2 — Centralian Advocate, Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Get your Uno’s Garden and I’m Green and I’m Grumpy Mini Kids’ Book for $1* each when you present this original token at a participating outlet.

* Kids’ Mini Books available with the Centralian Advocate (Tuesday’s only) Oct 15 - Dec 17 2013 with original newspaper token. Available strictly while stocks last at Centre News Agency at the Coles Complex or The Paper Shop, Yeperenye Shopping Centre only. Books 1-12 are $1 each (total cost of newspaper plus book $2.10 max). Total collection with papers $23.00. Freight charges still apply in regional areas.

12 MINI KIDS’BOOKS TO COLLECT.

NOMINATIONS

NOW OPEN

NOMINATIONS CLOSE 31 JANUARY 2014

Further details visit

www.ntsportsawards.com.au

i NT Sportsperson of the Year

i NT News - NT Junior Sportsperson of the Year

i NT Team of the Year

i Carlton and United Breweries - Masters Sportsperson of the Year

i Carlton and United Breweries - Eric Johnston Coach of the Year

i Minister for Sport, Recreation HUK�9HJPUN�6�JPHS»Z�(^HYK

i *LU[YHSPHU�(K]VJH[L��� Volunteer of the Year

i 104.1 Territory FM - Local Performance of the Year

Get your Big Rain Coming and Belinda Mini Kids’ Books for $1* each when you present this original token at a participating outlet.

* Kids’ Mini Books available with the Centralian Advocate (Tuesday’s only) Oct 15 - Dec 17 2013 with original newspaper token. Available strictly while stocks last at Centre News Agency at the Coles Complex or The Paper Shop, Yeperenye Shopping Centre only. Books 1-12 are $1 each (total cost of newspaper plus book $2.10 max). Total collection with papers $23.00. Freight charges still apply in regional areas.

12 MINI KIDS’BOOKS TO COLLECT.

NEWS

Chance for teen volunteers

Junior volunteers Zoe Johnston, Maddy Ashford, Emma Gaskon, Alex Skipsey-Williams and Amelie Durston.

LIFESTYLE REPORTER

Monika O'Hanlon

‘This just gives them the

opportunity to learn, and if

they work at least 25 hours,

long enough for us to get to

know them, we’re happy to

give them a written

reference

’

SCHOOL holidays have started andparents are already trying to findways to entertain their children.

Not to worry, Vinnies AliceSprings may just have the answerto your prayers.

The organisation is looking forchildren 13 years or older to volun-teer in the shop.

As the new manager of VinniesAlice Springs, Melissa Durston saidthis was a great opportunity foryoung people to get experience inretail.

‘‘We wanted to give the kids anopportunity to pick up essentialskills in a low stress retail environ-ment,’’ Ms Durston said.

‘‘It’s for young people around 13years of age as many of them arekeen to get into working but they

have no experience on their resume.‘‘Predominantly they will be

working on the shop floor, customerservice, stock control and visualmerchandising - that sort of thing.

‘‘This just gives them the oppor-tunity to learn, and if they work atleast 25 hours, long enough for us toget to know them, we’re happy togive them a written reference. ‘‘It’salso about helping the community,starting them young and gettingthem involved in volunteering.’’

Parents don’t have to worry ifthey are going on holidays duringthe school break either, as MsDurston said times of volunteeringwere very flexible.

‘‘It’s entirely up to them how longthey want to come in. We have somekids who want to come in every day,some kids come in just a couple ofdays a week for a few hours,’’ MsDurston said.

‘‘We’re also after adult volunteersas people are away during the

Christmas holidays. ‘‘With Vinnieseverything goes back to the com-munity. It’s about anyone comingthrough the door and gettingtreated equally and we’ll help themwhenever possible.’’

Emma Gaskon has recently com-pleted the eighth grade at school,and said she was looking forward tovolunteering during the holidays.

‘‘I’m doing it because I’ve seenother people who have had a harderlife and I think this is one of the

better ways to help out at my age,’’Emma said.

‘‘I’ve been doing it only a few days,but I’m enjoying it as it’s lots of fun.

‘‘I’m planning on continuing tovolunteer here throughout nextyear.

‘‘I think it gives a lot of skills. I’vealready learnt a lot of things so far.’’

If you or your children are inter-ested in volunteering at VinniesAlice Springs, call Melissa Durstonon 8952 1074 .

Last chance for green andgrumpy readers to get bookBOOKWORMS of AliceSpring, today is the final dayof the Centralian Advocate’sreading initiative.

In every Tuesday paperfor the past 10 weeks therehas been a coupon to collecta children’s book for just $1.

This week there will bethree books to choose from,with 12 to collect altogether.

They are I’m Green andGrumpy, Big Rain Comingand Uno’s Garden.

Other books in the pro-motion include Hunwick’sEgg, Stickybeak, There’s aHippopotamus on Our RoofEating Cake, Koala Lou,Who Sank the Boat?, HairyMaclary from Donaldson’sDairy, Hairy Maclary’s

Bone, Animalia and Belinda.

IF you collect the entireset they could make a per-fect Christmas gift.

To collect your book, visitthe Paper Shoppe inY e p e r e n y e S h o p p i n gCentre or the newsagencyin the Coles Complex andpresent your coupon and $1.

If you have missed out ona book come to the Central-ian Advocate building at 2Gap Rd, to complete yourcollection for $1 per book.

The great Dr Seuss said itbest in his book, I can ReadWith My Eyes Shut!

‘‘The more you read, themore things you will know.The more that you learn,the more places you’ll go.’’

Tollner says split decisionkeeps power bills in checkTHE ‘‘mismanagement ofgovernment finances’’ bythe previous Territory gov-ernments is the reason thePower and Water Corpor-ation (PWC) will be split tocreate two new standalonegovernment corporationsfrom July next year, saidTreasurer Dave Tollner.

Mr Tollner said the com-bined effects of Labor’s pro-jected $5.5 billion debt andrapid economic growth be-ing driven by the AdamGiles Country Liberals gov-ernment has put the needfor change squarely on thetable.

‘‘It is not privatisation.This is about fixing the messLabor made of Power and

Water,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s irre-sponsible investment decis-ions and operating practicesturned PWC into a debt-burdened business thatcould only operate withlarge taxpayer subsidies.’’

The new corporations willbe for electricity retail andgeneration.

‘‘This streamlined andfocussed approach will en-sure appropriate invest-ment and ability to be ableto drive efficiency throughmore effective structures,’’Mr Tollner said.

‘‘I am determined thatTerritorians will not have togo through the same sorts ofprice increases caused byLabor in January.’’

Carnival

a festive

fun timeCOMMUNITY REPORTER

Sarah Rohweder

THE smiles, laughter andjoy from kids and adultsindicated the official launchof the Alice Springs TownCouncil’s Christmas Carni-val on Friday night was ahuge success.

The council lawns came tolife with multi-colouredlights, decorations, tradit-ional Christmas carols andspectacular fireworks.

Market stalls in the ToddMall precinct offered festivegift ideas.

Mayor Damien Ryan saidthe event was a huge suc-cess, and he was very grate-ful to those involved.

‘‘This was a wonderfulcommunity event and Ireally appreciated everyonewho worked on the councilteam, and those who put inhard effort to open a marketstall,’’ he said.

‘‘There were enoughsmiles on a lot of kids’ facesto make the entire eventw o r t h w h i l e , a n d t h eweather was perfect soeveryone had a wonderfultime.

‘‘I also want to thank thecouncil team for helpingmake this carnival such asuccessful part of ourannual celebrations.’’

The carnival was a mem-orable night for most AliceSprings residents, and therewere some who will neverforget the experience of thisyear’s event, includingcouncil’s newest represent-ative, Kylie Bonanni.

Councillor Bonanni saidshe was particularly im-pressed by the amount ofsupport the event receivedfrom local businesses andr e s i d e n t s , a n d w a shonoured to be a part of theoverall experience.

‘‘The carnival was a won-derful family event and itwas lovely to see all of thechildren running around onthe council lawns,’’ she said.

‘‘There was an incredibleamount of support given tothose locals working at theTodd Mall Markets and sur-rounding locals businesses.

‘‘I feel truly honoured tobe a part of this event, bothas a citizen of Alice Springs,and in an official capacity asa newly elected councillorbecause it is definitely anamazing experience.’’

Art solo goalFORMER footballer turnedartist Rupert Betheras willhold his first solo exhibitionat the Araluen Arts Centre.

From February 14, Beth-eras’s artwork will be onshow, depicting his timeworking at the Warlpiricommunity of Yuendumu,290km northwest of AliceSprings.

A former AFL footballerwho played for Collingwood,life after the sport has beenlargely devoted to exploringand developing expressiveand impassioned art.

A recent educational roleat Yuendumu Schoolafforded Betheras the op-portunity to satisfy his needto produce art while work-ing with Warlpiri youth.

The exhibition will rununtil March 23.