Badminton juniors win GOLD!

Junior NT badminton players won gold at the Under 13 Interstate Series & Regional Teams Challenge/ Australian National Championships in Melbourne over the weekend.

It’s the first time an NT junior team has come away with victory at the championships.

The team, made up of James Delosa, Bernadete Aniceto, Elysia Viravong and Romy Puhalovich from Darwin and Palmerston, defeated the Victoria Combo Roos in the Final  to win Gold in the Under 13 Australian Regional Teams Challenge (11 matches won to 1 match lost).

NT Junior Coach Saidina Pawero said the kids were really determined to play their best as a team and lifted themselves to a whole new level for the occasion.

“They believed they had the talent to take on the strong regional teams from the more favoured states of Victoria and NSW,” Mr Pawero said.

In the National Championships, Romy Puhalovich (Boys Singles Event) and Bernadete Aniceto (Girls Singles Event) finished in the top eight after making the quarter finals.

Romy was defeated by Marcus Kong of Victoria 31-18.  Bernadete lost to the No. 1 seed and eventual winner Victoria He of NSW, 30-15.

In another display of NT junior talent, Romy Puhalovich (NT) and Pascal Souksavat (ACT) paired-up in the Boys Doubles Event and finished equal third.

They lost in the semi-finals to the No.1 seeding pair and eventual winners Ross Audley and Ryan Venpin from Victoria.

It was the first time a NT junior has made the semi-final of a national championships.

“We’re all so very proud of all of our kids’ efforts,” Mr Saidina Pawero said. “To have coaches from other states notice the talent we have in the NT is fantastic. With James, Bernadete and Elysia still able to play Under 13s next year, it’s exciting to see how they will use this experience as a stepping stone for next year’s tournament. The future looks really bright for badminton in the NT!”

“As an organization, we’ve worked very hard to build and develop our junior players. Sports House has been critical for us, as it provides the dedicated playing venue that we’ve needed so that our kids train regularly and uninterrupted,” NT Badminton Association President Rodney Pearce said.

NT Badminton is still in negotiation with the Northern Territory Government to identify a suitable replacement venue for when its current tenancy at Sports House expires on 31 March 2014.

For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT

 

 

Time to dress up for Australia Day celebrations

Whether you’re donning a ball gown, lacing up your running shoes, dressing up the ute or dancing in traditional dress there are plenty of options for Top Enders to dress up, get involved and celebrate our national day.

With less than two weeks to go, Northern Territory Australia Day Council Executive Director Kiya Gill says that she expects thousands of Territorians to participate in a range of activities celebrating all the things that make our country great.

“From Alice Springs to the Tiwi Islands community groups, families and friends have organised everything from flag raising ceremonies to special events, sporting activities and bar-be-ques in honour of our special day and lifestyle.”

“In Darwin alone we have the Gala Ball, a Fun Run, the Ute Run and an amazing multicultural event,” she said.

 “Australia Day offers something for everyone and gives us a chance to reflect on our national journey and to commit to making our country even better in the future.”

Darwin Australia Day activities include:

The 2014 Australia Day Gala Ball

The Gala Ball is back and will be held at the new SKYCITY Beachside Pavilion on Saturday, 25 January 2014. Join us for a night of celebration and fun with entertainment by The Kicks featuring Natalie Pellegrino and master of ceremonies Robert Smith from ABC Tales from the Tinny. Tickets are still available so don’t miss out on the first Ball for the new year, contact the Australia Day Council on 8924 4204.

Fun Run

This year’s Fun Run will start and finish at the Darwin Waterfront, there will be a 2.5km and 5km option. All entries go into a draw to win a pendant valued at $1,000. Come along to this great family event with fun and entertainment for all ages including a free sausage sizzle. Enter online at nt.australiaday.org.au

Oz Fusion

Celebrate Darwin's cultural diversity on our national day by sharing and enjoying each other’s cultural differences. Family friendly entertainment and activities in air-conditioned comfort on Sunday 26 January at the Cyprus Community Centre, Batten Road, Marrara from 4:00pm til 8:00pm. Gold coin donation on arrival.

Ute Run

Grab the family and dog, dress up the car and head down to the 2014 Australia Day Ute Run.
Gates open at 10:30am at Hidden Valley Raceway with the convoy departing at 12:30pm to the Winnellie Park Greyhound Club. Entry via a $10 donation per vehicle. Family fun, entertainment and competitions on the day including a licenced bar and food facilities.

Australia Day Ambassadors Program
Award-winning actor Jeremy Kewley is looking forward to spending Australia Day in Darwin and sharing his love of Australia and Australian humour and language.

Fans of the undercover cop show Stinger will recognise Jeremy as Detective Senior Sergeant Bryan Gray. You might also remember his familiar face from the seven years he spent playing Mt Thomas journalist Tony Timms in Blue Heelers and his portrayal of Senior Sergeant Graeme Collins in Underbelly Flies: Tell them Lucifer was Here in 2011.

As well as his dramatic acting roles, Kewley has also been writing and performing comedy for the past 30 years at some of Melbourne’s leading comedy venues and has been the audience “warm-up comedian” for the AFL version of The Footy Show since it began in 1994.

For more information on Australia Day in the Northern Territory go to nt.australiaday.org.au or visit the Australia Day NT Facebook page.

Vista Gold partners with Landcare for river projects

Funding for two environmental projects aimed at improving land management in the Katherine River catchment area has been given a substantial boost by Vista Gold.

The two projects, initiated by the Katherine Landcare Group, deal with the management of weeds by landowners in the Katherine River catchment and improving degraded sites throughout the Katherine region.

Landcare Project Manager Jamie Lewis said the $5,000 funding could not have come at a better time.

“We have had an overwhelming response to these projects, with initial funding now complete the Vista Gold support will enable us to continue to engage with local landowners to improve the river catchment.”

Vista Gold’s funding will support Landcare’s “Need help with weeds” and “Protecting the biodiversity of the Katherine, Edith, Cullen and Ferguson river catchments” projects.

The “Need help with weeds” project provides herbicide, loan equipment and advice to landholders in the Katherine River catchment to enable them to identify and treat infestations of invasive woody weeds on their properties and adjacent crown lands.

“In the past 12 months this project engaged nearly 70 rural landholders and managed woody weeds over 260 hectares. Vista Gold’s contribution will enable this project to continue and expand,” Mr Lewis said.

“Through the additional funding we will also be able to grow several thousand native seedlings for revegetation under the biodiversity project.”

Vista Gold Australia General Manager Brent Murdoch said that the company was pleased to assist and welcomed the partnership with Landcare.

“Looking after the environment in which we operate is our highest priority,” he said.

“Working with Landcare to build a better future for the Edith and Katherine Rivers will benefit the whole of the community. This partnership gives us an opportunity to share information we have gathered through our water monitoring program and contribute to community based activities.”

The Katherine Landcare projects are also generously supported by the Katherine Town Council, Landmark, Territory NRM and the Department of Land Resource Management.

Media enquiries: Jeannette Button on 8941 9169, 0407 727 080

TIO helps shape next generation of leaders

TIO has opened its doors to two young achievers from Alice Springs to help build leaders of the future.

For first time the company extended its sponsorship of the Alice Springs Desert Leadership program and invited Monica Quan and Nathan McAuliffe to participate in its three-day leadership program in Darwin.

TIO Chief Executive Richard Harding said the company wanted to build confidence in the community and support its future leaders.

 “Desert Knowledge Australia presents us with a new and unique opportunity to engage future leaders and encourage them to make a difference in the Territory,” Mr Harding said.

“The program aims to help them foster their development and capabilities.”

Monica Quan, who is a Camera Person and Editor at Imparja Television, said the TIO leadership program encouraged her to face her fears.

“I learnt you that can make meaningful change in small steps,” Ms Quan said.

“TIO has cultivated a culture that questions itself, the way it does things and to challenge the status quo, which is important for any leader.”

Nathan, who is a plumber with Ingkerreke Commercial, added that the skills he learnt during the program relate to all areas of life.

“You can relate and apply leadership to your family situation, your footy team or your workplace and make a choice to make it a good environment – it’s about the positive role we play,” he said.

Monica and Nathan are both part-way through their one-year intensive leadership program with ASDL.

The Alice Springs Desert Leadership program aims to build the next generation of leaders by equipping participants with the knowledge to make.

TIO has been a sponsor of the program since April 2013

**Ends**

For further information please contact:

Tracy Jones, Creative Territory 89 461694

Young Territorians least likely to finish studies

 

Mission Australia’s 2013 National Youth Survey has found one in seven Territory teens don’t intend to complete year twelve.

The alarming figure is more than three times the national average and coupled with the finding that less than two-thirds of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their school studies.

The Youth Survey, which is the country’s biggest annual stocktake on the views of young people, was completed by 109 Territorians aged between 15 and 19 years.   

When asked to nominate the most important issues for Australia, young people in the NT rated alcohol and drugs at the top of the list for the second year in a row.

In a new concerning trend, mental health jumped from eighth spot in 2012 to second among young Territorians.

The top three personal concerns for young people in the NT continued to be school or study problems, coping with stress, and body image.

Other survey highlights include:

·         Around 1 in 5 young people in the NT indicated their family’s ability to get along was poor – more than twice the national average

·         Almost one in five young people in the NT were negative or very negative in their outlook for the future (compared to 8 per cent nationally)

·         More than one third of young people in the NT aged 15-19 are currently looking for work (including part-time/casual)

·         Only 35 per cent of young people in the NT plan to go to university (compared with 65 per cent nationally)

·         The internet is the number one source of information for young people in the NT, with 40 per cent of respondents spending at least 20 hours a week on social networking sites

 

Mission Australia’s 12th national Youth Survey not only asked young people about their personal and national concerns, it also surveyed what young people value, who they turn to for advice, what activities they engage in, their views on employment and how they feel about the future.

Sue Kendrick said the fact almost 15 per cent of young people surveyed in the NT said they didn’t intend to complete year twelve – more than three times the national average – is a serious concern, coupled with the low rate of young people planning to go on to university, TAFE or college.

“We need greater investment in youth education, training and employment, particularly in communities where there is entrenched disadvantage,” Ms Kendrick said.

“There are significant economic and social benefits that flow over many years from improving the participation of young people.

“Encouraging our young people to not only complete their schooling, but also to pursue higher education and training will be crucial to meeting their career needs as well as the needs of our future workforce.”

Ms Kendrick said it was also concerning that young people in the NT are becoming increasingly concerned about mental health issues.

“When asked how positive they felt about the future, almost one in five respondents in the NT was negative or very negative in their outlook - this compares to 8 per cent nationally,” she said.

“We need to ensure that young adults in the NT have the support they need, so they can look to the future with confidence and do not fall through the cracks while trying to make the journey from adolescence into adulthood.

“If we take this opportunity to listen to their voices and act on their concerns, we can provide hope for the future of our state and the next generation of NT youth who will lead it.”

Mission Australia is a leading community organisation, focused on standing together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves. We want to support our young people to gain independence and lead productive, fulfilling lives.

Thousands of Territorians sign on to save badminton

The Northern Territory Badminton Association will tomorrow submit the single largest petition in NT Parliament history.

The petition, which calls on NT Government to “defer the eviction of badminton from the Sports House facility and agree to allocate funds for and facilitate construction of a new multi-purpose facility for badminton, table tennis and judo at Marrara during the 2014-2015 financial year as detailed in the NT Badminton Association New Venue Proposal September 2013”, has been signed by more than 12 300 Territorians in the past five weeks.

The petition will be presented to the Hon Gerry Wood MLA on the steps of Parliament House at 9:30am for submission to Parliament later that day.

And to make sure their plight is heard, a group of local badminton players have planned a “Badminton Flashmob” at the handover.

“People we meet are very surprised to hear that we’re being thrown out on to the street and that the NT Government is not proposing a replacement facility - they say that it’s very unfair,” NT Badminton volunteer Monica Beadman said.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed with support from the people of Darwin, Palmerston and Rural Areas,” volunteer Helena Gibbons said.

“People have been incredibly sympathetic to our plight and we thank everyone for their fantastic support!”

The NTBA said it calls on the NT Government to listen to overwhelming community opinion and “give our sport a fair go and support our proposal for a replacement facility”.

 
For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT

New land to fulfil Christmas wishes

Territorians looking to purchase land before Christmas have had their wishes granted.

Urbex, in association with the Northern Territory Government, have released their last land sale for the year at Johnston Ridge.

Seventeen large lots starting at an affordable price of $260,000 went on sale to the public today.

Urbex General Manager Wayne Rex said the release will help to ease growing pressures on housing affordability.

“We have strong demand for affordable land and housing, and have brought the Davies release forward to help meet some of it,” Mr Rex said.

“We’ve worked hard with the government and Council to get land ready for sale and Territorians into their homes sooner.”

Construction of the lots released for sale has commenced which Mr Rex says “means that purchasers will be able to commence construction of their homes next year”.

Nestled between Farrar Boulevard and the Stuart Highway, Johnston Ridge is now well developed.

“Residents are moving into their homes and Johnston Ridge is becoming a real community,” Mr Rex said.

“More than 175 lots have sold to date, which is two-thirds of the suburb.

“We sell land with plenty of room to move at very competitive prices.”

The lots in the current Davies release range in size from 780sqm to over 1,100sqm and are some of the largest available lots within a new community in the Darwin/Palmerston market.

Mr Rex said that “families who purchase in Johnston Ridge can build their home and add to it later or have plenty of room for a tinny and the kids to run around”.

Johnston Ridge is located within five minutes of the amenities of Coolalinga and Palmerston City Centre.

Territorians interested in land at Johnston Ridge can visit www.johnstonridge.com.au or call 1300 556 950.

NT Badminton says “We won’t leave Sports House without a new home”

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Members of the NT Badminton Association have vowed to stay at Sports House in Fannie Bay until a new venue for their sport is secured. 

The motion “…that members of NTBA only agree to leave Sports House when the NT Government identifies an alternative single venue accommodation solution that is acceptable to NTBA and a binding agreement is made” was passed at the NTBA Annual General Meeting yesterday.

The AGM, which was likely to be the NTBA’s last at Sports House, focused on badminton’s future after the NTBA rejected the NT Government’s offer of a 5 year commercial lease on a property in Woolner last week.

Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood MLA , ALP Member for Johnston Ken Vowles MLA, and a number of concerned local Fannie Bay residents participated in the spirited and emotional AGM. 

“The NT Government doesn’t seem to recognise the disastrous consequences that closure of Sports House, and the absence of a replacement facility, will have on our sport,” NT Badminton President Rodney Pearce said at the meeting.

“All of us at this meeting know that without a new home the sport is stuffed.”

Gerry Wood stated, “The Government sometimes has its priorities wrong. If it’s real about people’s health then the facilities that are required should be made available. They need to re-prioritise their land plans and allow NT Badminton’s new facility to be established before the Sports House site is sold and developed. I don’t think that it’s too hard.”

The NTBA said it will continue to impress the urgency of its need upon the NT Government and request that it allocates funding in the May 2014 Budget for construction of a new multi-purpose facility for Badminton, Judo and Table Tennis at Marrara.

“The proposal that NTBA has submitted is excellent,” Ken Vowles MLA said, adding that “the cost of the proposed facility is good value as it incorporates facilities for a number of sports”.

“While the ball is obviously in NT Government’s court, we’re happy to sit down with them to work together to come up with a solution,” NT Badminton’s Rodney Pearce said.

For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT.

 

TIO ready to respond to Cyclone Alessia

With Cyclone Alessia approaching the Top End, TIO has activated plans to ensure it ready to respond to potential customer claims.

Insurance General Manger Michael Hoare said staff would be ready and available should the cyclone or associated flooding cause any damage.

“It is too late to update insurance for this event but there is still much Territorians can do to ensure they are ready,” Michael said.

“People’s homes should now be prepared and they should be familiar with their family emergency plan.

“We hope this cyclone causes no damage, but we are ready to respond if it does.”

In addition to having an emergency plan, Top Enders should:

·      Know where to go and what to do in the case of storm surge or flooding

·      Have their emergency kit prepared with portable radio, fresh batteries, non-perishable food, water and enclosed footwear. Don’t forget special medical or baby needs.

·      Have loose items secured and a safe place to protect personal belongings, photographs and documents.

·      Care for friends and neighbours.

For more information visit www.tiofi.com.au or call 1300 301 833.

Media enquiries – Tracy Jones on 0407 727 813

Future of NT badminton to be debated

The home of badminton in Darwin will be discussed at the NT Badminton Association (NTBA) Annual General Meeting on Monday 25 November 2013.

The AGM will be held at Sports House, Waratah Crescent in Fannie Bay from 7:45pm and is open to the public.

Earlier this week the NT Government granted badminton an extension of tenure at Sports House until 31 March 2014 and proposed the NTBA take on a 5 year commercial lease on a warehouse in Woolner at a cost of $165,000 per year, shared equally between badminton and the government.

But NT Badminton’s Dr Di Symonds said the NTBA rejected the lease proposal as it was too expensive.

“A lease of that value would without doubt destroy the sport and leave us financially ruined,” she said.

“We understand that most sport associations in the NT have peppercorn lease arrangements with government, or pay negligible sums of money, if anything, to ensure sports develop and the community benefits.

“We're not aware of any major sport associations in the NT with a commercial lease.”

Dr Symonds said the NT government also asked NT Badminton to reassess using community halls located on school grounds.

“To be told to go back and look at school halls again is very frustrating and  especially since we outgrew school halls back in the late 1970s, which led to the CLP Government at the time to allocate badminton Sports House,” she said.

“Sports House itself doesn’t meet our current needs or plan for development and growth."

NTBA continues to urge the government to support its proposal for a new, multi-purpose facility at Marrara.

Dr Symonds said the facility would address badminton’s need for a new home and allow table tennis, gymnastics and judo to meet current demand.

“Sixteen years ago NTG came up with a plan for a new multi-purpose facility at Marrara, incorporating badminton, table tennis, basketball and netball but the project was shelved,” she said.

“But the timing is now right. Please help us to save our sport!”

For more information visit or follow NT Badminton on:

www.saveoursport.org.au

www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT

twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT