Have Your Say Mount Gambier

Applications for the 2014 Tertiary Health Education Grant program have now closed.

Applications are now open for the 2014 Tertiary Health Education Grant program, which will provide up to 12 grants of $2,000 to support students who normally reside in the City of Mount Gambier or the District Council of Grant areas; who are undertaking health related studies with a recognised Australian University outside the Mount Gambier area.

Each grant is available for commencing (for the first time) or continuing university students undertaking full-time or part time undergraduate level study in either an internal, external or mixed mode study program, in any of the following identified skill areas:

• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Dentistry
• Allied health (including occupational therapy, dieticians, podiatry, physiotherapy)
• Chiropractic studies
• Midwifery
• Psychology
• Paramedic
• Speech Therapist
• Mental Health Nursing
• Other related health program s where there is an identified skill shortage in the Mount Gambier District

Mount Gambier and District Tertiary Health Education Community Management Group Chairman, Mr. Ken Stafford said that 68 students had been supported through the grant since the programs inception.

“In total, $136,000 has been distributed over the past 7 years,” Mr Stafford commented.

In keeping with the strategic vision for a culture of Lifelong Learning a strong partnership has been established between both local Councils, the Mount Gambier Private Hospital Inc, Country Health SA Greater Green Triangle University– Department of Rural Health, UFS Chemist, Mount Gambier & District Community Bank, Rotary Club of Mount Gambier Lakes, Lions Club of Mount Gambier, businesses and benevolent individuals to encourage the growth of vital expertise within our community by providing financial assistance to committed individuals who undertake studies outside of the region.

Up to twelve (12) grants are available and funds have been provided by the community partnership to help build community capacity and the long term sustainability of the population through the availability of skilled and trained health professionals. It is hoped that by providing these grants it will encourage recipients to return to the City and District after graduation.

People who have an interest in the grant program and are considering undertaking study (or have commenced study) in these key skill areas are encouraged to view the detailed Information and Application form.

Application forms and all supporting documentation need to be lodged with the City of Mount Gambier no later than Friday, 28th March 2014.

For further media enquiries please contact Alison Brash, Community Development Officer at the City of Mount Gambier on (08) 8721 2504 or Mr Ken Stafford, Chairman of the Mount Gambier and District Tertiary Health Education Community Management Group Chairman, telephone 0438 258 187.

The City of Mount Gambier invites all members of the community together with visitors to Mount Gambier, to celebrate what’s great about being Australian at the Australia Day Breakfast and Awards Ceremony; to be held this Sunday 26th January, 2014 at the Cave Garden, Watson Terrace.

The annual event will begin at 7.30am with breakfast provided by the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier Lakes available to purchase for $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children; with all proceeds being donated to Sunset Community Kitchen, Regional Foodbank and Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Torsten Gustavsson, Foxhow, Phoenix Music Studios and Jason Flint with Tom Wilson will be entertaining the crowd from 7.30am, and attendees are reminded to bring their own crockery and cutlery for the chance to enter the lucky draw.

Official proceedings will begin at 9.15am with the flag raising and awards ceremony.

In 2014 the City of Mount Gambier will recognise Citizens of the Year Mr Bruce Ridland, Mrs Sue Parkinson, Mr Ross Parkinson and Mr Allan Dowdell, Young Citizen of the Year Claudia Meg Bailey and Community Event of the Year, the inaugural Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra concert.

The City of Mount Gambier promotes this as a smoke-free event and wishes to thank the supporters including; Rotary Club of Mount Gambier Lakes, Pura, She’s Apples, Collins Court Butcher, Bakers Delight, and Days Eggs.

The consultation 'Your Future...Your Say' has now concluded.

The City of Mount Gambier wishes to thank all community members who contributed in providing feedback on the Long Term Financial Plan 2013/2014 to 2022/2023.

 Have your say on the City of Mount Gambier Long Term Financial Plan 2013/2014 to 2022/2023!

The City of Mount Gambier has recently released its Long Term Financial Plan 2013/2014 to 2022/2023 following a review in December 2013, and is now seeking the views of all interested persons.

The Long Term Financial Plan focuses on identifying key financial components including rate increases, service levels, infrastructure asset replacement/renewal, loan indebtedness and major projects.

The Long Term Financial Plan is driven by Council’s strategic management plans that effectively set out Councils objectives, goals and desired outcomes; acting as a guideline for future action in financial terms.

Have Your Say - Participate Today!

The City of Mount Gambier welcome public viewing of an important exhibition of new interpretive works developed by students from Canberra University, titled 'Transects - Windows Into Boandik Country'. The Exhibition will be showcassed in the King's Floor, Main Corner from Friday 6th December, 2013 until Thursday 12th December, 2013 for free viewing to the public.

Take a look at the Transects Exhibition Catalouge here. 

If you attended the exhibition and would like to make comment, please feel free to do so at the conclusion of this article.

This significant exhibition 'Transects - Windows in Boandik Country' is the result of a landscape architecture investigation that involved studio based studies of counter mapping techniques; in addition to field-based studies of the Aboriginal history, knowledge, stories and occupation of the lower South-East region of South Australia.

City of Mount Gambier Presiding Member of the Lifelong Learning Sub-Committee, Councillor Jim Maher said the students travelled to Mount Gambier in September this year to conduct research for the exhibition.

 "The students were accompanied by Aboriginal community elders and other knowledgeable experts, whilst they researched various cultural and social aspects of our landscape by travelling along four transects," Councillor Maher said.

"The students collected stories from local people about Boandik occupation land management systems and their research has been translated into a series of large beautifully made, three dimensional interpretive maps.

"These works are the product of student’s engagement with our community, our physical landscape and our people," Councillor Maher commented.

The students took audio and visual recordings of various sites of significance in our region; such as caves, middens, wetlands, homesteads, trees and campsites. The information identified as part of the field project have been interpreted and artistically represented in different forms, all of which will feature in the exhibition at Main Corner.

The City of Mount Gambier is proud to be hosting this exhibition in the Main Corner and recognises it is an important step in our commitment to building respectful relationships with our Aboriginal community, striving to learn together and from each other.

"The City of Mount Gambier is committed to being recognised as a Lifelong learning community and we believe this project is an excellent model of successfully bringing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community groups together to share and celebrate the richness of Aboriginal knowledge available to us," Councillor Maher said.

"We also recognise that collaborations such as this enable our City to share our story with both national and international audiences," Councillor Maher concluded.

The works in this exhibition are the result of a diverse knowledge sharing partnership, which involves local farmers, land owners, archaeologists and botanists; alongside the South East Aboriginal Focus Group, Forestry SE, the South East Natural Resources Management Board, Burrandies Corporation, students, Canberra University and the City of Mount Gambier.

For further information please contact City of Mount Gambier Presiding Member of the Lifelong Learning Sub-Committee, Councillor Jim Maher on 0408 250 864; or City of Mount Gambier Community Development Officer, Alison Brash on (08) 8721 2504 or abrash@mountgambier.sa.gov.au.

The City of Mount Gambier wishes to thank all those who participated in our 'Let's Get Active Mount Gambier' consultation.

The following participants were selected in a lucky drawer to win a $40 voucher at selected businesses upon completing the survey:

- Anthony - Ecologie Organics

- Peter - My Butcher On James

- Blake - Collins Booksellers

- Donna - To Go

- Alana - Faith Jewellers

- Amanda - Food For Thought

- Kate - The Spot For Surf

- Verity - Sportscene

- Kirrily - Althetes Foot

- Lana - Bare Necessities

- Michael - That's Yarni's

- Naomi - Sportspower

- Justin - Chapman's Newsagency

- Jeremy - The Whistling Cat

- Tracey - Canopy Interiors

- Dave - She's Apples

- Shelley - Yoey's Fine Foods

- Sarah - Fuss Wellness Spa

- Dee - Murray T Martin Pharmacy

Thank you again to all participants who provided feedback. All feedback received will be reported to Council.

The City of Mount Gambier wishes to again thank all those who provided feedback on the proposed Community Consultation and Engagement Policy.

The Policy was formally adopted by Council in the full Council meeting held on Tuesday 19th November, 2013.

The Policy is now included within Councils Policy manual and can be found on our wesbite here.

Thank you again for your contribution.

The Consultation 'Let's Get Active Mount Gambier' has now concluded!

The City of Mount Gambier wishes to thank all community members who contributed in providing feedback on the CBD Refurbishment works at the Western end.

Let's get active Mount Gambier! This is our community, let's own it.
The City of Mount Gambier is committed to building vibrant and sustainable communities. We want to hear from you!

How active are you? Do the facilities in our City encourage you to be active and healthy? Is Council doing enough to promote active participation in our CBD?

We are currently seeking feedback from the community on the CBD refurbishment works to date at the Western end and encourage our residents to be active within our City.

We invite you to join us in the challenge and to take a few moments to complete a survey for your chance to win!

All those who complete this survey ONLY will be automatically entered into the drawer to win a voucher, with two winners chosen at random each working day between Thursday 17th October, 2013 and Thursday 31st October, 2013.

Don't have time to complete the survey or got something else to say? Feel free to post a comment in our Guest Book. Remember, only those who complete the survey will be entered into the drawer for a chance to win!

The City of Mount Gambier is interested in your views and ideas on the CBD Redevelopment to date and appreciates all feedback from the community. Let's get active Mount Gambier! Join us in the challenge for your chance to win!

The Consultation 'Engaging With Council' has now concluded!

The City of Mount Gambier wishes to thank all community members who contributed in providing feedback on the proposed Community Consultation and Engagement Policy.

The Consultation 'Engaging With Council' is now OPEN!

The City of Mount Gambier is interested in hearing your thoughts on the Community Consultation and Engagement Policy!

 The Community Consultation and Engagement Policy shows Council's commitment to deliver the highest level of community engagement.

The City of Mount Gambier is now seeking your thoughts on the Community Consultation and Engagement Policy and invites you to participate in this forum.

This is an open invitation to participate in your community's future, and Council hopes to see growing numbers of people taking part in the consultation and engagement process now and into the future.

 Your feedback is highly valued. Have Your Say  - participate today Mount Gambier.

The City of Mount Gambier Operational Services Department wishes to notify all building industry stakeholders that as of 1st July, 2013 an amended pre-fabricated wall framing design procedure for new development applications has been implemented on a mandatory basis. This includes the use of gang-nail plated roof trusses.

This amended procedure has been developed in response to the statutory requirements of the Development (Truss) Variation Regulations 2012 and ongoing compliance issues with previous processes.

Any person who feels that these changes will directly affect them and has not already received correspondence from Council with respect to this matter should contact City of Mount Gambier Building Surveyor, Hayden Cassar on (08) 8721 2530 or hcassar@mountgambier.sa.gov.au.

Each month, Councils Heritage Advisor will be in Mount Gambier to assist the community with their development applications, or to give advice on Local Heritage Places, Contributory Places and buildings which are located within Local Heritage Policy Areas.

Councils Heritage Advisor is available to guide the community in the conservation of heritage listed properties and to give sound architectural advice on such developments of re-roofing, front fences, unit development, dwelling additions and alterations, signage etc.

Onsite visits are available and can be pre-booked by calling City of Mount Gambier Operational Services on (08) 8721 2530.

As there are limited appointments available, bookings are essential.