It is something that is most successfully promoted by the enthusiasm of those who live in a place, people who demonstrate that where they live has special interest and charm and is worth spending time in and returning to, or at least telling others about their experience. Word of mouth means a lot.

We have a lot of people who come to Armidale for reasons other than tourism. We can all help the image of Armidale by being aware that it is in our interest to be proud of where we live,  to show it off to best advantage and to encourage people to visit at least some of the ‘special’ places during their visit. Every extra few hours spent happily can benefit everyone if visitors become ambassadors for the place.

One of my favourite ‘musts’ for people I meet is to urge them to take the time for a trip out to Dangars Gorge and Falls. It is just 21 km from Armidale along the Dangarsleigh Road, past historic Palmerston, now Peterson’s Wines.

The Gorge is spectacular and, with or without much water, it never fails to genuinely awe people.

National Parks Ranger Don Hardman is a fund of information.

The pools at the bottom of the falls are home to eels, which are reputed to make an epic trip to near New Caledonia to breed. Their offspring then return up the ranges to those same pools.

The Gorge area is also home to the rare Brushtailed Rock Wallaby, best seen at dusk, and also to the rare Eastern Quoll. As well, many bird species, from the great Wedgetailed Eagle, to Rosellas, Thornbills, Finches and Peregrine Falcons are to be found.

There are rare wattles and a variety of trees on both short and longer walks.

To just be there is to have a most tremendous feeling of place. The area has been visited over millennia by the various aboriginal peoples who travelled from the coast and inland to meet and trade. Today’s visitors mostly come to marvel at the power and wonder of nature.

And this is such an easily accessible taste of just one of the National Parks so near Armidale.

On top of all these attractions I have to admit to a personal fascination with the true story of the visit of Signor Vertelli to the Gorge in 1866.  Recorded in the Armidale Express, his visit has so many romantic aspects, but has sadly been down played by National Parks, perhaps in a misguided fear of copycats. Nobody banned guns because Thunderbolt used them, and Vertelli was certainly no criminal!

Vertelli was the ultimate small businessman – he advertised his visit ahead of time and invited the public to see him cross the Gorge on a wire. He tried to get a band from Uralla, which couldn’t make it. But over 200 tourists from the district did take up his invitation and arrived by horse, buggy, etc. through the bush, carrying picnics.

His wire wasn’t long enough so he added some rope (which stretched and he had to walk uphill for the last bit). He walked across, 600 feet in the air, then again pushing a wheelbarrow, then somersaulted across.

He did what he’d advertised and received  “about eleven pounds”, collected from the crowd.

The Express reported that “a pleasant time was passed. There was an extensive series of picnics among the rocks, and the scenery being very fine, people enjoyed themselves heartily”.

Vertelli then continued on his way, leaving Australia at Cooktown.

Some people may remember that some years ago I had contact with Philippe Petit, the man who, among other feats, walked a wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. He was keen to come to Armidale and we exchanged correspondence about a project for a while. In the end – the usual long story – it didn’t happen, but it was exciting while it lasted!

However our indefatigable local MP Richard Torbay did consent to re-enact the walk at The Creativity Have-a-Ball at NERAM, supported by other prominent locals in the performance. He made a marvellous Signor Vertelli!

Let’s bring Vertelli back into our tourist equation. I believe in do-able New Year resolutions, and that’s one of mine.

Vertelli’s story is Icing on the Cake!

P.S. The extraordinary tourist experience with Fleet Helicopters over the gorge county deserves a column of its own. A tourism operator from the Bungle Bungles envied the closeness to town of the Armidale gorges and said that his flourishing business would be three times the size if he had the same natural tourist advantages we have.

Let’s celebrate the gorges and their wonders.

> What did James do while he was in the UK?

He trained at six professional football academies and got first hand training from the goal keepers of the reserve teams of the premier league.
James says it was very exciting; it was a very good experience for him to see first hand what the professionals players are like and where they train.
He also got to watch some of the Premier League games that were on at the time and went on guided stadium tours of the Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool home grounds, where they show you the playing pitch, club’s museums, trophy rooms, change rooms and the press rooms where he learnt about the history and traditions of the clubs

> Did James train with or meet any famous people?

He got to meet the Australian Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, and the Manchester United second goalkeeper and England’s number one goal keeper, Ben Foster.
He trained with England’s goal keeper coach, Eric Steele and Manchester United’s first team coach.
Manchester City club asked James back for a second training session with their under 18s team, who are all national team players from all over the world.

> What was the ‘non-football’ highlight of James trip?

He says it has to be visiting the biggest shopping centre in Europe.

> What did James gain out of his trip to the UK?

It showed how the professionals train, the facilities they train at and what it takes to become the best in the world.

> Describe James’ football career over the last twelve months.

December 2008: James was given a contract for the NSWIS (New South Wales Institute of Sport) for soccer. This was given to two boys born 1992 to 1994. James was born in 1994.

January 2009: James trained for two weeks with the Newcastle Jets.

January 2009: James played in the Institute Challenge in Canberra (a tournament between all the different state’s Institutes of Sports in Australia). This was for boys born in 1993 and 1994, so James was one of the youngest in the tournament. Three quarters of his squad were born in 1994, so they had a tough time against the other older teams. James was put under enormous pressure and coped well, which led to him being called up to play for Qantas Joeys at Easter.

February to September 2009: James NSWIS contract included an offer to train every week in Newcastle and play U23s in Newcastle. This did not include accommodation or boarding, so the head coach Gary Phillips said that provided he played the highest level possible in the Northern NSW zone, he needed only to attend the institute during his school holidays.
Implementing that offer, James became the No.1 goalkeeper for the Demon Knights Football Club in the Northern Inland Premier League. James played 12 of 18 matches of the Premier League season for DK, including the semi-final and preliminary final. He conceded 11 of the club’s 32 goals conceded. The DK first grade came third in the competition.
James also played in the outfield for the DK reserve grade as a striker. In 2008 James got the club’s senior player golden boots for the season. He scored a goal every second game this season until we pulled him out of playing reserve grade, as he became a target for ‘cheap hits’ in the open field as he was becoming widely known for his goalkeeping success.

March 2009: As a curtain raiser for the Northern Inland Premier League, a ‘Best of the Best’ fund- raising game was held between two teams made up of the 30 best players in New England. James was only 14 and was 3 years younger than any other player invited to take part. Despite the age difference, James received player of the match, in which he played goal keeper.

April 2009: James was selected and played as the goal keeper for the Duval High School U/15s boy’s soccer team that was to play in the Bill Turner Cup.

April 2009: James represented the combined New England High Schools at the North West touch football trials, after making it through the first stage of selections.

April 2009: James was selected for the National Qantas Joeys U/16s team. He was still only 14. He attended an 8 day camp for the National Squad in Canberra over Easter.

April to Present: James relocated his schooling to Toowoomba, where he was offered schooling and the weekly goal keeper coaching by one of the Queensland Roar (now Brisbane Roar) coaches.

July and August 2009: James played as the goal keeper for Demon Knights No.1 team in the Northern Inland Cup for all 4 rounds of the competition. He played in the final until he was subbed off injured just before full time. DK were runners up after losing in a penalty shootout after still being tied after extra time.

August 2009: James represented the Queensland South West region in the Queensland School Boys’ State Championships in Brisbane.
September 2009: James played as the goal keeper in the U/17s at the Gold Champions Cup at the Gold Coast. His team was an invitational team featuring mostly 15 and 16 year old boys whom James had toured Germany with in 2008. This featured teams from all over Australia and overseas such as New Zealand, Korea and the USA. This was held over 8 days.

October 2009: James played in the Football Federation Australia (FFA) national titles representing the Northern New South Wales Football state in the U/15s, as he did the year before in the U/14s.
There are 12 ‘states’ in the FFA: Northern NSW, Metropolitan NSW, Country NSW, Metropolitan Victoria, Regional Victoria, Metropolitan Queensland, Regional Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Northern Territory.
Repeating his Golden Gloves performance of last year, he again was the Golden Gloves of the tournament, but this time shared his award with the other Northern NSW goal keeper. The two of them had not conceded a goal in the first 6 games of the tournament.
It was only after more than 7½ hours of play that they conceded a goal. James’ Northern NSW state team were the tournament’s runners up. They had won six out of the seven games the team played in the tournament.

October 2009: James was offered a renewal of his contract with the NSW Institute of Sport.

21st October 2009: James was taken to a training session of the Brisbane Roar by John Garside, one of the two Brisbane Roar’s goalkeeper coaches. He was coached by Fernando vas Alves, the 1st grade goalkeeper coach. He trained all day beside the Roar’s goalkeepers Liam Reddy and Griffin McMaster, and National U/18s goalkeeper, Matt Acton and with the main Roar players such as Craig Moore and Reinaldo.
He has now been asked to train one day a week with the Brisbane Roar and will be offered a contract with them in May 2010 to play in their National Youth League team

November 2009: James now trains one day a week with the Brisbane Roar until he goes to England. He will do this again after Christmas until May 2010.

8th November 2009: James was selected to play for South West Queensland’s U/20s Futsal Squad as their goal keeper. At 15 years old, he is their youngest player. They will play representative Futsal against the other regions of QLD.

27th November 2009: James travelled to England and trialled with 6 of the English Premier League Clubs until mid December. These clubs were Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United. The Manchester United head goal keeper coach, Eric Steel who is also England’s national goal keeper coach, had been asked by John Garside of the Brisbane Roar to spend extra time with James.

January 2010: As Fernandez vas Alves is also the goal keeper coach for QAS (Queensland Academy of Sport) James will be representing them in the Institute Challenge in Canberra in January 2010. It is for boys born in 1994 and 1995. He played for NNSWIS last January.

> Does James play other sports?

Yes. At Duval High School and in Toowoomba James is ranked as one of the best tennis players in the schools but did not play any representative tennis (had no time!). He did play in the Monday nights’ open men’s tennis competition in Armidale in the late summer-autumn.
James is also a good sprinter, ranked in the top three at Toowomba and at a similar level at Duval. James was also selected in the Duval High School’s rugby team, but we decided that this risked injury for his goal keeping so he did not play any matches after April 2009.

> And what is James’ dream football career?

To go as far as he can and hopefully one day to play for the Socceroos and in the EPL (English Premier League).

> All the best, everyone.

> How long have you lived in the region?

I was born and bred in Tamworth and after moving to Sydney to study at Uni, I moved to Canada and Europe before settling back in Australia in 1998.
I took on a role with NSW Sport and Recreation based out of Dubbo when I returned from overseas and stayed there for 3 years. At the end of 2000 I moved to Armidale, purchasing the ‘Uppercrust’ takeaway and catering business (in keeping with family traditions!)
Then, in 2003, I sold the business, took on some casual teaching at Armidale High School in their PDHPE department and started lecturing Functional Anatomy & Physiology at Armidale TAFE. It was at this time that a fledgling KAMS business was being developed.

> Tell us about your family?

I hail from a fairly traditional Lebanese family, one of only a handful in the region (and yes, the food was amazing growing up!).
My mother’s family have been settled in Kootingal since somewhere around the turn of the (20th) century, my father emigrated to Australia in 1974 after mum visited Lebanon and made a seemingly lasting impression.
Always wanting a large family, mum was unfortunately stuck with just me for the first 13 years, then exactly 9 months after a blackout at home, my brother Anthony was born. He has just finished uni in Canberra (Commerce) and is currently travelling in the USA and Canada. It is very exciting to hear his stories and adventures – it’s like I get to view the world for the first time again, and I have loved sharing his journey.
Our extended family is very close, and a regular Friday night dinner at my grandmother’s house could have anywhere from 6-16 people. At Christmas there are usually about 30 of us.

> What led you into personal fitness training?

As a PDHPE teacher, I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of what it is like to have a direct effect on someone else’s life. Not through simply preaching and telling them what not to do, but by leading by example and having conversations that left students empowered and inspired.
Personal training was a logical step to combine this love of inspiration and empowerment with my love of being a business owner.

> How has your fitness business developed?

KAMS has developed from a one-man part time business to an organisation with 7 trainers and massage therapists. All of the KAMS trainers are not only professionals in their field but also combine attributes vital to this industry, including honesty, integrity and pleasing personalities (when they are not telling me what to do!).
KAMS provides personal and group fitness training, elite athlete speed and agility training, nutritional analysis and advice, remedial and sports massage therapy and corporate training programs including communication, team leadership and group dynamics.

> What is involved with your Metabolic Shift Program?

The MSP will change your life forever! I have been developing this program for the last 4 years, and since its launch in 2008, have achieved a 100% success rate (in fact the program comes with a money back guarantee).
The MSP was developed to create a shift in the metabolism. It detoxes the body, creates a hormone (re)balance, starting a weight and fat loss process that continues well after the 6-week program has ended.  It is a shift away from traditional diets (in fact most people start eating more!) that is revolutionary.
The results speak for themselves. Most participants go through some real lows as their hormones and metabolism shift, but then, by the end of the program, they have tried to sign up everyone around them and cannot sing its praises loudly enough!

>Describe your own fitness regime?

I really enjoy variety in my workouts. My fitness is not a strict regime that is followed, rather, I get the most enjoyment from spontaneously taking up an activity. For example, when it is raining on a hot day, I get great pleasure from going for a run. I often arrive early to the gym before a client, or hang around afterwards to do a few sets of weights.
Joining the Armidale cycle club on a Sunday morning for an early ride is also very enjoyable (I know I’ve missed a few, sorry guys!).
It is all about mixing it up and having a go at just about anything. When people are just getting into their fitness, it is important to have a set regime. This allows them to focus on set goals and form habits.
When training for particular events (such as an adventure race or trail run), I will follow set routines. However, I never have to worry about missing my training – even if it means using a push mower where I would normally use the ride-on to get a workout – I can always find some way of expending some of my pent-up energy.

> Plans for the future?

Personal and business growth are always on the radar. Personally, I have been on an amazing journey of self-discovery and awareness of myself as myself, as a partner and as a contributor to my friends and the community.
This growth will continue, with more goals to be set early in the new year. KAMS the business will undergo some new transformations in 2010. The Great Corporate Shape-Up will be developed into a franchised system; we are currently in discussion over a fitness facility that is unique within our industry and will pioneer a new way in which gyms and personal trainers operate together.
Also, plans are underway for a national-based training and information program that will use television as a medium to reach our wider community. Very busy indeed; I may even try to squeeze in a snowboarding trip at some stage!

> Thank you Kamahl.

> When did you commence as Principal Of NEGS?

Officially commenced on 20th April 2009, which was the middle of the Term One vacation.

> Where did you live and teach prior to NEGS?

I have spent 14 of the last 16 years living on school campuses including the Kings School in Sydney and Farrar at Tamworth. Prior to that I had a variety of roles including inspector of schools, with offices in Tamworth and Grafton, Cluster Director for the Northern Tablelands with an office in Glen Innes, and in 1993 I was the Quality Assurance Director for the North West region of New South Wales.
Previous teaching appointments were in Sydney, Grafton and Kempsey.

> How are you settling in?

Armidale is a most friendly location and it has been relatively easy to take up residence at St John’s Lodge, as I have worked in the city on many previous occasions. Indeed, in 1991 I had an office in Hanna’s Arcade in association with a fellow Cluster Director, when we worked the entire New England region for the Department of Education.
Life has become somewhat easier since my wife gave up her job in Newcastle and joined me in August.

> Most memorable moments so far?

The recent two Speech Day events, when unbeknowns tto the Principal, both guest speakers had been expelled from the School in Year 11. I hasten to add that both ladies have had outstanding careers in their chosen professions since that event.
Secondly, both our hockey and netball teams in the Junior and Senior divisions making the finals of the IGSSA competition, despite competing against schools many times larger in terms of their student populations.
Thirdly, being the beneficiary of over 2.5 million dollars of Federal Government money to allow for the development of new resources for the students of NEGS.
And finally, preparing for the construction of the Trade Training Centre, adjacent to the current equestrian facility, which will enhance our delivery of livestock courses.

NEGS

> How many staff and students attend NEGS?

Staff are spread over three discrete areas – Transition, St John’s Co-Educational Junior School and NEGS Senior School. In total there are 45 teachers and 18 support staff in administration, maintenance and cleaning divisions. The total student population for 2010 is expected to be around 320.
This will include 130 boarders, an increase on 2009, 100 day girls in the senior school and 95 boys and girls in Transition and the Junior School. These are significant enrolments, particular in boarding, given the difficult economic circumstances facing this country.

> Describe the ‘boarding’ system?

There are two types of systems to be found in the boarding sector across Australia, and NEGS has embraced both models. On the one hand, Year 12 reflect a horizontal model as they are located in a discrete boarding house. By the converse, Years 6 to 11 are found in a vertical system, with the various grades spread across the other boarding houses.

> What unique classes are available at NEGS?

We offer a specialised course in Primary Industries for Year 11 and Year 12 which is based upon the unique resources and staffing qualifications of our Equestrian personnel. In addition, we are fortunate to have a Japanese national on staff, which allows us to offer courses in Japanese for Year 7 to Year 12.
On the same plane, our Language staff, Art and Music staff provide courses to all classes in St John’s Junior School. ESL is offered, particularly in the Senior School, while the school is also unique in having highly qualified Equestrian Staff who provide classes both on the timetable and beyond.

> Plans for 2010?

In May this year I developed the ‘Vision Splendid’ to provide a resources pathway for this school. We see the need to extend our Multi-Purpose Centre, to build a new St John’s Junior School on its own site, to replace the science faculty and to upgrade our swimming pool.
Moreover, the school now has a five year Strategic Plan commencing in 2010, which clearly identifies the priority areas such as academic leadership, sport etc. in the years leading to 2014.

> Thank you Ian.

Our Presidents Cup started off strong and well at the beginning of the season, but unfortunately due to lack of numbers and injury, the Presidents Cup side was unable to continue the Tigers spirit. This was very unfortunate, as they only just missed out on making the finals for 2009.
Congratulations must go to the boys who turned up for training and games every week, regardless of the numbers they had.
Under 18s are in the rebuilding phase. The boys were very unfortunate to not have had a win for the season, but showed a lot of the enthusiasm and commitment to the team and also the club.
This year’s Under 18s was made possible by the selected few that travelled from Walcha for training and games.
The Ladies Ox Tag (Pussies) in 2009 was a lot stronger than last year. A couple of changes to the rules were made – one big change being 11 a side instead of eight a side. We adapted quite well to the change and used it to our advantage when we were given the opportunity. We picked up 11 new players this year, and these girls picked up the game throughout the year and all improved in one way or another.
The Uralla Pussies made the finals by defeating Tingah and Bingara twice, but were unfortunately defeated by Glen Innes in extra time, and that ended the Pussies’ successful year.
At the recent presentation night, the following awards were given:

> Presidents Cup:
Best & Fairest – Ben Jones
Players Player – Tim Carlon
Most Improved – Grant Cooper
Coach’s Award – Jeremy Marshall

> Under 18s
Best & Fairest – Corey Rose
Players Player – Corey Rose
Most Improved – TBA
Coach’s Award – Dean Kelly

> League Tag
Best & Fairest – Amy Barraclough
Players Player – Amy Barraclough
Most Improved – Neoka Ward
Coach’s Award – Ash Wilkinson
Most Consistent – Casey Porter & Tara Walsh

Again, the Tigers and Pussies are looking forward to another successful year in 2010.
At the recent AGM a new executive team was elected. Congratulations to the following:
President – Charlie Cooper, Vice President – Brett Cohen, Secretary – Neoka Ward and Treasurer – Amy Barraclough. A new committee was also elected.
We would like anyone interested in joining the Uralla Tigers RLFC, A-Grade, Under 18s or Women’s Ox Tag to please contact 0402 315 806 or email: urallatigers@live.com.au. Anyone and everyone is welcome.
We would like to also ask for any coaches who would like to take up the position to please contact 0402 315 806 or email applications to urallatigers@live.com.au
Also, the Tigers and Pussies are looking forward to the 2010 season by holding a registration day on the 6th February from 9am until noon – where anyone can come along and become a member of the Uralla RLFC for 2010.
In conjuction with the registration day, Uralla Tigers and Pussies will be holding a fun day on the 21st February, where the whole family is welcome to come and enjoy a day of cricket and touch football. If you are interested, please contact Neoka on 0402 315 806 or Amy Barraclough 0422 059 096 for more information on registering for the fun day.
The club would like to thank our major sponsors Thunderbolt Inn Hotel, Tony Williams Machinery and Ian McIntosh. We also wish to thank all of our minor sponsors for their support throughout the year.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact 0402 315 806 or email us at urallatigers@live.com.au
We would like to take this opportunity to wish Uralla Tigers and Uralla Pussies all the very best for the 2010 season.

> Choosing the Right Agent for You.

Selecting the right agent is one of the most important decisions prospective vendors make. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration, but one of the most overlooked is ‘cultural fit’. Too often vendors base their decisions on agency size, fees charged or a previous relationship without considering whether the selected agency operates in a ‘vendor supportive’ manner. The best sales results are achieved through a partnership between vendor and agent that sees both parties effectively contributing to the process. So take the time to find an agent that you can work with, the one that ‘fits’ you best.

There are a number of ways to market & sell real estate, including auction, private treaty, expression of interest and tender. There is no ‘best’ way, and the selected method should only be arrived at after considering the specific property and its attributes, the vendor’s preferences and motivations for sale, whether the market is rising, falling or is stable and the general seasonal conditions. Make sure that your agent can justify in detail why a particular method is being recommended and how this will deliver the best results for you. Request information about what is being achieved right now.
When it comes time to have your property appraised, remember that the agent who puts the highest value on it is not necessarily the ‘best’ or even the agent that holds your property in the ‘highest regard’. Agents should always be able to justify their appraisal by reference to recent comparable sales and taking into account the particular features of your home. The consequences of listing your home at an unrealistic price can be significant. This might include many months (or even years) on the market, disruption to family life, dissatisfaction with the agent and eventually selling at a price way beneath what you had hoped for. As far as pricing your property is concerned, all that glitters is rarely gold.

Marketing is one of the most vital elements in an overall sales strategy. Vendors often do not get involved in developing a marketing plan and allow the agent free reign on advertising what, when & where. Take control of your property’s marketing by requesting that the agent prepare a detailed marketing plan, including a web strategy, setting out which publications are to be used, what ad sizes are to be run and on what dates.
This will allow you to make comment on the breadth and depth of the marketing to be employed to ensure that it meets your expectations. Keep the agent accountable for delivering all the advertising promised.
Vendors often simply look at the fees charged when making decisions about selecting agents without stopping to assess what the underlying value of their offer is. An agent’s commission should reflect the services they provide and the value they add in the provision of those services. Look for agents that have marketing, advertising and sales processes in place which maximise the sale value delivered to you, their clients. Saving a few dollars on fees up front might cost you thousands later.
Spend the time to identify the right agent. It could be a very lucrative and worthwhile investment.
To all those responsible for selecting R&W to receive an Armidale & District Chamber of Commerce New Business Award for 2009, we were greatly encouraged. Thank you.

Dine in the Vines at Eastview Estate. Just 3 Km from the Kentucky turn off, heading towards Kentucky village

So I thought that the focus should be on Armidale and its hinterland and on all of those things that are the icing on the cake.
I wasn’t always a Pollyanna by any means, nor even a ‘glass half-full person’. It took a lot of different life experiences in a lot of different places.
Maybe it’s – ahem – maturity that makes me look at the pluses in life now.
But Armidale certainly makes it very easy to do so, and it doesn’t need a season of goodwill for those of us who live here to know how lucky we are.
Although more and more people are coming to join us, the city is actually nearly the perfect size for what used to be called ‘civilised living’.
As my son said years ago, it is big enough that people don’t inevitably know who you know and what you’re doing, but small enough that when you are strolling down the Mall with some time on your hands there is always someone ready for a chat.
There has to be a critical mass living here for us to deserve all the things we have and often take for granted – the range of educational opportunities from pre-school to university, the cultural and community opportunities, the sporting facilities, the range of shops and businesses, the ability to still relate to the earth and the seasons and what they can produce rather than to be distanced as so many metropolitan people so sadly are, and the incredible natural wonders that surround us only minutes away.
Education is without a doubt the major business in the town – the economic multiplier effect from the schools, the University of New England, TAFE, the Conservatorium, NERAM etc. etc. spreads out into most businesses.
Without the university, Armidale would be a very much smaller place with a lot fewer services, and a lot less opportunities to be taken up by those who seek them out.
Armidale is beautifully placed as a true university city and beautifully placed to capitalise on that in ways that benefit everyone, by no means just those directly involved in education. We have to make sure we maximise our possibilities.
But we have those heart/barbecue stopping attributes here too.
Armidale is the University City with a Portal to Gondwana – how cool is that!
The World Heritage people are pretty happy about it too. This is an aspect of where we live that I’d like to talk about in the future.
With all those wonderful other attributes that can make life here so pleasant, well – that’s all the icing on the cake. This month, make it a nice dark fruit cake with marzipan icing.
Season’s greetings, Susie Dunn.
P.S. (Sorry, I always have to have at least one other word).
Down the track I’d like to talk about the incredible job that organised sport does in this community, how we come to have 150 locals presenting opera with the Armidale symphony orchestra, the highly organised trading culture of the aboriginal people over millennia, the reasons why Hunter S. Thompson’s chum Ralph Steadman talked of “the little community of Armidale who dream of a New Universe and a clean world”, the fact that eels leave the pools at the foot of Dangars Falls to make their way to New Caledonia to breed and then make their way back up the ranges again, the amazing story of Signor Vertelli walking the wire across the same Dangars Falls in 1866, why the New England Regional Art Gallery is worth all the stresses that have surrounded it recently and why and how we should capitalise on the many visitors who come here for other reasons than ‘just passing through …’ Oh, what stories are out there … Icing on the Cake …!

> What is the Community 1000 Initiative?

The Community 1000 project was developed by Richardson & Wrench Armidale as a means of supporting local not-for-profit groups with real cash donations. This means that the whole community benefits through the funding of services provided by these great organisations.
When someone lists and sells their house with R&W during the remainder of 2009 (and maybe beyond if you twist our arm!), we will donate $1,000 on settlement to the local not-for-profit organisation of the vendor’s choice. It doesn’t matter if you are just considering selling your house or have it on the market already, we would be delighted to be appointed your selling agents.
Local community groups are encouraged to register their interest in the program. Simply write or send an email to us outlining who you are and the nature of your organisation. You will then be added to the list of local groups that may be nominated by vendors.
Donations have already started to flow, with the local RSPCA being the first beneficiary. Many other payments are due to be made in the coming months, to organisations such as CanAssist, PCYC & Vision Australia (Armidale), to name just a few.
It is a great initiative and so easy to be a part of. If you are a vendor, simply list your property for sale with R&W, and we will do the rest. If you are a not-for-profit organisation, just let us know who you are. It is that simple.
Come on Armidale … let’s get some funds into the hands of local not-for-profit clubs and organisations that really need it!

> Rate rises won’t hurt housing demand

The Reserve Bank’s decision to raise rates for the second consecutive month should not make a large material difference to housing demand, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) has claimed.
According to HIA’s chief economist Harley Dale, figures show that sentiment towards buying new homes begins to falter when mortgage rates hit their 10 year average of 7.25 per cent.
Even with the latest rate rise, the variable rate on the average mortgage is still significantly below that mark, he said.
Similarly, the strength of the underlying demand stemming from the shortage of housing plus ongoing population growth means the sector should be able to absorb another rate rise.
“It is widely regarded that rates will rise moderately over the next six to nine months, and that’s at a time when we don’t have a lot of evidence of new home building recovery and nothing of the magnitude needed to bridge the housing gap,” Mr Dale said.

Source: Real Estate Business

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