Hervey Bay Gossip

The Queensland Premier has announced that flouridation will come to the Fraser Coast … and Hervey Bay … during 2010.

Some parts of the state will have to wait until 2012 before flouride is added to their water supply.

… than listen to political lightweights carry on.

It seems that there could be a state election in the offing. A couple of days ago we had the spectacle of our local member and the pretender getting into a slanging match of dismal proportions … it’s a bit like to old bantam roosters shaping up to see who is going to rule the roost.

Then yesterday the Labor government discovered that the Opposition wanted to cut 12,000 jobs from the public service and just had to put the boot in to score some serious points. In a state where some country towns depend on public servants to survive the leader of the Opposition couldn’t have given his political opponents more ammunition if he had tried.

Fortunately in Hervey Bay there are better things to do than listen to politicians act like school children instead of working together to solve the problems that plague this state. There are the beaches and Bay to enjoy and nothing quite beats sitting on the deck at the Boat Club and watching sunset creep across the marina.

Sometimes I think that politicians should be forced to sit and look at scenes like this … their petty power-plays might soon be forgotten if they did.

Mary Ryan’s in Hervey Bay - 5/15 Central Avenue Pialba - is holding a wine and cheese evening and photographic exhibition on Wednesday September 10 featuring the work of renowned Fraser Island photographer Peter Meyer.

The cost is just $10.00 per person and 50% of that goes to Breast Cancer Research. Bookings are essential and you can obtain further details from Mary Ryan’s or by calling 4194 2111. Please RSVP by Monday September 1

To see some of Peter Meyer’s work you can visit his website at http://www.livinggallery.com.au

The climate here in Hervey Bay is wonderful for humans but not so good for expensive things … like computers. The humidity, the dust and even some of the local inhabitants can all do damage to your computer … and you may not even see it happening.

Here’s a photo of a computer that came into Fraser Coast Computers the other day because it had “stopped working.”

As you see it here the modem has already been removed and there is a considerable amount of corrosion on the modem and on the bottom and side of the case. Once the motherboard was removed there was even more damage visible and parts of the motherboard were covered in liquid.

The smell was overpowering and there was little from that computer that could be salvaged.

Computers are not sealed units … there are plenty of openings for all sorts of unpleasant creep-crawlies to get in and once inside they tend to set up home there … and they’re not good housekeepers. So have your computer checked and cleaned regularly by a technician.

A little preventive maintenance can help your computer last a lot longer.

Police today impounded a bus at Urangan less than a week after impounding a B-double truck at Murrumba Downs

Police Minister Judy Spence said: “Our tough new laws targetting repeat offenders are working and it is not just cars and motor bikes being impounded.

“Police stopped the bus today near Urangan Marina for allegedly disobeying a stop sign whilst carrying passengers bound for a whale watching trip.

“The 40-year-old woman driver is allegedly a repeat unlicensed driver and the bus was impounded for 48 hours.

“However, it was first allowed to drop off the passengers at the Marina a few hundred metres away.

“Police allege the bus was also unregistered and the insurance on the bus had expired.

“The woman is due to appear in the Maryborough Magistrates Court on September 10 for driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle, contravene a requirement and unlicensed driving.

“Last Wednesday police impounded a B-double truck after its driver was caught unlicensed twice on the same day.

“About 11am the 52-year-old driver was intercepted after the truck was travelling on a road not designated for heavy vehicles in Pine Rivers. The driver was found to be unlicensed and a number of infringement notices were issued.

“Just before 3pm the B-double truck was again pulled over, this time on the onramp to the Bruce Highway at Anzac Avenue, Murrumba Downs with the same driver at the wheel.

“The prime mover was impounded for 48hrs.

“People must realise if they flout the law they will be caught,” Ms Spence said.

The Hervey Bay Seafood festival is on again from 10am today down at Fishermans Park Urangan - that’s on the corner of Boat Harbour Drive and Charlton Street.

We’re in for another sunny day too so don’t forget your sunscreen and be ready for lots of people.

An interesting little brochure was delivered into our mail box here in Hervey Bay today. It’s the August-September issue of the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s newsletter. Among other things it reveals where the Council gets it’s income and where it spends it.

From the income side of things we can see that 33% comes from general rates - 17% comes from loans - 16% comes from utility charges and levies - 14% comes from grants and subsidies - 11% comes from fees and charges - 5% comes from dividends - 3% comes from developer contributions and 1% comes from interest revenue.

Expenditure is a bit more complex with 32% going on roads - 16% going on administraion - 9% going on drainage - 8% being spent on the airport - 6% being spent on cultural and community facilities - a further 6% is spent on parks - 5% spent on water - 5% spent on waste - 5% spent on sewerage - 4% spent on coastal management and a further 4% spent on recreational facilities.

If, like us, you came to Hervey Bay to escape the cold winters then you might have been a little disappointed in the weather over the last few days. Yesterday the minimum dropped to -0.1C at the airport and only reached a maximum of 17C.

It seems that Hervey Bay will be experiencing similar temperatures for the few days too with single digit minimums forecast right through until next Monday and nothing warmer than 20C for the same period. Showers are forecast from next Sunday.

Today should be mostly sunny with a maximum of 19C

If you’re into quilting then here is one Hervey Bay local’s blog that should really interest you  http://mareew.blogspot.com/

Sunsets like this one last night just keep on coming here in Hervey Bay