State age reportCowra Netball is celebrating another successful year at the State Age carnival.

A massive congratulations to all our rep teams that attended State Age during the first week of school holidays.

As an association Cowra Netball are all so very proud of each and every one of you.

We received some really wonderful positive comments about our players from other teams andumpires from all across NSW.

Well done girls.

To all the coaches, managers, parents another massive thank you for all your commitment throughout the season.

Another huge thank you to our committee for all the hard work and organisation behind the scenes to make it all happen and run so smoothly.

A special thank you toour representative convenor Kristen Ryan.

Kristen was not only representative convenor but also assistant coach to the under 15s side andstand in umpires convenor.

Also thank you to Mandy Charnock for her huge job as representativetreasurer, mentor andserial prankster.

A big well done to the Cowra Netball Under 15s on their final year at State Age.

Wehope you had a fantastic andmemorable weekend.

Thanks also goes to coaches Paula Saxby andKristen Ryan for taking on this team to get them to State.

Alsothank you to Cristie Felton as manager.

Cristie was able to keepit all together and everyone on track.

We know this isnot an easy feat with 9-15 year old girls and twocoaches that are prankster queens (although they did have a little outside assistance thanks to Mandy andAng).

The Under 14s also had a great finish to their rep year coming seventh place in their division.

Thanks to coachMelissa Wolfenden and manager Angela Boswell for all their hard work and dedication.

Also to Ang for such a great result with the under 15s prank and to Melissa andthe under 14s in her room for being such great sports.

Also another congratulations to our under 13s team as they took out Division 3 at State Age.

Their success makes it twoyears running that they have won their division.

Look out Division twonext year, congratulations to Jo Buchan on achieving such a fantastic result.

The babies of our representative teams the Under 12s did a wonderful job competing in their first State Age and had some great results.

Also a big congratulations to Olivia Edwards in her first year coaching State Age.

The results Olivia achievedspeak for themselves, great achievement Liv.

Also thanks to Natalie Wilkinson as manager who kept everyone happy, organised and prank free.

Overall the Cowra Association has had another fantastic State Age and all involved should be very proud.

Final results were-12s (Div 3) 12th place,13s (Div 3) Winners,14s (Div 4) 7th place,15s (Div 4) 18th place.

Netball

We are back playing this Saturday after a twoweek break for school holidays.

In the event of rain we will make the call as to play or not at the following times. Juniors10am andSeniors12pm.

It will also be published on our Facebook page if games are called off.

So please assume games are on until such time.

Hunter Reid shoots during the Cowra Netball Association Carnival on Sunday, May 15. Hunter is playing for the under 13s against Yass.

Draw Saturday,July 16

Under 5 and9s meet on grassed courts at 11am.

Under 10-11s meet up on top courts at 10.30am ready to start playing at 11am.

UmpiresChelsea Apps andAbbie Lewis.

Under 12-14s,

1pmTeam 1 v Team 3

UmpiresJade Browne andKodee Chilstone.

2.30pmTeam 4 v Team 5

UmpiresKristen Ryan andCaitlyn Boswell.

Team 2 Bye.

Division 1,

1pm

Newell Motors v Imperial HotelForfeit by Newell Motors,LPC v Cowra Carpet Cleaning court 1

UmpiresAlana Ryan andRebecca Jones.

2.30pm

Thompson’s Livestock Transport v First National court 3

UmpiresEmma Fricker andJulia Moore.

2.30pm

Royces’ Jets v Ambiance Hair court 4

UmpiresPauline Rowston andTahlia Veney,

Woodstock Hotel v Whites Panel court 1

UmpiresGeorgina Knight andJessica McLeish.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

LESS than a month out from the annual incoming delegation from the Japanese city of Muroto, Port Lincoln is preparing to celebrate the relationship between the two citieswith two more delegationsin coming months.

The special delegations willinclude a group of six adults from Port Lincoln visiting Muroto in Octoberwhere they will attend two local festivals and tour the island ofShikoku.

Planning is also underway for 25-year celebrations in Port Lincoln with a special delegation from Muroto visiting in January to coincide with the Tunarama Festival.

It will not be the first time visitors from Muroto have been to the festival with four delegations attending in the early years of the exchange program and a group of women visiting for the 2012 festival.

To celebrate the 25-year milestone, Mr Mantle said there would be a civic reception at the Nautilus Theatre on Friday, January 27, 2017 and people who had been involved in exchanges over the years were encouraged to email [email protected]南京夜网to make sure they were on the mailing list.

There have been about 350 delegates from Port Lincoln over the years, not including others who have been involved in hosting people for inbound delegations.

A book is also planned, covering the history of the relationships between the two cities through stories and photographs.

It will be published next year so it can include the two 25-year celebrations.

Mr Mantle said they were still looking for photographs from outbound trips in1995 (business trip), April 1999, April 2000, April 2004, April 2010, and inbound trips in1991 (signing), 1991 (goodwill visit), October 1992, October 1993, August 1995, August 1997, August 1999 andAugust 2005to fill in the group’sscrapbook, and for use in the book.

Scanning assistance is available. [email protected]南京夜网

In the meantime, the annual studentdelegation from Muroto will arrive in Port Lincoln on August7.

The nine students and three adults will be hosted by local families and learn about the local culturewith visits toKoppio Museum, Glenforest, the Tacoma to‘pole a tuna’, Bishop Kindergarten, local schools, the YHA, library, Forsters’ aquarium, Tony’s Tuna, the Fresh Fish Place, Western Abalone, Kuju Arts and Craft to paint boomerangs, Mikirra Station and a day out at Coffin Bay visiting an oyster factory and the national park.

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HELPING HAND: 3rd Bathurst (All Saints’ Cathedral) Scout Group’s Paul Hennessy with Bathurst Regional Council’s Gary Rush and Dave Sherley. Photo: NADINE MORTONBATHURST’S community groups received a welcome boost on Thursday when more than $25,000 was donated to 13 local groups.

Individual donations ranged form $220 to $5000, and were provided under Bathurst Regional Council’s Section 356 annualdonation program.

Funds receivedwill go to a range of areas including cultural, sporting, historical, agricultural and community programs and events that will be held throughout the year.

Paul Hennessy from the 3rdBathurst (All Saints’ Cathedral) Scout Group was among those at Bathurst Regional Council chambers to accept a donation.

“Running the hall is very expensive so any cost we can get helps benefit the members,” he said.

Mr Hennessy said the $220 donation they received will be spent on pest control in the scout’shall.

Evans Art Council’s Wendy-lou Tisdell accepted a cheque for $2580 from mayor Gary Rush during Thursday’s morning tea.

Funds will go towards the council’s free art workshops for the community.

“In some of our new workshops we’ll be teaching tatting [lace making], silk painting, felting and DNA workshops,” Ms Tisdell said.

The recently-formed Peel Residents Association received a cheque for $500.

ResidentStephen Champion accepted the donation said it willbe well used in the association’s inaugural year of operation.

“We formed to bind the community, there are a lot of things that happen withing the community, but not everyone knows about them,” he said.

Mayor Gary Rush presented the donations and thanked the groups for making such a significant contribution to the community through a wide range of areas.

“I know of no other [location] with a sense of community like Bathurst,” he said.

Other groups to receive funding included the Macquarie Philarmonia ($2500), Sofala and District Agriculture and Horticulture Association ($350), Sofala Progress Association ($2000), Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre ($800), Bathurst City RSL Band Association ($5000), Bathurst Refugee Support Group ($3000), Bathurst Seymour Centre ($2500), Miss Traill’s House and Garden ($2609), Bathurst Chamber Orchestra ($2500) and the Bathurst Filipino Australian Community ($600).

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

I once wrote a magazine article about crackpot ideas of famous psychologists.

Irecounted the story of Wilhelm Reich, a psychoanalystwho told the public decades ago that he had a device that accumulated orgone energy (a sexually charged energy that supposedly permeates the universe). He said that the accumulator provided great health benefits.

The device, about the size of a phone booth,was made of wood, metal, and steel wool. The boxbecame widely popular, including with celebrities. Reich invited AlbertEinstein to try to explain it.

Einstein examined it and said it was just a box.The U.S. government obtained a court order directingReichto stop selling the box; he ignored the order and went toprison.

Wilhelm Reich, a psychoanalyst who told the public he had a device that accumulated a highly beneficial sexually-charged energy.

Later, Woody Allen included a funny version of the box as the orgasmatron in the movie Sleeper.Some people still believe in orgone energyand treatment with the box.

Recently, Elon Musk, the head ofTesla, which makes electric cars, and SpaceX , which makes reusable rocket ships,said that we all do not exist — we are part of a computersimulation run by super-intelligent creatures

Musk’s idea reminded me of an excellent book, Sophie’s World, which is about a girlwho has many adventures and then discovers, to her great disappointment,that she is only a character made up by a philosopher as a treat for his daughter.

Musk’s idea also reminded me of a story I have long wanted to write about a young man who realises that he and all humans are aliens implanted in human bodies.

They pay for the experience, as one might pay for a ride on a roller coaster. They are supposed tohaveno knowledge while a human that they are actually aliens who live forhundreds of thousands of years. After 20 years of human life something goes wrong and the young mansees the truth.

He wants his money back, but he is stuck.He tells others the way it is. Most people don’tbelievehim about everyone being a thrill-seeking alien, but some do and he becomes a messiah of sorts.

I have a slight feeling that my fictional-story idea may not be fictional. That feeling takes me out of the creative category and puts me in the crackpot camp.

It is not bad in the crackpot camp;many interesting people have operated in it. The Wright brothers, who thought humans could fly, were members. Consider alsoAussieBarry Marshall, who was so convinced that an organism called h pylori (and not stress)caused typical ulcers that he gave himself the organism to prove he was right.

Hequickly developed highly painful ulcers and later received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work.

Albert Einstein

A sceptical person could argue thatnot all religions can be the only true religion. However, one of the religions could be spot on, and it is not easy to say which that would be. The few people who still believe in Zeusmight end uphaving the last laugh.

What are your crackpot ideas?

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THE hunt for gold officially begins for Bulli’s Nicole Beck and Wollongong teammate Emma Tonegato.

Champions: After winning the world rugby sevens series, Emma Tonegato and Nicole Beck will be part of Australia’s Olympics team.

They were officially named in Australian rugby sevens squad on Thursday, reward for their roles in claiming the world series championships this year.

A prolific tryscorer, Tonegato was player of the tournament during the US leg of the world series, where they beat New Zealand in the final.

At 28, Beck has a long career of success, winning the World Cup in 2009.

Australia has drawn the USA, Fiji and Colombia in their group, with games starting on the opening day of the Olympics next month.

Meanwhile, Wollongong Wizards triathletes Ryan Bailie and Aaron Royle will race in Hamburg, Germany this weekend, after training at their camp in Vitoria in Spain.

Royle was third behind Alistair and Johnathan Brownlee in a world series race in Leeds last month.

“They are coming off a tough month long training block followed by an easier week this week,”Triathlon Australia’s performance director Bernard Savage said.

“But the timing of Hamburg is perfect for those preparing for the Olympics with a hit out just five weeks out from Rio.

“The Australian boys all look in great shape and they will be looking for different things out of this weekend’s races.

“Aaron and Ryan Bailie have been settled in their ‘home away from home’ in Vitoria for some time now in what is a ritual for them in the nomadic lifestyle of a professional triathlete.”

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WHEN Alexandra Hills couple Desley and John King retire at the end of this month, their reign as the Kings of Cleveland TAB will be over.

John and Desley King will retire from their Cleveland business after 36 years. PHOTOS: JUDITH KERR

But all bets will be on them joining the caravanning contingency to visit family in Western Australia.

While the couple has been the agents for the TAB, they have seen many changes in the betting industry since they moved to Cleveland in 1980.

The latest change in the industry was last week, when the NSW government moved to ban greyhound racing next year.

A bank of high-definition televisions flicker over multi-coloured stools inside the Cleveland TAB, one of the bayside’s most upmarket tabulated betting agencies.

WHAT’S THE BET? Cleveland’s John and Desley King will retire this month after running their Cleveland business for 36 years. PHOTO: JUDITH KERR

Mr King remembers the day he and wife Desley first walked into the Middle Street shop.

They took on the agency, sight unseen, from where they had been working and raising their two children in Blackwater, Central Queensland.

Both were surprised when the found Cleveland was not part of Brisbane and was only connected to the state’s capital via a single-lane “goat track”.

“We have seen many significant changes over the years,” he said. “In the 1970s, tickets were hand written and could only be collected at the office of issue.

“We are now able to take wagers on all major sports with multiple options within each sport.”

He also remembered the good times and laughs.

“On Melbourne Cup Day 2012, some of the girls had come in to the TAB after having lunch at The Sands and handed over all their tickets,” he said.

“One girl, who was all dressed up and had had a lovely day, handed over hers and started to walk away because she didn’t think she had won anything.

“I put the ticket through and she had won the trifecta 3.3 times.

“I had to call her back and she had a total meltdown and started dancing around the room when she found out she had won $167,000.

“She was laughing and saying she was going to buy a new car – it was magical.”

Mrs King also remembered the early days in the TAB, when she had a babe in arms while answering the telephone and manually filling out betting forms.

The couple first met out west and spent a year working at Moranbah in Central Queensland before three years at the Blackwater TAB.

“We decided to move on to enhance our careers and to give our two children, Tanya and Craig, more opportunities in life,” she said.

“Having arrived in Cleveland we loved the area and the country feel and have been the TAB agents here for 36 years.

“We are going to miss our clientele, the friendships we have formed, the laughs and good-natured banter, but as we are staying in the Redlands we are sure we will catch up with most of them from time to time.”

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

Desperate to be heard,Merriwa farmer,ChrisKemp says he had no choice but to alert the media after wild dogs were the catalyst to him losing an estimated 700 head of sheep.

He says theperennial pests weretravelling10kms from the Goulburn River National Park and making kills onhis Forest Reserve Roadproperty.

To make matters worsewedge-tailed eagles, the largest bird of prey in Australia,were followingthe wild dogs,and joining the feeding frenzy.

At times feral pigs would chime in and clean up the mess both the agile hunters left behind.

And,theNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) did not want to know about it.

However, since he has gone public with his devastating lossthe organisationhas requestedto meet withlandholders.

The local farmer, who was born and bred in the area,says now the problem has beenacknowledged,a long-term strategy that involves not just baiting buttargeted trapping, and other measures, needs to be put in place.

“Baiting works with young dogs but older ones who have worked out how to bothavoid the bait and kill effectivelyare the problem,” he explains.

“After they would not listen to us back inMarch we put in place a coordinated trapping program.”

Mr Kemp says this led to the capture of16 dogs that were making their way from the park to surrounding properties.

“Landholders in the area are managing their own properties as required by the lawbut the national parksarenot doing the same,” he says.

“It isimportant things change as wild dogs coming out of the parksis an issueacross the state.”

CONCERNED: Merriwa farmer Chris Kemp. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

He says the government needs tosupport theNPWS and provide them with the necessary resourcesstop this happening.

“These dogs are not dingos and reducing their numbers should not effect the ecosystems of the parks.”

“If anything it is out-of-balance with the increased number of these wild dogs, they are coming right up to our houses.”

Disturbingly, from a grandmother taking her daily stroll in the Tweedto a young woman on horseback in the mid north coast hinterland, reports of wilddogs stalking people are on the rise.

Founder of the Mid North Coast Wild Dog Association Inc, Helen Tyrrel says they are getting daily reports of wild dog attacks.

They have co-ordinators from the Great Lakes area to the Gloucester district,and up north towardsCoffs Harbour. She says in April a young female on horseback was stalked by a black, rough, looking dogat Killabakh.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

Live grenade removed from Griffith’s main street The grenade.

A police officer takes a photo of the grenade.

The grenade as seen from The Area Hotel.

The grenade is in the nearest parking bay, directly opposite the Haggia Sophia kebab shop.

Police establish an exclusion zone.

TweetFacebookFairfax Mediasource says the grenade appears to be a “Mk II pineapple grenade”. He said the grenades were an American device commonly used in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

The grenade, which appears quite rusted, is probably still live, according to the source, who asked not to be named.

He said in active military use, grenades were considered safe unless the ‘pin’ was removed or damaged. The pin prevents the detonator from activating.

Mk II grenades were a fragmentation-type grenade developed at the end of WWI.

10.49am:“Lock your doors and stay inside,” says Councillor Dino Zappacosta.

“I’ve never heard of a live grendade in the whole of the Griffith Council area, let alone the CBD,” he said.

Councillor Zappacosta has lived in Griffith for 68 years.

He said it was devastating to have such horrible news in a community that is so used to peace and harmony.

“It’s terrifying, most terrifying,” Councillor Zappacosta said.“Lock your doors and if travelling on the road, stay away.”

Griffith City Council confirmed operates CCTV cameras within the area. Access to the footage is via subpoena only except via police request.

Banna Avenue is expected to be closed for at least eight hours.

10.30am:A plainclothes police officer with “Griffith CI” on his vest confirmed police aretreating the grenade as live. He said they have called the bomb squad and they are expected to arrive withinfive hours. Banna Avenue is expected to beclosed for at least eight hours.

Meanwhile, an envelope containing an unknown powder was discovered at Wagga City Council on Thursday morning.

Emergency services are on site andthe situation is reportedly contained.

Update: 10.22am

The white commodore (right) ran the roadblock.

A white Holden Commodore drove into the exclusion zone on the wrong side of the road despite police yelling at the driver to stop. The car stopped near the library and has since been removed.

9.54am:Police have toldbusiness owners on the‘bottom block’ of Banna Avenuethey may not be able to open for a while.

Banna Avenue is closed between Kooyoo Street and Jondaryan Avenue.

9am:A suspected live grenade was found on Griffith’sBanna Avenue about 8.45am Thursday.

According to Inspector John Wadsworth from Griffith Local Area Command, the grenade was discovered by a council employee in front of the Haggia Sophia kebab shop.

It is believed to be a WWII-era grenade.

Griffith City Library and nearby workplaces were evacuated about 9.15am.

Police have created an exclusion zone at either end of‘bottom block’ and are waiting for Griffith City Council to set up barricades.

Police have called the bomb squad and it is believed the incident was referred to the army.

Area News

THE deaths of 11 people at a level crossing in northern Victoria nine years ago shouldhave been enough for something to be done about ALL level crossings in the state.

But yet anothertrain crash, this timenear Colac on Wednesday afternoon, was proof nothing was really learned from the tragic crash at Kerang in 2007, where 11 people died and 23 injured after a truck ploughed into a V/Line passenger train at a level crossing.

Even after the 2007 crash, a coroner recommended transport authorities investigate new warning systems at level crossings.

Coroner Jane Hentlass made 25 recommendations, including calling for changes to level crossing warnings and emergency response procedures.

Nine years after the Kerang crash and after the recommendations from the coroner, the level crossing in question at this week’s crash was still to be fixed.

Oh, and this was despite it being “fast-tracked” 17 months ago for the installation of boom gates and warning signals.

Not good enough.

The level crossing in Pirron Yallock near Colac was named in a February 2015 media release as one of three country crossings fast-tracked for upgrades.

So why, a year and a half later, was nothing done about it?

It was a tragedy waiting to happen and, on Wednesday afternoon, it nearly was.

Eighteen people were taken to hospital after the V/Line passenger train and a truck collided at the level crossing.

It was amazing no-one was killed in Wednesday’s crash. But what really is the tragedy here is the fact it took a near-fatal experience to highlight the fact nothing had been done about this level crossing.

Which begs the question, how many other dangerous level crossings are still operating in Victoria without the necessary safety equipment, as recommended by the Kerang crash coroner?

Oh, but detailed design and planning hadbeen completed for the gates and electrical and signalling works at the Pirron Yallock crossing.

Again, not good enough.

“The installation of the boom gates and the signals are on track to be completed at the end of this year,” Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said on Thursday.

That’s not good enough Ms Allan. Works on this and other crossings needed to have been completed longbefore now.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

An image from Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, a company planning a fast rail link between Melbourne and Sydney. Photo: CLARAA new city built between Albury and Wagga, as part of the bold new rail plan, would be locatedon farm land likelyin the Henty area.

Consolidated Land and Rail Australia co-chairman Nick Cleary said the phantom township would be connected by its own ultra-quick rail link to each of the centres.

“Our plan is to build eight new, smart, sustainable, green field cities which will be connected by the high-speed train,” he said.

“Those cities would be in relative close proximity to existing towns and centres to enable access to existing healthcare, education and transport systems.

“The city we want to build between Albury and Wagga would service as a tri-city region to make sure we get a wonderful network of the three cities that helps the economic viability, the sustainability and productivity of those three centres.”

Mr Cleary insisted taxpayers wouldn’t have to pay a cent, as the venture would fund itself by utilising a finance scheme that wouldcapture land price increases.

“That value upliftwould pay for the civil and rail infrastructure going forward.

“We’ve secured land, that’s under our legal control and subject to milestones moving forward, with government, that’s to build our cities on.

“In terms of the corridor, that’s something we’ll need to talk to states and local governments about.”

A transport experthas dismissedthe latest plan as a potential “financialtrainwreck”that failsthe economics testbecause of excessivelyhigh costs. “It appears that this latest fast train proposal is driven by funding opportunities from higher land prices which can be highly speculative and unreliable,”GarryBowditch, head of the Better Infrastructure Initiative atSydney University, told Fairfax Media.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.