Back l-r: Hayden Sealey (Senior Sports Person), Tim McDonald (Para), Roger Haddrill (Masters), guest speaker Andrew Ryan, Anthony Jones (Team: JRL U16) , Toby Goodsell (Team JRL U16), guest speaker Kurt Barnes; front: Brayden Davis (Senior Sports Person), Lewis Goodsell (Team: JRL U16), Darcy Leadbitter (Encouragement Award) and Harry Crouch (Junior Sports Person).

By Karen Tooth

The Annual Lion’s Club Sports Awards night was held at the Condobolin Sports Club on Friday night to recognise and encourage Condo’s sporting champions.

Sports Promotion Committee Award winners were Olie Harding, Tamara Whitla, Danielle Thompson and Anthony Jones.

The Encouragement Award went to Darcy Leadbitter.

The Fitzpatrick Shield went to Tony Jones.

The Junior Sportsperson of the year was Harry Crouch.

Brayden David and Hayden Sealey both won the Senior sportsperson of the year award.

The Parra award went to Tim McDonald.

Winner of the Master award was Roger Haddrill.

Team of the year went to the under 16’s JRL team.

The Overall Winner was Maddi Sinderberry.

Guest speakers for the night were Canterbury Bulldogs player Andrew Ryan and professional golfer Kurt Barnes who offered some words of wisdom for the budding sports champions of Condobolin.

Andrew talked about the importance of the contribution of bush people to the sporting landscape across all sports in all forms including tuck shop volunteers, referees and linesmen.

He also talked about how being successful in sport is not necessarily all based on ability but also who you hang around with, how you approach training, diet, ability to be on time and so on.

Kurt had some encouraging words about how anyone can achieve if they have the will power and support as well as the importance of instilling a belief of success in kids from someone who they look up to e.g. parent or coach or some kind of mentor.

“Follow your dreams – even chase your dreams as they survive a long time and celebrate your achievements,” Kurt said.

Andrew Ryan and Kurt Barnes with monthly winner Pauline Dimos.

Fitzgerald Shield winner Tony Jones with speakers Andrew Ryan and Kurt Barnes.

Monthly winner Alicia Davis with presenters Andrew Ryan and Kurt Barnes.

Sports Person of the Year Maddie Sinderberry

By Karen Tooth

Enjoying  Business House Bowls at the Condobolin Sports Club on Thursday night: Tony Roberts, Grant Jolliffe, Brad Bell, Jeff Bolt, Greg Moncrieff and Alan Stuckey.

On the 16^th December 2011 Monique Cowled daughter of Graham and Kathy Cowled graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education.

Monique is currently teaching PDHPE at St Anne’s Central School Temora. Monique completed her schooling at St Josephs Primary and Condobolin High School.

On the 6th of October 2011 Rodney Cowled, who formerly attended St Joseph’s Primary and Condobolin High School, graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney. 

Rodney was awarded a Bachelor of Science with dual majors in Information Systems and International Business.

During his studies Rodney was admitted to the Dean’s Honours List for academic achievement and was lucky enough to be selected to for a field study on management practices in Asia.

After completing an internship with National Australia Bank in 2009, Rodney continued to work as a business analyst with the NAB until the end of his
studies. Rodney has now set his sights upon the global financial market and has secured a role as a business consultant for the Bank of New York’s
subsidiary ConvergEx.

Alicia Whiley, Sonia Romanelli, Holly Berryman, Meg Carey and Mikhala Mitchell.

By Jessica Symonds

Friends gathered at the Condo Hotel last Friday night for Holly Berryman’s farewell. Holly is going ‘Jillarooing’ in the Northern Territory this year.

Aaron Stockley and Stephanie Hirst enjoying Valentine’s Day at the Condobolin Motor Inn.

Stephen Bigg and Chloe Sealey enjoying Valentine’s Day and Stephen’s birthday at the Railway Hotel.

Once again Quota International of Condobolin is holding a High Tea to celebrate Quota Cares Month and we invite you to join us and enjoy momentary respite from the mayhem of life. High Tea at the Community Centre, 2:30pm – Saturday 10th March 2012, $10 per person. Net proceeds go to local charities. ‘A proper afternoon tea with dainty sandwiches, cakes and biscuits is a delightful way of spending a few happy hours with friends’.

Time to let your latent talents onto the stage – auditions are continuing for  the Lachlan Arts Council’s production of ‘Disco Inferno’ next Wednesday night between 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm at the Condobolin Community Centre.

Join in the fun of creating local theatre!

Cathy Nagle and Talitha Gardner

By Jessica Symonds

This week is Donate Life’s Organ Donor Week.

Donate Life is an Australian Government Initiative aimed at increasing awareness within families of an individual’s wishes in regard to organ donation.

Run by the NSW Central West Division of General Practice Ltd, Donate Life is running a competition which gives participants the chance to win a ‘Heart Warming’ luxury escape to beautiful Hayman Island amongst the Great Barrier Reef.

Many people don’t realise that selecting ‘Organ Donor’ on their license registration is not enough to donate organs. Even once they have registered to be an organ donor, through Medicare Australia, it is still up to the ‘next of kin’ to make the final decision about organ donation.

This is why it is important that you let your family and friends know your wishes in regards to organ donation.

To start this conversation, Donate Life has released free postcards (postage paid) that can be sent to friends and family. Attached to the postcard is an entry form for the Hayman Island Holiday competition.

To enter, visit the Condobolin Aboriginal Service, where there is information about donating life, and postcards, along with competition entry forms.

The competition runs from Sunday 19th February to Sunday 26th.

Sharmane Armstrong, Daryl Nairn, Brenda Haworth and Peter Kuhn

By Karen Tooth

The culmination draw of the $300 Condobolin Love is in the Air promotion between  three local businesses: Condobolin Swiss Watch Centre, Florist la Fleur and the Condobolin Motor Inn was won by Kim Taylor.

Winner of The Land’s Best Butcher competition, Daryl Nairn drew the winning ticket which includes a romantic dinner for two valued at $100 at the Condobolin Motor Inn, flowers and a gift voucher from Florist la Fleur (value $100) and $100 gift voucher from the Condobolin Swiss Watch Centre.

By Olivia McInnes

Fashions on the Field will once again give trackside fashionista’s the chance to strut their wares and showcase their unique summer racing style at the 2012 Condobolin Picnic Races.

Judging this year’s competition will be two amply qualified fashion gurus; TV Presenter and former Miss Australia 2007 Caroline Pemberton and Style Magazine’s Fashion Editor, Cherie Quade.

Caroline Pemberton is an Australian Model who was crowned Miss Australia in 2007. She is also the sister and public relations manager of the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest and the Seven Summits, Rex Pemberton.

Caroline is a talented, professional TV Presenter with a broad range of different skills, from lifestyle to news, to direct response, TVCs and online marketing.

She has made numerous appearances on the TV travel show ‘Getaway’ as a guest presenter.

“I am really looking forward to coming to Condobolin and staying the weekend – I’ll be filming at West Wyalong on Friday and then attending the races on Saturday.

“Judging on Saturday I will be looking for how the whole outfit is pulled together from head to toe, and of course the right head wear.

“I’ll also be looking for something a bit unique and for some personal effort in peoples outfits,”.

Cherie Quade has a connection to Condobolin; “Having been brought up on a farm near Fifield, Condobolin was always somewhere that we visited to do a ‘big shop’.

” Mum always loved the Faye Elizabeth store and I remember spending many days waiting patiently as she tried on, what seemed like, half the store,”.

“I am so excited to be joining the crowds at Condo for the picnics. It’s great to hear that the tents are back and I’m looking forward to catching up with friends on the day. I always love to observe the fashions, at any event, so I will be particularly keen to see the gorgeous summer dresses that the Condo ladies are wearing. Judging of fashions on the field can be a tough task, so let’s hope Caroline and I can it justice,”.

Cherie says the whole outfit is important and it’s not so much about everything matching perfectly.

“The days of having shoes, a handbag and hat of the same fabric, shade and tone are thankfully over. There is a lot to be said about an outfit that shows creativity and I especially love to see ladies wearing a dress from days gone by and teaming it with modern accessories. For men, a suit is a must and while the weather in the Central West may not be conducive to suits, this is a special occasion after all.

“Bright and bold coloured dresses are very on trend at the moment, with colour blocking continuing to be a look that will take us well into the Autumn racing season. It’s all about the dress, while current popular headwear is a larger version of the fascinator”.

By Olivia McInnes

Many were abhorred by the graphic and confronting footage shown on ABC’s Lateline recently showing unnecessary cruelty towards livestock prior to slaughter at Hawkesbury Valley Abattoir in North Sydney.

Filmed over six days undercover the footage shows pigs being dragged onto the sticking table and being belted repeatedly with an iron bar.

Slaughter practice laws stipulates that the pigs should be rendered unconscious with a stunner before their throats are cut, but the footage clearly shows that it has not been done properly in a number of incidences.

On one occasion a pig’s head was pummelled with the bar seven times and a minute later the same worker beats  another pig over the head 13 times.

The abattoir has since been closed and a full investigation into its slaughter practices are currently being conducted.

The authorities are labelling the abattoir as a ‘rogue operator’ while Animal Liberation’s Emma Hurst is calling for CCTV cameras to be installed inside all abattoirs to help prevent this kind of abuse.

She says a regulator should assess footage periodically to ensure animal abuse doesn’t happen.

“It’s absolutely hideous. Last year we saw footage from the live exports of cattle to Indonesia and some of the most horrific scenes that we saw in that footage was of cattle being slaughtered while fully conscious, and here in Australia at this abattoir we are seeing the same thing happen,” she said.

Daryl Nairn of Condo Quality Meats says as a retailer of meat products, he finds it disgusting that this sort of thing is going on.

“Apart from the cruelty, things like that also affect the end meat product as if an animal is stressed to that point just prior to killing, it’s going to reduce the quality of meat with increased toughness and bruising,” he said.

Local feedlot owner and beef producer Tony Slade, says that the feedlot industry has a very stringent code of practices and is highly regulated to avoid these kind of incidents.

“Livestock have to be treated humanely. I love my animals and am very surprised that anyone could treat them like that. I was disgusted in the four corners program last year about live cattle being exported to Indonesia.

Tony said that it is unfortunately the producer who bears the brunt of incidences like these, as they are the ones being penalised when an abattoir has to be shut down because of someone else’s wrong doing.

“We can’t have overregulation, but somehow we have to stamp these bad people out,” he said.

Compiled by Olivia McInnes

The Interstate Rail Network between Broken Hill and Parkes which travels through Condobolin is currently being rebuilt with Australian made concrete sleepers.

ARTC CEO John Fullerton explained the upgrade of the line to concrete sleepers will improve ride quality and increase the overall efficiency of the of the railway line.

“By replacing old timber sleepers with newly fabricated concrete sleepers the project will deliver long term benefits to our customers which is why we are pushing forward with our plans to upgrade the East West corridor and make rail even more competitive,” said Mr Fullerton.

“In the short term the delivery of this project is creating jobs and generating economic activity in communities along the 700 kilometres of track as well as in other major regional centres.

“The East West rail corridor is a vital piece of infrastructure connecting capital cities across our broad continent. It’s important that this rail link is maintained as a value adding asset in the transport logistics market, not only for the benefit of our national economy, but for the benefit of local communities spread along the line,” he said.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the progress that’s been made since the start of work back in January, with the entire $253 million project on track to be completed by the middle of next year.

“All up, just over a million (1,040,000) new concrete sleepers will be used on what is the most extensive upgrade of this 691 kilometre line since it was first opened in 1927,” said Mr Albanese.

“This is one of the biggest projects in the Gillard Labor Government’s $3.4 billion capital works program to rebuild over a third of the nation’s 10,000 kilometre interstate rail network, which is now more than halfway through,.

“Indeed, the modernisation of the nation’s rail freight infrastructure is central to our broader efforts to lift national productivity, curb harmful carbon emissions and take the pressure off our highways.”

Other improvements being undertaken as part of this multi-million dollar upgrade include new turnouts, safer level crossings, improved drainage, and upgraded bridges and culverts.

By Olivia McInnes

The Tulligibeal Central School are currently running in the top five schools to win the Muffin Break Great Bake Sale.

The Muffin Break Great Bake Sale competition gives one lucky school from each state the chance to win a $1000 muffin fundraiser package.

To win Muffin Break’s Great Bake Sale, students, parents, teachers or other school representatives were required to register their school on Muffin Break page on Facebook, where rallying the most number of votes for their school before the close of the voting period at 10.00am  on Tuesday 13 March 2012.

The  school that scores the most number of votes nationally will win a state-of-the-art You-Touch Interactive LCD Panel, valued at more than $7,500.

The winning school of each state will receive 1,000 freshly-baked, low-fat, healthy-option muffins from Muffin Break to sell at their school bake sale on a date of the their choosing.

Schools will get to price their muffins based on the in store retail price of $3.90,  and all profits raised on the day will go directly to the school.

Provided Tullibigeal locals continue to vote, Tullibigeal Central School is in with a good chance to win a prize.

So visit the Muffin Break Facebook page and vote for Tullibigeal Central School to help them win a prize.

By Jessica Symonds

Soon to celebrate their 107^th birthday, the Condobolin branch of Rotary remains an active and important group in the Condobolin community.

The ethos of Rotary International is service and in Condobolin they have been holding true to this philosophy. During the month of March, Rotary will be conducting Bowelscan, an initiative of the National Bowelscan Committee Incorporated.

According to Australian Rotary Health, bowel cancer is the most common internal cancer to affect men and women in western society. More than 9000 Australians will be diagnosed as having bowel cancer this year, and over 4500 sufferers will die of the disease.

Bowelscan kits are available in Condobolin at the Shortis and Timmins Pharmacy, for $10. Rotary advises that the Bowelscan test should be taken every year by anyone over the age of 40.

All the kits contain an information sheet which includes all necessary details. Those taking the test must be reminded that they are screening kits for hidden blood in the bowel motions and that these kits are not a test for cancer. They are advised to return their completed kits to the collection points as soon as possible after completing the test.

It is also important to remember that all documents inside the kit must be fully completed and signed appropriately, and must include date of birth.

Patients will be notified if a test is ‘positive’ or ‘negative’. If tested ‘positive’ a letter will also be sent to their nominated doctor, as a ‘positive’ result indicates that further consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Dr Andrew Gilmore, Consultant Surgeon, Orange will continue as the Medical Advisor for the Bowelscan screening program for 2012.

The Federal Government started its own Bowelscan program in 2007 with Bowelscan kits being issued to those people who are celebrating their 50^th, 55^th and 65^th birthdays. There is no need for these people to do the Rotary Bowelscan test.

Local cricketers marked the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Stumps Day last Saturday morning at the Cricket grounds. Pink Stumps Day raises money for the Foundation, helping it to place Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia, and raising awareness about breast cancer among younbg Australian women. Go to http://pinkstumpsday.gofundraise.com.au/page/GrantDavis982059 to donate now.

Father Gunn, Harry Crouch and Maddison Donnelly (O'Brien Sports Captains), Isabella Swadling and Charlie Webber (School Captains), Samantha Weber and Cyle Gray (Mercy Sports Captains), and Paula Leadbitter (Principal).

Contributed

The St. Joseph’s Primary School leader’s induction was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on the 13th of February.

The school and sports captains formally pledged their acceptance of the responsibility that comes with their leadership positions.