SOCIAL TRIATHLON

WINNERS OF THE JANUARY MEETING

Winners of the meeting held on Sunday January 31:

FIRST MALE: Scott Davies

FIRST FEMALE: Natalie Carrier

FASTEST SWIM (1km - pool): Daryn Apolony

FASTEST BIKE (20km): Scott Davies

FASTEST RUN: (8km): Scott Davies/Steve White

MEMBER OF THE MONTH: Mitchell Wilson

The next meeting will be held on Sunday February 28. Enter 1, 2 or all 3 legs. Meet at the Black Head pool at 6.45am ready for a 7.00am start. This is a social event. No entry fee. Enter at your own risk. Contact Peter Ryall on 6559-2780 for further details.

HALLIDAYS POINT LANDCARE GROUP

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

When? Tuesday 2 February 2010, 7.30pm

Where? Hallidays Point Library meeting room (at the back of the library in Black Head)

A special resolution to amend the constitution of HPLG will be put to the meeting.

Enquiries: Alan Pursch p 6559 3365; m 0413 482 505;  apursch@bigpond.net.au

ROCKY SHORES HOLIDAY ACTIVITY

A Rocky Shores Holiday activity was recently held at Black Head. Sponsoring groups were Hallidays Point Library Plus, Hallidays Point Tidy Towns, and Hallidays Point Landcare.

Keith Davey, National Parks Discovery Ranger, led 20 children and numerous adults along the beach at Black Head and onto the rocky platform behind the Black Head pool. Everyone had a great time searching for and finding interesting anilmals and plants. Participants all learned a lot about intertidal animals and plants and their importance to the marine environment. It is certainly a tough place to survive! They also learned that the biggest threat to marine animals is plastic bags and other things such as plastic cigarette lighters that look like food - rubbish can kill whales and turtles by lodging in their digestive system so they cannot take in food and they starve to death. Abandoned nets, fishing lines and hooks often lodge in the mouth or around the legs of sea birds when they dive for fish. Many pelicans and cormorants become entagled in fishing line and when examined are found to have multiple hooks lodged in different parts of the body. Recently a young whale was sighted moving north dragging three fishing buoys.

Keith delivered a few very important reminders for all of us to look after our beautiful coastal environment. Thanks Keith!

LANDCARE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN VISITS HALLIDAYS POINT

Meeting the National President: L. to R.: Brian Long, Jerry Ellis, Ann Ellis, Pam Semmler, Neville Semmler, Eleanor Long, Alana Parkins, Alan Pursch, Ann Ryall.

L. to R.: National Chairman Jerry Ellis, Hallidays Point coordinator Alan Pursch, Hallidays Point secretary Alana Parkins.

The National Chairman of Landcare Australia Ltd., Jerry Ellis from Melbourne and his wife Ann, paid a visit recently to Hallidays Point to learn about the initiatives being undertaken by the local Landcare Group, and to share information about the latest developments nationally.

Landcare Australia Ltd. is a $10 million company, and with 60,000 members across nearly 2,000 Groups is Australia’s largest volunteer organisation. It was formed 20 years ago as joint initiative between the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Farmers’ Federation. Major corporations fund Landcare projects, while the Australian Government funds administration costs. In taking a leading role in caring for the land, it promotes itself as a sustainability group as opposed to an environmental group.

Hallidays Point Landcare Group has been around for over 10 years. It is a friendly and diverse group of locals (currently numbering 31), with a common interest in our beautiful natural environment, especially the unique rainforest reserves on our coast. All Landcare members are insured when working on Landcare projects. Working bees are held on a regular basis at Black Head, Red Head and Diamond Beach.

If you want to learn more about our local rainforests and contribute to a worthwhile community activity, phone the coordinator Alan Pursch on 6559 3365

HEAD-TO-HEAD OCEAN SWIM

Swimmers enter the surf.

Noeline Young from Black Head: winner of the women's 50-59 age group.

Fourteen year old rising swim star Kurtis Kavanagh from San Remo on the NSW Central Coast has taken out the Black Head Surf Club’s inaugural Head-to-Head Ocean Swim held on Sunday January 3.

In a time of 18 minutes and 53 seconds, young Kuris led home the 141 swimmers in the main 1.5km swim. Second home was Forster’s Jake Loring, with Craig Boettcher from Newcastle coming third.

The first three women home were Zoe Dowsett, Alicia Ieroianni and Ginaya Henare.

The shorter 700 metre swim attracted 80 entries, with the winner again being Kurtis Kavanagh. He was followed by Adam Holborrow and Sydney’s Jon Hawton. Women’s winner was Ginaya Henare, with Hallidays Point’s Emily Nash finishing second and Tracey Zammit from Curumbin Waters finishing third.

Race co-ordinator Vicki Smyth was thrilled with the success of this inaugural event. The 210 entries exceeded all expectations. All funds raised from the day will go towards the purchase of new equipment for the Surf Club.

It is likely that this will become an annual event, and with even more swimmers coming from around the state, a significantly greater number of registrations is expected for next year’s event.

LANDCARE CHRISTMAS PARTY

         An afternoon of Irish music was the theme for this year’s Hallidays Point Landcare/Tidy Towns Christmas party held at Black Head Surf Club.

Landcare is always looking for volunteers to help maintain our littoral rainforests at Black Head, Red Head, and Diamond Beach. Regular working bees are held, and the end results can been seen in the well preserved reserves and picturesque walking tracks.

Contact the co-ordinator Alan Pursch on 6559 3365 if you would like to lend a hand.

HALLIDAYS POINT SOCIAL TRIATHLON GROUP

                   CARRIER DOMINATES WOMEN’S DIVISION

Natalie Carrier has confirmed her position as the Group’s leading female triathlete, winning the December meeting for the third consecutive month. Her splits of 23:41 (swim), 56:35 (bike) and 26:12 (run), gave her an overall time of 1:46:09.

First home was Scott Davies (pictured with Natalie) in a time of 1:45:38.

Best swim was Trevor Bennett (19:54), with Davies the fastest bike (55:08), and Carrier the best run (26:12).

The next meeting will be on Sunday January 31. Meet at the Black Head pool at 6.45am ready for a 7am start. As this is a social event, there is no entry fee, you can enter one, two, or all three legs, and you enter at your own risk.

Contact the co-ordinator Peter Ryall on 6559-2780 for further details.

F.A.W.N.A. (NSW)

SEA BIRD RESCUE TRAINING

F.A.W.N.A. (NSW) - for Australian Wildlife Needing Assistance is holding a Sea Bird Rescue Training Session.

Where: Black Head Surf Club

When: Friday 8th January 2010

Meet for lunch at 12.00. Training starts 12.30, ends 2.30.

Cost: Free

Call Alana on 6559 2979 to book a place.

HALLIDAYS POINT SOCIAL TRIATHLON GROUP

CROOKSTON AND CARRIER CARRY THE DAY

Jim Crookston and Natalie Carrier ( pictured below with their winners’ T-shirts and caps) have won the mens and womens events at the November meeting of the Hallidays Point Social Triathlon Group.

Jim’s splits of 19:06 (1km ocean swim), 54:36 (20km bike), and 42:11 (8km nature reserve and beach run) gave him an overall time of 1:55:53. Natalie won the women’s division with an overall time of 1:57:57.

Scott Davies won the Special Award with the fastest run leg of 40:08.

The next meeting will be held on Sunday December 20. Meet at the Blackhead pool ready for a 6.30am start. Enter all three legs, or just one or two. All ages and levels of ability are welcome. As this is a social event, there is no entry fee, and particiants enter at their own risk. This meeting will conclude with the Christmas party brunch at Mike Browne’s house at Tallwoods. All enquiries to the co-ordinator Peter Ryall on 6559-2780 or ryalls@bigpond.net.au

LANDCARE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Hallidays Point Landcare Christmas Party.

When?  Sunday December 20 commencing at 2pm.

Where?  Blackhead Surf Club.

Who’s Invited? Landcare members, their families, friends, and anyone interested in finding out more about Landcare.

What to Bring?  A plate to share.

Refreshments?  The Surf Club bar will be open.

Entertainment?  An Irish music session has been organised. Bring an instrument and join in!

RSVP?  Not necessary. Just turn up!

Enquiries?  Alanna Parkins 6559-2979.