The finals for the Mayoral Debate were held on Tuesday 16 August. The teams from the four high schools in our LGA were outstanding and should be congratulated on the exceptional manner in which their arguments were presented. It was very hard for the Adjudicators to determine the final winner. Congratulations to the winning team from Kurri Kurri High School and thank you to our valuable sponsors Rover Motors who provided free transport for the High Schools to the heats and the finals and to Cessnock Achievement Centre who provided the prize money. Without their sponsorship this event could not proceed.
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I recently attended the launch of Hunter Valley Climate Challenge at Hunter Wetlands Centre. The Challenge is an education and community engagement program designed to inspire household and community action, facilitate ongoing behaviour change and promote a more sustainable community in our region. Their key objects for Hunter Valley Climate Challenge is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in households, the adoption of more sustainable behaviours in the management of households across the Hunter Region, increase the participation in Hunter region community environmental groups and to at least register 500 households to take the Challenge. For more information on Hunter Valley Climate Challenge please visit www.companion.com.au/environment or call (02) 95161488.
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The Heart Foundation is looking for big-hearted volunteers from across NSW to take part in the annual Doorknock Appeal this September. The aim is to raise $5 million to fund critical research and community projects to improve awareness, prevention and treatment of heart disease, which kills one Australian every 23 minutes. To reach this goal they are looking to recruit volunteers in their Doorknock Appeal in every suburb across Australia. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Heart Foundation Doorknock Hotline on 1800 55 22 55 or register online at www.heartfoundation.org.au/doorknock.
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On Thursday 11 August I attended the 2011 Bluetongue Brewery Hunter and Central Coast Awards for Excellence. Our region was well presented and was successful in many areas. Congratulations to our many winners. I am looking forward to attending the 2011 Hunter Region Business Excellence Awards in September where I am sure more of our local businesses will be awarded recognition.
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The Mayoral Academic Challenge is set for 6, 7 and 9 September, with the heats on 6 & 7 September and the finals on Friday 9 September. The primary schools selected their heats and are now ready to commence the challenge. On 9 September the High Schools will also compete with the winning school to play the winning primary school. Many thanks to our great volunteers, David and Judy Clark and Janette Jackson, without the volunteers the event could not run. Many thanks to our valuable sponsors, Cessnock Achievement Centre, Cessnock Ex-Services Club, DLW Corporate Services, Hunter Resource Recovery and Rover Motors. I am looking forward to the Challenge commencing and to see the brilliance of our students in action.
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Last week the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2011 Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards Assessors visited Branxton, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Millfield, Ellalong, North Rothbury and Wollombi assessing 15 entries that our local groups submitted. The results are to be announced from 4 to 6 November at the Tidy Towns Awards Weekend in Lithgow the current overall winner in 2010. Congratulations to all the Tidy Towns Committees who participated and good luck with your entry and thank you for caring for our City and its beautification.
