About

ABOUT
ilovebrokenhill.com , was first published on 8 December 2011 by Jane Deany. My blog is all about the famous outback Australian National Heritage Listed City named Broken Hill, located in the state of New South Wales. I first visited #BrokenHill in 2002 and have returned many times since then. ilovebrokenhill.com will help you discover what's great about this historic mining city, where in the mid 1880's the line of lode, a rich ore body of silver, lead and zinc was found. You will find stories about anything related to Broken Hill.

Monday, 28 July 2014

Farrer MP Sussan Ley pushes to 'sublet' childcare places

Politics - Childcare
The current member for Farrer is The Hon Sussan Ley MP. Farrer is the Federal Australian electorate in which Broken Hill sits.

Ms Ley is a member of the current Abbott Government. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Ley briefly at Parliament House in Canberra last year (2013). See blog post about my meeting here - 8 June 2013, Broken Hill, Sussan Ley and the Canberra connection -

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2013/06/broken-hill-sussan-ley-and-canberra.html
The Hon Sussan Ley MP

Fast forward to this week. I was interested to read an article in the major daily Victorian/Melbourne newspaper 'The Age' on 26 July 2014 p 21 News section, that Ms Ley was keen to support some of the proposed recommendations from the Productivity Commission, in particular the idea of 'subletting' childcare places.

As I don't have children, understanding details about arranging childcare isn't my strong suit.

However, if you do have children, childcare is a huge issue.

I didn't realise that if you took your child out of childcare, temporarily, say for example you're having another child, or want to travel, and you therefore don't need the place for a while, there was a reasonably significant fee to hold the position open.

Another example that Ms Ley cited, "was a fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) worker, who may wish to take their child out of childcare for an ad hoc week to spend time with them", so it would make sense that they could do so without a significant financial penalty.

The Productivity Commission recommends the removal of regulatory requirements to allow parents to temporarily return their childcare places if they are not being used.

Sounds a great idea to me.

The Commission handed down a 900 page draft report into childcare and early childhood learning last Tuesday 22 July 2014. The broad aim being to create a more flexible and accessible sector.

A number of recommendations were made, and the final report is due by the end of October 2014.

The government did not wish to fully respond to the report until the report is finalised.

Whether it's Broken Hill or anywhere else in Australia, accessible and affordable childcare is a hot topic for discussion. It is critical for families to enable parents to work.

I hope there are many positive changes for the better as a result of this Productivity Commission report and the recommendations they make.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Judith Ireland and Rachel Browne are the authors of 'The Age' article were I sourced my information.

Sunday, 27 July 2014

Why is Broken Hill a great place to visit?

Broken Hill
Rather than me talking about all things Broken Hill, I would really love locals and visitors points of view about what they love about the city.

I find it hard to say that I have just one favourite thing about #BrokenHill .

Is it the colours, people, history, architecture, mining, sculptures, art, cute and affordable real estate (especially the miner's cottages), remoteness, or maybe the fun clubs?

These are just a few things I love about Broken Hill.

I love this Broken Hill vista
nice full moon too
This post hopes to prompt you to tell me and the readers of www.ilovebrokenhill.com about what you love about the city.

I will use Twitter and Pinterest to help me distribute this question. Oh, of course I mustn't forget Facebook, YouTube and Google+   ;-)

I really would love to hear your views.

Why do you like / love Broken Hill?


The more comments the better.

I know a lot of people do love the city, I meet them all the time.

Tell us, please do tell us! Cheers, Jane Deany

Friday, 25 July 2014

Broken Hill's Phil LeMay Wins Best Songwriter at 2014 SA Country Music Awards

Music
It was great to read a happy story about Broken Hill musician Phil LeMay in today’s Barrier Daily Truth (BDT).

Phil came first in the 'Songwriter' category at the recent 2014 South Australian (SA) Country Music Awards.

BDT’s Andrew Robertson reported, on the front page of the 25 July 2014 edition -

He’s known locally (in Broken Hill) for his blues music but songwriter Phil LeMay is proving he can also cut it on the country stage.

The local musician has picked up a gong at the SA Country Music Festival and Awards and now has set his sights on more success.

A long-time blues player, LeMay said he only decided to enter the annual event held at Barmera each year at the last minute.”

Phil LeMay at
Coburn Hotel
31 December 2011
from Hotel's website
Here is the link to an excerpt of the article - 

http://bdtruth.com.au/main/news/article/6308-Local-songwriters-success.html

I met Phil 18 months ago approximately, when I was visiting Broken Hill on the Australia Day weekend.

He was participating at a poet’s weekend, and many of the participants were staying at the same place I was.

As I was visiting Broken Hill by myself this trip, the group invited me to join them for dinner which was great.

I also caught up with some of them the next day for a chat.

Phil recited one of his Broken Hill inspired poems and I thought, now that would make a great story for the blog.

I’ve since chatted to Phil a few times, and hopefully he will allow me to publish one of his poems.

Back to music, I’ve also heard Phil on the guitar as he’s known for his blues music, and I know he can sing and play.

In the meantime, congratulations on your award Phil.

Well done, cheers, Jane Deany

Sunday, 20 July 2014

Royal Flying Doctor Service is a vital service worth supporting

I wanted to write something about Broken Hill today. Thought I would check Twitter again for some inspiration, rather than other sources which I've used in the past. www.ilovebrokenhill.com 's Twitter handle is @ilovebrokenhill .

The following tweet by @missemilymaree (Emily Biddiscombe) did the trick.

If you, your family, or just someone special to you have ever had a medical crisis in a regional area, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) might just save your life. The organisation is a medical service that looks after the remote regional Australian population.

Well it's Sunday, I'm off for a bike ride, so this is just a quick post to remind readers to think of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and consider making a donation.

The RFDS's website is www.flyingdoctor.org.au . 

www.ilovebrokenhill.com supports the RFDS.

RFDS is a Broken Hill Attraction
RFDS's main base is in fact in Broken Hill. It's a great attraction to visit if you're heading to #BrokenHill for a trip.

I have written about the RFDS a few times, here's a link to my post of 4 February 2013, which talks about the RFDS base as an operating tourist attraction.

In May 2013 the service celebrated its 85th anniversary of operation, see my post of 26 May 2013.

Thanks Emily Biddiscombe for reminding us of this vital regional medical service.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Friday, 18 July 2014

Broken Hill's On The Grapevine and Twitter

Broken Hill from another point of view
In case you are not aware, www.ilovebrokenhill.com has a Twitter account @ilovebrokenhill.

Whilst I was checking the latest #BrokenHill (not case sensitive) happenings in Broken Hill via Twitter a little earlier today, I once again noticed 'On The Grapevine - Broken Hill's Online Community' website courtesy of one of their tweets under their @OTGBrokenHill Twitter handle (account).
If you want to check out an interesting website, focused on all things Broken Hill, and which is very different to www.ilovebrokenhill.com , have a look at www.onthegrapevine.info .

They have the following themes on their site -

Town Talk
What's On
Positions Vacant
Home Ideas (Recipes, DYI and Craft, Kid's Corner)
Gallery

It looks a really good source of a variety of information about Broken Hill. I think the folk at 'On The Grapevine' love Broken Hill as well.

Happy surfing (web), cheers, Jane Deany

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

Community Development Grant of $500,000 to Lifeline Broken Hill

It was great to receive the media release announcing a $500,000 Community Development Grant is to be given to Lifeline Broken Hill.

The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Federal Member for Farrer (the Federal seat in which Broken Hill resides) is visiting Broken Hill and will present the cheque for $500,000 to Scott Hammond, the CEO of Lifeline Broken Hill today, Wednesday 9 July 2014 at 10am.

Where - Lifeline Broken Hill, 194 Argent Street.

The Hon Sussan Ley MP
image courtesy Steve Block
The major funding grant will help Lifeline develop its local Community Neighbourhood Centre and Workshop. Over 2,000 people access Lifeline Broken Hill's face to face service annually, and is part of over 26,000 information and referral contacts which are made each year.


...$500,000 Community Development Grant for Lifeline Broken Hill ...


The Lifeline Broken Hill team also provides training to over 300 frontline workers and an additional 200+ community members.

It is such a fantastic worthy cause, and I'm glad the Federal Government is supporting Lifeline's wonderful and extremely important work.

My family have been touched by suicide, so I fully appreciate just how crucial every dollar that goes to support Lifeline is.

If you need crisis support please call Lifeline 13 11 14.

Lifeline provides 'crisis support and suicide prevention services'.

If life is in danger call 000.


Jane Deany

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

NAIDOC Week 2014 celebrations in Broken Hill 6 - 13 July

Community Event/Day
This year, NAIDOC week runs from Sunday 6 July to Saturday 13 July 2014, so we are right in the middle of this important national event.

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The event is held each year on the first full week of July.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

The theme this year is "Serving Country: Centenary & Beyond"

In Broken Hill, the first official event was the flag raising ceremony which was held yesterday, July 7th at 10.30am at the Broken Hill Civic Centre Plaza.

There are several other events planned during the week.

Today, Tuesday 8 July, there is the 'Elders Morning Tea', and the city's signature NAIDOC Week event will once again be the family fun day at Sturt Park on Thursday the 10th.


The Thursday event will run from 10am to 3pm.

The venue is -


Sturt Park - Chloride, Wolfram, Sulphide and Beryl Streets, Broken Hill.

There will be music, dance, traditional food, art, activities, jumping castle, stalls from different organisations, face painting, karaoke, merry-go-round and a special guest appearance from Yamba the Honey Ant.


Transport is available at the following times: 9:30am Creedon St Bus Stop, 10:00am Patton St Chemist and 10:15am Miani's McCulloch St.

On Friday, 11 July, there is the Pancake Morning Tea.

Check out the NAIDOC website for more information.  www.naidoc.org.au.

Enquiries - Aboriginal Affairs Broken Hill 08 8088 0002


Enjoy, cheers, Jane Deany