Mallala Motorsport Park owner, Clem Smith (centre), at the presentation of the Kerrick National Sports Sedan Series Clem Smith Cup trophy at Mallala recently.

THE Adelaide Plains has a rich motor sports heritage spanning many decades, thanks largely to recent Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipient and Mallala Motorsport Park owner, Clement “Clem” Smith.
Mr Smith, pictured, was awarded an OAM in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours for his service to motor sports.
An avid competitor on the racetrack, Mr Smith was widely known amongst those involved in the sport as one of the more talented and successful racers in the state for a number of years.
His passion for motor sports reached a crescendo in the mid 70s, when he purchased the Mallala Motorsports Track, which had previously been closed earlier that decade.
There was a push at the time to host all racing at the Adelaide International Raceway (AIR), which had been recently built at Virginia.
Mr Smith said the decision to purchase the Mallala facility was tough to make at the time but his passion for the track, which he had competed on with great success, ultimately won over.
“It was the desire to have Mallala as a race track,” he said. “I had always been involved in racing at Mallala from day one.
“When they built the AIR, it was a pretty boring track from a racing driver’s point of view. It was basically a drag strip with a return road, virtually.
“Most of the racers preferred the ‘driver’s track’, which Mallala is, hard braking, hard cornering, that sort of thing.”
Since reopening in 1977, the Mallala Motorsports Park regained a number of marquee races and widened its scope to include a large range of other motor sport events.
It effectively breathed new life into racing on the Adelaide Plains, given the Mallala track was built as the replacement for the Port Wakefield circuit, which was closed in 1961.
“I raced at their first meeting, and their last, so I was fairly competitive there as well,” Mr Smith recalled.
Mr Smith’s commitment to motorsports was recognised in 2000, when he was awarded an Australian Sports Medal.
He believed the OAM eclipsed that award to a degree.
“It’s a greater honour – a lot rarer than those other medals,” Mr Smith said.
As for the future of the Mallala Motorsport Park, he simply wished it would carry on the successes and popularity achieved over the past 30 years.
“I hope it can continue as it is,” Mr Smith said. “It’s the major track that anyone can drive a motor car on today, including the boys that would like to play up on the road.
“It’s all here and I want that to continue.”
Other nearby Queen’s Birthday Honours went to Reverend Monsignor John Francis Swann, of Kapunda SA, for service to the Catholic Church in South Australia. Bute’s Neil Paterson was recognised for service to the community of the Yorke Peninsula.

“Everyone struggled at some point on the journey, emotionally, mentally and physically, getting sore from walking each day, carrying their backpacks, which held bedding and supplies.”
Due to the location of the station, there was no option for participants to give up or opt out, unlike many other aspects of their lives. Over eight days in March, the group trekked to different campsites, through 100kms of rugged mountainous terrain.
“The program also aims to develop personal attitudes of self esteem, leadership, motivation, responsibility and team work,” said Neil.
The team was challenged by night hikes, sleeping on cold, hard ground, abseiling down a 30 metre cliff, and coping with horrid flies.
“One of the team building exercises was climbing through an electrified  “Charlotte’s Web,” but the boys didn’t know it was electrified,” said Neil.
At the end of the journey, participants were presented with a t-shirt and dog tags to mark their achievement.

Les Pearson reports

THE latest State Budget delivered yet another blow to a key research and development department for South Australia’s primary producers on the back of a decade of continual cuts.
The Budget sees the government’s net appropriation to the Department of Primary Industries and Resources (PIRSA) fall from $89 million to $77 million, which includes $4 million less for the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).
The cut includes a big fall in employees at PIRSA, with full time employee (FTE) positions falling (see Brokenshire report, below.)
According to Primary Producers SA chairman, Rob Kerin, the cuts will be evenly spread across the department without any particular area heavily targeted.
Mr Kerin said the cut to PIRSA is a continuing and worrying trend of disdain towards the department.
“If the cut was just this Budget as a one-off, I might be able to wear it,” he said.
While public sector positions can expect a full-time workforce cut of about five per cent, PIRSA will cop a 15 per cent FTE cut.
“I just don’t think they (the government) get it,” Mr Kerin said.
“I guess because they think it’s helping private businesses, therefore the government shouldn’t be in it.
“We’re talking about thousands of businesses with no ability to maintain their own biosecurity or handle their own marketing, let alone carry out their own research.
“Our producers do not look for handouts, but the government role in research and development, bio-security and accessing markets is vital to underpinning the enormous contribution of food and wine to the SA economy.”
Mr Kerin said food, wine and fibre make primary production South Australia’s largest export industry and the most important contributor to the State’s economy.
There is money in the Budget for premium food and wine clusters ($1.05m in 2012/13) and more than $500,000 to enhance food trade with China in the coming year.
There is also an extra $1m over four years to enhance management of fruit fly.
“Regional SA is the power house of our economy, and reducing the budget for PIRSA yet again hurts the industry,” Mr Kerin said.
“Most of what PIRSA does is vital to the industry, and cannot be done by individual businesses.
“The good people left at PIRSA need resources to fulfil their important roles. SARDI has a vital role to play in lifting the state’s productivity.
“Once again they receive less money, with SARDI’s budget battling to fund its core capacity.”
“With things like health and education, at the end of the day there is not a lot of difference between the two major parties but with agriculture and primary production, there is,” he said.
“Elections are won and lost in Adelaide but it seems to be the government’s only focus, rather than focussing on how they can fund the state.”

Family First MLC, Robert Brokenshire

BROKENSHIRE DESPAIR:

A ‘fail’ for rural and regional SA

FAMILY FIRST MLC Robert Brokenshire has labelled the 2013/14 State Budget – the new Treasurer/ Premier’s first – as a “fail” for rural and regional South Australia.
Mr Brokenshire also despaired at further cuts to Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA).
“When this government came to office, PIRSA was one of the 11 major departments in government. In 2002 PIRSA had a budget of $428 million which, by rights and indexation, should now be $570 million,” he said.
“PIRSA’s Budget now is $165 million – a reduction of more than two-thirds. PIRSA also had 1,326 full-time-equivalent staff when this government came to office.
Now PIRSA has 915 –  a 30 per cent reduction in staffing, with 45.2 more full time equivalent staff to be given their marching orders this 2013/14 year alone. Yet Labor claims its number one of seven priorities is a clean green food industry!”

SALTY TALE AT WAKEY

Roger Norris with his novel, Tipping Point

Port Wakefield
There’s a new romance in town! Who could it be?
I’m not telling, so you will have to read a new novel titled, “Tipping Point,” which features Salt of the Earth cafe and Port Wakefield.
Author, Roger Norris-Green, of Moonta, has written the romance  thriller, and will launch it on Saturday, June 15 at 10.30am at the cafe.
The story, set in Port Hughes, and with a climate change background, is about the murder of a climate change scientist, who is found dead on the local beach.
His brother arrives to investigate, and an ensuing romantic thriller unfolds.
In one chapter, on the way back to Port Hughes from Adelaide, the main characters stop at Wakey, not for a steaky – and not, ahem, for “funny business” – but for coffee and cake, when the male character says,  “I know where there is a cafe with great organic coffee in the back streets, called Salt of the Earth.”
Roger Norris-Green, who is known as “Jolly Roger” on his Wednesday Gulf FM radio stints,   used to be a stallholder at the markets, and is looking forward to coming back to launch his book. The book cover is by Roger’s grand daughter, award winning Melissa Ellershaw of Lewiston.
After the launch, Roger will be available to autograph books. Books cost $20 and 10 per cent of sales go to Uniting World Overseas Aid.
Everyone is welcome to attend this exciting event.

Mallala
‘BEE’ THERE TO HELP OUT
Working bees are being held at Mallala Museum every Tuesday morning from 9am to 12pm. There are plenty of jobs to be done, both inside and out.
A committee member or volunteer will be on hand to help you get started, so if you have free time, lend a hand.

Wasleys
National Simultaneous Story Time was held last month. The idea is for everyone involved, around the country, to read the same book at the same time.
The primary school took part in this event for the first time on May 22. Staff and students enjoyed hearing “The Wrong Book,” by Nick Bland, read to them by SSO Belinda Pringle.

Pinery
Odd things have been sighted on the road at Pinery lately. Local farmer, Craig Johnson, was travelling home at night, when he spotted a koala running along the road.
He couldn’t believe his eyes, but pretty much by the time he blinked, the koala had fled up a tree, and hasn’t been seen since!

SCHOOL principal Fione Love with auction items.

SNOWTOWN GOES ON SALE

When Snowtown Area School became a primary school, the staff had a clean out.
Unwanted items and more are going to be sold at a “Giant Auction and Boot Sale” on the school oval on Sunday, June 30 at 11am.
Buyers can view items from 10am, and a sausage sizzle starts at 10.30am.
Bookings for sale “sites” need to be confirmed by June 19.
But that’s not all!
The Skate Park committee is holding a “town garage sale” on the same day at various houses around the town and maps will be available with locations.
Each location or household can pay $10, and will be added to the map. Maps will be for sale for $2 each from the newsagency the week before the event.
To book a stall or “boot” space at the oval, please phone Glenys at the school on 8865 2006, or to be involved in the town garage sale, phone Bernie on 0438 780 206.
•The excitement is building for the town’s 135th anniversary, to be celebrated on October 12. If you’d like to be involved in any way with the celebration, please contact Mike Stone of the Community Management Committee ASAP.
• Mike would also like to invite anyone who either served, or had a family member serve, in the armed forces, to join the RSL.
Work has started on the RSL memorial garden, and if you have a green thumb, let Mike know, as the current members would love some help!
Gilbert Valley
Probus Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 10am in the Riverton Community Hall supper room.
Come along to make new friends, listen to guest speakers and enjoy trips/tours.
Membership is open to anyone in the community who is retired or semi-retired. New members are always welcome. Phone 8847 2332 for further information.
Tarlee
The primary school donated an “ABC” book to the Uniting church Sunday School recently.
• And keep an eye out for playgroup, coming to the school in Term 3.

CLARE and District Hockey players, Angus and Hamish McGregor; ELLEN Canna and Sam Haddow; Sarah Jane Tiller.

BROTHERS Angus and Hamish McGregor will represent the Clare and District Hockey Association, playing in the Under 18 Men’s Team during the State Junior Zone Hockey Championships this weekend in Adelaide.
Ellen Canna was chosen to represent the association in the Under 18 Women’s team, and Sam Haddow will play in the Under 15 Men’s team.
Each year, the Mid North Zone Committee, which consists of a delegate from each association within the Zone, encourages all juniors to participate in the trials.
The Mid North Zone Region encompasses the Clare and District Hockey Association, Port Pirie and Districts Hockey Association and Yorke Peninsula Hockey Association.
The two McGregor boys – who both attend Clare High School – began their hockey careers with the Clare Hockey Club within the Clare and District Hockey Association, and are now playing in the Under 18’s and  Division One Men’s competition in Port Pirie for local club, the Panthers.
Since picking up the hockey sticks with the encouragement of their parents, Annie and William, they have grown in leaps and bounds with their skill levels, fitness and knowledge of the game.
Angus, 17, was selected for the Under 18 Men’s State Squad in 2013 and Hamish, 15, was selected for the Under 15 Men’s State Squad for 2012 but, Hamish was unfortunately not able to trial for the final team selection due to being at the Olympics in London, watching the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras play.
Angus and Hamish have both participated in numerous carnivals all over the state, and have represented SA at national level and have been involved in Regional Development Coaching in Port Pirie.
Ellen, 17, started her hockey career with Donnybrook, a team within the Clare Hockey Club who is affiliated with Clare and District Hockey Association. Ellen’s parents have driven her all over the countryside so she could take part in carnivals and Regional Development Coaching.
Currently they make the journey to Adelaide every Friday night so Ellen can play for the Yorkes Hockey Club, which play in the Adelaide Metro Junior Competition, as well as fronting up to play in the Under 18 Donnybrook team and Donnybrook Men’s Team, in the Clare and District’s Hockey Association on Saturdays.
Ellen is currently studying year 12 at Clare High School.
Also in the Under 18 Zone Women’s team is Sarah Tiller from Balaklava.
Sarah, 18, currently plays for Yorkes Hockey Club in the U/18 Women’s and has also played for Yorkes for the last few years. She began her hockey career with Balaklava Hockey Club, where she continued to play until she moved to Adelaide this year to continue studies. She also plays for Adelaide University Club on the weekends.
Sarah has represented the Clare and District Hockey Association over the years, playing in carnivals, State Junior Championships, State Zone Championships, SAPSASA and also made a State team.
Fourteen year old Sam Haddow, from Booborowie, plays for the Burra Hockey Club in the Under 18’s and the Riverton Men’s team, which are both within the Clare and District Hockey Association. Sam was rewarded by his association in 2012, winning the Under 14 Best and Fairest trophy for his outstanding season.
This year sees Sam playing goal keeper for Burra and Riverton, however he was selected in the Mid North Zone Under 15 Men’s Team to play on the field as well as in goals. Sam travels to Port Pirie during the summer months for Regional Development Coaching. He has great support from sibling’s Lachlan and Nick, and of course from mum, Monique and dad, Vic.
The Under 15 Men will be playing at the West Beach hockey grounds; the Under 18 Women at The Pines; Under 18 Men at Port Adelaide hockey grounds; and the Under 15 Women will be playing at North East hockey grounds, and playing five other Zones from South Australia over the course of two days. Finals will be held on the Monday at The Pines. It is here that the Under 15 Men and Women’s State Squads for 2013, and the Under 18 Men and Women’s State Squads for 2014 will be selected.
Anyone interested in playing next year can contact Mid North Zone Representative, Trudy Alm.

Hockey Development Coaching for Clare and District Hockey Association Clubs
Development Hockey Coaching is coming to Clare and District Hockey Association to be held Sunday 16th June, 10am-12noon, at the Clare High School, Hockey Grounds.  A sausage sizzle, after the coaching sessions will be available for all that attend for a gold coin donation, which will help pay for the 2 Regional Development Coaches.
Two Regional Coaches – Johnno and Dwayne will be coming from Port Pirie to conduct the coaching.  Johnno and Dwayne currently run the Regional Development Trainings that are held in Port Pirie.  This year they are also 2 out of the 4 Mid North Zone Coaches with Dwayne coaching the U/18 Women and Johnno coaching the U/15 Women.  They have a long list of coaching credentials between them.
Clare and District Hockey Association would like to encourage all junior players and team coaches (and of course families) to attend the Coaching Sessions, as we are sure that you will learn and enjoy the coaching.
If you are interested in attending, and it does not matter if you are just starting to learn or have been playing for a year or 2 or more,  please contact your Junior Coordinator of your Club, as we do need definite numbers.

RISKY TOP 10
South Road
Tod Highway (Eyre Peninsula)
Bute to Kulpara Road (Yorke Peninsula)
Main South Road (Seaford – Aldinga Beach)
Point Douglas Road (Whyalla)
North East Road (Tea Tree Gully – Chain of Ponds)
Unley Road (Greenhill Road – Cross Road)
Copper Coast Highway (Yorke Peninsula)
Kulpara to Maitland Road (Yorke Peninsula)
South Eastern Freeway (Glen Osmond – Hahndorf)*
Gorge Road (Athelstone – Cudlee Creek)*
*These two roads ranked equal 10th

ANDREW crouched in the room where he was sleeping.

A few weeks ago, Balaklava CFS officer Andrew Outram was one of the heroes of a school blaze. Today, he tells how he was lucky to survive as his home was destroyed by fire:

Les Pearson reports

A DEVASTATING house fire at Balaklava, which caused about $250,000 damage, left a local CFS volunteer with few belongings amongst charred remnants of his possessions last week.
Balaklava CFS first lieutenant, Andrew Outram, was one of the heroes involved in preventing the Balaklava High School from burning down following an arson attack recently.
When a fire started in his Centenary Street home about 2am last Wednesday, he was lucky to escape with his life.
“When I woke up, it felt like someone was choking me,” Andrew recalled.
“My room was already full of smoke and the alarm was going off as well. I ran straight out the back door.”
Andrew’s children, Tynan (six) and Candice (two) were staying with their mother, Carley, at a different home having moved out barely a week earlier.
“The flames were coming out of the window of Candice’s bedroom, hitting the top of the verandah,” Andrew said.
He ran across the road to wake neighbour and fellow CFS volunteer, Todd Robertson, but with his lungs full of smoke, staying conscious proved a problem.
“I kept falling over because I was out of oxygen,” Andrew said.
“It felt like someone had winded me. I’ve never experience that before, it’s shocking.
“I didn’t even see the fire truck rock up, I kept passing out.
“I woke up in the morning with a heap of CFS blokes in my room.
“I went back down to the house at 11am the next day and that’s when I got to see it all.
“I was devastated.
“There was nothing left.”

Andrew Outram surveys the damage with Carley Smith, holding Candice and Tynan, holding cat Jet.

Todd managed to salvage one photo of Andrew’s children and rescued a pet snake.
“All the frame is blistered and black but you can still see it,” Andrew said.
Two of the family’s cats survived, while one didn’t make it out of the blaze.
All the children’s Christmas presents were in Candice’s old room, where the fire started.
“The kids didn’t know anything about it and came around the next morning,” Andrew said.
“They took Candice into the lounge room to have a look and her little pink TV she got for Christmas, that was sitting on the floor and she picked it up and started carrying it outside to take it home but it was all melted.
“When Tynan walked out the back, the little motorbike he got for Christmas was just a melted frame under the veranda and he started crying too.
“I would hate to have thought what could have happened if Candice was in that room. That was lucky the kids weren’t in there.”
Wiring inside a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera box is believed to have caused the fire.
“The fire investigations guys didn’t even talk to me about it as they could see the whole thing unfolding from that,” Andrew said.
Todd’s CCTV cameras managed to capture the blaze unfolding.
“We haven’t watched any of that footage yet as he said it’s pretty distressing,” Andrew said.
He is now staying with Carley and their children.
A special fundraiser to help Andrew and his family has been organised at the Royal Hotel beer garden on June 22.
“The amount of stuff we have received from people has been incredible, it’s just absolutely enormous,” Andrew said.
“We got a massive amount of furniture that I can pick up when I’m ready to find another house.
“I’m not worried about setting up another house just yet until we get everything sorted.
“I’ve run into people’s burning houses and seen what it’s been like for them but you don’t fully understand what they go through until it happens to you.
“We’ve had massive support from the CFS and they’ve had counsellors come up and talk to us and they’ll keep coming up once or twice a week to see us. Both Port Wakefield and Balaklava CFS crews came in two days later and did the big clean up with me, they did most of the work.”
Andrew said he rented the home from his aunty and uncle but the insurance assessor suggested he was about $70,000 under insured.
“You don’t even think of what sort of stuff you have in your house and what it adds up to,” he said.
“If I was going to recommend anything to anyone, I’d be having a fire safe for all your family photos.
“We lost all of them, Candice’s first bracelet when she was born, all the records of the pregnancy and ultrasound photos.
“We’ll never get any of that back and that’s priceless.”

DAME Roma Mitchell Scholarship recipient, Chloe Lovegrove.

Chloe Lovegrove, a Year 11 student at Riverton and District High School, was one of five Aboriginal students in SA to be awarded a $2000 DECD Dame Roma Mitchell Scholarship.
• Chloe, 16, who lives at Tarlee, is pictured with assistant principal, Steve Simpson, who nominated her last year for her outstanding academic achievements and school community activities.
“I was excited and honoured to have won the scholarship,” said Chloe.
“I would like to be a hairdresser when I leave school, so I’m going to use the money to pay for costs for my tertiary education and Tafe courses.”
Scholarship recipients are provided with $2000 which they receive in payments of $500 per semester during years 11 and 12.
Chloe was presented with her award last Thursday at a special presentation celebration at the Mawson Lakes Function Centre.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the scholarship, which has provided support to 48 Aboriginal students.
Chloe is looking forward to successfully completing Year 11 and is currently studying English, Maths, Drama, Art, Community Studies and Tourism, and later this year, will study the Research Project.

Tenayah Renshaw and Steve Guy are having their locks lopped on Saturday, June 29, for "Canteen"

Balaklava
Tenayah Renshaw and Steve Guy, are having their locks lopped on Saturday, June 29, for a good cause – “Canteen”, the Australian organisation for young people living with cancer.
Tenayah and Steve, aka Beauty and the Beast, had a bet last year, to see what Steve would look like with long hair.
This turned into a fundraising event for Canteen, with both agreeing not to cut their hair for a year.
Tenayah, a Year 12 student at Horizon Christian School, also researched the emotional and psychological effects of a woman’s hair loss while undergoing cancer treatment, and used this topic for her Year 12 research project.
Tenayah is donating her long locks to make wigs for cancer patients. If you’d like to sponsor these two hairy people, visit www.everydayhero.com.au/tenayah_steve
• And as you know, the ‘missing’ wheelbarrow has returned. But to make sure it doesn’t go off the rails again, Balaklava’s Thrifty Link has donated cement to hold it down, while Balaklava Stitch Joint has donated some soil to rejuvenate the garden!
Garden organiser, Carmel Miels, is thrilled to see community spirit alive and well.

FIRED UP TO SLICE AND DICE

With chilly nights upon us, many people have cranked up their wood fires.
With the price of power these days, it’s no wonder people are turning back time to the first type of heating woman ever invented!
(Well, technically the first one would be more like a bonfire!).
One couple from Balaklava’s  Christopher street recently had a combustion heater installed, on the very day when the town was inundated with smoke.
The installer thought this pair of fire-lighting amateurs might be in trouble, so he phoned to see if it was their fire which had caused the smokey problem. Clear(l)y it wasn’t – and the heater is a roaring success!
But if you are out chopping or cutting wood with an axe or chainsaw, remember you should have another person with you, just in case.
And speaking of chopping, it’s a great time to slice and dice all your vegetables and make some hearty soup. It’s easy to make, and freezes well for a later date!
You can make any flavour you like, and it’s a great chance to use up any “daggy” old vegie you have sitting in your fridge. As we are meant to eat five fruits and two vegetables each day, soup is an ideal way to achieve that.
Home made soups contain minerals, nutrients and phytochemicals – antioxidants found in plants that destroy chemicals in your body. So instead of eating junk, get comfortable with a big bowl of healthy soup!

Penwortham
Mount Horrocks Historical Society (MHHS)  held its AGM on May 26 at John Horrocks Cottage. Guest speaker, Bruce Munday, spoke on his book, titled “Those dry-stone walls,” on the stories behind the many beautiful stone walls in South Australia.
It’s taken some time, but MHHS has finally finished its new shed, built in heritage style. The group enjoyed afternoon tea  within it after the AGM.

Owen
GET TO THE SHINDIG
• Tickets for “Sensational Shindig in a Starry Setting” will go on sale on June 17 at 10am, and are expected to be snapped up in record time.
The show is on Saturday, July 20 at the shiny hall, and includes a three course meal and entertainment. Proceeds will go to hall improvements.
And if you’re looking for money to pay for your tickets, contact Tania Heaslip for a possible loan! Tania recently scooped the Owen Hotel’s social club weekly draw.
The weekly draw of $25 had not been won for eight weeks, so do your times tables and work out how much she won!
• Card night is on again on Friday June 14 at 7.30pm in the hall.  A $2 donation is asked from adults, but children can play for free. Please bring a plate of supper to share. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to play, as someone can teach you.
• CWA is folding after 66 years (not 35, as I said recently. Sorry.) That would be a timeline error! Well done on a great job, girls!

Saddleworth
The official opening of the new stone wall at the golf club will be on Sunday, June 16 at 11am. Stone used in the wall is from the residence of Cyril Treloar, a life member of the club.
Then at midday, players will tee off in the Dave Smart Memorial four-person ambrose. A barbecue will be enjoyed afterwards.
Port Wakefield
The primary school is looking for people with an hour to spare, who might like to act as a mentor for students, making a difference in a child’s life. Contact Karen at the school on 8867 1012 if you can help.
• Student, Kristal Moreton, was thrilled to win a BMX bike in the Port Wakefield Hotel’s raffle.

LYNDAL Redman films (from left) trail cyclists Eliza Cottle, with Isla, Clare Elsworthy and Kristian Whitaker.

BALAKLAVA’S Shamus Liptrot Cycling trail will feature in an online video documenting the achievements of local councils.
Film crews from TAV Productions were in Balaklava on Wednesday interviewing key contributors to the project, including Shamus’ parents, Malcolm and Patricia Liptrot, former Balaklava Area Committee chairman, Terry Williams, and Wakefield Regional Council chief executive officer, Cate Atkinson.
They also arranged an interview in Adelaide with cycle trail fundraising organiser, Sophie van Kleef.
Crews shot several takes of cyclists using the trail. The movie will be part of an awareness campaign, commissioned by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).
The campaign is aimed at raising levels of understanding about local government regardless of the timing of a proposed referendum to clarify the Commonwealth’s power to fund councils.
As a part of national strategies in preparation for the referendum, ALGA put a proposal to councils to fund both an awareness campaign and a national referendum campaign, should it be required. This followed High Court decisions, which have cast doubt on multi-million dollar programs supporting communities via councils, such as the Roads to Recovery program.
The awareness campaign is supplemented by $200,000 from ALGA’s retained surplus and $350,000 from the Local Government Research and Development Scheme.

Malcolm and Patrica Liptrot in front of the new garden area with production crew (from left) Tony LeMaistre, producer Graham Peach and Lyndal Redman.