NT Badminton appeals to property owners for interim accommodation

NT Badminton Association has issued a letter to Darwin and Palmerston real estate agents, builders and developers asking if they are aware of any warehouses that may be available and suitable for the sport to move into as a short term solution to their housing needs.

The sporting association has been passionately campaigning for a replacement venue since it received an eviction notice from the NT Government to vacate Sports House in Fannie Bay in May 2013.

Their tenancy has been extended to 31 March 2014, but beyond that the future is not looking good for the sport.

“Unfortunately the options to date have just not been suitable,” association member and player Dr Di Symonds said.

“We need a dedicated venue where our members can train regularly and uninterrupted. We outgrew school halls, where access is often interrupted, back in the late 1970s. To be told to go back to this is very frustrating and possibly marks the end of our sport in the NT.”

In light of their current tenancy uncertainty, NT Badminton Association seeks an interim accommodation solution with the following key elements:

·              a three year lease

·              located in Darwin, Winnellie, Berrimah or East Arm areas

 ·              warehouse with minimum floor area of 1,000 sqm
 ·              minimum ceiling height of 7 metres
 ·              internal or external male and female toilets
 ·              internal or external offices and storage room, minimum area 40 sqm
 ·              car parking

NT Badminton continues to discuss their accommodation needs with the Northern Territory Government and ideally would like to see a long term solution of a dedicated facility in Marrara similar to most other Territory sports.

“In the meantime, if someone has a spare shed we can use we would love to talk to you,” said Dr Symonds.

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

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.