Resources and Energy Investment Symposium 2013, May 19-22

Poppet Head
Broken Hill

Mining Industry
The 3rd annual Resources and Energy Investment Symposium (REIS) 2013 is on again in Broken Hill from May 19-22.  The inaugural event was held in Broken Hill in 2011, and was held again in the city last year.  So for the time being it appears to be a permanent fixture as an annual Broken Hill event.

This year's symposium will focus on the current economic climate with all the associated challenges and opportunities, both in the Australian resources industry as well as for Australia within the international market.

REIS organisers Catriona Silverston
& Michael Allendorf, courtesy
BDT Darrin Manuel

A number of high profile speakers will be providing keynote speeches.  Big names include, Dick Smith (Business Entrepreneur), The Hon Nick Minchin (former Liberal Senator, now business consultant), Mark Bennett (Sirius Resources MD & CEO), Dan Denning (The Daily Reckoning Australia, Editor), Dr John Hewson (former Liberal Party Leader and Opposition Leader and economic and financial expert), Dr Thomas Barlow (Thomas Barlow Advisory Services), Tony Locantro (Locantro's Life Speculative Investment Newsletter, Author), Hugh Wallace-Smith (Stockbroker), John Molyneux (WH Ireland Ltd, Regional Director), Stuart A. Sanderson (Colorado Mining Association, President), Dave Kanagy (Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Executive Director), David Evans (GoldNerds Pty Limited, Founder and MD), Prof Ian Plimer (Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences).

For more details about the event including a detailed program of events, go to the REIS website www.symposium.net.au .

I am sure it will be a highly informative and fascinating event.  I heard great things about both last year and the inaugural 2011 event.

For a snapshot of what I wrote about the 2012 event, see link here to my 18 May 2012 article.

Cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill's St Barbara Festival begins Friday 17 May 2013

Saint Barbara
courtesy
commons.wikimedia.org

Community Event
Broken Hill will have a festival to honour Saint Barbara who is the patron saint of miners, artillery men and soldiers.

There will be a memorial service at Sturt Park (corner Wolfram and Sulphide Streets) this Friday (tomorrow) at 5.30pm and everyone is welcome. At the conclusion of the service eight sky lanterns will be launched.

Festivities will continue over the weekend with chalk artists creating an elaborate 3D chalk artwork at the Town Square (corner Chloride and Argent Streets) which will depict an incredible underground mining themed scene.

On Sunday, St John Ambulance (here's a link to St John Ambulance 'Facebook Page') will host a BBQ lunch from midday, also at the Town Square and there will be live music as well.  Of course, once again everyone is welcome.

It's not something you do every day, so why not get down to the square to enjoy the entertainment and perhaps reflect on a festival which acknowledges the importance of mining to the many mining communities around the world and is celebrated globally in towns with a mining history.  Those who have lost their lives in the mines are also remembered at this festival.

Jane D

Broken Hill By-Election Results - Congratulations Christine Adams

Christine Adams courtesy
Barrier Daily Truth (BDT)

Local Government By-Election
The results of the Broken Hill City Council By-Election held last weekend were released this afternoon.

There were 6 candidates, and it was initially a close race between a couple of the candidates so preferences were needed to decide the final result.

After first preferences the tally stood at 23.70% to former councillor Christine Adams and 22.24% to well known Broken Hill photographer Robin Sellick.

Robin Sellick
courtesy BDT

Once second preferences and postal votes (which closed at 6 pm yesterday) were tallied today, the Electoral Commission NSW declared the final result this afternoon and my congratulations go to Christine ADAMS who was announced as the winner.

The other candidates were Geoff Cullenward, Tom Kennedy (a former councillor), Anne Woods and Trevor Cutjar.  Five of the candidates stood as independents including Clr Adams.  Mr Cullenward stood as a Labor candidate.

The by-election  was called due to a councillor, Mr John Groenendjik resigning earlier in the year due to ill health.

As you return to Council for another term, I wish you all the very best Clr Adams.

Cheers, Jane D

Living Desert Sculpture Symposium's 20th Anniversary Celebrations

One of the sculptures at sunset

Community Event
Put the 18th of May in you diary for a celebration in Broken Hill as there will be simple festivities for the 20th anniversary of the famous Living Desert Sculpture Symposium.

The sculptures were completed in May 1993 and have since become a major Broken Hill tourist attraction.  I love going to the Sculpture Symposium when I'm visiting the City.  They are an amazing site especially at sunset and sunrise, but you can go anytime to enjoy them.

Council will waive the admission fee to the site and have a free sausage sizzle and cool drinks for visitors between 11am and 1pm on 18th of May.

Twelve international sculptors created the works from 52 tonnes of sandstone from Wilcannia which is about 196 km east of Broken Hill.

In recognition of Broken Hill's mining past, the sculptors used miner's old tungsten chisels to create their works of art.

Cheers, Jane D

Hello - привіт from www.ilovebrokenhill.com to readers in the Ukraine

Ukraine flag from commons.wikimedia.org

You may be surprised to learn that many readers of www.ilovebrokenhill.com come from the Ukraine. (USA and Australia make up the largest reader groups).

Perhaps some of you are ex Broken Hill residents or maybe you are Broken Hill travellers visiting the Ukraine.

Whatever the case, I would just like to say hello (привіт) to readers from the Ukraine. (I hope I've got that translation right - see below).

I have tried to look up the correct translation of 'hello' in Ukrainian, and I am finding quite a few different answers from Google searches.  I hope at least one of the following translations makes sense/is correct ...

translate.google.com  привіт

Wikitravel.org suggested  Добрий день. (DOH-brihy dehn')

The variety of suggestions surprised me (I haven't put them all in).  Apparently there are 18 languages in the Ukraine according to Wikipedia so this could explain the many options.

Feel free to write a comment on your Ukrainian perspective of Broken Hill.

So in the words of wikitravel.com (goodbye) До побачення. (do poh-BAH-cheh-nyah)

Cheers, Jane D

Tradition lives with Broken Hill's Civic (Debutante) Ball on 3 May 2013

Community Event
Broken Hill is holding a Civic Ball this coming Friday 3 May 2013 and nine young ladies will be making their debut.  It is nice to see old fashioned traditions still live on.  I remember making my debut many moons ago at Number 9 Darling Street South Yarra in Melbourne, but that's another story.

Broken Hill Entertainment (Civic) Centre
courtesy Barrier Daily Truth

The venue for this special occasion is of course Broken Hill's Civic (Entertainment and Convention) Centre - corner Blende and Chloride Streets.  Tickets are limited, see details below.

According to the media release from Broken Hill City Council's website, the Civic Ball has been part of the City's history for many years.  It is a celebration of young women coming of age.

In the media release, Mayor Wincen Cuy said “Given the current climate it is very pleasing that Council in partnership with Old Fashion Favourites and Gallery of Silverton, is able to provide the opportunity for nine young ladies to make their debut at the Civic Ball in 2013”.

The community at large are also invited to attend with up to 30 tickets available to the general public. This is your chance to support this important social event and keep the tradition alive.  “The young people taking part in this year’s ball have shown commitment and enthusiasm throughout the rehearsal process and I invite the community to enjoy this special evening with them”, Mayor Cuy said.

Tickets are $60 per person which includes a 2 course meal. You can purchase tickets from Council’s Customer Relations Counter, 240 Blende Street between the hours of 8.30am –

4.00pm until Monday 29 April 2013. No tickets will be available on the day (of the ball).  Telephone enquiries 08 8080 3300.

If the tickets haven't sold out, it sounds like a very good deal to me, and I'm sure it will be a really special night.

As I researched to write this article I came across a quote from Mayor Cuy from the "Barrier Daily Truth" newspaper back in 2010 about a past Civic Ball.  He said ' that it was something the girls can "look back on and be glad they had done it" ', and having been a debutante myself, I think he's right.

Best wishes to the Debutantes, cheers, Jane D

ANZAC Day 2013 in Broken Hill, Australia and New Zealand 25 April

Community Event
Broken Hill will pause to reflect, with all Australians and New Zealanders to remember the fallen and surviving soldiers today April 25, 2013 - ANZAC Day.

Dawn services are over, but marches and parades continue around the two nations who were brought together as they fought for peace.

Details of service times for Broken Hill - provided by ABC Broken Hill website see link here and below.  There is still time to get to the 11am service at the Cenotaph.

ANZAC poppy from
www.abc.net.au

5.25am: Rum Rations at West Darling Hotel.
6am: Dawn Service at the Cenotaph.
7.45am: Service at the Garden of Remembrance at Broken Hill Cemetery.
8.15am: Service at the Tobruk Memorial at Memorial Oval.
11am: Anzac Day Memorial Service at Cenotaph.

Lest we forget.

Thanks to the ANZACS, we are indebted to them.  Jane D

Snapped out of Broken Hill, ABC Open's free photography workshops to visit Milparinka and Tibooburra this weekend

ABC Open Broken Hill's Jenia Ratcliffe (right) and me
at the Patton Village Summer Vibes Festival in January

Community Event
ABC Open Broken Hill's Jenia Ratcliffe is visiting Far North West NSW this weekend, and will spend the 20th and 21st of April 2013 in Milparinka and Tibooburra (respectively) where she is holding photography workshops, and the best part is that not only is everyone welcome, the workshops are free.

Okay, so Milparinka isn't exactly around the corner, it's about 296 km north of Broken Hill (or 1,150 km from Melbourne - I won't be going) and Tibooburra is another 39 km beyond (north) of Milparinka or 335 km north of Broken Hill.  I have yet to visit either of this famous historic towns, but hope to on one of my trips to Broken Hill, so I can't tell you much about them.

No doubt after the workshops, which run between 10am and 4pm each day there will be plenty of photos downloaded onto ABC Open Broken Hill's website, as well as participant's Facebook pages and well, they could end up anywhere these days.  My point being that the photos will provide a great opportunity for readers to get a taste of what's in store if you manage to make the trip to these isolated towns where a real taste of outback Australia can be found.

'Pub with no beer' - Milparinka - by Ruth Sandow
Ruth co-ordinates the Milparinka Heritage Precinct
image provided by ABC's Jenia Ratcliffe

Here are the links to ABC Open Broken Hill's information about each of the workshops, and Jenia's contact details can be found there and below - see Milparinka link and Tibooburra link.

ABC Open Broken Hill - Jenia Ratcliffe (08) 8082 4024 or ratcliffe.jenia@abc.net.au

Here is a link to a recent article Jenia wrote about Milparinka's 'Pub with no beer'.

The workshops sound like a great opportunity to spend time doing something different in a striking outback landscape.

Happy snapping, cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill Regional NAIDOC Ball Saturday 13 April 2013

Official 'Flag of Australia'

Community Event
Broken Hill will host the first Regional NAIDOC Ball this Saturday 13 April 2013.  Part of the evening will include awards for 'high achievers'.  There will be four award categories (I believe nominations have now closed).  The categories are -

"Inspiring Community Elder",  "Excellence in Youth Education", "Community Involvement and Leadership" and "Sporting Leader and Role Model".

ABC News ran a story about it on 26 March - see link to the article here.

Details of the Ball are below -

Where:   Gary Radford Pavilion, Broken Hill Race Course

Time:      Doors open 6.30pm, official opening 7.00pm

Official 'Flag of Australia'

Cost:      $45 per head (inc. 2 course meal, entertainment & transport to & from venue)

Dress:    Formal

Tickets:  Available from Haylee at Maari Ma Regional Office
               443 Argent Street, Broken Hill  NSW  2880

Telephone: (08) 8082 9888

For more information on NAIDOC see their website www.naidoc.org.au

It should be a fun night, I look forward to reading about it and who won the awards.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D

Outburst's Tracy sings karaoke The Palace Hotel Broken Hill tonight

The Palace Hotel Broken Hill

Entertainment

Broken Hill's Tracy of Outburst will be 'powering out her karaoke hits' tonight Saturday 6 April 2013 at The Palace Hotel.  It should be a fun night.  I know that going to The Palace makes for a great night anyhow with their fab - 2013  Good Pub Food Guide 2 Scooner - award winning food and funky retro vibe.

The Palace Hotel is at 227 Argent Street, Corner Chloride Street, Broken Hill.
Phone: 08 8088 1699

I saw Tracy sing at The Palace earlier this year and she has an amazing range of songs and can sing up a storm. Lots of people ended up singing including me, as well as some lovely travelers I met that night Steve and his sister Sue.  It ended up quite a late night.  So I can definitely say that I recommend it as a lot of fun, but you'd better book if you would like a meal as it's a very popular venue.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D

Wake in Fright, Mad Max 2, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, NFSA gems

'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior' car at Silverton and me

Film
The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) website has some interesting movie and film records as you would expect.

I was surfing around the web tonight and found this interesting link from the NFSA's blog about some of the famous movies that have been filmed in and around Broken Hill.

The 1971 film 'Wake in Fright' directed by Canadian Ted Kotcheff is a famous and, in my opinion, a quite harrowing 'drama/thriller' set in and around Broken Hill and Silverton.  When I realised the prominence Broken Hill and Silverton play in the film, I decided it was time to see it.  I found a copy of the DVD at  the Broken Hill Video Ezy when I visited earlier this year.  I imagine it's not everyone's cup of tea, and if you don't like cruelty to animals (which I don't), it may not be for you.  You need to see some of the credits at the end of the film for more of an explanation about what I'm referring to.  It's R rated (most definitely in my opinion).

The Palace Hotel Broken Hill

'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' (1994), directed by Stephan Elliott, is another famous Aussie film which was shot, in part in Broken Hill. The Palace Hotel was also used for some of the filming.  I've seen this film a number of times and enjoyed it.  It's great if you like comedy, drama and a musical all mixed together.  (Adult themes, R rated).

'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior' (1981), directed by George Miller, is the other very well known film which was shot in and around Broken Hill and Silverton.  I must say I haven't seen that one yet.  It's an adventure, action, thriller which isn't really my scene.  It's R rated, but I don't know any more than that.

Anyhow, the NFSA's blog has this interesting article 'A Broken Hill time capsule', about these and some of the other 35+ films that have been shot in the Broken Hill/Silverton/Far West region.  Here's the link to the story.

Happy reminiscing, cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill General Manager Greg Wright begins 4 month term today

Greg Wright source
Sydney Morning Herald

Broken Hill City Council has a new interim General Manager for the next 4 months.  His name is Greg Wright.  The news was announced at Council's general meeting last week on Wednesday 27 March and Mr Wright commenced work today.

Here is a link to the Broken Hill City Council's press release on the subject.

Mr Wright who was most recently the General Manager for for the NSW city's Camden Council, replaces Frank Zaknich.  Mr Zaknich has moved from this role in Broken Hill, which he held since 2006, to become the new General Manager for Albury Council, which he commenced on 1 March 2013.

I wish Mr Wright all the best in his new role.

Cheers, Jane D

Happy Easter Broken Hill

Wishing everyone in Broken Hill, Melbourne and everywhere else in the world a very Happy Easter.

Cheers, Jane D

Chag Pesach Sameach - Happy Passover Holiday

Passover (Pesach) 2013 runs from Monday 25 March until Tuesday 2 April.  To all readers of the Jewish faith, whether they be in Broken Hill, Israel or anywhere else in the world, I wish you Chag Pesach Sameach (Happy Passover Holiday).

Cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill Gaara Arts 'Fans' exhibition opens tonight in a joint show

Art Scene
Gaara Arts (Gaara) members are putting on another exhibition which opens this evening at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.  The "Common Threads, The Things That Bind Us Together" fans exhibition represents something a little different to traditional oil or acrylic on canvas.  It is instead, art applied to a variety of different shaped 'fans'.

"Press Release" information is as follows (supplied by Gaara's publicity officer and Gaara artist - Maureen Clark)

"Fanfare For Gaara

Newly elected President of Gaara Arts Inc, Robyn Taylor, is happy to announce her group’s latest artistic endeavours to be showcased at the Regional Art Gallery opening this Thursday at 6pm.

“The ladies in Gaara Arts have been working hard to paint, or otherwise decorate, a range of fans which are now on display at the Gallery”, she said. “The creativity and talent within the group is wonderful although some of the artists saw the concept as a bit daunting, at first. The results are great.”

Robyn is from a property near White Cliffs and divides her time between working in Broken Hill and her various art projects. “I’ve always been interested in art”, she explained. “Ever since I won an Easter art competition at primary school,” she laughed. “I’m interested in trying all forms of art. Leadlighting, intaglio, lino prints and coloured inks...I’ve dabbled in them all. Mainly though, I enjoy painting in a realistic style in acrylics –mostly landscapes. Although I may have to stretch my skills towards portraiture for another Gaara exhibition in the near future”.

Broadening the experiences and skills of women artists who live in our rural and remote community is an aim of Gaara which has been operating since 2008. The artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of their art and to respond to contemporary issues facing women in society.

Robyn says she enjoys the diverse range within the group, with artists working in fabric, sculptures, pen and ink, 3D and pastels, as well as the more common oils and acrylics.

“I’m honoured to be the president of Gaara, a talented group of ladies who support and learn from each other.”

The “Common Threads, The Things That Bind Us Together” exhibition will be opened by
Fay Attard."

Local paper the Barrier Daily Truth covered the story yesterday 27 March, see link here for more coverage.

The exhibition details are as follows - 

Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill

Opens 6.00 pm Thursday 28 March 2013
Note the gallery is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Exhibition dates - Saturday 30 April - Sunday 12 May 2013

Gallery hours - Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am - 4pm

Entry by gold coin donation.

I'm in Melbourne so unfortunately I can't make it.  As always, if you can get along to the opening tonight, or the exhibition at some stage, readers would love to hear your comments on what you thought of the exhibition.

Three other exhibitions are also officially opening tonight.  "Not the way home" will be opened by the exhibition's curator Owen Craven who is also the editor of "Artist Profile Magazine".  Acclaimed local artist Jim Paterson will present a selection of 44 drawings and paintings which he has completed in the last 10 years.  Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery's Installation Officer Darren Parker has also put together a show featuring watercolours from the Gallery's collection, which are rarely on show due to their tendency to fade.  Well known artists on show include Hans Heysen, Daryl Lindsay and Kenneth Jack.

Further exhibition details can be found here on the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery events page.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D