BRINGING GREAT PRICES: Six expressions of interest have been received in these dilapidated but heritage protected ‘company cottages’ that havebeen a blight on Portland for years.IN the madness that is the Sydney propertymarket, ruins that should have beendemolished decades earlier bring ridiculousprices.

In regional centres where the madnesshas not yet taken over one would have towonder why anyone would bother with aeuphemistically named ‘renovator’sdelight’.

But it does happen.

Late last year when the new ownerswere addressing a public meeting on initialplans for redevelopment of PortlandCement Works the company representativessaid the heritage restrictions made itnecessary to invite expressions of interestin old company cottages in Williwa Streetbefore any application to Lithgow Councilto demolish them.

Anyone in the audience who may havebeen tempted was cautioned the olddwellings virtually require total rebuild.

The cottages are uninhabitable hovelsand have been an embarrassment toPortland for years.

But there have been various intereststhat have campaigned for their heritageprotection and preservation.

The initial reaction from the largelylocal audience at the meeting was that ‘noone in their right mind would take thoseon’.

How wrong they were.

The company, AWJ Civil, confirmedyesterday that six expressions of interesthad been received.

Company director Martin O’Connellsaid there had been six formal EOIs, ‘eachwarranting some consideration pendingcouncil’s comments’.

He said the company’s report was nowwith council but confidentiality agreementsprevented specific disclosure ofwhat was being proposed.

Mr O’Connell said AWJ Civil is on trackto commence demolition of the old locoshed and ‘bachelors cottage’ by the end ofthis month.

These demolitions have already beenapproved.

Another community consultation sessionis also planned for this month, tentativelyaround May 21.

The company can then outline demolitionextents, progress of recent monthsand further development opportunitiesand options seeking community input.

“Hopefully we can make an announcementof site branding and framing at thattime,” he said.

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

SKILLED TEAM: Chris and Matt Sherwood organisers of the Ultimate Stock Dog Challenge, with stock dog Glen looking on as Nuts, Murphy and Wonder herd some Poll Herefords on Wollondale Hampshire Stud.THE Ultimate Stock Dog Challenge is on again.

The idea of having one or several working dogs on a property that could handle not only sheep, but cattle as well is one not lost on most landholders who practice mixed farming.

Chris and Matthew Sherwood, who conceived the idea of a competition that would test working dogs, not only in the paddock or in the yards with sheep but also in the paddock with cattle are themselves looking for dogs capable of all three disciplines for breeding.

Besides working on a mixed farming property, the young men also breed and train working dogs.

They have participated in numerous single discipline competitions like the popular yard dog trials.

However until they organised their first multi faceted trial last year they had not heard of a competition to test a dog’s ability to work with sheep and cattle.

On May 22-24 the Ultimate Stock Dog Challenge will be held at Taralga Showground and promises to bring together some of the country’s top working dogs.

They have received entries from right across NSW as well as Queensland and Victoria.

The competition is limited to two dogs per handler and a total of 60 dogs.

“It has been a massive undertaking to organise”, Matt Sherwood said.

“We must thank the people and businesses who have come forward as sponsors.

“Our major sponsors are Wollondale Hampshire Stud, Glynn Langford and Bannaby Angus, Ian Baxter and Stephen Connor who are supplying the livestock for the event.

We are also grateful for the community support from the people of Taralga, many of whom will be involved in helping to make the weekend a success.”

“There is over $10,000 in prizes including the $5000 first prize for the Ultimate Stock Dog.

Some of the prizes will include product donated by various sponsors,” Chris Sherwood said.

“This makes it one of the highest prized working dog trials in the country and entry spots filled up very quickly after the dates were announced.

“The dogs must compete in all three aspects of the competition with points awarded for each and the totals of the three added together to achieve the final result.”

“As people who work with both sheep and cattle and sometimes other livestock, we are aware of the benefits of owning keen working dogs that will work with sheep and cattle both in the yards and in the paddocks.

“All they require is looking after with food, water, shelter and vet needs and they save so much time and effort in handling livestock.

“As dog breeders we are looking for dogs that will work happily and obediently and pass on these traits to their progeny.”

“We are expecting that the majority of dogs in the competition will be kelpies, border collies or cross bred kelpie/collie maybe with some healer genetics.”

The Ultimate Stock Dog Challenge is open to the public to come and watch with spectator entry free.

Food and drinks will be available throughout the competition and it is a chance to connect with dog breeders and trainers to improve your own working dog genetics.

Details about this competition can be seen at:梧桐夜网ultimatestockdog南京夜网419论坛/.

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A century since her father’s enlistment in the First World War, Avril Wagner will now discover the details of his service thanks to the research of Whyalla Family History Group member Bill Redford.Whyalla Family History Group has connected a resident with their father’s military past.

Avril Wagner was handed a heavy stack of print-outs of original archival records in the wake of the Anzac Day Centenary commemorations.

Mrs Wagner’s father, Samuel Lees, enlisted in World War I on October 1, 1915 at the age of 18 and a half.

Although Mr Lees did not serve in the Gallipoli landing at Anzac Cove, he served in Egypt, France and Belgium.

But beyond this, Mrs Wagner knew very little about his service, until now.

A century since his enlistment, Mrs Wagner will now discover the details of her father’s service.

Mr Lees was given a soldier’s settlement in Buckleboo after returning from the war and was 40-years-of-age when Mrs Wagner was born.

He never talked about his involvement in the war.

“I don’t think they ever talked about it that much,” she said.

“He didn’t come home with the Victoria Cross or anything, but flopping around in the muddy trenches in France wouldn’t have been fun.”

Mrs Wagner contacted Whyalla Family History Group member Bill Redfordafter seeing he was investigating the stories of those who served in World War I in a Whyalla News article.

Mrs Wagner said she was happy to have a record to read and share with her family.

“It’s wonderful, I’m so pleased; my son will be really interested,” she said.

“It was a pity it took 100 years to find out.”

Mr Redford said the records were full of interesting details, including a letter from Mr Lees mother giving her consent for him to enlist.

“It’s always interesting to see bits and pieces like that,” he said.

“We’re extremely pleased to have been able to assist Avril and we hope that her and her family get a lot of pride and information from this particular source.

“I’m sure she’ll find many years of interesting reading.”

Mr Redford has collated a mass of data of Whyalla service personnel which he intends to publish in a book.

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

ARIES: You will need strength and character to implement the hefty changes that lie ahead of you during May 5-7: this is not an easy task, but an accomplishable one.

TAURUS: Taurus is motivated to improve their knowledge and broaden their experiences of life during May 5-7. Good support exists during this process of change.

GEMINI: The financial position you have previously established serves as a platform for change in your life. You can expect important developments during May 5-7.

CANCER: You should have little trouble in influencing others to your line of thought during May 5-7. Agreements are more easily reached because you are also flexible, based on the needs of the common good.

LEO: Your ability to work in a practical and defined environment forms the basis for important changes to your work and career during May 5-7. You’ll feel more in control of these factors.

VIRGO: You are able to make changes to your daily routines that are beneficial to those you love, especially children, during May 5-7. Parents are able to steer their children in the right direction.

LIBRA: Your attitudes assist in bringing financial interests under control to your satisfaction, whilst transforming your living conditions during May 5-7. Relocation is a possibility.

SCORPIO: Scorpio demonstrates great skill in making things happen during May 5-7, as you find the right words or medium for transportation that suits the occasion.

SAGITTARIUS: You are able to restructure your financial position with relative ease during May 5-7. Many of you will be clearing the deadwood from your lives during this time.

CAPRICORN: During May 5-7 it is also likely that you will either launch yourself on the pathway to new objectives or make significant progress in a pre-existing one.

AQUARIUS: Aquarians can deal with problems effectively during May 5-7, particularly any question of where your life is headed and what you should be doing with yourself.

PISCES: May 5-7 is the time to capitalise on your advantage and push forward your plans because your activities will have maximum impact. These are a powerful few days.

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

Tasteful: Sunraysia Cellar Door owner Greg Christensen says funding for the state’s wine industry is “long overdue”.A MEMBER of Sunraysia’s wine industry haswelcomed a $1 million State Government plan to boost development of the state’s wine industry but asked for more clarity on where the money will be spent.

The government said its Victorian Wine Tourism Strategy would focus on promoting wine tourism, cellar door visitations and increasing exports from smaller and growing regional tourism.

A Wine Industry Ministerial Advisory Group would also be developed to bring together industry knowledge and provide advice on research, biosecurity, regional investment, skills, infrastructure, regulation and trade matters.

Sunraysia Cellar Door owner Greg Christensen said funding to boost the local wine industry was “long overdue” but asked the State Government to be clearer about where the money would be spent.

“There is more clarity required… but anything that benefits the wine industry should also flow on to growers in the Murray Darling region,” he said.

Victoria’s $1.5 billion wine industry has 21 wine regions with more than 800 wineries and employs more than 11,500 people – including 2600 peopledirectly employed in grape growing and winemaking.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 02/05/2015.To subscribe to our Digital Edition Click here

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