Sam lights up Christmas ‘for the kids’
Serena Kirby. Sam Nguyen’s home in Dunskey Place has become an illuminating sight for the past five years. The Strickland Street Vietnamese bakery owner spends several hours every day for more than a month stringing lights and positioning Christmas ornaments.
Beach safety concerns prompt ramp closure
Patricia Gill. The boat ramp at Ocean Beach will be closed on Friday, December 23 due to storm damage until the end of January when the closure will be reviewed. The Shire of Denmark says safety is the reason for the closure.
Book launch marks Osbornes’ Carmarthen centenary
Patricia Gill. Historian Malcolm Traill officially launched Ian Osborne’s book, The Osbornes of Group 41 Carmarthen, at the Osborne farm on December 4. The event marked the century since Ian’s grandparents, Group Settlers George and Edith Osborne, took up the property and a century since the 15 Group Settlers arrived in the district.
Prestigious awards for DEC, stalwart
Patricia Gill. The Denmark Environment Centre and long-standing member Geoff Evans were awarded last month for their commitment to WA’s environment ... Geoff tells how in 1994 he turned up to a meeting run by the late Alex Syme to save Denmark’s forests and was surprised to see 30 people gathered. Geoff looked around and said: “Where have you buggers been for the past 25 years?”
Lez says ‘get a plan’
Patricia Gill. “Make no mistake we will have another bushfire like that,” chief bushfire control officer Lez Baines warns of the likely repeat of another February bushfire ... Lez urged all householders to leave rather than defend their properties in the event of a fire.
Zak takes circus skills to the far north
Denmark circus performer Zak Launay joined a team from the National Institute of Circus Arts to run a series of workshops in the Kimberley ... “We are looking at possible options to organise residencies that could lead to workshops for the Denmark Circus Collective in the future,” Zak said. A key focus of the workshops was to re-engage youth through circus.
Right mix takes Raintree off grid
Serena Kirby. The Birkbeck family’s Raintree Farm distillery and restaurant arm is completely ‘off grid’ after more than a decade of research and infrastructure construction. By being energy self-sufficient Steve said The Dam expected to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by between 105-150t a year. The move to energy self-sufficiency has been a long-term goal that has cost more than $1 million.
Denmark cyclists impress in teams championships
Colin Ashton-Graham. Cyclists, 960 in total, from 160 teams including two Denmark teams raced on November 3 in the Australian Teams Cycling Championships at the Tour of Margaret River in Nannup ... The gruelling Margaret River tour is set up like a mini Tour De France, with teams competing over five race stages totalling 223km and 3440m elevation (equivalent to climbing Mt Kosciuszko and then Bluff Knoll).
