Media cuttings mentioning Brinds 2005

Anger at 'massive' rise in car park fees

Surrey Advertiser online 25/02/2005

MORE than 600 people have so far signed a petition protesting at what they claim is a massive rise in charges at Cranleigh's Stocklund Square car park.

Traders at that end of the village who suffered during last year's redevelopment of the square are furious at the increases, which they say is costing them trade.

Once Sainsbury's opened more people started using the public car park and business began picking up, they say.

However, Waverley Borough Council's decision to raise charges from the start of this month by up to 133%, bringing them into line with those at the Village Way car park, has had a dramatic effect.

Simon Brind, who runs The Loft Health & Fitness Club, said: "There has been a drop in the number of people coming into Cranleigh."

One of the reasons for allowing the Sainsbury's development to go ahead was to increase the number of people shopping in the village, but he said the new charges were having the opposite effect.

The charge used to be 30p for two hours, but it is now 40p for 45 minutes or 70p for two hours. He said his women-only club had lost 44 members during last year's building work, but things were picking up until the introduction of the new charges quickly put a stop to that.

The increase also means there is now no long-term parking provision in Cranleigh, a situation the organisers of the petition believes is contrary to the terms of Waverley's lease of the car park.

Richard Graham who runs One Forty, formerly the John Graham store, added his voice to the chorus of disapproval. He said: "I think that such a swingeing increase was unnecessary and does reek a little bit of opportunism. It is not good for business. I really hope they have a re-think.

"They were happy to take our business rates through all the changes and difficulties last year and just as we were beginning to have an easier time of it, this happens."

He added that people who were using the car park were now only paying for 45 minutes and not lingering in the village.

The hike in charges has also upset people who work in Cranleigh – one part-time worker who travels from outside the village says the increase makes her job barely viable. Petition forms are still available in a number of shops, including Sainsbury's, and the organisers aim to present it at a future council meeting.

The council, meanwhile, has issued a statement by finance director, Paul Wenham, explaining that the old charges were intended to try and alleviate the problems with on-street parking.

He stated: "Since the opening of the new supermarket, use of Stocklund Square has increased dramatically and the existing pricing structure is no longer appropriate.

"If shoppers have difficulty finding a space in the nearest car park, this is likely to lead to even more on-street parking problems, whether legal or otherwise.

"The car park manager and I both consider that the new charges are the most appropriate way to respond to the current parking situation, but we will monitor the situation and bring forward any future proposals as may be necessary, he added. "

Two die in road crashes

The county's roads claimed more lives this week as two men were killed in horrific accidents on Wednesday.

Graham Whitfield, of Top Road, Rattlesden, died when his car crashed head-on with a lorry as he drove the wrong way along the A14.

Another man, Neville John Brind, 63, of Thetford, then died when his motorcycle was in collision with an HGV on the A134 between Ingham and Barnham.

Yesterday, tribute was paid to 50-year-old Mr Whitfield, who was described as a 'great friend and neighbour'.

"He was a great friend, a friend of the community," said David Piper, pastor at Rattlesden Baptist Church, where Mr Whitfield was a member.

"He was a good neighbour, a man who got on with everyone he met and he will be missed by all those people who he dealt with.

"It was a tremendous shock to us all when we heard the news and he will be greatly missed. It's just very, very sad."

Police are still investigating what might have caused Mr Whitfield to drive down the wrong side of the A14 during rush-hour. Shortly before, his car had been involved in an accident in Rattlesden.

His green Mondeo was involved in a collision with an on-coming lorry, bringing the A14's eastbound carriageway near Elmswell to a standstill at 9.20am.

The road was blocked for five hours as crash investigation teams assessed the scene.

Motorists on the A134 towards Thetford faced similar delays when police dealt with their second fatal accident of the day near Barnham.

Motorcyclist Mr Brind, of Elm Road, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened at around 12.20pm, closing the road.

* A male driver escaped serious injury when his lorry overturned at the bridge in Orttewell Road, Bury, shortly after 11am.

Anyone with information on the accidents is asked to contact the traffic unit at Bury Police Station on 01284 774100.

4 February 2005 Buryfreepress, http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk

Music review: Peter Karrie and Friends Riverside Theatre

21 February 2005

Singer Peter Karrie and friends brought a taste of the West End to Coleraine on Saturday night when they took to the stage at the Riverside Theatre for an evening of song.

Peter, who is best known for playing Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical The Phantom of the Opera was accompanied by Jill Washington, who played Christine to his Phantom, Jimmy Johnston, who has starred in several West End shows including The Wizard of Oz and Oklahoma, and newcomer Sarah Earnshaw.

The stars performed showstopping hit after hit from such popular West End musicals as Evita, Cats, The Wizard of Oz, Chess, Les Miserables and, of course, The Phantom of the Opera.

Add to the mixture a sprinkling of anecdotes from behind the scenes and the company had a recipe for success.

Also featuring were two local singers who had won the auditions to be part of the show. Aoife Miskelly, from Belfast, gave an assured and delightful rendition of Memory from Cats, as did local lad Edwin Brown, from Liscolman, who sang the ballad You Lift Me Up in the second half.

Both received huge cheers from the audience.

Undoubtedly the selection from Phantom stood out not just for the powerful and dramatic renditions of the songs by two stars in roles which they have made their own but the Les Miserables numbers and Jimmy Johnston as the scarecrow singing If I only had a brain were also a real treat.

Musical director for the evening and also on keyboards was Matt Brind, who is musical director on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

He led the four-piece band with effortless style and even got a cheer when he sang during some of the songs.

It wasn't a seamless show as there was a little confusion over microphones and there was some off-stage noise which was a slight distraction but nonetheless the company gave a fun, enjoyable and relaxed performance throughout.

Music review: Peter Karrie and Friends

Belfast Telegraph - UK ... treat. Musical director for the evening and also on keyboards was Matt Brind, who is musical director on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. ...

© 2005 Independent News and Media (NI) a division of Independent News & media (UK) Ltd

Belfast Telegraph

Students step into the dance groove

PUPILS at St Elizabeth's Primary School got in the groove when a dance group came to work with them for the afternoon.

Ludus dance group, based in Lancaster, visited the school as part of a week long residency and outreach workshop for primary schools in the area. This was sponsored by St Benedict's school.

Four classes of children aged eight and upwards took part. They worked in groups to experiment with movement and improving their confidence.

They also worked on the theme of genes and how they move, change and evolve.

Steve Brind, deputy head teacher of the school said: "The children all really enjoyed themselves and were full of excitement after participating in the workshop."

The dance group then presented a performance of their work at the Robert Ludlum Theatre on February 25.

01 March 2005

http://www.belpertoday.co.uk/

Belper Today.co.uk March 1, 2005.

'Even Amitabh was not invited'

Vijay Singh in Mumbai | April 13, 2005 00:30 IST
Last Updated: April 13, 2005 10:21 IST

They likened their relationship with Prince Charles to the one between Lord Krishna and his friend Sudama.

As soon as news of the Prince's wedding reached them, Mumbai's dabbawallas sent him giftsª-- Turban for Charles and a sari for Camilla Parker Bowles, the bride.

Touched by the gesture, Charles invited them to the royal wedding.

Two representatives, Raghunath Medge and Sopan More, are back in Mumbai after attending the wedding at St George Chapel, Windsor Castle, on April 9.

Medge, the president of the Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity trust, shares his experience with rediff.com.

"We reached the Heathrow Airport, London at 2.30ªpm on April 8. Ranjit Phillipose, manager of Crown Plaza hotel, came to receive us at airport. They gave us a royal treatment. From the airport they took us to hotel. Ranjit told us that Ratan Tata had called him up, and instructed to arrange everything for us.

They then took us for shopping in a famous store of England where I purchased a suit for myself. My friend Sopan bought a traditional Indian dress for himself.

The next day, Oliver Brind, head of development, The Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation, took us to the marriage venue from the hotel.

Many rich people were there. All the men were wearing suit and the ladies were wearing hats. We saw a lady in a Sari. She also noticed our dress and recognised that we were Indians. Turban for Charles, Sari for Camilla

She came up to us, and introduced herself. She was the Maharani of Jaipur, Padmini Devi.

Only three Indians were attended the wedding, the Maharani and us.

Padmini Devi took us to the prince, and introduced us to the royal family. She also played the interpreter. We were introduced to Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William, Prince Harry and also Bowles' children.

We spent 10 minutes with the royal family.

The Queen acknowledged and admired our gifts, which we had sent in advance. She thanked all the dabbawallas in Mumbai.

It was our third meeting with prince, he was very happy. Photography was not allowed at the function.

Our hotel was close to the palace. Brind also took us to Windsor Castle, were we saw an amazing collection of historical weapons.

The palace was very big and nobody was allowed access to all parts of palace for security reasons. We visited the place where the prince stays, with the help of Brind.

There was a church inside the palace. After the wedding, the prince and Camilla went to the church. Off to the Royal Wedding

It was an unforgettable movement.

The next day, we visitedªa place where the majority ofªresidents are Indians. They were very happy to see us; some of them even took us to their homes and gave us Indian food.

They said though they had lived in the UK for many years, they had never seen the queen.

Only selected people attended the wedding. On the day of the wedding, Amitabh Bachchan was in Engand, but even he was not invited.

We feel very proud to have attended the wedding."

(Raghunath Medge spoke to Senior Correspondent Vijay Singh in Mumbai)
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/apr/12dabba.htm (from Rediff.com), April 13, 2005

By Seth Mydans International Herald Tribune

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2005

Every morning as the sky brightens over the Andaman Sea, workers here set out perfect lines of white plastic lounge chairs along the soft sand, punctuated by furled umbrellas ready to be opened as the sun begins to burn. Vendors arrive with their ice-cold water, coconuts and soft drinks. Masseuses spread their straw mats under the palm trees. Jet Ski operators gather by their polished machines.

The peanut sellers, the manicurists, the boy with his book of temporary tattoos and the man who balances a basket of fruit on his head all take their usual places along the beach. And then, to the soft caress of the surf, they wait.

As the day grows hot enough for mad dogs and Western beachgoers, a few vacationers arrive, taking their places here and there along the empty rows of lounge chairs and unopened umbrellas.

Nearly four months after giant waves swept more than 5,300 people to their deaths along the country's southern coast, the island of Phuket - the crown jewel of Thailand's beach resorts - has patched and pasted itself together. An aftershock on March 28 caused a brief scare among those who felt it, but hotels, restaurants, businesses and cruise operators say it has had virtually no long-term impact on bookings and arrivals.

Nevertheless, seismologists say the fault line that caused the original earthquake is still active and it is impossible to predict whether and when further shocks might follow or whether they might cause tsunami waves.

Along the main shopping streets, a few workers still hammer and drill, and some vendors hang their wares in front of damaged shops. But Phuket today is almost as good as new.

"It's 99 percent operational now," Simon Hand, a Phuket resident who is associate editor of Asia-Pacific Tropical Homes magazine, said in late March. "At its worst, it was 90 percent operational. Patong Beach is the main tourist trap, and the wave hit everything along the shorefront road. But 150 yards farther up, even the next day, you wouldn't have known anything happened."

All that is missing now, people on Phuket say, is the tourists.

Hotels that had been booked to capacity for January were able to fill just 7 to 10 percent of their rooms, Suwalai Pinpradub, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Phuket, said in a telephone interview. Before the tsunami, she said, about 300,000 tourists visited Phuket each month.

International arrivals at the Phuket airport fell to 13,042 in January from 111,609 in January 2004, immigration figures show. The numbers rose in February, to 37,813, still far below the 114,903 in 2004.

The tsunami destroyed about 40 percent of the 53,000 hotel rooms in six southern provinces, according to the Tourism Authority. The authority cut its forecast for visitors to Thailand this year to 12 million from 13.5 million, a major blow considering that tourism produces about 6 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Like Bali in Indonesia, Phuket is a tropical island that once relied on farming and fishing but now has one main industry - tourism. And like Bali after the devastating terrorist bombing in October 2002, Phuket has discovered how fragile an economy tourism can be. But it is a self-renewing one, with an endless potential supply of visitors.

The number of international arrivals has begun to rebound, reaching 33,855 in the first three weeks of March even as the peak season began to wane. For all of March 2004, there were 82,028 international arrivals. Hotel occupancy in Phuket has grown to about 40 percent, at a time when occupancy is usually 70 to 80 percent.

For some people, this is the time to visit. The beaches and the water are cleaner than they have been in years and the beach road in Patong is no longer one unending traffic jam.

"It's better," Enzo Sare said as he relaxed on the beach. A retired army captain on his eighth visit from Italy with his family, he added: "Yes, I am an egoist. Less traffic, fewer people; very nice. Of course, it's a disaster for the people working on the beach."

Misconceptions are keeping visitors away now, both local people and visitors say. They blame television reports that show the utter devastation of places like Aceh in Indonesia while giving voice reports about Phuket.

"People say: 'How can you go to Thailand? It's dangerous,"' said Louis Bronner, general manager of Mom Tri's Boathouse hotel. "Weeks after the tsunami they still think there are bodies floating, fish contaminated, don't drink the water, you can get cholera, typhoid, crazy things like this."

Even in Bangkok, about 800 kilometers, or 500 miles, to the north, hotel Web sites carry tsunami updates that state what should be obvious: "The Bangkok region has not been affected."

Indeed, most of Phuket was far less devastated than the newly opened coastal resorts of Khao Lak about 65 kilometers to the north, where the Tourism Authority says 80 percent of the structures were destroyed. Almost none of them are operating now. Huge resort complexes, some of them still under construction when the waves hit, are vast dirt lots, their buildings in ruins, many of their workers and guests swept out to sea.

In Phuket, though, as construction crews continue their work, most hotels are open, or are soon to reopen. Restaurants and bars have been cleaned and remodeled. Tour operators sit ready beside signboards showing beaches and islands that are, for the moment, as pristine and secluded as their photographs.

Shops are restocked; entrepreneurs have produced commemorative T-shirts, like one that offers a reminder of the shocks tourism has survived there in recent years: "Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand," reads the T-shirt, which comes in orange, red, black, white or purple. "2001 Bomb Alert, 2002 SARS, 2003 Bird Flu, 2004 Tsunami. What's Next?"

When the tsunami struck Thailand's Andaman coastline on Dec. 26, the tourist season was at its peak and hotels were full. Then came what some people call the second tsunami - the devastation of the livelihoods of the people who live here.

"No tourists, no work, no money, big problem," said a guide, Jakrin Samakkee.

Not Arunsi Kongon, a masseuse, nor Akani Jigaksorn, a tattoo tout, nor Chari Promden, who ushers people to beach chairs, had had a customer during one recent week. Curbsides were lined with motorcycles for rent. The bright red minivan taxis that once choked the beachfront road were parked and idle.

As occupancy has dropped, some hotels are giving their employees only three weeks' pay for a month's work. Others have sent their workers out to troll the beaches with fliers offering deep cuts in rates.

The harsh truth, though, is that even in the best of scenarios, they will not start earning real money until the next peak season, more than six months from now.

The hardships of the Thai people seemed to be on the minds of visitors who sat in the lounge chairs along the beach. "That's the reason we came now," said Gordon Brind, 51, who was there in late March on vacation with his family from Britain. "We were here last year and we decided to come again after the tsunami."

The medieval code of chivalry makes sense when seen through 14th-century eyes. Jan Mark gazes at Christopher Russell's Brind and the Dogs of War

Brind and the Dogs of War by Christopher Russell 208pp, Puffin, £4.99

One of the minor characters in T H White's The Sword in the Stone is the Dog Boy, who lived with Sir Ector's hounds and owed his provenance to "the Duke of York who was killed at Agincourt and described such a boy in his Master of Game". Of the same distinguished pedigree comes Brind, who, found abandoned as a baby among a litter of puppies, has grown up to be the kennel boy on Sir Edmund Dowe's estate.

He has a little speech, is by no means stupid and, as Russell points out, those who believe that he thinks like a dog are mistaken, though he is guided more by instinct than intellect. His natural affinity is with the hounds, Sir Edmund's pack of mastiffs, 40 couple, and when the knight is summoned to the Battle of Crécy Brind goes too, the most valuable member of his retinue.

By no means can the run-down estate furnish the 20 men-at-arms that it is Sir Edmund's feudal duty to take with him, but his kennels are the finest in the country. As he sinks into middle-aged decrepitude along with his manor, his most martial attribute is his naming of the dogs after weapons (Glaive, Trebuchet), but he sets out with his huntsman, his carter, his weedy nephew as page and 40 dogs of war, with Brind to minister to them.

If the campaign is to be a long one, he reasons, there is sure to be time for hunting and the dogs, in their spiked collars, will be a fearsome asset to the party. Brind imagines war to be some kind of protracted hunt, since the dogs are going. No one is prepared for the reality, and after the carnage of the very first encounter Sir Edmund is taken prisoner and Glaive, the pack leader and its sole survivor, has fled wounded. Brind goes after him to find his friend and return him to their master. He is assumed to be fleeing the battle, but he is doing the only duty he knows.

Russell writes with humour, grace and an economy that gives him room to draw fully rounded characters who bring this tale of medieval campaigning vividly to life: Aurélie, the refugee girl from besieged Calais with her survivor's streak of ruthlessness, Sir Richard Baret, the opportunist aristocrat, Tullo, the brutal huntsman, Brind himself and Sir Edmund, whose growing friendship with the lonely French knight who is holding him to ransom is touchingly reminiscent of White's own Sir Grummore and King Pellinore.

The incomprehensible - to us - code of chivalry is quite rational seen through 14th-century eyes. Sir Lucien would have let Sir Edmund go free but feared to insult him. Instead he entertains him as an honoured guest and, learning that the Dowe estate cannot ransom him financially, settles for the 40 mastiff bitches instead, to breed with his own hounds - by which time the plot has taken a sinister turn as Tullo, having survived the battle, sets out to murder his way to power.

Tullo has divorced himself from the codes that govern society; Sir Richard has a tenuous grasp on the concept of honour. It is Brind, apparently at the very bottom of the heap, who best understands the way things work, since the book leaves the inescapable impression that the feudal system was organised along the lines of a gigantic dog pack. Loyalty binds him.

Original, humane and hugely satisfying both fictionally and historically, Russell's first novel will be followed next year by Brind: Plague Bringer . After Crécy, can the Black Death be far behind?

Jan Mark's novel Useful Idiots is published by Red Fox.

The Guardian Saturday April 23, 2005

Slow and steady - land demand continues

Journalist: Fiona Rait

The drive to find the perfect place in the sun has quietened a little but Yorke Peninsula remains high on the list for those considering a sea-change.

Over the last few years, the peninsula has been undergoing a major real estate boom and while, with the approach of winter, the real estate industry is moving to a slower pace, predictions are that, come the warmer weather, and once more new homes start appearing, another wave of buyers will be drawn to the peninsula in search of available land.

In the Copper Coast region, the coastal towns of Moonta and Wallaroo have already expanded in leaps and bounds, driven by multiple land developments which have closed the gap between Moonta Bay and Port Hughes, and pushed the town boundaries at Wallaroo outwards.

Kadina, too, has been growing at a steady pace, with five or six significant land divisions underway.

Steady as we go

A demand for builders and tradespeople is appearing to slow the land rush within the Copper Coast area.

More industry development and the infrastructure to drive the growth of the area is important, says Warmington Bros First National's Brenton Brind.

"Some potential buyers will be encouraged when they see more building taking place, but we also need to invest in industrial development and further infrastructure (water and power) for growth to continue."

Development has not been confined to the coastal towns and, in Kadina, the mood is positive.

Just some of the developments underway include, "Lasopail", a 33 block development off Bute Road, 60% sold; nearly 60% of the Long Plains Development (22 allotments) off Drain Road has sold, and a 20 block subdivision is going ahead on South Terrace. Stage 1 of Patrick's Place (72 blocks), is 34% sold, with predictions of more sales as building gets underway.

At Wallaroo, a location looked on favourably by investors, about 45% of stage one of North Shores has sold, with stage two just released.

Moonta Bay and Port Hughes have also had their share of the action with two of the biggest land packages, Patrick's View (85 allotments - nearly all sold) and Patrick's Cove (only about 40% of 72 allotments remain available).

With further developments for the Copper Coast already in the pipeline, the entire region looks set to continue to experience unprecedented growth for some time to come.

http://kadina.yp-connect.net: Email address for Brenton is warmbros@yp-connect.net
Your Yorke Peninsula News - Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Jason joins country side

Jason Hopkins of Forbes is among 18 Central West Junior Rugby Union players to gain selection in the New South Wales Country under-14 and under-15 squads after a regional carnival in Dubbo on the weekend.

Hopkins, who played for Central West under-15s in Sunday's grand final against the Hunter region, is a Forbes High School year nine student and a member of the Forbes Platypi under-15s.

Hopkins was selected in the Central West under-15s after trials held in Wellington and after being selected in a Central West Junior Rugby Union academy team over summer.

This is his first selection for Country but he was a part of the Central West under-15s last year after missing the selection date for the under-14s.

A year younger than his teammates and opponents last year, Hopkins played on the wing but this season he was named at his customary number eight position.

Hopkins said the Country 15s should be competitive after the hard fought NSW Country Championships final where Hunter region grabbed a late try to win 20-14.

"At the country championships our Central West team got in the grand final and just got robbed of the win in the last minute," he said.

Hopkins said he was pleased with his performance in the Country Championships, scoring a try and kicking two conversions in the grand final.

Ten Central West players were named in the Country 15s while the under 14 Blue Bulls broke a seven year drought in claiming the country title with a 14-12 win over Central North.

Eight under-14 players were named in the country team.

The Country teams travel to a training camp in the next fortnight while the NSW Championships are held in four weeks.

Later this year the under 15s tour Fiji.

Country reps, under-14s: Josh Bayliss (Mudgee), Oliver Kinscher, Jack Seymour (Dubbo Roos), Chris Tremain, Troy Chown (Wellington), James Read, Andrew Brind (Orange Emus), Tom Lewsley (Mudgee).

Country 15s: James Dodd, Tim Long, Damien Tegart, Ryan Marlin (Dubbo Roos), Andrew Gorrie (Dubbo Rhinos), Troy Harmer, Scott Udy (Orange Emus), Jason Hopkins (Forbes), Russell Spicer (Wellington), Matt Neil (Mudgee).

After the 14s final, Central West coach Eric Wilson (Dubbo Roos) paid tribute to the dedication of the boys to their representative football.

"At the start of the rep season we had seven clubs represented in the squad, today we finished with six but the success was all about team building," Wilson said.

"There were two coaches and two managers to the side and the boys were never any trouble on or off the field and are a credit to themselves, their parents and their clubs.

"What we also did this week was prove to the other Country regions that we are now on the same level and I think we can go forward from here on."

* * *

Under-14s final:

Central West 14 (Brandon Douglas (Molong), James Read (Emus) tries, Tom Lewsley (Mudgee) 2 conversions) def Central North 12 (Simon Haron, George McMullen tries, Ben Campbell conversion).

Under-15s final:

Hunter 20 (Tom Atkinson, Leroy Tapper, Chris Edwards tries, Harry Bennett 1 conversion 1 penalty goal) def Central West 14 (Tom Sheridan (Roos), Jason Hopkins (Forbes) tries, Hopkins 2 conversions).

From http://forbes.yourguide.com.au/ The Forbes AdvocateThursday, 12 May 2005

Orange clubs in good hands
By MICHELLE COOK
Thursday, 12 May 2005
RUGBY UNION
IF there was any question about Orange's strength in junior rugby it was answered over the last two weekends.
Between them, Orange City and Orange Emus have 10 players in NSW Country squads ranging from under 14s to 19s.
For Emus, No. 8 James Read and centre Andrew Brind are in the under 14 squad, flanker Troy Harmer and second rower Scott Udy are in the under 15s and five-eighth Brock McGarity, hooker Tom Goolagong and front rower Luke Turner are in the under 16s.
They are joined by Orange City half Dom Longhurst and flanker Zac Johnson who are part of the 40-man under 16 squad.
City also has No. 8 Todd Morrissey in the under 19 squad.
The Lions' NSW Country representation is their biggest ever at junior level.
Central West Juniors president Phil McGarity said the strength of the zone was illustrated by nine players being selected in the NSW Country under 14s, 11 in the under 15s, seven in the under 16s and two in the under 17s.
Things heat up for the under 16s with their final selection trials this weekend in Sydney where the 40-player squad will be cut to 23.
McGarity and Goolagong were part of the NSW Country squad last year but it is the first time for Turner, Longhurst and Johnson.
The under 16s will train on Saturday and then play against each other on Sunday before the final squad is announced.
From www.orange.yourguide.com.au

Focus on Festival

At 11 years of age Henry's head has reached another milestone in his role in adding another dimension to the Henry Lawson Festival of Arts and to tourists interest in Grenfell.

He has been fibre-glassed and repainted ready to last, we hope, for many more years.

To go back to the beginning in 1993 it was realised that more was needed to keep interest in the HLF of A parade and I suggested that a bust of Henry Lawson, about 2 metres high, be constructed to lead the procession.

As Bob Friend - a local artist - had made a guinea pig to advertise the Guinea Pig races it was decided that he would be approached to take on the project.

He agreed.

Approximately 5 weeks before the festival a working bee was held at the Grenfell Community Arts Council Rooms to make objects for the parade.

I was working away when my attention was drawn to a 3 metre high construction on the back of a utility coming through the back gate.

It was a length of steel bent back to front to form a profile and two more pieces from side to side to form the width, mounted on a stand.

Imagine my consternation when Bob told me that is as far as he will go.

I looked at this monster shape in front of me and wondered 'What do I do now?'

I read all I could on paper mache construction and started to plan how to tackle this challenge.

Weight could be the only problem as it had to be light enough to be easily moved.

Something long, flexible and light was needed to build the basic shape.

Bamboo seemed to be the best option and would cost nothing as Roma Sinclair had a stand in her front garden and readily gave us all we needed.

With this beginning, my volunteer workers came forward. As usual my husband Jack Brind, then Ian Pitt, Pam Fletcher and Linda Fitzgerald.

We set up our building site in the office building next to the silos, just enough room to work.

The bamboo worked and we had a shape, interwoven with bamboo and wire to hold the tension.

Out to the local tip we went to find as much chicken wire as we could.

Whilst there I discovered an old foam lounge someone had discarded. Could the shape of the nose, ears and chin etc. be formed from the foam?

We collected the lot, scrounged more wire and set to work again.

The silo was busy trucking out wheat and we became the entertainment for the truck drivers who called in each trip to check our progress and give their advice.

With the form now covered with wire the next step was to cut the shapes for the nose and ears etc. from the foam with my electric knife and attach them in what I hoped was the correct positions.

The moustache was a problem so to save weight we decided to just let it fall over his mouth.

With newspaper and wallpaper glue we covered the wire and foam with layer after layer - and it worked.

The next problem was to work out how to sculpt something to resemble Henry Lawson because to keep adding layers of paper would make it too heavy.

While we were having lunch one day - yes we did eat - Jack knocked a couple of plastic bags from the bench and as they fell air filled the bags.

Idea!

What if I knotted the bag, would it hold air long enough to be put in place and covered with paper?

Yes, it worked. We collected bags from everywhere with shops donating also.

In all we used hundreds, (how's that for recycling). The eyes, nose and hollows in his features became so easy to do without adding extra weight, just air.

Now it started to look like Henry and with approval from our truck driver "supervisors" is was full speed ahead.

Next began the painting with less than a week to go to the Festival Parade.

A utility had to be found on which to load our masterpiece, hessian had to be cut and sewn to represent his jacket, with a cravat to disguise the utility (loaned by Ronnie Bourke) and ice cream bucked buttons to keep it all together.

Police permission had to be obtained to cross the highway and move him up the main street.

Friday, and the problem of moving the head out of the shed with very little room for maneuvering but with much manpower to assist the task was achieved.

Onto the ute, and yes, he was light enough to lift without the aid of a crane.

With about 30 centimetres to spare under to un-loading bay at the silo questions came up as to whether it would be able to fit under the lights and wires in Main Street.

I was confident but we had to be sure so very early in the morning Jack, with a 5 metre length of bamboo walked the street to check.

He touched some but we were sure the head would slide underneath.

Max Oliver allowed us to leave 'him' in his yard in George street overnight so we wouldn't have far to travel on Sunday.

We moved across the highway and up to Olivers' with no problems. As we came up George Street Max's 4 year old grandson, John Vane, went rushing to Max with great apprehension and excitement calling, "Grandpa, Grandpa come quick there's a giant coming up the street."

So to Saturday and Henry trundled from Max's yard to quite a few exclamations from the bandsmen as he passed on his way to lead the parade.

It was so satisfying that our little group took on the challenge and were successful. In 1995 Henry led the parade again but in 1996 we couldn't find a vehicle for him to ride on so he was positioned in the round-about; there to watch the passing parade.

In 2001 Henry was becoming a bit battered after being attacked during the mouse plague when the mice started to eat him from the inside out (a change from a wheat diet).

So the year 9 art class, led by Mrs. Gibson at the Henry Lawson High School, did some restoration and in 2004 David and Kathleen McCue with Helen Masman did some further restoration and painting.

David made 4 handles that fitted onto the existing stand to make it easier to handle.

For a number of years it was suggested the Henry's Head by fibre-glassed to make him more durable.

This year 2005, with Bill Atchison's guidance, Sandra Hughes and I with some help form Ray Cawthorne at last were able to fibre-glass him.

Sandra and I then repainted him and sealed him with another coat of resin.

The original cost of the head was approximately $500 and this update about $700, an investment in the future.

We hope that he will be present at many more celebrations of the Henry Lawson Festival Of Arts.

Friday, 20 May 2005

http://grenfell.yourguide.com.au

Dean Meyer, of Chilliwack, misses on his first put at the ninth hole, after a long drive put him within 10 feet of the pin.

By Barry Stewart

Question: What do you get when you put a curler with two basketball players, a freestyle skier and a hockey player? Answer: the best AA high school golfing team in the Fraser Valley.

They may have an odd assortment of sporting interests, but the young men have all taken advantage of the Hope Golf and Country Club's attractive Junior memberships over the years, and they all got started by taking part in the Junior Program. Dustin Boydell, the "old man" on the team, has been playing for ten years and the others have 4 to 7 years' experience.

And now they're going to the Provincial Championships in Kamloops.

The Hope Secondary team includes Boydell (the curler); Kyle Kjemhus and Reid Taylor (the basketball stars), Mike Richmond (the skier) and Justin Desjardins, whose first love is hockey. The team is coached by Dave Lane, a hockey and golf enthusiast who got started in golf as a teen in Cutknife Saskatchewan - sand greens and all.

After playing home and away matches with Valley schools this spring, the team advanced to the Upper Fraser Valley regionals at the Royalwood course near the Vedder Canal.

Coach Lane says, "We placed second to M.E.I. of Abbotsford - but then M.E.I. found out that they were triple-A and they had to switch leagues." At the renowned Swan-E-Set course in Pitt Meadows last Wednesday, Kjemhus led the team to a first-place finish, draining two birdies on his way to an 82. Taking the team's four best scores, HSS edged out H.D. Stafford of Langley. Stafford also gets to go to the Provincials, as the zone's runner-up.

"It was pouring rain for at least nine of the holes - and we played the hardest tees," adds Richmond, who is the young gun on the team at age 16. He scored an 84 in the final, but had a 67 in Hope this year for his best-ever.

If the skiing doesn't work out, the four-off-scratch Richmond may have another sport to fall back on.

Kjemhus, the long-driver on the squad, had a 71 at Hope this season and is a 7-handicapper. Taylor's 91 at Swan-E-Set was bettered by his season's best 78 at Royalwood. He currently is an 11-handicapper, though High School play is all based on low gross scores.

Desjardins figures he's probably at the 15-16 handicap range, with an 86 at Royalwood being his best score this year. Boydell, who had a 73 for his best showing earlier this season, had an identical score to Desjardins - due to a "scoring malfunction." "It was actually a 93 but I signed off on the wrong score," says Boydell, while catching another round of ribbing from his mates. It could have been a disaster in the PGA, but the team had Desjardins' identical score and could afford to toss one.

But the best shot of the interview came when coach Lane explained that he had been with the team at Royalwood but couldn't attend the zone finals, sending Mike Murray instead. "Why do you think we won?" quipped Taylor. "Yeah - but I won't miss the Kamloops tournament," replied Lane.

The event runs May 29 to 31 at the Rivershore Estates course. Lane says HSS had a team go to the Provincials four years ago, after coming second in the zone. "It was Reed Golos, Sheldon and Craig Traun, Wade Brind and Craig Erickson." In addition to match play, each of the players will be entered in skills contests. Kjemhus, who stroked a 372-yarder on the third hole at Hope recently, is entered in the long-drive competition Richmond is in chipping, Taylor in putting, Boydell in sand shots and Desjardins will be trying for closest to the pin from 150 yds out. © Copyright 2005 Hope Standard

The Hope Standard, May 26 2005 http://www.hopestandard.com

April 6, 2005

Womens' International Squash Player's Association
Squash: Alison & Samantha Score Seeding Upsets In Dallas

WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Women's Texas Open Squash Championship, Dallas, USA

1st round:
Samantha Teran (MEX) bt [16] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 5-9, 9-1, 9-5, 5-9, 9-2 (73m)
[7] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Carla Khan (PAK) 9-1, 9-3, 9-1 (37m)
Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt [13] Fiona Geaves (ENG) w/o
[4] Nicol David (MAS) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 9-2, 9-6, 9-6 (28m)
[12] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Runa Reta (CAN) 9-2, 9-4, 9-1 (42m)
[5] Linda Elriani (ENG) bt Stephanie Brind (ENG) 10-9, 9-3, 9-3 (37m)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [14] Annelize Naude (NED) 7-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-1 (58m)
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 9-5, 9-6, 4-9, 9-2 (41m)

Alison & Samantha Score Seeding Upsets In Dallas

After an opening day of predictable outcomes in the first round of the Women's Texas Open Squash Championship in the USA, England's Alison Waters and Mexican Samantha Teran scored significant upsets on day two at the Downtown Dallas YMCA.

After missing a year on the WISPA World Tour following a bad knee injury, Samantha Teran showed that the extensive training that she has undergone over the past six months is finally beginning to pay dividends.  The 23-year-old from Mexico City outlasted sixteenth seed Rebecca Chiu to take an unexpected place in the last sixteen.

Teran has a game which contrasts sharply with her opponent from Hong Kong.  Hitting the ball heavily, straight and deep, she slowly induced mistakes from Chiu, who has a fine all-round game.  However, the Asian Games champion found an opponent all too willing to chase down drops and everything else she was hit with.  Teran, currently ranked 37, came out stronger in the fifth game of the 73-minute clash - and was cheered home by her parents who had picked a fortuitous occasion to travel north of the border to watch her.

"After I saw the draw, I thought I had a chance and was excited," said Teran after her 5-9 9-1 9-5 5-9 9-2 triumph.  "I thought that if we would play five games I would have an advantage because I am fit now."

Samantha now plays England's seventh seed Vicky Botwright, who had a more straightforward 9-1 9-3 9-1 win over Pakistan's Carla Khan to book a place on the glass court in the Atrium of Plaza of the Americas in Dallas. 

Later, Alison Waters beat 14th seed Annelize Naude 7-9 9-7 9-5 9-1 in 58 minutes.  Naude, the world No15 from the Netherlands, would have expected a struggle against in-form Alison Waters - who made her top twenty debut in March - and ended in a tussle from which she emerged second best.  Having won the first game, the Dutch star raced to a 7-2 lead in the second before being pegged back.  After losing a stroke when she was a point away from game-ball, Naude's confidence ebbed away as Waters began to take control.

"I lost focus at 7-2 up and that probably gave Alison the confidence to get back in," Naude ruefully commented afterwards.

England Squash coach Paul Carter had nursed Waters home - but was unable to repeat the success when his other charge Dominique Lloyd Walter was pitted against World Open champion Vanessa Atkinson in another England/Netherlands clash. 

Second seed Atkinson, however, was complimentary about her opponent after her 9-5 9-6 4-9 9-2 win over the Englishwoman.  "Dominique has drawn me so many times it's untrue, and again today even when she went two down her head didn't go down.  You have to credit her mental strength."

It was an easy day for France's unseeded Isabelle Stoehr - who discovered that her opponent Fiona Geaves, the 13th seed from England, had withdrawn having woken up to find that the right Achilles tendon strained in practice the previous day had tightened further overnight.  In the second round, Stoehr will now play fourth seed Nicol David, the Malaysian whose total court coverage drained the life out of Latasha Khan as she cruised to a 9-2 9-6 9-6 over the American.

Fifth seed Linda Elriani was another player who was delayed rather than derailed.  English compatriot Stephanie Brind started strongly, volleying well while Elriani was struggling to find her length.  Brind served for the first game twice at 9-8 but could convert neither as Elriani had by now began to settle.  With the first game gone, Brind began to struggle against the better length and high balls that her opponent served up - Elriani ultimately winning 10-9 9-3 9-3 in 37 minutes.

- ENDS -

Issued on behalf of: WISPA For further information: Howard Harding
Tel: (44) 1737-243333 or (mobile) (44) 7773-325130 Fax: (44) 870-706 5253
WSQ 2731 Email: HowHard@aol.com 6 April 2005

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