The Dressage Club sponsored horse trainer Lee Davis to fly to King Island last weekend and hold a two-day horserider workshop and a horse games day to raise funds for the ongoing care of eight-year-old Amara Ainsley who has been treated in the Hobart Burns Unit.

Amara received burns after an accident at her birthday party.

Her recovery has been positive however she has had ongoing dressing changes and monitoring.

“We started Saturday with a workshop under Lee’s expert guidance in driving rain and gale-force wind,” organiser Erika Buhck said.

“The youths were super keen for a 1pm start as the weather had improved. On Sunday morning it was the kid’s turn with amazing improvements after their workshop with Lee.

“Youth placings are Sarra Davis on Princess first place, Dakota Davis on Sweetie second, and Searra on Jazz were third.

“Adult winner was Kelly Lancaster on Arabella, second and third to Erika Buhck on Finnglenny of Hillcrest and Don Lea McBrodie.

“We received amazing support from lots of businesses – Elders, Stockfeeds, Perry’s, Post Office, the Bakery, and King Island Meat Providore Butchers donated 40 sausages for the barbecue, McKenzie Agencies and Armley Percheron Stud,” Erika said.

The weekend event raised $609,” she said.

Regional Express Airlines has launched a new frequent flyer program.

Members can earn and use REX Flyer points across the airline’s domestic and regional network and can accumulate status points to enjoy Tier Status benefits from early 2024.

REX Points can be redeemed with three reward flight options at various pricing levels and availability – but there’s a twist to stand out from the competition.

Starting 48 hours before departure, nearly all remaining unsold seats on each REX flight will be available for booking at the cheapest reward seat rate.

“The program with its superior benefits means we can at last reward our passengers for the loyalty they have shown us over many years as we have fought hard – often against almost impossible odds – to provide them with safe, affordable and reliable air services,” REX deputy chairman John Sharp said.

The new program focuses on the traditional earning and burning points model. Earning points: From three to seven points per dollar spent on fares and up to five points per dollar on extras such as baggage and seating fees.

 Flexible fares and Business Class fares earn more points per dollar.

Points can be used for Economy and Business Class reward seats.

Reward seat prices are tied to published cash fares and currently start from 7,400 points (plus fees and taxes) in Economy.

Flight rewards will become available from mid-November 2023.

There is a status level: Fly or spend enough with REX to jump from Opal to Sapphire, Emerald or Diamond status. Earn 1 Status Point per dollar spent and earn perks such as free lounge membership and extra legroom seats.

Status perks are launching in February 2024. Program registration is free and a startup promotion includes a joining 5000 bonus points. REX doesn’t yet have international operations or long-range aircraft – and the associated reward seat demand – the carrier is still keen to make REX Flyer points as easy to redeem for flights as possible.

There are three reward seat options in each cabin. In order of increasing cost, flexibility and availability, those are Ultimate, Getaway and Anytime.

Members can also upgrade Boeing 737 flights to Business Class with points.

Ultimate rewards require the fewest points but have the most limited availability. Getaway rewards are roughly 30 per cent pricier than Ultimate rewards but have more seats available.

Anytime rewards are considerably more expensive in points but offer any-seat availability.

Reward seat and upgrade amounts are tied to specific published cash fares. This means they can change in line with published fare changes.

But they won’t vary on a day-to-day basis.

REX IT&C general manager Mayooran Thanabalasingam said that reward seat numbers won’t change frequently.

“We purposely picked fares that are not subject to frequent changes. Our published fares are reviewed periodically and may shift up or down based on the competitive landscape,” he explains.

What’s most interesting about REX Flyer is the ability to snag great-value Ultimate reward seats close to departure.

REX Flyer promises that nearly every unsold seat can be booked with points at the lowest rate. Starting in February 2024, here’s how it works:

At 48 hours before departure: All unsold Economy seats (except five) will be available as an Ultimate reward.

At 24 hours before departure: All unsold Business Class seats (except two) will be available as an Ultimate reward.

From midnight on the day of departure: All remaining unsold seats will be available as an Ultimate reward.

REX already has partnership agreements with Delta Airlines, Cruise and travel companies.

The airline will roll out new airport lounges in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with construction commencing imminently.

It is expected that REX will form new partnerships and product offerings including banks, credit unions and insurance. A REXflyer app is to be released and the frequent flyer – aviation loyalty industry believes that there will more announcements at that time.

Another bonus is REX Flyers will also see their reward points doubled for bookings made by January 2, regardless of the date of travel. REX launched their Melbourne-Hobart route in August at $79 one way and last week REX announced it is adding a second daily Boeing 737 flight between Melbourne and Hobart for the Christmas and New Year holiday season.

REX will operate two daily flights between December 18 and January 21, 2024. There is no news regarding increased flights to King Island, however those flying with REX can take advantage of the new program, route linkages and benefits as they are rolled out.

Boneseed is an evergreen woody shrub growing to two metres or more in height and width. The elongated leathery leaves are dull green in colour and around 40 to 70 mm long and 20 to 35 mm wide.

With its yellow daisy-like flower, you might be tempted to plant in your garden – don’t.

Boneseed flowers from mid-spring to early summer. The yellow flowers develop in clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruits are green and fleshy at first then becoming black at maturity. The fruit eventually flakes off to leave the inner seed exposed.

Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera) originated in South Africa and it was introduced to Australia as a garden plant.

It is a serious environmental weed. Boneseed is a declared weed under the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999. The importation, sale and distribution of boneseed are prohibited in Tasmania and non-compliance on importation or removal could results in fines and penalties. Boneseed is also a Weed of N​ational Significance (WONS).

The seeds are hard and bone-like in texture and colour. Seeds are shed during summer and autumn. Heat may crack the seed coat and large numbers of boneseed seedlings may appear after fire.

Boneseed is found across King Island, and it occurs as a weed in disturbed bushland and coastal vegetation. It can invade the understorey of native forests and bushland and is particularly invasive in coastal areas. Boneseed competes with native plants and reduces biodiversity, and dense infestations are a significant fire hazard.

If a property has boneseed the landowner will need a plan and a control program before undertaking removal. Direct any questions to Biosecurity Tasmania, NRE or King Island Landcare.

Slashing or mowing will not eradicate Boneseed as plants regrow strongly from the cut stumps unless they are treated with herbicide.

Never burn boneseed without follow up treatment of regrowth.

Boneseed is spread by birds and animals which eat the fruit, digest the fleshy part and then pass the seed unharmed through the digestive system. Ants can also carry the fruits to their nests where they eat the flesh and discard the seeds. Boneseed fruits and seed are also spread in moving water, livestock movement and by vehicles and machinery.

Seed can be spread in gravel or topsoil collected from areas infested with boneseed. The inappropriate dumping of seeding plants after removal can also lead to spread of the weed.

 Vehicles and machinery require wash-down to reduce the chance of spreading boneseed.

Boneseed plants have a relatively shallow root system. Seedlings and young plants can be readily pulled by hand; however larger plants require a tractor or similar equipment.

When bushes are pulled out, the ground disturbance may stimulate seed germination, making the boneseed problem worse. Follow-up treatment including pulling of seedlings or herbicide treatment is essential.

For low to medium boneseed density, hand pull small plants and treat larger plants by cut-stump herbicide treatment. This minimises soil disturbance and damage to native vegetation.

Fire can be used to control dense infestations of boneseed. Burning kills seedlings and most mature plants and stimulates the germination of the seed in the soil. Regrowth seedlings can then be treated by pulling or with herbicide.

A number of herbicides are registered for use on boneseed in Tasmania. See nre.tas.gov.au herbicides suitable for use.

The inappropriate dumping of seeding plants after removal can also lead to spread of the weed.

Most importantly, while the daisy flowers are colourful and it thrives in King Island soils, do not plant boneseed in the garden.

KING Island Lions, since its Charter in 1969 have raised funds through recycling.

At first it was car batteries, collected, drained and sent off the island any way possible.

Monies received was used for club community projects around the island. The collection and crushing of aluminium drink cans soon followed as did the collection of non-ferrous metals.

Club members devised several unique ways of reducing the cans to the smallest size possible for shipment, including running over them with tractors, flattening them individually through two moving tyres to what we use today, a wool press, on permanent loan to us by Rod Graham.

Our recycle project is still in operation and the major fund raiser.

We endeavour to fill a container with recyclable goods each year to ship off island. All this would not be possible without the assistance and generous ongoing support from Hydro, King Island Council, Jim McKenzie Agencies, Currie Cargoes, King Island Ports and their workers. Local business and community members also play a part, by placing aluminium cans, batteries and non-ferrous metals in the appropriate facilities around town or at the Charles Street facility.

All too often a lot of time is taken up by volunteers removing rubbish from the bins and wire cages meant only for aluminium cans. There are roughly 5000 cans squashed in a wool bale, which weighs around 70kg. At present for aluminium cans we receive 0.70c/kg. We have been using new wool bales, due to the unavailability of used wool bales, at a cost of roughly $17 hence the club receives about $33 for each bale Not a big return for our time and labour collecting and squashing cans.

Please fremember the only cans we recycle are aluminium.

Dog food and pantry steel cans, general refuse and other rubbish is not recycled and volunteers do the messy job of sorting it from the aluminium cans. Please think before using the cage bins for your rubbish.

King Island Council is advancing plans to redesign the parking configuration for Main Street Currie.

Mayor Marcus Blackie said this is in direct response to the numerous service requests and constituent complaints received about parking shortcomings in and around Main Street.

“We have subsequently worked up several new designs aimed at widening parks, improving parking options for all vehicles, maintaining traffic flow as well as improving pedestrian safety and visibility,” he said.

“We will shortly make these new designs available to King Island constituents for a one-month community consultation window during November.

“Please review these designs, we then request your feedback and comments.

“In particular, we’d like feedback from businesses on Main Street if they may be prepared to trade off a few parking spots out front for improved pedestrian access and seating.

“This information package will be up on our council website shortly along with instructions for feedback from interested constituents.

“Once the community consultation window has closed we will take on board all feedback to optimize the final parking redesign and configuration.

“Council will then cost the final design configuration to fund and deliver it next financial year,”Mr  Blackie advised the Courier.

An estimated 18,089, 941 are eligible to vote in the Voice Referendum on Saturday, October 14. a record 97.7 per cent of eligible Australians are enrolled to vote in the upcoming 2023 referendum.

More than 8.4 million people on the electoral roll were not enrolled when the last referendum was held in 1999 – this is more than 47 per cent of the electoral roll.

The 8.4 million people includes 6.7 million people who were under 18 (or not born) at the time as well as 1.7 million other people who are new to the roll since 1999 – many of whom are new Australian citizens.

To vote, write either “yes’’ or “no” – in full – in the box provided on the referendum ballot paper.

“With many nations around the world campaigning to get even three-quarters of their population enrolled to vote, this result is a continuing source of Australian democratic pride,” Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said.

In-person referendum voting day is Saturday, October 14 between 8 am and 6 pm.

The early voting period commenced Monday,  October 2 and runs for a two-week period leading up to referendum day.

The King Island polling places are the Town Hall, 10 George Street Currie and in Grassy at the Grassy Fire Station, 6 Fern Tree Drive Grassy.

Postal voting is available for anyone not able to make it to vote in person, either on voting day or during the early voting period. The AEC advises that people should only apply for a postal if they cannot make it to an in-person voting centre.

Voters who are blind or have low vision can cast a vote using the AEC’s dedicated telephone voting service.

The registration process for telephone voting opened Monday, October 2.

Telephone voting is also available for those stationed in Antarctica.It is not available to people who do not meet the above criteria. The number to call is 1800 913 993 domestically and +61 2 6271 4611 if overseas.

If you are overseas for the 2023 referendum, the AEC in conjunction with DFAT and Austrade will be offering in-person voting in a majority of Australian Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions and early voting is available.

If you are overseas and unable to make it to an Australian post it is recommended that you apply for a postal vote.

Postal vote packs will be sent from Australia, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Voting in a referendum is not compulsory for Australians overseas. If you are unable to vote you should complete and submit an overseas notification form. If you do not inform the AEC, they will write to you asking you to explain why you did not vote.

If you are interstate or outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote you can vote early or complete a postal vote.

Postal vote applications will remain open until 6 pm on the Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Political parties or campaign entities may distribute postal vote applications.

They are applications only and are forwarded to the AEC for processing. This is legal. However, the easiest and best way to apply for a postal vote is to do so through the AEC’s online application tool.

Remote voting began on September 25.

Early voting centres open (NT, Tas, Vic and  WA) Monday, October 2 (a public holiday in some states).

Early voting centres open (ACT, NSW, Qld and SA) Tuesday, October 3.

The last day for the receipt of postal votes is Friday,  October. 27.

It is compulsory by law for all eligible Australian citizens to vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums.

If you’re enrolled for elections, you’re enrolled for referendums too.

 However, you must make sure your details are up to date or enrol for the first time if needed, if you are an Australian citizen, or eligible British subject, aged 18 years and over, and have lived at your address for at least one month.

For voting and referendum information, including checking and updating your enrolment details if required, the Yes and No campaign referendum statements, and the disinformation register go to http://www.aec.gov.au/referendums.

Optus and SpaceX are pioneering a type of brand-new connectivity in Australia by working to bring mobile coverage to 100 per cent of Australia, including King Island.

Optus announced an agreement with SpaceX to use Starlink to deliver mobile-to-satellite services, starting with SMS next year and adding voice and data connectivity in 2025.

Starlink is the name of a satellite network developed by the private spaceflight company SpaceX to provide low-cost internet to remote locations.

The Optus announcement followed Telstra’s announcement of partnering with SpaceX-owned Starlink.

The Telstra relationship is aimed at the improvement of satellite-based internet services for rural homes and businesses.

The Optus deal relates to mobile coverage, specifically to eradicate blackspots and cater for mobile coverage Australia-wide. 

Between now and late 2024, the Optus and SpaceX companies will “extensively” test the satellite-to-phone service.

An Optus spokesperson said: “Optus provides coverage to 98.5 p[er cent of Australia’s population.

However, mobile networks cover approximately only one-third of our land mass.

“In planning to cover 100 per cent of Australia, including Bass Strait and King Island, Optus is collaborating with SpaceX to pioneer a type of connectivity never before seen in our country.

“The service will complement our existing mobile networks, allowing customers to connect to the SpaceX Low Earth Orbit satellite-based network from their mobile phone when outside the coverage area of our terrestrial mobile network,” the Optus spokesperson said.

The Optus SpaceX collaboration aims to deliver direct-to-mobile services using SpaceX’s direct-to-mobile, Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation. One of the main objectives of the new partnership is to service areas with no existing mobile coverage.

With 4G and 5G mobile networks and satellite technology from SpaceX, the company said “You’ll be able to get coverage anywhere in Australia with a clear line of sight to the sky.”

“Our landmark collaboration will aim to provide the entirety of the continent with SMS coverage from late 2024, followed by voice and data from late 2025, so you can be more confident about connecting.”

The Optus-Starlink partnership poses a risk to the NBN Co because the same SIM cards that a phone uses to connect to a satellite could also be used by households for home internet.

That will only come into play if the capacity is high enough because home internet usage is typically much higher than mobile phone data.

It has not been announced how fast the connections will be, or their pricing, except that they will be transmitted via the last generation 4G system.

“We anticipate the service will work with most existing 4G VoLTE capable mobile handsets, meaning an upgrade should not be necessary,” Optus said.

Telstra has announced its own deal with Starlink. Telstra is set to sell broadband and voice services for rural and remote customers powered by Starlink. It is expected this will begin much sooner than Optus. However, it will only cover fixed addresses. The telco’s CEO Vicki Brady said Telstra is “the first provider in the world” to have signed such an agreement, and that it would offer services to both consumer and business customers.

She said Telstra teams had been “testing and trialling” low earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology in preparation.

“Telstra currently uses a mix of technologies to provide voice and broadband services in rural and remote Australia, including NBN fixed wireless, Telstra’s own mobile network and older copper and radio networks,” Brady said.

“Starlink will provide an additional connectivity option for people and businesses in rural and remote locations where distance and terrain make it difficult to reach with existing networks.”

Currently, Starlink customers deal directly with Starlink and either do their own setup or engage an installer to do it for them. Telstra said it will announce pricing and device details “closer to launch, which it expects to be in late 2023.”

Neighbourhood Houses of Tasmania (NHT) held their annual conference in Rosebury from September 20 to 22.

Although the main host house was Rosebery, Zeehan Neighbourhood House held a breakfast, and most conference delegates stayed in Tullah.

The conference was held across multiple venues, highlighted the West Coast and in collaboration with local organisations sourced catering, profiled arts and local crafts and invited the wider community to the NHT conference wherever possible. 

The conference dinner was an enchanting event with the theme “Winter Wonderland” and showcased the beauty of Tasmania’s West Coast.

President of Phoenix Community House, Rose Hoyt, Project Officer, Simone Stewart and Phoenix House Manager, Sally Haneveer, lit up the runway and won ‘best dressed’.

It was not all fun and frivolity.

The King Island delegates attended workshops and forums and networked with other Tasmanian Neighbourhood Houses members.

If possible, the Neighbourhood Houses Annual Conference is always budgeted for in the Phoenix House yearly budget, as it is a vital information session where ideas are discussed, problems are solved, and friendships are formed.

NHT is the peak body for 35 Neighbourhood Houses across Tasmania.

Each individual House is an independent entity, and the peak body exists to represent, support and enable houses in Tasmania.

NHT provides support, training and lobbying for member Houses across Tasmania and represents the Network of Houses in government and community sector forums.

 Their goal is to help houses do what they do best, using a community development approach to support local communities in ways that make a real difference in people’s lives.