Cut to the Bone

Here’s the recipe for another State government cost saving measure that further disadvantages those young people who might otherwise have fallen through the cracks.

Kim McLoughry and Liz Carter

First take a region that has a significant level of suicide.
Add to this unemployment and a dash domestic violence.
Place on the extremities of a city.
Gather community representatives, local businesses and a lot of eager volunteers.
Add the young people … and stir.
Mix in a generous helping of funding, say $250,000 odd.
Sit back and watch it rise to become exciting and very successful.
Now smash it to pieces.

This is what the NSW Government has effectively done to the Youth Arts programs in the Central Coast region.

 

Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) received notice in January there will be no funding from NSW Arts for the Regional Youth Arts Coordinator position in 2009. This effectively hinders the operation of the facility and places into jeopardy the operation of over ten youth arts programs – not to mention the half-million dollar investment and countless hours and months of business and community effort.

Asked for a comment from the Member for Gosford, Marie Andrews, she said, “I am speaking to the Minister and trying hard to reverse the decision”.

The Youth Arts development programs and the subsequent Youth Arts Warehouse (YAW) facility are not some esoteric concept.  They provide real contact, support and training as well as a progressive place for activities and events in an area so clearly under-resourced.  The YAW also provides vital training courses, workshops and an opportunity to reach out to some of our most ‘at risk’ young people.   For over a decade the results of programs have been outstanding with the training and support leading directly to young people gaining careers in the media and the Arts.

“RYSS have delivered to the Central Coast Region the kind of multi purpose Art space young people would want to use for there own Artistic expression, development and education” says Kim McLoughry Service Manager RYSS “it gives a place and sense of belonging in our community that has been absent for decades”.

“For the two years since opening the new Youth Arts Warehouse facility it has been successful beyond the community’s expectations, giving young people skills and a hand up, not a hand out”. Liz Carter, seen pictured sitting on the right next to Kim McLoughry, has been the full time Youth Arts Coordinator for three years. She joined the unemployed list in early February. Without funds for the co-ordinator position, the entire future of the program is at risk.

 

New Year in Gosford

 

The Coathanger

With Sydney boasting its ‘biggest ever’ explosion of fireworks on NYE one wonders just when the Sydney City Council can no longer profess it will be bigger and better than ever before! The secrecy surrounding the event borders on lunacy! Its fireworks for goodness sake.

Fireworks that explode from the Harbour Bridge and a few strategically placed barges on the harbour. maybe some surrounding skyscrapers will ‘go off’, as will Darling Harbour. The Opera House will be ‘dressed up’ in pretty colours, and a million people will start to gather from about 10am. Where’s the secret in that? No, its not a cynical approach being made here.

Obviously Sydney does not believe in a global financial meltdown, and the Sussex Street cafe latte brigade who pose as politicians dont care too much about a spending spree of millions that last a few minutes!

Surely at some time, someone, must consider the folly of spending bucket loads of cash and holding their heads up high in light of a failing health system, schools being unable to carry out general repairs, transport systems breaking under the strain etc etc.

As for Gosford, well its slightly different. Actually, hugely different. Sort of poor cousins to the Sydney scene, and certainly wont get any global coverage. However, it will still put on a days fun. Starting early afternoon with the races, continuing in the early evening with the football, and ending with its modest firework display. A fairly big day out on anyones calender.

The Mariners take on Perth Glory with a 6pm ko. After they kick some West Australian backside some 20,000 odd people will gather on the waterfront to see our mini Darling Harbour show. Grand it will be.

The old folks and families go home, the younger ones find parties and clubs to see in midnight. Usually by 12:30 most everywhere is quiet, with pockets of revellers here and there justifying a greater police prescence than the previous night. Still, an intimate family day out when compared to the Boom Crash Opera of Sydney, and one where intimidation/aggression and violence through drunkardness, is minimal and joy is maximised. And, it doesn’t end there!

Bluetongue Stadium is putting on a film extravaganza by erecting a 45ft screen for three day film festival on the 16 to 18th January. You can bring a picnic and sit on the same hallowed turf where the ‘twinkle toes’ of Gumps struts his stuff. Gates will open at 7pm for a kick off at sundown, 8:30pm. Tickets are priced at $40 for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids, $10 for a child or concession and $15 for an adult, slightly cheaper if pre-purchased. Tickets are on sale now through ticketek. Films showing are Bonds Quantum of Solace, High School Musical and Australia. Stadium Manager, Monique Marks promises to look at this being an annual event for Gosford. 

“Its going to be a very relaxing way to enjoy the movies with a Bluetongue Lager, Wine or Soft Drink and plenty of food available including BBQ, cheese platters along with pies, pizza’s, hotdogs and of course popcorn!” Marks said.

 

The Grunt has secured two 2×2 family tix to the event. We will give these away to two [lot of two's here eh!] lucky winners who post an answer to this question. “Which of the three films showing at Blutonge Stadium in January would you most like to see, and why?” Simply post your answer by clicking on the comment link below and filling out your response. Rules are you must be a current financial member of the Gosford District Chamber of Commerce to enter. Monique Marks and Kath Robinson will pick the lucky winners. Get Grunting and good luck. Giveaway closes at midnight on the 14th Jan 2009.

 

Any chance of grabbing a guinness Monique? Ed.

 

2009 smells good.

Gosford CBD a disgrace and deserves better

 

Bill Kerr addressing the Chamber Luncheon on Wednesday 12th November

“The CBD is a disgrace and those who conduct business or visit the area deserve better”. These are some of the words uttered by a relaxed and confident Bill Kerr during his address to the Gosford chamber luncheon yesterday, 12th November, at Iguana Joes.

With over 90 guests attending the luncheon, some travelling from Sydney to hear him, he concluded his address by fielding tricky questions with authority. This alone shows he has done a bit of homework on the city.

After so many past disappointments at getting the regions capital city into line with the ‘living city concept’ we might just have the right chap to take us there. We had John McInerney the Architect a Town Planner with special interests in transport and heritage. And as a past National President of the Planning Institute of Australia and former Manager of Planning for the City of Sydney and City of Melbourne, had high hopes for his deliverance. 

Then came Frank Sartor, but not much happened there, now we rest our hopes on Bill Kerr. He openley stated how important it is to consult with all stakeholders for their views on Gosford’s future. He has discussed issues with local education specialists, looked into the social fabric of Gosford, beaten a path to local property holders and generally talked his pants off to get to the root of the problem, before looking to implement anything at all. For this he is to be congratulated.

“Gosford is located in one of the most beautiful settings in Australia,” Mr Kerr said, referring to the nearby waterfront and the scenic hills. “But it puzzles me why the waterfront and the town centre have not been connected,” he said.

It seems every man/woman and his/her dog wishes that derelict building gracing Donnison and Mann to be redeveloped. Spurbest also has been brought into the equation. We all know we have the basic ingredients for a beautiful place, all it needs is a team with creative insight and the ‘nouse’ to get it going. Make those hard decisions which will not please everyone, Kibble is an example of that, and get moving.

Kerr dispeled some of the myths surrounding Gosford Public School, and wonders just where the local media get their stories from. He openly states he knows not what outcomes will eventuate, but the demands made of his team will ensure the highest quality by the time they are formed in 2009 and promises to give future development an edge. Glossy brochures alone do not impress this bloke!

The Gosford Challenge Launch

The Grunt agrees with the Mayor Chris Holstein and Bill Kerr when they openly tell those who consistently knock our city by the water to move somewhere else.

The Grunt asks the question. Do we start at the waterfront and move development toward the CBD? Or do we start within the CBD and work toward the waterfront? Either way the waterfront is our oyster and forms an integral part of any development plan. Check out the Gosford Challenge website. And more here.

Get involved here, ‘cause your thoughts are not only welcome, they are vital.

The Global Meltdown: A timeline

Interesting little map from Crikey.com.au and worth taking notice of. Click on image for global info.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll notice Gosford City Council is not on the map! Wonder why?

Over-65s to double by 2036

Many of those people will be living alone, and not all of them will have friends or family to check on their welfare. In several cases this year elderly people have died alone in their homes, their bodies not discovered for weeks, sometimes months. If this is a reflection on modern society then something is rotten in Denmark!

Happy to retire

The challenge of looking after those who are old and alone has never been greater. Data shows that one in five people in NSW will be aged 65 and over by 2036.

One of the saddest stories was that of Jorge Coloma, 64, found dead in his public housing flat almost a year after he was believed to have died. We, as a society, need to change our attitudes toward senior citizens.

The latest demographic data from the NSW Department of Planning, published today [Monday 20th October], indicates that looking after the elderly will become a greater challenge for the community over the 30 years.
Between 2006 and 2036 the number of people in NSW aged 65 and over will increase by 111 per cent, representing the fastest growing age category in the state, according to the projections.

In comparison, the number of people aged between 18 and 64 will rise by only 21 per cent.
By 2036 people aged 65 and over will represent 21.5 per cent of the population, compared with 13.5 per cent in 2006.

The aging population was the result of the baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1965) shifting into these older age groups, combined with falling mortality rates, the department said. The youngest of the boomers will reach 65 by 2030, which is when the annual growth rate of the 65-to-84 age bracket is expected to slow.

The aging population is the main driver behind a growing number of people living alone, the department said. The number of lone-person households is expected to increase from 646,500 in 2006 to 1.06 million by 2036, up 64 per cent. In 30 years 29 per cent of all households will consist of only one person.
The projections do not include any figures for whether housing would become more or less affordable by 2036, but the elderly and those living alone are already among those hardest hit by the housing shortage and high rents.

Aging will also generate large growth in the number of households consisting of couples without children. Projected to rise from 654,000 in 2006 to 1 million by 2036, there will be almost as many couples without children as couples with children.

People looking after children on their own are also on the rise, with single-parent households projected to increase from 654,900 in 2006 to 1 million by 2036, up 53 per cent. In Sydney the number of lone-person households is projected to increase 69 per cent from 377,900 in 2006, to 637,500 by 2036.

Again, this is the largest percentage increase of all household types, and is driven largely by the growth of the elderly population. It means that by 2036 more than a quarter of people in Sydney will live on their own.
Single-parent households will rise by 48 per cent, and the number of households without children will rise by 56 per cent. Whilst these figures represent the state of NSW it is fairly obvious here in the Gosford region there will be an impact.

The question is will the Central Coast’s infrastructure be positioned to deal with the strain?