Local students take big ideas to Sydney

TWO girls from New Norfolk High School are among four Tasmanian students chosen to take part in an unforgettable experience at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) this week. They were selected from more than 180 applicants to attend the inaugural Big Ideas Forum in Sydney from November 14-18.

The ANSTO Big Ideas Forum is gathering budding 22 STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) students from across the country for a week of learning, alongside some of Australia’s best scientific minds. Students were asked to tell ANSTO in a 40-second video, what they hope to see science solve in the future, for a chance to discover if their idea is possible at a facility could be part of the solution.

Chloe Wilson and Kimberley Cantwell from New Norfolk High School wanted to know whether methane gas from cows could be eliminated, to ensure the thriving dairy industry can continue without contributing to climate change. Their teacher Rose Anderson has also been invited to Sydney to take part in professional development workshops and practical activities. Their video can be seen below.



“All of the students asked really perceptive questions about the challenges of the future, which has been great to see,” Big Ideas Forum co-ordinator Rod Dowler said. “ANSTO Big Ideas Forum is about empowering students to push boundaries, and not confine themselves to being ‘just students’ – their ability to contribute is vast and we want to give them every opportunity.

“This is the first year of the program, and it will be exciting to see how kids from across the country, with very different interests and backgrounds, can collaborate and enhance each other’s learning," Mr Dowler said.

“Chloe and Kimberley have drawn their ideas from the real world, and their own worlds – they’ve identified unique challenges, and put their minds to whether a solution could be found. These students are getting ready to choose senior subjects, and hopefully the ANSTO Big Ideas Forum will provide them with a great opportunity to see what a career in science or engineering could look like," he said.

“Curiosity is the key to succeeding in innovative research and these students have already proven they have that. It will be wonderful to see it grow and flourish over the week,” Mr Dowler said.

New Norfolk people wanted for rural survey

Click image to enlarge or visit the website.

RESEARCHERS are inviting adults from rural areas across three Australian states to speak up about whether the design of their local area helps them to get moving. New Norfolk is one of nearly 50 towns invited to take part in the survey being conducted by the Menzies Institute for Population Health Research.

“We want to know how the design of our local areas encourages or prevents us from being active, and whether people in rural areas have access to a sufficient range of safe, well-maintained places to be active,” Menzies researcher Verity Cleland said. Dr Cleland leads the study, which also includes researchers from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University in Victoria and the University of South Australia.

“Academic research has shown that the local environment is related to physical activity levels in cities, but this sort of research has rarely been done in a rural setting in Australia,” Dr Cleland said.

“Identifying features of our local environment that impact most on physical activity is very important because we can then help councils, government, planners and developers create spaces and places that support healthy lifestyles for rural people.”

“Creating environments that make it easy to be active without even having to think about it has enormous potential as a way to improve population health,” Dr Cleland said.

Adults who live in the areas being surveyed can fill out the survey at http://tiny.cc/ruralsurvey

The areas being surveyed are:

• Tasmania: Devonport, Ulverstone, Strahan, Queenstown, Wynyard, Campbell Town, New Norfolk, Deloraine, Bicheno, Burnie, Bridport, Latrobe, Scottsdale, George Town.
• Victoria: Echuca, Shepparton, Latrobe, Wodonga, Euroa, Sale, Castlemaine, Wangaratta, Traralgon, Ararat, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Daylesford, Stawell, Kyneton, Healesville, Bairnsdale, Warragul, Swan Hill, Maryborough, Camperdown, Wonthaggi,
• South Australia: Victor Harbour, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, Millicent, Bordertown, Murray Bridge, Clare, Tailem Bend, Maitland, Port Pirie, Berri, Renmark, Kadina.

Fifth flood warning

Bureau of Meteorology, 

Tasmania

Minor Flood Warning for the River Derwent

Issued at 3:01pmon Monday 14 November 2016

Flood Warning Number: 5
Minor flooding may develop in the the River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam Monday evening.
Since 9AM Monday, no significant rainfall has been recorded in the Derwent Catchment.
No significant rainfall is forecast for the Derwent catchment for the remainder of Monday.
Strong and dangerous flows may be a hazard throughout the Derwent Catchment in areas that received heavy rainfall.

River Derwent above River Ouse:

River levels are expected to remain below the minor flood level in the upper reaches of the River Derwent above River Ouse.

River Ouse:

River levels are expected to remain below the Minor Flood level along the River Ouse.

The River Ouse at Ashton peaked at 1.91 metres around 03:15 am Monday 14 November and is currently at 1.75 metres and falling.

River Clyde:

River levels in the Clyde River are expected to remain below the minor flood level.

River Derwent above Meadowbank Dam:

Small river rises have been observed in the upper reaches of the River Derwent above Meadowbank Dam on Monday.

River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam:

Minor flooding may occur along the River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam.

The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam is currently at 3.80 metres and rising. The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam may reach the minor flood level (4.10 m) Monday evening.
The River Derwent at Macquarie Plains is currently at 2.42 metres and steady. The River Derwent at Macquarie Plains will remain below the minor flood level (4.00 m) overnight Monday into Tuesday.

River Derwent around New Norfolk:

River levels are expected to remain below the Minor Flood level along the River Derwent around New Norfolk.

Flood Safety Advice:

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.tas.gov.au
Road closure information is available at www.police.tas.gov.au
For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500. 
For life threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Next Issue:

The next warning will be issued by 9am on Tuesday 15 November 2016.

Latest River Heights:

Location	Height of River (m)	Tendency	Date/Time of Observation
River Derwent below Lake St Clair	1.27	Steady	01:00 PM MON 14/11/16
River Ouse at Ashton	1.75	Steady	01:45 PM MON 14/11/16
River Ouse at 3B Weir	1.81	Falling	02:00 PM MON 14/11/16
River Clyde at Bothwell	0.94	Rising	01:00 PM MON 14/11/16
River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam	3.80	Rising	02:00 PM MON 14/11/16
River Derwent at Macquarie Plains	2.45	Steady	02:32 PM MON 14/11/16
Tyenna River at Newbury	0.73	Steady	01:15 PM MON 14/11/16
Styx River at Bruces Bridge	1.00	Steady	12:00 PM MON 14/11/16
River Derwent at New Norfolk	0.58	Falling	02:41 PM MON 14/11/16

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 216. Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/tas/flood. The latest weather forecast is available at www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts.

NNPS fair coming up

THE annual New Norfolk Primary School Fair will be held at the school in Pioneer Avenue on Friday, November 25, from 4–7pm.

Stalls will include a barbecue, cakes, fairy floss, popcorn, lucky envelopes and white elephant (books, DVD's, CDs, videos, puzzles, clothing). There will also be handmade cards, lucky dips, lucky jars, water and wine plus a Parents and Friends Association raffle.

A garden stall will offer seedlings of tomato, pumpkin and strawberry plants and local producers will be there with handmade products, clothing and homewares, as well as stalls organised and run by school classes.

Community groups will also be present including  the Lion’s Club chocolate wheel, D’Fat dunking machine, Derwent Valley Players, New Norfolk High School band "All Stars", Tree2Sea, NRD Studios with dance displays, Derwent Valley Community House, and Freedom Health & Wellness.

Children's activities will include a jumping castle, the merry-go-round, sumo suits, clowns and a balloon artist. Showbags will be on sale.

A Facebook event page can be found here: www.facebook.com/events/306335676412779/

Derwent flood warning number three

Bureau of Meteorology, 

Tasmania

Minor Flood Warning for the River Derwent

Issued at 8:57 pm on Sunday 13 November 2016

Flood Warning Number: 3
Minor flooding may develop in the River Ouse overnight Sunday, and extend into the River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam during Monday. 
In the 24 hours to 9AM Sunday, rainfall totals about the Derwent Catchment were generally 25 to 40 mm, with the highest 70 mm at Interlaken. Up to 15 mm has been observed since 9AM Sunday. Further 5 mm are possible overnight Sunday.
Strong and dangerous flows may be a hazard throughout the Derwent Catchment in areas that received heavy rainfall.

River Derwent above River Ouse:

Small river rises are expected in the upper reaches of the River Derwent above River Ouse during Sunday.

River Ouse:

Minor flooding is expected along the River Ouse.

The River Ouse at Ashton is currently at 1.49 metres and rising. The River Ouse at Ashton is expected to exceed the minor flood level (2.40 m) overnight Sunday into Monday. The river level may peak between 3.00 and 3.30 metres Monday morning.
The River Ouse at Ouse may exceed the minor flood level (4.00 m) during Monday.

River Clyde:

Minor flooding may occur along the River Clyde.

The River Clyde at Bothwell is currently at 0.57 metres and steady. The River Clyde at Bothwell may reach the minor flood level (2.00 m) Monday morning.
The River Clyde at Hamilton may exceed the minor flood level (2.40 m) Monday evening.

River Derwent above Meadowbank Dam:

Small river rises are expected to continue in the upper reaches of the River Derwent above Meadowbank Dam overnight Sunday.

Tyenna River:

Small river rises are expected in the Tyenna River overnight Sunday.

Styx River:

River rises are expected in the Styx River overnight Sunday.

River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam:

Minor flooding may occur along the River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam.

The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam is currently at 3.40 metres and steady. The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam may exceed the minor flood level (4.10 m) Monday afternoon.
The River Derwent at Macquarie Plains is currently at 1.70 metres and rising. The River Derwent at Macquarie Plains may reach the minor flood level (4.00 m) Tuesday morning.

River Derwent around New Norfolk:

Minor flooding may occur along the River Derwent around New Norfolk.

The River Derwent at New Norfolk is currently at 0.95 metres and steady. The River Derwent at New Norfolk may reach the minor flood level (2.00 m) during Tuesday.

Flood Safety Advice:

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.tas.gov.au
Road closure information is available at www.police.tas.gov.au
For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500. 
For life threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Next Issue:

The next warning will be issued by 10am on Monday 14 November 2016.

Latest River Heights:

Location	Height of River (m)	Tendency	Date/Time of Observation
River Derwent below Lake St Clair	1.32	Steady	06:00 PM SUN 13/11/16
River Ouse at Ashton	1.49	Rising	07:00 PM SUN 13/11/16
River Ouse at 3B Weir	1.13	Rising	08:00 PM SUN 13/11/16
River Clyde at Bothwell	0.57	Steady	07:00 PM SUN 13/11/16
River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam	3.40	Steady	08:00 PM SUN 13/11/16
River Derwent at Macquarie Plains	1.70	Rising	08:37 PM SUN 13/11/16
Tyenna River at Newbury	0.81	Steady	07:15 PM SUN 13/11/16
Styx River at Bruces Bridge	1.10	Rising	09:05 AM SUN 13/11/16
River Derwent at New Norfolk	0.95	Steady	07:55 PM SUN 13/11/16

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 216. Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/tas/flood. The latest weather forecast is available at www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts.

Big day out for junior cricketers

Representatives of the Derwent Valley In2CRICKET and T20 Blast attended
 Bellerive Oval today and were able to meet some of the Australian Test Team.

Popular poplars were past their prime

The scene today near 2118 Lyell Hwy.

ONE of the Derwent Valley's most famous stands of poplar trees is now just a memory.

An estimated 150 lombardy polars on the Lyell Hwy at Hayes have been felled after being deemed unsafe by the State Roads Division of the Department of State Growth.

The trees were reportedly in poor health and had exceeded their life expectancy.

The view before the removal of the
trees. (Google Street View).

The Derwent Valley Council was advised that the trees, growing in three clusters near 2118 Lyell Hwy, were a risk to the public and several had fallen in recent times.

The council has asked what the department intends to do in the way of replacement tree planting.

The scene at Windsors Corner today.