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14/12  Development Assessment Panel Meeting - Hewett
15/12  Luncheon Leisure Options - Kapunda
16/12  Christmas Street Party - Kapunda
4/1     Meeting Acting CEO James Miller - Kapunda
11/1   Meeting Minister Local Government Russell Wortley

          MP - Kapunda
17/1   Media Interview ABC Radio
17/1   Tour Down Under Celebration - Freeling
22/1   SA Long Track Championships Official Opening -

          Dutton Park Kapunda
24/1   Mayor/CEO/GM pre-Council Meeting - Kapunda
24/1   Regular Council Meeting - Kapunda

2012 Australia Day Breakfast & Awards Ceremony

Roseworthy

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen and to all the young people present. Good morning and a very warm welcome to this Australia Day Breakfast and Awards and Citizenship Ceremony. It is indeed an honour to talk with you this morning and to make these presentations on Australia's National Day. It's certainly very pleasing to see so many of our citizens here this morning.

To begin I would acknowledge all those who have contributed to this special event and in particular, our hosts the Roseworthy Soldiers Memorial Hall Management Committee. The venue is excellent and a credit to all concerned and I sincerely thank you for your efforts.

We are here today not only celebrate the spirit of the Nation on our National Day but to also conduct a Citizenship Ceremony during which eighteen of our residents will make a pledge and be welcomed as new Australian Citizens.

As part of the Australia Day Awards Ceremony we will recognize and reward our Young Citizen of the Year, the Community Event of the Year and Citizen of the Year. I would take this opportunity to also thank those caring people who provided the submissions for Council to consider in making these awards.

Australia Day Awards are designed to acknowledge people who have made a positive difference in our communities, and the special events and for occasions that have made a significant contribution to our communities and lifestyle.

Without committed people who volunteer and organisations prepared to support these events, our communities would be a poorer place. As a result of their contribution they enhance the very features of Australian life we celebrate today.

Congratulations to all taking part in the Citizenship Ceremony and to those worthy recipients of the Australia Day Awards

Before I continue, it may be appropriate to take a moment to reflect on the past year, in a world beset by turbulence and anxiety, religious and racial conflict, economic upheaval, the threat of terrorism and the uncertainties of climate change. Gratefully, Australians live together as one people in a nation blessed by political stability and a strong sense of goodwill and social harmony.

Australia Day is indeed a time to celebrate so many good things which have come our way. It is also a time to take stock and realise that we can only reap what we sow Going forward we all need to think of how we contribute as citizens within our community and society. We can't just say "no worries" and simply take what's on offer and put nothing back. This is just not the “Aussie” way.

I am confident the Australian Spirit of "mateship" and giving people a fair go and lending a hand to others a little less fortunate than ourselves remains in the forefront of our minds. This practice is very much alive in our region and there is considerable evidence and examples of this.

Thank you for listening and being here this morning and I trust you will enjoy the program today and the Australia Day breakfast..........

I would firstly like to acknowledge the previous Council ably lead by Mayor Robert Hornsey for their vision for the future of Hewett community securing the funding and in developing this outstanding facility. I am sure those Councilors involved in the project would be very proud and their commitment should not be understated.
The Elected Members and Staff of Light Regional Council and I are pleased to welcome you to the new Hewett Centre, the latest addition not just to local, but to regional community facilities and a new asset that the Council is both very excited and proud to have been able to provide for its community.
While the completion of the construction and fit-out of this centre rounds out an (almost) 3 year journey for the Council and its project partners, the story actually began much earlier. It is, in fact, a story of evolution really. The District Council of Kapunda & Light (as Light Regional Council was known back in the late 1990's), recognized the need for community facilities in the then new suburb of Hewett when it secured the former 'Community House' in the new primary school area in the earliest stages of the development. The Churches of Christ SA Inc. acted in a similar way securing a neighbouring tenancy for a new church in the school grounds at that time.
With the successful growth of the new suburb and new families moving into the area, not ten years passed before it became evident that the growth of the student population at the Hewett Primary School would quickly outgrow the facilities available and that there would be a need to accommodate this growing demand.
The sale of the former Community House and some of the Council's reserve areas to the State Government was a step that Council could take towards assisting with the challenge facing the Primary School; however a replacement for the popular 'Community House' would still be needed.
The announcement of the Federal Government's Stimulus program in 2008 and the Council's successful Funding Submission that followed provided an opportunity for all levels of Government; Federal, State and Local, to combine resources with the community, and in this case in particular the Hewett Community Church of Christ, to work towards providing facilities to serve all manner of community needs, whilst at the same time also providing additional area for the Primary School to grow on their existing site. Truly a 'win/win' for all parties in every sense.
The new building has been designed to be flexible and multi-purpose with the provision of adaptable spaces for; trainings sessions, lectures, functions, meetings, Church services, weddings, funerals or other gatherings from small to large, informal to formal. All events can find a place here – and the possibilities that creates are very exciting indeed. The fact that the Hewett Community Church has agreed to take on the role of managing the centre on behalf of Council and the community only goes to show the strength of the relationships that have been formed over the journey so far as well as the investment and support in the future success of this new facility. I'd personally like to thank the Church for their proactive role in taking on various responsibilities for Hewett Centre.
So as the population of Hewett continues to grows into the final stages of the development, Council expects that the new centre will be embraced by the local community, the residents of the Light Council area and the residents of the broader region as a new place to do business, hold special events or pursue life interests.
On behalf of the Council and its project partners I would like to recognize the efforts of the design team, headed by Guy Berry & Sue Phillips from Phillips/Pilkington Architects, the builder Hansen Yuncken (and in particular Anthony Dusek and Ken Branch), Project Superintendent Don McQueen – DJMA Project Management (who unfortunately cannot be here today as he is overseas), Michael Sfera (Functions Consultant), the landscape team including Viesturs Cielens Design and Alex and Peter from Adelaide Innovative Landscaping, Peter Azstalos (Australian Audio and Lighting Technology) and Doni Bruno (Pro AV Solutions) for their contributions towards making this new building come about.
There have been many other contributors during the course of this project, too many to name here unfortunately, however for those that have been involved in the successful completion of the project, on behalf of the Council I thank you for your efforts.