Garden club's global outlook

A TALK on the Eden Project - the world's biggest greenhouse - will be given by guest speaker Colin Jones at this month's meeting of the Derwent Valley Garden Club. The Eden Project (pictured) is located in a reclaimed china claypit in Cornwall, England.

The meeting will be held at 7.30pm this Thursday (November 4) at the Derwent Valley Community House, Willow Court, New Norfolk. New members welcome. The club is also making final preparations for its annual flower show, to be held in the New Norfolk War Memorial Hall, Circle St, on November 13-14.

Fashion parade for garden funds

A MELBOURNE Cup Day fashion parade and afternoon tea this Tuesday will aid the establishment of a community garden at St Matthew's Anglican Church. The event will be held from 2-3.30pm in the St Matthew's Hall, Bathurst St, New Norfolk. Entry will be by donation and the proceeds will go towards setting up the garden.

Petition on x-ray service

A PETITION launched this week by Tasmanian Greens MHA Tim Morris calls on the State Government to fund, re-establish and operate the x-ray service at the New Norfolk District Hospital. Mr Morris said re-opening of the x-ray service at New Norfolk would greatly assist people in the area, who currently need to travel long distances to access this basic medical service.

"This is particularly important for the frail and aged in our community, including New Norfolk District Hospital patients and Corumbene Nursing Home residents, for whom at present, an x-ray appointment is extremely difficult to attend, or requires the use of an ambulance and often results in significant delays in being able to access this vital medical service," Mr Morris said.

"There is a fully equipped x-ray facility at the New Norfolk District Hospital that only requires staffing and which has been previously operated by both the public and private sectors over many years. The service was well utilised in the past and will be again, taking considerable pressure off GPs, relatives, carers as well as the Tasmanian Ambulance Service."

Mr Morris has raised the matter in State Parliament on several occasions and has received a generally sympathetic hearing from Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne. The petition, once completed, will be tabled in Parliament.

Lady Jane Franklin returns

THE life of colonial first lady and sometime New Norfolk resident Jane Franklin will be explored in a fascinating performance touring the state this month. Presented by the musical ensemble Silkweed, Jane Franklin: An Examined Life is a multi-media performance based on the life of Lady Jane Franklin, who as the wife of an early governor of Tasmania contributed much to the development of the arts, education and exploration in the early colony.

Lady Franklin is also particularly pertinent to the Derwent Valley as it was she who planted the willow tree from which Willow Court took its name and is also reputed to have planted a pear tree at the Bush Inn.  As the governor's wife, Lady Franklin spent time at the governor's retreat at Turriff Lodge, New Norfolk. Sir John and Lady Franklin were behind a proposed university at New Norfolk but this did not progress beyond the laying of a foundation stone. Opponents of the proposal uprooted the foundation stone and hurled it over the Turriff Lodge cliff and into the Derwent below.

Silkweed's performance melds original music, voice, drama and visual storytelling to capture the audience's imagination. The production is touring the state and will be in New Norfolk this weekend for a 2pm performance at the War Memorial Hall, Circle St, this Sunday only. 

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for children. For more information contact Gail Woodford on 6261 4850 or email gailwoodford@yahoo.com.au

Cycle challenge for charity

THE Rotary Club of Claremont and the Hobart Branch of Make-A-Wish Australia will stage the Cycle Challenge 2010 at New Norfolk on October 31. Open to everyone aged 13 and above, there will be three circuits, all starting and ending at Kensington Park, New Norfolk. The "short circuit" will be a 38km ride from New Norfolk to Bushy Park and back, via Rosegarland. The 76km "medium circuit" is two laps of the short route, while the 106km "long circuit" is from New Norfolk to Hamilton and return via Ellendale.

Riders in all events are asked to be at Kensington Park by 8.30am. The short and medium events start at 10am and the long event will set off earlier at 9.30. Entry costs $30 per person and riders are encouraged to seek sponsorship per kilometre or for the whole trip. Registration details and more information can be found at http://www.claremontrotary.org.au/ or by calling Jan on 6249 7060 or Anne on 6244 1948.

Literacy co-ordinator for New Norfolk

APPLICATIONS for 13 regional literacy co-ordinators closed yesterday. Announced earlier this month by Education and Skills Minister Lin Thorp, the scheme aims to extend an existing network of eight literacy co-ordinators to regional areas where there is little or no adult literacy help. The successful applicants will be appointed to positions at New Norfolk, Bridgewater (2), George Town, Glenorchy, Hobart, Launceston (2), Scottsdale, Smithton, Sorell, St Helens and Queenstown.

“This will help adults from all walks of life improve their literacy skills and open up more opportunities for them," Ms Thorp said. "Coordinators will work with a team of volunteers to help people access support and programs to build adult literacy skills in communities and workplaces."

Short-term shop pops up

A SHOP selling women's fashion items has opened this week in High St, New Norfolk. Located in a recently-renovated shop between The Roost and the Riteway Supermarket, the short-term clearance outlet is believed to be operated by Miller's Fashion Club.