Fire weather warning

Fire weather warning 

Upper Derwent Valley forecast district

Issued at 4.15pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012.

For Sunday, January 29

Very High Fire Danger is forecast for the Upper Derwent Valley forecast district, with maximum temperatures around 36 degrees, relative humidity down to 13% and north to north-west winds, tending more westerly in the afternoon and averaging 20 km/h.

The Tasmania Fire Service advises you to:

• Check your bush fire survival plan - now
• Monitor the fire and weather situation on ABC Radio or through www.fire.tas.gov.au
• If power supplies fail, listen on your car radio

The Tasmania Fire Service advises that if you are in an area of Very High or Severe Fire Danger:

• Get ready now to leave for a safe place
• Leave immediately if fire breaks out near you
• Only stay if your home is well prepared to withstand fire and you can actively defend it

The next warning will be issued by 5am Sunday.

Bureau of Meteorology forecasts for the Derwent Valley:
New Norfolk (Sunday's forecast maximum 36 degrees)
Ouse (Sunday's forecast max 37)
Maydena (Sunday's forecast max 33)
Mt Field (Sunday's forecast max 24)
Strathgordon (Sunday's forecast max 31)

Johnny Kava - Citizen of the Year

Johnny Kava

WELL-KNOWN boxing coach Johnny Kava is the Derwent Valley's Australia Day Citizen of the Year for 2012. Making the announcement at Tynwald Park on Thursday, mayor Martyn Evans recalled that Mr Kava was one of the first people he had met when arriving in New Norfolk as a teenager in the 1980s, and that Johnny had encouraged him to play football with the local team.

Originally from the Pacific Ocean island nation of Niue, Mr Kava has contributed to the New Norfolk and broader Derwent Valley community for many years. An accomplished boxer in his own right, he has helped young people learn self-confidence, self-respect and discipline while improving their fitness through the sport of boxing.

He gives freely of his time and has been a positive male role model in the lives of many young people over the years. Congratulations Johnny.

Jamie Molan - Young Citizen of the Year

Lisa Clarke and Jamie Molan

NEW Norfolk's Jamie Molan, 21, has been named the Derwent Valley's Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year for 2012. The announcement was made by mayor Martyn Evans on Thursday and the presentation was made by last year's recipient, Lisa Clarke.

Jamie has been an active member of the Derwent Valley Council's youth advisory committee (D'FAT) for some years and is also a member of the Derwent Valley Tidy Towns Committee and the Sport and Recreation Centre Management Committee.

He has also assisted with the redevelopment of Ellis Dean Reserve, Salvation Army Red Shield Appeals, Mission Australia family fun day, Clean Up Australia days, and graffiti removal working bees.

Congratulations Jamie.

Australia Day - good sport honoured

Kelly Graham

NEW Norfolk Rowing Club vice-captain and coach Kelly Graham has been named the Derwent Valley's Sportsman of the Year. Mr Graham has been involved with the club in a voluntary capacity for more than 30 years.

He is a life member of the NNRC and is looked up to by a wide range of people from beginners to masters and veteran rowers.

Mr Graham volunteers about 20 hours per week to the club and is greatly appreciated for his work with young people, both in teaching them how to row and in improving their life skills.

Congratulations Kelly.

Australia Day - community event honoured

LOCAL participation in the national Australia's Biggest Morning Tea has been recognised as the Derwent Valley's Community Event of the Year. The event is organised annually by New Norfolk's Can-Hope Cancer Support Group and held at the RSL Clubrooms.

In 2011 the group raised $4500 for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, which supports cancer research. Each year since 1998, the Can-Hope volunteers work tirelessly to prepare food for the morning tea. About 230 people attended last year, and a further 100 takeaway morning teas were supplied.

Since its inception the group has raised more than $20,000 for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, but it has also supported the ABC Giving Tree, Daffodil Day, Relay for Life, the Mini-Field for Women and the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Congratulations to all the members of the Can-Hope Support Group for their good work which has led to this recognition on Australia Day 2012.

Community workers honoured

AUSTRALIA Day provides a great opportunity to acknowledge the great contributions made by members of our community. At Tynwald Park on Thursday, a number of the Derwent Valley's quiet achievers were acknowledged received certificates recognising individual and group contribution to the community. Mayor Martyn Evans presented certificates of appreciation to:

June Purkiss: A New Norfolk resident for more than 75 years, well known and respected as the "singing voice" of the Derwent Valley for most of that time. For the last 28 years she has led the singing of the national anthem and hymns at the Anzac Day observances at the New Norfolk Cenotaph as well as featuring regularly at the Derwent Valley Carols by Candelight.


Sheila Smith: Has given freely of her time to support many community organisations over a long period in New Norfolk and Maydena, currently serving as secretary of the New Norfolk RSL Auxiliary, New Norfolk Hospital Auxiliary, Corumbene Nursing Home Auxiliary and the New Norfolk Golden Years Club.


Sarah Dingley: An enthusiastic volunteer at the Lachlan Community Hall and described as a beacon of positivity in that district. She loves ballroom dancing, is passionate about the environment and animals, and supports Clean Up Australia Day.

New Norfolk Historical Information Centre Committee: For its organising of the Lachlan Macquarie Bicentenary Celebration. The committee established a steering group to plan the commemoration of the visit to New Norfolk by Governor Macquarie in November 1811.

Derwent Valley Child and Family Centre Local Enabling Group: For the site celebration and free family fun day at Ellis Dean Reserve, commemorating two years of work by the group towards the establishment of a child and family centre in New Norfolk.

Molesworth Cricket Club: Established more than a century ago, with many generations of local families having played at the club. Now part of the Southern Cricket Association, the club is believed to have been the first to field three teams in the former Derwent Valley Cricket Association.

New Norfolk Rowing Club senior squad: Recognising the success of three members representing Australia at the 2011 world rowing championships - Anthony Edwards (gold medallist), Kerry Hore (silver) and Kate Hornsey (bronze) - which is believed to be unmatched by any other rowing club in the country.

Meet Miranda online

A COMPUTER link-up with forest protester Miranda Gibson will be held in New Norfolk this Wednesday. Miranda has been up a tree in the Derwent Valley for more than a month, conducting a tree-sit in a forest near Mt Mueller, west of Maydena. The public is invited to ask Miranda questions about what she is doing, via computer link-up from the Derwent Valley Community House at Willow Court, New Norfolk, from 7-8.30pm on February 1. Her blog is at www.observertree.org