Eagles' winning streak ends

THE New Norfolk Eagles' remarkable run of 33 wins was ended yesterday by a hard-running Dodges Ferry Sharks in the Southern Football League. Click here to read Craig Hoggett's report in today's issue of the Sunday Tasmanian.

Scores - seniors
Dodges Ferry 5.3 5.5 13.11 16.16 (112) d New Norfolk 1.4 8.5 10.7 13.11 (89)
Goals - New Norfolk: M. Thompson 4, M. Smith 2, L. Horne 2, B. Carver 2, R. Martin, P. Ross, N. Ross;
Best - New Norfolk: L. Horne, S. Bonnitcha, B. Carver, M. Thompson, R. Heron, J. Murray.

Reserves
Dodges Ferry 13.11 (89) d New Norfolk 11.7 (73)
Goals - New Norfolk: C. Ransley 4, B. Lovell, D. Huxley, A. Salter, J. Rainbird, M. Horne, M. Jones, N. Benson; Best - New Norfolk: L. Browning, M. Horne, T. Triffett, B. Lovell, N. Benson, T. Bligh.

Colts
New Norfolk 10.12 (72) d Dodges Ferry 4.9 (33)
Goals - New Norfolk: N. Wakefield 3, J. Walsh 2, S. Triffitt 2, D. Huxley, L. Menzie, J. Adams; Best - New Norfolk: J. Adams, R. Tebb, B. Coppleman, N. Lester, D. Walsh, J. Wallner.

Consultant's controversial call

FORMING a new entity to own and develop Willow Court was the controversial recommendation of management consultant Malcolm MacDonald's interim report to the Derwent Valley Council last week. Addressing a public gathering of councillors, committee members and the public last Thursday night, Mr MacDonald said it was not normal for him to delve into the political aspects of his consultancies, but Willow Court was a unique case.

Now two-thirds of the way through his three-month consultancy for the council, Mr MacDonald's proposed business strategy for the Willow Court historic site was based on the premise that owning and developing Willow Court was not "core business" for the council. He suggested:

• Transferring Willow Court to a new entity at arms-length from the council
• The entity could be a trust or company limited by guarantee, with a board of management and a project manager
• The entity would not be the same as the council's former company Derwent Valley Investments
• The proposal might need ministerial approval
• The entity would need a skills-based board of five to eight paid members including representatives of the council, Willow Court Special Committee and the community, with expertise in finance, grants, project management and heritage issues
• That the council's existing Willow Court funds be transferred to the new entity
• That the proceeds of any sale of the Willow Court oval precinct be transferred to the new entity
• That the State Government be asked to assist the new entity.

Mr MacDonald said he had held regular meetings council general manager Stephen Mackey and also with the Willow Court and Barracks Special Committee. He believed Willow Court was an asset, not a liability, and it was a worthy asset in the context of the history of this region, the state, nation and the world. "This asset has the potential to do some wonderful things for the prosperity of the Derwent Valley," Mr MacDonald said.

"This plan is what we have been discussing over the last few months," Willow Court Special Committee secretary Wayne Shoobridge said. "You have hit it on the head and it must go this way or we will be in the same place or worse in 10 years," Mr Shoobridge said. He asked that each councillor present give an indication of their thinking on the matter.

Councillor James Graham said government spokesmen had already raised the issue of an entity similar to the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority, if not that organisation itself, running Willow Court.

Willow Court committee member Denise Rushworth said people would want to see something being done with Willow Court before any new entity took control, otherwise it risked being tarred with the same brush as earlier failed management structures.

Cr Judy Bromfield said she would need to see Mr MacDonald's completed report before offering any comment on it. But she did venture the opinion that with a Federal Election due, "Dick Adams must get up and get some money for this electorate."

Cr Scott Shaw said he supported Mr MacDonald's proposal. Cr Narelle Molan-Hill said Mr MacDonald's proposals seemed to be a positive step, but she too would like to see the full report before commenting.


Cr Damian Bester said he would not offer a definitive statement on Mr MacDonald's proposals as he had not had time to properly consider them. "This is the first I have heard of these proposals," Cr Bester said. "I have not been involved in the discussions that have been referred to, and I have not seen any minutes of the Willow Court Special Committee."

Committee secretary Wayne Shoobridge took umbrage at Cr Bester's remarks and said minutes of meetings had been provided to the general manager's office. He said the committee was also hearing Mr MacDonald's plan for the first time.

Cr Bester said his comments were a simple statement of fact, not an attack on the committee or the consultant. He reminded the meeting that both the committee and the consultancy had been established at his own suggestion, endorsed by the council. Cr Bromfield said she had not seen any minutes of meetings and she asked Cr Barry Lathey, as council representative on the committee, to look into the problem.

Cr Lathey said it had been his privilege to represent the council on the working party (now formalised as the Willow Court and Barracks Special Committee) and had witnessed the commitment and passion of the members. His question for Mr MacDonald was what might happen to any profits being generated by Willow Court in 20 years time, if the site had been handed to a new entity. Mr MacDonald said he had not considered the question of future profits at this stage, but his initial thoughts were that all profits would be needed for ongoing works at the historic site.

Mayor Martyn Evans thanked Mr MacDonald for his work to date and said he was pleased to be part of it.

Budget meeting on Monday night

THE Derwent Valley Council's budget for 2010-2011 will be voted on at a special meeting to be held at the New Norfolk Courthouse on Monday at 6.30pm. Councillors are expected to approve a 4% increase both in the general rate and in the garbage rates and services. The public is invited to attend the meeting.

Consultant provides half-way report on Willow Court

MANAGEMENT consultant Malcolm MacDonald last night briefed the Derwent Valley Council and its Willow Court Special Committee on the interim findings of his review of past plans and the writing of an updated development strategy for the Willow Court historic site. Mr MacDonald was appointed by the council to a three-month contract to:

•    consolidate all plans, reports, studies and documents relating to the Willow Court Barracks Precinct
•    develop a comprehensive business plan for the Barracks Precinct
•    create a step-by-step development strategy to have the Barracks open to visitors as soon as possible; and the ongoing development of the remainder of the precinct (Frescati, Bronte, Carlton and Alonnah Houses)
•    make a recommendation about the future employment requirements of the precinct
•    make a start on the development strategy, once approved by Council, in any time remaining

Mr MacDonald told last night's workshop that he was now approaching the final month of his contract and wished to make sure the council was generally happy with the approach he was taking. He said the nature and history of the project meant he had delved more into the political aspect than would normally be the case.

It was a polished presentation that drew favourable comment from most of the 19 people present, which included most councillors, a large proportion of the Willow Court committee and several members of the public who responded to an advertisement placed in the Derwent Valley Gazette by Cr Damian Bester.

Minister's praise for Ouse health centre

NEW Tasmanian health minister Michelle O'Byrne told State Parliament last Thursday that she had visited the "health service" at Ouse recently and was incredibly impressed with the great work by the staff there. "All of them are now telling me that they are getting a much greater capacity to deal with the community and are offering far more services now than they were able to in the past, because they have been able to tailor their services to the needs of the community rather than a standard service that had been historically maintained," Ms O'Byrne said, in reference to the debate over the conversion of the Ouse District Hospital into a health centre.

Death of New Norfolk businessman

THE New Norfolk business and sporting community has been saddened by the death of well-known businessman Wayne Perkins last weekend. Mr Perkins had been the proprietor of Wigston's Sports since early 1998. Condolences are extended to Mr Perkins' family and friends.

Top price for hotel postcard

A RARE postcard featuring New Norfolk's Star and Garter Hotel has sold for $53 on the internet auction website eBay. Dating to about 1920, the postcard, left, shows the hotel with its first-floor verandah still intact. The rear of the card describes the hotel as being under new management and recently refurbished. It names Mr T.L. Sullivan as the proprietor. It also shows that the hotel's phone number was "New Norfolk 2". The rival Bush Inn Hotel long held the prized "New Norfolk 1". The card was purchased by an anonymous postcard collector.