Christmas winners

UPDATED with more details:
ON the eve of the new year, here are the details of the winners of several Christmas-related events in New Norfolk.

New Norfolk Christmas Parade
Best emergency services presentation: Tasmanian Ambulance Service (New Norfolk volunteers)
Best business presentation: Derwent Valley Community House
Best decorated vehicle: Derwent Valley Players' Alice in Panto Land
Best school presentation: Combined Aussie Christmas, Glenora/Ouse/Westerway/Maydena schools
Best community activity presentation: Combined Churches of New Norfolk nativity scene
Best overall presentation: New Norfolk Primary School

New Norfolk Business Alliance shop window competition
Winner: Terry White Chemist
Runner-up: 20th Century Artifacts
Honourable mention: Big Red Box
Highly commended: Country Florals Florist, Choo Chews, Salvation Army, Mitre 10, Guardian Pharmacy, Glasser and Parker, New Norfolk Newsagency, Camelot Fashions, GN Electrical, Keitha's Salon and Nails, and Morf Antiques.


Derwent Dollars Giveaway
1st: Suzanne McDonald
2nd: Carly Munnings
3rd: Sally Coleman,Wendy Burdon,Veronica Honey

Head to the mountain for fun

A PROGRAM of family-friendly events at Mt Field National Park had its start yesterday and continues until February 3. The first few days' activities are listed below.

The annual Summer Discovery Ranger Program was launched by Environment, Parks and Heritage minister Brian Wightman. “Summer is a wonderful time to get outdoors and celebrate how lucky we are to live in a beautiful, natural place like Tasmania,” Mr Wightman said. “This program offers many opportunities ... led by a skilled and passionate team of rangers, who provide a really memorable experience,” he said.

Summer Rangers will be based at 15 parks and reserves across the state, providing a wide range of free programs for all ages. Details are available on the Parks and Wildlife Service website at www.parks.tas.gov.au

Mt Field National Park discovery activities
Friday, December 30
10.30am: Kids Caper - discover some of the incredible adaptations of Tasmania’s wildlife through fun games and activities. Meet at the visitor centre foyer. Under 12s  must be accompanied by an adult. One hour.
7.30pm: Platypus Prowl - learn how this unique animal lives and thrives here. You may even see a platypus in the nearby streams. Meet at the visitor centre foyer. One hour.

South-West National Park
Saturday, December 31
8am–5pm: Southwest Wilderness - the Discovery Ranger will be visiting the South-West National Park’s popular campsites and lookouts. Campers and day visitors are welcome to come and chat. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring appropriate clothing, footwear, sunscreen, hat and water.

Friday night at the speedway

TASMANIA'S most sought-after speedway title will be up for grabs at the Hobart International Speedway near New Norfolk this Friday night (December 30) when the Tasmanian Sprintcar Championship is contested, sponsored by New Norfolk Mowers and Chainsaws. The Friday night program gets under way at 6.30pm and will also feature the fifth round of the Junior Sedan Championship Series, plus support class racing from lightning sprints, street stock sedans, Tassie sixes and bombers.

The championship will also be round four of the Sprintcar Series. Series leader Jamie Bricknell will start among the favourites for the title as he chases his first championship. Fellow Launceston driver Jason Dawkins has also put in some impressive drives in recent weeks, including a victory at Carrick on Monday night's Boxing Day program in the final hit-out before the state title. Bricknell finished third in that race, but may have been a little conservative ahead of the championship. Reigning champion Kurt Luttrell will defend his title in what will be his first race on home soil this season, having been racing in Victoria.

Meanwhile, the junior sedan championship series round should see an exciting battle between series leader Josh Smith and the much-improved trio of Brodie Piper, Nathan Russell and Josh Stephens.

Hobart International Speedway (presently branded as Mountain Dew Raceway) is on the Lyell Highway at Sorell Creek - ignore the television ads saying it's at Granton. Future events at the speedway are on January 14, 27 and 28, February 18 and March 17.

Youngsters into cricket

Aiden Featherstone and Kiara Moodie

DRESSED in Australian colours and aspiring to be just like their favourite cricketing heroes, 30 girls and boys aged 5-10 years have taken part in a Milo In2Cricket program run by Glenora District High School and Cricket Tasmania.

Every Friday afternoon for the last eight weeks of the school year, the young cricketers enjoyed all the fun and games the sport has to offer. Co-ordinators Annie McKenzie and Natasha Farrow have run the program for the past two years. "It has really grown. We had nearly 20 children last year, to have 30 this year is just fantastic and it was great to see so many parents getting involved," they said.

In the final week the future cricketing heroes had their last session at the Gretna Cricket Club. Afterwards they enjoyed a barbecue before being presented with certificates and gift bags which contained a medal and many novelty items for them to enjoy.

The group's last get-together was at Bellerive Oval on the first day of the second test between Australia and New Zealand, where 16 children from the group were lucky enough to be selected to participate in the opening ceremony. Among them was Jacob Blackwell, 7, of Macquarie Plains, who said "we got to stand next to the players and I got to shake hands with the New Zealand captain."

During the test match lunch break, Milo In2Cricketers from all areas showed off their skills on the oval, which was a big thrill for all.

The children, their parents and the Gretna Cricket Club say a really big thank you to Annie, Natasha and also Wendy Hickman for all their hard work and extra special treats each week. It has been an excellent program. If you would like your child to participate in Milo in2Cricket next season, contact the Glenora School or go to the in2cricket.com.au website.

Wade Gleeson

Valley farm the pick of the bunch

THE Clark family's Westerway Raspberry Farm is the biggest in Australia, the Mercury newspaper reported this week. Reporter Roger Hanson's article says the Derwent Valley farm has an annual production of 200 tonnes of raspberries and 300 tonnes of blackcurrants. The family employs 150 pickers at peak times and has invested in an American-made mechanical harvester. The article can be read here.

Christmas lunch in New Norfolk

A FREE Christmas lunch will be available at the St Matthew's Church Hall in Bathurst St, New Norfolk, from noon on Christmas Day (Sunday). The lunch is provided by the churches of New Norfolk, particularly for those who may be on their own at Christmas. The theme is "bring a friend or come and make a friend." Lunch starts at noon and there will be a concert at 2pm. For more information, to request transport or to make a booking (to assist with catering) phone 6261 1528 or 6261 1627.

Season's greetings to all readers of the New Norfolk News.

New jetty nearly finished

CONSTRUCTION of a new jetty is nearing completion on the northern bank of the River Derwent at New Norfolk.

The jetty is a Federally-funded job-creation scheme under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

The $64,000 facility is intended to improve tourist access to the river. It was described as a "ready to go" project when the funding was announced in February 2010.

The new jetty seen from the Esplanade

The view from the new jetty off Rocks Rd