MULGRMULGR VE NEWSVE NEWS

1MULGRMULGR VE NEWSVE NEWSWWW. .COM.AU

With the weather putting a damp feeling on the day, it was still the ladies day to shine on the 17th of May 2014. Both female Apprentices Sonja Wiseman and Juliet Kuskopf out rode the boys with them winning two races a piece.

Sonja Wiseman opened the day winning on Trevor Rowe trained Beadsworth by 0.8L in impressive style. Race 2 went to Juliet Kuskopf swooping down the outside on Stephen Massingham trained Editoriale.It was a good result for both Club President Cameron Riches and Club Treasurer Gary Riches part owning the horse. The locally trained Lynda’s Never Late won in the small field for Sonja Wiseman and Local Trainer Ralph Baker. It was a good result for Committee Member Ralph Baker having bred the horse himself.

The Magic Millions Up and Coming Series was won by Pamberton trained by George Doolan and ridden by Frank Edwards. The Series was the 2nd leg of a 6 leg series in the North. The Feature Race of the day the JPMI Roy Marsh Memorial was won by Juliet Kuskopf on Meredith for Atherton based trainer Roy Chillemi bringing her second win up of the day. The local Gordonvale Community turned up in style even though the weather was ordinary, a crowd of 1400 plus attended the race day. The Gordonvale Committee also made a special presentation to Clive Gordon who was presented with Life Membership of the Gordonvale Turf Club (photo: top).

The Gordonvale Turf Club committee are working towards their next race day being held on the 4th of October 2014 which will be the Gordonvale Cup. For more details regarding functions contact President Cameron Riches via email on cameron@richesgroup.com.au or check out the Gordonvale Turf Club’s Facebook page.

EDITION 51, JUNE 2014

JPMI Roy Marsh Memorial Race DayGORDONVALE

TINTING

1 Kern Street, (opposite McDonalds)

Ph 4056 6790

Gordonvale

Auto - Home - OfficeLocally Owned - Aust. Wide Warrantys

Gordonvale residents are invited to attend the first Art and Craft Exhibition in the new Creative Art Spaces in Bryce’s Arcade (the old IGA office).The exhibition will show works from local artists, crafters and creative industry workers.

The event coincides with the Gordonvale Markets and will be open all day from 9am with live music by Steven Schwatrz from opening until 1pm. The activities will also continue into the evening, beginning at 6pm with raffle draws, more live music and a talk at around 7pm. The activities will wrap up around 8pm.

Artists and Creatives from all walks of life are invited to display their work in this inaugural event. In a day of art, music and appreciation we will explore the potential of a permanent creative space in the heart of Gordonvale. For more information on the event contact:

The Gordonvale Hub: phone: 4056 6712 or 0457 789 236email: m.edwards4@qld.gov.au web: www.focusongordonvale.com

Creative Art Spaces

2

ALL TYRES SMALLEST TO LARGESTWHEEL ALIGNMENTS & BATTERIES

3 BRODY CLOSE, GORDONVALE • PHONE: 07 4056 1772"PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY”

Our best advice.Your best interests.

Telephone: 4081 6700www.marinomoller.com.au

Port DouglasCairns

EdmontonGordonvale

Babinda

The North Queensland Animal Rescue – NQAR are lucky again this month to receive the $10.00 gift voucher from The Feed Shop as we had no entries in the June edition “Pets Having Fun” photo competition.This month we would like to see photos of your unusual pets. The winner’s photo will be featured in the July Issue of Mulgrave News. Entries close 20th June. Limited to three entries per person.Photo entries to be emailed to admin@mulgravenews.com.au or posted on our Facebook page. To see photos entries you can visit our website www.mulgravenews.com.au or our Facebook page. Please ensure you have permission from the animal owner before submitting entry.The winning photo printed each month receives a $10.00 gift voucher fromThe Feed Shop. If this prize is unclaimed it will be donated to North Queensland A n i m a l R e s c u e – NQAR.We are happy this month to display our new Police Dog to the Cairns area. Recruit Dog Axel is a 10 month old German Shepherd and will eventually be the new dog partnered w i t h S g t D a v e Raymond of the Cairns Police Dog squad. Axel will be in the C a i r n s a r e a u n t i l February when he will be required to return to the Queensland Police Academy for his 14 weeks formal training.

sponsored by The Feed Shop 12-14 George StreetPhone: 4056 2510 Email: enquiries@thefeedshop.com.au

Pet of the MonthMembers of the Gordonvale Branch of the Australian Red Cross were very proud to participate in the Anzac March and Ceremony at Norman Park Gordonvale on the 25th April 2014. Unfortunately some Members were unable to attend.

On Sunday 4th may 2014 a Morning Tea was held at the Mulgrave Rambler Hall Gordonvale for Members and Invited Guests of the Gordonvale Branch of the Australian Red Cross to commemorate 100 years of Red Cross in Australia. Attendance totalled 34 and the morning was enjoyed by all catching up on old friends and as usual the morning tea of sandwiches, scones and sweets measured up to our famous reputation. Mrs. Reta Thomason welcomed all present and then gave a brief outline of how Red Cross began in Australia and also a DVD was played showing the soldiers during the war. Background music was played of Vera Lynn singing songs of the relevant times. The Centenary Cake (made and decorated by a member Loretta Borgo) was cut by our Senior Member Linda Jones. Invited Guests and Members enjoyed and were amazed by the detailed display of past history at the Settlers Museum which was especially opened for the Morning Tea.

L-R: Lena Benedetti, Linda Jones, Maurene Carne and Sandra Downing.

Year ten student, Rebekah recently represented the Cairns Under 18s Vigoro team in Ipswich for the Queensland State titles in January.

The team delivered an outstanding performance which enabled them to play in the finals for the first time in a couple of years. Rebekah impressed her team mates as she battled to score forty-six runs in the final game.

This display of sportsmanship, determination and resilience certainly cemented the selectors’ decisions who chose Rebekah and several others from Cairns to represent Queensland. The All Australian National Vigoro Titles were held in Sydney.

Once again, Rebekah demonstrated excellent sportsmanship on and off the field and she assisted her team to become Australia’s champions of 2014. Rebekah and her team have worked hard to reach this incredible milestone and the girls played

Gordonvale Red Cross

Queensland State Titles Under 18 Vigorofrom early morning through to midnight. They exhibited magnificent sportsmanship by making numbers in the other two Cairns teams. The competition

was a magnificent opportunity for Rebekah and she was deservedly the first place recipient for her bowling average. Needless to say, the team returned home feeling proud and victorious. The vigoro season has ceased until August. However, if anyone is interested in joining – please do not hesitate to contact Megan Maloney.

MULGRMULGR VE NEWSVE NEWS

Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook!

3

UPHOLSTERYPaulie’s Upholstery

Recovers, Repairs, Made to Order Furniture and Bed Heads.Free Measure and Quotes. Local tradesman with 18 years experience

Ph: 0413 005 833 Email: info@pauliesupholstery.com.au www.pauliesupholstery.com.au

LAWN MOWINGMorrie's Mowing & Yard Maintenance

Lawn Mowing - Pruning - Weed Control - Odd Jobs - Commercial DomesticBody Corp. Ph: 4056 5628 - Mob: 0428 291 033

Bowen Therapy and Emmett Technique

Robyn John

Robyn’s

Remedial Therapist 90 Riverstone Road Gordonvale

Phone 4056 3656 Mobile 0431 303 453

Member of BTFA Relieving Pain and Discomfort

Gift Vouchers Available

Business Guide

MULGRMULGR VE NEWSVE NEWSWWW. .COM.AU

A Z LearningCentre

2

P R I M A R Y & S E C O N D A R Y T U I T I O N

Ph: 0407 577 779www.a2zlearning.com.au

GORDONVALE - EDMONTON - CAIRNS SOUTH

Considering a TUTORfor your child?

TAKING ENROLMENTSNOW FOR TERM 3

Walk Safely to School

Robyn’s Bowen Therapy

© Kevin Stone [www.brainbashers.com]

Walk Safely to School Day has become a regular annual event at Gordonvale State School with good numbers from Gordonvale State Primary School community participating this year despite the wet weather.The whole school community got involved with students, staff, parents, grandparents and other community members as well as our much loved Healthy Eco-citizen mascot walking with raincoats and umbrellas to stay dry. Cairns Regional Council’s Healthy Active School Travel program has been instrumental in promoting active ways to get to school and has provided information to parents with suitable locations of where parents can park their cars and walk the rest of the way. Mr Perkins, Principal of Gordonvale State School leading the group from the BP Service Station said, “Walk Safely to School Day helps to highlight to children and their parents the health benefits of walking regularly and this event may be the impetus to get children and their families started in walking to school. There are not only health benefits, we also know that healthy and active children learn better and it is a great way to start the school day”.Photo: Constable Andrew Guest, Healthy Eco-citizen, Jack Pitchfork, Rman Singh and Lloyd Perkins.

BKL Electrical is a small local business dedicated to professional, prompt and affordable Domestic Electrical and Air Conditioning Services.Our services include power points, lighting,

safety switches, stove and hot water repairs, generator inlets, ceiling fans, smoke alarms,

switchboard replacements, split system A/C’s, TV outlets, security lighting, pre purchase electrical

inspections and also energy saving ideas for pools, lighting and hot water systems, with a “No Job too Small” approach please contact us on 07 4045 0583 for any electrical needs or to arrange a free quote. Electrical Contractors License # 71068 - Refrigeration Trading Authorisation # 26648.

Testimonial.I feel very lucky to have been a client of Robyn John’s. For many years I have visited her healing practice of Bowen Therapy and Emmett Technique. I cannot count how many treatments I have had with Robyn: even a really short visit when I had no spare time, relieved the pain of my tennis elbow. I have been to many Therapists and find many to be very corporate like whereas with Robyn, I know that she is very interested in my health and helping me with my discomfort. I believe Robyn is one of a few “Natural Healers” and it is evident in her gentle hands on approach, and her intuitive nature. Her follow up after the first treatment to see how you are is so unusual and very welcome. I highly recommend that you open your mind to a new experience. It is well worth it and I wish Robyn much success in her business. Cheers, Ann-Maree Green. May 2014.

Local business: BKL Electrical

4

CALTEX COMMUNITY

CALENDARJune October7 Markets, Norman Park 7.30am - 12pm 4 Markets, Norman Park 7.30am - 12pm7 Art Exhibition Bryce’s Arcade, 4 Gordonvale Races

Norman Street 9am -8pm Weekly13 Junior Gordonvale Touch Football Mon Brownies 7-10 yrs

Sign-On at Alley Park 4pm-6pm, Guide Hut, Church Street20 Junior Gordonvale Touch Football Mon Guides 10-13 yrs 6.30pm-8.30pm,

Guide Hut, Church StreetSign-On at Alley ParkTue Active Games in Norman Park 3.15pmJulyTue Rangers 13-18 yrs 7pm-9pm,5 Markets, Norman Park 7.30am - 12pm

Guide Hut, Church Street25-27 Ride for Isabel commences andends Gordonvale rideforisabel.org.au Thu Fitclub! At Johnson Park

August Sat 4F (Fit, Fun and Feeling Fabulous)Informal exercise group meet at Julie’s Tasty 2 Markets, Norman Park 7.30am - 12pm Treats between 6.30-7am. All ages, all levels 18 Start of Senior Mixed Gordonvaleof fitness, walk, cycle, swimming, jog, etc.Touch Football Summer SeasonSat Gumnuts 5-7 yrs 9.30am-11am(Finals 8 Dec)

Guide Hut, Church Street20 Start of Senior Ladies/Men GordonvaleMon - Sat: Mulgrave Settlers Museum,Touch Football Summer Season60 Gordon Street 10am - 2pm(Finals 10 Dec)

September6 Markets, Norman Park 7.30am - 12pm

CALTEX GORDONVALE24hrs 7 DAYS - PH 4056 6027

If you would like to see your small or large event eg. fetes, cent sales, trivia nights, markets etc. published in the Caltex Community Calender please email

your details to: admin@mulgravenews.com.au or give us a call on 07 4056 5825

A is for app(le): I am often asked, “Do you know of any good educational apps for children?”Unfortunately, I have not yet constructed a ready-made list in response to this frequently asked question. Finding good apps for children is difficult. My advice is to start with the free apps because children may become bored with a game or educational app and quickly move on to the next challenge.Try an online search for lists such as “best free apps for early childhood”. These lists have been devised by people who have taken the time to try each of the apps they have listed and often provide a short description of the app. Avoid lists that are sponsored by any one particular brand because they may just be cleverly selling their product. Ask other parents who may have been successful in finding an app their child loves.If you have a teenager who seems to be constantly on their computer, iPad, tablet or phone ask them to use some of their time to assist you. Alternatively, you may just get lucky browsing the app store next time you find you have five minutes to spare in a waiting room, or outside a music or dance class. If you do find a great app… please share!

More than Words & Numbers

Travel Safely in the Tropics

Gordonvale Community Hub located @ 17-19 Cannon Street

A record 92 Gordonvale State School students rode their bikes on Ride2School Day with staff and parents joining in the fun also.Pledges by staff to wear crazy helmets and wear tutus provided extra encouragement to get the students on the bikes on that day. Active travel is a great way for students to meet their recommended daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity and the promotion of Ride2School Day and the implementation of a bicycle, pedestrian and cane train safety education program is the strategy Gordonvale State School is adopting to encourage students to be more active. Initiated through the school program, ‘Excelsior: A Whole Community Approach to Sustainability” with the assistance of funding from the Department of Transport and Main Roads; and the Healthy Active School Travel program through Cairns Regional Council, a bike and pedestrian training area was line marked on the old basketball courts and road signs along with 30 bikes purchased for class lessons. Mulgrave Central Mill installed a footbridge and cane train crossing as extra elements of the training area. To celebrate the completion of the project, a ceremony was held with special guests including Curtis Pitt, (Member for Mulgrave) Rachel Coulsen (Road Safety Manager- Department of Transport and Main Roads) and Councillor Richie Bates (Cairns Regional Council). The official launch was followed by a bonanza of bike activities for 70 students to polish up their road rules, bike riding and maintenance skills. Other schools interested in using this facility should contact Sandra Charlton at Gordonvale State School for more information.

Students Heidi Osterburg, Blaze Knight and Jasmine Azzopardi.

Gordonvale State School staff for Ride2School Day.

5MULGRMULGR VE NEWSVE NEWSWWW. .COM.AU

The Mulgrave News is an independently owned newsletter printedand delivered free to the residents of Gordonvale every month.

Any articles of interest can be included in the paper by emailing to admin@mulgravenews.com.au. Deadline for articles and advertising is the 15th of the month to allow time for set up and printing. The paper relies on advertising by local businesses to succeed. If you cannot advertise in the paper, please support the businesses that do advertise. Authors are

responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any material published in the Mulgrave News for which they do not hold copyright.

The Tonsorial Artist(Information supplied by Mulgrave Settlers Museum as recollected by his daughter Lillian Giacomi).My dad, Walter Earl Toms, was affectionately known as ‘Snow’. He never used his full name because of the initials W.E.T. Snow was one of Gordonvale’s barbers in the 1940’s. Snow was born in the northern rivers district of New South Wales and lived on a dairy farm.At the age of 17, he got a job on a tobacco co-operative in Texas, Qld. He worked there for 5 years without any pay, just receiving free living quarters. Dad decided to come to Gordonvale and meet up with his brother Edward Earnest also known as ‘Fatty’ or ‘Fat’. Fat gave Snow a job cane cutting with his gang.Of course Snow had never cut cane before and Fat, being the ganger, couldn’t let Dad drag the rest of the gang down. Fat used to have to start ahead and nearly kill himself to finish his row of cane, come back and catch Snow up and start ahead. Snow knew that if he didn’t quickly learn to be a good cane cutter he was going to kill his brother!Snow decided he’d try something else; he never had a day’s instruction on how to cut men’s hair he just seemed to have a natural ability to do so. In 1945 he went into Frankie Johns shop and took over the barbering business. Frankie had just closed up shop and Dad bought some of his business equipment. His shop was part of the Commercial hotel in Gordonvale.Snow married Olive O’Bryne and her Aunt Elizabeth was married to John Gordon, the business man whom Gordonvale was named after. The war was just over and supplies were hard to come by, snow couldn’t even buy barber’s towels. By the time Snow could get the real towels, he had shifted around the corner into Mr Brown’s Taylor Shop, which was part of the Queens Hotel. He stayed there until he retired. The shop was near the bottle shop at the Great Northern Hotel on Gordon Street Gordonvale. Snow had been barbering for about 10 years, when an inspector came in and asked to see Snow’s licence. The inspector looked over the entire shop making sure things were in order and properly cleaned. The inspector gave him a certificate and although Snow had not been formally trained he figured that 10 years was a long enough apprenticeship.Snow had cane chairs in his shop and his mates would come by and take a chair out the front and have a good old talk. Of course this left no chairs for his customers to sit on. Then the Council decided that people couldn’t sit on the footpath anymore and so they’d sit in the shop and yarn. This meant that anyone wanting a haircut saw the shop full of people and thought Dad was busy and they’d walk by. It used to be the talking place. If the wives were doing there shopping in Bryces Department store, the men would get together and have a yarn at Snow’s barber shop. Olive had a stroke in her later years and she couldn’t get out. She would hear bits and pieces of gossip and ask Snow if he had heard anymore.Snow would never gossip, just lend an ear to those that needed it. Snow always said it wasn’t for him to say what he’d heard at the barber shop. Dad was a reasonably tall man and during his cane cutting days, he was fairly lean, but as the years went by in the barbering business, he grew quite heavy and his mates jokingly referred to him as the “Big Businessman” with the emphasis on big. He loved to say, when asked what he did for a living, “I’m a Tonsorial Artist”, which is an old term for a barber.

Welcome to this month’s Editorial of all things Real Estate. This month the Real Estate industry has seen a slight slow down since the new Budget was announced.I find that whenever there is an announcement that affects our health, finances and security, the market takes a deep breath and waits to see what will happen.Once we have had a chance to assess our situation then it becomes business as usual and we will see the economy improving again.Despite the budget restraints on many of us, Aquis is back in the news with positive signs that it will be granted it’s

Regional Gaming Licence and that this large project will be approved. I have friends and acquaintances with trade skills who are already packing up and moving to the area which will see pressure build up even more on the rental market.In next Month’s Editorial I will be explaining the Tender Process as this is a very successful way to sell property at present with a recent Tender netting the happy owners $1.2 Million for their 10 acre property at White Rock.For a confidential chat about your real estate needs please phone Robyn Hawley-Whitton - 0488 071 007 or E: robynhw@cpo.com.au

Robyn’s Real Estate Read

There’s a Cent Sale being held at the Gordonvale RSL on Saturday 5th July 2014 Gordon Street , Gordonvale. Doors open at 1pm for 2pm start. Come along and have a great time!There will be great prizes, raffles, a lucky door prize and a delicious afternoon will be served. Vision Australia is a not for profit organisation that assists people with blindness and low vision to lead independent lives. All the money raised will be used in the local region.Contact Wendy Noales on 0407 353 858 for any enquiries.Wendy is vision impaired and a client of Vision Australia and a registered volunteer for the organisation.

Vision Australia Cent Sale

6

Council Corner

WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND THE REGION

Free Entry to Cairns Regional Gallery

Soldier On June Coffee Catch Up

Starts: 07 Jun 2014 10:00 am

Ends: 07 Jun 2014 05:00 pm

Location: Cairns Regional Art Gallery,Cnr Abbott and Shields St.

Web: Cairns Regional Gallery

Email: marketing@cairnsregionalgallery.com.au

Contact: 07 4046 4800

Discover the Gallery with free entry, the first Saturday of each month. Exhibitions on display include: HYPERCLAY: Contemporary Ceramics This Far North: Anna Eglitis and Ivy Zappala. All welcome!

Starts: 13 Jun 2014 10:00 am

Ends: 13 Jun 2014 12:00 pm

Location: Caffiend 5/78 Grafton St. Cairns

Web: Soldier On

Email: sarah_miller@live.com.au

Contact: 0410 70 7979

A chance for veterans, ex serving military personnel, families, friends and supporters of Soldier On to catch up for a coffee and chat about experiences and support networks in Far North Queensland.

Active Cairns Free Community Bike Ride

Volunteer Tutor Course

Starts: 15 Jun 2014 07:15 am

Ends: 15 Jun 2014 10:00 am

Location: Lake Placid car park, Lake Placid Rd.

Email: s.gosling@cairns.qld.gov.au

Contact: 0459 999 082

Registration opens 7.15am, rides start 8am sharp. Each ride has a leader and there will be routes to suit all ages and abilities up to 20km. Helmets must be worn and children under 12 years of age must ride with a parent/carer. All routes are on paths or very quiet streets. Limited adult bikes available: to book e-mail s.gosling@cairns.qld.gov.au or phone 0459 999 082.

Starts: 22 Jun 2014 09:00 am

Ends: 22 Jul 2014 03:30 pm

Location: TAFE Queensland North

Email: Andrea.Bates@tafe.qld.edu.au

Contact: 07 4042 2383

Are you a retired? Do you have any spare time? Interested in volunteering as a tutor at TAFE Queensland North? We have a free training course commencing on the 30th June 2014 for individuals interested in volunteer tutoring students from

migrant and/or humanitarian backgrounds. For more information, contact Andrea Bates on 4042 2383 or register your interested via email atAndrea.Bates@tafe.qld.edu.au

Starts: 25 Jul 2014 06:00 am

Ends: 27 Jul 2014 02:00 pm

Location: Gordonvale

Web: Ride for Isabel

Email: rideforisabel@outlook.com.au

Contact: 1800 815 743

The Ride for Isabel now in its fifth year raises awareness and funds for Stillbirth and Neona ta l Dea th Suppor t ( SANDS ) Queensland.

It is a great training ride for the Cardiac Challenge and riders can register for one, two or all three days.

The ride will start and finish in Gordonvale riding across the tablelands and to Innisfail.

It is fully supported with escort vehicles and catering provided. Look for us on Facebook or visit our website for more information.

Ride for Isabel 2014

www.printandbind.com.au

Did you know you can get your favourite photoprinted directly onto canvas right here at Print and Bind

Gordonvale, stretched & ready to hang at the best prices.

Canvas PrintingCanvas Printing

Print & Bind Australia. 86 Gordon Street, Gordonvale 1300 275 434

Square Rectangle

75cm x 75cm $155 75cm x 55cm $110

55cm x 55cm $ 88 75cm x 30cm $88

30cm x 30cm $ 44 55cm x 30cm $55

7

The following equipment & facilities are available for hire:

Tables (seats 8) $ 7Chairs $ 1Large Barbeques $ 25 + gas

Contact Norm Fitzpatrick 4056 3081

• tables & seating for 60• self-contained kitchen• data projector, laptop and screen

Hire cost is $60/day or $10/day to non-profit organizations.Contact Glenn Pope 0417 707 447.

A large food van with all accessories for cooking chips,hamburgers etc. Catering services to large functionsavailable. Contact Hec Stampa 4056 1032.

Air-conditioned club room with:

GordonvaleLions Club

MULGRMULGR VE NEWSVE NEWSWWW. .COM.AU

Gordonvale State High School is now accepting enrolments for Year 7 in 2015

Find out more at our Gordonvale CommunityMarkets stall on Saturday, 6 June 2015 @

Gordonvale State High School

Personal Excellence, Successful Futures

To find out how to get a Flying Start to Year 7in 2015 visit our website:

www.gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au or phone 4043 3222

Gordonvale StateHigh School GORDONVALE

State High School

© Kevin Stone [www.brainbashers.com]

ABC Rural. By Charlie McKillop.

"Robert Rossi was Gordonvale, Gordonvale was Robert Rossi", the words of former Cairns deputy mayor and councillor Jeff Pezzutti, of the enduring contribution of the civic leader and visionary, who died recently aged 90.

Many hundreds attended St Michael's Church and lined the street, to pay tribute to the late sugar stalwart, as he was laid to rest last week. Appropriate too, the eulogy delivered by his children; Bob, Gloria and Lynette, was punctuated by the sound of the siren of the Mulgrave Central mill across the road, where Mr Rossi served as a director for 20 years.

Robert Rossi arrived in Australia from Italy in 1924 as a 20-month-old baby, in the arms of his mother who had travelled 32 days by boat, three days on the train from Brisbane to Aloomba and then walked the last five miles to the cane farm where her husband was already hard at work, making a new life for his family.

It was a poor and humble beginning. But, like so many of those early migrant families, the Rossi family carved out a successful cane farming and earthmoving enterprise, the legacy of which continues in the Mulgrave district today. He was remembered as an innovator in the sugar industry, a friend of the Australian-Italian community and most of all, a civic leader with a common touch.

Former Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Jeff Pezzutti.

"He treated everybody equally and fairly.” I can always remember, when I got on the Mulgrave Shire, whenever I needed advice I used to go to Robert Rossi," Jeff Pezzutti says of his former mentor.

Port authority, parish, river improvement trust, school committees, fire brigade board, junior farmers and foundation fundraising committees for the (still to be built) university campus and a retirement village, are all causes that were the subject of thousands of his volunteer hours.

Yet, there can be no doubt it was his 23-year tenure as a councillor and deputy chairman of the Mulgrave Shire, in which Robert Rossi made his biggest mark. Together with his political ally and lifelong friend, Stan Marsh, he was elected unopposed six times.

“I was a little hot headed and Robert would be the one who would slow me down," remembers Mr Marsh. "One day I was going to get up and clock a councillor for something that he said, I got up and leant across and I felt this big arm pull me down in my seat." He said 'Stan, you'll win the battle, but you'll lose the fight'. Wise words.” It was his approach to consensus decision-

Robert Rossi was Gordonvale, Gordonvale was Robert Rossi.

Robert Rossi: A Life Most Remarkable

making that made him a huge asset to the board of the Mulgrave Central Mill and mill suppliers' committee.

In an industry where millers and suppliers are often pitted on opposite sides of the battlelines, former Mulgrave Central company secretary Ray McDowall, says Robert Rossi would have none of that. "With Robert on the board, I don't think there was ever a vote. Robert always talked issues through until a good decision could come of the issues we were discussing. He was also a visionary. Every decision we came to, he said, can we make it a bit better for the future."

Ray McDowall, Mulgrave Central Mill Manager (1998-2009).

The vision extended beyond the boardroom. In the early 1960s, Mr Rossi, with the assistance of his brother-in-law Savino Benedetti, helped Massey Ferguson refine a prototype of the most modern cane harvester available. Fifteen years later, frustrated at the lack of support from Australian companies to develop a harvester that would cut green cane, he went to Germany to seek one out and bring it back to work in the fields of Far North Queensland. Steve Hall spent many years managing the Rossi family's farm at Behana Gorge. It held special significance to the three Rossi brothers; Robert, Rici and John, as it was where their father first cut cane, when he arrived in Australia. "(The Gorge farm) used to grow around 3000 ton and when I left there we grew about 7400. "We moved mountains to make a farm out of it.”

“I remember once we had a stony block there and we carted I don't know how many cubic metres of dirt, we filled up eight hectares I think it was. "We filled it up and planted cane over the top of the stones, that was the type of fellow he was. "Nothing was any problem to him. If he wanted to do something, he did it."

He was also a visionary.Every decision we came to, he said, can we make it a bit better forthe future.

Gordonvale Fitclub:Free FitnessIf you’re looking at getting fit but don't have the time or money, come join us at Fitclub in Gordonvale! Fitclub is operated by a group of Health Coaches and our mission is to motivate and help get the community healthy through fitness and nutrition!It’s free to join the group and for all ages! We make it as fun as possible and have a No Judgement rule as we are all working to make ourselves better each day! Come make some new friendships and have a laugh as you get in your exercise! Contact Loraine Healey for more information 0418 377 014 or "like" Gordonvale Fitclub on Facebook to keep updated!

SOLD

REDUCED

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the Mulgrave News are not necessarily the views of the production team. Any enquiries with regards to articles can be directed to email admin@mulgravenews.com.au or by phoning 4056 5877, Fax 4056 5866 or coming into 86 Gordon Street, Gordonvale Qld 4865.

8

Your Local, Southern Agent Specialising in Gordonvale, Goldsborough, East Trinity and Mirriwinni to Cairns.

Robyn Hawley-WhittonTelephone: 0488 071 007 or 07 4031 9222

www.cpo.com.au

robynhw@cpo.com.auS A L E S & R E N T A L S

• Funeral Home • Crematorium • 300 Seat Chapel • Catering Facilities

70-76 Maher Road, Gordonvale

Michael WhittonMob: 0421 074 318

Residential houses,large properties, vacant

blocks, football fields, sportgrounds, resorts & body corp.

SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESSmicksmowingandmaintenance@bigpond.com

73-75 Golden Street, Goldsborough

Rainforest Hideaway with Forever Views! Low $400,000'sSet on over an acre of land with rainforest views from every

window is this highset timber and steel home. There are timber floors and features, 3 bedrooms and a spacious 2 way

bathroom upstairs and 1 bathroom / laundry downstairs.Timber decks overlooking the rainforest & cleared forest for

adventurous big and little kids to explore.

NEW

1-3 McMahon Drive, Fishery Falls

Amazing Value for this Grand Queenslander! $339,000neg.

High set, legal height Queenslander on 4095m² of flat, usable land. Massive rooms to fit all your favourite furniture.

Tongue-in-groove walls, fretwork, polished timber floors,4 bedrooms + office + sunroom, 2 bath + downstairs toilet,

room for cars, boats, vans, in ground pool with gazebo,chook run, etc. etc. Be Quick!

NEW

Lot 3 Greenacres Close, White Rock

Half an Acre 10 Minutes from Cairns CBD! $199,000Rare as hen's teeth, this well established half acre of flat,

useable land with services to the block and large shade andfruit trees, will delight the astute buyer wanting to build their

dream home in a rural setting close to town.

NEW

74 Sheppard Street, Gordonvale

Neat As A Pin, Room to Grow, Home Business?Fully tiled and security screened with 4 good sized bedrooms

and 2 living areas. There is a large bathroom and a tiled, garage. Established vegetable and flower gardens plus a shed.

NEW

172 Ross Road, Deeral

Two Plus Acres, Family Home, Fishing at the Doorstep!If you love boating and fishing and the rural lifestyle

this 8163m² acreage has room for horses as well. 4 bed,2 bath, 2 plus car, 2 bay powered shed plus a breezeway.

Two living areas separated by a large kitchen.Verandahs overlooking the fields and mountains.

NEW

12 Butterworth Close, Gordonvale

Calling All Large Families! Mid $300,000'sIt is rare to find a home that will fit the whole family straight

away! SIX bedrooms PLUS office. New kitchen andmain bathroom, new carpets, lights and built ins. Tiled living

and pool room. This is a quiet, family friendly areawith gorgeous mountain views. Large fenced

yard, garden shed & storeroom.

NEW

16 Klarwein Close, Gordonvale

Great Value - Good As New! Present All OffersSet on a large, flat 1185m² block, this freshly renovated home

is just 5 mins walk to the new college & would suit a savvy investor or family. New open plan kitchen boasting bamboo

floating floors, diamond finish benches, s/less appliances, newbath with modern fixtures & fr/less shower. Huge 14x5m

U/C back deck, 5x7x3m Shed + 24 x Solar Panels.

AUCTION

1 Spender Close, Gordonvale

Views from the Dress Circle! Mid $300,000'sLarge, tiled front verandah overlooking easy care gardens& stunning 180' views. Tiled open plan living & dining, fully

Air Con’d, Kitchen with island bench display, gas range, d/washer. Storage galore. 3 large bed, main with en suite& walk-in-robe. O/sized 2 LUG + LU carport & workshop.

SOLDIN 1 WEEK

More buyers

waiting

SOLDIN 1 WEEK

More buyers

waiting