Guests arrive and enter through a corridor, passing through a black curtain and emerge into a area decorated to look like a swanky night spot (perhaps a 1930’s cocktail lounge).

Attendees are asked to dress the part for a swank evening, rather like classy, ritzy club wear for a bit of fun!!!!

After laughing, mingling and having cocktails and nibbles, the lights dim and the spotlight lands on a fabulously dressed female singer who begins singing some of the great jazz and blues classics from the 30s, 40s and onwards, ably supported by a keyboards/guitar player and an inspiring sax player. There’s slow dancing for those who are moved by the music with a touch of latin and pop as the night progresses!!!!!!!
Can you picture it? Organisers of the event can and they’re running with it. They have  a feeling that the word for the night will be SWANK!!!!!! Swanky!!!!!!!

The evening has been titled COCKTAILS at CC’s (CC’s stands for Canyonleigh Club also known as the hall).

DATE: 15th October 2011
TIME: 7 for 7.30pm
Live Music
Fully catered for except for drinks. BYO
Cost – $35 per person payable before the night and tickets will be issued.
Dress – SWANKY (interpretation is up to the individual)
There will also be raffle on the night as well as a lucky door prize!!

Who should attend?
Landholders interested in local wild dog issues and the direction of the Southern Highlands Wild Dog Management Plan.

RSVP:
to Charlie Signorelli on 0418241251 by the 10th September.
Charlie Signorelli
Ranger
Cumberland Livestock Health & Pest Authority
mobile 0418241251
email: charles.signorelli@lhpa.org.au

If you visit the Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan you will see a very extensive use of dry stone walling – created by Geoff Duggan, one of only a very few dry stone wallers in the world outside Britain to have been awarded Master Craftsman certification by the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain. Nor does the dry stone technique have to be limited to walls – Geoff is particularly keen on using the craft to create sculptural artworks for the garden.

If we can get together a group of at least ten people interested in taking part in a two-day practical course we could arrange for Geoff to come to Canyonleigh – most probably in November (before it becomes too hot for what is a fairly physical couple of days!).

If you would be interested in attending such a workshop, please contact Fiona Vanderbeek on 4878 9310.

To read more about dry stone walling take a look at the Mount Annan website:
www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au and at www.astoneuponastone.com – the website of the Dry Stone Walls Association of Australia.

It is critical to ensure that you have your Fire Plan in place and that everyone in your home is familiar with the plan in the event of fire.  You can download a fire plan from the RFS web site (rfs.nsw.gov.au and follow the links).  If you are unsure about your own fire plan, or wish to ask any questions, the Canyonleigh Bush Fire Brigade is holding a community information day at the Canyonleigh Store on Sunday 25 September between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm.

Feel free to join us for a cup of coffee or tea. (our shout!) Talk with members of your brigade about your fire plan: what you need to do to prepare your home and property, whether you should stay or evacuate in case of a fire, or if you need assistance to prepare your home.  Fire Plan brochures and information sheets will be available and our two fire trucks, CAT1 and CAT 7, will be on hand.
As mentioned, we don’t know what this bush fire season will bring, but it is always best to be prepared.  If you are travelling into or out of Canyonleigh, always check the bush fire rating signs.  We have two: one at the eastern end of Canyonleigh Road and one at the intersection of Canyonleigh and Tugalong Roads.

If you have significant fuel load around your house, or any of your farm assets, have you considered a hazard reduction burn? All you need to do to organise these is contact the Captain Mark Pearson on 0437 0409 207 and he or a representative will come out and assess the situation. All the paperwork required is taken care of by us, all we ask is that you are home on day of the burn and for a couple of days afterwards. Please note that it does take a couple of months to complete the paperwork and due to Canyonleigh being classified as Koala habitat we cannot burn in spring; all burns therefore have to be done in autumn.

We are also calling on expressions of interest from the women of Canyonleigh who wish to participate in our women’s fire awareness training day.  This unique program, designed by our own Brigade, has met with tremendous support from all over the state.  Even if you attended one of our previous training days and would like to refresh those things you learnt, you are only too welcome to join us again.  Contact Frances Crown on 48789 272, but hurry as spaces are limited.

This course is unique as there is only one other course of a similar nature like it in NSW. The programs have been so successful that word of mouth comments by former participants have reached Rural Fire Service Headquarters in Sydney. On the most recent program they sent their head of Community Education to study it as they endeavour to roll out a state-wide program to increase community fire awareness and readiness.
The course did not just happen. It has not just been thrown together by keen yet unskilled volunteers. Merging the backgrounds of the people involved in the program reveals the following statistics.

There are 3 educational degrees, 1 counselling degree, a Masters degree in social ecology and 2 science degrees held by the design team.
The design team included 2 former captains, the current captain and senior deputy captain. The total Rural Fire Service experience in this team is approaching 100 years.

The 2 principal facilitators have over 50 years combined adult educational experience between them. They are former Corporate Trainers with previous clients including the Commonwealth bank. 2 other facilitators are both Rural Fire Service certified instructors.
Each course has around 60 people hours involved in its setup and facilitation.

To quote on this course commercially the facilitators would charge around $500 per person. This includes the use of the training venue, the back up safety equipment and the back up safety facilitators required to run such a hands on program.

This is a unique opportunity to take advantage of a free course that is not available anywhere else and that may save your life and that of your family/friends. Why not take that first step and ring Frances Crown 4878 9272 to arrange your enrolment.

AIDER PROGRAM

Last year an article was published requesting expressions of interest from the elderly or infirm who wished take advantage of NSW State funding for property maintenance and bushfire protection. Unfortunately we did not have sufficient interest to qualify for this funding.
If you would like to be considered please ring Brett Bannerman on 48789 272, to register your interest.