Editor

Exciting times ahead for all at ‘Our Place’

N this my first report as Mayor, I would like to start by thanking our residents and ratepayers for allowing me to lead Brighton Municipality. I am extremely honoured to have been successful at the recent by-election to replace long-standing Mayor Tony Foster. I can assure you I will work hard, listen to your comments and concerns, and do my very best to repay the faith you have shown in me.

By LEIGH GRAY*

IN this my first report as Mayor, I would like to start by thanking our residents and ratepayers for allowing me to lead Brighton Municipality. I am extremely honoured to have been successful at the recent by-election to replace long-standing Mayor Tony Foster. I can assure you I will work hard, listen to your comments and concerns, and do my very best to repay the faith you have shown in me.

I would also like to acknowledge the candidates who put their names forward for mayoral and councillor roles. It is not easy to do, and I thank them all for their efforts and continuing interest in our community. Please keep being involved, as without input from the community, we cannot fulfil our roles.

I must also congratulate Aaron De La Torre on his election as councillor. I am sure he will make an important contribution to our future deliberations.

Brighton is a great place to live, work and play. I am confident our Municipality can look forward to a very positive future. We see growth across the board in our population, development, infrastructure business and industry, and I know this will help us maintain our community’s positive direction.

High School Master plan goes on view

THE site master plan for the new $50 million Brighton High School has been released for public comment as part of the Tasmanian Government’s plan to improve education outcomes.

An architectural consortium led by local firm Jaws Architects has developed the master plan for the new high school at 1 Elderslie Road following extensive consultation with educators, students from nearby primary schools, and the broader Brighton community.

The new high school will include a gymnasium and performing arts space, as well as onsite sporting facilities which can be used by the local community outside school hours

Clean-up unearths issues to be sorted

THE third Sea Shepherd Marine Debris clean-up was conducted successfully last month however, disappointingly, there was again a significant amount of rubbish along the foreshore and in the waterways.

Debris clean-up coordinator Sarah Briggs said the group was up to the challenge, with 40 participants helping to get the job done.

New councillor to give voice to forgotten

NEW Brighton councillor Aaron De La Torre is proud of the community he and his wife chose to call home.

“We decided to buy a block of land and to build in Brighton as it was exactly the kind of area we were looking for; something suburban within a country setting, affordable, and with lots of young families just like ours and a beautiful school within walking distance,” Aaron said.

“We moved into our new home the day before our first child was born. Waking at 2am and heading to hospital following a big move was not a fun experience.”

Aaron said he loved how the community was so close, with everyone keeping an eye out for each other and happy to lend a hand when someone was going through tough times.

New Brighton councillor Aaron De La Torre says there are many challenges for Council to find solutions for, but he believes Council is in good hands with its new Mayor, nine passionate Councillors and a great group of Council staff .

Garden skills a meal ticket

THE East Derwent Primary School Kitchen Garden Program continues to teach students the valuable life skills of growing and harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables to prepare nutritious meals. Twice a week, grades three and four students learn new skills in the garden and kitchen and then sit down together at our dining table for a meal.

By CHRISTINE KNIGHT*

The Kitchen Garden Program recently received a welcome boost with a pallet of coir from Tasmanian Botanics.

This will be used as part of our composting and seed raising programs.

From left, David Webster assistant principal of East Derwent Primary, Katie Wilson, who is a garden specialist,Tom Knight, Ray Raymond and Hayden Tonks from Tasmanian Botanics and student Kayden Murtagh.

Sustainability support for schools

ELEVEN Tasmanian schools, including Brighton Primary School, are being supported by the Tasmanian Government through the Keep Australia Beautiful Tasmanian 2021 Sustainable Schools awards

ELEVEN Tasmanian schools are being supported by the Tasmanian Government through the Keep Australia Beautiful Tasmanian 2021 Sustainable Schools awards.

The awards provide funding to improve sustainability in schools and are supported by the Government, together with Hydro Tasmania and Mars Wrigley.

Member for Lyons Guy Barnett with Brighton Primary assistant principal, Natasha Bannerman and students from the grades 3 / 4 class.

So, where does it FOGO from here?

WELCOME to Brighton Council’s FOGO (Food Organics, Garden Organics) service. At the end of last month, Council started delivering FOGO wheelie bins (240L bin with a lime green lid) and kitchen caddies to households in the Municipality.

The kitchen caddy has information on how to look after both the caddy and FOGO wheelie bin. A magnet for your fridge shows you what can go in FOGO. Pop it on your fridge to help you remember and learn how to use FOGO.

It might take a while to get used to putting food scraps in the kitchen caddy. Find a system that works best. Perhaps discuss FOGO as a household regarding such things as where the kitchen caddy will be kept – near your normal rubbish bin, on your bench near where you prepare food, or under the kitchen sink? When you need to, empty the caddy into your FOGO wheelie bin – more often if there are scraps that might begin to smell, such as meat, fish or dairy products, which you wouldn’t perhaps typically have put in a home compost. That is one of the advantages of a FOGO service.

Amber ace of gymnastics title

LOCAL gymnast Amber Piggin, a member of the Hobart Gymnastics Academy (HGA), is a very proud Tasmanian Overall Junior 2021 Champion following the recent championships event at the Kingborough Sports Centre.

Amber, who attends Brighton Primary School, competed in Level 4 and won the top title.

The Junior State Championships signals the end of the junior competition season.

The Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Level 5 and 6 gymnasts had a fantastic competition with some routines executed with poise and style.

Pharmacy in key jab role

PRICELINE Pharmacy Bridgewater has become a point of access to the Brighton community as a part of the national vaccine rollout.

Since starting the rollout, pharmacist manager Ayden said many community members had visited the pharmacy for their COVID-19 vaccination.

Community pharmacies involvement in the national program has helped the government accelerate the rate of vaccination and bring us closer to the desired national vaccination rate.

Leigh Gray elected Brighton Mayor

LONG-Serving Brighton councillor Leigh Gray has been elected Brighton Municipality’s new Mayor, replacing formerMayor Tony Foster who retired at the end of June this year.

BRIGHTON councillor Leigh Gray has been elected Brighton Municipality’s new Mayor, replacing formerMayor Tony Foster who retired at the end of June this year.

Cr Gray was elected with 55.47 percent of the final vote.

Community leader Aaron De La Torre has been elected Brighton councillor, receiving 60.85 percent of the vote afterthe distribution of preferences.