Alpine News B Bright District

D Real Estate Pty Ltd

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2002
PUBLISHED AT POREPUNKAH
INCORPORATING MYRTLEFORD NEWS
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Nats call for Denise plants a kiss on furry protester

local nursing
home beds
N ational Party candi-
date for Benalla, Bill
Sykes, has expressed
support for the redevel-
opment of Bright Hospi-
tal to include high-care
nursing home beds for
elderly people.
Mr Sykes said Alpine
Health’s strategic service
plan had identified the
need for high-care resi-
dential beds in Bright.
He said that now recur-
rent funding issues were
mostly resolved, Alpine
Health should be given
the resources necessary
to upgrade Bright Hospi-
tal.
“The previous Coali-
tion Government commit-
ted funds for the redevel-
opment of Mt Beauty
and Myrtleford Hospi-
tals,” he said.
“I’m pleased the Labor
Party honored these
commitments and that
residents of those towns
have state-of-the art fa-
cilities.
“Bright Hospital is rela-
tively new, but there’s
definitely a need for high-
care nursing home beds.
“The elderly popula-
tion of Bright and district
is growing rapidly. I will
lobby hard to secure
funding for capital works
to ensure that Bright has
the health service it de-
serves.”
Mr Sykes said there’s
a need to think laterally
about solutions for pro-
l Bill Sykes
viding appropriate aged
The Member for Benalla, Denise Allen, encountered a Spying a cute dog she proceeded to plant a kiss on its
care. “In discussions
protest by members of the Ovens Valley Awareness furry head.
with Alpine Health it be-
Group when she visited Myrtleford last Friday. “It was a fun thing,” she said later.
came apparent that part-
The group members want government funding for a “There weren’t any babies around and it was such a
time hospital care and
part-time financial counsellor to service Myrtleford and gorgeous little dog.”
other assistance meas-
Bright. PICTURE: Suzie Groot and Millie the dog with Mem-
ures should be fully uti-
Ms Allen, who has expressed support and empathy ber for Benalla, Denise Allen. Millie doesn’t vote, ex-
lised to allow people to
for the cause, was undeterred at the potential embar- cept possibly at Labor Party pre-selection ballots, but
live in the comfort of their
rassment of placard-waving demonstrators. Denise thought she’d make friends anyway.
own homes, with sup-
port, for as long as they
wish,” he said.
Mr Sykes congratu-
lated Bright Rotary Club
for taking a prominent
role in raising the issue
of nursing home beds for
Bright.
“The support of a lead-
ing service club shows
the community will get
behind any fundraising
effort if there is leader-
ship from the govern-
ment,” he said.
“My discussions with
Rotary president Bruce
McDonald and members
Stuart Hargreaves and
Ron Devereux reinforced
the need for aged care
and their preparedness
to also think laterally
about solutions.”

Josh Grundy, formerly of Porepunkah, with fellow Bluegrass Hoppers — Hamish Davidson, Lachlan Dear and
Lachlan Davidson. They appeared at the Harrietville Bluegrass Convention and on Sunday at the Wandi Pub.

Harrietville convention the biggest ever

Junior sports achievers
The inaugural Bright Lions Junior Sports
Awards were presented on Tuesday night.
Winners Jaffa Withers, Chris Hickey and Tim
Reid are pictured with organiser Graham
Badrock. Report, page 12.
By Michael Gorey
H arrietville’s Bluegrass Convention
continues to grow in stature, making
the third Saturday in November the town’s
busiest time along with Easter.
Accommodation in Harrietville last week-
end was fully booked, with some people
diverting to Bright.
American and interstate artists joined lo-
cal musicians including Laurie and Josh
Grundy and Lindsay Clapperton for two
days of workshops and jam sessions.
Originally an in-house event for fans of
the genre, more members of the public are
discovering Harrietville’s secret and listen-
ing in. Manager of the main venue at
Feathertop Chalet, Dennis Pangrazio, esti-
mated there may have been up to 700 peo-
ple at the convention’s various locations.
“It was absolutely sensational,” he said.
“It was the biggest bluegrass we’ve had
so far. There have been 14 in Harrietville
and four at Feathertop.
“It gets bigger and bigger every year.”
Mr Pangrazio said the music lovers were
well behaved and a great group to host.
“They can drink all night, play their mu-
sic and you never hear a raised voice,” he
said.
“It’s fantastic for Harrietville. All the ac-
commodation businesses were fully booked
and the shops were busy as well.”
Mr Pangrazio said he was impressed at
the number of young people who took part.
The event will be held again next year.

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