A Word From Watto - May 2014

Local Police and Shire Rangers

Preston Beach has, over the past several years seen a vast increase of transient visitors/holiday makers and I think over the recent Easter/ANZAC long weekend this increase was massive to say the least. With this mass increase of visitors to our small coastal community, 99% do the right thing but sadly it’s the 1% of boofheads who stuff it up for the rest. Because this influx is people business, local Police and Rangers work in unison which formulates dual authorities. This also includes our local volunteer Rangers who put in a lot of their own time and effort to provide advice, guidance and assistance to people travelling along the beach and car park access. They also attend to other tasks around our town site and are on hand in case of emergencies. Recently the Rangers were involved with handing out educational flyers on the “Do’s and Don’ts” on the beach and around the beach car park area. On Easter Saturday between 0700 hours and 1200 hours, 187 vehicles were handed flyers, a head count of all occupants in vehicles revealed in excess of 600 adults and children travelling onto the beach area. Prior to last Christmas our local Rangers were called out to assist the Rescue Helicopter “Chopper 65” in landing at Preston Beach for a “CASVAC” (Casualty Evacuation). To enable the chopper to land as near as practical to the scene, the local Rangers had to block off Mitchell and Styles Road, St John’s Ambulance also attended. This is an invaluable service our Rangers provide to this community which has also been acknowledged by the Shire of Waroona. If you’re interested in being a part of this Ranger service contact Noel Dew of Preston Beach.

Photo courtesy of Lovell Anstee-Brooke

ANZAC DAY – Preston Beach 2014

Some 140 people attended this year’s ANZAC Service at the Preston Beach community centre.

Our main topic for this year’s service was “The Forgotten Force” aka the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces and Pte. Harry C. Bamkin who served for two years post war in Japan presented by Preston Beach Progress Association Vice President Judy Carroll. 

Since 1947, Australia’s armed forces have contributed to major UN peacekeeping operations across the world. While the objective of these missions is to restore stability and peace, they are also fraught with danger at times and a number of our peacekeepers have been killed. Australians and their Contribution in all Wars, conflicts and Peacekeeping Operations does go beyond the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915,  and diversifies to another level with the same human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice which continues to have the same meaning and relevance to the ANZAC tradition. Our thoughts are with all men and women who have served or are currently serving with the Australian Defence Forces.

Keynote speaker Judy Carroll 

Wreath laying by Peter and Carmel Bamkin for Preston Beach Progress Assoc.

Harry Bamkins family proudly stand in front of his service plaque

Mitchell and Amber Smith - Mitchell handed out rosemary and Amber read a poem during the service

Preston Beach Book Sale

Over the Easter long weekend Preston Beach Ladies held a book sale which was well supported by local community members and holiday makers. A lot of hard work collecting and sorting out an array of books which was a great effort by the girls who made $1,204.60 in the process. As our Treasurer Danny Mac Scrooge Norton quoted “A great result from an excellent community money earner. The Committee’s gratitude continues to go out to those old and new members who have demonstrated their financial support for their Association and the work it does” – If Danny Mac Scrooge is happy, then so are we.

Preston Beach Vehicle Movement Count – Easter/ANZAC 2014 long weekend

Following is a snapshot of vehicle movements relating to Preston Beach!

April 9th to April 30th (includes Easter and Anzac)

Total vehicle movements ........14596

Average........695 per day

Maximum speed recorded .......134.8 km//h

85% vehicles .........85.9 km/h  Av.

Preston Beach North Rd.

Total vehicle movements........1582

Average......75 per day

Maximum speed recorded .....106 km/h

85% vehicles..........58.3 km/h

Xmas:

Average vehicle movements per day.......945

Previous year the average for the same period was 822

Highest speed recorded was .......160 km/h

 It must be noted that the placement of the vehicle counter/movement equipment was some 500 metres from the Highway turn off. If the placement was further towards Preston the maximum speed recorded would have been a lot higher- like Christmas 160 km/h 

St Patrick’s Day - 2014

Some members of Preston Beach enjoyed a quiet get together for St Patrick’s Day down at the Beach car park. BBQ’s and light refreshments were enjoyed by all whilst soaking up the morning sun and listening to some local ethnic music.

...and now just for fun 

“No wonder Watto and the people here drink wine, this water tastes like crap”

In closing and on a sad note, the community of Preston Beach, family and friends extend their sincere condolences to Susie Ellis on the recent sad loss of her husband Dougie.

VALE

  Dougie ELLIS

    29-07-1944 to 25-04-2014

RIP

        Condolences to Sue and Family

April Events

EASTER BOOK SALE

Don't miss the massive book sale happening on Easter Friday and Saturday morning - sales will commence at 9.30 am and continue throughout the day but be early for the best bargains!

We have had hundreds (maybe thousands) of quality books donated again this year along with some records and CD's.  Perhaps you might find some collectibles among this lot...

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

Preston Beach will once again host an ANZAC commemorate service on Friday 25 April 2014 at 10 am followed by morning tea, ANZAC Day football match coverage on the big screen.  BBQ facilities available for those who wish to BYO lunch.

Sponsored Post

Preston Beach General Store provides the Preston Beach Progress Association with valuable and ongoing sponsorship through the year.  We would like to express our thanks to Clint and Gwenda Vagg and congratulate them on their community spirit.

Martins Tank Lake Campground Upgrade

It was somewhat late on delivery but a visit to the newly upgraded Martins Tank Lake campground has proved that in the end it was well worth the lengthy wait.

A contract worth $1.28 million was issued last year and the completed works on this environmentally sensitive project have included, flora transplantation, road design and construction, new camp kitchen, communal BBQ's and furniture, new caravan bays and campsites, plus new site furniture and viewing decks.

Gone are the bush camp fire rings and rough tracks to be replaced with state of the art features, additional toilet facilities and new sites for motor homes and caravans. 

A camp host has been placed near the entrance to the campground providing on the spot delivery of valuable local information, maintenance of the communal areas and security. There is also a day visitors parking area with beautiful bush trails connecting to the BBQ/picnic area.

Royalty for Regions funded

One of two new fire pits.  Lids over fire pits will remained locked until the annual fire ban has been lifted.

Camp host and DEC ranger inspecting the new camp kitchen

Shiny new BBQ's and picnic furniture

Additional toilet facilities but due to the lack of an onsite water source there are no showers available. All water is trucked in to keep rain water tanks topped up.

Accessibility and dedicated sites for motor homes and caravans

It looks so inviting but alas no swimming permitted

Special April edition - 2014

Hi blog followers; yes, we are back!  Thank you for your many requests for information and news.  We're glad to hear that you're keen to keep in tough and we will do our best to provide as much feedback and information as possible.

This month we will start with a report from Watto about serious issues that effect us all and need our attention:

SPECIAL APRIL EDITION - 2014

Sorry about the delay with our Preston Beach Blog but due to other meaningful matters I haven’t had the time to put print to paper. This special Blog addition addresses Points of Interest and Forth Coming Events.

The Good Old Days - I Remember When

As you are all well aware Preston Beach along with other small country communities are experiencing an increased population growth rate which is slowly pressing development and population movement to the northern, southern, eastern and western corridors of the metropolitan area. There are casual factors that go with this corridor movement which in some instances can be attributed to people seeking a general country lifestyle, employment, more affordable housing and cheaper home rentals. Sadly along with this movement into the corridors of our country lifestyle; our exposure to the criminality experienced in the larger populated areas will increase. If we have our heads buried in the sand, or naive to what’s happening around us then we will be a victims of anti-social behaviour and/or crime. We all remember the good old days when you could leave your vehicle, garage and house unlocked because there was no crime and your best friends were your neighbours. Well not wishing to be an alarmist, the good old times are slowly changing, if you think you are still living in that sheltered environment – think again!

The Criminal element calculate their risk carefully, they know their easiest targets lie in areas unwatched, and/or unattended. Most are looking for that quick hit on small items that will generate an easy “no questions asked” cash flow for in most cases, their drug/alcohol dependency - this intent is also reflected in the increased stealing from motors vehicles.

Some Caravan Parks in smaller country areas are starting to become a haven for transient people, some of which have extensive criminal records. When putting your feet into the shoes of someone else, or thinking like a crim, what better place to lay low and operate. The other problem which is becoming a major threat and causing grief to small communities is private property owners renting/leasing homes out to the very same people as mentioned in both of these two highlighted paragraphs.

Remember Angry Anderson’s, Quotation, “If you’re not part of the solution then you’re part of the problem”.

So what can we do about it?

Develop a reporting culture – if your see something untoward, suspicious or inherently dangerous, write down particulars and report it to police in a timely manner( not days after the event);

•  If you are a property owner and thinking of renting/leasing ask the prospective Tenant to obtain and supply you with a current “National Police Clearance Check” which will provide any encounters with authorities - they pay for it. (If they have a problem you more than likely won’t see them again) Also request a current Motor Drivers Licence with their photograph for ID purposes. Don’t accept the licence of another person, it must be the person directly involved and responsible for the rental – also record the registration numbers of their vehicles;
• Use a reliable and experienced Real Estate Agent – remember once bad tenants’ have their leg in the door it can be hard and heart breaking to get them out. Real Estate Agents have access to tenancy data bases not available to owners.
• Report matters to our Rangers who work in unison with local police.
  The urban sprawl will bring with it opportunistic crime so let’s start being the eyes and ears for our community. Have a note book and pen in your vehicle, if it’s suss, record it and report it in a timely manner. Have a list of all emergency contact numbers and place same in your note book - if you’re not sure record it and confer with someone in authority.
  I will always remember a great quotation of an American Judge who said “The only way you will reduce violent crime, is when it’s just as dangerous to be a criminal as it is a victim of crime “.
  Regards
  Watto