New Norfolk at top of cricket ladder after 11 rounds

Aaron Maddox was man-of-the-match in last
weekend's Ben Eyles Memorial game.

Southern Cricket Association 
Men’s 50-over matches (Derwent Valley games)
Round 11

FIRST GRADE: New Norfolk I climbed into top spot of the First Grade ladder when it scored its second win in a row, defeating Montagu Bay by a comfortable 76 runs at Geilston Bay. Winning the toss and batting, the Red Caps made the excellent score of 6/300 off their allotted 50 overs. The big score was due to a very good knock from Seb Wishart who made 73 from 117 deliveries. The opener (who in his last two hits has made 159 runs) put on 56 with captain Matthew Bowden, 36 runs, and 91 with the in-form Jordan Banks-Smith who made a very good 70 from just 62 balls. Banks-Smith hit 88 in Round 9 and 83 last week in the bushfire appeal match hit four fours and three nice sixes in a great display of batting. Jason Rigby smacked 39 from just 23 with two 4s and three 6s. Thomas Briscoe was also up to the task, belting 39 from a measly 17, hitting two 4s and four 6s. Opener Aaron Drew made 22 from 15 (three 4s). In reply the home side reached 9/224 from its 50 overs. Opener Thomas Briscoe made it a double, taking 4-22 (9) in a great spell while Jordan Banks-Smith took 1-32 (7).

Brian Smith played his 350th game for Gretna last weekend
and team-mate Corey Ransley played his 250th. 

SECOND GRADE: Gretna I made it three wins on the trot when it defeated Molesworth I by 48 runs for the Ben Eyles Memorial at Boyer Oval. Winning the toss and batting, the home side had Gretna in big trouble at 7/88, but then a rescue mission from Aron Maddox - who has been in great form - made a valuable 59 not out (five 4s). Maddox, who made 51no last week, put on 56 with the reliable Marc Worldon, 19, and then 48 with Corey Ransley, 18, from just 15 (one four, one six). Gretna was all out for 192 from 49 overs. Molesworth opening bowler Jeremy Nichols did very well with the ball,  removing both Gretna openers and finishing with 4/36 off 9. Brayden Hodge was tight with 2-25 (10) as was Brad Coppleman with 1-28 (10) including four maidens. In reply, Molesworth was going along nicely at 4/131, but then lost its captain and top-scorer Brad Coppleman for 45 (four 4s, two 6s). Things didn’t go to plan from there and with this wicket lost 6-13 to be all out for 144 from 42.5 overs. Nick Piuselli made 24 and put on a 50-run stand with his captain. Gretna needed some tight bowling for its fightback and this was delivered by captain Ben Rainbird who took 3-8 off just five overs and Aaron Maddox - who continues to play some great cricket - took 3-16 off 4.5 overs. Mathew Burns and Craig Cunningham took 1-26 (10) and 1-26 (9) respectively, while Trent Grant took 1-21 (5) and Corey Ransley 1-44 (8). Gretna has now won the Ben Eyles Memorial match for the past three seasons and its great to see both clubs keeping this event going in memory of Ben who was such a great cricketer with Ouse and later Molesworth. Congratulations to Corey Ransley who played his 250th club match for Gretna. He has played 221 for Gretna I and 29 for Gretna II. Being still relatively young, this total will only extend to bigger milestone. Well done mate.

New Norfolk II remains on top of the Second Grade ladder with its win over the Knights in a close one by 14 runs. Playing at home, the Red Caps won the toss and elected to bat, making 10/190 off 45.1 overs. In reply, the visitors put in a gallant effort to knock off the leading team, but fell just short, finishing all out for 176 off 45.2 overs. With the bat for New Norfolk it was opener Rohan Heron who top-scored making 49 from 78 deliveries with six 4s. Richard Graham made a very handy 37 from 43, hitting two 4s and two 6s. Graham put on 69 for the sixth wicket with Mitch Crosswell who made 32 from just 38, hitting three 4s and one 6. Stewart Rice made 27 from 25. With the ball, Bradley Chaplin, who has now taken 12 wickets from five matches, bowled very well taking 4-25 from 9.2 overs. Stewart Rice was tight with 2-22 (10) as was Mitch Crosswell who took 1-17 (7).

FOURTH GRADE: A vintage effort by veteran Joey Eyles guided the in-form Bothwell I to its sixth consecutive win when it defeated Montagu Bay by four wickets at home on Saturday. After winning the toss and batting, the visitors were bowled out for 140 off 37.4 overs. Keeping it to the low score was Joey Eyles who snared 31 off 6 overs while his son and team captain Cody Eyles took 3-30 (8). Matty Eyles was tight as usual taking 1-9 (4) and opener Brock Nichols 1-20 (5.4). In reply, the Bucks chased down the target with 10.3 overs to spare finishing 6/141. Opening the batting, Joey Eyles showed his experience and patience with a very good 49 from 103 deliveries. Eyles occupied the crease for 132 minutes striking eight fours and sharing a 52-run stand with Adam Clark who held his own with 19no (two 4s). Matthew Eyles made 14 while Nathan Eyles remained not out (one four, one six).

FIFTH GRADE: A superb double hat-trick to Nathan Heron for New Norfolk III surprisingly wasn’t enough for the Red Caps to get over the line in their match against Claremont at Abbotsfield Park on Saturday. Winning the toss and batting, Claremont was sailing at 4/138 and then in comes spinner Nathan Heron who bamboozled the Magpies, taking five wickets to have the home side 9/138. But Heron wasn’t done, and claimed the last wicket with Claremont finishing 10/153 off 40.3 overs and the Red Caps captain finishing with unbelievable figures of 6-18 off 7.3 overs with two maidens. Heron’s double hat trick was even more impressive considering his team was two players short with his wickets being three caught, two bowled and one LBW which was his fifth wicket. In reply, New Norfolk - being the two short - was bowled out for 97 off 30 overs. This club's first SCA double hat-trick. The top-scorer was last man Tejas Patel who made 23no. Nathan Heron got amongst it all, making 21. Chris Hall made 12 and Brad Smith 10.

Gretna II made it three wins in a row, when it thrashed Derwent by the big margin of nine wickets at Gretna. Winning the toss, Gretna sent in the visitors and dismissed them for the low total of 54 off 26.2 overs. Opener Josh Whitford bowled extremely well sending down 10 overs to take 3-14. Captain Ross Langford showed the way doing just as well, taking 3-15 from 8 including three maidens. Opener Adam Browning brought tight bowling to a new level when he sent down five over taking 2 for just 8 runs. Bailey Wheeler needed just two balls to take the last wicket, taking 1-1. With the bat, Zac Crosswell didn’t muck about making 32 from 31, hitting three 4s and one 6. Ross Langford remained 13no and Todd Jarvis 5no. Gretna finished the match early on 1/56 from 10.3 overs. Congratulations to evergreen Brian Smith who in this game racked up his 350th club match for Gretna. Smith, 57, continues to come back every season and still wicket-keeps. He has now played 125 matches for Gretna I and 225 for Gretna II. I reckon their is another 50 matches left in him yet, for 400 with Gretna and around 700 matches with all clubs since his debut with Westerway/Maydena in season 1981/82 when they won the flag. He needs just two matches to overtake Micky Rainbird for the most Gretna II games on 226. Congratulations also to Jake Campbell who played his 50th match for Gretna II.

SEVENTH GRADE: In the rain-affected match at Geilston Bay on Sunday, Molesworth II went down to Derwent by seven wickets. After being sent in, Molesworth made 4/156 off its allotted 37 overs. In reply Derwent nearly ran out of overs chasing down the target, finishing 3/159 off 34.1 overs. With the bat for Molesworth, captain Jack Evans made 46no, hitting four 4s. Nick Wakefield made 37 while his brother Nathan made 32 with both hitting one 4 each. Anthony Murray 11. Molesworth used nine bowlers, with Tye Benson the wicket taker with 2-11 (2) and there was one run-out.

The match between Bothwell II and Old Beach at Cloak Oval was a washout.

WADE GLEESON

NEXT GAMES
Round 12, to be played on February 8-9. All matches start at 10:30am.

FIRST GRADE
Saturday: New Norfolk I v Sorell at Sorell Oval No.1.

SECOND GRADE
Saturday: Gretna I v Richmond/Cambridge at Richmond Oval; Molesworth I v Derwent at Boyer Oval; New Norfolk II v MacKillop at Tynwald Park.

FOURTH GRADE
Sunday: Bothwell I v Hobart at Wentworth Park.

FIFTH GRADE
Saturday: Gretna II v Lindisfarne at Lindisfarne Oval No.2; New Norfolk III v Sorell at Campania.

SEVENTH GRADE
Sunday: Bothwell II v St Virgil’s at Bothwell; Molesworth II v Claremont at Abbotsfield Park.

Papermaker sells its Tasmanian forests

PAPERMAKER Norske Skog has announced the sale of its Tasmanian forests for $62.5 million. Included in the sale are forests in the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands and smaller stands in the Huon Valley, Tasman Peninsula and Southern Midlands.

The company says the sale is accompanied by a long-term wood-supply agreement to provide pulpwood to the Boyer Mill at New Norfolk.

The buyer has been named as Australian-based investment manager New Forests Pty Ltd. “The sale of the Tasmanian forest is a continuation of Norske Skog’s strategic asset review and is in line with Norske Skog´s communicated strategy of optimising its portfolio and seek value enhancing transactions," Norske Skog president and chief executive Sven Ombudstvedt said.

"The sale is part of the group's long-term strategy where released funds will enable the necessary conversions, investments in new green projects and investor policy to be fulfilled," he said. "I am satisfied that we also have assured a long-term softwood supply agreement for the Boyer mill.”

The company said the sale was subject to conditions including approval from Australian's Foreign Investment Review Board and is expected to take place in the end of the second quarter of 2020.  "The sale and the cash proceeds from the transaction will further strengthen the group’s underlying balance sheet and financial capabilities, and thereby provide increased robustness for future investments in the group and attractive dividends in the years to come,"  Mr Ombudstvedt said.

Norske Skog's Boyer Mill at New Norfolk.

Norske Skog Boyer has an annual newsprint production capacity of 150,000 tonnes, and magazine paper production of 135,000 tonnes. The plantations included in the sale have traditionally supplied around two-thirds of Boyer’s annual pulpwood consumption of approximately 550,000 tonnes.

Boyer will enter into a long-term pulpwood supply agreement with the buyer for supply of 360,000 tonnes annually, which will start from the completion of the transaction. At the same time the existing contracts related to the plantations - such as forest harvesting and transport services - will be transferred to the buyer.

The company says paper production will continue at Boyer. "Norske Skog’s long-term strategy remains to improve the group’s core business, to convert certain of the group’s paper machines and continue to to diversify the business into bioenergy, biochemicals and alternative fibre markets," Mr Ombudstvedt said.

Norske Skog operates six mills in five countries, with an annual production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes. Its newsprint and magazine paper is sold through sales offices and agents to more than 80 countries. The group has about 2300 employees. As well as the traditional publication paper business, Norske Skog has launched new initiatives related to renewable energy, biochemical products and fibre products.

The Boyer mill has been producing newsprint for Australia's newspaper publishers since 1941. A sister mill opened in Albury, NSW, in 1981 and closed last year. Boyer has long been involved in various diversification projects from the production of timber veneer and the switch from old-growth hardwood to plantation-grown softwood, to the more recent conversion of one of its machines to produce lightweight coated paper, and the production of a non-toxic solvent.

New Forests is described as an Australian-based international sustainable forestry investment manager, with interests in around 550,000 hectares of forests and timberlands across a global portfolio of nearly 1 million hectares of forestry and conservation investments. New Forests has offices and assets in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and the US. 

Youth Week on track for this year

YOUTH Week activities will once again be offered in the local area following news that the Derwent Valley Youth Future Action Team (D’FAT) has been successful in obtaining Youth Week Tasmania 2020 grant funding from the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

D’FAT facilitator Matt Hill said this funding would greatly assist D’FAT with the staging of activities for young people, children and their families in the Derwent Valley during Youth Week from April 1-8, including popular activities such an outdoor movie night and robotics and programming sessions.

D’FAT chairman Nic Kaiser said the group had begun planning Youth Week activities at its annual evaluation and planning camp held last month. It has been organising Youth Week activities for the Derwent Valley for many years.

Youth Week is a government initiative to celebrate the efforts and contributions of young people aged 12 to 25 in their communities, and an opportunity to express their ideas, act on issues and create and enjoy activities and events.

Mayor rejects call to test his support

Cr Ben Shaw.

DERWENT Valley mayor Ben Shaw has rejected a fellow councillor's call for him to resign from the role and test his public support at a by-election.

During councillor question time at the January council meeting, Cr Paul Belcher called on Cr Shaw to resign as mayor following several adverse motions being approved at last year's annual general meeting.

"Mr Mayor, at the AGM there was concern from ratepayers that you should step down from your role as mayor," Cr Belcher said. "You keep on saying that you was elected by the the people ... but if you still think you get the support Mr Mayor from the members of the public, why don't you resign from mayor, call for a by-election and we'll have a re-run for mayor."

Cr Shaw was brief in his reply. "Yeah, nah, thanks for your invitation," he said. Cr Belcher said he was just asking the question, and Cr Shaw said he was just giving his answer. "Thanks for the invitation," he repeated.

Cr Shaw was elected mayor in October 2018, edging out Cr Belcher by 25 votes after the exclusion of the other candidates. Cr Shaw received 2004 votes and Cr Belcher 1979 votes. The order was reversed in the election for councillor, which saw Cr Belcher the most popular candidate with 854 votes, just ahead of Cr Shaw's 847.

The council annual general meeting held in December saw the majority of electors present voting for Cr Shaw to stand aside as mayor until independent investigations were held into the culling of birdlife at Tynwald Park last year and alleged bullying of staff, and that two residents or ratepayers be allowed to address the council's audit panel.

The majority of those at the AGM also voted in favour of a resolution that if the above requests were not met, the meeting expressed its lack of confidence in the mayor and called for him to step down from the role.

Speaking from the chair at the AGM and at last month's council meeting, Cr Shaw rejected the assertions that he had interfered with operational matters or bullied staff.

During question time at the January meeting, ratepayer Di Cowburn asked whether the council could establish a committee to look into the allegations of mayoral interference in operational matters.

Acting general manager Brian Barrett said it would be highly unusual for a council to do this when it had no evidence of interference. "I can say to you as members of the public that I've been the acting general manager since November and I have not experienced interference by the mayor in the operations of council," he said.

"This is the second time members of the public have talked about alleged interference and I'm not sure who you're talking about, or who you were talking to, or where these allegations are coming from but if they were presented to me I would actually act on them," Mr Barrett said.

From the public gallery, former councillor Wayne Shoobridge said the complaints were from before Mr Barrett's time with the council. Mr Barrett replied:" OK, well I can only act on what I've got in front of me."

Cr Shaw said he had answered the allegations more than once. "I've answered it, I answered it at the AGM, I answered it again and its been answered again tonight. You're going off rumour and innuendo. There is no allegation, there's no formal complaints and there never has been, against interference from the mayor in any operational matters," he said. "I've said before, and I'll say it again, and the general manager's just confirmed it. So we just keep raising things just for the sake of raising them because we've got a personal issue..."

Mrs Cowburn said she was not asking the question as a personal issue or just because she could. "It's something that I believe, that is very hard to prove," she said. Cr Shaw said matters were not hard to prove when there was a basis for a complaint or somebody had evidence. This led Mr Shoobridge to ask whether or not there had been a letter of complaint.

A media report referred to at the council meeting.

Cr Shaw: "Who did it come from? Who wrote it? Who instigated it?
Mr Shoobridge: "The staff."
Cr Shaw: "How do we know that?"
Mr Shoobridge: "Well it was in the Press, Mr Mayor. It was investigated by reporters."
Cr Shaw: "No it wasn't investigated."
Dave Curtis: "It was on the ABC too."
Cr Shaw: "Um, that's credible."

Cr Shaw then called for the next question from the public gallery. This came from Anne Stephenson, who asked why the mayor had remained in the room while he was the subject of a no-confidence meeting at the annual general meeting. "I found that it was a conflict of interest. You should have left the room because ... there was no impartiality to the voting system because you were in the room when people were voting," Mrs Stephenson said.

Cr Shaw said he would take Mrs Stephenson's remarks as her person opinion. "From an AGM's point of view there is no guidelines or set of rules for that to happen. I didn't believe that I needed to leave the chair and leave the room. It's a public open meeting. I'm just chairing the meeting as as the mayor or as the person who gets the chance to chair a meeting, but it's just a public open meeting. So normal meeting procedures don't actually apply."

Australia Day pilgrimage to First Fleeter's grave

Historian and author Reg Watson, right, at the grave of Betty
King at Magra, with his grand-daughter Gracie.

THE life of a New Norfolk woman believed to be the last surviving First Fleeter was remembered by two visitors to her final resting place at Magra last weekend.

Author Reg A. Watson and his grand-daughter Gracie Ryan visited the Back River Chapel on Australia Day last Sunday to pay homage to Betty King who is regarded as the first European woman to set foot in Australia as part of the First Fleet in January 1788, and then the last of the First Fleeters to die nearly 70 years later.

A headstone in the Methodist Church's Back River Chapel graveyard on Lawitta Rd, Magra, notes that Mrs King was buried "near this spot". Geophysical testing several years ago discovered there is a burial right at that spot, although the identity of the remains is unknown. News of her death was published in The Hobart Town Daily Courier on August 7, 1856.

News of Betty King's death published on August 7, 1856.

Mr Watson has researched and written about Mrs King for decades and the Australia Day visit was to honour her memory and endurance. He and his grand-daughter laid a bush posy on her grave, although it was not the first time he has done so.

“Her story is one of fortitude,” Mr Watson said.  “She arrived on January 26, 1788, at Sydney as a convict.  Later she was sent to Norfolk Island where she met Samuel King, a marine. Betty - then Elizabeth Thackeray with various spellings of her surname - after gaining her freedom came with Samuel and settled at Kings Rocks at Back River, Magra. Nothing remains of the property today.”

Mr Watson said he has always been surprised that more is not made of the fact such a significant person rests in Tasmania. “Gracie’s and my tribute to her was to recognise her importance in establishing this nation of ours. Against all odds and with horrific hardship they not only survived, but prospered. It is important that young people like Gracie know their history. Here’s to Betty and all like her,” he said.

New co-ordinator for Online Access Centre

Newly-appointed Derwent Valley Online Access Centre
co-ordinator Sam Cowley.

A FORMER volunteer at the Derwent Valley Online Access Centre has been promoted to lead the centre's operations. The centre's management committee has announced that Sam Cowley has been appointed to the position of centre co-ordinator.

The Online Access Centre has been operating from a corner of the New Norfolk Library for nearly 20 years, managed by a volunteer-based committee, voluntary workers and two staff members for much of that time.

The newly-appointed co-ordinator started volunteering at the centre in November 2018 and was appointed to the role of assistant co-ordinator in January last year. He holds a Bachelor of Computing from the University of Tasmania and sees the Online Access Centre as a safe place for people to study and learn how to use computers.

The centre is open to all members of the community and offers a range of services free of charge or at a minimal cost. One of the most valuable services offered is the targeted one-on-one training in any area of computing.

“People come in wanting to learn specific skills that meet their individual needs," Mr Cowley said. "One person came in wanting to learn how to build a website to promote his business. We made a recommendation for software that would work best for his needs. Then over several weeks in one-on one training sessions he developed the skills he needed to create and manage his website,” he said.

"Requests are wide and varied. Some people come in for advice when there is something wrong with their computer. Some people want to learn how to use software such as Excel or Publisher. For many people it’s about developing confidence using computers," Mr Cowley said.

As well as working with individuals, the Online Access Centre collaborates with other service providers such as TasTAFE and Job Network agencies including Max Employment and WorkSkills.

TasTAFE and the Online Access Centre offer a free accredited Computer Foundations course, placements in Work for the Dole are offered through the Job Network agencies as well as assistance with CV writing and the development of work skills.

Since 2003 the centre has been responsible for the production of the annual Derwent Valley Business and Services Directory, with the most recent edition recently distributed to homes throughout the region.

"The Derwent Valley Online Access Centre is a valuable community resource and is here to provide support for your digital challenges. Next time you feel like throwing your computer out the window – get some friendly advice instead!" Mr Cowley said.

The Derwent Valley Online Access Centre is co-located in the New Norfolk Library, in Charles St, New Norfolk. For more information phone 6261 1155 or visit derwentvalleyonlineaccesscentre.com

New Norfolk golf results

New Norfolk Golf Club

Saturday 1/2/20 1st round Club Championships Stroke and Monthly Medal
A Grade gross: L. Griffith 73 c/b, B. Rainbird 73, L. Post 75; Nett: L. Griffith 73-7-66, B. Watt 76-8-68 c/b, R. Rainbird 80-12-68.
B Grade gross: B. Coy 79, L. Heron 83, G. Bailey 85; Nett: B. Coy 79-17-62, L. Heron 83-13-70, G. Bailey 85-14-71 c/b.
C Grade gross: A. Leitch 88, D. Jenkins 89, R. Hoare 92; Nett: D. Jenkins 89-25-64, B. Crowley 100-34-66 c/b, A. Youd 94-25-66.
Nearest-the-pins: 3rd G. Heron, 6/15th L. Post, 8/17th L. Dittmann, 11th G. Smith. Superpin: L. Post. Hole-in-one 6/15th: L. Post.
Monthly Medal winner: B. Coy 79-17-62

Thursday 30/1/20 Twilight Stableford
Division 1: F. Carmichael 21, B. Heron 20 c/b, B. Watt 20, C. Youd 19 c/b, L. Wardlaw 19.
Division 2: J. Marais 23 c/b, A. Richardson 23, B. Withers 20 c/b, M. Smith 20, B. Coy 19 c/b.
Division 3: M. Heron 22 c/b, R. Green 22, R. Hodge 20, R. Oakley 19 c/b, R. Collins c/b.
Superpin: B. Rainbird. Eagle: F. Carmichael 16th.

Wed 29/1/20 Stableford
18 hole: L. Dittmann 46, D. Lowry 45, J. Wilton 41, G. Reid 40 c/b, C. Simpson 40. Birdie draw: L. Dittmann
9 hole: L. Dittmann 24, G. Reid 23, P. Foster 21 c/b, J. Wilton 21, D. Post 20 c/b. Birdie draw: D. Lowry.

Anyone interested in joining the New Norfolk Golf Club as a playing member (there are clubs and buggies for hire), as a social member, or looking for a function venue, is welcome to contact the club for further information:
1 Howell Drive, New Norfolk, Tasmania. Phone: (03) 6261 2653
Email: newnorfolkgolfclub@bigpond.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewNorfolkGolfClub/
The club is available for hire for weddings, private functions etc.  The venue cost is free for a function of more than 40.