Council News Shire of Westonia fonightly information from us to you 29th November 2017 HONORARY FREEMANSHIP AWARDED TO LOUIS GEIER The Shire of Westonia recently held a function in Westonia at the Miners Hall honoring retiring Councilor and former President Louis Geier for 32 years’ service to the Westonia Shire and community. At the function Council took the opportunity to award Louis Geier an Honorary Freemanship of the Shire. The award was bestowed on Louis in recognition of his excellent service to the Westonia Council and the community. This service included: First elected in 1984 and served as the North Ward Councillor until 1993 (10 years). Re-elected in 1994 as the Town Ward Councillor until wards were abolished and has served as a councillor until retiring in 2017, a total of 32 years, making Louis the third longest serving Councillor for the Council, only behind C.A. (Cyril) Perrin 34 years and C.J. (Pip) Della Bosca 33 years respectively. Elected as Deputy President in 2000 and served until 2003 where he was elected as president in 2003, a seat in which he presided until 2015. Since his election as Deputy President in 2000, he has been Council’s representative to the Great Eastern Country Zone WALGA until 2015. (15 years). Louis has been a representative on WEROC (Wheatbelt East Regional Organisation of Councils) since its inception, and also NEWROC (North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils), while a member of that group. He was also Council’s representative on the GEZ WALGA from 2000 to 2015, and the same period as Council’s representative on the Sub Regional Road Group. Also more recently, he has represented Westonia on the Central East Aged Care Alliance (CEACA) since its inception which was aimed at improving aged care facilities and resources for Westonia and the Central Eastern Wheatbelt. This group was recently awarded funding in the vicinity of $20 million of Royalties for Regions for stage 2 of the project. Louis is also a current member of the Eastern Wheatbelt Declared Species Group and the Local Emergency Management Committee. But most importantly, Cr Geier was at the helm as President during Westonia’s most difficult period being the impending amalgamation process with the Yilgarn Shire. His strength and stability were paramount in steering the Council and Community during this period and forward with strength. Louis was awarded a WALGA Local Government Merit Award in 2001 and a Long & Loyal Service Award in 2013. He also received the Premiers Australia Day Active Citizenship Award in 2013 for his service to the Westonia community and recently was awarded the Eminent Service Award at this year’s WALGA Local Government Week Conference. 60 people attended the function which included family members, current and past Councillors and partners and several staff members who worked during Louis term. Honorary Freeman is the highest honour a Council can bestow on an individual and entles the recipient to aend all Council civic funcons as an honourable guest. The Westonia Shire has only awarded a Freemanship previously to former President/Councillor, John Della Bosca, back in 2007. Shire President Cr Karin Day presented Louis with his certificate of Freemanship at the Celebration Dinner. KARIN DAY JAMIE CRIDDLE PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SHIRE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE CLOSURE Community members are advised that the Council office hours during the 2017/18 Christmas New Year period are as follows: • Friday 22nd December 2017 OPEN 8.30 am—12 noon • Monday 25th December 2017 - Friday 29th December 2017 CLOSED • Monday 1st January 2018 CLOSED • Tuesday 2nd January 2018 RETURNE TO OPEN HOURS. In case of emergencies, contact Bill on 0427 467 082
Transcript
Council News
Shire of Westonia
fortnightly information from us to you 29th November 2017
HONORARY FREEMANSHIP AWARDED
TO LOUIS GEIER The Shire of Westonia recently held a function in Westonia at the Miners Hall honoring retiring Councilor and former President Louis Geier for 32 years’ service to the Westonia Shire and community. At the function Council took the opportunity to award Louis Geier an Honorary Freemanship of the Shire. The award was bestowed on Louis in recognition of his excellent service to the Westonia Council and the community. This service included: First elected in 1984 and served as the North Ward Councillor until 1993 (10 years). Re-elected in 1994 as the Town Ward Councillor until wards were abolished and has served as a councillor until retiring in 2017, a total of 32 years, making Louis the third longest serving Councillor for the Council, only behind C.A. (Cyril) Perrin 34 years and C.J. (Pip) Della Bosca 33 years respectively. Elected as Deputy President in 2000 and served until 2003 where he was elected as president in 2003, a seat in which he presided until 2015. Since his election as Deputy President in 2000, he has been Council’s representative to the Great Eastern Country Zone WALGA until 2015. (15 years). Louis has been a representative on WEROC (Wheatbelt East Regional Organisation of Councils) since its inception, and also NEWROC (North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils), while a member of that group. He was also Council’s representative on the GEZ WALGA from 2000 to 2015, and the same period as Council’s representative on the Sub Regional Road Group. Also more recently, he has represented Westonia on the Central East Aged Care Alliance (CEACA) since its inception which was aimed at improving aged care facilities and resources for Westonia and the Central Eastern Wheatbelt. This group was recently awarded funding in the vicinity of $20 million of Royalties for Regions for stage 2 of the project. Louis is also a current member of the Eastern Wheatbelt Declared Species Group and the Local Emergency Management Committee.
But most importantly, Cr Geier was at the helm as President during
Westonia’s most difficult period being the impending amalgamation process
with the Yilgarn Shire. His strength and stability were paramount in steering
the Council and Community during this period and forward with strength.
Louis was awarded a WALGA Local Government Merit Award in 2001 and a Long & Loyal Service Award in 2013. He also received the Premiers Australia Day Active Citizenship Award in 2013 for his service to the Westonia community and recently was awarded the Eminent Service Award at this year’s WALGA Local Government Week Conference.
60 people attended the function which included family members, current and past Councillors and partners and several staff members who worked during Louis term.
Honorary Freeman is the highest honour a Council can bestow on an
individual and entitles the recipient to attend all Council civic functions as an
honourable guest. The Westonia Shire has only awarded a Freemanship
previously to former President/Councillor, John Della Bosca, back in 2007.
Shire President Cr Karin Day presented Louis with his certificate of Freemanship at the Celebration Dinner.
KARIN DAY JAMIE CRIDDLE PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SHIRE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE CLOSURE
Community members are advised that the Council office hours during the 2017/18 Christmas New Year period are as follows:
• Friday 22nd December 2017 OPEN 8.30 am—12 noon
• Monday 25th December 2017 - Friday 29th December 2017 CLOSED
• Monday 1st January 2018 CLOSED
• Tuesday 2nd January 2018 RETURNE TO OPEN HOURS.
In case of emergencies, contact Bill on 0427 467 082
Page 2 Council News
Roads Report Fortnightly
The engineering crew have completed the 3km re-sheeting of Morrison Road and are now 50% complete
on 3km re-sheeting of various sections of Farina Road. Immediate future works will include shoulder
reconstruction works on section of M040 (Boodarockin section) and new access track for Baladjie Rock.
The maintenance grader operator has been completing drains and batters along Echo Valley and English
Roads. Road users would have to agree that this work has improved vision and safety immensely. This
work will continue throughout the shire
What’s
ON
WESTONIA + SURROUNDS
THIS MONTH: 8.30am 4th Dec 17 DR OLGA WARD Westonia Shire Clinic
6.30pm 14th Dec 17 COUNCIL XMAS DINNER 16th Dec 17 VAC SWIM EARLY START PROGRAM Westonia Swimming Pool 5pm 16th Dec 17 BURRA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE 12pm 22nd Dec 17 SHIRE OFFICE CLOSURE
12pm 5th Dec 17 ANNUAL SENIORS XMAS LUNCHON Westonia Tavern
11am 8th Dec 17 SCHOEN PODIATRY Shire Doctors Surgery
8th Dec 17
THANK A VOLUN-TEER DAY DINNER Wanderers Stadium 3pm 14th Dec 17 WESTONIA COUNCIL MEETING
25th Dec 17 CHRISTMAS DAY 26th Dec 17 BOXING DAY 31th Dec 17 NEW YEARS EVE 1st Jan 18 NEW YEARS DAY 8.30am 2nd Jan 18 SHIRE OFFICE RE-OPENS
A GENTLE REMINDER...
Just a friendly reminder to RSVP for this
Years Annual Seniors Luncheon.
Tuesday 5th Dec is just around the corner.
Shire Office (08) 90467063
There will be NO
CHANGE to the General
Waste Collection
Services for the
Christmas Period.
Expression of interest. Due to the redesign of the Wanderers Bar and Kitchen, The Shire would like to offer
for sale the coolroom bar fridge and compressor. Expressions are to made by
Monday 11th December 2017 All Enquiries to Jamie on 0427 467 063
MBBS, FRACGP, GDRGP, FARGP Procedural Surgical GP Westonia
Consulting Dates 2018 (Monday’s)
22nd January 2018 26th February 2018
9th April 2018 21st May 2018 18th June 2018 16th July 2018
20th August 2018 24th September 2018 5th November 2018 17th December 2018
Booking made through
WESTONIA SHIRE ADMINISTRATION
on (08) 9046 7063
Dr Olga Ward
Primary Car Nurse Practitioner
Laura Black
Every Wednesday @ Westonia Shire Office
9.00am—2.00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: Laura will be away between
6th December 2017 until 3rd January 2018
Booking made through
WESTONIA SHIRE ADMINISTRATION
on (08) 9046 7063
Page 3 Council News
The podiatrist will be back in town on the following
dates appointments are available starting at 11am
8th December, 2017
Please call the Shire Office on (08) 90467063 for
more information or to make an appointment.
Wessy Swimming Pool
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 2pm to 7pm
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (school
holidays) – 11am to 7pm
Tuesday – closed
Weekends – 11am to 7pm
Public Holidays – 11am – 7pm
(Closed Boxing Day due to it being a Tuesday)
HOOD-PENN MUSEUM UPDATE
Weekend opening will cease after the 10th of
December this year and we will reopen on the
10th of March 2018. The Shire would like to take
this opportunity to Thank all of our Museum
volunteers for a job well done in 2017.
We have had to say good bye to some of our
dedicated volunteers recently. We would really
love to see some new members join, the
Historical Society and Museum in 2018. If you are
interested and have any questions or concerns
please come in and have a chat with Stacey or
speak to any of the other Hood-Penn volunteers.
Volunteering is not only great for your
community it has many social and health benefits
to individuals.
See you all at the Thank a Volunteer BBQ on
Friday the 8th of December.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
FIX THE GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY CAMPAIGN
The Shire of Westonia has been actively pursuing substantial upgrades to the Great Eastern High-
way with little to no effect to date. The Wheatbelt is clearly regarded as a second class citizens in
relation to road funding and it is up to us to remind Main Roads and the State Government that
significant upgrades are required on the Walgoolan to Southern Cross section of the Great Eastern
Highway. As well as other sections of the GEH.
As other roads on the Main Roads network have received funding ahead of the GEH, such as the
Indian Ocean Drive, I think it is now time for a ground swell of “Squeaky Wheel” approaches to
Main Roads and the Minister for Transport.
Please assist the cause by contacting Main Roads in Northam and the Minister for Transport’s
A sample letter or email will be attached to the emailed version or if you require a copy please email me at the Shire on [email protected] and we will forward you a sample.
Remember, unless we put up a fight, we will be forgotten about in Perth.
Page 4 Council News
www.weroc.com.au
Follow the Shire of Westonia
on the new WEROC App
Download the free app on iOS or Android
www.weroc.com.au
Follow the Shire of Westonia
on the new WEROC App Download the free app on iOS or Android
Hon. Rita Saffioti BBus MLA Minister for Transport 9th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street West Perth WA 6005 Dear Minister, RE: STATE OF THE GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY
(WALGOOLAN TO SOUTHERN CROSS) I wish to bring to the attention of the Minister, the poor state of the Great Eastern Highway between Walgoolan and Southern Cross. This section of road has deteriorated significantly in recent times, to a point where it has become dangerous. We are constantly reminded about the money that has been spent on safety improvements such as audible edging and white posts and other sections of the Great Eastern Highway, but that is not fixing the road surface in question. The Highway is now grossly out of shape and requires total reconstruction. Can you please advise when you will be programming reconstruction works on this section of the Highway? Unfortunately, the State Government has “Dropped the Ball” in relation to the condition of the entire Great Eastern Highway, focusing on more city centric and coastal projects while ignoring the Wheatbelts constant request for expenditure. Minister, we are requesting that you visit the Eastern Wheatbelt and traverse the Great Eastern Highway (in particular the section between Walgoolan and Southern Cross) and witness with your own eyes the dangerous state of the Highway (a national supply chain) and you will see the reasons for our requests. Yours sincerely,
