Carols by Candelight

Carols were held in Sheffield last Saturday night. The town hall was full. We sang all the old classics including "Away in a Manger". The event was organized by the Sheffield Baptist Church. They ran the evening well and brought in an M.C from Wynyard.

A highlight for me was a short play put on by the Sheffield Uniting Church. John Hawkins played King Herod (a despot king who ruled Judea at the time of Christ). His common phrase was "heads will roll)!

Instead of candles glow sticks were used and were very popular with the children.

This was the first carols I had been to in a while and really enjoyed it. It is great to see the Town Hall full with enthusiastic people.

Christmas is pretty special to me thinking about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. An amazing man who led by serving people. Something us Kentish Councillors must remember to do.

Merry Christmas.

Wilmot Christmas Festival

We had a chance to attend the Wilmot Christmas Festival last Saturday. The event was put on by the Wilmot Tourist and Progress Association. There was a jumping castle, BBQ, pancakes, stalls and Santa even showed up.

The mayor and I had to judge the children's bike decoration competition. We both interviewed the children with Spirit FM radio station broadcasting the results live. It was a fun afternoon with my younger children enjoying themselves.

I was impressed by the event. Council helped financially by putting $400 towards the event and from next year on will contribute $750 per year.

Wilmot residents can feel isolated from the rest of Kentish because of it's the town's location. I am glad I made effort to attend.

Tidy Town Award

Good news. Sheffield has just been awarded State winner of the 2008 Tasmanian Tidy Towns 1001-2000 Population Category. We received a trophy, certificate and $500 prize money. Great stuff.

Also 8 Kentish community groups received Outstanding Awards:
- Railton Topiary Group
- Redwater Creek Steam and Heritage Society
- Mt Roland River Care Catchment Inc
- Sheffield Garden Club
- Mural Fest Sheffield
- Kentish Museum
- Wilmot Tourist & Progress Association
- Wilmot Museum

Kentish obviously did well.

Sheffield Market

Well the Wilsons went along to the Sheffield Market last Saturday.

The market kicked off this year and is run around the precincts of the Town Hall. Kentish Council gave the Kentish Chamber of Commerce just under $2000 to help kick start the market.

The organizers have been wise when running the market often trying to tie it to some other event running in Sheffield at the time. My son Josh was given a toy boat by one of the nice stall holders. My other son brought home a dart board.

Keep an eye on the community noticeboard for the date of the next market.

Annual Report 2006 / 2007

Kentish Council has just released their Annual Report for 06/07.

A few miscellaneous bits and pieces:

- Kentish has a population if 5965 as of July 2007
- Bridges 107. (Yes we need to maintain them all).
- Citizen of the Year in 2006 was Ann Ridgeway.
- $1500 was donated to Steamfest.
- $1961 was donated to help start the Sheffield Market.
- 150 building applications were processed.
- 1167 dogs were registered.
- 16 complaintes about barking dogs.
- 4 water main breaks in Sheffield water pipes.
- $2454 spent on building a new BBQ in King George V park in Sheffield.
- $76,000 spent on councillor allowances.
- $900,000 spent on roads and bridges.
- $1.1 million set aside to fund new council offices.
- New town welcome signs installed in Railton, Wilmot and Sheffield.
- Aaron Cables successful in obtaining the $1000 youth grant to help him continue his studies at the Maritime University.
- Closed circuit cameras used to inspect sewer network.


The Annual Report will be available online soon. So have a look on the Council website www.kentish.tas.gov.au in a week or two.