Phoenix 13012022 : simplebooklet.com

$2 Thursday 13th January 2022 Issue 1 MERREDIN EMERGENCY SERVICES CHRISTMAS PARADE By Senior Sergeant HEATH SOUTAR The Christmas Spirit was well and truly on show in Merredin on Sunday 19 December when the Merredin Emergency Services conducted their rst ever Christmas Parade. Police, Fire and Rescue, Bushre Brigade, St John Ambulance and the State Emergency Services were all represented on the parade by sta in their vehicles. With Father Christmas’s services kindly donated by the Merredin Community Resource Centre and with him being escorted by volunteers from the Merredin Military Museum in an opened air Military vehicle. The children of Merredin were visited at specic locaons, including Recreaon Centre, Merredin College, Swimming Pool and Apex Park, and given some sweet treats by the man in the big red suit. The Merredin Youth Commiee kindly donated the cash to purchase the lollies that were given out to the eager and happy kids. The parade was organised to spread some Christmas cheer to the community of Merredin but it was also designed to highlight the fantasc work our emergency services do in the community, specically our volunteers who give up their me to aend all kinds of incidents to aempt to keep our community safe. “Our volunteers are the true heroes when it comes to our emergency services, they are always there, rain, hail or shine and it does not maer what me of day. They are the people who help our community and make Merredin, the great place it is to live.

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 3 Produced and printed fortnightly by Merredin Community Resource Centre 110 Barrack Street, Merredin Ph: 9041 1041 Fax: 9041 1042 Deadlines Arcles, Adversements (including Classieds) 5pm Monday before publicaon date Content/producon Kirsty Rochford administraon@merredincrc.com Content/producon Debbie Morris merredin@crc.net.au Adversing administraon4@merredincrc.com Upcoming Edions 27th January 2022 10th February 2022 24th February 2022 www.phoenixnews.com.au The Phoenix Prices Prime Adversing Front $150 Back Full page $200 Ears $30 Front inside full $180 Back inside full $180 Colour Quarter $40 Half $80 Full $160 Black & White Quarter $30 Half $60 Full $120 Classies (b/w) Non business for sale free General lineage 50c per word Display per cm Public Noce $10 Employment $5 Trades 12 edions (each) $15 6 edions (each) $20 3 edions (each) $25 Artwork Fee $30 Book 12 consecuve edions or more to receive 5% o CONTENTS COVID 19 Stascs ................... 5 Court Report ............................ 6 From the History Room ............. 7 My Thoughts ............................ 8 Tales from the Train ................. 9 Library Musings ........................ 9 Collgar Community Calendar... 11 Trades .................................... 13 Astronomy ............................. 15 Sport ...................................... 19 Horoscopes ............................ 21 Classieds ...................... 21 & 22 The Phoenix Available at the following outlets: BP Travel Stop Café 56 Cung Room Dimensions Go MAD IGA Inspire Merredin Bakery Merredin CRC Merredin Flowers Merredin Harvest Merredin Swimming Pool Nextra Puma Roadhouse Two Dogs Home Hardware Wild Poppy Café Thankyou to these businesses for their support for The Phoenix and Merredin Community Resource Centre ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS Email administraon4@merredincrc.com 12 or 24 edions

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4 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 CHAMBERLAIN TRACTOR RESURRECTION By ROMOLO PATRONI The members of the Merredin Mens Shed have long been known to turn their hand to most tasks with some spectacular results. In late July a request was made from David Geragthy, General Manager of Mineral Resources, if it would be possible to provide a Chamberlain tractor of early 1960 vintage for the purpose of display over at the Koolyanobbing mine site. The display was to portray the evoluon of the Koolyanobbing iron ore mine dang back to its early days of the 50’s when ore was carted by road to Southern Cross by a eet of Bell Bros trucks, loaded on to the narrow gauge rail and transported to the State Government furnace at Wundowie. The steel produced from this furnace was used by the Chamberlain Industries in Welshpool for the manufacture of tractors. Chamberlain Industries was established aer the war years with Government assistance in an old munion warehouse, its purpose to manufacture Australian made tractors. The tractor of that me were Super 70s, then later, the Super 90, both with GM diesel motors. Also produced were Chamberlain Countryman with a meadows diesel and the Champion with a Perkins diesel engine well known at that me as “Tail end Charlie”. This task seemed simple enough all that was needed was to nd a tractor to t that era. A number of suggesons came forward - every farm in the Wheatbelt must have had a Chamberlain tractor on their farm at some me and these models were popular. Not so, they were either too early, too late, not suitable due to modicaon or not available or not for sale. “There’s some old chamberlain tractors in a shed on the Bruce Rock Road” Sam an old cocky reported, “I am sure one is a Super 70”. Yes, there was and on inspecon there was concern at the condion it was in. But Shed Members weren’t deterred, a decision was made to bring it to the Shed along with bits and pieces laying around from several other relics. In September, an agreement was reached to rebuilt the Super70 to a ‘show like’ condion to reect the tractors of that me for display purpose. Mineral Resources agreed to some start-up capital with an expected hand over date someme prior to Christmas. The task began, cleaning dismantling nding missing pieces. By October, the tractor was stripped to a bare chassis, old paint work and grime cleaned, parts welded, refabricated panels beaten and straightened. In November, work goes on the two Pac paint purchased, advice sort from Merredin Panel and Paint as to how to go about the paint work. A surprise visit to the Shed from Mineral Resources General Manager inspired some much needed condence. With the rst layer of undercoat paint followed by a two Pac spray of Chamberlain orange, things were starng to look up and renewed enthusiasm saw the tractor slowly be reassembled. By December, the tractor now largely reassembled and main painng nished under the advice from Dan at Merredin Panel and Paint New tyres were ed, trimmings aended to with the seat expertly made by Kim from Merredin Upholsterers. On the 14 December the task was completed, advice relayed to Mineral Resources that their tractor was now ready. Shed Members would await further instrucons as to where from here? All very keen of course to a handover and witness their nal result on display. Overall the comment from Shed Members was it was a challenging task. The transformaon was remarkable, and a truly sasfying result, occupying many skills paence and perseverance. Chalk this one up to the Shed and its Members.

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6 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 9th December 2021 Perth Central Law Courts William Riley appeared on charges of assaulng public ocer, unlawful assault and thereby did bodily harm with circumstances of aggravaon, being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear, criminal damage or destrucon of property, and unlawful wounding. He was remanded to appear in Perth on the 28th February 2022. 13th December 2021 Bunbury Courthouse Jimayne Williams appeared on a charge of unlawful assault and thereby did bodily harm with circumstances of aggravaon. He was remanded to appear in Bunbury on the 23rd December 2021. Northam Courthouse Kenneth Farnhill appeared on a charge of breach of protecve bail condions. He was remanded to appear in Northam on the 14th April 2022. Perth Central Law Courts Kyle Brown appeared on charges of no authority to drive (disqualied from holding or obtaining), and reckless driving. He was remanded to appear in Perth on the 17th January 2022. 16th December 2021 Perth Central Law Courts Brandon Welshman appeared on a charge of aggravated grievous bodily harm. He was remanded to appear in Perth on the 16th February 2022. 20th December 2021 Bunbury Courthouse Sean Munns appeared on charges of burglary and commit, and stealing. He was remanded to appear in Bunbury on the 17th January 2022. 21st December 2021 Merredin Courthouse Michelle Abrahams appeared on a charge of reckless driving. The maer was adjourned to appear in Merredin on the 9th February 2022. Kenneth Bullock was convicted on charges of possessing a prohibited drug (cannabis), and possessing Court Report drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug or plant. He received a $600 suspended ne, suspended for 6 months. Shane Bushell was convicted on charges of common assault and criminal damage or destrucon of property. He received a 6 month community based order. Locklyn Carroll appeared on a charge of unlawful and indecent assault, and appeared on two charges of breach of bail (failing to appear soon aer). He was remanded to appear in Merredin on the 9th February 2022. He also appeared on a charge of aempted aggravated home burglary with intent. The maer was dismissed. David Engelbrecht appeared on a charge of exceeding speed limit between 10 and 19km/h. The maer was adjourned to appear in Perth on the 31st January 2022. Leigh Ferris was convicted on a charge of breaching a family violence restraining order. The maer was adjourned to appear in Collie on the 19th January 2022. Cameron Flint was convicted on a charge of criminal damage or destrucon of property. He received a $500 suspended ne, suspended for 3 months and was ordered to pay compensaon of $750. Tyrone Hayden was convicted on charges of disorderly behaviour in public and criminal damage or destrucon of property. He was ned $1000 and ordered to pay costs of $134.50. Dale Laws appeared on a charge of failing to comply with noce issued under subsecon (1) of this act. The maer was dismissed. Jamie McCarthy was convicted on charges of reckless driving, and driving with prescribed illicit drug in oral uid or blood. He had his licence suspended for 6 months, was ned $2000, ordered to pay costs of $259.30 and an analyst fee of $200. Richard Miller appeared on charges of unlicensed person possessing rearm/ammunion, inadequate storage facility for rearms, possessing drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug or plant, and possessed a prohibited drug. The maer was adjourned to appear in Merredin on the 18th January 2022. Jake More appeared on charges of possessing a prohibited drug (cannabis), possessiing a prohibited drug (methylamphetamine) and possessing drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug or plant. The maer was adjourned to appear in Bunbury on the 17th January 2022. Paul Nicholls failed to appear on charges of stealing as a servant, use of unlicenced light vehicle, drove, caused or permied a vehicle with a forged, replica or false plate to be driven on a road, and possessed a prohibited weapon. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Mahima Oneroa was convicted on a charge of no authority to drive – cancelled. He had his licence suspended for 9 months, ned $1000 and ordered to pay costs of $259.30. Michael Paron appeared on charges of unlawful and indecent assault and disorderly behaviour in public. He was remanded to appear in Merredin on the 10th March 2022. Sco Paton appeared on a charge of no authority to drive – suspended (other than nes suspension). The maer was adjourned to appear in Merredin on the 18th January 2022. Brodie Pope appeared on a charge of being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear. He was remanded to appear in Merredin on the 18th January 2022. Lennard Wallam appeared on charges of aggravated home burglary and commit, and assault occasioning bodily harm. He was remanded to appear in Merredin on the 10th March 2022. Megan Waerston appeared on a charge of with intent to defraud forges a record. The maer was adjourned to appear in Merredin on the 9th February 2022. Robert Wynne appeared on ve charges. He was remanded to appear in Merredin on the 7th April 2022. Marcus Hayden was convicted on a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place or in sight or hearing of any person in a public place. He was ned $700 and ordered to pay costs of $251.50. Jason Hill appeared on charges of being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear, common assault, threatened to kill, in circumstances of aggravaon, and criminal damage or destrucon of property. He was remanded in custody to appear in Perth on the 25th February 2022. Clinton Murray was convicted on charges of common assault in circumstances of aggravaon or racial aggravaon, and breach of protecve bail condions. He was ned $1200 and ordered to pay costs of $134.50. He also appeared on a charge of impeded another person’s normal breathing or blood circulaon by applying pressure to neck. The maer was dismissed. 22nd December 2021 Collie Courthouse Sheaylee Jeanes was scheduled to appear. She failed to appear. A warrant has been issued for her arrest. Perth Central Law Courts Mahew Jea appeared on a charge of criminal damage or destrucon of property. He was remanded to appear in Bunbury on the 10th February 2022. Supreme Court Vernon Murphy was convicted on a charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment, backdated to 26 November 2019 to take into account me already spent in custody. He will be eligible for parole. 23rd December 2021 Bunbury Courthouse Jimayne Williams appeared on charge of unlawfully assault and thereby did bodily harm with circumstances of aggravaon. He was remanded to appear in Bunbury on the 20th January 2022. Kalgoorlie Courthouse Rommel McGrath appeared on charges of reckless driving speed of 155 km/h or more to escape pursuit by police, stealing, driver of a vehicle failed to comply with a direcon to stop (circumstance of aggravaon), and reckless driving speed of 155 km/h or more. He was remanded to appear in Kalgoorlie on the 13th January 2022.

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 7 From the History Room By ANITA METCALF The following snippets appeared in the local JANUARY newspapers of the me. 22nd, 1942: Mr Max Brinkworth, of the Agricultural Bank sta, having joined the A.I.F. went into camp last week. Mr Gib Carson, late of Dalgety & Co was amongst the latest batch of recruits. 1949: If you want to live to 90, don’t look for it on the speedometer. 12th, 1950: The very hot spells of the past few weeks have had their eect on water consumpon in Bruce Rock. So much so that the raon of 84,000 gallons weekly (317,974 litres) were exceeded by something like 20,000 gallons (75,708 litres) last week. 11th, 1951: The trainee nurses new quarters have been completed and occupied at the Merredin Hospital, which is greatly appreciated by the Matron and sta. 21st 1970: SEC has arrived in Babakin. The Babakin general By DEBBIE MORRIS The Naonal Australia Day Council’s Community Grants program provided funding to a number of local governments and not for prot organisaons throughout Australia for new Australia Day events or to expand previous smaller events, with the aim of bringing people together to reect on our history, respect the contribuons of all those who have come before us and celebrate our shared future ‘Reect. Respect. Celebrate. We’re all part of the story.’ Merredin CRC host the annual Australia Day Breakfast and were successful in receiving Australia Day Community Grant to expand the event with addional acvies aer the breakfast that showcase our history, including free Njaki Njaki Bus Tour by Mick Hayden, both the Railway and Military Museums open with free entry and Marn Morris from Discover the Wheatbelt’s free Bus Tour of Merredin. CRC RECEIVES AUSTRALIA DAY COMMUNITY GRANT The CRC also purchased an Australia Day promoonal marquee depicng Reect Respect Celebrate and will be having ‘Gi Bags’ for all aendees at the breakfast with Australia Day merchandise and local business, Merre Granola, produce. We look forward to seeing lots of people coming along to the Australia Day Breakfast and taking the opportunity of vising the Museums or partaking in the Bus Tours aer the Breakfast. Museums open from 11am – 4pm; Njaki Njaki Bus Tour commences 11.30am (2 hours); Discover the Wheatbelt Merredin Tour commences 2pm (1½ hours). Bus tours leaving from Merredin CRC. Anyone wanng to help with the Breakfast are most welcome, please contact Merredin CRC on 90411041 or email administraon@merredincrc.com store has had the power connected. 2nd 1971: Spiralling prices and huge gold reserves have led to the recommissioning of the Marvel Loch treatment plant south of Southern Cross. Work on the 90 year old mine is expected to start immediately. 30th, 1980: From a list of 4000 newspapers published throughout the world, there are many named “The Mercury” but Merredin is the only place in the world with a newspaper called “The New Mercury”. The popular tle for a newspaper is named aer the Roman god of merchandise. 31st, 1980: There were 12 days when the mercury passed the century mark of 38degC. 13th, 1991: A top yield of 2.9 tonnes a hectare was harvested from a CSBP and Farmers’ trial on Reg Gethins Bodallin property. A trial at Gerry Kent’s property realised a top yield of 2.6 tonnes a hectare.

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8 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 My Thoughts Australian wth a 9 to 5 job and bills to pay, that’s because it is. As far as the Australian Government is concerned, a “t and proper person” to be doing climate migaon does not include us, and is restricted to those with plenty of resources, as well as profound business, legal, engineering and/or agriculture experience. Australians have been at the absolute cung edge of renewable energy technology. Many of the advances in photovoltaics were pioneered at the University of New South Wales. Zinc Bromide baery technology is an Australian iniave which promises to revoluonise electricity storage but the inventors, like so many Australians before them have found government support non existent and have gone overseas to develop their products. For people like me who have worked hard to embrace renewable energy, water conservaon, recycling and minimising my carbon footprint the Federal Oce of the Clean Energy Regulator seems like an elite bureaucracy shimmering on the hill. It’s hot, my air condioner has maxed out my baeries again. Elon Musk is going to Mars. Perhaps I could hide in the cargo bay.... .. Peter Barre When the “greenhouse eect” began to grab headlines back in the 1990‘s I was a scepc. How is it possible for human acvity to emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than humongous volcanoes or bushres such as those that regularly razed millions of square kilometres of Kimberley tallgrass in the dry season? I watched the debate unfold in a welter of hyperbole from both sides as they sought to over emphasise the dire consequences of either doing nothing or too much. Who can forget the dreadful visions of New York City submerged by the year 2000, or Tony Abbo’s monotonous “toxic tax” mantra? Stascs, maths and chemistry changed my mind. I learnt for instance that world coal producon back in 2005 was about six billion tonnes per annum. I assumed that 100% of this coal was burnt to produce heat and power. I knew from high school chemistry that carbon dioxide was roughly 27% carbon and 73% oxygen by weight, phew! That worked out at about 22 and a half billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. It was quickly apparent that geothermal acvity does not come near this gure, even if you include the half a billion tonnes emied by Mount Pinatubo, which was the biggest erupon of the 20th century in terms of volume. OK, so we make a lot of CO2. So what? Basically what’s going on is this: Molecules that consist of two dierent atoms are parcularly able to absorb infrared radiaon. Water, Carbon monoxide and dioxide and methane are good examples. They stay warm, unlike single atom molecules like hydrogen oxygen and nitrogen which cool o quickly. These heat-collecng molecules also tend to be more dense and therefore gravitate to ground level where us humans live. Technically this is a dierent mechanism altogether to that employed by a real greenhouse, which uses glass to prevent heat escaping by convecon. The poorly named “greenhouse CLEARING THE AIR eect” actually causes warming by mixing in gases that do not radiate the heat away. Burning concentrated carbon (coal) is the biggest producer of carbon dioxide but other carbon-based fuels such as those dislled from crude oil and natural gas also contribute signicantly. Our favourite food, cows, sheep and pigs produce prodigious amounts of methane, which absorbs more infrared than carbon dioxide but is considerably less persistent in the troposphere. Water vapour is the strongest “greenhouse gas” but tends to condense out of the atmosphere even faster than methane, falling as rain or dew etc before it can really do too much damage. Oxides of nitrogen, gaseous by-products of concentrated ferliser are also a problem. The records of temperature and rainfall around here over the last 100 years show an unmistakable warming and drying trend. Although the annual precipitaon gures for Merredin appear hardly to have changed on paper, every farmer knows more and more of that rain is falling in summer, rather than in the growing season. So... it seems like it might be me to, maybe, stop burning coal.... .. In 1997 leaders from around the world including Australia met in Kyoto Japan and formulated a system for bringing about such a change. The concept of internaonal emissions trading was born, whereby a price was put on every tonne of carbon emied into the atmosphere, so that those individuals and organisaons that were acvely removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere could have a tangible credit for doing so, and that these credits could be purchased by those who were eming the most greenhouse gases as a way of oseng the mess they were considered to be making. For Australia, this was a serious problem: we were and sll are the third biggest coal exporters in the world. This internaonal emissions trading scheme amounted to a huge tax on our second biggest export earner. In 2015, 196 internaonal leaders met again in Paris to thrash out a treaty that became known as the Paris Accord. Australia agreed to a signicant 1.46% of responsibility for carbon reducon. Remember this is 1.46% of 196 signatories, certainly more than an equal share. Have we been pulling our weight? What is the Federal government actually doing? If you are a farmer you have no doubt heard of the Carbon Farming Iniave Act of 2011. This is a major plank of the Liberal government’s Emissions Reducon Scheme. For the average Australian non-farmer, this is how it works: Step 1 - Prove that you are a “Fit and Proper Person” to be conducng emissions reducon projects. Step 2 - Open an Australian Naonal Registry of Emission Units account. Step 3 - Obtain Eligible Interest Holder Consent. Step 4 - Provide a Forward Abatement Esmate. Step 5 - Bid for Carbon Credit Units, which the Federal government aucons o to the biggest projects. Step 6 - Sign the contract and prepare to be audited regularly. If all this sounds completely meaningless to the typical

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 9 A modern take on travelling by train Tales from the Train By LADY RANTHAM Today's smorgasbord of humanity is brought to you by the scabbiest of trains. The three-car commuter special. Not only is it too short to accommodate today's late-for-work-slightly-panicky-watch-watching crowd, but all three carriages are the sideways travelling uncomfy ones with a bench seat that runs down each side of the carriage. This means that the few lucky ones who score a seat spend their half-hour commutes wearing a sweaty woman covered in flecks of cereal on one hip and a man in a suit with a broadsheet newspaper on the other and with their arms sucked in towards their c e n t r e l i n e , u s u a l l y culminating in a smartphone. Males try to dislocate and point their shoulder blades Library Musings By WENDY PORTER, Merredin Librarian Happy New Year to all! 2022 is a new year with all new possibilies. The Merredin Library connues to receive new stock, and here is a small taste. ‘Acng up’ is the autobiography of ‘Home and Away’ star Lynne McGranger. Lynne writes about an Aussie childhood full of fad diets, relaonships, career disasters and more. Lynne landed a ‘guest role’ in ‘Home and Away’ that has now lasted over 29 years. In her own words, Lynne realized in her twenes that “lying is a lot like acng…” As of late, it seems that every me you turn on the news there is another re. ‘Firestorm: baling super-charged natural disasters’ by Greg Mullins combines thrilling stories about what it is like to be on the front-line of a giga-re. It looks at raging re, polical evasion, seled science and more. straight towards the windows, looking like uncomfortable Transformers whose joints aren't aligned, but the unluckier females are in a similar position, but get neck strain trying to peek over the sheer mountain of bosom that the sideways elbow-pressure is achieving what their overpriced brassiere arrangements have failed to do. An impressively-endowed lady opposite me this morning took an incautious, unscheduled breath and very nearly disappeared into her own cleavage when the nasal suction unexpectedly encountered the expansive surface area of one of her 'girls'. The comedy of this was only trumped by the frantic embarrassment of her Suited Broadsheet who tried to assist with the Extrication Process. Remember the Merredin Library is operang under reduced hours throughout January. Come in on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10am to 2pm, Wednesday from 1pm to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 12 noon. All eResources are available 24/7 during this period. If you can’t nd what you are looking for, ask the library sta for help. If we can’t borrow the item from another library, we may be able to buy it. If there is anything you would like to see in the library, also let sta know. Throughout January, the Merredin Library is parcipang in the Summer Reading Quest. Come to the Merredin Library to pick up your Logbook and some adventure cards. Prizes are available for the number of hours spent reading, as well as prize hampers for the state winners. See you soon.

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10 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 UPDATES IN ST JOHN WA - MERREDIN By JOHNNO BOWRING For many years Merredin has been well served by a hard-working St John sub centre commiee run enrely by volunteers, delivering an around-the-clock ambulance response for our community when they needed it most. Earlier this year, Merredin was idened as a crical ambulance response locaon and paid posions were funded by WA Country Health Service as part of a $10 million investment to boost country ambulance services by supporng local paramedic crews and volunteers. For my part, I’m thrilled to take up the posng in Merredin. I have strong family connecons to Merredin - parcularly broadacre farming - and have been welcomed with open arms, most of all by the dedicated team of St John volunteers. Volunteers working side-by-side with people like me who have made paramedicine a career is at the heart of Western Australia’s regional ambulance service. The commitment volunteers have to their community is incredible, and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with, and provide clinical support and educaon to this team. There has been a few myths and a bit of confusion about what having paid paramedics in Merredin means – which is understandable, transioning to a hybrid staon is a complex process. Our funding Prior to becoming a hybrid staon, Merredin ambulance service was self-sucient meaning everything from vehicle repairs to ulity bills were funded locally through fundraising and ambulance acvity. Under the new hybrid model, these expenses are dealt with by St John WA. Our ambulances are sll serviced locally, and we support local Merredin businesses at every opportunity. In reality, the main change has been moving the administrave burden of managing nances to the St John regional oce in Northam. Volunteer leaders We have transioned our volunteer commiee to a Volunteer Leadership Group which engages with community, supports training opportunies and develops rewards for volunteers. This is the same model currently in operaon everywhere from Albany to Karratha, and the team has carriage over funding raised through aending and supporng local events. Clinical support My colleague Ben Throp and I bring more than 30 years of paramedicine experience to Merredin and work alongside volunteers in 12-hour shis from 7am to 7pm daily, when the vast majority of call-outs occur. We also provide the ongoing clinical training and support to our volunteers. Aer hours, Merredin remains supported by volunteers who are dedicated to responding to local emergencies. Looking towards 2022 Over the next year I aim to send through occasional updates about our acvies at St John Merredin. • If that’s not something you wish to receive, you can unsubscribe below. • If you know someone who might be interested in receiving these updates, please forward this on and we can add them to our subscripon list. We’re also: • Acvang our social media accounts to keep our community up-to-date, so feel free to follow us on Facebook. • Looking for more volunteers to join St John to learn lifesaving skills and support our community, so please get in touch on the contact below. Geng in touch In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000). If you’d like to get in touch to discuss our services in Merredin or ask any quesons: Duty paramedic number: 0498 355 878 or Email: merredin@stjohnwa.com.au (Just to reiterate – always call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance response!) I hope this provides a bit of context to the St John service in Merredin, and that like me you’re looking forward to the next year.

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 15 Astronomy WTF 14th—27th JANUARY 2022 By PETER BARRETT Welcome to 2022, Watchers of The Firmament! Heatwave condions are ideal for sleeping under the stars, under a mozzy net, with your favourite binoculars, as stars meteors moon and planets put on a show above you. Since the last issue Venus has completed its evening reign and quickly disappeared. Mercury has been seen nearby but the speedy lile planet has also completed its eastern elongaon. Meanwhile lazy Mars is sll feeble in the early morning, and so now these three closest planets are all converging in the pre dawn sky. The last quarter moon also joins them next fortnight making observing condions quite poor. Jupiter and Saturn are sll dominant evening objects in the Western sky but they too are moving toward conjuncon someme in autumn. The summer sky is always dominated by the bright constellaons of Orion and Taurus, which are rich in clusters and nebulae. Following Orion are the two dogs Sirius and Procyon as well as the Gemini twins Castor and Pollux further to the North. Sirius the Big Dog is the brightest star in the night sky. Only the Sun the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and occasionally Mars outshine it. The very bright star directly south of Sirius is Canopus the second brightest star. A line drawn through these two beacons always leads almost exactly to the South pole. The biggest news in astronomy for 2022 is the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on Christmas Day. Looking something like a satellite dish perched on a stack of kites, this instrument would have to rank amongst the most complicated machines ever built. The “kites” are roughly the size of a tennis court, and the whole thing is folded intricately to t inside the cargo bay of the Ariane launch vehicle. As I write this column the telescope is in the process of unfolding as it hurtles toward its nal posion. Dozens of small motors remove covers, posion antennae and solar panels, unfurl and tension sail-like structures designed to shield the instrument from the sun’s heat, unfold and posion parabolic reectors and focusing apparatus with tolerances measured in millionths of a metre and direct small thrust rockets designed to exactly align the whole thing in space. This telescope will not orbit the earth in the way Hubble and most other satellites do. James is heading to a point way beyond the moon called “LaGrange-2“. This point has been calculated to keep the earth permanently between the sun and the instrument to help keep it nice and cool. This is roughly 1,400,000 km from earth. While the earth facing side is expected to reach something like 100 degrees Celsius, the telescope side is expected to be a very chilly -250 degrees! Why so cold? Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb is not designed to look at visible light. Rather, it’s intended to detect infrared radiaon, the invisible light given o by things when they get hot. A kind of giant night-vision camera looking out into space. Therefore, any heat near the camera will simply dazzle it. Astronomers believe this infrared radiaon given o by the most distant objects holds the key to understanding the evoluon of the enre fabric of space and me, as well as the possibility of more accurately dening exoplanets and other phenomena that are yet to be quaned. Just what the images produced by this marvellous new contrapon will look like I have no idea, but I’m looking forward to them anyway. in the meanme, for sheer beauty and gorgeous reality I shall connue to use my trusty binoculars and keep looking up.

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16 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 By ROY BUTLER On the morning of Monday 10 January, a small convoy of vehicles paused in Merredin on their way to Caiguna. They had three Biol generators that run on used cooking oil, to fast charge electric vehicles. One of the vehicles was a Tesla towing a trailer with generator, weight about 2 ton. Later in the week there will be approximately USED COOKING OIL FOR EV FAST CHARGERS 8 EVs coming through Merredin, also heading to Caiguna. These fast chargers are fuelled by old waste vegetable oil, will ll the gap, by providing a charging soluon that doesn’t need to be connected to the grid. The system has been designed and developed by engineer John Edwards, specically so roadhouses—inially across the Nullabor—can lter their waste SERVICE WA APP LAUNCHES TO HELP KEEP WA SAFE The McGowan Government has launched the ServiceWA app - a free, convenient and secure mobile applicaon that will help Western Australians with WA's Safe Transion. The app allows people to show proof of vaccinaon, check in at businesses and venues with SafeWA and access their G2G Pass for interstate travel - all in one convenient place. It helps people access important COVID-19 informaon, including how to prepare your household for COVID-19, where to get tested, where to get vaccinated and exposure locaon sites. The ServiceWA app requires the user to set up or use a Digital Identy to create an account to prove who they are online - meaning the app is safe, secure and not accessible by anyone else. The app will make proof of vaccinaon requirements more robust because of features like the live clock mer, shimmering coat of arms and animated cercate ck that proves the user's COVID-19 digital cercate is authenc. fryer oil and then use it to run in generator to power an EV fast charger. It has been reported that the West Australian Government plan to build the world’s longest intrastate EV charging network ignored a stretch of some 720km between Norseman and the South Australian border. The ABC (from Kalgoorlie) and the West Australian will be publicising this great private enterprise iniave – to place EV fast chargers powered by used cooking oil at Caiguna and perhaps Southern Cross. On Tuesday 18 January, the convoy will return to Perth and stop in Merredin, someme in the aernoon, if anyone is interested in having a look at the generators and an EV or two, please contact me for the details. Excing mes in EV world. People won't be required to show addional idencaon to enter certain businesses and venues if they use the ServiceWA app, as opposed to COVID-19 digital cercates stored in smartphone wallets or hardcopies. Seng up the ServiceWA app and Digital Identy takes some me, and people should allow at least 30 minutes to complete this new process at home, where they have easy access to forms of idencaon like a passport, driver's license or Medicare card. The setup process only needs to be completed once and ensures the user's informaon is veried and protected at all mes when they use the app. People will be able to connue to use the SafeWA app to check in at venues, however eventually this app will become out-of-date, so it is recommended Western Australians download ServiceWA and begin using this app to check in on SafeWA. For more informaon about the ServiceWA app, visit hp://www.wa.gov.au/servicewaapp or telephone support 13 33 WA (13 33 92). ServiceWA can be downloaded from the following links: Apple: hps://apps.apple.com/us/app/servicewa/id1599181775 Android: hps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.wa.digital.service.mobile.servicewa.cizen

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 17 By RSPCA 1. Provide plenty of fresh drinking water You should always have plenty of fresh, cold water for your dog. Before you go on a walk you can ll and then freeze a dog bowl or ice cream container with a quarter of water. Once the bowl is frozen you can ll the rest up with water. This will make the water on the top nice and cool while the ice slowly melts at the boom. Most importantly you’ll want to make sure you have enough water to last the whole trip. 2. Water to play in Playing in water can help to lower a dog’s body temperature in the scorching summer heat. Your dog only needs to be in enough water to get their paws and belly wet and should be supervised if they swim in deeper water. A wet dog is a cool dog and involving some water play with your dog under sprinklers, in pools or lakes can all be fun and cool for you and more importantly your dog! 3. Shade and a cool spot to lie down Dogs will insncvely look for the KEEPING YOUR PET COOL DURING THE SUMMER coolest spot to lie down. And if there isn’t one you can create shade by using portable sun shades, pao umbrellas and pop-up canopies. If you’re looking for something smaller than a shaded pet bed maybe your best opon. They’ll provide reliable shade for your dog in the summerme and are elevated o the ground to help with air circulaon and keeping them cool. 4. An ice pack, cooling mat or wet towel to lay on Oering an ice pack, cooling mat or a wet towel to your pet will help to lower their body temperature when it’s hot outside. Use an ice pack wrapped in a blanket to put in your dog’s bed or place of rest to help your dog cool down and relax. Cooling mats can be lled with cold tap water, ice packs that you may have to freeze overnight or cooling gel. They work best when laid on the ground for your dog to sit on. While wet towels work best when they’re drenched in cool water or draped over your dog. 5. Use a cooling collar or vest Cooling collars and vests are similar to cooling mats. They are lled with a special cooling gel and are designed to keep your dog’s body cool for up to a few hours. There are also cooling vests that aim to move heat from your dog’s body to the environment. These types of coats should be regularly doused in water. Cooling vests are a great opon when walking or hiking with dogs on warmer days. 6. Avoid the midday heat Your best opon at this me of day is to stay indoors. This is why early morning or evening playmes, walks and me spent outside will help you to avoid the midday heat whilst sll giving your dog enough exercise throughout the day. 7. Avoid exercising on hot days Make sure to assess the heat and humidity each day before taking your dog out for an acvity. If it’s hot, 30C with high humidity then it’s best that you avoid any form of exercise with your dog on this type of day. Even on a cooler day, you should also remember to check the temperature of the pavement before walking your dog. Asphalt can specically get extremely hot in direct sun! A great way to check if the ground is too hot for your dog is by using your hand. If it’s too hot for your hand then it’ll be too hot for your dog’s bare feet. 8. Never leave your dog in a parked car Even on cooler days, the temperature inside a car can rise dangerously high! If you’re looking to take your dog on a road trip or start travelling with pets in the car this summer then here are some handy ps: • Keep the air condioning on when driving with your dog and/or when you are in a parked car with your dog • Don’t park in direct sunlight with your dog in the car Keep an eye on your dog if they start to show signs of heatstroke i.e. panng, salivang, discomfort, or disorientaon. NEW SIGNAGE FOR MERREDIN RAILWAY MUSEUM By DEBBIE MORRIS Merredin Museum and Historical Society received funding from Heritage Council of WA and Collgar Wind Farm to have a Signage Style Guide produced and two exterior signs installed at the Railway Museum. Creave Spaces was engaged to complete these projects and the Commiee were pleased to have the Style Guide completed in December 2021. The signage is almost complete and should be installed within the next month, following approval by Council, PTA and Heritage Council. One sign will be located along the fence adjacent to the railway lines and the other replacing the current sign on the south east corner of the Museum. The Railway Museum is always looking for volunteers, so if anyone has any spare me and would like to get involved with the Museum, please contact Chairperson, Jane Patroni 0417 860 046.

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18 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 PUPPY FARMING ENDS IN WA By RSPCA RSPCA WA has welcomed the passing of legislaon on the 15th December 2021 to stop puppy farming in Western Australia, hailing it as the biggest single animal welfare improvement in WA in 20 years. The Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill 2021 includes important checks and balances to end irresponsible and indiscriminate dog breeding. RSPCA WA Chair, Lynne Bradshaw, said the animal welfare organisaon had worked with government to get the new laws introduced. ‘This is a very welcome day indeed and I congratulate the State Government on its commitment to improving animal welfare,’ Ms Bradshaw said. ‘The stop puppy farming legislaon is vital in prevenng cruelty, neglect, overbreeding, and abandonment of dogs. ‘Unl now, dog breeding in WA was unregulated, meaning irresponsible breeders and puppy farmers were able to breed and supply dogs without having to comply with any regulaons. ‘This leads to long-term health and behavioural issues in dogs, with the pieces oen picked up by our inspectors and other animal care sta.’ Genec faults oen don’t become apparent unl the dog gets older and new owners who bought a cute looking puppy oen face massive vet bills for correcve surgery as the puppy grows and issues are idened. Sadly, when the health problems become too great, owners are faced with the heartbreaking reality that their dog must be euthanised to save it from a life of pain and suering. ‘Many dogs coming into our care are simply unplanned and unwanted, dumped, neglected or abandoned,’ Ms Bradshaw said. ‘This will also be addressed by the new laws.’ So far this year, RSPCA WA has cared for 280 puppies. The four key pillars to this legislaon will have a big impact on the number of unwanted dogs and puppies in WA each year: • mandatory sterilisaon • registraon of anyone wanng to breed from their dog • a centralised registraon system • pet shops that sell dogs to become adopon centres. Another welcome component of the legislaon is an end to muzzling requirements for pet or rered racing greyhounds when in public places. Ms Bradshaw said obtaining an ‘approval to breed’ will be a one-o registraon meaning the new laws are not onerous for current reputable breeders.

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20 THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 Friday 4th - Sunday 20th FEBRUARY A BID TO HELP ENDPLASTIC WASTE By ZOE CARR, End Plasc Waste adidas connues to build a ore sustainable future with the launch of the adidas Tennis apparel range Made With Parley Ocean Plasc, which is set to make its debut on the courts of the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 17, 2022. On 12 January 2022, adidas sporng greats Ian Thorpe, Jess Fox, Nathan Cleary and Steph Claire Smith stepped aboard the ocean tennis court, swapping their sport of choice for a hit of tennis. adidas ambassador Ian Thorpe said he is proud to partner with the adidas family and that the new range ensures that more Aussies are talking about eco-innovave soluons to one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges. “The design of the new adidas Tennis range Made With Parley Ocean Plasc, is inspired by the Great Barrier Reef, so it was appropriately launched in the stunning heritage-protected Queensland marine park today to raise awareness and posive discussion around how we can help End Plasc Waste. It was a day that none of us will ever forget. Plasc is a problem that has reached unfathomable proporons: Unless we change course, there will be more plasc waste in the sea than sh by 2050. This waste is destroying the oceans,” Thorpe said. adidas has worked side-by-side with GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority) and one of the Authority’s approved tug and barge operators to transform the top surface of a working barge into a tennis court surface. A week out from the Australian Open, the barge - that regularly travels through the Great Barrier Reef for important environmental marine construcon & diving projects - was transformed into a oang tennis court. In talking about the new range, adidas Pacic Senior Director of Brand, Shannon Morgan said, “at adidas we believe through sport we have the power to change lives. We live this purpose everyday by looking at all possibilies to include and unite people in sport to help create a more sustainable world. We need to connue to implement sustainable soluons now, so that we can help create a new era of sport for future generaons. We’re commied to help end plasc waste and, by 2024, we’ll eliminate virgin polyester in our products completely and use recycled There are 15 major sport categories for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing China. There have been no new sports added to the program since the Sochi Olympics in 2014 when skeleton was added. However, in 2022 there are seven events added to sports already on the program: women's monobob, mens and women's big air, and mixed team events in aerials skiing, ski jumping, short track speedskang and snowboardcross. The 15 sport disciplines of the Winter Olympics are categorized into three main categories: (1) ice sports, (2) alpine, skiing and snowboarding events, and (3) Nordic events. List of Sports: Bobsled (Women's monobob, Two-man, Two woman and Four-man) BEIJING 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS SPORTS polyester wherever possible. To achieve these goals, we foster open-source partnerships and put a high value on collaboraon over compeon to create sustainable soluons that go beyond our own business and inuence,” Morgan said. The adidas tennis court surface will be fully recycled into a sports court, donated to a local Townsville school, paving the way for school kids to unite through sport and play a part in creang a more sustainable world. Luge (Men's Singles, Women Singles, Mixed Doubles and Mixed Team Relay) Skeleton (men's and women's) Ice Hockey (men's and women's) Figure Skang (Men's singles, Ladies' singles, Pairs, Team and Ice Dancing) Speed Skang Short Track Speed Skang (500m, 1,000m, 1,500 m and Relays) Curling (men's, women's, and mixed doubles) Alpine Skiing (Downhill, Super G, Giant slalom, Slalom, Super Combined, mixed team) Freestyle Skiing — Aerials, Moguls, Ski Cross, Ski halfpipe and Ski slopestyleSnowboarding — Parallel Giant Slalom, Halfpipe, Snowboard Cross, Big Air and Slopestyle Biathlon — individual, sprint, pursuit, mass start & relay events Cross-Country Skiing — individual and team sprint, freestyle, pursuit, classical and relays Ski Jumping Nordic Combined — ski jumping and cross-country skiing combined event Australian athletes compeng include: Brieny Cox (Skiing—Freestyle Skiing) Mahew Graham (Skiing—Freestyle Skiing) Jarryd Hughes (Skiing—Snowboard) Belle Brockho (Skiing—Snowboard) Laura Peel (Skiing—Freestyle Skiing) Harley Windsor ( Skang—Figure Skang) Sco James (Skiing—Snowboard) Jakara Anthony (Skiing—Freestyle Skiing)

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THE PHOENIX Thursday 13th January 2022 21 CLASSIFIEDS Horoscopes ARIES 21 March—19 April January could be an enriching me for you if you take the me to reset your principles. TAURUS 20 April-26 May The start of the new year you may feel the need for change, whether it’s study or what your ambions. GEMINI 21 May-20 June Someone close to you may need you to help them through an emoonal me. CANCER 21 June-22July The new year starts with a posive focus on relaonships. January will be intense but excing. LEO 23 July-22 August 2022 has a strong focus on work and changes that could aect colleagues or clients. VIRGO 223 August-22 September Progress will be slow this month unl you help someone close to you deal with a personal issue. LIBRA 23 September-22 October You need to disengage from any problems to avoid exhausng yourself. SCORPIO 23 October-21 November You are determined and highly movated to solve problems and connect with those around you. SAGITTARIUS 22 November-21 December Unexpected source of income reap great benets for you by the end of January. CAPRICORN 22 December-19 January A focus on relaonships for you, both personal and professional. AQUARIUS 20 January-18 February Finances are on the up but be careful not to overspend. PISCES 19 February-20 March You want to follow your dreams but take care they are anchored in reality. Posions Vacant Posions Vacant

Phoenix 13012022

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