After a couple of hours at the National Rail Museum in York (Free Admission) we caught the miniature train to the town centre. We walked the town and admired the cathedral. York is home to the largest Medieval Gothic Cathedral north of the Alps. There is also a large Viking Centre which is a recreation of a Viking City.

We continued to head to the coast to spend the night in the seaside town of Scarborough. As the sun does not go down until about 10pm and is up again about 4pm you can explore well into the night. We booked into a small hotel on the seafront of Scarborough. In front is a drop to the beach of  approx 50 plus metres. It is to the locals there seaside holiday destination. At the point is a medieval castle with spectacular views over the two bays which form Scarborough. The next day we continued north along the coast to the town of Whitby. Whitby is cobbled streets and a small harbour. As boats enter the inner harbour the small bridge crossing the entry is closed to all road and pedestrian traffic. The bridge then rotates either one half or both to allow the boats thru. Whitby has been a port for more than a 1000 years. It was where Captain Cook apprenticed, Bram Stroker wrote Dracula. The best historic site in Whitby would be the Abbey high on the cliff above the town. Whitby Abbey was fonded in 657.

As we wanted to continue heading to Edinburgh we continued North and finally stopped for the night in Jedburgh. Jedburgh is on the scottish border in a valley with rolling hills and countryside. Jedburgh is home to another Abbey. It was founded in 1138 by King David I. It is by far the best Abbey I have seen with unique stone carvings. We also visited Jedburgh Jail Castle and Mary Queen of Scots House. As I was walking thru the first floor there was a small door maybe 40 cms wide saying we dare you to open. Well of course I did. It was an upper level toilet which had the old drop box to the lower level. Not sure how they could fit in given Mary was suppose to be 6 foot tall. A very pretty town and well worth the stop. Next onto Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle dominates the town skyline. We visited the castle in the morning. Best castle tour I have taken. We also visited the Royal Botanic Gardens well maintained but a bit early for the flowers. A trip to St Andrews for the boys and there golf fetish. The boys visited the home of golf enquired about a round 130 pounds on the old course and  also the golf musuem. Unfortunately not enough time to fit in a round and have there picture taken as you tee off. We left Edinburgh and are heading to the Lakes district. Talk to you soon.

Well we left the hustle and bustle of London and collected our hire car from Stansted Airport. We headed north to the city of Cambridge and strolled around for a couple of hours admiring the historic buildings. We arrived in Leeds that evening to visit family. Leeds is great for shopping probably better than London for fashion bargains etc. Lots of clearance stores. The next day we went to the small town of Haworth the hom of the Bronte sisters. It is very steep and cobbled streets everywhere. The main town looks out over the valley. Small buildings established in the 1800’s and some even earlier. We completed our day there with lunch at a small cafe overlooking the valley and haing the traditional roast of the day with yorkshire pudding and apple pie and the english cup of tea. Travelling back to Leeds we called into the small town of Skipton to try and have the best pork pies unfornately they where closed as it was late Sunday Afternoon. The next morning we headed to the town of York. We stopped near the National Rail Musuem which was well worth the visit. They have all the trains and rail carriages which carried past Kings and Queens along with some famous trains sush as the flying Scotsman. Keep you posted.

Just imagine yourself sitting in a studio running your own radio programme. Introducing and playing  music that you’ve chosen to play because that’s the music you like. You choose what to play and the order you play it in. You fit in the sponsors announcements and read a selection of  Community Service announcements and before you know it your time on air has come to an end. That’s what putting a music programme to air on Community Radio is like.

You have to learn to master the technicalities of operating the equipment and be aware of defamation laws and some copyright rules but with a bit of training and the right attitude you could be on the air.

That is if Denmark had a Community Radio Station.

Your Telecentre is starting the process of applying for a local FM broadcasting license. To proceed with confidence we need to know if enough volunteers will be likely to come forward to join us and fill the many roles needed to successfully run a radio station.

If you, or someone you know, has any interest in being part of this local radio project then please contact the Telecentre and register your interest.

Community Radio can be summed up as being “run by the community for the community”and is not confined to broadcasting music.

Just over three years ago I did my first radio show on Albany Community Radio. It is an exciting and a little daunting experience to be alone in the building putting a programme to air. But you soon get used to it.

It would be great if Denmark people could enjoy that experience on their own radio station.

There are lots of ways that you can contribute to this project. Just call the Telecentre.

Hugh

Dear Community,

Well I have commenced my holiday after 23 hours of flying time. Such a long way is England from Australia. We arrived in London on Monday morning to an overcast and showery day. We took the Heathrow Express to the hotel which is located near Hyde Park. That mornng we strolled thru Hyde Park with all the joggers and other tourists. Viewed the Diana memorial fountain wondered how they spent 3Million Pounds on it, statue of Peter Pan, Marble Ach, Kensington Palace.

Tuesday we started our day early with a Big Bus Tour it takes you to all the sites, where you can hop on and hop off.  Westminister Abbey, Convert Garden, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, River Thames, Piccardily Circus, National Gallery, Madame Tussad’s, Trafalgar Square just to name a few. The Tower of London is where the crown jewels are stored.  You can wander thru the vault and the tower where its prisoners where held, the Kings chamber and prayer rooms. The courtyard where they cut off there heads.

That evening we visited the West End and went to the Theatre “Priscilla Queen of the desert” at the Palace theatre. Suppose to be the oldest theatre there. Some five floors and our tickets where just about in the rafters. Viewing the stage from a 80 degree angle was a bit unnerving but a good show none the less. The audience was singing along with the songs, it appeared as though they loved all things aussie.

Today we visited the British Museum, a vast collection of antiquities egyptian mummies, Greek and Rome objects beginning from the bronze age etc. Too numerous to mention. Even us accountants were mentioned in the Egypt section keeping grain records, also a record of workers absent on the day. I suppose their pay got docked. We then caught a london cab to the famous department store of Harrods. Just strolled thru looking at the selection of goods and trying to find the most expensive item. Tony won with the pool table for a million pounds all hand carved from India. They will throw in the balls and cue stick. My mother spyed a nice watch bu at 64000 pounds just a little out of our reach. The pet section had all sorts of items for pets from a basic collar up to the diamond studded one. Perfumes for pets, designer pet beds and don’t forget the pet themselves. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at 1500 pounds, Black Smoky Short Haired Cat at 1000 pounds and the mice were 10 pounds. I hope they had some royal heritage at that price. Well we have just about finished our day it is a big soccer match tonight the European Cup so pubs will be busy lots of noise and fans. Boys wll go and have a few pints and watch the soccer, the girls will retire and put there feet  up and decide what to do for tomorrow.

Cheers

Karen Mills

by Donald Clarke, AGM December 8, 2008

COMMITTEE

At the first meeting of the new committee on 04/12/07, it consisted of:

• Convenor: Von Quinn
• Deputy Convenor Gill Sellar
• Treasurer Simon Coppock (appointed at meeting)
• Secretary Josephine Lebbing

with organisational representatives from TAFE, DHS and Greenskills, and two other individual members – Julie Quicke and Libby Foster. Invitations to join the committee were extended to, and subsequently accepted by, the Denmark Shire and Denmark Telecentre. A representative of GSACC was ex-officio. At a Special General Meeting on 04/06/08, changes to the executive were

• Convenor – Donald Clarke,
• Secretary – Von Quinn.

PROCEDURES

· A constitutional review was instigated but not pursued to-date

· A grants procedure, for organisations seeking auspicing, including requirements for an administrative contribution, was drafted.

· A by-law was enacted to allow urgent executive decision making for later ratification

GRANTS

· A Lotterywest Grant of $27,896 was acquitted - for a compost toilet project behind the Sanctuary, an Insulation Project and Photovoltaic work for CSL, and a Wetlands Project associated with CSL.

· A Lotterywest Grant for $51,461 is up for approval this month. It includes numerous small improvements to CSL, CSL Wetland regeneration, further Sanctuary amenity, Koorabup Nature Trail interactive facility and a colour brochure for the Education Precinct.

· Supported Green Skills in An Adult Learners Week Grant of $2500, approved and delivered by CSL.

· Supported Green Skills in Office of Women’s Policy Grant $14,970 – with Healthy Community Project – Smart Women Sustainable Women Program of workshops, seminars and expos.

· A Denmark Shire Community Grant for $4,400, for DCRN community forum and volunteer celebration

· A Denmark Shire Community Grant for $2600, for DEIC strategic planning and administration support.

· The Women’s Health Information Resource Library grant was acquitted and the books established in the Denmark Library.

· Regional Employment Development Grant remanent funds of $1961 were referred to the DHS.

· Unsuccessful grant applications (indicative of potential funding and work to get it):

Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal - DCRN Seeding Project - $27,330

Sustainable Energy Development Office - $13,500

Lotterywest – Denmark Today: Connecting Our Town - $26,785

WEBSITES

· In support of freely-available community blogging and web-pages, the www.denmark.org was registered in place of the DWALC domain name, to be hosted by Denmark Telecentre, and then promoted.

· The content of the Denmark Today site was to be migrated to the denmark.wa.au community site which the Telecentre had registered, with the Community Groups database to be supported.

[ Neither the hosting of denmark.org nor the content transfer to denmark.wa.au has occurred yet ]

OTHER

· DEIC provided a conduit for monies for community leadership workshops, and enterprise collectives facilitation.

· An Education Precinct Advisory committee was formed

A Successful day out for the Denmark Brothers!

As most of Denmark already knows, Saturday the 4th saw the unfortunate and sad loss of the Denmark Environment Centre offices which were destroyed by fire. Neighbouring businesses which were also affected by the blaze included the solicitor and dentist on Strickland Street.  The Denmark Weed Action Group, Green Skills and The DEC were all heavily affected, with the loss of irreplaceable records, photos, maps and in total, 22 years of environmental history.A spokesperson for The Denmark Weed Action Group said that although there was a major loss of records and history, they are in a positive frame of mind and are looking at the loss as a new beginning while still being “business as usual”.

The environment Centre Shop front has been quickly relocated due to roof damage to (Shop 2 Denmark Shopping Village, 39 Strikckland Street - across from Cafe Lilly Pilly.) They feel fortunate to have been able to move so quickly to a temporary location and the amount of help they have been receiving from the community and from around the globe is over whelming.

The new location will allow the Environment Centre to operate as an interim measure and still have a shop front while the other buildings are repaired and/or demolished.

The “South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc” has donated office space to the Environment Centre and DWAG for a few months  until they are back on their feet,  whilst Green Skills have been relocated to The Centre for Sustainable Living.

The spokesperson for DWAG said that the community response has been amazing and have been receiving cash donations off the street and groups offering to donate computers and equipment.

Insurance assessors will today decide whether to demolish the building badly damaged by the fire on Saturday. The cause of the fire is still unknown and the damage bill is estimated at $750,000+.

And many thanks and recognition to the volunteer fire fighters for their amazing work, who selflessly help put out the fire which took more than six hours in the early morning of Sunday the 5th. The Denmark community thanks you.

The  Denmark Community’s Future Fund - Granting our community a viable Future

What can we all do today to help shape Denmark’s tomorrow?

The Denmark Community’s Future is important to all who are inspired, interested or committed to the vision of a bright and prosperous Denmark. It is an opportunity to invest in that vision.

Stimulating and sustaining a dynamic, philanthropic culture amongst Denmark community, business members and others is at the heart of the Denmark Community’s Future fund.

Denmark Community’s Future has been established in partnership with the Western Australian Community Foundation.

The first of its kind in the state, Western Australian Community Foundation is an independent, charitable organisation created to build stronger communities in WA. It does this by helping to build, grow and distribute endowed funds, providing a unique opportunity for communities to achieve long-term sustainability.

As Trustee, the Western Australian Community Foundation is the umbrella organisation for WA communities to benefit from philanthropy, without the burden of administration and governance responsibilities.

DENMARK COMMUNITY’S FUTURE LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The advisory committee is made up of representatives from the Denmark community. Its role is to grow Denmark Community’s Future endowment and seek and recommend initiatives and programs for support through the grants program. Current advisory committee members are:

Dr Gillian Sellar Ross Thornton
Judith Bradley Jan Skelton
Dawn Atkin John Fleay
Marie Redman

The advisory committee members are available to provide assistance in relation to promoting donations, hosting fundraising events or facilitating bequests to Denmark’s Future.

This is your chance to contribute to the social, cultural and economic well-being of our community now and into the future.

BACK TO SCHOOL RELIEF

Local families have received back to school relief thanks to an initiative delivered by Western Australian Community Foundation and the Denmark Community’s Future local advisory committee. To help reduce the burden of costs associated with the commencement of a new school year, a number of vouchers have been distributed locally, in partnership with local schools and businesses.

Recent research has revealed that it costs more than $2,000 on average per year to send a child to a public primary school and more than $4,000 a year to send a child to a government high school. In response to this need, the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) in partnership with the Sidney Myer Fund, is working with community foundations across Australia to provide practical help.

Through a FRRR grant to Western Australian Community Foundation, a number of WA communities including Denmark Community’s Future were successful in receiving 50 vouchers for local families to assist with the purchase of books, school uniforms and other essentials.

Denmark Community’s Future was established in 2007 to directly benefit local people and local projects. It is one of many regional funds established under the trusteeship of Western Australian Community Foundation. Western Australian Community Foundation is an independent organisation set up to strengthen WA communities by promoting philanthropic community-business partnerships.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Denmark Community’s Future to partner with FRRR to support a number of local families through the use of the vouchers,” said Dr Gillian Sellar,, volunteer local advisory committee member.

“Western Australian Community Foundation is very grateful to FRRR and the Sidney Myer Fund for providing this opportunity for our communities to support their communities,” said Tonia Swetman, Chief Executive Officer.

“The Foundation’s key aim is to assist communities across WA establish a sustainable financial model in order to strengthen their community for the long-term. The Denmark Community’s Future advisory committee is to be commended for their commitment in taking advantage of the ‘Back to School’ program. The initiative is a wonderful example of community capacity building at work.”

Download brochure: HERE

This evening a wonderful nearly full moon showed itself in the deep blue twilight sky.

It’s been a lovely autumn day.