Tel: 08 8672 5920

SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982

http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com Thursday 22 May 2014

•Mechanic on duty•Tyres

•Tyre repairs•Fuel •Parts

•Opening hours7.30am-5pm

Phone:86725036

ISSN 1833-1831

Is this the best sleep in the world?

Imagine a place with absolutely no sound or light. There’sno heat and no humidity. It feels perfectly calm, as if timedoesn’t exist and the space around you is directionless.

You’re tucked up in a comfortable bed and you drift offto sleep, with nothing at all to disturb you until your mindand body decide they’re ready to reawaken.

This is the experience in one small, South Australian town– Coober Pedy – where houses and hotels are buried intohill faces and extend deep underground.

Approaching these dwellings from the outside, you can’ttell how big or small, grand or simple they’ll be onceinside.

Some expand out into virtual mansions; multi-stories ofcarved rock rooms, far below Coober Pedy’s sandyexternal surface.

As you enter the first rooms, you sense the coolness andquiet immediately. The natural light fades and you feel,almost literally, at one with the earth.

It’s no surprise then that many visitors end up having acouple of fantastic sleep-ins!

“I’ve had a few guests who emerge for breakfast lookingquite shocked by how long they’ve slept!” laughs RobertCoro, Chair of Coober Pedy Retail Business and TourismAssociation and owner of the Desert Cave Hotel.

“You certainly want to set an alarm if you’ve got a sunrisetour of the Breakaways or an early morning start on theOutback Mail Run.” he said

UNDERGROUND - THE BESTSLEEP IN THE WORLD?

Near the centre of Coober Pedy at RadekasUnderground Backpacker and Motel wemet up with visitors Tony, Chris, Kae andFrank from Toowoomba who had beenattending the Ulysses AGM in Alice Springs,

“None of us have slept underground before,which is why we decided to pull into CooberPedy, enroute to Port Augusta,” said Frank.

Frank was so taken by the uniqueness andpracticality of underground living, he saidhe wouldn’t mind buying his own dugout.

“For underground living, I would install acouple of solar panels on the ‘roof’ alongwith two 12 volt batteries for power. Iwould fit my place out with LED globesfor efficiency,” he said.

Everyone was excited to be in the OpalCapital and had set aside the morning fornoodling at the nearby Jeweller Shop area,well known to still contain quantities of topquality crystal opal and available for touristsat no cost to ‘fossick’..

Martin Smith Manager of RadekaUnderground Backer and Motel said, “Oneof the most consistent comments from ourMotel Guests is they are fascinated by howwell they slept due to the darkness,quietness

Ulysses members staying at Radekas Underground Backpacker’s and Motel, Tony, Chris, Kaeand Frank from Toowoomba in Queensland, after their big sleep preparing for a day of noodlingand sightseeing. All of the friends said that sleeping underground was a highlight of their trip.

and warmness of their seemingly timelessen suited Underground Motel Room.”“6.5m further underground than the MotelRooms are the Budget Rooms and DormBeds, similar comments are made but arenot quite as private as having your ownmotel room but these guests are happy toexperience a night underground at a moreeconomic price,” he said.

“Sometimes you can see a guest walkingthe property trying to figure out how theelectricity and plumbing has been workedout, especially builders, electricians andplumbers visiting Coober Pedy for the firsttime,” said Martin

“If you haven’t been to Coober Pedy, youcan’t imagine what real life underground islike – we have not just houses and hotelsbut restaurants, bars, shops, museums andeven churches,” Robert Coro added.

“Coober Pedy is the one place where youcan stand at the lookout, located right aboveall of these buildings, and still not see mostof the town!” he said.

“What started as a clever way to keep opalminers cool and comfortable at night hasturned into a pretty bizarre and uniquelifestyle.”

The amazing Desert Cave Hotel is a place to stay with a difference -spacious rooms and great views. Here you can stay in a room manymetres underground in total silence and have the best sleep in the world.

Photo: Desert Cave

Photo: CPRT

Disclaimer: Opinions and letters published in TheCoober Pedy Regional Times are not necessarilythe views of the Editor, or Publisher. The CooberPedy Regional Times reserves the right to edit oromit copy, in accordance with newspaper policies.Letters to the Editor must be attributed with a name,address and contact phone number - names andtown of origin will be printed, or may be withheld atthe Editor’s discretion. During the course of anyelection campaign, letters to the editor dealing withelection issues or similar material must containthe author’s name and street address (not POBox) for publication.”

Page 2 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

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Editor - Margaret MackayPO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723

Ph: (08) 8672 5920Email: cptimes@ozemail.com.au

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who have licensed their content for use in thispublication. Additionally, the entire content of theCoober Pedy Regional Times past and present iscopyrighted as a collective work under Australian

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work is the Coober Pedy Regional Times Newspaper.

SA : ADELAIDE CENTRAL. Also Cavan, Bute, Pt. Pirie, Dublin, Minlaton, Pt.

Broughton, PT. AUGUSTA, Snowtown, Pt. Wakefield,

* Bute IGA 9 High St, Bute, SA* Snowtown IGA 36 Railway Tce,* Port Broughton IGA 27 Harvey St* Dublin BP Lot 7 Port Wakefield Rd,* Port Wakefield BP Truckstop22 Snowtown Rd Port Wakefield

Ceduna/Thevenard, Pt. Lincoln, Penong, Fowlers Bay,Coorabie, Nundroo, Yalata, Jacinth Ambrosia, Nullabor,

Eucla and Border VillageWoomera, Roxby Downs, Hawker, Leigh Creek, Arkaroola,Marree, Copley, Parachilna, Nepabunna, Lyndhurst Quorn

and Stations, Innamincka, Andamooka, Pimba, Glendambo,Kingoonya, Tarcoola, Cook, Prominent Hill Village,

COOBER PEDY, Cadney Park and Stations, Marla,Mintabie, Oodnadatta, William Creek and Stations, Witjira -

Dalhousie All Communities: APY Lands,

NT : Kulgera, Erldunda, Yulara Stuart Well, ALICESPRINGS, Aileron, Kings Canyon, Tennant Creek,

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7 DAYS WEATHER - low - high 20s - Coober Pedy - an underground town, builton the back of opal mining

Coober Pedy is Australia’s real ‘DownUnder’, famous for its fabulous opals and bizarresubterranean homes. For generations, minershave dug into the white and orange rock to extractthe valuable, sparkling stone. The tunnels andchambers were converted into undergroundshomes in order to escape from the desert heat.

Coober Pedy ‘evolved’ as the result ofa massive post war Opal Rush where hardypioneers developed a make or break preciousgem industry in the desert terrain.

333 days sunshine

Enjoy LAWN BOWLS, TENNIS andTABLE TENNIS in the friendly atmosphereof the United Club Sporting Centre.

Spend a day on the most challengingGOLF COURSE in the world.

Watch the local footy team playAUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL & SRILANKAN CRICKET

During Easter Coober Pedy holds itsannual OPAL FESTIVAL & GEM TRADESHOW

Coming soon - The COOBER PEDYGLIDING CLUB

Visit the OPAL FIELDS - you’llbelieve you’re on Mars. Join tours to localmines to see how they work and get thechance to noodle (fossick) for your own opal

Take a tour to the natural landscapesoutside the town (see film locations like MadMax: Beyond Thunderdome and Red Planet)including the PAINTED DESERT, thecolourful BREAKAWAYS and the MOONPLAIN

Join the MAIL RUN out of CooberPedy to deliver outback mail! Take a leisurelyflight over the spectacular LAKE EYREBe part of the last frontier mining townand its living history 100 years on. Formore information on visiting Coober

Pedy, go to: www.cooberpedy.net

See the extravagantly built UNDER-GROUND SERBIAN CHURCH with it’smagnificent stained glass windows andcarvings.

Visitors can stay overnight andexperience underground life as the locals do!

Opal miners at work in Coober Pedy

Shortest Day / Winter Solstice is June 21 2014 10:51 GMTLongest Day / Summer Solstice is Dec 21 2014 23:03 GMTEquinoxes are March 20 2014 16:57 GMT, andSeptember 23 2014 02:29 GMT

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 3

IMX WINS DAVID AND GOLIATH BATTLEFOR PREMIER’S MINING AWARDThe Premier's Community Excellence

Awards in Mining and Energy acknowledgecompanies in South Australia for theirefforts in social inclusion, supportingcommunities, women in resources and

environmental excellence.

Entrants showcased their initiatives in contributingeconomically, socially and environmentally to theSouth Australian community. The awardsrecognise companies whose corporateresponsibility extends beyond shareholders to thewider community.

The awards were announced at SACOME’sAnnual Resources Industry Dinner held at theAdelaide Convention Centre on Tuesday 6th May.Over 600 people attended the event includingbusiness leaders, Mayors, Ministers, Membersof Parliament and an eclectic array of companyrepresentatives from throughout the resourcessector.

Of the four awards on offer, 'Excellence inSupporting Communities' was the most heavilycontended; receiving the highest number ofentrants this year for any category since theawards commenced in 2010.

With a market value of just $20M, IMXResources competed this year in what could beclassed a David and Goliath battle for thePremier’s mining award in CommunityExcellence.

"The awards acknowledge and celebrate thecompanies that contribute not just economically,but socially to South Australia's local, regionaland state-wide communities," said Mr TomKoutsantonis, Minister for Resources and Energy.

On announcing the winner, Minister Koutsanoniscommended the IMX Resources communitystimulation strategy.

“The initiatives of IMX Resources Ltd have madea major contribution to community life in CooberPedy,” he said.

The Minister made reference to IMX’s LocalLiving Allowance which provides financialincentives for local employees to remain living inthe community as well as encourage FIFOworkers to relocate to Coober Pedy.

“The company has also recognised the challengesfor remote communities in accessing health careby providing medical equipment to the CooberPedy Hospital and supports health education,which provides long-term benefits to thecommunity,” the Minster said.

“IMX Resources is also working with theAustralian Red Cross in the development andimplementation of the ‘Red Cross Good StartBreakfast’ program, which focuses onencouraging school children to adopt healthyeating habits,” Minster Koutsantonis concluded.

IMX has also funded the Australian Red Cross’implementation of the FOODcents® Program inCoober Pedy which teaches children and adultsabout the importance of nutrition and how ahealthier lifestyle can dramatically improve qualityof life.

IMX Resources was announced the winner andSteve Staines, the longest serving employee ofIMX and tireless manager of the company'scommunity and sponsorship activities, was inAdelaide to collect the award.

"Firstly I'd like to thank Premier Weatherill foryour government's ongoing support of regionalcommunities. I do hope that your newgovernment will continue to listen to communitiesand continue to be a key stakeholder in ongoingeconomic growth in regional areas," Steve'sacceptance speech began.

"It was with great pleasure Premier, that I heardthis morning in your opening presentation at thisconference that your government intends tofollow through on your pre-election commitmentto fully reinstate the Remote Area Energy Suppliesscheme, also known as the RAES subsidy.”

“For those in the audience who are not aware,some businesses in Coober Pedy pay up to twoand a half times the price for electricity comparedto their equivalent sized counterparts inmetropolitan areas. The full reinstatement of theRAES subsidy on 1st July will be welcome respitefor small business in Coober Pedy and the other12 off-grid Outback South Australiancommunities,"

Steve went on to thank past and present IMXboard members and Managing Directors includingDuncan McBain, Neil Meadows and new MD,Gary Sutherland. Special recognition was alsogiven to General Manager of the Cairn Hill Projectfor the past 6 years, Simon Parsons, for hissteadfast support and understanding of theimportance of community relations activities.

"Finally, and most importantly, I'd like to extenda very special thank you to the Coober Pedycommunity," Steve continued. "Coober Pedywelcomed IMX into the community some 7 yearsago and I sure hope we haven't let you down."

Steve's closing remarks indirectly drew attentionto the importance of corporate honesty, integrityand understanding of a community as being moreimportant than money in the field of communityrelations. This insight was imparted via a quoteby Pierre Lassonde, arguably one of the mostwell-known international identities in the goldmining industry.

"You don't get your social license by going to agovernment ministry and making an applicationor simply paying a fee, it requires far more thanjust money to truly become part of thecommunities in which we operate... to CooberPedy... celebrating its 100th birthday next year,onwards and upwards!" Steve concluded.

Steve Staines of IMX accepts the award from Minister forEnergy and Resources, Hon Tom Koutsantonis.

All the Winners and others recognized on the night included(see left): Minister Koutsantonis in the centre- Winner - Thiess “Leadership – Women in

Resources Award” for a broad range ofinitiatives that create and maintain a culturethat supports the potential of women at all levelsin its workforce

- Winner - Iluka Resources – “EnvironmentalExcellence Award” for working with the AdelaideBotanic Gardens and local universities on itsrehabilitation activities that include plantrestoration and rehabilitation which will havefar reaching future benefits for many othercompanies working in arid areas.

- IMX Resources – “Excellence in SupportingCommunities”

- Letter of Commendation for SupportingCommunities – Murray Zircon

- Winner - BHP Billiton – Social Inclusion Awardfor their Prisoner Reintegration EmploymentOpportunities Program

- Letter of Commendation – Oz Mineralsentered three categories and came second ineach of them

The Adelaide Convention Centre was packed to the rafters atthe ‘night of nights’ for the South Australian Resources sector.The South Australian Chamber for Mines and Energy put on agreat evening.

Winners and categories centre photo

Page 4 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

FOODcents®

Stuart Highway: Audio tactileline-marking May - August

Work is underway on upgrading the line-markingson the Stuart Highway between Port Augusta andMarla.

The works are expected to be completed by the end ofAugust, 2014.

Speed restrictions will be in place at the worksite to ensurethe safety of road workers and the travelling public.

Audio Tactile Line Markings (ATLM) – make noise andcause the vehicle to vibrate when tyres role over them,alerting road users that their vehicle is veering towardsthe road edge.

Between 2008 and 2012 there have been 86 crashes alongthis stretch of road where a vehicle has left the road.

Tragically, 10 lives have been lost because of thosecrashes.

Minister for Road Safety, Tony Piccolo said that the$3,050,000 upgrade was funded by the Motor AccidentCommission and would significantly improve safety forroad users.

Minister for Regional Development, Geoff Brock said thatthe markings provided a safer driving environment on oneof South Australia’s major highways.

On Tuesday, 13 May 2014 Police in Coober Pedy cordonedoff an area around a disused car in Chadwick Street afterthe discovery of old explosives in the boot of a vehicle.

The vehicle that was purchased about two years ago, hadnot been accessed until Tuesday. The owner discoveredthe bag while cleaning the vehicle out.

Nitropril is commonly used by opal miners for blastingnew ground during the opal mining operation.

The area in Chadwick St was cordoned off, while policeawaited the arrival of member of the SA Police ExplosiveCoordination Section who will dispose of the items.

Woman arrestedafter fatal accident

in GlendamboThursday, 15 May 2014 Major Crash Investigatorsarrested and charged an 18-year-old woman in relation toa crash on Monday in which a 23-year-old man died.

The crash occurred on Stuart Highway about 50km southof Glendambo.

The woman was charged with an aggravated count ofdriving without due care, driving while unlicensed andfailing to truly answer.

A court hearing was held via video link-up from the RoyalAdelaide Hospital on Thursday. The woman will remainin Australia and face court in June

Two other women who were passengers in the car remainin hospital with minor injuries. All four were internationalvisitors from Germany.

Old explosivesfound in boot of car

FALLS PREVENTIONPROGRAM

A new SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) trainingprogram will help improve access to South

Australia’s falls prevention services forcountry patients.

SAAS General Manager, Clinical Effectiveness andPatient Safety, Rob Elliott, said the program would helpto identify those most at risk from falls and get them theright help quickly by linking them with local communityhealth services.

“SAAS receives an average of 15,000 calls forassistance each year for people who have fallen andare either injured or unable to get up themselves,” RobElliott said.

“As well as providing them with care at that time, wealso want to do whatever we can to prevent a fall fromhappening again.

“This new training program will further help ourambulance officers to provide our patients with the bestpossible care by helping prevent them from unnecessarilyhaving to go to an emergency department or beingadmitted to hospital in the future.”

Acting Country Health SA Falls Prevention Manager,Joyti Zwar, said the new initiative would create closerties between SAAS and country community healthservices.

“This training program will assist in improving ambulanceclinicians’ knowledge of our community based servicesand will help them to more easily identify which patientswould benefit from seeing a health professional,” JoytiZwar said.

“The ambulance officers will be able to refer theseconsumers directly to our services for a falls riskassessment and we can then work with the consumerand their families to identify falls and injury risk factors,and put measures in place to build confidence andindependence.

IngredientsServes 4375g lean sausages1 Onion, thinly sliced1 Garlic clove, crushed or finely sliced1/2 cup Vegetable stock (salt reduced)400g can Crushed tomatoes1 teaspoon Dried herbs (parsley, basil or Italian)4 Potatoes, peeled and chopped1/4 cup Skim milk1 tablespoon MargarinePepper, to taste

MethodHeat a large frying pan over medium heat.Add sausages and cook, turning for 10 minutes until cookedthrough.Remove sausages to a plate and cut into 3cm pieces.Add onion and garlic to the pan, cook for 2-3 minutes untilsoft.Add stock and canned tomatoes and bring to the boil.Reduce the heat to low and add herbs and the sausages to thepan.Cook for 10 minutes on low heat.Meanwhile, add the potato to a saucepan and fill with water.Cook on a medium heat until boiling, then simmer for 12minutes or until soft.Drain the water and return potato to the pan.Mash the potato with a fork or masher, then add milk,margarine and pepper.Serve mash with sausage mix.

Sausage Ragu

Preparation: 5 minsCooking: 25 mins

Regional DevelopmentAustralia Far North

Coober Pedy Tourism & Events Committee &the South Australian Tourism Commission

(SATC) invite you to attend

“The Coober PedyRegional Workshop”

This workshop has been tailored to suit the regionand the operators in it. The SATC is bringingrepresentatives from different units within the SATCto present practical information designed to benefitthe region’s operators. The SATC’s new Director ofMarketing, Emma Fletcher will provide insights as tothe SATC’s marketing plans and strategies movingforward as well as an update on the development ofan Outback Brand. Other presenters will also provideinformation that is relevant to the region for operatorsto learn and leverage off the work the SATC isundertaking to promote the region. Highlighting usefulstrategic data and insights available to operators andcouncils to assist in your tourism and businessplanning.

SATC department updates includedin this workshop:

Marketing Team (including anOutback Brand update)

PR TeamInternational TeamStrategy & Insights Team

DaDaDaDaDate:te:te:te:te: TTTTThurhurhurhurhursdasdasdasdasdayyyyy,,,,, 5 5 5 5 5th th th th th ofofofofof J J J J June 2014une 2014une 2014une 2014une 2014Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pmTime: 2:00pm – 5:00pmTime: 2:00pm – 5:00pmTime: 2:00pm – 5:00pmTime: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Venue: The Desert Cave ConventionRoom,Desert Cave Motel, Coober Pedy.Cost: Nil

(Afternoon tea provided)

Please register by the 2nd of June 2014To register your interest, please contact

Ben Boothby at RDA Far Northon 08 8641 1444 or tourism@rdafn.com.au

TRIPLE ZERO (000)What happens when you call Triple Zero (000)?

When you dial 000, your call is connected to theTelstra Emergency Call service centre

You will be prompted by the Telstra operator"Police, Fire or Ambulance?"

Stay on the line and answer the questions

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 5

LOCALLOCALLOCALLOCALLOCALNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWS

ORORORORORSTSTSTSTSTORIESORIESORIESORIESORIES

For local stories ornews items to

share, send to theCoober Pedy

Regional Timescptimes@ozemail.com.au

OME OPENING HOURS:Mon-Fri 7.00am - 5.00pmSat 7.00am - 1.00pmSun Closed

•Fuel •Gas Refills •General Engineering and LightFabrication •Industrial and hardware supplies

•Filters all types •Hydraulic Fittings •Oils•Bearings •V Belts •Hosing •Air Fittings•Trailer Parts •Safety Gear •Dog Food

•Chain blocks, slings, rigging gear •Cigweld AgentSearle Trading Pty Ltd

Opal Miners’ EnterprisesLot 1299 Old Water Tank Rd

Coober Pedy SA 5723 Phone: (08) 8672 5830ABN: 44 761 266 367

OUTBACK MAILRUN TOURCards & StationaryComputer SuppliesDesert Parks Agent & other toursMaps & Books on the areaLocal Information/Road reportPhone: (08) 8672 5558

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OPAL MINERS ASSOCIATION LOOKINGINTO NEW BOOTHS FOR TRADE SHOW

In the weeks following the 2014 Coober Pedy GemTrade Show (GTS), Vice President Paul Reynoldssays that the future of the show is evolving nicelyfor the opal industy with the committee now look-

ing at buying their own permanent booth panelling.

“With freight and hire it is currently costing the Opal MinersAssociation $6,000 per year to bring up the booth panellingfor the Show, so the Association are currently gettingquotes together with a view to buying our own fittings.Wealready own the cabinets, so it will make us totallyindependent”, said Paul.

“Having our own fittings will take the pressure off gettinga lot of people together to erect the booths over two days,then deconstructing them in time to refreight it all back toAdelaide. I personally lose 5 straight days of time due tothis process, so if we buy our own then we can erectthem when it suits us better,” said Paul

“We could have bought the booths outright for $60K butif we have them made it should work out to around $30K,including carpet tiles. In 5 years time it will pay for itself,plus we can hire them and retrieve some money for theAssociation. It also broadens Coober Pedy’s horizons inthat if others wanted to hold an Expo of any descriptionhere, we would now have that facility.”

“The committee is very pleased with the outcome of thisyear’s Gem Trade Show with all of the major booth holdersextremely happy with the result,” he said.

“David Miller from TradeStart puts a lot of time and effortinto attracting buyers to the GTS, then he organisestransport and accommodation and looks after them whenthey arrive.”

Paul said that the show wouldn’t happen without thevolunteers. “I wish to thank every one of them that helped.”

“Next year at the Croation Club the food facilities will beexpanded to include pigs and lamb on spits.”

“Anyone who has anything to sell can set up a stall outsideand join in over the weekend,” said Paul.

TradeStart Advisor David Miller said, “The Gem TradeShow was also supported by four buyers from Hong Kongthat normally visit the opal fields at other times of theyear and some resident buyers. The show had 13 boothsand a number of opal miners selling opal to the majorbuyers and to the public.”

“Sales of opal were good with many export purchasessupplemented by domestic sales to visitors to Coober Pedyfor the Opal Festival. There was a very positive messagefrom the Gem Trade Show this year with new buyersfrom China looking to establish long term partnershipagreements with opal sellers. There has been an increasinginterest in Australian Opal and some companies in Chinaare establishing Australiana stores and opal fits into theirsales picture.”

“The Chinese visitors were welcomed on Friday by theGem Show Committee and given a tour of an old opalmine and a presentation on opal mining. Friday eveningthe visitors were guests of TradeStart at an informal dinnerwhere they were introduced to the Gem Trade ShowCommittee.”

“The Gem Trade Show dinner was held on Saturday nightat the Desert Cave and attracted a good attendance fromthe booth holders, international visitors, the Gem ShowCommittee and others.

Following the Gem Trade Show on Sunday night thevisitors were invited to a 5 star BBQ dinner at the DesertCave to dine with the Gem Trade Show Committee.”

Opal buyer and exhibitor Tony Wong with PaulReynolds Gem Trade Show Vice President

Bright future for the Gem Trade Show with majorbooth holders extremely happy

The Coober Pedy Basketball Association Grand Finalwas held on Saturday the 17th May in front of a strongcrowd at the CPAS gym. The women’s game beganwith a bang as players crashed into each other fightingfor the ball, and after the 1st quarter scores werelocked at 12 points each.

The second quarter was dominated by the eagles, everyshot seemed to drop in, and by half time they held acommanding 26-14 lead.

The crowd thought the Comets were finished, however aresurgence from J.Jones and M.lennon meant the cometswere able to get within three points at the 3 quarter timebreak.

In the last quarter, the eagles supreme shooting and intensedefensive pressure meant they were able to run away witha 54-37 win.

In the men’s game the Eagles shot out of the blocks, asthe Comets struggled to match their speed and supremeskills, and after the 1st quarter the eagles led 15-6.

In the second quarter, the comets came back with somequick fast breaks, and the half time score was 26-18.

The third quarter was similar to the first, as the eaglescontinued to outclass the comets and by 3qtr timethey led 38-24. In last quarter, L.Kenny hit an earlythree pointer, which gave the comets hope, howeverthe eagles flew high and won the match 42-33.

The highly successful basketball season, whichencompassed 4 men’s and 4 women’s teams, haspaved the way for more competitive sport in CooberPedy. There are plans to run a netball competitionjust for women in the near future, so keep an eye outand commit to a team.

The Coober Pedy Basketball Association would liketo thank all the players, umpires and supporters, whomade the season possible. The Competition wouldnot have been able to go ahead without the amazingsupport from the Coober Pedy Saints Football Club,the DCCP Sport and Rec Committee, Coober PedyArea School and the Opal Inn.

David NessCPBA President

Basketball Grand Finals: Eagles Fly High!

The Womens Basketball - Comets and Eaglesbattle it out for the Grand Finals See results on page 16

Page 6 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

Coober Pedy Street andRoad Names

Where did the name of your street come from? Part 53 in a seriesby Sue Britt

BURFORD PLACEGeorge Burford came to the Stuart Range Opal

Fields in 1919. Before coming to the opal fields,Burford had been prospecting for gold, silver and

osmiridium* in Tasmania.

According to The Honorary Magistrate August, 1923,his ”slab hut in Tasmania was in the gully of a highmountain with a drop of 1000 feet in the mile.” It seemshe was accustomed to remote living before he came tothe Stuart Ranges with a government prospecting party.

George Burford’s dugout is in front of the Umoona Mine& Museum. There is an interpretive sign. It is on theHistorical Society’s self-guided tour. In Burford’s dayit was also a Commonwealth Bank agency and the Shellfuel depot. He had a pedal transceiver through theAustralian Aerial Medical Service at Broken Hill. Spareparts and other emergency needs could be ordered andthen dispatched by mail through Kingoonya.

In 1941, when Burford collapsed and temporarily wentblind, he was able to contact the Aerial Medical Serviceand speak to Dr Reilly in Alice Springs. The doctoradvised that he go to hospital. Two weeks later Burfordwas receiving treatment in hospital in Adelaide havingtravelled there by car and train. The News article thatreported the story, Outback Succour for Man Who WentBlind after Collapse, made much of the dozens of pedal-generated transceivers over the outback and the abilityof settlers to “communicate daily with the powerful basestation in their area.”

George Burford represented Coober Pedy and the opalminers in many ways. Before coming to the fields hehad already travelled around the world. He was quitethe dapper man about town, his doings regularly reportedin the Advertiser social feature Out Among the Peopleby ‘Vox’.

When his beloved dog Tweed went missing in Adelaide,the News devoted a 993-word article to the 3-day searchfor the dog and his happy reunion with his master.Known as a field buyer, Burford worked to put CooberPedy on the map, developing markets for opal. Hetravelled to the USA and Europe.

Burford presumably left Coober Pedy some time in the1940’s.

*Osmiridium is a very rare, naturally occurring,metal alloy that was used for pen nibs because itis resistant to corrosion. (Wikipedia)Opal Men by Vin WakeThe Advertiser Out Among the People 26/3/30,16/8/38, 7/12/38, 23/12/38, 2/3/39, 6/1/39, 23/1/41, 15/5/41, 10//8/44Old Timers Mine exhibit by Kath Crilly 1994The News 4/7/41

Burford and Tweed outside his dugout c.1930

Burford quickly became a figure of authority in the smallcommunity of about 70 residents. In 1920 he wasnominated as a Justice of the Peace. In August, 1923he was “said to be the youngest holder of the King’sCommission of the Peace in Australia.”

His abilities were held in such esteem that, according toVin Wake, once, a miner suffering from varicose veins(and drink) approached him demanding that Burfordperform surgery on his legs saying, “Me varicose veinsis playin’ up. Doctor told me to get ’em cut if theyswelled. Do it for me. You’re the JP and captain of thefootball team.” Burford replied, “That doesn’t qualifyme to act as a surgeon.”

George Burford was the Secretary of the ProgressCommittee. In this capacity he headed the deputationfor the water tank and also secured a pump and a raingauge. He petitioned the government for a postalservice.

As resident magistrate on the fields, Burford settled thefirst dispute between opal miners, finding in favour ofthe accused because there was no way of identifyingthe ownership of the opal in question.

He was often referred to as the ‘mayor’ of the town.In 1921, he was instrumental in setting up the HospitalCommittee. During the Depression years, he was incharge of distribution of Public Relief Rations.

Although Burford’s occupation was given as miner, hisduties as secretary were wide and varied. He issuednotices to tourists warning of difficult road conditions.He informed the Secretary of Agriculture of a mouseplague moving south.

In 1938, Burford applied for a publican’s license to openan inn. It was to be named the Coober Pedy Club Hotel.His application failed, CJ Coventry SM ruling that it waspremature as through traffic in those days only averaged1 car a week. The magistrate’s decision was based onevidence given by Jacob Santing.

Burford in city clothes 1940

Map of Australia taken from Burford’s OpalAdvertisement

George Burford on a camel that ran in a camel race c. 1920

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 7

by Jenny Davison

Dear Editor, I have to agree wholeheartedly withLetters to the Editor Coober Pedy Regional Times8 May 2014. The arrogance of the security at theOpal Festival was not limited to the ‘Prison Tent’.

After participating in the Opal Festival Parade and, as everyyear, volunteering at the oval to help with the events toentertain the community and tourists organised by theCFS, I was arrogantly and rudely denied entry to the oval.This was most humiliating.

I’m not sure that this “security” was even real. I wasshown no ID and those common Fluro shirts can be boughtat any cheap merchandise store.

I was dressed in my CFS uniform complete with my fullname on display which clearly identified the CommunityServices Organisation I belonged to, not freely availablein cheap merchandise shops!.

The quasi security guard bluntly refused to listen, use hisvisual capabilities, was obnoxious and unbending to bothmyself and my son who also volunteered with the Parade.I was concerned he would physically push me if I dareassert myself further.

Tourists were noticeably less this year with most sayingit was poorly advertised and they happened to be there bychance.

I don’t believe I’m alone in believing this Festival shouldbe organized by the Business Association and thehardworking people who have made the greatestcontribution to Coober Pedy’s foundations and in previousyears have done an excellent job.

I hope we don’t need another referendum to decide this!

I recently received and read the Council newsletterdropped in my post box. The glowing descriptionof the Opal Festival “beggars belief.” It does notcorrespond at all to the comments I’ve heard from

those attending. A newcomer to town said, indisbelief, “Is that what it’s always like?

I expected more.”

I did not attend the Opal Festival. I went to Kingoonya.This letter is the result of stories told to me by those whodid attend.

Weeks before the event, a person who works more thanfull time in a very demanding job, told me about thedifficulty she experienced in finding information aboutholding a stall. There was nothing in the newsletters orlocal newspaper. She was referred to the Council websitebut couldn’t find anything there. She even went to theCouncil but there was no written information there either.

Other stallholders complained about lack of information.On arrival on the day, most stallholders were presentedwith an envelope containing their entry bracelets, the carpermit, an advertising poster (too late to put up anywhere),and a map of the grounds with the stall locations. Whywasn’t this material provided beforehand?

The craft people were put in a partitioned tent. Theycomplained about the inadequacy of their area, which wastoo small. Once all the stalls were set up there washardly enough room to turn around. There was nosignage. People attending the Festival didn’t know theywere there until they passed directly in front of the tent.There was limited access and viewing. Passers-bycouldn’t see in and stallholders couldn’t see out. Craftpeople felt hidden away and not wanted. All said they didvery poorly as a result. They believed they would havebeen better off setting up in the main street instead. Onedisgusted market regular said she will not be back.

It would have been nice if the organisers had taken thetime to introduce themselves. Previous organisers alwaysmade a point of introducing themselves, welcoming stallholders, offering help and checking on how things weregoing through the day.

Why were there three doughnut sellers? Priority shouldhave been given to the local whose profits were for acommunity project.

Sideshows were inside the oval, in prime position. Thisgave them an unfair advantage over local stalls.

The announcements were indistinct. Many people missedout on events because they couldn’t hear or understandwhat was being said. The music on the rides was drowningout the announcer. People in the tents just didn’t knowwhat was going on outside. They couldn’t hear.

The events were poorly co-ordinated. The Tug ‘o’ War,usually a really popular event, had very few watching itbecause it was scheduled at dusk and at the same time asa fire juggler.

There was a general lack of advertising. The posters andsocial media just did not inform the general communityadequately. People are used to seeing prominantinformation in the local paper months in advance. TheOpal Festival program only appeared in a few locations afew days beforehand. Most people couldn’t find it.

On the other hand, the efforts of the cleaners were muchappreciated. They kept the grounds spotless all throughthe day. The fireworks were good too. These positives,however, are far outweighed by the negatives.

More worrying still, is this an indication of how theCentenary Opal Festival will be conducted next year?

Sue BrittCoober Pedy

Letter to the EditorRe: Opal FestivalVOLUNTEERS

TREATED RUDELY ATOPAL FESTIVAL

Julie Knight Coober Pedy

Page 8 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 9

Open 7 DAYS Open 7 DAYS Open 7 DAYS Open 7 DAYS Open 7 DAYS fromfromfromfromfrom 7am - 9.30pm 7am - 9.30pm 7am - 9.30pm 7am - 9.30pm 7am - 9.30pmKitchen is open from 7 - 2pm daily

Hutchison Street (opposite THutchison Street (opposite THutchison Street (opposite THutchison Street (opposite THutchison Street (opposite TAFE)AFE)AFE)AFE)AFE)

Orders - Telephone: 87725 705Orders - Telephone: 87725 705Orders - Telephone: 87725 705Orders - Telephone: 87725 705Orders - Telephone: 87725 705 Family owned and operated for 24 years Family owned and operated for 24 years Family owned and operated for 24 years Family owned and operated for 24 years Family owned and operated for 24 years

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LLLLLUNAR LANDSCAPE IN BLUNAR LANDSCAPE IN BLUNAR LANDSCAPE IN BLUNAR LANDSCAPE IN BLUNAR LANDSCAPE IN BLOOMOOMOOMOOMOOMImages of the moon’s mysterious craggy ranges,

rocky deserts and pockmarked surface havecaptivated people for decades.

Although most of us will never make it to the moonourselves, there is one place you can visit that is almostas unearthly – Coober Pedy in South Australia’s Outback.

Flying into the remote town, you’ll see thousands ofpyramid-like mounds of white rock spotted over theorange sand, interspersed with deep holes tunnelling farinto the ground.

This bizarre landscape has been formed by men, womenand families from 45 different nationalities over 100 years,all drilling with the hope of finding opal… and a quickfortune.

Robert Coro, Chair of Coober Pedy Retail Business andTourism Association and owner of the Desert Cave Hotel,says some of the area’s natural formations are equally asfascinating.

“Just outside the town we have the extraordinary giantrock formations The Breakaways which, on sunset, seemto glow like giant embers,” Robert says.

“The nearby Painted Desert is a mass of rocky hillsbursting out of the flat plains which, in the sunlight, showoff dazzling colours.

“Then we have Lake Eyre – a huge expanse of shimmeringwhite salt when it’s dry, or a basin of brilliant floodwaters,wildflowers and birdlife in wet years.”

Breakaways Co-Management Board Executive OfficerChevahn Hoad said, “Following good rains the entireoutback can change colour in a matter of weeks, changingto lush green followed by one of the many colours of thelocal wildflowers.”

A falcon hovers above a thick stretch of yellow cress (Arabidella nasturtium) just outside the opalcapital

“Coober Pedy is currently surrounded by beautiful yellowwildflowers that carpet the region including theBreakaways and moon plain”, said Chevahn.

“It’s no wonder this place attracts so many artists andphotographers, plus all the film-makers – ‘Mad Max 3’and ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ are very well knownbut Coober Pedy features in plenty of other great moviestoo”, added Robert Coro.

“While it’s fantastic to have all these exciting projectshappening around us, the simple things never fail to amazepeople either – if you have never been out in the desert atnight, stargazing at the bright Southern skies from a placethat feels like the moon itself, you really should try it!” saidRobert.

The Breakaways is currently in bloom with yellowwildflowers and carpets of green growth afterrecent heavy rains

Photo Chevahn HoadLunar landscape at Coober Pedy, formed by a century of opal mining Photo Peter Rowe

Photo: CPRT

Page 10 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

Saturday 28 June 2014

22nd Marree Australian Camel CupMarree & District Progress Association Inc.Marree & District Progress Association Inc.Marree & District Progress Association Inc.Marree & District Progress Association Inc.Marree & District Progress Association Inc.

Saturday 5th July 2014

Licensed Bar & Catering

Camel races......Donkey races.......Dog races.........Camel PoloTug o war.........Hole in oneCamel Cup Children’s Fashions of the FieldEvening Entertainment

Come along & join in. Heaps of fun for everyone.

Calcutta on the Cup

9 am start at the MarreeRace course

A family fun filled day

OUTBACK CIRCUIT

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 11

d

CPAS NEWSFrom the Principal’s Desk…

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome backfamilies after the school holidays. I would also like towelcome the new families and students that have enrolledwith us this term.

We hope that your time here with us is an enjoyable andfulfilling learning journey.

Staffing News...We would like to welcome Vashti Hendy who is doing her2 week teaching placement with Lisa Vermeeren in thePreschool, and Rodney Zivkovic who has started teachingwith us this term. Mr Zivkovic will be supporting withreliefs and also taking Mrs Jones’ Reception class thisterm whilst she goes on leave.

As you may already know, John Sutton is taking leave forTerm 2. We wish him all the best as he recovers from hisknee surgery.

Congratulations to Luke Kenny who has won the Principalposition for this term. Also, congratulations to MauriceSaah who has won the Senior Leader position for Years10-12 while Luke Kenny is Principal. Angela Riley, ourMiddle Years Senior Leader will be taking leave from Week4, 20th May and returning on the 16th June. The Panelprocess is continuing for this position.

This term has started off quite busy with many excitingthings planned for the term ahead. Some of our studentsare involved in a special project learning how to engagewith iPads in their learning. Miss Vermeeren’s pre-schoolers, Miss Walsh and Miss Rose’s classes areworking together, and Mrs Ravichandran and MissWinen’s students, and Mr Wooden and Mr Key’s Year 9students.

The Digital Technologies Learning Project run by GawainDuncan from the New Media Team with support from JoCampbell and Christine McKenzie has been an excitingprogram for the classes so far and we look forward toseeing what the students produce during these sessions.

We currently have a Year 11 Outdoor Education campaway for the Kayaking Adventure Trip. We wish them allthe best as they orienteer their way around the RiverMurray. Mr Beelitz, Mr Kenny and Miss Jones are leadingthe team and we hope they take out first place!

Mrs Adele Kenny, Acting Principal

Upcoming Dates to Remember...School Photos Tuesday 13th MayYear 8 & 9 Immunisations—Wednesday Week5, 28th of May

Science with Miss Walshand Miss Rose

We have beenlearning about

living things. Inclass we readJack and the

Beanstalk andwe planted

some of ourown beanstalks

Left: We now know a lot about the life cycle of afrog, plant and a butterfly and what they need tosurvive in their habitats.

We watched ourbeanstalks veryclosely and recordedthe changes andmeasured theirgrowth

We learnt about habitats and all the differentthings that plants and animals need to survive.

We also have tadpoles living in our room. Welooked after them very carefully and watchedmany of them change into frogs.

Congratulations to our You Can Do It award winners!Our 100% attendance raffle winners were Tyson Rapaicand Ethan Wise.

Congratulations to Miss Costi, Mrs Ravichandran and MissWinen’s classes who created Opal Miners that weredisplayed at the Opal Festival. Each class won Pizza Barvouchers for their creative Opal Festival entries.

CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISINGSee page 2 for Rates, Deadlines & Publishing Dates

Page 12 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

Indemnity

Providing a regular service toCoober Pedy, Oodnadatta, Marla

and surrounding areas

Truckin’ Frozen, Perishable andGeneral Freight.

Also Specialising in Livestock,Wool and Bulk Cartage Phone: (08) 8280 5033Mobile: 0408 859 037Fax: (08) 8280 5788

Address: 397 Burton RoadBurton SA

Advertising agencies, advertisers andother contributors accept full

responsibility for the contents ofadvertisements and other submitted,

signed material and agree toindemnify the publishers against any

claim or proceedings out of thepublication of such advertisements or

material.Provision of material or copy forpublication in the Coober Pedy

Regional Times Newspaperconstitutes acceptance by

advertisers, advertising agencies andother contributors of this condition.

McEvoy TransportUpper Eyre Peninsulato the WA – SA Border

McEvoy’s – We Care forUpper Eyre

ADELAIDE DEPOTLocation: 397 BURTON ROAD

BURTONPh: 08 82808044

Fax: 08 8280 3726adelaide@mcevoytransport.com.au

MINERAL LEASES

Dugout with Excellent ViewsLot No. 1289, Tupper Close,

Coober PedyAssessed Value $65K

Will swap for Gem Opals, Shells& Fossils

Asking $40,000 Negotiable.Call Peter 0408-087019

RECRUITSNEEDED

Coober Pedy CFS urgentlyrequires new members,

particularly those who hold aMR and above Truck Licence.

All welcome to attendtraining - every Monday

night at 7pm

Contact CFS 1st LieutenantWayne Borrett 0439881049

or Training Officer Nigel on0402 003262

CFS CadetsCFS is now recruiting Cadets.Anyone from the age of 11 -

18 may enquire by contactingthe Cadet Coordinator Julie

on 0498 472 519

*Tyres *Tyre repairs*Fuel, *Parts

Opening hours 7.30am -5pm Phone 86725036

FUEL

Crohn’s & Colitis Australia campaignfor regional IBD care

Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) is holding its Awareness Month campaign,supporting over 75,000 people in Australia who live with the debilitating

conditions of Crohn’s disease and colitis (collectively known as inflammatorybowel disease or IBD).

Due to a lack of funding for IBD care, thousands of people are going withoutproper care, with the best IBD care dependent on where a patient lives.

The numbers of those suffering from Crohn’s disease or colitis in Australia isset to rise to 100,000 by the end of the decade.

Already the lack of adequate care is costing the country hugely, with healtheconomists from PwC estimating IBD costs Australia $3.1 billion each year in

hospital cots, productivity losses and financial and economic costs.

The federal government has provided CCA with an historic $500,000 grant tokick-start a program to improve the quality of IBD care throughout Australia.

The quality of IBD care varies greatly across the country, with many healthproviders not sufficiently equipped to help.Delays in diagnosis and inadequate

treatment often lead to irreversible damage, avoidable surgery andunnecessary pain and suffering.

CCA is contacted every day by people seeking information and support, withmany concerned and distressed about the lack of support in their local area.

“CCA is the first point of call for those diagnosed with Crohn’s disease orulcerative colitis. We provide confidential support, information and education

as well as advocacy for the IBD community, increasing awareness andgenerating funds for research and support.

This program to improve the quality of IBD care will make a huge difference tothose living with Crohn’s or colitis, as well as their family and the community asa whole. But we can’t do it alone. We need the community to get behind us, to

help raise the $500,000 needed for this project to go ahead.

For further information or to support Crohn’s & Colitis Australia please visitwww.crohnsandcolitis.com.au or call 1800 138 029.

FOR SALE - DUGOUT

Many past students and staff willremember with fondness Auntie Helen’slilting Irish accent as she manned theFront Office and Sickroom at Coober

Pedy Area School for 21 years.

She had time for all, whether it be to givea cuddle to a small child who had grazedtheir knee, to a soft scolding of an errantteenager called into the Principal’s office

for a misdemeanour. Staff also wouldregularly drop past her desk for a fewquiet words of encouragement when

feeling down – she always had time foreveryone.

It was for these reasons she wasaffectionately known as Auntie Helen bythe whole town. We missed her caringways when she left, but those of us whowere privileged to have known her will

never forget her, or the example she setfor us.

REST IN PEACE AUNTIE HELEN

DEATH NOTICEMC CORMACK Ellen (Auntie Helen)

passed away April 10th 2014 in Adelaide.

FOR SALE - VEHICLE

XF Falcon Station WagonGenuine 115,000 KmVery good condition;

GaragedRing: 0418842350

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 13

CFS T

IMX new Managing Directorvisits Coober PedyIMX Resources recently announced the

appointment of a new Managing Director, Mr GarySutherland. The appointment of the new MD

coincides with the recent news that IMX’s corporateoffice will be relocated to Adelaide from Perth.

Gary visited Coober Pedy recently and put aside sometime to catch up with the Coober Pedy Regional Times.

Gary is a metallurgist with over 30 years' experience inthe mining industry including executive roles in largeresource companies. His most recent previous role wasas Managing Director of Flinders Mines where he led thesuccessful transition from junior explorer to prospectiveiron ore producer.

Gary is certainly no stranger to Coober Pedy or outbackSouth Australian. Before Flinders Mines, he spent manyyears in senior leadership roles at BHP Billiton’s OlympicDam Mine in Roxby Downs. During his time in Roxby healso served as President of Woomera and Districts FootballLeague for 2 to 3 years.

“I was the President of the league when the Coober PedySaints first approached us to rejoin the league after manyyears break,” Gary said. “There was some opposition fromother clubs at the time due to their players having to travel

“IMX is junior resource company as was FlindersMines,” he explained. “With a smaller company you tendto find less bureaucracy and decisions can be made morequickly,” he said.

Tasked with driving growth in IMX’s iron ore businessin a recessed world market where capital is still hard toraise, Gary certainly appears to have his work cut outfor him.

“Growth in our iron ore business will be the pillar of thecompany’s strategy moving forward," Gary explainedfurther, "IMX is now committed to focusing on our SouthAustralian iron ore assets.”

There has been some speculation in the internationalmedia in recent months that China’s growth is slowingand that this may have a negative impact on demand forAustralian resources but Gary appears unperturbed.

“As long as China continues to experience 7% growthper annum like they are now, demand for Australianiron ore will remain strong and that will be good forIMX,” he concluded.

long distances but I was always a strong advocate forThe Saints,” he said.

When asked whether he missed BHP Gary appearedindifferent.

The small town of Ernabella (Pukatja) in SouthAustralia has recorded the largest earthquake in thenation for two consecutive years, experiencing a 5.7

magnitude event in both 2012 and 2013.

Geoscience Australia highlighted this event as one of 579earthquakes recorded nationally during 2013. As inprevious years, Western Australia was the most seismicallyactive state, experiencing 332 earthquakes for this period.New South Wales recorded 94 events, South Australiarecorded 88 and Victoria recorded 30.

Ernabella - a remote South Australian community in thenorthern part of the state has experienced three earthquakeevents in the past 27 years larger than magnitude 5.5.

“Ernabella’s seismic activity makes it one of the few areasin Australia to have experienced multiple large earthquakesin our recorded history,” said Geoscience AustraliaSeismologist Hugh Glanville.

“The Ernabella earthquakes are unusual in that built upstress is being released through occasional largerearthquake events, rather than smaller more regular ones,

Ernabella (Pukatja) records largest earth-quake in the nation for two consecutive years

as experienced in other parts of the country. GeoscienceAustralia will continue to investigate this area through thedeployment of seismic monitoring equipment, andhopefully the recorded data will be able to shed somelight on the earthquakes occurring there,” said MrGlanville.

Western Australia’s high level of seismic activity can beattributed to the occurrence of earthquake ‘swarms’ inits Wheatbelt region. Swarms are small earthquakes thatoccur multiple times per week or month in a confinedgeographic area with no associated foreshock oraftershock.

While Australia seems to experience a high number ofearthquakes per year, most of the earthquakes are undermagnitude 4.0, which are considered small as they don’tusually cause damage. “We don’t tend to experience largeearthquakes in Australia as we do not sit on the edge of atectonic plate, where larger earthquakes are morefrequently experienced,” said Mr Glanville.

“Australia’s earthquakes are caused by the Indo-Australianplate being pushed northeast about 7cm per year, colliding

with the Eurasian, Philippine and Pacific plates. Thismovement causes the build-up of stress in the interior ofthe Australian plate, which is then released duringearthquakes,” he continued.

Internationally, there were a number of large earthquakesrecorded during 2013, including an 8.3 magnitude eventin the Western Pacific region and a 7.7 magnitude eventin Pakistan in September that created a temporary mudvolcano island in waters near Gwadar, Pakistan.

Geoscience Australia monitors, analyses and reports onsignificant earthquakes to alert emergency managers inthe Australian Government, State and TerritoryGovernments and the public about earthquakes in Australiaand overseas so that the appropriate level of emergencyresponse and assistance can be dispatched. GeoscienceAustralia also operates the Joint Australian TsunamiWarning Centre with the Bureau of Meteorology.

You can help Geoscience Australia by reporting if youhad felt an earthquake or know of an earthquake thatrecently occurred. More information can be found on ourwebsite at www.ga.gov.au/earthquakes/ or follow us onTwitter@EarthquakesGA.

IMX Steve Staines with Managing Director GarySutherland in Coober Pedy last week

LGA COMMENT ON BUDGET: SA COMMUNITIESFEEL THE BACKLASH

May 14, 2014

South Australian communities will feel a $24 millionbacklash as a result of last night’s Federal Budget whichhas ripped much needed community funding from LocalGovernment.

The Local Government Association President, MayorDavid O’Loughlin said that in addition to the loss of SA’s$18 million per annum in supplementary local road fundsCouncils will also lose about $6 million expected growthin financial assistance grants.

He said what look like possible sweeteners in the form ofa future increase to Roads to Recovery funding and theFederal Black Spots Program would be dependent ondevelopment of the Federal Government’s proposed AssetRecycling Program. There is no guarantee any of thesefunds will find their way down to Council level.

A new Bridges to Renewal program of $60 million a yearnationally would provide funding on an application/

cannot be justified by the Minister.” DOL

Program 2013/14 allocation ($’million) 2014/15 allocation($’million)

Financial Assistance Grants (General Purpose component)114.4 (a) 113.9Financial Assistance Grants (Local Roads component)38.6 (a) 38.6Roads to Recovery 31.1 31.5Supplementary Local Road funding to SA 17.5 0Bridges to Renewal 0 (b)Black Spots 4.7 (b)Total 206.3 184.0

(a) Financial Assistance Grants for 2013-14 have beenadjusted to take account of the early receipt of grants in2012-13.(b) Outcomes will depend on a competitive applicationprocess.

competitive basis, again with no guarantee SA will receivea cent.

Mayor O’Loughlin said the budget cuts would play havocwith draft Council budgets currently out for consultationwith communities.

“Essentially Councils only have one tax, so the choicesthey have to put to communities are simple: cut servicesor increase rates,” he said.

Mayor O’Loughlin said the most savage cut to SACouncils, by terminating the Supplementary Local RoadFunding, was grossly unfair as it only impacts on SA. Noother state has had a cut of this type.

This means the Abbott Government has chosen to cutSA’s share of local road funding to SA to the lowest levelsince the early years of the Howard Government. “It isoutrageously unfair, targeted at South Australians and

Page 14 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

Mine Rescue Training(Alternate Saturdays)

LEGO CLUB 10am—12pm5 year olds and up Lions Club.Does not run on the LastSaturday of the Month

FRIDAYS

TUESDAYS

BABY BOUNCE RHYME &TODDLER STORY TIME 10amLibrary Catering for 0 to 5 y/o

Golf (CP Golf CourseRegistration 12:00 noonTee off time 12:30

United Bowling ClubLawn Bowls 1.30 pm

PLAY TIMECatering for 0 to 5 year olds2.00pm—3.30pmSchool Gymnasium

Catacomb Church Serviceand Sunday School 9:30amSunday. Bus pickup available.Ph 8672 5038

SATURDAYS

SUNDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAY

ART & CRAFT PLAYGROUP10.30am—11.30am Lion’s HallCaters for 2-4 year olds & caregivers

TJITJI TJUTA INKANYINI PUKULPA12pm—2pm A Playgroup for 0-5 yearolds and caregivers. Home Makers,Umoona Community, Lunch &Activities.“Pick up available Ph: 86723066”

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETINGS3nd Tuesday each month at 7pm

CFS TRAINING 7pmNew Members Welcome

AMBULANCE TRAINING7.30pm Umoona Roadevery Tuesday except school holidays

LITTLE MUSICIANS10.00am—10.45amCoober Pedy Area SchoolMusic RoomCaters for 3 to 5 year olds

TINY TACKER PLAYGROUP0 - 2 year olds 10am—12.30pmCommunity Health MeetingRoom (behind Dr. Kami’s)

CP SHOOTERS CLUBFriday night shotgun 8pm tilldark (daylight savings time)

GREEK CLUB - Bingo 7.30 pm

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUM.Over 65s FREE TAI CHICLASSES. Sit or stand for thesegentle exercises. 1:15PM atCommunity Health

CP Social Scrabble 7.30pmUnited Club . All skill levelswelcome

AA 8pm Underground CatholicChurch - Hutchison StreetContact Dave 0409349753

SOCCER Workshop 6pmSchool Oval 10-16 year olds

VETERINARY 2014

CP SHOOTERS CLUB9am and 11am Pistol

CFS TRAINING 10PMLast Saturday each month

CUT ‘N PASTE - 2013 2.00pmto 3.30pm at Youth Shed Ages5-17 Please call Donna 0439864 166 for more info. Every2nd Saturday

WHAT’S ON in COOBER PEDY?& Visiting Services

Roger Absalom BVMSRedgum Vet & Pet BoardingPort Augusta 08 86423308

CRICKET 5.30pm to 6.30 pm atSchool Gym

CRICKET 5.30pm to 6.30 pmat School Gym

MONDAYSKarate -Golf Club6 - 7pm General Class7 - 8pm Teenagers and Adults only

CRICKET AT OVALSaturday 7.00 pm andSunday 9.30pmPh: Fernando 0437 739 447

CRICKET AT OVALSaturday 7.00 pm andSunday 9.30pmPh: Fernando 0437 739 447

School Terms 2014 -15

Redgum Vet and Pet BoardingCoober Pedy Clinic dates for 2014

24/25 February7/8 April2/3 June4/5 August22/23 September10/11 November

Active Boys Group 3:15-5:00ages 10 & up at the youth shed

Youth Shed 3:15-6:00 ages 8& up

Youth Shed 3:15-6:00 ages 8& up

Active Girls Group3:15-5:00 ages 8 & up

Late Night Fridays 6-10pm ages 12 & up

Karate -Golf Club6 - 7pm General Class7 - 8pm Teenagers and Adults

Youth Shed 11-2 ages 8& up

Youth Shed 11-2 ages 8& up

CP SHOOTERS CLUBRifle 10am -

COOBER PEDYLIONS CLUB

Trash & TreasureTrash & TreasureTrash & TreasureTrash & TreasureTrash & TreasureLast Saturday of

each month

Sat 31 MaySat 31 MaySat 31 MaySat 31 MaySat 31 MaySellers 8.30am

Buyers 9am

FREE SWIMMING for the Over65s, every day at the school pool.1:30 – 7:30pm. Bring a friend free

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUM

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUM

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUMOver 65s FREE KARATE CLASS.10AM at the Golf Club

Fridays 6.00pm Twilight Golf

18 JUNE 2014 The Opal Field’sGolf Club will host Performance

Golf (15 Professional Golfers)with Special Junior Golf

Coaching

Opal Fields GolfClub Dates for

your Diary

GOLF: 6pm Twighlight Golf

Over 65s FREE TAI CHI CLASSES.Sit or stand for these gentle exercises.1:15PM at Community Health

The GREAThe GREAThe GREAThe GREAThe GREAT AUSTRALIANT AUSTRALIANT AUSTRALIANT AUSTRALIANT AUSTRALIANOPOPOPOPOPAL TAL TAL TAL TAL TOUROUROUROUROUR

24 - 30 September 2014

TTTTTrash & Trash & Trash & Trash & Trash & TreasurereasurereasurereasurereasureSat 31 May

Sellers 8.30am, Buyers 9am

Opal FOpal FOpal FOpal FOpal Fieldieldieldieldield’s Golf’s Golf’s Golf’s Golf’s GolfClubClubClubClubClub

Performance Golf18 JUNE 2014

49th William Creek49th William Creek49th William Creek49th William Creek49th William CreekGymkhanaGymkhanaGymkhanaGymkhanaGymkhana

Saturday 28 June 2014

Marree AustralianMarree AustralianMarree AustralianMarree AustralianMarree AustralianCamel CupCamel CupCamel CupCamel CupCamel Cup

Saturday 5th July 20149 am Race course

Coober PCoober PCoober PCoober PCoober Pedy Boxingedy Boxingedy Boxingedy Boxingedy BoxingTTTTTournamentournamentournamentournamentournament

Saturday 7 June7pm Croation Club (See poster)

Jumping Castle, BBQ,Hot Dogs, Donuts, Stalls

Coober PCoober PCoober PCoober PCoober Pedy Redy Redy Redy Redy Racesacesacesacesaces20142014201420142014

9th and 10th August!

Thursday 22 May 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 15

A win is a win is a win!Whilst the Saints win count does not add to three

as yet, they hold stoically onto second position onthe Far North Football League ladder.

After four rounds of the 2014 season, the league is wideopen for any team to record strong wins and compete inthe August finals. The looming presence of the flexingarmoury emanating from the Roxby Districts SportingClub, whom hold a perfect winning record withresounding wins for each of their first four matches, is achallenge which the Saints have set as their mark to hit inseason 2014.

On the 10th of May, round 3 of the season was played toa healthy crowd at Oz Minerals Oval, Coober Pedy. Itwas on this day that the Coober Pedy Football Clubrecorded its largest win to date: 86 points over theHornridge Sporting Club.

It was a game that zinged with attacking pace, high flyingmarks and goal kicking (25 for the Saints). It was a tightcontest for the first quarter, with Coober Pedy escapingwith a 14 point lead, mainly due to Hornridge’s poor goalkicking.

A seven goal to one second quarter nailed the messagehome that the Saints have a fortress, and were likely torepeat their effort from round one (84 points overAndamooka). The ball was delivered with pace andaccuracy in front of Full Forward Kelvin Henry all quarterfrom the midfield grunt, before he dispatched most everykick with one of his eight goals. The ruck and rovercombination of Mark Bell, Matthew Lynch, Bobby andCaleb Warren wrenched the ball from the middle andspeared it to Henry and his offsider for the day, DylanWarren.

The forward line blitz was not complete without clubpresident, and resident number 4, Ben Buller slotting fourfleet footed goals. It was also not possible without theoutstanding and stoic work from the backline whichrepelled Hornridge with tenacious attack on the overheadcontests. David Ness was a star at centre half back andwas aided by the purring engine of Martin Grava, whomopped the shallow forward fifty entries and pumped itto the wingmen.

The team functioned like a revving straight eight for mostof the day. The third quarter, however, saw fans of theSaints screaming instructions for the players to ‘find aman’ and ‘get it together’. These calls went almost unhearduntil the coach, the calculating Carmello Crisa, steppedup to the boys on the field and demanded a style of footballthat our proud, ten year old club and crowd deserved.

A six goal to two last quarter sealed it, as the backlinesalmost spectated the entire quarter without being harriedtoo fiercely. The Hornridge team fought gallantly with arestricted squad and mechanical problems (they brokedown before leaving the Roxby city limits).

Our home town team is proudly sitting second on theladder and is motoring nicely towards a winning season.Players coming from as far as Finke, Oodnadatta, PortAugusta and even Mount Barker are making the trip, pullingon the strip and are beginning to gel as a team. Thecommittee and the team would like those in Coober Pedyto come down and support us as much as you can.

Whether it is on training night to add some numbers or ongame days to help the day run more smoothly or to jointhe committee and add your hands to the many choreswe must do to keep football in Coober Pedy.

Coober PedySaints 2014

Season Draws& Scores

1.) 26/04/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Andamooka

Score: Coober Pedy 18.12 (120) Andamooka 4.12 (36)

2.) 03/05/14 (Sat) 18:30 Roxby Late Roxby Districts

Score: Roxby 36.19 (235) Coober Pedy 6.4 (40)

3.) 10/05/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Hornridge

Score: Coober Pedy 25.14 (164) Hornridge 11.12 (78)

4.) 17/05/14 (Sat) BYE BYE

5.) 24/05/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Olympic Dam

6.) 31/05/14 (Sat) 14:30 Roxby Late Andamooka

7.)14/06/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy RoxbyDistricts

8.) 21/06/14 (Sat) 12:30 Roxby Late Hornridge

9.) 28/06/14 (Sat) BYE BYE

10.) 05/07/14 (Sat)13:00 Coober Pedy Olympic Dam

11.) 12/07/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Andamooka

12.) 19/07/14 (Sat) 14:30 Roxby Late Roxby Districts

13. 26/07/14 (Sat) 12:30 Roxby Early Hornridge

14.) 09/08/14 (Sat)BYE BYE

15.) 16/08/14 (Sat) 14:30 Roxby Early Olympic Dam

Next Home Game

Saturday, the 24th of MayCoober Pedy vs OlympicDam at Oz Minerals Oval

at 1:00pm.

Far North Football League2014

COOBER PEDY FOOTBALL CLUB v. HORNRIDGE SPORTINGCLUB - Round 3 - 10/05/2014

Coober Pedy Football Club 5.2, 12.9, 19.10, 25.14 (164)Hornridge Sporting Club 2.6, 3.8, 9.11, 11.12 (78)

GOALS, Coober Pedy Football Club :K. Henry 8, D. Warren 6, B. Buller 4, C. Warren 1,R. Murray 1, K. Brown 1,B. Warren 1, I. Brown 1, M. Lynch 1, A. Wooden 1

Hornridge Sporting Club :S. Mitchell 5, T. Grosser 2, B. Johnson 2, L. Webb 1,E. Walker 1

BEST, Coober Pedy Football Club :D. Ness, M. Bell, K. Henry, D. Warren, M. Grava

Hornridge Sporting Club :L. Munro, T. Grosser, K. Lynch, C. Millard, L. Webb

12:30 PMOlympic Dam Football Club 13.6-84Hornridge Sporting Club19.15-129

2:30 PMRoxby Districts Sporting Club 22.13 145Andamooka Football Club 1.5-11

BYE Coober Pedy Football Club

SATURDAY 17 May

by: Andrew Wooden

Page 16 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 22 May 2014

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Grand Finals Basketball ScoresGrand Finals Basketball ScoresGrand Finals Basketball ScoresGrand Finals Basketball ScoresGrand Finals Basketball Scores

Men: Eagles 43 defeated comets 33Eagles Scorers: A. Dingaman 12, L. Boland 12, D. Warren 8, K. Henry 5,C. Carbine 3, K. Brown 2Comets Scorers: D.Botten 18, D.Ness 8, L.Kenny 5, M.Beelitz 2Women: Eagles 54 defeated Comets 37Eagles Scorers: T. Dodd 13, T. Ness 10, K. Carbine 9, T. Lennon,C.Dingaman 8Comets Scorers: J. Jones 17, M. Lennon 16, L. Vermeeren 2, K. Wise 2

Coober Pedy Basketball Association MenBest &Fairest: David Ness (comets)-14 votesR/UP Best & Fairest: Ben Buller (saints)-13 votesBest & Fairest for clubEagles: A. Dingaman Comets: D. Ness Saints: B.Buller Detonators:L.ThorntonCoober Pedy Basketball Association WomenBest & Fairest: Jesse Jones (comets) - 21 votesR/UP Best & Fairest: T. Ness (eagles), T. Lennon (eagles), K. Lennon(saints) -7 votesBest & Fairest for clubEagles: T. Ness Comets: J. Jones Saints: K. LennonDetonators: T. Lebois

Men’s Basketball: Eagles circling the Comets for a win in Saturday’sBasketball Grand Finals at CPAS Gymnasium

Stars of the future at half timeStars of the future at half timeStars of the future at half timeStars of the future at half timeStars of the future at half time