Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott today said he hoped the success of Mid-North Coast student Kathryn Latham in last year’s ‘Heywire’ competition would inspire more young people from the region to share their stories with the nation.
Entries are now open for this year’s Heywire, which invites young people from regional Australia to tell their story about life outside the major cities using any form of media they like.
Kathryn, of Aldavilla, was among 32 young Australians selected to attend the Heywire Youth Issues Forum at Parliament House in February this year after her story about her experience of depression was chosen as one of the winning entries.
Mr Oakeshott said it would be a great achievement for the region to be represented again at the next national youth forum, to be held in February 2010.
“I was extremely proud to have the Mid-North Coast represented through Kathryn’s participation in the event last year and it would be great to see more of our talented youth following her lead,” he said.
“The forum provides an excellent opportunity for Australian youth to bring the issues that concern them most to the attention of government, so I’d encourage as many young people as possible from our region to get involved.
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PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has outlined the Federal Government’s policy response to Mid-North Coast communities affected by coastal erosion.
Mr Rudd acknowledged the plight of Lake Cathie and Old Bar residents under threat from receding shorelines in his response to a question in Parliament today from Independent MP for Lyne, Robert Oakeshott.
Mr Oakeshott said the growing risk of private and public property loss from coastal erosion throughout Australia demanded a co-ordinated policy response from all levels of government.
“At the moment we are seeing councils with limited resources trying to manage this issue on a case-by-case basis and I think we have widespread agreement that this is not a workable long-term arrangement,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“The Federal Government now has a responsibility to take the lead in establishing a sustainable policy framework to manage this issue alongside state and local governments into the future.”
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WORK on one of the first school stimulus projects to take shape on the Mid-North Coast will begin at Laurieton Public School this week.
Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott and State MP for Port Macquarie Peter Besseling were joined by school principal David Willard, P&C Secretary Joanne Kaul, school captains Blayne Lambert-Bignell and Erin Moss and vice-captains Lachie Price and Baldry in a sod-turning ceremony on Friday to mark the commencement of the $2 million project.
The development will involve construction of a new hall and covered outdoor learning area at the rear boundary of the school.
Mr Oakeshott said building sites would soon be established at more than 50 schools on the Mid-North Coast as the government’s stimulus program moved into full swing.
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RECORD levels of Aboriginal participation in TAFE this year have confirmed the tremendous value of the Deadly Days Festival to the Mid-North Coast, Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott said today.
As the two-day festival kicked off in Port Macquarie today, Mr Oakeshott revealed last year’s inaugural event had coincided with a 55% spike in enrolments for Aboriginal students at North Coast TAFE.
“Everyone who took part in last year’s festival came away knowing that something special had been achieved, and now we know exactly what sort of impact this initiative is having on indigenous education in our region,” Mr Oakeshott said.
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INDEPENDENT MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott has encouraged community organisations on the Mid- North Coast to bid for their share of $21 million in Federal Government funding for volunteers.
Mr Oakeshott said the 2009 Volunteer Grants program was now open and he urged local sporting and non-profit groups to consider applying.
“This has been a very popular program for community groups on the Mid-North Coast and, as with any government initiative, I am hopeful that as a region we can make the most of this funding offer,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“Last year there were more than 50 successful organisations in our region who shared in around $190,000 from this program, so the opportunity is there for those who are willing to put the work in and submit an application.”
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PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has pledged to pay a personal visit to Port Macquarie Base Hospital following a question in Parliament today from Independent MP for Lyne, Robert Oakeshott.
Mr Oakeshott asked the Prime Minister during Question Time to join him on a tour of the hospital, where he could meet with staff to discuss the pressures they face from growing service demand and the related infrastructure needs of the facility.
In reply, Mr Rudd vowed to visit the hospital later this month, coinciding with the Community Cabinet meeting scheduled in Port Macquarie on August 25.
Mr Oakeshott welcomed the Prime Minister’s response, which included an acknowledgement of the particular healthcare challenges posed on the Mid-North Coast by population ageing and growth.
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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his government ministers will hold an historic Community Cabinet meeting in Port Macquarie next month, Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott announced today.
In a first for the Lyne electorate, Mr Oakeshott said the event would offer local residents an opportunity to engage directly with government about the issues that concern them most.
“From my understanding, we’ve had only one other Prime Minister visit the region since Federation and this is the first time Federal Cabinet as a group has come to the electorate since the seat was formed in 1949,” he said.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to achieve this in my first year as the federal MP.”
Mr Oakeshott said he was looking forward to welcoming Mr Rudd and his Cabinet ministers to the Mid-North Coast.
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PORT Macquarie’s latest Australian representative is preparing to do battle against the world’s best, but there won’t be a ball, whistle or sports field in sight.
Megan Kuhn, 22, is one of only 30 trade and skills champions selected in the 2009 Team Australia Skillaroos to compete at the 40th Worldskills Competition in Canada this September.
The talented young hairdresser, who works at Vanessa’s Hair Fashion in Port Macquarie, has been in training with industry experts, TAFE teachers and personal mentors for the past 18 months.
Megan and her fellow Skillaroos will be up against 900 other competitors from 50 countries when they travel to Calgary for the event.
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TWO Landcare groups on the Mid-North Coast have each been awarded $100,000 to conduct projects aimed at improving land management and developing sustainable agriculture.
Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott said the Manning Landcare Coordinators Management Committee and Macleay Landcare network were among 56 groups throughout Australia to have won a share in $26 million from the Federal Government.
“The awarding of funding to the Manning and Macleay groups is testament to the great work being done to promote sustainable farming and sound natural resource management in our region,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“Our status as a leader in natural resource management was confirmed late last year when the Mid-North Coast attracted the largest amount of any region out of the total national funding pool for the Caring for our Country program and today’s announcement continues our strong record in this area.
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