Former Armidale local Ross Fletcher completes his final round of the competition.

By JO HARRISON

Former Armidale local Ross Fletcher scored two near perfect performances with his dog Curly to win the open division of the New England Yard Dog Trials over the weekend at the Armidale Exhibition Centre.
He was closely followed by New England Yard Dog Club members Andrew Fittler in second place with Ben and Maree Moran in third place with Amber.
The final of the open division took place late on Sunday afternoon with six finalists vying for the title. The sheep were proving to be more difficult than in earlier rounds with a couple of ring leaders making it tough going for handlers and their dogs. Maree Moran and Amber with a score of 91 in their earlier round were the first out. All looked good for Maree and Amber until a stubborn sheep made life tough for Amber at the race. They finished with a score of 81 taking their total to 173. Next up was local John Rosten and Jane who also has a strong earlier score of 90. Again it was tough going with John finishing well below his best on 70 with a combined score of 162. Jenny Cox was next with Mayah sitting in a strong position with an earlier top score of 94. A disastrous round followed for Jenny and her dog who struggled at the race with some very cantankerous sheep and did not complete the round in time. She finished with a combined score of 118. Sarah Mortimer was next with Dixie. She had an earlier round of 90 followed by 80 to finish with 170 points. Eventual winner Ross Fletcher and Curly who had a top earlier round of 94 under their belt cruised through the round with another strong run of 94. He finished with a combined total of 187. Local Andrew Fittler and Ben put everything on the line in the last round of the day with a very impressive 94. Their earlier round was 91 giving them a total of 185, Just two points shy of the winner.
“It was a real good weekend as is usually the case here in Armidale,” Mr Fletcher said.
“The sheep were really difficult at the end and I was fortunate to get a nice leader among my little lot, so it was very lucky for me.”
The weekend was hugely successful with some top trialing on show. Andrew Fittler from the New England Yard Dog Club was pleased to see some of the best handlers and their dogs compete.
“I got close but couldn’t quite get the big one but overall it was a great event with quite a steady amount of spectators coming along over the whole weekend,” Mr Fittler said.
“I would like to thank everyone that gets behind this trial, we couldn’t have put this together without everyone’s support and the support of our sponsors.”
In the Maiden Trial, first was Nick Ray with Sweep on 175 points; second Justin Tombs with Kez on 173 points; and third Stuart Williamson with Sally on 172 points.
In the Novice Trial, first place went to John Rosten with Rosten’s Pearl on 186 points; second Michael Colvin with Bruce on 180 points; and Greg Addis with Holly on 179 points.
In the Improver Trial, first place went to Jai Moore with Kate on 181 points; second Justin Tombs with George on 176 points; and third Michael Colvin and Bruce on 169 points.

Andrew Fittler works with his dog Ben to move the sheep through the race.

Maree Moran and Amber work together to move some stubborn sheep.

John Rosten competes in an early round on Sunday.

Justin Tombs had a busy weekend competing in multiple events.

Uralla Medical Practice receptionist Wendy Streeting accepts a pleasant Mother’s Day surprise from Uralla CBD mail-lady, Gloria McMillan. Picture: BARRY BLAIR

By BARRY BLAIR

BAGS of chocolates and a small arrangement of flowers were a welcome surprise with the morning mail in Uralla CBD on Friday.
Gloria McMillan has delivered mail in Uralla for the past 16 years and to make Mother’s Day different; for the past 16 years she has brightened the hearts of many a mother on her weekday mail run.
“I do it because people not only like what I do, but I enjoy it immensely,” Gloria McMillan said.
The idea came to Gloria during a 32 year stint as a Brownie Leader.
With a cheery word for everyone, Gloria interacts with locals and visitors alike.
“Visitors often say they wish someone in their town had the guts and gumption to do something similar.”
“I not only do the job, but finish it as well.”
Gloria was easily located on Bridge Street on Friday morning for she was the only female dressed in a party outfit, carrying a parasol.
Never short of something to wear, Gloria has over 40 outfits to choose from in her burgeoning wardrobe.
“I’ll wear as many as 16 different dress styles as a lead-up to Christmas.”
“Then there’s Easter, Anzac Day, Mother’s Day, Halloween, and Melbourne Cup, to name but a few.”
“Some people say I’m mad (I know it!) but when I see people getting enjoyment from what I do, it gives me great joy.”
Joy was unheard of when Gloria was a young girl, for she spent a number of her formative years in an orphanage.
“I’m sure making up for it now,” she said.
One of life’s real characters, Gloria is due to retire at the end of June and Uralla locals and locals are wondering what she will do with no mail to deliver.

Armidale Fire Station will hold an open day this Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

FIREFIGHTERS are encouraging people to visit Armidale Fire Station for the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) annual Open Day this Saturday, 18 May.
Armidale Fire Station, located at 66 Barney Street will be open from 10am to 2pm and families are encouraged to visit their local firefighters and learn more about fire prevention.
A range of free activities will be on offer including firefighting demonstrations, station tours and fire safety presentations including advice about installing smoke alarms, changing smoke alarm batteries and preparing a home escape fire plan.
Children will be able to see fire engines and firefighting equipment up close, which is always one of the highlights of this much-anticipated day.
“With winter approaching, open day is a timely opportunity to talk to the experts in home fire safety. Winter is the worst time of the year for home fires,” Station Commander Wayne Zikan said.
Station Commander Zikan added that the joint FRNSW/GIO online home fire safety audit is one of the best ways of assessing home fire awareness and identifying the risks throughout the home. Go to http://www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au/ to see how your home rates.
“Head over to Armidale Fire Station on open day and talk to our firefighters face-to-face about simple safety tips you can use to escape quickly and safely in case of a fire or emergency.”
The open day marks the end of Fire Prevention Week for 2013. Go to www.fire.nsw.gov.au for more information.

The New England Branch of the Australian Alpaca Association will be holding a free Alpaca Welfare Information Session on Sunday 26 May between 2pm and 4.30pm.

MEMBERS of the New England Australian Alpaca Association are concerned that the breed’s welfare needs are not being met and are holding a welfare information session on Sunday 26 May.
Alpaca numbers have grown across a variety of settings including herd guards on sheep properties, on hobby farms and as pets with owners of these animals unaware of the welfare needs and responsibilities of owning an Alpaca.
They are now also being sold between non-breeders and non-breeders, sometimes without the required information being passed on as it would be from an experienced registered alpaca breeder.
During the heatwave last summer it was evident that many alpacas had not been shorn and were therefore suffering.
Owners of alpacas also need to know about drenching and vaccination needs, nutritional requirements, teeth and nail care, as well as safe handling. There are also a number of mandatory requirements that need to be met including the upcoming NLIS, the need for PIC numbers, and biosecurity and livestock transport regulations.
The New England Branch of the Australian Alpaca Association will be holding a free Alpaca Welfare Information Session on Sunday 26 May between 2pm and 4.30pm.
The information session will be held at the property of Barry and Anne Hambrook, Hilldale Park Alpacas, 52 Budumba Road, Invergowrie. For directions please phone 6775 2510. For further information and to RSVP please call Kevin Mead, 0418 221 167 or 67752524 (evenings) or email koorana01@bigpond.com

The Armidale School honoured 35 former students and one staff member during their Anzac service on 2 May.

THE dedication of an honour roll acknowledging the service of 35 former students and one staff member in conflicts since Vietnam was a highlight of The Armidale School’s Anzac service, held on Thursday 2 May.
Present were members of many families of those Old Boys awarded the Australian Active Service Medal who between them have served in eight theatres – Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Somalia, the Balkans, as part of the International Coalition Against Terror (ICAT), East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Unveiling the honour board, Old Boy and former Commanding Officer of the TAS Cadet Unit Grant Harris spoke of two whom he had taught – Lieutenant Michael Fussell who was killed in November 2008 while on service in Afghanistan, and Naval Lieutenant Huw Paffard, who served in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and Iraq but died in a civilian accident when the helicopter he was flying crashed into powerlines as he piloted his sister to her wedding in 1999.
“The stories of these two Old Boys reflect courage and service that is a hallmark of TAS,” Mr Harris said.
It reflected the theme of the address delivered earlier in the morning by special guest Major-General Paul Brereton AM RFD, who spoke of a former TAS teacher who went on to become one of the nation’s greatest military leaders.
In 1911 the then TAS headmaster T.K. Abbott appointed Leslie Morshead to the staff at TAS, as a general master, music teacher and chapel organist.
“He also assumed command of the school’s depleted cadet unit and turned it into one that functioned and then flourished,” Major-General Brereton said.
Morshead went on to be an outstanding commander on the Western Front in World War I, and is widely recognised as the finest Australian field commander of World War II for his efforts in Tobruk, El Alamein, New Guinea and Borneo.
“Although he left TAS at the end of 1913, for the future Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead, this was his first command. Years later he said that he had met many great men – including Churchill and Roosevelt – but none had overshadowed his image of T.K. Abbott.”
Major-General Brereton said it was through Australia’s servicemen and women that the nation continued to discharge her obligations as a good world citizen.
“And so, while we remember those who have served and given their lives in conflicts of the past, let us also remember the Australian servicemen and women who today are in harm’s way in far-flung parts of the globe, in the footsteps of their Anzac predecessors,” he said.

Armidale Dumaresq Council Mayor, Cr Jim Maher, president of ComputerBank New England, Robert Patterson and Uralla Shire Council Mayor, Cr Michael Pearce, with cages of TVs and monitors ready to be taken to Inverell. Photo: Danieli Studios

COMPUTERBANK New England is now taking unwanted televisions and monitors for free, in Armidale and Uralla.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a snowballing issue. The financial burden of processing this waste has now been eased by the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
It is also an environmental win, due to the heavy metals and other chemicals present in old TVs and monitors.
Armidale Dumaresq Council (ADC) and Uralla Shire Council (USC) are now participants in the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, facilitated locally by ComputerBank New England (CBNE), which has council supported operations at both Armidale and Uralla waste management facilities.
CBNE has been assisting in the recovery of recyclables from e-waste for many years now, diverting hundreds of tonnes of e-waste from landfill.
President, Robert Patterson, said that he had been actively campaigning for up to eight years to rid the landfills of televisions and CRT monitors.
“I’ve been to several meetings with the Federal Government about the scheme. In the last few weeks, I got in touch with the Minister and he told me about the drop-off points, including Matthews Metal Management (MMM) in Inverell.
“They have provided us with cages for the TVs and monitors and will provide the haulage at no cost – that is covered by the scheme,” Mr Patterson said.
“In Armidale, we get about 200 TVs and monitors a week. In Uralla, we get about 40 to 50 a week. We can now get rid of our stockpiles.”
On behalf of the councils, CBNE will now accept, collect and package e-waste free of charge. It will continue to recover recyclables from e-waste and refurbish computers that can be given another life.
ADC had introduced a $15 charge for televisions dropped off at its landfill site. The charge has now been scrapped and the community is urged to ’do the right thing’.
According to Uralla Shire’s mayor, Cr Michael Pearce, the scheme will be of great benefit to the environment of the Uralla and Armidale Local Government Areas.
“I also welcome the financial relief the scheme provides our communities.”
ADC Mayor, Cr Jim Maher concurred.
“This program addresses the significant e-waste challenge locally, thereby preventing the dumping of computers and other electronic equipment and associated dangerous chemicals into our landfills or elsewhere to avoid charges,” Cr Maher said.