scores.
She was well supported by Kristy Curyer and Leonie Brand, who kept Renmark at bay.
Maya O'Leary and Sharon Pendle were consistent triers all game for Renmark but could not produce a deciding goal and the final score remained at 3-3.
Berri v Renmark
Berri's A men started with blistering pace in their match against Renmark.
Dan Kerr and Tony Herbert made their presence felt early but Renmark repelled their attacks.
The home team turned the flow of play around and began to put Berri under the hammer as they constantly bombarded the circle.
However, Berri full-backs Chad White and Brendan Crocker and goalie Simon Johnson were exceptional and stopped anything that came their way.
The game see-sawed for the entire first half without either side scoring a goal.
Berri took the lead five minutes into the second half when Dan Kerr put his team's first goal on the board.
Renmark responded positively to going a goal down.
Youngsters Adam Sluggett and Callum Benda began to work well together and Renmark quickly eqaulised with a goal to Benda.
Both team's tightened up in defence and prevented any further score to leave the score at 1-1.
Loxton v Mildura
Loxton's A women's team were almost at full strength for their match against Mildura at Glassey Park on Sunday.
Mildura were under-manned, with several juniors having State commitments.
Kerryn Bament produced one of her best games of the season for Loxton, while Rachell Daff and Rachel Thurston also played very well.
Melissa James, Vicky Hunt, Emma Congress and Sue Chapman were best for Mildura, who had a number of opportunities through fast breaks but could not find the back of the net.
Anna Spink scored for Loxton to grab the two points in the first of the two games.
The second game of the double header started much the same as the first, with Loxton taking the initiative and again scoring off the stick of Spink. Jenna Roberts scored her first goal in Riverland A grade hockey to make it 2-0 to Loxton.
Kerrie Grimmie scored late in the game to give Mildura some consolation.
James and Congress were again among Mildura's best, while Grimme also contributed well.
B grade
In the B men's competition Renmark (1) defeated Berri 3-0, while Renmark (2) drew 2-2 with Waikerie.
Berri remain undefeated in the women's B grade competition after a 2-1 win over a very strong Waikerie side.
Renmark's B women picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Loxton.
The Riverland veteran women's team had a successful day at the State Veterans Hockey Championship in Adelaide last Sunday.
The team played six games on the day with limited numbers and finished equal third on percentage from Port Pirie.
Round nine preview:
Several teams will be under-manned this weekend with the start of the school holidays.
Berri play the first game of their double header against Loxton on Friday night.
Berri are starting to hit their straps, which will make it very hard for Loxton's A men to take home the two points.
Berri A women come up against league leaders Loxton, who are looking very strong.
Loxton play a double-header against Renmark at Glassey Park on Saturday night.
Renmark's A men are combining well at the moment and will certainly make it hard for Loxton.
Loxton's A women will be too strong for Renmark if they can field a full strength team.
Mildura will host Berri in A men's and women's games on Sunday.
Berri's A men should not take this game lightly, as Mildura are unpredictable.
Mildura's A women lost both games to Loxton last weekend but should be at full strength to take on Berri at home on Sunday.
The junior competition will welcome back 30 players on Saturday. The juniors have been competing at the SAPSASA country carnival in Adelaide during the week.
By TOM ZED
Berri's A grade women's golf team were presented with the Riverland Ladies Golf Association's A grade pennant after the final round of matches at Barmera on Tuesday.
The win gave Berri their 10th A grade women's pennant in a row.
Team captain Narelle Paull said the victory had been sealed with a win over Renmark at Loxton two weeks ago.
She said the stability of the team had contributed to the win and to the team's success over the past 10 years.
"It's a fairly regular team and we've had the same girls most weeks," she said.
"I only came into the A grade pennant team about four years ago but the rest of the girls have been in the team for all 10 pennants.
"It was just a consistent team performance that won it for us this year.
Paull said the competition for the pennant had been tough all season.
"All our girls were really steady throughout the season and that's what got us there in the end I think."
Renmark Blue narrowly won the B grade pennant over Barmera on percentage. Berri made it two out of four by taking out the C grade pennant, while Renmark also scored a double by winning the D grade pennant.
John Danvers won his second Riverland Cycling Club championship on Sunday.
Danvers followed up his win in the 47km scratch road race with second place in the 9km time trial at Winkie and third place in the hour long criterium, at Monash.
Danvers recorded a time of 15m30s in the time trial, to finish second to 2001 champion Hamish MacKirdy, who finished in just over 14 minutes. Angelo Ylia was third with a time of 16 minutes.
The field stayed together for the first 20 minutes of the criterium race before Danvers split the pack with an attacking move. Casey Danvers and Ylia went with Danvers, with MacKirdy biding his time in the chase group.
Chris Dalla Valle, John Eshman and MacKirdy formed a high speed 'train' to catch the lead group. The group of six stayed together for two laps before MacKirdy made a move going up the hill.
Ylia and the Danvers duo were able to stay with MacKirdy but Dalla Valle and Eshman dropped off the pace.
John Danvers led the sprint early but MacKirdy attacked on the final corner and went past Danvers to take first place.
Casey Danvers outsprinted his dad for second but third place was enough to make John Danvers the 2002 club champion.
Angelo Ylia finished second overall in the championship, while Casey Danvers came in third.
By TODD RIVERS
Little separates first from fifth in this year's Independent competition.
Paringa and Moorook-Kingston sit on top of the ladder with 12 points each, closely followed by reigning premiers Lyrup on 11 points, Brown's Well on 10 and East Murray on 8.
All are rated highly as contenders for this year's wide-open premiership.
All teams seem capable of winning against all other teams on their day and so far this season six games have been decided by less than a kick.
No team has yet strung more than three wins together on the trot, which has left the finals race more open than it otherwise might have been.
Moorook-Kingston have the best run home to the finals playing four of the last five games at home, including two games against bottom sides Cobdogla and Wunkar, but they have the bye this week to ponder last week's 57-point loss to the Bombers.
East Murray v Lyrup
Lyrup travel to East Murray, where the Tigers are undefeated so far this season.
The last time these teams met, the Lions escaped with a one-point victory despite having 14 less scoring shots than the Tigers. They won't be that lucky this time.
Paringa v Wunkar
Key forwards Brett Blackwell and Dave Heinrich will be welcome returns for the Swans and they should post a big score.
If you haven't had the chance to see Wunkar veteran Mark Rudiger in action before, then go and watch him now as he is in top form for the Bulldogs, and anything could happen if his team mates follow his lead.
Cobdogla v Brown's Well
The in-form Brown's Well Bombers head to Cobdogla for what could very well be a repeat of the 115-point slaughter in the first round.
The under-manned Eagles will struggle to cover the Bombers' multiple scoring options and strong big-man department.
Brown's Well have a tough run to the finals with only one more home game, and will be looking for a percentage booster tomorrow.
Sonics came from two sets down to win a marathon A men's volleyball grand final against minor premiers Derelicts on Monday night.
Derelicts appeared in control of the match after winning the first set in a close tussle and then breaking away from Sonics to win the second set with a convincing 25-15 score-line.
Andrew Ogilvy and Shannon Moldavon found ways around Sonics main blocker Simon Clark and their return blocking on Clark and Tony Watkins won them several points.
Sonics jumped to an early lead at the start of the third set through good serving from Bickmore, Clark and Watkins, while Derelicts began to lose their assertiveness.
Kerry Thompson and Megan McLaren's setting kept the Derelicts blockers guessing and Ryan Bennett was busy in the back court.
Sonics led the final three sets from start to finish although Derelicts always appeared to be on the verge of regaining control of the game.
In the end Sonics brilliant team work and Derelicts wayward spikes gave Sonics the premiership.
The A women's premiership was convincingly taken by minor premiers Wild Ones over a young Lobos team.
Led by Rikki Gill and Sarah Fielke, Wild Ones were dominant on the court and never let Lobos get into the game.
Black Knights defeated Grunge to take out the B men's premiership.
Black Knights started the game without their best player Tim Stead but played with determination to take out the first set.
Grunge's chances of a win looked lost when Tim Stead took the court at the start of the second set but Grunge won four consecutive points off Brendan Baldock's serving to win the set.
Grunge lifted early in the third set to take a 5-1 lead but Black Knights slowly pegged them back until five consecutive points late in the set dashed Grunge's chances and confidence.
The fourth set was all over when Steve Sandford served eight points in a row to blow Grunge away and give Black Knights the premiership.
No Saints won the B women's grand final in a match of contrasting styles against a young Lobos 2 side.
No Saints took a no fuss approach, returning the ball with minimum handling and using three hits on very few occasions.
Lobos play-makers Jenna Forbes and Kerri Frahn used their finer skills to set up attacks but were unable to put the ball into No Saints' back court where they were most vulnerable.
This suited No Saints' big hitters Michiela Gardner and Sharyn Webber, who wore down the younger girls to win in four sets.
Simon Clark was named the seasons best and fairest player in the A men's competition, while Lauren Scott took the honour in the A women's grade.
Tim Stead was the best and fairest in the B men's players, while Emily Frahn was the B women's competition best and fairest.
The second 2002 Riverland volleyball will start on Monday, July 29. Team nominations must be lodged with competition secretary Dudley Siviour by Wednesday, July 17, on 8586 5006.
Chris Teare scored 40 points to win Renmark Golf Club's stableford event on Wednesday, June 26.
Club captain Jamie Coombe was runner-up with a score of 36 points.
Roy Sims scored 35 points to win Saturday's stableford event on a count back from Peter Rowe.
Junior members performed well in the stroke event held on Sunday.
Matt Lewan carded a nett score of 67 to win Sunday's stroke event and lower his handicap.
Fellow junior Kyle Collinson was runner-up with a nett score of 71.
By TOM ZED
Australia's best country footballers will be in the Riverland later this month to play at the Aust-
ralian Country Football Championships.
The Riverland Football League won the right to host the biennial event in October last year.
The championships will be held at Berri, Barmera and Loxton on Friday, July 26 and Sunday, July 28.
Two divisions will be contested.
New South Wales, ACT, Victorian Country Football League (1) and Western Australia will compete in division one.
South Australia were relegated to division two several years ago.
They will compete against Aboriginal Allstars, Victorian Country Football League (2) and Queensland.
RFL secretary John Chylinski said he expected some teams to include ex-AFL players.
He said the championships would be attended by talent scouts from several states, who would be keeping a close eye on Australia's best young country footballers.
SANFL Affiliated Leagues Manager Robert Oatey said it was possible that some well known footballers could be on show.
Division one games will be played at Barmera, from 10am to 5pm on Friday and at Berri on Sunday, between noon and 5pm.
In division two matches will be held at Berri on Friday, from 1pm to 8pm and at Loxton on Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.
In round one each team will play three 'lightning' matches consisting of two 17-minute halves, plus time on.
Round two and finals matches will be normal games consisting of four 20-minute quarters, plus time on.
The championships will bring 192 players, plus officials and supporters to the Riverland over the weekend.
Loxton North playing coach Craig Wooldridge and Berri ruckman Robert Price are in the SA country squad.
Wesfarmers Landmark have naming rights for the carnival, which will also be supported by more than 15 national, State and local sponsors.
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